I could only understand "car" when Mama told me they were going to watch racing cars. Anyways, Mama was glad I didn't go, like the other older kids she saw. It was very crowded and jammed. The noise from the "vroom" of cars was unbearable for her head and ears. She had headache throughout the time there and felt nausea. Gosh! I can imagine the noise level. No wonder they had to buy ear plugs.
Mama had one thing to say about the typical Singaporeans and the "ang mohs". Don't get her wrong, she is not trying to "jiak gun tung" (eat potato). Just that in one scenario, you could see a big difference of the 2 cultures.
Mama felt embarrassed that the foreigners had to experience this in Singapore, a country known for its well planned events and friendly people (the latter is yet to verify, perhaps, by locals?!)They were stuck in this lane with 2 groups of people wanting to go in and out, at the same time!! So there was a huge long jam.
And they practically need not moved a muscle to walk ahead, the crowd could just pushed you along (it was by far 10 times more crowded than CNY at Chinantown). And there wasn't any police in sight to guide. Yes, saw some, but they were "chilling" out quietly in a corner--a 'jamless' corner. Only like 2 or 3 of them. Sigh, and when the jam got really bad, with old people and kids, some foreigners shouted, "Move on!"
One thing about them, they were frustrated of the situation, but they didn't let it out at the people they were stuck with. After shouting, they smiled at Papa and Mama. Some even struck conversation with them about the jam, like made-the-best-out-of-the-problem attitude.
Unlike some petty and narrow minded locals, they let it out at the crowd. Frowned at people as if someone forced them into the jam, made that irritating "zxk zxk" sound when they rubbed shoulders, one elder man kept staring at Papa who accidentally knocked his daughter on her back (wah, he thought his daughter was drop dead gorgeous ah!? He didn't see Papa's wife next to him meh!?? :P)and better still, one old couple who stood next to Mama said, "Ah, don't push us hor. We are old people. Cannot fall down one hah." Mama didn't know to laugh or be angry. Her jaw just dropped. What a statement! Yes, they were old and falling down would definitely be bad for them. But hey, that statement sounded as if Mama was gonna deliberately PUSH them down! Gosh!
And when the jam got worse still, one "ang moh" stood up high, Mama couldn't see what or who he was standing on (cos she was surrounded by very tall men), and he literally rose to the occasion. He signalled to the crowd that was coming against them with his arms to move back. And he shouted, "Move that way! Move that way!"
He was trying to police the crowd. Papa applauded him. Now, that's what I called problem solving. On the contrary, the typical locals would just stare at him with that "seow ah him!" look, and continued with their frowns, stares and pushing at one another. Sigh, what an awful sight infront of an international crowd. Shame.
Perhaps, educational system and family values should start to shift. Focus on solving the problem and stop blaming others, I think the former is more productive and produces happier people.
P.S: KS, thanks for the tickets. We enjoyed ourselves! :)Gary's best birthday gift so far!(though he said you forgot about it lah! :P hahahahaaa....no worries, your tickets made up to it liao!
