Singapore Expats

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krptykcookies
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Re: Its a deal!

Post by krptykcookies » Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:49 am

notwavingdrowning wrote:krptykcookies: thanks for being so cool about it..Re: KL- I am going there for the first time in 4 weeks- I am looking forward to it so much :D
notwavingdrowning

How long will you be visiting KL?

PM me if you need to know anything about KL, like the best eaterie, the must-see place, etc. :)
Cool as cool can be

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Barnsley
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Post by Barnsley » Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:25 am

I have had a read through this thread , I hadn't seen it before today which is a shame, as I would have been able to be in from the start and share my feelings on Singapore and how tough it can be at times.

I have been here a month and the emotional rollercoaster I have been on has even surprised me. I have been up most of the time , but the low days have been pretty bad , and on top of it all I picked up a kidney infection , which hasn't relly helped the attempts for me to socialise.

I am also living in Pasir Ris as I am working on Loyang Industrial Estate. Is there anyone else out here!!!

It certainly isnt easy being here alone , and coming from the UK the time difference really isnt the best for contacting people there.

germangirl
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Post by germangirl » Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:55 am

I was just reading through this and feel i want to say a few words too... i came here 1,5 years ago for work, alone, my bfriend couldn't join me... I guess I don't need to mention that I was not happy...

anyway, i started to engage myself in activities, took up new hobbies, travelled at least once a month to get out of Singapore.... i made friends, expats as well as locals. Some of my best friends today are singaporeans. The busier I got, the happier I felt. I even extended my contract here and have 2,5 years more to go now... and I know there will be things that i miss if i ever leave...

There are things that annoy me in Singapore, there are things I will never get used to.... but I started to feel that Singapore is a good place to live. It depends on what you make of it. Most Singaporeans are quite active people. No matter if you like sports, indoor or outdoor, culture, arts or just good chill out places. Singapore has it... maybe in different style than we are used to, but it is here...

Those expat gatherings, I always feel if you meet one nice person out of 10, you won...

For me, I think what made me unhappy those first months was the 'being alone' feeling...

I really hope that you all will make the same experiences as me, going from being the unhappy expat to the 'i can make it through this without crying' expat... and maybe even to the expat, that can enjoy some parts of life in this city...

My best advice would be, engage yourself in travels... Flights are cheap to most nearby countries... and there's a whole new world for us to explore.

I read somewhere, 'happy' expats shouldn't write on this post... but since i used to be one of you, i hope it's ok to give some comments...
we know what we are, but know not what we may be

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Post by lucida » Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:37 am

i am so glad that i found this thread. now i don't feel like i am the only one who is unhappy at times. sometimes the pressure from other peoples expectations that i "should" be happy living the expat life make me even more unhappy. then when i am unhappy i would wonder what's wrong with me since i "should be happy". its a vicious cycle.

being a trailing spouse is not all privilege, glitz and glamour. there are a lot of sacrifices involved. i hardly see my husband now as he travels around the region. when he is in town, sometimes i'll prepare a nice dinner and he'll ring to say he can't make it because he's caught up at work. i go shopping but don't find it enjoyable. i feel guilty that i am not contributing finanially. i crave for the simpler things, my hubby, my family and my friends. sometimes i feel like giving up and saying its too hard let's just go home, but i can't because i love my husband. he is at an exciting stage in his career and i won't deny him this opportunity.

i am trying to make the most of my time here. i keep telling myself it will get better and if others can make the most of it then so can i. i really hope so.

sabs
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...

Post by sabs » Sun, 20 Jul 2008 8:05 pm

today we moved in a flat. its near the MRT Potong Pasir, and there are no shopping malls only food courts of local people and i cannot eat the local food Sad

when i want to eat i have to move with the mrt to harbour front or clarke quay...


i am so sad, i am pregnant and allone. now i am thinking: in an half year i want to fly home to austria without my boyfriend. he have to stay alone for an half year. i am with the baby in austria!?

damn shit, i dont know what i have to do......

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astr
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Re: hh

Post by astr » Sun, 20 Jul 2008 8:58 pm

masauds wrote:He he
same here,It is hard to find good friends here unless u know them well,cheers lets we all meet up someday for coffee after work and chit chat
i'm totally up for a *itch chat anytime :D

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astr
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Re: list of classes

Post by astr » Sun, 20 Jul 2008 9:02 pm

rockchalkinsing wrote:Sofiabelle, I'd love to see the list of classes that you have, if you don't mind. I think it'd be fun to do something like that.
yes please!! me too!! I got rejected from NAFA because i can't manage to attend all their classes :(

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astr
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Re: Stop Crying!

Post by astr » Sun, 20 Jul 2008 9:12 pm

notwavingdrowning wrote: Dear Morpheus, whilst I appreciate your attention on this thread, I feel I have made it clear that this thread was created by me specifically for expats who are unsettled. Looking at your previous posts, you offer to teach the Chinese Language. I am sure if I were fluent in Chinese my experience here in Singapore may be a little different. In my experience it is the locals who take enormous offense at the slightest criticism of their country. (for the record the whole world can bash my country and I don't really care, I am secure enough not to take offense) My intention is not too offend you or anyone else. Singapore is a lovely place, but I am feeling unsettled and need to talk to others in the same boat. That is why I advertise this thread to other unsettled expats. ONLY. You have 99.99% of this forum to yourself, please can we have a small place to vent.

We are all doing our best to get on.

Sincerely
you KICK A** *ITCH....i so wish my company employed more people like you & they could show some people the actual size of their tiny red dot compared to the rest of the world :x

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astr
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Post by astr » Sun, 20 Jul 2008 9:17 pm

I can't believe this thread goes on 8 pages. Are there really that many expats on this forum or even in singapore :o

Gosh!! if i only started venting...i love my job i don't want to leave it, but.... :shooting: oh no!!! another 8 pages still wouldn't be enough for me

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QRM
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Re: Stop Crying!

Post by QRM » Sun, 20 Jul 2008 9:32 pm

notwavingdrowning wrote: In my experience it is the locals who take enormous offense at the slightest criticism of their country. (for the record the whole world can bash my country and I don't really care,
Which is why its so easy to wind them up, they take the bait every time :lol:

mrsmonkie
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Post by mrsmonkie » Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:22 pm

lucida wrote: being a trailing spouse is not all privilege, glitz and glamour. there are a lot of sacrifices involved. i hardly see my husband now as he travels around the region.
I agree 100%

It does get hard here. I'm fairly young, married, not working and have no children so finding that sense of purpose is a constant battle for me.

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Gilly
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Post by Gilly » Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:04 pm

Someone observed that this site is frequented more by locals than expats and meetings seemed to be the same.

I mentioned on another thread that I found this unusual.

I was told I was envious, jealous, impolitem scared of competition (beggars belief) by some local nerd who had posted several thousand times on this forum.

I have had other experiences as an expat elsewhere and couldn't understand why locals would want to hang out here. That's all I ewas saying.

I've often found locals can contribute and be very helpful, but so many are over-sensitive and defensive and that makes me just wonder why they bother hanging around us. This guy (if think it was a guy) poroves my point.

It would be nice to have a forum where the criteria for joining is to be an expat.

We could really do with a supportive expat network here, because I can understand a lot of what's being said about Singapore.

I'm not unhappy but i can understand the homesickness for sure. This place is beautiful, but has no ambiance, atmosphere - mainly beacuse the people are different here. As you get to understand the law here, you can probably understand why. But I won't get into that.

Who would be up for setting up an Expat gathering? Monthly gathering for the purpose of cheering ourselves up?

I wonder if the admins could set up an expat only thread where we can vent off about things away from locals in order that we don't offend their values.

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astr
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Post by astr » Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:43 pm

Dear Gilly,

thank you for what you just said. whether it actually happens or not. [-o< you've just said what we homesick expats have been longing for. it's been two years here & this place still hasn't grown on me. i love the eternal sunshine but the people are the last thing anyone can change my mind about. :( ......& that, only another expat would understand.


yesterday was the first time i gave into my frustrations & decided to leave this place, as much as i really want to keep my job. & i never considered myself as one of those who would run away from things. Gosh!! i am supresing so many adjactives right now. :cry:

Notwavingdrowning:

i know you've recieved a million thanks for starting this thread but let me be one of those greatful ones as well.
Last edited by astr on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:08 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Gilly
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Post by Gilly » Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:00 am

Hey Astr,

No problem. I'll PM the admins and see if we can have a corner of this forum to ourselves.

Don't go! I'm sure with the right circle of friends, you can stomach it here. Just think, this country has so much going for it, so together if we can create our own oasis, it'll be fab!

I don't know which country you're from, but I recently went back to the UK for business ( I don't go back often) but it made me depressed, the weather being a huge part. The only thing good in the UK is family and friends.

However, in my last expat existance, in Istanbul, I found a great network of people. I couldn't believe it! They ahs aforum, but it was small, active members totalled 100. But we met monthly, but most of us becams egreta friends and met daily weekely etc.

I still go to that forum to chat with them. I have some of my best friends there.

But I believe it can happen here. We just need to make it happen.

There are two options:

I'll see what i can do to set something up, either within this forum or separate if need be.

or I know the guys who created my last expat forum, I don't see why we couldn't create a new space/split the site for SNG expats, with membership limited to expats.

Any genuine expats that are interested, PM me (make sure you have 5 posts before you can PM)

Let's make this happen.

Keep smiling,

Gilly

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astr
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Post by astr » Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:31 am

a seperate niche to ourselves would be great. a new space/split the site for SNG expats would be even more awesome!! I know a whole bunch of people who are unplesantly surprised with the local:expat proportion on this site. :-&

i haven't been posting here for a while because..well the last 8 pages explain why. but actual meet ups (that go further than planning & discussions) with real human beings (expats) with real hearts & souls & feelings would be so overwhelmingly good i just might let a tear drop :P

Gilly!!! you totally have my vote. & if this really happens...if it really truly does.....then the next time I'm in london or manchester I bring back your most favourite thing from UK, whatever it might be. (provided it is permitted by the singapore customs & my credit card limit) :shooting:

like the japanese say.....sank you (oh! they're very nice people by the way :lol: )

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