Expat community in Jurong west

[kithu]

Hey there

Are there expats living in jurong west? Thinking of moving there (lakeshore condos to be specific) with DH and DS who is 5 yr old. The surroundings look local dominated with those rows of HDBs. Is it a good idea to move there, especially with a kid. Will he be able to make friends?

Kithu

[JR8]

What is DH/DS?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Darling Husband & Son?

[JR8]

Oh,

Wouldn't just saying husband and son do?

Suppose it's better than 'Darling Kid' though, eh what

[kithu]

Guys Guys.... I guess it does not violate the forum rules! I like calling them so... After all they are my DH and DS

Pls give ur feedback on the question. Thanks.

[ksl]

Guys Guys.... I guess it does not violate the forum rules! I like calling them so... After all they are my DH and DS

Pls give ur feedback on the question. Thanks.

Expats are in every crook and cranny in Singapore so I wouldn't worry too much about it. The infrastructure is excellent and you can be at the furthest places of Singapore in 25 to 30 minutes with MRT. They have a good shopping complex out there called Jurong point and a few other shopping malls spread around the area which is quite large!

If you wish to work and live in the same area, Jurong is more industry orientated Holland Village is more popular and expensive, due to the expats. I would suggest having a look around before settling anywhere, there are lots of cool places to live! With property rental prices still on the rise many are being forced to opt for the suburbs, which are also great from my point of view, with lots of community clubs and Swimming pools available. If you are not into condo living. Lakeshore will have expats too I should think! Estimated expat population on mid to higher income is around 300k and well spread out. Holland Village area is very popular but more expensive with the MRT there now.

[kithu]

Hey, thanks for the reply ksl.

Well, as mentioned in my first post, the reason we chose Jurong west is for my son's schooling. Hubby has office in suntec and I work from home. If at all we are living in Jurong west, then it would be in Lakeshore. I am a little worried because I do not know how friendly are the locals with foreigners. I believe its more easy when the local people are already used to having foreigners around. I wish my son should have some local friends as well.

Kithu

[JR8]

Hey, thanks for the reply ksl.

Well, as mentioned in my first post, the reason we chose Jurong west is for my son's schooling. Hubby has office in suntec and I work from home. If at all we are living in Jurong west, then it would be in Lakeshore. I am a little worried because I do not know how friendly are the locals with foreigners. I believe its more easy when the local people are already used to having foreigners around. I wish my son should have some local friends as well.

Kithu

You'll likely have nil interaction with neighbouring local people, but that would apply where ever you live. Your son's friends will derive from school. You and your husband's social life will to quite an extent derive from his workplace, unless you build external activities independent of that (sports and social clubs etc)

As you work from home (as do I) you will probably want to make some extra effort to work on the prev. mentioned independent activities, otherwise you are going to get very very familiar with a handful of your husband's colleagues, or alternatively simply go nuts.

[x9200]

Hey, thanks for the reply ksl.

Well, as mentioned in my first post, the reason we chose Jurong west is for my son's schooling. Hubby has office in suntec and I work from home. If at all we are living in Jurong west, then it would be in Lakeshore. I am a little worried because I do not know how friendly are the locals with foreigners. I believe its more easy when the local people are already used to having foreigners around. I wish my son should have some local friends as well.

Kithu

The locals are generally friendly to the foreigners be it Orchard Rd or along the Boon Lay Way. They are used to them enough, don't worry. It is also likely you will have expats around. You may not have too many expats with kids of that age in your very condo but the area has actually a number of condos (it is in fact the largest condo cluster to the West) so your chances are not a zero. I attended some time ago a kids party in Parc Oasis and there were plenty of 5-y old around. We lived in much more decentralized and isolated condo. The only practical difference is that people are less courteous, they will not say hello in the lift, things like this but it does not mean they are hostile toward you. When you go to eat out to a coffee shop or similar place and you are a Caucasian they will a bit stare at you but it will not be in a negative sense. If you are an Asian, you will probably remain unnoticed unless you act some specific way.

[kithu]

@JR8 - Well, what you are saying is indeed true. Even now my son's friend circle is limited to his KG friends and mine with their moms and hubby's colleagues. But I thot may be when he's ltl older, it might be different.

@x9200 - Your reply has given me a bit of idea on what to expect. Thanks for that. Now I am feeling more positive than I was.

[JR8]

I used the term 'nil interaction' in neither a positive or negative way, but it just reflects what I suppose is big-city living, most people don't seem to know their neighbours and neither do they have a desire to. I can't say I noticed locals being friendly any more or less to foreigners than other locals. That said SGns are personable enough, just they're rarely initiators of conversation with strangers (in my experience). There is nowhere I've been where I felt unwelcome, but out in the boon-docks (like Punggol) you might get a few puzzled looks.

Your son should be able to make friends in the condo, the place I last lived parents seemed to just let their children run free and play in the condo grounds all day. Also there are likely to be things like children's group swimming lessons on weekends, which would be a good way to meet the neighbours. From there you'd probably go on to BBQs at the condo... and so on.

Good luck.

[x9200]

There is this strange thing, almost a kind of paradox but actually I have always felt more accepted by the locals in a heartland, local community places, like the mentioned coffee shops, than any other location on this island. I never noticed anything negative, some people initiated conversation, my local motorbike mechanic who used to come to the same dining place for beer bough me one. It was like a silent appreciation that an Angmoh decided to eat out in the place the typical locals do. On top of this people behave more naturally in such places. They drink alcohol, talk, are not obsessively afraid of losing their faces. So different comparing to my colleagues from work. I really missed it all after we moved to the more central area. And the food is also much better in the wilderness.

[JR8]

And the food is also much better in the wilderness.

Jesteś już polowania dzikich krów ponownie?

[x9200]

[JR8]

You said 'the food is better in the wilderness'

I said (albeit in Polish), 'Are you still hunting wild cattle?', [which was a cross-ref to the concurrent 'Can I hunt buffalo in SG' thread]


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Sorry, I'll be all serious now. For a bit. I promise.