After two and a half years in Singapore, we have become Permanent Residents (PR), following up on our initial decision to move here from the Netherlands. Asia beckoned with its thriving business ecosystem combined with unlimited market opportunities. And a significant change in environment, language, culture and people provokes fast learning and developing. Of all Asian cities, Singapore seemed as if it could provide the right balance for both of us to advance our careers while enjoying life.
Both professionally and personally, Singapore offers far above expectation for us:
1. Singapore is in the heart of the Asian network – Singapore hosts regional headquarters to over 7,000 multinationals and thus forms an excellent hub in the region, providing numerous opportunities. Both of us are already in our second job.
2. Singapore is dynamic – it combines science and innovation, highly educated people with strong work ethics and a common language among multiple cultures.
3. Living in Singapore is convenient – we enjoy luxuriously living, something alien to what we were used to in The Netherlands. Singapore in general provides nice architecture and city planning, beautiful national parks, clean public spaces, high quality public services, cheap transport, low crime and excellent healthcare.
4. Singapore is also a great place to spend money – excellent restaurants, golfing in Indonesia, wakeboarding, diving, holidays in the region, Formula 1, pubs, to name a few, are waiting. And taxation is low.
5. Singapore is compact – on this one island we have everything within 30 minutes reach: beaches, sea, mountains, original rainforest and all other facilities that we need like soccer pitches, shopping malls, doctors and employers.
6. It offers top notch childcare – We employ a full-time maid, that comes with a 24/7 baby sit service in our house. While we play tennis, meet friends or do whatever we like, meals are prepared and fresh baby clothes are in the closet. Childcare services outside the home are also very professionally organized. When Faas is older he will enjoy the most prestigious education available today in the world combined with a dual language friends (English and Mandarin)
There are some things that we really miss. First of all that will be the frequency we can meet our family, the nights in Amsterdam pubs with our friends and the availability of cheap liquor. And if we go cycling, we have to take a lot of water with us. And we can only watch the European soccer games at night. These inconveniences can be overcome. We want to stay put in Singapore.
Synergy Dec 2009 - page 18
