Scared

[Ken K]

I have been considering an expat opportunity (seveeral years) with my MNC but after reading the message posts here I'm second guessing my consideration. I don't believe $$$ will be my main issue here, I have a wife and 2 children I'm concerned about. Real input on the quality of life issues would be appreciated.

[More Info]

Hi Ken,

What sort of things are you specifically concerned about, maybe we can help.

The quality of life here is excellent by Asian standards ... clean air, lots of green space, no crime, stable government, heaps of activities for adults and children alike, English is widely spoken, excellent schools whether local or international, superb airport and ferry terminals offering gateways to a wide variety of exciting destinations.

Where are you considering moving from?

[Paul N]

Adventure Ken, adventure.  Quality of life is as high as you want to make it.  You can live the country-club life if you have the means or you can live by the backpackers creed if you prefer, or anywhere in between.  

We are down to 27 days 19 hours and 32 minutes, and have had a ton of laughs for the entire preceeding two years.  Take the chance, ask the questions and broaden your understanding of how incredibly interesting this little chunk of rock flying through the vastness of this universe is. (how's that for endind a sentence with a preposition?  Bill Clinton's downfall!    "Define is.")

[Helpful]

Ken

As said above, tell us more specifically what you are worried about and we'll try to help. Its hard to generalise. Some people love it here, and never want to go "home"' others hate it and can't wait for their "posting" to end, the vast majority probably fall somewhere in between.

If you can afford it, the quality of life here is among the best in Asia. There is low crime, good transport, good schools, English widely spoken etc, etc.

On the other hand if you like cool, crisp weather and wide empty spaces then this may not be the best place. So fill us in more, and we'll help as best we can.

[Raina]

What is it on the message board that you have read and are worried about? If as you said, money is not an issue, then you will have an extremely high quality of life. They say that Singapore is Asia for beginners and it's very true-- everyone speaks English, you can get any brand of American junk food at the supermarkets, and everything is highly structured and transparent-- just like the States. You also have to take postings on this site with a grain of salt-- this is a forum for expats to discuss problems they have never come across before-- how to deal with the mildew on your clothes and shoes, how to deal with your maid etc-- these can be slightly embarrassing issues to bring up with others so this board works well for that. You might want to tell your company that you are very serious about moving, but would like ot have a look-see trip for your whole family provided by the company. Come see for yourself why Singapore is the most fantastic place.

[Ken K]

I would be coming from the the US(midwest) so I'm sure Paul N can assimilate the way I'm agonizing. I realize that this forum is used as a sounding board for some of the smaller issues you live through every day, dirty public potties, expensive housing,ineffective maids ect. but what I'm after is this question "all things taken into consideration the experience is positive and a not to be missed event."

[Jo]

Ken K,  Havin lived thru postings to places like Brunei which for me, at that time wasn';t a happening place, and having to put up with loads of emotional trauma caused by not expecting the social changes, the distance from family and friends, the adjustment to diplomatic lifestyle etc etc...and now looking back, I realised I haven't taken that posting with an open mind like I should.  A posting can be as positive as you make it out to be.  At the end of the day, the experience will be good if you take it with an open mind, learn to accept stuff, take it as a learning experience and tell yourself that the joruney is more important than the destination.

You know, the friends you make here is also what makes the difference too...For a start, open your mind and heart to a new experience and give it a shot.  

[Paul N]

All things considered, yes it is an opportunity not to be missed.  

Like you, I never lived outside the US before coming to Singapore.  I had what I considered was a fairly broad view of the world, after all I kept up on the world news and subscribed to National Geographic.  I now realize I was pretty blind to the world  outside the 1000 square mile box that made up the vast majority of my life.

Doing an expat assignment will not all be peaches and cream.  You will find some things about living in another country so irritating it will make you scream.  If you keep your mind open, you will begin to learn that the way other societies get through life is not wrong (as you will firmly believe to begin with) but only different.  If you accept these differences and adapt YOURSELF TO THEM, the stress will go away and you will become a better person for it.

There are benefits previously unimagined in taking an overseas assignment.  The hardest part is climbing up out of the wagon-track you have buried yourself in over the last XX years, and boldly go where 5.8 billion people have gone before you...outside the borders of the US.  There's a whole world out here, come see it.    Come on, it's ok!

[Abdur]

Why don't you allow yourself and the family to spend a week or two on a look-see trip before making the final decision? If you haven't spent significant amount of time overseas, this is usually very highly recommended. The usual fly-by-night business trips and been-there-done-that tourism don't count; you really need to feel the place and its environment. Many companies realize its importance and will agree to pick up the tabs or negotiate some sorta deal. If you got nothing to lose, I suggest you check this out with the employer. Can lead to once-in-a-lifetime thing you will cherish forever.

[dihult]

I'm coming on a look-see-visit in two weeks. I will only be there from Thursday-Monday and wonder what sights I should take in so I can leave with a broad impression that I can share with my family when I return. (We will all be going in May to find a house.)

The first two days will be spent with my future employer and with a Realtor they've set me up with to get an idea of the various types of housing availalbe.
Saturday and Sunday I'm on my own and would appreciate some advise on what to see.

Thanks...

[Do it]

Depends on your personal situation - I've got no kids to worry about, so slightly different to you, but I always work on the basis of if you don't try, you'll never know. You can sit in the same rut for the next 5 years, and wonder 'what if', or you can get up and do it - if it all goes wrong, at least you can say 'I tried'. We've been here 6 years, and loved just about every minute of it. Lets face it, many of the problems you see complained about (mildew, cr*p taxi drivers, maid hassles etc) aren't exactly the end of the world, and most can be dealt with (this isn't intended as a flippant remark - I know there are some serious problems out there that can take over the family life, but they are relatively few and far between, and will occur in any society).

As always, there are pro's and con's. For me, the former outweight the latter 10-fold.

[Abdur]

dihult - some things I would do include:
1. Some pre-arrival homework on the land using various sources (there are excellent websites with details, trade bureau reports, embassy guides, etc).
2. Plans to check out resources for major needs (family, medical, schools, hobbies, etc).
3. Visit the tourist bureau for a short touristic thing (maybe a half-day tour).
4. Solid, quality time spent with folks locally based to discuss all major concerns, etc. Meet some on my own if I don't know anyone. (You will be pleasantly surprised how willing expats are to help you when they are asked.)
5. A look at local magazines/newspapers to check out things that are typically interesting.

Just a few I thought of...

[Rob]

I agree with Abdur. I wouldn't spend much time doing the tourist type things - there will be plenty of time for that when you get here.

You need to try and get and idea of what every day living is like. So, visit a few of the more common expat living areas. Have a look at what facilies are available. Try the food. Visit the bars. Take the bus. Take the MRT somewhere. Go to wherever you office will be. Generally just try and get a feel for the place. If there are particular sports/hobbies that you enjoy. Try and see if they are available here..etc..etc

There are a lot of social events organised through this board, so there is bound to be something when you visit. Come along, meet ppl and ask their opinion

[KimS]

Ken,

I'm not from the US myself, but came from the UK where I was a small town girl at heart. Absolutely hated living in London. I've been in Singapore for three years now and it has got to be one of the easiest places to live outside of your own country. It is very clean, very safe (important when you have kids or are a woman alone), easy to get around, most of the activities you would do at home you can do here, the holiday travel potential is great, the education facilities I believe are good for the expat schools, I have had hospital treatment here and most of the doctors were from the UK or US and the treatment was probably better and more efficient than the UK, I've found the dental treatment to be better here and being American you are probably used to paying for these things. I'm told by my American friends that perscription drugs are cheaper here. It is true that alcohol and cars are more expensive and it is smoker unfriendly. I don't personally have a car, but to put this into perspective if you drive for half an hour in one direction in Singapore you'd fall off the island. The distances involved here are much smaller than the US and if you've ever lived in commuter hell in a city then forget all that we don't have it here. It's a great place to decide to get fit and start walking from A to B, or alternatively the public transport is very good. However I can understand the need for a car if you have a family, try negotiate that into your contract. The food here is great, take your choice on Western or Eastern cuisine. It's very easy to be lulled into eating out most nights, I put some serious weight on when I first came here. Fortunately the gymn facilities are also very good and generally easily accessible. Singapore has plenty of Western style food shops (supermarkets in the UK not sure what you'd call them). If bars or nightclubs is your thing there are plenty of these. The cinemas show all the latest blockbuster and they have cable TV incuding HBO, Cinemax, StarMovies, Hallmark, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, StarTV, AXN, CNN, CNBC and BBCWorld  (with all the rude bits cut out) Don't ask me about the sports or children channels they do have them but I don't watch either. My sister and her kids have been to visit three times now and I've never had a problem finding things to do for the children, they love it here. The weather is hot all year round about 85f - 90f (30c) during the day and it is high humidity. Personally I'm asmathic and my lungs love it. As long as you take it easy at first you'd be amazed how quickly you get used to it. Most housing is in the form of appartment blocks usually with good facilities like a swimming pool (how did I ever do without before??). I've had the same cleaner for three years and never had a problem with her. The biggest problem with Singapore is the expat lifestyle is too good and it will be difficult to adjust on going home to winter, commuting, doing my own cleaning, not having perfect beaches a short hop away etc..

You are right that this board tends to be used by expats to air their frustrations. Moving abroad is a bit like living with someone for the first time. Usually you are fairly compatible but it's the little less noticeable things that tend to build up on your nerves. You know the equivalent of leaving the toilet seat up and not putting the lid back on the toothpaste tube. In my case it's the fact that everyone walks so slowly here. OK I know that's sensible as it is a hot country, but I like walking fast. In the UK it is accepted practice on escalators to keep to the left so that people in a hurry can pass you by. They don't do that here. Everyone speaks English but the body language signals are slightly different and less obvious, also the voice intonation is not the same, you begin to realise how much these make up part of our communication. In the UK we constantly talk about the weather. It is the accepted practice for making small talk when you don't know the person you are talking to. In Singapore they use food. You are often asked if 'you have eaten yet' by complete strangers. I'm always expecting one of them to ask me to dinner or something - but it's just their way of making small talk. Customer service is not as active here and taxi drivers don't seem to know where they are going. These are just a few things but as you can see they are all small things. When you begin to look at them logically you quickly begin to wonder why you find them irritating. On a major scale Singapore is very similar to any other Western country, it is on a smaller scale that you begin to notice the difference.

I am still having a great time in Singapore and I'm glad I came to live here, it's been a great experience. When things get on top of me it is usually because I'm stressed out at work and anything different bugs you when your stressed. Conversely, when I go home to my small town in the UK the locals seem so blinkered. I find myself thinking 'Have you guys never travelled outside the UK  I mean what planet are you living on'. What can I say no where is perfect, but on a scale of 1-10 I'd give Singapore a good 7-8 for ease of living.

Hope this helps.

[This message has been edited by KimS (edited 07-02-2001).]

[MD]

Great post KimS.  Fully agree with everything that you said.  It's answers like yours that make this such a great board...