HI everyone! <BR> <BR>I am a newbie to the Asia Board. <BR> <BR>I am looking into a possible job opening in Singapore. I live in DC now... <BR> <BR>I will be looking into many things, of course re: lifestyles, expenses, culture, etc... I am interested - I hear much about how HOT and HUMID it is there... <BR> <BR>as I live in DC, I can say this: I HATE heat and humidity... DC is BAD BAD BAD for that, but, it's only 2-3 months per year. <BR> <BR>For those who know: how does this heat compare to say DC, or even Houston... and is it a non-relenting, 12 month per year heat, or are there nice seasons? I hate DC heat, but I've lived with it (but knowing that Spring and Autumn are GLORIOUS...) <BR> <BR>any other advice you might like to post, please do... I've seen a few other posts (thanks Lynn and Michele among others)... just curious as to what everyone might say...) <BR> <BR>thanks! <BR> <BR> <BR>Beth

Singapore is hot and humid ... it's climate is very tropical. For example, today it is 78 F and 93% humidity. You may want to check out the following page for more information on Singapore, incuding the weather: http://www.associatedtours.com.sg/

I lived in DC for 5 years, so I know what you mean--and agree completely! Haven't been any closer to Singapore than Thailand, but that ought to be close enough for purposes of discussing climate. I was in Bangkok in 1998 in mid-November. That's the COOL season, and it was in the low/mid-90s. And nobody was walking around saying "yes, but it's a DRY heat!" For whatever that's worth...

singapore is just about on the equator so the weather is just about the same every day: hot with plenty of rain. the temperature is around 90F during the day and the humidity is high. Forget the percentage: if you walk a block, you sweat a lot. the good news is that Singapore is a clean city with a lot of greenery so the pollution level (that's the killer in most Asian cities) is low. Also ALL buildings, offices, taxi's etc. are air conditioned to a frigid level. I grew up in the midwest and now live in Jakarta. Although Michigan had its share of hot and humid days, you can't really compare the feeling to equatorial Asia. The part that's taken me the longest to get used to is the evenness of day and night -- the sun sets at 6:30 p.m. every single day. Go for the job in Singapore! Without doubt you do get used to the heat and there are so many other advantages.

Hi again Beth! <BR>Glad I could be of some help before! Let's see if I can do it again...when everyone says hot and humid, they mean it. It is the type of humidity that hits you like a wall as soon as you leave the airport. And because you are so close to the equator, there are no seasons and the sun rises at 7am every day and sets at 7pm every day without change. Now that you are thinking "oh yuk!", do not let the weather deter you from a great experience. I melt in the heat and somehow I just learned to deal with it. EVERYTHING is air conditioned and you learn how to walk down a street by staying inside a mall! Because my husband was in an office most of the time, he really never dreaded the heat unless we were out running errands during the weekend. You learn to drink a ton of water, always find the shade and think of your friends and family back in the States in January trying to dig themselves out of yet another snow storm! <BR> <BR>Singapore is expensive but being from a major city, it won't be as much of a shock. And your company should make up the difference in cost of living with a COLA (cost of living adjustment). <BR> <BR>I know you like to travel (seen ya on the Europe board ;-) so Singapore will provide much opportunity for new places to see that many Americans never get to because Asia is so far away. <BR> <BR>I say go for it! Hope this helps! <BR>Michele

Beth, I agree with the above poster - the benefits of living in Asia well outweigh the drawbacks. We've been living in Shanghai for the past 2 years, and have been able to travel quite a bit, both in Asia and Europe. <BR> <BR>I think being an expat is one of the world's best kept secrets - if you get the chance, IMHO you'd be crazy to turn it down. I think you might have the best luck checking out some expat websites. <BR> <BR>My SECOND favorite message board (after Fodors, of course!) is the following: <BR> <BR>http://boards2.parentsplace.com/mess...atriates9.html <BR> <BR>I think one of the current members is posted in Singapore. I found this link, too: <BR> <BR>http://www.escapeartist.com/singapore/singapore.html <BR> <BR>Good luck!

Beth - also try ExpatSingapore - great info & great message boards - even a FAQ page w. one thread on the weather!

hey, thanks all!<BR><BR>I am also finding, our company is in Hong Kong... lots of opps there. <BR><BR>any stories about Hong Kong?<BR><BR>thanks!

Hi Beth;<BR><BR>I've lived in HK for the past 10 years, and would also encourage you to go for it and come live in Asia.<BR><BR>At the risk of offending the Singaporean and Singaporean-based, I can assure that of course HK is superior! Actually, both places have their highlights, but in keeping with this thread I can assure you that HK is only brutally hot and humid for 5-6 months a year, from May through about mid-Ocotober. The rest of the year here is very temperate, with especially wonderful weather in November and December -- very dry air, usually clear, with temperatures in the comfortable 60s and 70s. <BR><BR>The summers, however, are indeed unspeakably oppressive. The thing I can't get used to (being from the ulimate continental climate, i.e. Iowa) is the lack of cooling at night here. At mid-summer, here in HK you're likely to have a high of 90-92, but then you're lucky if it drops to 80 at night, and the humidity is much worse once the sun is down. I don't think DC heat/humidity really compares; there is something qualitatively worse about it here. The only places in the states that might be similar would be along the gulf coast. In any case, everything in HK is airconditioned, too, and you always have the autumn to look forward to -- unlike in the true tropics.