Returning to Singapore for Good in February
Unable to secure photo-related, full-time jobs at newspapers or magazines, I’ve decided to return home to Singapore, where I’ll be free to officially run a photography business
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.
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I can feel your anxiety on going back, there will be a lot of stuff going on ahead of u.. it will be lot of pressure too. But it is all good if you can manage it well and keep yourself motivated.
According to my friends, Singapore is a small place, especially compare to US, but you are free to set your destiny. I heard competition is crazy and workplace is quite bad for creative people. Well,,, there are plenty of creative jobs out there in the paper, but the problem is you will be quite limited to express your creativity.
My suggestion try to get a job first that will pay your bill, maybe in photojournalism or visual communication field, and keep improving yourself and scan for opportunities. You can set up an unique photography business on the side, and try to get clients from other neighbor countries with bigger population like Malaysia or Indonesia, and grow from there. (psst.. you can take advantage of the internet to reach them he he he)
Goodluck!
Thanks for the advice, Enche, very much appreciated!
You’re right, Singapore is definitely way smaller than the U.S. I hope there will be a big enough market. I’ve also thought about branching out to neighboring countries like you said, so I’m hoping that will work in getting more clients! It’s good that you’ll get to stay in the U.S. longer. I kinda wish I could.
Do let me know when you’re back in the region..would be good to meet up!
Thx for sharing your thoughts.. i have also been thinking of going back to SG after a couple of years away in Europe. It is a hard decision indeed. All the best!
Hi Jy,
Thanks for the comment! Are you studying or working in Europe? I haven’t been to Europe since I was 6 – hope I could go back some day, either with my family or with my girlfriend. I guess one good thing about coming back to Singapore is that I can more easily explore the SEA and Asian region, as I hadn’t seen much before I went to the U.S. Although I haven’t traveled again since coming back, I do hope I can gather some money to do so soon!
Hi Ted,
I came across your blog simply because I googled ‘returning to singapore’, having entertained similar thoughts. I’ve been living and working in London for the past 7 years, and am certainly feeling the itch to return for some of the reasons you had cited above. Compound that with a growing indifferent attitude to work (I work as a lawyer) with an impeccable disdain for the British weather, it is difficult not to feel compelled to look elsewhere. I am still on the fence, but I can feel my feet inching closer to the ground as I type this.
Hi Jeremy,
Thanks for your thoughts and sharing your story. It looks like you have succeeded in carving a life overseas and still Singapore has some kind of invisible hold on its people. This could be a new era for the tiny red dot.
Maybe if you’ve already secured a good career there, you’ll have more incentive to stay. From what I’ve heard London winter is pretty dreary but at least you’ll enjoy the four seasons. And of course it’s one of the major cosmopolises in the world. But if you don’t like the work and life there, and family is here, I can also see why you’re inching your way back.
Hi Ted,
I am an American and had a chance to travel for an extended period last year. I spent a week in Singapore. The food was excellent! I have no idea how I stumbled across your site, but I wish you the best of luck. Your insights on the diversity and how cheap things are were spot on. I appreciate that you consider living here a grand privilege. So many Americans do not understand that. I wish our visa laws were better in order for people like yourself to come here and benefit our society versus a lot of Mexicans sneaking in across the desert. It’s unfortunate that our neighbors down south have ruined it for so many other nationalities. I think the creative field especially makes no sense to limit visas. The rationale is to protect “American jobs” but art and creativity is specific and unique. You wouldn’t be taking from someone else because no one else is like you. Maybe you can apply as an artist instead of photographer? I don’t know. I would love to have you back in the USA some day and if you do I hope you buy a Ford Mustang!
Hi James,
Thanks so much for your kind comments! American citizenship is truly something to be appreciative of, just for some of the privileges that it allows you. I’m really glad you like Singapore food – it’s one of the best reasons for living/visiting there! While I should be working in Singapore for the next few years just to gain my experience, I hope to find work overseas too. I’m not so sure if a visa for an artist differs for a photographer though. But thank you so much for believing in me and my dreams!
Although I can’t work and live there, I’m actually in the U.S. now for a 3 week ‘vacation!’ My girlfriend’s graduating, so I’m attending her commencement and then we’ll tour California for about a week. I know I’d only left 2 and a half months ago, but the U.S. still seems so familiar. I can still speak in an American accent! And I can probably still drive on the right side of the road. And cars and photo gear are much cheaper! So yeah I still hope to one day return to the U.S. to work and live. We’ll see how it goes