Scared Aussie

[PhoenixT]

Definately bring vitamins for yourselves and your daughter - they are available here but can be quite pricey. I wished I'd packed some of my son's favorite foods with us for the first month- enough so he would eat familiar items until I found substitutes/ where to get the same.

Take a look at the Caribbean condo at Keppel Bay. There are quite a few expat families here that include Aussies. There is a lot of open space for a condo complex (playgrounds, swimming pools, gym), is 2 blocks from the MRT with loads of busses that go by way of Tanjong Pagar, and near the Marina & Sentosa where you can ride your bikes. If the gym here onsite is not enough, then there is Planet Fitness next door in VivoCity Mall. The condo also has organized pilates and yoga classes here too.

You have a few local nursery schools around here can visit to see if you like them. A few you can look up online include: Carpe Diem Kidz (off Alexander Road); Lorna Whiston; White Lodge (at South Buena vista); Modern Montessori (at Bukit Merha)...and a few others. Otherwise, there are children who go to all variety of International Schools that send minivans/buses here to pick=up/ drop-off the kids.


All the best on your move! Welcome to Singapore!
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[Leone and John]

Well Auzziemum, not long to go now.... packers have been and gone already, and now all you need do is sit back and relax and enjoy the experience!!!!

Seriously, you will meet many wonderful people here in Singapore and you will enjoy it I am sure.

Not sure where you have been looking for an apartment, but it will be easier once you arrive and get a better feel of where you would want to live.

I see that Caribbean condo was suggested, it looks like a really lovely place to live ..... if you can afford it !!! At $6000 ++ per month for a basic 3 bedroom apartment, we would find that very expensive and certainly could not afford it.

But with the rental costs going down daily, you are in a good position to get a good deal on whatever - or wherever - you choose!!

Travel safe and no doubt we may meet up, one day, someplace in Singapore.

[sierra2469alpha]

Hey Auzziemum - I assume you have already, but as Leonie and John say there's been some changes in prices up here. Do a search through the forums here for rental tips and rents etc - there will be a mountain to go through, but there are a couple of threads on negotiating a good deal.

HTH, Mr. P

[realthomo]

Don't forget the Aerogard!! God, is that how you spell it? I can't remember - it's been so long! Buy the tropical strenght (Rid is good as well) one as the insect lotions here are either useless or have too much Deet for children.

I am just about to move out of Singapore - been here 4 years (4 years in Tokyo prior to that) and moving to London. Singapore has been great - made some awesome friends (probably my best friends now) from living in a condo, and then moved to a house once our social network was established. Scared about moving to London as I don't think it will be as easy to make friends there.

Also, you don't need a permit to drive a car (unless you are buying a brand new one). If you decide to buy a car, there's a good second hand market here. Still way more expensive than back home, but it makes life so much easier and allows more freedom. I also personally hate taking a chance with my kids' lives in a taxi - I prefer all 3 of them to be strapped in their carseats.

You'll love it here (apart from the constant heat and humidity). I have been a little anti-singapore over the years, but now moving to London I am realising how easy it is living here and am startign to feel all warm and fuzzy about Singapore - I'll miss it!

[ozzimum]

thanks again for all the valuable advice and info. Much appreciated! I have so far stocked up on lots of things that you have all mentioned so feel more prepared. House is all packed up now and we now await our flight over on Tuesday.....getting very excited! As mentioned, will be a lot easier locating a suitable place to live once we are over there. We will concentrate on spending our last fews days in Oz saying goodbye to our friends and family.
Looking forward to meeting everyone and making new friends in Singapore. This will be our last post until we reach our next destination - Singaore!! Here we come!!

[amandah]

I'm also an Aussie Mum relocating to Singapore in 6 weeks with 2 kiddies aged 5 and 6. We are visiting next week to check out a couple of schools, (Avondale and Chatsworth) and of course where to live. We are looking at the east coast and I have read this post with much enthusiasm. If you do decide to have a scared / newbie type get together around Australia Day you can count me in as well !!

[sierra2469alpha]

Amandah - I'm sure you'll meet other fine upstanding Aussies such as our great forummer's! (if forummer is a word!). Cheers/P

[amandah]

How exciting - I look forward to hopefully meeting some of you in the future and quaffing a few Aussie sauv blancs!

[aussiemeg]

WELCOME TO SINGAPORE ozziemum and family. Get your swimmers on, jump in the pool and relax and enjoy this little island and soon you will never want to leave...of course this depends upon whether you are attractive to mosquitoes or not.

[amiee40]

I have been reading all your posts and have taken all your advice on what to pack. Thanks...

To all the new mums outthere who is relocating to Singapore, please pack some baby formula. After sending my husband who is already in Singapore to shop around, a can of S26 is nearly double the price in Australia.

I am relocating in two weeks. Having major dramas with the Australian Removalist. Our effects should have arrived by now but still stuck in Australia. Guess i will be arriving before our effects and will be living out of our suitcases. But don't worry, i am lodging my complaint with the Australian Furniture Removers Association. I am not going to let this spoil my first overseas relocation experience.

By the way, do i need to pack a large tub of vegemite?

[sierra2469alpha]

Amiee - sorry to hear about your furniture woes. There are a couple of places that rent furniture to you - one firm is particularly good. Let me know if you need their contact details.

You don't need vegemite! Fairly readily available!

HTH, Mr. P

[Leone and John]

Welcome to all the new folk (Australian and others!!) that seem to be arriving over the next few weeks!!!!

You will enjoy your time here and meet many wonderful people.

.....and we shall also look forward to meeting you when you settle in.

[amiee40]

Thanks for the advice on vegemite.. phew.. which now leaves more room for more essential items as our removalists are still stuffing us around.. now demanding an extra $625 just to speed up the transit time by one week. Now they are playing the 'delay' tactics which wouldn't happen now. Avoid 'Grace' at all costs for your move!!!!

No, we are not bringing furniture, just clothing, cot, books and kids toys. Our condo is furnished, though outdated but still can be used. No intention to buy anything big, we move around too much.

[blondi]

Hi there

Am moving to Singapore from NZ with my Aussie partner in a few weeks. This post was fantastic for finding out what essentials are expensive or hard to get in Singapore. We don't have kids, which makes it easier!

Hope to catch up with some of you over there

[atomicjarrod]

Hi, my name is Jarrod. I am in Sydney. I did a search in google for 'aussie expat singapore etc' and found this forum.

Apologies if this is off topic. I saw the topic of Aussie Mums moving to Singapore and thought someone there might be sympathetic to my request. My son and I collect these Pixar Cars toys and I have been searching high and low for the last two to complete our set. Miraculously I stumbled across them for sale on ebay in Singapore. Unfortunately the seller will only accept COD. I have asked (begged, pleaded) if they would accept if I wire them the money+postage and they post it to me in Australia but they are not willing due to prior dealing with international selling, which is fair enough.

I have contacted the seller many times. I have his e-mail and his mobile number. He said he is quite willing to sell them to me if I can find somebody to finalise the deal there in Singapore. I have a friend who may be going there in about 3 weeks, but its a maybe.

I am wondering if there is any way in which I could find an Aussie friend living there who could help me out? This is so frustrating

Regards,
Jarrod.