Relationships in Singapore

One thing I have noticed, as I step into the society of Singapore (via conversations with taxi drivers and the like), there is a HUGE population of divorced people and remarried families here. I was first made aware of this when nearly 3/4 of the taxi drivers who pick us up talked about their ex-wives, their new courtship or their NOW lonely life without a partner (due to divorce).

It is also a very common thing for women to make the step out of an abusive relationship, choosing to leave the children in the care of their father. Hence, the youth generation is seaped with issues of self confidence, stability and self worth. Many more stories by taxi drivers and real estate agents.
Check this article, and this one out. A bit out of date but still relevant.

Today, while flicking the ever increasing choice of cable tv for the girls (I was trying to find a wholesome chinese tv show to expose them to chinese...yep, an entire blog in itself!), I came across a "info-mercial" where the government is teaching the public how to "resolve" issues and disagreements in marital relationships. It was the coolest little 10min programme, using actors sitting in a "yuppie" unit setting, a character narrating the "theories" and methods of conflict resolution. What stood out most was the fact that they used the ancient "chinese" philosopher's (Khung-zi, someone like that!) war/battle strategy and convoluted them into "human relationship" communication skills.

Singapore is a melting pot of many things, inter-racial marriages, marriages solely to move up in ranks, marriages for convenience and of course, marriages that aren't really (shacking up). The country is so "open" in their standards and thinking yet at the same time, tied up in traditions and superstitions that I find it confusing. During the "hungry ghost" month, parents will take their kids away from all water sources (swimming lessons) for fear that the children will drown. They will regularly purchase paper mache designs of BMW cars, furnitures, money, houses etc and have them burnt as an offering to these "ever-hungry" persons (creating pollution and lots of ashes in the air, sheesh!) This brings "Halloween-Asian-Style" to whole new meaning. In a different manner I heard of "Chinese ladies" training their protege on the lessons of "How to hitch a RICH, old European man!". These women (usually from mainland China, Philipines, Indonesia) fight hard to leave their lives of poverty and aim HIGH towards the luxurious life of the EXPAT community. During our stay at the luxurious apartment, I have met many of these ladies who dressed themselves up superbably (very sexy as well) yet when they open their mouths, they don't rank up to their clothes. These ladies come adorned with maids and spoilt mixed-blood kids. I was even annoyed at some point as their noses seemed higher than mine (showed no respect for other people even for a simple greeting!). What an eye opener!

All these I learn from my 38 days here and the amazingly efficient taxi community of Singapore. Food for thought!