Last 28 Oct, the World Economic Forum published an article about the results of HSBC’s Annual Expat Explorer report for 2018. For the fourth year running, Singapore is the top country for expats to live, work and increase their earnings. I was not surprised, having lived in Singapore as an expat wife and mother for a total of nine years and counting.
From my experience of being a Filipino wife and mother living in Singapore, I’d say being an expat in Singapore is great because:
Everything works. Ok, almost everything works almost all the time. My favorite thing is the public transportation system. Taking the MRT, buses and taxis are a breeze because most of time they are running smoothly and on time. With free websites and apps like GoThere.Sg and SG NextBus that can give route options, train and bus timings and fare estimates, I can plan my journey easily. I can confidently say that my journey via MRT from Waterway Point in Punggol to Vivo City in Harbourfront will take exactly 42 minutes (including an average 3-minute walk from the departure point and another average 3-minute walk to the destination) and cost me $1.69.
Internet speeds in Singapore are amazing! Last July 24, Business Insider published an article about the study by Worldwide Broadband Speed League 2018 which found that Singapore was number one on their list of the top 23 countries in the world with the fastest internet speeds. For an affordable SGD55 per month, my husband and I can watch Netflix without any buffering and our teenage son can play video games online without lag.
Online government and public services actually work! You can apply for or renew permits, make inquiries and payments and submit documents from the comforts of your own home. And most of the time, these transactions are done without a hitch. What I love and frequently use are the services by the National Library Board. I’m so thankful that I can search for, reserve or recommend books online, choose to have my reserved books delivered to a branch of my choice, and within a few days pay the fees and collect the books from a locker in my neighborhood library. (When my kids were much younger, I also loved bringing them to the free weekly storytelling sessions at the nearby library.)
Everywhere is safe. Again, almost everywhere is almost always safe. (I still remember seeing the decades-old slogan by the National Crime Prevention Council on posters all over Singapore — “Low Crime Doesn’t Mean No Crime.”) While I still wouldn’t do this, I’ve seen locals use their handphones or handbags to chope tables (not just tissue packets anymore) at busy hawker centers or cafes, and they don’t get stolen. My husband has gone running or cycling on the park connectors at midnight and has come home safe and sound every time. When my kids were younger (preschool and primary school aged), we would sometimes walk home from the bus stop on a deserted sidewalk at 10pm and we would attend free, crowded public events like outdoor cinemas and National Day rehearsals — all without incident. I’ve taken cab rides alone and with my kids during the day and at nighttime without worry.
(I would still strongly recommend erring on the side of caution and practicing your street smarts even when you’re in a place like Singapore. It is true that “Low Crime Doesn’t Mean No Crime.”)
English is all around. This is great for any foreigner who speaks and reads English and doesn’t speak or read Mandarin (one of Singapore’s main languages and is a close second to English). Because there wasn’t a language barrier when I first moved to Singapore, I found it quite easy to go around and become familiar with my new home. Almost all the signs are in English, or at least have an English translation. Almost every cashier, salesperson, cabbie, receptionist, uncle or auntie can speak English, or at least understand simple English. My children had no problems befriending the other kids in the playground because they all spoke English.
Lately, I have been encountering more and more salesladies and cashiers at food stalls or small retail stores who speak only or mostly Mandarin but they do seem to understand me when I reply in English — at least when I’m asking for the total bill price or when I’m saying thank you.
Exposure to a multicultural, multiracial society is built in. My family and I have lived in four different parts of Singapore. In each of those places, we’ve seen many and made friends with some of the families of different races and nationalities. Some of my friends here are from Finland, United Kingdom, USA, Malaysia, and of course, Singapore.
We’ve seen different types of places of worship and have learned about various religious and cultural holidays and traditions, especially since Singapore recognizes important holidays from Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. We’ve come to look forward to lion dances every Chinese New Year, the light-up during Deepavali and the Geylang Serai Bazaar during Hari Raya Puasa. Strong influences of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and British culture are clearly seen and felt in the architecture and in the business and commercial scene of various places such as Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street (one of my favorites) and in buildings like the Asian Civilizations Museum and the Istana.
I imagine that with the hundreds of thousands of expats here, we would have a huge variety of experiences. And like anywhere else, life in Singapore has its share of ups and downs, perks and pests. Some expats grow to love it here, others don’t and relocate or repatriate. There is no perfect place and there is no permanent address, but from my point of view and experience, I’d agree that, with an open mind and smart money handling, Singapore can be a great place for expats.
P.S. It’s also a great place for expat homeschoolers like my family!