The thing I love about being half-way across the world is the new things you learn - it's definitely not America over here and I get a nice dose of that reality every once in a while. It's easy to forget that in a city/country that is so cosmopolitan and somewhat westernized, but we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto.
Today is election day here in Singapore, and it's made me think about the new world I live in. So as you know in the States when it's election day, about 30-40% of us will vote (in a good year), you'll be bombarded with signs and campaigners even while you're in the lines queuing to vote and it's a hassle to get there to actually vote because it's always a working day and the lines can be horrendous, right? Hence, many don't vote, then we all complain about the outcome.
Not so in Singapore (oh, that's fun to say out loud. No really, try it). It's actually MANDATORY to vote. Yes, you heard that right. They're so freaking organized over here that you get your little voting card in the mail about a week prior, it tells you exactly where to go and it's always very close to your home so that you can make it, voting is done on a Saturday (which is a national holiday so many places are also closed or will open late), and the day before is an official "cooling off day", which means no campaigning, signage, debates, etc after that day. It's supposed to give people time to think about their choices without pressure, and people here take it pretty damn seriously. I was out last night and asked a few locals what they were planning to do after work and they told me they were going home for the cooling off time. I'm drinking a beer, they're considering the future of their country. Yep, I'm definitely an American. ;)
They've got a lot of things right here - I like the Saturday voting to help people work it in with little issues to their life. In fact, they even give everyone an extra vacation day at all companies to make up for taking a Saturday. So even though I can't vote, I get an extra vacay day - NICE! I love the organization of it - according to my local friends, it only take 10-15 minutes to vote, including queuing in line. And I like the cooling off period - it's overwhelming with all of the info, marketing and signage being thrust in your face literally until the moment you vote in the States.
However, I'm not sure how I feel about mandatory voting. I see the benefits - everyone has a say, it forces you to be involved in your country and the decision-making process - but it just feels so... parental. Like you're not free to make your own decisions 100% and someone else knows better than you. It definitely makes me appreciate the open choice of America, while still recognizing the benefits of the way it's done here. It's an interesting dilemma.
Oh, and for the ugly in the title, you ask? I've got a great one for you. Some traditional men here actually purposely grow HAIR out of moles on their face/neck and will never cut it or trim it. It's recognized as a traditional sign of wealth and fortune, so it's taken pretty seriously for some men (typically for men in the older generations - I've yet to see a 25 year old with a disgustingly long hair growing out of their face). I get that it's a sign of good fortune and all and I appreciate that I'm the outsider here and don't really understand the customs, but it's just so gross. There's really no other word for it. It actually makes me throw up in my mouth a little. Yep, just a little, but it's there.
So, to wrap up - I'm blissfully unaware of being the foreigner here most days, but am still clearly one. That's okay though - expats get the best tax deal ever, so that makes up for it.
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