The Gracious Society
"It will take beyond my lifetime for Singapore to be a gracious society"--Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore.
Today, indeed, I experienced Singaporeans in their full glory. Who says SG people are an ungracious lot? Well, tour with me in my morning adventure to prove you wrong!
Early in the morning, six o'clock....shall not digress further which might lead into a childhood vulgar song. Anyway, I was happily making my way to the MRT station, looking forward to the bright and sunny campus of NUS. After a while, I realised that throngs of people were walking out of the MRT station!
By the time I made my presence felt, there was already a huge crowd gathered at a nearby bus stop. Nonetheless, despite the fruitful time-wasting, the crowd was generally a happy lot! Everyone was walking gaily and calmly to the nearest bus stop. None complained even though they knew they were gonna be so early for school and work. The best way to start the first day of the week.
Finally, the bus had arrived. Everyone automatically formed a straight line to the bus entrances, even giving way to the sick, elderly and the young. (although somehow, I managed to automatically get up the bus without moving my legs. Really). Some commuters gently reminded their neighbours not to push. You could even hear people thanking the SMRT personnel for bringing the shuttle bus over.
The best was yet to be. (When the passengers had finally squeezed up the bus, the bus sensors malfunctioned. Hence they could not close properly). After a fruitful time wasting session waiting for the bus to move, some people even automatically got off the bus! They would rather be concerned about other people being late for work than themselves. How nice. Some middle-aged men even gently reminded the driver, "Oh what the fish. Why the FISH do they get off the bus? Get the FISH up!" (by now you should have gotten the hint). In fact, they liked fishes so much that they kept saying "FISH" under their breath. Some even urged the driver not to move, as they know that safety is of course, more important than them being personally late for work. What is possibly getting fired and scolded by the boss compare to the lives of 50+people at stake?
And hence, after 20 minutes of fierce competition deciding who got to hold the doors of the bus shut , the bus moved. Occasionally, the bus driver would steer his bus straight ahead instead of turning left. He wanted to practise his 3 point reverse turn so badly, I suppose. After 3-5 tries of successful 3 point turnings, he went on to practise reversing all the way back to the junction to turn left again. As well as slamming on the e-brake.
By now, everyone was euphoric. A few more fishes flew in the air, of course. Some even sympathised with SMRT, saying how little they have gleaned off our pockets, hence this performance today; so we must forgive them. One lady (from China, in Chinese) even told someone on the phone, "The bus driver really knows his way! I am sure I know why I am on this bus, and that taking this bus from Pasir Ris to Tanah Merah will surely bring me to Simei CGH!".
We managed to reach Tanah Merah, due to some passengers acting as bus captains, giving helpful information to the driver such as "turn left" (one said) and "turn right" (the other said, simultaneously at a junction), earning a few friendly horns as well as probably, a few polite middle fingers. (ended up turning right, which encountered more traffic lights instead of turning left which would have led to the expressway -.-''')
It even wanted to stop at Expo (again, due to a few blur passengers), before being gently reminded with yet a few more fishes to go straight to the MRT instead.
Waltzed into my lecture 1/2 hour early, as usual. (By the way, the driver said he came from Redhill). I guess he wanted to practise his bus driving skill in the isolated town of Pasir Ris. What a gracious society!
P.S, try to find the few statements that are different from the rest. (...)