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It's always great to do stuff with people with the same interests. There are so many groups in Singapore that you have no time to get bored. From singing karaoke to baking, dragon boating to exploring nature, Korean pop to Japanese language, you name it. Some of them charge a membership fee but most are free to join. Of course there are tons of schools that teach different stuff, like archery, cooking, beat boxing and mixed martial arts. Taking up classes can also get you acquainted to some folks here. Here's a list of sites that could link you to clubs and activity groups, and for the singles who knows, to a Singlish-speaking life partner! :D Hobbies: Baking Bands/Music Dance Fishing Flower arrangement Karaoke Kite flying Line dancing Painting Remote control cars Remote control planes Reading clubs Interest groups: Charity, voluntary work Eating get-togethers Films and movies Korea culture Japan culture Pets Nature Travelling You can also visit the following sites to find groups for all types of interests: Meetup.com Singapore People's Association - community centres Active SG - for sports interest groups SAFRA - SAFRA clubs interest group activities that non-members can sign up for too Paid membership clubs with club facilities:
American Club Aranda Country Club British Club Changi Sailing Club Chinese Swimming Club German Association Hollandse Club (Dutch Club) Fairway Club Japanese Association in Singapore Jurong Country Club Laguna National Golf & Country Club Marina Country Club ONE15 Marina Club Orchid Country Club Raffles Country Club Raffles Marina Raffles Town Club Republic of Singapore Yacht Club SAFRA Seletar Country Club Serangoon Gardens Country Club Singapore Cricket Club Singapore Island Country Club Singapore Polo Club Singapore Recreation Club Singapore Swimming Club Swiss Club Singapore Tanah Merah Country Club Tower Club The Pines Club The Legends Fort Canning Park The Tanglin Club Warren Country Club
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If you are thinking about living in Singapore, these are some things you can expect (or prepare yourself for) and get used to!
2. People speaking in different languages Hooray that almost everyone can speak English! Or at least understand English for the older folks. Other than English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil being the official languages in Singapore, there is also the unofficial national language - Singlish (Singapore + English), which is most commonly spoken. There are also many foreigners living and working in Singapore so it's common to hear groups of people speaking in different languages. 3. People speaking really fast in a one-of-a-kind accent Be prepared to have difficulty understanding the English spoken here when you first arrive. Our overseas friends tell us that we speak so fast that all the words in a sentence seem to be strung into one very long word. English speaking is largely influenced by Chinese (and Chinese dialects) or Malay because most people still speak their Mother Tongue half the time, although English is the medium of instruction in schools. When locals speak English, the sentence structure might not be English accurate and some words and phrases used in sentences are in Malay or Chinese. For example, "Have you eaten?" will be expressed in Singlish "You makan (to eat in Malay) already or not?", and "Why didn't you ask me along?" can simply be expressed "Bo jio!" Click here to learn what the Singlish used in this video means! 4. Walking quickly Other than speaking fast, we walk fast too. Sometimes our overseas friends ask us “Why are people here always rushing?” (hands raised) Guilty! People walk fast, talk fast, eat fast, work fast… When you walk in the train stations or in the business district during peak hours, you have to keep up with the walking crowd if not get the occasional ‘tsks’ and glares. Well somehow, this has become a way of life. Just gotta keep up! 5. The meaning of ‘Wah so far!’ Going to a place that is a 30 minute drive is considered far to people here. Oh, and it takes just 60 minutes to drive from the east to the west. Taking the train from the start to the end along the east-west line is considered far too – it takes about 70 minutes. To people here, somewhere near is a maximum 7 minute drive or walk away.
7. Sharing a table If chope-ing fails and you are alone or with one or two friends out for a meal in a crowded place, it is common to share a table with strangers. Just ask “May I sit here?” 8. Taking a budget flight for a weekend getaway! It is so easy and value-for-money to take a short trip to neighbouring countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand or Hong Kong on a budget airline! You can get a ticket to Kuala Lumpur for less than $100 and a ticket to Hong Kong for just over $200 if you get a good deal. People tend to take leave from work on Friday or Monday and jet set to a neighbouring country just to eat, shop and to get a massage. Don't be surprised if you're jetting off once every two months over the weekend with friends! (Budget airlines: www.jetstar.com, www.tigerairways.com, www.airasia.com) 9. Bargaining Most people here need to get the best deal out of everything, so wherever possible, you will hear some haggling going on, for instance at the shops in housing estate areas, wet markets, night markets or electronics fairs. People will ask for a better price on that TV, a free cucumber (on top of the already free carrot), extra prawns.....We just need to stretch our dollar! As Russell Peters puts it "50-cents a lot of money!" 10. Queuing It really can get pretty crowded at some places during peak periods. For one, you have to queue to get into the train during rush hours. Taxi stands often have a line of people waiting for a cab. People here also gladly stand in line with 50 other people already in the queue to collect a free gift, say, an umbrella or complimentary carpark coupon for shoppers at a mall. We have also seen parents would queue overnight outside popular childcare centres before the day registration for the new year opens to ensure their child gets a place in that school. The most epic example would be camping overnight outside Mac Donald’s when it was selling the Hello Kitty stuffed toy series years ago - people actually argued over this in the queue. Lol~ You will also come across people who see a long lineup, join in and have no idea what they are queuing for. Then they get their friend to go to the front of the line to see what’s happening. If it’s something worth queuing for, they’d stay. Join in the fun! Join in the line! 11. Waiting Generally when meeting a friend for tea or movie, it’s normal to wait for about 10 minutes (or more). Of course this is general – there are folks who make it a point to be punctual too. Business wise, we're punctual. Lol. So we’re guessing it’s a matter of choice. :D Well good thing we have mobile phones now. So take a walk around the vicinity while waiting!
13. Addressing 'Auntie' and 'Uncle'
People address those who are a generation older than them as 'Auntie' or 'Uncle'. Be it the storekeepers or a friend's parents, you can call them 'Auntie' or 'Uncle', that is, except during business settings. It's respectful to the person. (And guess what, there's no need to remember their names! Lol~) So don't be surprised if your friend's kids call you 'Uncle' even though you are not related by blood. But if walk down the street with a local and they point to someone and saying 'Wah, so auntie!' even though the person looks the same age as your friend, it means your friend is implying that their dressing or mannerisms liken that of an old lady. Well, it's not so desirable to be called and 'Auntie' or 'Uncle' in that context! 14. Weather Our island is situated near the Equator so there's no escaping. It's humid all year round and rain falls on at least 30% of the days throughout the year. It's summer everyday and the temperature range is consistent. If you come from a country with 4 seasons, you will find it strange that people walk around in a jacket on rainy days because they feel cold although the temperature is just at 25degC. Well the good news is, you don't have lug thick coats around or shovel snow in the yard. |
