Five years in Singapore - reflections

[Wd40]

Everyone will have their own perception on living in Singapore. Mine after spending here almost 3 years is that it is 1st world country in terms of prices but often 3rd world experience. However I don't fully blame Singaporeans for this. People who are tremendously lowering the quality of services here are Chinese, Indians etc.

Err.. can you justify your statement please?

[nakatago]

And here we have the half yearly Singapore bashing thread, oh joy. Most of you have been here quite a few years and you still moan about the same things. As I've said many times, Singapore's way of life has been around well before we all arrived here (even SMS!) and will be around well after most of you leave. Everything that gets mentioned over and over again on here really doesn't bother me anymore, why should it?

I've always advise people moving to Singapore for the first time that the most important thing to bring with you is a sense of humour otherwise you will not survive long here. It's not the UK, it's not the US, it's not NZ, it's Singapore!

When in Singapore, do as the Singaporeans do--complain!

[sundaymorningstaple]

And here we have the half yearly Singapore bashing thread, oh joy. Most of you have been here quite a few years and you still moan about the same things. As I've said many times, Singapore's way of life has been around well before we all arrived here (even SMS!) and will be around well after most of you leave. Everything that gets mentioned over and over again on here really doesn't bother me anymore, why should it?

I've always advise people moving to Singapore for the first time that the most important thing to bring with you is a sense of humour otherwise you will not survive long here. It's not the UK, it's not the US, it's not NZ, it's Singapore!

When in Singapore, do as the Singaporeans do--complain!

That's called assimilation, right?

[Steve1960]

I am with Saint on this. I thought about it long and hard and after 1 year and 7 months there are only two things that test my patience on a regular basis (and its not getting on and off the trains!!).

People using mobile phones while walking with no spacial awareness. This is not a Singapore phenomenon. Had the same issues in the West End of London last week.

The lack of aisle space in our local Fair Price and the congestion it causes. No doubt due to available space and rental cost. Again not just a Singapore issue.

I think I am past the honeymoon period (although still not a veteran I know), I am happy here and my wife and I really do find ourselves laughing at the every day things we see the locals doing rather than get angry or complain.

[zzm9980]

As for the OP's listed pros, I could perhaps deny most of them:
- I have yet to see kindness of people here. They are super kind when you spend $. That's obvious. Apart from that no one smiles here gratuitously. Kind of emotionless people.

....

- climate although hot and pretty much the same year round, miss a very important factor: sun. I would love to see more sunny days, where sun shines from sunrise to sunset... and to actually see the sunset... Weather is pretty dull IMO.

On these two points you make:

- I don't even see kindness then. Sometimes I just see annoyance. I just want to ask at times: "Really, I'm giving you money and this is the best attitude you can muster?"

- I'll have to differ here. There are some amazing sunsets, you just need an unobstructed view. Part of the key is knowing how the cloud cover works. It will tend to cover the island, but not the water. So head down to the beach, or somewhere in the south. Go to East Coast Park or Marina Barrage or (my favorite) 1 Altitude on a partially cloudy day and see some absolutely amazing sunsets. Taking Sunrise, sunset and weather shots is one of the few things I really enjoy doing outdoors in Singapore.

Here are a few; I could post dozens more just from the past few months, and could probably capture photos like this 2-3 times a week. The limiting factor is just motivation to go out and do it.

From Bedok Jetty:
http://distilleryimage11.ak.instagram.c ... 289e_8.jpg
http://distilleryimage1.ak.instagram.co ... bda6_7.jpg

From 1 Altitude:
http://distilleryimage5.ak.instagram.co ... 195b_7.jpg

From Gardens East:
http://distilleryimage5.ak.instagram.co ... 97a4_7.jpg

Time Lapse from an HDB:
http://distilleryvesper5-1.ak.instagram ... 0c_101.mp4

[Barnsley]

And here we have the half yearly Singapore bashing thread, oh joy. Most of you have been here quite a few years and you still moan about the same things. As I've said many times, Singapore's way of life has been around well before we all arrived here (even SMS!) and will be around well after most of you leave. Everything that gets mentioned over and over again on here really doesn't bother me anymore, why should it?

I've always advise people moving to Singapore for the first time that the most important thing to bring with you is a sense of humour otherwise you will not survive long here. It's not the UK, it's not the US, it's not NZ, it's Singapore!

You are commenting from a personal perspective, you say things don't bother you, that's good for you. However they will bother others, i don't see why you have a problem with that.

I am sure there are things in life that bother you that would not bother others in the slightest. Its a fact of life we are different.

Like JR8 says , the Government here has run multiple campaigns on a number of issues, clearly a number of things are seen as a serious problem by more than a couple of folks posting on an Internet forum.

[nakatago]

As for the OP's listed pros, I could perhaps deny most of them:
- I have yet to see kindness of people here. They are super kind when you spend $. That's obvious. Apart from that no one smiles here gratuitously. Kind of emotionless people.

....

- climate although hot and pretty much the same year round, miss a very important factor: sun. I would love to see more sunny days, where sun shines from sunrise to sunset... and to actually see the sunset... Weather is pretty dull IMO.

On these two points you make:

- I don't even see kindness then. Sometimes I just see annoyance. I just want to ask at times: "Really, I'm giving you money and this is the best attitude you can muster?"

- I'll have to differ here. There are some amazing sunsets, you just need an unobstructed view. Part of the key is knowing how the cloud cover works. It will tend to cover the island, but not the water. So head down to the beach, or somewhere in the south. Go to East Coast Park or Marina Barrage or (my favorite) 1 Altitude on a partially cloudy day and see some absolutely amazing sunsets. Taking Sunrise, sunset and weather shots is one of the few things I really enjoy doing outdoors in Singapore.

Here are a few; I could post dozens more just from the past few months, and could probably capture photos like this 2-3 times a week. The limiting factor is just motivation to go out and do it.

From Bedok Jetty:
http://distilleryimage11.ak.instagram.c ... 289e_8.jpg
http://distilleryimage1.ak.instagram.co ... bda6_7.jpg

From 1 Altitude:
http://distilleryimage5.ak.instagram.co ... 195b_7.jpg

From Gardens East:
http://distilleryimage5.ak.instagram.co ... 97a4_7.jpg

Time Lapse from an HDB:
http://distilleryvesper5-1.ak.instagram ... 0c_101.mp4

Clouds...boo....


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h-Ma ... unrise.JPG

[JR8]

Those here 'for ever' have mentally fully signed up to the programme, and so can and will not see any wrong. That would be perceived as personal judgement (against them), rather than simple observation of a society.

And so the state and citizen are conjoined.

[singapore eagle]

And here we have the half yearly Singapore bashing thread, oh joy. Most of you have been here quite a few years and you still moan about the same things. As I've said many times, Singapore's way of life has been around well before we all arrived here (even SMS!) and will be around well after most of you leave. Everything that gets mentioned over and over again on here really doesn't bother me anymore, why should it?

I've always advise people moving to Singapore for the first time that the most important thing to bring with you is a sense of humour otherwise you will not survive long here. It's not the UK, it's not the US, it's not NZ, it's Singapore!

You are commenting from a personal perspective, you say things don't bother you, that's good for you. However they will bother others, i don't see why you have a problem with that.

I am sure there are things in life that bother you that would not bother others in the slightest. Its a fact of life we are different.

Like JR8 says , the Government here has run multiple campaigns on a number of issues, clearly a number of things are seen as a serious problem by more than a couple of folks posting on an Internet forum.

Ah, but that speaks more of the Singapore government's propensity to run campaigns than anything else.

[singapore eagle]

On these two points you make:

- I don't even see kindness then. Sometimes I just see annoyance. I just want to ask at times: "Really, I'm giving you money and this is the best attitude you can muster?"

I'm trying to work out why my perspective seems to be so different from everyone else's.

As I mentioned earlier, I work from home as an independent consultant. So that's a factor, particularly with regards to public transport. I also remember when I worked for a stat board ten years ago, some of my colleagues were absolutely impossible.

I will often have my 2-year-old and 4-year-old in tow when I go out and I would say that people here, especially old people, love children. We ate at Din Tai Fung on Tuesday and the uncle serving us was bending over backwards to help us with the little one.

I'm white. Maybe that helps?

But generally, I don't get the strength of feeling I'm encountering on this thread. I married in to a chinese Singaporean family 9 years ago and everyone was and still is welcoming to me. My clients are mostly friendly and easy going. And when I go to the shops or to the doctor or to get my haircut or have to use any local service, people are generally polite and courteous.

So I just don't see what you lot see.

Of course, as Saint says, every now and again I encounter odd behaviour and I suppose I just laugh it off. The only thing that really gets to me is the Singaporean way of driving.

[zzm9980]

Clouds...boo....


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h-Ma ... unrise.JPG

Hey said sunset laaa!

j/k, awesome photo.

[zzm9980]

I will often have my 2-year-old and 4-year-old in tow when I go out and I would say that people here, especially old people, love children. We ate at Din Tai Fung on Tuesday and the uncle serving us was bending over backwards to help us with the little one.

I'm white. Maybe that helps?

It's the kid(s).

Ok, I'm white, wife is asian, and also have a 2.5yr old. When she is with us (or just me, or just my wife), yes people will bend over backwards to help.

When I'm alone, not at all. So yes, locals love the cute little caucasian/hybrid kids they see in all of those advertisements. (OH, she's so big la! Skin is so nice!)

[bgd]

The only thing that really gets to me is the Singaporean way of driving.

I suspect I’m a minority of one but I’m reasonably happy with the “Singapore way of driving”

[nakatago]

Clouds...boo....


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h-Ma ... unrise.JPG

Hey said sunset laaa!

j/k, awesome photo.

Funny story: woke up one morning, saw this, decided to grab the camera. I haven't even made 10 feet away from my bed.

[x9200]

The only thing that really gets to me is the Singaporean way of driving.

I suspect I’m a minority of one but I’m reasonably happy with the “Singapore way of driving”