Who are you?
My name is Pallavi and I am an Indian expatriate living in Singapore. After working/touring the world with British Airways for four years, I finally touched down on this sunny little island in 2011 and since then it has become my second home.
Currently I work in corporate sales and during my free time I blog about my experiences of expat life in at Diary of an Indian Expat in Singapore.
Where, when and why did you move abroad?
I moved to Singapore in early 2011 to join my husband who was given a job offer here.What challenges did you face during the move?
We didn’t really face any major challenges. We contacted a real estate agent through propertyguru.sg and finalized a place to move into. We did realize later that we were paying a high rent for our 2 bedroom condo and later bought a place of our own.
Are there many other expats in your area?
I live in East coast and there are many expats here. I guess they all love the beach!
What is your relationship like with the locals?
Since I started working here, I have met many local Singaporeans. People here are very helpful. Many of the cab drivers will actually entertain you with stories about the country which I find very interesting as I get a local insight from them. People give you space and no one interferes in other people’s lives. I also enjoy my lunch conversations with my Singaporean colleagues.
What do you like about life where you are?
I like lots of things here:
1. Weather – I love that I can wear summer clothes all year long. The weather is sunny and when it gets too hot, it rains. I enjoy not having to bundle up in winter clothes.
2. Safety – This is probably the safest country for women. You can walk around at 2AM in the morning and nothing will happen to you. The laws here are strict and they protect women.
3. Convenience – The local transport system is very efficient and convenient. The buses, MRT and taxis are readily available and are affordable. It’s very easy to get around. The easylink card (Tap in tap out card) can be used in all public transport including taxis!
4. The beach – East coast beach is 5 minutes away from our house and it’s a great place to relax and take our dog for a run. Like everything else in Singapore, the beach is vey clean as well.
5. Hawker centres – I am a foodie and love eating the local food in hawker centres, it’s cheap, it’s hot , it’s delicious and good value for money.
6. Road discipline – Cars actually stop for you to cross the road (please don’t try this on the expressway!) There are road crossings which give priority to pedestrians. Also, people have a sense of discipline while driving.
What is the biggest cultural difference you have experienced between your new country and life back home?
Singapore has a rich cultural heritage. Places like China Town, Little India, Arab Street are all famous tourist spots as well. ‘Little India’ has everything Indian under the sun…there are Indian temples, Indian vegetables and lots of Indian shopping. Culturally, I feel at home.
Visit Diary of an Indian Expat in Singapore to stay up to date with Pallavi's latest blog posts.