Re: Luo_Yi: The Interview
by
Luo_Yi
10/14/2009, 2:14 AM #
I think you'll find the next series of answers more interesting than the first...
(1) I live in a 3 bedroom 1500FT2 condo with my wife (and currently my in-laws who are visiting for a couple months). It doesn't have a balcony because I got an extra 50FT2 of living room by choosing the layout with no balcony. I normally try to get a high floor so I can get some breeze, but I was really attracted to this 3rd floor unit because there is a row of palm trees right in front of the livingroom window which make it look like you are sitting in a tropical resort.
(2) Singapore is OK for the first couple of years. As a small city-state it is very convenient to get around. However the entire country is smaller than the average American city so it does get old after a while. I'm hoping to go home for good in ~1year (been here for 12 years).
The government tries to encourage social cohesion by forcing the various races to mix in the housing and school system. It seems to be working out because they haven't had race riots here since the 60's (unlike our neighbors). Inter-racial crime incidents are also quite low.
I don't get much free time because I work a 6 day week. Entertainment in Singapore mostly consists of eating/shopping. When I do have time off I like travelling to the neighboring countries. Lots to see and do in the other countries.
I've tried lots of unusual foods (many that I can't spell). I recently discovered that the myth of healthy asian food really is a myth. My LDL colesterol level is through the roof, and my LDL/HDL ratio is appalling. I guess that just proves that Asian food can be just as unhealthy as western food (if properly prepared). Some of the most unhealthy food is Indian Vegetarian (go figure). If you really want to load up on colesterol try Mysore Masala Thosai. If you like high colesterol fusion (Indian/Malay) try Roti Prata with Curry sauce. If you like high colesterol Chinese try Char Kway Teow. Not sure what high colesterol Thai food would be, but I guess Thai Green Curry is probably up there.
For all the talk of the lack of freedom in Singapore compared to most western countries, you really don't see it day to day. Think of Singapore as more of a nanny state than a restrictive totalitarian regime. They have lots of silly civic laws like littering, spitting, chewing gum, jaywalking, etc, but everybody does it anyway. However the government does clearly have a blacklist which people are afraid to be on. I'm currently on their gray list.
I don't think having lots of civic rules makes much difference unless they are enforced. As I said most people in Singapore routinely break these rules anyway so the government steps up enforcement (fines) if/when they think necessary. They are currently stepping up enforcement of no eating/drinking on public transit because so many inconsiderate people have been flouting the rules and leaving messes.
(3) I definitely do not live in an Anglo-Saxon bubble. Most of my friends are Chinese/Indian/Malay, and I only interact with Ang Moh's (Anglos) at work. I can't really describe what it's like to live in a community within a community because it doesn't apply to me. However I do see other Ang Moh's living the "Expat" lifestyle and I think that by insulating themselves within their own culture they are missing out.
(4) I've worked for many different Automation companies in a wide range of industries so it would take a great deal of time to answer this question properly.
Generally an automation system is staged in the vendor's facility and then transported to the customer's site. Singapore is both a strategic hub, and a manufacturing center so I have supported projects all over the region and here in Singapore. I have also worked in an operating plant here so I have experience from the customer side (maintaining the process and executing projects).
The factories are already automated when they are designed/constructed. What we call the base layer of controls are "usually" quite simple so there is not much challenge to implementing those (and not much need for specialists like me). Where my skills are most useful is when the base level controls are having trouble operating the process smoothly. That's where I come in and offer solutions such as design changes, supervisory control schemes, multi-variable controls, operator support tools, etc.
I have travelled to plants all over this region, and I can't think of any region/culture where the workers would not make eye contact with me. There is a tendency for the workers to get excited when I try to help lift/carry things.
