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Positive Effects of Social Media

Posted on by Posted in Culture and Society, Lifestyle, Social Media .

Nowadays, all we hear about social media is that it’s generally bad for us in many aspects. But actually, we should think about social media as something that’s between positive and negative. Of course, social media has a lot of positive effects just as well. Instead of only focusing on the negative, here are good things about social media to take into account.

It allows for better communication

If you have a friend who’s leaving Singapore, for example, probably the best way for you to stay in touch is through social media platforms. Today, you’ll see more and more people communicate through social media instead of using text messages and telephones. That’s simply because it’s very fast and convenient.

It becomes easier to make friends

In connection to the point about communication, another positive effect of social media is that it becomes way easier to get to know more people. Before, we wouldn’t even know people who lived in the neighborhood beside us. But with social media, it’s become very possible to do that. You can even connect with people in other countries, right? Sometimes you even become good friends with people online even without seeing them in person.

You get to find people with the same interests as you

Again, because you can communicate with so many people on social media, it’s highly likely that you will also meet some who share the same interests with you. For example, if you’re interested in traveling to another country and you actually find a friend on Facebook living there, then you already have someone who can show you around. Or maybe you play sports and meet some people through social media so that you can have a few games for fun.

It encourages empathy

One of the best advantages of social media is that it fosters sympathy. Today you’ll see videos around Facebook and Twitter showing different stories of life, from people who succeed to those who are already suffering. Some people raise awareness through social media as well. You might see informative posts about animals on the brink of extinction or the environment slowly being destroyed. All of these things can awaken empathy in people and cause solidarity or even a call for change.

It gives one the opportunity to showcase creativity

Probably one of the best examples of this is vlogging. A lot of people make videos and it really showcases their creativity through the content they make. This is why trends usually happen in popular culture. More and more people show their originality and creativity by constantly producing different content. Even artists, painters, and music producers have an easier time promoting their talents because of social media.

Asian Fruits You Should Know

Posted on by Posted in Culture and Society .

For expats and even long-time residents in Singapore, the overwhelming choice of various fruits can be a scary experience. Because Singapore imports fruits from neighboring countries, it’s not unusual to see varieties from all over the continent. These fruits are also used in a lot of cooked dishes.

The list will not include popular fruits like mango, durian, coconut, and banana. Naturalized fruits like dragon fruit, sugar-apple and soursop are not native to Asia.

Citrus
1. Kumquat is slightly smaller than oranges. It has four varieties and is sometimes used as an ornamental plant.
2. Kaffir or Makrut Lime has leaves used in cooking because of its fragrance. The fruit is also made into a candy or as a flavoring.
3. Buddha’s Hand or Fingered Citron is a yellow fruit that looks like a hand because it has “fingers.” It’s used as a flavoring, medicine and perfume.
4. Pomelo is a large green or yellow fruit. Some people sprinkle salt to eat it. It’s also used in salads and drinks.

Soapberry
1. Pulasan is native in Southeast Asia. Those who have tried it claim it’s sweeter than its look-alike rambutan.
2. Rambutan’s name comes from the word meaning “hair” because of its hairy appearance. It’s also made into jams.
3. Longan or Dragon Eye, has a variety of culinary and medicinal uses.
4. Lychee is pink-red in color and is used in various products like canned fruit and wine.

Myrtacaea
1. Water, Rose or Java Apple is a fruit that looks like a red bell. It is used in salads.
2. Jamun, when ripe, has a black-colored fruit. It has a sweet and sour taste.

Others
1. Yamgmei or Yamomo, also called yumberry or red bayberry, is sometimes made into an alcoholic beverage called baijiu.
2. Jackfruit is a common ingredient in a lot of Asian dishes. Like durian, it is also notorious for its smell.
3. Mangosteen is known also for its medicinal properties.
4. Langsat, Lanzones or Duku is consumed raw or packed in a syrup. It’s also used as a medicine.
5. Bael is a grey or yellow fruit with an aromatic scent. It’s sometimes made into a drink called sharbat.
6. Salak or Snake Fruit is reddish-brown and scaly. It is native to Sumatra and Java.
7. Starfruit or Carambola is a fruit with five or more ridges on its sides. It’s used in drinks, relishes and even as a cleaner.

8. Nungu or Palmyra Fruit is a black husk. Its seeds can be consumed when unripe. The fruit is prepared in various ways.
9. Cottonfruit or Santol can either be red or yellow and consumed raw or as an ingredient.
10. Noni, Great Morinda or Cheese Fruit tastes bitter. It’s sometimes cooked and its seeds roasted.
11. Wood-Apple has a hard rind covering a brown pulp almost similar to bael.
12. Persimmon has four known species in Asia. The fruit is heart-shaped, most common of which is the Hachiya. They are also dried or cooked.
13. Jujube or Red Date is an oval fruit. They are sometimes smoked or made into tea, juice and vinegar.