Singapore & Switzerland: What's So Similar?

Singapore is dubbed as the "Switzerland in Europe" and the opposite is true too - Switzerland is the "Singapore in Asia". Here's some resemblance between the 2 countries.

1. Diversity

In Singapore: Singapore is a multiracial society - with the Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians living together. Pretty much why we have the local dish Rojak, also a Malay word for mix, because it signifies Singaporeans mixing together.

In Switzerland: Switzerland is divided into 4 parts, the majority German-speaking areas, the French part, the Italian part and the minority Romansh-speaking part.

2. Lingua Franca

In Singapore: Although Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English are the languages that Singaporeans speak, Singlish is more prevalent. It has its own rules and system, and more often than not, non-Singaporeans who are native-English speakers do not understand Singlish.

In Switzerland: German, French, Italian and Romansh are Switzerland's official languages, but Swiss German is usually used and like Singlish, it is non-official, often spoken, has its own rules and system, but non-swiss people would not understand it most of the time.

3. Costly

Singapore is one of the most expensive country in Asia. One main reason of the high cost of living is attributed to the high Certificate of Entitlement, which you need to bid for if you want to get a car. Due to high population density and scarce land, housing is expensive. Food, on the other hand, is affordable because we have coffee shops and hawker centres.

In Switzerland, I felt food, accommodation and public transport were really costly. The pizza in Molino (it's really tasty!) costs 22 CHF, which works out to be about 30 SGD. My hostel in Switzerland was approximately 950 SGD per month, which is more than triple the hall I was staying my university in Singapore. As for public transport, a single bus ticket would cost about 3.10 SGD (after my half-fare discount). Train rides would cost even more, depending on the journey. For example, from Geneva to Zurich, it costs 69.60 CHF (about 102 SGD) for a Second-class, full fare ticket, and 41.40 CHF (about 69 SGD) if you have a half-fare pass.

4. Safe

Although both countries have high cost of living, they are relatively safer places to live in. I can walk alone at night without fearing for my life. When I was travelling in other countries, I tend to be more wary of pickpockets and more cautious when I was walking in narrow alleys. The sense of security in Singapore and Switzerland I experienced is one thing that I took for granted before I went to Europe, and I can never be grateful enough.

5. Financial Hubs

Switzerland is a tax haven, known for bank secrecy and home to well-established banks like UBS and Credit Suisse.

Singapore is Asia's top financial hub. Businesses are attracted to the conducive business environment fueled by favourable tax rates, political stability and high literacy rate, among many other factors.

6. Strict laws

Singapore is a "fine" country. Ask any Singaporeans and they will tell you that you cannot spit on the ground - you'll get a fine. Litter? You'll get a fine. Illegal parking? Fine. You can't smoke indoors and near the premises of the train stations and bus stops. Perhaps the most unusual rule to foreigners (but a norm to Singaporeans) is that you cannot find any chewing gum in Singapore.

It is very clean in Switzerland because you will be fined if you litter. Swiss drivers usually do not horn, because it is an offense if you horn unnecessarily. If this rule is applied in Singapore, I believe LTA will be quite wealthy (haha). The local Swiss students told me that it is illegal to cross the road when the pedestrian crossing shows a red man. Such a strange law, definitely a rule that impatient Singaporeans (like me) can't follow.

#Switzerland #exchange