I Just Woke Up..
Born in the mid 70's, I grew up with fond memories of seating in the back seat of my dad's car, going to not so crowded beaches and neighborhood parties. Now all grown up, I have 2 kids on my own and have been struggling to create moments for my family that my parents once did. The places I once knew are all concrete and the basic enjoyments in life are diminishing. Once my existing car expires, I don't think I can buy another. My kids are in primary school and I doubt they will be able to buy cars or a proper living space, 15 years from now. I'm not looking at a high end car but a normal family saloon that we can all enjoy in.
What has happened to Singapore, a country I once loved. I didn't choose to be born here but now it seems I may not have a choice but to leave here if I still want to enjoy simple pleasures in life. I'm not shy to admit it that I love cars,not for their monetary worth or status, but for the magical moments created when a family seats together, sings songs and cracks jokes. It is a moving living room.
I can't bear to think what the future of my kids are going to be. My son will be asked to go to the army, get peanuts for 2 years in a country where money is the only thing that matters. I dare the people ruling this country to say otherwise. This country is run like a PTE LTD or a large CBD by CEOs. Country or rural sides are gone and people have been taught that this is the best. A typical week for a non married sporean is to work everyday, go window shopping and buy nothing, gossip and drink coffee and then club and sleep in. Of cos, eat in-between all of these "exciting" activities. A married couple without kids do the same as singles. But those with kids, stress themselves and the kids on what school to place their kids and tuition teacher to get.
Soon Singaporeans will see many simple things in life in history books or in TV shows. The people with cars will be the Elite while the rest will be commoners. The separation already exists but the division will be clear 15 years from now.
It is true that we all are migrants but the people who came here, came here to build a nation and created a unique singapore identity "la". That was the time the world was evolving and countries were finding its identities. Now we have started all over again. And the identity we once knew is transforming into something else. We have foreign groups amongst us who are stubbornly saying that they are a society. I don't see them changing to our multiracial ways. When a Singaporean speaks, we know, we understand and we relate.
Living in Singapore is being delusional in terms of finance. We spend our whole lives paying for a small house and then when we retire, if we do, we don't have enough money to begin our retirement years. To make things worst, our hard earned money is kept and given to us according to what the country CEO decides.
One things for sure, I have been brainwashed all these while to think that our way is the best. Safe country with many opportunities. Well, safety flew out the windows recently when we became headlines globally with police cars being neatly arranged on its sides.
Today I wake up, not for myself but for my kids. I want them to enjoy life as I did. Sit in a car with their kids one day and drive around. I pray that I too can afford a car once the term expires. The word is own a car, not lease it for 10 years for an exorbitant price! I want to own a home without a 30yr loan. We don't have a choice when every corner in Singapore has been evaluated high. Look CEO, give us a place to go and buy cheap homes like our dads! We need it. We can't be buying houses for the resale values.
With Social media and cheap air travel, everyone is going to compare what we don't have. Don't let the CEO convince you that we have what we need. Not everything is what we need. We have wants too.
These will be the questions in schools for students 15 years from now:
What has happened to this country? Was there a need to expand so fast? Who said we must be a rich nation? How did most Singaporean become white collar workers while the rest were looked down upon?
Why did we give up our country to foreigners so easily with such large influx?
What is our Singaporean identity?
What is it like driving a car with your parents and kids?
What is financial freedom?
Why didn't my parents stop this during their time?
Why did they leave behind a legacy of concrete and rules?
How do I retire?
What is creativity?
What's it like to go fishing or playing in the rain?
What is a rural area?
What is like living freely?
I hope all of you will start thinking about what really matters in this one and only life you have.
A Singaporean who just woke up
Sleepy Singaporean
TRS Contributor