what really frustrates me about japanese is how much they must always try to 空気を読む
it really pisses me off how they like to leave so many words unsaid and sometimes i feel like just going up to them and shaking them hard and asking them to just voice out their opinions! HAI

and i dont like the whole senpai-kouhai thing too. i stand up for equality of man. im not saying that we shouldnt respect our seniors/elders. I'm all for respect but i dont see the need of having to belittle yourself so much in front of your seniors. and always act liek some meek and week junior >.<

i also cant stand the conversations that Japanese girls like to have. i'm not saying that all of them have that kind of conversations. those that I can connect with are more like me haha. but anyway, their conversation topics basically center around clothes, guys, hairstyles, makeups, blahblah you get the idea.. what happened to interest in the world around you?!!
my friend doesnt even know about israel-palestine conflict. i dont want to generalise, but i think it is fair to say that many japanese are unaware of the world happening around them. that's not very good.

hence, i find myself unable, or rather, totally uninterested to talk to many japanese because i am very uninterested in the conversation topics they have. they are meaningless. i could force myself if i want to (which was what i did at the beginning), but im really tired of that now and i cant be bothered anymore (to talk about the weather, about guys about makeup blahblah)

i find that opposed to speaking to people, im more for going to the library to read. i think i am becoming a really big mugger, but thats alright. im really fascinated by the wealth of knowledge that books hold. and i wish to read more so that i can expand my knowledge. i think if that happens though, i wont be able to make conversation with many people because their conversation topics wont interest me very much anymore.. :(

but i must point out that i really see a difference between singaporeans (or foreigners in that aspect) and japanese.

me and this singaporean girl, we are really excited about doing a particular project and i hope it works out! i haven had this passion in a long time :)

recently, i read an article in the economist about this China lady who holds singapore citizenship, but said that she loves china. Singapore is trying to build herself into a cosmopolitan city and i must give the government credit for such a plan because i do see the benefits and the necessity for such a plan. Being small and with the birth rate declining rapidly, singapore cannot expect her own population to support her growth anymore. Furthermore, the diversity, vibrancy and the various skills sets that a diverse mix of people can contribute will help singapore to advance alot.

but, what are the downsides of such a cosmopolitan city? Is a country made up of people from over the world (but who dont see themselves as citizens of that country) considered a country in the first place? Or isit just a venue for these people to gather and work together? Nationalism has been one of the factors that has led many countries to economic prosperity throughtout history. With nationalism and a sense of belonging to one country, there will then be a motivation and thirst to work hard to bring a greater good to one's country. Such a cosmopolitan city will thrive, but only when it is in the own interests of the individuals that make up this city to do so. If there is a divergence of interests between the individual and the state, what will happen? because the individual has no sense of belonging, the individual interest will certainly preside over the country's interests. Society will disintegrate.

I think this is the threat that the Singapore government should address. This is not just targeted towards the external issues of foreigners coming into singapore, but even internally. I think that our education system is encouraging individual excellence and competition so much that it is developing a generation of Singaporeans who place a very great emphasis on individual success. This explains why so many Singaporeans go out in seek of greener pastures to wherever places that offer them better options. Look at how many people default on their bonds, how many Singaporeans choose to work overseas.

It is this education system that emphasises on individual excellence and competition that has brought Singapore so far economically, but it is precisely this education system that will disintegrate Singapore as its people leave. Likewise, it is the government policy of openness that has added to Singapore's talent pool and brought singapore such huge progress. But, will it also be the open policy that cause Singapore to cease to exist?

to my dear sister who is reading my blog, pelase read the newspaper!