Returning to Singapore for Good in February

Goodbye America.

There were opportunities, and there were interviews, but no offers. My goal was to be a newspaper photojournalist or a magazine photographer. There were also wild thoughts on running my own photo business. But I couldn’t do that on my work visa, as long as no one was willing to employ me permanently.

For all those practical reasons, I’ve decided to return home to Singapore, likely where I’ll remain for the rest of my life. Four and half years living in the U.S. is a grand privilege, and although it can be a love-hate relationship, there are parts of it that I’ve come to appreciate. Some of them:

• The possibility of the dream. No one said achieving success and fulfilling dreams were easy, but in the U.S. there is always a sense of hope. The people believe, and it makes you believe that you can accomplish something meaningful.
• Cultural diversity. Only here can you find Japanese who have fought against Japan in WWII, Iraqis who are in the U.S. army, and Haitians in an American peacekeeping force liaising with the poor victims of the earthquake in Port-au-Prince.
• Greater appreciation and larger community for photography. Maybe it’s just Western culture, but you’d find more people who value art more, even photographic art. Being a professional full-time photographer isn’t shunned upon. And the talent pool here is amazing. Because of that, bigger and better expos and seminars are held regularly all over the country.
• The colors of fall and (maybe) the snow. These wonderful changes mean colorful and varied backgrounds for photos, plus different fauna.
• Cheap cars and houses. Alright, this is a cheap move, but it’s truth you can’t turn your eye away from. In the U.S., I can be a fresh graduate and still own a new, shiny car. It’d be sad to give that opportunity up. Once in Singapore in may be five to 10 years before I can afford even an entry-level car.

Believe me, I put in considerable amounts of time deciding whether I should return to Singapore. It was a painful decision. In every mental debate those points above would compel me to stick around longer, and yet there were other frustrations that could be solved by going back. Singapore’s a good place to live; I’ve come to appreciate it. Here they are:

• No visa restrictions. If you’ve never worked overseas, you probably can’t appreciate the immense hassle of being restricted by visa rules. In Singapore I’ll have none of these, and be free to register and run my business with no fear or being deported.
• Impeccable cellphone coverage. No more dropped calls, costly text messages, and cackling conversations. Whether you’re underground, in the subway, or on the 70th floor of a building, Singapore takes good care of wireless communications. An added plus: I can hopefully (and finally) get an iPhone. Data plans in the U.S. are US$80 per month; in Singapore it’s US$40.
• Health Coverage. Living on the edge without health insurance in the U.S. is crazy enough for any normal individual. Just the slightest mishap would wipe out all the money I had. At least in Singapore, I have insurance and medical costs are subsidized by the government.
• Summer all year round. Giving up the temperate climate also means no worries about snow, winter and the cold. Summer all year means weddings and outdoor shoots all year round too.
• Family. Simply put, it’s time to repay the financial investment they put in me. My inability to secure a job, and a recent loss in the family all make me emotionally inclined to return home. There’s no better motivator than guilt.

A part of me feels I’ll regret leaving the U.S., because once I leave, it’s highly unlikely I can come back. If I can carve out a fulfilling existence in Singapore without feeling stoned in and caged, then it would be the right decision. It just seems awfully frightening to live the rest of your life in one small place where constancy is prevalent and soulfulness is wanting.

Whatever will happen, will happen. The date has been booked and the movers (i.e. me) have started packing. Good or bad, I’ll deal with it.