Moving to Singapore - Advice and Info needed please!

[BellaMummy]

My DH and two DDs (5 & 3) are moving to Singapore this year (DH in July and me a few months later after things are wrapped up in the UK), and although I've lived in Asia before that was pre-children, and many years ago.

Any practical advice from mnetters who have relocated would be fab. We are not planning on shipping very much (mostly personal things) but is there anything else you would advise we bring? Is it worth shipping our TV and other electrical appliances? Are there things you shipped that you wish you hadn't?

All advice gratefully received

X

Just had another thought (I am on a roll today!). My girls are both up-to-date with their vaccinations, but are any of you considering any others before you go? I spoke briefly to the practice nurse at our surgery and she suggested Hep A and possibly typhoid.

Are any of you considering that? Or did you do this before you got there?

Poor BellaMummy, here, have a hug. So, in response:

No, not a silly idea to look at options outside your childrens' current system, IMO. If we were staying longer I would love to have looked at alternatives to the UK curriculum. As it is, with us being away for just two years I would prefer DS to 'settle' back in to English schooling as easily as poss when we do come home so am staying with what we know. If I were you I would go for it and explore all the options.

In terms of absence from DH I am SO with you on this one. I don't mind being apart a bit, he travels with work from time to time and I am out seeing friends a fair bit in the UK - but to work and be a mummy and do the move all at the same time is an awesome feat and I am handing you a big gong. In our house, DH is in a whirl of chores as he prepares for the move. He's leaving in two weeks and his new role has started so he's on Singsong hours, plus doing handover in UK, plus being Good At DIY he is doing snagging on our flat, plus stirring the dinner with one foot, looking after his ageing Pa, looking after me and DS - am making him sound like a saint and he is great at doing it all and actually enjoys it but it's a exhausting energy to be around so in many ways, much as I love him, it will be calmer once he's, well, gone, really. Bless him. We're busy doing all the things he doesn't have time to do and more, eBaying stuff, sorting out our flat rental, working out what we need to do for the actual physical move and just staying sane. We are all three of us simply shattered and just can't wait to be over there and settling in, now.

To make things worse on Saturday we gave away the cats. Oh. My. Good. God. I never ever ever want to go through that again. I didn't want to take them with us as we're turning round and coming back again in a few years. We're not leaving til mid-Aug but the new keepers (best friends of ours) were very keen (and that's a good thing) and also I knew it would be hard and wanted to make sure I wasn't like I am now, only about to step onto a flight to go far, far away. Couldn't do it all at once, so we did the moggies early, the dear little fluffy things. They were just SO confused. My fault for treating the little things like babies. Bad. I have been sobbing like a film actress for two days, eyes like red footballs, snot-nose, doing school run extra late so I don't have to talk to Nice People because if I have to do that I just cry. This morning I actually (whispers): woke. up. crying.

How insane is that? (yes I know, very ).

Anyway, see how I've turned your thread into me me me. Oops. If you want, BM, and you live near London (can't remember where you said you were based) then perhaps we can fit a little weekend meet into our plans and panic gently together? I promise to have stopped crying by then (I hope).

PS no idea about vaccs, we have been to SE Asia a bit and I think the ones you mentioned were the ones we always got for DS but must look into this, thanks for prod. Let us know if you find out first.

The doctors here tend to recommend the usual UK vacs, plus vaccination for Hep A and B - children have to have two shots six months apart, or at least the brand we had did, so you may be as well to wait until you get here to do a full course with the same doctor, though then of course you'll have to pay. Adults have shots a month apart then one five months later (so three in total) then a blood test to check the Hep B has worked. That should last for life.

They recommend typhoid if you'll be travelling around SE Asia, not necessary in Singapore itself. The typhoid only lasts 5 years so I waited until we had booked a trip to a place that warranted a typhoid jab. Others - cholera, rabies etc - are generally done if you are about to travel somewhere that there's an issue.

Thanks ExpatWife - that is really helpful. I think I'll go ahead and get them their typhoid here, and possibly the first shot of the Hepatitis ones. I'll talk to their GP and see what he recommends. DD2 is due her preschool jab soon, so will get that one done at the same time if possible.

LM - thanks for the hug! I'm still very excited about the move, but the reality of it is hitting home. Unfortunately I am not near London (up near Cambridge) and will not be getting out and about much once DH goes, so we will have to wait until we are both in S'pore and can meet over a few Tiger beers!

Poor you with your cats. Just let yourself feel sad about it and cry as much as you need to. It is probably other things praying on your mind too - I found myself SOBBING at the TV the other night over the smallest thing, and realised I am feeling a bit sad already at the prospect of all the goodbyes around the corner.

I am determined to get through the long separation and finalise things here - have lovely friends locally who will hopefully help with the girls, and also DH is off all of July before he goes, so hopefully he will be able to get loads of stuff organised. I know it will be tough, but then it will be done and we will be on a plane to reunite with DH, with all the adventures waiting for us. Am thinking positively!!!

X

Def meet up when we get there, yes. Good luck with it all, will no doubt talk on forums before then.

oh yes - I am counting on keeping in touch with you for my sanity!

Oh London that's so sad.

I would get as many jabs done in the UK as you can. I took dd for her MMR and chicken pox last week and it set me back over $200! Plus she has to have the next one in a few months as there has been an outbreak of measles here.

I don't envy you doing all the move on your own. My DH was in the US for 4 months before we came here but at least we didn't have dc then! Good luck with it all!

Merlion, is the chicken pox vaccination a standard one in S'pore? Will my DDs need it before they can go to school/preschool? The guidelines on all the school websites say 'up-to-date vaccinations', but I'm assuming they are the standard ones we immunise against in the UK.

I'd been thinking about getting them vaccinated against chicken pox anyway as a close friend's little boy was very poorly with it and it scared me. I know everyone always says it's harmless, but after what I saw, I know that that's not always the case, especially if they contract it while they have another virus.

Yes, I'm planning on being super-human in my efforts.....we've moved quite a bit, so I know how much there will be to do, but hey ho. I'll get there in the end. Have just bought 'Calmer, Happier, Easier Parenting' after I saw the web-chat here on Mumsnet. Just planning ahead for the stress

here is the singapore immunization schedule

this link is better actually

chicken pox is not standard, its fairly harmless but appears regularly in schools every year.

Also recommend you vaccinate in the UK for all the standard ones.

Hep A as mentioned before is only really necessary if you are traveling a bit off the beaten track and eating street food. Likewise for Typhoid if you plan to treck a bit during monsoon season or swim in the wild. I guess not what you'll be doing immediately after you move.
So take time to settle and talk to a few "seasoned" expats before you make any unnecessary vaccination.
We personally didn't. We did travel a bit but food is pretty much always consumed within a good standard hotel.

What you need to take seriously though is the heat and the mosquitoes. There will be lots of leaflets about it in all Dr surgeries.

Thanks for the links Harpy - that's really helpful. I think I'll talk to the GP/travel clinic and chat it through with DH, and then decide what to do. My girls have both travelled in the tropics (I'm from Queensland originally, and we were just in S'pore in April) so I'm well versed in dealing with the heat, thank goodness!

Bella no as per laptop's link it's not mandatory but it was offered as a combined injection along with the MMR so we decided to go for that. She has to have the 2nd dose at 15 months now (as opposed to 3years in the UK) as there has apparently been an outbreak of measles here.

Hi BellaMummy,

Just thought I'd add sth re schools. We've gone for Stamford American. The size of the schools was freaking me out a bit although I went to see UWC with it's 2500 or whatever it is students and it didn't feel at all crowded or huge. It was actually so sweet to see 4 year olds alongside teenagers, all getting along.

My youngest son is at a tiny village school in Surrey. 90 pupils. One of the things that appeals to me about Stamford is that they are due to move to a new campus in August and whilst full capacity is around 2500 they're only up to around 650 at the moment so I feel the boys will grow with the school (also means they've got spaces!). We'll be there for either 2 years or 10 (boys are 9 and 7 and won't move them once they're teenagers until 18).

Anyway, we fly out on 21st. Can't wait. Would go now if I could! A lot of stuff gone on eBay and Freecycle. We're taking hardly anything. Feels so liberating!! House viewings ticking along but no offers yet. Plan is to sell and buy a one bed in Woking to rent out.

I would love to meet up with some of you. That would be ace.

Londonmoo, that's so sad about your cat. :-(

K

Sorry. Cats. Too late and brain no longer functioning. Night.

pupsie I live just off River Valley too so we'll be nearly neighbours!

That's great Merlion We're in Robertson Quay. I would love to meet up! 8 days to go! How long have you been there?

robertson quay has just become so nice over the years!

Great choice There is a really nice urban yet laid back vibe to the new stretch along rodyck road.

waving to Merlion remember me since the name change ? you still live in the same place?
We are loving HK and still undecided about returning to Singapore eventually!

we had a really nice paediatrician when we were in s'pore. PM me if you want the details pupsiecola
happy moving!

Will you be working out there, pupsie and Bella? I'm an ex-journo/ sub-editor/freelance writer and haven't worked in an office for a while and definitely won't take it up again while I'm out there.

River Valley was our second choice of area, sounds amazing.

Also, absolutely terrified of the 'trailing spouse' label but quite aware that this is exactly what I'll be, and mindful of having to suck it up to a certain extent. Putting trailing hat on and trying not to sulk about it... (hmm)

We are aiming to live in the East to make the commute to work an easy one for DH. Stamford American looks lovely, but our preference is to choose a school close to where we will live, hence our shortlist of Chatsworth, Eton House and CIS. Of course it all comes down to them having a place for us for January or possibly earlier....we can't move any of that until DH gets there and goes and looks around. Have had email chat with their admissions people, but so much could change between now and January when we are aiming to enrol DD1.

Trailing spouse. eek! I've moved around quite a bit in my many years with DH - such a matyr! - so am already used to the trailing bit.....

My plan is to work once the DDs are both settled in school/kindergarten or preschool. I'm an HR Manager and currently work 3/4 days a week, and my preference would be to do part-time in S'pore as well. I get the impression that they don't really go in for part-time or job share there (from people who live/have lived there and from forums) so will have to see how my search goes when I get there. Really don't want to work full time

Pupsi - do you mean the 21 June? Crikey that is only a week away! If I'm honest, I've tried and failed to get my head around how I'm going to clear the house (bearing in mind we're not putting anything in strorage and selling/giving away/shipping everything we own), get it ready to rent (ie. carpets cleaned, oven cleaned etc.), and look after the girls while not having a nervous breakdown. Sounds like you have sailed through it all!

Laptop of course I remember and yes we are at the same place still ! We may be HK bound ourselves at some point so will need your advice again if/when that happens but imagine it's a year or so off yet. Glad you are still enjoying HK and was pleased to see you got the school places!

pup we've been here 5 years and previously lived at River Place so I know Robertson well. We still use the Doctor there (Dr Tan). He's very nice and our bills are settled directly by our insurance which is helpful as DH doesn't then have to remember to claim!

Laptop wielding harpy - sorry to ask here,but are you a harpist? Did you study in London???

Londonmoo - I used to work in IT but haven't done since the kids were born (was a techie and my skills are embarrassingly out of date). Have had a couple of part time jobs in recent years (admin and IT recruitment resourcing). In February I set up my own business - decluttering and selling medium to high end items for people on eBay! I'm www.neatlydoesit.com. It's really bloomin' taken off which is sad as I'm having to leave it behind. I have sold all sorts from designer handbags to an electric garage door to block paving. But I'm hoping to build it up in Singapore as I do feel that with the ex-pat community, transient way of life and eBay being not quite so well used there's the potential to be successful. I'm very passionate about it and will hit the ground running once I've figured out how to set up as a sole trader.

Bella, yes, this time next week we'll be in the air! We've sold sooo much on eBay as we're taking hardly anything. (Just sentimental nick nack type things that will make it feel like home, and clothes really). We've now sold both cars and have to hire one tomorrow for 5 days. The house is on the market (it's not our forever home - we planned on being here 5 to 10 days and we've been here 7). We're going to buy a flat to rent out with some of the equity. It feels so great to have such a thorough clear out and it's what my company's all about so I kind of need to be ahead of myself on it don't I!!!

That's me!

Merlion, where are you living now?

Karen xx

Pup we live on Jervois Road now.It would be great if you can work out eBay here. I have had a lot of mixed luck with it and it's really annoying when you say collection only and then they can't come to you. Also people seem not to want to use paypal either.

Bella when is your DH doing the school visits?