TL;DR – Because you know I’m all about that race. ‘Bout that race, no treble.
There has been quite a bit of racial talk of late – ranging from how most Singaporeans want a Prime Minister of the same race to how people DON’T want to talk about race.
Can’t help but notice how they included the different races for this shot
Does it matter to you? Do you notice in your everyday life the different races around us? Have you thought about how despite the progress we have made, we are still not race-blind?
Well, for many of us… when it comes to friendships, it is regardless of race, language or religion.
Joyc Leong, 24 and Sunanda Baradwaj, 24
How long have you guys known each other?
4 years already!
How did you meet?
At a gig where both our bands were scheduled to play.
Joyc, what’s the best thing you like about Sunanda?
She’s very frank and tolerant. And of course, her goddess-like singing.
Has it ever bothered you (even in the slightest way) that you both come from a different races/ culture backgrounds?
Nope! We often joke about it because avoidance is not acceptance.
Complete the following sentence,
Having a friend of a different race means…
Being able to appreciate the world differently.
Cheryl Lim, 28 and Rhea Mann, 22
How long have you guys known each other?
2 months; but it’s not about quantity but quality here!
How did you meet?
We work together.
Cheryl, what’s the best thing you like about Rhea?
Her enthusiasm and our ability to read each other very very very well.
Has it ever bothered you that you both come from a different races/ culture backgrounds?
Nope! There are so many similarities between us than transcends race or cultural differences.
Complete the following sentence,
Having a friend of a different race means..
I’m not answering this! I don’t agree with this sentence because this shouldn’t be a consideration to begin with?!!! There’s really no difference from being friends with someone from the same race.
Jiayi Ho, Angeline Terisa Yeo – Both “in our 30s”
(Race isn’t a taboo question here but age definitely is!)
How long have you guys known each other?
Wow…. I think we’ve known each other for about a good 7 or 8 years?
How did you meet?
At a bar. LOL
Jiayi, what’s the best thing you like about Angeline?
She’s a very supportive and loving person, always ready to lend a listening ear. Of course, it helps that we both love to drink so we bond over booze.
Has it ever bothered you that you both come from a different races/ culture backgrounds?
Nope not at all, it is a non-issue. Although you can technically consider her Chinese (her surname is Yeo) but come on, that is a Eurasian face right there.
Complete the following sentence,
Having a friend of a different race means…
I like people for who they are and not where they or their ancestors are from?
Smith Leong, 32 and Noor Fadila, 33
How long have you guys known each other?
4 years too!
How did you meet?
We were ex-colleagues.
Smith, what’s the best thing you like about Fadila?
Her positive attitude! Life hasn’t been the nicest to her but she always take them on with a smile. And she has the most awesome Spotify playlists.
Has it ever bothered you (even in the slightest way!) that your friend comes from a different race/ culture?
Yup, I hate how she doesn’t teach me enough Bahasa hahahaha.
But seriously, I love it because I’ve picked up some simple Bahasa Melayu thanks to her and I hope she has picked up some useful Chinese phrases from me as well!
Complete the following sentence,
Having a friend of a different race means…
The same as having a friend of a different gender or country or parents. Basically we all have differences but we should just embrace it.
Garry Go and Dev Sasidharan, both 31
How long have you guys known each other?
12 years – I know him longer than I know my wife.
How did you meet?
In the airforce as fellow cadets
Garry, what’s the best thing you like about Dev?
He’s extremely easy going and funny – but I will say less funny than me.
Has it ever bothered you that you both come from a different races/ culture backgrounds?
Of course. I hate it that his Mandarin is better than mine.
Complete the following sentence,
Having a friend of a different race means…
That you are a normal, functioning human being capable of socialising with others.
Jac Wong, 27 and Vanessa Paul, 27
How long have you guys known each other?
8 years
How did you meet?
We studied the same course in university. But we weren’t close until one day when we started bitching to each other about our then-boyfriends who later became our ex-boyfriends. And through clubbing. We went clubbing a lot.
Jac, what’s the best thing you like about Vanessa?
We’re basically the same person. We react very similarly to different circumstances, so it’s nice that you can get real empathy and the appropriate amount of angst when you’re ranting about something.
Has it ever bothered you that you both come from a different races/ culture backgrounds?
No. What bothers me about her is that she lives on the other side of the island. Also, the only real difference between us is that I’m taller than her and she’s skinnier than me. So we have to be accommodating to each other in photographs so that we both appear similarly sized.
Complete the following sentence,
Having a friend of a different race means…
The same as having a friend from the same race.
