Gracy Bee

Culture shocks~

Posted on April 26th, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: Everyday life.

I’m surprised that I’m writing this because I never dreamt I would face such culture shocks in Singapore. Well, I did, and after a break away from Singapore for 7 years, I realised that I have lost touch with the local culture that I forgot how to handle! This is what happened.

While at work

I was looking at the documents while waiting for the aircraft to arrive. Then I come across in the telex this term C.I.P along with ‘a director of certain company’ at ’seat no.’ This means this person was on the plane. Well, obviously this term means someone important in the business world, but what does CIP actually stands for?

My kaypo trait appeared again, and I happily asked the police what that term means.

Me: eh..what CIP means ah?
Police: eh…..

Before the police can answer, this particular duty manager came.

She: aiyoh…u don’t know what this is? You should know that! Did you go for training? What training have you done? How long have you been here? Who are your trainers? Have you done staff training? Have you done line training? the questions went on….

Me: trying to answer all the questions shooting at me.

She: so what you know about CIP?

Me: well, I would assume Company Important Person.

She walked away.

HEY, YOU HAVEN’T EVEN ANSWER MY QUESTION!!!

Darn it! It is so rude not to answer when I asked a question ok? Esp when I’m new there and might not know such jargons! MOREOVER, we are not trained to handle VIPs and CIPs because it is not part of our job scope. SO go ahead and ask our trainers la….still wanna threaten me somemore. Waste your time only la!

Well, I told myself that the reason she didn’t answer my question is because maybe she don’t even know what CIP is. HAHAHAHA….possible right?

^^^^^^

Thinking about it again, I think that it is about the comfort zone (UK in this case) that I’m comfortable with and for the length of 7 years, make such incidents ‘culture shocks’. In fact, that was also the case when I first arrived in the UK, that after being in Spore for 13 years, I’m so used to Asian style that sometimes I can’t handle UK life!

^^^^^^

Facing such incident in UK, the culture there would handle such somehow differently. For once, they don’t shun failure and new trainees when they don’t know anything about the company. Rather, they would encourage and help you whenever they can. It is only when you know about it and yet make serious mistakes then they reprimand you. Generally speaking, the culture is like that. Of course, not all companies are like that. It still depends on the person you worked with. Having worked in 3 different places in UK, only one place are kind enough to help you. The other 2……*eyes roll*, that I still believe is down to what I am because they are all right with their own people.

Even that applied to Malaysia too. I faced more culture shocks in Malaysia than in Singapore, and that is because I’m not used to live such practices and don’t know how to adapt to local cultures.

Hence a simple list to show what I like and don’t like about different countries so far in my life.

UNITED KINGDOM

Likes

-Relaxing lifestyle
-Proper road structures and well organised maps
-Public transport (though many would argue that)
-Generally friendly people who helped, gave way, queued and smiled at people with no questions asked.
-Bank systems to a certain extent
-Good choice of free mobile phone contracts!
-The four seasons climate
-The sales!

Dislikes

-Free healthcare (yuks!)
-Strikes of all kinds: tuition fees, pay etc- can get very annoying at times esp when it affect you.
-Discrimination faced on certain occasions
-Old and dirty at some places
-They need a longer time to do certain things that in Asia can be done in a jiffy.
-Rigid and inflexible at certain ocassions.
-there are certain people who can get rowdy.
-the alcohol drinking culture - too much in pubs!
-The gloomy rainy weather
-Reasoning ideals are different

Singapore

Likes

-Public transportation
-Efficiency in most areas
-Safe
-Clean

Dislikes

-The mobile phones tariff - so stiff and expensive!
-Phone bills: why cannot itemised for free leh? Other countries do it for free and DETAILED.
-KIASU - everything must be listed out NO MATTER WHAT
-People’s mentality afraid to lose not only at work wise but on social level too, for eg…queuing
-Show off for seniority
-Do not accept ‘don’t know what this is’ mentality at work.
-Complains, complains
-The banks: changing personal details can take a week.

Malaysia

Likes

-local Pasar malam
-Food

Dislikes

-the education system
-the high cost of living
-traffic jams
-Public transport
-Poor drainage system
-Litters and rubbish when there are not enough bins!
-Expensive cars and tolls
-There are a lot more!

^^^^^^

Having lived in different countries for some point in life, I’m able to compare things here and there. And my point of view: there is no one really perfect place on earth, hence UK and Spore have their own good and bad points. So in time, I hope to adapt slowly and blend into the local culture whenever possible.

While I’m still musing with that particular ‘woman’, there is something that can cheer up my day. While I was waiting for my company’s bus at the roadside in the wee hours of one morning, this man came towards me.

He: Are you going to the airport?
Me: Yes
He: Do you need a taxi?
Me: No, thank you sir, I have transporatation arranged already.
He: Ah..I see, I thought you are late and need a taxi and thinking to call for you.
Me: surprised!

I really do not expect such to happen, at least from the last time I was in spore. Then, I don’t really count on people to be helpful etc. Now, after I have returned, I have noticed some little changes around. It is really nice to see such changes. The above is one example. I’m also starting to see people giving way at the escalators, MRT stations. More people are smiling these days. Of course, old habits die hard, and still see those kiasu pple la. Nonetheless, that is a good start, and hopefully more will come in the future.

As for the mgr, well, I see that as one of my jokes: something to cheer me up when I’m down at work….hahahaha

^^^^^^

UPDATE: today I met that woman again. Dang, is my officer for the flight. There she started her lecture again. *eyeroll*

And I finally know what CIP stands for. Nope, not from that lady but from other nice senior, who spent extra effort to explain all.

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