Expats in Singapore - are you happy?

[Currymeister]

Hi Robstar,

The weather is fab, there's a lot to do, plenty of sports facilities, lots of great restuarants and travel to some wonderful places around the region is easy and not expensive.

Weather is fab? When was the last time you looked up in the sky?

Not a day goes by without it raining in Singapore...and when it's not raining, there is constand cloud cover. What makes me laugh is the whole afternoon sun thing here when you go view apartments...a unit which is west facing is less attractive than one which is east, apparently because of the afternoon sun, but what they're forgetting is the sun rarley comes out...

That's utter nonsense mate. There has been blue skies for the majority of days that I've been here (since April). Granted last 3 weeks or so have been dull and lots of rain, but that's a good thing - you need a bit of wind and fresh air now and again.

Compared to the UK, where the OP is from, this is bloody great weather. Nobody is pretending we're in the Bahamas.

[quidsin]

come back to me in a few years mate when you've lived with the weather for a while...

In fact, take a look outside the window now...can you see any sun?

[realthomo]

29-33C each day, partly cloudy with chance of an afternoon shower. I have been hearing this for 3 years and am pretty sick of it. Bring on the seasons, I miss the cold weather. Moving to London in the next few months - it will be a nice change, and I am looking forward to rugging up again!

[Currymeister]

I wasn't talking about now. I admitted the weather has taken a downturn recently. But, apart from that, the last 4 months have been glorious.

PS It doesn't take a few years to be able to have an opnion on the weather mate.

[JobSeeker13]

We're from the Philippines - been here a few years now and we like it so far. I don't know whether we'd consider staying here permanently though... we're still open to trying new places.

No problem at all making friends and building our social circle. Maybe sign up for a few classes or join a sports team if you want to kick-start your social life

As for what we miss most -- being able to drive out to the mountains or to the beach without having to leave the country!

Is it hard to find job in there for fellow pilipino like me?

[snowqueen]

We moved here 8 weeks ago. My husband got a new job with a new company rather than a transfer.

We came with 2 suitcases, 2 golf bags and sent 2 boxes by DHL - mostly crap like our Xbox 360 which my husband was constantly on when we lived in Nottingham. We've taken it out the box but haven't played it since we moved here, which I think tells you something.

We decided to live on the East Coast rather than the city as there's so much more to do here. We bought roller blades and a mountain bike and go out a couple of evenings a week and on the weekend. We live in a condo with 2 huge swimming pools, tennis courts and gym etc - where in the UK can you find the time/or the weather to do these things?

It's coming up to the rainey season so it's usually sunny in the mornings and cloudy in the afternoon although it has rained quite a bit over the last 2 days. In spite of this, the temperature is constantly 28-30 degrees. You will never need a jumper unless you either a) go to the cinema or b) shop at Vivo shopping mall - they're both bloody freezing!!

We miss our family and friends but they will be coming to visit us soon, I miss my George Forman grill (make sure you DHL one over) but that's about it.

I don't know how long we will stay here as now we've worked outside the UK we may want to try other countries like Oz, US or Canada so we'll see.

Hope this helps.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I wasn't talking about now. I admitted the weather has taken a downturn recently. But, apart from that, the last 4 months have been glorious.

PS It doesn't take a few years to be able to have an opnion on the weather mate.

You got a point there a single 12 months cycle is all it takes. Normally the weather here is Hot and wet (the dry season) or Comfortable and Wetter (The two Monsoon Seasons)! With occasional scattered sunshine during the Hot and Wet. The Comfortable and Wetter time translates to a couple of months of shades of grey and limits of visibility during the annual burning of Indonesia.

Of course if you happen to live in the Bukit Batok/Clementi/Jurong East triangle it rains at 4pm EVERY DAY! Can almost set your watch by it.

But it sure beats shoveling snow outta the driveway like I used to have to do!

[Leemmo]

We have been here 6 months now, I come fromthe UK (North)and have lived 10 years in London, 6years in NZ and 2 Years in Oz.
You are never going to be totally happy where ever you live for a decent period of time because we always think the grass is greener elswhere, and never really appreciate what is on our door steps.
If you have the chance to come to Singapore with a good package, (it is expensive here for most things even coming from London, notably cars and alcohol) but if you are lucky enough your expat package should mean more in the hand(especially if you get paid with the sing tax) then come for the experience if nothing else.
Most people we have met are happy to stay here for 2-4+ years but then some move on. Due to the down fall in economy all over the world several of our friends are having to cut their stay here short after just one year and are not happy to be leaving.
You have to come with an open mind - yes you are going to miss things that are not available here and the weather (which is better than the UK) takes a little getting used to and the things you miss tend to be small things and it is just annoying sometimes but I had that in NZ and OZ too. At least here you have more out door time to enjoy(even when it rains it is not cold and is a bit of a relief from the hot sun) and you are in the same boat as the other expats, I found it harder in some ways to make friends in NZ and Oz because they have their families and old friends around them.

Saying that 2-4 years i think will be enough for us here.

well I will shut up now, good luck with your decision

[sierra2469alpha]

Funny talking about the weather. Back in Oz, the four seasons are changing a bit and tend to feel more like two. As SMS says, we mostly have three seasons here in SIN. Sure, it takes a little adjusting (I put on my first pair of jeans two Friday's ago - and that's after 7 months - so I must be acclimatising!!!).

So, if you miss seasons, may I make a suggestion? Ms. C and I are going to Taiwan for Christmas - pretty much we chose a place that would be colder. Sure, we're only going for about 2 weeks, but it's a change, and in line with my comment about seasons back in Oz, is about the same length of winter in Sydney these days!

HTH, Mr. P

[JimH5]

Life as an expat is not unpleasant, though I don't think I'd like to spend a lifetime at it.

We came from the US in January 2008.

The higher income is fine, though we're often surprised at the cost of shopping in Singapore. Just because you have a few extra bucks, that doesn't mean you want to spend it all on "overpriced" dining and shopping.

Any complaints I have really aren't so much about Singapore as they are about being an expat in general. It's tough to make friends, knowing that this 3 year assignment will end, and we're likely not coming back. So more often than not, relationships become acquaintances as opposed to really becoming friends.

I'm a stay-at-home dad, with a 4-year old, and no maid. So when my wife travels, I'm pretty much on my own.

It's difficult to be away from our family, and I find myself counting down the weeks (8) until our next trip back.

None of that is Singapore's fault. Our apartment is very nice, and the people are pleasant. Just knowing that it's a temporary deal seems to keep me from digging in any roots.

[lilai]

If you liked Singapore initially when you came here on your first stays then I am sure you will have a good time here.

I personally love the weather. Everything is better than cold, wet wind in continental Europe at this time of the year. Yes, I do miss the seasons, but who said that life is perfect?

Do I want to stay forever or retire here? No, since I want to go back home eventually since, well, it is HOME. But I am very much looking forward to spending here 3 to 5 years.....

If you are someone that likes to be active outdoors then Singapore is great. And I find it extremely easy to meet people - but of course for that you have to leave your apartment and join one of the many sports clubs or go to the activities posted on this forum e.g. .

The standard of living is in my eyes much higher than in London. The apartment prices are steep, but look what you get for the money in comparison....

@Jim why does the fact that you leave in 3 yeas hold you back from making new friends? First of all, 3 years is quite a long time, time enough to make some new real friends. And real friends dont have to live in the same city all the time....get out there and meet some people and you will enjoy Singapore much more

[JimH5]

@Jim why does the fact that you leave in 3 yeas hold you back from making new friends? First of all, 3 years is quite a long time, time enough to make some new real friends. And real friends dont have to live in the same city all the time....get out there and meet some people and you will enjoy Singapore much more

I won't hijack the thread (I promise), but I'll respond. . .and thanks, by the way, for answering my post, which now awhile later seems much more pathetic than is really the case.

We have met some very nice people here, but I'm well aware that after we bid farewell to Singapore, we are very likely to not ever see them again. And that tempers how I see these friendships.

Then combine that with the fact that I'm not working here, so I don't ever really share that feeling of group accomplishment, like I might with coworkers, or the feeling of being together and committed to a project, where you see the same person every day and face the same challenges every day. . .that makes it different. Then it all just becomes friendly, idle chit-chat by the pool while our kids play together. Or more often, it's me and my daughter playing together, while other kids play with their maids.

I am surely not looking for sympathy. I've got it wayyy better than others, and am very appreciative of that. But deep, meaningful friendships?

Not yet anyway.

BUT--in exchange for that, we are pouring money into our mortgage back home, filling up our daughter's 529 college education fund, and creating some GREAT International leadership experience on my wife's resume.

AND, we're living in a pretty terrific place that we hadn't ever dreamed of before, challenging our own view of how "normal life" is, and enriching our own life experience. It's a great tradeoff, but you can't just accept the good stuff without the bad.

[beavisbutthead]

hi @ all
I am very happy here and I am more than satisfied with the descision to have left my former country. Singapore is just a wonderful place ! =)

[Currymeister]

hi @ all
I am very happy here and I am more than satisfied with the descision to have left my former country. Singapore is just a wonderful place ! =)

Such an insightful contribution, thanks for that Butthead.

Where were you before? what is it about Singapore that you like - compared with your home country? How long do you intend to stay here? Do you work, have a family etc?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Probably Malaysia, India or the Philippines I reckon. Would like to include PRC but doesn't write like one but could be mistaken - might have been here quite a few years already.