Life in Singapore

Howz Singapore? What's it like in Singapore? How's life in Singapore? How's the weather? How are the people out there? How is the culture? What is it that you love the most out there? Do you love Singapore or Do you like Singapore?

Yes... these are few of the many questions that keeps shooting out of my friends and relatives.
I am basically from Karnataka, India. I spent my 23 years there, then moved to Singapore after my wedding - in November 2008. It was early morning that we - Adarsh and me - landed at Changi International Airport, Singapore. The weather was good, though not as good as that of Bangalore. :) We got a taxi and within an hour, we were at our new flat. It was from then on, I entered into a new world - altogether new!

To begin with, Singapore is a very lovely city - a very clean and well organised place to dwell in. I would say Singapore is a blend of western lifestyle and Asian culture. You find a wide range of diversity - be it in race, culture, lifestyle or food. Yet, there is harmony, there is discipline. Singaporeans are kind hearted. They are soft by nature.

I am a Software Engineer by profession. I wanted to take a break from my career after my marriage. So I did not look out for jobs immediately. However, after 2 months or so , I actively started seeking a job. Getting a job in Singapore was not so easy for a .NET Developer like me. Recession had made an impact on Singapore employers. There were people who lost jobs, there were others who kept trying to find a secure job, and amongst all these people, there I was - seeking for a decent job with no local experience, with no Microsoft Certifications, with no Work Permit Visa in hand! - It took me nearly 4 months to resume my career.

Work culture in Singapore is good. It is like any other IT Company that you find in India. You slog to meet the deadlines. Rest of the time, you simply chill out and enjoy the IT facilities of sitting in an air-conditioned room, and browse internet the whole day. Friday evening is the time for some refreshment. Weekends are meant to be spent with friends and family.

I am enjoying my work - yet, I can't compare the work environment to that of Mindtree Ltd, Bangalore. I had the best times of my career at Mindtree. Even now, I miss it.
Here, I have friends from various parts of Asia - from India, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines and many more! Its fun with them... But, back in India, it was the local Kannada friends I had, chit-chatting the time away at the coffee bar, at the lawn, in our cubicle, in the cab, gossiping about others - all those were definitely much more fun. I miss you all out there in Bangalore!!!

Singapore is definitely a lovely place and it surely changes your lifestyle. There is so much to learn from people here. There is much more to do just than office and home work. You don't get stuck in traffic, and you hardly find a reason to blame the government. But, staying in a far off land, away from your parents, friends and close ones, it surely makes you miss them. It surely makes you nostalgic. But that's the way life is! Knowing that, I enjoy what comes my way. Make the best you can with what you have.