Your Biggest Questions As You Relocate to Singapore

[YoungTraveller]

Hello forum!

I'm posting to you today to seek your help on a project. I actually posted under my handle YoungTraveller so long ago, I was actually young at the time - to any of the old timers that helped me out when I was new - hello and thanks!

I contribute to a guide to moving to Singapore and living here, and I wanted to reach out to real forum-goers to get input on the content of our next edition.

Out of respect to the forum rules about advertising I will NOT be positing links to the product here. This post is intended to crowd source inputs only!

[Mods - please let me know if I'm out of line anywhere and I will edit or delete my post!]

I've attached a list of topics that the guide currently covers. Is there anything missing, or something that you think a guide to moving to Singapore should particularly focus on?

Thanks in advance for your help!

The guide is broken in to four books to support the mental process of moving to a new place, and I've summarized the table of contents for each book so you can skim.

BOOK 1 is intended to give you information about what it's like to live in Singapore for people considering moving across.

1. Modern History
2. Political System and Gov Structure
3. Geography - Climate, Seasons, Pollution
4. Culture - Public Holidays, Festivals, Food Culture, Singlish, Cultural Customs
5. Cost of Living Estimates, Compensation Comparison Tools, Standard Non Monetary Compensation (required by law), Tax Overview
6. Guided Tours and Look See Trip Must Dos

BOOK 2 is about getting prepared for the shift.
1. Singapore Immigration Requirements, Health Checks, Immunizations
2. Visas, Permanent Residency, Citizenship application processes, requirements and benefits.
3. Planning Your Move (Selecting Packers and Planning - this is fairly standard tips for any relocation).
4. Clearing Singapore Customs (customs restrictions and importing controlled substances like alcohol)
5. Moving Pets
6. Initial Accommodation Options and Embassy Contacts

BOOK 3 is about the first three months of settling in.
1. Managing Culture Shock
2. Househunting tips - HDBs, condos, private apartments; district guides; buying vs. renting processes, negotiating/leveraging agents, etc.
3. Setting up your banking and finances
4. Setting up communications (phone, mobile, land line), utilities, cable TV/internet, etc.
5. Where to get home appliances, groceries, etc.
6. How to get around in Singapore - cars, taxi costs and contact numbers, bus routes, train network, etc.
7. Hiring Help - key strategies, options, approximate costs, tips to manage, etc.
8. Schools: overview of options from Kindergarden to University, local vs. international comparison, IB vs. AP vs standard education system.
9. Healthcare options, local healthcare issues, key providers.

BOOK 4It's supposed to help people connect to the local community and enjoy their stay, after they've taken care of the fundamentals.
1. Foodie guide - restaurants for a variety of cuisines
2. Bar/club/pub guide
3. Community clubs and sporting groups
4. Expat communities (Internations, this forum, etc.! Smile
5. Short courses and that sort of stuff.

Thanks in advance for your feedback and for helping us improving the Insider!

I will also try to answer questions that people post as well, if the information is easy to convey in a post.

{sanitized by moderator}

[JR8]

'Crowd-sourcing' your info, to directly profit from.



Mmmm cute one ah.

[nakatago]

Here's a question--I am NOT kidding you and I did NOT make this up--that's been asked of me:

"Does it snow in Singapore?"

[JR8]

Here's a question--I am NOT kidding you and I did NOT make this up--that's been asked of me: "Does it snow in Singapore?"

Answer: Only rarely ??




p.s. side-meme: 'Impossibly silly questions your visitors ask'.

[nakatago]

"Can I bring in my own chewing gum?"
"Does the government really actively listen on phone conversations?"
"Is Singapore in China?"
"Is it true that I can get caned if I jaywalk?"
"I'm a white man. How many Singaporeans chicks can I pick-up when I go out at night?"
"Since you live in the tropics, do you you always go to the beach?"
"Why is it so hot in Singapore?"
"Is Lee Kuan Yew still alive and if yes, how can he still be the head of state?"
"Why are there so many Indians here? I thought Singapore was Chinese."
"Where can I rent a house in Singapore?"
"Where is the best chicken rice/chili crab in Singapore?"
"Where can get the Singapore sling?"
"Where in Singapore is the best place to buy electronics? I hear they're really cheap there."
"Do I need to pack my winter clothes when I move there?"
"I thought they spoke English. Why does everyone speak funny?"
"Why does the carrot cake look and taste funny?"
"Are drugs illegal in Singapore?"

[JR8]

Lol



'Do we need to bring sweaters?

[feel the nuance]

[sundaymorningstaple]

Here's a question--I am NOT kidding you and I did NOT make this up--that's been asked of me: "Does it snow in Singapore?"

Answer: Only rarely ??




p.s. side-meme: 'Impossibly silly questions your visitors ask'.

Correct answer.

Tanglin Mall at Christmas time.

[JR8]

And the weirdness is, that unscripted I just walked past the foam covered tree I assume you're referring to!? Never even seen it before...

WTH did they get that idea from!? (we were throwing foam 'snow' at each other.... lol

[sundaymorningstaple]

ZoukOut? They used it at the Chingay Parade last year at the F1 Pit building where the parade was held as well.

For real snow....

http://www.snowcity.com.sg/

[YoungTraveller]

nakatago - thanks for the inputs mate!

"Can I bring in my own chewing gum?"

<groan> That's an obvious one that I need to put in, good catch.

"Does the government really actively listen on phone conversations?"

I touch delicately on the subject of censorship, but don't cover any of the privacy concerns. Are we sure this one isn't more directed to the US/China?

"Is Singapore in China?"

I've put in a map already anticipating that one.

"Is it true that I can get caned if I jaywalk?"

I was surprised how much of a stereotype the caning thing was and dealt with in briefly when talking about the legal system (as well as the caning scandal).

"I'm a white man. How many Singaporeans chicks can I pick-up when I go out at night?"

Not writing that kind of guide. I do talk about the great night spots out. I'm sure white guys will do okay if I keep it at that.

"Since you live in the tropics, do you you always go to the beach?"

I cover the beaches and island hops, sure. But this one feels like it's a bit more of a personal question?

"Why is it so hot in Singapore?"

I cover this one in the geography session, where I show the equatorial line and talk about seasons.

"Is Lee Kuan Yew still alive and if yes, how can he still be the head of state?"

Talked about Lee Kuan Yew in the politics section, and explained what Minister Mentor is about. Very politely and diplomatically.

"Why are there so many Indians here? I thought Singapore was Chinese."

Ethnic diveristy and cultural sections are covered in the Primer (first book)

"Where can I rent a house in Singapore?"

Yep, that's an easy one. I included the price points as well so they can immediately understand why they might want to go condo.

"Where is the best chicken rice/chili crab in Singapore?"

I would be lynched I think if I didn't try to answer this question. I have however hedged by bets and recommended a few great options so I'm not attacked by die hard supporters of the competition.

"Where can get the Singapore sling?"

I've recommend Raffles because that's the place where it was first conceived as a way for young colonial white ladies to get hammered while drinking what looked like fruit juice (since they weren't allowed to do "man's work" like...working).

If you're going to drink something historic, it makes sense to do it in the appropriate place. Dressing up like a young English lady from colonial times is optional.

"Where in Singapore is the best place to buy electronics? I hear they're really cheap there."

I challenged the perception (prices have equalised quite a bit), and pointed them to Parisilk, Funan and warned 'em about Sim Lim.

"Do I need to pack my winter clothes when I move there?"

I suggested that they have a small winter pack, because many of my friends dump 'em and are screwed when they have to fly for work or go home for Christmas.

"I thought they spoke English. Why does everyone speak funny?"

Singlish as well as some other snippets of language are covered in the cultural section.

"Why does the carrot cake look and taste funny?"

I talk about carrot cake as a Singaporean delicacy and explain it is not the same, the Chinese origin words are just similar.

"Are drugs illegal in Singapore?"

Ooooh that one gets a very sternly worded section in the Customs area.




What about questions after you and your family moved across? Things that frustrated/surprised you? {sanitized by moderataor}

[YoungTraveller]

Oh, BTW: participating in the side meme of "impossibly silly questions":

"Singapore? What county is that in?"

Yes. COUNTY. As in, subdivision of a state in the US.

That's a true story.

Hoo boy.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Oh, BTW: participating in the side meme of "impossibly silly questions":

"Singapore? What county is that in?"

Yes. COUNTY. As in, subdivision of a state in the US.

That's a true story.

Hoo boy.

It is in Allegan County, Michigan. But it was razed by fire on October 8, 1871 It was located in Saugatuck Township, near the cities of Saugatuck and Douglas in Allegan County but is now lie buried beneath the sand dunes of the Lake Michigan shoreline at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River.

Little bit of trivia for you.



Hoo Boy.

[x9200]

Is fetching/watching porn illegal?

[sundaymorningstaple]

No, It's a first world country, not a developing country.

After last night, I use the term developing with a large grain of salt. Instead of saying lets find out what we are doing wrong with the way we treat other human beings here, instead they say we will find ALL the perpetrators and settle the score.

[PrimroseHill]

Do you need sweaters in Singapore?
Answer to that JR8 is YES YES YES.
Office air con and cinemas air con

I have a pashimina, a blazer and a cardi in the office