Singapore Expats

Can someone please shed some light here ?
What is it with working in Singapore ? Why is it up there, as THE city to work in, alongside Tokyo and Hongkong ?
As im going to Singapore ( being the partner who tags along ), I would like to know.
Im just wondering if people in Singapore work as hard as the Japanese? Do they work long hours ? Are there all those silly, unecessary rules, and work procedures ?
Do people in Singapore, bank clerks, sales staff, hide their real feelings ? Are they really big on customer service ? Do people conform to majority norms ?
Do employees have to go out and drink night, after night ? and the obligatory golf on the weekend ?

why did you come to Singapore ? What do you like about it ? What do you dislike ? How does it compare to working in Japan ? or Hongkong ?

S'porean ppl just pretend at public they work hard, dunno abt japas.

Singapore comfortable, and easy travel around neighbor countries, like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand.

Singapore - one word tell all "FINE" country..

Why Singapore? Because it's there.(tm)

surlaplage wrote: Im just wondering if people in Singapore work as hard as the Japanese? Do they work long hours ? Are there all those silly, unecessary rules, and work procedures ? Do people in Singapore, bank clerks, sales staff, hide their real feelings ? Are they really big on customer service ? Do people conform to majority norms ?

Yes on all of the above, but to less of an extent than Japan on all of the above, and after-work drinking is not practiced as most Singaporeans basically don't drink. But Singapore does share the lovely Japanese trait of getting utterly befuddled when somebody doesn't follow protocol...

So my phone rings one day and it's the condo I moved out of asking me when I'll mail them my (expired) ID card.

Me: So why do you need this?
Condo: For our records.
Me: Right. And what if I don't mail it?
Condo: <blink> Pardon?
Me: What happens if I don't mail it?
Condo: But you have to.
Me: So I'm asking you what happens if I don't.
Condo: But we need it if auditing checks.
Me: And this is my problem because...?
Condo: ...
Me: Right. Thanks for calling, buh-bye!

I also make a habit of crossing out the "Race" box on any application forms I have to fill out

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I also make a habit of crossing out the "Race" box on any application forms I have to fill out [/quote]

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Agree! What is UP with that?

Too many questions to answer all of them right now. Bottom line: Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai are the places to work in Asia as they are where the business and the decision makers are. Tokyo is up there, but if you took out all the students and English teachers and hipsters, I bet there aren't that many Westerns working in Japan relatively speaking.

Singapore has nice warm weather, is small and easy to live in, speaks English, and is near lots of other nice SE Asian places.

k1w1 wrote:[

I also make a habit of crossing out the "Race" box on any application forms I have to fill out

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Agree! What is UP with that? [/quote]

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Anonymous wrote:

k1w1 wrote:[

I also make a habit of crossing out the "Race" box on any application forms I have to fill out

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Agree! What is UP with that?

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.[/quote]




Whatever! It is a ridiculous question, and mostly just irrelevant as soon as someone has written their nationality - it's a nice way of asking what colour skin you have.

Why did I come to Singapore? Most of the reasons quoted already: lifestyle, job prospects, weather, education system (see job prospects) and a new adventure. So far, so good!

What is wrong with stating your race in the forms if you see it as another information like your age, nationality, gender,.........?

It can be helpful in some situation. It is just like getting to know somebody who is a stranger to you. You will want to know where he came from, his race, religion, nationality, ..........

i dont know but i would find it strange that they ask what my religion is..
where I am from, that usually isnt asked.

the race question blew me away: on an application form for the Times Bookshop discount card?! To get demographics for customers maybe...then why didn't they ask preferred language - I would have thought a tad more useful on the reading front!

Anyway we came to Singapore because the company made us! It was too expensive to keep us in Japan (which I loved but was much harder work)

It is a very comfortable place to live - not a passionate romance but we are happy. If you have a family there are a lot of pluses - clean, safe, easy to get around...and out of, schooling choices, lots of other families to meet and of course the home help etc.

If you don't have a family it seems to be a great hub for easy get aways to explore lots of fantastic places, or just spend weekends lazying by the poool. So I believe...wish I knew

surlaplage wrote:i dont know but i would find it strange that they ask what my religion is..
where I am from, that usually isnt asked.

Each religion has its own set of belief and practice. If we can know their religion, we can avoid saying anything that is regarded as offensive in their religion. There are certain things that can create an issue if you are not careful. So, I see it as knowing the person better. There is no need to hide anything if we have good intention. This is the general case in Singapore, but it may be different in other countries.

Anonymous wrote:

surlaplage wrote:i dont know but i would find it strange that they ask what my religion is..
where I am from, that usually isnt asked.

Each religion has its own set of belief and practice. If we can know their religion, we can avoid saying anything that is regarded as offensive in their religion. There are certain things that can create an issue if you are not careful. So, I see it as knowing the person better. There is no need to hide anything if we have good intention. This is the general case in Singapore, but it may be different in other countries.

Get a grip - for a membership card? Come on, when was the last time someone at the library or bookshop asked you something that may have been offensive? It is a dumb question and not really a necessary one at that. Why are you so ofended by this idea? It is bizarre to anyone who comes from a country where cultures are not continously segregated.

oh, please... wrote:

Get a grip - for a membership card? Come on, when was the last time someone at the library or bookshop asked you something that may have been offensive? It is a dumb question and not really a necessary one at that. Why are you so ofended by this idea? It is bizarre to anyone who comes from a country where cultures are not continously segregated.

Come on, you have misunderstood my previous message. I don't feel offended at all, but was just trying to offer another perspective which might be different from some of you. Please be patient and ponder on other's opinions, if you want to learn about what the locals have to say about this subject.

When I said 'offensive', it depends on the situations, not necessarily applies to library & bookshop. It probably applies when there is more interaction on a personal level. And most locals do not find it offensive if you ask about their religions. It is good for you to know this fact. Be calm, when in Singapore. I have no intention to get into heated argument which is unnecessary.

When you are in a foreign country, try to learn more about their culture. In Singapore, religious tolerance is everywhere. No conflict at all, if you mix with muslims, christians, buddists, taoists,............... It is common here that you are asked to fill in your religion. Know & accept the local culture & practice. Sometime, being too individualistic could be seen as arrogance in other people's eyes.