Landed in Singapore yesturday.
Singapore is a really nice country. Kind of reminds me of Sweden.
Incidentially they're holding a Kids camp here at one of the Gurdwaras in Singapore.
The Sangat and the youth here are AMAZING. Kids are so cute, and everyone so funny!
I was meant to spend one or two nights in Singapore and then move on to Malaysia where I'd meet my sister the 10th December. I've decided I'm going to stay here for another night (was unsure how many nights to spend here since I thought I'd have a boring time).
Kids here are so adorable. Everyone is so open-minded and so 'themself'. I've noticed that in Europe everyone seems to belong to some kind of group and follow some kind of trend (could be religious or whatever). Here everyone can be like they want to without being told of by people. I think its got to do with the fact that Sikhs have lived here for such a long time that Punjabi culture is fading in some way, and instead people can replace that with what they really are. So if you want to wear a 'suit' to Gurdwara, go for it, if you want to wear shorts - go for it. Theres no-one there standing and scolding you for anything and everything. In Europe theres generally more Punjabi culture influencing the way everything is thought to be 'right'.
I've for example seen several cases where bibis who go straight to Gurdwara from school or something, with their normal daily clothes (pants/jeans/shorts whatever) are told off by the people 'in charge', and where they've stopped going just because they are told they have to visit the Gurdwara wearing suits.
I know a lot of people will use words like 'modesty' and stuff like that. But what is modesty? What is modest for someone issn't modest for someone else.
Just allow people to be what they are, relaxed and everything. Everyone (with a few exceptions) here is so relaxed.
Just met Angad Singh yesturday. Nice fellow. He only comes during the evening though, so there wasn't much time yesturday.
Anyway it's a really inspiring camp (although for kids....I'm having fun)..and everyone here seems to be enjoying their time a lot. Atleast I am.
Will try to take some pics and add them when I come back to Sweden.
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3 comments:
"(although for kids....I'm having fun).."
he hee (",)
Um... there are a couple of things in your post I wanted to comment on. Will do so when I'm awake. Hope you continue to enjoy your visit. Look forward to the pics.
You got me thinking when you said this:
"But what is modesty?"
I agree with what you say here... Though from a personal comfort level I would adhere to my own choice of dress code [and that wouldn't include wearing shorts to the Gurdwara - but that's a choice I make through my own experiences]
I think much of this is about what goes on in the mind. I may not have said that before I read "the bookseller of kabul". It was through reading this book that I realised that if someone *wants* to find vulgarity they will look for it in someone who is covered from head to toe!
hmnn ps. Not fair... sounds like you guys are having lots of fun out there (",) Hope you all have a great time.
There's nothing wrong with not feeling comfortable wearing shorts. My main issue was that, it's totally fine if someone feels comfortable doing it.
There's no big deal in it. There's no
big bunda there who'll yell at you and make you feel bad for it.
I think it's got to do with the fact that the "bundey's" (gianis/pai sahibs/elders etc etc) that would do that are quite fresh from Punjab, and as such they object to it. In Singapore/Malaysia Sikhs have been living there for generations. Almost a whole century. Most of the grand-parents of the "youngsters" I met there were born and raised in those countries. For them it's natural to see their kids like that.
Where I live most of the older generation (40+) speak Punjabi to each other. Thats what I'm raised up seeing. In that part of the world, they (the elders) speak English, because that's their first language ,(just like mine is Swedish, and I speak Swedish to the Sikhs of my age, and will do that in 50 years as well).
It's all about the extent of the Punjab influence.
Made this into an essay :s
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