Taxi Driver with a PhD
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 8:06PM Straits Times has also reported on the blog of the Taxi Driver with a PhD in Singapore.
It is apparent from the number of comments in the newspaper article and the blog that the netizens of Singapore are up in arms with this - horrors, a PhD holder driving a taxi cab. I suppose the Asian mentality is still influenced by the axiom that getting a good education means a good life. Well, and the warped notion that a good life is a high paying job.
In any case, this story has personally touched me and I read through the blog in one sitting (and my wife is dumbfounded at my fascination at this issue). I suppose it was a stark reminder of how things could turn out for me and my family - will I get retrenched in my 50s, be laden with debt and no job prospects, and be resigned to driving a taxi cab? (Sidenote: I have secured various verbal agreements with people to live in their balcony if things get bad)
In other news, I received this email:
I am writing to confirm that we have corrected your name on our records. Please reply with any corrections.
Here is how we now have your first name: Yew Jin
Your last name: Lim
Since you have completed your PHD, we have changed your title to Dr.
Communications to you should now be addressed: Dr. Yew Jin Lim
One question:
When addressing your mail using only your initials, should we include the initial of the second part of your first name, ie. Dr. Y.J. Lim?
Or, should we use the first initial only ie. Dr. Y. Lim?
Thank you for your patience in this matter.
In response, I have fulfilled my end of the bet (see the landing page of yewjin.com for details)
Grrrrr. Ok, which one of you emailed the University? :)
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