Good Offer?

[South African]

Hi,
Moving over with husband in April 2008 from SA...
Just to check some oppinions...
He has been offered a creative Directorship in a Ad Agency...
Gross of 15 500 Sing$
By the time we have sent money back to SA for our mortgage etc and paid tax.. etc would 7 500 sing$ be ok to cover rent and living expenses...?
PS Will have a 3 month old baby.
PSS I will be able to start work in the september hopefully with J&J

[SA expat]

Congratulations on your job offer.  The offer might seem good when converted to Rands but the rental prices here are a lot higher than in SA and this should be factored into your salary by the company.  It all depends on what kind of place you are looking for and what you are used to.  We have gone from living in a 1 hectare with a house in Jo'burg to an apartment in a condo, and we are paying 4 times what we were paying in SA.  I have looked at the prices in comparison to Jo'burg and for the price I am paying here I could easily afford to live in a mansion in Fourways Gardens.  To be honest its not all the easy to get used to, but if you keep an open mind and appreciate all the good things that Singapore has to offer (eg safety) then it will be ok.  Apart from rental your living costs are not that high, your house and life insurance for instance wont cost you an arm and a leg and you wont be paying for a security company as in SA.  The cost for help is a lot more than what you would pay for in SA (yes you could only pay about $350 or more to the maid but you pay approx. double that to the government for the privelage of having a maid and then there is the cost of her upkeep, I stand corrected on these costs as I don't have a full time maid)and the cost of wine is an awful lot more.  I think the cost for groceries would be about like for like from what I remember.  Cars are very expensive here, but public transport is great - don't listen to people moaning and groaning about it here on this board, I still get a thrill about catching a taxi or a bus just because I can and still be around to tell the tale!  I hope that this helps. Singapore is a wonderful place to live and I love it here.       

[don't do it]

15k for a creative director isn't all that great. It's not bad, but not very good either. Especially since you're gonna have to fork out about up a third on rent. You might also want to reconsider whether Singapore is the place to be if you're in advertising. Singapore agencies appear to win a lot of creative awards abroad, which gives them the opportunity to hire people from all over who think it's a good step up, but in truth most of the awards are handed out for scam ads. Of course no one tells you this stuff. I know quite a few people here who were lured into it like that and are now extremely disappointed because the day-to-day work is boring and the local clients usually a nightmare to work with. So if you look at your career over a longer period of time I would seriously think twice. I guarantee you you're not going to be happy working here coz the place is truly uninspiring. There is no underground culture at all. No alternative movie houses, no good music venues and the one good art museum changes exhibitions about twice a year. And to me, that's where you need to get your inspiration from
Have you ever considered Europe? Amsterdam? Barcelona? London? Amsterdam is a great hub for creative agencies that don't belong to the big networks. Lots of them there and a truly great, funky, inspiring place to live. There's Wiedens, 180, Modernista, Springer & Jacobi, Strawberry Frog, KesselsKramer, Fuel. All these places are swarming with expats who love living in Amsterdam. I would seriously think twice if I were you...

[don't do it]

Hi South African girl. I just realized you posted here b4 and I pretty much gave you the same answer.... I'm sorry about that, was trying to offer you another perspective, but it seems you've made up your mind? Honestly hope you're not going to regret it.
But I think you will.
We do.
I've never lived in a more boring place in all my life.
Lucky for us we're out of here soon.

[Avey]

Have you had a chance to visit Singa, SA?  Perhaps that will help.  Also know people in advertising here from Europe and elsewhere who really are enjoying their job.  And, this is a great place to live though I hear SA is too!

Pardon my ignorance but by J&J do you mean Jebsen and Jessen?

[South African]

Thanks for all your responses.
Johnson and Johnson Medical - am in Sales amd Marketing.
My husband was in Singapore close on 9 months ago and I unfortunately have not visited yet.
He is sold on the place from a security point of view. I love my country but it is exhausting living a day to day life trying to avoid crime and not become a victim. Stopping at a traffice light takes work as we are bombarded by vendors and you don't know if they are just trying to sell you something or are their next victim. It is a HUGE shame as this country is fantastic, the people and friends we have are amazing, but my fear is how to protect my children.
South Africa has a terrible crime rate - The problem is that the crime is becoming realy brutul. I think he see's this career move as a chance to work abroad get international experience and then settle in a country where creativity and advertising is excellent.
I am the thinker in the realtionship and lie at night with big belley close to popping thinking of money, rent relocation costs, travelling with a baby and hence the questions on this site.
I know it won't be easy but i suppose I am wanting to hear someone say do it and you wont regret it.

[don't do it]

I know where you're coming from. I met South Africans in Sydney, Amsterdam and here. All advertising folk. And all left SA for the same reasons. And you know what? The one South African I met here went back after six months, despite the crime in your country, because he was bored sick and missed his friends and family. For creative people this place is a coffin. People who aren't into cultural stuff seem to be fine here with their clubs and SUV's and maids and chardonnays at Indochine. But if that isn't your scene I would seriously think twice.
It's only November, 4 months till March.... never hurts to email a couple of headhunters in Europe.
I've never been more depressed anywhere than here. We've been here 1,5 years and are finally getting out in 6 weeks. I cried for two hours when we heard the news... that's how relieved I was.

[Head screwed on]

I know where you're coming from. I met South Africans in Sydney, Amsterdam and here. All advertising folk. And all left SA for the same reasons. And you know what? The one South African I met here went back after six months, despite the crime in your country, because he was bored sick and missed his friends and family. For creative people this place is a coffin. People who aren't into cultural stuff seem to be fine here with their clubs and SUV's and maids and chardonnays at Indochine. But if that isn't your scene I would seriously think twice.
It's only November, 4 months till March.... never hurts to email a couple of headhunters in Europe.
I've never been more depressed anywhere than here. We've been here 1,5 years and are finally getting out in 6 weeks. I cried for two hours when we heard the news... that's how relieved I was.

I read this and I just want to meet this person.  You seriously have your head screwed on.  I could not agree with you more.

If you have one ounce of spirit / adventure in you...Singapore is NOT the place...

but...if you want to go on trips to Asian exotic countries once every few months...go for it....It helps with the boring existance that is SP

[don't do it]

haha! Thank you 'Head screwed on'. And you're right, it does help a bit to travel to Vietnam and Laos and and and... but then again I can't help thinking how great it is to just buy a nice old car and drive around Europe. I can take my 2 big dogs wherever I like. People don't stare at me coz of my blond mop of hair, they don't hassle me anywhere... I'm as free as a bird there! See? I'm a poet and I don't even know it!
I hope you'll get out soon as well! Just reading the news in Holland.... yesterday the first breast feeding cafe opened. Yes. And 2 weeks ago a dildo manufacturer had a dildo-collector bus drive around Amsterdam where you could hand in your old one for a brand new one in a pink box with a ribbon. That's where I want to be! Where they do silly things like that!

[South African]

Your Comments are hard hitting as I am very big into the Arts and one thing I absolutely love about SA is the Cultural diversity.
I wish you all the best for your future and I am glad you are getting your wish and leaving Singapore.
I am just in such a crap position that my husband is sold on Singapore and I have to give him the chance to live his dream.
All the best with your move...
Hopefully I wont be posting on the site in the near future as "Bored to death"

[don't do it]

I'm really sorry about that, but it seems your husband and I are quite similar in the sense that we make rash decisions only to regret them later. Of course he wants safety for you and your baby. Especially when you're from SA I can totally see his point. But to go from a vibrant cultural place, which I'm sure Johannesburg is as well to Disneyland with the Death Penalty aka the Truman Show is really the opposite end of the spectrum. There are so many options in between the two! I honestly hope you'll be ok here and you'll find a nice group of people and you know what.... you can always move again after 1 or 2 years. In advertising that is completely normal, so I guess if you keep that in the back of your head and use your time here to book cheap flights to Hanoi and Siem Reap and Bali and all those pretty places... then it won't be too bad! All the best!

[A Singaporean]

Hi OP,
I am a Singaporean. Pardon my English. I have been living in UK for the last 8 years and finally will be going back to Singapore due to my hubby job move.
There are pros and cons living in a foreign country. First, with a 3 months old baby (I have 2 smalll children) was tough without any family help. I have been 'stared' and given double treatments by some of the 'whites'. Over the years, I have learned to be tolerant and tried my best to adapt to UK. Yet, I had made fabulous friends.  It is the mentality of oneself. I am sad leaving UK but at the same time, thrilled with the prospect with having family help with my children.
As for the average salary in Singapore, with 7k per month, it is a above salary for a local Singaporean family. Average salary of the 'normal' Singaporean (family)is 4k per month. My friends who are on 4k own a small car and a HDB. Food is reasonable here. As long as you lived outskirts, you could always rent a apartment below 2k.
As for safely, Singapore is one of the safest country in the world. You will love it. The boredom? Yes, coming from SA, which is such a wonderful and beautiful country, can't beat the fast pacing boring Singapore. There is no countryside. But you could always hop on plane to Thailand ( Very cheap budget airlines) or a ferry(45 minutes) to Bintan.
If you live like a local, you will enjoy here. Welcome to Singapore and hope you have a lovely time here.

[Boring?]

Two nights ago, I went with my boy to the Strauss concert at the Esplanade.

About 30 mins before the performance, there was a great free concert of Indian music.

I'll be off to the Science Center soon for their digital art exhibition.

Next week I'm going to Handel's Messiah with a couple of friends.

There may not be the alternative arts scene you get in other countries, but there's enough to do if you look. And it's pretty cheap, too.

Oh yeah, and what about the MDA (Media Development Authority) management rap video?!

Rock on, MDA!

[don't do it]

Yes, you're right on one thing... that MDA video is the most hilarious bit of cinema i've ever seen in my life!!! and the sad thing is... they're not even kidding are they! it's a serious effort to get people to be more creative, hahahahaha!!! Please, SA woman, go to the MDA website and try to find this video. Be careful though, you might wet yourself.

[SA expat]

South African, If it is your first time overseas, dont worry you are coming to a good place and will be ok.  I am not creative at all so I cannot give you advice as to how Singapore will affect your creativity.  It is a country that has a lot to offer regards safety and lifetsyle especially in comparison to SA.  It has a cultural diversity that rivals if not exceeds SA.  It is a wonderful experience to meet all the different people from walks of life and nationalities that you could only imagine in SA.  I left Joburg 6 years ago for many reasons but least of all the crime, we were hit badly.  I do not regret leaving and having experienced the safety and other benefits that your tax goes towards that other people in the rest of the world take for granted I will never ever return home.  As a first place to go to after leaving SA Singapore is one of the best.  I have traveled lots in the last 6 years ago and we are back again in Singapore for a second time.  The one thing I do miss is the bush and the space, but I don't miss the price you have to pay to have that.