Anonymous wrote:It’s diverse as a PP noted, but segregated. Malays only mix with other Malays, Singaporean Indians don’t mix with expat Indians and so on. You’ll likely mix with other expats only.
It is expensive, but some things that are luxurious here like household help, are very cheap. Cheap and awesome public transport too.
Otherwise, everything runs smoothly and you can have a very comfortable life if you overlook the fact that you’re living under a totalitarian government.

There is nothing whatsoever wrong with the government, as long as you are not a communist.

They even have excellent universal health care.

It’s diverse as a PP noted, but segregated. Malays only mix with other Malays, Singaporean Indians don’t mix with expat Indians and so on. You’ll likely mix with other expats only.
It is expensive, but some things that are luxurious here like household help, are very cheap. Cheap and awesome public transport too.
Otherwise, everything runs smoothly and you can have a very comfortable life if you overlook the fact that you’re living under a totalitarian government.

Enjoy- it is lovely!

I believe the Singapore American School used to have a waitlist, at least pre-pandemic. You want to figure out the application process and get on it early. It's a very very good and popular school.

Like others said, it's humid and hot all the time. Have plans to get off the island.

Anonymous wrote:Do most people/expats own cars there or do they just use uber/public transportation? Always wondered

Only the super rich own cars there.

You are so lucky OP !

Definitely reach out to other expat women right away and find out about hiring some domestics. They will have leads to share.

In Singapore, the domestics are all from third world countries like Philippines, and work for next to nothing. But, you still need to bargain them down of they’ll take advantage of you.

Fortunately, coming from America, all of the domestics will prefer to work for you; because the alternative employers are women from the Gulf States, India, or other Asian countries, and they are all perceived as cruel toward their hired help.

Plan on socializing with other expats. There are tons of expats there from Western Europe and Australia/New Zealand willing to be friends. The expats there love to entertain (which is soooo much easier when there’s somebody else to do all the house cleaning and cooking for you). It’s unlikely you’ll socialize with local people; they generally don’t mix with the expat community.

Yes, it is hot. If your package includes moving any furniture, make sure you leave anything IKEA behind in the USA, because the heat and humidity will make it swell up and fall apart quickly.

You cannot feasibly own a private car in Singapore. Just do what everyone does and use the car services (or hire your own driver / service).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I are planning on relocating to Singapore this summer due to his job, does anyone have any experience with living in Singapore? Any significant culture shocks, or any advice or precautions to prior arriving?

What are your politics, OP?

OP here. We voted for Biden and Youngkin, if that tells you anything.

Anonymous wrote:DH and I are planning on relocating to Singapore this summer due to his job, does anyone have any experience with living in Singapore? Any significant culture shocks, or any advice or precautions to prior arriving?

What are your politics, OP?

Anonymous wrote:Do most people/expats own cars there or do they just use uber/public transportation? Always wondered

Good friend of mine moved there 7 years ago. He ditched his car almost immediately. Ubers in Singapore are like high-end car services here. Run by companies with fleets of gorgeous cars. No one walks anywhere because it's so hot. When we visited, we took an Uber 5 blocks to dinner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I are planning on relocating to Singapore this summer due to his job, does anyone have any experience with living in Singapore? Any significant culture shocks, or any advice or precautions to prior arriving?

It's beyond horrible. No Dems, no blacks, no LGTIRIJHFGHJS.

You better enjoy diversity back home.

Every American Expat I know in Singapore is a Dem.

Singapore's government has absolutely zero tolerance for Marxism.

If you kid is into ANTIFA rioting, leave them with relatives here in the US.

+ a trillion.

Dems stay home in the US or you'll go straight to jail with your latest BS

Do most people/expats own cars there or do they just use uber/public transportation? Always wondered

Anonymous wrote:Hot humid weather takes some getting used to.

Housing is expensive (hopefully your DH is getting an expat package). So are international schools (do you have kids?)

Cheap, short flights to gorgous beach destinations in Thailand, Indonesia, etc. You will be travelling A LOT. (Singapore is tiny, so it feels kinda same ol’ after a while.)

OP here. Yes, we get an expat package and thus the majority of our home is paid for by the company. Luckily tuition is also paid off, so we intent to send our kids to the Singapore American School for the remainder of their schooling or before we move back.

Anonymous wrote:Hot+humid = you will spend lots of time indoors, clean, efficient, cheap as chips domestic labor cost, huge expat community, wealthy, delicious food, easy access to Southeast Asia travel (but pretty soon all the 4 star beach resorts blend together), seems like there is a free press (straits time is fine, right?), but actually press is not free.

Since you will likely be in the expat community, be prepared for everyone to have a helper or two, thus freeing them to have many dinner parties, nights out, etc. If you don’t know much about the domestic help situation in Singapore, google and do some research. Too many details to list here and I don’t want you to be too shocked when you see the helper’s quarters in your apartment. The last I checked, Singapore didn’t have a robust expat online forum, but you can check out geoexpat, which is an hk expat forum that has lots of info on Singapore, since so many people move back and forth.

The help is super cheap!

Definitely exploit that. THere is zero reason to clean your own toilet there. Most people have at least one maid; many have 2 or more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I are planning on relocating to Singapore this summer due to his job, does anyone have any experience with living in Singapore? Any significant culture shocks, or any advice or precautions to prior arriving?

It's beyond horrible. No Dems, no blacks, no LGTIRIJHFGHJS.

You better enjoy diversity back home.

Every American Expat I know in Singapore is a Dem.

Singapore's government has absolutely zero tolerance for Marxism.

If you kid is into ANTIFA rioting, leave them with relatives here in the US.

There's a great documentary about Singapore that came out a couple of years ago. It's called Crazy Rich Asians.