Ella Smythe - Expat in Singapore
Ella Smythe is a 40-year-old writer who currently lives in Singapore. Originally from London, United Kingdom, Ella moved out of her home country with her husband. “We were in Seoul before, and because Singapore is Asia Lite, it seems like it is often the 'treat' after Seoul. Seoul was a lovely experience , but it is a lot easier to live in Singapore, partly because there is such a long-established tradition of expats being here,” she said. At present, she has been living in Singapore for 18 months.
Ella noted that living in Singapore has been incredibly easy. “If anything has been 'difficult', it is the sense of geographical shrinkage that seems to happen to a lot of people, and has definitely happened to me,” she said, adding that although there is plenty to do, the country’s size make short distances seem huge. “One day you're saying, "Don't be silly, in Seoul or London I sat in traffic for half an hour to go to the supermarket”, and the next you're refusing to meet a friend in Sentosa because it will take 15 minutes to get there in a taxi,” she explained.
Ella also said that managing her expectations and impatience was challenging as an expat. She struggled with homesickness, although she said that it’s easier to stay connected with loved ones. “I think homesickness is about feeling estranged from ourselves, so from my perspective, a good way of coping is to find enjoyable pursuits and meet like-minded people in the here and now,” she said.
Expatriates new to a country and its accompanying culture may feel overwhelmed by it all, and one way to lessen culture shock upon arrival is to brush up on the immigration laws and policies which professional immigration services can provide. Furthermore, as Ella noted, one way to cope with homesickness is to find like-minded people. Expats can do so by joining clubs and associations around the area they live in, where they are sure to find people who share their interests and hobbies.
Find out more about Ella Smythe’s experiences in Singapore in her full interview below.
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: From London, UK.
Q: What made you move out of your home country?
A: My husband!!
Q: Where are you living now?
A: Singapore.
Q: How did you come to choose this new country of residence?
A: We were in Seoul before, and because Singapore is Asia Lite, it seems like it is often the “treat” after Seoul. Seoul was a lovely experience, but it is a lot easier to live in Singapore, partly because there is such a long-established tradition of expats being here. Which has its ups and downs, of course.
Q: How long have you been living in Singapore?
A: 18 months.
Q: What has been the most difficult experience you've had when you were new in your host country?
A: On the whole, it has been incredibly easy. If anything has been "difficult", it is the sense of geographical shrinkage that seems to happen to a lot of people, and has definitely happened to me. There is plenty to do, and lots of places to suit all tastes, but it is a tiny island. The little red dot. You could run all the way up it north, and all the way back down south, and you would still have to do two more kilometers to make it a marathon. So, a feeling that creeps up on people is that suddenly short distances seem huge! One day you're saying, "Don't be silly, in Seoul or London I sat in traffic for half an hour to go to the supermarket”, and the next you're refusing to meet a friend in Sentosa because it will take 15 minutes to get there in a taxi.
Q: Would you say that formalities like getting visas or work permits and international health insurance was particularly difficult in Singapore? What was your experience with these?
A: The truth about Singapore's legendary efficiency is that it is really is totally and fabulously efficient. Government agencies like the Ministry of Manpower have everything streamlined to the nth degree.
Q: Was it easy making friends and meeting people? Do you mainly socialize with other expats in Singapore? How did you manage to find a social circle in Singapore?
A: It has been very easy making friends here, and I'm not even that likeable. Most of my friends are expats, but I do have a very good friend who is Singaporean, who I like "keepin’ it real with". I would love to have a few more! Call me, locals!!
Q: What are the best things to do in the area? Anything to recommend to future expats?
A: It depends what people are looking for. There is more going on than meets the eye, so sometimes you have to search a little.
Generally though, for families: the zoo, the botanical gardens (they have some great free concerts outdoors, where you can take a picnic), Gardens by the Bay, Universal Studios, the beach clubs and restaurants in Sentosa, skate parks, etc. For bars and going out: Club Street, Sentosa, Marina Bay Sands, and the Quays. That is my brief 101 starter list.
Q: How does the cost of living in Singapore compared to your home?
A: Singapore is supposedly the most expensive city in the world to live in, but I feel like it isn’t that far removed from other hub cities. Because of the culture of having live-in helpers, childcare is dramatically cheaper here than many places, so if both parents are working it is less expensive and less stressful than in London, for example.
Q: What do you think are the positive and negative sides of living in Singapore?
A: The weather and the weather. Most days, I love being able to walk out the door without piling on layers of jumpers and coats. Sometimes though I feel like the sameness of the climate makes the days drift by more quickly, in a Truman Show or Groundhog Day way. I genuinely think there is something about the lack of seasons that makes days roll into one another!
Q: Do you miss home and family sometimes?
A: I do; some days a lot and some days less so. It’s easy to stay connected now though. For me it has been about striking a balance between being present here, in a new “home” thousands of miles away from the other home, and keeping up communication with people who aren’t here. I think homesickness is about feeling estranged from ourselves, so from my perspective, a good way of coping is to find enjoyable pursuits and meet like-minded people in the here and now; rather than try to recreate what has been lost, or longing to go back to it.
Q: Do you have plans to move to a different country or back home in the future?
A: For me personally, a sense of home, rootedness and belonging are important, so I am not going to be an expat for too much longer.
Q: What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
A: What I have found difficult as an expat is managing my expectations and my impatience. I have tended to be in a big hurry to get everything settled, and in reality it takes a long time for a place to become “home”, if it ever even does. The first year or two, I think, are still just the arriving phase. There are no shortcuts in major transitions.
Q: What tips can you give other expats living in Singapore?
A: Join the Facebook groups as soon as you know you are moving here. There are a lot of good ones, and they are the ultimate, unsponsored recommendations from people’s firsthand experiences. They also offer a great way of locating people with similar interests, and making friends.
Q: Do you have favourite websites or blogs about your host country?
A: Obviously my own blog, Diary of Expat Somebody: http://expatsomebody.com/
It’s a satirical real-time diary written by a fictional expat wife called Emma-Jane, or Expat EJ. That’s her in the photo. She is available for restaurant openings, bar launches, red carpet events, and bat mitzvahs.
But you're not going to find a whole lot of useful or reliable information about Singapore on it. So, I would recommend the Honeycombers site, and the CityNomads app. There are a lot of great expat bloggers in Singapore, many of whom are listed here: http://www.expat-blog.com/en/directory/asia/singapore/
My current top three, in no particular order, are:
https://ourbigexpatadventure.wordpress.com/