Here's my 1st draft for the UNIFEM Writing Contest.



Decided to do a poem.



Doesn't really look like a poem, isn't it?



But yeah, just read through & comments are welcomed :)





Another Land, Another Life


by Nor Suryati Bte Adnan


Ngee Ann Polytechnic





Singapore is my homeland.
A true Singaporean is who I am.
I could never ask for more,
As this country has open so many doors of opportunities
For me to strive for.




A wonderful city --
Full of life, vibrancy and colours.
But, things will never be the way they are at present,
Without the hard work, determination and perseverance
That our forefathers have put in for a brighter future for our generations.




Our forefathers set their foot in Singapore years ago,
Hoping for a better life for themselves as well as for their families.
Away from what they experienced in own homelands;
Wars, poverty and hardships --
What can they ever ask for more from this small island of hope?




Individuals from all works of life.
Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians --
Different races, religions and languages spoken;
Problems soon arise,
In which hope for a better life seems too good to be true.




Adaptation to the new land was never easy for the newcomers.
Especially when one was only a stranger to the whole new surroundings.
Mutual understanding between local and our forefathers was hard to forge.
There were so many so many barriers for the newcomers to break,
Which was difficult to come by.




Communication is indeed a great struggle for everyone,
When language is concerned.
Segregation caused relationships with one another to be strained.
More problems soon arise,
Which seems to be a great deal for our forefathers to handle.




Life in Singapore was not easy,
Since the arrivals of immigrants and foreign expatriates.
Crimes become more rampant,
Living conditions worsened due to overcrowding
And continue poverty and illnesses too existed.




The wall of segregation soon broke down.
With Singapore undergoing changes, stability and modernisation,
Over the years, the outsiders were finally being accepted as our own people.
The contributions our forefathers had sacrificed too were acknowledged.
Singapore now stands tall with its nation merged as one.




With the contributions made by the immigrants, as well as locals,
In the forty-four years of Singapore’s independence,
This tiny dot has become competitive for other countries to be aware of.
With businesses flourished and prosperity in all of the various industries,
Singapore has indeed brings a better life to all.




The acceptance of foreigners and expatriates comes with a great price.
With much assurance and trust to be gained by the locals,
Both sides slowly learn the benefits of understanding and forging friendships.
The hard work of our forefathers finally paid off
As their contributions are highly appreciated by the current generation.




Language is never a problem now in Singapore
As English is the language understood by all.
Despite the differences in race, religion and cultural backgrounds,
United we stand, divided we fall;
Singaporeans come together as one nation under any circumstances --
Be it going through the good or the bad times,
It has never been an issue or burden for anyone to bear.




Singapore, my homeland, it seems, even to me,
Is still a choice that I have to face.
The contributions made by our ancestors inspire me in every way,
And the choice foreigners make to regard Singapore as their home is endless.
Yet --
To choose if home going to be
Another land or another life --
Is a whole different story for each of us to tell.