Tom Hanks: a “True” Singaporean Experience

Typically, Singapore is criticized for being a part of “Fasia” or “Fake Asia.” Certainly, the  neck-breaking high rises, malls crowded with people in business suits, and sidewalks so clean the street sweepers brush flower petals into their dustbins, can’t belong to the same continent characterized by the ram-shack houses clustered on tilled fields, starving children bent over bowls of rice, and streets choked with people packed like livestock in crumbling public transit. And, yet, here is Singapore, an island measuring about 26 miles wide and 14 miles long (or about 3.5 times the size of Washington D.C.), lying below Malaysia and a short sea trip away from neighboring Indonesia and Brunei. Geographically, Singapore is definitely a part of Asia, it just doesn’t fit into the stereotypical framework.

So before we traveled to Singapore, our program assured us that, despite the posh modernity of Singapore, our experience abroad would be truly Asian. Still, many in our group worried that until we met actual Singaporeans we wouldn’t have a “true” Singaporean experience. Our concerns were arrested last weekend when students (many from the National University of Singapore) spent the weekend with us. By the end of the weekend, we had all become fast-friends and our friendships were solidified and made “official” on Facebook.

Jessica Smith and I posing with our home stay friends Prasanthi Ram and Natalina Pereira.

Prashanti “Shanti” Ram and Natalina Pereira took us (Jessica Smith, a girl in my program, and I) around the city. We spent the majority of both days doing Singaporean’s two favorite past-times (and I must say, two of my favorite past-times): shopping and eating. Saturday began with an Indian feast of plain and garlic naan which we dipped in the red sauce drenched over our butter chicken. Then we bused over to a posh mall where we looked (me unsuccessfully) for party dresses. Passing by a Korean Barbeque stall, we asked for samples. The vendor hacked off a slice of braised pork from a large hunk and speared toothpicks through bite-sized pieces for each of us. 

As we walked out of the mall to go to a few outside shops, I noticed a red carpet rolled along the sidewalk. Earlier I’d noticed a sign by the movie theater welcoming Tom Hanks to the premier of Larry Crowne, his new movie. Surely this didn’t mean … But I had to ask. So I turned to a woman with her hair pulled into a tight bun who was practically jogging down the red carpet, speaking hurriedly into a Bluetooth. “Yes,” she told me, “He’ll arrive in about an hour.”

“Let’s queue,” I suggested, borrowing the elegant Singaporean term used instead of “line up.” So we got in line. After endless commentary from a crazy-eyed host named Bobby and after countless Singaporean and Chinese actors had long since strutted (most forgettably) down the red carpet, we still hadn’t seen an inkling of Tom. But three hours later, he finally arrived. Same disarming smile. Same witty humor. Same firm handshake. That’s right, I shook his hand. He was pleased to find out we’re from the United States, and I even had time to snap a picture before he was rushed toward more adoring international fans. 

Hanks Humor: Tom is just as funny in person as he is on the screen.

And he has a firm handshake, too!

I use the term “international” intentionally, for, as we queued (another typical Singaporean experience) Bobby approached us. His unblinking eyes reached us first and his microphone followed. Luckily, he thrust it in Jessica’s direction and asked her why she was excited to see Tom Hanks. I don’t remember her response because we were too amused by his reaction. “It’s so nice to have international fans,” he told us. International fans!? How could two Americans be mistaken for international fans of an American actor? Ah, perceptions! (Several days later Natalina found an amusing magazine while she was waiting at the hairdresser. Bobby stared from the front cover. Beneath his picture ran a headline: “How to Tame a Player.” I always knew he was a classy guy.)

I joked that Shanti and Natalina wouldn’t be able to top Saturday when we met the next afternoon, but we weren’t disappointed. We began at The Soup Spoon where we all enjoyed creamy bowls of mushroom soup. Then we walked through Bugis Street for some inexpensive shopping: watches starting at $2 and clothes and shoes for low prices. Beyond the shops were food stalls where we ordered a bag of miniature green tapioca pancakes (three for $2) to share and then went up the escalators for several more storeys (yes, that’s how they spell this word in Singapore) worth of shops filled with dresses and handbags.

We continued on to Arab Street, one of my favorite places in Singapore (and therefore already described in detail in a previous post: “Down Arab Street”). Across the way from the palatial Sultan Mosque we enjoyed dessert-before-dinner, buying ice cream from a vendor for $1. Shanti and Natalina said they used to order this after school when they were younger. I got raspberry swirl between two thin wafers and Jessica really got adventurous, asking for hers between a slab of sweet pink and green bread. She is one of the few Americans who can say she’s enjoyed a true ice cream sandwich. 

Jessica and I enjoying actual ice cream sandwiches.

Our last stop was another mall where we continued shopping and then got dinner. I tried Thai barbeque stingray drenched in a spicy yellow sauce. It was impossible to eat politely (and as napkins are not even available in most restaurants, I struggled valiantly, if not messily). Over all, I’d say we had the true Singaporean experience: lots of shopping, even more food, and, of course, Tom Hanks.