Climate
The climate in Singapore takes a bit of getting used to. As Singapore lies very close to the equator, the climate throughout the year is hot, humid or rainy.
Language
English is the primary language spoken in Singapore. Almost everyone can communicate in English. Even taxi drivers and staff working in food courts/hawker centres can speak basic English. The 3 main ethnic groups in Singapore are the Chinese, Malays and Indians. Most people in Singapore speak at least 2 languages.
Singlish is also used often by the people in Singapore. Colloquial Singaporean English, better known as Singlish, is an English-based creole language spoken in Singapore.The vocabulary of Singlish consists of words originating from English, Malay, Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese and Tamil.
Dressing in Singapore
Comfort rules when it comes to dressing in most occasions. Given the hot and humid weather, most dress down in comfortable clothes when venturing out under the hot sun.
Food in Singapore
Singapore is a haven for food lovers. Chilli crab, fish head curry and chicken rice are popular Singaporean dishes worth trying.
For expats wanting something more familiar, there are plenty of Western restaurants on the island including Italian, Mexican and American-style cuisine, as well as Western fast food chains.
Food vendors in hawker centres (usually non-airconditioned) and food courts (airconditoned) sell various local specialty dishes. Food at hawker centres is cheap, quick and often really good. Malls also usually have food and beverage establishments.
►Cultural food tip: if a person ever sees a packet of tissues on a table, that means the table has been 'choped', or reserved. Look for an empty table somewhere else.
Kiasuism
The word "kiasu" is Hokkien for "fear of losing" and is used to describe the behaviour of some Singaporeans. Kiasuism manifests itself in many ways, such as queuing up to receive a free giveaway, joining the longest queue at a hawker centre because everyone is queuing there or grabbing excessive amounts of something, eg. food in a buffet in order not to lose out on the deal.
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