"Oh ! ... You're from Singapore ! ...... "
-
Even if you revealed your country of origin to a foreigner, he/she might not know where it is located. Most Americans, particularly those residing in the middle states, tend to be rather ignorant of world geography; aside from China, I've also been asked if Singapore was located in or part of Vietnam or Indonesia.Originally posted by CryoLind:The possibility of them guessing the correct country mayb high but dun assume...
Even if i can guess or know the origins of any ang moh, it would be more polite to ask than assume..
As much as we are loathe to admit it, Singapore does not feature very prominently on the world stage.
MG -
everybody seem to tink im from china... even my taiwanese frens too.. probably cos i use chinese when im talking to them...
-
I get alot of positive remarks from colleagues:
"Oh you have a world class library system there!"
"It's wonderful how much money the govt is willing to spend on IT for libraries / the new 13 storey library building!"
"I love the train system in Singapore - so fast, so efficient, so cheap to get around!" -
Originally posted by Meia Gisborn:
It's true MG. The text marked in red. Here's my experience.
Even if you revealed your country of origin to a foreigner, he/she might not know where it is located. Most Americans, particularly those residing in the middle states, tend to be rather ignorant of world geography; aside from China, [b]I've also been asked if Singapore was located in or part of Vietnam or Indonesia.
MG[/b]
I was at a BBQ with a bunch of young adults and mostly Vietnamese. When we announced that we were from S'pore, one American Born Vietnamese was like "wow, great city, blah, blah, blah." The way he described, I would have thought he has been to S'pore and all. Then the bomb dropped "so which part of Indonesia is S'pore in?" Out of courtesy, my jaw didn't drop.
Even when I said we are not in Indonesia, the other Vietnamese (now Canadian born) asked "so which part of S'pore are you from?". I'm like "erm, we are a city state." Like even if I replied "Ang Mo Kio.", will they know?
Anyways, this was my ONLY experience although some people, even Chinese thinks I am either Korean or Japanese. My golly, I don't have small eyes!
I have the real mata kuching!!! 
-
Usually I will tell them there is snowing in sg.
i think most of foreigners thought sg is a 'Fine' country that they think spliting is illegal. other will think we dress up like those beach boys and girls.
-
yup... i think sometimes ppl mistake singapore as part of china .... we r chinese but singaporean....
i was at such annoyed situation when i try to explain to some canadians during exchange -
Originally posted by c0ol_blu3z:
Small town Canadians is it? Big cities will know S'pore.
i was at such annoyed situation when i try to [b]explain to some canadians during exchange[/b] -
ya of cos they are ppls from like newfoundland.... but the exchange was held in Vancouver..ppl were from all over CanadaOriginally posted by littlestream:Small town Canadians is it? Big cities will know S'pore. -
Hmm, isn't that what Kiam Sng Tee said of Icyprincess too?Originally posted by rainee:I have had people saying that i am from Singapore the moment I started to talk...but in reality I am actually a msian -
yuppers ... i suspect so ..... would find it hard to believe someone from like say vancouver wouldn't know where singapore is .... singaporeans are there in division strength ! ....Originally posted by c0ol_blu3z:ya of cos they are ppls from like newfoundland.... but the exchange was held in Vancouver..ppl were from all over Canada
-
what's your problem?Originally posted by iveco:Hmm, isn't that what Kiam Sng Tee said of Icyprincess too? -
Fact is, there will be more Singaporeans who know about Middle America than the latter knowing about Ang Mo Kio.
-
that's cos the US looms large in our imagination, they move and shake the world, like it or not ... be it in entertainment, politics, popular culture etc ... so of course the average Singaporean heartlander would know more about the US than his american counterpart about singapore .....Originally posted by LazerLordz:Fact is, there will be more Singaporeans who know about Middle America than the latter knowing about Ang Mo Kio.
Fact is ... despite all the international accolades that we garner, best airline, sea port, airport etc .. (as related to us by the Singapore media ...... ) .... we are relative unknowns on the world stage .... to a lot of people .. we're a little red dot after all .... -
I'm thankful that most of my English and European friends know their geography, though one made the infamous Hong Kong/Singapore mix-up.
-
Australians are much more aware of the world around them, though the Americans from the two Coasts are much more aware of the world around them.
-
strangely enough people from third world countries that i know know more about Singapore than do "first-worlders" ....
i have friends from colombia, Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria, Cuba, Nepal ...... they ALL know where Singapore is located ..... (along with bubble gum and caning jokes, and the usual compliments about the place ... )
what does it say ? ....
-
well, most western people think that Singapore is a part of China, even the British.Originally posted by Fatum:Was talking to this chap from Yukon .... northwest canada .... an "ulu" and icy place beside Alaska .....
He: " so where are you from ? ... "
Me: " I'm from Singapore ! .....
"
He: "Oh ! ...... nice ....... "
Me: Smug .....
He: "That's the island off the coast of China isn't it ? ... "
(Me flips over ......
)
So there ...... you realise that sometimes, Singapore is only famous to Singaporeans alone .... ........................
any similar encounters ? .....
I've heard comments from a Canadian immigration Officer (not sure what its called) like "it doesnt matter if you are from SIngapore or not, after all, Singapore is a part of CHina." I nearly LMAO. -
another gem ...
one of my programming team mate just discovered the joys of google earth ....
so i asked him to take a look at Singapore .....
I think i shattered his illusions ...
his question through MSN: " So is Johor Bahru china ? " ............ -
That it takes a third-world country to know another third-world country?Originally posted by Fatum:strangely enough people from third world countries that i know know more about Singapore than do "first-worlders" ....
i have friends from colombia, Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria, Cuba, Nepal ...... they ALL know where Singapore is located ..... (along with bubble gum and caning jokes, and the usual compliments about the place ... )
what does it say ? .... -
Ok, I know this thread is dead old but I just saw it.
I've gotten my fair share of guesses where Singapore really is
(China, India, Indonesia, Mauritius??!! and even Papau New Guinea
)
However, the question most ask (especially so online in games)
"If you're Asian, why is it you speak such good English?"
Also, they find it hard to accept that English is our 1st language and that we are a Country and a City at the same time -
"Yes, I'm from the country that hanged one of your people."
-
I like this one ....Originally posted by ditzy:"Yes, I'm from the country that hanged one of your people." -
It's also the answer that might cause someone to whack youOriginally posted by Fatum:I like this one .... -
I'm not sure about that ..... perhaps they may just buy you a beer instead ...Originally posted by elindra:It's also the answer that might cause someone to whack you -
That's why I came up with something retaliatory.Originally posted by elindra:It's also the answer that might cause someone to whack you
"Touch me and I'm gonna hang your stinking neck like you know who."