Vent

The people in Singapore can be VERY strange. Some rather annoying aspects:

1. Eating. It is unappetizing to sit next to someone who is not just making loud sounds while chewing with their mouth open, but also provides you with a lovely view of their processed food. Don't ever sit next to someone with noodles, because the slurping sound is terrible. Worst still is the burger; imagine cheese bits flying out of someone's mouth while they are eating. *shivers*

2. Public transport. Public transport, such as the metro and bus, is used by everyone. There are some weird people on my bus (probably b/c it passes through Chinatown where most get on or off) who make creepy noises, look scary, cough (with phlegm = spuug) in their hands and then touch every imaginable surface. I sat behind this woman the other day who kept making kissing noises.

Also, when seated on the isle seat and someone wants to sit at the empty window spot, you normally get up to let that person pass. Not so here. Instead,they just move their legs onto the isle so that you have to press your butt into their face to get into the cramped seat.

Because people here are smaller, so are the seats (in terms of height, leg space, and width).

3. The elderly. Sadly most of those strange people mentioned above are older. I don't think there are special homes for the elderly; this means that disabled and sick elders are sitting around outside in the city. There is not a very good pension system in place here and 70 or 80 year olds are still working at food courts (cleaning up plates) and as cleaning ladies of public toilets.

4. The side walk. This one is the weirdest. Imagine a side walk (stoep) where two people can walk next to each other. On one side is the road. On the other grass and bushes. You are walking alone and two people are walking towards you. In Holland (and the rest of the Western world) one of the two oncoming people will walk in front or behind so that the two have to walk behind, rather than beside, one another for a few seconds. Not the case here. The two people will just keep walking side by side, attempting to force you either onto the street with oncoming traffic or into the bushes. Sadly, most exchange students have learned that you have to be assertive and just walk straight ahead, forcing them to alter their behaviour, or violently bump into them in the hopes that they will get how rude they are.