How long before you started enjoying life in Singapore?

Bluemoon77 · Post by **Bluemoon77** » Tue, 10 Apr 2012 7:57 pm

How long did it take before you started enjoying living here?

Mi Amigo · Post by **Mi Amigo** » Tue, 10 Apr 2012 8:09 pm

Why do you want to know? Are you a journalist?

Post by **x9200** » Tue, 10 Apr 2012 8:14 pm

For many if not majority people on this board the answer is near "immediately" and a more relevant question would be on when the enthusiasm started to fade away.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Tue, 10 Apr 2012 8:16 pm

^^^+1

Bluemoon77 · Post by **Bluemoon77** » Tue, 10 Apr 2012 8:18 pm

Interesting. Thanks for your replies so far! I am asking not because I am a journalist but because I am trying to decide whether or not to stay another year in Singapore. I have been here about 8 months, and while I don't hate it, I wouldn't say that I am loving it, and I've felt that way pretty much from the beginning. I know everyone's situation is different, but I'm just trying to see what other people's experiences have been. Thanks for your help!

Post by **x9200** » Tue, 10 Apr 2012 8:32 pm

Is it a low income issue for a person coming from a first world country?

Post by **nakatago** » Tue, 10 Apr 2012 8:55 pm

x9200 wrote:For many if not majority people on this board the answer is near "immediately" and a more relevant question would be on when the enthusiasm started to fade away.

QFT

Bluemoon77 · Post by **Bluemoon77** » Tue, 10 Apr 2012 8:58 pm

I wouldn't say low income, but I am making about the same amount that I would in the U.S. but paying a lot more for housing, groceries (although I am paying less in taxes).

Post by **x9200** » Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:04 pm

Generally Singapore is very attractive if you have money or you are young and willing to compromise on your standard of living for a while to learn the culture and visit the countries around. For an OT (assuming you are one) at the beginning of your career it is probably not that rosy. If you had few years of experience and get certified in some ASD related techniques like RDI or DIR/Floortime you could probably make very decent money. But as you surely know to get to that stage is nether cheap nor that simple.

hapa-girl · Post by **hapa-girl** » Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:08 pm

I was actually quite interested in the poll results. I didn't vote because I have been here for 9 months and can't say I am enjoying it yet. I came from Tokyo though. Hard act to follow ... I would say though, you should give a new country 18 months before starting on an exit plan. I don't think you can do a country justice in less than that.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:27 pm

I've been here for 29 years and I'm still waiting to enjoy it. In fact, I've basically given up on ever enjoying it. I tolerate it as it allows me to make a decent living. Otherwise, it sucks!

zzm9980 · Post by **zzm9980** » Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:37 pm

x9200 wrote:For many if not majority people on this board the answer is near "immediately" and a more relevant question would be on when the enthusiasm started to fade away.

I was going to say this, but in a less nice way

zzm9980 · Post by **zzm9980** » Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:43 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote:I've been here for 29 years and I'm still waiting to enjoy it. In fact, I've basically given up on ever enjoying it. I tolerate it as it allows me to make a decent living. Otherwise, it sucks!

Yeah I've only been here for nine months, but I'd say that while I could easily live here forever, I hardly 'love it'. The problem is any place you go you'll always have pros and cons. At least for me in Singapore though, it is harder to escape the cons. (Say driving somewhere for a day trip)

BigSis · Post by **BigSis** » Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:03 am

I have mostly enjoyed living here. I did enjoy it a lot at first - from day 1 really, but after 10 years it is losing its appeal and probably has been for about 3 or 4 years now.

We're moving back home in a few months and I know I will miss quite a few things about Singapore but there are also things I won't miss. Likewise with back home - things I'm looking forward to there and things I am not.

I'd love to come back here for a visit in another 3-5 years though - I think it will have changed a lot and I will miss the opening of the gardens by the bay which is a shame because that looks interesting.

Unless you have lived somewhere really grim though, I think there will always be things you will miss about a place - better to have lived and lost than never to have lived at all .........

..............I'll get me coat

Bluemoon77 · Post by **Bluemoon77** » Wed, 11 Apr 2012 7:39 am

x9200 wrote:Generally Singapore is very attractive if you have money or you are young and willing to compromise on your standard of living for a while to learn the culture and visit the countries around. For an OT (assuming you are one) at the beginning of your career it is probably not that rosy. If you had few years of experience and get certified in some ASD related techniques like RDI or DIR/Floortime you could probably make very decent money. But as you surely know to get to that stage is nether cheap nor that simple.

Yes, I agree with you. I think my experience would be better here if I had more career experience. I came for the travel opportunities, but I've found that for various reasons, it's likely to be a lot easier to travel after I finish working (I plan to take 2-3 months off to travel before returning to the U.S.).

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