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How the Mediterranean Way of Life Matters

Mediterranean life, clubvivre
Mediterranean life, clubvivre

The Mediterranean life may seem as remote from Singapore as the map suggests, but it should still matter to SIngaporeans.

There is perhaps no need to seek for financial advice in the Mediterranean, except for what not to do. But it isn’t all that bad on the sunny side of Europe. Singapore has developed rapidly in the last two decades and has one of the highest gross national income (GNI) per capita in the world – currently way more than double as for example Spain’s GNI. But there is still much Singapore can learn.

Mediterranean Time

The little red dot is undoubtedly in love with food – in that sense we can easily compare to the Mediterranean. But aren’t we always eating in a rush? One of the major benefits of the Mediterranean way of life is their concept of time. The Spanish for example are known to have one of the longest lunch breaks in the world. Three hours can easily pass, as family, friends and co-workers lunch together in tranquillity. Although three hours might be quite a stretch for the Singaporean office worker, eating calmly and not rushed is actually way healthier for our bodies.


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Feasting on Culture

Singapore has invested greatly in the arts and cultural activities. More and more galleries and creative centres are opening. A highlight will the soon to be open National Gallery Singapore. However, on an average day our cultural consumption is often still limited to the phone and our ever-so-pressing social media feeds. Does it make us happy in any way? The most likely answer is no. Statistics indicate that most of our social media use doesn’t serve any purpose, but can rather be classified as a habit or even as an addictive behaviour.

We really can’t complain about the lack of alternatives, be it music, dance, theatre or visual arts. The number of sold tickets for performances in Singapore has been declining in the past two years. The Gillman Barracks has been operating for 2,5 years, but the first galleries are already not renewing their leases, as visitor numbers are continuously declining.

There is no reason why Singapore shouldn’t be compared to the greats like Madrid, Barcelona and Rome. However, we currently seem to have forgotten that culture can be just as nourishing as our daily meals. We are not only feeding our bodily needs, but also nurse mind and soul. A gallery visit or musical performance on a regular basis cannot only help to make Singapore a more cultural place, but will also be beneficial for the individual.

Move with Purpose

Although the Mediterranean life is stereotypically believed to be slow, it isn’t without movement. Too be fair – life can be slow. One should not be fooled by the speed, as especially elderly people in the Mediterranean are extremely agile and fit. Modern urban life is often dictated by convenience. Trains, taxis and escalators make our life increasingly comfortable. While resting for most of the day in the office, we still feel the guilty need to exercise in the evening, just to take another elevator into the gym. Movement is vital to our physical and mental health. Opening one’s horizon, one can see infinite possibilities to move with purpose throughout the day.

Bon Vivant - Asia's ultimate Food & Lifestyle Magazine, presented by Clubvivre