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Original poster

Moving to Singapore - questions

32 replies

Adams2jones · 20/04/2018 20:20

Does anyone know if we/our children need any vaccines before moving over?

I read earlier that Media (Magazine, books, dvds, video games) are prohibited. Does anyone know if this is certain ones or if they are packed in our shipping they will be ok?? We only have fiction books, children's books and games for computers.
My son is worried if he takes his gaming console on the plane when we fly over it will be taken off of him?!

Can anyone recommend any pet travel companies (UK to SIN) ? Would prefer to use one that people can recommend.

OP posts:
MoonieMoo · 01/05/2018 19:42

Hi, just moved here from the uk.

We declared our children’s DVD’s on the cargo shipment (however not checked by customs) & our children’s consoles were either with us (on the plane as we travelled here) or on the shipment (again not checked).

Personally, if moving here just stock up on the following to bring in:

Calpol
Antihistamine/anti itch cream (you cannot buy it here off the counter)
sudocream
Children’s swim wear/clothing (as very expensive here)
Shoes for kids
WINE (pay the duty...it’s worth it! DH buys as many bottles as he can on his business trips as you get decent stuff but less expensive here ( min on a bottle is $20 in the shops of wine).

Also if moving with kids. Move to an area that you can walk the children to school...as you’ll meet many expat parents. That way (as a dependent spouse) you’ll be able to socialise etc.

S0upertrooper · 07/05/2018 08:48

Can I jump on the Singapore thread please? We're coming over in June to have a look-DH's employer wants us to relocate. What would your 5 top tips be to look into please?

Newyearnewbrain · 09/05/2018 16:14

Souper hi. We're just leaving after two years here. If you're going to be here with school age kids than my top tip would be to get that school place(s) sorted ASAP. Following on from that is commuting time and area. You basically can't walk anywhere. We're entering dry season now and it feels like 40 degrees. Walk more than ten minutes and you'll be drenched. So my top tip is to either live near an MRT or an excellent bus route. Make it a priority.

A few housing options available to you but one of the easiest ways of meeting people Is through your condo, usually by the pool. So somewhere with shared facilities is really good. Of course if you prefer a bit more space and privacy landed houses are also an option but being near a pool or leisure club is a must in this weather.

Feel free to PM me.

S0upertrooper · 09/05/2018 16:57

@Newyearnewbrain thanks for your reply, very helpful info. No school aged kids, just 2 elderly cats. Not sure if we should bring them as I've heard vet fees are very expensive and the flight conditions (no water or litter) sound brutal.

dippywhentired · 30/07/2018 21:29

Hi, we're possibly moving to Singapore in the next few months from USA. We're British but plan on coming back to the US after 2-3 years, so want to keep our kids in the US school system. Does anybody know anything about the SAS? And would most families attending tend to live in the Woodlands area? Any advice very welcome!

BrandNewHouse · 31/07/2018 16:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dippywhentired · 31/07/2018 21:02

BrandNewHouse - I have no idea of the best places to live, we were just looking at the American school so assumed people would live close to it. My husband would have a commute to the office, but he's not too bothered about that. Is Woodlands not a nice area, or is it because it's a way out of the centre? What are nice, family-friendly areas to live? Thanks!

Kuriusoranj · 01/08/2018 11:32

Lots of SAS families live up in Woodlands, but it is far from everywhere else - relatively, anyway, it's a tiny country. The nicest thing about Woodlands is that every Halloween they all get together and run a big trick or treat. It's legendary.

@Adams2jones you don't need any vaccines, and I wouldn't worry too much about the media. Customs reserve the right to check all your DVDs etc and if they decide to watch them, they'll charge you to do so. I don't know anyone who actually got hit with that, though.

@S0upertrooper 5 top tips from me: live in a condo, it's worth it; get a helper if you can bear it, it will make the whole experience so much better; travel, travel, travel - you'll never be so close to amazing places; plan on life without a car, it's really not necessary especially if you don't have small children needing car seats; live away from River Valley and the Tanglin strip and you'll keep out of the expat bubble a bit and have a nicer experience all round, in my opinion.

We moved on from Singapore this year after 5 lovely years. I miss a lot about it - nowhere else will ever be as easy to live.

dippywhentired · 01/08/2018 12:48

Thank you Kurio! It's very early in the process and may well not happen, but I want to find out as much as possible in case.

BrandNewHouse · 01/08/2018 18:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dippywhentired · 01/08/2018 20:03

Thanks BrandNew - I'm not necessarily wanting to escape the expat bubble. I've lived in 2 other countries apart from Britain, and in one we were in the bubble, the other not at all. Seeing as this would be a short-term thing of 2-3 years, my main criteria are meeting people as I wouldn't be working, and knowing others with kids, especially from school. I don't want to be isolated, but equally I'm not particularly a 'city' person. I'm assuming it would still be feasible to get into the city for nights out, shopping, etc., or is it a real pain from Woodlands area? Hard to tell just looking at the map.

Kuriusoranj · 02/08/2018 12:32

It really can't be overstated how tiny the place is - it's one of the downsides sometimes, you can get a bit of red dot fever and desperately need to get out. The good thing, though, is that nowhere is really too far to get to the city. For example, we had a 40 minute (on a very very bad day) commute and colleagues regularly laughed and thought we were crazy ang moh to live in the sticks.

Public transport is excellent and taxis are dirt cheap if you're lazy like me.

dippy, you'll be ok with meeting people, especially if you've done the expat thing before. I found most often people are in the same boat and willing to pay it forward. We all remembered the early days and how much help we needed at first. You will need to put yourself out there a bit, but it's a good place to be. Live near your kids' school and do the pickups yourself for a while and you'll be golden. Use the facebook groups too - eventually they'll drive you to distraction, but they're a great resource. I met 4 women who are now among my closest friends through a bookclub request on one of the facebook groups. I'd go with Singapore Expat Wives and Real Singaopore Expat Women at first and try to tune out the drama.

dippywhentired · 02/08/2018 21:14

Thank you Kuriu, that's very helpful. Expat fb groups are the same the world over ;-)

S0upertrooper · 23/08/2018 10:38

@Kuriusoranj thanks for your reply. We were out in June and have decided to go. DH in January and me in July as I'm doing a PGCE course and hope to teach English when I'm there. We liked the condos in Keppel Bay, so hoping to rent there. We'll be there for at least 3 years but more likely 6.

Just need to start organising the house here for the big move!!!

Kuriusoranj · 24/08/2018 01:11

How lovely - glad you've decided to try it. It really is a great place to live for a while. Not very real, but it's a superb experience. Keppel Bay is great - we worked just near there. Very handy for most things.

Those 3-6 years will fly by. It's a funny thing, and I think it's partly related to the lack of weather. Since there are no seasons (really, the weather is more or less the same every day of the year) you don't have the rhythm of the year to track the time passing. On the other hand, everything you do is 2 years long - your EP, your tenancy, your phone contract, everything. The result seems to be that you notice only 2 year blocks. A couple of them go by and you're suddenly an old timer. :)

I do still miss it. Very best of luck with your adventure! Make the most of it.

Songsparrow · 29/08/2018 15:47

Hi, can I hijack your Singapore thread too please?

We are thinking of moving over in January and one of the (many!) things I'm stressing about is the pet situation. We have a dog that we would be bringing and I can't find any info about whether pets are usually allowed in condos etc. Is Singapore a pet friendly place in general?

Also have never had my DS in private schools and have no idea how to navigate that system. Is there anything like an advisory service that would help find the right school? We will get a relocation package, would that be included in that?

tomhazard · 29/08/2018 15:57

I can't answer your pet question but their were lots of dogs in our condo so people definitely have them. I would think it's entirely possible to take your dog.

Schools- some companies pay these fees and some don't. It's a number one thing to check as most international schools are around 30 SGD per year which you don't really want to take out of your own pocket.
I wouldn't use a schools advisory service - there are lots of people who can advise you
Where to look and when you arrive (or on a pre visit) fo some tours. Bear in mind wait lists are quite extensive in the best schools how old is DS? .

Songsparrow · 29/08/2018 22:00

Thanks tomhazard seems to be good news about the dog then. I will check out whether it will need to be quarantined.

We are getting a school allowance, whether that pays all school fees or not remains to be seen. I think it would cover one of the more reasonably priced ones (plus extras like bus, canteen etc?). I'm hoping we will get over to visit before we come, we are in the States tho so it's a long way to come for just a few days. DS is 11 (7th grade).

tomhazard · 29/08/2018 22:07

Songsparrow oh that's good - it's often the early years where there are huge waiting lists.
I knew lots of people from the US when we were there and they all sent their DC to SAS in Woodlands. Quite a far out place to live though. Prob best if you plan to go back to the US after.
Are you interested in British school ?

Songsparrow · 30/08/2018 19:13

I think we'll be staying until the end of high school so I'm not fussed about him going to American school. He is half French so maybe the French school might be an option. That's good news about waiting lists!

tomhazard · 31/08/2018 15:55

I used to work at the French school, I really liked it although it is massive. It's in Ang Mo Kio so you'd be best to live North of the city centre so you can get the buses.

Songsparrow · 31/08/2018 21:51

Good to know thank you! DH's job out west, so I'm torn whether to live nearer school or nearer work. I know everyone says it's all so small, I need to be there I think to get a handle on the scale of the place.

tomhazard · 01/09/2018 08:48

It is small but most people live in reasonable distance of their DC school, or in a condo where several of the children go to the same school and the school buses come for them. If you're thinking of the French school then I wouldn't live too far out West - it's easier for your DH to commute than your DS.

Songsparrow · 01/09/2018 14:57

Thanks again, more food for thought!

Lauraeardley2009 · 21/09/2018 21:50

Hi, so glad I’ve found this thread as I would love to hear from anyone with experience of living in Singapore with young children (my son is 6 and daughter 3.)

We will be moving to Singapore in spring 2019 as my husband has got a 2 year contract. Just trying to work out which school to choose and location to live! My husband will be working at the airport so we thought living East coast would be a good idea but there are not many schools around there. Does anyone have experience of Eaton House Broadrick as that is more East?

Based on what I’ve read, Dover Court looks ideal, my son is in a small village school at the mo and is quite shy so I am concerned about him going to a huge school! I would also prefer to take him myself at least for the first few weeks but I don’t know how?! I can’t imagine life without a car tbh!!

Also my daughter would be part time pre school so do I try to get her in at The school or find a separate pre school- it’s all just so expensive!! There is money for that in the package but it’s not that much.

So basically my questions are where should we live and which school do I choose?!?!😅

Any advice at all would be very welcome!! Thanks xxx

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