Made the move from California, Looking for like-minded people!

[CAtoSG]

Hi everyone, I've been browsing this forum for some time but have only just made a user name.  This is therefore my first post, and I'm sure, NOT the first time anyone here has read a post like this...

I decided to move to Singapore a month or two ago for work related reasons, just like the majority of expats here it seems. Like everyone else, my situation is unique.  I am only 22 years old, just graduated from a university (this is my first contract job), and perhaps above all, I moved away from California for the first time. My entire life I have lived between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and to be quite frank, I love where I call home- the lifestyle, the people, the random conversation, the activities- everything.

Seeing as "home" is a very happy-go-lucky and live-and-let-live place, I must say, I'm having a difficult time getting accustomed to the Singapore life.  After I received an offer (also out of the blue, I'm a marketing guy, not finance), within 2-weeks, my world was turned upside down. I now find myself in a cubicle (something i promised myself i would never make myself do) and working some 50-60 hours a week.  However, the work isn't the big issue.  It's the coming home to a small empty studio and the feeling of constantly being in "a large shopping mall."  My week seems to consist of working and waiting for the weekend so I can go back out to the same 5-10 clubs/hang-outs and blow my budget (hey, at least you can drink outside, Vegas style). I've already explored a fair amount, but Singapore is already starting to feel a bit "small."

Anyways, of course adjusting to a new place that is so different from home is a challange for anyone. But, making this adjustment is much easier and enjoyable when it is shared with others in the same boat. Now that I've been here nearly two months, I am beginning to feel situated and the "new" feeling is already starting to wear off.  I am eager to get out and find activities and meet new likeminded people that can share this experience with me, even if it means doing the same old thing but with someone/people that can have a good laugh and relate. This means doing anything from grabbing food, exploring new places, activities (surely I can no longer surf and snowboard in the same day), drinking/clubbing (zoukout?!), and anything else that I've surely left out.

Please, don't hesitate to send me a message (I'd rather send my email from there than post on a public site) and I will surely get back to you.  Hopefully we can arrange to meet, then meet friends, then meet friends of friends and keep an ever-expanding network of fun-loving, humorous, interesting people growing.

I look forward to hearing from/meeting everyone.  I apologize for making anyone read all that  

Also, anyone do anything for Thanksgiving??? One of my favorite holidays back home and unfortunately, my microwave and studio probably isn't capable of catering a thanksgiving get together...

[welkommen]

Welcome to singapore - you will enjoy it here.  Its friendly, relaxed, easy going etc.   Theres plenty of expats around looking for friends, so I suggest going to boat quay and clarke quay at the weekends where most hang out.  It may get repetitive for some (depends on you)  but its not a bad expat scene here by night and I for one love to go to the same pubs and see the same expat crowd when I do go out.

I am afraid though apart from shopping, nobody does much else here - its the national pastime  as you will soon learn !!. 

There is not much else here except malls so its shop until you drop.

Welcome to shoppers paradise !

[CAtoSG]

Haha! Unfortunately, I must say, shopping is one of my least favorite activities.  Recreational "buying" doesn't top the charts of my favorite things to do.  In fact, if you've been to Los Angeles, you know all the same types of giant shopping malls exist, i just CHOOSE to avoid them.  Luckily I get to walk through two on my way to and from work everyday. Prefer to "waste" my money going out and having a good time over on a shirt I would wear to go out!

Thanks for your reply   

[CA too]

Going to Singapore from California is hard!

The lifestyle is so different and it is impossible to find anything even remotely as open minded and tolerant as you had it in CA.

I am from San Diego and thinking of my beautiful beaches and the outdoor activities is making my heart ache.

The only tip I can give you is to travel the region as much as possible. Take cheap flights on the weekends and just go. At least you see parts of Asia that you might not have visited otherwise and that is a great experience. By the end of the day, Singapore is just too small and boring. The humidity sucks the life out of you and the mindset of most people is backwards and constricted.

[Hello!]

And welcome Singapore!

It really only seems so small cause you haven't met many people yet Give it time and you will settle in just fine

Yep, the whole cubicle, bust a gut, working hours are pretty much the norm for here!

Get yourself signed up with one of the soccer, rugby, cricket, photography, hash walkers, mountain biker groups, and you will meet lots of new bods!

For Thanksgiving why not go along to the American club, it used to be so that you didnt need to be a member and would pay a bit extra to go along to these functions...

Pick up a copy of the 'Finder' and most of the above places have ads in it.

 



 

[Fletcher]

Dear OP, I don't live in Singapore anymore, but there are a couple of things (apart from the boring boozing) that you might really enjoy. There's dragon boat racing, wake boarding, beach volleyball (just go to google.sg and find them). But for us the most important thing on some of the long weekends was to get out of Singapore and explore scuba-diving (pretty much everywhere) and surfing (Bali). There are many cheap flights out of Singapore and for us that was we loved about being there most, having the opportunity to discover that part of South-East Asia. Oh, and the food of course. I miss that more than anything!

[Nonsense indeed]

And welcome Singapore!

It really only seems so small cause you haven't met many people yet Give it time and you will settle in just fine

Yep, the whole cubicle, bust a gut, working hours are pretty much the norm for here!

Get yourself signed up with one of the soccer, rugby, cricket, photography, hash walkers, mountain biker groups, and you will meet lots of new bods!

For Thanksgiving why not go along to the American club, it used to be so that you didnt need to be a member and would pay a bit extra to go along to these functions...

Pick up a copy of the 'Finder' and most of the above places have ads in it.

 



 

"It really only seems so small cause you haven't met many people yet"...

Wrong, it seems so small because it IS small! The size of a stamp is the size of a stamp, end of story. It takes one 45 minutes to drive from one end of the island to another...

[Hello!]

To nonsence indeed -

You are right, Singapore is a small island, but there is alot of stuff going on in this small island!

I'm sure if I jumped into my car in the wee hours of the morning I could drive from one side of it to the other in 45 minutes, however, given that the majority of people,  travel around at normal times of the day whether by car, bus or mrt, not one of us could travel from one side to the other in 45 mins!

The size of a stamp is the size of a stamp - but within the stamp in alot of detail!

[Been there, done that]

I'm not from California, but also American and got transferred here just after turning 25 years old (that was several years ago).

I read your post and just though "he needs to make some friends", that's all.

After you have some cool friends, it's like anywhere else.  You work, you party, you have some hobbies and interests, you exercise and find some sports (no, you can't snowboard, but nor could you be sailing or paddling in CA in January in ***horts either like you can here), you date and chase girls, you hang out with your friends, you travel more or less frequently...enjoy life.

[Nonsense indeed]

To nonsence indeed -

You are right, Singapore is a small island, but there is alot of stuff going on in this small island!

I'm sure if I jumped into my car in the wee hours of the morning I could drive from one side of it to the other in 45 minutes, however, given that the majority of people,  travel around at normal times of the day whether by car, bus or mrt, not one of us could travel from one side to the other in 45 mins!

The size of a stamp is the size of a stamp - but within the stamp in alot of detail!

I am pretty sure that you are a local, given your predicament to understand that the 45 minute travel time was not to be meant in terms of traffic or rush our terms but rather the geographic size of Singapore.

If you come from a country where it takes several hours to travel buy plane from one coast to another, where you have deserts, oceans and mountains, then Singapore seems like being locked up in a room. And I have to disagree with you that there is so much going on. Again, it depends what you have seen, where you lived and what your expectations are. Maybe one day you will be able to travel and see the world, perhaps even live somewhere else. I am pretty sure you mind will have changed

[I second the PP]

and whilst we are at it, brush up your Engrish too! 

[jalanperak]

Going to Singapore from California is hard!

The lifestyle is so different and it is impossible to find anything even remotely as open minded and tolerant as you had it in CA.

I am from San Diego and thinking of my beautiful beaches and the outdoor activities is making my heart ache.

The only tip I can give you is to travel the region as much as possible. Take cheap flights on the weekends and just go. At least you see parts of Asia that you might not have visited otherwise and that is a great experience. By the end of the day, Singapore is just too small and boring. The humidity sucks the life out of you and the mindset of most people is backwards and constricted.

That's a little harsh.

I'm a native Angelino (I know firsthand that Tom Petty was wrong when he sung about a freeway in Reseda running through her backyard), and I lived in San Diego for 13 years before moving here. Personally, I'm here because I like it here, and I turned down the opportunity to move back to SD two years ago.

I would agree with you about traveling in the region, but Singapore itself has a lot to keep someone interested if they put in a little effort. My suggestion to the OP echos some the others here, and that would be "get involved." Find a thing or two that interests you and pursue them.

[short hops away]

To nonsence indeed -

You are right, Singapore is a small island, but there is alot of stuff going on in this small island!

I'm sure if I jumped into my car in the wee hours of the morning I could drive from one side of it to the other in 45 minutes, however, given that the majority of people,  travel around at normal times of the day whether by car, bus or mrt, not one of us could travel from one side to the other in 45 mins!

The size of a stamp is the size of a stamp - but within the stamp in alot of detail!

I am pretty sure that you are a local, given your predicament to understand that the 45 minute travel time was not to be meant in terms of traffic or rush our terms but rather the geographic size of Singapore.

If you come from a country where it takes several hours to travel buy plane from one coast to another, where you have deserts, oceans and mountains, then Singapore seems like being locked up in a room. And I have to disagree with you that there is so much going on. Again, it depends what you have seen, where you lived and what your expectations are. Maybe one day you will be able to travel and see the world, perhaps even live somewhere else. I am pretty sure you mind will have changed

Well, are you confined to Singapore? You can drive up to Malaysia and Thailand where you can travel for hours. With so many low-cost carriers operating here, you can hop onto a plane during the weekends and get to enjoy the green spaces that the neighboring countries have to offer, or get lost in the Gobi desert.

[CAtoSG]

Wow, thanks for all of the replies.  Really good to get a few different point of views.  Honestly, I've been going back and forth between the feelings of everyone listed above.  One minute I feel adventurous and glad I took the opportunity, and the next, I'm thinking get me the hell out of here I want to be back in California.  Obviously, for the first few months (hell maybe even the whole time) there are bound to be times where people question their decision to move to somewhere that comes of as more "limited."

Of course, there is no way that moving somewhere new such as Singapore will instantly offer everything that I've spent 22 years buidling interest for and getting accustomed to.  But then again, I have also had easier times adjusting and meeting people even when I've visited new countries for a couple weeks.  I really do think it comes down to meeting similar people and spending time sharing interests and "shooting the sh!t (so to say)" to really feel at home away from home.

Not sure what the best way to do this is, as so far, all my friends I've met here seem to be (while great people) limited to going out and drinking on Friday and Saturdays.  Nothing wrong with that, but I definitly miss the "homies"  and seeing people day to day.  And as far as an interest, absolutely. I have to admit, i've often times just confided in "there being nothing to do here" simply because theres not much to do here I could do at home.  Obviously, there are at least some things I would enjoy doing here.  I'v even considered doing volunteer work to offset my hangovers and work week.

Seems to be more of an advice forum than meeting people forum, but thats just as good. Never really tried meeting people from one anyways, but seeing as so many people in Singapore are in the same boat, it still definitly seems like a useful means to do so.

Thanks again, keep the replies coming!  Not even just for myself, I'm sure lots of people feel the same in one way or another.

[titan]

And welcome Singapore!

It really only seems so small cause you haven't met many people yet Give it time and you will settle in just fine

Yep, the whole cubicle, bust a gut, working hours are pretty much the norm for here!

Get yourself signed up with one of the soccer, rugby, cricket, photography, hash walkers, mountain biker groups, and you will meet lots of new bods!

For Thanksgiving why not go along to the American club, it used to be so that you didnt need to be a member and would pay a bit extra to go along to these functions...

Pick up a copy of the 'Finder' and most of the above places have ads in it.

 



 

I don't think you can just go to the American Club without paying some high membership fee (like a thousand dollars or something) Am I wrong about that?

To the Californian, yes Singapore is small, there's not a lot to do so if your budget allows take some weekend trips around the area -Phuket, Thailand or Bali, Indonesia for example.

Fun things to do in SG - Bukit Timah Trail, Mt Faber Park, Snow City next to the Science center ( a place where they manufacture winter & you can go sledding)  - there's some other stuff too but that's off the top of my head.