In a hilarious TikTok post that has taken social media by storm, French expat Amandine Honvault shares her tongue-in-cheek struggles of making friends in Singapore. With the playful caption, "It's so tiring to be friends with Singaporeans," she humorously highlights the high expectations and quirky interactions she's encountered since moving to the city-state in 2019.

Amandine, known online as @new_to_singapore, recalls that even when she puts her best foot forward—donning a chic outfit and flawless makeup—her typical Singaporean friends throw in a twist. Instead of a simple compliment, they respond with skepticism: 'Wah, today wear so nice, ah? Got what occasion?' Frustrated, she quips that the compliments often come with a side of suspicion.

The fun doesn’t stop there! She points out that, when it comes to dining, Singaporeans seemingly have an unbeatable urge to one-up each other. "You bring them to your favorite food joint, and they take one bite before declaring, 'Next time, I’ll take you somewhere better.' But if the tables are turned, don’t expect less than a critique: 'Last time nicer, standard drop already!" Her narrative rings true to many who have felt the pressure of culinary judgment.

Even her home-cooked meals face scrutiny. Amandine humorously claims that no matter how much love she pours into her dishes, the initial reaction often revolves around one glaring absence: rice. "You basically served air!" she exclaims, emphasizing the dire importance of rice in Singaporean cuisine.

As her video racked up over 136,000 views within hours, reactions varied widely. Many viewers chimed in, some disagreeing with her portrayal while others sided with her humorous frustrations. One TikToker reassured her, saying, "You got the wrong friends; we are not like that!" while others confirmed, "Yep, sounds like us. We are exhausting people to be around." A Redditor even added, "Most locals are passive-aggressive, it's common!"

Some users suggested that she take things lightly; embracing the playful banter rather than getting bogged down by it. One insightful Redditor advised, "The trick is just to laugh and not take such comments seriously. If you stop dressing up, suddenly it's like, 'Are you sick? You look tired!"

The community support was palpable, with several users even offering their friendship to Amandine: "Make friends with me! I promise to compliment your outfit!" Amandine herself acknowledged a TikToker who pointed out that her comments had a sarcastic tone, replying with gratitude for the understanding.

Through her comedic lens, Amandine captures not just the challenges of adapting to a new culture but also the lightheartedness in navigating friendships where a compliment can sometimes feel like a challenge. In her own words, she's just trying to survive the standards—one cheeky TikTok at a time!