Comments on: Who are you and where are you from?

By: Ibrahim Underwood

Ibrahim Underwood — Mon, 16 May 2005 15:59:52 +0000

Interesting post, accidentally found after googling for “singapore rockabilly” (into rockabilly and psychobilly bigtime)

I think what you’re talking about is partly a product of today’s world (applicable to myself as well). I’m an Australian living in Singapore, who uses Singlish when necessary on a daily basis.

I usually forget Australia Day or Anzac Day until a day or so after, and only remember the first few lines of Advance australia fair. Not to worry, though, eh.

When i think about what makes myself Australian, its really only my accent and insistence on using australianisms whenever possible (its enjoyable greeting Brits with “Gday”) that makes me recognisably Australian over here. The big thing that has struck me about home is that i do miss the colours and landscape of Australia – the “bush” etc, more so than the actual people.

Anyway mate, enjoy yourself and keep rockin’ (how i long to go back home – even if just for some of those rockabilly/greaser/kustom kulture festivals/weekenders in Oz).

cheers,

Ibrahim Underwood

By: Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 02 May 2005 06:00:36 +0000

I have an enduring memory of university: when I was looking for part-time work to get some experience, I applied to re-vamp The Singapore Club’s website. You should have seen the look of shock and disbelief on their faces when I told them I was not, and had no intention of becoming, a member of the club.

By: Maria

Maria — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 20:51:30 +0000

God forbid, Andrea, that you actually exercise independent thought! (gasp)

I get the sense that part of you feels like you should miss Singapore. If anything, it sounds like you’ve integrated what you’ve appreciated or admired from your experiences into your personality. And while others may balk at your lack of Singaporean fervor, why does it matter? At the end of the day, you’re “Andrea”, not “that woman who left Singapore and doesn’t miss it as much as she should” or whatever.

By: TuTu

TuTu — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 09:04:52 +0000

I’m Australian born to English parents, I’m proud to be an Aussie and have some pride in my partly english backround as well. However, I don’t live on football, meat pies, beer, kangaroos and Holden cars (well actually I do enjoy my Holden Monaro), and I don’t wear those stupid hats with corks on strings, but I do have a beer or two on Australia day (and any other day with a ‘y’ in it), support the Aussies in whatever sporting event they are in, and remember my families and others war veterans on Anzac Day (Aussies) and Rememberance Day (11 Nov).

Like you I enjoy going ‘home’, but also enjoy being elsewhere. I simply choose to travel and live in other places and broaden my mind and horizons.

A lot of people say I don’t sound Australian, but only because to do my job I have to train others and my original Aussie accent is often difficult, so I softened it and it became a habit. It’s just one of things you do to adapt, fit-in, be accepted whatever you wish to call it, when living and working in a foreign culture.

Nothing wrong with it. Whatever your reasons, social / political / family / boredom (that’s mine) it’s the life we have chosen and enjoy.