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Indian FT: Singapore has got too many cockroaches!

kojakbt

Alfrescian
Loyal
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>24003.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Nov 8, 2009
THE EX-PAT FILES

</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- headline one : start --></TD></TR><TR><TD>Never a dull moment

</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- headline one : end --></TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- Author --></TD></TR><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Nilanjana Sengupta

</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- show image if available --></TD></TR><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
nila.jpg


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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->
Recently, a Singaporean whom I had just met asked me to tell him one thing I didn't like about Singapore. I had no answer to give him. There was nothing that I hated so much as to articulate it to a perfect stranger.

But he had one thing that he said disturbed him. And that was the growing number of immigrants in the city speaking in their own native languages and dialects. Sometimes he wondered if he was living in a foreign land, he told me. I could not identify with that, I told him, since I myself am an expat. But the conversation left me thinking.

Singaporeans probably have a right to feel encroached upon when they see the number of new faces speaking foreign tongues around them growing. But I am more inclined to believe the authorities when they say the influx is not at the cost of national talent and Singaporeans should not feel alarmed by it.

I also don't think Singapore's inherent culture or vibe will be dented because of this. If anything, expats and immigrants ought to adapt themselves to their host country's ways than the other way round.

At least that is what I have been trying to do.
When I left Mumbai to come here, the weight on my chest felt heavier than the luggage I was carrying. Yet I kept pushing myself to go ahead, telling myself, 'If I don't jump, how will I learn to swim'.

I came here because, as I have said in my first piece in this column, I wanted to gain the experience of living and working in another country. Singapore was familiar because I have friends living here for long and my family and I had visited it as tourists a few times. Plus, it is not that far away from home, 21/2 hours behind and a six-hour flight away.

More importantly, I wanted to explore and expand my horizons and Singapore gave me that opportunity, for which I am grateful.

Living here has not been a tough challenge, although the first few months were hard - a new country, new people, new office, looking for a place to live and for food to fit my palate.

Now, after a couple of years and then some in Singapore, I have formed some views about my host country, most of it nice, and one not so charming.

What I have grown to like about Singapore:


The floor I live on is a mini-Singapore in itself. My neighbours are Malay, Chinese and Indian. Some of them have young children and one of them has a dog. I wake up to the sounds of the temple bell that my Indian neighbour rings while praying. I leave home to the smell of incense sticks that my Chinese neighbour has put at the altar outside her home. When I return home, I am greeted by children playing and running along the corridor and by the dog's welcoming bark.

Singapore keeps itself relevant on the world stage. Whether it is by being the first to fly the Airbus A-380 or hold the Grand Prix night races, or by hosting prestigious events like the Apec Summit this week.

It is constantly evolving and changing. There is something new happening somewhere or the other. As a result, it is not monotonous to visit the same places again and again. If I go back to a favourite haunt after a month's gap, rest assured I shall find something new to see, whether it is a new mall or a new piece of architecture. Even though it is a small city, just a little bigger in area than Mumbai, there are nooks and corners that I still have to explore and visit.

I can do my bit for the environment without putting in too much of an effort. In order to recycle my papers, bottles and cans, all I have to do is put them in a green bag and keep the bag outside my flat. Two days a month, the people from the National Environment Agency come and collect the recyclable waste.

I don't oversleep, thanks to the karung guni man who comes around at 11 every morning. The song he sings after blowing his horn sounds as if he is telling me, 'Get Mo-o-oving. Get Mo-o-oving'.

I like the sound of rain outside my window every single month of the year.
What I heard about Singapore but haven't seen yet: I haven't seen trees being planted overnight.


What I wish I could see less of: Cockroaches. I am terrified of them. But they seem very much at home here, sometimes scurrying alongside me on the road or crossing my path taking their own sweet time. If I ever leave Singapore, it will be because of these terrible critters, the sight of which has made me cry since I was a child.

Nilanjana Sengupta is an assistant to the editor on the Straits Times Foreign Desk. An Indian national, she has been in Singapore for two and a half years.

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halsey02

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
One cockroach...the Indian type..is cock a doodle do..about the COCKROACHES in SINgapore...

There are four common species of cockroaches in Singapore:

The American Cockroach

This cockroach is red-brown, 3-4 cm long. It is the one that we see most often around our houses, in cabinets, restaurants, grocery stores, sewers and garbage dumps.


The Australian Cockroach

This cockroach is very similar to the American cockroach but is slightly smaller in size. It is darker brown with yellow markings on the thorax. It prefers to feed on plant materials such as leaf litter.


The Oriental Cockroach

This cockroach is about 2.5 cm long. Its colour varies from brown to black; it is much darker than the American cockroach and the Australian cockroach. The male has wings covering only two-thirds of the hind body, but, in the females, the wings are reduced to short lobes and cannot be used for flying.


The German Cockroach

This cockroach is yellowish brown, measuring only 1.2 cm in length when fully grown. It likes warm and damp environments and it found in kitchens, store-rooms, under sinks and cupboards, in drawers and furniture. It eats almost anything ranging from crumbs to grease.
 

po2wq

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
One cockroach...the Indian type..is cock a doodle do...

There are four common species of cockroaches in Singapore:

...
gt 1 mor type of cock-roach ...

in geyland ...

there u can find ... any-cock-will-do ...
 

ronaldinho

Alfrescian
Loyal
Assistant's job requires foreigner? I am sure many Singaporeans qualify.

Straits Times full of shit to run this article to mock at Singaporeans
 

takcheksian

Alfrescian
Loyal
Fat, ugly, propaganda spewing running bitch Ah Neh

Have you ever considered that your stinking homeland has no cockroaches because you kind has eaten them all?

Import 10 m Banglas here, they will also makan habis all the cockroach here.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>24003.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Nov 8, 2009
THE EX-PAT FILES

</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- headline one : start --></TD></TR><TR><TD>Never a dull moment

</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- headline one : end --></TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- Author --></TD></TR><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Nilanjana Sengupta

</TD></TR><TR><TD><!-- show image if available --></TD></TR><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
nila.jpg


</TD><TD width=10>
c.gif
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->
Recently, a Singaporean whom I had just met asked me to tell him one thing I didn't like about Singapore. I had no answer to give him. There was nothing that I hated so much as to articulate it to a perfect stranger.

But he had one thing that he said disturbed him. And that was the growing number of immigrants in the city speaking in their own native languages and dialects. Sometimes he wondered if he was living in a foreign land, he told me. I could not identify with that, I told him, since I myself am an expat. But the conversation left me thinking.

Singaporeans probably have a right to feel encroached upon when they see the number of new faces speaking foreign tongues around them growing. But I am more inclined to believe the authorities when they say the influx is not at the cost of national talent and Singaporeans should not feel alarmed by it.

I also don't think Singapore's inherent culture or vibe will be dented because of this. If anything, expats and immigrants ought to adapt themselves to their host country's ways than the other way round.

At least that is what I have been trying to do.
When I left Mumbai to come here, the weight on my chest felt heavier than the luggage I was carrying. Yet I kept pushing myself to go ahead, telling myself, 'If I don't jump, how will I learn to swim'.

I came here because, as I have said in my first piece in this column, I wanted to gain the experience of living and working in another country. Singapore was familiar because I have friends living here for long and my family and I had visited it as tourists a few times. Plus, it is not that far away from home, 21/2 hours behind and a six-hour flight away.

More importantly, I wanted to explore and expand my horizons and Singapore gave me that opportunity, for which I am grateful.

Living here has not been a tough challenge, although the first few months were hard - a new country, new people, new office, looking for a place to live and for food to fit my palate.

Now, after a couple of years and then some in Singapore, I have formed some views about my host country, most of it nice, and one not so charming.

What I have grown to like about Singapore:


The floor I live on is a mini-Singapore in itself. My neighbours are Malay, Chinese and Indian. Some of them have young children and one of them has a dog. I wake up to the sounds of the temple bell that my Indian neighbour rings while praying. I leave home to the smell of incense sticks that my Chinese neighbour has put at the altar outside her home. When I return home, I am greeted by children playing and running along the corridor and by the dog's welcoming bark.

Singapore keeps itself relevant on the world stage. Whether it is by being the first to fly the Airbus A-380 or hold the Grand Prix night races, or by hosting prestigious events like the Apec Summit this week.

It is constantly evolving and changing. There is something new happening somewhere or the other. As a result, it is not monotonous to visit the same places again and again. If I go back to a favourite haunt after a month's gap, rest assured I shall find something new to see, whether it is a new mall or a new piece of architecture. Even though it is a small city, just a little bigger in area than Mumbai, there are nooks and corners that I still have to explore and visit.

I can do my bit for the environment without putting in too much of an effort. In order to recycle my papers, bottles and cans, all I have to do is put them in a green bag and keep the bag outside my flat. Two days a month, the people from the National Environment Agency come and collect the recyclable waste.

I don't oversleep, thanks to the karung guni man who comes around at 11 every morning. The song he sings after blowing his horn sounds as if he is telling me, 'Get Mo-o-oving. Get Mo-o-oving'.

I like the sound of rain outside my window every single month of the year.
What I heard about Singapore but haven't seen yet: I haven't seen trees being planted overnight.


What I wish I could see less of: Cockroaches. I am terrified of them. But they seem very much at home here, sometimes scurrying alongside me on the road or crossing my path taking their own sweet time. If I ever leave Singapore, it will be because of these terrible critters, the sight of which has made me cry since I was a child.

Nilanjana Sengupta is an assistant to the editor on the Straits Times Foreign Desk. An Indian national, she has been in Singapore for two and a half years.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 

chinkangkor

Alfrescian
Loyal
But I am more inclined to believe the authorities when they say the influx is not at the cost of national talent and Singaporeans should not feel alarmed by it.


She has been here for 2 1/2 years and i'm sure she can observe and see first hand what has been taking place here over the last 2 years. Why feel inclined to believe what the authorities say when she has a brain of her own and can judge whether PAP leaders are out of touch with reality.

Or perhaps her article has been heavily edited by her boss and this is not what she has written? Our purchasing power has been declining over the last few years while everything else has gone up, particularly housing.

All these have got to do with the sudden unfettered huge infux of PRs and foreigners, which has become so obvious that even the 66.6% of S'poreans have noticed. As a journalist, if she failed to notice these trends, she should approach WDA and have a career switch.

But i'm also inclined to believe that her original piece is not the one published by 154th.
 

streetsmart73

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Assistant's job requires foreigner? I am sure many Singaporeans qualify.

Straits Times full of shit to run this article to mock at Singaporeans

hi there


1. bro, it is all about the bottomline.
2. such indian ft is "cheaper" than sinkies.
3. yes, sinkie has cockroaches as if india does not.
4. she should go up the ganges river and check it out for herself, what is instore there?
5. more than the eyes could take!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! check out the documentary "river & life" on the cable.
 

Char_Azn

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
I'm amused at the fact that she said a gazillion good things about the country all you guys can thing about is the one bad thing that seems to affect her.

In which case its a matter of perspective regarding the cockroach problem which frankly speaking is probably due to her own poor hygiene. To her, the reason why there's a lot of cockroaches here compared to India(IMO anyway) is probably due to the fact that there are just as many rats as there are cockroaches in India. It makes the cockroaches seems less of an issue
 

saratogas

Alfrescian
Loyal
This ah neh aunty's Breast becum bigger coming to Sinkapore...
"When I left Mumbai to come here, the weight on my chest felt heavier than the luggage I was carrying"
 

kojakbt

Alfrescian
Loyal
I'm amused at the fact that she said a gazillion good things about the country all you guys can thing about is the one bad thing that seems to affect her.

She works for the 151st... of course must say good things about Singapore wat...

In which case its a matter of perspective regarding the cockroach problem which frankly speaking is probably due to her own poor hygiene.

Are you saying that she seldom bathes?
 

kojakbt

Alfrescian
Loyal
If you see a FT Ah Neh & a cockroach, which one would you squash first?:biggrin:

Ah... a classic question deserving a classic answer:

First, you squash the FT Ah Neh. Next, you squash the FT Ah Neh a second time just to make sure he is really dead....
 

Maverick01

Alfrescian
Loyal
Why the fuck sph hire so many ft pple and writing all the shit.




<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" border=0><tbody><tr><td class=wintiny nowrap align=right>24003.1 </td></tr><tr><td height=8></td></tr><tr><td class=msgtxt><table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" border=0><tbody><tr><td>nov 8, 2009
the ex-pat files

</td></tr><tr><td><!-- headline one : Start --></td></tr><tr><td>never a dull moment

</td></tr><tr><td><!-- headline one : End --></td></tr><tr><td><!-- author --></td></tr><tr><td class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colspan=2>by nilanjana sengupta

</td></tr><tr><td><!-- show image if available --></td></tr><tr valign=bottom><td width=330>
nila.jpg


</td><td width=10>
c.gif
</td></tr></tbody></table>



<!-- start of : Div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->
recently, a singaporean whom i had just met asked me to tell him one thing i didn't like about singapore. I had no answer to give him. there was nothing that i hated so much as to articulate it to a perfect stranger.

but he had one thing that he said disturbed him. And that was the growing number of immigrants in the city speaking in their own native languages and dialects. Sometimes he wondered if he was living in a foreign land, he told me. I could not identify with that, i told him, since i myself am an expat. But the conversation left me thinking.

singaporeans probably have a right to feel encroached upon when they see the number of new faces speaking foreign tongues around them growing. but i am more inclined to believe the authorities when they say the influx is not at the cost of national talent and singaporeans should not feel alarmed by it.

i also don't think singapore's inherent culture or vibe will be dented because of this. If anything, expats and immigrants ought to adapt themselves to their host country's ways than the other way round.

At least that is what i have been trying to do.
When i left mumbai to come here, the weight on my chest felt heavier than the luggage i was carrying. Yet i kept pushing myself to go ahead, telling myself, 'if i don't jump, how will i learn to swim'.

i came here because, as i have said in my first piece in this column, i wanted to gain the experience of living and working in another country. Singapore was familiar because i have friends living here for long and my family and i had visited it as tourists a few times. Plus, it is not that far away from home, 21/2 hours behind and a six-hour flight away.

more importantly, i wanted to explore and expand my horizons and singapore gave me that opportunity, for which i am grateful.

living here has not been a tough challenge, although the first few months were hard - a new country, new people, new office, looking for a place to live and for food to fit my palate.

Now, after a couple of years and then some in singapore, i have formed some views about my host country, most of it nice, and one not so charming.

What i have grown to like about singapore:


The floor i live on is a mini-singapore in itself. My neighbours are malay, chinese and indian. Some of them have young children and one of them has a dog. I wake up to the sounds of the temple bell that my indian neighbour rings while praying. I leave home to the smell of incense sticks that my chinese neighbour has put at the altar outside her home. When i return home, i am greeted by children playing and running along the corridor and by the dog's welcoming bark.

Singapore keeps itself relevant on the world stage. Whether it is by being the first to fly the airbus a-380 or hold the grand prix night races, or by hosting prestigious events like the apec summit this week.

It is constantly evolving and changing. There is something new happening somewhere or the other. As a result, it is not monotonous to visit the same places again and again. If i go back to a favourite haunt after a month's gap, rest assured i shall find something new to see, whether it is a new mall or a new piece of architecture. Even though it is a small city, just a little bigger in area than mumbai, there are nooks and corners that i still have to explore and visit.

I can do my bit for the environment without putting in too much of an effort. In order to recycle my papers, bottles and cans, all i have to do is put them in a green bag and keep the bag outside my flat. Two days a month, the people from the national environment agency come and collect the recyclable waste.

I don't oversleep, thanks to the karung guni man who comes around at 11 every morning. The song he sings after blowing his horn sounds as if he is telling me, 'get mo-o-oving. Get mo-o-oving'.

I like the sound of rain outside my window every single month of the year.
What i heard about singapore but haven't seen yet: I haven't seen trees being planted overnight.


what i wish i could see less of: Cockroaches. I am terrified of them. But they seem very much at home here, sometimes scurrying alongside me on the road or crossing my path taking their own sweet time. if i ever leave singapore, it will be because of these terrible critters, the sight of which has made me cry since i was a child.

nilanjana sengupta is an assistant to the editor on the straits times foreign desk. An indian national, she has been in singapore for two and a half years.

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