Journeying East

Tell us about yourself and where you’re from!
I’m Owen, and I’m an energy market analyst for a software company. I like my job very much, and I moved from France to Singapore for this job, though I’m originally from Australia!

Cool! How are you liking Singapore thus far?
I’m enjoying it very much. I was ready for a change from Europe, and I must say that I like the heat, the new foods that I get to eat, and new people that I’ve been getting to discover.

We can’t relate to your love for the heat unfortunately, but we can for the food! What’s your favourite local dish that you’ve tried?
Thunder tea rice! I’m a vegetarian and I live in Geylang, so there are loads of good vegetarian places around, but I love thunder tea rice the most.

Oh wow, that’s an acquired taste, even for us locals! Did you experience any sort of culture shock when you first moved here?
Not too much, to be honest. In fact, I would say it’s been much easier moving here than it was moving to France. I think because for one, the language is really easy because everyone here speaks English, and secondly, the bureaucracy here is also much easier than in France. That and I already had a few friends here, so settling in was easy for me. It feels more like being in Australia here (laughs).

We take it you’re planning on staying here for a while, huh?
Yes, indefinitely actually, though I will still go back to Australia now and then. I went back for Christmas last year and will be heading back for a wedding mid-year.

The good thing is Australia isn’t too far away! Is there anything new you’ve picked up in your time in Singapore?
I’ve picked up blues dancing since I’ve been in Singapore. It’s a very niche type of dance (laughs), but we basically dance to blues music. I have two really amazing teachers who are both Singaporean, and I started taking classes from them last November. I go almost every week, though there are pauses sometimes if either of us are busy or out of town.