What is it like to live in Singapore as a foreigner
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มิ.ย. 2024
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TODAY'S GUEST:
Meet Joel, an Australian who has been living in Singapore for 9 years. He shared with me why socializing with locals can be challenging, what's wrong with all condos in Singapore, and why Singaporeans expect foreigners to leave rather than assimilate. Enjoy!
➢ Joel on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joel-pars...
WATCH NEXT:
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► Pros & Cons of Living in Singapore as a Foreigner: • Pros & Cons of Living ...
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 INTRO
00:29 The reality of being a foreigner
02:04 Rich Singaporean society
03:35 Foreigners benefit Singapore's economy
05:40 What is the "normal Australian"?
07:07 Australia vs Singapore
08:25 Socialization in Singapore
12:39 Life in Condo vs HDB
16:24 Why will Joel stay in Singapore?
17:28 Why is it better to be born in Singapore?
22:59 Religion in Singapore
Hey! This channel bridges the gap between locals and foreigners in Singapore, Malaysia, and India. Join Max as he interviews expats, unraveling their unique stories and providing valuable insights into their lives in the vibrant cities of Asia. Through engaging conversations, Max fosters understanding and appreciation between locals and the global community, focusing on cultural exchange.
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Joel is highly intelligent and observant, many of the things he mentioned were very relatable. Great interview
With the exception of the Malaya part 😅
One of the best interviews I have seen on this channel. Joel was so polite and his views were quite interesting. Thank you for your views on Singapore and I do hope that you can be a Singaporean one day haha. You will be a great asset to this nation. Thank you Max for the interview.
in front of camera, some people are smiling and good spoken. Read more into his narrative, no thanks for such a person into Singapore. He is not open minded. Nope.
we dont need him nither do we need max either. they will go at some point
Haha... Typical Singaporean
🥲
@@MaxChernov ignore those arrogant Singaporean. We welcome u to Malaysia.👍
To understand why Singaporeans will always assume that foreigners will leave, one has to look back at the country's development and policies. Up until the late 80's, most of the foreigners here were either senior executives with generous expatriate packages or migrant workers from South and South-east Asia. The former were here to oversee local business operations only and never had the intention to stay, while the latter did not have any path to permanent residency or citizenship. From the 90's onwards, the government decided to welcome middle and high income "foreign talent", hoping to anchor them to the country. The results were at best, mixed. Even before the term "Singapore washing" was coined, it had already been in practice since the 90's. In other words, the country became a launch pad and stepping stone, not a destination. Those who came here from developing economies aspired to a better life in the west, while those from developed countries only wanted a Far East experience on their CV and saw no point in staying. Singapore thus became a halfway house, or a gap year experience, depending on where you came from. Through all of this, the average Singaporean has witnessed the arrival and departure of colleagues, classmates, acquaintances and even relatives through marriage. Very few have stayed on, and many Singaporeans no longer harbour the expectation they will. The country, like its port and airport, has become a mere transit point for the "global citizen".
Probabaly on the best interview till date.
Joel has really good insight and interesting informed opinions.
Joel makes a good point about the foreigners we interact at work do not represent the countries they are from. Good reminder!
Joel is such a wise interpreter of Singapore. Excellent interview!
Haha i remember being in Australia and always wondering who are their target customers when they open shop so early when everyone is going to work or school, then they closed by 5-6pm when everyone is also done with work, it's good for the people working in retail though.
I really like this interview and I think he is being very polite 😝 in some aspects. As a Singaporean living overseas in Europe, I can definitely see what’s the good of our country but also what I really hope Singapore can catch up on. If you are keen to interview overseas Singaporeans, I’m happy to do it! Will be in Singapore Feb to March. No obligation. Good interview 👍
Can you drop me an email please? It’s in the description
I can't wait to see you
@@MaxChernov Singapura is independen China town in middle Malay etnic grup land
@@carkawalakhatulistiwanah
When u see foreigners come and go for so many years, the assumption will stick. 😅
His perspective is so true. Having lived abroad for over 10 years before, new arrivals tend to stick with other new arrivals or foreigners. Not that they didn’t want to assimilate, just that locals vs foreigners hv different commitments more often than not. 😁
Max you are doing a great job with these interviews... These very personal interviews of expats in Singapore and their experiences brings locals and expats closer together as it gives them an opportunity to understand the other perspective. I would suggest expanding your pool of interviewees to locals (with respect to their views on immigration/expats/integration/etc) and also to include expats from more walks of life (say helpers or immigrant nurses or technicians).
Joel's interview really relatable of the POV for the various stakeholders in Singaporean and Foreigner context. And Max as the intervewer is able to prompt the right questions to get those points across, everyone can understand.
Great interview! Such candid sharing. It has given me a lot of new perspectives! Thanks max for making this video!
Thank you for a sincere & unbiased perspective. Many thanks Joel & wishing you the best here. Merry Christmas💖
Clicked the video not expecting to sit through it but Joel is awesome! I really enjoyed his perspective and how he puts his point across. Well done!
Joel is a star!
Highly interesting interview with loads of different perspectives being shared! 👍
💯
I would love to have Joel as a local friend.
Very insightful video! Good job Max!
amazing interview with joel, i love his analysis of social interactions between new-comers and locals, so accurate
Insightful, observant, eloquent, respectful & well balanced perspective. Great interview!
I thoroughly enjoyed this interview. Joel is highly perceptive and accurate in how he reads people and culture. Sweet guy! I would love to know him personally as a friend.
A typical Singapore "choing" from Monday to Friday, and sometimes on Saturday as well. Life is tough and competitive for many, and some catch up with their parents on Saturday evening over dinner. Sunday is a time to unwind for most Singaporeans, which also means most hardly have time to make new friends, unless they make an effort.
Joel speaks from such a kind and understanding heart. He respects others with such humility, even though he’s so brilliant. I wish Joel the best.
I like this interviewee for his good observations that articulated what has been clouding my mind for the past 15 years :)
19:15 Joel nailed it with this comment "if you were going to be born to parents who aren't wealthy, Singapore is a better place to be born to not wealthy Singaporeans...."
my dad was a cleaner, mum stayed home, dad has primary school level education, mum has zero education, today i own 2 residential properties, one as my home, one for rental income, and a car, in Singapore. Just a typical SG kid born in the 80s to low income family who went to neighborhood schools who is thriving in life with income in the top 15% percentile. And I'm not the exception, many of my classmates came from similar background families and are doing way better than me in terms of income.
We are living proof that LKY legacy works. i thank God for Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
It is meritocracy, the kind that actually works in practice.
Great interview. Smart and observant.
Much knowledgeful and Insightful.
Joel is Hercule Poirot..His grey cells really do a lot of thinking,analysis , conjecture and observations..a very nice guy to be friends with
Many interesting observations, Joel! I hope we hear more from you ... or pls start your own TH-cam channel. I'd like to hear more from you and your insights into observations about anything and everything. Cheers
Very good points about how Singapore test base system actually is more fair compared to other countries (at least in his home country of australia), the way he put it was very enlightening indeed.
Security guard in condo will also ensure condo facilities are not misused by non residents such as carpark, swimming pools or gym. Else the place will be congested and issues will arise. Those facilities are exclusive to residents only.
Insightful observations about Singaporeans, Joel!
Dear Max, you have done a really great job with these interviews, which I really enjoy! And this interview is one of the best 👍
Definitely👍
🙏
Joel is extremely astute. His observations are very insightful.
Education is one of Singapore's biggest achievement. As Joel says, it's hard for Singaporeans to realize how low quality, run down and limited non-wealthy public schools can be everywhere around the world, even in western countries that seems safe and wealthy.
compared to the singaporean private schools the public schools are just that. but ministers and you want to pretend that every school is a good school
@@wong-th9giare you kidding? You gotta give credit when it's due. Singapore public schools are great. Recent PISA scores indicated that lower SES students in Singapore are doing better than their counterparts in other OECD countries, and they are still performing above OECD average.
@@wong-th9giyou have perfectly described what the original comment was talking about. or rather, you ARE the perfect description of the original comment. if u havent noticed, you are still unable to recognize that even our public schools, not private, are doing WAY better than even some private schools overseas, let alone their public schools.
One of the best education in the world
in the west there's not much teaching of the core subjects but yes they mainly doing class management and focusing on topics like LGBT, inclusion, self expression etc etc
Very good assessment of educational system in Singapore 👍🏼
This guy quite power, he say the thing really hits the point..........thats really how singaporean think indeed-reality. And also the fact that anybody kids can become top scholar here indeed.......as a matter of fact the way i see, most kids who are deprived when they are younger become more successful in Singapore...........
fantastic talk. please invite Joel again.
Oh! An Angmoh who gets us! Good job !
Be yourself wherever you go. You don't need to fit in so long you're at peace with yourself and peaceful with others. It's as simple as that.
that why a lot of people don't like me 😁
Is it? If i go from one state of india to another, why do I always get the lecture to 'respect the local culture' or 'learn the local language'..
@@jeetlahkar894 I don't think you understand the phrase 'peaceful with others', be yourself doesn't mean you have to go against the local culture nor not learning the language, I think what he meant is 'you don't need to force yourself to do things that you don't want to'
Joel's very enlightened !!
This was a really good interview and I generally thought it was very insightful. One thing I would like to add - although a smart but poor kid could be lifted up with good test scores, the reality is that wealthier families send their kids for tuition which gives them an advantage.
Very brilliant information
Thank you very much, Mr. Max 🙏🏽🙇🏻♀️ ❤❤❤
Great video. He is right on lot of information about Singapore. And I am glad that he is here to stay with his son. I have been to many countries and work with them in MNC company to know that Singapore is a great country to stay. Was posted to hk for few years still Singapore food so much. Really like your video. I know we are small and our government is trying very hard to keep the nation going well. Lot of us just keep complaining, keeping taking and not giving. They will not able to make in other country.
Max is a good listener and doesnt interrupt his interviewees ...
Guys. thanks for the polite interview
really enjoyed the interview, very diverse aspects of SG covered based on Joel's experience beyond Clark Quay. The dog poops! (my wife would totally agree on this) hahaha. This kind of interactions and dialogs can only enrich Singapore in going forward. It would be interesting to see an interview from the other angle? local interaction with the bubble foreigner vs the non bubble foreigner. Thanks for great interview!
I wish Joel had his own youtube channel! i know he must be busy as a lawyer but he is so eloquent and observant
Regarding Sgpreans not expecting Foreigners to stay is highly understandable because MOST foreigners don't stay. They treat Singapore as a business location, family stay for a while and boom they are back to home country. Hence I think it's relatable why singaporeans in general don't invest their rship with foreigner neighbours. At where I stay (condo), there are many foreigners come and go. Actually they are the one that don't bother to to integrate or get to know their neigbours because their mindset is such that they are not here to stay for long. In fact, foreigners tend to cling to their enclaved community which is nothing wrong but that also tells you why they dont integrate when they can find their own home countries or same expat groups of kakis. I would say in general Singaporeans are welcoming Foreigners but the majority of them do not stay. Yes a minority might become PRs.
Joel's point abt the security buzzing in and out is the exact reason i moved from condo to hdb.... hated the intercom buzzing 😑
Great insights and observations.
Agreed that there is a lot of wastage and inconvenience living in condos.
BTW.. most walls in new HDBs can be removed😄
Joel is an interesting Ang moh. I think he learned alot about how Singaporeans think, from his wife.
The only foreigner so far that really really sees spore in every aspect. 👍
The part about making friends is so true.
I have lived in Singapore for 28 years. I was a regional market research director when I arrived, so was, in effect, paid to understand where I lived! Like Joel, I am married to a Singaporean and have PR. I was the one to drag my wife here from Hong Kong.
My wife has a strong friendship group from school, church, and a large extended family, so that is most of my social life. I did make a significant number of local friends early on, but they thinned themselves out by frequently cancelling at short notice (or just not turning up) because of a family event arranged on the day. It's hard to take the constant 'you won't be here long' narrative. Many Singaporeans are also not tactful, and seem surprised when a tirade about the dreadfulness of the UK (my country of origin) is not well-received.
It really is true that it's so much easier to make friends with people who are in a similar position - and have a similar sense of humour. Over the last few years, a lot of expats left (not all voluntarily), so I find myself in the strange position of having to rebuild a friendship circle, although, like Joel, I have good friends from church.
On the subject of religion, the church I go to is very international, and I haven't really experienced a sharp division between Singaporeans and others in terms of their approach to Bible study, though I have heard something similar from other groups. However, it does raise the great point that - typically - Singaporeans do want to know what the 'correct' answer is most of the time. This isn't necessarily the truth, but the answer that is acceptable to or expected by, for example, a manager.
I only briefly lived in a condo, but I suspect that the walls and security guards are mostly about controlling the environment.
Joel, you are clearly a shrewd and insightful observer. I wish you well in Singapore.
love your videos, great insights into other countries' cultures and the different perspectives of foreigners in Singapore!
The reason why condos have walls surrounding the estate and a security post, is not just strictly about safety and security. It's also due to the fact that since you're paying a premium for your housing, you'll not want outsiders and unwelcome intruders into your homes pedalling goods and services, loiterers with I'll intentions, making use of parking spaces, non-residents enjoying your swimming pools, saunas, tennis courts, BBQ pits and other services and facilities, etc. It's just about keeping undesirables out.
I also do not like like people standing in front of my front door trying to sell something. Basically, just a bit edgy about having strangers knocking on my door.
I wouldn't use the word "undesirables". It's got negative connotations the world around, and it sounds like you're being very elitist. Condominiums here offer a level of privacy and amenities above that of the usual public housing and public facilities that only residents can have access to, hence the premium pricing.
moreover, those "intruders" and "undesirables" are people trying to earn a living, just like you are. labelling them as such is quite horrible.
@@kei1309_ I was not inferring 'undesirables' to be those striving to earn a decent living. Condos are private housing. Residents want privacy. That's the premium they paid for. They do not want disturbances from any Tom, Dick or Harry to come knocking on their doors any time of the day or night to peddle goods or services. Not like what's happening in public HDB housing. Genuine sales or services personnel would most probably have prearranged appointments with residents, with Security having been duly informed. No condo estate would like 'open' borders with no security, with 'undesirable' outsiders coming and going as they like...to make use of condo facilities freely. Would you?
Btw, I live in a public HDB flat, but I do understand the concerns of condo residents. I worked in condo security before.
So very true what Joel said about it being difficult for foreigners having local friends. I am a Singaporean living in Hong Kong for over 20 years and most of my friends are not Honkongers but French, British, Canadians, Australians, Americans, Japanese, Singaporeans and Malaysians.
cuz foreigners can feel lost in foreign surrounding hence they bunch up easiy together regardless of their origins easily than if they are back home
you conducted one of the best interview to date. He is a top dog in sharing with viewers about accommodation, school, social values and religion.
Maybe you can use this string of thoughts for your other videos.
Good interview. I think it is the high cost of living (most expensive city). Hence we expect foreigners to retire elsewhere. Many citizens do the same thing, so it is not about foreigners. A friend of mine will be going back to his country because his parents and relatives are there. He is here basically for work, period, and doesn't socialize much. So there are different views on this.
There are apps like meetup where you can join and share your interest with other like-minded Meetup-ers ,including locals. 1 activity I know SGers like to join is hiking/travelling/movie-going. Maybe can join such activities to know locals. That could be an ice-breaker for a start
Very interesting interview, interviewee is eloquent in speech with great flow of thought! But just a minor clarification for the rest, former Malaya is now the current Malaysia and not Indonesia.
I tell you one of the reasons for condo to have security guard beside safety is to make sure no one from outside enter and use the condo facilities. Condo owners and you, the tenants do not want to see your swimming pool or your gym full of people from outside using it. Or full of people from outside sitting next to your swimming pool. If you are the condo owner you will know that owners have to pay monthly maintenance fee for the overall condo and its facilities maintenance.
So if you buy condo without security guards that makes anybody can enter and use facilities of your condo then what’s the point of buying condo that is much more expensive and pay monthly maintenance fee? Just stay in HDB and come to nearby condos if you would like to use facilities.
Highly intelligent, sharp and perceptive
i respectfully disagree.
3 for 3
I agree with the interviewee's (Joel's) sentiments that Singaporeans (generally) do not expect foreigners to assimilate into our local culture, that we expect that they'll leave SG some time in the future. And it's true because most foreigners in the past behave that way. Those who came in the 80s and 90s mostly live in the expat bubble and don't even go to the hawker centres. Of course it's different now - foreigners do visit the hawker centres, thanks to the promotion on social media. But that's just superficial; this doesn't mean that they have assimilated into the local society. Of course, some of them do (mostly those who have local spouses) but most of them don't (anecdotal observation).
I like his description of the social circle of people who moved to Sydney, that they only managed to develop friendship with the non-Sydney people. I think it's the same everywhere (almost). It's certainly it's the same for me when I lived in London for 3 years. I don't actually have any friends from there which is a pity.
And also his explanation about newcomers finding difficulty making new local friends - that local people already have their commitment and social life and not that they are unfriendly. I thought he was very objective and very sincere. That's also the reason that I don't have any friends from my time in London.
Joel made a good observation that I made between living in Seattle and Washington DC. Seattle people do alot of spur of the moment plans and outings with friends, where as in Washington DC, people plan everything weeks out which sucks .
But even within the same state? Both being in Washington
It is kind of prestige most Singaporeans feel to live in a gated community with security guards. I talked to my Singaporean friend when i lived overseas. She asked what floor i lived on, it was kind of like the higher i lived, the higher the level of prestige, a nice way to check on someone!
The fences are mainly to enclose the condo facilities.
The selling point of living in a private condo estate is to have security to keep out pesky sales people knocking at your doors hawking products or people soliciting for donations. Privacy is the key. But, over time, they are getting fewer even in HDB estates. However, with the prevalence of e-commerce, I wonder how do the delivery people bring the ordered items to the doorsteps? So, it has become a double edged sword.
Just learnt that it is all about relationship in Australia
Thanks
As a migrant to Australia, Joel’s comments about how Australians treat migrants fresh off the plane are so true!
like the gulf emirates countries : personally perfect for airport transit to countries worth visiting
More singaporean should hear what he has to say about our education system 🎉🎉🎉
NICE
I think the good thing about security guards at condos is, there is no door to door salespeople harassing you. I’ve experienced many unpleasant salesmen coming to our door, pushing you to buy. The worst one was durian sellers from Malaysia opening up lots of durians when I didn’t ask for them. And for the safety of my kids, I just paid for them, because the salesman was holding a big knife in front of my opened main door while my kids were coming home.
Evangelist … good luck!
His description of HDB and Condo 😂😂😂 is really funny. This is the first time I hear someone saying this. For Singaporean, staying in condo is upgrading your status.
I think he has a very different experience of Australia. Not all great for all immigrants.
HDB is renting of airspace for 99 years. HDB owners don’t own the land , and people are free to walk within the estate. Condos are little different - the land belong to private strata land owners. The land is private and each owner has a share of that land. It’s fenced up so nobody walks on private land. In summary, condo have strata land component within the purchase
The reason for this assumption that ‘you’ll stay for 5-20 years then leave’ is also because most foreigners refer themselves as expats. This implies they have no plans to stay permanently and settle.
Regards condo, security. Sometimes it can't be helped. I wanted to get a home near my family so I asked the housing agent to scout around. There was one which is just the apt, no other facilities but circumstances happened that prevented a purchase. I could try for an apt elsewhere but I had lived in the neighbourhood for over 30 years and am not interested in going elsewhere when I have ties to the people; doctor, dentist, NTUC workers, etc. So in the end, I chose the best available and it came with facilities and security I do not want. 😑
Hey Ronnie Chieng the comedian also graduated from Uni of Melbourne Law School. Maybe they were classmates
Most insightful interviewee so far although most of the interviews have been with very insightful people! I must say as a Singaporean who’s lived in Germany for 6 years now: the education system in Sg might be stressful and hard on everyone (yes parents you’re suffering too!) but you have no idea the kind of chaos, disorganisation and mediocrity, and letdown you could find in the education system in so-called western and developed country. I won’t go so far as to say Singapore has perfected education, but it is doing a lot of things MUCH BETTER than Germany.
Singapore sounds like heaven at this moment
If it's so great then why do a not insubstantial number of Singaporeans emigrate? The grass is always greener .........
@@nevilenobody606 and why you eat another chicken rice stall tomorrow? Obviously u can't figure that out bcos you think people who eat chicken is becos they cannot eat pork 😂😂😂
@@acpanda6372 Perhaps you should try to make more sense when you post.
Isn't what he said about new arrivals applicable everywhere else? 😊 The condos are of course mostly safe, as in almost all districts in Singapore. But i dont think the condo owners want non residents to swim in the condo's pool, or use the pool's toilet etc. (I did 😅) Comments on scripture study is spot on. "Sola Scriptura" Nice interview.
if there is no wall, anyone can go to your condo and use your facility, such as swimming pool.
Agreed! I wouldn't say Singaporeans don't like foreigners! I would say Singaporean is not so welcoming to foreigners! Well that's one of the reason why I left Singapore after working for 14 months!
For condos - if there is no wall and security guards, I think people will start coming in to use the pool and facilities for free 😂
As a Singaporean living in the Bahamas now, I would say I am experiencing exactly the same as Joel. I think it’s because Singapore is a country that is known to welcome expats for their wealth of knowledge to value add to the economy and exchange knowledge with Singapore corporations, like in the Bahamas. They assume most expats come for the job and living experience, not because they want to live the rest of their lives there. I had someone whom I deemed as a friend in the Bahamas told me that Bahamians are friendly towards expats but they will choose not to get too close to expats as friends because they do not want to deal with the heartbreak when their expat friends leave the Bahamas. It sucks to hear that because as an expat, it’s really hard to make friends in foreign land.
He is very spot on with his observations of Singaporeans especially in the example he gave about the woman in bible studies. We tend to not beat about the bush with our emotions and just get the job done.
With the big changes in the OZ migration system today, it's kinda hard to stay long term or even forever there.
He has this weird and wonderful mixed Aussie/Singaporean accent :)
The security guard is to stop unauthorized users from using your condo gym, swimming pool, tennis court, bbq pit etc... otherwise, anyone can just waltz in and use them free of charge.
Great interview. The westerners I know might stay in Singapore if they are married to a local and have Singaporean kid for more accessible entry into local schools, but they themselves would not convert to be Singaporean because retirement benefit is better in their home country.
White males have more advantages, regardless of looks and wealth. Singaporean chinese women worship them
The assumption that foreigners will leave is based on observation. I dont think we judge foreigners for that. It is what it is. I have to respectfully disagree that in the corporate world, foreigners who come belong to the top 5 per cent of their countries. I have met and worked with quite a few and I would be very surprised if they are. I find his observations on the different perspectives towards religion illuminating.
Some were sent out here because nobody wanted to work with them back home! 😅
Most foreigners who come to Singapore for economic reasons and a stepping stone to other countries like USA, Canada, Australia etc.
Marrying Singaporean is an easy way to get PR. Getting PR any other way is like a lucky draw . No matter how many years your lived or how much you earn !!
2:34 "Malaya, what is now Indonesia".
Are you sure Malaya is a part of Indonesia? If you ask Indonesians and Malayans, I'm sure they'd say "no".
Malaya is now Peninsular Malaysia and it is an integral part of Malaysia. Malaysia and Indonesia are two different neighbouring countries.
Malaya = Peninsular Malaysia now..Singapore = Temasik.
0:13: 🌏 Foreigners in Singapore face challenges in socializing and assimilating into the society compared to other countries like Australia and America.
0:13: Singaporean society expects foreigners to leave rather than assimilate.
0:43: In Australia, there is an expectation for immigrants to assimilate and become 'new Australians'.
1:04: The assumption in Singapore is that foreigners will stay for a certain period and then leave, unlike in other countries where there are debates about assimilation.
3:59: 🌏 Singapore's business model relies on attracting highly skilled foreigners to boost the economy and provide employment.
3:59: Singapore's economy is attractive for companies due to good infrastructure and safety.
4:34: The spending of foreigners in Singapore provides employment and boosts the economy.
4:48: Singapore's business model focuses on providing employment for locals through the demand for goods and services.
7:57: 🎭 The speaker discusses the difference in theater scenes between Melbourne and Singapore, as well as the challenges of socializing in a new city.
7:57: Melbourne is known for its vibrant theater scene, including both professional and community theater.
8:15: Singapore lacks a strong community theater scene compared to Australia, with most productions being professional.
8:28: The speaker had difficulties socializing in Singapore initially, similar to friends who moved to new cities for work.
11:39: 🌍 Living as a foreigner in a global city and making friends.
11:39: Living in a big global city as a foreigner can make it challenging to make local friends.
11:52: It's important to be understanding and pragmatic when trying to make friends as a foreigner.
12:16: Forming friendships with other foreigners who are in a similar situation can be beneficial.
15:42: 🏡 The speaker discusses living in Singapore and the challenges of condo living.
15:42: Challenges of living in a condo and the inconvenience of security measures
16:24: The speaker's plans to stay in Singapore and the upcoming birth of their son
19:25: 📚 The impact of education on social mobility and career opportunities in Australia and Singapore.
19:25: The influence of primary and high school education on career opportunities in Australia.
19:52: Discrepancy in educational opportunities and its impact on career paths in different areas of Melbourne.
20:17: The impact of testing and stress on children's education and career paths in Singapore.
23:31: 🏙 The church in Singapore has grown significantly, and the approach to religion differs between locals and foreigners.
23:31: The church in Singapore has grown from 600-700 people to around 1300.
23:42: The approach to religion and church activities differs between Singaporeans and foreigners.
23:56: In Singapore, there is a focus on studying scripture rather than personal experiences in Bible study.
Recapped using Tammy AI
Australia allows dual citizenship, not for Singapore. I do not believe you will give up Australian citizenship for Singapore citizenship, it is the other way around as Australia has many resources under the ground.
Usually naive westerners like going to Asian countries, most of his points are not true in a long term as Singapore is running out of resources within 100 years.
The Bible study example is an astute observation of the difference between the way Singaporeans generally think or make sense of things, versus Westerners.