I may be moving there for a year, because of my dads job. He says its lovely, But i've never been there. I would have to go to school there for the year. I will be 16 in November.
Has anyone lived there or gone to school there before? What year would I be in over there, i am currently in 3rd year in secondary school, doing a state exam -Junior Certificate. I live in Ireland.
2007-02-19 22:54:25 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Singapore
Yes I lived there for 5 years with my husband and my 5 kids. You will love it. It is a really safe and clean place to live so hopefully you will get a bit more freedom. The International schools have great education and because the pupils are quite transitory (like you only going for a while) people tend to make friends really quickly because they are all in the same boat.
The shopping is fantastic - Orchard Road is the place to go. Everything is really easy to find and right on your doorstep. If you move to a Condo you will have a nice pool & possible other factilities or maybe if your Dad has a good job you can get a house with a pool. Ask your parents if they can join the British, Dutch or Swiss club so you have another pool to go to.
The weather is great - about 32 degrees all year round. They celebrate all religions so loads of public holidays. The people are really friendly and the local food cheap and good. Chicken rice is a staple and if you prefer spicier then go for laksa, yummy.
You can get all your British stuff there - they even have M & S food halls.
There are lots of holiday destinations nearby as well so get your parents to take you to Bintan, Malaysia maybe Australia - it's not that far.
I hope you love it. i did and would love to go back any time.
2007-02-19 23:03:49 · answer #1 · answered by FC 4 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Ah, Singapore. ^.^ My homeland. >.> Living in the US right now though. Oh well, anyway, I find my own country extremely lovely. My sister's boyfriend is from the US and he found Singapore interesting. We'll be going this summer. Anyway, I lived there till I was about 6 or 7, then moved to the US for about 2 years. I managed to skip a grade. Then I moved back to Singapore for about 2 years and then moved back to the US(current move), and now I'm here. I'll probably stay here until I graduate HS, but once I'm 18, I gotta go for NS(National Service, boys:mandatory, girls:optional).
Singapore's warm, so now you know, bring shorts and shirts, no need for a coat or jacket or anything of the sort. You'll barely need them. I brought maybe 1 or 2 pairs of pants and the same amount of long sleeved shirts. I rarely wore those though. I only wore those on the plane rides.
The chances of you going into the public schools are slim to none. You'll most likely go to the international school. Which is where I'll probably be going if I move back. -_- Staying in the US has made me slack off. In S'pore public school, the curriculum was CRAZY. Homework every day... I had to skip the PSLE(Primary School Leaving Exam) because I didn't stay till Primary 6 which was when students took PSLE.
Anyway, I shall go to food! You should be fine with food. If need be, go to McDonalds or Burger King. o.O I only ate the McDonalds fries and nuggets, I don't care for burgers when I stay in S'pore for summer. Mmm, curry sauce. Anyway, food can vary on how spicy. Usually Chinese food isn't that spicy(not that I know of), unless you use chili. Malay and Indian food may be spicy, so uh, yeah.
Anyway, I shall talk about entertainment! You can definitely enjoy yourself there. Arcades are awesome. Usually are pretty big. Movies, yeah. Shopping, Orchard Road. Sentosa is a resort island, probably deserted unless it's the local school vacation time, then it'll probably be pretty busy at the chalets and resorts. Zoo is OK, I guess. Night Safari is better. Jurong Bird Park too.
Anyway, I have to go now. Hope you enjoy your (possible) year in Singapore.
2007-02-20 13:25:11 · answer #2 · answered by The World Ends with You 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would not say the usual things about Singapore because you can dig the facts & figures from the web.
Academically you would be at the same level as you are now in Ireland. Remember that Singapore was once a British colonial outpost "entrepot trade". So English is commonly spoken and is in fact THE language many are conversant in. (phew!)
EPL games are beamed 'live' to football-pub mad locals (phew!!)
I don't know lass, tis hard to see the tiny island state from a 16-yr old point of view; all I can say is you'll be exposed to an island of landlubbers and city slickers - shopping malls and complexes, theme parks, integrated resorts, restaurants galore, chinatown vibrancy, colourful little India - not good enough beaches, no hills, no jungles to explore - they're all manmade.
You've only got a year - just the right duration to love it, or leave it. I hope you will enjoy the island state. Have fun!!
2007-02-20 01:03:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi Grace,
I lived in Singapore for many years.
You will find Singapore a green and clean place relatively free from crime. People here are generally friendly and willing to help, especially foreigners.
The school system here is similarly to UK, 6 years primary, 4 years lower secondary and 2 years post secondary, before going to university. I believe you are on express, which allows you to take Junior Cert this year. You should be able to take post secondary once you complete Jun. Cert. In any case, you will not lose out by coming here. Ask your Dad to check with the Minstry of Education here for exact details, link below.
2007-02-19 23:08:13 · answer #4 · answered by Frankenstein 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I lived in Singapore (RAF Changi) for six years during the sixties and early seventies. I have been back three times since on holiday the last one being April 2006 for eighteen days.
I envy you going out for a whole year. It will be summer every day of the year but when it rains it pours buckets. You will also experience some fabulous electric storms. Public transport is efficient and well priced.
I have no doubt that you will enjoy your time there and when you go back to Ireland you will have great memories of the place (as have I ) and you will yearn to visit again and again....
2007-02-21 09:06:58 · answer #5 · answered by Robin.S 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hiya,
I lived there when I was 5-7 and then when was 15-17 )im now 24) I went to school there as a kid. Its really tough, I thought, and competitive. Some kids get really stressed and my mum pulled me out and took me to a Danish school instead. Went we went there later I had private tutoring, so I couldn't say what its like for a teen.
The country it self is all right. I loved it so much, but that's just ca us I have fund memories from there. When I go there on holiday its not as good. the water is oily, even if you go to Sentosa Island (resort) The people are really cool though. Very friendly, looove kids and they all speak broken English (like me:)
there is a lot of laws bit you really don't think about it when you are there. As for nightlife there are some cool jazz bars!
I really hope you enjoy it there, if not its easy to jump in a cap and go for a day trip to Malaysia.
All the best.
2007-02-20 00:32:37 · answer #6 · answered by Lassie 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Am a local here. Well you gonna be here for just an year? It shouldnt be a problem. Singapore's education is world class. You can join international school or any good school of your choice. You can check with Ministry of Education Singapore's website for the listing of schools, then you surf through their website and pick the school of your choice then start to enquire and apply. Singapore is really lovely. Right from the moment you step out of the plane and step into our lovely Changi Airport, you will be dipped in the essence of Singapore city life, which is 100% urbane, chic and always updating, fast moving people, fastest trains, high flying vehicles, good lane discipline for traffic. Its just like tokyo. If you cant be fast and fill in the rush, then Singapore is not a place for you.
2007-02-20 03:00:00 · answer #7 · answered by Vijay 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Singapore is a GREAT country, with sunshine all year round. Good food with so many varieties, which will definitely spoil your appetite. And most importantly, our fantastic multi-racial cultures can really make Singapore has a distinctive feature.
Come down here and experience it yourself. By the way, for your info, Singapore has been branded 1 of the best nightlife country among asia. And as far as I'm concern, Singapore is famously well-known for its clean & green city image and also a less-crime country. I bet you're going to like it. Don't get too stress up!!!
WELCOME TO SINGAPORE, My Friend!
2007-02-20 21:08:08 · answer #8 · answered by PoshBerries 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
In Singapore, a local 16 yr old would be in Secondary 4. 15 yrs old for a yr 3.
2007-02-19 22:59:35 · answer #9 · answered by monochrome 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I haven't been there to learn or anything but av definitely been there!!! It's a BEAUTIFUL country and am sure you'll love it as much as I did! I believe since your dad will be an ex-patriot you'll go to an international school therefore you'll still be in the same year, you ok now?!.....
2007-02-19 23:01:26 · answer #10 · answered by Dida 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋