It’s official — Singapore has just been ranked the most expensive city in the world. Funny thing is, every country I’ve moved to seems to earn that title not long after I arrive. When I lived in Tokyo, it was the most expensive. Then I moved to Hong Kong — same story. And now I’m in Singapore… and here we are again. Sometimes I wonder if the universe just doesn’t want me to be rich — or even comfortable! 😅 I work in IT for a bank, and yet I still find it hard to save money or even get through the month comfortably. Some might think, “You must be spending on luxury items or living the high life.” Honestly, I haven’t bought new clothes or anything fancy in nearly 10 years. Most of the new things I have come as gifts from family and friends in the UK. Yes, we do take holidays, but they’re simple and local — Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, or staycations here in Singapore. We’re a family of four — two boys aged 6 and 7, my wife, and me — living modestly. So What Makes Singapore S...

Since moving to Singapore, we’ve settled into the heartlands — and I’m truly glad we did. From the beginning, we wanted to embrace the local culture and community, not just live alongside it. One of the best decisions we made was joining the local football club. It’s given our family a way to connect with people from all backgrounds and walks of life. We were also looking for a way to support our eldest son, Kai, who has learning difficulties. He’s been receiving learning support for a while now, but we’ve noticed real progress since he started playing football. The game has helped him build confidence, improve his social skills, and most importantly, make friends — his two closest are Noah and Aarron. It took me a little while to get involved myself, but I eventually stepped up as a coach. Now I coach the 5–6-year-old age group, which includes Kai. He’s seven, but playing with the younger kids suits him well and gives him space to thrive. He’s doing great — and more importantly, he...

  To me, any name or label that causes offense to someone based on their race or ethnicity is, by definition, racist . However, in Singapore, I’ve noticed that some terms — like "Ang Mo" — are still commonly used, even though they can be deeply offensive to some people. The other day, I came across a Facebook post discussing Singapore's fall to the Japanese during World War II. Instead of offering thoughtful discussion, one person simply commented, "Ang Mo lost — couldn't fight for Singapore and just ran off." That comment wasn't just disrespectful — it was historically inaccurate and dehumanizing. Many Allied soldiers died during the Japanese occupation. Thousands were captured, tortured, or starved to death while forced to build infrastructure for their captors. Suggesting they “ran off” erases the immense suffering they endured. This brings me back to the larger point: racism isn't always about intent — it's also about impact . Take the U...

  We moved to the heartlands of Singapore two years ago — and I’m genuinely glad we decided to stay. One of the biggest reasons for that is the amazing people we’ve met through Admiralty CSC , a community sports club where I now help coach football (soccer) for local children, including my own sons, Kai and Eita (we often call him Ted). About two years ago, we were looking not just for an activity — but for connection. We wanted a place where we could truly integrate into Singapore’s culture, and more importantly, where Kai could build social skills in a supportive environment. Kai has learning difficulties. We first noticed this while living in Hong Kong, around the time he was three. He was slower to speak and learn than his peers. We sought help at Watchdog , a fantastic school that supports children with learning challenges. Unfortunately, due to his age at the time, we couldn’t get a formal diagnosis. By the time Kai was five, he had already been through quite a lot — fre...

  It’s funny — after two years of living in Singapore, I’ve finally decided to start a new blog. The journey since we moved here has been a mix of ups and downs. We relocated from Hong Kong, uncertain about the future of our jobs there. Singapore seemed like a natural choice — a new opportunity, a new culture, and hopefully, some stability. When we arrived, one thing was clear: we didn’t want to live in an all-expat community. Not only was it financially out of reach, but more importantly, we wanted to integrate. I’m from the UK, my wife is from Japan, and we have two boys, Kai and Eita, now aged 6 and 7. It was important for me not to become the kind of expat I’ve grown to dislike — someone who moves to another country, imposes their culture, and becomes defensive when challenged. Integration, to me, is crucial. It opens your eyes to what your own culture might be missing, and it creates real connection with the people around you. When we first arrived in Singapore, we enrolle...