Singapore Expats' Guide: "The Teething Problems of Settling in"
So..you have made the decision to hop over to the tiny island state of Singapore either to make a living or to have a new life changing experience. By the standards of many people internationally, you have made a pretty good decision. Singapore is often referred to as one of the tidiest and most orderly countries in Asia - if not the world. For a relatively young nation, Singapore developed rather swiftly to earn its first world city state status due to sound and practical policies that promote stability and economic growth. Its well-educated and extremely hardworking folks are friendly or at the very least, civil. Almost everything here is measured, calculated and regulated. In fact, jokes have been circulated that Singapore is a "fine city" - the pun is on the word "fine" as you will be fined if you tout certain regulations especially that concerns littering in Singapore!
Despite the squeaky clean image of Singapore, making a decision to settle in a new city is nevertheless a HUGE decision and there are adjustments to make and even new challenges to overcome. Hence, just to quote a statement from the Singapore civil defence tagline, "Readiness is your only protection."
So, take time to know about Singapore even before you set foot on the island. There are many expats guides online that offer practical advice to ease you into your first few months of stay in the "Lion City." Below are some suggestions and tips on surviving Singapore the critical first few months:
1. Weather
The first thing that you should know about Singapore is the heat!! As Singapore is located a mere 1 degree north of the Equator, the hot and humid tropical climate is one of the main things that gives this little island its distinct character. All year round, the weather is fairly constant with temperature ranging from a low of 24 degree Celsius to a high of about 31 degree Celsius. Do expect rain as well throughout the year - thus carrying a small umbrella or even a raincoat in your bag is always useful. However, even more rain is expected during the Northeast monsoon season (typically characterised by the December - March period). The folks here welcome the rain as a respite from the hot, humid weather. The showers are normally for short duration only and the road dries up pretty fast in Singapore so the flooding is not much of a problem, really, in Singapore. If you wish, you could always look up the Met Service in Singapore on the NEA website for reliable and updated information on the weather.
Thus, taking into consideration the weather of Singapore, you may want to include as many light and comfortable cotton clothing as possible to bring over to Singapore. Most Singaporeans are quite casual about what they war as well as they want to keep it simple and comfortable. However, you need not fret very much as most of the covered areas in Singapore including the public transport are air-conditioned, so that would provide some relief from the heat.
It is also pertinent that you are aware of the "haze season" in Singapore. Through the years, Singapore has been doing its bit to help its neighbours manage the forest fire caused by the traditional "slash and burn" methods widely practised by farmers mainly from Indonesia. Occasionally, however, the haze does disrupt the air quality in Singapore. The met service in Singapore would often send warnings through the media if the air quality gets worse. So, do check the sites and media for updates.
Should you become ill (either due to the haze or any other reason), there are many clinics owned by General Practitioners that can be found in any neighbourhood. They can issue you with a medical certificate which you require to take a day off from work or school. The clinics in Singapore charge an average of $15 - $30 SGD for a consultation - but you may have to pay more if the duration of consultation is longer.
2. Accommodation
If you have not gotten an expat package yet (You can browse our services), you may want to consider renting out a room or a house. Almost 80% of the population on the island live in high rise apartments - it is government subsidised housing for the masses. Set up in the 60s, the Housing and Development Board or what locals call "HDB Flats" allow masses to own their flats. However, when renting a flat, it is best that you engage a licensed agent. You may also want to check to ensure that the owner of the house you are renting has really gotten permission from HDB to rent out their flats. The size of HDB apartment varies from 3 room apartment to executive and jumbo apartment. Again, it is always advisable to check with the agent on the tenancy agreement - to avoid the unpleasant situation where you have to move out of the house because HDB finds out that the owner is illegally renting out the property.Over the years, there were cases where tenants disguised themselves as the owner and disappeared after the new tenant paid a deposit to them. So, do be very careful to avoid being scammed. Such cases are very rare, but even then, it helps to be more cautious.
Renting a flat is definitely cheaper than renting a house. One of the other benefits of staying in a flat includes living in close proximity to the local heart landers who are known to be good neighbours. Some expats who have moved in to Singapore would also contend that living with the locals allowed them to better integrate with the local population. However, if you feel that you would rather rent a house and you could afford it, there are plenty of nice properties to choose from.
The price of the rental varies based on locations and the type of housing - the nearer you are to the central part of Singapore or the prime area, the higher is the rental. So, do your homework and read up. The other things to consider include accessibility of your place of work or school for your children from your rental house and the time taken to travel.
You can save yourself the trouble of searching high and low for an apartment and settling all the paperwork. We have 10 years of experience in dealing with accommodations, with our experience and geographical knowledge of Singapore we are certain to find you the apartment of your dreams. You can find out more at our services page.
3. Local Language
If you are completely new to Singapore, you may not be accustomed to the locals' own brand of English, affectionately known as Singlish! It is an interesting mix of Malay, Chinese and English. Like they say "When in Rome, do what the Romans do." So if you want to blend into the culture, try out Singlish. The language is as interesting as the mix of culture that reflects this island state. The influence of the 3 main ethnic races - Malay, Chines and Indian culture permeates in many areas in the Singapore including the language.
One of the ways to practice Singlish is to add "la" at the end of your sentence. For example, if you are going home, you may want to say "I'm going home, la." There is also a rampant use of "already" in Singlish. So someone who wants to ask you if you have taken your lunch or dinner would probably ask you, "You eat already?" You could then reply, "Ya, eat already." Have fun figuring out what they are saying, it's actually quite easy to pick Singlish up and the locals would be more than willing normally to teach you. Most of the local folks use Singlish for informal settings and they could quickly switch back to Standard English in formal setting. You will be amazed! However, other than the conversational Singlish, most of the road signs and public information are in Standard English. So, getting around in Singapore is actually very easy.
4. Local Culture
Singapore is a culturally diverse nation made up of four ethnic groups, Chinese, Malays, Indians and Caucasians, to add to the perks of being in a culturally diverse nation, is the celebration of the various cultures that marks the public Holidays in Singapore. Singaporeans have a big heart - so they would normally invite their friends of different ethnic origin to celebrate the colourful occasions with them. And the food that will be served during the festive occasion is just too good to let go! So do have a mix of friends from various races and background and enjoy the diversity of culture Singapore has to offer.
Speaking of blending in, the other way to really immerse in the local culture is to eat out at the hawker centre. There are many hawker stalls throughout Singapore. Hawker food are typically characterised as clusters of stalls (usually indoors) selling great local food at affordable prices. The locals and the tourist alike enjoy hawker food. There is no compromise on the quality of the food despite its relatively cheap pricing! Hawker stalls are also definitely a great place to soak in the culture.
5.Transportation
Singapore is one of the most expensive places in the world to own a car and to drive one, really. In a land scarce Singapore where the traffic congestion could be severe, the government has placed certain measures to restrict car ownership. One of the ways is to issue the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) for car ownership. Depending on the size of the car, the cost of COE may inflate the price of the car to make it much less affordable. This way, the government hopes more people will take public transport. More information on car ownership can be found here.
The Public transport in Singapore is one of the most reliable, even despite the current spade of MRT breakdowns. We have transportation that could be relied on at regular intervals reaching almost all parts of the island. The most common type of public transportation is the bus and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit). All you need to do is to get the guide from "Google maps" https://maps.google.com.sg/. It gives complete information of what bus or MRT to take. All the instructions at the bus depot and MRT stations are also in English and this maps it even easier for you to navigate your way around. However, you need to purchase the Ez-Link card to get on the MRT and busses. There are two types of Ez-Link card: a) the card where you can purchase for a single trip or b) the type where you can reuse but have to reload with money once the amount is used up. Should you require more help, there will be an information counter at any MRT stations where the personnel could assist you on any problems you may face.
Between the two, it would be more prudent to buy the reusable one unless you are the type who only takes the public transport occasionally.You could purchase the reusable card from the Transit-link Ticket Office or Passenger Service Centre counters located at the MRT stations. It cost about $12 each. You could later top up the value of your card at any ticketing machines at all MRT stations.
The ticket for single trip could be purchased from the ticketing machines found at various MRT stations. If you purchase this card, you only pay for the trip based on the distance for that single trip.
The other mode of public transportation is the Taxis. They are less popular because it cost much more to take a taxi and they may be rather hard to get during peak hours (Mon-Fri 7:00am - 9:30am and Mon-Sat 5:00pm - 8:00pm) and on rainy days.However, you could book a taxi if you wish, but you would have to pay a booking fee of about $2.80 if you were to do that. The taxis in Singapore run on metered fare - so it is really fair in the sense that you could be rest assured that they will not charge you anything beyond what is reflected on the meter. However, the fee is also adjusted during peak hours.
In summary, Singapore is really a convenient place to live in. Most of the information are readily available and it is often convenient to travel to anywhere on the island.
For further information, please feel free to contact us and our friendly customer service operators will be more than willing to assist you.
Despite the squeaky clean image of Singapore, making a decision to settle in a new city is nevertheless a HUGE decision and there are adjustments to make and even new challenges to overcome. Hence, just to quote a statement from the Singapore civil defence tagline, "Readiness is your only protection."
So, take time to know about Singapore even before you set foot on the island. There are many expats guides online that offer practical advice to ease you into your first few months of stay in the "Lion City." Below are some suggestions and tips on surviving Singapore the critical first few months:
1. Weather
The first thing that you should know about Singapore is the heat!! As Singapore is located a mere 1 degree north of the Equator, the hot and humid tropical climate is one of the main things that gives this little island its distinct character. All year round, the weather is fairly constant with temperature ranging from a low of 24 degree Celsius to a high of about 31 degree Celsius. Do expect rain as well throughout the year - thus carrying a small umbrella or even a raincoat in your bag is always useful. However, even more rain is expected during the Northeast monsoon season (typically characterised by the December - March period). The folks here welcome the rain as a respite from the hot, humid weather. The showers are normally for short duration only and the road dries up pretty fast in Singapore so the flooding is not much of a problem, really, in Singapore. If you wish, you could always look up the Met Service in Singapore on the NEA website for reliable and updated information on the weather.
Thus, taking into consideration the weather of Singapore, you may want to include as many light and comfortable cotton clothing as possible to bring over to Singapore. Most Singaporeans are quite casual about what they war as well as they want to keep it simple and comfortable. However, you need not fret very much as most of the covered areas in Singapore including the public transport are air-conditioned, so that would provide some relief from the heat.
It is also pertinent that you are aware of the "haze season" in Singapore. Through the years, Singapore has been doing its bit to help its neighbours manage the forest fire caused by the traditional "slash and burn" methods widely practised by farmers mainly from Indonesia. Occasionally, however, the haze does disrupt the air quality in Singapore. The met service in Singapore would often send warnings through the media if the air quality gets worse. So, do check the sites and media for updates.
Should you become ill (either due to the haze or any other reason), there are many clinics owned by General Practitioners that can be found in any neighbourhood. They can issue you with a medical certificate which you require to take a day off from work or school. The clinics in Singapore charge an average of $15 - $30 SGD for a consultation - but you may have to pay more if the duration of consultation is longer.
2. Accommodation
If you have not gotten an expat package yet (You can browse our services), you may want to consider renting out a room or a house. Almost 80% of the population on the island live in high rise apartments - it is government subsidised housing for the masses. Set up in the 60s, the Housing and Development Board or what locals call "HDB Flats" allow masses to own their flats. However, when renting a flat, it is best that you engage a licensed agent. You may also want to check to ensure that the owner of the house you are renting has really gotten permission from HDB to rent out their flats. The size of HDB apartment varies from 3 room apartment to executive and jumbo apartment. Again, it is always advisable to check with the agent on the tenancy agreement - to avoid the unpleasant situation where you have to move out of the house because HDB finds out that the owner is illegally renting out the property.Over the years, there were cases where tenants disguised themselves as the owner and disappeared after the new tenant paid a deposit to them. So, do be very careful to avoid being scammed. Such cases are very rare, but even then, it helps to be more cautious.
Renting a flat is definitely cheaper than renting a house. One of the other benefits of staying in a flat includes living in close proximity to the local heart landers who are known to be good neighbours. Some expats who have moved in to Singapore would also contend that living with the locals allowed them to better integrate with the local population. However, if you feel that you would rather rent a house and you could afford it, there are plenty of nice properties to choose from.
The price of the rental varies based on locations and the type of housing - the nearer you are to the central part of Singapore or the prime area, the higher is the rental. So, do your homework and read up. The other things to consider include accessibility of your place of work or school for your children from your rental house and the time taken to travel.
You can save yourself the trouble of searching high and low for an apartment and settling all the paperwork. We have 10 years of experience in dealing with accommodations, with our experience and geographical knowledge of Singapore we are certain to find you the apartment of your dreams. You can find out more at our services page.
3. Local Language
If you are completely new to Singapore, you may not be accustomed to the locals' own brand of English, affectionately known as Singlish! It is an interesting mix of Malay, Chinese and English. Like they say "When in Rome, do what the Romans do." So if you want to blend into the culture, try out Singlish. The language is as interesting as the mix of culture that reflects this island state. The influence of the 3 main ethnic races - Malay, Chines and Indian culture permeates in many areas in the Singapore including the language.
One of the ways to practice Singlish is to add "la" at the end of your sentence. For example, if you are going home, you may want to say "I'm going home, la." There is also a rampant use of "already" in Singlish. So someone who wants to ask you if you have taken your lunch or dinner would probably ask you, "You eat already?" You could then reply, "Ya, eat already." Have fun figuring out what they are saying, it's actually quite easy to pick Singlish up and the locals would be more than willing normally to teach you. Most of the local folks use Singlish for informal settings and they could quickly switch back to Standard English in formal setting. You will be amazed! However, other than the conversational Singlish, most of the road signs and public information are in Standard English. So, getting around in Singapore is actually very easy.
4. Local Culture
Singapore is a culturally diverse nation made up of four ethnic groups, Chinese, Malays, Indians and Caucasians, to add to the perks of being in a culturally diverse nation, is the celebration of the various cultures that marks the public Holidays in Singapore. Singaporeans have a big heart - so they would normally invite their friends of different ethnic origin to celebrate the colourful occasions with them. And the food that will be served during the festive occasion is just too good to let go! So do have a mix of friends from various races and background and enjoy the diversity of culture Singapore has to offer.
Speaking of blending in, the other way to really immerse in the local culture is to eat out at the hawker centre. There are many hawker stalls throughout Singapore. Hawker food are typically characterised as clusters of stalls (usually indoors) selling great local food at affordable prices. The locals and the tourist alike enjoy hawker food. There is no compromise on the quality of the food despite its relatively cheap pricing! Hawker stalls are also definitely a great place to soak in the culture.
5.Transportation
Singapore is one of the most expensive places in the world to own a car and to drive one, really. In a land scarce Singapore where the traffic congestion could be severe, the government has placed certain measures to restrict car ownership. One of the ways is to issue the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) for car ownership. Depending on the size of the car, the cost of COE may inflate the price of the car to make it much less affordable. This way, the government hopes more people will take public transport. More information on car ownership can be found here.
The Public transport in Singapore is one of the most reliable, even despite the current spade of MRT breakdowns. We have transportation that could be relied on at regular intervals reaching almost all parts of the island. The most common type of public transportation is the bus and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit). All you need to do is to get the guide from "Google maps" https://maps.google.com.sg/. It gives complete information of what bus or MRT to take. All the instructions at the bus depot and MRT stations are also in English and this maps it even easier for you to navigate your way around. However, you need to purchase the Ez-Link card to get on the MRT and busses. There are two types of Ez-Link card: a) the card where you can purchase for a single trip or b) the type where you can reuse but have to reload with money once the amount is used up. Should you require more help, there will be an information counter at any MRT stations where the personnel could assist you on any problems you may face.
Between the two, it would be more prudent to buy the reusable one unless you are the type who only takes the public transport occasionally.You could purchase the reusable card from the Transit-link Ticket Office or Passenger Service Centre counters located at the MRT stations. It cost about $12 each. You could later top up the value of your card at any ticketing machines at all MRT stations.
The ticket for single trip could be purchased from the ticketing machines found at various MRT stations. If you purchase this card, you only pay for the trip based on the distance for that single trip.
The other mode of public transportation is the Taxis. They are less popular because it cost much more to take a taxi and they may be rather hard to get during peak hours (Mon-Fri 7:00am - 9:30am and Mon-Sat 5:00pm - 8:00pm) and on rainy days.However, you could book a taxi if you wish, but you would have to pay a booking fee of about $2.80 if you were to do that. The taxis in Singapore run on metered fare - so it is really fair in the sense that you could be rest assured that they will not charge you anything beyond what is reflected on the meter. However, the fee is also adjusted during peak hours.
In summary, Singapore is really a convenient place to live in. Most of the information are readily available and it is often convenient to travel to anywhere on the island.
For further information, please feel free to contact us and our friendly customer service operators will be more than willing to assist you.
Source...