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Zhou Yixing 32

1) What made these individuals leave their home country to live in Singapore?

To me, i think that people might come to Singapore for many reasons, for example family reasons, financial reasons, or even just that they want to. In some countries, the stress learning is really big. For learning, you learn hard in the morning to the afternoon, then self study without talking in school until the night, sometimes teachers might even take that period and use it for class. Then, you still have to do homework at home. You do not get enough sleep, and you stress a lot about school work. Hence some people might get a school in Singapore, which is more relaxing and fun learning.

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Alyna Tai

1. These individuals left their home country to come to Singapore for better job opportunities, higher income to support themselves/family, or for a more stable living condition. Some individuals also find that Singaporeans are nice people and they enjoy the environment Singapore provides.

2. Some benefits are better living conditions, more job and educational opportunities and access to healthcare. Singapore is also very clean, advanced and inclusive, which allows these individuals to live in a safe and welcoming environment. Some challenges they face are homesickness, discrimination and language barriers. Some Singaporean jobs may give priority to locals instead of foreigners, and they will be left with low-paying jobs. Adapting to a new life could also be difficult without family or support, especially when some locals are not accepting of these foreigners.

3.

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Kalea

What made these individuals leave their home country to live in Singapore?

Many individuals leave their home countries to live in Singapore in search of better job opportunities, higher salaries, and a more stable and secure environment. Some came to support their families back at home financially, while others came for education, career advancement, or to reunite with family members who might already be living in Singapore.

What were some benefits and challenges faced by the individuals?

Moving to Singapore gives them several benefits like earning a higher income, having access to good public transport and healthcare, and living in a safe, clean, and multicultural society. Some also send money home and access better education for their children. Despite all these advantages, there also face challenges. These challenges include not being able to see their families as much and adjusting to the new language. Some also struggle with discrimination, difficult working conditions, or the high cost of living in Singapore.

How do you think the experiences of these individuals compare to your own? What are the similarities and differences?

I think my experience is quite different compared to these individuals. I was born and raised in Singapore, so I never had to leave my home or adapt to a new culture. I enjoy the comfort and support of my family and familiar surroundings, whereas they had to face uncertainty in a new country. However there are also similarities. We both live in the same society and benefit from Singapore’s safety, convenience, and opportunities. Like them, I’ have sometimes felt challenged in new environments or needed time to adapt. Their stories help me appreciate what I have and remind me to show kindness and understanding to others who may be going through much more.

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Tan Rui Qi:

Why these individuals want to live in Singapore-> Singapore jobs have a higher pay, and Singapore is also more financially stable than the foreigners’s home country. Some foreigners also come to Singapore so that their children can study in Singapore, where education is better.

Challenges faced -> Singaporeans discriminate and are unfriendly towards the foreigners.

As a Singaporean, I feel that I am actually very fortunate to live in Singapore with all the benefits and privileges that I can enjoy. For example, I can wake up at 6:30 am to leisurely go to school, while some foreign students, like the boy in the video we watched, has to wake up at 4:00 am to go to school.

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Foreigners often move to Singapore for a few reasons like job opportunities. It offers good career choices and higher salaries. Singapore is known for its safety, cleanliness, and strong healthcare and education systems which is a pull for these individuals. Benefits like a safe and clean environment, good transport services and healthcare, diverse society like a multiracial living space. Challenges like cost of living, language barrier and being homesick. Both Singaporeans and foreigners want good jobs, education, and a safe place to live. Differences are sense of belonging. Singaporeans naturally feel at home here, while foreigners may take time to adjust, foreigners may face stricter rules for jobs or housing compared to citizens, Singaporeans often have strong local family support, while foreigners may not.

In short, while foreigners come to Singapore for better opportunities and face challenges adjusting, they share many of the same hopes and struggles as Singaporeans. What’s different is the sense of identity, comfort, and support – which often comes more naturally to locals.

-Chara (1M)

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1. A lot of the individuals left their home countries to work so that they could get a better job and higher pay/ salary

2. The benefits could be that they make more money and the challenges could be the travel time and the time they spend away form their families

3. The difference is that we are all quite privileged in Singapore

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Anika

I was born and raised in Singapore, so I’ve never had to go through the big changes that many foreigners face. Some of them came here for better job opportunities, safety, or a good education. While they enjoy the clean and safe environment, they also face challenges like language used as the might be different or being far from family. I’ve never had to adjust to a new culture, but I can relate to wanting to fit in and feel accepted. Even though our experiences are different, we all want to feel at home.

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Gwendolyn

Individuals want to earn more money to support their family and have stability.

Some challenges people face are travelling to work between two countries both there and back. Some challenges are also getting home sick, when their family member is sick they aren’t able to go back home to help them and can only rely on other family members updating them.

Some benefits are earning much more money than in their home country, they are able to find stability and settle down.

In Singapore, there a lots of well paid job opportunities and good education preparing me for the work life. While in other countries, some aren’t blessed with a good education or well paid jobs hence forcing them to come to Singapore.

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Hannah Ng

Example: Postman story

1. He wanted to earn a living for his family to be happy and provide for them so that they would all have a happy life. Singapore jobs pay slightly more than Malaysian jobs, so this was one of the pull factors that made him want to come to Singapore.

2. He finds it scary to drive around his neighbourhood at 4 in the morning, and he has to wake up very early to get to Singapore in the morning. In Singapore however, he has benefitted from friendships he has with his fellow postmen as it makes him feel less lonely. He has also benefitted from the higher salary he gets in Singapore as compared to Malaysia.

3. I think that him having a strong bond with others in his workplace is very similar to the friendships we have in school, which helps us feel more welcome and included. However, he has different experiences from us as well. He has a tough journey in the morning but some of us live so close to school.

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a) These individuals left their home country to live in Singapore for different reasons, but most commonly the reasons are giving better education for their children, having a safer environment than their home country, work purposes or higher pay.

b) They have brand new opportunities to explore new culture, learn more about Singapore, meet other individuals from different backgrounds especially because Singapore is diverse, and have chances to have better education or better pay. However, they tend to feel homesick, or miss their relatives in their home country. They might miss dishes, people or places from their home country, while seldom staying at home. They might also not have the best living conditions as some of them come to Singapore not being able to afford the higher rent.

c and d) Their experiences are quite similar to mine, however I do believe I am more privileged as I do not have to worry about places to stay, or not being able to afford basic necessities.

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Samantha

-more job opportunities

-better job opportunities

-better pay

-better learning environment for children

-safe

struggles

-expensive

-High living costs

I am more privileged as some of them don’t get a chance to have education

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Many foreigners move to Singapore for job opportunities, better living environment or to join family.

Benefits:

Access to education and healthcare

Good public services

Challenges:

High cost of living

Homesick

Different culture and or language

Stereotypes

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Giselle Neo

1. These individuals left their home to make an income for their family members so that they can live happily.

2. A benefit is that they can make more money for their family, and can even make new friends. A challenge faced is that since they have to work long hours before going home and there might even be a jam, they cannot spend as much time with their family members and will miss them.

3. These individuals have a hard life, working to make money for their families when they can’t spend as much time with them, while we are very fortunate, being able to spend time with our families.

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They left due to low pay in Malaysia as Singapore has better pay. The commute to Singapore is one of their main challenges. I am quite privileged, as my parents are comfortably middle class and work in Singapore, wile these groups of people have to transport themselves to Singapore every day and earn less.

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1. Anya 1M written by myself

1. Career Opportunities

Many foreigners move for work, especially in finance, tech, healthcare, education, and engineering.

Singapore is a global business hub with low corruption, stable governance, and a strategic location in Asia.

2. Quality of Life

High safety standards, modern infrastructure, and good healthcare and education systems attract expats.

Singapore is consistently ranked as one of the best cities for expats.

3. Education

International students come for reputable universities and schools.

Families often move to give their children a better educational environment.

4. Multicultural Environment

English is the working language, making it easier for many to adapt.

A mix of cultures (Chinese, Malay, Indian, Western) helps foreigners feel more at home.

5. Political and Economic Stability

Compared to less stable countries, Singapore offers a safe and predictable environment for work and life.

Benefits Foreigners Experience

1. Strong Public Services

Efficient transport, excellent healthcare, and strict law enforcement.

2. Low Crime Rate

One of the safest countries in the world.

3. Diverse Food and Culture

Rich culinary scene, festivals, and a blend of traditions.

4. International Community

Active expat groups and social clubs help new arrivals integrate.

Challenges Foreigners Face

1. High Cost of Living

Especially in housing, international schooling, and private healthcare (if uninsured).

2. Work Visa Restrictions

Dependence on employment passes and changing immigration policies can create uncertainty.

3. Integration Difficulties

While English is common, cultural differences still exist.

Locals may be reserved toward foreigners, especially during times of economic stress.

4. Limited Long-Term Residency Options

Gaining permanent residency or citizenship is competitive and selective.

5. Social Hierarchies and Inequality

Foreign workers experience varying treatment depending on their job type and origin (e.g., expats vs. migrant workers).