Interview with Mr Khun Part II

During the interview with Mr Khun, we also spoke about the places of interest for the Burmese community in Singapore. While the 'hanging out' component is very important to them, these places of interest also serve to guide them in their way of life here. For instance, apart from the "Little Burma", most Burmese people here in Singapore are Theravada Buddhists, and learning the Buddhist teachings as well as staying close to them is important as such teachings provide a guidance to them in a foreign land.

Q: When you first came, do you know about Peninsula Plaza? A: I didn't know. Once my friend bring me there then I come to realise that that's the place for Burma people to hangout. Q: How often do you come here (Peninsula Plaza)? A: Last time, every off day we go there because we don't know much about the place. But lately, one month one time maybe, or two-three months one time. I find it too crowded. It's more relaxing at home. Q: Do you find a sense of comfort when you come to Peninsula Plaza? A: I do, yeah. When you hear people speak the Myanmar language, feels kind of relief that they are here the same like me. I'm not here alone, sometimes I feel that way.

Q: What are some activities that you usually do here in Singapore during your free time? A: During free time, I like reading. So I read as a hobby. And watch movies. But as a social activity, we do hangout a lot with our ethnic group. Majority of us are Buddhists, so we have quite a few events in the year, around four-five times. So we gather together and we go to monastery, do some offerings, celebration and donations.

Q: What kind of festivals? A: The water festival is quite well known in April. Also known as New Year for the Myanmar people. Q: What do you do in that kind of festival? A: We pour water on each other.

Q: Do you do that only at the monastery area? A: As long as you know the people, you can pour water on them. Q: Do you do at less crowded areas? A: Sometimes at Sembawang, and Peninsula Plaza or Toa Payoh Monastery. Those are the places celebrating. [If] we like crowd, then we go to these places but if not, we just pour our friends and enjoy ourselves. Q: How active are you within this Burmese circle in Singapore? A: Yeah we do know quite a lot of [people]. We have a lot of events and so we go often, we get to know m ore people. As long as you speak the same language, it doesn't take long to be friends.

Q: Do you know of any other places in Singapore where Burmese gather? Or it's mainly at Peninsula Plaza? A: Mainly Peninsula for social and hanging out, things like that. Although we do go to monastery.

While Peninsula Plaza is a place of comfort for many of these Burmese migrants such as Mr Khun himself, after staying here in Singapore for about seven years, it is no longer a go-to place. Perhaps it is the same across all migrant groups here in Singapore, and perhaps not, but their assimilation could be understood more as them getting 'used to' the culture here, rather than forming close connections with locals, whether at work or outside of work. After all, as Mr Khun has mentioned, he now prefers the comfort of home, doing some reading and watching movies. It is thus interesting to see that while there is no obvious conflict and acculturation for these Burmese people, the general outlook is to co-exist in ways possible to serve their main functions.

As we further our conversation, we spoke about religious practice here in Singapore for these Burmese migrants, in particular, those practicing Theravada Buddhism.

Q: How often do you go to the temple? A: Not that often. Sometimes two - three months once, but sometimes one month could be twice. Only if there's event, or we get invited, or sometimes if we just feel like meditating, then we go there.

Q: Do you go to the temple after you settled down in Singapore? A: I didn't really find a temple to go. But once I go Peninsula, my friends say they'll go, and I just follow them.

Q: Through practicing your religion here in Singapore, do you think it has made you cope with the certain pressures you face here better? A: Yes, yes. Religion, if you practice, you follow the principles of the Buddha teachings, so [to] make you feel a lot more peaceful. The things you do, and the people, [don't] matter. Make you more relief. I do meditate sometimes as well. You can forgive and forget easily. Don't try to carry so much like anger, hatred.

Q: How important is it for you to go to the temple here in Singapore? A: Depends on individual. Going to temple is not a compulsory. As long as you know the Buddha teaching, it's already within you. You can practice wherever you are, alone, or even when you are working. You can be good all the time. But going to temple is sometimes, the monk will preach [to] you. It will remind yourself to be aware of the Buddhist teachings. [If] we don't go for quite some time, we will forget.

Q: Are there places you can go to if you need help in Singapore? A: Monastery. Because all the people, from maids to engineers to lawyers or whatever...People just go there. All the links are there. Let's say you don't know any of them, you just go to the monastery and they will provide you with information on who to go to, where to go.

Q: So are these people [you go to] mainly Burmese or Singaporeans? A: Many of them are Burmese but there are also Singaporeans. They live here for a long time and they have their own business here, but they are considered Singaporean-Burmese, something like that. Also the Burmese society if we need help.

Q: Will you go to any Singapore institutions if you need help or do you prefer to go to the monastery? A: It depends on individual. For those who know the links to the government, and have problems with work, may go to the MOM (Ministry of Manpower) straight. But some of them may not speak good English, so they use the Burmese society [to get help].

Indeed, Mr Khun succinctly shows us the importance of staying true to oneself as one travels to a foreign place to work and live. From celebrating the Water Festival with his fellow Burmese people to simply just hanging out and speak the language of Myanmar, we can see how these Burmese migrants, as much as they could, try to work around the difficulties working and living in Singapore and find joy within their own community. The support system provided by the Monastery is undoubtedly crucial to these people and here, religion is able to play a role that no other institutions can offer - the spiritual guidance.

#interview