Moving to Singapore

[Louisejp]

Hi there has anyone recently moved to Singapore? Planning a move there from UK in the New Year so just wanted to make contact with anyone out there already or planning to move. I have 3 kids (6,4 and 2) so lots of burning questions to ask the pros!! thanks in anticipation Louisejp

[slim22]

fire away!

[Snotrocket]

Hi we've been here nearly 3 years now and have one DS (15 months) - as Slim says fire away - only too happy to help!

There are some others lurking around as well.

[flimflammum]

Hi Louise. I moved to Singapore 6 months ago, and I have a 4-yr-old DS and a just-2-yr-old DD, so hope I can help with any questions you have.

P.S. Hi Slim22, sorry I never got in touch when we arrived, we found an apartment - long story.

[slim22]

Hi flimflammum!! no worries... glad to hear you are all settled now.

[Louisejp]

thanks for your quick responses! I have been reading all the other threads so I dont duplicate previous questions and bore everyone!!!!

My husband's contract starts end of Jan but I dont have school place for my eldest (6yrs) until April term (in fact 5th on waiting list). I am not keen on him missing term of school and was wondering does anyone know if it is possible to hire a tutor? Not keen to start him in one school then move onto SJI in April. Looking at SJI hopefully will work our ok there! He's currently in small school so fits well- found Tanglin massive! he only has one form per year at his school! Anyone got good reports about White Lodge? For my 2 and 4 yr. Not sure on area we will ive but within 10/15 radius of SJI (Upper Thompson).

Busy doing lists and more lists!!! and reading everything I get hold of!

[snotexpectingsnow]

Hi Louise (tis snotrocket here again). I don't know anything about SJI but have friends who teach at Tanglin & UWC so will ask them and let you know. You've probably already looked but might be worth posting on Singapore expats message boards as well especially about the tutor as this is definitely a possibility and should be fairly easy to arrange (I'm always seeing adverts for private tutors).

I have a couple of friends who send their LOs to White Lodge (at Loewen Gardens) and they like it very much. I also went to have a look as a potential for DS when he's a bit older but it is not really convenient for us location wise.

Let us know if there's anything else we can help you with.

[stuffitllllama]

I have a friend with a dc at White Lodge who recommends highly.

[Louisejp]

thanks you guys for your replies and recommendations.

Apparently the Principal of SJI is ex UWC - would be interesting to see what your teacher friends say snotrocket!

Seems very bizzare to make a choice of schools based on an hour visit out of a two day whirlwind visit last week! One day was spent on schools the second on houses!!!

My dad used to live in Singapore so visited as few times - East Coast - but holiday very different from living there!!!! Will come back to you if anything else pops up and stumps me - thanks for your advice - Louisejp

[snotexpectingsnow]

Hi have asked friends about SJI - just from a quick look on the website it seems the majority of the teachers are ex-UWC or ex-Tanglin!

Anyway as it is quite new they don't know too much although one has a friend with 2 DCs there and she loves it for them (smaller etc as you want). Friend from UWC out of town at the mo but will let you know once I hear from her as well.

[stuffitllllama]

I would call them and ask to speak to the Principal and have a really good long chat, especially SJI.

International schools may look fabulous but quite often there is a well of complacency there, built on the captive market.

That might not matter, but on the other hand if you like a listening school, a newer, smaller one might be better: or then again it might be more defensive.

Tanglin has some brilliant teachers but in the past they have been very NC: not so worried about the individual children but the squished together mass.

If any of your children needs any SN help though I think they still might have the most fantastic teacher I've ever come across in my life in the primary SN programme. (initials MH)

[Louisejp]

Hi there thanks for the messages. Contract is signed and we are coming out in mid Feb!

Met the Principal of SJI and clicked so have ggood email rapport with her which helps. They seem to benchmark themselves with other institutions especially re maths (Durham Uni collates and produces results) which i found unusual as you said most just go on in a bubble - dont have the Independent Schools Fed like in UK.

So .... schools almost sorted - now for the house - any great tips for areas? Guess I dont want to be too far from Upper Thompson Road otherwise I'll be a taxi driver all day!!!!

Hope you all had gd weekend - crazy weather here in UK - mad mad storms! Not quite monsoon though but pretty close on the rain levels!

[slim22]

Hi Louise,

Glad all sorted. Relocation is my line of work so shout when you ready to start looking for housing I can point you in the right direction.
I would suggest about 4-6 weeks prior to moving is a reasonable timeframe to look for housing. Do you want a list of serviced apartments, is that already sorted by HR?

[Louisejp]

Hi slim22 thanks for the message
We are sort of looking now but I guess poss bit early as wont all move in till mid Feb. Husband starts mid Jan will stay in serviced until we get there - we have serviced for family paid for 1 mnth by company. Hoping to find a place during this time but would rather move straight into somewhere and hire stuff until our shipment arrives.

Would love list of serviced apartments - havent heard anything from HR yet!! Have my eye on semi with pool. Any tips on areas would be great. Checked with school and lots of families from SJI live district 10, 11 and 9...

If anyone has tips on how to logistally work out what to ship and what to airfreight and what to leave behind all advice welcome!!

Has anyone shipped their cat out? Need recommendations of pet shippers!!

thanks in anticipation!

[slim22]

Louise,

Too early to look definitely.

Here is the list of serviced units:

singapore.angloinfo.com/af/317/singapore-serviced-apartments-and-short-term-accommo dation.html

If you want info on price trends etc...send me an email at [email protected]

the shipment shoulkd not take more than 3/4 weeks. Then 3 days for clearance once it's here.

Just pack a suitcase of clothes for each family member + a very small airfreight of little items your kids can't do without.

Not shipped a cat but I hear no more quarantine.

I think someone did, you should have an answer soon on that..

speak soon!

[snotexpectingsnow]

Hi twas me who shipped a cat (or rather 2 of them). I was going under a different name then (Expectant) which was changed for obvious reasons but won't bore you with all that.

Anyway we used a company called Pet Air UK (should be able to find if you google). They were great and cats arrived safely and clean. Am happy to give more advice if needed. If you do have to stay in serviced accommodation then I think Fraser Suites is one of only a few that will accept pets.

[flimflammum]

I don't know how much stuff you are thinking of shipping, but if it's less than a whole container-full (which was the case with us) then it's obviously cheaper, as the container is shared with others, but it takes 8-10 weeks. And our stuff was held up in customs for two weeks, with me phoning every day and being fobbed off, until I went back to the shipping company to get them to intervene. So we basically didn't get our stuff for three months.

If you find yourself bringing too much with you on the plane, and go over the weight limit, there is a company at Heathrow (forgotten the name, but the check-in staff should tell you) which will take extra bags and send them by air, so you get them in a few days. It's cheaper than paying for excess baggage. They seal them up in loads of plastic wrapping too.

If you do need to stay in a serviced apartment, we stayed at Fraser Place (not Fraser Suites but same group), which I would recommend. It's fairly central, right on the river, so you can take the kids walking/biking without getting in a taxi, has an indoor playroom, big pool, kids' pool and outdoor playground. It wasn't cheap, but then none of them are. A lot of the serviced apartments are around Orchard Road, which is fine for shopping (and maybe the Botanic Gardens) but there's not much else to do.

[Lyrebird]

Just found out today that we are definitely moving to Singapore next year! (exact details still being nailed down).

Can I throw a question into the mix? I've been reading up a bit on the different districts and it seems Holland Village and surrounds are billed as the best for expats etc. My question really is why the east coast doesn't rate as well?

[suzxie]

Hi there,

I'm Singaporean but living in UK now. Holland "V" (as it known) has been famous for a large expat community and its proximity to town. However, East Coast is just as good albeit with less expats. There's good seafood and good links to town as well (well, Singapore is small!). My family live in the north (Yio Chu Kang), where it is very green and leafy, and you get a lot more space. There really isn't a place I would warn against (except maybe some parts of Geylang which is the redlight district). Singapore does deserve its squeaky clean and ultra safe image (I know, I've lived in Birmingham, Nottingham, London, etc).

Loiuse/Lyrebird - best of luck! Enjoy the local food.. every Singaporean is a passionate foodie.

Louise - my nephew (10 years old) is currently in SJI. It was my father's/brother's old school as well. My sis has said that she wishes the teacher would communicate with the parents more so that she knows what homework her son is supposed to be doing (and then chase him accordingly). However, she is happy with the school overall. Good luck!

[snotexpectingsnow]

Lyrebird kind of agree with Suzxie I wouldn't say Holland is the 'best' place just that there are lots of other expats there - it really depends what you are looking for - although Singapore is small you may want to be close to schools if you have DCs of school age and ditto work. Of course budget will also need to be taken into consideration unless unlimited If you let us know that we can probably help - Slim 22 is the expert on all things relocation.

[JJsandcat]

We shipped our cats and these guys have been brilliant: www.petairuk.com/

Late night calls, lost passport emergencies, coming up to London to check them. Great stuff!! They'll liaise with the guys in Singapore who were also good. They'll collect and 'deliver' your animals. Don't bother researching, they are fantastic.

Re schools: have you checked UWC? Best of the bunch in my opinion.

[snotexpectingsnow]

JJs that was the company I recommended earlier! Glad you too had a good experience.

I think if Tanglin was too big for the OP then UWC may be too?

[JJsandcat]

Hello SES, sorry I cross-posted with you

Was in a rush and leaving a quick link. Yeah, they were really fab, took midnight calls and faxed and scanned and were just brill. Our cats looked like they'd been to a spa

[Lyrebird]

Thanks guys - I'd really value your input. I'll bulletpoint our situation:

• DH to work in financial district (I won't be working in the first instance)
• We'll have a 9mth old DD at the time of the move (so schools not an issue but transport is - see below)
• Budget definitely not unlimited SES (I wish!)
• given DD's age, would love somewhere near a nice park, beach etc if that's even possible.

Re transport. I've been reading that the MRT is easily doable with a baby and pram in terms of escalators etc (as opposed to tube here). True? Plus from what I've been reading, it seems to take a taxi means that I'd have to hold her unsecured (or less secure compared to black cabs for example) which I'm not so keen on. So, I guess for me to be able to get around, we'd either need to be within walking distance of shops re groceries etc or near an MRT. Unless I'm wrong on the taxi front...?? Will I die if I walk more than 10mins in the heat?

Re housing, I have to confess that I'm a bit skeptical of the "condo" blocks. They kind of look like resorts and seem impersonal. Have you guys any experience of this - am I right? On paper, I prefer the "cluster houses" but these seem more expensive?

So, easy , where should we live based on the above?

[snotexpectingsnow]

Hi Lyre right will try to answer your questions - anyone else feel free to jump in!

MRT - yes is fine with a pram (most have lifts to the platform/street level) buses are also ok athough occassionally I will get asked to fold up the pushchair.
Taxi - yes once your baby is out of their 0+ car seat you will need to hold them on your lap. You might want to look on some of the expat forums as some people have some other alternatives - Sit'n'Stroll or Ride Safer Harness.
Yes you will be able to walk but is better early morning/evening time.

In terms of condos/cluster houses - I also wanted a cluster house when we first arrived (this was pre DS who is now 15months too) but DH really wanted to live close to work (we both work in the CBD - Financial District) as one of the big pulls was no more long commute as we had in London. So we settled for a condo as this was in our price range and preferred area. What I will say is that especially since the arrival of DS condo living has been great for us as we have met loads more people with DCs plus where we are means we can go for walks quite easily (we live by the river) and although there are quite a lot of units at our condo it never feels really busy and isn't very high rise and has large grounds. It is also very close to shops and restaurants.

[slim22]

Hello ladies,

Agree Holland V veeery overated. Holland V itself is just an old shopping centre. The whole area is a bit overpriced and has a very suburban feel. No MRT (yet) and unless you are on a main road (which you would not want) then without car, you can't get by.

East coast has some really lovely pockets of condos and landed alike and is now full of expats. I would say even for Singaporenans, it is now an established gentrified area. so don't discount it. It is however getting more expensive, and on an almost even keel to downtown for the best condos.

Sizxie, another big vote from me for Yo Chu Kang. I always redirect my french/Australian clients there because of the proximity to schools. Much nicer than serangoon garden way. Better houses and beautiful green surroundings.

MRT is very user friendly but you would definitely be restricting your choices by wanting to be walking distance to an MRT. Buses are more convenient and taxis cheap.

Personally I think cluster housing is a scam. Major privacy issues and the newer ones are ridiculously small. If you are prepared to pay that kind of money, get yourself an inter-terraced house or a bigger flat in a condo if you want the full facilities.

Condos are definitely the way to go for newcommers unless you have a big family with an established routine.
You'd really be isolated on your own with a baby.

There are some lovely low rise condos. And it's up to you. If you seek company you'll find it, if not you'll be left in peace.

Lyrie, depending on your budget and the sort of size you are after, I would suggest east coast around Fort/Amber/meyer road and up to Katong.

Following Expectant's recommandation, River valley road would be an obvious (and very good) choice, That is roughly from Robertson key to Alexandra road and all the way up to grange road/Tanglin mall.

Lots of little pockets around Orchard Road (paterson or killiney or cairnhill down towards scotts). Usually in the higher price bracket.

Pasir panjang road is up and coming but may feel out of the way for a newcommer. MRT on the doorstep though in 2010 and a stone's throw from sentosa.