I was on the road, 2 weeks away from the family. It was not easy for the family as I was pivotal to the key logistics at home. My mother needed to step in to help out with the children and it was not easy due to her age. She is getting close to her mid-seventies. Family support is important and I appreciate all the help I can get.
The perk of working overseas is you get to enjoy good food on the company’s account. I am not given a per diem allowance. However, I have reasonably priced meals. I tend to spend the company’s money with an ownership mindset.
What if this business is yours?
Will you spend the money?
I did a cost comparison across the hotels and chose the cheapest. However, the cheapest comes at a cost. It does not have a dryer and washing machine in the room. I requested a receipt from the front desk but they could not provide that. Furthermore, you will be charged a fee for washing powder.
What will you have done?
In the end, I chose to hand wash my laundry in the toilet with a washing powder I bought from the Chemist Warehouse. The weather is super dry. The laundry will be dry after a day or two. I survived all the quarantine during COVID-19 days in the hotels. For those who read this donkey years later, just FYI, we were made to quarantine for 14 days in the hotel when we traveled to another country during COVID-19 restrictive years.
I can survive loneliness and boredom. Those do not faze me.
Time on the road always gives me new perspectives on life. Firstly, I find it refreshing to work in an office context. I miss working in an office. I miss the free coffee. I miss the pantry. I dislike the toilet here, the urinal is discriminatory against short farts like me. The camaraderie and how fast you can brainstorm ideas with colleagues is amazing. Maybe it has been too long since I have been working remotely.
I met a lot of amazing people and how people at the management level will discuss ideas differently. I also need to have a difficult conversation with a fellow team member on her annual review. It was an emotional one.
I can understand.
When I was in my late 20s, I stayed in Perth before. I left because I found another job back home and my one-sided affection was not reciprocated. I have a certain affection towards Perth as a place with a lifestyle and perfect weather. Perfect weather only applies across 3 seasons excluding summer. I detest the flies. Pesky!
When I travel to a country, I will ask myself whether I will live there. Perth will make it to the list.
In 2010-2011, I was in my late 20s, Perth to me was very expensive. 1 AUD = 1.3 SGD. We bought in bulk from Spud Shed. Then I would cook for all the colleagues in the house. They would do the washing. Fast forward to 2024, Singapore has become more expensive compared to the pre-COVID days. Yes, 1 AUD = 0.91 SGD, the strong currency helps. The mixed vegetable rice (2 vegetables and 1 meat) in Singapore has increased from SGD 2.50 to SGD 4.00 in the neighborhood coffee shop. The CBD price cost SGD 5-6. The price in Perth is more uniform and remains around AUD 13.5 – 16. I saw my wife who is working in the CBD area, her lunch is easily S$10-13 per meal if you add a cup of coffee.
I am a fan of going to the neighborhood groceries. I went to see where my boss shopped for his groceries. The price of vegetables and meat is reasonable. The tropical fruits are expensive due to the logistics cost to bring them from the north of WA.
The only thing I find difficult to accept is the property price in Perth. Back in 2011, I wanted to buy a property in Fremantle as I like the architecture there. I think the price then was around AUD 600+k for the one I was looking at. Fast forward to 2024, everything has gone through the roof. It is very difficult to find a rental unit.
I like the education system in Australia. I never benefit from it. However, I hear very positive feedback. It creates creative thinkers. Singapore’s education system is creating workers that the economy needs. I can understand. It is a pressure cooker for Singapore to survive and thrive. The only thing again is the cost of education if you are a foreigner in another country. In Singapore, education from Primary school to high school or poly or ITE is highly affordable if you are a resident. Likewise, every country makes education as affordable as possible to the people.
I will continue to explore with Mrs where to stay and live for our 2nd phase of life. Her preference now is Singapore and travels overseas during the kids’ school holidays. Typical.
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