WHAT MAKES SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE?
Singapore is my homeland and I am proud to be living in it. I have been to neighbouring countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, and none of the countries makes me feel more at home and at ease than Singapore.
Singapore has a clean environment. Every neighbourhood has dedicated cleaners who help to maintain the cleanliness of each neighbourhood. You can also be fined for littering, spitting or urinating in the public and this deters offenders to a great extent.
Singapore is a very small country. It looks like a little speck on the map but I have read that Singapore owns the best airport in the world. Although it is small, its people are of many different races such as Chinese, Malay and Indian and these people are able to live together in harmony with one another.
In Singapore, we are living in a pretty safe environment. You can often see police cars patrolling the neighbourhoods and police posts are mostly available in each neighbourhood. As compared to other countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, Singapore’s crime rate is considerably low. When holidaying in neighbourhood countries, my parents would warn me to stay close as they have read in the newspapers about the many cases of robberies and kidnappings happening in those countries.
Singapore is often referred to as a Garden City. Trees and plants are neatly lined along the roads and expressways. This makes Singapore looks less like a concrete jungle. There are also many big and beautiful parks in Singapore such as Mac Ritchie, East Coast and Pasir Ris. During the weekends, my family and I love to visit these parks as there are many different activities we could do there, such as cycling, skating and picnicking. Most importantly, these parks are very safe.
The common language used in Singapore is English and Mandarin. Even the old folks I meet in the coffee shops are able to speak Mandarin. Tourists coming to Singapore find it easy to communicate with Singaporeans. The road signs are also in English and so tourists would not face any difficulties reading them and finding their way around Singapore.
Transportation in Singapore is also very convenient and cheap. Public transport includes taxis, buses and the MRT and they are very regular and efficient. Taking buses and the MRT are also made very easy as bus stops and MRT stations are available everywhere. I can see in Malaysia that public transport is a hassle and hence each household cannot do without a car.
Singapore is also a food and shopping paradise. There are many different varieties of food from different countries, that you can easily find in Singapore. I do not have to travel to Japan to enjoy my favourite sashimi. Korean, Italian and Thai food are also available in almost every part of Singapore. Besides, there are many big shopping malls in Singapore and many imported products are also made available here.
There are no four seasons in Singapore, although sometimes I have wished otherwise. Singapore is usually hot and sunny except during the rainy seasons. Above all, Singapore is free from natural disasters such as snowstorms and earthquakes, which can result in many people made homeless. People living in countries such as Indonesia and Philippines are not as fortunate as we Singaporeans.
In Singapore, the poverty rate is rather low. Most of the people in Singapore do something to make a living, even some old folks selling tissue papers in the hawker centres. Sometimes, I even come across handicaps selling their own handicrafts. Most people living in Singapore own at least a flat. I do not often see beggars or homeless people along the streets, unlike poor countries like Indonesia.
These are only some of the factors that make Singapore unique in its own way and I am glad to be born, educated and raised in this country that makes me proud.
The parents who came especially to join us for the celebration.
The Drama club put together the story of Sang Nila Utama. We also learned about the story behind our anthem " Majulah Singapura". The celebration in the hall ended with the cutting of birthday cake, by some staff and pupils whose birthdays fall very near to the nation's.
Happy Birthday, Singapore!
