In this project, I worked together with Pei Ying. We are extremely thankful for this given opportunity to interact with the foreign workers. Thank you Prof Kelly for having this meaningful and special project for us to get to know people whom we have never thought we would interact with. I would like to thank Lester and Xu Ke for accompanying us on Sunday too. Lastly, we are grateful to Jeyakanthan from Health Serve who took up his time to join us on Sunday as well! Here’s our final video, enjoy watching! 
A. Write a narrative of how your idea developed. (Begin by giving some response to the 1st dance and games night)
Our first meeting was rather awkward as we were all sitting seperately with our own groups. However we get to talk to each other more after playing the game! I would say it was a great and interesting one as we get to bond with one another, enjoying and having fun at the same time. It was kind of awkward when we proposed the idea of dancing with them since we did not meet them before. However, it came out well! We see potential dancers in them and they are willing to join in the fun and dance together with us.
Photo credit: Scott Nathaniel Lim
Through our interactions, I realised that they are not exposed to Chinese or other races culture at all as they are not allowed to move around places at their own freedom. Hence my partner, Pei Ying and I came out with an idea to bring them to places such as Temple to experience our Chinese culture. This can helps them to further understands Chinese culture which may helps them in their work in the future.
B. What about our meet-ups and the conversations you had created the interest in the area you ended up researching? Use your documentation photos etc.. to explain this process.
I would say the second meet-up session was the best opportunity for us to interact with them even more. I get to understand what they have been going through for their life in Singapore as a foreign worker. During the dinner, I get to speak to Eunus and Liton. Through our conversations, I realised that it is not easy for them at all as they have to work 6 days per week. Moreover, the living conditions are not very ideal and the food catered to them were not edible as well. I felt very sad for them as they are not giving the fair treatment that they deserved.
Photo credit: Lim Pei Ying
As they are only allowed to go places freely on Sunday, we would like to bring them to places that they have not been there before. It is also a chance for them to interact and get to know different people! So, this is how we came out with our idea and research. On the other hand, it is to let them gain experience of our culture. Hence after much discussion, we decided to work together with Jeyakanthan. A slight difference from the rest of the foreign workers is Jeyakanthan comes from India so it might be easier for him to blend in locally as compared to the rest.
Photo credit: Lim Pei Ying
He may have experience Indian culture in our Singapore style however he has not experience any Chinese culture before. So, we planned to visit the Chinese temple and getting some Chinese local foods for him to taste. Lastly, we will be sharing with one another about our Chinese and Indian culture.
C. Discuss your exchange with the foreign workers.
It was indeed an enjoyable and fun exchange with Jeyakanthan Porkot, one of the foreign workers that we worked with on Sunday! He did not went Bugis before as he stayed at his dormitory most of the time even during his off days. He was very happy when he tried the various Chinese foods such as Claypot rice and Popiah, as it was a new experience for him. To my surprise, he actually understands a bit of Chinese! Hence, it was much easier communicating with him.
Photo credit: Hester Ang
He had been very patient and accommodating when we asked him to wear the costume even though the weather was extremely hot! He was delighted when he knew that the divination was a good one. I can see that he is really enjoying himself and putting all his heart in experiencing our Chinese culture. Furthermore, he was very enthusiastic and patient when he was explaining the stories of god in the Indian Temple. He even lead us and told us what should we do before entering the Indian Temple. I did enjoyed myself while listening to his explanation as this was my first time entering an Indian Temple.
To sum up, he is very sincere throughout the whole afternoon! I am really thankful towards him for helping us in this assignment. This is indeed an memorable experience to all of us.
1. How did you initially see the foreign workers? Did you even consider their experience before our meet-ups?
Initially, my impression towards them are hardworking as they are willing to work long hours and they are just a typical construction worker. Before our meet-ups, I did not consider their experience as I thought they were just coming over to Singapore to earn money. However, after our meet-ups, I realised that they are going through hardships over here too. Working 12 hours per day, not able to move around Singapore freely due to work permit issue, food provided for them were not edible and having to squeeze with at least 8 people in a room. All these experience that they have shared among us was what I did not consider nor understanding at the beginning.
Looking at the dormitory that they are living in, I feel that it was not easy for them to leave their comfort zone for years as well. After getting to know them, I am more aware that foreign workers are not just construction workers. There are some of them who are working as technician and engineers too. All in all, it was a good experience to get to understand their situation more.
2. Along your journey what to, and when did you change your ideas/plans in response to what you learned/experienced or observed from contact with the foreign workers? Describe your response.
After observing from contact with the foreign workers, I realised that most of them are married with at least two children. However due to work, they are unable to return back to their country often and could only contact their family through social media or video calls. Hence, at the beginning my partner, Pei Ying and I thought of printing their family photo on the basic tee and present to them as a gift. So, they could wear to work and remembering their family at all times. However, we decided to change our idea in the end.
Photo credit: Scott Nathaniel Lim
The only thing they did during their leisure time is surfing Facebook or staying in the dormitory. They are not exposed to outside and unable to interact with more people. Therefore, our final idea is to let them understands more about Chinese culture which benefits them in the future when dealing with Chinese workers. This may helps them to have more common topic with the Chinese workers and able to communicate with them more easily.
3. What new knowledge did you gain from the interaction with the foreign workers and the action you took executing your project?
Photo credit: Hester Ang
Before interacting with Jeyakanthan Porkot, I did not know much about Indian culture. Now, I understands that Chinese and Indian culture do share some similarities and differences. For example, both culture has to pray using the incense stick as well! However, before entering the Indian Temple, you will need to remove your footwear but this does not require while you are praying in Chinese Temple. Before executing this project, I did some research about the rules that need to take note of while you’re at an Indian Temple. I am happy that I am able to have a better understanding of Indian culture now.
4. What did you gain or what are the strengths/weaknesses/ differences & responses to learning that does not follow the conventional path of lecture/ tutorial and studio practice: learning by creating experiences beyond the classroom? a. how did you feel about creating a project where there was to clear path to follow–where you had to develop a unique path?
One important thing that I have learned throughout this project is to be more understanding towards foreign worker. It has indeed changed my point of view in them. At first, I would not dare to go near them as they looks unfriendly. However, after a few meet-up session, they seemed to be really nice and friendly people. Besides, I can see that they are willing to learn through our dance session. Everyone were eagerly taking part in the games that we have prepared for them and they were all enjoying themselves. I would say it is a successful move for us to interact with them in a fun and interesting way!
Apart from all this, it was a great experience to learn together with them as compared to the conventional path of lecture/tutorial and studio practice. Moreover, they are foreign workers who we sees them everyday and yet none of us could have imagined that we will be interacting with them one day. It is more meaningful when we get to experience and shared our stories with people whom we have not met before.
Action always speaks louder than words, hence I believed it will be a memorable experience for everyone as we get to interact with them, becoming Facebook friends rather than just doing research during tutorials or studio practice.
Photo credit: Xu Ke
