I’ve decided that I want the first house that I buy to be an HDB apartment. The decision was the simple and sensible part, I mean why not take the grants the government is giving? I might as well buy it before my income goes above $8000 and whole new sets of rules begin to apply. Even below $8000, the whole process is maddening!
When the decision is made, that you want a HDB, the first thing to decide would be if you want to get it with your partner (opposite sex only), or your parent, or are you old enough to apply for one on your own? Have I confused you yet, this was the easy part you see!
The next step involves figuring out which HDB you want? This is a two-fold process, first is it going to be anew flat (aka a shoebox), or would you prefer a much roomier, albeit older (and maybe haunted, murdered-in) resale flat? So then, there are the 1,2,3,4 and 5 room flats, not to mention the maisonettes, jumbo flats, executive apartments, executive condominiums and built-to-order units! Mind you, most of which only have three bedrooms anyway. Yes, a 5-room flat has 3 bedrooms, and a dining room and a utility room (does this make sense to you)?
Have I mentioned that each of the above mentioned category has a few sub categories? How about the 3 and 4NG (new generation) flats, the "normal" 3 and 4 room flats, and the whole host of others! 4-S, 4-A, 4-A1, 4-A2, 4-I, 5-S, 5-I, 5-A! The differences? Essentially, a few square centimetres!
Call a real estate agent, just have a normal conversation and tell her/him you’re interested in buying a flat, even before she begins counting her commission, she’ll drown you in questions you never knew existed, so obviously can not answer?
"Are you planning to buy a house within 2KM of your parents?" , "Uh, I don’t know, if I can get one…"
"Are you taking the $40,000 or $50,000 rebate?" , "can I have both?"
"Are you married?", "no… planning to"
When are you getting married?, "soon…"
"Is he Singaporean?", "uh…"
"What race is he?", "uh…"
She was firing questions faster than I could begin to answer them. I was just waiting for her to ask me what was my shoe size, but then she got down to money matters. First off, "how much do you earn", "and what is your partner’s salary".
By the time we had settled her questions and decided which part of Singapore (which suddenly seemed too big to me), I wanted to reside in, she told me she would begin to arrange viewings. Fine, so it was ok thus far, although I feel that my personal details are no longer mine (strange feeling for someone who writes about her life in the papers).
So she calls me the next day, and tells me that she has 4 flats open for viewing at Holland Village, before I can exclaim in joy and dig out my diary, she informs me "but ah, Indian cannot"!
Leaving me spluttering in dismay, she then tells me that actually there are no available flats open for sale to Indians, as the Indian quotas for that area are full! After a few such phone calls, I’ve surrendered. I told her to call me the next time there is an "Indian flat" open. After all, on my salary I think it might take a while to reach $8000, and since I’m not married, under 35 and don’t plan to apply for a flat with my parents, I have all the time in the world!
However, HDB does need to make itself far more friendly to the busy yuppie with little time to battle with estate agents who want to palm you the first flat you don’t say NO to. Perhaps HDB-accredited agents who receive commissions from HDB directly, so that they are more patient with clients?
Buying a house is often a dream come true, although I have time on my hands, the fact that my dream is beginning to be tinged with nightmarish aspects doesn’t please me!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Friday, January 05, 2007
Back-to-school!
It’s that time of year again, when malls are overflowing with children screaming that this year power-puff girls/astro-man are out of fashion and don’t the department stores have “desperate housewives” schoolbags? I’m not talking about gifts! I mean back-to-school shopping.
I have a younger, school-going brother, so trust me, I know how passionate children get about their school kits. My mom often remarks that in her day, having a schoolbag and not having to share (BATA brand) school shoes with siblings were already dreams come true. Not that I identify with that thought, but I do miss back-to-school shopping, yet I never wanted a desperate housewives schoolbag!
I loved going back to school, it meant going to the uniform store and trying on new sets of uniforms, the fondness for the smell of new clothes has not left me to this day. It was a moment in my life when I genuinely wanted to know that my dress size had increased and I was taller! The elderly Chinese lady in the yang-tze-kiang uniform shop would look me up and down and always pick out the correct size for me to try! Despite all the horrible things I thought about my uniform the rest of the year (shapeless, boring, etc), that one day, in the sparkling white shirt and rich navy pinafore, I loved my uniform.
Uniforms were followed by wrapping paper for books, stationery, a new bag for school, a lunch box and matching water bottle! The thrill I got while buying all this and then prohibiting myself from using it until the first day of school made me look forward intensely to school. There was something special about shopping for school, the thrill of wondering what your best friend is going to buy and how to pick things for yourself that you are the undoubted queen of waterbottles/schoolbags,etc.
The last stop on the big day was BATA. The term is still synonymous to me with school! Until a few years back, I was convinced that BATA was a local brand and only Singaporean children wore BATA shoes to school! Then I realised that many children from many different countries thought that BATA was solely theirs! What amazing branding!
The field is wider for schoolchildren these days, my brother’s main concern is whether Nike shoes are cool enough or should he buy (a third pair) of Adidas Climacools. Schools have since allowed track shoes to be worn and BATA shoes are no longer a must buy on the shopping list. When I was a kid the choices were limited to BATA with laces, or BATA with laces and a velcro strap.
I figure the magic of back-to-school shopping has changed, and I’ve become a relic, but hey, maybe it was more fun in “my time”. Our parents wanted the goods, we had them and so wanted them to have cute pictures, and the children who shop these days have dumped cute pictures in favour of cuter logos and heavier price tags. The magic I remember was not concerned with price, maybe the children of today understand things differently and their brand of magic can be bought.
I have a younger, school-going brother, so trust me, I know how passionate children get about their school kits. My mom often remarks that in her day, having a schoolbag and not having to share (BATA brand) school shoes with siblings were already dreams come true. Not that I identify with that thought, but I do miss back-to-school shopping, yet I never wanted a desperate housewives schoolbag!
I loved going back to school, it meant going to the uniform store and trying on new sets of uniforms, the fondness for the smell of new clothes has not left me to this day. It was a moment in my life when I genuinely wanted to know that my dress size had increased and I was taller! The elderly Chinese lady in the yang-tze-kiang uniform shop would look me up and down and always pick out the correct size for me to try! Despite all the horrible things I thought about my uniform the rest of the year (shapeless, boring, etc), that one day, in the sparkling white shirt and rich navy pinafore, I loved my uniform.
Uniforms were followed by wrapping paper for books, stationery, a new bag for school, a lunch box and matching water bottle! The thrill I got while buying all this and then prohibiting myself from using it until the first day of school made me look forward intensely to school. There was something special about shopping for school, the thrill of wondering what your best friend is going to buy and how to pick things for yourself that you are the undoubted queen of waterbottles/schoolbags,etc.
The last stop on the big day was BATA. The term is still synonymous to me with school! Until a few years back, I was convinced that BATA was a local brand and only Singaporean children wore BATA shoes to school! Then I realised that many children from many different countries thought that BATA was solely theirs! What amazing branding!
The field is wider for schoolchildren these days, my brother’s main concern is whether Nike shoes are cool enough or should he buy (a third pair) of Adidas Climacools. Schools have since allowed track shoes to be worn and BATA shoes are no longer a must buy on the shopping list. When I was a kid the choices were limited to BATA with laces, or BATA with laces and a velcro strap.
I figure the magic of back-to-school shopping has changed, and I’ve become a relic, but hey, maybe it was more fun in “my time”. Our parents wanted the goods, we had them and so wanted them to have cute pictures, and the children who shop these days have dumped cute pictures in favour of cuter logos and heavier price tags. The magic I remember was not concerned with price, maybe the children of today understand things differently and their brand of magic can be bought.
The article that made me (in)famous
Arts students should shape up or ship out
By Ratna Tiwary
December 02, 2006
THERE is constant discussion on campus about why graduates from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are unable to land jobs easily.
I read in the papers some months back about a woman lamenting her jobless fate as an arts honours graduate despite having submitted more than 2,000 applications.
As a final-year arts student, having already had many good offers, I am beginning to think that it's more about the lack of effort put in by undergraduates in looking for a job, or how they go about planning it.
I've done two internships while studying, both of which I found after sending my resume to several companies.
My friends asked why I needed to intern twice, and my answer was simple: Experience helps.
When I began applying for jobs in my last semester, they thought I was too kiasu, but I had the last laugh after landing a job.
On the one hand, I agree that many globally-ranked universities have excellent career placement programmes, something local universities are still trying to establish by widening and strengthening alumni relations - in the hope that alumni members will offer job opportunities to new graduates.
But how much longer will our students be spoon-fed everything?
The job market is expanding, but it seems that nothing is good enough for our fresh graduates, least of all arts graduates who expect reserved seats in the civil service.
I spoke to an assistant dean at the National University of Singapore for an interview I was conducting for the faculty newsletter last year, and his comments stayed with me.
He said that most arts graduates begin job hunting only after graduation, when the good positions have generally been taken by foreign-educated graduates or more proactive students.
The other problem is, few graduates bother dressing up for interviews, with many turning up in jeans or even shorts. Some students just do not bother, assuming their degree will 'take them places'.
Such an attitude not only reflects badly on them, but eventually, on the faculty and university as well. Which company would want to hire someone with no grooming skills?
Foreign students turn up for career talks and seminars in suits and ties; local students go in casual wear. For all the good intentions the alumni may have of hiring local students, can we blame them for taking on 'foreign talent'?
In mixed faculty classes, the ones who seldom complete assignments are generally arts students.
Unfortunately, these habits have carried over into working life for some students, and this minority has created an image of arts grads that others have to live down.
During an interview with a foreign publishing company, my interviewer was surprised to learn that I consciously chose to join the faculty, and not because I could not get into Law or Medicine.
I know of an arts undergrad who is pursuing her degree with less than half-hearted interest, doing a degree with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants on the side, and a dance diploma as a backup. According to her, she's doing this merely to be known as an NUS grad.
These students are a minority, but that doesn't mean they can be ignored.
The university ought to assess the capabilities of its students and their aptitude for the arts field before granting them admittance.
There are already interview procedures in place for borderline students wishing to enter the faculty; and although I can see logistical difficulties, I think this procedure should be extended to all students applying for the faculty.
I take pride in my degree, and I know that I have worked for it. It was a choice I made to pursue a career in the arts field.
How many of my fellow final-year university mates can say as much?
By Ratna Tiwary
December 02, 2006
THERE is constant discussion on campus about why graduates from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are unable to land jobs easily.
I read in the papers some months back about a woman lamenting her jobless fate as an arts honours graduate despite having submitted more than 2,000 applications.
As a final-year arts student, having already had many good offers, I am beginning to think that it's more about the lack of effort put in by undergraduates in looking for a job, or how they go about planning it.
I've done two internships while studying, both of which I found after sending my resume to several companies.
My friends asked why I needed to intern twice, and my answer was simple: Experience helps.
When I began applying for jobs in my last semester, they thought I was too kiasu, but I had the last laugh after landing a job.
On the one hand, I agree that many globally-ranked universities have excellent career placement programmes, something local universities are still trying to establish by widening and strengthening alumni relations - in the hope that alumni members will offer job opportunities to new graduates.
But how much longer will our students be spoon-fed everything?
The job market is expanding, but it seems that nothing is good enough for our fresh graduates, least of all arts graduates who expect reserved seats in the civil service.
I spoke to an assistant dean at the National University of Singapore for an interview I was conducting for the faculty newsletter last year, and his comments stayed with me.
He said that most arts graduates begin job hunting only after graduation, when the good positions have generally been taken by foreign-educated graduates or more proactive students.
The other problem is, few graduates bother dressing up for interviews, with many turning up in jeans or even shorts. Some students just do not bother, assuming their degree will 'take them places'.
Such an attitude not only reflects badly on them, but eventually, on the faculty and university as well. Which company would want to hire someone with no grooming skills?
Foreign students turn up for career talks and seminars in suits and ties; local students go in casual wear. For all the good intentions the alumni may have of hiring local students, can we blame them for taking on 'foreign talent'?
In mixed faculty classes, the ones who seldom complete assignments are generally arts students.
Unfortunately, these habits have carried over into working life for some students, and this minority has created an image of arts grads that others have to live down.
During an interview with a foreign publishing company, my interviewer was surprised to learn that I consciously chose to join the faculty, and not because I could not get into Law or Medicine.
I know of an arts undergrad who is pursuing her degree with less than half-hearted interest, doing a degree with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants on the side, and a dance diploma as a backup. According to her, she's doing this merely to be known as an NUS grad.
These students are a minority, but that doesn't mean they can be ignored.
The university ought to assess the capabilities of its students and their aptitude for the arts field before granting them admittance.
There are already interview procedures in place for borderline students wishing to enter the faculty; and although I can see logistical difficulties, I think this procedure should be extended to all students applying for the faculty.
I take pride in my degree, and I know that I have worked for it. It was a choice I made to pursue a career in the arts field.
How many of my fellow final-year university mates can say as much?
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