Can you uproot your life, move to another country and never look back?
For one Singaporean who has been living in Thailand for over a decade, the answer is a firm yes.
In an Instagram post on Thursday (Sept 17), Alden Lee, a small business owner in Thailand, shared that one of the questions he gets asked most as an expat dad there is whether he would ever move back to Singapore.
His response? An unequivocal “absolutely no”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DdYyTOWz9Tk/
While he acknowledged that “things could change”, Alden said the value for money, friendly Thai culture, and variety of places to explore were among the reasons he preferred living in Thailand.
He added that while some may argue Singapore offers higher pay and better opportunities, and for his children “better education, better career paths” and generally a “better life” — his answer remains unchanged.
“My kids are living a really good life,” he said, sharing that his family is living in a gated community with international schools nearby, while his children spend time outdoors every day instead of being “stuck to screens”.
Alden continued: “They have friends in the same neighbourhood, they have a large garden.”
Thinking back on his own childhood, the father said he shared a similar lifestyle back in the day.
“I remember myself when I was kid, I would be playing outside until the sun goes down, until the street lamps came out,” he recalled.
“And that’s the life my kids are living right now. If this was in Singapore, no, it wouldn’t happen.”
Alden also pushed back on the idea that there are “no opportunities” in Thailand, calling it “totally wrong”.
While he concurred that the minimum wage is low, with a starting salary of “under $1,000”, he felt that it was not a measure of career path or opportunities.
“There are so many ways to earn money here, especially if you’re building something for yourself,” he said.
Ultimately, Alden said he did not move to Thailand for monetary reasons.
“I moved here for life, for comfort,” he said.
“And 10 years in, I think I will still make the same choice again.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/DchkqyJzDW-/
Alden’s take drew mixed reactions from netizens, many of which were supportive.
“Agreed. I worked in Bangkok for seven years. Every weekend can visit a new cafe outside Bangkok,” read a comment, while another said: “I love how you measure happiness. It is not all about more money.”
Others however, felt his comparison was unfair.
“You’re living in an expat bubble in Thailand, by your own admission. That’s why it feels like it’s better value. You’re not living like a local. You need to compare this with a cushy expat life in Singapore,” someone pointed out.
Another netizen was happy for Alden but advised that he should “be grateful” to his home country for giving him the opportunity to set up a life elsewhere, and that there was no need to compare or “downplay” his birthplace.
“Do not burn bridges. Home is home. Just be grateful,” the commenter said.
While the video didn’t reveal which part of Thailand he stays in, Alden mentioned in an earlier clip posted in August that he used to live in a rural part of Thailand located two hours away from Bangkok when he first arrived in the country.
AsiaOne has reached out to Alden for more information.
[[nid:742614]]
Read the full article here
