Just last week I wrote a column about being in a relationship with a Singaporean,and the assumptions that can come with being seen together.
Our lead story this week is on women who prefer Caucasian men to local ones.
Yes, it’s the Sarong Party Girl (SPG) issue, again.
I’d be lying if I claimed to not have visited some of the notorious haunts. In the past, I was usually dragged by friends to bars that I considered needed a “three-sheets-to-the wind” minimum – that is you had to have some drink in you to actually enjoy them.
I say dragged because as much as the idea of being told there were places that women would like you just because of where you came from, I hated going to expatriate hang-outs.
It was almost like visiting a zoo. Expat blokes, sweating through their shirts, trying to impress the girls. Yep, you definitely needed a drink or three to get through one of these nights.
My abiding memory of those nights was that back then, it was the era of bar-top dancing.
Rather than the ideal of hot young things gyrating sexily, the women soo nwere replaced by men with beer guts clambering up to “dance” with all the grace of a just-tranquillised elephant.
Half the fun was in seeing the look of fear of those seated just below them.
And yes, the women were a major draw. Some were outgoing.
Some were very outgoing. Not that there were any complaints.
I was told by someone here a long time ago: “You know you have special powers”. It didn’t take long to realise what he meant.
Are men like me really that much more exciting? They really don’t seem any different than men you could find on any other night out in any other city in the world. Ordinary, really.
There’s never just one reason, but the SPG tag carries the weight of disdain with it.
But I know some women who do prefer to date Caucasian men.
They’re intelligent women who hold down careers, and aren’t just out for the money. For them, it’s just a preference.
Not that I haven’t met my share of ditzier women. But then you can find them anywhere in the world.
I’ve found that no matter what country you’re in, looks alone don’t make for a happy relationship.
It’ll be fun for a while, but you need to be able to spend time together. You know, talking and the like. Maybe share an interest or two.
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