Feeling like a 'tourist' in Singapore

sacredspirits SG · 2007-03-17T22:31:38+00:00

I was born in Singapore but have lived in Perth ever since I can remember. Everytime I go back to Singapore, I do feel like a tourist. I can't speak any chin...

sacredspirits SG

Not sure if u feel it too.... that when u go back singapore from overseas, b it for good or for a short vacation, u just feel 'so far, yet so close'.... some buildings r gone.... some new buildings r up.... suddenly there is a new road leading some unfamiliar place.... suddenly your favourite cafe/pub is no longer there.... u feel like a 'tourist' in a sense.... not really knowing what's there anymore.... need to 'sightsee' to know a place u used to know so well.... it just feels so wierd.....

memories r still fond in your mind.... yet a feeling of some 'lost'....

i suddenly can understand why someone once told me that the longer u r overseas, the more u start feeling like an 'outsider' in singapore.... it is not a nice feeling to have.... so, to avoid feeling this way, u tend to stay longer overseas.... until u have convinced yourself that there is nothing for u to come back for.... is it true?? i m still not sure.....

hmm.... why m i being so sentimental tonight? Neutral

I-like-flings(m) SG

hannor hannot.. but i usually get better service acting as tourist... Mr. Green

jetta SG

Maybe because it's almost time for you to leave? Laughing

I feel the same too. Reminds me of the Beatles song... "there are places I remember, all my life, though some have changed...."

My last visit was three years ago. After being away for so long, I feel like I'm in limbo, straddling two countries. I totally understand the outsider feeling. When I'm away from Sg, I miss it and can't wait for the next visit. When I'm in Sg, I can only tahan the place for about 2-3 weeks, dying to return home.

sacredspirits SG

ha.... yah... i m returning 'home' this sat....

exactly... in limbo.... neither here nor there.... Confused

mochou SG

- you speak with different accent from the local ppl.
- ppl ask you direction you always failed to answer.
- You pay extra attention when you take bus to make sure you dont miss your stop.
- You finally find the MRT map useful to you.
- your condo security gurad ask you to sign visitor record book.
- You prefer to go eat cheap local food even your fren wamt tp treat you go eat restaurant.(bcos you want to finish the "to eat list" of local food)
- you dun feel natural to go shopping center wearing slipper and shorts.

Fatum SG

it's just reverse culture shock ... and it'll wear out after a while .....

the moment I touched down at Changi airport, I instantly reverted back to "Singaporean" mode again ... Laughing

somethings may have changed, and somethings may be new (Like riding on the NEL for the first time ! ) ....

but some things don't .... my favourite kopitiams are still around ... the weekend orchard road squeeze ... the sentosa crowd .... zouk (!!!) ... the old standby watering holes ... friends ... family ....

there is nothing to come back to only if you decide it's so, neh ? ... Wink

sacredspirits SG

most of them i really agree..... plus some more..
- i miss my bus stop cos the bus route diverted liao
- my friend drove me home once and i cannot give him direction cos there is a new roundabout that i dont even know it is there
- suddenly pass by my secondary school which is now at a place that i thought it used to belong to another JC
- my favourite cafe no longer there....
- i asked my friends to meet outside KFC Holland V... genna 'suan-ed' cos it has now become Crystal Jade
- 'Madam Wong' no longer there liaoz....

sacredspirits SG

hmm.... some things change and some things dont..... neither good or bad... just leaving me a feeling that i cannot describe very well.... i am able to change back to 'singapore mode' in terms of accent, dress sense (t-shirts, 3/4 pants, sandals), singlish etc.... but i guess the amount of 'physical' changes in singapore in such a short time really scares me in a way....

but like what i-like-flings mentioned... there might be benefits to it if i m seen as an 'outsider'... maybe?

there will always be things to come back for... but there will also be things to 'run away' for... Smile

sweettooth SG

things change fast. we have an efficient govt & infrastructure, i guess

dakkon_blackblade SG

Yes, I've experienced this too when I returned from the UK after my studies. And sometimes I do feel rather ashamed that I know so little about my own country. After experiencing the genuine cosmopolitan life in London, Singapore seemed rather like a desert to me. However, I've learnt to live with it, though I still hope to go back to London one day.

littlestream SG

Have a pleasant flight home, SS. Wink

p.s. got your message you couldn't join us at Newton and drinks. Another time bah. Wink

jetta SG

It's easy to assimilate physically but emotionally and mentally, it's way harder. I know I'll never be going back to settle down so in a way, it's a little easier for me. My life is here although I'd be lying if I told you I love it here.

udontknowme SG

tourist???

hahahahaha Rolling Eyes

not so nice lah.

whether im in pluto or singapore. i feel like an outsider.

jetta SG

Hey SS
How are you feeling now that you're back in Oz?

Short Ninja SG

One time I was with 2 of my ex-SIngaporean friends in SIngapore…after a few drinks in Orchard Rd we took a taxi to Newton circus,we dropped off without even realising that there were no food stalls there? Dont know if they had moved or was under renovation.Also had a bit of trouble changing trains at some MRT stations.When we asked people for direction in singlish they thought we were trying to be funny or trying to pick up singapore girls.In other countries you can know how rich the country is by looking at the price of Macdonalds Cheese Burger for me I always gauge the SIngapore ecocomy and standard from the price of roti pratas.Once upon a time it used to be 20 cents (with telur)

kojima_takumi SG

changes do happen everyday at everywhere, i dun feel bad to see changes. Rolling Eyes

kojima_takumi SG

changes do happen everyday at everywhere, i dun feel bad to see changes. Rolling Eyes

crofty SG

I get that feeling too Embarassed

mytimeoff SG

I agree, I sometimes feel like an outsider, especially when meeting up with friends, which by now after 9 years away, they have forgotten about me.

Anyway when we do meet up, you can tell the difference, I am in casual and everyone is in 'work' wear, exchanging name cards, networking!!! I am left out of it all.

Plus my friends usually introduce me as my friend from UK!!!! and I am not, I am Singaporean. So usually I just don't open my mouth, as I don't have British accent, just plain singaporean!!! Smile

Anyway, I am always lost, almost a country bumpkin when I get back.
I don't really identify with my friends, as I did my 'growing up' in UK. I got married here, bought our home here etc.

But it's always good to go back once in awhile, but now that even my parents have come over to join me, there's less chance of going back!

Lex818 SG

I get: "Hey ah boy... stop tryin to act like an australian ohhh, it sounds very fake!"

Seeing i spent sec skool and JC there x) Mostly, the thing i miss out is chinese. I've given it back to my teacher already Embarassed Laughing Rolling Eyes

Lex {+.+}