25 Signs You’ve Adapted to Being an Expat in Singapore

Singapore may be expensive but it is still one of the best countries to be an expat. As with every other country, there's a lot of things to get used to, especially if you come from a completely different culture.

With time however, you start to get accustomed to the way of life there. Here are some signs you've been in the Lion City way for a long time... 

1. Putting chilli sauce on everything you eat is completely normal.
 
2. You tend to wait for instructions from the Gahmen to tell you what to do. 
 
3. You know exactly what "kiasu" means.

4. And because of #3, you will queue up in long lines when you see one, regardless of the reason.

SEE ALSO: Eat like a local
 
5. Food has become your passion and therefore, a good night out probably consists of eating at the Hawker Centre.
 
6. You chope a table in food courts with anything you can find and expect people to actually respect your territorial proclamation of the spot.
 
7. You find it extremely annoying when people, especially on the media, talk about how it’s illegal to chew gum in Singapore.
 
8. You forgot what chewing gum tastes like.

9. You decode acronyms with complete ease, from NTUC to ACJC and ERP to COE.

 
10. Chatting with taxi uncles are probably some of the best conversations you’ve had.
 
11. You’ve gotten used to hearing Singlish and you even use your own slang words, lah!

12. You’ll buy something you don’t even need just because it’s on sale.  
 
13. It’s really either so cheap/so expensive! And so hot/so cold!

SEE ALSO: 10 things to love about Singapore
 
14. You’ll say "crossing the country" when you’re just taking the MRT to the end of the line.
 
15. You have no issues going around all day trying to find the perfect fried noodles, roti prate or ice kacang.
 
16. Roadside ice cream sandwiches always cheer you up.
 
17. A $100,000 Toyota Corolla? Reasonable. $5 fried noodles? Outrage!

18. You find it frustrating if there’s no sign with the bus/train/expressway schedule.

19. Going from one end of Orchard Road to another requires an air-conditioned or at least a sheltered route.

20. Other than cucumbers, raw vegetables have become a weird concept for you.

21. It’s a "handphone” not a "cellphone."

SEE ALSO: Struggles of leaving Singapore

22.  A bus without a TV is just not a proper one.

23. You have a love-hate relationship with the public transport mascots Move-in Martin and Give-way Glenda.

24. You memorised all the MRT laws…no eating or drinking, no littering, no durians onboard, etc.

25. You go spend time in Changi Airport even if you’re not travelling or picking someone up.