Singapore is a country that values and treats foreign talent well. This is an observation that is often reaffirmed during my conversations with friends.
Yet we have noticed a phenomenon： While foreigners seem to be getting on well here, no matter how successful they are, as experts, academics, businessmen, engineers, teachers, artistes or athletes, many will, time and again, reveal a sense of helplessness and diffidence that cannot be concealed.
The emotion is not caused by prejudice. To put it accurately, it is a feeling of being on the margins, instead of part of the mainstream.
Armed with impeccable qualifications, talented foreigners who have come to Singapore think that they would be able to put their expertise to good use and move up the social ladder as rapidly as local elites. They are wrong. Whenever they speak, they are betrayed by their good command of, but accented, Chinese or English language.
From the facial expressions and body language of people around them, the message “so you are a foreigner” is unmistakable.
A close friend of mine from China has become a Singapore citizen for some years. He manages his own business and can be considered fairly successful. Yet he is always referred to by my Singaporean friends as “that Chinese national”。 I have explained that “he has long become a Singapore citizen”, but my friends maintain that “he is, after all, from China”。
There is no doubt that foreign talent here belongs to a subculture. They may have posh houses, big cars and children studying in top schools and they themselves may have been involved in community visits by ministers or MPs, but all these do not change the fact that they remain on the margins of society.
Try asking them. I believe for some at least, the original lofty ambitions, great aspirations and admirable goals must have taken a beating or even vanished completely from their minds.
They have no choice but to bow reluctantly to reality and be content with a regular income and comfortable living conditions.
True, talented foreigners often give the impression of being dynamic and game to take on challenges. But few are aware of the misery of living in a foreign land and the sense of disappointment and resignation they often experience when they are alone.
In fact, some people have returned to where they came from as they have not been successful, have become homesick or because of other reasons.
The feelings of insecurity and not knowing what the future has in store for them, peculiar to people who move from one place to another, is captured vividly in the second volume of Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew‘s memoirs in which he writes：“We, the migrants who have cut our roots and transplanted ourselves on a different soil, in a very different climate, lack this self-confidence. We have serious doubts about our future, always wondering what fate has in store for us in an uncertain and fast-changing world.”
For people who have left their hometown and have been wandering, no matter how long they have been living overseas, they will have a sense of uncertainty about the future. This is not the experience of an isolated few, but the common fate and heartfelt feelings of people who have been living away from home.
It is one thing for foreign talent to like, accept and identify with Singapore. But whether Singapore can reciprocate is another matter altogether. It takes guts for foreigners to come here to carve a niche for themselves. But it will take even greater courage for the Singapore government to convince Singaporeans to welcome and accept them with an open mind.
While foreigners who have chosen to strike out here are tough, they are also sensitive and have their weaknesses too. They need more recognition, kindness and concern, not indifference, accusations and excessive demands. Doing so may not necessarily help retain them, but not trying at all will mean losing them for sure.
As I see it, only when Singaporeans cease to regard foreign talent as coming here to compete for jobs with them, will foreign talent stop feeling being on the fringe. Foreigners will also begin to feel a sense of belonging to Singapore.
How soon would this day come？
（The writer is an investment consultant. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.）
外來人才的邊緣情結(jié)
楊建偉
朋友們在一起聊天,都承認(rèn)新加坡是一個(gè)高度重視和善待外來人才的國家。
但是,大家也注意到這樣一個(gè)現(xiàn)象：不論多么成功的外來人才,不管你是身居高位的專家、學(xué)者、企業(yè)家、商人,還是從事具體工作的工程師、教師、演員、運(yùn)動(dòng)員,在生活的似乎無憂無慮的同時(shí),許多人還是時(shí)不時(shí)會流露出一種無助、不自信、不理直氣壯的神情。
準(zhǔn)確地說,這不是由于受到了誰的歧視,而是一種沒有融入主流社會的邊緣情結(jié)。
他們原以為憑藉這些足夠優(yōu)越的資歷來到新加坡,便能夠大展拳腳,像本地的精英一樣很快地發(fā)展壯大,可是他們錯(cuò)了。每當(dāng)他們一開口講話,那一腔雖然標(biāo)準(zhǔn)但卻不是本地口音的英語或華語便把他們出賣了。
從周圍聽眾的面部表情和肢體語言中,他們明明白白地解讀出“原來你是外來人”的反應(yīng)。
我有一位來自中國的熟人,多年前已成為新加坡公民,擁有自己的公司,應(yīng)當(dāng)說是卓有成就了?？墒?本地朋友談起他時(shí),仍然會說“那個(gè)中國人”。我試著告訴他們“他早已是新加坡公民了”,可他們還是堅(jiān)持說“那也是中國人”。
外來人才在新加坡處于亞文化的境地是絕對的。盡管他們可能有大房子,有車子,孩子在念書,自己也參加過部長或國會議員訪問社區(qū)的活動(dòng),但這一切都無法改變他們?nèi)匀皇翘幱谥髁魃鐣c主流文化之外的邊緣人的事實(shí)。
如果去問問他們,我相信他們之中許多人當(dāng)初的雄心壯志、遠(yuǎn)大抱負(fù)或更宏偉的奮斗目標(biāo)早已大大打了折扣或不復(fù)存在。在現(xiàn)實(shí)面前他們只能明智的選擇隨遇而安,有一份穩(wěn)定的收入和一個(gè)優(yōu)越的生活條件,而已,夫復(fù)何求。
不錯(cuò),外來人才在人前常常是一副生龍活虎、不是猛龍不過江的英雄氣概?？墒?又有誰注意過他們在人后時(shí)時(shí)從內(nèi)心深處冒出的客居他鄉(xiāng)、寄人籬下、心有凄凄的酸楚、惆悵與無奈。
事實(shí)上,或是由于失敗,或是由于思鄉(xiāng),或是由于其他種種原因走不下去而卷起鋪蓋打道回府的外來人才也大有人在。
對于漂泊者所特有的忐忑不安、不穩(wěn)定感和無著落感,李資政在他的回憶錄中有過極其逼真的寫照：“我們這些過番客,斬?cái)嗔俗约旱母?尋覓另一種氣候另一種土壤重新扎根,欠缺的正是這種自信。我們對自己的前途憂心忡忡,老是想著在這個(gè)變幻莫測的世界里,命運(yùn)將會作出什么安排”。
這些離鄉(xiāng)背井、四處漂泊的異鄉(xiāng)人,不管在海外生活多長時(shí)間,仍然對將來感到迷惘。這不是一、二個(gè)人的個(gè)人經(jīng)歷,而是海外孤子的共同命運(yùn)和心靈體驗(yàn)。
外來人才能夠認(rèn)可、接受、喜歡新加坡是一回事,新加坡能否接受、認(rèn)可、喜歡外來人才又是另外一回事。外來人才敢于赤手空拳來新加坡闖天下,固然需要極大的勇氣；新加坡能否說服自己的國民敞開胸懷去歡迎他們、接納他們,則需要更大的勇氣。
外來人才有其堅(jiān)強(qiáng)的一面,同時(shí)他們又是非常敏感的和脆弱的。他們希望更少的冷漠、責(zé)備與苛求,他們需要更多的重視、溫暖和關(guān)懷。這樣想、這樣作,并不能保證一定會留住外來人才；不這樣想、不這樣作,則是肯定不能留住外來人才的。
我常常在想,只有到了新加坡的社會文化不再視外來人才是來搶當(dāng)?shù)厝说娘埻胫?才會是外來人才消除心頭的邊緣情結(jié),把新加坡當(dāng)成是不但人向往之,而且心向往之的家園和歸宿之時(shí)。
Yet we have noticed a phenomenon： While foreigners seem to be getting on well here, no matter how successful they are, as experts, academics, businessmen, engineers, teachers, artistes or athletes, many will, time and again, reveal a sense of helplessness and diffidence that cannot be concealed.
The emotion is not caused by prejudice. To put it accurately, it is a feeling of being on the margins, instead of part of the mainstream.
Armed with impeccable qualifications, talented foreigners who have come to Singapore think that they would be able to put their expertise to good use and move up the social ladder as rapidly as local elites. They are wrong. Whenever they speak, they are betrayed by their good command of, but accented, Chinese or English language.
From the facial expressions and body language of people around them, the message “so you are a foreigner” is unmistakable.
A close friend of mine from China has become a Singapore citizen for some years. He manages his own business and can be considered fairly successful. Yet he is always referred to by my Singaporean friends as “that Chinese national”。 I have explained that “he has long become a Singapore citizen”, but my friends maintain that “he is, after all, from China”。
There is no doubt that foreign talent here belongs to a subculture. They may have posh houses, big cars and children studying in top schools and they themselves may have been involved in community visits by ministers or MPs, but all these do not change the fact that they remain on the margins of society.
Try asking them. I believe for some at least, the original lofty ambitions, great aspirations and admirable goals must have taken a beating or even vanished completely from their minds.
They have no choice but to bow reluctantly to reality and be content with a regular income and comfortable living conditions.
True, talented foreigners often give the impression of being dynamic and game to take on challenges. But few are aware of the misery of living in a foreign land and the sense of disappointment and resignation they often experience when they are alone.
In fact, some people have returned to where they came from as they have not been successful, have become homesick or because of other reasons.
The feelings of insecurity and not knowing what the future has in store for them, peculiar to people who move from one place to another, is captured vividly in the second volume of Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew‘s memoirs in which he writes：“We, the migrants who have cut our roots and transplanted ourselves on a different soil, in a very different climate, lack this self-confidence. We have serious doubts about our future, always wondering what fate has in store for us in an uncertain and fast-changing world.”
For people who have left their hometown and have been wandering, no matter how long they have been living overseas, they will have a sense of uncertainty about the future. This is not the experience of an isolated few, but the common fate and heartfelt feelings of people who have been living away from home.
It is one thing for foreign talent to like, accept and identify with Singapore. But whether Singapore can reciprocate is another matter altogether. It takes guts for foreigners to come here to carve a niche for themselves. But it will take even greater courage for the Singapore government to convince Singaporeans to welcome and accept them with an open mind.
While foreigners who have chosen to strike out here are tough, they are also sensitive and have their weaknesses too. They need more recognition, kindness and concern, not indifference, accusations and excessive demands. Doing so may not necessarily help retain them, but not trying at all will mean losing them for sure.
As I see it, only when Singaporeans cease to regard foreign talent as coming here to compete for jobs with them, will foreign talent stop feeling being on the fringe. Foreigners will also begin to feel a sense of belonging to Singapore.
How soon would this day come？
（The writer is an investment consultant. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.）
外來人才的邊緣情結(jié)
楊建偉
朋友們在一起聊天,都承認(rèn)新加坡是一個(gè)高度重視和善待外來人才的國家。
但是,大家也注意到這樣一個(gè)現(xiàn)象：不論多么成功的外來人才,不管你是身居高位的專家、學(xué)者、企業(yè)家、商人,還是從事具體工作的工程師、教師、演員、運(yùn)動(dòng)員,在生活的似乎無憂無慮的同時(shí),許多人還是時(shí)不時(shí)會流露出一種無助、不自信、不理直氣壯的神情。
準(zhǔn)確地說,這不是由于受到了誰的歧視,而是一種沒有融入主流社會的邊緣情結(jié)。
他們原以為憑藉這些足夠優(yōu)越的資歷來到新加坡,便能夠大展拳腳,像本地的精英一樣很快地發(fā)展壯大,可是他們錯(cuò)了。每當(dāng)他們一開口講話,那一腔雖然標(biāo)準(zhǔn)但卻不是本地口音的英語或華語便把他們出賣了。
從周圍聽眾的面部表情和肢體語言中,他們明明白白地解讀出“原來你是外來人”的反應(yīng)。
我有一位來自中國的熟人,多年前已成為新加坡公民,擁有自己的公司,應(yīng)當(dāng)說是卓有成就了?？墒?本地朋友談起他時(shí),仍然會說“那個(gè)中國人”。我試著告訴他們“他早已是新加坡公民了”,可他們還是堅(jiān)持說“那也是中國人”。
外來人才在新加坡處于亞文化的境地是絕對的。盡管他們可能有大房子,有車子,孩子在念書,自己也參加過部長或國會議員訪問社區(qū)的活動(dòng),但這一切都無法改變他們?nèi)匀皇翘幱谥髁魃鐣c主流文化之外的邊緣人的事實(shí)。
如果去問問他們,我相信他們之中許多人當(dāng)初的雄心壯志、遠(yuǎn)大抱負(fù)或更宏偉的奮斗目標(biāo)早已大大打了折扣或不復(fù)存在。在現(xiàn)實(shí)面前他們只能明智的選擇隨遇而安,有一份穩(wěn)定的收入和一個(gè)優(yōu)越的生活條件,而已,夫復(fù)何求。
不錯(cuò),外來人才在人前常常是一副生龍活虎、不是猛龍不過江的英雄氣概?？墒?又有誰注意過他們在人后時(shí)時(shí)從內(nèi)心深處冒出的客居他鄉(xiāng)、寄人籬下、心有凄凄的酸楚、惆悵與無奈。
事實(shí)上,或是由于失敗,或是由于思鄉(xiāng),或是由于其他種種原因走不下去而卷起鋪蓋打道回府的外來人才也大有人在。
對于漂泊者所特有的忐忑不安、不穩(wěn)定感和無著落感,李資政在他的回憶錄中有過極其逼真的寫照：“我們這些過番客,斬?cái)嗔俗约旱母?尋覓另一種氣候另一種土壤重新扎根,欠缺的正是這種自信。我們對自己的前途憂心忡忡,老是想著在這個(gè)變幻莫測的世界里,命運(yùn)將會作出什么安排”。
這些離鄉(xiāng)背井、四處漂泊的異鄉(xiāng)人,不管在海外生活多長時(shí)間,仍然對將來感到迷惘。這不是一、二個(gè)人的個(gè)人經(jīng)歷,而是海外孤子的共同命運(yùn)和心靈體驗(yàn)。
外來人才能夠認(rèn)可、接受、喜歡新加坡是一回事,新加坡能否接受、認(rèn)可、喜歡外來人才又是另外一回事。外來人才敢于赤手空拳來新加坡闖天下,固然需要極大的勇氣；新加坡能否說服自己的國民敞開胸懷去歡迎他們、接納他們,則需要更大的勇氣。
外來人才有其堅(jiān)強(qiáng)的一面,同時(shí)他們又是非常敏感的和脆弱的。他們希望更少的冷漠、責(zé)備與苛求,他們需要更多的重視、溫暖和關(guān)懷。這樣想、這樣作,并不能保證一定會留住外來人才；不這樣想、不這樣作,則是肯定不能留住外來人才的。
我常常在想,只有到了新加坡的社會文化不再視外來人才是來搶當(dāng)?shù)厝说娘埻胫?才會是外來人才消除心頭的邊緣情結(jié),把新加坡當(dāng)成是不但人向往之,而且心向往之的家園和歸宿之時(shí)。