It is amazing how what was supposed to be a two-and-a-half week vacation in Australia turned out to be so much more than a simple holiday. The substantial length of time spent away from the comforts of my home allowed me to immerse myself in the Adelaide way of life. I spent four additional days in Melbourne, which provided me with some semblance of comparison between the two drastically different cities. That, however, is a topic of discussion to be discussed at another time. The issue at hand lies in addressing the key differences between the way of life in Adelaide and Singapore. Adelaidians adopt a slower and more relaxed approach towards life, as opposed to the frenetic, breakneck pace with which Singaporeans go about their daily routines. This simple yet fundamental difference is responsible for the contrasts in our lifestyles.
Adelaide and Singapore are both modernized and developed cities which feature excellent public transport networks, medical infrastructure, education, and housing for their citizens. Streets are well-maintained, roads are planned in an orderly fashion, shops range from the classiest boutiques to the humblest convenience stores, and the list goes on. However, what makes a good society great is not in the aforementioned governmental provisions, but the attitude with which its people perform their daily tasks, and the general level of happiness and contentment of its people. Adelaidians know how to enjoy life in ways that Singaporeans can never even dream of, and this is what we lack. Although some will say otherwise, we will never know how to live life to the fullest for as long as we are confined within the boundaries of the state. After all, how can man-made attractions like the Singapore Flyer, the Esplanade and Sentosa ever measure up to the breathtaking nature of the Adelaide Hills, the Outbacks, or the Great Barrier Reef? Blame it on geography, for no matter what we do, we can never fight against the geographical implications of this little red rot, which will always pay the price for its lack of physical space. We are a crowded society with one of the highest population densities in the world, with this figure continuing to rise by the day. Our geographical limitations only serve to create an overwhelming need for personal space. Because space is so incredibly precious, it is a great source of irritance to us when what we consider to be our private space is invaded by others. In the race for space, some of us are guilty of inconsiderate and ungracious moments: we snarl and stare aggressively at others who encroach, and jostle in crowded locations so as to retrieve that last table or seat for ourselves. This situation cannot have been any more different in Adelaide, where space isn't usually a problem, and even when it is (in crowded buses or trams), people tend to act with greater patience and graciousness.
Having returned to work after my vacation, I have since become slightly disillusioned with the number of jaded and disgruntled countenances I encounter to and from work everyday. I can certainly envision myself becoming a template of the typical desk-bound professional in the not-too-distant future. I don't envy the prospect of working eighty-hour weeks. I don't want to face the world behind a mask of cynicism, emptiness and hollow smiles. I wish to carry a spring in every step and greet clients and colleagues with a twinkle in my eye. And I definitely abhor the idea of cramming into packed trains and buses on the way to work. There's no space to breathe, no time to think. As we grow older, we carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. The draining routine of the daily grind quenches our thirst for life in its purest sense, and we grow to become physically and mentally weary, so much so that we have neither the time nor energy to think and reflect about our priorities in life. From young, we have been built to believe in maximizing our potential, in order to realise a dream that we think is ours but is actually someone else's. Alternatively, it could be a dream thought of by our parents, or perhaps, the government has actually hoodwinked them into believing that what's good for the nation is also good for their children. How many of us can safely say that we know what we want in life? Let's face it - life in Singapore is extraordinarily linear and routine, with the margins for error razor thin. What we know of life in Singapore is that it is a tedious and draining ordeal endured by generations past, so why should us, the new generation, be any different? We are generally single-minded in our approach to generate a healthy wage packet for ourselves, that, at times, we lose sight of who we really are, how we treat others, and what's truly important to us in life. Put bluntly (and I am more than guilty of these traits which characterize Singaporeans), we crave independence, money and material wealth, and we are determined to achieve them at all costs. We have been been programmed to believe that academic excellence is the only route to a top career, so we can accumulate wealth for ourselves and feed our materialistic desires, so that, presumably, we can become multi-millionaires by the age of forty and retire comfortably in our old age.
I don't know why I've ranted and digressed from the original topic of interest. What I do know is that I enjoyed every single day I spent in Australia, and, one day, I will probably be migrating from what I deem to be a sorry state of affairs in Singapore. I do not hide that I am a product of the system and that I am grateful towards it for moulding me into the person I am today. At the same time, I recognize what I lack, and I hope that the passing of time will allow me to address my deficiencies and discover who I really am inside, and what I want out of life. In Adelaide, I was lucky enough to have the company of a very special someone, which made the time spent there all the more memorable. But the city itself definitely played a major role in ensuring a wonderful vacation. The Adelaide society, from what I can decipher over a period of two-and-a-half-weeks, is a more inclusive and outgoing society. Adelaidians, in my opinion, are a generally happier bunch of people than Singaporeans ever will be. It just seems to me that we are never content with what we have because of the pressured life we lead. Adelaidians definitely extend a greater sense of graciousness, courtesy and respect to others around them. I've witnessed animal and insect exhibitions hosted in the heart of a major shopping district, and students from various schools going on field trips to markets to learn about cheese and yoghurt. These kids certainly do not pursue thermal physics or electrolysis as their core subjects. And while they are unlikely to match the mathematical and scientific abilities of Singapore childen, they are more in touch with their interests and are given greater scope to discover the tangible things in their world. Some learn about the different animals which exist in the many wildlife sanctuaries scattered throughout South Australia, about astronomy and the constellation of stars, about the Australian deserts and the environment, about Australian Football and its history, about conflicts in the world, about moral issues and current affairs. Some learn to bake the most remarkable pies and cakes and muffins and sell them for a living. Most importantly, they are given sufficient space to seek answers and think deeply about the issues which interest them, instead of being shepharded into a strict Ministry of Education regime which inhibits their ability to think for themselves. On the other hand, the brightest Singaporean kids are also, unfortunately, the most linear examples of how education can backfire. Ask them about current affairs, about monetary and financial issues; ask them to think out of the box, to invent and innovate; throw them into the deep end without a set syllabus, and the result is always the same - even the brightest students will inevitably panic and struggle.
I guess I'll have to save my ramblings for another day. And perhaps the old adage holds true, that the grass is always greener on the other side. Then again, the magnificent foliage present in the Hills is undoubtedly a fresher and more vibrant shade of green when compared to the greenery we have in Singapore. The Hills was an amazing experience thanks to its breathtaking scenery and fresh air, while Melbourne was mostly hustle and bustle with fantastic food and fun shopping adventures. Oh, and Australia has the most diverse selection of wine ever. Well, I'll find another time to post again then! It has certainly been a fantastic holiday, and definitely one of the best ever.