Every land and the people living in it have things, and quirks, that set them apart and are unique to just that geographical location. For Singapore, the other day, we wrote about the Singapore international graduate award (SINGA) scholarship and talked about moving to Singapore to study. So whether you’re going to Singapore to get an education or on a vacation or maybe you’ve even decided to go live there, it is imperative that you know the ways of the people, the do’s and don’t, the quirks and culture of the Singaporeans.
The Republic of Singapore is home to over 5 million people, located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The Singapore port is one of the largest In South East Asia and also one of the busiest in the world.Â
If you like rain then you will definitely like Singapore as it gets nearly constant precipitation all through the year.
Made up of Malay, Indians and Chinese, Singapore has got a diverse population with religious affiliations with Confucianism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and DaoismÂ
With the most advanced economy in Southeast Asia, Singapore has one of the great trading entry ports of the British empire where it has developed powerful, financial and industrial sectors.
Singapore’s culture is very diverse and also largely derivative coming from one or another of the major civilisations of India China, Indonesia and the West. You’ve got Malay Music, traditional Chinese and Indian music, painting, arts and drama and so much more.
Now that we know a little about Singapore, and you have decided that this is the place for you whether to live, visit on vacation or get an education there, then it’s only right that you know what you shouldn’t do when you get to Singapore.
Things Not To Do In Singapore
No Chewing GumÂ
I want to begin this list with one that would probably come across as absurd to a lot of Nigerians but it is true and in this country, chewing gum can actually get you penalised. Singaporeans are very big on cleanliness and actually have strict guidelines when it comes to this. Because the way gums are disposed of is usually not in tandem with the high standards of cleanliness for the country, even the shops do not sell gum. The only time you are allowed to chew gum in this country is unless you have a prescription. Not adhering to this law can actually get you arrested and fined.
Eating On Buses And Trains Can Get You In Trouble
Yes, you might be hungry or thirsty but don’t allow this to get you in trouble as it is against the law to eat and drink on buses and trains in Singapore and doing this if you’re caught attracts a hefty fine which can go as high as S$500 or even something worse.
Do Not Smoke At Beaches And Public Places
There are spaces designated for people to be able to smoke and smoking in places other than these designated places will get you in trouble. There are strict laws that frown against smoking in public.
All public parks are smoke-free and smoking outside designated areas in the city has the same punishment.
Don’t Haggle With The Street Food And Market Sellers
This would probably be hard for the Nigerian in me but that’s the thing with culture, travelling and experiencing other people because in Singapore it is actually seen as bad manners to haggle with the street vendors and market sellers. The prices at most of these shops are fixed and not meant to be haggled. It will be tough for the Nigerian in you, yes, but you don’t have a choice because you wouldn’t want to offend the locals in that area.
Don’t Jump The Queues
There is something about order and Singaporeans understand how important that is. Forming orderly queues is the norm over there. No matter what it is that you’re trying to do, maybe it’s ordering a meal, ready to board a train, in the bank, at the mall or whatever it is. You have to join the queue and wait your turn.
Don’t Litter
No form of littering is acceptable in this country, they have strict laws when it comes to people littering and the punishment and fines for people caught littering go from $300 to $500 and if you are a repeat offender you can actually get up to a $5,000 fine and also risk being sent to jail.
Avoid Connecting To Unprotected Wi-Fi
In Singapore, they actually have the Computer Misuse Act that goes against connecting to any free Wi-Fi network if you are using a local SIM for data. You can easily purchase a local SIM card that has free data limits or you could instead rent a mobile pocket Wi-Fi for the duration of your stay in Singapore to get done everything you might need to do on the internet.
Tipping Is Not The Custom
I had first seen this on TikTok where a creator talked about their experience and tipping as it pertains to Singapore and the United States. It is not compulsory to tip in Singapore although, in a lot of cases, your tipping will actually be calculated in your total cost.