Gaps

Diversity manifests itself in so many ways that it always hit you before you realised it. Big distinct differences are obvious -- hobbies, interests, preferences, the explicit stuffs. Smaller ones result in strangely small yet powerful differences. Some people see minor tasks like life threatening jobs that should be avoided at all cost, since they stand to lose so much like the unthinkable 15 min of their time. Some people choose to think that they are older, wiser, more mature, pick up a stray responsibility and shove it to someone who they "think" should be responsible instead. Topping it up with different working styles, the "simply bo chap", the "everything I da with shitty results", the "why am I here so i am going to piss everyone off", the "lets have some fun while working".... you'll get a really weird bunch of people.

The non confrontational nature of Singaporeans doesn't really help. While supposedly mature young adults try to diffuse the invisible tension building up in the air via painfully subtle ways, I painfully watch by the side. Too many times I have tried to surface the problems and talk about it like adults and too many times they have tried to avoid and laugh obviously serious matters off as jokes to be brushed aside. Since I can't beat them, join them. Standing at the sideline watching the differences grow, laughing at matters I find disgustingly serious, are tiring habits I can't keep up with.

Aunty syndrome

I made 2 new discoveries today:

Discovery one: all cleaning aunties love to chat. They will start going on and on the moment they find a willing soul to exchange a few words. They will immediately go back to work when someone else approaches.

Discovery two: the best way to insinuate someone is looking much more mature than they do. First, say "you look really young!". Second, say "let me guess, you are (real age + 5)". Scenario to apply: act cute girls (acg) age 25 acting cute again, so you can go, "woah, you look really young. Any secrets to share? You sure look like you only 30!" Disclaimer: Don't attempt it on females. They are known to react violently to such taunts.