Why did you decide to move to Macau?
My other half is a Michelin starred chef with his eponymous restaurant here. I was commuting from Hong Kong for the last two years and finally decided to move.
How was the moving process?
It was pretty straightforward as with every country, the movers come and everything gets sorted. The only difficult part about moving is relocating with my cat. Smudge has been moved from Beijing to KL to HK, so it was just another move with different set of import export laws. It was tricky getting around it in Macau but we have a great pet relocation agent, for those who want to try doing it on their own, it's much cheaper and manageable in hind-sight.
How did you find a job in Macau?
I set up my own consultancy company in Hong Kong and make weekly trips to HK as well as travel in the region. A thing to note is that Macau visa laws are strict, I am on a dependent spouse visa and do not work in Macau as this is not legal.
Is it easy to find accommodation in Macau?
Yes, there are many property agents that service expats but the property market and rent has become increasingly expensive year on year.
Did you face some difficulties to adapt to your host country (language, culture, do's and don'ts)?
I speak Mandarin and Cantonese so I don't have any language barriers, but there has been challenges assimilating into the local community (Portuguese and Chinese).
What surprised you the most in Macau?
How many amazing vintage shops selling antiques there are and the local food, wet markets.
Is it easy to make friends in Macau?
Yes and no (at least in my first year). There are many social networking events and there is the International Ladies Club that organizes plenty of social activities which is a wonderful way to meet other trailing spouses and women who've moved to Macau for work. Macau is very family oriented and great for the children, but we don't yet have kids, so our social life is as exciting as counting peanuts in a bowl.
I also travel often for work, so it's been tough to say the least.
Could you please share with us something you like about Macau and something you don't like?
The food - they still make noodles, beancurd and every possible wonderful thing from scratch. That respect for local produce that most developed cities have exchanged for convenience and processed food. And the nature - there's plenty of nature walks and hiking trails in Macau.
I wish Macau could be more open, dynamic and cosmopolitan, great cultural art activities are hardly publicized and it's a constant wild goose chase digging up all the wonderful things happening that come and go and we never find out about.
A common belief about China which wasn't right:
It would be a challenge if you don't speak the language. I know plenty of people who have lived in Asia for decades and still don't speak the language.
What do you miss the most from Singapore, your home country?
The food!
What does a typical day as an expat in Macau look like?
Morning coffee. Emails/blog/social. Groceries/running errands like bills. Cooking. Dinner. TV. Bed.
Which advice would you give to people wishing to live in Macau?
Be open, Asia's Las Vegas is a little different with a lot of local charm if you can see beyond the language and cultural barrier.
