HUNGER:
Spoke with an SQ new recruit. She just wanted a job that let her travel, not one behind a desk, and no other job in Singapore would let her do that. But the job wasn't what she thought it was and after the 18 months bond she planned to leave the company. When asked what was difficult about it, she replied she had to bend down and stand many times, especially when helping passengers with their luggage. And she had to do homework to familiarize herself with the plane and the service. She said the training was like female National Service. She said she was from Gen Y, and the Strawberry Generation. But she felt that she was not as bad as her peers who were more self entitled. She wondered why, if she was nice to people, people would not speak to her politely.
I didn't have the heart to slap her twice and tell her the wake up because she is very sweet. But I also mourn the death of resilience and fortitude among our youth who grew up in a time when eating SGD10 slices of cakes and SGD7 coffee is normal.
My friends who own businesses complain a lot about the kind of people entering the workforce. My expat contacts complain about the lack of creative problem solving among the locals.
Singapore may be prosperous. But could it be on the backs of other nationalities who come here to build better lives for themselves?
When did the citizens of this country stop being hungry?
