💼 Marking One Year in Singapore: My Life as an Expat Software Engineer

From Home to A New Horizon

Just over a year ago, I packed my bags 🧳 and embarked on an adventure, trading the comfort of my home country, the Philippines 🇵🇭 for the vibrant city of Singapore 🇸🇬.

I took on an exciting role at the global tech giant, Equinix, as a Software Engineer 👨‍💻. Now, I'm looking back and celebrating 🎉 the milestone of my first work-anniversary in this exhilarating role!

Building Resilience

Navigating life 🧭 in an unfamiliar country as an expat, especially for the first time, has indeed been challenging.

Living alone, away from my family, has at times been a lonely 😔 experience. Searching for a place 🏠 to call home in a city foreign to me was one of the first obstacles I faced. I sifted through numerous listings 🗂️, contacted lots of strangers and visited countless properties 🏢 before finally finding a place I could settle into 🛋️.

Yet, amidst these challenges, I found resilience and perseverance. Every hurdle faced was a step closer to making Singapore feel like home. I was fuelled by my passion, the drive to broaden my horizons, and above all, the thought of providing a better life for my family ❤️.

Embracing Cultural Diversity

Living in Singapore as an expat has also been an enriching journey. Apart from honing my professional skills, I've been immersed in a melting pot of diverse cultures, languages, and traditions 🎏.

One of the highlights is discovering the love for Indian food 🥘. My taste buds have embarked on an adventure of their own, exploring the symphony of spices and flavours in dishes like mutton curry, butter chicken, biryani, naan and many more! 🍗 🫓 🤤.

I fondly recall a friend, jokingly suggesting that I must have been Indian in my past life! 🤣 ❤️

Moreover, I've also developed a special fondness for local delights such as Laksa, a spicy noodle soup 🍜, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Singapore's national dish 🍛 and my Perfect Pair, a cup of Kopi ☕ and Kaya Toast 🥪.

These culinary journeys have not only tantalized my palate but also provided a comfort away from home 😌.

A Year of Extraordinary Experiences

My journey 🗺️ in the past year has been nothing short of extraordinary. I've had the privilege to work and contribute alongside some of the best people here in Singapore and Silicon Valley 👩‍💻👨‍💻, an experience that has enriched my professional life immensely.

Participating in an internal (global) Hackathon was a standout moment, where our team secured the People's Choice Award 🏆 (out of 41 teams participated), a testament to our combined efforts and ingenuity.

I've met also an array of cool people, including fellow Filipinos 🇵🇭, creating a sense of community in this foreign land.

I've attended countless tech meetups and events 🎟️, each one a learning opportunity and a chance to network with like-minded individuals.

Giving Back to the Tech Community

In addition to my work at Equinix, I've expanded my contributions to the open-source community 👨‍💻. I've had the opportunity to create tools and solutions that can help fellow developers—which has been incredibly rewarding 🎁.

I regularly update my GitHub Profile with all of my latest works! 🌟

This year, I also began my own blog 📝 (yes, this blog!). It's always been a fun way to share my ideas and connect with other tech enthusiasts.

Reflections and Future

Celebrating one year as an Expat Software Engineer isn't just a work-anniversary, it's a nod to my journey of growth and a promise of the exciting adventures that lie ahead.

Here's to a fantastic year, the lessons learned 🎓, the friendships made, and the thrilling journey that awaits! 🚀

Cover Photo by Nils Nedel on Unsplash