I feel sad when 4 of my friends, all Aspies, left me in the past 2 years for 'greener pastures'.
I have a few friends who gave me good vibes. I feel sad that they left.
Tom is an American-born classmate who studied in Singapore for 8 years. He decided to return to the States to study because, he says, he feels he does not belong to Singapore even after so long, more so because he feels discriminated as an Aspie, by those media portrayal of Aspies and Auties.
Meanwhile, Ian wanted to further his studies, but can't find opportunities here that are really suitable for him. Plus, he needed a respite from the venom attacks by a certain blogger in Singapore. So he moved to Perth in Australia, and had just began his first day of Uni prep school in Perth on Monday.
(All names mentioned above are pseudonyms)
It makes me thinking. I don't feel any place is really accepting of me.
I am of Chinese descent, and my father talked about the 'good old days' living in the Malaysia Union, but I do not think like them.
The Chinese from PRC call me a 'ermaozi', or some surrogate for Caucasians.
The Malaysians only recognise one race united by one Malay heritage, something I really feel comfortable with as a person with Chinese descent.
Singapore, meanwhile, may be a strong sovereign country that is tolerant of people of different religions. But we know its lack of support and current discrimination against people with developmental disorders, which we all are trying to work hard for greater acceptance. But the very existence of a 'second class citizen' due to persistent discrimination of one group of Singaporeans over another shows that Singapore is not one united country that we, born and bred in our land, is accustomised to.
So where is home? I wish it's a carefree place where I am not judged by race, religion or even political views, but rather, I'm accepted for who I am.
I do not know whether I have the strength to fight for something like equality in my country, when it seems easier to accept myself being a second-class citizen elsewhere, just like my friends, because it looks easier to be a second class person elsewhere than to fight for equality in my home country. Plus, I could possibly have a higher chance of gaining acceptance elsewhere than in Singapore, just by the look of things. Reality may not be true.
But with people such as Sam (an exercise therapist helping out one of my acquaintances, whose Mom is an autism advocate) having better opportunities in his home country, and that our leaders do not really understand the value of gifts and talents especially when it comes to developmental disabilities or needs issues, then I am really doubting my existence in a place I call 'home'.
Other than that, I should make things simpler. Maybe I thought too much.
Like what my parents said to me,
'Anywhere that's cooler, you just sit there.'
I have a few friends who gave me good vibes. I feel sad that they left.
Tom is an American-born classmate who studied in Singapore for 8 years. He decided to return to the States to study because, he says, he feels he does not belong to Singapore even after so long, more so because he feels discriminated as an Aspie, by those media portrayal of Aspies and Auties.
Meanwhile, Ian wanted to further his studies, but can't find opportunities here that are really suitable for him. Plus, he needed a respite from the venom attacks by a certain blogger in Singapore. So he moved to Perth in Australia, and had just began his first day of Uni prep school in Perth on Monday.
(All names mentioned above are pseudonyms)
It makes me thinking. I don't feel any place is really accepting of me.
I am of Chinese descent, and my father talked about the 'good old days' living in the Malaysia Union, but I do not think like them.
The Chinese from PRC call me a 'ermaozi', or some surrogate for Caucasians.
The Malaysians only recognise one race united by one Malay heritage, something I really feel comfortable with as a person with Chinese descent.
Singapore, meanwhile, may be a strong sovereign country that is tolerant of people of different religions. But we know its lack of support and current discrimination against people with developmental disorders, which we all are trying to work hard for greater acceptance. But the very existence of a 'second class citizen' due to persistent discrimination of one group of Singaporeans over another shows that Singapore is not one united country that we, born and bred in our land, is accustomised to.
So where is home? I wish it's a carefree place where I am not judged by race, religion or even political views, but rather, I'm accepted for who I am.
I do not know whether I have the strength to fight for something like equality in my country, when it seems easier to accept myself being a second-class citizen elsewhere, just like my friends, because it looks easier to be a second class person elsewhere than to fight for equality in my home country. Plus, I could possibly have a higher chance of gaining acceptance elsewhere than in Singapore, just by the look of things. Reality may not be true.
But with people such as Sam (an exercise therapist helping out one of my acquaintances, whose Mom is an autism advocate) having better opportunities in his home country, and that our leaders do not really understand the value of gifts and talents especially when it comes to developmental disabilities or needs issues, then I am really doubting my existence in a place I call 'home'.
Other than that, I should make things simpler. Maybe I thought too much.
Like what my parents said to me,
'Anywhere that's cooler, you just sit there.'
