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S'pore's 44th Birthday
Yes, we are Singapore
He carries the red passport, says 'lah' but is ang moh - meet the new Singaporean
By Veena Bharwani
August 10, 2009
HE stands out among the crowd of heartlanders.
The Caucasian with a strong Danish accent, Mr Carsten Ovesen, 62, would stick out like a sore thumb if he went to the local wet market.
But what many don't realise is that MrOvesen is Singaporean.
He has been a permanent resident since 1995 and became a Singapore citizen in August last year.
Mr Ovesen, a furniture design and fabrics specialist, is the managing director of Carsten Ovesen Design.
He left Denmark 24 years ago. He went to the US in 1985 to work. After living there for six years, he moved to Singapore in 1990 for a job posting.
It was 'love at first landing', he said.
He said: 'What's there not to love?
'It is a colourful country with people of different races living together in harmony. I also like the different festivals that are celebrated here.'
He also frequently travels to other parts of Asia for work.
Good management
'Just compare Singapore to other countries in Asia that are not faring as well. Singapore is more developed and managed very well. You see the fruits of such good management in bad times like these.'
He had another reason to make Singapore home - he fell in love with and married Singaporean Susan Ovesen, 53, in 1994. The couple, who have no children, live in an apartment in Bayshore Park.
Mr Ovesen has two daughters, aged 38 and 36, from a previous marriage. They live in the US.
Over the years, he has developed a taste for local food like beef rendang and prata. And Singlish rolls off his tongue easily.
Said his wife, Mrs Ovesen, who is retired: 'It is quite funny but sometimes when I tell him to do something, he says, 'That is so leceh!' in his Danish accent.'
The couple also frequents hawker centres for their favourite local food.
Said Mrs Ovesen: 'Most of the time, we don't get stares. But he almost always gets overcharged when he tries to buy something from a store.'
Mr Ovesen added that although he looks different, he has had no problems blending in.
When the immigration officers at the airport see him - a white man holding a Singapore passport - they don't treat him any differently.
'Maybe they say bad things about me behind my back, I don't know,' he added with a laugh.
He is aware that new citizens like him face some resentment from other Singaporeans but he believes attitudes are changing.
'Singapore is changing, the face of Singaporeans are changing as well. Through my profession, I have served the community in many ways,' he said.
He has been a member of the Singapore Furniture Industry Council (SFIC) since 1992 and has volunteered with the council, offering his ideas and expertise.
He has also been a judge for SFIC's competitions for local and foreign furniture designers for the past 16 years.
National service
'My friends tell me that I have done my national service by being a judge at these competitions,' he said with a laugh.
Mr Oveson is among a growing number of new citizens, such as former Briton Michael Gray, 57, and Belgium-born venture capitalist Alain Vandenborre, 48, who became Singapore citizens in recent years.
Mr Gray has been a citizen for 17 years and became involved in community work soon after he arrived here as an expatriate in 1978.
He was the deputy chairman of the Public Transport Council from 2001 to 2005 and was board member of the National Council of Social Service for 15 years .
Mr Vandenborre wrote a book called Proudly Singaporean to let people know why, in 2002, he became a Singapore citizen.
In his book, which was published in 2003, Mr Vandenborre praises Singapore's efficiency, cleanliness, cultural diversity, political stability and low crime rate.
But it is no 'puff piece' about Singapore. He also criticises schools for streaming children too early and said the education system could do more to encourage creativity.
S'pore's 44th Birthday
Yes, we are Singapore
He carries the red passport, says 'lah' but is ang moh - meet the new Singaporean
By Veena Bharwani
August 10, 2009
HE stands out among the crowd of heartlanders.
The Caucasian with a strong Danish accent, Mr Carsten Ovesen, 62, would stick out like a sore thumb if he went to the local wet market.
But what many don't realise is that MrOvesen is Singaporean.
He has been a permanent resident since 1995 and became a Singapore citizen in August last year.
Mr Ovesen, a furniture design and fabrics specialist, is the managing director of Carsten Ovesen Design.
He left Denmark 24 years ago. He went to the US in 1985 to work. After living there for six years, he moved to Singapore in 1990 for a job posting.
It was 'love at first landing', he said.
He said: 'What's there not to love?
'It is a colourful country with people of different races living together in harmony. I also like the different festivals that are celebrated here.'
He also frequently travels to other parts of Asia for work.
Good management
'Just compare Singapore to other countries in Asia that are not faring as well. Singapore is more developed and managed very well. You see the fruits of such good management in bad times like these.'
He had another reason to make Singapore home - he fell in love with and married Singaporean Susan Ovesen, 53, in 1994. The couple, who have no children, live in an apartment in Bayshore Park.
Mr Ovesen has two daughters, aged 38 and 36, from a previous marriage. They live in the US.
Over the years, he has developed a taste for local food like beef rendang and prata. And Singlish rolls off his tongue easily.
Said his wife, Mrs Ovesen, who is retired: 'It is quite funny but sometimes when I tell him to do something, he says, 'That is so leceh!' in his Danish accent.'
The couple also frequents hawker centres for their favourite local food.
Said Mrs Ovesen: 'Most of the time, we don't get stares. But he almost always gets overcharged when he tries to buy something from a store.'
Mr Ovesen added that although he looks different, he has had no problems blending in.
When the immigration officers at the airport see him - a white man holding a Singapore passport - they don't treat him any differently.
'Maybe they say bad things about me behind my back, I don't know,' he added with a laugh.
He is aware that new citizens like him face some resentment from other Singaporeans but he believes attitudes are changing.
'Singapore is changing, the face of Singaporeans are changing as well. Through my profession, I have served the community in many ways,' he said.
He has been a member of the Singapore Furniture Industry Council (SFIC) since 1992 and has volunteered with the council, offering his ideas and expertise.
He has also been a judge for SFIC's competitions for local and foreign furniture designers for the past 16 years.
National service
'My friends tell me that I have done my national service by being a judge at these competitions,' he said with a laugh.
Mr Oveson is among a growing number of new citizens, such as former Briton Michael Gray, 57, and Belgium-born venture capitalist Alain Vandenborre, 48, who became Singapore citizens in recent years.
Mr Gray has been a citizen for 17 years and became involved in community work soon after he arrived here as an expatriate in 1978.
He was the deputy chairman of the Public Transport Council from 2001 to 2005 and was board member of the National Council of Social Service for 15 years .
Mr Vandenborre wrote a book called Proudly Singaporean to let people know why, in 2002, he became a Singapore citizen.
In his book, which was published in 2003, Mr Vandenborre praises Singapore's efficiency, cleanliness, cultural diversity, political stability and low crime rate.
But it is no 'puff piece' about Singapore. He also criticises schools for streaming children too early and said the education system could do more to encourage creativity.
