In the heart of Little India, amid the vibrant bustle of Tekka Market, a Chinese man from Anhui Province, China, stands out for his seamless integration into the Indian community.
Mr Xie Tung, 43, a florist who has spent the last 17 years in Singapore, professionally ties garlands for temple offerings, weddings and festivals, all while speaking fluent Tamil.
But the early days were challenging. Indian customers hesitated to buy from him, unsure whether he would understand their requests or get the garland designs right.
“I only knew Mandarin then. When customers came, I did not know what they were asking for; some walked away,” said Mr Xie.
He came to Singapore in 2008, seeking work to support his family back home. While a job at Omsivasakthi Flower & Trading shop along Buffalo Road was available, he had no experience with flowers or the Tamil language. He eventually learnt out of necessity.
While hiring Mr Xie through an agent, owner of the flower stall, Mr Murugesan Velumani, 56, said he saw potential.
“He (Mr Xie) initially cried when he found out he had to work in this field. I told him not to worry and taught him everything, including Tamil. Step by step, he picked up everything. Today, I am very proud of him,” Mr Murugesan told tabla!.
Mr Xie began listening carefully, picking up words from customers and asking his colleagues to explain their meanings. Slowly, Tamil became familiar to him. Today, he speaks Tamil with impressive fluency, peppering his sentences with colloquial expressions that draw smiles from passers-by.
Mr Xie can discuss garland preferences, recommend flower combinations, and even joke with customers, all in Tamil. He not only speaks the language but also knows all the Tamil names of the flowers he works with, from malli (jasmine) to samanthi (chrysanthemum) and roja poo (rose).
His transformation has earned him a loyal base of regulars who come to him for garlands for weddings, prayers and temple occasions.
“He knows exactly how to make a perfect garland, and he is so quick at his work. I am amazed to see how a Chinese man has mastered a skill so special to the Indian community,” said Ms Rathinam, 53, a long-time customer of Om Sivasakthi stall.
As one of the stall’s most experienced staff members, Mr Xie now trains new hires in the art of stringing flowers.
“When I first joined the stall, I was surprised that a Chinese man would be the one teaching me. But Xie is so warm and friendly. You can talk to him in Tamil for hours,” said Mr Aravinthan, 26, who has been working alongside Mr Xie for two years.
Mr Xie has also developed a deep appreciation for Indian culture. In his free time, he often watches Tamil films and counts veteran actor Kamal Haasan as his favourite.
