I remember my first week at work (yes, this Angmo works)... I was struggling with the English language in Singapore, famously known as "Singlish". Words in English are mixed with Hokkien, Malay, verbs and nouns are all cut and I have absolutely no idea what people are talking about! But I constantly hear the word "Ang Mo".
Travelling sounds are... "naka-naka-naka-tooay-tooay-hmm-hmm-cannot-lah-so-how" and then Ang Mo. It then echoes back "naka-xie-xie-ni-tsao-how-can" and again Ang Mo. (By the way, I don't think that a soundtrack is necessary here) Ang Mo, what does that mean?
At the underground station (called MRT here), I found out that there is a stop called Ang Mo Kio. So people must be talking about the neighbourhood they live in or are thinking of moving to. Ok isn't it???
Some time later, I made a discovery...
And there is fourth ethnic group called: Angmo!
According to various definitions from Urban Dictionary, Angmo means:
- A term to call Caucasians in Singapore.
- A term literally meaning "Red Haired" in the Hokkien Dialect of Chinese. Colloquially used in reference to any person of western descent. In other words; white people. Often used in Singapore, the term is not considered a term of endearment, but is not considered rude either.
- The term is regarded by many non-Chinese as derogatory term used increasingly as a racial slur to describe Caucasians in Singapore and Malaysia.
What do I think about it?
Not sure if it is totally wrong, but also it does not sound so politically correct... Well, I think I'd rather stick to my original thought, Angmo is indeed a stop on the MRT.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss!
