Where to stay that is near "everything" ?

[skipper]

skipper thinks that the neighbourhood schools cannot produce top level students. Unfortunately, the locals cannot shy away from them as they are hamstrung by where they live so if they live outside the 1 km radius, then they are also subjected to balloting for the remaining places. Fortunately, most of the neighbourhood school can still produce local students who will kick most expat kids butts academically at most any given age up through A levels. I know this is going to rub some the wrong way, but the only downside is the fact that they won't really get a well rounded education, per se (but that is the same even with the "good" schools that tend to produce more elitest snobs then brilliant scholars). However, they will be very advanced in the Sciences & Maths and possibly bilingual as well if started early enough.

Both of mine when through their entire schooling in the local system with no adverse effects and are effectively trilingual as they speak English, Mandarin & singlish. The also understand Tamil but will not speak the language. It's a good leg up in today's world. My 2¢......

SMS, where did I say the neighboorhood schools cannot produce top level students? I'm just talking about my experience in the same way that you spoke about yours. Either way, TS will only be able to get his kids into neighborhood schools on the outset.

[skipper]

Also, locals here look at rankings by popularity. I had coworkers tell me their child had went X school but they have been trying to get to A school so they bought a condo near that Y school. When I asked why, what was wrong with the old school, they merely said it wasn't top ranked. I just keep hearing Nanyang Primary (where the prime minister had attended). Who knows, maybe that school can transfer your child to the next prime minister.

As foreigners, no chance bringing our kids to "popular" local schools. We just wanted a Catholic school for my kids so we had them transferred from the neighborhood school.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Regarding schools, just wanted to share that I also put my 2 kids (2 years apart) to local schools. Went through the Primary One registration exercise on the last phase (Phase 3) for the younger one and he got into a neighborhood school (not popular so there were still places). The school also accepted the elder one for Primary 3 (again, places were available). We wanted a better school but no chance as we were foreigners. Luckily my kids did well in this neighborhood school and after 3 years of applying to these "better" (or mainstream) schools, both got accepted on the 3rd try. Their still in the same school and I dare to say that it is true why most the locals shy away from neighborhood schools -- while education ministry says that the curriculum is fairly standard, the quality of teaching, pace/level and the students are better. You need patience, persistence and the realization that putting your kids in the local school system will be frustrating. Hope this helps..

Sure sounds like you are alluding to that to me... and you weren't talking about your kids where I bolded your text. I might be wrong, but it just sounds that way to me. In fact, in recent years, some of the "gloss" has worn off the "popular" schools as more and more local school are topping the academic charts with the highest scorers. I had one in a neighbourhood school and one in a well known catholic convent school so seen both close up.

[x9200]

I expect expat children should be actually better off in the neighborhood local schools than top rated local ones. At least they will have more time to spend with their parents and family and less pressure to participate in this insane "excellency" rat race involving countless hours of extra tuition and enrichment courses.

[sundaymorningstaple]

+1

It cold also be very demoralizing to the parents as well as the child when the child starts falling further and further behind as well.

[taxico]

3) Transport : ...I love having a car as I have always had one and like bundling the family into the car for days or weekends away but I gather you don't do weekends away inside Singapore !!

...Do you need to have baby seats etc ?

4) ...Singapore might provide the kids especially with a nicer environment for playing and learning etc. I would certainly miss the funk factor of Cambodia and the $8 cases of beer but career-wise Singapore would be a huge upward move for me and...

5) Someone told me that Singaporeans are very Xenophobic and in particular have a real superiority complex with other Asian races. My wife is Cambodian ( Khmer ) and his comment was that she would probably get treated very poorly...

3) you can drive up north. plenty of interesting places in malayais to visit. anyone below 1.35m require some type of seat/restraint but i (very) often see kids and babies on laps in private cars and goods vehicles. this rule does not apply to taxis. legally, kids must be seated in the rear taxi seat.

4) i agree. oh, and $8 gets you one (big'ish) bottle beer in singapore.

5) MY OPINION: she probably won't get treated poorly, but she may be treated differently, especially by strangers (locals). it would help if she can speak fluent english.

this race thing is quite sensitive in singapore... so take note before mouthing off something negative (whether on the internet or in real life).

okay - ESPECIALLY on the internet. for the latest, google: singapore union director fired racist australian

[zzm9980]

Well that's a brilliant recommendation right there !

Went to the SMRT website, clicked Orange Line Raffles to Tanah Merah and it takes 24 minutes and under $2 !!

OK what am I missing ? Sounds like a dream to me ?

On some days (say, heavy rain), you're dream will slowly crush itself as you stand at Tanah Merah and watch train after train come by completely packed like sardines and no hope at all of getting on.

OT: Beijing Subway has uncles who stand by each subway door in the stations during peak hours shoving people on and away from the doors, screaming to get into the middle of the car. It was quite amusing until I watched one girl fall over and the uncle keep shoving people on top of her.

[JR8]

5) Someone told me that Singaporeans are very Xenophobic and in particular have a real superiority complex with other Asian races. My wife is Cambodian ( Khmer ) and his comment was that she would probably get treated very poorly . Over here in Phnom Penh there is NO racism of any kind and doors are opened by strangers at every opportunity. It is a wonderful place to live in that respect and I simply love the locals here. Comments ?

There is definitely a racial 'pecking order' in SG. Your wife might be mistaken for a domestic helper (maid), or worse. My suggestion to you both is register with her embassy, attend social functions, make other Cambodian friends and find how they deal with it.

SGns can be rather a hard-bitten lot (esp. compared to Cambodians!), I hope your wife will be well prepared, as I expect it might come as a significant culture shock.

[jgarnett]

google: singapore union director fired racist australian

Egads. Epic fail.

Serves her right for using Facebook to vent. What a dummy.

The wedding scene here is exactly the same. They shut of entire roads or the entrance to your house with no warning whatsoever and then blast music at stadium volume....

HOWEVER

My wife said something to me years ago before we were married which put it all in perspective :

" We don't worry about it because everyone knows that sooner or later it will be their turn to have the wedding "

Sure enough...some time later we were having the party

Great thing about Cambodia is you can just look at the people at the entrance to the party, smile and give them the international shaking hand / lift to mouth sign for drinking and BANG you get asked in immediately !

[AndrewV]

check out "the beacon" or "the icon" both near tanjong pagar mrt
if on a tighter budget, consider the HDB's nearby (pinnacle @ duxton or cantonment towers), rent is around 3.5-4k there

[rajagainstthemachine]

Tuas would be a good place to start looking.

[rajagainstthemachine]

Look at a map of Singapore and locate the central parts namely, there are a few
Orchard
Clarke Quay/Boat Quay
Little India
Newton
Chinatown

then draw a radius of a few km around these places which fall under your rental budget and then find schools/supermarkets/restaurants
typically you never have to travel much in Singapore to get to where you want as public transport is generally very good.

Also you might want to consider how peaceful you want your surroundings to be. The more peaceful/beautiful neighbourhoods are generally away from the city center

#2cents.

[bayguy]

Tuas would be a good place to start looking.

Are you for real ? Do you live in Tuas yourself ?

[sundaymorningstaple]

rajagainstthemachine, You would do well to use the following:



as apparently bayguy is local so cannot see your humour.

[rajagainstthemachine]

Tuas would be a good place to start looking.

Are you for real ? Do you live in Tuas yourself ?

.