IN MY mother tongue, Sinhalese (which means 'lion blood'), Singapore means 'lion city', the word originating from Sanskrit.
I found this connection to Sanskrit fascinating. This was my second visit to Singapore. The first was in August 1968 as a young woman on my way to Seattle in the United States, where I was registered to do my master's at the University of Washington.
I spent a day and night in this city and I was vastly impressed, first because I was young and second because this was the first big city I had ever seen.
Memories of the beautiful waterfront with its innumerable eating places, the exotic smells and the relaxed crowd eating and walking about are still vivid in my memory.
Now, 40 years later, I came again to Singapore, an old woman needing wheelchair assistance at the airport.
The purpose of my visit was to visit my daughter who is working in Singapore and to see a little of the city. From the moment I landed till I left, the city impressed me so, I am writing this to say 'thank you, Singapore'.
I got off the plane and the wheelchair was waiting for me, unlike in other airports where I have to wait 20 to 30 minutes. I was wheeled through a clean and shining airport conveying First World elegance and good taste. Immigration and other airport formalities were taken care of smoothly and, above all, I was touched by the friendly politeness of people doing their job.
The next day, I took the MRT, getting on and off as fancy dictated. I bought a ticket ($10 minimum) and went through one of the entrance gates which opened when I tapped my ticket. It was the same procedure at the exit gate. The ticket was read automatically and passengers were let in and out swiftly. No ticket controllers were necessary.
Everywhere, I met only kindness. I had coffee at Starbucks, which I know from experience is strictly self-service, but only in Singapore was I asked to take a seat while the cashier brought my coffee to my table.
Another time, I was in a shopping centre and asked a young girl the way to the MRT station. She offered to show me the way and, taking my shopping bags, led me to the station. I spotted a Starbucks and invited her for a coffee. She bade me sit down, asked me what I would like to drink, went in and came back with my coffee. Not only did she buy nothing for herself but she would not even let me pay for my coffee. Her name was Jasmin.
Shopkeepers gave me water to drink, people waiting for a bus walked with me to the correct bus stop, and people helped me across the street. I have never experienced this sort of kindness anywhere else in the world.
Singapore, not only is your economy sound but your heart is in the right place.
