To migrate or not?
-
well on the chinese issue, some people migrate specifically to escape the need for chinese proficiency in schools here.
the parents don’t feel very chinese in Sgp anyway, so are happy not to have to impose chinese learning on their kids after migrating… -
toddles:
well on the chinese issue, some people migrate specifically to escape the need for chinese proficiency in schools here.
the parents don't feel very chinese in Sgp anyway, so are happy not to have to impose chinese learning on their kids after migrating...
Yes the pervasive influence of Western culture via movies, tv & especially music has caused many Asian children to prefer Western style culture and to basically ignore our Asian culture. It is a difficult battle to continue to show that Asian culture has a place in the world. Even democracy as a concept is equated with Western culture and so bright, passionate young children are drawn in to feeling that Asian cultures are outdated. As a consequence even Asian languages are feeling the pressure of Asian children speaking English in preference to the mother tongue.
How do we Asian parents adapt to this so that our children can have the best of both our own ancient Asian traditions and the newer Western influences? -
Even china ppl r more westernize nowadays.
-
vinegar:
Even china ppl r more westernize nowadays.
They may be more Westernized, but they are still not too impressed with people of Chinese descent who do not speak a word of Chinese. -
pirate:
vinegar:
Even china ppl r more westernize nowadays.
They may be more Westernized, but they are still not too impressed with people of Chinese descent who do not speak a word of Chinese.
Yes and I think because they are proud to be able to balance between Western and Asian culture. Will wear trendy clothes, smoke, drink, party, enjoy Western movies etc. but will still respect elders, speak Mandarin/dialect, go for reunion, Qing Ming, etc. but I do not know if this will continue with next China generation? Chinese govt. tries to censor and control Internet so maybe if Communist Party still in power then Chinese culture can survive in the big cities (not worried about villages, people still very traditional). -
You can search about the employment opportunities in the country you want to migrate than you go there for a work visa that is sponsored by a well repute company than if you think you have settled there and have job that you easily bear all expenses of your family in that country than you call your family for migration.But its a long process and take a lot of time to do that.
-
phtthp:
I saw the post n I have a laugh abt it cause I am like in this situation now in Melbourne. I have no one to help me so i am staying home to look after my kids. i am more buzy in Australia than spore taking care of the kids cooking every meals and sending them for classes which scatter quite far from where i live. In Singapore still can eat out and going shopping is affordable. After-school classes are conveniently located but not here. Things are very costly here and i just do not feel like gg out to pay and pay! School standards are far below than spore. Even with individual Learning program arranged by the school, the school basically do not teach just ask the kids to do matheletics and readingeggs educational websites at home. So a lot rely on parents to teach if the kids want to do more rather than just playing. This is my experience here. Other parents may have positive experience. There is no right or wrong answer for migration.hi shine,
if your children have settled down happily now in SG and are doing well in their studies here, why risk your kids' education & uproot them to go Australia, an unfamiliar place to begin with ? Chinese are treated like 2nd class citizen.
Australia is a country with a different culture - your kids may or may not adjust well there to the school education there. (there are 2 sides to a coin)
besides, your children had been exposed to studying Chinese here in our SG local environment. Over there, do the local schools teach Chinese at all ? if Yes, do they teach Chinese well ? i doubt so. If you place your child in International school, going to be costly. Long term wise over next 15 to 25 years - do you want your children grow up in an environment that is exposed to so little Chinese culture ? (i presume you are Chinese )
fyi - my nephew grew up in Australia since pre-school kindergarten days. Today he has thick black hair, looks like a Korean hunk - but can't even speak Mandarin properly. He said he dislike Chinese, totally angmo type. The moment he open his mouth to speak - the heavy Aussie slang comes out. If not for his black hair, people won't think he's Chinese. Next year need to return SG serve National service.
maybe one of you go there first (either you or yr husband). After you settle down, bring yr kids over - try out minimum 3 to 4 Terms, experience, have a taste of their local school education first. See if kids & family can adjust. It is not advisable to migrate just like that, without even trying out first see if environment is suitable (in case regret). After you'd tried out, you face the realistic challenging issues face to face. From there then decide if still worthwhile to migrate.
another thing you need to adjust is - over there, dun have hawker centre so convenient in SG, whereby anytime you're hungry can just go down nearest coffee shop or hawker centre to grab a bite. My cousin who had stayed in Melbourne > 20 years said cook everyday until very sian - every meal you got to cook yourself. Eat outside food in Australia in restaurants or even cafe is expensive! This is something you need to be mentally prepared.
costs of living in Australia is high. Thus, average salary workers seldom eat out. For lunch time - you see a lot of office workers including the local Aussie themselves pack sandwiches from home to bring to office for lunch, save $. They bring their own lunch box to office. After work then they go back home & cook a proper dinner for whole family. Occasionally they may eat out, but not everyday.
another inconvience is travelling time. Sometimes may need to drive for more than 1 hour (just for 1 way journey) from home to office. Why ? because Australia is very big - depends on where you stay & where your office location is. Everyday to and fro both ways can take up 3 long hours, driving very tiring. Over there no MRT.
the grass may seem greener over the other side, but there's a lot of hurdle need to overcome once you're there all alone, worsened without parents nor siblings support over there, esp. when you've young kids (physically & emotionally). Can be very lonely, bec you're on your own. Are your parents or parents in law willing to help you, stay there & accompany you, look after your kids while you work, help you cook ? for how long are they going to help you ? can they speak English ? can they drive - be mobile independently ? Over there, no foreign maids allowed. These are real issues need to sort out, grapple with.
when my cousin's son was small - a toddler, she and hubby had to work. So her mother & father flew over for a period, to help take care of toddler, cook meals. But both can't drive, so stay at home all the time. They can't speak English, only speak Cantonese. The neighbours to the left & right of their house are all Aussie angmo - blond hair. My uncle & aunt hated staying Melbourne. They said it's like being imprisoned / caged, like live in a jail. They can't communicate with angmo neighbours. It's like one chicken talking to a duck. Also, old folks can't take cold weather in winter. No matter how many layers of winter clothing they wear, still very, very cold. Sometimes don't bother to bathe. So each year when comes to winter time, both can't wait to buy air tickets quickly fly back SG. And when reach home, so happy. Every morning looking forward eagerly go down hawker centre downstairs - eat their favorite mee pok, chee cheong fun, char kway teow, mee rebus, nasi lemak, etc. (can't eat these easily in Melbourne). -
I guess i have to comment that life here is not all that bad. The bond between my kids have strenghten because we have more time for one another. They have changed to behave very very well. They learn to be independent and learn to be more caring and understanding. My kids are more willing to experience new stuffs becoming less choosy and hardly wate foods. I master my cooking skill and learn to appreciate life I used to have in spore-maid, education supports from school, convenience in food, transport and amenities, lower costs of living and … Many people will not agree with what I say but again there is no right or answer. it is all individual choice to experience.
-
Know someone who took a year’s sabbatical to try out life overseas. Came back in the end. He was lucky that he has a job to come back to when it did not work out.
Another friend had to downgrade career wise and it was hard to make ends meet.
Yet another, who stayed on after studies now wanted to come back but is not able to as not able to find a job.
Of course there are also success stories. The grass always looks greener on the other side but it is not necessarily so. -
For singaporean children who have mandarin difficulty, kindly ask school to check if the child have dyslexia or early adhd or autism,
then can qualify for MOE excuse for mother tongue for PSLE onwards
or can ask polyclinic for referral to KKH child development unit
or to speed up, go see private child psychologist becos much shorter waiting time
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login