A.B.C.

Last weekend we took Eva to the local post office to apply for her U.S. passport.

Yes, she will be receiving a blue American passport, not a red Singaporean one. When we were q-ing behind all the other passport applicants, mostly kids with their American parents, I couldn't help but wonder: How will I react 21 years from now if she chooses her American citizenship over her Singaporean one?

Here's a brief, matter-of-fact comparison between the two countries:

Living in the U.S.A. (or specifically, Chicago)
Pros
World-class education
(more) Freedom of speech
(more) Openness to differing opinions and ways of life
(more) Options
The four seasons and all their beauty
Very courteous and generally friendly people
Cons
A long, harsh winter
A bad public transport system
Corruption
A wide rich-poor gap
(less) safety overall
(less) convenient

Living in Singapore
Pros
It's always hot and you have 12 hours of sunshine a day
Convenience (duh!)
Super-duper efficiency
Possibly the safest city in the world
Possibly the cleanest city in the world
Cons
Really kiasu and generally ungracious people
A suffocating emphasis on material success
Less acceptance of different perspectives and ways of life
Censorship
It could get too hot (yes, I know there is air-con but do I really want to spend the majority of my days in a mall?)

Of course, when selecting one's nationality, I highly doubt that its ever going to be this rational.

There's a little twist to this story however. Eva was, ironically, born on Singapore's National Day. Now, how can she ever resist staying in a place where her birthday will always be a public holiday?

Eva & Papa checking out passport holders at the local CVS (like Watsons) while waiting for her passport photos.

I just hope that when my American-born Chinese baby grows up and makes her final choice, I will have the good sense to give her my blessings and support no matter the decision.