singapore-style discrimination

i can't stand people, singaporeans, who think they are better off than their fellow countrymen.

ok, let me first explain that this is in the context of singaporean students studying abroad. just happened to bump into some of them during my time in london.

after a quick round of introductions, and the usual 'are you malaysian/singaporean' question that will inevitably follow whenever fellow singaporeans recognise each other's unmistakable accent, the succession of questions would revolve around which school one goes to. i've never had any problem introducing myself to anyone from anywhere else - when i say i study in singapore, people appreciate the diversity, at least, they are polite and don't seem to start looking down on you just cos you don't study in the united kingdom or in europe. even the malaysian and bruneian students talked to you like you were on the same level with them.

not with singaporeans though.

they will give a really shocked look, and after a few seconds of recovery, they will either 1) try to cover up their surprise by saying something pretentious in a mocking tone, like 'wow, that's really impressive', or 2) give it to you straight in the face that you must be a lot worse off than them. one of them even went as far as to say, in an attempt to hide the fact that he has committed the crime of discrimination, 'well, you know the discrimination between local and overseas degrees right?' (or something to that effect, qing, can you remember what were the exact words?) and then, they proceed to talk down to you and dish out 'advice' about living and working in london.

of course, not all singaporeans are like that- i've a singaporean colleague at work and she's very nice and geuinely amazed that i managed to put the logistics together, and loads of friends who study overseas who haven't shown themselves to be like that. but meeting those few black sheep is disgusting enough.

but for those i've met in the banking world recently, i would love to give them the benefit of doubt- that they were not implying anything with their reactions. but i don't really want to meet them a second time to find out...