singapore... shd i come back?
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hmm...
i hv been away for a year.... came back recently for chinese new year... but i m still not sure what i would like to do in the future.... whether to come back to singapore or to continue staying in UK till my visa runs out..... i have always considered myself a 'heartlander'... true blue chinese singaporean..... very 'channel 8', speak singlish, play mahjong, makan at kopitiam or hawker centre, go si bei lor pray pray at times during the chinese new year....
living in UK for a year has it pros and cons..... i realised how narrow-minded we have always been (wah lao! south africa is not a very poor state which consists of only black people!!)... how we have always been taking things for granted (do u know the name and dosage of any medication that your doctor gives u?? ha... in UK, b'cos the doctors are not so efficient, everyone will know and find out about the medication that their doctors prescribed!!... have we always been accepting things as they have been told!!??).... i cycle to work in UK (transport too ex in UK!!) but have never been honked by UK drivers... but here, just went cycling in west coast and genna honked by singapore drivers on my way from clementi to west coast park!!! piang.... so sad....
that's not all... there are just too many things that make me think... i agree that we should not have a welfare state (people DO abuse the system there), but i also agree on the statement once made, 'in singapore, can die but cannot fall sick....' have we done enough for the less fortunate? is it their fault that they are not able to make ends meet or that their situation does not allow them AT ALL to make ends meet?
no.... i am not saying that the grass is greener in UK.... there are a lot of inefficiencies, stupid strikes, unreasonable prices/taxes and high crime rates there.... on the other hand, there are also more polite people there (they DO say thank you to the bus drivers there), more family-oriented working culture (always been 5 working days, 36 hrs per week and i knock off zun zun at 5pm.... just like all my other colleagues) and of cos better recognition of my profession there......
since my return to singapore, many have asked me whether i will be coming back to singapore.... i really dunno.... i am really taking one step at a time now and just see how things go.... i guess whatever will b, will b.......
what say u? -
NO!
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Don't cum back. I hope to go back France too.
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Since you like to compare so much...don't come back.
Pathetic...
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Please!!! Don't come back!
Stay there, for your sake and for your comfort's sake.
Damn... I wanna stay in Korea but not enough $$$ yet. -
I would choose to come back to Singapore if I were you... It is still my homeland no mater what... And all my childhood memories are here... Dont even think I'll migrate even if I have the chance...
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Someone wrote this in 1977:-
Leaving Home, Mother
But oh the demands you make
on us Singaporeans!
Since you didnÂ’t choose us
but we chose you
(most of us, at any rate
and we will have that choice)
your demands shall be commands.
They shall be observed:
the schoolÂ’s daily litany
five mornings saluting
five stars and a crescent;
our young men shall bear arms
to deter unnamed enemies;
we shall accept as treasonable
strikes not in the national interest;
Southeast AsiaÂ’s cleanest city
shall be AsiaÂ’s cleanest city;
we shall enlarge the airport
for the Jumbos
and develop Sentosa
but only for the tourists;
our already low birthrate
shall further decline;
the worldÂ’s second busiest port
shall become the worldÂ’s busiest port;
we shall keep our hair short,
we shall continue to view Art
as an adjunct to Culture
serving politics.
And me? Knowing you
Knowing you demand acts, not gestures,
I chose a medium not so cool
to spread your message hot
from the repetition and elaboration
of your likewise leaders.
After two years, hoarse with belief
reeling from the nearness of you
Supersonic Singapore
I thought it best to opt out awhile
the better to view you from afar.
- ROBERT YEO -
i am asking myself this question too.... but i guess..if i ever find a wife outside sg and settle down..... then i dun see a reason to go back already as my life will be here now..... and even if i earn enough and want to retire..... why would go back sg to retire???? anything good there???? m'sia land and house also cheaper and near to sg....and if not... go canada also good.. alot of chinese there now.... so.. can someone give mi a good reason to come back
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If I get to work overseas, I may not even think of coming backOriginally posted by I-like-flings(m):i am asking myself this question too.... but i guess..if i ever find a wife outside sg and settle down..... then i dun see a reason to go back already as my life will be here now..... and even if i earn enough and want to retire..... why would go back sg to retire???? anything good there???? m'sia land and house also cheaper and near to sg....and if not... go canada also good.. alot of chinese there now.... so.. can someone give mi a good reason to come back 
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that's why.... i really dun see a good reason to come back now...and anyway every country's government also suckz.......plus mei mei at other place also more happening lor..Originally posted by deathscythe99:If I get to work overseas, I may not even think of coming back -
no! you wont know how bad it is here till you've come back. then you'll appreciate how lucky u are to get a job there.
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wah...
seems like most are advising me not to come back! hmm.... ok.... if i find myself an ang moh (or whatever colour) boy boy there, then i will stay there long long liaoz... ha.....
(si bei jia lat.... one year still no yan4 yu4... mayb shd consider what my frens said.... wear cheong sum and do bar top dancing... ha......) -
at least u still can do that.. but what about mi?? wear ns uniform and go climb mountain ar??? like nothing special about sg guy leh. how?Originally posted by sacredspirits:(si bei jia lat.... one year still no yan4 yu4... mayb shd consider what my frens said.... wear cheong sum and do bar top dancing... ha......) -
How long have you been overseas? THink carefully, both local and overseas have their good points. But it may not be easy to adjust to a foreign culture or make as many friend as you can in Singapore. Guess it depends on the individual. Somehow, foreigners may not treat you as they treat their own.Originally posted by sacredspirits:wah...
seems like most are advising me not to come back! hmm.... ok.... if i find myself an ang moh (or whatever colour) boy boy there, then i will stay there long long liaoz... ha.....
(si bei jia lat.... one year still no yan4 yu4... mayb shd consider what my frens said.... wear cheong sum and do bar top dancing... ha......) -
ha... oni one year lah..... but will b soon getting a work permit that may allow me to work there for 5 years..... dunno what lies ahead.... dunno whether i will come back.... frankly speaking, i oso agree to what u say... this is something i need to take note... take veri serious note.... ha...Originally posted by patrickyee:How long have you been overseas? THink carefully, both local and overseas have their good points. But it may not be easy to adjust to a foreign culture or make as many friend as you can in Singapore. Guess it depends on the individual. Somehow, foreigners may not treat you as they treat their own. -
err.... mayb dun wear more special? ha.....Originally posted by I-like-flings(m):at least u still can do that.. but what about mi?? wear ns uniform and go climb mountain ar??? like nothing special about sg guy leh. how? -
everywhere is the same, considered youself lucky, there's nowhere to compare, many of the sg fellows feel like leaving their home, there's more opporunity elsewhere, is up to your choice, and even here you get neglected like in uk does
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When it comes to better living, which is real and which is an illusion?
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Dun come back. Since you've managed to get a job (and i don;t know how you managed that) you might be able to get citizenship.
UK Citizenship = EU Citizenship = Freedom of movement and establishment in 25 Countries!
Also, if you have kids or if you intend to have kids, think of their future. IMO, their future is brighter in the UK.
The UK Passport is also more valuable in case you change your mind.
Conclusion = The better qn would be "Why come back?" -
Since you're still considering, you're probably quite aware of the pros and cons of either scenarios e.g.while EU may offer you the kicks and opportunities, Singapore may offer you the stability etc etc..
In any case, since you've only been there for a year, make full use of it by learning as much as possible. Get the exposure and experience you need to help you make a more informed choice down the road. Your view may very well change in a couple of years or so....
Most importantly, enjoy your time there. -
The best thing in the world i to be mobile.EU citizenship is a very good thing and if you should get, never look back.Singapore is a pro-foreign place and you will always have the chance to come back and stay or work.Listen not to those who will call you selfish for stepping on both boats.,It's your life and you make the best of it.Try it out in UK first man..But remember every place has its pros and cons.
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The best thing in the world i to be mobile.EU citizenship is a very good thing and if you should get, never look back.Singapore is a pro-foreign place and you will always have the chance to come back and stay or work.Listen not to those who will call you selfish for stepping on both boats.,It's your life and you make the best of it.Try it out in UK first man..But remember every place has its pros and cons.
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EU citizenship is good. Even if your country practices conscription (eg Germany), you can still travel within the Euro (eg Paris) zone without even showing a passport to CIQ personnel, let alone an exit permit.
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Many appeared to have discourage you from cmeing home and staying there.
Of course.. Pros and cons are bound to surface.. But I think its best if u can consider your priorities first.
I do agree with you when u say u get horned by drivers while cycling on the streets.. Pple here, in general, (no offense) think very highly of themselves, as if having a car is everything..
N in UK, even Japan and Sydney, pple have a sense of graciousness.. N definitely they command a better standard of living, enjoy better state welfare benefits and healthcare than we do.
However, have the suggesters in this forum whom have asked you to go overseas ever consider about the income tax structure and citizenship status?
Tax brackets in Sydney can go as high as 40%, n ours is 20% for top tiered earners (although they have higher income), VATs, I believed that you shld be aware of.. is 17% and ours is a mere 5%. Of course, cars and properties are relatively cheaper than Sg. But a plate of chicken rice in the food court is $8 AUD. Expenses could be high. N we all should know that we command a similar standard of living to Boston, Osaka but at a lower cost of living!
Citizenship status, U will forever be deemed a second class citizen becz u aren't born there. Our passports for those who might not know, is one of the best in the region as we can go n stay almost anywhere for at least 30days.
True, we won't be as "mobile" if we live here compared to EU but have u guys know that EU has their own problems.. God knows if they can sustain in the nxt 50 or 100 years. Being mobile means crimes can be facilitated easier. Being an EU, they share same monetary stds and blar blar.. cn those slower countries adapt? Growth in EU recently hasn't been strong too.
At the same time, besides the macro issues at hand, u have to do a SWOT in yourself. What's your qualification, ur experience, ur age.. ur family.. Are u mentally prepared for everything?
Hmm.. juz a piece of thought..
Cheers! -
True.Try and see for yourself.Originally posted by canismajor:Many appeared to have discourage you from cmeing home and staying there.
Of course.. Pros and cons are bound to surface.. But I think its best if u can consider your priorities first.
I do agree with you when u say u get horned by drivers while cycling on the streets.. Pple here, in general, (no offense) think very highly of themselves, as if having a car is everything..
N in UK, even Japan and Sydney, pple have a sense of graciousness.. N definitely they command a better standard of living, enjoy better state welfare benefits and healthcare than we do.
However, have the suggesters in this forum whom have asked you to go overseas ever consider about the income tax structure and citizenship status?
Tax brackets in Sydney can go as high as 40%, n ours is 20% for top tiered earners (although they have higher income), VATs, I believed that you shld be aware of.. is 17% and ours is a mere 5%. Of course, cars and properties are relatively cheaper than Sg. But a plate of chicken rice in the food court is $8 AUD. Expenses could be high. N we all should know that we command a similar standard of living to Boston, Osaka but at a lower cost of living!
Citizenship status, U will forever be deemed a second class citizen becz u aren't born there. Our passports for those who might not know, is one of the best in the region as we can go n stay almost anywhere for at least 30days.
True, we won't be as "mobile" if we live here compared to EU but have u guys know that EU has their own problems.. God knows if they can sustain in the nxt 50 or 100 years. Being mobile means crimes can be facilitated easier. Being an EU, they share same monetary stds and blar blar.. cn those slower countries adapt? Growth in EU recently hasn't been strong too.
At the same time, besides the macro issues at hand, u have to do a SWOT in yourself. What's your qualification, ur experience, ur age.. ur family.. Are u mentally prepared for everything?
Hmm.. juz a piece of thought..
Cheers!