With the booming Singapore economy, many companies are hiring outside of the local labor force.  Months before I left, my ex-company alone hired hundreds of personnel from the Philippines, Australia, India, US and the UK.

One thing I noticed that’s quite common among expatriates is their liking for teak patio furniture.  A former Australian colleague had her home furniture ordered and shipped straight from Indonesia.  Those lovely pieces she bought now sit perfectly in her home.