Food for thought
I must be a pretty weird specimen of a Singaporean.
Because I don't have much of an issue when it comes to speaking to a random stranger, if I see someone that looks a little lost, I wouldn't hold back to go up and ask if he/she needed help, even if it was just some guy on the street, or if I just overheard him/her wondering outloud.
Like today, this foreigner tried to hail a taxi, but looked annoyed when the cab went by him.
So I went up to him and told him that he couldn't hail one at a traffic light, but he could do so at the taxi stand just down the street.
Of course, fella looked pretty weirded out when I went to tell him that, but otherwise, I think he did as I said.
Maybe it was because he didn't expect to get any help, because after all, Singapore is not known to have a very friendly population. Or maybe even in his own country, the locals just don't talk to random strangers.
So I was wondering, is it really a cultural thing? Is it normal for locals in your place to do something such as that?
Conversely, would you do that?
How would you feel if you were in a foreign country and a stranger came up you like that?
Do this curious kid a favour and answer those questions please. :D
Because I don't have much of an issue when it comes to speaking to a random stranger, if I see someone that looks a little lost, I wouldn't hold back to go up and ask if he/she needed help, even if it was just some guy on the street, or if I just overheard him/her wondering outloud.
Like today, this foreigner tried to hail a taxi, but looked annoyed when the cab went by him.
So I went up to him and told him that he couldn't hail one at a traffic light, but he could do so at the taxi stand just down the street.
Of course, fella looked pretty weirded out when I went to tell him that, but otherwise, I think he did as I said.
Maybe it was because he didn't expect to get any help, because after all, Singapore is not known to have a very friendly population. Or maybe even in his own country, the locals just don't talk to random strangers.
So I was wondering, is it really a cultural thing? Is it normal for locals in your place to do something such as that?
Conversely, would you do that?
How would you feel if you were in a foreign country and a stranger came up you like that?
Do this curious kid a favour and answer those questions please. :D