Comments on: Singapore and its foreigners http://eidus.org/2009/09/03/singapore-and-immigration/ Witness the World Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:28:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Fox http://eidus.org/2009/09/03/singapore-and-immigration/#comment-66 Fox Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:55:00 +0000 http://eidus.sg/?p=631#comment-66 I understand the US financial aid system perfectly well. I've been in the US for over half a decade. I don't think Americans are more accepting of foreigners than Singaporeans are. For instance, the Singapore government expends a lot of financial resources (undergrad scholarships, grants, sponsored attachment programmes, etc) to lure foreigners to Singapore; the American government doesn't. In my university, I've seen advertisements by NTU for undergrad students to come to NTU on a fully sponsored summer research attachment. As far as I know, and have I done some asking, we have no such programes for NTU undergrads. Many Singaporeans are resentful for a pretty good reason. I think Americans in the same shoes would be too. I understand the US financial aid system perfectly well. I’ve been in the US for over half a decade.

I don’t think Americans are more accepting of foreigners than Singaporeans are. For instance, the Singapore government expends a lot of financial resources (undergrad scholarships, grants, sponsored attachment programmes, etc) to lure foreigners to Singapore; the American government doesn’t. In my university, I’ve seen advertisements by NTU for undergrad students to come to NTU on a fully sponsored summer research attachment. As far as I know, and have I done some asking, we have no such programes for NTU undergrads. Many Singaporeans are resentful for a pretty good reason. I think Americans in the same shoes would be too.

]]> By: Daniel http://eidus.org/2009/09/03/singapore-and-immigration/#comment-65 Daniel Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:48:44 +0000 http://eidus.sg/?p=631#comment-65 Would love to talk to you more about this- have been talking to quite a few entrepreneurs in Singapore and in the valley (out of interest). The email you listed bounces, could you email me at danieleio@gmail.com? Would love to talk to you more about this- have been talking to quite a few entrepreneurs in Singapore and in the valley (out of interest). The email you listed bounces, could you email me at danieleio@gmail.com?

]]> By: Tax Collector http://eidus.org/2009/09/03/singapore-and-immigration/#comment-64 Tax Collector Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:46:30 +0000 http://eidus.sg/?p=631#comment-64 Singaporeans are very kiasi, not risk takers. They want to go to top universities and then work for top companies to receive good salaries. When I tried starting up a company in Singapore, I approached many friends to join me and they all gave me cold shoulders. They are very worried to lose their jobs. MIT, Harvard are not only famous for their academics and scholars. They are famous for their entrepreneurs and millionaires. The Forbes list has many Harvard alumni and they give generously to the unis. Singaporeans went to MIT/Harvard just to land in top jobs, hopefully those 7 mil p.a. jobs or govt jobs. MIT/Harvard grads in US started many businesses. Something very strange. Many of these MIT/Harvard Singaporeans come back Singapore, do not achieve much. Just collect fat salaries and wait for retirement. Where are our Faraday, Newton, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs? No movers and shakers despite of their good education. Why? Singaporeans are very kiasi, not risk takers. They want to go to top universities and then work for top companies to receive good salaries.

When I tried starting up a company in Singapore, I approached many friends to join me and they all gave me cold shoulders. They are very worried to lose their jobs.

MIT, Harvard are not only famous for their academics and scholars. They are famous for their entrepreneurs and millionaires. The Forbes list has many Harvard alumni and they give generously to the unis.

Singaporeans went to MIT/Harvard just to land in top jobs, hopefully those 7 mil p.a. jobs or govt jobs. MIT/Harvard grads in US started many businesses.

Something very strange. Many of these MIT/Harvard Singaporeans come back Singapore, do not achieve much. Just collect fat salaries and wait for retirement.

Where are our Faraday, Newton, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs? No movers and shakers despite of their good education. Why?

]]> By: Anti-foreignism in Singapore, and the Bukit Batok Water Festival - EIDUS.SG http://eidus.org/2009/09/03/singapore-and-immigration/#comment-63 Anti-foreignism in Singapore, and the Bukit Batok Water Festival - EIDUS.SG Sat, 17 Apr 2010 07:17:57 +0000 http://eidus.sg/?p=631#comment-63 [...] to be so for Singapore- when I visited the incubators in NUS last year, I found that more than 2/3 of the entrepreneurs were foreigners. Arguably, they will be the key creators on jobs in the not-too-distant and distant future, as [...] [...] to be so for Singapore- when I visited the incubators in NUS last year, I found that more than 2/3 of the entrepreneurs were foreigners. Arguably, they will be the key creators on jobs in the not-too-distant and distant future, as [...]

]]> By: Daniel http://eidus.org/2009/09/03/singapore-and-immigration/#comment-62 Daniel Sat, 17 Apr 2010 04:53:05 +0000 http://eidus.sg/?p=631#comment-62 Fox, Sorry for the late reply. I saw this post only after visiting it again today. I get your point- however in the US the system is quite different. Financial aid is given for all/most students, and those who are not well off pay little, while those who are well off pay the full tuition. There are quite a few foreign students here who are fully paid for (scholarships/bursaries) but the numbers are not high. Americans are generally accepting of foreigners, if you can contribute, give back, and make the effort to integrate into society. Fox,

Sorry for the late reply. I saw this post only after visiting it again today.

I get your point- however in the US the system is quite different. Financial aid is given for all/most students, and those who are not well off pay little, while those who are well off pay the full tuition. There are quite a few foreign students here who are fully paid for (scholarships/bursaries) but the numbers are not high. Americans are generally accepting of foreigners, if you can contribute, give back, and make the effort to integrate into society.

]]> By: Engineering in Singapore? http://eidus.org/2009/09/03/singapore-and-immigration/#comment-61 Engineering in Singapore? Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:05:06 +0000 http://eidus.sg/?p=631#comment-61 [...] I recall visiting friends in NUS and SMU over the summer break, and the general reaction to me telling them I was now an engineer was one of “what?!” Many of them were studying business (or some combination thereof), and a great many harbored ambitions of going to work in a finance or banking outfit. The remaining lot either wanted to be doctors or lawyers, and some perceived engineering subjects as somewhat of a “dumping ground”. The few technology startups I saw were staffed by mostly foreign students. [...] [...] I recall visiting friends in NUS and SMU over the summer break, and the general reaction to me telling them I was now an engineer was one of “what?!” Many of them were studying business (or some combination thereof), and a great many harbored ambitions of going to work in a finance or banking outfit. The remaining lot either wanted to be doctors or lawyers, and some perceived engineering subjects as somewhat of a “dumping ground”. The few technology startups I saw were staffed by mostly foreign students. [...]

]]> By: Arlene http://eidus.org/2009/09/03/singapore-and-immigration/#comment-60 Arlene Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:26:50 +0000 http://eidus.sg/?p=631#comment-60 Daniel your blog is very inspiring! Daniel your blog is very inspiring!

]]> By: Singapore and its foreigners | IMMIGRATION WISH http://eidus.org/2009/09/03/singapore-and-immigration/#comment-59 Singapore and its foreigners | IMMIGRATION WISH Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:38:57 +0000 http://eidus.sg/?p=631#comment-59 [...] post:  Singapore and its foreigners Share and [...] [...] post:  Singapore and its foreigners Share and [...]

]]> By: Fox http://eidus.org/2009/09/03/singapore-and-immigration/#comment-58 Fox Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:02:45 +0000 http://eidus.sg/?p=631#comment-58 One source of resentment by Singaporeans towards people like your China scholar friend is that the latter are often treated better than Singaporeans of similar capabilities. That kind of resentment is perfectly understandable. Imagine this scenario: Your education in Stanford is fully paid for by the California state government. Many of your American classmates, who are no less capable than you, have to make do with grants, loans and part-time work to pay for the school. They will graduate from school with debt while you essentially have a free ride. How, do you think, the Americans will feel towards you? One source of resentment by Singaporeans towards people like your China scholar friend is that the latter are often treated better than Singaporeans of similar capabilities. That kind of resentment is perfectly understandable.

Imagine this scenario: Your education in Stanford is fully paid for by the California state government. Many of your American classmates, who are no less capable than you, have to make do with grants, loans and part-time work to pay for the school. They will graduate from school with debt while you essentially have a free ride.

How, do you think, the Americans will feel towards you?

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