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[h=2]China-born Singaporean has no wish to be associated with current PRCs[/h]
May 29th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
After reading the the post above [Link], I would like to provide my two cents worth.
I have a somewhat unique background. I was born in China, and moved to Singapore about 20 years ago with my parents. So I spent part of my childhood in China, and the rest of it in Singapore.
I grew up in a time where there were very few immigrants like me, which I believe was fortunate for me. I played with the other kids on the block, which were all Singaporeans. They helped me adapt to my new environment and learning cultural norms.
Meeting another immigrant from China was rare in those days. When I met one, I would be delighted and be eager to talk to them. It is the same kind of feeling I got when I was backpacking and met a fellow Singaporean backpacker.
Fast forward about 20 years, many things have changed. The number of PRCs have increased many-fold, so much so that it is rare to not hear someone speaking Mandarin in some Chinese accent. I also rarely see PRCs hanging out with the locals. My theory is that their numbers are large enough such that they can form their own social networks and no longer need to interact with the locals.
What changed most drastically is my reaction to them. I no longer feel delighted to see them. In fact, I feel embarrassed when I see them speaking loudly in public, or engage in some form of behaviors which is socially unacceptable. Most important of all, I have no wish to be associated with them, because the identity of the PRC has changed so much.
.
Julius
* Comment first appeared in TRE’s thread: Of Ferraris, PRCs and Social Integration – Putting things into perspective
I have a somewhat unique background. I was born in China, and moved to Singapore about 20 years ago with my parents. So I spent part of my childhood in China, and the rest of it in Singapore.
I grew up in a time where there were very few immigrants like me, which I believe was fortunate for me. I played with the other kids on the block, which were all Singaporeans. They helped me adapt to my new environment and learning cultural norms.
Meeting another immigrant from China was rare in those days. When I met one, I would be delighted and be eager to talk to them. It is the same kind of feeling I got when I was backpacking and met a fellow Singaporean backpacker.
Fast forward about 20 years, many things have changed. The number of PRCs have increased many-fold, so much so that it is rare to not hear someone speaking Mandarin in some Chinese accent. I also rarely see PRCs hanging out with the locals. My theory is that their numbers are large enough such that they can form their own social networks and no longer need to interact with the locals.
What changed most drastically is my reaction to them. I no longer feel delighted to see them. In fact, I feel embarrassed when I see them speaking loudly in public, or engage in some form of behaviors which is socially unacceptable. Most important of all, I have no wish to be associated with them, because the identity of the PRC has changed so much.
.
Julius
* Comment first appeared in TRE’s thread: Of Ferraris, PRCs and Social Integration – Putting things into perspective
