I've been in Singapore for just shy of 4 weeks now and it's been a relatively easy transition so far. My colleagues (and friends) have been pretty supportive from offering to help me move in, go shopping with me, go out for lunch and set up bank accounts etc.
Setting up a bank account here without a new place is a bit of a nightmare and a catch-22. I need a bank account to be able to put down a security deposit and bond but I can't set up a bank account without an address! And to top it off, had issues with my name since all my Australian bank accounts had first name + last name but passport and EP had first name + middle name + last name.
Work hiccups included not being able to download my emails (which turned out to be stored locally on my old laptop). Luckily I was able to get my laptop written off in oz and have it sent here or I might have cried... that's over 3 years worth of emails! Plus my laptop was so much better than the one they gave me here... haha.
I found a place within the first 3 weeks of arriving which was awesome. In the area I was looking in, within my budget and reasonably sized. I was so excited to go to IKEA on Friday evening to get things for my new place!!! Another thing I'm grateful for: my jetsetting parents for spending a few days here and doing all the heavy lifting and transporting all my stuff (and I managed to bring a LOT) to the new apartment while I went to work. Seriously would have taken me all weekend without them.
Bought some appliances today and most things are cheaper here but the sales people really try to push you towards one direction to the point it gets annoying!
Setting up a bank account here without a new place is a bit of a nightmare and a catch-22. I need a bank account to be able to put down a security deposit and bond but I can't set up a bank account without an address! And to top it off, had issues with my name since all my Australian bank accounts had first name + last name but passport and EP had first name + middle name + last name.
Work hiccups included not being able to download my emails (which turned out to be stored locally on my old laptop). Luckily I was able to get my laptop written off in oz and have it sent here or I might have cried... that's over 3 years worth of emails! Plus my laptop was so much better than the one they gave me here... haha.
I found a place within the first 3 weeks of arriving which was awesome. In the area I was looking in, within my budget and reasonably sized. I was so excited to go to IKEA on Friday evening to get things for my new place!!! Another thing I'm grateful for: my jetsetting parents for spending a few days here and doing all the heavy lifting and transporting all my stuff (and I managed to bring a LOT) to the new apartment while I went to work. Seriously would have taken me all weekend without them.
Bought some appliances today and most things are cheaper here but the sales people really try to push you towards one direction to the point it gets annoying!
