Finnish Expat Living in Singapore, Interview with Ang Moh Chick

Ang Moh Chick herself is a Scandinavian expat - an ‘ang moh’ (meaning a westerner) - who took a huge leap of faith and moved to Singapore. She blogs about the discovery of a new and very different country, cultural clashes, travelling and finding those small but important flavors of life – whether it’s a new café, hobby, recipe, experience, or just something very pretty. Ang Moh Chick's expat blog is called Ang Moh Chick Diary (see listing here)

Here's the interview with Ang Moh Chick...

Where are you originally from?
I’m from Finland, which is pretty much the opposite of Singapore in terms of – everything! :D

In which country and city are you living now?
I’m now living in the hot and urban Singapore

How long have you lived here and how long are you planning to stay?
I have only lived here for less than a year so far but because my husband is Singaporean, we are planning to stay here long term. All depends on our careers I guess and whether I will start missing the four seasons too much ;)! But I like it here and my blog has given me a lot happiness finding and sharing new exciting things every day!

Why did you move and what do you do?
I moved to Singapore because of my husband’s job. At the moment I am looking for a job in business as I have a university degree and work experience from Finland.

Did you bring family with you?
I moved here with my husband but of course I’m always very happy when my family and friends from Finland pay me a visit :)

How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
It’s been both tough but rewarding. It’s been especially difficult for me in terms of cultural habits because my in-laws are Chinese and there are so many cultural misunderstandings. On the other hand, I have a unique opportunity to access the local culture in a way that is usually hidden from the majority of expats living here.

Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
For my case, most of the people I know are locals. That is because of my local husband of course. But I have been able to meet also expats and I think it’s important to find friends that share your cultural background – it makes communication and humour a lot easier ;)

What are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?
I have just posted a long series in my blog called “The Best Places in Singapore”. On top of that, I regularly blog about nice places and things to do here – there are so many!!

What do you enjoy most about living here?
I love it that I don’t need to wear tons of clothes. It’s also very safe and the people are extremely helpful and usually understand English. Singapore is so different from my home country that I come across interesting things every day. Moving here has been an opportunity to test my own limits and learn about myself too.

How does the cost of living compare to home?
In terms of housing, it’s a lot more expensive. Supermarkets are as expensive but clothes, shoes and eating out are all a bit cheaper.

What negatives, if any, are there to living here?
Sometimes it’s simply TOO HOT :D And naturally there are some cultural conflicts such as that there seems to be very poor service quality here. I’m getting better with the Singaporean English – Singlish – though! ;)

If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving here, what would it be?
Do not have too many expectations before you move to a new country. Instead, keep an open mind and you might be happily surprised!

What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
I guess trying to understand my old-fashioned, traditional Chinese in-laws ;)

What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?

1. Give yourself time to adapt. There is always a honeymoon period, and a period when you are unhappy. They will pass and you will adapt to a new life in a new country.
2. Make also local friends; don’t be stuck in expat circles only! This gives you an opportunity to learn so much more about the country you are living in.
3. Try new things! Each country has specialities that you will not find elsewhere be it food, travelling, places...
4. If there’s something western that you cannot live without, be sure to bring enough of it from your home country!
5. Read expat blogs to get excited and to learn in advance about the country you are stepping into!

Tell us a bit about your own expat blog.
Ang Moh Chick Diary is a lifestyle blog with a focus on overall health & wellness, fashion, fitness, beauty and recipes captured by high quality photos. In other words, Ang Moh Chick Diary is for anyone who wishes to read about the small beautiful things in life and get inspiration and happiness in their lives. I am a Scandinavian expat - an ‘ang moh’ (meaning a westerner) - who took a huge leap of faith and moved to Singapore. Thus, the blog is about the discovery of a new and very different country, cultural clashes, travelling and finding those small but important flavors of life – whether it’s a new café, hobby, recipe, experience, or just something very pretty. Welcome to unwind with my blog!

How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
Be welcome to contact me via my blog! :)

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