Country Life

It has been ages since I've shared anything online, in a blink of an eye the next term has gone past right before my eyes! I really count my blessings each day that I work within Education, especially the fact that I have the flexible option of taking student school holidays off as well without actually taking leave! The work might be hard at times, but effectively I am able to actually not work for 8 weeks a year (or more actually!)

6 months out living in the country, and I wouldn't be honest if I said I loved every bit of it. The social isolation can sometimes be a bit discouraging, especially when people ask "so what do you do on the weekends?" and I say "nothing really, sometimes talk to myself?".

But what surprises me though, is how much I actually love staying out here! For one, here's my massive big house (pictures courtesy of a friend who came down and visited and provided awesome Canon shots):

The Differences in the Country (i.e. regional/rural Australia vs Metropolitan)

 1. Larger Spaces (as if Brisbane isn't spacious enough already)

 

I currently stay in a spacious Queenslander with another girl, it looks dodgy on the outside, and I must admit, it doesn't look spanky on the inside, but I reckon it's WAY better than a number of dodgy places I've seen in Brisbane/Sydney!

This house is probably waaaay older than my mum I'm sure.

And take a good look at my backyard. THAT IS MY BACKYARD. It's the size of 2 HDB 3 bedroom flats I'm sure

 2. Nature is ALWAYS abundant, and photo-worthy scenery is never scarce.

It still amazes me how you can go up to someone and ask, 'So... how large is your property?' and they go without batting an eyelash 'Oh, only 40 acres..." Singaporeans out there - how many of you actually know how big an acre is? Here's some perspective from Google..

1 Acre  = 43,560 sqft = 4046.84 sq m

If you live in a 3 bedroom HDB, that's about 700-900sq feet. A 5 bed room flat according to HDB's website, is about 1,184 sq ft. I CANNOT EVEN COMPREHEND THAT NUMBER.

Yes it has been artificially pinkified, but still, so much green and sooo much space!

 These are the wetlands that are just across from my place, by far one of the most gorgeous things I have ever seen! This picture was taken without any funny effects or editing, it is what it is!

The view from my back door any given day during the evenings. Picturesque eh?

What my friends called 'Lord of The Rings' hills when we visited my colleagues property.

3. Drinking Rainwater is normal and BETTER than drinking town water

Now this statement sometimes comes to a shock to not only people back home, but even people who have lived in metropolitan Australia all their lives. I didn't think much of it when I initially came out here, but basically, every house would most likely have a rainwater tank behind their house. These tanks collect rainwater run off from the gutter. They go through a couple of filters here and there, and voila, we drink it. Everyone out here tells me sternly 'DON'T DRINK THE TOWN WATER'. This refers to water that is processed by the towns and comes out from most taps in the toilets and what not.

People have different piping systems depending on how they choose to install them when they build their houses. Some only have tank water going to the toilet, some only have it going to the kitchen, some have it going to every pipe in the house. It's such a different world as to how we just buy ready made houses back home and perhaps, fuss about flooring or tiling. Even if you do build your own house in Singapore, you wouldn't be fussing about town vs tank water as well.

 

 Unfortunately, my tank water is rather dirty. The tank and pipes are so old that rust and some form of fungi often come out of the tap as well. I don't drink my own tank water, rather, I drink the tank water at schools where they have clean and well-maintained tanks. It has become so that I find Brisbane town water rather distasteful! My town water basically smells like a combination of sweat, chlorine and iron/blood. It stains the white ceramic tiles yellow, and causes the metal tap heads and pipes to develop blue rust. (Now go back and think of Secondary school Chemistry as to what element might be bringing about blue reside, haha). also, the town water tastes reallllly bad. Like salty and gluggy.

One thing living out here has also made me is grateful. Grateful that when I do go back to Brisbane for a weekend, I can take a shower with my mouth open and not splutter!

But rain water here is much much cleaner than out in the city, because of pollution and all. Hence it is much more acceptable to drink rainwater in the country as opposed to that in the city.

 4. The Cow Culture is Strong here

 Here are a couple of my neighbours! Many people own properties and farms here. I go to the staff room and listen to teachers talking about how their husbands have to do some work on the fencing in the farm, or that they have to maintain the farm or stuff like that. Most of them aren't farmers or anything like that, they just enjoy having a farm as a hobby!

That fence demarcates the boundary between my neighbour's property and mine

 Even my Speechie supervisor has cows! Just for consumption mainly. She explained how they had a mobile butcher come in for a couple hundred dollars to get meat for them. Basically, you call in a mobile butcher who drives in with a portable cool room, he shoots your cow, drains the blood in the cool room for a couple days, takes the skin/hide whatever you call it, chops it up for you and you pack it away. You then have to dispose of the bones and offcuts yourself. She says they normally burn or bury it. A cow gives her husband and her about a year's supply of beef. I'll have to talk more about cows in another post! I've just learnt so much about them!


There are a lot more things about the country that surprise me everyday, and I'll try and pen them all down to share before I become too complacent and ungrateful for all that's out there for me right now!

Singapore vs Aussie: Parenting

This episode of a TV series doesn't say it all, but it definitely says a lot. I started watching the episode with a light heart, laughing and sniggering at all the seemingly absurd strict rules we have in Singapore, and at how Memphis (the girl) put her hand to her chest to say our pledge a pretty hilarious manner. The episode started to get a bit more heart warming near the end, as both teens began to appreciate their parents.

It's definitely not so that all Singaporean parents are that strict, or that all Aussie parents are that laxed. But I really enjoyed seeing the flaws and imperfections existing in both families (and cultures). We might seem extreme in our little asian, authoratitive country, but you have to admit, that you do see results. Yet again, a lot of what we do is 'learnt' behaviour, rather than us thinking for ourselves.

It's a touchy topic, and I would rather not elaborate as much, but just as a little digression, our group of four Singapore speechies were having our group discussion on ethics this evening, and spent a rather long time stuck in a rut over a seemingly simple ethical dilemma, which, at one point, I think all of us agreed that our "one-track-mindedness" that has been well honed through our education system was getting us no where, and that we very much needed the dynamic viewpoints many of our Aussie counterparts had. A lot of times we are quite rigid in our thinking, especially for those of us who have been in science streams. Whereas I've observed quite a number of the Australians having no difficulty thinking outside the box. I've loved every bit of my course and stay here, and I hope to continue to bring the best of both cultures together.

Singapore vs Aussie: Small Talk

One of my main concerns whenever I went out on a clinical prac was always this:

Small Talk (aka Corridor talk)

The worrying idea that you might the awkward silence lasting throughout the entire endless corridor as you lead the client from the waiting room to the clinic room was something so small, yet daunting at the same time when I initially started clinical pracs. 

Over the years I managed to understand the Aussie culture a little bit better and no have no problems chit chatting away (so much so that I forget to start the actual therapy). But something I still have the habit of saying is somethign that has been so inherent and habituated in our Singaporean culture, that is, the classic grandma question of 

'Jiak Ba Bueh?' (which translates from Hokkien to 'Have you eaten already?')

Most of us Singaporeans/Malaysians know just how much we all love and adore our food./meals. I wake up in the morning thinking of what to eat, and my sister would start asking 'What's for dinner ah?' as she munches the remnants of her lunch. (I do that too sometimes!)

It's such a second nature to us, parents would ask their children studying overseas

'Have you been eating well anot?'

 'What did you eat for dinner/breakfast/lunch/tea?' 

'Got enough food anot?'

While my mum was here for a couple of weeks last month, the question or statement she would always say before I left the house for a meeting, work or class would be 'Har... like that then how you eat?? Sure won't get hungry anot? Like that how can? Aiyo how come never eat??' 

Even when our project group mates came over and went for a late evening rehearsal in school, she frowned upon how we would all not eat during the appropriate time (as our meeting lasted from 5pm-8pm, hence missing the official dinner times)

Seeing that my mum feels so strongly about appropriate meal times, I too am one who identifies with the importance of meals. I always end up asking the clients 'Have you had lunch/breakfast?' or 'What did you have for breakfast?' Only to get a fairly blank stare that says 'Huh? Why you ask so random question? Look at how bad the weather is!'

I often had to kick myself in teh foot for asking these food questions and not getting an answer which I hoped for or am used to, namely, an excited recount of whatever food they had eaten. (Most of them tell me they can't rememeber, I bet some of them think I'm testing them)

Here most of the small talk revolves around a few main topics (as I have observed)

1. Weather: there is ALWAYS something to say about the weather, sky, clouds, trees etc.

2. Traffic: who can't complain about bad traffic right? Unless it's such a norm such like in Singapore, where it no longer holds any importance anymore

3. Parking (or the lack thereof): yup, that's the bane of uni students' lives as everyone drives pretty much 

4. How's your day been going?: which is somewhat their version of our 'Jiak Ba Bueh?' as they often don't expect you to answer differently from 'fine, going great, oh yeah, going well' 

I just have to rememebr to stop asking people what they've had for lunch and dinner!!

Education Queensland vs Ministry of Education

Disclaimer: I am NOT an expert in this field or topic, neither have I had much experience in either. The following post is made solely on my own personal observations and experiences throughout my stay in both countries.

Education Queensland, Australia

Ministry of Education, Singapor

So I know it's been ages since I posted, and whilst my video of Gaby is loading on Blogger, I decided that I would finally write about what I had promised to write/focus on, which is, the topic of how the education systems differ in Singapore (MOE), and Queensland, Australia (EdQLD).

Unlike our rather small country Singapore (704 km²), Australia is massive (7,741,220 km²). The continent/country, therefore has to divide itself into it's eight different states/territories to make (I would assume) everything easier to manage. Most of the states have their own adminstrative government, and thus, have their own education systems.

So, here are some of the key differences between our education systems (in case you're thinking of your child's future education)

1. Education is compulsory for Singaporeans aged 6-15. For Queenslanders, it's from 6.5- 16 years of age.

2. In Singapore, kindergartens educate children who are in 'K1-K2', when they are 5-6 years old. In Australia, the term 'kindergarten' refers to the places 3-4 year olds go (much like our Nursery 1-2). This was initially the most confusing point for me when I first came here and expected to see 5-6 year olds in kindy. 5 year olds enter Prep in QLD schools, which refers to the year before Year 1 (Primary 1). This is optional for parents.

Basically, this means that all QLD-ers enter university at 18 years of age, some at 17 (if their birthday is late in the year). Thus resulting in some graduating with a degree at 21years of age. (Only for geniuses in Singapore)

3. Whilst most of our primary-secondary schools are government owned and regulated, about 50% of the high schools (secondary-JC) in QLD are privately owned. These schools tend to charge exhorbitant fees, but guarantee good education for your child. Their fees can average as much as $20,000 per annum. On the flip side, state education is free (but not highly sought after by the more picky parents)

4. I've seen teachers in QLD state schools wear berms and sports shoes for classes once (maybe it was just that male teacher). The rest of us know how strict the dress code for teachers in Singapore is!

5. One of the most interesting school events I've heard of is the 'Under Eights Day', where the school arranges for special events, carnival activities and fun stuff for children who are under 8 attending that school! One mum told me that it was a way to let the 6-8 year olds feel special whilst they were the youngest (and possibly smallest) in schools. For us? I guess we have our 1st October CHILDRENS DAY!! LALALALA

But the Aussie version has face painting, jumping castles and whole works... Whereas we get to stuff ourselves with candy/sugar, and watch teachers perform funny things, haha...

6. THERE IS NO SCHOOL CANTEEN LIKE OURS (Ok this isn't exactly a difference between systems, rather, culture). I might have mentioned before that an observation I made at a state school was that there wasn't the usual massive canteen with 100 benches and tables.

Typical singaporean school canteen

And there weren't the 8-10 stalls like we are accustomed to back in Singapore. Rather, there was a window much like that one in the picture with no signage whatsoever. The Aussie I asked then told me most kids eat their sandwiches on the grass or courtyard as a class with their teachers.

I've also seen the pricelist for a primary school here once, piang eh, sibei expensive.. Cheapest thing was probably the apple for 60cents. No wonder everyone packs meals to school and work!

Note to Singaporeans who are teachers: ENJOY YOUR 50 cent WANTAN MEE WHILE YOU CAN!!


Which brings my post to an end, because I should be fulfilling my last days as a student and doing some uni work instead of writing random things!

:)

The Fantastic Differences

I love how as I spend more and more time in Brisbane, I discover more and more differences between our two countries. Whether it be food, education or just culture, both countries have their strengths and weaknesses, and I'm glad I've been so blessed to have the opportunities to see these differences and be thankful about what I have in both/either country.

Since I haven't been blogging much due to the lack of a camera (poor excuse, I know), I decided that furture blog posts shall share some of these differences between Motherland (aka Singapore), and my second home (Brisbane, Queensland Australia).

Here's my pick for today:

The stereotype Western and Asian meals you find in each respective country.

 Exhibit A: Typical hawker centre/kopitiam Western Meal from Singapore

Must haves of a typical western meal:

- Meat chop of some kind, poorly pan-grilled or deep fried
- unsalted, possibly soggy, under-deep-fried crinkle cut fries
- fried egg (commonly called a 'bullseye' in my family)
- baked beans
- occasional poor attempt at coleslaw or stale, soggy, grass tasting salad


(photo courtesy of a real meal someone had on FB)


I'm sure any person from the a westernised culture will be thinking in their minds 'WTH IS THAT CRAP?!WHAT AN INSULT/POOR REPRESENTATION!!'

Well... let's look at some of the attempts at Asian food then..

Exhibit B: Common menu from pseudo-asian takeaways here in Brisbane  


I don't know how Singapore managed to have it's own noodle (I certainly have never had it in Singapore), nor have I heard of a 'pud' thai (though there is the pad thai, which might possibly sound a bit offensive and therefore renamed to pud thai). And don't you just love how the ingredients have been spelled out? Trust me, the food from this particular takeaway was pretty generic.. It tasted like they threw all the asian sauces they had on their shelves into the wok.

However, needless to say, both countries have their fair share of AMAZING representations of western and asian food places. While Singapore has a fantastic array of high-end restaurants serving up various cuisines, Brisbane has the beauty of many emigrants who have set up their own quaint restaurants and eateries which serve up really authentic food as well. I must say that Brisbane is where I'd go for the most authentic Vietnamese and Korean food due to the authenticity of the chefs!

Either ways... all that second grade food is still probably better than most of the stuff I whip up in mh kitchen (mainly the microwave) so far.. So.. no complains from me! (Besides the prices though)

Coming up next post....

Ministry of Education (MOE) vs Education Queensland (EdQueensland)!