Welcome to your new home city!! Welcome to Singapore!! • Getting settled • Working • Explore Singapore • Getting around • Staying healthy • Staying safe • Singlish • Questions? But first, a short quiz… 1. True or False – Singapore has 4 official languages. 2. What is “durian”? a) A performing arts venue b) A hungry ghost c) A fruit 3. Who gave Singapore her name? a) Sir Stamford Raffles, a British colonial administrator b) Sang Nila Utama, an Indonesian prince c) Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first prime minister Getting settled • Open a local bank account ATMs and branches Internet banking, GIRO, NETS, AXS machines • Get connected – mobile, internet, cable TV Cell phones: pre-paid or contract? Apple’s iPhone Cable TV, mio TV Internet: Broadband, WiFi, mobile Wireless@SG: http://www.infocomm123.sg/wireless_at_sg Getting settled • Nesting – turning your apartment into a home Hypermarts: Giant, Carrefour, Mustafa (24-hour shopping!) Departmental stores: Robinsons, John Little, Marks & Spencer, Takashimaya, Isetan, Tangs, Metro, BHG Electronics: Mustafa, Best Denki, Courts, Gain City Expo sales Getting settled • Nesting – turning your apartment into a home Daiso: $2 store – Plaza Sg, Vivo City, IMM IKEA: Alexandra and Tampines Flea markets: Sungei Road Thieves’ Market, Zouk, Maad at Red Dot, *scape… Expat leaving sales, garage sales – Straits Times Classifieds, Cold Storage Online! Getting settled • Buying IT and electronics IT shows / PC shows at Suntec & Expo Funan DigitaLife Mall, Sim Lim Square Challenger, Courts, Best Denki www.hardwarezone.com.sg • Groceries Supermarkets “Wet markets” Specialty stores: Korean, Japanese, Indian, Gourmet, “Western” Let’s take a breather… 1. The legal drinking age in Singapore is… a) 21 b) 18 c) 23 2. Where is Tisch Asia in Singapore? a) Eastern part of the island b) Northern part of the island c) Central / southern part of the island 3. If you’re not Singaporean/PR and you see “NRIC number” on a form, what should you do? a) Leave it blank b) Write your FIN number instead c) Write your passport number instead Working • First, consider: demands of your MFA • Student Pass allows: Maximum 16 hours a week Vacation: full-time • Common student jobs TA / PA work on campus Freelance work: models, actors, photographers, writers… Tuition teachers, service staff… http://www.singaporeparttimejobs.com/ Explore Singapore: Essential eating • For cheaper food: Hawker centres, kopitiam (coffee shops), food courts Economic rice, noodles, vegetarian… • Must-try (for the beginner on a budget): Chicken rice: Roasted, steamed and “nasi ayam penyet” Laksa: Katong, Penang, Johor Carrot cake, nasi lemak, prata Rojak: Try the Chinese, Malay and Indian versions • www.hungrygowhere.com and www.makansutra.com Explore Singapore: Essential Singapore walks • Geylang Serai: Paya Lebar MRT to Joo Chiat Complex Ramadan bazaar Especially on the eve of Hari Raya Puasa (29th Aug) • Little India (Serangoon Road) On any Sunday Especially before Deepavali (26th Oct) • Chinatown: Hungry Ghost Festival (now!) Mid-Autumn festival (Sept) Especially before Chinese New Year Explore Singapore: Venturing beyond Redhill & Orchard • Arab Street, Bussorah Street, Bali Lane and Haji Lane: Bugis MRT and walk! • Waterloo Street & surrounds: Bugis MRT • The lorong’s of Geylang: Aljunied MRT • Katong: for Peranakan food & architecture • Dempsey & Holland WYSIWYG? 1. ERP a) Electronic Road Pricing b) Expressway Revenue Policy c) Empress Road Park 2. MRT 3. HDB 4. Take the BKE to the PIE, then the KPE to the end of the ECP. Where will you be? a) Jurong Island b) Border to Johor Bahru, Malaysia c) Changi Airport Getting around • www.gothere.sg • MRT: no eating & drinking • SBS buses: IRIS & journey planner http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/iris/overview.aspx • Taxi surcharges: http://taxisingapore.com/ Booking: current and advanced Peak hours, late night Public holidays ERP and city area (CBD) Payment via NETS or credit card Staying Healthy • When you feel unwell GPs (family doctors) Medicines – usually dispensed on-site OTC drugs: Guardian pharmacy, Watson’s Health Insurance • Watch out for: Dengue: www.dengue.gov.sg Staying safe • “Low crime doesn’t mean no crime” • Emergency numbers: Police: 999 Ambulance & fire: 995 Campus security: 777 (or 6500-1777) “Relac one corner lah, brudder…” – How good is your Singlish? • Local English-based creole • Words borrowed from Hokkien and Malay 1. Ang moh & SPGs 2. Auntie & uncle 3. Makan 4. Da bao 5. Kiasu http://www.talkingcock.com/ > Coxford Singlish Dictionary http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singlish Questions? Jocelyn Chng Email: [email protected] 6500 1701 Theeba Rani Email: [email protected] 6500 1715 Fauzana Email: [email protected] 6500 1734 .