S'poreans can be kind and helpful, too
my paper
Mon, Jul 11, 2011
By Eunice Ang
FED up with reading about ugly Singaporeans?
Had enough of stories about ungracious behaviour being displayed at, say, foodcourts and on MRT trains?
A growing number of people obviously felt so. The last few months have seen more feel-good stories being shared on social-media platforms, as well as reported in newspapers. Last month, blogger LeeLee Lim and her three friends, known as EL, YS and EK, wanted to disprove the allegation that Singaporeans have abandoned social graces in the pursuit of material success.
The four were inspired by the 2010 European documentary film, Living Without Money, which focused on a 68-year-old German woman who stopped using money about 15 years ago.
On June 21, they embarked on a social experiment. They approached four eating places individually for free meals, saying they had no money. The four places were Soup Restaurant at AMK Hub, a McDonald's outlet in Ang Mo Kio Central, a Ya Kun Kaya Toast outlet and a kway chap stall at a hawker centre. It is not known where the latter two are located.
All four women got free meals. At Soup Restaurant, which Ms Lim visited, she was surprised when the waitress told her not to worry about payment and to "enjoy your meal" after she brought her a bowl of soup noodles.
At McDonald's, a manager gave YS a cheeseburger and a glass of iced lemon tea. Ya Kun staff gave EL a kaya toast and a cup of coffee while the kway chap hawker gave EK enough food to feed four people.
The four returned to the food joints the next day to pay for their food but their attempts to pay were declined.
Ms Lim, who posted a write-up of their experience on a price-comparison website, blog.lobangclub.com, told my paper yesterday she was "quite touched" by the generosity shown.
"After conducting the experiment, I realise there are kind people in Singapore," she said.
my paper
Mon, Jul 11, 2011
By Eunice Ang
FED up with reading about ugly Singaporeans?
Had enough of stories about ungracious behaviour being displayed at, say, foodcourts and on MRT trains?
A growing number of people obviously felt so. The last few months have seen more feel-good stories being shared on social-media platforms, as well as reported in newspapers. Last month, blogger LeeLee Lim and her three friends, known as EL, YS and EK, wanted to disprove the allegation that Singaporeans have abandoned social graces in the pursuit of material success.
The four were inspired by the 2010 European documentary film, Living Without Money, which focused on a 68-year-old German woman who stopped using money about 15 years ago.
On June 21, they embarked on a social experiment. They approached four eating places individually for free meals, saying they had no money. The four places were Soup Restaurant at AMK Hub, a McDonald's outlet in Ang Mo Kio Central, a Ya Kun Kaya Toast outlet and a kway chap stall at a hawker centre. It is not known where the latter two are located.
All four women got free meals. At Soup Restaurant, which Ms Lim visited, she was surprised when the waitress told her not to worry about payment and to "enjoy your meal" after she brought her a bowl of soup noodles.
At McDonald's, a manager gave YS a cheeseburger and a glass of iced lemon tea. Ya Kun staff gave EL a kaya toast and a cup of coffee while the kway chap hawker gave EK enough food to feed four people.
The four returned to the food joints the next day to pay for their food but their attempts to pay were declined.
Ms Lim, who posted a write-up of their experience on a price-comparison website, blog.lobangclub.com, told my paper yesterday she was "quite touched" by the generosity shown.
"After conducting the experiment, I realise there are kind people in Singapore," she said.
