Does anyone else feel disconnected from Singapore now?

Does anyone else feel disconnected from Singapore now? - Redpanda

Does anyone else feel disconnected from Singapore now?

I don’t know if it’s just me, but Singapore doesn’t feel like home anymore. Back then, I felt a sense of belonging. But now… I feel completely disconnected. Everywhere is so crowded, the weather feels unbearable, and I can’t shake the resentment that so many people here aren’t even Singaporeans. A lot are just using Singapore as a stepping stone to make money, and it feels like we’ve lost something in the process. The trains are packed, the cost of living has gone up, and honestly, it feels like locals are the ones paying the price. Jobs don’t pay well, the grind is endless, and even the fun/art scenes are slowly dying because they’re unsustainable here. (The projector) The recent National Day Rally didn’t help either. If anything, it made me feel worse. It just felt like numbers to the government, not real people living and struggling here. It makes me tired. It makes me want to leave. I feel like I’ve lost hope for this country, and it’s painful to admit because this used to be home. Am I just seeing things in a negative light?

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I always encourage Singaporeans to leave SG to see what it may be like elsewhere in the world. From my experience, life anywhere else might just have the same set of problems but obviously has its pros too but don’t let anyone tell you what they might be. Experiencing it for yourself would help you find what you truly cherish in this short life. If and when you do return back to SG, you might (not guaranteed) you might see her through a fresh set of eyes!

That’s true traveling and living abroad does give perspective, but I think the frustration here comes from watching home become less livable year by year. It’s not just about the grass being greener elsewhere, it’s about the soil here feeling drier. You can go overseas to gain clarity, but at the end of the day, the problems here don’t magically disappear just because you return with fresh eyes.

The overcrowded MRT stations feel like it is definitely an overpopulation issue and the frequent train/bus breakdowns don’t help. Most of the food establishments are turning into mala. Malaysians demand to drive grab here.. And can see English slowly disappearing from food menus and item prices in supermarkets dominated by mandarin. I’m seeing less and less Singaporeans. Nowadays youngsters don’t want to get married and have kids stating rising cost and the inability to find suitable partners. Then govt import people to maintain the population. Civic sense is getting worse. Eg.The shirtless man on the train and many other incidents we see everyday. And increasing kpod zombies. Just like another post mentioned, third spaces other than work/home are disappearing because we don’t support them and just want to nua at home on weekends because stress/tired/no friends. Friendships are not long lasting. People, relationships are calculative and colleagues are backstabbing. Toxic parents, siblings. Most people don’t have atleast one person to love them unconditionally. We are running the race to go up and up. Do better than others. This starts when we were born. Tuition. PSLE decides our path when it is the most important exam in a 12 year old’s life. Now we are running the race not only with Singaporeans bit with foreigners from other countries. You study hard trying to get into the prestigious NUS. But people from different countries and different certifications (might be valid/fake ones who knows) are easily getting a job due to connections and because they are from same country. I see news that there are many unemployed fresh graduates. And jobs that ‘Singaporeans don’t want’ goes to foreigners. Then what is the point of studying in Singapore ? If possible can go study in Malaysia/India at low cost to get a degree and come back find job here like foreigners ? At least more chance to get a job. Yes the salary will be lower but at least you are getting a job. We have to lower our expectations because foreigners spoil the market. They work for less than half our salary but for long hours so businesses choose them. Foreigners send money back to home country but we have to spend and live here. There is no meritocracy anymore. The level playing field is uneven. Those who can send their kids tuition and enrichment can win the game. This is not the Singapore I know and grew up in.

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Does anyone else feel disconnected from Singapore now?