I was surprised, this morning, when my new Indian friends I got to know from school actually called me out. We only got know each other and chat a little in school this Friday, so it seems surprising for me. Most probably because I am the few Singaporean friends since they arrived in Singapore 5 days ago. But what seems more surprising was when I realized how ignorant I was of their language. Anyway they are Yashesh, Rohan and Barth.
So we were at Lavender station waiting for the train when Yashesh asked me about the “line” underneath the word “Lavender”.
Yas: What is that line over there? Under Lavender?
Me: Which line? Oh you mean the East-West line?
Yas: No no. THAT LINE under the word.
Me: errr….???
Barth: That is Tamil.
Me: Yah Tamil. You mean you don’t understand those words?
Yas: No
Barth: In India we have 40 over languages. Tamil belongs to South India. We have 20 over states and each state has its own language and also their own dialects.
Me: So you do not understand these words?
(pointing to the Tamil version of “please mind the gap”)
Barth: No. Not at all.
Me: What about those announcement messages?
Barth: Not at all. In India, we usually communicate in English or we use the common Indian language which is Hindi.
Then it seems to me that knowing 2 languages in Singapore is really nothing in comparison. Not to mention that I am never bothered to master Cantonese, my own dialect. I am somewhat ashamed to say that I can only say two sentences in Cantonese. First one is to make it clear that I do not speak or understand Cantonese, while the Second sentence is to say that “Fish today is very fresh, Pork is good too”.
Well the day concluded that I am not a competent Singapore Guide. However, I still managed to entertain them a little here and there. Barth suggested going Car-nival exhibition at Expo which marks our first stop. They are transport design fanatics, I would say. For me, I am not so much of a tech and vehicle person so I just check out the models there.
Then at Orchard, Barth and Rohan were delirious when they saw a Lamborghini parked outside Hotel Merritus. Not only them, everyone who walked pass it was pointing their fingers and even took pictures. It was like an unintentional car exhibition right in Orchard. Then while in midst of all the people drooling over the car, the 40s chic looking male owner of the fanciful carriage drove away with the Zroom Zrooooom at gear-1 through the congested Orchard traffic.
Then to mark the end of the day, I brought them to Park Mall to check out the designers’ furniture and Alessi for my finishing move.
Barth: This is a good place you brought us to. In India, we don’t get to see these. Only pictures of them.
Me: Really? No such places in Mumbai?
Barth: There are only 1 or 2 places like this.
Though they don’t get the privilege to see designers’ furniture often, they really DO KNOW their designers. They are able to spot the designers by the furniture and even tell which the classics are. Although I am able to see them all the time, I don’t really bother to go there as often or even to remember the designers’ names. It says a lot about our culture and how Singaporeans take things for granted.
*Ringtone*
Me: Hello?
Rohan: Its Rohan here. I just want to thank you for bringing us around. Thanks for all the trouble.
Me: Oh sure. No problem. Ok ok bye bye.
10 minutes later
*Ringtone*
Me: Hm? Rohan again?
Yashesh: Its Yashesh here. I just want to thank you for bringing us around.
Me: …err…okok. Rohan just did, awhile ago.
Yashesh: Yah I know, but I want to thank you personally.
Me: Oh~~ Yah can can. No problem no problem.
Yashesh: Ok bye bye.
Heh…that is seriously very polite of them.
