There is a great Italian restaurant I go to across the street from my apartment that serves delicious food. My regular waitress, it turns out, dreams of becoming a teacher and does have her Master of Education from a Philippines university. Singapore, like everywhere else in the world, covets the limited professional spaces there are and limits the influx of immigrant professionals. Over the course of a few meals, I told the waitress I was in education and I could help get her a job. Where, she said. I told her I could get her a job with my old company in either Myanmar or Vietnam or perhaps even get her a job in a private school in Singapore. I went on to give her a number of other alternatives such as getting a teaching degree in Singapore since they are paying students to get a teaching degree, just like Ontario in the old days. Anyway, as I said, I gave her lots of options.
To-night, went I went for supper she was looking downright glum if not angry. I asked her what was wrong and she replied; “ you gave me too many choices?” What, I said. How could you have too many choices in life? She then explained that she was a Philippina, was lucky to have a job in Singapore and didn’t want to have to make any more decisions. Given the menu of choices I presented her with upset her equilibrium.
Daniel and Josh…you were so lucky to be born in a first world country where you constantly had a myriad of choices, from which school you wanted to attend to what kind of job you wanted. You also know, even now, if you tire of what you are doing there are literally lots of choices for different jobs. How lucky is that? Imagine being limited by only two choices in life? How would that change you as a person?
By the way, after dinner I went for an ice cream and waffle which was $5.50. I gave the teller $10.50 and told her to make the waffle and I would be back in ten minutes. As usual, I forgot to get the change and walked out the door for my walk. The teller rushed after me ( even though she knew I was coming back) and gave me my five dollars change! Only in Singapore.
You are right Michael, we do not know how fortunate we are in Canada. We gripe about our leaders and govt officials at all times but never give thanks for the things we take for granted. may be we need to do that more often.
ReplyDeleteJan and I went to the Remembrance Day ceremonies in Bobcaygeon yesterday. Everyone there was very glad to enjoy his or her freedoms. We must continue to honor our freedoms and fight back when they are slowly being challenged by the politicians.
Barry