I must just blog about this to air my anger( which has actually fizzled off)
The other day, I decided to take a cab with Hannah to Parkway for a walk before meeting hubby after his work.
So, after lunch, I put Hannah into the pram and went downstairs to hail a cab. Within minutes, a cab came along and I was rather glad because the wait wasn't long at all. But my happiness was short-lived! I beckoned the driver to wind down his window and asked if he could help me with the pram. He did not say much. Just alighted from his car and went to open the boot. What do you think you would expect him to do? Well, I don't know about you, I carried Hannah from the pram and expected him to help me with the pram. By that I meant fold the pram and put it into the boot. Well, he didn't! He stood there staring at us! I was half upset and half anxious cos the sky looked a little dark. So I carried Hannah in one arm and attempted to close up the pram with another. Of cos I did not manage to do so. And that driver just looked on! That started my blood boiling a little. I asked nicely if he could just HELP ME WITH THE PRAM. He looked at me and pursed his lips and sauntered over reluctantly. And despite my instruction of " Press this button" He kept pressing the other one that I wasn't pointing to. Which of cos did not help to fold the pram. He got upset and looked at me in disgust and anger! I got upset too and said THIS button. And he finally managed to succeed and I said 'Thanks".
When we reached parkway, there were two lanes. He dropped me at the outer lane from the entrance. I thought he would be kind enough to get the pram out from the boot and put it at the entrance for me. But NO. He took the pram out and again with great unhappiness, just left it right there behind the taxi and walked back to his driver seat with me still unsettled with Hannah in one hand, picking up the cushion of the pram he dropped (with no apologies or attempt to pick it up) and in between two cabs! There is only one phrase to best express my emotions : WA LAU!
The cab behind was kind enough to reverse so that I have more space to settle Hannah down into the pram and that thoughtless driver obviously drove off! Talk about kind gestures and world-class service! It embarrass me to acknowledge that such is our fellow Singaporean! Anyway I settled Hannah into the pram and moved towards the entrance. There were two steps leading up and I could not carry the Pram up! I asked a lady who was standing right beside me to help me. Thank God she did so. I was fuming mad by the time I got into the building.
Hello, I am not asking for much am I? All I asked is for him to realise that I cannot carry the baby and put the pram into the boot without his help. And I would expect some form of kindness, thoughtfulness or civic mindedness at least? I mean, isn't it obvious that I needed some help there?
I am not being disloyal to Singapore. I love Singapore and I am glad to be a Singaporean. But i must agree with my expat friend: That Singaporeans are not malicious. They are nice people. But generally not very thoughtful.
I add- not to strangers at least.
sigh.
The other day, I decided to take a cab with Hannah to Parkway for a walk before meeting hubby after his work.
So, after lunch, I put Hannah into the pram and went downstairs to hail a cab. Within minutes, a cab came along and I was rather glad because the wait wasn't long at all. But my happiness was short-lived! I beckoned the driver to wind down his window and asked if he could help me with the pram. He did not say much. Just alighted from his car and went to open the boot. What do you think you would expect him to do? Well, I don't know about you, I carried Hannah from the pram and expected him to help me with the pram. By that I meant fold the pram and put it into the boot. Well, he didn't! He stood there staring at us! I was half upset and half anxious cos the sky looked a little dark. So I carried Hannah in one arm and attempted to close up the pram with another. Of cos I did not manage to do so. And that driver just looked on! That started my blood boiling a little. I asked nicely if he could just HELP ME WITH THE PRAM. He looked at me and pursed his lips and sauntered over reluctantly. And despite my instruction of " Press this button" He kept pressing the other one that I wasn't pointing to. Which of cos did not help to fold the pram. He got upset and looked at me in disgust and anger! I got upset too and said THIS button. And he finally managed to succeed and I said 'Thanks".
When we reached parkway, there were two lanes. He dropped me at the outer lane from the entrance. I thought he would be kind enough to get the pram out from the boot and put it at the entrance for me. But NO. He took the pram out and again with great unhappiness, just left it right there behind the taxi and walked back to his driver seat with me still unsettled with Hannah in one hand, picking up the cushion of the pram he dropped (with no apologies or attempt to pick it up) and in between two cabs! There is only one phrase to best express my emotions : WA LAU!
The cab behind was kind enough to reverse so that I have more space to settle Hannah down into the pram and that thoughtless driver obviously drove off! Talk about kind gestures and world-class service! It embarrass me to acknowledge that such is our fellow Singaporean! Anyway I settled Hannah into the pram and moved towards the entrance. There were two steps leading up and I could not carry the Pram up! I asked a lady who was standing right beside me to help me. Thank God she did so. I was fuming mad by the time I got into the building.
Hello, I am not asking for much am I? All I asked is for him to realise that I cannot carry the baby and put the pram into the boot without his help. And I would expect some form of kindness, thoughtfulness or civic mindedness at least? I mean, isn't it obvious that I needed some help there?
I am not being disloyal to Singapore. I love Singapore and I am glad to be a Singaporean. But i must agree with my expat friend: That Singaporeans are not malicious. They are nice people. But generally not very thoughtful.
I add- not to strangers at least.
sigh.
