How SingaporeandYou started

In the early months of 2023, our (Johanna & Maaike) paths crossed, igniting a conversation that delved into our respective journeys. It was a serendipitous encounter between two individuals embarking on new chapters of their lives.

New Country, new Chapter

For us, a new country symbolized more than just a change in location

One of us, a first-time expat and former HR director, found herself navigating the unfamiliar terrain of being an expat wife. The other, a seasoned expat IT/CRM consultant, accustomed to the ebb and flow of independence, faced a period without work. Despite our differing backgrounds, we discovered a common thread that bound us together.

We recognized the often overlooked plight of ‘partners-of’ in the expatriate journey—a realization that spurred us into action. While the shadows of trailing spouse syndrome and expatriate failure loomed large, we remained steadfast in our belief in the power of creating a proactive story to make to most out of the expat adventure.

For us, a new country symbolized more than just a change in location—it represented new perspectives and the opening of a new chapter, with pristine pages waiting to be filled. In this exploratory phase, we found strength in bringing people together in the same boat, eager to explore Singapore and to guide them in creating their own stories.

Being a Dependent

Maaike: “The shift from a bustling social life and a managerial job where my identity was deeply intertwined with my work to an empty agenda and a status of ‘Dependent’ was – to put it mildly – not so easy. I blog about my life in Singapore at SingaporeandMe.”

Singapore

Johanna: “Every move is different, but I remember my first time period in Spain as being the hardest.”