I often refer to new immigrants as “paratroopers”. We know little about life here when we touch down at Changi International Airport. But having made the decision to settle here, we must learn to live harmoniously with the locals and contribute to the growth of the country.

　　This is, of course, easier said than done as the art of effective communication is hard to master. As newcomers to the country, we must become active members of society and develop a good understanding of the local community. Unfortunately, many do not subscribe to this view, preferring instead to “mind their own business”.

　　On the other hand, the arrival of immigrants in large numbers also creates enormous stress for the local society. We are aliens in the eyes of some Singaporeans - a feeling that is understandable.

　　When times are good and everyone has a job, people can live with each other peacefully. But with the economy now slowing down considerably and many locals losing their jobs, fingers are pointed at us newbies for “robbing the locals of their rice bowls”.

　　We all know why we are here. Singapore has an efficient and capable government and a thriving economy, but need foreign manpower to scale greater heights. You can call it a win-win arrangement - we contribute to the Singapore economy but are also paid for what we are worth.

　　I still find a comment by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in one of his speeches about one or two years ago rather heart-warming. Singapore’s GDP growth would drop two percentage points without the contribution of foreign talent, he had said.

　　We can take pride in our contribution but we should never confine ourselves to our own circles and shut ourselves from the rest of society. We have invested most of our savings in HDB flats bought from the resale market.

　　Our kids are in local schools and we intend to raise them here. Most of us will not want to disrupt our children’s education by uprooting to another country. This is typical of Chinese parents who hope that their children can fulfil their expectations and aspirations. Our kids shall grow up here and make Singapore, not China, their home.

　　It is thus important for new immigrants to get themselves integrated into society. Interact with colleagues and make new friends, spend time together on community activities to improve mutual understanding. You will probably come to realise soon that locals are not very different from us in their outlook on life.

　　I would like to end by quoting from British philosopher Bertrand Russell’s “Principles of Social Reconstruction” - “It is impossible to prevent others from feeling hostile, but it is possible to avoid any reciprocal hostility on one’s own part, by imaginative understanding and the sympathy which grow out of it.”

(The writer, an engineer with SPH Print Centre, came to Singapore from China in 1994.)

　　我常常把新移民比作“空降兵部队”。我们从樟宜机场空降到这个岛国的时候，并不了解这个岛国。既来之，则安之，我们就要学习和本地早期的移民和移民的后代和睦相处，互相帮助，一起来建设这个欣欣向荣的岛国。

要积极融入本地社会，和本地同事交朋友参加一些社会活动。

　　这个世界上，最难的就是人与人之间的沟通。作为新移民，我们要积极地走入这个社会，参与这个社会，才能理解本地人所面对的世界。很多新移民对此不以为然，“各人只扫门前雪，哪管他人瓦上霜”。

　　大量新移民的到来，给本地社会带来的压力是巨大的，我后来才明白这个道理。

　　我们是有些本地人眼中的陌生人，我们要将心比心。经济好的时候，大家都有工作做，相安无事，天下太平。一旦经济发展放缓，很多本地人失去工作，我们这些空降兵就成为被指“抢了本地人的饭碗”的人。因此新移民有必要积极地融入本地社会。

　　我们要明白，我们为什么来新加坡。因为新加坡有一个能干的政府，每年吸引了几十亿元之巨的外来投资，加上政府和私人机构的投资，单单资本本身是不能对经济作出贡献的，必须吸引外来人力资源。

　　我们是为新加坡经济作贡献的，当然我们也获得了一分维持生计的薪水，应该说是双赢的安排。

　　大概是一、二年前，吴作栋总理讲了一句话，我至今还感到温暖。吴总理说，如果没有外来人才对经济的贡献，新加坡的年经济增长率就会下降两个百分点。

　　虽然新移民对本地作出了贡献，但不能因此固步自封，自我封闭。我们把大部分的储蓄用来在二手市场购置组屋；我们的钱都在这里，我们的孩子在本地学校读书。

　　新移民和老移民一样，把孩子看作是自身生命的延续，非常重视孩子的教育。大多数人不会为了实现移居他国的理想，而中断孩子的学业。我们的孩子在这里长大，他们眼里，新加坡是他们的家。这里有他们的童年和少年的梦，甚至最美好的初恋。

　　要积极融入本地社会，最重要的是要积极和本地同事交朋友，和他们一起参加一些社会活动。大家一起开心，一起流汗，才能够真正相互了解。你会明白本地人的想法其实和我们的想法是很接近的。

　　作为本文的结局，我想引用英国哲学家罗素的一段话。“我们无法防止他人敌视我们，但是我们却可以通过谅解和同情，不让自己敌视他人。”

·作者在1994年从中国来新加坡，目前在新加坡报业控股印刷部担任工程师。

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