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Swimming inwards an outdoor puddle on Christmas day...only inwards Singapore. As I picket my kids frolicking inwards the water, I brand a mental listing of all the other things that brand Singapore unique as well as differentiate it from Verona, Italy (my hometown, but also from nearly other places).
I came upward alongside 20...can you lot think of whatever others?!
1) Parental Guidance No need. Profanity on boob tube is bleeped as well as at that spot is no nudity. I mean, none. My kids are totally shocked when they picket TV inwards Italy. And, that's but the commercials.
2) Air Conditioning You may hold upward inwards a tropical solid position down but... if you lot are going to the movies, a restaurant, or shopping, ready to freeze. Bring a sweater.
3) Live-in Maids Cheap labor from Philippines, Indonesia, as well as Myanmar. Here, fifty-fifty the maids receive got maids.
4) School Etiquette Currently at that spot is a ground every bit to whether teachers receive got the correct to cutting off their student's hair. Conclusion beingness yep if it's longer than the criterion allowed or if the pupil has already been given prior warning. Students vesture uniforms, no jewellery, no make-up. No bullying over sneakers.
5) Construction Work Ubiquitous working sites, trees beingness cutting down, as well as consequent loud jack-hammering...you but don't remove heed this inwards Verona. As my kids come across it: "That's because everything is already done inwards Italy."
6) Food Courts Fantastic culinary oases, opened upward all twenty-four hours as well as belatedly into the night, where you lot tin consume all sorts of delicious, inexpensive meals. Indian curries, Korean kimchi, chicken rice...all for $5 (less than a java at Starbucks). In to a greater extent than or less courts, you lot tin utilisation a especial debit bill of fare that tin hold upward topped upward at the entrance. BYON (Bring your ain napkins; actually, an ingenious means to cutting downward on waste.)
7) Tuition...for kindergarteners? Do you lot recollect when you lot were niggling as well as couldn't hold off for schoolhouse to hold upward over hence you lot could move out as well as play? At first, I wondered where all the Singaporean kids were as well as hence I was told they receive got tuition later on class. In kindergarten? How far behind are they?
8) Cheap Taxis Very, rattling cheap. The cost of an espresso at a bar inwards Italy. Albeit, ane where you lot pay extra to sit down down.
9) No Seasons This is truly a stereotype. It's non e'er very hot as well as humid. Sometimes, it's but hot as well as humid.
10) Singlish So, is the national linguistic communication English linguistic communication or Chinese? Nobody truly knows. The authorities can't brand upward it's heed as well as at that spot are likewise many dialects to consider. No bother, nearly Singaporeans verbalize Singlish. Not e'er clear every bit for certain answers audio similar questions as well as vice-versa. "Can I receive got to a greater extent than or less coffee?" Can. Can. (So, is that a yep or an invitation to interruption into a French trip the calorie-free fantastic routine?)
11) Racial Harmony Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Diwali...you know, whatever excuse for a party. Seriously, it's great.
12) Unemployed Immigrants Nonexistent. Unlike Italy, where this is huge problem, at that spot are no unemployed unusual workers here. You tin solely come upward into the solid position down if you lot receive got a undertaking as well as if you lot lose it you lot receive got just 2 weeks to detect to a greater extent than or less other one. If you lot don't, your visa expires as well as you lot demand to leave of absence the country.
13) Chewing Gum Banned, although rumor has it you lot tin forthwith purchase generic mucilage at the pharmacies for medical purposes. But for the variety that tastes delicious as well as makes big bubbles you'll receive got to learn abroad. Oh, as well as if you lot are caught importing it into the solid position down you lot volition hold upward fined.
14) Caning Used to hold upward widely accepted cast of penalization inwards schools as well as homes, forthwith it's to a greater extent than oftentimes than non but used inwards prison...and my house. (But that's but when Alexander forgets his homework at school.) Anyway, if you're thinking of indulging inwards graffitti or scratching upward somebody's automobile alongside a fundamental you lot tin hold off to hold upward caned. And, the police is truly the same for everybody (i.e. President Clinton was unable to learn American teenager, Michael Fay, pardoned).
15) Expat Haven Thanks to the rigid multicultural as well as international presence it's rattling slowly to brand friends.
16) Very High Car Tax Levies Annoying for nearly expats, but truly a great means to grapple pollution as well as traffic. And, encourage people to utilisation world omnibus as well as underground lines.
17) EZ-Link Very cool bill of fare that everybody carries. It tin hold upward used to pay for omnibus fares, metros...and fifty-fifty McDonalds (think carefully earlier revealing this to your kids).
18) Swimming Pools They are ubiquitous inwards condos but you lot won't come across many local kids swimming inwards them. They're at tuition.
19) Good Manners Remember to convey your shoes off earlier entering a house, give your draw of piece of occupation organization bill of fare alongside 2 hands, as well as distribute oranges at Chinese New Year. You volition hold upward asked back.
20) Swimming inwards December Jump inwards the pool...where else tin you lot practise that?
(Photo: Alexander as well as Eliot taking payoff of living inwards sunny Singapore)