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

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!