Among the many exchange students here in NUS, there are several people from the famous Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). From what I've heard about them, they are the smartest people in India and they are the few who have achieved the Indian dream. It is incredibly competitive to get into the institution as every single Indian student strives to do the same. They have to go through a standardized test called the JEE (Joint Entrance Exam). To prepare for this test, many people give up years of their lives studying. In the last two years of their high school, they start focusing less and less on school work and more and more on the preparation for JEE. Less than one percent of the applicants get selected into the Institution and most of the time, they do not get their primary choice of subject. The top choices are Computer Science, Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. However, many choose to sacrifice the subject of their choice for the reputation of the institution and they are happy with the subject that they are given.
At the University of Toronto, there are several international students from India among which are some rejects from the Institution. They are incredibly smart people and are among the top 5% of the class. Looking at them, I assumed that the people who got accepted to the insitution must be exceptionally great. One of the rejects who is in my university is incredibly bitter towards UofT and life in general. He cannot stand it when someone scores a higher mark than him in a test. He is ranked 2nd in Computer Engineering and it drives him crazy that he is not ranked 1st! After interacting with this person, I came to Singapore where I met several students from different IITs. They were not as I assumed at all. They were here to party and have a great time and they say that they do the same in IIT. Surely they study a lot and are very intelligent people. However, the assumptions about them is not true at all. Apparently the studying stops at JEE for most people and after they get into the Institution, they want to have a good time like anyone else. They drink, smoke, go to clubs, and generally do things as regular college students should. They are after all participating in the exchange program and clearly they want to travel and see the world..
However, one thing that must be mentioned is that this may be merely one type of IITians who are this way. Surely there are many others back home who may study all the time and are not interested in worldly travels. However, there is this one very conservative guy who doesn't want to go anywhere and simply stays at home and studies or whatever. He is a conservative guy who looks down upon meat eaters, drinkers and clubbers.. But anyway, the rest seem to be fairly active.
It was only after interacting with so many IITians that I realized what goes on behind the admission process of the institution. Apparently there is this place called Kota in Rajasthan which is a place where people go to train for the JEE. Many students dont go to school at all and they simply spend all their time studying for the JEE. In India, it is fairly easy to get a high school degree without attending (If you have the money and contacts..), so they do that. Then there are others who attempt it in their final year of high school and if they don't get in, they take a year off and intensly study that entire year for the JEE. I've heard there are people who attempted the JEE 3 times and they finally go into the Institution. This goes to show how badly they want to get into IIT and it seems that they will have no future if they don't get in. This is the compteitive world of India where they absolutely have to do something regardless of capabilities or aptitude or even passion.
Once you get into the institution, they cannot send you out for failing a course. Apparently there are people who have been in the institution for 7 years or more because they've been failing... Also, this is probably why there is atleast one suicide every year in the institution. The students simply cannot take the pressure of being number one and they finally give in..
Granted the education and opportunities available in IIT is nowhere comparable to any other government institution in India. People go on several internships around the world and get to experience things that Indians can only dream about. However, is it really worth giving up your life for? Apparently it is..
This makes me appreciate what I have in Canada, the country where there are very few engineers and anyone can become anything or do anything with a little bit of hardwork.. Due to the lack of people, anyone that is willing to work can get a decent job and live a comfortable life. It is only after coming to Singapore have I realized how different things are in Asia. To even live a middle class life, you have to fight like no tomorrow and only the fittest wins. This is Asia.. the continent with a hellava lot of people who all want to become something great in life and are willing to give up everything to achieve it..
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Sleepless in Singapore: Where are you from?
The very next question followed by "What is your name" is "Where are you from" in the exchange world of NUS. There were many times when I was sort of stunned for a while before giving an answer. This is because if the same question was asked in Canada, I would say that I'm from India without any resistance. However here, I am torn between being an Indian and a Canadian. Most of the time, though, I say that I am from Canada. This is mainly because my home university is in Canada and thats where I come from. Also, I AM a Canadian citizen, so that is also a politically correct statement. However, after that response, many people are surprised because they expected me to say that I'm Indian, I suppose. So some people ask If I am "ethnically" Indian to which, I respond by saying that I was born in India, but moved to Canada when I was 12, followed by the whole story of immigrating with my family and such.
Also, since there are many south Indians in Singapore, I am sometimes mistaken for a local, which is great but they immediately see that I am not from here through my language. One of the locals said that she would've though I was Tamil if I hadn't told her otherwise. One of the people in my hall even asked me if I was mixed. He supposedly thought I was half Indian and half white.. I think another guy asked me the same question and each time, I took it as a compliment because mixed children are usually pretty good looking ;) However, all these queries come from the fact that people have trouble accepting that a person of my colour and cultural background can be Canadian. Clearly, country of originality is not determined by the politically correct citizenship, but by the colour and ethnic background of the person. It is the same case in Canada. It is a very common question to ask a person where s/he is from. Even if they have been in the country for most of their life, or even born there, they do not accept themselves as Canadian and neither do the others. They are either Italian or Slavic or Irish or whatever, but never Canadian. I even know Italians who are 2nd or 3rd generation in Canada, yet they think of themselves as Italian. I suppose this is a good thing when compared to the "melting pot" that is the United States. However, there is this sense of segregation and no one seems to belong to the place in which they are living. This is something that is fairly disturbing.
Taking my national confusion to my advantage, I respond to the question as I see appropriate. If I am talking to an Indian and that person is a mere acquaintance, then I would tell him that I am from Bangalore, India. They instantly seem to see me as someone who is close to them and there is this instant repore. To a local Singaporean or other exchange students in Singapore, I respond by saying that I am from Canada. The Singaporeans especially are fascinated by the western culture so they instantly become more interested in you once you tell them that you are from that part of the world. When I visited Bangkok and Malaysia, I told them that I was from Singapore! Since it is a country very close to them, we didn't seem that foreign to them, so that was great. I told a taxi driver in Bangkok that I was from Singapore and he wouldn't believe me. Then I had to make up the story that I am from India, but studying in Singapore and such. (I didn't want to go into that whole exchange student story because it would just be too long and the language barrier was very frustrating).
Nonetheless, no matter what nationality I say that I am, they always associate me by my ethnicity, and I don't mind this at all simply because I don't mind being and Indian. As a Canadian citizen, I can conveniently say that I'm from either nationality (as appropriate). After all, in the current flat world, it doesn't really matter much because virtually anyone can emigrate to any place and be part of that country (political details excluded). So I think it is fine as long as you have patriotism and love for the country that you say you are from. I think that is the factor that should determine your nationality. Since I have it for both India and Canada, there is nothing wrong with me considering myself as belonging to both nationalities. In a month, I will go to India and I don't think anyone would ask me that question mainly because that doubt (that I am not from India) would probably never arise in my mind.
So, in conclusion, where am I from? I am from Canada, but originally from India, currently on an exchange program in Singapore..
Also, since there are many south Indians in Singapore, I am sometimes mistaken for a local, which is great but they immediately see that I am not from here through my language. One of the locals said that she would've though I was Tamil if I hadn't told her otherwise. One of the people in my hall even asked me if I was mixed. He supposedly thought I was half Indian and half white.. I think another guy asked me the same question and each time, I took it as a compliment because mixed children are usually pretty good looking ;) However, all these queries come from the fact that people have trouble accepting that a person of my colour and cultural background can be Canadian. Clearly, country of originality is not determined by the politically correct citizenship, but by the colour and ethnic background of the person. It is the same case in Canada. It is a very common question to ask a person where s/he is from. Even if they have been in the country for most of their life, or even born there, they do not accept themselves as Canadian and neither do the others. They are either Italian or Slavic or Irish or whatever, but never Canadian. I even know Italians who are 2nd or 3rd generation in Canada, yet they think of themselves as Italian. I suppose this is a good thing when compared to the "melting pot" that is the United States. However, there is this sense of segregation and no one seems to belong to the place in which they are living. This is something that is fairly disturbing.
Taking my national confusion to my advantage, I respond to the question as I see appropriate. If I am talking to an Indian and that person is a mere acquaintance, then I would tell him that I am from Bangalore, India. They instantly seem to see me as someone who is close to them and there is this instant repore. To a local Singaporean or other exchange students in Singapore, I respond by saying that I am from Canada. The Singaporeans especially are fascinated by the western culture so they instantly become more interested in you once you tell them that you are from that part of the world. When I visited Bangkok and Malaysia, I told them that I was from Singapore! Since it is a country very close to them, we didn't seem that foreign to them, so that was great. I told a taxi driver in Bangkok that I was from Singapore and he wouldn't believe me. Then I had to make up the story that I am from India, but studying in Singapore and such. (I didn't want to go into that whole exchange student story because it would just be too long and the language barrier was very frustrating).
Nonetheless, no matter what nationality I say that I am, they always associate me by my ethnicity, and I don't mind this at all simply because I don't mind being and Indian. As a Canadian citizen, I can conveniently say that I'm from either nationality (as appropriate). After all, in the current flat world, it doesn't really matter much because virtually anyone can emigrate to any place and be part of that country (political details excluded). So I think it is fine as long as you have patriotism and love for the country that you say you are from. I think that is the factor that should determine your nationality. Since I have it for both India and Canada, there is nothing wrong with me considering myself as belonging to both nationalities. In a month, I will go to India and I don't think anyone would ask me that question mainly because that doubt (that I am not from India) would probably never arise in my mind.
So, in conclusion, where am I from? I am from Canada, but originally from India, currently on an exchange program in Singapore..
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Sleepless in Singapore: Kiasu
Kiasu is Singlish for someone who is being keen. It can also be the act of being "extra hard-working" or keen. In as sentence, it can be something like "If you're Kiasu, you would read the material for the course during the summed and come prepared". Singaporeans are known for their Kiasu. Every task is performed extraordinarily with several extra features and surprises. They try to go that extra mile to really reflect their hardworking nature. I knew Asians were hardworking in general (And by Asian, I mean the oriental (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc)) because I've experienced their 'Kiasu' at UofT. Now, as I am living in the land of Kiasu, it is only more apparent. I suppose the reason for all this Kiasu is mainly due to the competition that people face here. Everyone wants to succeed and be the best they can be. They are willing to give up everything they have (i.e. their true passions, desires, etc) to pursue this stereotypical success in which everyone is an engineer or a doctor.
I think it is driven mainly from the culture which forces them to become something more than what they are. Asia was always a developing continent. The only difference in the current world is that the Asians have seen what they could potentially have. Through globalization, they've had a taste of life in a developed country and they want more. Another difference is that they now have more opportunities to become something more due to globalization and things like outsourcing and offshoring. So they have this incredible drive to surpass North America and if the west doesn't realize this soon enough, they would definitely go beyond North America's reach. Unfortunately, North America would never realize this because they have no reason to. They are living a great life in all their 'developedness' and are too engrossed in their own problems. I personally don't understand why there are soo many psychologically stressed people in North America. Their family life and relationships in general are fairly stressful and people are very confused about their life. The focus on individuality has been taken to extremes and it will become North America's downfall..
Back to Asia: It seems that everyone that I talk to is an engineer. This is the same case in India. ALL of my friends from middle school are in engineering and they hope to get into Computers or something technology related when they graduate. This is rightfully so because technology is a very lucrative market and thats what everyone strives for. That is what "success" is to Asians and they can do anything to attain it.
I think it was Thomas Friedman who said this following quote: "When I was a little boy, my mother used to tell me to finish my dinner because people in India and China are starving.. but today, I tell you this.. Finish all your homework because people in India and China are starving.. for your jobs!" If you tell someone in North America that youre an engineer, that person is viewed as somewhat of an intellectual and academically above average. In general, the view towards an engineer is completely different in North America and people are impressed by them (I hope). They are a new breed of people and this is the reason for all the engineer pride and weird activities in Universities for engineers.. (I am referring to making fun of artsies, catchy engineer songs, ERTW, dying yourself purple, getting an iron ring upon graduation, etc).. In Asia however, an Engineer is somewhat of a norm. Almost every second person you talk to is an engineer. If you're not an engineer, you are regarded as someone who is below average.. which is very interesting when compared to their status in North America.
So what will the future look like. In as short as 5 years (or perhaps even now), there are 10 engineers in Asia for every engineer in North America. It is the Engineer who designs, innovates, creates useful products for society and in general, makes life simpler. So does this mean that Asia will become the land of innovation and design? Clearly, it is already a land of extremely smart and analytical people when compared to North America (based on the assumption that engineers are smart and analytical, which is a fair assumption..). So I suppose North America is on the verge of its downfall. The North American kids are just too preoccupied with their self-inflicted problems. Compared to the Asians, they are not at all focused in anything and most are clueless about life. Surely, I am not as focused as the Asians either and it is something to consider.
However, the life of an Asian also has several flaws, in my opinion. Many of them give up their passions and real aspirations to pursue something that is seen as success in the society. Many people here love art. Nearly everyone in my hall plays the guitar and sing. They are phenomenal artists and they are incredibly athletic. However, these things are seen as mere extracurriculars and anyone who pursues these fields seriously are seen as potential failures. Off course there are exceptions where the true artsies defy all stereotypical values and pursue what they are truly passionate about, but it is not the case for most Asians.
They are always studying or doing something that is of a matter of consequence. This has rendered them somewhat emotionless and with a very low sense of humour. Many of them are unable to express themselves emotionally and are unable to interact socially. They lack in communication skills and tend to be alone and very work driven. In my opinion, even if this means success in the stereotypical world, it is not a good way to live because life is so much more than studies, academics and getting a well paying job. So in conclusion, I would say Kiasu is good until a point where you need to draw the line and apply the Kiasu to becoming a more well rounded individual. More than becoming something, it must be applied to actually living life instead of pursuing it.
I think it is driven mainly from the culture which forces them to become something more than what they are. Asia was always a developing continent. The only difference in the current world is that the Asians have seen what they could potentially have. Through globalization, they've had a taste of life in a developed country and they want more. Another difference is that they now have more opportunities to become something more due to globalization and things like outsourcing and offshoring. So they have this incredible drive to surpass North America and if the west doesn't realize this soon enough, they would definitely go beyond North America's reach. Unfortunately, North America would never realize this because they have no reason to. They are living a great life in all their 'developedness' and are too engrossed in their own problems. I personally don't understand why there are soo many psychologically stressed people in North America. Their family life and relationships in general are fairly stressful and people are very confused about their life. The focus on individuality has been taken to extremes and it will become North America's downfall..
Back to Asia: It seems that everyone that I talk to is an engineer. This is the same case in India. ALL of my friends from middle school are in engineering and they hope to get into Computers or something technology related when they graduate. This is rightfully so because technology is a very lucrative market and thats what everyone strives for. That is what "success" is to Asians and they can do anything to attain it.
I think it was Thomas Friedman who said this following quote: "When I was a little boy, my mother used to tell me to finish my dinner because people in India and China are starving.. but today, I tell you this.. Finish all your homework because people in India and China are starving.. for your jobs!" If you tell someone in North America that youre an engineer, that person is viewed as somewhat of an intellectual and academically above average. In general, the view towards an engineer is completely different in North America and people are impressed by them (I hope). They are a new breed of people and this is the reason for all the engineer pride and weird activities in Universities for engineers.. (I am referring to making fun of artsies, catchy engineer songs, ERTW, dying yourself purple, getting an iron ring upon graduation, etc).. In Asia however, an Engineer is somewhat of a norm. Almost every second person you talk to is an engineer. If you're not an engineer, you are regarded as someone who is below average.. which is very interesting when compared to their status in North America.
So what will the future look like. In as short as 5 years (or perhaps even now), there are 10 engineers in Asia for every engineer in North America. It is the Engineer who designs, innovates, creates useful products for society and in general, makes life simpler. So does this mean that Asia will become the land of innovation and design? Clearly, it is already a land of extremely smart and analytical people when compared to North America (based on the assumption that engineers are smart and analytical, which is a fair assumption..). So I suppose North America is on the verge of its downfall. The North American kids are just too preoccupied with their self-inflicted problems. Compared to the Asians, they are not at all focused in anything and most are clueless about life. Surely, I am not as focused as the Asians either and it is something to consider.
However, the life of an Asian also has several flaws, in my opinion. Many of them give up their passions and real aspirations to pursue something that is seen as success in the society. Many people here love art. Nearly everyone in my hall plays the guitar and sing. They are phenomenal artists and they are incredibly athletic. However, these things are seen as mere extracurriculars and anyone who pursues these fields seriously are seen as potential failures. Off course there are exceptions where the true artsies defy all stereotypical values and pursue what they are truly passionate about, but it is not the case for most Asians.
They are always studying or doing something that is of a matter of consequence. This has rendered them somewhat emotionless and with a very low sense of humour. Many of them are unable to express themselves emotionally and are unable to interact socially. They lack in communication skills and tend to be alone and very work driven. In my opinion, even if this means success in the stereotypical world, it is not a good way to live because life is so much more than studies, academics and getting a well paying job. So in conclusion, I would say Kiasu is good until a point where you need to draw the line and apply the Kiasu to becoming a more well rounded individual. More than becoming something, it must be applied to actually living life instead of pursuing it.
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