Source 18: A Samsui woman's account of her life in colonial Singapore.

Back in China, I was out planting, ploughing and harvesting rice in the paddy field. More often than not, bad weather and natural disasters destroyed our harvests and we were left to starve. I was then attracted by the promises of a better life by my cousin who 'made it big' in Singapore. In Singapore, life was tough with long hours of heavy work and hard labour. Our meals were sparse* and I lived in cramped lodging houses in Chinatown with up to 200 other people. My dreams of building a comfortable life with my family have clashed with the reality of low-paying jobs that offer little chance for advancement and security. I'm glad to be able to return home.

*sparse: small in amount.

Source Origin: Kelvin E Y Low. (2014). Remembering the Samsui Women: Migration and Social Memory in Singapore and China. Vancouver,                       British Columbia: UBC Press.

Use Record: Holy Innocents' High School, 2015.