Reply to: Is this part of the world f**ed?

[Mupps]

I tried to emigrate to Canada years ago as well. I would love to work there or Oz maybe.

somewhere a bit more optimistic than the UK anyway.

Sounds like Singapore isn't top of many people's list then.

[Scoobos]

+1 for Canada or Aus / NZ.

I hope you have better luck than me, I missed the boat for Canada and I seriously still feel the pain.. Almost every day.

For me, Singapore really isn't the answer unless you want to feel stranded in a tiny area surrounded by South East Asia... Nice for short while, but unless you're willing to change / adapt to the culture in a big way , then forget it (well, forget living there very long term).

[Mich the Tester]

FTFY

To some extent yes, but it's quite affordable bribery and corruption in the better parts of Africa; lunch for a civil servant, a tip for a helpful traffic policeman and if you run a business it might be helpful, and even quite enjoyable to provide an internship for a government minister's daughter. You don't need to invest millions in setting up a quango to advise the government on regulating your competitors.

[Lockhouse]

Wherever you go, make sure you have friends there first, not just expats, but locals; it's bribery and corruption that makes a business work in Africa more than great products or pricing.

FTFY

[DodgyAgent]

I've had a couple of people recently telling me about the joys of working in parts of the world that haven't been ****ed over by labour governments and ill-conceived currency unification projects. Their message being: Hey UK and Europe is a bit tulipty now, but Asia is booming.

Has anyone here ever worked in Singapore, (and taken their family with them)?

What's the market and earning potential for IT engineers?

It is all very well thinking that Asia is the place to work but places like Singapore are very easy for Indians to go and work. Pay rates in Singapore are Ok and tax is low but you are up against competition from the rest of Asia

[Mich the Tester]

Me, i want top of the range kit to work on, tons of moeny, much more playtime than now. and a suntan.

Namibia and Botswana are worth looking into but they won't let you in unless you start a business that will employ locals (having said that, there are tons of business opportunities serving a growing black middle class), and NZ, Canada and Aus are as always worth looking into. I'm currently working on a little investment with a friend in Ethiopia ( a bit of an underdog in the economic stakes, but with huge potential), with a product that's aimed straight at the African middle classes; I also know a Dutch guy who's set up a bakery franchise in South Africa and is doing very well, now expanding into other African countries. But remember, if you want quality of life, you might have to sacrifice a bit of material comfort, and vice versa too; it's an individual decision how to balance those things.

Wherever you go, make sure you have friends there first, not just expats, but locals; it's contacts that make a business work in Africa more than great products or pricing.

[Doggy Styles]

I think i agree with most of that.

The wife wants a better quality of life than the UK currently can offer (more bang per buck i guess), but still all nicey, safey, middle class etc.

Me, i want top of the range kit to work on, tons of moeny, much more playtime than now. and a suntan.

That's dangerous. Telling Mich your wife wants more bang per buck.

The words rat and drainpipe come to mind...

[Mupps]

Dunno about Singapore; visited once, felt it was all a bit squeaky clean an boring. But as for Europe being f**ked over by labour governments, ill concieved currency projects and so on, I don't think that's the full story. I think Europe(including GB) is actually being f**ked over by decadence, spoilt brat populations who think elections are a shopping trip with someone else's credit card, a culture that's being destroyed by pulp media and the glorification of talentless and stupid people in this cult of 'celebrity', a lack of appreciation for how lucky we all are to grow up with education, healthcare, housing, clean water and plentiful food, a dependency culture that says whatever real or imagined problem there is must be solved by the government; hence lots of regulation, lots of quangos and lots of stupid schemes like IR35 based entirely on jealousy bla bla bla I could go on for ever but this is turning into a boring rant.
Take a look in some of the more stable countries in Africa; Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, and these days even Ethiopia; their governments are vaguely left winged, but people get on with it because they don't have much choice. Work, take initiative, make the best of things or starve. I'm not suggesting that 3rd world conditions are what we need here in Europe, but spome of the energy and gumption of people who work all day, then spend the weekend tending their gardens to sell veg at the market or organising footie games for the kids, and laugh and smile while they're at it would go a long way. Visit hotels and restaurants (no, not just the smart places) or take a taxi or a bus and you'll get friendly service that isn't fake and subservient; people just get pleasure from doing something for someone else. They also get quite good tips from western tourists.
Western societies lack the balls to do anything about their situation, and the leaders who would be prepared to give people the hard truth while managing competently and dealing with the rest of the world properly don't work for governments; their skills are better rewarded in business or self employment.

Unstructured incoherent rant over.

I think i agree with most of that.

The wife wants a better quality of life than the UK currently can offer (more bang per buck i guess), but still all nicey, safey, middle class etc.

Me, i want top of the range kit to work on, tons of moeny, much more playtime than now. and a suntan.

[Mich the Tester]

Dunno about Singapore; visited once, felt it was all a bit squeaky clean an boring. But as for Europe being f**ked over by labour governments, ill concieved currency projects and so on, I don't think that's the full story. I think Europe(including GB) is actually being f**ked over by decadence, spoilt brat populations who think elections are a shopping trip with someone else's credit card, a culture that's being destroyed by pulp media and the glorification of talentless and stupid people in this cult of 'celebrity', a lack of appreciation for how lucky we all are to grow up with education, healthcare, housing, clean water and plentiful food, a dependency culture that says whatever real or imagined problem there is must be solved by the government; hence lots of regulation, lots of quangos and lots of stupid schemes like IR35 based entirely on jealousy bla bla bla I could go on for ever but this is turning into a boring rant.
Take a look in some of the more stable countries in Africa; Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, and these days even Ethiopia; their governments are vaguely left winged, but people get on with it because they don't have much choice. Work, take initiative, make the best of things or starve. I'm not suggesting that 3rd world conditions are what we need here in Europe, but spome of the energy and gumption of people who work all day, then spend the weekend tending their gardens to sell veg at the market or organising footie games for the kids, and laugh and smile while they're at it would go a long way. Visit hotels and restaurants (no, not just the smart places) or take a taxi or a bus and you'll get friendly service that isn't fake and subservient; people just get pleasure from doing something for someone else. They also get quite good tips from western tourists.
Western societies lack the balls to do anything about their situation, and the leaders who would be prepared to give people the hard truth while managing competently and dealing with the rest of the world properly don't work for governments; their skills are better rewarded in business or self employment.

Unstructured incoherent rant over.

[Scoobos]

I've had a couple of people recently telling me about the joys of working in parts of the world that haven't been ****ed over by labour governments and ill-conceived currency unification projects. Their message being: Hey UK and Europe is a bit tulipty now, but Asia is booming.

Has anyone here ever worked in Singapore, (and taken their family with them)?

What's the market and earning potential for IT engineers?

My 2 cents - you'll enjoy it, but you'll appreciate that things aren't quite as bad as you might think they are.

If you are rich, you're fine.

[EternalOptimist]

Singapore ? you must be bonkers. I kew this bloke who moved there, worst mistake he ever made.

you dont want to go there mate. Have you ever heard of Umbongo-RotaVirus ?

[BlasterBates]

Have you thought about French Guiana?

It is actually part of the EU and does have a McDonalds.

[Mupps]

Somalia, Hmm. it'll be nice and warm.

Do you know if they have Waitrose there?

[oscarose]

I've had a couple of people recently telling me about the joys of working in parts of the world that haven't been ****ed over by labour governments and ill-conceived currency unification projects. Their message being: Hey UK and Europe is a bit tulipty now, but Asia is booming.

Has anyone here ever worked in Singapore, (and taken their family with them)?

What's the market and earning potential for IT engineers?

Don’t get into bother with the fuzz over there old chap.

[mercenary]

I've had a couple of people recently telling me about the joys of working in parts of the world that haven't been ****ed over by labour governments and ill-conceived currency unification projects. Their message being: Hey UK and Europe is a bit tulipty now, but Asia is booming.

Has anyone here ever worked in Singapore, (and taken their family with them)?

What's the market and earning potential for IT engineers?

My brother has been out in singapore at an IB on an expat deal for several years. We visited with the kids last year and had an amazing time although the weather is very rainy - no dry season - sun in the morning, torrential rain in the afternoon and humid evenings and the place is squeeky clean and mega safe but slightly artificial feeling including fake beaches and slightly culturally cleansed. But dont underestimate the the impact of the downturn on banks - the biggest employers - they are in the process of cutting back - my brother has been kicked off the expat package and put on a local salary which was about half of his uk basic. My inquiries suggest that I would earn half my UK contract pay but lower taxes. living costs are mixed - food and taxis are very cheap - dont need a car. Good accommodation can be found but at similar rents to UK, maybe slightly less - . The best bonus for famillies is the live-in Phillipino maid (single males not allowed one) - every apartment usually comes with living quarters for your maid and she will do all childcare, housework, cooking etc for a small wage and roof over her head and some time to go home occassionally means the wife can get a job as well. However schools are seriously expensive - more than the UK and difficult to get into. Otherwise anything European is expensive like beer and wine e.g. a £5 wine is £25 there. With development work, you will get stiff competition from Indians (one third of the population) and you will need something to make you unique. But it is a very pleasant place to live and work and sometimes you will get a bit bored but you can jump on a cheap plane - to Bali, Indo, Malay just like you;d pop over to Paris or Barcelona etc.

I'd be interested if it wasnt the school thing. Since there are enough skills over there, companies will no longer bear the cost of schooling. Missed the boat.......