It’s that time of the year again where towering HDB blocks showcase rows upon rows of SG flags, and National Day ditties play on the radio in the leadup to NDP. This 9th of August is going to be extra special – it’s Singapore’s 60th birthday. For a hearty dose of patriotism and good vibes, we spoke to various Singaporeans who have lived or are currently still living abroad, and had them share what they miss most about life in Singapore.
Note: Responses have been edited for grammar and clarity; all images for illustrative purposes only.
“What I miss most is actually the heat, and how hassle-free it is to be able to head out for quick errands without having to don 3 layers. When I stayed in Shanghai, it was so troublesome to have to bundle up in thick jackets just to go downstairs and collect my takeaway food.
I also had to worry about my apartment’s heater dying on me in the middle of winter, or the shower heater spoiling. Speaking of heaters, it was so annoying to have to keep taking the layers of outerwear off when I entered a heated space, and having to painstakingly put them all back on again to venture outdoors.”
– Zi Ying, Shanghai
“Ironically, I studied in Melbourne, which many consider the cafe capital of the world. But amidst the steeply priced long blacks and flat whites, I found myself missing the robust Nanyang kopi-style brews instead. A good ol’ kopi o kosong peng always did the job to fuel my late-night mugging sessions when I was still in SG, and the fact that it’s well below $2 is just icing on the cake, ‘cause cafe coffee prices really do add up.
I also loved the variety and customisation aspects of kopitiam drinks, whether you want it extra gao or po (thick or thin), siew dai or ga dai (less sweet or more sweet). And for the best of both worlds? Nothing beats a yuan yang peng – one of my biggest cravings during my time Down Under.”
– Wei Hao, Melbourne
“We don’t realise how ahead of the curve Singapore is until you live in a country that takes 8 months to issue you a physical visa, attaining healthcare is a challenge, and everything still requires a paper trail – even in 2025.”
– Beatrice, France
“What I miss most about life in Singapore is mahjong! I just love the social aspect of it: arranging a game night with people you know will vibe well, coming together and shuffling the tiles, ordering in food, occasionally helping each other – especially the newbies who don’t know how to ‘hu’, and finally settling the score at the end of the night.
I’ve never really cared too much about winning or losing money, but it’s just a great way to force you and 3 other friends to sit down and focus a bit for a couple of hours, with little to no phone usage at all.
I don’t get to do the same in Canada. My friends here don’t know how to play mahjong, and the mahjong clubs here are way too far away for me to even join in. The college mahjong club is 1.5 hours away, so no thank you! Online versions like MahjongLeh! just don’t hit the same.
Every time I come back to Singapore, there are always 2-3 mahjong sessions arranged already before anything else, and I use it as an opportunity to hang out and catch up with my friends and family.”
– Josiah, Canada
Image credit: Arha Potes
“My biggest culture shock when I stayed in New York was how many homes don’t have washers and dryers, and how much the general public relies on laundromats.
As a tiny Asian girl, it was so tough to have to lug my laundry and bedsheets 1 street down from my apartment, and back. I had to set aside 3 hours every weekend just to settle my laundry, and it made me miss the comfort and accessibility of something as simple as the routine cleaning of clothes and bedding.”
– Chloe, New York
“Singaporeans might complain that the country is so tiny that it’s boring; but I, for one, love how convenient and well-connected it is to live here. Getting end to end on the MRT lines takes 1.5 hours max, and we’re still getting treated to more new MRT lines as years progress.
Living in Perth as a non-driver was pretty rough. Given the sheer size of Western Australia, the metro system covered far fewer areas that were also much more spread out compared to tiny Singapore. You’d likely still have to take multiple bus transfers, and the waiting times could go up to 30-40 minutes instead of the 5-10 minutes that we’re used to here. So if you miss your ride, good luck making it on time for your appointment.”
– J.C., Perth
“I missed being able to pick up groceries without having to drive in the snow for 20 minutes just to get to the nearest supermarket.”
– Amanda, US
“Throughout my time in Europe, going out was a draining affair because my brain felt like it was in hyper-vigilant mode. I was constantly fearing that my belongings would be stolen without me noticing, or that just using my phone casually while out and about would lead to it being snatched straight out of my hands.
When I’m back in Singapore, I find it amusing how we go the opposite extreme and leave laptops lying around in cafes to order drinks or go to the loo. Some even use valuables like their phones or AirPods to chope tables at hawker centres – this culture shock would blow my European friends’ minds.”
– Y.Y., Europe
Not gonna lie, hearing about what Singaporeans miss most about life on the Little Red Dot when abroad hit us in the patriotic feels. Never did it occur to us how much of a difference small things in our day-to-day can make, from affordable brews to being able to settle laundry without a second thought. ‘Tis the season to revel in patriotic vibes, and in celebration of our nation’s Diamond Jubilee AKA 6 whole decades since it gained its independence, DCS is launching a limited-time SG60 promotion to reward both new and existing cardmembers.
Score a S$60 cash rebate with every S$1,500 spend on local transactions charged to your DCS card. Each cardmember is entitled to a maximum of S$180 cash rebate across the promotion period from 2nd July to 31st August 2025, so it’s a good time to treat yourself to a lil shopping spree, or host some epic get-togethers this National Day. Register for the DCS SG60 promotion now.
Image adapted from: DCS
In true SG60 spirit, DCS is supporting local spend by partnering up with a slew of merchants to offer exclusive deals. Enjoy savings of up to S$60 off at beloved retailers and brands like ShopBack, Shopee, Lazada, Taobao, Metro, and Zalora. There are also promotions for platforms like Gojek, Grab, foodpanda, Agoda, and Trip.com, so you can score savings on rides, food deliveries, flights, and hotels by paying with your DCS card. Check out the full list of DCS SG60 promos.
Image credit: DCS
Not a DCS cardmember yet? Now’s a good time to sign up. Besides enjoying the cash rebates and exclusive deals above, apply for any 2 DCS Cards from now till 31st August and spend a minimum of S$350 per month for 2 consecutive months from your card approval date to receive a complimentary Caterpillar Industrial Plate Trunk Luggage worth S$320.
We recommend signing up sooner rather than later though, so you have more time to participate in the cash rebate promotion, and can enjoy more of the SG60 deals while they’re still available. Check out our feature on the DCS Flex Visa Platinum Card to find out the various perks you’ll get to enjoy.
Revel in the SG60 festivities this year by copping some treats for yourself! With up to S$180 in cash rebates to be earned and a long list of exclusive SG60 promotions to redeem with your DCS card, it’s a swell time to be in Singapore to celebrate our nation’s big 6-0.
This post was brought to you by DCS.
Cover image adapted from: Eatbook
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