• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work & Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
      • Readers’ Choice Awards
        • hotelier Robert HauckHis Story: Robert helps launch a new hotel in Singapore
        • horoscopes for julyHoroscopes for April 2023!
        • What’s On: Things to do, what’s new and more
        • luxury villas in BaliLuxury villas in Bali to buy or rent!
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • horoscopes for julyHoroscopes for April 2023!
        • HSBC Singapore Sevens 2022What’s on this week and beyond
        • Art course and drawing lessonsParties and themed camps to captivate your kids!
        • easter events toy shops in SingaporeHave a Hoppin’ Good Time this April at Tanglin Mall
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Art course and drawing lessonsParties and themed camps to captivate your kids!
        • Too much OCD or ADHD medication for kids?
        • Seriously cool children’s furniture & kids beds
        • easter events toy shops in SingaporeHave a Hoppin’ Good Time this April at Tanglin Mall
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • Home News: New furniture, home décor & services
        • Seriously cool children’s furniture & kids beds
        • Contemporary Rugs and Floor Coverings – who bought what?
        • Havana Interiors home stylistsNeed decorators, home stylists or an interior designer?
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • Travel News & Hotel Deals
        • luxury villas in BaliLuxury villas in Bali to buy or rent!
        • property in sydneyBuying property in Sydney
        • international health insurance for singapore expatsHealth insurance for Singapore expats
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • New Nibbles: Foodie news!
        • tadcaster best steak sandwich singaporeThe ‘best steak sandwich’ makes its debut in Singapore!
        • easter brunches and buffets singaporeEaster Brunches – Easter food buffets & free-flow!
        • All you need to know about Crab Bee Hoon in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • Beauty news: New beauty products, makeup and more!
        • Fashion News and Sales in Singapore!
        • Niessing gold jewellery in SingaporeI discovered a 150-year-old jeweller in Singapore!
        • slimming facial massage review facial ginzaWe review a Japanese slimming facial massage!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • health supplements singaporeProbiotics and health supplements to boost your immunity!
        • Health News: What’s up!
        • Too much OCD or ADHD medication for kids?
        • weight gainLondon Weight Management reviews dangers of weight gain
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • Close

A Singaporean’s perspective of the UK

24th October 2019 by Expat Living 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/moving-from-singapore-a-singaporeans-perspective-of-living-in-england/

Singaporean SHARAN KAUR shares her views of living in England and the British quirks she has now become accustomed to!

You would think moving from Singapore to Blighty shouldn’t have to be too much of a culture shock – right? After all, we are taught the Queen’s English in school. I was very wrong! You only realise how Americanised Singapore has become after living in England. And it doesn’t help with us having our own twist on English known as Singlish.

I needed to educate myself. Thankfully, my English husband helped me with this – or laughed at me whenever it suited him. The latter was frequent. It’s been seven years now, and I am starting to look less like a fool as I endeavour to master the art of deciphering British quirks.

British Tea

I was only into my first week when my husband suggested ordering a Chinese takeaway. “Shall we get a Singapore noodle?” he said. “I’m sure you’re missing that.” With my eyes like saucers and brows almost merging with my hairline, I asked, “What on earth is a Singapore noodle?” It turned out to be rice noodles cooked with curry powder. I had to convince him that there was nothing Singaporean about these noodles – just like the British take on chicken tikka masala. I added that he must never attempt to order this in Singapore as it doesn’t exist!

Why is a Jaffa Cake called a cake? It is a biscuit, for god’s sake! (Really delicious, I should add.) And Yorkshire pudding? It isn’t a pudding. I was looking forward to trying a sweet delicacy from Yorkshire after a Sunday roast, but instead it came with the roast. I felt very misled.

Brits seem to find any excuse to have a cup of tea. The kettle is on as soon as you walk through your front door. If someone wants to have a chat: “I’ll put the kettle on!” If you’ve had a bad day: “I’ll get us a cuppa – that’ll make you feel better!” Tea is the go-to, and it certainly seems to make a daunting situation manageable. I cannot dispute that.

The miserable weather is always a topic of discussion. It’s something that unifies the English and can be a real icebreaker among strangers. The weather takes up a good three minutes of airtime on the news; in Singapore, because the weather is identical every day, it’s just a quick list of other countries and their temperatures. The weather is a hit with my in-laws. The volume gets turned up when it’s on, and anyone who speaks gets shushed.

Speaking of weather, what I find most amazing are the scantily clad women tottering in impossibly high heels on cobblestone paths from pub to pub in Arctic temperatures. For some, the copious quantities of alcohol help to keep the teeth-chattering at bay, though for others that can also provide for a very undignified ending to the night, sprawled on the ground and leaving nothing to the imagination.

I would not trade my bewildering experiences for anything else at this moment. These varied perspectives might leave me scratching my head sometimes, but they definitely put a smile on my face.

Tell us a tale and receive $200!

Here’s your chance to get published – and make some money at the same time. We’re looking for 500-word written contributions on any funny, poignant, practical or even controversial topic that touches on expat life in Singapore. Simply email your stories in a Word document to contribute@expatliving.sg and we’ll consider them for inclusion in an upcoming issue.


For more helpful tips head to our
living in Singapore section.

Celebrating Singapore’s bicentennial
Volunteering at Seven clean seas
Looking for places to stay?

This article first appeared in the October 2019 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!

Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox
Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox

Categories: Living here Living in Singapore Tags: Brtish Expat

Expat Living

Expat Living has everything to help you make the most of living in Singapore! We've got information on neighbourhoods, things to do and see, dining, entertainment, schools, travel, fashion, furniture, finance, health and beauty. And more!

You May Also Like

hotelier Robert Hauck

His Story: Robert helps launch a new hotel in Singapore

luxury villas in Bali

Luxury villas in Bali to buy or rent!

Facing University challenges university in singapore

Prepare your child for university in Singapore

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.