Traveling and Culture: Eye Opener

Traveling has always been a part of my life, an eye opener to the different cultures of the world and the different human behaviors. I've learnt much through traveling, things that I'll never be able to learn or see if I have not traveled.

Traveling helps people adapt to new environments, understand why people of different cultures behave differently, so as to enable us to understand why people do the things they do. This is especially useful to me because I work in a multi-national company that is made up of people all over the world. It helps me adapt and not to expect others to do things the way we do.

For example, if we see people spitting around, people who eat things and leave their waste to be cleared by other people, people who talks out loud in public, people who blocks every passageway and sidewalks, we can understand why they will never do what we expect them to do, such as to give way to us so we can walk the sidewalks, soften their chatter onboard trains and so on.

Not all imported behaviors are negative however. I've learnt many things from foreign cultures which I wish are being practised here. For example, ever since I visited the USA for the first time many years ago, I've learnt to clear my own food trays and waste at every fast food chains. Not to do so, to me, is to be uncultured and inconsiderate.

One of the many things in life we should all learn is that we must do things with consideration for others. We should not make decisions on our own without forseeing how our decisions may affect others. My principle for living is simple. I follow the Bible verse Philippians 2:3 which says:

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

Learning to be graceful and less inconsiderate can go a long way. If we wish to live our lives meaningfully, we'll need to know how to behave and live our lives. If you, like me, are willing to strive to make our nation state a place to live in, read my article on Learning to be Graceful.

Uniquely Singapore

When you see a caucasian rush into a MRT train just to 'fight' for a seat, you'll know he has stayed in Singapore for too long! This is the way Singapore teaches culture to foreigners!

As I attempt to tie-up my umbrella before getting off the MRT train, I accidentally let the umbrella drip some drops of water on the lady sitting at my left. Her face expressed great annoyance, but she failed to realise that throughout the journey, I have expressed irritation, because she has placed her umbrella on her right, wetting the left side of my pants.

A small build man in his thirties crosses his leg and occupies three seats on the MRT train. To his left, he puts his personal things, and on the right, he lets his leg cross boundaries, as he reads a tabloid sized newspaper. The small man hangs his umbrella at the metal pole in front of him, where he allows the rain water to drip a the train floor. When I take the seat on his right, he remains oblivious and continues to put his leg across. When a big guy stares at him and the seat of the small guy's left, the small guy gives up the left seat and let his leg down. When the crowd starts building up in the cabin, many people has to avoid the umbrella hanging at the pole because of the wet floor, and that is despite the scarcity of space.

This is Singapore, the place where graciousness is built on putting ourselves first before others.

Bringing Up Parents

"To teach graciousness to children, begin with their parents."

An example of parents needing parenting:

A father goes to the supermarket and place his trolley in the middle of a passageway with child in the trolley. He then begins teaching his child by pointing to things in the supermart saying, "This is an apple, that is an orange, the other is ..."

This 'anecdote' happened at the NTUC FairPrice Sembawang supermarket in the morning today. The passageway totally blocked, and other shoppers were unable to get through. The stares from the people at the father did not help, because the parent was totally oblivious to surroundings, because his world is the child, not earth.

For help on being gracious, read 'Learning to be Graceful'. For a biblical perspective of building graciousness, read 'Gracefully Yours'.

Bringing Up Parents

"To teach graciousness to children, begin with their parents."

An example of parents needing parenting:

A father goes to the supermarket and place his trolley in the middle of a passageway with child in the trolley. He then begins teaching his child by pointing to things in the supermart saying, "This is an apple, that is an orange, the other is ..."

This 'anecdote' happened at the NTUC FairPrice Sembawang supermarket in the morning today. The passageway totally blocked, and other shoppers were unable to get through. The stares from the people at the father did not help, because the parent was totally oblivious to surroundings, because his world is the child, not earth.

For help on being gracious, read 'Learning to be Graceful'. For a biblical perspective of building graciousness, read 'Gracefully Yours'.

Learning to be Graceful

Few days ago, I wrote on the topic of 'What Is Different About Singaporeans?'. In the story, I mentioned about the unpleasant encounters which resulted from certain unacceptable behaviours.

In this article, I will list down 10 things you can do to minimise negative opinions and improve your gracefulness.

The first thing to do is to consider others first. For example, by letting others out from the MRT train before pushing your way through, by not standing near escalators to chatter and endangering the safety of others, and by considering others' health before smoking at public places such as the bus-stop.

Second, in every action, ask yourself whether it will hurt others or put others in a disadvantaged position? For example, at a pedestrian walkway, consider whether riding your bicycle will cause inconvenience to others. What about leaning on the pole in the MRT train, will others who need to stand fast on their feet be derived from getting a hold of the pole? Consider whether your shopping trolley will prevent other shoppers or block others from having access to through routes if put in the middle of a lane.

Third, in making plans, consider how you can help others. Example, if building a public place or facility, have you given thought to conveniences for the handicap?

Fourth, quit all non-etiquette behaviour, such as spitting and blowing your nose in the public, asking for more free gifts when given only one or a few, excessively accumulating free gifts not meant for you, or accumulating massive food on the plate during buffet meals.

Fifth, learn good practices from others and from other cultures. Examples include clearing your own waste after eating at fast food outlets, returning unused chillie and ketchup packs to the counters, and giving up seats to people needing it more than you.

Sixth, Learn to give more than to receive.

Seventh, do not do anything from selfishness or conceit, always thinking to exercise own rights or assuming you deserve more than others.

Eighth, do not be too calculative or expect reciprocal returns from others.

Ninth, do not expect a 100% quality in everything, be it services or products. There is NO perfection on earth.

Tenth, be considerate in all things because you want to, not because you have to or because you are told to. Do it from the heart.