I think all of us are bombarded by inter-cultural experiences every day, be it face-to-face or through media. After a point, we may become inured to some inter-cultural differences but there is one experience that I still do not fail to be surprised by.
My uncle and his family live in India. When I visited them last summer, my aunt was in the process of changing schools for my 10 year old cousin. In India, education is of huge importance. My cousin had studied in the same school (good, but not excellent) for 5 years. She was changing school now so that she could take advantage of the better education system in another school which, was one of the top ten schools in that particular city. This change was to help her when she sat for her 10th Standard exams (or 'O' Levels) in four years' time. Top schools actually started preparing their students for the "BIG" exams much earlier. (In fact, it is normal for Sec 4 students to go for evening classes, Saturday classes, tuition, etc. in India.) In any case, the entire "school changing process" took place while I was there, so I was able to view it with incredule at times, sometimes with admiration at the length people went for education, and at times, even ridicule, I confess.
To gain admission into the new school was not easy. It was highly competititive. Many children, no parents actually, fought for their children's place in that new school. My aunt and uncle for instance, had to obtain a recommendation letter from relevant authorities (who were from the school board or otherwise). They also had to obtain the application forms, go visit some respected figures who could influence the school board's decision. They had to give some cash to smooth over whatever hindrances that could potentially come. After the initial selection process, the student was then invited to come sit for entrance exams and interview. On the day of my cousin's entrance exams, all of us went down with her to support her. I was surprised to see so many parents and grandparents camped around the school area, waiting. They all looked so serious and worried that I felt like I was the only one who could not understand the gravity of the situation. My aunt had explained the education system in India to me before; but when I witnessed the numerous anxious faces waiting for their children, praying and hoping fervently that their children would get into the new school, I was struck speechless truly.
This experience impressed upon me the fact that I am so lucky to be studying in Singapore. Equality and meritocracy are valued ideals in our country. We do not have to seek the recommendation of others or pay our way for top education. Plus, we are a small country. Competition like what it is in India, is not something that we have to contend with. This is something to be thankful for, but yet we should not allow this fact to slow us down. Further, this experience actually showed me how much my own Indian friends in NUS must have studied hard to come to Singapore on scholarship. It has taught me I have to be open-minded when trying to understand other societies or cultures. It is often easy to view the world with our own rose-tinted glasses. We should take care to firstly realise that we are allowing our own beliefs to mar our understandings of other cultures, and then shift our mindset to take in the new culture. Only then, can we truly appreciate and enjoy the other cultures and new experiences that it brings us.
To end my story, fortunately, my cousin did well in her entrance exams and moved to her new school. :)
