"Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1,000 vaccuum tubes and perhaps weigh 1.5 tons." - unknown, Popular Mechanics, March 1949

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Thoughts: I want to emigrate too
See below for English translation

五湖四海
想法: 我也想移民
李慧敏
联合早报, 2009年12月27日

曾经有家长因为孩子受尽华文折磨举家移民澳洲。最近我脑子里也闪过移民的念头，但绝不是因为学习能力比别人差而想逃离。不可否认，想移民的原因包含了一些跟风的心态。

我认识的几个朋友，已经成功飘洋过海，有的去了加拿大，更多的成为了澳洲永久居民，而且在那里过得很开心。前阵子，另一个朋友打算全家移民澳洲，邀我一起去听移民讲座了解情况。当时虽然有些心痒，但兴趣不大。就在同时，一名已移居澳洲的朋友在网上展示他的生活照。那些照片中的大自然风景非常令人神往。

再看看自己，每天庸庸碌碌。偶尔想喘口气，周末到武吉知马山或海边休息，可是到处都是人，找不到一丝宁静。就这样满腹牢骚，我上了澳洲移民局网站，想象着空旷的原野和蔚蓝的海洋。可是，网站上看到的不是迷人的风景，而让人眼花缭乱的申请表格。我没有细读，只知道必须先通过英文水平测试，才能考虑下一步。

英文考试分笔试和口试两个部分，并不如想象中可怕。口试更简单了，更像是与英国考官闲聊。考官问我是不是想移民澳洲，我有些吃惊。她说，好多来考试的人，包括新加坡人，还有在此地居住的其他国籍的人都想移民到那里去。她问：“新加坡那么糟吗？”我告诉她，说很糟也不至于，也许就是食之无味，而好些人就认为这里让人觉得很窒息。

据悉，新加坡每年有1000个优秀人才放弃公民权。现在我猜想每年移居海外的那些还算不上是最“优秀”的新加坡人以及永久居民的人数应该也不少。

毫无意外，我的英文成绩过关。但由于申请程序非常繁琐，只好找移民专家协助。顾问向我解释各种签证，并通知我，最好赶在12月中以前申请，因为很多人要移民到那里，政策会再收紧。此外，整个手续会拖拉一年多两年，而且未必都能成功。听完所有细节，我感到头昏脑胀。

其实我没去过澳洲，除了知道那里有袋鼠，好山好水、风光明媚，其余的我一概不了解。终于我说出了隐藏在心底的话：我对新加坡政府没信心。顾问听了一点也不觉得惊讶。原来前来申请的国人当中，好一部分以此为由打算移民。

我当然不敢质疑执政精英的治理能力，但是当我们一味地强调经济增长，这一会儿中国崛起，要赶紧改革华文教育要赶搭中国顺风车；下一会儿促请人们了解印度；又一会儿展开讲正确英语运动，怕别人听不懂我们的英语削弱竞争力；再一会儿看到开设赌场、发展艺术有利可图，我们也来凑一份……整个空气中充满着怕赶不上别人的焦虑与恐惧。从这一切事情上，我看不见一个能让我们安身立命的东西。

更不解的是，当外来人口不断增加，官方表示有足够资源应付，但当谈到养老问题，我们却被告知资源有限。我们作为小市民的，更多时候只能扮演被动的角色，默默地接受。

离开顾问公司，我心情很矛盾。其实我并不是真的想移民，但也不敢确定这个地方是否值得去爱？现在新加坡被当作一家大型企业来经营，凡事以商业利益为考量。既然如此，人们以同样的思维模式对待此地也不为过。按同样的思路，我们难道还要把人生精力最旺的阶段投资在这么冷漠的地方？这与居住在其他陌生的国度又有什么不同？

我还未整理出我的“投资策略”，还没计算出继续留下来能得到的回报与亏损。抱歉，我知道这是个很冷漠的态度，但这也是我耳濡目染学到的思维方式。

但在心底，我更希望新加坡未来在追求经济发展的同时，在各个不同的领域也能有突破，成为一个更可爱的地方。年关将至，此刻我能做的就是希望来年会更好。

（作者是本地自由撰稿人）

澳洲是许多新加坡人的移民目的地。


Translation:

Thoughts: I want to migrate too
Li Huimin
27/12/2009
Lianhe Zaobao

In the past, some parents uprooted their families and migrated to Australia because their children were being tormented by the slings and arrows of the Chinese language. Recently, the thought of migration has crossed my mind, but it is not academic inaptitude that induces these thoughts of flight. It cannot be denied that some of my reasons for emigration are influenced by the zeitgeist.

I know some friends who have successfully flown the coop. Some have gone to Canada, and even more have become Australian Permanent Residents, and are very happy there. Previously, another friend planned to emmigrate to Australia with his whole family, and invited me to a talk on immigration to know more about it. At the time, although I was a little curious, I wasn't too interested. At the same time though, a friend who had already emigrated to Australia showed me some photos of his life via the Internet. The photos of the Great Outdoors were amazing.

Re-examining my life, the drudgery of my daily life hit me. When I needed a breath of fresh air, I would head to Bukit Timah Hill or the seaside to relax on the weekends, but I would be mired in a sea of people around me, and be unable to enjoy any peace and quiet. With resentment in my heart, I logged on to the Australian Immigration Agency's Website, thinking of Australia's open plains and azure seas. However, the website had no such appealing images, but only application forms that left me bemused. I didn't read the website carefully, but gleaned that I would have to take a test of English proficiency before going any further.

The English proficiency test was not as terrifying as I had expected it to be. The oral component was simpler than the written component, and it was more like chatting with the British examiner. She asked me if I was thinking of emigrating to Australia, which startled me. She continued, saying that many people taking the test, both Singaporeans and residents of other nationalities, wanted to migrate there. She asked, "Is Singapore such a shithole?" I told her even if it was a shithole people might not want to migrate; perhaps there was a lack of joie de vivre, and many people think Singapore has a stifling environment.

Reportedly, there're only 1,000 outstanding Singaporeans who give up their citizenships annually. Now I surmise that this statistic does not include emigrants who are not considered "outstanding", or those who have taken up permanent residency overseas.

Luckily, I passed my English proficiency test. However, since there was too much bureaucracy, I had to find a migration consultant to help me. Explaining the various types of visas to me, he told me that I had best apply within the next year, since the high number of immigrants would result in the government tightening entry requirements. Also, the application process would take 1-2 years, and I might not necessarily make it. After hearing everything, I had a headache.

In truth, I've never been to Australia, and only know that "here be kangaroos", and that there're many mountains and great scenery; at the time I was clueless. Eventually I spake the words hidden in my heart of hearts, "I have no faith in the PAP". My migration consultant was not the least bit surprised. It turned out that many of those in whose footsteps I was following had voiced the same sentiments.

Naturally, I do not presume to question the Men In White's (MIW) ability to govern, but when we, in order to blindly pursue economic growth, in quick succession:

i) Engineer the Chinese language curriculum to benefit from China's rise
ii) Urge people to understand India
iii) Have the "Speak Good English Movement", fearing that others will not understand our English, which will imperil competitiveness
iv) Open Casinos and promote the Arts for economic purposes

What bandwagon shall we jump on next?

We are in a perpetual state of anxiety and fear caused by the imperative to keep up with others. I don't see how any of these will let us get on with our lives in peace.

Here's what puzzles me even more: when the number of foreigners in the population increases unceasingly [due to immigration], the MIW say that there are enough resources to cope, but when it comes to taking care of our elderly, we are warned that resources are limited. As peasants, most of the time we can only suffer passively, and in silence.

Leaving the immgiration consultant's office, I felt torn. Actually, I don't really want to migrate, but I cannot decide if this place is worth caring about. Right now, Singapore is run like a large corporation, and business considerations must always be taken into account. As such, you can't blame people for adopting the same mentality in thinking about Singapore. Using similar logic, do we really want to sacifice the best part of our lives for such a cold, uncaring country? How is this different from living in foreign countries?

I am still planning my "investment strategy", and still haven't done a cost-benefit analysis of staying in Singapore. Sorry, I know this is a cold, uncaring attitude but hey, that's what I've picked up from living in Singapore.

I really hope that in the future, as Singapore pursues economic development, it will also develop in other areas and become a country that is easier to love. As the year comes to a close, I can only hope that next year will see an improvement in the situation.

(The author is a local freelance writer)

Australia is a popular migration destination for many Singaporeans.


(with inputs from Acidflask)