Because Canada, Germany and Australia are!
And while I hear the screams of complain out of all the fantastic Asian countries already, you might want to know first who decided about this list and on which criteria the decisions were made. Well, let me tell you.
As I am not a huge fan of lists in general, or statistics, or surveys (just try to cross Raffles Place on a Weekdays busiest time without getting stopped by someone carrying a note board with ready to fire questions once) I stumbled over the latest exemplar of “Worst Lists Ever” just this morning and decided to share it with you.
Continue reading if you want to know which famous institute published the list and why Singapore really is not on it!
Every now and then the famous Forbes Institute publishes some more or less attention raising list. Some are entertaining some are less.
This week, I discovered the latest list where Forbes’ David Sutton identifies what he believes to be the world’s friendliest expat countries, or in other words, tries to show how Western countries are full of the friendliest people on earth and other countries are not. Excuse me what??
Too man cultural differences make integration difficult
The total lack of third world countries and the especially low ranking of Asian countries is simply reasoned with the words “…because cultural differences from the West made integration difficult.”
If this sounds very typical like the stereotype expat, living in his expat-community-cave, and trying to just carry his customs and “old” life over into a different environment. You are damn right.
But how can a list of “Most Expat Friendly Countries” be based on such statements?
Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Myanmar…
I am German and 95% of my (local and expat) friends here in Singapore know very well how I think about my “mother country”. This is not based on any survey or polls, but on over 20 years of experience. To see Germany being rated as the second friendliest expat country in the world… gives me headaches. Massive ones.
Don’t get me wrong, in Germany, and all the other Top 10 countries on the list, are definitely providing good working conditions and friendly people. But once you have lived and traveled especially in South East Asia, you learn what it really means to feel welcomed in a new place. Be it as expat, moving there, or just as a tourist backpacking.
The Reason Behind The Incorrect List
To be honest I believe that the issue here is the unwillingness of the “typical” expat to adopt and integrate to his environment.
It is certainly not the fault of the country to be itself and in the mentioned cases “to have too large cultural hurdles to overcome” to be considered “expat-friendly”.
In the end its the expats who move to another county and its culture, its people, its laws and facilities. And its not the country that has to adopt to the rich expats, but the expats that have to adopt to the new country.
As always, lists like these could create unnecessary fear in travelers and continue to widen the gap between privileged and unprivileged nations rather than bring people together and teach us how much can be learned about cultures unlike our own.
Your Opinion Please
What do you think about “expat friendly” countries and what are your experiences? Where did you feel most welcomed and where did you feel most unwelcomed? Share your thoughts in the comments below please!
HERE the List Of “Firnedliest Expat Countries”
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9 Comments for this post
Feb 26, 2009 at 9:52 pm
SIN isn’t friendly long term for europeans, it is stifling and the locals are extremely parochial.
I am not saying that SIN is not unfriendly, but it is not particularly warm or friendly either. In my opinion the socio-economic condition of this state simply does not make it conducive for a friendly culture, they needed smile campaigns to smile for god’s sake!! Ha ha!
This is why we (foreigners) only mingle with each other at galleries and schools, if you seriously ask yourself who you (if you are german) mix around with most of the time =) you’ll find this to be true. Or if you open your eyes at the enclaves of people and look at their background, you would agree as well.
Also, and no Europeans below 23 stay here long term for the long haul. I don’t think it is at all surprising why SIN isn’t on that list.
Tchus.
P.S Good blog, but i am surprised nothing negative is on it yet. ;)
Feb 26, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Well I can’t find the actual list in the Forbes post, but having lived in England, Holland, Australia, Italy, China, South Africa and Japan I can say that Singapore is definitely a very expat friendly country. Australia is good too but you really have to socialize with local australians and that takes much longer than socializing with other expats that need new friends just as much as you do. I wouldn’t want to go to Germany simply because it’s too close to my home country (Holland) and haven’t lived there, but must say I’m surprised it’s at the second spot!
Feb 27, 2009 at 2:48 pm
http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_343502.html
MR DAVID CHRISTODOULOU: ‘Having arrived in Singapore 15 years ago, I have grown to love the place. The food is fantastic and the taxi drivers are the best in the world. This was reinforced on Tuesday night when I jumped into a Comfort Cab from Siglap to head into town, and destined to meet a long-lost school buddy. In my haste, I left my wallet at home. Instead of reacting angrily because I could not pay for the fare, the cabby, Mr Soh, brushed it off and offered me $100 for my night out. Needless to say, I was astounded and could not thank him enough. His kindness is something that will remain as one of my fondest memories of Singapore. Thank you, Mr Soh, your deed will be remembered as a lesson in kindness by me and my family.’
WHAT ELSE DO YOU STILL WANT? KOWTOW TO EXPATS?
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Keep up the good work of sharing information about Singapore!
I have been to many cities in the world. I do like Singapore and it does provide good friendly culture as well as facilities for Expats or tourists. But about the survey, survey’s can be very tough to judge on, as every individual looks at it on its own angle.It also depends a lot on how much we have interacted in the particular city, with people, institutions etc to judge about it!
I always enjoy the survey’s though!
cheers
Sandeep
Mar 6, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Sandeep, yes, the question is whom they asked about this topic and how they decided on these people… the result in the end is a very questionable one.
Mar 6, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Jim, thats a great story! I hope the guys from the Forbes magazine read it too and maybe do some changes to their list… Singapore would definitely deserve it!
Mar 25, 2009 at 4:58 pm
hah… I’m a bit late on the uptake but..
I’m a Singaporean living in Germany. I nearly choked on my breakfast when my partner pointed the survey out to me – I’m not sure about the average Asian expat’s pov but I don’t think I’ve ever encountered such racism as I have here in Germany. And this is northern DE I’m talking about.
They see yellow skin, they immediately think I’m a student from a poor, impoverished country. Or they think I’m a street worker. I could go on, but let’s not.
When I tell of my experiences to the locals, they come pretty close to saying that I’m a liar/that I’m imagining all of it. I think just one German guy believes me – only because his partner is not from Europe.
I can see why Singapore can be a bit difficult for some people though (hell, it can be difficult for me). I can’t quite put my finger on it. But the people hide whatever negative feelings they have about expats very well, I think.
Hope I’ve not offended you, AngryAngMo. Great post!
Mar 25, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Hey There Chris (sounds much nicer then catastrophe to me :)
No worries, you totally didnt offen me and I more then understand what you write.
If you have time, you like writing and you want to publish your thoughts and experiences about your Time in Germany, you are really more then welcome toe Guest Blog for me!!
It would be great to get a point of view that is exactly the opposite of mine (German Blogger In Sin – Sin Blogger in Germany)… Let me know ya and just mail me at admin@angryangmo.com !
Mar 31, 2010 at 4:46 am
I live in Ecuador and it is a wonderful country. Its people are so nice and kind, they will give you the most warming welcome. I have put together a helpful fact sheet, and also an article on Ecuadorian manner and customs.
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