10 Things I wish I knew before moving to Singapore // Expat living

Summary

In 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

00:00

🌆 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.

05:01

🍽️ 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.

10:02

🏙️ 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.

Keywords

💡Living in Singapore

This phrase sets the geographical and experiential context of the video, indicating that the content revolves around the day-to-day life and observations of the video creator while residing in Singapore. It is central to the video's theme as it encapsulates the creator's personal experiences and the cultural insights she wishes she had known prior to her move.

💡Budget

The term 'budget' is relevant to the video as it addresses the misconception that living in Singapore is prohibitively expensive. The creator clarifies that it is possible to live on a budget in Singapore by making certain adjustments and finding affordable places to shop and eat, such as Hawker centers, which are highlighted later in the script.

💡Hawker Centers

Hawker Centers are a significant part of Singapore's food culture and are mentioned as places offering 'wonderful food' at affordable prices. The video creator initially had a misconception about these centers being unclean but later appreciates them for their authentic and diverse food offerings, which are a key aspect of life in Singapore.

💡Food Hygiene Ratings

Food hygiene ratings are mentioned as a system in place to grade the cleanliness and safety of food establishments in Singapore. The script explains that these ratings, indicated by a color-coded system, help consumers make informed decisions about where to eat, dispelling the creator's initial fears about food safety at Hawker Centers.

💡Rain

The frequent rainfall in Singapore is a key point in the video, emphasizing the importance of being prepared for the wet weather. The creator expresses frustration with the slippery conditions created by rain, especially when wearing flip-flops, which is a practical piece of advice for anyone considering living in the tropical climate of Singapore.

💡Construction Workers

The mention of construction workers and laborers in the script serves to highlight a cultural observation about the living conditions of some workers in Singapore. The creator recounts an anecdote about seeing workers resting on the side of pathways, which was initially confusing but later understood as a common practice, reflecting the diversity of lifestyles in the city-state.

💡Size of Singapore

The size of Singapore is a keyword that contrasts the small geographical area of the country with the wide range of activities and experiences it offers. The creator uses the comparison with Brisbane, Australia, to emphasize the compact nature of Singapore, which can be both a surprise and a practical consideration for those moving there.

💡Dress Code

The term 'dress code' is relevant as it touches on cultural norms and expectations regarding attire in Singapore. The creator notes feeling overdressed in loud outfits and suggests that the general dress code is more conservative, which is an important insight for newcomers adjusting to the local culture.

💡Air-Conditioning

The mention of air-conditioning is a practical observation about the climate in Singapore and the measures taken to combat the heat. The creator advises bringing warm clothing for public transport and offices due to the cold temperatures set by air-conditioning systems, which is a useful tip for those not accustomed to such environments.

💡Singlish

Singlish refers to the colloquial form of English spoken in Singapore, characterized by a unique blend of English and local dialects. The creator finds it initially hard to understand but eventually appreciates its charm. This keyword is important as it reflects the linguistic diversity and cultural identity of Singapore.

💡Uncle and Auntie

The terms 'uncle' and 'auntie' are used in the script to describe a common form of address in Singapore, indicating respect and familiarity towards older individuals. This cultural practice is highlighted as something the creator learned and adopted, showcasing the social etiquette and community values prevalent in Singapore.

💡Tourist Areas

The video mentions that tourist areas in Singapore can be expensive, contrasting with the overall message that living in Singapore can be done on a budget. The creator shares personal experiences of high prices in certain locations, such as Marina Bay, which serves as a caution for newcomers to be aware of the cost differences in various parts of the city-state.

💡Availability of Goods

The availability of goods is a keyword that addresses the concern of finding familiar items or ingredients in Singapore. The creator dispels the myth that one might need to import certain Western foods, as they found most items readily available in local stores, which is reassuring information for potential residents.

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

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