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Living overseas

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Original poster

Singapore - go or not ?

16 replies

Moggy72 · 31/05/2019 20:39

Hi - my DH has a promotion that would involve moving to Singapore. We have three DS with the oldest doing GCSEs. I’m not keen on the move - worried that I’d get bored (I have my own company in the UK) and also worry about moving our DS16 at this stage - he’s in a top school. A recent trip to see houses & schools - left me underwhelmed. Hated the humidity and felt like moving was just a hassle. I think I’m being unsupportive though - given it’s a big promotion. Thoughts ?

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 31/05/2019 20:43

I wouldn't, not in that situation. Could he go alone and come back every few weeks?

Aquamarine1029 · 31/05/2019 20:45

Oh dear. This sounds like an absolutely awful time to consider moving your children! And given you aren't happy with the move yourself could spell disaster. How long would your husband's placement be for? Could he go by himself? This is such a difficult predicament.

stucknoue · 31/05/2019 21:12

We could have gone for 5 years and didn't, I regret it at some level. At 16 boarding for a levels is a good option (dd chose to) and theres British schools out there, alternatively if it's temporary you could stay here and travel as much as possible

yoursworried · 01/06/2019 07:02

It doesn't sound like an ideal time to move your children but Singapore is a fantastic city to live in. Yeah it's humid, but you adjust after a few weeks and soon appreciate being able to swim outdoors every day. It is safe and multicultural and a perfect balance of East and West. It is also very easy to set up your own company there. Many of the international schools are excellent and full of Higgs achieving kids and experienced teachers .
I'm not saying you should go if you think it's wrong for your kids, but it is a wonderful place to live for a few years.

KatherineJaneway · 01/06/2019 07:05

What provision would his company give hi for home visits if he went there alone? Is this a permanent move just for this job or is there an understanding he'd only be there for a few years?

Original poster
Moggy72 · 01/06/2019 16:18

Thanks all. It is a tough one. I do think that the kids would love swimming everyday and enjoy the food and culture of Asia. He might be able to go on his own - but he’s a real family man and I don’t think he’d like that. (I actually think it would be fun to spend the school holidays there and go back and forth).

OP posts:
Original poster
Moggy72 · 03/06/2019 12:17

Unfortunately the move will require is all to go. DH going alone won’t work.

OP posts:
SnowsInWater · 04/06/2019 05:04

I came on to say if you have young children I would go for it and treat it as an adventure. We were there last year and visited friends with three young children. Both worked and dad travelled a lot. They had lot of domestic/childcare help and lived in an apartment complex where they had made good friends with other Expats with young kids. There is no way I would move a 16yo, I think if you wouldn't consider boarding school for him it's not really a goer.

Oblomov19 · 04/06/2019 06:19

What a tricky decision. Friend of mine is moving now, but her kids are 10 and 8, so it's so much easier than yours!

Ch3rryTree · 04/06/2019 08:13

How much annual leave would DH get? I've heard 2 weeks per year (!) can be standard.

Original poster
Moggy72 · 04/06/2019 23:29

@ch3rrytree - I hadn’t heard that about the lack of holidays.
Anyway we’ve decided not to go. We tried to work out a way for me to stay in the UK with the kids and travel over during the holidays and him come back and forth. Unfortunately his company have said no.
So we’re staying put in the UK. DH is quite disappointed - as it was a really good opportunity. I’m also more disappointed than I thought I’d be - guess it would have been an adventure. But I do think moving DS16 would have been a mistake.

OP posts:
Rickytickytembo · 09/06/2019 08:04

The statement re holidays is incorrect. Standard is more like 20 days /year. Plus there are about 10 public holidays /year (on top of annual leave).

yoursworried · 09/06/2019 08:47

Agree that this holiday thing isn't right. There are loads of public holidays - much more than the UK . My DH also got 2 extra days off per year just because he had children....

Sorry to hear you've decided not to go - perhaps it's something you can consider again once you're children are all flown the nest.

bloomwild · 09/06/2019 22:22

Agree that it would be an adventure: with young children; luxurious also if you are both working parents with primary age children; or there to stay; also an adventure as a duo once children are grown up.

In your scenario right now, it does not seem the best idea to go.

PenelopeHolmes · 10/06/2019 05:59

I mentioned the annual leave figure because that is exactly what a relative has been offered for a graduate management trainee position with a huge international company there. Didn't know about public holidays being so generous... but odd days here and there throughout the year do not allow people to fly home and see their family in the UK (or indeed have a 'proper' holiday) which was very pertinent to OP's considerations.

IAmAlwaysLikeThis · 10/06/2019 06:06

I think the holidays very much depends on the company. I have friends who get 10 days a year and friends who get 6 weeks. It just depends.

I like Singapore, but not sure I could live there long term. It's safe and if you like shopping it's great, but there's not that much to do in my opinion. I like the food culture there, you can eat out cheaply and well basically every night. Very good base to travel around Asia if that's your thing and plenty of flights to the UK.

Your kids ages are definitely something I'd worry about too.

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