Dialect Groups...

If there is one thing that I don't feel for or comprehend as a Singaporean, is peoples' need to know about your dialect group, outside of curiosity.

Hokkien, Teochew, Hakka, Cantonese... they make no forking difference to me. How many proud Hokkiens around have actually been to Fu Jian or Teochew to Chao Zhou? If anything, it only reminds of how the Chinese use to wage civil wars and how much more advance they could have been if they were not so preoccupied in vying for the Indian Chief post, neglecting to unite against external threats until situations were foregone. This to me, is not a very proud thing to admit as a Chinese.

We look the same, live in the same estates, use the same currency and eat the same things anyway.

Of course, there is always one reason why I appreciate the diversity of Chinese dialects . Its the distinctive cuisines that come from all these different dialect groups that I come to sample as the privilege of a born-and-breed Singaporean.

Now, Teochew porridge, Hokkien fried mee, Hakka Yong Tau Foo and Cantonese Dim Sum.... I heart Chinese.