Panel Tips

YOU WILL BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH NOT JUST ONE BUT FOUR DIFFERENT CULTURES IN SINGAPORE. YOU CAN TRAVEL TO MOST SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES ON A LONG WEEKEND. THE NEGATIVE: YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH THE HIGH LEVEL OF HUMIDITY.

Judit

Give a couple a positive aspects – and one negative – about being an expat here.

The positives are easy. The diversity and the food! There aren’t really any negatives, but it has been hard to be so far away from family during the pandemic.

Irmelin

The weather is great and there is no antisocial behaviour. But you can get restless if you spend too long on the island!

Nathan

The first positive: new experiences! Singapore is a melting pot of cultures. From Haji Lane to Chinatown, Little India to Orchard Road, there are so many different cultures and cuisines in close proximity. Secondly, all expats are more or less in the same boat as you (or have been). So there’s a sense of community and support from the get-go. I’ve found people so willing to help you get connected and settled, it’s amazing. The only negative that comes to mind are the obvious challenges with COVID-19.

Not being able to see friends and family back in New Zealand has been a challenge we didn’t anticipate.

Tim

Almost everyone speaks English, which wasn’t the case in our last location, Hong Kong. Food options are great; we like that we have more Indian food choices here. Negative: There’s too much plastic used in Singapore. Why aren’t the stores charging people for plastic bag and containers?

Komal

Singapore is safe and it’s an easy place to adapt and live in. But the island is small, so you might get “cabin fever” pretty fast if you don’t travel!

Alicia

You get an integrated life and meet people from all walks of life. As Singapore is small, it’s easy to make friends. It’s also a great place for kids. But the island can sometimes feel too small – especially in lockdown times.

Jessica