10 Things I wish I knew before moving to Singapore // Expat living
Summary
TLDRIn this video, the creator shares 10 things they wish they had known before moving to Singapore. They discuss living on a budget, the affordability and quality of food at hawker centers, the importance of hygiene ratings, the frequent rain, and the cultural practice of addressing elders as 'uncle' or 'auntie'. They also touch on the size of Singapore, the need for warm clothing due to strong air-conditioning, the unique Singlish dialect, and the availability of Western goods. This insightful summary aims to prepare viewers for their potential move to Singapore and offers a glimpse into the local lifestyle.
Takeaways
- 🏙️ Living in Singapore is possible on a budget, contrary to initial impressions of high living costs.
- 🍽️ Hawker centers offer authentic and affordable food from around Asia, and are not as dirty as first perceived.
- 🏷️ Hawker centers have a high cleanliness rating system, with 'A' being the best and 'E' being the worst.
- ☔️ Singapore experiences frequent rain, making it important to avoid wearing flip-flops during wet weather due to slippery conditions.
- 🛌 Locals, particularly labor workers, are often seen resting in public spaces, which can be surprising to newcomers.
- 🗺️ Singapore is a small country, smaller than half the size of Brisbane, Australia, which can limit space for activities like marathon training.
- 👗 Dressing in loud, bright outfits can make one feel out of place in Singapore, unlike in Japan where fashion is more varied.
- 🧥 The intense air-conditioning in Singapore means it's often colder indoors, so carrying a light jacket or cardigan is advisable.
- 🗣️ While English is spoken in Singapore, the local dialect, Singlish, can be difficult for foreigners to understand at first.
- 👴 It's customary to address older men as 'uncle' and older women as 'auntie' in Singapore.
- 💸 Prices in Singapore can vary greatly, with tourist areas and Western-style items being notably more expensive.
- 🛍️ Most everyday needs can be met in Singapore, making it unnecessary to bring or order many items from abroad.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video?
-The main topic of the video is the things the speaker wishes they had known before moving to Singapore.
How does the speaker describe their experience with budget living in Singapore?
-The speaker mentions that living in Singapore can be done on a budget and that they discovered places where they could save money over time.
What is the speaker's opinion on Hawker centers in Singapore?
-The speaker initially avoided Hawker centers due to a preconceived notion of them being dirty, but later realized they offer delicious and authentic food at affordable prices.
Why does the speaker recommend paying attention to the hygiene ratings in Hawker centers?
-The speaker recommends it because each shop in Hawker centers has a hygiene rating displayed on a laminated A4 paper, which helps in making informed decisions about the food quality.
How does the speaker describe the frequency of rain in Singapore?
-The speaker states that it rains almost all the time in Singapore, with over 200 days of rainfall per year.
What advice does the speaker give regarding footwear during rain in Singapore?
-The speaker advises against wearing flip-flops or thongs during rain due to the slippery surfaces and suggests more appropriate footwear for safety.
What surprised the speaker about the local labor workers in Singapore?
-The speaker was surprised to see labor workers resting on the side of pathways or in the middle of nowhere, using just a piece of cardboard.
How does the speaker describe the size of Singapore in comparison to another city?
-The speaker describes Singapore as being very small, with the whole country being half the size of Brisbane, Australia.
What misconception did the speaker have about Singapore's fashion norms?
-The speaker initially felt they could wear anything in Japan without standing out, but in Singapore, they felt overdressed or out of place wearing loud, bright outfits.
What is the speaker's experience with air-conditioning in Singapore?
-The speaker found the air-conditioning in Singapore to be very cold, especially in buses and offices, and recommends carrying a light jacket or cardigan.
How does the speaker describe the English spoken by Singaporeans?
-The speaker describes the English spoken by Singaporeans as having a strong Singlish accent, which was initially hard for them to understand.
What cultural practice does the speaker mention regarding addressing older people in Singapore?
-The speaker mentions that it is normal to address older men as 'uncle' and older women as 'auntie' in Singapore.
What did the speaker learn about the cost of living in touristy areas of Singapore?
-The speaker learned that touristy areas in Singapore can be very expensive, with prices for items like a cup of tea being significantly higher than expected.
What was the speaker's initial concern about finding certain items in Singapore?
-The speaker was initially concerned about not being able to find certain Western foods and cooking/baking ingredients in Singapore, similar to their experience in Japan.
What was the speaker's realization about the availability of items in Singapore?
-The speaker realized that they could find almost everything they needed in Singapore, contrary to their initial concerns.
Outlines
🌆 Life in Singapore on a Budget
The speaker reflects on their experience living in Singapore, highlighting the misconception that living there is expensive. They mention that it is possible to live on a budget and have recently shared a video about surprisingly cheap aspects of Singapore. The speaker emphasizes the affordability of the city and suggests that small changes can significantly impact one's expenses. They also discuss their initial impressions of hawker centers, which they initially avoided due to perceived cleanliness issues but later appreciated for their delicious and authentic food at affordable prices.
🍽️ Discovering Singapore's Hawker Centers
The speaker discusses their discovery of the high cleanliness standards of hawker centers in Singapore, which are rated with a color-coded system from A to E. They express regret for not visiting these centers earlier due to misconceptions about hygiene. The speaker also mentions the importance of trying hawker centers for their delicious, authentic, and budget-friendly meals. They further describe the climate in Singapore, noting the frequent rain and the slippery conditions it creates, especially when wearing flip-flops, and the common sight of labor workers resting in public spaces, which was initially confusing to them.
🏙️ Singapore's Size and Cultural Adjustments
The speaker talks about the small size of Singapore, comparing it to the city of Brisbane in Australia, and their surprise at the limited space for activities like marathon training. They also touch on the cultural aspects of living in Singapore, such as feeling overdressed in casual settings and the strong preference for modest attire. The speaker mentions the intense air-conditioning in public transport and offices, advising viewers to carry warm clothing. They also discuss the local dialect, Singlish, and the initial difficulty in understanding it, as well as the cultural norm of addressing older individuals as 'uncle' or 'auntie'.
🛍️ Shopping and Expensive Tourist Traps
The speaker shares their experiences with the cost of living in Singapore, noting that while it's not always expensive, certain areas like Marina Bay are costly, especially for tourists. They recount a specific incident at a cafe with high prices for basic items like green tea. The speaker advises viewers to be aware of the price differences in various parts of the city and to expect higher costs for luxury or Western items. They also express relief at finding that most of the items they need are readily available in Singapore, contrary to their initial concerns about having to import them.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Living in Singapore
💡Budget
💡Hawker Centers
💡Food Hygiene Ratings
💡Rain
💡Construction Workers
💡Size of Singapore
💡Dress Code
💡Air-Conditioning
💡Singlish
💡Uncle and Auntie
💡Tourist Areas
💡Availability of Goods
Highlights
Living in Singapore on a budget is possible, with adjustments to lifestyle and finding cheaper places.
Hawker centers offer surprisingly cheap and authentic food, contrary to initial impressions of cleanliness.
Hawker centers have a hygiene rating system from A to E, helping to ensure food safety.
Singapore experiences frequent rain, making certain types of footwear impractical during wet weather.
The sight of labor workers resting in public spaces is common and not a cause for alarm.
Singapore's small size was a surprise, with the entire country being half the size of Brisbane, Australia.
Dressing in loud or bright outfits can make one feel out of place in Singapore.
Air-conditioning is prevalent and can be very cold, necessitating warmer clothing in public transport and offices.
Singaporeans commonly speak English, but the local dialect, Singlish, can be difficult for foreigners to understand initially.
Using terms of respect such as 'uncle' and 'auntie' for older individuals is a cultural norm.
Prices in touristy areas of Singapore can be significantly higher than in other parts of the city.
Luxury items and Western-style products tend to be more expensive in Singapore.
Most everyday needs can be met within Singapore, making it unnecessary to import many items.
The video creator reflects on their experiences and shares insights for those considering moving to Singapore.
The video provides a personal perspective on adjusting to life in Singapore and navigating cultural differences.
Engaging with local food and customs is encouraged as a way to immerse oneself in Singaporean life.
The video concludes with the creator's excitement for returning to Australia for Christmas and a call for viewer suggestions on content.
Transcripts
[Music]
hi and welcome back to another video of
living in Singapore Hanna sitting down
terminal couch
I need another name for that I'm really
enjoying making this like having kinds
of videos because I feel like I'm Kara
bout the things that I'm in chatting
about and also the videos so much easier
to edit and like travel videos travel
vlogs takes solo but they seem to get
the least amount of use which is
unrewarding this is my video about
things wait how many things are there 10
things that I wish that I knew before I
moved to Singapore so I moved to
Singapore about a year ago I'm currently
not really living here at the moment I'm
just here for like a month
but since coming back there's a whole
bunch of things that I didn't realize
where thing until like you know went
away and came back there are a couple of
things that I definitely notice and
things that I I think looking back I
wish I would have known them before I
moved here it would have made my life of
like just a little bit more easier
definitely so the number one thing that
I wish I knew was that sample can be
done on a budget you can definitely
definitely do Singapore about it and I
actually just recently put out a video
about things that are surprisingly cheap
in Singapore and sample is absolutely
100 percent doable on a budget I just
didn't realize when I got here when I
first got here you walk into like the
first grocery store you see which is
cold storage you look at the prices and
you think like oh my god I'm never gonna
save money here but like I'm living here
for a while and you figure out where the
cheap places are and everything like
that it can definitely down on a budget
so you know little little swap little
changes here and there can make
to your bill at the end of the day
another thing is that Hawker centers
have got wonderful food really really
wonderful food when I first got here
there was a haka center near my place
and it was outdoors and it was a bit
dirty and like it just wasn't the kind
of atmosphere I ever wanted to eat lunch
or dinner in so therefore I never went
to them and I kind of had this like
preconceived idea that Hawker centers
are always dirty and I'm gonna get sick
from the food and by luck that is
absolutely not true at all now thinking
back I wish that I went to Hawker
centers more because I've got some
really delicious food and most of the
meals are only about five dollars and
it's it's all really really authentic
food from all around Asia and you can
get some really delicious food so
definitely go to Hawker centers more on
that note on to my next point is that I
wish that I knew Hawker centers had a
high dam rating again I have no idea I
thought that all Hawker centers were
like one and the same
but every single shop they have like
this piece of laminated a4 paper and
it's got a color in the background it'll
be either a B C D or E maybe it goes to
F I don't understand anyone with F but
pressure I wasn't hamburger that so a is
obviously the best and E well whichever
the last flutter is being the worst so
if it's a then like absolutely it's
gonna be fine B is like it's still
really good you're gonna get sick from
the food but like maybe there's like a
couple of things that are wrong whatever
C is like gettin into risky Andy's logos
probably will be rushing to the bathroom
if I either so The Hiding ratings are
hugely helpful and it's it's good but if
you really don't know what kind of food
you want to eat or you don't know what
the food is if it's just like a will be
ready it's pretty safe to try it and
pretty safe to say it's gonna be
delicious too
number three that I wish I knew before I
move to sample that it rains all the
time I did not realize that it rains so
much in the same four legs I think it
raised about two hundred two hundred
days out of the year or something like
that so it's just all the time and one
thing as well is that when it rains
they've got lots of pathways that I just
like slick there's like like the
slickest concrete you can imagine if
there's like a tiny bit of water on it
if you're in thongs or like flip-flops
if you're arrogant it's like ice it's so
awful and it like it makes me really
angry I like walking along I'm like it
like I've walked some places I've been
so frustrated the entire time like yeah
so that's definitely something tonight
so don't wear flip-flops if it's gonna
rain because it's just dangerous and it
makes me mad number four is that I've
noticed I'm probably wrong in saying
this they may not be Singaporeans as
such like locals but I've noticed I see
a lot of mainly construction workers I
think not always construction but like
work labor labor workers in general this
is sickness everywhere just like bugs on
the side of the pathway or like
literally in the middle of nowhere
like they'll like lay down a piece of
cardboard and then
like if I think it's great I wish I
could just taking that in your I
wouldn't I guess the only reason that I
wish I knew that they did that is so
that like I'd be less shocked and
confused when I first got here I think
once I thought someone was dead because
it was like middle of the day and they
were like just like on the ground my
past I thought something was wrong with
him and like oh my god are you okay but
then I just realized his take man - so
that's that's cool next thing is that I
wish I knew that Singapore was so small
it's really really small its tiny tiny
country the whole of Singapore is half
the size of Brisbane Brisbane Australia
the city that no one really knows about
and usually associates with the golf
cart it's half the size of Brisbane the
whole country so when I was doing
marathon training like when I actually
did the math on my plan was to run from
my house which is in Clemente like all
the way out west
I know sprinters gonna run to Changi
Airport and then half way back and that
would have been a marathon like
literally running to the other side of
the country I was like running out of
space to run in and like it's okay then
there's actually quite a few things you
can see while you're here I thought for
someone who likes to go out and explore
new places all the time
God's different areas or things like
that I was like kind of like
surprisingly shocked to see that it's
very very small but the travel is really
cheap so you can just like flat in
Thailand instead so that's good next
thing on my list is that I wish I knew
that I would feel really overdressed or
really out of place and uncomfortable
wearing loud bright kind of outfits like
loud outfits know what I mean so when I
lived in Japan I felt like I could wear
anything I wanted in the world and I
would still not be the most crazy dress
person then I had like weird weird
it wasn't weird it's weird by
Singaporean standards by Australian
stance when I'm in Australia as well if
I wear something that's super
fashionable I feel like like totally out
of place and just like really
self-conscious of my outfit and same in
Singapore but in Japan I could wear a
garbage bag with the belts and I would
not be the weirdest person at you know
what I mean but in Singapore I
definitely feel that if I'm dressing up
for something oh I feel very dressed up
not all the time it definitely depends
where you're going just if you go to
like some of the more posh areas I'm
having a base sense like that you can
get away with a lot more but in most
areas
I felt overdressed if I'm wearing more
than shorts on a t-shirt it's good to
keep in mind because there are a couple
of items of clothing and I ended up
never wearing them because I just would
have felt out of place so that's
definitely something tonight the next
thing on the list that is related to
clothing I guess because it's so hot
here all the time they have crazy
air-conditioning everywhere so on the
buses it just lasts that aircon and it's
freezing cold all the time and if you're
firstly if you're working in an office
and cuz you're sitting down your body's
not warming up in any way it's like
really really cold so a lot of people
like office workers and stuff they have
like like a stick jacket but they leave
that work just to wear that because it's
so cold in the office and I felt like
whenever I catch a bus I always I really
want to wear like a cardigan or like a
light jacket
so definitely bring one of them
especially one of those small Ziva
dislike stuff in your bags I feel like I
always I always think one of them on the
buses because it gets really cold in the
air conditioning next on the list is
that Singaporeans do speak English but
you probably won't understand a lot of
it at first
I like over my first first first decade
me I was visiting sample and then I was
like looking at that dress and I was
like I need to go to Orchard Road like
telling the taxi driver and he was like
like that I can't even I really can't
even like imitates likes English like
really really strong Singlish I'm really
really bad at it but it's like I don't
know it's like I cut off the end of
every word and then they like mash them
all together in the head laughs on the
engine like all these like like it's
really great I actually loved English
now but it was so hard to understand at
first it doesn't take too long to get
used to it after a couple of days I was
definitely a bit more used to it but yet
that that definitely would have helped
when I first came here also you're
allowed to call older men uncle and
older women auntie that's very very
normal correct me on that if I'm wrong
until someone will correct me on
something cuz it's the Internet but so
that I thought I think I was really
surprising someone called him uncle I
was like are you guys related like the
next thing that I wish I knew was that I
know I said before that Singapore is not
always really expensive but when it's
expensive or is it expensive but that's
mainly in the touristy area so if you go
to Marina Bay says everything's
expensive I thought oh my god I went to
the cafe at the top of Marina Bay Sands
with my friend Oh cause he literally
I've just went up there so I could see
the view from the top because he can go
to the top and you can't go in the pool
let me stay at the hotel
see that you go to the cafe has a top it
was like I'll just buy like the cheapest
thing I can so that we can sit up here
and you know not just be a freeloader
and so my friend was like I'll Cal pilot
you cheat the sound that they've got in
the menu I'll just get like some green
tea that's fine they didn't have any
prices on the mini she was like yeah I'm
preteen that substitute I was like I'm
scared like a giant coke my diet coke
for the the can was like four dollars or
something so I wasn't crazy that was her
ass and then her green tea came out and
it was like eating a little like
plunging thing with the teabag she had a
cup of tape the bill came out her cup of
tea costed 16 dollars for a cup of green
tea sixteen dollars I could not believe
that it was so so shocking very very
very expensive I wasn't expecting that
at all
so yes some things can be very very
expensive mainly rum rating based ads
are like some Tosa things are a lot more
expensive or anything that's considered
Westin it will be considered like a
luxury item I guess so Westin it's gonna
be more expensive for sure and the last
thing on my list that I wish I knew
before I'm moving to Singapore is that I
can buy pretty much everything that I
need in Singapore so when I was living
in Japan I felt like it was hard to find
all of the like cooking and baking
ingredients and things like typically
Western foods that I mean it was really
really hard to find that things I had to
order her a lot online from iHerb which
is a really great website and I thought
that I was gonna have to do the same
thing in Singapore or I like I stocked
up on a couple of items that I didn't
think they were gonna sell here and then
I came to Singapore and I was like oh
actually already thought that so yeah
you can find pretty much everything that
you need I mean for me as an Australian
that there might be like different
things if you're like German or
something like that so that's really
really helpful to know so you don't have
to worry about trying to like pack your
bags move like essential items and
things that you need because you could
probably find it here anyway that
concludes my list of things that I wish
that I knew before moving to Singapore I
hope that this has helped you in some
way if you're moving to Singapore let me
know in the comments if you are moving
to Singapore soon or if you have
recently moved a single if there's
anything I missed
if you agree disagree I think that I
have to say it someone's gonna disagree
with something because internet I've
only got a couple days left here in
Singapore and then I'm a homeward bound
to Australia for Christmas so I'm very
excited about that but the other thing
that you'd like to see in Australia that
would be cool
because whenever I'm in Australia I feel
like I don't know what to film because
everything's so normal to makes its my
home so let me know if there's something
you want me to film in Australia because
I'd really appreciate any ideas any
ideas yeah yeah yeah cool thanks for
watching
[Music]
[Music]
Weitere ähnliche Videos ansehen
AKU SIAP UNTUK ADU MEKANIK
I’ve Been Living Solo in Thailand for 8 Months…Here are 14 Things to Know Before You Come 🇹🇭
Do Singaporeans Know How Their English Sounds? (Singlish) | Street Interview
Singlish: The Singaporean English creole - interview
If you can't find a job right now, you're not alone...
8 MISTAKES on our Daytrip To Singapore |Travel Guide on How to Plan Your DAYTRIP ITINERARY
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)