How long before you started enjoying life in Singapore?

[Bluemoon77]

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.

This is really what I am wondering. Have I given Singapore enough time or is my opinion unlikely to change (or change for the worse)? It seems like you would need more time in some countries than others to make that determination (for example, more time in countries where there is a major language barrier or in a country that is more isolated from foreign influence).

[JR8]

I've lived in several countries, and I can't think of any one that I have had to wait to grow on me to realise that I'm happy there.

I have enjoyed them all thoroughly at the point of arrival and then typically niggles and frustrations slowly tend to grow as one gets used to 'how things are'. That said somewhere like Tokyo, I've lived there (twice) and ended up hating it with an everyday passion, but the moment I leave it's like I'm weaning off heroine. Nowhere else has done that to me, talk about love/hate...

Only one place I've lived that didn't work for me, that was just about tolerable for a couple of months after which any novelty factor instantly wore off and it was then heads down and put up with silently hating the place until I could get the hell back out.

[nutnut]

I love it here, although, I think if you don't earn a decent wage, have a good smack of holidays and a boss that doesn't expect you to work 20 hours a day 6 days a week then it could be a drag!

[poodlek]

I'm another in the "just ok" category. I had fun at first but after a couple months the novelty wore of and I find it rather boring, if fairly inoffensive. Definitely not a ba place tO be, but it doesn't make my heart come alive and I wouldn't say I'm "enjoying" it. Biding my time, knowing I'll be out of here soon. It's not so bad, but it's not home

[bluenose]

I am originally from London and have lived in Scotland, Cyprus and a few other places.
Singapore is the tops for me for 'living' as I lead a quiet life and do not drink or smoke...
It is safe here, there is enough to do here if you look hard enough, the climate is friendly, the food is easy on the palatte.
Asia is a dream to explore and fairly cheap too...
Having just bought a new car here...that is a down side and owning a condo too....that is expensive, but I suppose it depends on what you really want and not what you think you might want?? I earn the same here as I would in the UK, but for me, I get a better quality of life here.
I love London and am looking forward to going for a trip in November...but will be glad to get back 'home' to Singapore..
Good luck whatever you decide

[movingtospore]

I think it also depends where you're from. I find people who move here from other Asian postings - HK, Shanghai, Tokyo...love it here because it's much easier to live here as an expat.

But...if you've just hopped off the plane from Sydney, San Francisco, Paris, etc...not so much.

Me, I tolerate it here and try to make the best of it. That's about it. If you have a family, and want to have a decent life, you need to make a lot of money here to make a go of it. I would say the quality of life is lower here than it was for me where I'm from, though technically both my spouse and I make more money here.

I do enjoy traveling in the region though.

[the lynx]

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 have to agree with X on this.

One thing is for sure, excitement always comes in when you first moved to a new place; you want to explore, you want to see what's out there for you, you want to check out the local antics, etc.

...expect you to work 20 hours a day 6 days a week...

Then the excitement meter crashes down. Make it twice as fast if you have an Asian boss like what Nutnut says. Make it triple if you still haven't make actual friends after many weeks.

As for me, I'm in the so-so group (50-50). Coming from a lesser country, Singapore definitely provides the security, the money, the fun and the melting pot of cultures and people. But of course, there is always downside for everything (like the first-world-facility, third-world-mentality dilemma and the superficiality - if you get what I mean).

I've been here for almost 2 1/2 years and counting. I don't mind staying here but I'm open for any better opportunity outside if it comes knocking on my career door.

So whatever you choose, OP, it is personally your choice and yours only.

[beppi]

I have been in Singapore for a long time, with many periods in other Asian locations inbetween (6 - 12 months at a time, not just visiting).
Once you get over the first enthusiasm (a.k.a. honeymoon phase) and realize the difficulty of simple daily tasks in many places (especially with a lack of language or infrastructure/development), you'll see that Singapore beats most in terms of ease and general quality of life.
It might not be the most exciting and adventurous place, but you'll only be bored in Singapore if you don't explore the opportunities.

[nakatago]

I have been in Singapore for a long time, with many periods in other Asian locations inbetween (6 - 12 months at a time, not just visiting).
Once you get over the first enthusiasm (a.k.a. honeymoon phase) and realize the difficulty of simple daily tasks in many places (especially with a lack of language or infrastructure/development), you'll see that Singapore beats most in terms of ease and general quality of life.
It might not be the most exciting and adventurous place, but you'll only be bored in Singapore if you don't explore the opportunities.

That's the sad part--with all the complaints and criticisms, Singapore is still arguably the best assignment in the region.

DISCLAIMER: I'm a migrant worker, not an 'expat.'

[SingLaw]

This is an interesting question for me even though I don't live in Singapore (but am considering moving there). I currently live outside of my home country (the US) and really disliked the country I moved to (Norway) almost immediately. After 3 months, 6 months, a year, etc., I kept wondering if I was giving the country enough time. It's been 3.5 years now and I'm pretty sure my opinion isn't ever going to change.

So, I think there is something to be said for giving a country at least a year or 18 months before making up your mind, but sometimes you really do just know right away. Additionally, a country can be great on a paper but simply not click with your personality. To use my example again, Norway ranks near the top in any indicator you pick, but it doesn't do it for me.

[JR8]

I currently live outside of my home country (the US) and really disliked the country I moved to (Norway) almost immediately. After 3 months, 6 months, a year, etc., I kept wondering if I was giving the country enough time. It's been 3.5 years now and I'm pretty sure my opinion isn't ever going to change.

Now you understand why they need the Vinmonopolet

Skol!

[SingLaw]

I currently live outside of my home country (the US) and really disliked the country I moved to (Norway) almost immediately. After 3 months, 6 months, a year, etc., I kept wondering if I was giving the country enough time. It's been 3.5 years now and I'm pretty sure my opinion isn't ever going to change.

Now you understand why they need the Vinmonopolet

Skol!

Ugh, the 'polet is a great example of my problems with Norway.

[JR8]

Ugh, the 'polet is a great example of my problems with Norway.

Hehehe.... no kidding. Funny isn't it how the countries with the strictest controls on alcohol seem to have the most hard core drinkers. I'm losing track of what order the horse and cart come in...

I love Norway to visit, but if I lived there I think I'd seek salvation in the solitude of the great fishing....

[sundaymorningstaple]

How to enjoy this bloody freaking country full of A***h***s in the gubmint.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/health-subsidi ... --moh.html

I give 30 years to this god forsaken country, give a son to their screwed up Navy and that's what they give me, now that I'm 64 and they've squeezed all the juices they can get out of me. Freaking A***h***s.

[BigSis]

How to enjoy this bloody freaking country full of A***h***s in the gubmint.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/health-subsidi ... --moh.html

I give 30 years to this god forsaken country, give a son to their screwed up Navy and that's what they give me, now that I'm 64 and they've squeezed all the juices they can get out of me. Freaking A***h***s.

I just clicked the link - that's out of order.

If they want to do something like this, maybe they should look at facts such as how much a person earns, did they or their kids do NS, how long have they lived here.

It's unfair to give someone like you who has lived here 30 years the same treatment as someone who has just got here.