2 cents worth

I would like to share my experience during the interview with 3 offices of NUS comprising of Capmus Security, Office of Estate and Development and Office of health and safety. These three departments have collaborated with each other to form the NUS Trheaffic Safety Task Force (TSTF).

Going into this interview, my team and I did not know what to expect- we did not know who would be present, or how formal this meeting was suppose to be. I can say I was both alittle shocked yet pleasantly surprised when we entered the meeting room. There were 8 senior officials present. Yes, eight. Most, if not all of the staffs present were either the head of their department or head of a project. The atmosphere was somewhat somber and you had the feeling they wanted to get things over and done with quickly- after all, we were just students.

Intimidating? No. I did not feel intimidated by them, nor should anyone be. But I knew that I should at least justify their time for coming down.

Silence was broken when we were asked to introduce ourselves and our agenda for this meeting. Confidently, I spoke up in a clear and concise manner, acknowledging my teammates and getting straight to the point.  It is crucial that you make the first impression count. Speak up, clearly.

They decided to give us a mini presentation of their plans and proposals. While it is important to nod your head occasionally, it is even more important that you do not just accept everything they are saying is true. Stop to question their plans, if possible, at appropriate timings- do not cut into their presentation halfway.

The interview lasted for about an hour- longer than a lot of us expected. But I felt we had an engaging and though provoking ideas and questions- for both sides. At times, I felt our questions caught them off guard, and they would simply repeat some points in their decision. However, if they do not answer your question, do not be afraid to ask them, or pinpoint someone of interest, and ask the question directly.


I would also like to stress that it is essential for you to have done your research and preparation before hand. I am sure people are able to sniff out whether you do know anything of the project or not. This research extends not only to the context of what you're interested in, but a wider persepective, in this case, road traffic rules in details. 

So take home point is to be confident and respectful to them, but not feel intimidated by their ranks or seniority. 

Cultural Thoughts

A few cultural topics came into my mind today while travelling on the bus.

First of which is the pace of Japanese culture and in particular, as Brad mentioned in class, punctuality. I think many of us do not realize how important being on time is in Japanese culture. Being late reflects you as rebellion and even egocentric. It is a big deal in Japan- even a minute late could scratch a much lucrative deal.

My father is a trader/businessman who works with a Japanese company for almost 20 years. At home, my family always say he is always excited and early about doing things. For instance, if we have a dinner appointment at 7pm, he'll say that we'll leave house at 6.15 - more than sufficient time to reach our destination. But more often than not, he would be ready by 6pm and start to hassle everyone else to hurry up. Perhaps working with the Japanese have unconsciously made him part of that culture, in terms of punctuality.


Singapore has a population of just over 5 million, but only about 3 million are born and raised in Singapore. 1 million are permanent residents and the other 1 million are non-permanent. This figure is startling to me because our true culture is essentially only 3/5. One might say that having the other 2 million adds color to the original culture. Our country has always been a multi-cultural society, adding to the diversity of Singapore- and public holidays. I just feel that somehow, somewhere, Singapore is losing it's true identity. We are so focused on achieving economic growth that we just leave behind the past. Singapore's alittle bit like a kid fed with growth enhancing drugs- great in the short run, but the long term effects might not be too rosy. 3rd world country to 1st in one generation: now that's scary. Singapore is fast losing it's "country" status, and instead becoming a business corporation.

Post 4

I believe language is fundamental to communication. Difference in language also directly expresses the difference in culture. For example, when I was in Thailand, I observed that the pace of life is much slower and simpler compared to Singapore. Hand gestures are more effective than verbal communication too as both sides could not speak each other language effectively.  Even our multi racial nation boasts different cultures across the Chinese, Malays and Indians. I have to be careful in my words and actions when I’m with my friends from other racial background as what I think might be okay, may be potentially offensive to them. I once made a joke about a certain racial group, but it struck a nerve and my friend did express his disapproval. I immediately retracted my actions and apologized.

That said, very different cultures exists even in places where the people speak English as their first language. When I was in the United States, I observed that simple, everyday words or phrases would have a different meaning, or the locals would not understand them at all. For instance, when we buy “take away” food, I have to say “to go” instead, or the waitress would not understand me. In restaurants, each table would have a designated waiter or waitress that would serve you throughout your meal, whereas back home, you can call any staff to assist you in your order. Tips are considered a standard practice in America too, but that is not the case in Singapore. When I was a student on exchange to America, I found that if I were to learn and be part of that culture I was in, it was easier to get things done and the locals would be more responsive to you as well.

I had an African American friend on exchange to Singapore. One of the first few things he asked me was both eye opening and intriguing- he asked if there was any place or area that he should avoid near campus or in Singapore in general. Initially, he did not believe me when I said “No”.  In the States, being “colored” could get you in trouble if you walked into the wrong neighborhood. In contrast, Singapore’s culture and subcultures are such that it has always provided us with a safe environment to live in.

Culture also affects the accessibility of information. I have observed that the locals tend to assist you more if you are able to speak their language- simply because they would feel comfortable speaking to you too. For example, in Thailand, my Singaporean friends who were able to speak basic Thai were able to negotiate a better deal when buying products, compared to someone who did not know the language. Also, in Thailand the white men are always targeted as they are believed to have a culture of being rich. I also heard that in France, the French refuses to speak English to you even if they knew how too. Thus, in my opinion, similar language is the fundamental to effective communication, especially between different cultures. One must also learn to respect and understand another’s culture to ensure proper communication.