August-September 2019
WELCOME HOME!
GETTING SETTLED INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
OH, WHAT A NIGHT! ALL THE FUN OF THE 4TH OF JULY
THE ROAD TO SINGAPORE AN AAS MEMBER’S BEST MOVE YET
A New Generation of Beauty Clinics in Singapore
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Only Advanced Technology
www.estheclinic.com.sg
Estheclinic Holland Village 3 Lorong Liput Holland Piazza #02-02 Singapore 277725 Tel: +65 6254 9913
Estheclinic Tanjong Pagar 72 Tras Street Singapore 079011 Tel: +65 6221 4797
Estheclinic East Coast 424 Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427643 Tel: +65 6344 0121
Check Out What’s Happening! Every month, AAS brings its members a wide variety of events that are either discounted or member-exclusive. Register online to book your spot at our August and September offerings!
Coming This August and September
CRCE This August and September
Quiz Night – come flex your general knowledge muscles
At the Table – networking for women. This session, how to expand on your social capital
Living in Singapore Talk – based on our Living in Singapore Reference Guide book
Lunch and Learn Career Roadblocks – get insight into job search process in Singapore
Newbie Night – meet AAS members and learn how you can make the most of your membership
High School On Track – college essay workshop
Volunteer with ACRES – fun day of animal care and education
Coffee Chat Info Session – personality assessments and how you benefit from them
Our Regular Monthly AAS Events Coffee Connexions – make new friends and catch up with old ones over coffee Third Thursday – gatherings, talks, quiz nights and more, every third Thursday of the month Metworks – lunches and happy hours with our networking group for men Tacos en Español – Spanish conversation over Mexican food. All levels welcome! Men’s Tennis – looking for a men’s tennis ladder? We’ve got one for you!
Join AAS! Have Fun Give Back Be Involved Enhancing the lives of people living in Singapore through social events, charitable activities, career support and community news. Stay connected through our: • Living in Singapore magazine • Living in Singapore Reference Guide • Career Resource Center for Excellence (CRCE)
Have fun at our annual major events! • • • •
George Washington Ball 4th of July Celebration Ambassador’s Cup Golf Tournament Toys for Tots For more information: www.aasingapore.com
LIVING IN SINGAPORE 1
who we are When I arrived in Singapore three years ago, it wasn’t exactly on my terms; I was deemed a ‘Dependent’, which is completely paradoxical to my very much independent nature. Yes, I was living in an exciting city with a whole host of new experiences to take on, but one question kept gnawing away: What’s my purpose here? After spates of feelings of self-doubt, loneliness, even loss of identity, I was introduced to the American Association and it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I spent a few hours each day volunteering for anything that needed taking care of and made enough of a nuisance of myself that one thing led to another, and I now find myself Editor of the Association’s magazine. Many of our members go and have gone through the same emotions and sensations, but there is solidarity in this: you are not alone, you are understood and we are here to help. The August/September issue of Living in Singapore magazine is packed with features and stories that we hope will help ease you into Singapore life or reacquaint you with your adopted home; be it from transitioning kids to a new school in a new country, falling back in love with the island you moved to so long ago, or adjusting to life as an expat.
EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief: Katie Baines communications@aasingapore.com Publishing Editor: Christi Novomesky generalmanager@aasingapore.com LAYOUT Graphic Designer: Miia Koistinen graphics@aasingapore.com ADVERTISING Advertising Manager: Thila Chandra san.ads@aasingapore.com COLUMNISTS Dee Allan, Faith A. Chanda, Alka Chandiramani, Julian A. Chua, Laura Coulter, Amanda L. Dale, Laura O’Gorman Schwarz, John Sarkis Hamalian, Richard L. Hartung, Vivienne Scott, Tyler Wisler CONTRIBUTORS Katie Baines (for AAS), Asif Chowdhury, Jeff Devens, Joyce Fu, Christin Gustafson, Fran Martindale, Fran Martindale, Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath, Rachel Williams AMERICAN ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS President: Michael Borchert Vice President: Bill Poorman Treasurer: Ria Hoban Secretary: Brian Schwender Directors: Sammie Cheston, Blair Hall, Christin Gustafson, Jason Iafolla, Michael Johnsen Immediate Past President: Stephanie Nash AmCham Chair: Ann Yom Steel The American Club President: Dana Hvide AWA President: Mel Rice SACAC Chair: Jeff Majestic SAS Chair: Tom Boasberg
Hours in the Civic District’, get your map out and
Non-Voting Members: US Embassy: Tor Petersen US Military: Rear Admiral Joey Tynch AAS: Christi Novomesky
plan a trip to Myanmar in our travel section and
PUBLISHER – AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE
understand the basics of the often not-so-mean
The American Association of Singapore (AAS) is a professional, notfor-profit organization established to enhance the well-being and living experience of Americans residing in Singapore and to promote relationships, both business and social, between Americans and those from different cultures and nationalities. 15 Scotts Road, #03-02 Thong Teck Building, Singapore 228218 (+65) 6738 0371 • admin@aasingapore.com • www.aasingapore.com. Living in Singapore magazine is circulated six times per year, with a readership of 24,000, with the purpose of enhancing the expatriate experience in Singapore.
There’s plenty in terms of keeping you busy, too. Explore the heritage quarter in our feature ‘12
feat of setting up a bank account in Singapore in our business section – essential for fresh expats. Some of you may have stayed in Singapore over what is deemed the summer break and, if so, we hope you enjoyed the peace of a quieter island. If you have just arrived in Singapore to begin a new stint overseas or you’re returning from your travels, though: Welcome home.
Editor-in-Chief Katie Baines
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SUBSCRIPTION A subscription to Living in Singapore is complementary with an AAS or CRCE membership. AAS annual family membership is $120. CRCE membership is $220. To join, visit www.aasingapore.com and have Living in Singapore magazine delivered to your home. Reproduction in any manner, in English or any other language, is prohibited without written permission. Living in Singapore welcomes all contributions of volunteer time or written material. Living in Singapore is printed by Ho Printing Singapore Pte Ltd. 31, Changi South Street 1, Changi South Industrial Estate, Singapore 486769. Living In Singapore magazine Print Permit No. MCI (P) 077/04/2019.
4th of july 8 • welcome back 12 • community features 15-18 • managing stress 20 • career 21 • business culture 23
8 AAS Knows How to Party! Check out all the fun we had at this year’s 4th of July Celebration
12 Welcome Home Get insight from Dr. Jeff Devens at Singapore American School on getting your kids settled in a new environment
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24 12 Hours in the Civic District Be a tourist in your own city on a day out in one of Singapore’s most popular locales
32 A Glittering Tapestry of Humanity Uncover the mystique of Myanmar, one of Asia’s most enchanting of destinations
44 A Marriage of East and West Admire the talent of Singapore American Schools most gifted fashion design students
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cover photo courtesy of Singapore American School
eat clean 38 • hope for rehab 40 • adjusting to sg 42 • fashion show 44 • banking 47 • living in images 48 LIVING IN SINGAPORE 3
12 hours 24 • road to sg 26 • live like a local 27 • when love fades 28 • color your world 29 • causes for animals 31 • myanmar 32 • jordan 35 • food n drink 37
what’s in...
community calendar Message from the President
American Association & Sister Organizations Events American Association of Singapore (AAS & CRCE)
Welcome to the August/September issue of Living in Singapore magazine! We hope you’ve had a restful summer break and you’re looking forward to a new season of fun with AAS. There’s already a hive of activity at the office as the team is lining up some fantastic events for you. Our regular monthly events, including Metworks, Coffee Connexions and Third Thursday, have a reintroduction to the fold as our Spanish conversation group jumps from tapas to tacos with our new Tacos en Español monthly meet up. September sees the welcome return of our Living in Singapore talk, based on our Living in Singapore Reference Guide book. The event is free to AAS and The American Club members, and families from Singapore American School. You’ll also receive a complimentar copy of the book. Also this September is our ever-popular Quiz Night, where you’ll get to flex some general knowledge muscle at The American Club over a drink and some snacks. Whether you’ve already got your tribe together or you’re coming on your own to meet other members, this always promises to be a fun night. Our next major event is our much-anticipated Ambassador’s Cup Golf Tournament and we have an exciting schedule lined up for you! On November 2, we’ll be returning to Palm Resort Golf & Country Club, Malaysia, and it’s going to be nothing short of spectacular. Check out our online calendar at www.aasingapore.com to sign up for any of these events. Have a great couple of months ahead.
Coffee Connexions August 7 & September 4, 10 – 11:30am Metworks Happy Hour August 15, 6 – 8pm Tacos en Español August 29 & September 26, 7 – 9pm Living in Singapore Talk September 11, 7 – 9pm Metworks Lunch September 12, 12 – 1:30pm Quiz Night September 19, 7 – 9pm Coffee and Chat: Personality Assessments August 21, 10 – 11am High School on Track: College Essay Workshop September 3, 5:30 – 7:30pm Lunch & Learn: Career Roadblocks September 17, 12 – 2pm At the Table, Networking for Women September 26, 6:30 – 8:30pm
American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) The Future of AI August 16, 11:45 – 1:30pm Understanding New Regulations - The Payment Services Act August 29, 11:45am – 1:30pm
American Women’s Association (AWA)
AAS President Michael Borchert
2019 Welcome Fair August 28, 10am – 12pm
American Community Organizations Directory Navy League nlus.sgp.org
AAS aasingapore.com +65 6738 0371
AWA awasingapore.org +65 6734 4895
American Dragons americandragons.sg
Sacac Sports afl.sacac.com
TAC amclub.org.sg +65 6737 3411
AmCham amcham.org.sg +65 6597 5730
SAS sas.edu.sg +65 6363 3403
US Embassy sg.usembassy.gov +65 6476 9100
Scouts BSA Scouts Troop 7B: bsatroop07.org BSA Scouts Troop 10B and 1010G: facebook.com/BSATroopX Cub Scouts Pack 3010: sites.google.com/view/sgtroop10/home Cub Scouts Pack 3017: SGPack3017@gmail.com USA Girl Scouts: singaporeusagirlscouts.org
AWA Carpet Auction 2019 September 27, 6:30 – 11pm
Scouts First Meeting BSA Scouts Troop 10B and 1010G - August 13, 7pm Cub Scouts Pack 3010 - August 15, evening BSA Scouts Troop 7B - August 20, 6pm Cub Scouts Pack 3017 - August 31, 9am USAGSO Songfest & Opening Ceremonies - September 21, 2pm
Singapore American School Open House (Whole School) August 8 First Day Back for All Students August 13 Faculty Inservice Day (No School for Students), September 9
The American Club Welcome Back Weekend Brunch, August 18, 10:30am – 2:30pm Swimathon 2019 September 8
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notable events Coffee Connexions Join us for morning coffee at Crossroads Cafe where you’ll have the opportunity to make new connexions and catch up with old ones, too. Registration required. Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Road, August 7 & September 4, 10 – 11:30am
Metworks Lunch Networking group for men. Come swap ideas with working professionals, stay-at-home men and others who share your hobbies or interests. Registration required. Happy Hour, Venue TBC, August 15, 6 – 8pm Lunch Venue, Venue TBC, September 12, 12 – 1:30pm
Tacos en Español Have a conversation in your mother tongue or practice your Spanish speaking skills while enjoying Mexican food! El Mero Mero, Chijmes, City Hall, August 29 & September 26, 7 – 9pm
Living in Singapore Talk Informative talk based on our popular Living in Singapore book with tips on how to navigate through life in the Lion City. Registration required. Free for AAS members, Singapore American School parents and American Club members. Non-members $30. The American Club, 3rd Floor, 10 Claymore Hill, September 11, 7 – 9pm
Quiz Night Test your knowledge at AAS Quiz Night! Prizes awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams! Includes a beer or glass of wine per person and a snack per table. The American Club, The Union Bar, 10 Claymore Hill, September 19, 7 – 9pm
At the Table: Networking for Women Connect & Cultivate – Network with Confidence It may seem scary, but ‘networking’ is a necessary skill, and even introverts can do it! Get insight from our guest speaker about the most effective ways to network and discuss networking stories with a group of inspiring women. AAS Office, September 26, 6:30 – 8:30pm
One Year On…
Recognize these two? At this year’s 4th of July Celebration, we tracked down AAS members and regular attendees Hunter Morgan Davis, North Carolina, and Diane DavisAnsermet, Switzerland, who appeared on the cover of our June/July issue to recreate the same photo taken at last year’s event. Perhaps we’ll do the same next year when they bring along a new addition to their family, due in August. Congratulations to them!
member benefits California Pizza Kitchen 15% discount for à la carte menu for dine-in only. Through Dec 31, 2019. Tel: 6836 0110 T &C applies.
Drinks & Co. 20% discount on all food items. Offer is valid only at Holland Village outlet, through Dec 30, 2019. Please call 9619 4568 for reservations recommended.
Family Podiatry Centre AAS members receive a 10% off discount on first podiatry consultation. Through December 31, 2019. Tel: 6464 8654. T & C applies.
Hairdreams Couture Salon 20% discount on all services. Through Sept 2019. Tel: 6589 8792. T & C applies.
Hard Rock Cafe Singapore & Sentosa 15% discount on food and beverage upon showing your AAS membership card. Through May 2020. Tel: 6235 5232 (Singapore). Tel: 6795 7454 (Sentosa). T & C applies.
Hedger’s Carpet Gallery 10% off professional carpet cleaning and restoration services. Free high quality underlayment with every purchase at our store (while stocks last). Through December 31, 2019. Tel: 6462 0028. T & C applies.
Lawry’s The Prime Rib 15% discount for à la carte menu for dine-in only. Tel: 6836 3333. T & C applies.
Morton’s of Chicago Complimentary cocktail or mocktail (one per diner) and one complimentary dessert per table. Applicable for Main Dining Room only. Through Dec 30, 2019. Present AAS membership card to enjoy. Tel: 6339 3740. T & C applies.
Outback Stakehouse 1-on-1 Beer & 1-on-1 Wine (House pour). Through Dec 2019. Tel: 6702 6842. T & C applies.
Solescape 10% off discount with any purchaseof Solescape shoes in Jun 2019 and 10% off from Jul-Dec 2019. www.solescapeshoe.com. T&C applies.
Telunas Resorts With a minimum 3-night stay at Telunas Private Island, receive a complimentary 90-minute body massage for one person. Through September, 2019. Tel: +62 811-7710-951. T & C applies. AAS Members who do not have a membership card, please contact the AAS office (6738 0371) for your card. LIVING IN SINGAPORE 5
up close and personal with... Utso Bhattacharya, Outback Steakhouse
How and where does Outback source its meat?
Outback Steakhouse teamed up with AAS back in January 2018 when they came on as Eagle Partners and have been very much involved with our events, including two 4th of July Celebrations and hosting the Metworks guys. We caught up with Utso Bhattacharya, Chief Operating Officer at Outback, to get his views on why we make such a great partner and how to cook the perfect steak. Why partner with AAS? Outback Steakhouse is quintessentially an American brand that is loved all over the world. With a robust expat population in the Lion City, we are always on the lookout to partner with organizations that bring us closer to the expat community. The American Association of Singapore represents the same community that Outback looks to attract and therefore, the partnership is a great fit. Moreover, the team at AAS is an absolute pleasure to work with and we always enjoy our collaborations with them. What’s the Outback story? Outback Steakhouse was founded in 1988 in Tampa, Florida, by four close friends, Bob Basham, Chris T. Sullivan, Trudy Cooper and Tim Gannon. The chain has over 1,000 locations in 23 countries throughout North and South America, Asia and Australia. In Singapore, Outback Steakhouse opened its doors back in 2000 and we really appreciate all the love we have received over the years. We are very happy to have been a part of Singapore and its journey to becoming truly the food capital of Asia.
Outback Steakhouse prides itself on sourcing its meat through Outback Steakhouse International’s purveyor accreditation program, which evaluates thousands of beef suppliers over the world to hand pick only a few that meet Outback’s stringent safety and sanitation hygiene practices and quality checks. Outback Singapore works within this vendor program and that’s why all our meat is sourced from certified plants from The United States and Australia. How do you know when a steak is rare, medium or well-done? Typically, we start with blue rare, where the meat is just placed over the skillet and lifted up almost instantaneously. The meat looks purple and the center is cold to touch. In terms of texture, blue rare and rare both feel soft on the outside. The sponginess of the meat increases with the doneness. You can also identify the doneness of a steak based on its center. A steak that is done rare would have a cold red center, medium-rare would have a pink center, medium would have a warm pink center while a steak that is done medium to medium well would have varying levels of brown. Any tips on cooking the perfect steak? For cooking at home, I would recommend a Victoria filet which is a perfectly tender meat strip and easier to cook as well. Use a pre-heated cast iron skillet which can retain heat for longer durations and use an odorless and flavorless oil like groundnut oil. I would also recommend frying, instead of grilling, to get a juicy steak at home. Another pro tip to make a delicious steak is to keep it standing for a few minutes after the grilling so that all the juices are assimilated in the meat and the flavors come out with every mouthful.
AAS Strategic Partners We would like to extend our thanks to our strategic partners at the Association for their continued support and contribution.
Centennial Partners
Eagle Partners
Patriot Partner
Pantone 424c: C 57.4 M 47.29 Y 47.86 K 14.12
Community Partner PANTONE 424C
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AAS Knows How to Party! By Katie Baines
On June 29, we celebrated one of the most significant dates on our calendar; the birthday of the US. As members and guests of the American Association of Singapore (AAS), we descended on Singapore American School (SAS), who co-hosted the event with AAS to celebrate this momentous occasion. The SAS playing field was adorned in festive red, white and blue, and the atmosphere was magical, in spite of the threat of rain! There were carnival games a-plenty for both adults and kids who swarmed the stalls, deftly manned by staff, volunteers and American organizations, in the hope of winning one of the many fantastic prizes up for grabs. Kids threw themselves around on the bouncy castles and squealed with excitement in the Hip Hip Hooray kids zone, while parents browsed the Marketplace. We ate, we drank and were merry, enjoying tasty treats, beer and wines from our fabulous vendors ferried back to picnic blankets scattered across the field, only for us to burn it all off courtesy of entertainment sponsors, TD Ameritrade, dancing to Band on the Run’s 10.seconds who ramped the party up a notch with modern classics and golden oldies. With full stomachs and charged glasses, it was time to observe the formal section of the evening. The Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific/CTF73 Color Guard, presented the colors under a stormy sky and SAS graduate, Rohini Prabhaker, treated us to a beautiful performance in singing both the Singaporean and American national anthems. Our special guest speakers Kyle Aldous, Director of Communications from Singapore American School; Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., US Embassy, Singapore; and Commanding Officer, Singapore Area Coordinator, Captain Daniel Moore, then spoke warmly of the sentiments behind 4th of July to rouse feelings of patriotism among the crowd. Finally, AAS President, Michael Borchert, commanded the colors to retire before arguably one of the highlights of the evening drew the crowd’s eyes skywards to a luminous display of fireworks.
CENTENNIAL PARTNERS
The celebrations continued with more live music and then the eagerly awaited the Lucky Draw winner announcements, in which winners were presented with superb prizes; from airline tickets, courtesy of Delta Air Lines; to private island getaways from Telunas Resorts; to luxury gift baskets. It was finally time to bid everyone a final ‘Happy 4th of July’ and safe journey home. The AAS team agrees whole-heartedly that it is the people that make the event, and so we would like to extend a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who attended and helped to make it the occasion as special as it was. We are beyond grateful for our army of volunteers and their boundless energy and hard work. Our VIPs could not have been more well-catered for, and so massive thanks goes out to Master Real Estate, who sponsored the tent, with food from Park Bench Deli and wine from Benchmark Wines. We’d also like to offer our endless gratitude to our generous sponsors and prize donors, including Sembcorp and InstaReM, without whom the event would not be possible. Huge thanks, also, to everyone who donated to the fireworks. Finally, we are indebted to Isaac Benjamin and his SAS security team for facilitating such a wonderful day.
VIP TENT SPONSOR
ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR
Special thanks to prize donators: Alliance Française De Singapour, Artworks, Blue Label Pizza & Wine, Da Paolo, Forest Adventure, Grand Hyatt Singapore, Hairdreams, Couture Singapore, Hard Rock Cafe, Holiday Inn Resort, Batam, Kidzania Singapore, Laguna National, Lawry’s The Prime Rib, Little Prints, Rawa Island Resort, Royal Albatross, Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, Singapore GP Pte Ltd, Tempat Senang Spa Resort & Restaurant, The Fullerton Bay Hotel, Wave House Sentosa
MAJOR SPONSORS
Overseas Money Transfers
Bridging Currency Borders
F&B VENDORS
LOGISTICS PARTNER
Thank you to our volunteers: Brad Adorador, Alana Anderson, Oliver Baughan, Michael Borchert, Joanna Cacho Padilla, AnneMarie Carlisle, Isobel Chang, Sammie Cheston, Alexa Cid Carrera, Huw Critchley, Nick Dale, Aaron Doyle, Joan D’Souza, Tran Dung, Joe Foggiato, Lenny Fuentes, Mo Hadden, Blair Hall, Sally Hook, William Hook, Rhona Hunter, Michael Johnsen, Maria Koh, Shaun Li, Steven Libby, Reed Liriano, Hayden Madry, Loren Masouka, Ziesmer Matt, Al Misialek, Tesa Novomesky, Sydney Novomesky, Richard Novomesky, Carla Paintner, Scott Paintner, Margaret Poorman, Paul Poorman, Sam Poorman, Lee Porter, Ray Quan, Kathy Reyes, Amanda Sanger, LaySim See, Stephanie Seidler, Shreyas Shivkumar, Paul Sieveke, Kate Strimpel, Aarthi Subraman, Robert Victoreen, Kashmira Wadekar, Yong Zheng. Student volunteers: Ryan Tan Hao Zhe, Wayne Gaius Tan Heng, Matthew Ang Jun Heng, Neo Zhi Ning, Shannon Tee Yu Xuan, Shizuka Kobayashi, Nicholas Lee Chun Fai, Caleb Lim Zhi Jie, Muhammad Amsyar Bin Sulaiman, Zavier Ong Yao Sheng, Aaron Reese Ang I-an, Elvin Kong Jia Xun, Xandria Low Huiyun, Zavier Chan Le Tian, Tan Beng Zhong, Dylan Teh Zhibin, Brandon Tan Zhiqi. National Anthem Singer: Rohini Prabhakar. Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/ CTF73 Color Guard: IT2 Jamie Hofmeister, BM1 Jeremy Skriba, LS1 Melven Duatin, QM2 Mensah Jeffrey, LS2 Jhirrell Bush.
Fireworks sponsors: Blair Hall & Valerie Brandt, Madeline & Huw Critchley, Christin & Ryan Gustafson, Nathaniel, Adrianna, Michael & Catherine Johnsen, Stephanie Nash & Chris Milliken, The Novomesky Family, Sarah Walston & Hayden Madry, Margaret & Bill Poorman, Brian & Carmen Schwender, Debbie & Kim Seidelman Photos by Katie Baines and Kildi Photo
cover story Welcome Home By Dr. Jeff Devens I remember my initial impressions of our first international move. In the span of twenty-four hours, we went from a sunny day in clean, efficient, predictable Minnesota, USA, to the wonderful zaniness that is Beijing, China. Talk about contrasts! It was 1996, but walking through the airport in Beijing felt like we’d passed through a wormhole and been transported to a bygone era. The military-green paint that peeled off the airport walls contrasted sharply with the bright red communist star on the ceiling, and we knew we weren’t among the familiar in any sense of the word. What began as a two-year overseas experience has grown into a twenty four-year lifestyle. Living in China, Saudi Arabia and, most recently, Singapore has afforded us lifeenriching experiences – experiences that have forever changed our lives. For some of you, Singapore is your first international posting or deployment. Others of you are seasoned veterans who have previously lived overseas. In either case, there’s a series of transition stages that both kids and parents will go through. Being aware of these stages can reassure you that what you and your family are going through is normal.
Stage 1: Settled This describes your status before your move. For children, this means they are attending school, have a predictable, established routine with a peer group, and are engaged in the community. They are responsive and responsible.
Stage 2: Leaving At some point, a decision is made to move. This decision may provide several months prior notice, or it could require a move within a few short weeks. Leaving is a time of saying goodbye and disengaging. Kids and adults experience a range of emotional responses during this period, including excitement, joy, anticipation, anxiety, denial, anger, resentment, bargaining, sadness, and loss.
Stage 3: Honeymoon Upon arriving in an unfamiliar cultural context, the common tendency is to look for what is familiar and establish a routine. It’s also a time when others extend themselves to welcome new families. Kids tend to feel pretty good and function at a high level. The honeymoon stage typically lasts ten minutes to two months.
Stage 4: Disorientation For many, the more they interact with the host culture, the more they become disoriented and melancholy. Two primary reasons for this are the loss of social support systems (friends, family, community) and the lack of predictability. People may experience a range of emotional responses: mourning the loss of friends, feeling isolated, exaggerating problems and behaviors, feeling tired and grumpy, judging the host culture negatively, and refusing to connect. It’s not uncommon for kids to want to stay tethered to
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friends in their previous location or posting and not make new friends. Holing up in their bedrooms, they may spend significant amounts of time communicating with their old friends online. They may also struggle academically during the first quarter or semester of school. This period usually lasts from one to six months.
Stage 5: Recovery and Adjustment As kids continue to interact with the new culture, they begin to incorporate their understanding of themselves, school, friends and so forth, and start to feel at home. Their functioning levels typically return to normal, sometimes even to higher than normal levels because of all they have learned about themselves and the world. The benefits of this include increased social maturity, a broader worldview, less prejudice, and a greater cultural and religious tolerance. At Singapore American School, we work with parents to ensure that pupils are settled and the period of transition is as smooth as possible. It is natural, however, for parents to have questions and concerns during this time; here are some of the most common.
My child was doing well academically at their previous school, but now they are struggling. What’s going on here? Make allowances for kids who appear out-of-sync academically, at least during the first nine weeks of school. It is also important to understand the demographics of the school population. In your child’s previous school, they may have been a good student, but by international standards, they may be academically average. The international community often has a larger percentage of high-level academics due to demographics: Most students come from intact, middle to upper class, well-educated families with stable support systems in place. As such, academic rigor is a foundational part of the makeup of these families and schools. If your child isn’t making consistent progress, speak with their teachers. Be sure to talk with the elective teachers (physical education, music, art) as well. These teachers can often provide information related to the social-emotional aspects of your child’s situation and adjustment, which are perhaps more important than academic aspects during the transition phase.
To convince my child to move, I had to promise we would go back to visit the place we were living during midterm break. Was this a good idea? Yes and no. If your kids are well adjusted and have come to understand that transitions are a natural part of the international experience, then offering them the opportunity to reconnect with old friends can demonstrate to them that you recognize the importance of friends in their lives. In some cases, children finally begin to settle into the routine of living in a new post, only to start the process all over again after they visit their old friends. Each family is unique; parents should keep in mind how their kids handle transitions before making concessions.
Why isn’t my child connecting or engaging with peers? When children enter a new environment, they look for what’s familiar. Kids thrive on routine, predictability, and relationships. When they don’t find these, a host of negative emotional and physiological responses can be set in motion. Transitions may affect children in a myriad of ways: withdrawal, rebelliousness, anxiety, clinginess, night terrors, stunted academic progress or little physical activity. To some degree, these reactions and responses are to be expected. The difficulty occurs when the behavior becomes persistent (typically lasting more than twelve weeks). In such cases, it’s vitally important to speak with your child’s teachers or counselor, explaining the specifics of what you’re noting. Adjustment to a new post can take eighteen to thirty-six weeks. Most kids, however, make the necessary changes and return to normal or higher levels of functioning within the first eighteen weeks.
What if my child refuses to connect? Refusing to connect does happen, and when it does, it is taxing for the entire family. I remember working with a family who had a senior in high school (age seventeen). The new location was the last place he wanted to be, even though he had willingly agreed to move there several
months prior. Initially, he refused to go to school. When he did finally show up, he refused to do any schoolwork. He continued to demand a return ‘home’, even though there was no one there to look after him. As the year progressed, he bargained, threatened, and harassed his parents. They eventually decided mom would go back home and allow him to finish out his senior year in the United States, while dad remained overseas. When this potential exists, it is important for parents to ask themselves one essential question: Is there any chance whatsoever my child could return to the previous post or home? If the answer is “maybe,” or “we’ll see,” and your child does not want to move, you can expect conflict. It is far better to say no from the outset and deal with that conflict than to throw out a bribe that you know isn’t a real option. Parents often make decisions with which their kids disagree. Sadly, in the above case, the message this young man walked away with was that his needs were more important than the family’s.
Should we allow our child to continue communicating with their old friends even when they don’t seem to be connecting with their peers at the new school? With the advent of Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Instagram, Snapchat, SMS and other social media, it’s difficult to keep kids from being in contact with old friends. In fact, it’s quite common – and healthy – for children to form lifelines with former classmates, using them as a base of support and security during the transition. Difficulty arises when they refuse to connect with the host culture, school and new peers. Even with this possibility, however, I wouldn’t remove or restrict access to old friends unless they were a negative influence. As your children engage with peers in their new school, a routine will develop (through sports, clubs, sleepovers, etc.), and they’ll see that forming new friendships doesn’t mean betraying old ones. It’s important for kids to have a routine in their sleep patterns. Sometimes teens will want to remain in contact with old peers even though there is a twelve-hour timezone difference. Parents may need to help them regulate the amount of time they spend online. Photos courtesy of Singapore American School
Jeff’s current role at Singapore American School is as a school psychologist, counselor, and academic advisor to students, parents, and faculty. In addition, he coordinates the crisis response team, provides talks on mental health, educational, parenting issues, and writes for school and community publications. LIVING IN SINGAPORE 13
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our community Humans of the Embassy Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., US Embassy Singapore
One of the highest privileges a citizen can have is to serve their country. I am honored to have spent my professional life representing the United States of America, whether in the Navy or as an American diplomat stationed around the world. These past three years in Singapore have been especially meaningful for me as my mother is originally from Singapore. My parents met during the Vietnam War when my father, who was an Air Force pilot, came to Singapore on vacation. His career took us to Iran, Spain and all over the US. That said, in many ways, I grew up in a Singaporean household albeit in other places around the world. Being in Singapore has helped me understand the values and experiences that shaped my mother, and I’ve come to appreciate her even more. Growing up in the US with a parent from a different culture was a special experience. No matter where we were, my mother instilled very Singaporean values in my brother and me including the expectation of being the very best at whatever we did. If I got straight As, she would ask me where the A+s were. She taught me never to be prideful and never to think I had done my best as there was always more I could do. She instilled in me a deep respect for parents, elders and authority. She also taught me to appreciate different ethnicities and cultures, and to be open to discovering the best in others. Those are the very traits that I admire so much about Singapore today – the diversity, the excellence and the graciousness in how citizens here approach each other and life in general. And the practicality and pragmatism of seeing the world as it is and making the right choices for future generations. The United States and Singapore share the same pragmatism, and we are united in the knowledge that we are stronger if we work together, whether in law enforcement, military cooperation, innovation, or economic growth. It has been a profound honor for me to lead our team of over 300 US Embassy employees from 29 different US government sections and agencies in deepening our bilateral cooperation across all of
these areas. We have a mix of Americans, Singaporeans, Malaysians, Filipinos, Indians and even a colleague from New Zealand, but each of us is working together to represent the best of the United States in how we interact with each other and with our counterparts throughout Singapore. I love that we have succeeded in building a team that feels more like a family with deep mutual respect and shared objectives. I will definitely miss each of them very much as I move on to my next assignment. I will also miss the many friends that I have made in the Singapore government, civil society, the other Embassies and US private sector. It has been a privilege to work with all of these diverse partners to identify ways in which we can improve lives – not only in our two countries, but across the ASEAN region. Forty percent of my staff has regional responsibilities, as do many of the US businesses headquartered in Singapore. The United States has a long history of engagement in Southeast Asia, with American traders first arriving to the region in the early 1800s. We are committed to remaining engaged both economically and militarily in the Indo-Pacific region for the next 200 years and beyond. My views on leadership stem from my four years serving in the US Navy. There are two things about the military – it teaches you how to follow and how to lead. It taught me to be a good leader and to be undaunted by any task. Leadership is not just looking at the big picture, but also caring about each individual and letting them know why they’re important to the mission. I may be the public face of the Embassy, but we have more than 300 representatives of the United States working at the US Embassy in Singapore. Everybody matters. I will miss my colleagues and what we have achieved. I will also miss our Deepavali, Chinese New Year and Hari Raya celebrations. And all of the delicious food – from satay to chicken rice, from dosai to fish curry, from goreng pisang to appam. And mangosteen, which I have to admit I prefer to durian. I thank my husband and my two girls for being part of this amazing adventure. We are grateful to the Singapore American School for the education my daughters received. We have loved visiting Indonesia, Thailand, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Vietnam. And we have appreciated the lasting friendships that each of us has made. My family and I leave knowing that Singapore will always have a special place in our hearts.
LIVING IN SINGAPORE 15
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to ing ready been gett s a e h th 7 r 1 0 Fo gust: ts Pack 3 year in Au w Cub Scou g e n in v a a h rt ls and n we sta oming gir lc grow whe e w e b l ver, we’l first time e rld, arteners! d the wo for kinderg s n e d n cks aroun o a Li p g t rin u e o ff c o Cub S e’ll be Like BSA ol year, w o r h e sc w lo w r e m the n have fo we now starting fro , t e a g a th e m e sam progra girls of th the same n to re s y ild o h b c ore ry age rs. Now m elementa b ergartene d n erican Cu ki m A s a that The as well g s in ie ik it h v ti , c g the a ampin such as c can enjoy , id o A d t rs re Fi o as Singap ills, such Scouts in ful life sk se u do a nice n g a in c rn Scouts and lea b u C r d with u O fety. ities mixe and fire sa nal activ io it d digital a tr to these design e m a g blend of eople s, from r young p dern one nt to offe more mo a rt their o p r fo im g. “It’s essfully c c su te e songwritin omp of the that will c em up off th t e g , activities Chair, usiasm and enth says Pack ,” d rl o w attention e g th tivities, ut explorin mix of ac d a ro b a sofa and o ring discover y. “By offe ance to h c e th Emily Leah em erwise ts gives th ht have oth ig m y e Cub Scou th t tha hing or d interests er that’s fis th e h w talents an , e av wn they h never kno ounger .” irls and y g f o n filmmaking io ore of a the addit e even m b ill Now, with w ts u Sco ed. This BSA Cub get involv n a c e n children, o ery parents vity, as ev ization, so n a rg o family acti n r ru organize t-voluntee helping to in le ro is a paren t n ine e looking lay a prom vities. We’r ti c a n already p e d d eetings an the pack m ahead! r a e y n a fu forward to
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Pack 30 10 Ann ua Regatt a. Photo l Raingutter courtesy Melind ah Bush of .
and 82 Receive Bronze USAGSO Junior Troops 18 Melinda Murphy. of Award. Photo courtesy LIVING IN SINGAPORE 17
our community King of Meats at The Club The American Club Executive Sous Chef, Paul Ng With over 15 years of experience in the industry at notable restaurants including Singapore’s Les Amis and Dubai’s Hotel Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Executive Sous Chef Paul Ng joined The American Club in 2011 and oversees all menus in The Club’s five dining outlets.
How did you get started? Getting into the food industry was very tough when I started. I had to start from scratch and had no alternative but to survive and thrive. So, I took on additional responsibilities. My shifts would start at 10am, but I came in at 6am to watch and learn how the senior chefs prepared the various stocks. When my shift ended at 10:30pm, I would go to a nearby bakery to learn how to make proper bread until 4am. It was this ‘can do’ attitude that gave me the skills to be an executive chef.
What’s on the table? This quintessential roasted leg of lamb is the perfect comfort food for a rainy evening, and best enjoyed with the whole family.
Chef Paul’s Roasted Leg of Lamb Serves 8 Ingredients • • • • • • •
5lb (2.5kg) leg of lamb, boneless ½ tablespoon dried thyme Freshly ground black pepper, to taste Salt, to taste 6 tablespoons olive oil 6 cloves of garlic 3 shallots
Preparation 1. Create the herb rub in a food processor. Pulse olive oil, garlic, shallots, thyme, pepper and salt until you have a thick paste. 2. Use half the herb rub on the exposed side of the lamb. 3. Rest the leg of lamb and use the remaining half of the herb rub on the bottom side of lamb. Spread the herb rub evenly. 4. Roast at 450°F (230°C) for 50 – 60 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 130°F (55°C) for medium rare meat. 5. Remove the leg of lamb and let it rest for 20 minutes. 6. Serve with a choice of side salad or roasted vegetables.
18 LIVING IN SINGAPORE
career resource center for excellence Replenish and Reset: Managing Stress CRCE At the Table Event Stress is something that we all have to face, but it’s how we respond to it that matters. Many people have the physical signs of stress long before a crisis moment arises, and yet we usually put off visiting a health professional before we take what’s going on seriously. Recognizing the first symptoms of stress can be tricky, and most of us will suppress the signals, allowing them to accumulate until we burn out. Our most recent CRCE networking and career group for women, At the Table, was led by wellness entrepreneur and Co-Founder of HASIKO, Davina Ho. She spoke to CRCE ambassador, Alka Chandiramani, about managing stress both at home and in the workplace.
What are some ways that stress can affect us personally and professionally without us being aware of it? When stressed, we are less likely to feel compassion and empathy for others. In dangerous situations, a cocktail of hormones is activated and your attention is directed towards your survival. When the stress response is activated in our system, the blood is pulled from our brain to our muscles, ready for the ‘fight or flight’ response. You may find it difficult to see other people’s perspective, whether it’s a family member or colleague, and you may feel ‘under fire’ when someone disagrees with you. Sleep is also affected by stress as it makes it difficult for us to fall and stay asleep because we feel anxious through our sleep cycle. Lack of sleep also contributes to stress during the day as your body boosts its levels of stress hormones. We reach for caffeine, junk food or sugar to give us a boost to our energy levels which then come crashing down.
Are there forms of stress that can have a positive impact? Modern lifestyles create an element of stress, although this may not always be life threatening. Stress hormones in themselves are not bad; cortisol, for example, is at its highest in the morning and helps us get up out of bed, then should slowly fall throughout the day until bedtime.
Do women handle stress and/or feel the effects of stress differently to men? Women are more likely to report the physical and emotional impacts of stress. Women seek support and conversationtherapy to lower their anxiety and find a solution or answer to their problems, while men repress and compartmentalize their feelings. Men seek escape when confronted by stress.
What are some simple tips for managing stress in the workplace or home? I recommend finding a quiet place to take 10 deep breaths where the breath flows down to your abdomen. Alternate nostril breathing balances the left and right side of the brain. Recently, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found how just a 20-minute session of moderate exercise can stimulate the immune system, producing an anti-inflammatory cellular response and counteract the inflammatory response stress hormones have on the body. If you are going to work out after work or late in the evening then go for a relaxing swim, do yoga or go for a walk. Leave the heavy workout to the morning when cortisol is at its peak after you wake-up. Not getting enough sleep is one of the worst things we can do to the body and mind. Our bodies run on a natural 24-hour cycle called the ‘circadian rhythm’. Sleep is part of that cycle and your body needs that to clear away the day’s toxins physically from the body so it can rest and repair itself. I teach a meditation called yoga nidra (yogic sleep) that puts the class in a ‘hypnagogic state’, between wakefulness and sleep. We include a 20-minute session in every single HASIKO class. Thirty minutes of yoga nidra can be the equivalent of two hours sleep and most people tell us it’s like a hyper-charged version of savasana which is usually done at the end of a yoga class.
What are some methods for preventing stress? Knowing when you’re stressed and needing to take extra care of your energy and re-filling your tank are key. Get extra sleep, follow a regular self-care practice and clear your schedule when you feel your energy is depleted. Remove yourself from toxic environments or people, too – this might seem difficult but will be worth it in the long term for your health and happiness. Next At the Table: Connect & Cultivate – Network with Confidence September 26, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Davina Ho, Co-Founder of HASIKO After a decade in finance, Davina is now a wellness entrepreneur passionate about helping her clients achieve optimal health and wellbeing using the mind-body connection. She is a qualified yoga teacher and an iRest® level 2 meditation teacher and also works privately with clients on stress, sleep disorders, PTSD and pain. For more info: davina@hasiko.co
20 LIVING IN SINGAPORE
career Are You in the Right Career? Discover your gifts and realign your career with these tips By Dee Allan Have you ever felt like you are stuck in a career that is not your calling? Or have you ever felt that you are not passionate about the work you are doing? Indeed, with 85% of people unhappy with their career, according to a Gallop poll, these are common questions that we need to address at some point in time when thinking about our chosen vocation. You may well have just arrived in Singapore with your spouse so this could be the perfect time for you to explore and exploit your talents during your time here. Gaining some clarity, or at least having some curiosity, on your overall purpose may give you clues on how and where to show up in your career. It all starts with some deep soul-reflection work.
What Are Your Gifts? We all have certain gifts that are inherently built within us. The question is, do you know what your gift is? A great way to hone in on your gifts is to look at four key areas: foundational identity, interests, passions and job functions.
1) Foundational identity Your foundational identity is essentially your core way of being. It is in your nature and part of your makeup. Examples of these characteristics could be: creating, problem solving, teaching, communicating, persuading, crafting, working independently, helping others, researching, analyzing, being physical, adventure seeker, artistic. Can you think of any obvious ‘ways of being’ that you display consistently?
2) Interests Next up is to list your interests. While you may have several interests, ask yourself what your top two interests are to help narrow it down. These could be: medicine, spirituality, science, food, travel, sports, politics, writing, law, entrepreneurship, art, theater.
3) Passions In order to align our career with our passions, a useful method is to ‘deep-dive’ into our interests. For this exercise, this means you really need to complete the above steps first before you can narrow into your passions. Note that interests and passions are not the same thing. Just because I’m interested in making desserts, it doesn’t mean I’m passionate enough to become a pastry chef. The trick is to continue deep diving into your interests, until you reach a natural point of closure that resonates with you.
Let’s take a ‘designer’, for example. They may have an interest in fashion. When they deep-dive to figure out what they are passionate about, they may discover they love women’s accessories and, furthermore, they are passionate specifically about handbags. So, in this example, this designer should focus their efforts on targeting jobs as a handbag designer.
4) Job Functions The final stage to discovering your gifts is to narrow down one or two job functions you’re good at. The trick is to keep in mind your foundational identity while you do this, and look for patterns and pairs. Some examples of pairing your foundational identity with job functions may be: • Organizing (foundational identity) management (job function)
and
project
• Listening (foundational identity) and coaching (job function) • Writing (foundational identity) and copywriting (job function) • Communicating (foundational identity) and teaching (job function) • Persuading (foundational identity) and business development (job function) • Drawing (foundational identity) and graphic design (job function) Using myself as an example; since I enjoy creating and writing, I could target job functions as an author or copywriter to ensure I’m staying true to my gifts. If I end up becoming a political correspondent writer when I’m actually passionate about writing fantasy books for children, it’s likely I will get bored and quit the job.
Conclusion The key with the above exercise is to be honest and dig deep until you reach a natural closure. Then you should craft your job search strategy. While conducting your job search, or setting up your own business, always ask yourself if you are staying true to your gifts, otherwise you may find yourself doing a job that isn’t sustainable for you in the long run. If after doing this exercise you are no clearer on where you want to be, try asking yourself this question: “If money was not an issue and if failure was not possible, what would I be doing?” It’s often the tasks and projects we would do for free that also ignite our soul and speak to our being.
Dee is the Founder and Director of 3C Synergy recruitment consultancy. She is a keynote speaker, copywriter and career coach. You can email her at deeallan@protonmail.com for career consulting, workshop facilitating, keynote speaking requests and, of course, coffee meetings. LIVING IN SINGAPORE 21
career Tapping into Singapore’s Business Culture By Alka Chandiramani The Little Red Dot, as Singapore is sometimes known, was founded in the 19th century as a British trading colony in the heart of Southeast Asia. Today it is a cosmopolitan city-state with a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture, and it has a well-earned reputation as one of the freest, most prosperous, most innovative, most competitive, most business friendly and least corrupt economies in the world. The founding father of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, created the blueprint to transform this country into a thriving nation. Apart from strong pro-business and regulatory policies, other factors – such as the country’s strategic geographic position, excellent infrastructure, favorable tax regime, and a highlyskilled and cosmopolitan labor force – have made conducting business in the country very attractive for companies and global investors. Supported by a pro-business government, up-to-date infrastructure and a talented workforce, Singapore has attracted numerous multinational corporations to its shores. Together with the numerous local businesses, Singapore has become one of the most sought-after destinations in Asia for work opportunities. Singapore’s work culture is a rare mix of Asian and Western influences; however, if you scratch beneath the surface, you are likely to find many inherent beliefs and practices that are quintessential to Singapore’s Asian identity. Traditional Asian values are still seen as important in this country which is made up of a majority Chinese population. For this reason, the value of relationship building and maintenance is not to be underestimated. This is a group-oriented culture and it is not unusual to see Singaporeans with networks built over years of long-standing relationships with common ground. Unlike some of its Asian counterparts, Singapore is a multi-cultural and multi-religious society. Work environments do espouse this diversity and the norms practiced on a day-to-day basis are often unwritten and subtle. It is, however, not difficult to observe and learn; attributes of Asian culture include the importance of family, respect for authority and keeping face. In most large multinational corporations, we are likely to find a predominantly western work-style culture, whereas local government offices and private companies are more likely to have traditional Asiancultural influences. Hierarchical relationships between supervisors and employees usually translate into an environment where openly challenging the chains of command would be deemed as inappropriate.
Moving to Singapore from any other part of the world or, indeed, any new country, can be daunting at the onset. Job seekers over the years have been offered some useful tips: • stay active; • join groups; • have a job search plan in place; • make use of technology; • take the time to explore and enjoy the island Many of Singapore’s business processes take place online. To find a job in Singapore, an online job search would be the quickest method to search for current openings. Numerous job boards, headhunters and recruitment firms are available in Singapore. However, there is a strong emphasis on networking within the resources and communities in Singapore, especially for expatriates. Singapore offers a wide range of opportunities for skilled and experienced professionals in various industries and there is a plethora of organizations and professional groups to join for networking. Participating in groups across various realms, rather than only expatriate ones, is also recommended. There is also a multitude of business and community organizations that offer broader-based opportunities for networking and information. Within the business community, the American Chamber of Commerce, the Australian Chamber of Commerce, the British Chamber of Commerce and other nationality-based chambers – as well as the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce and Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry – offer networking opportunities. Individual organizations and various associations may be helpful to individuals to help increase contacts and develop skills in their field. International conferences and exhibitions are also good sources for networking. Online networking forums have increased their presence in Singapore. Coupled with social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, these online networking opportunities have resulted in successful business and hiring transactions. Think about the following when planning your networking strategy: • The reason you want to network. Networking is about building a relationship and to gather intelligence • Who do I want to meet and why? • Your Personal Branding Statement/Elevator Pitch • Leveraging off social media platforms to broaden your connections
Alka is a multi-lingual human resources practitioner with over 25 years of HR and legal experience. She provides neuro-leadership, intercultural training and executive career coaching to individuals, high school and university students in Singapore and around the region. In Singapore, she currently provides advisory services to the AAS’s Career Resource Centre for Excellence (CRCE). LIVING IN SINGAPORE 23
From architecture to food, heritage to nature, war memorials to high tea, the Civic District is the cultural and sociopolitical heart of the Singapore. If you have visitors who only have 12 hours in the country, this is where to spend it. If you have 12 months here, I highly recommend devoting a number of weekends and afternoons to exploring everything there is to see in this very walkable part of town. Considered the birthplace of modern Singapore, the exact borders of the Civic District (sometimes called the Civic and Cultural District) vary, depending on who you ask and what search terms you put into Google. Generally, the area is considered to begin at the National Museum of Singapore and stretch southeast, ending at the waterfront.
Victoria Theatre, photo by Katie Baines
in the Civic District By Laura Schwartz
115-year-old Raffles Hotel
National Museum, photo courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore, National Heritage Board
9am – 10am
10am – 1pm
Start your day at one of Singapore’s most iconic buildings, Raffles Hotel, reopening on August 1 this year after a lengthy refurbishment. Everyone goes for Singapore Slings at the Long Bar or for high tea, now served in the Grand Lobby instead of the Tiffin Room. While both are worthy outings, visiting Raffles Hotel early in the day allows you to see the gorgeous colonial architecture in the blush of morning light, and it’s likely to be far less crowded. Afterwards, take a short stroll along the picturesque shophouses on Purvis Street towards Clinton Street Baking Company for delicious breakfast fare.
Walk through Chijmes and past St. Andrew’s Cathedral to the National Museum of Singapore. In addition to permanent exhibitions showcasing different periods of the nation’s history, the museum regularly features deep dives into niche facets of Singaporean culture, such as local food packaging, the Labour Movement’s story and the city’s murals. With programs for children and the digital installation by art collective teamLab, little ones will also be plenty engaged. Balance out the time spent indoors by wandering south through Fort Canning Park’s lush trails and dreamy gardens. The site of 14th century palaces, British army barracks and critical wartime decisions, Fort Canning is as fascinating historically as it is beautiful visually. Download the app, BALIKSG, for an augmented reality tour or simply relax on a shady bench and listen to the birds.
24 LIVING IN SINGAPORE
1pm – 2pm
4pm – 6pm
For lunch, follow the river to Privé at the Asian Civilisations Museum. Right next to the historic Raffles Landing Site, this café serves views of the CBD and Boat Quay along with its menu of sandwiches, salads and desserts. To indulge in a fine dining experience, head to Odette on the first floor of the National Gallery. Serving modern French cuisine, the elegant dishes and ambiance are right at home among the paintings and sculptures.
Time for a well-deserved break. Cross the 150-year-old Cavenagh Bridge and indulge in afternoon tea at one of two very different options. Hit The Landing Point, decadent and modern, at The Fullerton Bay Hotel for waterside views and artisanal nibbles. Or go the more traditional route at The Courtyard, the glass-topped atrium at The Fullerton Hotel, formerly the country’s General Post Office. If tea and cake aren’t to your taste, head to Customs House, home to several restaurants and bars, for an early cocktail and some snacks for fuel. Or go all-out with happy hour at The Lantern, famous for its uninterrupted view of the Marina Bay waterfront.
6pm – 8pm
The Fullerton Hotel, photo by Francisco Marin
2pm – 4pm The heat of the day hits its peak in the afternoon, but you’ll be spoiled for choice deciding where to escape it. History buffs can dive into the Asian Civilisations Museum, whose artefacts encompass the region’s rich trade legacies, faiths and traditions, cultural design and art styles. The surrounding cluster of colonial buildings house enough art to make any aesthete drool. As the world’s largest public collection of Singaporean and Southeast Asian art, with over 8,000 pieces to peruse, you could spend days in the National Gallery alone. The Arts House takes a more multidisciplinary approach and focuses primarily on the literary arts, celebrating the works of written and spoken word artists from Singapore and abroad. Also available are talks and creative workshops in several languages. With its distinctive clocktower, the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall is one of the island’s oldest performing arts venues. Home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the majority of concerts are musical, though dance companies and opera also draw crowds. Shows are almost always in the evening, but the Heritage Gallery is open to the public all day. Be sure to check each museum’s website to find your ideal program. The Parliament of Singapore is also in arm’s reach, though you’ll need to book a group tour in advance for a peek inside.
Laura grew up in Tokyo, Singapore and New Jersey before majoring in Japanese Studies at Bard College, upper New York. Her fiction and non-fiction writing has appeared in The Shanghai Review, Thoughtful Dog Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. A voracious traveler, Laura has visited over 30 countries.
As the sun starts its descent, soak in the panorama of the bayfront by strolling along the water. The Merlion is Singapore’s mascot and a must-see. Completed in 2015 for the country’s 50th birthday, the Jubilee Bridge is where you get those jaw-dropping photographs of the cityscape, the ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands, the Esplanade Theatres, the Singapore Flyer and the Merlion. While you’re there, you might as well pop into the durianshaped Esplanade Theatres to see if there are any lastminute tickets for shows that evening. Make sure to return to the One Fullerton stretch by 8pm to catch the Marina Bay Sands light show, a spectacle of music, lasers, fire and water that never fails to delight first-time visitors. Showtimes are at 8pm and 9pm every night, with an extra show at 10pm on Friday and Saturday.
View of Marina Bay, photo by Francisco Marin
8pm – 9pm To finish your day with a bang, head to LeVeL33 in Tower 1 of Marina Bay Financial Centre for dinner. As the world’s highest urban microbrewery, LeVeL33’s unique vantage point lets you see all the way to Indonesia on clear days and, at night, gives a bird’s eye view of the illuminated Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay. For a more down-to-earth meal, check out Boat Quay or Circular Road. Though Boat Quay is chock full of history, riverfront bars and restaurants serving a huge array of cuisines, it can be a bit pricy and touristy. Located just behind it, Circular Road is equally packed with options, many of them less expensive and more local. You’re bound to have a grand time either way.
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living in singapore The Road to Singapore By Asif R. Chowdhury It was Thanksgiving evening in 2013. We had just finished our dinner and were getting ready to watch a movie with friends and family in our home in Middleton, Boston. That’s when the phone rang. I answered the phone to a Daniel Cheng calling from Beijing at one of the top global executive search firms to offer me a chance at an executive management position at a semiconductor company. In Singapore. At which point the excitement of such an opportunity was almost immediately dampened. We really couldn’t move to Singapore at this point of our lives; we loved our little town around the Boston area, my wife had her friends and a great social life and I was happy at my job. Most importantly, though, our daughter was in tenth grade and we had no intention of moving even to the next town and yank her out of her school, let alone move thousands of miles away. I thanked Daniel for the opportunity and I didn’t give the call a second thought. Daniel was persistent, though. This was the beginning of what would be several long-distance discussions over a couple of months with him. The more I tried to explain the reasons as to why we could not move, the more he insisted we should, emphasizing it would be a great experience for my whole family. Owing much to Daniel’s persuasion, two months later, after numerous interviews, a short visit to Singapore to talk to the company CEO and an offer I couldn’t refuse, I accepted the position. When I initially discussed the move with my family, my wife was not at all thrilled, despite the fact that we had two previous overseas expatriate stints in Korea and Japan. My daughter was ready to disown me. The only person who seemed to show support was my 7-year old son! However, despite all the protests, we moved to Singapore in 2014. There really is nothing like living in Singapore. It has all the key attributes a family would look for when moving to a foreign country. One of the most important factors is how safe it is here with very little crime. English is widely spoken, albeit sometimes in Singlish. It also has a good infrastructure, transportation and offers excellent medical facilities, something important for families with kids. We moved into a quiet neighborhood in Woodlands area, not too far from the Singapore American School (SAS), giving us a feeling of still living in the suburbs. On a cultural level, living in Singapore has been a fascinating experience for all of us. We have been lucky to have travelled extensively over the last five years to over a dozen international destinations, some of them exotic.
The international environment has done wonders for both of our kids and we feel that it will make them better prepared to deal with the increasingly global world. My wife and I love the food here and have concluded that it’s one thing we will definitely miss when we return to the US. We have frequented many restaurants, from hole-in-the-wall eateries, to food courts to top-notch steak houses and we have hardly ever been disappointed. The very reason for which I didn’t want to move to Singapore in the first place, not wanting to disrupt our daughter’s high school, turned out to be one of the best things that we could have done for her. My kids enrolled at SAS, which is on par with top-notch private schools in the US. Both of them found the educational standard of SAS higher than their respective public schools in Massachusetts. Initially they struggled with the higher standard, but they soon caught up and started to excel. It was definitely more of an adjustment for my daughter going into eleventh grade, but by the second half of her junior year, she had made good friends and seemed to have fallen in love with the school. It definitely prepared her well for her transition into college a couple of years later. She is now a junior at Purdue University and looks back at her two years in Singapore and SAS fondly. The move and the transition to Singapore was not a walk in the park for any of us by any stretch of the imagination, despite our two expatriate assignments in the past. However, the move turned out to be well worth the effort. Living in Singapore has, indeed, turned out to be a great experience for the whole family. Daniel was absolutely right, and I am grateful to him for his call on that Thanksgiving Day six years ago.
Asif is part of the executive management at a global semiconductor company and has written for various trade journals. Asif spent four years as an expatriate in Tokyo, Japan in business development, which led him to travel extensively over the country. He currently lives in Singapore with his wife and son, while his daughter is studying for a BSc at Purdue University, Indiana. 26 LIVING IN SINGAPORE
living in singapore Living LIKE A LOCAL in Singapore By Faith Chanda Moving to Singapore was my first expat experience. I’ve travelled a lot, but had never lived in another country. To be honest, my husband dragged me here across the globe, kicking and screaming, but now I’m not sure I ever want to leave. Expat life has stages, like the stages of grief, but opposite. It starts with ‘acceptance’ – accepting the job offer, the challenge, the idea of change. Next comes ‘depression’ – when all of the “this is the last time we’ll [fill in the blank] before we move” sinks in, realizing you won’t be seeing friends and family as often. It can be sad, but soon you move on to the ‘bargaining’ stage – “Ok, fine. I’ll go, but only for two years.” The hardest stage comes after you move and once the honeymoon stage has worn off: ‘Anger’. “Why am I still getting lost in the MRT?”; “Every empty table has tissues chope-ing the spot!”; “No, [friend from home], my life is not like Crazy Rich Asians.” After you’ve really settled in and learned to love all the great things about Singapore and learned to cope with the rest comes ‘denial’. But with a twist. More like, “Who, me? I’m not a ‘real’ expat. I live here now!” And that’s when you start living like a local. After more than four years, we’ve moved away from the hub of Singapore expat life, Orchard Road. I finally feel like we’re getting a taste of living like locals and I love it! There’s lots of wisdom to glean from Singapore’s rich culture and unique lifestyle. Eat Cheap: A meal at a hawker center for the whole family can be less expensive than cooking at home! Not only is there a wide variety of choice, you can find some of the best food Singapore has to offer at these humble stands. Shop Smart: While many a Western expat has bemoaned the lack of the likes of Walmart and Home Depot in Singapore, the truth is you can find much of the same stuff here, just in smaller batches and at even cheaper prices. Since HDBs are meant to be relatively self-contained for residents, you’ll find everything from hardware to head wear and salons to saloons in the shops and businesses on the ground floors. You’ll find the same with groceries. While Cold Storage and Redmart cater to expat brands and choices, the wet markets are where the fresh proteins and produce are. Celebrate Diversity: Coming from a small town in America, it took me a while to get used to seeing so many mixed-culture families like ours. I still get a jolt of joy every time I am reminded of all the cultures coexisting peacefully in Singapore. An important factor in Singapore’s successfully blended community is the recognition that it’s okay to celebrate not only what we have in common, but also what makes us different.
Singapore’s public holidays encompass so many different religions; that each holiday is practiced and celebrated publicly to its fullest extent, and everyone is invited to participate. Travel Efficiently: From the flyer’s bliss that is Changi airport, to the cleanliness of the MRT, to the punctuality of the public bus system, Singaporeans know how to travel, whether it’s to another country or just down the road, to the extent that having a car in Singapore may not even be necessary. Using public transportation is cheaper, better for the environment and employment rates, and it is almost always more efficient to travel by MRT, bus, taxi or ridesharing service, such as Grab or Go-Jek. Take Advantage of Domestic Help: While it’s a truly foreign concept for much of the expat community, many cultures in Asia and elsewhere understand that domestic help can be a win-win situation. Employers can recapture time they might have spent cooking, cleaning and shopping to be redistributed to time with family, friends and other pass-times. At the same time, the helpers are often able to support their families to an extent that would not be possible otherwise. Trust Traditional Health Practices: Chinese Traditional Medicine (CTM) has been around for centuries, so have Indian ayurvedic methods and many other health and healing customs. While modern medicine is necessary in certain situations, many traditional practices, such as cupping, acupuncture and homeopathy can have demonstrably positive effects. Research providers before you go, but don’t be afraid to consider rituals borne from the wisdom of the ages just because they’re new to you. Singapore does so many things right – it’s known around the world for efficiency, cleanliness, greenness, diversity and friendliness. Its citizens walk more, limit sun exposure and eat fewer processed foods. Living like a local in Singapore means appreciating all of these unique advantages as well as integrating into our own lives some of the wisdom Singaporeans have to share. Photo courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board
Faith arrived in Singapore expecting a two-year stint before gratefully returning to the comforts of “home”. Four years later and counting, it’s Singapore that feels like home. She is a volunteer on the Admin team of Real Singapore Expat Wives Facebook group, freelance copywriter and chapter author for the Living in Singapore Reference Guide.
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living in singapore
When Love Fades
Rekindle your flame for Singapore By Paige Okun Ahh…love, the tingly feeling in your toes. The adrenaline rush of discovering daily something new. Fast forward three years and the relationship fits like a comfortable t-shirt… easy to wear, but still full of possibilities. Seven years in and you feel the itch… you want to try something new. You feel a little stuck, but due to circumstances you can’t move on. What do you do when the honeymoon phase is long over and your love affair with Singapore has waned? Kate Park, a counsellor and psychotherapist at Tucker Health and long-term expat, discusses strategies for combatting the long-term expat blues and keeping the relationship spark alive. Kate says there are many challenges that happen at around the seven-year mark. Your sense of identity changes from a being a new expat to not really understanding what type of expat you are – permanent, long-term, or something else. You’ve gone through the cycle of friend groups changing. And, you’ve changed your concept of home both geographically and conceptually. Your vision of home may become clouded and blurred, which can be confusing. So how do you pull yourself out of that confusion and funk? First and foremost, “Work on finding your people wherever they are, over whatever interests you share,” says Kate. She says community is important and shared interests and shared values build the best communities. How do you find your people? Start by identifying your interests. Ask yourself what sports do I enjoy? Am I spiritual? Would I like to join a church or meditation group?
Am I interested in community service? Would I like to learn a new language? Do I want to go back to school for a post graduate degree? Do I want to train to be a yoga instructor? Basically, figure out what you like to do or want to try and find a group that meets that particular need. By joining an existing group, you plug into an already built community. And having a community is key to re-engaging in your expat experience. Kate also suggests joining clubs and associations. The expat clubs like The American Club, The Tanglin Club and The British Club are an obvious choice, but there is also a myriad of local clubs and associations, such as Friends of the Museum, National Singapore Tennis Association and swimming clubs. If you have kids in school, you might consider participating in a school parent’s association. If you’re working, think about connecting with local colleagues who won’t be leaving for the next expat assignment. In fact, local friends are important for long-term expats. They are part of the broader fabric of Singapore society and, because they will likely be here for the longer term, can be a stable support mechanism for you. Try joining a class at your local People’s Association or volunteering with a community service organization or joining a local exercise or walking group. Meetup.com lists lots of groups that fit the bill. “There are even groups online that are dedicated to connecting those who don’t want to do the Night Safari again and who are looking for deeper ways to explore a culture and make deeper connections,” says Kate. Exercise is also critical to combatting the long-term expat blues, according to Kate. There are numerous studies pointing to exercise being beneficial for not just physical health, but also mental health, including stress management. “Exercise is the number one nonpharmaceutical mood elevator,” she says. “And, if you want a shortcut to finding a healthy community, join a sports organization or a sporting community like a tennis or golfing league. You’ll get a helpful bang for your buck!” And are there any long-term benefits to being an expat? Kate declares: “The longer you stay and the more open you are to connection, the deeper and richer your experience. And by opening yourself to another culture, you learn more about your own in reflection.”
Paige Okun is a 16-year expat who has found her peeps through among other things tennis, The AWA, and her work as a marketing communications professional.
28 LIVING IN SINGAPORE
living in singapore Color Your World Happy! By Tyler Wisler Paint really is a magical thing! The simple swipe of a roller can transform a space from sterile to stunning, or cold to cozy! It is one of the most powerful design tools we all have accessible to us. There is nothing like bathing surfaces in that perfect hue of coral, reminding you of that idyllic sunset you gazed into on your honeymoon, or finding that shade of robin’s egg blue that makes your gorgeous tangerine mid-century sofa just pop! Color is a way of expressing who we are and how we feel our spaces should feel. It makes us feel emotion and, when we allow it to take over large swathes of real estate, it becomes a statement. Whether you’re moving into or living in a compact condo, or opulent black and white house, the walls are, more often than not, a blank canvas which can leave your living space devoid of personality. Given that paint is something that is easy, relatively inexpensive and never has to be permanent, there is a world of possibilities when it comes to putting your accent on your abode to make it feel more like your home, if your landlord is agreeable to it. Finding that perfect color is not as easy as it might seem. The one mistake I see being made very often is the intensity of the colors people choose. How many of you have arrived home, painted your walls a color that you spent an hour agonizing over in the store, only to find out it is either hideous or overwhelming? Well, that is the seductive power of color. Ninety percent of the colors we are shown are very loud once applied to the walls. One of my tricks is when you find a shade you love, go back to the lightest version of that hue. This gives you the essence of the color without hitting you over the head. I also strongly believe in considering options. Just because the color is gorgeous in the store does not mean it will translate that way in your space. Once you have settled on your three favorite options, grab a roller and a quart of each. This seems a lot, but you are not going to be painting those squares up on your wall anymore. You will be painting nice big swatches, and I mean big! Maybe 48” wide and from floor to ceiling. Why? Well, the color at ceiling level looks vastly different
than it does down near the floor and, again, different to what it does at eye level. And, you are going to paint two coats! You will ultimately be painting two coats of paint of the color you decide on, so you should see the product exactly as it will live. But why such big sections? Our eyes are funny things. They like to play tricks on us, especially with color and the relationship to other colors near it. Do you all remember that silly controversy of “Is it a black and blue dress or a white and gold dress”? It’s the same thing. When you are relying on a small square of color your eye must decipher what it sees in relation to what it is nearest to. For example, these two smaller green squares are the same color but appear different because of the backgrounds they are up against.
Now you have these gorgeous wide stripes on the wall it’s time to pick, right? Well, no. I want you to look at these colors over the next couple of days. The colors will appear warmer in the morning sun, maybe bluer when you get home from work and turn on your lights, depending on the type of bulbs you have. All these factors play with color, so give yourself time to react to the swatches throughout the day. Then assess and choose.
Tyler is an international, influential and sought-after designer. He currently stars as a judge and mentor on Asia’s biggest design competition show, Sony Channel Asia’s The Apartment, where he is known for tough love and sound, practical advice. His work has been seen in Architectural Digest, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Elle Décor and Better Homes and Gardens.
LIVING IN SINGAPORE 29
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living in singapore Causes for Animals (Singapore): By Vivienne Scott
Helping the Helpless, Loving the Unloved
There is substantial research documenting the positive health and wellbeing outcomes of owning a pet: companionship, stress-relief, fulfillment, therapeutic benefit, fitness, routine, social opportunities and even a strengthened immune system. The American Pet Products Association recorded 68% of US households were in ownership of a pet between 2017 and 2018, so it is unsurprising that many expatriate families consider bringing a four-legged friend or fur-baby into their homes in Singapore. If you are considering keeping a pet while living on the island, it is important to think carefully about the animal and breed, where to source them and the associated long-term responsibility and cost, particularly if you are intending to repatriate. The reality in Singapore is that many pets are sourced from pet shops and puppy mills. These businesses often breed and keep animals in inhumane conditions and value profit above appropriate care and welfare for their animals. Puppy mills are renowned for repeatedly breeding the same animals for profitable offspring, while the parent animals are kept in small cages with no hope of ever having a home. When they can no longer breed, they are often discarded or put down. Causes for Animals (Singapore) Limited (CAS) is an animal welfare charity set up to support the needs of local animal welfare. As a fosterer for CAS, I have seen the sad reality of puppy mills. Tigger came to me with a number of health issues, some treatable, some not: Tigger had mobility difficulties resulting from wrongly developed posture and bone structure due to prolonged caging, poor eyesight due to cataracts, almost fully impaired hearing, and a long-term itchy and painful skin condition. Success story Baker suffered permanent damage to her hind leg after a hit and run incident. Despite never having lived in a home before, a CAS fosterer took Baker into her home to familiarize her with a household environment. Baker won the hearts of an adoptive couple who were looking for a laidback addition to their family.
Happily, Tigger was lovingly adopted into a permanent home within a month, as was the case for each of the six lovely dogs I have temporarily fostered over the past 18 months. Their stories range from being unwanted pets, abandoned by relocating owners, street dogs, or having neglected healthcare needs. I formed great attachments with, and gained a great deal of reward from welcoming each unique personality into my home. Singapore, like many countries in Southeast Asia, has a significant stray dog and cat population but this is both dangerous and unwanted in such a densely populated and developed island. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) rescued over 1,750 animals last year alone, but this number does not include those animals taken into care by charity shelters such as CAS. With a recorded 680 adoptions and notable expense of animal healthcare, this is not a sustainable situation and the number of animals in need is ever-increasing. Those who cannot be safely released or rehomed are often euthanized. Adopting a rescue animal enables that space to be given to another animal in need of treatment and care. Adoption is also a significantly more affordable option than shopping and you can feel proud that you have helped an animal in need. CAS has a 98% adoption success rate and frequently hosts campaigns to raise funds to offer ethical and compassionate treatment of rescue animals, while applying their own successful stray management program by neutering and releasing healthy animals to prevent further growth of stray populations. For more information or to support the inspiring work of CAS, or if you are considering adopting a rescue animal, please visit www.causesforanimals.com Feature Little Pocco was discovered in a ditch with a dreadful maggot-infested wound. CAS published an emergency appeal to fund the medical aid needed to save his life. It is hoped he will make a full recovery and will stay with foster carers until he finds a permanent home.
Relocating from Scotland, Vivienne has spent four years living in Singapore and working as an Educational Psychologist. When not at school, Vivienne is a nighthawk who loves to explore what the island has to offer after dark. Between semesters she is an avid traveler and enjoys hopping over to neighboring countries in Asia. LIVING IN SINGAPORE 31
: r a m n a My
A Glittering Tapestry of Humanity By John S. Hamalian
The morning sun reflects brilliantly off the glittering gold of the ancient temple, a structure so old its origins are clouded in a mist thicker than the incense burning at a nearby shrine. Imagine a land tucked away in time, virtually unchanged for a millennium. A land of diverse ethnic groups jockeying for influence, of Buddhist monks quietly chanting morning prayers, of centuries-old legends and tales of intrigue, of businesspeople scrambling for a slice of newfound prosperity. Welcome to the fascinating tapestry of people, history and culture that is Myanmar.
An Ancient Legend Endures Without a doubt, the most impressive sight in Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, is Shwedagon Pagoda. Soaring high above the cityscape like a giant golden Hershey’s Kiss, this icon is the soul of the city and the heart of the land. It can be seen from nearly anywhere in Yangon, constantly permeating the city’s very existence. The enormous gold plated stupa (a monumental structure, usually housing sacred relics) soars nearly 320 feet high, its tip encrusted with 5,448 diamonds, as well as scores of other precious gems, deposits of which Myanmar has some of the world’s richest. According to legend, Gautama Siddhartha, as he reached enlightenment and became the last Buddha while sitting under a tree in India, plucked eight hairs from his own head and gave them to two of his brothers. The men then toiled their way through dense jungles and jagged mountains to southern Myanmar, carrying the hairs in a special casket, where they were eventually enshrined in the massive stupa, along with relics from three previous Buddhas. Because of 32 LIVING IN SINGAPORE
this, Shwedagon is one of the most venerated sites in the entire Buddhist world – a responsibility welcomed by the people of this land, over eighty percent of whom are stoutly devoted to the belief.
The Land of a Thousand Temples Rumbling down the dusty roads of an ancient city mired in time, a flurry of pyramid-like structures bombards the visitor like flecks of dust in a sandstorm. But these are not pyramids, they are temples, giving the ancient city of Bagan its nickname of ‘The Land of a Thousand Temples’. At every glance, another one appears, as if one were somehow stuck in an endless loop of archeological discovery. Buddhist edifices dot the landscape like skyscrapers in an urban jungle. The entire old section of the city is considered a historical site – unlike other culturally important places where you may pay a fee to get into a particular landmark, in Bagan you have to buy a ticket to enter the city itself. Bagan is one of Asia’s most amazing wonders, some even placing it on par with Cambodia’s mighty Angkor Wat, a weighty comparison indeed. Before Kublai Khan’s Mongols repeatedly invaded this region in the 13th century, it is estimated that Bagan contained over 10,000 temples and stupas – an astounding number considering the city’s relatively diminutive size. Miraculously, more than 2,200 of them remain today, considerably more than the nickname suggests. The buildings vary in design and construction, depending on their ethnic style, having, among others, Mon, Bamar, Tamil Indian, Sri Lankan and even Tibetan influence, perfectly reflecting the incredible cultural diversity that defines the montage of Myanmar.
One of the more fascinating structures in Bagan is Ananda Temple, a dominating edifice with its whitewashed exterior, most regal in appearance. It is said that the King was so taken by the temple’s uniqueness that he personally executed the designer to preserve its singularity. Another impressive site is the giant Thatbyinnyu Temple, the tallest building in Bagan. As is typical of these creations there is at least one Buddha figure inside. One contains a giant reclining Buddha over 60 feet in length. Another temple-building legend persists at Dhammayangyi, Bagan’s largest shrine, where it is said that during its construction the King would have masons executed if a needle could be pushed between the bricks. It’s a good thing he never saw me lay my first bathroom tile!
Empires Come and Gone After the Mongol invasion destroyed the first Burmese empire, the area of Myanmar was in various states of transition for half a millennium, with in-fighting between ethnic groups, war with neighboring Thais, and the rise and fall of two more Burmese Empires. Enter Britain, who by 1886 annexed all of Burma, as the country was named in those days. This British Burma period was the time that Orwell wrote his famous Burmese Days novel and Kipling his notable poem, Mandalay. After around a century of stiff British rule and episodes of Burmese rebellion, the area came under brutal Japanese occupation between 1942 and 1945. Myanmar eventually gained its independence in 1948, finally getting a breather after so many years of meddling. In recent years, the formerly inward country has begun to open up, presenting commercial opportunities for those brave enough to accept the risks of fresh intrepidity. The name change of the country in 1989 from Burma to Myanmar was meant, in part, to highlight the old term’s namesake that people are one of many in what is among the most ethnically diverse nations in in the world. Other than the majority Burman people, the dizzying array of ethnicities includes Shan, Kayin (Karen), Kayah (Red Karen), Mon, Kachin, Wa, among many others. Each one carries its own language, customs and style, helping to make Myanmar a true interwoven tapestry of peoples.
Rocky Outpost in the Sky As we drive across the dry, desert-like flat plains just east of Bagan, a monolithic outcrop appears out of nowhere. Like Devils Tower in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the sheer-sided formation looks as if it doesn’t quite belong here, and there is something shining on top. Like an undiscovered outpost of a bygone empire, a large monastery compound with golden domes gleams magnificently atop Taung Kalat, a towering 5,000 feet high volcanic lava neck. To get to the top one has to climb a mere 777 slippery and zigzagging steps, but the wonderful view of the surrounding landscape, including majestic Mount Popa volcano, is well worth the effort. As is typical of these kinds of complexes, the monastery, stupas and shrines all seem to meld together in an unceasing array of gold, incense LIVING IN SINGAPORE 33
and intrigue. While coming down, an elderly man, hunched over and busy sweeping the walkway with a dilapidated broom, paused for a moment to look at us, point at the floor, and mutter something in the local language that I took to mean “hey, I just cleaned all these steps”. We handed him some money, said goodbye to the wild monkeys scurrying overhead, and made our way to the next stop.
Humanity at its Best While traveling in the open countryside, I decided to stop and say hello to some locals. No sooner than I got out of the car was I greeted by some playful children, some of the boys bearing footballs and the girls wearing thanaka bark powder (a whitish natural sun-block and make-up) on their faces. A bit shy at first, they soon warmed up to me and let me take a photo of them. They then ceremoniously ushered up to me the kid with the highest level of English, who proceeded to lead me into their little village with all the others merrily skipping along behind us. I was shown where they kept their cows, where they stored their hay, how they ground their seeds to make oil; they gave me a grand tour of their entire village. Amused and curious inhabitants emerged from their huts to see the ‘parade’, some joining us, the kid leader, as a sort of local pied piper, with I and the others dutifully marching behind. A few adults approached and insisted that I sit down and take some tea along with their sweet cakes, a local specialty from the sugar cane trees that grow abundantly here. Finally, we entered their little temple in the center of town and met the village elder.
Seizing my chance to show my gratitude, I politely gave a donation that I knew would benefit the village as a whole, so as not to corrupt individuals with hand-outs. He graciously accepted on behalf of the people, with a toothy smile and a warm handshake. The village experience echoed my entire trip to Myanmar – permanently etched into my memory will be the perpetually friendly and warm-hearted people of this land. Exuding a simple, good-natured affability that is hard to find in developed countries, I found that they were just as curious about me as I was of them; the brilliance of their colorful wraps as bright as the smiles on their faces. A country is not a flag, a symbol, nor a landmark; it is a place full of people living their lives during our shared human journey. And I was glad to come across a few here: the smiling young girl sewing in her humble little hut; the two holy men silently praying under a colossal Buddhist figure; the friendly women waving while lugging heavy pails of water from a nearby river. Wonderful threads of humanity stitched beautifully into the amazing tapestry of Myanmar and, indeed, the world.
Getting There Three-hour flights from Singapore Changi to Yangon and connecting flights to Nyaung-u for Bagan depart daily. Photos by Katie Baines
John is a US citizen and an avid explorer with a passion for travel journalism and photography. He has visited over 65 countries, including the entire Far East of Asia. He has written for the Singapore Straits Times, Shanghai Daily, The Armenian Mirror-Spectator, My Paper, The American Women’s Club of Korea and the in-flight magazine of Royal Bhutan Airlines. 34 LIVING IN SINGAPORE
The Valley of the Moon By Laura Coulter
I’m on the Valley of the Moon surrounded by a million stars and no one for miles. As I slowly turn 360 degrees, I can’t see a soul; just vast desert, rock, peaks and valleys. It’s majestic and I feel very small. I’m in the national park of Wadi Rum, the largest valley in Jordan. Jordan, located in the Middle East, has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period and is famous for the hidden rose city of Petra. I’ve come here to explore and spend time in nature, although this is far from anything I’ve seen before. A two-hour drive from Petra and suddenly, I’m on an intergalactic planetary journey. Wadi Rum is now home to the Bedouin tribes who have developed an eco-tourism trade. Working at the camps as guides, hikers, cooks and experts on the area, they welcome the adventurous traveler who extends their trip beyond Petra and floating in the Dead Sea. Day trips around the Wadi can be organized, along with camel rides, hikes and sunset views. If the idea of hiking in the baking heat doesn’t appeal to you, there’s always the option to retreat to your camp and read or doze in the shade until the daytime heat reduces and you can venture out again for spectacular sunset views. Most of the transport is by 4x4 open-back jeep and you feel pretty bold as you bounce around in the back with the wind in your hair, surrounded by cliffs and rocks. Wadi Rum is an ideal destination for families, as kids can be kids. They can run as far as the eye can see, climb, jump, scream, throw sand, eat sand,
dig in sand and generally burn off their energy as there’s no one around and no limitation to the space. There are fossils to be found in the rocks, cave-drawings to examine and occasional animal spotting; mostly goats and camels. While I feel intrepid and bold, as though I’m exploring new land, the reality is that people have been travelling here since the fourth century when the Nabataean tribes migrated. Lawrence of Arabia was also in Wadi Rum between 1917 and 1918 and, in the daytime, I dropped by the remains of his house, left abandoned and easy to explore and climb over. Hollywood production companies have frequently been on location on the vast lunar landscape and the movie, The Martian, was filmed here. You can even stay in Martian pod-type hotels with air conditioning, like a truly pampered creature from another planet. You’ll feel like a Jedi Knight as you come over the sand dunes searching for droids in the folds of the sand. Scenes from Rogue One – A Star Wars Story were filmed here in 2016. I prefer to see my stars from outside, so I decided to stay at an eco-lodge inside the national park - the Teva Milky Way Lodge. After a long drive on winding roads from Petra, we arrive at the gates of the National Park. After transferring to the Lodge’s own jeep and bidding our driver good-bye at the park gates, we were soon crossing the desert in a disorienting maze of tracks and turns, losing all hope of finding our way back. We pulled up at the camp and I was pleased to
see the tents already set up with beds inside and open-air bathrooms. Guests congregated in the main tent where tea and coffee were always on offer from the fireside, and the evening meal and breakfast were served buffet-style. The camp manages to incorporate sustainable practices through solarheated showers and solar-powered lights, open-air ‘rooms’, organic dining, waste recycling and conservation, while still making you feel like you are living the good life. An ideal time to visit the camp is when there’s little to no moon, so the stars can be fully on display. You can sit by the fire at the camp or go up to the viewing area with a blanket and flashlight to sit back and enjoy nature’s evening show. In the morning, it’s nice to wake up early to see the sunrise in the area and I was treated to a herd of camels walking past, easily visible from the comfort of my bed in the tent. The less you can travel with, the better, but it’s wise to bring a jacket for the evening and sunscreen and a hat for the intense heat in the day. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes this such a magical place; perhaps it’s the combination of spectacularly unusual landscape and solitude as the humble reminders of how small we are. In Wadi Rum, though, you can find peace away from the world and within yourself.
Getting There Flights to Amman leave daily from Singapore with a layover in either Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or Qatar. Photo by Laura Coulter
Laura is the Girl About Town with a passion for connecting others together to build community and celebrate the joy of living abroad. Laura created and hosts the eco-friendly event Your Clothes Friend Swap and volunteers her time to build homes with Habitat for Humanity. As contributor to the Living in Singapore Reference Guide Nightlife section, Laura continues to search for the perfect martini.
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food n’ drink Join the Food Revolution By Julian Chua As consumers, we have become intrinsically picky about where, how and when we choose to eat, and even more so in this digital age since technological advancement has brought us online food recommendations, food guides and reviews. What’s more, with the food and beverage industry being highly competitive, and especially here in Singapore, we’re presented with a myriad of food choices. This means that F&B companies and owners are under pressure to raise the bar in terms of innovation and cost reduction, not only in what they serve up, but how they serve it. This industry’s competitiveness ultimately benefits consumers who are presented with more dining options and will get more bang for their buck. Here are five innovative ways Singapore has revolutionized your dining experiences as a consumer!
Robo Food Smart kitchen appliances are gradually making their way into restaurants and are shaping kitchens of the future. Singapore based company, Zimplistic, for example, is the brains behind the Rotimatic; an automated robot that measures, mixes, kneads, flattens, cooks and puffs Indian roti , as well as dough balls and poori -sized flour discs. According to the engineers at Zimplistic, restauranteurs are finding their kitchens run more efficiently, meaning customers receive a quicker service.
Doorstep Delivery With the fast pace of life, especially in Singapore, many of us find we are just too busy with work, or too tired to dine out. That is where online food delivery service, Foodpanda, comes in. They are a global online food delivery marketplace where they work with third-party food vendors to deliver food of every type of cuisine imaginable to customers who place orders online via their app or web platform without having to leave their home. www.foodpanda.sg
Food on Social Media Burpple is a food-review platform that allows diners to post their opinions and experiences of food through images with captions. It works in a similar way to Instagram, whereby an online community can ‘follow’ or ‘like’ users posts and curated images.
If you want to be inspired by food for cooking or simply want to find new places to eat, this is the place to be! www.burpple.com
Order and Pay the Efficient Way Last-minute orders on the run during peak hours and long waiting times at an eatery can be an added stressor to an already hectic schedule. Enter mobile ordering and payment app, Waitrr. With Waitrr, you can speed up the process by placing an order via a QR code to cut long queues and pay directly via the app. This way, the restaurant is able to capture vital customer data points that can be used to personalize their offerings and fine-tune their menus to adapt to customer preferences. www.waitrr.com
Reservations Made Easy Online booking and reservation site, Chope, makes reserving a table easy by cutting out manually calling the restaurant or going to the place to book in person. Chope has connected with over 1,500 bars and restaurants in Singapore, meaning customers are spoiled with a variety of restaurant choices all under one platform, where the reservation process allows for party size, date, time, cuisine and location to be selected. Furthermore, signing up to Chope’s newsletter means diners are notified of special promos on an ad hoc basis. www.chope.co
Julian is an entrepreneur who runs several businesses that deal with consulting and brokerage in Singapore. He combines his love for food and writing with his business experience to provide readers with a balanced perspective on the F&B scene here in Singapore. For the past decade, he has been a freelance writer for NTUC Lifestyle, Business Times, Spin Asia, and Time Out. LIVING IN SINGAPORE 37
health & wellness How & Where to Eat Clean in Singapore: A Local Guide to Healthier Food By Amanda L. Dale If you’re anything like me, as an American expat, you miss a lot of the comforts of home – and many of those comforts revolve around food. Sure, I miss a good In-N-Out burger every now and then, and most weekends I’d kill for a Denny’s Grand Slam, but on a day-to-day basis, what I miss most about living in California is the cheap, convenient and constant access to clean, whole, healthy foods. Anyone who’s ever paid $4 for a bruised apple at Cold Storage or struggled to find ground turkey breast on this island can relate. Some of the easy, healthy options available even at a chain grocery, such as Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods – think pre-cut veggies, fresh and diverse salad bars, or a frozen cauliflower pizza crust – are nearly unheard of here, and even if they can be found, they’re usually at a price point far beyond what most of us would prefer to spend. That said, there really are plenty of healthy food choices in Singapore, if you know where to look. I have the privilege of living with a Singaporean, so with his guidance I have been able to decipher and taste-test some of the healthier local options, available for $5-10 a pop, all over the island at food centers and hawker stalls. I know what you’re thinking: healthy hawkers? Though it is true that much of the street-style food in Singapore is ridden with oil, salt and fat, there are a few tricks to make healthier choices no matter where you are eating. Consider trying yong tau foo, a Hakka specialty dish consisting of you-pick-em fresh veggies, meats and tofu products. You can load up on whatever vegetables you like (leafy greens and cruciferous veg are your best bet) and have them cooked in a clear, broth-based soup with little to no added oil. Try to avoid the deep-fried, processed meat and oily noodle or rice add-ons for the cleanest version. Another healthy mainstay from the Hakka stalls is lei cha, also known as Thunder Tea Rice. This mysterious-looking bright green herbal soup packs a powerful flavor punch from its mix of basil, mint, green tea, and other herbaceous ingredients. The soup is served over rice (ask for brown; they’ll almost always have it) with spinach, cabbage, leeks, peanuts, finely chopped tofu, and some ikan bilis (anchovies) for a balanced, filling meal. A super low-calorie hawker center option is popiah, which looks like a mini burrito. It’s actually a veggie mixture consisting of jicama, turnip, bean sprouts and peanuts, spread with a little sweet soy sauce (ask for light sauce!) and chilis and wrapped inside a wafer-thin, nonfried wheat-based wrap. The entire thing has fewer than 200 calories and is great for an on-the-go healthy snack. Of course, there is life outside the hawker centers – several chains have hopped on the “make your own salad” bandwagon alongside well-known brands like
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Yong tau foo
SaladStop!, The Daily Cut, Grain Traders and Sumo Salad. CBD is a hotbed for “healthy bowl” style eating with spots like The Autobus (OUE Downtown Gallery), SunMoon (Telok Ayer), and both WHEAT Baumkuchen and Workspace Espresso (various locations) offering buildable choices of protein, vegetables and whole grains. The crucial thing to remember when building your own meal is that not all toppings are created equal – most spots tend to under-portion the protein (don’t be afraid to ask for a double serving!) and douse on the dressing (ask for yours on the side). Toppings such as nuts, seeds, beans, and cheese can add more calories than you’d expect, and some of the common salad bar offerings are actually deep fried (croutons, garlic, tofu and anchovies being some of the culprits here). It’s best to fill your bowl with as many green vegetables and lean meats/fish as possible, and choose one healthy fat, such as an egg, avocado, or a scoop of hummus for satiety and taste. As I tell my clients, if you stick to “protein and plants” at the salad bar you are usually making a healthy choice. If you’ve got no time to head out to a restaurant for healthy food, I recommend planning healthy meals for the entire week using meal delivery services. These services provide calorie and macro-controlled, appropriately portioned, fresh meals to your doorstep for competitive prices – and you can freeze the meals to reheat when hunger hits. I like Lean Bento because you can order and receive your food same-day, Squeaky Clean Café because you can pick your own portions by weight (plus they do delicious low-carb, high-protein breads and muffins), FIT THREE because the menus are constantly changing from week to week, and Nutrition Kitchen because you can customize your meals to match specific goals (such as “I want to lose weight” or “I want to build muscle”). This is also a great option for folks that are always traveling as you can bring the pre-packaged meals onto the airplane and avoid the often unhealthy in-flight options. Finally, while Singapore still has a lot to learn about how to offer healthy grocery shopping at affordable prices, there are some fantastic local grocers doing great things for healthy home cooks. The newly opened Scoop
Lei cha
Popiah
Wholefoods (Tanglin Mall) allows you to buy whole grains, custom ground nut butters and even fresh kombucha, all sold by weight in your own containers to cut down on plastic waste. Sashaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fine Foods delivers a wide range of responsibly sourced meats, fish, ready-to-eat meals and snacks with a friendly, personalized service experience and plenty of local choices, such as healthier beef rendang, preservative-free meat pies, and vegan curries. Habitat by Honestbee Hypermarket is one of the most diverse grocery and dine-in offerings on the island, with everything from fresh-pressed juices, to limited edition balsamic vinegars, to traditional and local Chinese herbal soups. When it comes to eating clean in any Asian county, it pays to be curious with your palate, judicious with your pocketbook, and eagerly willing to try new ways of preparation and eating to maximize the healthy options available in this diverse region. Our adopted homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mix of fresh grocery, healthy hawkers, clean-eating restaurants, and creative meal delivery services means the diet-conscious foodieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appetite can always be whetted.
Amanda is a certified trainer and nutritionist and director of Singaporebased fitness consulting firm Peak Health. With over a decade of experience in the health and wellness industries, Amanda has coached and transformed over 200 individual clients, and consulted for large multi-national companies. She has also contributed to fitness publications such as SELF magazine and SHAPE.com.
health & wellness When All Seems Lost, There Is Hope A look at Hope Rehab center in Thailand By Dee Allan Life as an expat is full of fun and adventure. As ‘Singpats’, we can avail a plethora of gorgeous food, cultural activities and dreamy travel destinations. However, despite the gloss and sheen, there may be moments when we find ourselves facing a dark space. According to the World Health Organisation, around 450 million people worldwide are currently suffering a form of mental illness, which makes this disorder among the leading causes of global ill-health. In Singapore, one in seven people will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime, which could be anything from bipolar disorder to alcohol abuse, and this statistic is on the increase. While resources for mental health treatment do exist in Singapore, addiction and subsequent mental illnesses remains a taboo topic in Southeast Asia. As such, I was inspired to find a holistic treatment center in the region which could help people struggling in silence.
Hope Rehab Center Located just over an hour from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport, Thailand, is rehabilitation center, Hope Rehab, licensed by the Thai Ministry of Health. While the center was initially founded to help those overcoming substance addiction, treatment at the facility deals with the root cause of the problem, which is often linked to depression and anxiety, meaning facilities such as this are also equipped to treat clients suffering from stress, post-traumatic stress disorder and burn-out issues. Simon Mott the founder of Hope Rehab was a former heroin addict, who managed to turn his life around. He has talked candidly in the past about having a near-death experience as a result of his addiction, which acted as the trigger to start rebuilding his life. He subsequently set up Hope Rehab, to help other addicts and their families from all over the globe.
Hope Recovery Program On entering the center, clients are greeted by an orange tudor-style house which takes prominence in the gardens. This building is the hub for activities; however, scattered across the gardens are several outbuildings, guestrooms, pavillions, fitness and yoga areas. Hope’s recovery program is designed to restore physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, combining an ‘East meets West’ approach to support clients. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is complemented by a 12-step program (the Minnesota Model), which is entwined with physical fitness, meditation, mindfulness, gratitude sessions, recovery coaching and external activities to provide a holistic healing environment.
A Typical Day During my visit, I was invited to participate in activities and dine with clients and team members. My day
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started at 6:30am, where I opted to join a group for a bicycle ride through greenery and villages, although clients can choose from an array of fitness activities. Once we arrived back, we gathered for a breakfast buffet.
Meditation & Gratitude After breakfast, I joined clients for a meditation session led by one of the Thai team members, followed by a gratitude session, whereby each of us took turns in stating three things we were grateful for in that moment. These were powerful and humbling exercises.
Activities Clients have a weekly schedule with planned activities each day. Sessions range from group and individual therapy, exercise, external excursions, as well as opportunities to relax by the pool, lounge, or play team sports. Clients also follow their individual programs and complete reflective activities within their personal workbooks.
Mindfulness During the day, I attended a mindfulness session. Our teacher took us through breathing and focus exercises to help ground us in the moment, explaining the core principles. The clients’ participation in the activity was touching, they seemed to genuinely want to learn and get better.
Food Food is freshly prepared every day in the outdoor kitchen by the center’s team, who put on an array of Asian and western food, including healthy and comfort food dishes. The buffet, mid-morning smoothies and afternoon snacks are delicious and plentiful.
Hope has treated thousands of people from homeless to royalty, from unemployed to millionaires.
Post Recovery Departing clients follow a post-recovery program to help support them when they are back in their home environment to help prevent relapses. Before departing, clients have set goals and leave empowered with an action plan. They can check-in with their counselor, join online sessions and converse with an online community to keep on track with recovery goals.There is a ‘sober house’ for those continuing their recovery program. Here clients can learn new skills, such as teaching English as a second language, and can volunteer to teach kids from the local community. The idea is to help clients regain a sense of purpose and belonging.
Hope for Everyone On speaking with Simon, he indicated that his facility has treated thousands of people from homeless to royalty, from unemployed to millionaires. He left me with the profound notion that, “addiction doesn’t discriminate”. My personal hope is that more people talk about mental illness and addiction without shame, and seek help.
The Hope Rehab center can be contacted through: hope-rehab-center-thailand.com.
Dee Allan is the Founder of 3C Synergy recruitment consultancy. She is a Speaker, Writer and Career Coach. You can email her at deeallan@protonmail.com.
health & wellness Hello Red Dot!
Adjusting to Singapore Expat Life by Rachel Williams You have arrived in Singapore to the heat and humidity, a melting pot of different cultures and customs, different food, languages and manners. Whatever has brought you here, you’re here for a while and no matter how much you prepared yourself with all the reading and watching YouTube videos on living in Singapore, it just doesn’t feel quite like… home. The Collins dictionary definition of culture shock is: “A feeling of anxiety, loneliness and confusion that people sometimes experience when they first arrive in another country.” Perhaps many expats in Singapore do expect to feel some of the above, but for others it may go on longer than they predicted, or the feelings may be a little more intense. Culture ‘surprise’ is supposed to be the first thing you experience when planting yourself in a new environment. It can either form part of the honeymoon phase of delight and excitement, or be a bit disorientating – just like going to the Mustafa Centre on a Saturday afternoon, and if you still have not heard of Mustafa, you soon will! You’re basically trying to deal with a lot of new cultural information all at once and operating in an unfamiliar context. On top of this, you’re trying to maintain your normal patterns of behavior in this new environment. All of this can lead to a negative attitude towards the new culture and a low-level of frustration and irritation. This, in turn, could also lead to anger triggered by smaller things. Stress can be magnified in a new setting and it can be difficult and overwhelming dealing with the normal day to day stresses of work and family. Some of the symptoms of difficulty settling in to a new country are: • Frustration, feeling irritated and angry • Being critical of local customs • Loneliness and feeling isolated • Homesickness • Boredom • Lack of confidence and self-esteem • Depression • Experiencing physical symptoms like aches and pains The good news for most is that the next stage is gradual adjustment followed by final acceptance. You may adjust, but never feel quite at home in a country, and that’s okay too. However, there are things you can do to help the process of adjustment.
Definitely keep talking about how you feel, either to your partner, friends or family back home. If you are thinking, “but I’m either burdening them or boring them rigid with all this”, then possibly talking to a professional can help you feel less like you are bouncing off the walls. Keep an open mind! Withhold judgement and try to get acquainted with the social conduct of your new environment. See it as a challenge to learn as much as you can about Singapore. Understanding differences – as well as their reasons – give us more empathy and tolerance. Be kind to yourself. I never tire of saying this. Especially be kind and patient with your emotions towards yourself, and treat yourself as you would a dear friend. Give it some time. We sometimes feel like we just can’t wait for things, but it’s important to remember this is a process. Meet likeminded people. It may take courage to do so and step outside your comfort zone, but it is worth it. You can start to build up a support network and social group in Singapore. There’s nothing like sharing a lived experience to feel understood and part of something. Try and achieve a sense of stability by creating routine in your life. This can give you a feeling of safety. Think about what you like doing and do it; from badminton, to volunteering at the animal shelter, to exploring new exhibits in the various museums. Your time in Singapore as an expat is unique. Think of it as an experience! You only ever regret the things you never do and, here you are, doing this amazing thing. Something brought you here and one day you will remember your time here. If not, look back with fondness, look back with the realization that you actually did it and experienced something which very few people have the courage to do.
Rachel Williams is a Psychotherapist at the International Counselling & Psychology Centre located in the heart of Orchard Road. She has been in Singapore for two years with her husband and two young children living the expat life herself. For more details, check out www.intlcounselling.com
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education: sas student feature A Marriage of East and West By Joyce Fu
Although I’m neither American nor Singaporean, I’ve attended the Singapore American School since kindergarten, developing emotional connections for lands that are not my own. While I grew up learning about the Boston Tea Party and had a glorious run as a third grade cheerleader, my memories of Februarys are also filled with the bustle of Chinese New Year preparations. As a result of my cross-cultural upbringing, the relationship between the US and China is something that I find myself highly invested in. I believe that we can be united for a greater purpose and appreciate the distinctive traits that every individual, regardless of ethnic origin, possess. Through design, I seek to promote and deepen awareness in a way that goes beyond politics and fashion is my way of channeling this; fashion is a form of expression that people of all backgrounds, whether rich or poor, Chinese or American, interact with. Around the world, people choose to dress in ways that reflect their beliefs and personality. My designs integrate elements that are a nod towards my Chinese heritage, but also hold true to my Western upbringing and the styles that I grew up seeing in popular culture. The silhouettes and cuts of most of the garments in the collection are inspired by popular styles in the American entertainment industry, while decorative elements attempt to honor Chinese culture. Red, yellow, blue and black are the four principal colors used in this collection. In Ancient China, as it was the color of the gods, only those belonging to the Imperial Palace could wear yellow, yet today in both the US and China, yellow is both a youthful and trendy color. So, I remodeled a Mao suit, traditionally only worn by men, and combined yellow with grey, a more mature tone, to create a fusion
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of ancient and modern, elevated, yet accessible. Other motifs that appear throughout this collection are pearls, plum blossoms and cranes. Plum blossoms, China’s national flower, stand for perseverance and hope, which I thought was fitting for my aspirations to promote cultural understanding in today’s world. Taking my inspiration from opulent western bejeweled creations, in this collection, I included an off-the-shoulder-cut ball gown embellished with pearls for a chic and elegant twist. Traditionally embroidered cranes, an Ancient Chinese symbol of wisdom, good fortune and longevity, enliven the dress skirt. At the back, a Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) inspired sash trails from the waist to the ground. A red jumpsuit in the collection also draws from the billowing sleeves of the Hanfu, adding a unique twist to a pant-style which is rapidly gaining in popularity on the red carpet. On another outfit, a dragon weaves its way across a MarilynMonroe-flair sash that drapes over the wearer’s arms, inspired by the Chinese legend Chang’e, a goddess living on the moon. While this is a collection inspired by American youth culture and a belief in the importance of the individual, this is also a collection inspired by the endless farmland of Anhui, the bitter winters of DongBei, the stories of those who died building the Great Wall, and the Uighur child who may never see past the borders of his town. This is a collection that draws on my experiences, my feeling that I belong to something that is so inherently based in heritage and yet seems to transcend it at the same time. One of my designs has a train edged with red, orange, and yellow, the wearer is a phoenix rising from its ashes, shaking off its past. It is my hope that in some way, this collection will allow us to do the same.
Photos by Chen Qian and Annabelle Xiong
Joyce Fu, a junior in the Singapore American School, launched the fashion brand, YanYuet Fu, as a way to express personal identity and unique worldview. Joyce also enjoys tea. All types of tea.
International Counselling & Psychology Centre
Continuing a tradition of community-based services with 40 years of experience in Singapore and the region
ICPC counsellors and psychologists work with individuals, children, adolescents, couples and families to address psychological health and wellness.
Lissy A. Puno, MA
Counselling Psychologist Certified Imago Relationship Therapist
Sarah Haas, MSW Counsellor / Psychotherapist
Richard Logan, MSocSc
Counsellor / Psychotherapist Certified Imago Relationship Therapist
Rachel Williams, DipPsy Counsellor / Psychotherapist
Miranda Ledesma, MA Counsellor
360 Orchard Road. #06-08 International Building, Singapore 238869
+65 6734 6463
www.intlcounselling.com â&#x20AC;˘ connect@intlcounselling.com
business Banking Digitally in Singapore: A Beginner’s Guide By Richard Hartung From online banking to digital remittances to payment apps from startups, financial services are going digital and changing dramatically. And it’s hardly any wonder, given that Singaporeans have an average of 115 apps installed on their phones, the highest any country surveyed in 2019 by market data firm App Annie. Along with making banking more convenient, new digital services are bringing down costs as well. Whether you’re a newcomer to Singapore or a long-time resident, banking digitally is easier than ever.
Setting up an Account While almost all financial services have gone digital, opening an account is still often stuck in the era of paper. Unless you’re a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, you’ll usually need to go to a branch with a slew of documents to open an account. At OCBC Bank, for example, foreigners need to go to a branch with their passport, employment pass, a phone bill or bank statement and a minimum deposit of S$5,000. HSBC requires new customers to leave contact details so a manager get in touch within three working days. An exception is DBS and POSB, which allow online applications by filling in forms electronically and uploading passport copies and other documents. POSB accounts are free, with no minimum average daily balance required when accounts are opened online.
Banking Digitally Once your account is set up, it’s easy to transact digitally with a mobile phone, a laptop or a card. All of the retail banks have online and mobile banking, making it easy to check accounts, transfer money or use most other banking services digitally. You can use Fast and Secure Transfers (FAST) to transfer money from one bank account to another instantly using the recipient’s bank account number, for example, or use PayNow to make transfers using the recipient’s mobile phone number or identity card number. You can also download an app from your bank to make digital QR code payments. Banks offer a multitude of other digital services as well. If you want investment information, for instance, OCBC’s One Wealth app provides information on shares and unit trusts while DBS Bank’s Nav offers articles and podcasts to improve your financial health.
More Than Banks In Singapore as elsewhere, a host of fintech (financial technology) startups offer services that are often cheaper, faster and more convenient than banks. One of the best places to start if you’re looking for alternatives is comparison websites, which help find the best deals on everything from insurance and loans to credit cards and investments. SingSaver, for example, shows features and rates for credit cards, loans, insurance and bank accounts as well as money-saving ideas and financial advice. Another is GoBear which, similarly, enables consumers to compare services ranging from accounts and money transfers to insurance. You should compare information on several of these sites carefully, though, since they receive fees from service providers and could have some biases. If you need to send money overseas, there are plenty of good alternatives that are cheaper than banks. Local fintech, Instarem, for instance, says it uses mid-market rates sourced directly from Reuters and adds no margin, just charging a fee that can be S$2.50 or less. Global fintech Transferwise offers a similar service and also updates customers with emails at each stage of the transfer. Total costs can be vastly cheaper than banks. If you want to get more than the paltry 0.1 percent or less interest that banks pay on your savings account, other types of accounts are available at most banks and earn up to about 3.8 per cent per year, if you use enough of the bank’s services. An alternative is robo-advisors, which leverage algorithms that use information you provide about your goals, willingness to take risks and time horizons to select exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that can achieve your goals. Smartly, Stashaway, AutoWealth and Kristal.ai are among the leading digital financial advisors here, with fees ranging from 0.2 percent to 1 percent and minimum investments as low as S$50. If you need actual foreign currency, moneychangers offer some of the best rates. Or, you can go digital. The Get4X app compares foreign exchange rates at nearby shops and lets you know where you’ll get the best deal. If you’re not in a hurry, online currency service, Thin Margin, promises better rates than 95 percent of the moneychangers on the island and will deliver cash to you within about two days. There are also more than three dozen non-bank options for mobile payments, ranging from Grab Pay and Apple Pay to Kashmi and Fave. By spending a little time checking out the island’s digital financial services, you can save time and money while making banking hassle-free.
Richard is the Managing Director of Transcarta and a freelance writer for Today, Challenge, The Asian Banker and other media, as well as writing for corporates. He is also the author of Changing Lanes, Changing Lives. Richard is a consultant in retail banking, focusing on payments strategy and efficiency, with more than 20 years of experience in Asia.
LIVING IN SINGAPORE 47
Our Singapore:
LIVING IN IMAGES
How do you see Singapore? Every issue we’ll showcase moments captured by AAS members in a photography competition depicting our island at its finest; from the throng of the city to the wild wetlands, from the characters among its people to its varied landscape.
Reflections by Keppel Bay from Labrador Park – Kevin Rogers Kevin is a university professor from Oregon and enjoys photography and travel.
Kevin wins $100 in Greewood Fish Market vouchers
2nd: Emerald Hill – Michell Sky Michell, from Sydney, Australia, took this shot while sipping on a glass of wine with friends.
Michell wins $50 in Outback Steakhouse vouchers.
3rd: Cavenagh Bridge at Night – Derek Wallbank Derek is from Miami, Florida, and took this photo when out for an evening run on the riverfront.
Derek wins a pair of Singapore FunVee Open Top Bus – 1 Day Hopper Passes, worth $45.
Submit your photo of your Singapore! Just snapped a cool picture? Send it on to our Editor-in-Chief, Katie Baines, at communications@aasingapore.com with ‘Living in Images’ in the subject line. The competition is reserved for AAS members only • Members may submit images that are 300dpi and 1MB in size (minimum half A4 paper size) • Each entry must include name, short photographer biography and complete caption • Readers must own the rights to the picture submitted and must have obtained permission to photograph human subjects depicted • Judges’ decision is final • Entries are automatically disqualified if they do not meet our criteria and stated T&C • Winners will be notified via e-mail when the prize is ready to be sent out • Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash.
48 LIVING IN SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE AMERICAN SCHOOL
THE LION CITY THE EAGLE WAY Botanic Gardens
JOIN THE SAS FAMILY AT WWW.SAS.EDU.SG/ADMISSIONS Singapore American School CPE Registration Number: 196400340R Registration Period: 22 June 2017 to 21 June 2023 Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges