Singapore Expats

Hey all - just wondering what products American expats miss the most in SG. For example, when we moved here 4 years ago my wife was bummed that Vitamin Water wasn't available - she was thrilled when it appeared last year. After 4 years I feel like I'm losing track of what my day-to-day life was like back home; what are some other things we can usually pick up at the market back home that we can't get here?

1 lb cans of Old Bay Seasoning and Triscuits.

And ZZM's subsequent post reminded me of two hygiene products I always stock up on each trip. Headblade shaving cream & Original Old Spice Stick deodorant.

Busch Lite.

Are you serious! LOL

Just kidding. It was the beer-of-choice at my frat in the previous millennium, of course "beer-of-choice" meaning that it was the cheapest brew available.

Keystone Light was similarly priced, but for some reason Busch Lite was king. And when it came to ordering kegs (more paperwork than for buying a shotgun, lol), it was Busch Lite all the way...

I wouldn't mind a can a month just to bring back some memories, but I definitely wouldn't be buying cases of it nowadays. I did see some crazy dude at Meidi-Ya take an entire case of Miller to the check-out counter though. Couldn't believe my eyes... probably the worst pick from their entire beer selection.

Mostly hygiene stuff.

Men's Deodorant. No specific brand, since so many of them are significantly better than what I can find in Singapore.

Some specific hair products too.

Shoes for a US size 11 too; they can be hard to find here sometimes in certain styles.

In-n-Out burger? Not sure if food counts though.

Theres ton's of other things, but it's mostly a case of not getting the exact variety I'm used to. Singapore will have "something" quite close, but for an extremely high price or the wrong "flavor" or whatever.


Oh, that after-shower shower spray stuff. They sell it at Target. You justr spray the inside of a shower after you're done, and thats it. It cleans it nice and kills all mildew, and leaves a fresh smell. Singapore could really use this stuff.

Drivers who will allow you to merge into their lane.

Buying tickets at the movie theater and still sit where I'd like

Mid-priced restaurants with good value for money

Right turns at a red light

Yes, gum!

Buying decent over-the-counter medicines (w/o prescription)

Cheap used cars

Uncrowded shopping malls

Scarbowl, right turn on red will get you killed here. They do have left turn on Red though unless marked otherwise.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:They do have left turn on Red though unless marked otherwise.

A lot of motorists here seem to miss the concept then. The incoming car on the perpendicular road is a good 30 seconds away and the car turning right is just there waiting for lord knows what.

scarbowl wrote:Uncrowded shopping malls

That's because Singapore is freaking small! And most people here do not know where else to go to, aside from home or workplace.

or ..... the mall

the lynx wrote:

scarbowl wrote:Uncrowded shopping malls

That's because Singapore is freaking small! And most people here do not know where else to go to, aside from home or workplace.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Scarbowl, right turn on red will get you killed here. They do have left turn on Red though unless marked otherwise.

Hrm, I thought it was no left turn on red, unless marked otherwise?

I've seen signed saying I could turn left on red (few and far between), but never a sign saying I couldn't turn left on red.

Guess I wrote that wrong! That'll learn me from doing too many things at the same time and not proofreading won't it!

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Guess I wrote that wrong! That'll learn me from doing too many things at the same time and not proofreading won't it!

In that case, I'll second the 'turn on red, can la' default of the US

i miss going to the ball park with my dad.

i miss fourth of julys... (julies?)

i miss seeing the great red white and blue.

i miss thanksgivings...

i miss some of the TV ads... strike that, i miss american cable. and tivo. and xm radio.