Top 11 "Is It Because I'm Singaporean?" Moments Living Overseas
After staying in Perth for a month
Perth’s weather is li-te-ra-lly perfect. People dress like how I imagine people in LA dress—minus the brands. Almost nobody wears visible luxury brands here. Reference point: in this entire city, there isn’t a physical Dior or Celine store to shop in.
Jacob Elordi (Australian), Paul Mescal, Hailey Bieber, Kaia Gerber: T-shirt, sweater, sunnies, iced coffee, pastry in rolled up paper bag, windbreaker, small crossbody, café tote, Lululemon shorts, chino shorts, leggings, sneakers, Birkenstock Arizonas.
I’ve been waking up at six most mornings, going for F45/BFT, getting iced oat coffee, then going about my days. Every meal here is minimally $30 and supersized. The parks are beautiful, each has multiple walking trails. Refreshing but a tad extreme IMO: I’ve rarely heard TikTok music play in shops, restaurants, and nightclubs.
For years, I’ve had a recurring fantasy about living overseas for extended periods. Fade in: me sobbing in the window seat of a plane, “Breakway” by Kelly Clarkson underscoring my mood. Cut to me sitting in a sepia-toned New York subway, clutching my things as a finance bro steps out the car and a homeless man steps in. Cut to my epic life of being a fashion-lifestyle columnist. “Everyone gets a column when they turn 18,” said Catherine Cohen on Seek Treatment.
Cut to me almost 30 days into Perth, realising Singapore isn’t “the world”. “Asian” (in an all-encompassing way) being the first thing most people notice about me. Me feeling at times like an actual NPC. Wondering if this is how non-Chinese people in Chinese-majority Singapore feel 24/7—me having a “Is it because I’m Chinese?” moment.
In celebration of me realising Singapore isn’t “the world”, here are my top “Is it because I’m Singaporean?” moments having lived in Perth for 30 days now.
1. “Ni hao”
A drunk man in his early twenties said this to me while my friend and I were on our way from a nightclub to get supper.
2. “Are you from China?”
I’ve never felt more defensive about my “Singaporean” Chinese identity than when someone asks whether I’m from China. In fairness, I am Chinese, China is the world’s second most populous country, and I am not good at telling asians apart when I’m overseas—probably as bad as I am telling white people from each other.
3. “Do you work for Singapore Airlines?”
People like SQ and Changi Airport, I guess.
4. “What language do people in Singapore speak?”
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5. “I love Singapore! The last time I visited was 20 years ago”
I learnt recently (late, I know) that Singapore is a popular stopover destination. That means people typically visit Singapore as part of their bigger Southeast Asia tour. Makes sense: Singapore’s hotspots can be finished in like two, three days max.
6. “I love MBS!”
Fair.
7. Someone flirts with me, then goes on to flirting with only other asian men
It is what it is.
8. Discovering my new favourite “Choynese!” TikToker
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9. Learning work-life balance can exist like this??
Rush hour in Perth starts at 4pm.
10. Truly loving things like parks, long walks, beaches
Thanks to perfect weather.
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11. Singaporeans (me) are not used to small talk
Strangers will have full conversations with each other while walking their dogs, getting coffee, and buying shoes. People—hot, fit people—will actually do half an F45 class because they were talking to the instructors 50% of the time.