i am really out of touch with the latest topics in town...
well..apart from a daily update of the world cup happenings from my daddy...
recent big hoo-ha about singapore ranking 30 out of 35 cities for courtesy...
or something like that...
and i've read friends' blogs commenting on that..
as well as stomp star blogs...
somehow..
as i was reading these entries..
i got very irritated at some of the responses...

i personally have been to a few countries in europe...
and i admit, that most people there are quite courteous...
and of course, 4 years in melbourne have opened my eyes to the 'warm, friendly and sincere' service of the aussies...
good for them *applause*

back in singapore for like almost 8 months now...
there will be times when i get really pissed off at the lousy services..
especially at supermarkets...
but i do get people holding doors opened for me
(not because i am a female cos those who opened doors for me ranged from teenagers to aunties/uncles)
and most of the time, hawkers and shopkeepers say their 'thank you'
yeah, we dun get the 'hi, how are you?' like i did when i shop at safeway in melbourne...
but this is a cultural thing...
cannot expect everyone to suddnely change their habits...yeah?
takes time..
we are behind..that is true..
but it's not as if we are total gone case...
no?

i think..the rude people are usually the shoppers, not the shopkeepers...
unreasonable demands made and they still think they are right...
for instance..
this lady at BK was asked politely to stand aside to wait for her burger...
her response was 'huh? must wait? this is fast food still must wait. you all never cook ready then serve one ah?'
poor uncle behind the counter painstakingly tried to explained that the burger she ordered has just been sold out, so need to wait for a new batch blah blah blah...
and rude lady just go 'aiyah. shut up lah. just go get my burger can or not?'
wtf...
i feel sorry for the uncle...
in fact..
everyone queueing up who heard this were either glancing sympathetically at uncle or glaring in disbelief at lady.
horrendous isn't it?
uncle must be feeling damn unappreciated for the kind service he was giving...

okie...
wat's my point?
well...
instead of blabbling on about how singaporeans are rude...
and tsk-ing at people who are not polite...and branding singapore as 'hopeless'...
and how the europeans/americans/australians are way ahead blah blah blah...
why not YOU as a singaporean (well..if you are a singaporean reading this..) start by being more polite?
it all starts with ourselves...
for one..
stop criticising your own countrymen and praising all the others...
do your part...there will always be black sheep...
just don't be one of them...

things may not change for a long time...
but i think we have shown improvement...
at least...
some NTUC aunties give me a smile when i say thank you after she gave me change...
(in the past, they'll just ignore you and serve the next customer)

bleah...typing this entry making me feel very restless...
i think i just can't stand it when my friends start comparing singapore and country X, Y or Z and feel like singapore is crap..
because singapore is not crap...
it's way far from being the perfect place to live in...
but country X, Y or Z isn't paradise just because they have better internet or free porn or have salespeople who smiles and say 'bye'...
in fact...
these countries will never have one thing singapore has...
authentic singaporean cuisine
to me...
without those food...
no place can come close to being as good as singapore...
:D