Leaving Singapore...

...this morning was somewhat depressing. Not because I was saying goodbye to my family and friends (again), but really because 2 incidents caused me to reflect on the state of affairs in Singapore.

First, the taxi uncle who drove me to the airport was telling me how his shift that day was from 5:30am to 9pm (wtf!?) and he had to do so in order to make ends meet. If he had a choice, he would not be driving a cab (for 11 years). He felt that the government today is simply concerned with profit-making and have left many citizens behind. Uncle was not angry and disgruntled like many other cabbies, but he just sounded tired and resigned to the way of life. He also shared that he was from the Chinese stream in Changkat Changi Secondary School but in secondary 3 (in the '70s), the curriculum suddenly switched to English. As a result of this, he got an 'O' in all his subjects. The second time he took his exams, he got 5 'O's. An improvement, but still not good enough to pass. His is a generation of Chinese educated citizens who got left behind in our push for economic growth in the 1970s...

Second, when I reached the airport and was waiting for the lady at the counter to prompt me to deposit my luggage on the belt, a very old uncle (probably in his seventies) came by quietly and started to lift my bag. I stopped him, only to be dismissed by him that it's his job and he's not asking for money. Very quickly, he lifted and dropped my 20+ kg bag on the belt and walked away. :( 

 What is Singapore becoming - a society where old folks need to clean tables at hawker centres and take up work that is equivalent to manual labour, albeit in an air-conditioned place? The cleaning lady at my workplace has been advised by her doctor to undergo a surgery to remove the corn in her feet and to take rest for 6 months. Not working for 6 months is something inconceivable to her. So, she's been putting it off and bears with the pain as she hobbles around.

As much as we want to believe that the quality of life in Singapore is good or good enough, there is a group that has been left behind or has fallen through the cracks. To me, they are the elderly who hold a job and are considered financially independent enough to not be provided with the extra support that might make a significant different in the quality of their life. If you know someone who falls into this category, why not reach out to them and see how you can help him/her in your own little way. A little help might go a long way for some of them.