Week 5: Blue Zone 2.0: Singapore

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1,2

"In 1960, the average newborn in Singapore could expect to live only 65 years. Now, one lifetime later, life expectancy has grown by almost 20 years."
--Dan Buettner, chief researcher of "Blue Zone"

Week 5: Colourful cultures of Singapore

Unlike the other blue zones, Singapore was no isolated region where a traditional culture evolved a lifestyle of longevity over a period of centuries. 

Instead, it was a busy crossroads of commerce and cultures whose leaders from the start set out to create an environment of health and well-being. In fact, you might even call it a Blue Zone 2.0—the
next frontier of aging.

www.instagram.com

Let's take a look at how Singaporeans live and what it is like to be in a Blue Zone 2.0 country.

Where on earth is Singapore? (proximity [close to])

Guess: how long is a direct flight from Schiphol to Singapore?

Things you know
about Singapore

After seeing the table, write down your first impression of Singapore (in complete sentences):

Equatorial climate: between 27 to 34 degrees. There is a lot of rain in Singapore. It can have a thunderstorm of 5 minutes, or rain for 3 days straight. December is the wettest month with an average of 63mm to 766mm.

SG:  2032 hours of sun per year [1]

Utrecht: 1715 hours of sun per year [2]

Singapore's GPS coordinates are:
1° 17' 24.9720'' N and 103° 51' 7.0524'' E

It is in Southeast Asia, surrounded by sea. It is an island city as there is no farmland in Singapore.

1: (2024) https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/

2: (2024) https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Netherlands/sunshine-annual-average.php

Did you know...?

In 2021, Singapore had the highest lightning density in the world, with 163.08 events per square km. In general, there are more thunderstorms in tropical regions. Thunderstorms come from two sources: the first source is from the sea bringing extra moisture inland and mixed with hot temperatures, thunderstorms form. The second is formed from violent winds and rain from Sumatra, Indonesia.

Light + ning =  bliksem

Light + ing = verlichting (lamp)

With regards to lightning, which of these activities are dangerous to life?

1. Driving
2. Golf
3. Swimming (outdoor, of course)
4. Taking shelter under a tree

What do Blue Zones have in common to become extraordinary for health? (multiple answers)

1. Healthy food choices
2. Exercise
3. Social network
4. Older and younger generations living together

民 以 食 为 天

mín yǐshí wéi tiān

Every character is a sound and almost
every character is a word.

mín = citizens, people

yǐshí = take food

wéi tiān = as the heaven

Food is heaven to the people. Nothing else is more important than food.

Explore the following website and understand how Singapore's infrastructure promotes Blue Zone living.

pcn.nparks.gov.sg

Singapore is not traditionally strong in sports. There is no mountain to climb and the shores are very close to her neighbouring countries. However, she has become a country where everyone exercises daily and have sports-related social circles such as running, dancing, golfing clubs.

Sports

The highest hill in SG, Bukit Timah Hill, is only 163.63 m tall.

The most popular sports in Singapore include outdoor sports like football, swimming, track and field, rugby union and cycling as well as various indoor sports like badminton, table tennis and basketball.

Besides regular physical education in schools, students are required to choose another sports where they will practise at least once a week in school.

The Singapore government actively pushes out programmes to encourage exercising. It not only gives discounts to people for gyms, it builds parks and jogging tracks around the country for all to use. For senior citizens, exercise programmes such as taiji and dancing are also available. 

The Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth is responsible for the social communities and youth's belongingness in Singapore.

What makes a place
nice to live in?

Personal safety

Violent crimes are particularly rare in Singapore, with assault and robbery rates well below the global average. The strict enforcement of laws and severe penalties for criminal activities serve as deterrents, contributing to the overall sense of safety experienced by residents and visitors alike. [1]

1: (Dec 2024) https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1835064/singapore-travel-crime-rates

You cannot chew chewing gum in Singapore.

1. True
2. False

You can chew and carry gum, but you can't buy or sell. Or spit (naturally).

Chewing gum law is lenient (gedoogd). It is about spitting on the floor.

Dental and anti-nicotine gums are allowed.

Drugs

Terrorism, violence, theft, kidnap, brutality, sex, money laundering

Arms/Ammunitions

Littering

Spitting

Jaywalking

Death penalty is mandatory for those convicted of trafficking, manufacturing, importing or exporting more than 15g of heroin, 30g of morphine, 30g of cocaine, 500g of cannabis, 200g of cannabis resin and 1.2kg of opium.

Serious crimes are punishable by imprisonment, indefinite imprisonment or even death penalty.

Unlawful possession of any guns or bullets will be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than 5 years and not more than 10 years and shall also be punished with caning with not less than 6 strokes. 

First-time offenders face a fine of up to S$1,000. Repeat offenders will be fined up to S$2,000 and subject to Corrective Work Order (straten opruimen).

To maintain a hygienic environment, the penalty for non-compliance is a fine of up to S$1,000 for a first offence. 

To ensure the safety of pedestrians, offenders face fines of up to S$500 for a first offence.

Freedom of religion,

racial harmony

It's the law!

Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-religious society. Therefore, racial and religious harmony is vital for Singapore’s social cohesion. This harmony does not come naturally – we need to take the effort to build trust, and acceptance between different races and religions, and protect the common space that we have.

Through our legal framework comprising laws such as the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) and Penal Code, as well as partnerships and engagements with various stakeholders and the community, we will continue to ensure harmony, peace and security in our multi-racial, multi-religious society. [2]

1: (Dec 2024) https://www.mha.gov.sg/what-we-do/managing-security-threats/maintaining-racial-and-religious-harmony

How applicable is Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) to the Netherlands?

How did Singaporeans become such religiously-tolerant people?

Living in Singapore as a foreigner

01:10

Which accent does the speaker use?

1. South Korean
2. Indian
3. Australian
4. American

02:48

A "hawker" (from "hawker centre") is someone who:

1. sing songs
2. collects money
3. paint murals (muurschilderijen)
4. sell goods

01:04

Why is Daniel comfortable with the road system in SG?

1. Because he is left-handed and it is easier for him.
2. Because the other countries are on the other side of the road.
3. Because SG was a British colony and use the same road system.
4. Because it was similar to the road system in USA.

03:33

Singapore students are portrayed as more reserved. How would you fit into that system of learning?

08:59

There is a housing shortage in NL. What should the Dutch government do?

11:35

Blended word:

Singlish = Singapore English

Bo Jio – means “You never invite”

Kia su - means "Afraid of losing out"

Dunglish = Dutch English

Dunglish is more of a translation problem, whereas Singlish is (almost) another language.

Background: Your friend is moving to Singapore from the Netherlands with her husband and children. She is an English teacher and her husband works as a dike engineer. What can you advise her?

Task: Find some things out for Janneke. 

1. Can they find employment in Singapore? 
2. How different are the working cultures between Singapore and the Netherlands?
3. Can her children (5 and 15 years old) join the Singapore school system easily?
4. Give your personal opinion to Janneke. Would you immigrate there if you were Janneke?

Use these sites as part of your research: 

https://www.theculturefactor.com/country-comparison-tool?countries=
netherlands%2Csingapore

https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/compare/netherlands/singapore

You have learned about Singapore. What can the Netherlands do to become Blue Zone 2.0 too?