Humans of Singapore

Singapore — more than just an expensive city.

[humansofspore]

I met this man last week near Plaza Singapura. He asked me if I had money for food, so I gave him the 4 dollars that I had in my wallet. He became super animated and hugged me and thanked me in whatever little way he could speak because he couldn't speak that much. At the very same moment, an Aunty came by trying to sell tissues. I'd unfortunately given up all my cash to the uncle, so I told her I could go to the ATM and withdraw some but she said it was fine, she was just tired of selling tissues all day because some people didn't even respond to her, and she was grateful that I at least tried. I felt bad and apologized, and told her I would buy some the next time I saw her. When I was leaving, out of the corner of the eye, I saw the man giving her the 4 dollars that I'd given to him - and when she thanked him and tried to offer him some tissues, he just waved her off and went away whistling to himself. Not sure what to make of it, but it seemed worth a share :)

[humansofspore]

"What do you wanna be when you grow up?" "A teacher!" "What kind of teacher?" "An English teacher!" "What's the hardest part about being an English teacher?" "Er.. Scolding your students. I don't want to scold anyone!" "Why not?" "Because it's not nice. I want to be a nice teacher when I grow up."

[humansofspore]

"I don't like fighting with my brother, but I think that sometimes the thing I love about him the most is also the thing that annoys me the most. He's.. he's like a girl, don't know how else to put it. It's great because he's very sensitive and understanding, but sometimes that means people take advantage of him. I wish he could understand how to balance that."

[humansofspore]

"Before I was security officer, I used to work so many jobs! First in secondary school - I sell uniforms to students and help them photocopy stuff. Then I also work at food stall to sell mee-chiam-keuh, but still not enough! So I go around HDB selling supplements. What to do ah, got two young daughters, so have to work so many jobs to support them." "How's the security job compared to them?" "Very good! More stable. Boss nicer, send me for classes, even get me raise once ntuc bring new scheme next year. It's not easy ah - sometimes have to work very late. But then can pay rent, pay water. Even got one of my daughters into university now! So it is enough for me. Aunty very happy."

[humansofspore]

“What’s the worst part of skateboarding?" "Falling down." "Then why do you continue doing it?" "Well it hurts like hell, but I guess that's when you learn.”

[humansofspore]

Seen in Orchard :)

[humansofspore]

"Dear HoS, After a tiring week of traveling, I finally hopped into a cab and I just happen to stumble upon a very inspirational taxi driver - he told me a lot of his life stories, which I found amazing. He told me about how he wanted to be like Buddha when he was younger, but because one simply couldn't be like Buddha, he just strove to be a happy man instead - and whenever he feels bad, he just gets up, shakes his backside, and sings. However, one story which he told me really stood out: 'Sometimes near Golden Mile, construction men who don't have money beg taxi drivers to take them back to work and almost all refuse except for me. I believe helping others is good, it benefits them and makes me a happy man. Later these construction men know I am a good man, so they come find me where I always wait for passengers and pay back what they owe me and sometimes even teach me another language, which makes me very happy.' I found it quite amazing, and once the ride was over, he took the effort of reversing the taxi, and parked it right in front of my destination even though I insisted that it was OK for me to the cross the street. So he said 'I don't think it is safe for such a young girl to be crossing the street', and he stood outside his taxi, making sure I safely entered the building, before driving off. Thank you uncle! You made my day :)

Kamin"

[humansofspore]

"When you're young, you have energy but no time or money. When you're old you have time and money but you don't have energy. That's why I keep saying - strike a balance from the very beginning. It's more important than you think." "How did you strike a balance?" "I pushed myself, made a plan every weekend. It's hard, sometimes circumstances are bad, sometimes the job is stressful. But when it wasn't - I got out. I did a little for myself every day, but because I did it for 30 years, I think I ended up doing more than I could imagine." "Such as?" "Diving, sports, wakeboarding, building a career I'm happy with.." "And which one's your proudest accomplishment of all?" "Having a family. Raising children. Watching them grow up.. None of the other stuff comes close to that, I think."

[humansofspore]

"When you come home, your kid just sits in the sofa and says - 'Hi dad!' and goes back to his TV or iPad. The dog on the other hand.. he welcomes you, jumps at you, makes you feel at home. God it feels great."

[humansofspore]

"I think the day I got my first job was my best accomplishment. And you know why right - you work so hard, then you apply apply apply, then get rejection after rejection and you start questioning whether it's worth it. But when they finally hand you the letter - that feeling, it's amazing. It makes you feel like you're on top of the world. It makes you feel worth something."

[humansofspore]

"What's the one thing that most pet owners don't know about?" "Good owner, good dog. Bad owner, bad dog. Treat animal how you want to be treated."

[humansofspore]

"Long distance is tough man, you really need to be sure before you do it." "And were you sure?" "When I started? Not really. Now? Absolutely." "What made you so sure?" "I don't know... I guess I just become very happy every single time I receive a call from her."

[humansofspore]

"I think I'm in love with 2 of my friends right now. They're actually dating each other, so it's a bit interesting. I'm not even sure how it happened - there was this whole period for which I didn't see them, but then one of them was hosting an event and I went down to support her. And I saw her and I realized - huh, I actually like her. And I liked the guy too. I don't think there's a name of label to it, but I guess it is what it is." "How'd you deal with it?" "I'm still in the process of it. But I think that as a kid in high school, you get hung-up with these things, and then you start worrying about what'll happen if other people find out and what they think of about it, and how they think about you - so I'm just coming to terms with that." "So what's the one piece of advice you'd give to someone going through the same thing?" "That it's temporary. And it'll pass. So take it as it comes."

[humansofspore]

"He's pretty chill. And on days when there's too many customers and you're running around and panicking and trying to make sure nothing goes wrong - it helps to be chill."

[humansofspore]

"What's the hardest part about being a mother to her?" "That you have to give up a lot of things. Even small things you didn't think you'd miss but you do.. But when she gives us an innocent smile, it's so unconditional, that it makes us realize that it's worth it. Through and through."

[humansofspore]

"I lost a lot of money in gambling. I had a business of my own, and about half a million in savings, but then the opportunity to bet came along, and I thought, okay, let's put in the money and see what happens. But you see me now in a bus, you can guess what happened. It's okay though. My child is all grown up, my business has restarted, and things are stable again." "Why'd you do it?" "I don't know. I looked at it and I thought - quick money, retire easily. But I guess there's no real shortcuts in life." "If you had to go back, would you change it?" "Of course. I think about it every day. But it's the past. You run from it or learn from it."

[humansofspore]

"Hi, would you mind if I take a picture of you, it's for -" "Sure." "Ok great, could you please -" "What is this for?" "It's a photography project -" "For school?" "No, it's a hobby -" "You take pictures of people for hobby?" "Yes, and then I ask some questions -" "What kind of questions?" "What was the happiest time of your life -" "Then what do you do?" "There's a Facebook page -" "What's it called?" "Humans of Singapore." "Ok, how old are you?" "24 -" "Ok, you can take a picture of me." "Great, could you please stand -" "You're a photographer?" "Not really -" "Oh, then why do you do it?" "Er -" "Maybe you should think about it." "It feels like I'm being interviewed." "But weren't you going to do the same?"