Expats in Singapore - are you happy?

[Kareena]

well depends ...if u have the "expat" package ...fabulous for you...but if you dont (like me)...tough...esp with kids. its just too expensive. we never had money problems before and now we are...throw in a very evil landlord to boot.

[jesse.armand]

well depends ...if u have the "expat" package ...fabulous for you...but if you dont (like me)...tough...esp with kids. its just too expensive. we never had money problems before and now we are...throw in a very evil landlord to boot.

What is an "expat" package actually ?

Did you mean that "expat package" is for expats from countries with higher currency exchange rate than SGD ?

Answers to your questions, from the perspective of me who came from a country which is economically worse than Singapore.

Are you glad you moved there?

Well, as I need to look for a better career as a software engineer, better income, and better standard of living, I'm glad.

Plus, I'm young and single.

Do you think you will stay there permanently, or at some point you will have had enough and move back home?

I can't say that I would be staying permanently, but moving back home would be very difficult for me .

The only option for me is moving to a better place than Singapore .


Have you made new friends and have a good social life?

Probably not, I think about my work, career, and money too much.
Those who have better money, usually will have better social life.

Are there some things that you can't do / can't get like you could at home and really miss them?


Can't think of anything specific.

[pakjohn]

Are you glad you moved there?

[sundaymorningstaple]

well depends ...if u have the "expat" package ...fabulous for you...but if you dont (like me)...tough...esp with kids. its just too expensive. we never had money problems before and now we are...throw in a very evil landlord to boot.

Kareena,

I would have to ask......

Did you do your homework before moving here? Facts and data on Singapore are readily available on the internet as you know. If you just came here on the odd chance of finding something then you have none to blame but yourself. When negotiating your package, were you blinded by the words "Singapore" like it was the holy grail or something? Noone forced your or your spouse to sign on the dotted line...........

[pakjohn]

sorry for previous incomplete post... strange jumping around thing this optical mouse does...

I'm happy I moved here... but don't deny the challenges of my situation. Male trailing spouse, no kids, no job, no friends. First time in 30 years without a job is a huge adjustment. Having my wife be the breadwinner is an adjustment as well, but happy to oblige her the chance to pursue her dream.

The good people of Singapore have their quirks, they seem to equal mine, so I actually like the difference. The one thing that gets on my nerves is the success of guerilla marketing here, possessions have to be branded, new, and costly, or so it seems.

If you're employed, coming here is easy and rewarding. If you have a lot of free time and don't care to shop or eat, it can be sterile and lonely.

Personally, I've taken a shot at some of the outings here and attempted to make some personal connections in other ways with little success. I get by with working out, learning tennis, and reading. I think it would be easier to make friends if I played golf or liked pubbing, but not likely to adopt either at my age. I've offered help at several charities and volunteer organizations but they seem to want females, a few even suggested if I really wanted to help I'd leave money as they don't need my physical help.

My life at home was working long hours seven days a week.. (Although, always made a point to fish once a month) I do miss working, a lot. I miss opening the garage door and smelling the faint traces of last weeks fishing trip on the boat, grass clippings on the mower and leather from the motorcycle seat. But most of all I miss hearing the car door slam in the drive way and seeing my two year old granddaughter squealing for me.

I appreciate Singapore and the opportunties given my wife.. I'm thankful and will enjoy the remainder of my time here, these adjustments are normal and I don't let them get me down. My advice to you is to make the move, whether you end up loving it or not, you'll benefit from the experience.

[maneo]

^ PakJohn -- Welcome to Singapore.

With your fishing and boating experience, maybe you should check out one of the 2 "yacht" clubs (perhaps SMS could chip in here).

There are also small boats that people charter to go out to the small islands.


I also followed my wife here (twice), but I came in with jobs waiting, so can't help much with house-husband experience.

What kind of engineering were you doing?

[pakjohn]

Thanks for the suggestions.. not really into boating past the point of getting me to the fish.
I worked for a food manufacturing company for over 20 years, they even let me work in Indonesia long enough to get my retirement. Could have stayed with that company if I were able to live in Indo... but if I wanted to be away from my wife I would have stayed in the U.S. I was regional Maintenance and Engineering manager.

[sundaymorningstaple]

pakjohn,

Not sure what kind of fishing you are into, but if it's big game fishing the guy you want to catch up with on this board is our resident canuck, Barczar (not for his partying however). He is an avid Sport Fisherman (Sailfish) and recently had a fantastic trip where he landed 20 of those suckers in 2 days!

sms

[pakjohn]

Now you're talkin! Thanks SMS. I did go sail fishing up at Kuala Rompin and caught 2, released 2. I'll sure ask for some pointers from him.


You said in another post you're ex farmer, from the U.S.? Same here, dairy mostly but row crops too. Miss the farm, not the farming.

[bluenose]

I have been here with my family for nearly 2 years now and am on an expat package, which is the sole reason keeping me here, sad but true.
I earn a good salary, we pay for very little, live in a fairly safe place, have the chance to see new countries, meet new people.
If I was on local contract I am afraid there is nothing here that would make me stay as I probably could not afford to do much here.
I miss my motorbikes and friends at home and the countryside in Scotland is breathtaking, especially on a frosty morning
We have a house in Scotland and I never sold before I came here because....I am going back and one thing is for sure; I will have made the most of my Singapore experience.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Now you're talkin! Thanks SMS. I did go sail fishing up at Kuala Rompin and caught 2, released 2. I'll sure ask for some pointers from him.


You said in another post you're ex farmer, from the U.S.? Same here, dairy mostly but row crops too. Miss the farm, not the farming.

Pakjohn,

Spend the better part of my childhood on a dairy farm! I agree with your last sentiment 100%. Never could teach them Holsteins not to eat on the weekends! That gettin' up at 3:30 to milk 'em 7 days a week and before school was the pits.

Deer huntin's good where my farm is now. (Eastern Shore of Maryland) Little bitty farm of 220 acres but with about half a kilometer of deepwater on one side and hardtop road on two other sides. I don't farm it but lease out the tillable acreage & hunting rights.

sms

[Light]

Are expats who have moved to Singapore happy with their decision?
- Yes, we are (my family and I, that is).

Are you glad you moved there?
- Yes, we are glad to have moved here instead of Hong Kong, Shanghai or any other major city in Asia.

Do you think you will stay there permanently, or at some point you will
have had enough and move back home?
- Permanent? probably not, but who knows...

Have you made new friends and have a good social life?
- There are various of groups of people living in Singapore all over the places. It's not hard to find your own group that you can enjoy the social life together, as long as you are willing to open up as well.

Are there some things that you can't do / can't get like you could at home and really miss them?
- Yes. Playing with snow, watching the autumn leaves colors, cheap golf courses (in Michigan, USA), outdoor barbecue without getting cooked by the sun, a plenty of open space in public areas like shopping mall and grocery shops (Singapore tends to be a bit too crowded everywhere), watching USA college football/basketball games and tournaments, HD TVs beyond testing National Geographics channel, faster internet, ...the list can be quite long if you think about it.

However, there are also just as long of a list for the things that you can enjoy here that you can't back at hometown such as proximity to beautiful and affordable resort areas like Phuket, Bali, Cebu,..., English Premier League Football programs, wonderful swimming pools in many of your and your friends' condominiums, Hawker Centers, Chili Crabs, lively night scenes, diverse foods and cultures, lots and lots of green colors everywhere, ... you get the picture. It's really having the glass half full mentality that will help you enjoy this place as well as any other place!

The most common complaint I hear from some people is that Singapore is too small. I think you have many wonderful places around Singapore that you can explore if you just make the effort, to deal with that issue. Then, you won't think Singapore is too small. Even if you live in a big place like USA, you can still spend most of your time in just one town that you live in, unless you make the effort to travel around. It's really up to you...and yes, to a degree on the "expat" package that you get from your company as well to have better financial freedom to do what you want to do a little more easily.

[maneo]

Well said.

[eaton7]

Are expats who have moved to Singapore happy with their decision?
Yes I like it here!

Are you glad you moved there?
Definitely!

Do you think you will stay there permanently, or at some point you will
have had enough and move back home?
I am not sure - my contract here is just for a couple of years, but you never know.....

Have you made new friends and have a good social life?
I have lots of friends here, especially from the place I work. As I came here on my own I had to make friends here in the first place which however was easier than I had thought.

Are there some things that you can't do / can't get like you could at home and really miss them?
I am also from the US and as the culture there is completely different there are definitely many things that I miss from time to time. But there are other wonderful things here that I would have never been able to experience or get to know in the US.

[Kareena]

sundaymorningstaple- where are you from?....i know you're the moderater and everything but i find your way of writing quite smug and condescending - just being honest here...are u an american -caucasian?
this is what i gather from your comments...you guys just rule the world don't you...i bet George Bush is your role model...lol.