Singapore Expats

For those who have been here for a few years, do you ever feel that being in Sg has sucked out your soul? The life that we know it here is mostly work work work, and people are so focused on money, career advancement, prestige, shopping, eating... one would be hard pressed to find cultural people with an open mind who are living their lives the way they truly want it and discovering the meaning of life. Does anyone else out there feel that life in Sg has sucked out your soul?

macaroonie wrote:....one would be hard pressed to find cultural people with an open mind who are living their lives the way they truly want it and discovering the meaning of life.

That is true just about everywhere with everyone.

You takes your pick and takes your choices and at the end of the day everywhere sucks....... to some point.

The trick is to have something that defines you or what you want to be and never let go. Movie analogy: pick your totem so you could always know if you're dreaming or not.

Go not gently into the night and fight against the dying of light.

True for every big city, you should try HK. In London it was all work work work, alot of professionals I know were pretty much on the breadline, working hand to mouth, to pay for a central London family home Mortgage.

At least here, theres a better standard of living. I hear where you are coming from in that open mind and the Arts etc are not exactly Singaporeans strong point, but it is starting to take shape, you are witnessing the very beginning of some sort of cultural growth. Just go to some of the off beat places in Joo chit etc and it is great to see people with different outlook on life setting up shops, galleries etc.

Why not get involved and be part of it ?

macaroonie wrote:For those who have been here for a few years, do you ever feel that being in Sg has sucked out your soul? The life that we know it here is mostly work work work, and people are so focused on money, career advancement, prestige, shopping, eating... one would be hard pressed to find cultural people with an open mind who are living their lives the way they truly want it and discovering the meaning of life. Does anyone else out there feel that life in Sg has sucked out your soul?

Me not really. I am still swimming against the current probably risking a heart attack one day and I am definitely not interested in the meaning of life. There are more interesting things to get discovered.

macaroonie wrote:Does anyone else out there feel that life in Sg has sucked out your soul?

Hello! Not sure about your soul, but it's sure sucked out some of your letters

You may find your lost soul in your missing letters: IN A PORE. In all your pores, actually. It's your aura, your essence, who you are blah blah. Nothing has sucked it out - you've just neglected it.

Go dancing this weekend, play frisbee, learn the violin, have a picnic, attend a concert, visit a museum, do housework to jazz music, yak with a friend, bathe the dog, listen to the rain, buy fresh flowers... works for me anyway.

Hope you cheer up soon!

Wind in my hair that is hilarious !
Thanks everyone for your posts. How many people out there understand self actualisation?

No, it's not that bad here. I would say that it more numbed my senses for things interesting, which becomes painfully aware whenever I'm in most places overseas.

I'm pretty much with Scooby and nakatago on this one.

macaroonie wrote:For those who have been here for a few years, do you ever feel that being in Sg has sucked out your soul? The life that we know it here is mostly work work work, and people are so focused on money, career advancement, prestige, shopping, eating... one would be hard pressed to find cultural people with an open mind who are living their lives the way they truly want it and discovering the meaning of life. Does anyone else out there feel that life in Sg has sucked out your soul?

The concrete does get to you sometime. Just go for a movie or hop on a bus to Msia/Indon for a getaway, you will feel better.

Wind In My Hair wrote:Hope you cheer up soon!

Welcome back! You've been missed.

Thanks Addadude. Not to worry, I'm sure it won't be long before I leave in a huff again. This forum sucks out my soul, ya know

Wind In My Hair wrote:Thanks Addadude. Not to worry, I'm sure it won't be long before I leave in a huff again. This forum sucks out my soul, ya know

lol

Nice koan, btw

Wind In My Hair wrote:

macaroonie wrote:Does anyone else out there feel that life in Sg has sucked out your soul?

Hello! Not sure about your soul, but it's sure sucked out some of your letters

You may find your lost soul in your missing letters: IN A PORE. In all your pores, actually. It's your aura, your essence, who you are blah blah. Nothing has sucked it out - you've just neglected it.

Go dancing this weekend, play frisbee, learn the violin, have a picnic, attend a concert, visit a museum, do housework to jazz music, yak with a friend, bathe the dog, listen to the rain, buy fresh flowers... works for me anyway.

Hope you cheer up soon!

Hello Stranger You have been missed! Would you guys, believe I purchased a sewing machine I took five chairs to be reupholstered and they wanted like 350$, I thought you got to be kidding me, okay labour in Singapore is getting more and more expensive, but this guy was from the mainland. Anyway I thought no way, i am paying that, when i can do them myself. My old mum was a dressmaker and i was doing tracing and cutting by the time i reached 11, so off i went to Courts and purchased a discounted machine for 300$ and thoroughly enjoyed myself making them, took me no longer than 5 hrs to finish the job of 5 seats and 5 backs, now no one is allowed to sit on them It's like being reborn, so i dug out my old jeans too and gave them the once over, can't have holes in the pockets as i keep losing my small change The wife just watched and said can i have a go
But yeah when i feel down in the dumps, i may rip the new LCD apart, just to see what its made of, I love doing things myself and have become pretty damn savvy with the sewing, accelerating on the bends like a formula 1 car. New hobby anyone!

macaroonie wrote:Wind in my hair that is hilarious !
Thanks everyone for your posts. How many people out there understand self actualisation?

I do I'm a new man, after i shed my baggage, it doesn't pay to think so much about the why! I do most things for other people and very little for myself, because I get more satisfaction seeing others happy. It's when they take me for granted, that I may have a knee jerk.

ksl wrote: Hello Stranger You have been missed! Would you guys, believe I purchased a sewing machine I took five chairs to be reupholstered and they wanted like 350$, I thought you got to be kidding me, okay labour in Singapore is getting more and more expensive, but this guy was from the mainland. Anyway I thought no way, i am paying that, when i can do them myself. My old mum was a dressmaker and i was doing tracing and cutting by the time i reached 11, so off i went to Courts and purchased a discounted machine for 300$ and thoroughly enjoyed

2 weeks back in cold storage they had nice Brother machines for ~125$ I almost bought it... unfortunately my wife opposed But I got one from ebay, electric, portable, 27$ Very weird though - sews with a single thread only. It's a beauty and I can hardly imagine how much you regret now your premature and overpriced purchase!