It has been almost two weeks since my arrival in Singapore, which means that I have had some time to discover some things about this little country. To tell you more about it, I have written a list of 5 things I have learned about Singapore so far.

1. They have their own “language” and use “can” a lot
There are 4 official languages in Singapore (English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil, but there is also one inofficial “language” – Singlish. It is therefore not uncommon that Singaporeans will say “can”. As far as I have understood (please correct me if I’m wrong), this word is used to acknowledge that you can do something as if they were to say “I can do that”, “You can do that”, “It is possible to do that” or simply instead of “Sure”. It is also common, just like in Swedish, to say things twice – for instance “can can”. They can also combine “can” with “lah” or “leh” and it is common to use phrases like “can lah” or “can leh”
“Leh” is used when you are not sure about something and is used more like a question. An example is:
– When does the concert start?
– I don’t know leh. Aren’t you the one who booked the tickets?
They do sometimes also use “lor” or “sian” at the end of their sentences.
“Lor” holds a sense of resignation and finality when used at the end of a sentence. It can be used when there is nothing to do about a situation and one just has to move on. An example is:
– Why are you so sad?
– Because life happens, lor.
“Sian” is a word that is used when you are expecting boredom, lack of enthusiasm or are just tired of life. Basically this word can be used in a multitude of contexts. An example is:
– Time is passing by so slowly, sian.
Last, but not least, there is my favorite of them all – the phrase “die die must try”. Imagine that you have tried the best food you have ever had and you want to tell all your friends to try it out – then this is the phrase to use. An example is:
– I’m not kidding, this place has the best laksa I have ever tried. You die die must try!

2. Most of them do not cook
In Singapore, eating out is pretty cheap. There are plenty of restaurants that could fit any budget, so if you don’t like to cook you basically do not have to. In the food courts I have been to so far the prices range from 2-8 sgd (13-53 kr) and most dishes are around 5-6 sgd (33-40 kr). If you want even cheaper options, you could go to one of the many Hawker centers. Since Singapore is such a small country, most of the food at the supermarket is imported. For this reason, the prices for certain items in the supermarket are higher then what they would be in for instance Sweden. Also, when cooking at home there’s a risk of getting an invasion of red ants, which are very hard to get rid of. Therefore, it is most of the time more convenient for people in Singapore to eat out.

3. The law against not wearing clothes around the house makes sense
In Singapore there is a law that states that you can’t walk around in your house without clothes if there is a risk that someone could see you. That is basically any room that has windows. Before my arrival I thought this law was a bit peculiar. However, since I got here I’ve noticed that due to the heat, everyone has both doors and windows open at all times (or most of the time anyway). This means that it might be uncomfortable for your neighbours if one were to walk around the house naked. For this reason, I think this law actually makes sense.

4. You will get fined if you eat or drink on the subway or at the station
Singapore is a very clean country and there are very strict laws about littering. In order to have less risk of littering in the subway or at the MRT stations, they have a rule of not allowing people to eat or drink on the subway or at the station. If you do so, you will have to pay a fine of 500 sgd (3.320 kr). So, if you like to have a coffee in the morning while you travel, you should reconsider this habit. Most Singaporeans buy a cup of coffee once they arrive at the station they are going to and there is always a long line to the closest coffee shop.

5. If there is a queue, that is a sign of something good
People in Singapore like to queue, just like Swedes. If you see people queuing there is probably something good that they are waiting for. When I first got here I got the advice to just start queuing as soon as I saw a queue, since there is most likely something good at the front of the line. So if you have a hard time deciding what to eat in the food court, just look for the queue and you will most likely find something good!

Hope you have enjoyed reading this post and I hope to see you here again soon!

//Paulina