Monthly Archives: September 2015

Singapore

Searching for a Watering Hole

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A top priority of many people moving to new places is where to find a good watering hole. In Singapore, the biggest factor for me is cost. Drinking is expensive. Eating out is expensive. Groceries are also expensive, but that doesn’t play a role in the “where to drink” decision.

I ventured to two bars this weekend in the Dhoby Ghaut area, which is centrally and convenient located along the same train line where I live and work. We went to Blackbird Friday night for a friend’s birthday celebration, and since we went immediately after work, we got to take advantage of the buy one-get one happy hour deal! Nice! Beer and wine were pretty standard, but the cocktails sounded delicious. As they were out of my price range and the happy hour deal didn’t apply, I didn’t taste test. The mushroom risotto, however, was wonderful. There were a handful of vegetarian options on the menu, which was very exciting and would convince me to go back!

Pretty display behind the bar at Blackbird
Pretty display behind the bar at Blackbird

My Saturday night plans fell through so I decided to check out a real beer bar. Yelp suggested HopHeads and I’m glad it did! While pricey, HopHeads serves real beer. I had an Deschutes IPA on draft and a Rouge ale, also on draft. Though they only have two rotating taps, the bottle selection was impressive for Singapore. There were selections from a variety of brewers that I enjoy back in the US, like Rouge, Deschutes, Hitachio, and even Delirium! The only food I ordered were French fries, which were way too salty to be enjoyable. Although this didn’t stop me from eating them, I don’t think I’d order food in the future. Those fries were seriously salty. The beer, however, is enough reason to return!

Just chilling on the bar at HopHeads
Just chilling on the bar at HopHeads
Artsy shot of my first pint
Artsy shot of my first pint
Someone put a lot of thought into this chalk board. I hope it doesn't rain!
Someone put a lot of thought into this chalk board. I hope it doesn’t rain!
Education, On My Mind

Choices

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I’m Jewish.

Among other things, that means I celebrate holidays that most people can’t pronounce. That also means my holidays aren’t included on most calendars. As a student, I always had to inform my teachers of the days I’d be out for Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). I was lucky in that I never had to explain myself; my teachers were aware of a) the existence of my holidays and b) my need and right to miss class to practice my religion.

When I moved to Malaysia, I wasn’t allowed to be Jewish. I wasn’t able to practice my religion. I had to go to work over Rosh Hashanah because I wasn’t allowed to miss work without medical documentation; I certainly was not going to spend the holiday in a doctor’s office faking stomach cramps. Yom Kippur fell on a Saturday, and while I couldn’t go to synagogue, I could pray on my own.

Now that I’m in Singapore, I had (note the past tense) different expectations. Considering the amount of diversity here in Singapore, particularly the diversity in an international school with a student body from over 60 countries, I did not anticipate having trouble obtaining recognition of my religious rights and freedoms.

But I’m having trouble.

My school does not allow paid sick days until the fourth month of our contracts, which means that I can’t be sick and get paid until November 1. This is ridiculous for multiple reasons, but mostly because we work with kids, all of whom are sick right now. That aside, I checked with HR to see if I could take time off and be paid for religious reasons in the first three months of the school year. HR said no, but a colleague encouraged me to take the question to the superintendent. In what I think was a very well-worded email, I expressed my disappointed with HR’s response and explained how upsetting it is to choose between pay and adhering to religious principles. I went as far as to “respectfully ask for a reconsideration of this policy.” (I didn’t point out that we have Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist holidays off, which probably covers 99% of staff.) The superintendent assured me he would discuss it with HR and get back to me.

Two days later, I got an email apologizing and saying that school was unable to adjust the policy because, in a multicultural environment, they did not want to be seen as favoring one religion over another.

I didn’t point out that they were doing exactly that simply by following the existing calendar.

I didn’t point out that this wouldn’t be an issue if the holidays fell later in the year when I could take paid sick days.

I didn’t point out that I am now being treated differently than other members of staff.

I didn’t point out any of that because there’s no point. School has clear made a decision, and that decision reflects who the people in charge are and what they seem valuable. At least I have the satisfaction of knowing that the query is now on record and it might help someone else in the future. I do feel discriminated against and I do feel misunderstood. While I understand the need for consistency in HR policies, I also understand the need to treat everyone fairly.

Fair, however, does not always mean equal.