Mangla is originally from Malaysia. She has been traveling a lot since a very young age and has lived in Australia and the UK. Today, she's raising her third-culture kids in Singapore. Mangla talks to us about what makes Singapore a great place to live as an expat.
Tell us about your background. How did you start your expat adventure?
I moved a lot when I was younger. I was born in Malaysia, moved to Melbourne when I was a tween, then to London, where I met my husband. We moved within the UK, as he's a doctor, so we did a stint in the north of England, Edinburgh, Dunfermline, and then back to London when I had kids, and now we're in Singapore.
What brought you to Singapore?
My husband's job. We thought we'd try it out for a few years, and if we didn't like it, we'd move back. We kept our property in London, thinking it would be easier to transition back. We've now been here almost 12 years!
What, in your opinion, makes Singapore a great place to live as an expat?
Almost everything! Public safety, great schools, amazing food, the people are absolutely lovely, and lots of great places to travel to nearby. The expat community becomes your family. During the pandemic, friends lost loved ones, and we were each other's support. I have met my closest and dearest friends here in Singapore.
Did you face any challenges when moving to Singapore? How did you overcome them?
I think my kids didn't settle very well when we first arrived. My son was 6 and had constant skin issues from the heat and was miserable the first few months. Once that got settled down, and we moved him from a local to an international school, things became a lot better.
In your opinion, what should expats moving to Singapore watch out for?
The cost of living. I know a family whose sole aim was to come here, earn and save so they could return to Australia and buy their dream house. They enjoyed the lifestyle, traveling and shopping so much, but they didn't go back with even half the savings they had planned.
You grew up as a third-culture kid and are now raising third-culture kids. How easy is it?
It's amazing. We have so many shared experiences, and when the kids talk about the new kids who join their classes, I can still remember the times I had to go into a new school, and what those kids may be feeling.
What has been your best experience so far from all the countries you have lived in?
Friends. Once you find your tribe, everything becomes so much better. I have made friends who are now spread out all over the world. I recently met a friend who grew up one street away from my school in Melbourne. We weren't in the same school, but we could've walked past each other a few decades ago!
Another great experience is learning about other cultures, festivals and traditions. Wherever we go, we will always celebrate Chinese New Year and we will check the calendar so we know when our friends are fasting for Ramadan. Weddings have been super fun too.
What does your every day as an expat in Singapore look like?
When you go to a new country, and your kids are young, going to school for pick up and drop off and school events make it so much easier to make friends. I jumped in the first week my kids started school. From a little volunteering for bake sales, counting change for a charity, to chairing an event and then a seat on the PTA board, I have made the most amazing friends! But a lot of these friends have since left the island.
During the pandemic, I started a printing business with a friend and fellow PTA board member, and we had a client in the first 24 hours. My business partner and I spent lockdown networking and joining every webinar we could. As I built my network, I heard other expats express uncertainties about their next move, and this gave me the confidence to start my new venture - Expat Business In A Bag, because I am my ideal client. I am in the same boat as them and want to build something I can take anywhere. As we get older, making friends with each move gets more complicated, but being an entrepreneur and making connections gives us a sense of community when we're in a foreign country.
Once I started a business here, I found a brand new tribe. There are some amazing women here building extraordinary companies, who inspire me every day.
Singapore has so many groups for entrepreneurial women, like Launchpad and PrimeTime. Coffee mornings, online networking and accountability sessions are so much fun and motivating too!
What do you like the most and the least in Singapore?
I love the safety and the ease of things here the most. I felt looked after and protected during the pandemic. The heat would probably be the least. I miss seasons!
As a serial expat and mum of third culture kids, where do you see yourself in the coming years?
I'm not sure if retiring in Singapore is doable or affordable. I'd love for my husband to work less, and I see us enjoying time in nature, a beautiful house with a large garden for our dogs! Both our kids will go to a university in the UK, so ideally, I'd like to be close to them.
Is there any advice you would like to give to expat mums raising third-culture kids?
They are learning tolerance and appreciating cultural differences & diversity and are going to make great leaders in the future because of it!
Start a business that you can pack up and take all over the world.
