I think some people just want an excuse to travel. Some of them actually do have access to private jets, but I think their aircraft are mainly regional jets with a limited range so I doubt they can reach Paris without having to make multiple pit stops.
To most collectors, a Birkin isn't just a bag, especially if it is one of those exotic ones, like those Himalayan Niloticus Birkins. Those are not easy to acquire even if you had the cash to do so, especially when the CITES certificates are not in order.
You aren't too far off; they are both working in the healthcare industry.
Myy parents probably have undiagnosed OCD; it is not enough that you reach their projected endpoint, you also need to achieve it via their prescribed pathway. Although I have technically met their expectations in regards of my chosen profession, they are still unhappy (and even ashamed) of the path I have taken.
Personally, I find it ridiculous that someone would even care about which secondary school, junior college, or university I have attended. However, they do. They think that anything that is not "perfect" would be seen as a blemish that will work against me when finding a life partner; apparently one's academic pedigree is one of the core criteria reasonable parents rely on in selecting their ideal daughter-in-law
It is very suffocating.
From their perspective, they want the best for their children; the best education, the best careers, and the best partners. However, their opinion of what is best for me may not be congruent with my personal beliefs. While I am happy to entertain opposing views so long as the other party is open to constructive discourse, they unfortunately do not share my sentiments. Their opinion is absolute; any differing perspectives are regarded as heresy and will be treated as blasphemy.
Looking back, they would only allow me to strategically socialise with individuals they deemed worth knowing, such as peers from old money families. They would organise playdates and outings when we were younger, which evolved into matchmaking sessions as we grew older. I guess if you are someone from an established family, your life would be more or less set in the sense that your parents would not allow you to fail. Even if you were terrible in your studies, they would probably buy you a place in a branded international school before sending you for foundation studies in the UK or Australia to facilitate your matriculation into a branded university.
Some people derive satisfaction from flaunting their wealth in the most superfluous ways. Anyway, I'm usually just there representing my family, or as a plus one. So I usually just practice my active listening skills while enjoying the food, which is usually pretty amazing!
I think you may be perceiving me as someone living in an ivory tower detached from reality
I studied in the Singapore public education system from primary school straight through to junior college, so I have classmates from various socioeconomic backgrounds. However, I do admit that a good majority of my secondary school friends are from well-to-do backgrounds; I have only two friends from secondary school who live in public housing. On the other hand, my mix of junior college friends are more egalitarian with a good majority of them living in public housing. In fact, my first boyfriend from junior college lived in public housing.
It was also in junior college when I met people from single-parent families for the first time in my life, as I came from a convent before that which frowned about anything that infringed upon the sanctity of holy matrimony.
I joined the Rotary Club in junior college, where I would go down to the HELP Family Services Centre (FSC) in Ang Mo Kio every Saturday to volunteer. The HELP (Help Every Lone Parent) FSC is a charity organisation which specifically aims to support single parents and their children. I would go down and tutor the children there in English, Mathematics, and Science, and also act as a big sister and provide some form of mentorship (which is quite hilarious on hindsight as I had, and still have, zero life experience
). I still fondly remember that the centre is located at the void deck of the public housing block in front of a playground with a dragon head!
So I guess I was always aware of the existence of the poor and downtrodden in Singapore.
In regards to your question as to whether rich people can befriend people from humbler backgrounds, I think the answer is yes. I have found it much easier to make friends from humble backgrounds than most of the people my parents are keen for me to be acquainted with.
To be frank, it is quite hard to mingle with people outside your immediate environment as a working adult. I think the only people I hang out with on a regular basis (if I even hang out at all) are doctors, because they are easily accessible to me. I don't really have the time or energy to go out of my immediate social circle to make new friends.
I also find it quite tiring sometimes to hang out with friends after a long week at work. You need the time and commitment to invest at least 3-4 hours of your free time, and you can't just leave halfway when you are tired and when your social battery is flat. I guess this is the allure of Hardwarezone.com; commitment-free interactions. My interest in this forum was initially piqued by the radically diverse viewpoints abound in the forum back then. The crowd then were of a rowdier breed, and I do admit that while a good number of the comments were off-putting and nauseating, it was also somewhat intriguing. I mean, these were the people whom my parents have always warned me not to mix up, and I guess the forbidden fruit always taste the sweetest. Or maybe I am just mad?
Back to your question.
Assuming that by "low ses" you are refering to poverty-stricken individuals, then my answer would be no. I honestly do not think anyone in my social circle currently lives in poverty. I think all of them are doing pretty okay, or are doing average at the very least. Come to think of it, I don't think I am currently in contact with friends who came from a polytechnic, ITE, or finished their formal education at secondary school. I guess that is because I didn't have any opportunities to mingle with such peers growing up.
I doubt they would be intimidated by me if they got to know me. I mean why should they? I'm just a clueless, overaged teenager trying to make sense of the world around me
