Singapore Expats

Hi, I am new to this forum. I have posted already on the parenting forum as I am currently pregnant, but I am also looking for some more general advice on settling in in Singapore. My boyfriend and I moved here because of his work in January. So far it has been a good experience, although recently I have started to feel a bit homesick. When we moved it was my intention initially to take a couple of months off of working as I had left behind my job in London, and then to look for work out here, but a couple of months turned into a couple more and now I am unable to begin a job as I would have to leave to have the baby soon after starting. Being on my own most days is starting to feel rather lonely, not to mention unfulflilling. I would really like to join a class, practical rather than academic as I am already completing a degree with the Open University, but so far my research has come up with very little. I will keep looking though! Something else I would be interested in is volunteer work. Any ideas? I know there is a website called National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre which posts available volunteer positions but having used their ematch service, I have not heard anything back.

If there is anyone else on here in a similar position please get in touch as it would be good to chat! I'd be really interested in other people's experiences of settling into life in Singapore.

From my experience doing Volunteer work, you may have to contat the person-in-charge yourself. Simply using the ematch is useless. I have fun doing the work and the most important thing is that i have learnt a lot from the volunteer work and thus gain satisfaction.

Ok

Here we go

Volunteers- loads of organisations-contact them directly.
Many have volunteer coordinators
ANZA always has lots of voluntary positions and I think they have a co-ordinator.
ANZA is a good organisation , cheap membership(100 0r so a year).
I am not a member these days but know they have load of activities.
Salvation Army, Sinda,

Classes
Loads of cooking classes out there such as home horizons , cookery magic.

Bookclubs, quilting groups , jewellery classes and antenatal classes such as parent and child centre Tanglin Mall.

To meet Singaporeans the YMCA on Orchard Road has loads of classes at a reasonable price.

Any more questions you have I will ty and answer.

Hi, and thanks for the replies. I will definitely be looking into some of these ideas and hope to have a new purpose in life very soon. Being here and having lots of spare time is actually a great opportunity and I am determined to make the most of it, instead of sitting at home feeling miserable!

i'm not religious so i may not know what i'm talking about... have you tried the church? i'm sure they will have need for charitable volunteers...

[quote="UKexpat"]If there is anyone else on here in a similar position please get in touch as it would be good to chat! I'd be really interested in other people's experiences of settling into life in Singapore.[/quote]