5 differences between Stockholm and Singapore (in my eyes)
( This piece started in February, finished in June.)
Day 34. It has been more than a month since the experiential heat in the Lion City.
I don’t quite miss home yet, but it’s long enough for me to see stark differences between both cities and culture.
- Beauty
Facial features. Architecture. Museums. Weather. Snow. Winter.
2. Transportation
Metro. Subway. T-bana. Pendeltåg. Train. Escalator. Reliable. Not reliable. like SMRT? And not everyone has a car.
3. Working culture
Fika means put down your stuff and gather for Coffee Break. Phone-usage is a no-no, Socialising is encouraged.
Lunch is Lunch. Work is Work. Party is Party. Work-Life Balance. And we take out our shoes when we are in office.
4. Social norms
More reserved. Strangers rarely say Hi. Yet seemed nice after the ‘ice has been broken’. Cashiers are the friendliest.
5. Standard of Living
Singapore is expensive. Deal with it. Stockholm is expensive too (including student hostels). In fact one of the most expensive in Scandinavia/Europe. High taxation. High expenditure on food, drinks, party. Then again, their wages are high as well.
I have met a couple of Singaporeans who got married and settled/is settling in here at Stockholm. Their stories are pretty amazing.
The city is beautiful, Swedes/locals lead less stressful lives, welfare and happiness are never taken for granted.
Perhaps Singapore can learn more from them.
If I do have some form of political/social power, I will attempt to change some things back home. Change, is the only constant.
