Living in Finland versus Living in Singapore

I read an article on Yahoo! about the rising costs of living in Singapore and how the inflation in everything (except salary) explains for the low low birth rate and how some of us, Singaporeans think that we will soon become Chinapore.

Sets me thinking about the recent article I read on SG's view on early education for our children. Let me try and do a comparison.

In Finland, when you have a baby, you do not need to pay for anything, unless it's a luxury item like a sleeping bag or cot. That is to say that the delivery, medication and education for the child is paid for. In addition, the mum gets to choose to have the 1st three years off. I think the first 6 months is paid and the rest is not. But they keep the job for the lady. On top of this, the student gets a small pocket money when they go to tertiary education; no trasport costs for children under 7 years of age too! The downside of all these is less effective medication, waits and they are also not as picky as SIngaporeans. They are very contented with their way of life. They do not rank their schools or the children and they also do not have preferred doctors. I asked my neighbour about a good PD for the kids. She told me a clinic which is a PD clinic and they are all good. In SG, we scruntinize the clinic from the recp, to the nurses, doctor, etc. And, this applies to everything else. THe ladies do not carry LV or Chanel and they have absolutely no issue. In SG, please stand at Orchard Road and you will get the statistics.

I have a friend in Singapore who gave up her job to care for the baby. She does not buy an evening clutch for more than $49 and no Baby Bjorn potty or utensils for the kid. Just simple market spoons and bowl and simple $5 potty. They got by really well and she teaches the kids. We are preschool teachers. She cooks, no maid to help and she had a 2nd baby.

There's another friend who told me she cannot have children until they are ready with the car and the savings. She's not had a baby yet, because the preparation is not done.

Well, what I'm saying is not that you should have kids unprepared. But, do you prepare fr it financially or mentally? When I had my 1st baby, my hubby thought it was too early at first, the GP who did my blood test said that there is never a good time or best time to have a baby.It's true, because when we look at the kids after they sleep now, we ask each other how our lives will be without them.

A leap of faith, a cut in luxury and a new direction in life are the fundamentals of deciding whether to have kids.

On a more serious note though, I do agree that the SG government should look into the matter of rising property costs for newly weds. It makes making babies so difficult. In EUrope, it's also very expensive to own a property. so they rent most often.

And, if you think Europe is a good place to migrate to, think again. Do you want to pay 23% tax? That's how they have so much paid for teh citizens. The money's gotta come from somewhere!

An expensive education or a branded school or a school with a glorious past doesn't equate to happy, clever kiddos. What's your policy?

A new blog for documenting my thoughts as an educator

This is the beginning of year 2011. A new year with new beginnings and resolutions. As some of my friends know, I have had a hard time with resolutions this year, considering long and hard at the roles I play and what I hope to acheive in the year. One of the roles that I truly enjoy is that of an educator. What does it mean to be an educator? Is it a title that comes with a job or is it a role, an inner self that a person identifies with whether you are teaching or not? Many friends will know that I am only armed with a Diploma in ECCE from Wheelock College, and some years of teaching experience. And the biggest point of all is, I am technically out of job. This left me pondering... Am I still an educator? or I was an educator? I love my job so much, that whenever I read about research on education, it gets stuck on me, almost as much as shopping. Ha.. Well, Finland is a very unique place and there are many researchers learning about the "methods" of education here; if there is such a method, such as REggio EMilia or Montessori. I will share simple stories about what I learn about their system here with my readings and experiences.

I hope it will be a good sharing place for Singaporeans to reflect on what we really want to impart and educate to our children.

Gill