4.4 Perceived Diasporic Community
4.4.1 Enclaves Having off days are integral to the lives of the FDWs in Singapore. This is usually the time where FDWs are able to meet their friends, as they take a break from work. This is when the perceived diasporic community is formed. In our interviews, all except one mentioned only having other FDWs as friends in Singapore. They do not have, and are also not interested in having Singaporean friends. Various locations were mentioned as places to go for their off days. For Emily, she only has worked in Singapore for almost 2 years and her off days are once every month. As such, during her off day, she will go to Lucky Plaza:
Interviewer: Where do you go usually during your off days?
Emily: Lucky Plaza …show more content…
Going to parks and open spaces were quite commonly mentioned in our interviews. Similar to Mae, some of the FDWs already have their own group of friends that they will always spend time with. However, while spending time with their friends may heighten sense of belonging for some, friends can also negatively influence an FDW’s sense of belonging. In the case of Sarah, when asked how her friends can increase her sense of belonging to Singapore, she remarked “Maybe if… I don’t know… because mostly they said they want to go home.” Thus, the views of friends is a great influencing factor on FDWs’ sense of belonging to Singapore.
4.4.2 Perceived community status and sense of belonging
Some FDWs form a closed diasporic community with their group of friends and they may see themselves as people of lower status from Singaporeans. When asked, Jose mentioned that Singaporeans said they were very noisy on public buses. She then proceeded to admit that they were at fault and they are not allowed to do such things: Yeah because this is not our country so we are only foreigner only you know... we have to follow the policy in Singapore also. we have to control ourselves also to be.. Just be normal. And not to be naughty or whatever. you see. sometimes maybe you disturb everybody, you disturb here, like you make …show more content…
In this closed diasporic community, some FDWs also perceive themselves to be better and of higher status than FDWs from other countries because of their educational background. According to Cece:
Mostly they like to get the Filipino workers...Filipino workers, [are better] to get this one. Like, excuse me, from the other nationality. Because they know how to work, they know the Filipino worker how to work. It’s not like, we want to uplift our personality, right? But I don’t know, even the whole world, they tell us that mostly, most Filipino worker is much better than other. I don’t know. This is what they are telling. That’s why, some of us, we are really trying to prove that. Because from long time ago this is what they’re thinking.
4.4.1 Enclaves Having off days are integral to the lives of the FDWs in Singapore. This is usually the time where FDWs are able to meet their friends, as they take a break from work. This is when the perceived diasporic community is formed. In our interviews, all except one mentioned only having other FDWs as friends in Singapore. They do not have, and are also not interested in having Singaporean friends. Various locations were mentioned as places to go for their off days. For Emily, she only has worked in Singapore for almost 2 years and her off days are once every month. As such, during her off day, she will go to Lucky Plaza:
Interviewer: Where do you go usually during your off days?
Emily: Lucky Plaza …show more content…
Going to parks and open spaces were quite commonly mentioned in our interviews. Similar to Mae, some of the FDWs already have their own group of friends that they will always spend time with. However, while spending time with their friends may heighten sense of belonging for some, friends can also negatively influence an FDW’s sense of belonging. In the case of Sarah, when asked how her friends can increase her sense of belonging to Singapore, she remarked “Maybe if… I don’t know… because mostly they said they want to go home.” Thus, the views of friends is a great influencing factor on FDWs’ sense of belonging to Singapore.
4.4.2 Perceived community status and sense of belonging
Some FDWs form a closed diasporic community with their group of friends and they may see themselves as people of lower status from Singaporeans. When asked, Jose mentioned that Singaporeans said they were very noisy on public buses. She then proceeded to admit that they were at fault and they are not allowed to do such things: Yeah because this is not our country so we are only foreigner only you know... we have to follow the policy in Singapore also. we have to control ourselves also to be.. Just be normal. And not to be naughty or whatever. you see. sometimes maybe you disturb everybody, you disturb here, like you make …show more content…
In this closed diasporic community, some FDWs also perceive themselves to be better and of higher status than FDWs from other countries because of their educational background. According to Cece:
Mostly they like to get the Filipino workers...Filipino workers, [are better] to get this one. Like, excuse me, from the other nationality. Because they know how to work, they know the Filipino worker how to work. It’s not like, we want to uplift our personality, right? But I don’t know, even the whole world, they tell us that mostly, most Filipino worker is much better than other. I don’t know. This is what they are telling. That’s why, some of us, we are really trying to prove that. Because from long time ago this is what they’re thinking.