The Obligatory Flag Day Post

Flag day was pretty good!
As I look back at this morning/afternoon, I notice how the hours didn't draaag by as one would expect 8 hours of collecting donations to. Maybe it's because I didn't have a watch. Heh. Or a phone. Or any other chronologically informative device. It was also funny how people in the morning were more willing to donate than the afternooners.
Here's my list of people that were more likely to donate:

People on the phone, for some reason.
Suave looking Indian dudes. (Sunglasses)
Old Caucasian couples that are above 60. Those below are less likely to donate.
European couples.
Mothers with children (of any race).
Teenage couples.
People with their friends. (Adult or teenage. Of any race, even Chinese. Bonus points if they are of different race.)
Smokers. (Who knows why, but they seem willing to donate.)
Women friends.
Thin middle-aged Chinese guys. They're always nice!
Families.
People with earphones, for some reason.
Men with business pants. They seem to always have a pocket fulla coins.

And that's all, until something refreshes my memory. Now here's the list of people who were less likely to donate.

Normal-bodied middle-aged Chinese guys. They just give you this grimace.
Chinese teenagers that are female. (They don't even smile. They'll look at you if you're lucky. Friends are an exception though.)
Caucasians. (with the exception of elderly ones, and those with their children. Well, at least they reject with a smile.)
Fathers with their son.
Teenagers that are alone. (With the exception of Indian ones, for some reason. They're awesome.)


Note that the lists are based on my experience, meaning you might have a different one (based on how you look or ask for donations, probably.), and the lists do not apply to your donation-collecting.

All that aside, I'm grateful for the coins and notes I got. The fact that we got anything at all shows us that Singaporeans aren't really the 'typical Singaporeans' we think they are. Some of us, anyway.
And just a little tip I remember:
Do not fill the rim of your can with stickers. Put stickers on one by one, so people will get the impression that they'd be taking the last sticker. Makes them feel special, maybe. It worked for me!
Another tip:
When asking for donations, walk slower a little. Look like you're prepared to stop, because people will just pass by if you look like you're just flowing past.
Another:
If you bang around your can (sloshing around the coins), and people see this, and hear this, you are less likely to get a donation out of the same people afterwards.
Also:
If it is windy and some guy is trying to put a dollar bill in your can, do not help. This will raise the chances that the bill will accidentally fly away.
And:
Banging your coin-filled (coinful?) cans to the tune of "We Will Rock You" is crazy-awesome.
boom-boom-BAP, boom-boom-BAP


Eating with the ex-neighbours in about 45 minutes. Woo.

I will not refer to CNY dinners as money collecting.
I will not refer to CNY dinners as money collecting.
I will not refer to CNY dinners as money collecting.
I will not refer to CNY dinners as money collecting.
I will not refer to CNY dinners as money collecting.


-Zan