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Resilience From A Singaporean In Toronto

- by Kelvin Yang

An attitude towards life? Maybe. A way of handling matters? Perhaps. A character that defines Singapore? Probably. Whichever angle you look at it from, the Singapore Spirit is an enigma in the eyes of the nation as a whole. One thing though, is more easily agreed upon. Most of us exhibit qualities or attitudes that one would associate with the Singapore Spirit, in one way or another – we ARE, after all, in our totality, Singapore. The many part series People Who Epitomise the Singapore Spirit aims to feature as wide a spectrum of Singaporeans as possible, some well-known, some not so well-known, whom we feel exhibit some area of this elusive thing called the Singapore Spirit. This article, the first in the series, features a Singaporean who is currently living in Toronto, Canada.

Resilience. That is the attribute that Mr. Kenneth Lai, a Singaporean international student studying at the University of Toronto, in Canada, feels best represents Singapore. Resilience is surely no stranger to Kenneth. Studying overseas after all requires one to be able to adapt to a foreign country and to be resilient in the face of adversity or challenges.

Challenges. That would be one area in which Kenneth expects Singaporeans to excel in. When asked what was the special characteristic about Singaporeans that differentiates them from the crowd, his answer was succinct. “Belief. Singaporeans have belief in themselves and their country. They are the essence of the nation and they are confident in their abilities and their collective efforts in forging a better home for themselves. They know that the odds are almost always against them but they are optimistic and they grab every possible opportunity that presents itself. They take their chances and they persevere. Together, they are able to forge a better future for themselves and everyone around them. That is the Singapore Spirit for me.”

Taking chances and persevering might be what Kenneth believes in. Yet how did this determined student find himself travelling half the world to Canada for his university studies? According to him, it was down to exposure. “Singapore is a small country and while it is very globalised and multi-racial, I find that there is only so much I can gain from everyday interactions.” As with many other Singaporeans, venturing overseas was the way to go. “I decided to broaden my horizons by living in what is probably one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, Toronto, where things are similar to Singapore in a way and yet larger in scale.” What then, does he hope to gain from this stint overseas? “It is my personal wish that this opportunity to come into contact with so many different peoples and experiences will enhance my understanding of the world around me”, Kenneth professes.

Let there be no illusions that Kenneth has forgotten Singapore though. In his own words, “it is impossible for me to forget those whom I grew up with, those who brought me to where I am today. They will always have a special place in my heart.” As to what exactly binds him to Singapore, Kenneth wittily puts it down to “three Fs” – “Family, Friends and Food.” Food though, gets him most chatty. “I can’t emphasise enough how difficult it is to get an authentic taste of Singapore outside Singapore.” Then, in half jest, he adds, “besides Malaysia probably”. Being able to cook does not solve this problem. Kenneth says that while there are “certain dishes” he can cook, there are “many others” that he is only able to savour in Singapore. Hearing him speak of his passion for food, almost a uniquely Singaporean quality, one banishes any doubt that this food gourmet is still a Singaporean at heart. Kenneth adds the punchline, “to round it up, nothing beats having Singapore food in the Singapore hawker centre/coffee shop setting!”

With the jovial tone that his answers have taken, one could not help but pose the question on what are some of the hopes and dreams Kenneth has for Singapore. The man himself stresses continuation – “it is my hope that Singapore will continue to be at the fore of global developments. The country has made a name for itself worldwide on the back of efficiency, high standards and innovation. It is most important that these attributes continue to drive the nation forward.” The international dimension too, features heavily in his vision for Singapore. “We live in a global village this century. If Singapore is to continue at the head of things, its people must have as good an understanding of the world as they have of their immediate surroundings. They must adapt to this new reality and only then will Singapore continue to be the world-renowned city-state that we have come to know,” he says in a serious tone.

The Singapore Spirit might not be something that Singaporeans mention on an everyday basis during casual conversations. Yet there is little doubt that it thrives in our deeds and actions as we go about our daily lives. Those of us who have taken the opportunity to venture overseas, thus defining the image that Singapore projects to the world, clearly are standard bearers of this Spirit. As we watch NDP 2008, come this 9th of August, we might rest assured in the knowledge that Singaporeans living overseas, people like Kenneth, are celebrating along with us. To this, Kenneth adds: “We have had 43 years of a great success story. On this day, let us celebrate our achievements once again and look forward to many more good years ahead!” Words of a resilient and confident Singaporean indeed.