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Things you might not like about Singapore
Singapore is a wonderful city to live in. It is modern, clean, environmentally friendly, extremely efficient, and is home to very friendly and hard-working people. However, there are certain aspects of the country that remain unpopular with some expats who live in Singapore.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on the opinions expressed by a cross-section of expats living in Singapore and does not necessarily represent or reflect the views of GuideMeSingapore.com.
Rule-bound
The first criticism that is often leveled against Singapore is its rule-bound culture. There is a penalty or fine for offences that would be considered harmless in most other countries. This has led to the tongue-in-cheek label of a "fine city" for Singapore. There are posters and signs, such as the one below, at most public places - public transport, parks, office buildings, elevators, shopping malls, libraries, residential apartment complexes - which are prominent and difficult to miss.
Hot and humid weather
If you are relocating from a country where you enjoy the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter), then the weather in Singapore is going to take some getting used to. It is hot, humid and sticky most of the time with sudden and unpredictable rain-spells. Temperatures during the day hover around 32 degrees Celsius and the humidity level at around 84%. To address this issue, most public places and public transport in Singapore are air-conditioned; so unless you are outdoors you hardly feel the heat. To find out more about the weather in Singapore, refer to Weather and Climate in Singapore.
Small country
One of the disadvantages of Singapore is that it is a country, state and city all rolled in one. Singapore is unlike most other countries where you would have the option of inter-state or inter-city travel and could explore the region during weekend getaways or holidays. People who re-locate from Australia, Europe, America and other parts of Asia miss having the option of driving down to the nearest town or city for a short break - because there is no other city to drive to! The only option is to drive across the causeway link to Johor Bahru in Malaysia or to explore the nearby islands of Malaysia and Indonesia. This however will require a valid visa and appropriate means of getting there (flights or ferries); hence, such trips will have to be well planned in advance. While this is the view of some expats, some others opine that there are plenty of recreational and entertainment options in Singapore and one really doesn't find the need to get away from the city.
Uniformity
Another feature of Singapore that is often criticized is its architectural uniformity. The public housing estates consist of tall and wide blocks that are packed close to one another and have the same elevation and facade in most areas. Some foreigners complain that the uniformity is bleak and gives them a sense of artificiality.
But in fairness, some of the new residential buildings in Singapore have adopted more modern and experimental architecture that is a welcome change. In fact, one of the largest residential projects in Singapore - Farrer Road Residential Development - has been designed by the world renowned Pritzger prize winning architect Zaha Hadid. Also, some of the newer office towers in Singapore's business district have adopted very innovative modern architecture and they do not fit the stereotype described above.
Decoding Singlish
English is widely spoken in Singapore. However, you will find Singaporeans' speech peppered with Singlish. Singlish is a portmanteau word made from the conjunction of "Singapore" and "English". Singlish borrows terms from the Chinese, Malay and Tamil languages. There are certain expressions such as 'lah', 'leh', 'ah', 'meh', 'lor' used to punctuate sentences. Sentences are often not complete and are closer to phrases in other languages, without prepositions and are spoken quickly with a distinct Singaporean accent. Singaporeans also often use the word "can" in place of "yes".
It can be frustrating for an expat to understand what is being communicated but it eventually grows on you. The government has launched an aggressive 'Speak Good English Movement', strongly discouraging the use of Singlish. It is not used in everyday formal business interactions, presentations, meetings and job interviews, but if the audience is largely comprised of locals, Singlish may be used to build rapport and inject humour. You cannot escape it when you interact with taxi drivers, hawkers and shop keepers. Some of the phrases you will commonly come across are:
Materialistic culture
Today, increasing number of brands are making their way to Singapore to woo this seemingly brand conscious nation. Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Cartier, Mont Blanc and other luxury brands never go out of business here. You will often find long winding queues of eager customers outside their doors. Some foreigners get the feeling that materialism rules the roost. The local materialistic dream is summed up in the 5 C's - cash, car, condo, credit-card and country club. According to Kanwaljit Soin, a former nominated member of Singapore's Parliament, "in the quest for material gains, there is a tendency to believe that nothing succeeds like excess." It is important to emphasize that these stereotypes do not apply to all Singaporeans.
Rising cost of living
It is often assumed that being on an "expat package" naturally means a better standard of living. While this is largely true, the situation is fast changing in Singapore with rising costs of living. While costs have soared, salaries have remained flat. In recent times many expats have considered returning to their home country due to the increased cost of living. According to a report published on Forbes.com in 2009, Singapore is the seventh most expensive city to live in Asia. The report said that the average rent of a luxury two-bedroom apartment is $2,200. The Goods and Services Tax has risen from 5% to 7%. Transportation costs have gone up. Fuel costs have increased and rents have risen sharply over the past few years. This along with the strengthening Singapore dollar, is causing some amount of unhappiness in the expat community here.
On a final note
After all is said and done, despite these complaints, Singapore is still considered a top destination for expats. Singapore was recently ranked as the 'Happiest country in Asia' in a study reported by ABC News. The city has a lot to offer - security and safety being its unique advantage. The city is clean and green, with fairly acceptable pollution levels. The government has ensured housing for all and encourages its residents to maintain a work-life balance. Residents live harmoniously despite their varied ethnic backgrounds. To find out more about quality of life, see Quality of life in Singapore.
Other Related Topics
Singapore Immigration | EntrePass | Employment Pass
About GuideMeSingapore.com
GuideMeSingapore.com is a unit of Janus Corporate Solutions Pte. Ltd., a leading Singapore based professional services firm that provides incorporation, accounting, tax, immigration and related Singapore incorporation services. Through our experienced team, we provide high quality personalized services at competitive prices. We look forward to being of service to you in your new venture or ongoing business in Singapore.
Singapore is a wonderful city to live in. It is modern, clean, environmentally friendly, extremely efficient, and is home to very friendly and hard-working people. However, there are certain aspects of the country that remain unpopular with some expats who live in Singapore.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on the opinions expressed by a cross-section of expats living in Singapore and does not necessarily represent or reflect the views of GuideMeSingapore.com.
Rule-bound
The first criticism that is often leveled against Singapore is its rule-bound culture. There is a penalty or fine for offences that would be considered harmless in most other countries. This has led to the tongue-in-cheek label of a "fine city" for Singapore. There are posters and signs, such as the one below, at most public places - public transport, parks, office buildings, elevators, shopping malls, libraries, residential apartment complexes - which are prominent and difficult to miss.
Hot and humid weather
If you are relocating from a country where you enjoy the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter), then the weather in Singapore is going to take some getting used to. It is hot, humid and sticky most of the time with sudden and unpredictable rain-spells. Temperatures during the day hover around 32 degrees Celsius and the humidity level at around 84%. To address this issue, most public places and public transport in Singapore are air-conditioned; so unless you are outdoors you hardly feel the heat. To find out more about the weather in Singapore, refer to Weather and Climate in Singapore.
Small country
One of the disadvantages of Singapore is that it is a country, state and city all rolled in one. Singapore is unlike most other countries where you would have the option of inter-state or inter-city travel and could explore the region during weekend getaways or holidays. People who re-locate from Australia, Europe, America and other parts of Asia miss having the option of driving down to the nearest town or city for a short break - because there is no other city to drive to! The only option is to drive across the causeway link to Johor Bahru in Malaysia or to explore the nearby islands of Malaysia and Indonesia. This however will require a valid visa and appropriate means of getting there (flights or ferries); hence, such trips will have to be well planned in advance. While this is the view of some expats, some others opine that there are plenty of recreational and entertainment options in Singapore and one really doesn't find the need to get away from the city.
Uniformity
Another feature of Singapore that is often criticized is its architectural uniformity. The public housing estates consist of tall and wide blocks that are packed close to one another and have the same elevation and facade in most areas. Some foreigners complain that the uniformity is bleak and gives them a sense of artificiality.
But in fairness, some of the new residential buildings in Singapore have adopted more modern and experimental architecture that is a welcome change. In fact, one of the largest residential projects in Singapore - Farrer Road Residential Development - has been designed by the world renowned Pritzger prize winning architect Zaha Hadid. Also, some of the newer office towers in Singapore's business district have adopted very innovative modern architecture and they do not fit the stereotype described above.
Decoding Singlish
English is widely spoken in Singapore. However, you will find Singaporeans' speech peppered with Singlish. Singlish is a portmanteau word made from the conjunction of "Singapore" and "English". Singlish borrows terms from the Chinese, Malay and Tamil languages. There are certain expressions such as 'lah', 'leh', 'ah', 'meh', 'lor' used to punctuate sentences. Sentences are often not complete and are closer to phrases in other languages, without prepositions and are spoken quickly with a distinct Singaporean accent. Singaporeans also often use the word "can" in place of "yes".
It can be frustrating for an expat to understand what is being communicated but it eventually grows on you. The government has launched an aggressive 'Speak Good English Movement', strongly discouraging the use of Singlish. It is not used in everyday formal business interactions, presentations, meetings and job interviews, but if the audience is largely comprised of locals, Singlish may be used to build rapport and inject humour. You cannot escape it when you interact with taxi drivers, hawkers and shop keepers. Some of the phrases you will commonly come across are:
- Can lah - It can be done
- Cannot lah - It cannot be done
- Dat one finish oreddy - That one has finished already
- Aiyah - term used to express exasperation (e.g. Aiyah! I can not wait anymore)
- Ang mo - term for Caucasians
- Makan - food/to eat
- Rojak - mixed
- Chope- to reserve something
Materialistic culture
Today, increasing number of brands are making their way to Singapore to woo this seemingly brand conscious nation. Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Cartier, Mont Blanc and other luxury brands never go out of business here. You will often find long winding queues of eager customers outside their doors. Some foreigners get the feeling that materialism rules the roost. The local materialistic dream is summed up in the 5 C's - cash, car, condo, credit-card and country club. According to Kanwaljit Soin, a former nominated member of Singapore's Parliament, "in the quest for material gains, there is a tendency to believe that nothing succeeds like excess." It is important to emphasize that these stereotypes do not apply to all Singaporeans.
Rising cost of living
It is often assumed that being on an "expat package" naturally means a better standard of living. While this is largely true, the situation is fast changing in Singapore with rising costs of living. While costs have soared, salaries have remained flat. In recent times many expats have considered returning to their home country due to the increased cost of living. According to a report published on Forbes.com in 2009, Singapore is the seventh most expensive city to live in Asia. The report said that the average rent of a luxury two-bedroom apartment is $2,200. The Goods and Services Tax has risen from 5% to 7%. Transportation costs have gone up. Fuel costs have increased and rents have risen sharply over the past few years. This along with the strengthening Singapore dollar, is causing some amount of unhappiness in the expat community here.
On a final note
After all is said and done, despite these complaints, Singapore is still considered a top destination for expats. Singapore was recently ranked as the 'Happiest country in Asia' in a study reported by ABC News. The city has a lot to offer - security and safety being its unique advantage. The city is clean and green, with fairly acceptable pollution levels. The government has ensured housing for all and encourages its residents to maintain a work-life balance. Residents live harmoniously despite their varied ethnic backgrounds. To find out more about quality of life, see Quality of life in Singapore.
Other Related Topics
Singapore Immigration | EntrePass | Employment Pass
About GuideMeSingapore.com
GuideMeSingapore.com is a unit of Janus Corporate Solutions Pte. Ltd., a leading Singapore based professional services firm that provides incorporation, accounting, tax, immigration and related Singapore incorporation services. Through our experienced team, we provide high quality personalized services at competitive prices. We look forward to being of service to you in your new venture or ongoing business in Singapore.
