Paradise@S'pore(Becoming)

I am a Mainland Chinese from birth, but now also a true Singaporean. This change of nationality was not brought about by solely my immigration to here as an expatriate, but also the environments that had a subliminal and severe influence on my very way of life and also my personality. I remain devoted and patriotic to my motherland, but at the same time have grown deep affection for this land on which I had been deeply rooted in for the past few years. How reminiscing was the process when I first set foot on Singapore till the time I integrated into the society here, discovered and adopted the Singaporean identity.
Unlike in China, where Chinese totally dominate the dense population, Singapore’s plural society ushers in a distinct uniqueness among the Asian countries. Its population mainly encompasses Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasians. Each of them boasts of its own refined cultures and traditions. Looking at the formation of Singapore’s society when I first came, I was rather bewildered at how different ethnic groups here could live together harmoniously without any racial strifes breaking out. At that juncture, however, the only medium of communication I am acquainted with was Chinese with the mainland accents, which varied from that of the Chinese here. I felt rather segregated and neglected as I could hardly communicate with the people around me. To better assimilate myself here, I decided to take on English and Malay despite the immense workload I have here. Within a year, the fruition of my sheer hard work was that I became able to converse in basic Malay and English, a milestone in my adaptation to Singaporean life. Even now the accents of my Chinese have become “Singaporeanized”. After all, one salient feature of Singapore’s ethnic groups caught my eye: Everybody possesses racial pride. Though we believe that we are fellow compatriots working endeavoring together for Singapore, minor conflicts in language or culture are still inevitable. Ironically, Singapore is reputed for its social stability. To uphold the reputation of Singapore, we must definitely respect other’s sentiments, regardless of their race. I believe I have been living up to this principle and that this is what it takes to be a Singaporean. People who do not embrace diversity should not be termed so. This is why we should also bear in mind  that Singapore is a cosmopolitan city.
It must also be noted that Singapore has a rich cultural and spiritual heritage. When I first came here, I embarked on a guided trip around Singapore to take a better insight into its history. Before I really knew about Singaporean history, I had always deemed it as short and insipid. We visited various sites like Changi Prison and places of interest etc. I was then told about the gloomy days in Singapore such as Japanese Occupation and how Singaporeans surmounted them. The diligence of the older generation of the newly emergent Singapore then also had allowed Singapore to transcend its limits and adversities to become a First World country in a matter of two decades. It then dawned on me that my thoughts had been erroneous. Singapore history is not about its timeframe, but all the struggles its people had made for its sake. After the trip, my perception of Singapore changed even further, and this had a remarkable traction in the change of my mentality and identity, as I looked towards Singapore with more respect and awe than ever.
The array of religions present here is also an integral element that moulds the norms of the society here. Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism, all these repose have been deeply entrenched in the society. Atheism, though, exists in small amounts. All these religion, regardless of their nature and origins, are mediums through which the morals and principles of righteousness is disseminated. They can also satisfy the void of hectic Singaporeans who pursues spiritual life other than materials. As for myself, I repose my faith in Buddhism which is prevalent throughout China. Like others, I visit places of worship, for me, temple, as often as possible, to pay respects . Indeed, the diversity of religions here has made the identity of religious Singaporeans to be rather amazing.
Another identity of a Singaporean is to be a city-folk. This is distinguished by the fact that we are living on a city, island state, and one that is a vibrant and sprawling metropolis, where flurry of activities are buzzing on in the heartbeat of this city every second. We are denizens in towering blocks dotted with small windows. We have to travel with great mobility around the isle to go about all our daily activities, in cars, trains and buses. Our time are engulfed by hectic lives which barely spare us a minute of rest. We have total access to modern technology which provides us with a multitude of possibilities. Such is the Singaporean way of life. For me, I love the thrill my lifestyle has brought about. I savour each day of life with great anticipation , sometimes trepidation as to what will happen next. Such feelings could spur me on to lead life with passion and optimism. Only here in Singapore can this feeling arise in me. Unlike in Chinese cities, where ghettos exist and thrash clog the streets, Singapore provides a conducive environment for leading a good life with its discrete organization of buildings and infrastructures, its neatness and cleanliness. Compared to China, where vagabonds linger around gritty streets of filthiness and deplorable living conditions, it would be far better here. For this, I am honoured to have that chance to live in Singapore where I can be exposed to a world after my own heart. Once, when I returned to China, I dearly missed Singapore and felt lethargic on the plane home. However, after comparing China and Singapore with each other, I find that I had feelings for both the countries,. I had a dilemma of choosing to like which one of the two countries, one of them my home and the other which I had admired so much. After much pondering, I came to a solemn conclusion that Singapore is as equally good as China, and that each countries have their own specialties. However, this has shown the extent of how much I begin to become accustomed and attached to Singapore.
Last but not least, the food culture here has greatly affected my initial perception of Singapore. My first taste of a piping hot bowl of spicy laksa here gave me the answer. Singaporean delicacies are truly tantalizing, tempting and OISHI! And there’s no doubt about that. They are just simply irresistible, in smell, in taste or in colour. They emerge from the “fantabulous” fusion of the food cultures of all races, thus it includes the usage of different culinary skills and ingredients, which yields different flavor individually. Here in Singapore, I need not solely base my diet only on Chinese food, but on a dazzling, scrumptious variety. We can tingle our taste buds with the exotic flavours of the East and West, all available here. Nasi Lemak, Mee Goreng, Roti Prata, Hamburgers, Japanese cuisine, the very mention of them makes me drool. I guess I might have been addicted to the food here, but I have seriously appreciated and fell in love with the food culture. Because of it, I have transformed my entire eating habits and diets. The food here also instills a sense of homely warmth whenever I eat them, and it is beyond description. Over the accumulated number of days, I have also correspondingly grew love and even patriotism for Singapore.
Although my adaptation here in Singapore is arduous, for all these reasons, any sacrifice would be worth making. Dear Singapore, in my eyes, I will always behold you as a paradise and I will always be proud of you!