If I haven’t told you how warm and friendly the Taiwanese are, let me say it again. Their kindness and warm heartedness has always given me such a lasting impression of my travels there. They honestly want to know about you, they want to help you and they love to show off how beautiful Taiwan is. The drivers and new friends I made during my last New Taipei adventure trip still send LINE messages to me every now and then to catch up and share interesting places that I can look forward to on my next trip.
In this series of photos taken in Taipei, following a random dog on the streets led to this fun and friendly family who opened up immediately. They happily shared about themselves, about their dog and even enjoy posing for photos. It’s the sort of random encounter that brightens up your day almost instantly. In Singapore, people are usually busy minding their own businesses; efficiency is king and closed doors are just a way of protecting ourselves. We don’t look and smile or greet strangers when we pass them. We are wary of strangers and are usually guarded with apprehension. That being said, in truth, Singaporeans are just as fun and friendly once you get to know them. It’s the warming up that takes forever to happen and I’m guilty of that as well.
This week, my personal intentions goes to being more aware. To no longer hide in my safe little shell but to share the spark of human warmth we have within us to the many lives I brush across every day. To take time to acknowledge the stranger that I share an elevator ride up to the office everyday in silence; to offer a friendly hello or a helping hand to the elderly auntie at the checkout counter of the supermarket; to stop and give attention to those that ask for it; to realised that everyone’s time is just as important as my time so let’s make it as pleasant as possible.
Thanks for reading and I hope you have a good Halloween weekend as October comes to a close.
I do feel that the world is a better place than what media and horror stories make it out to be. Not to say we shouldn’t be careful, but I agree, as Singaporeans, we tend to keep in our own shells before we warm up.
I’ve been trying to be more friendly. A little bit of small talk here and there. A bit here and a bit there makes everything more enjoyable and much easier. I look forward to the day it becomes a habit, a way of life to be open and accepting.
Thanks for sharing your experience babe. <3 Loved reading these personal reflections!
Hi Carrie,
I thought it was going to be hard for me as an introvert to reach out but after making a conscious effort, I realised that kindness is not about personality types. It’s about trying. So far the responses has been good.