Singabloodypore

From Aussie Pete

CALLING ALL SINGAPORE EXPATS – YOU ARE INVITED!!

As most of my readers are no doubt aware, I have personally thrown myself and my family “boots and all” into integrating into the local Singapore community. I have done this by choosing to live in the heartlands, and creating a network of very close friends consisting predominately of local Singaporeans and their families. Many of the bonds we have formed will be life-lasting and we are extremely grateful and loyal to the caring local people who have opened up their lives and their country to us.

Over time, I have had numerous emails from a variety of people and nationalities, asking for my advice and to tap into my experiences. I apologise to those people to whom I have not yet responded. The upcoming SIF “Xpats Dialogue” will be a perfect opportunity to both meet up in person and also to partake in this very healthy panel discussion on integration into the local community. (Please be sure to drop me an email if and when you register, so I’ll know to look out for you).

The Singapore International Federation (SIF) “Xpats Dialogue” is a platform to promote interaction between the expatriate community in Singapore and members from the Singapore government, business sector, academia and civil society. The dialogue session seeks to engage expatriates of all nationalities in discussion with prominent personalities from relevant fields on pertinent issues.

Most expatriates have formed their own communities in Singapore while some have also become part of the larger Singapore community. Where do the cultures converge and where do they diverge? How can expatriates feel at home in Singapore?

SIF Xpats Dialogue: “Expats Inside Out: Integrating into the Local Community” will explore the issue of social integration and look at ways in which the expatriate community can and have made an impact in the local community.

Guest of Honour: Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts

Date: 11 November 2008 (Tuesday)

Time: 7.00 pm – 9.30 pm (registration at 6.45 pm)

Venue: River Room, Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555

PROGRAMME

6.45 pm Registration of participants

7.00 pm Welcome address by Ms Jean Tan, Executive Director of Singapore International Foundation

7.05 pm Keynote address by Guest-of-honour, Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts

7.20 pm Dialogue begins

8.15 pm Break

8.30 pm Dialogue resumes

9.30 pm End

PANEL

• Dr Lee Boon Yang - Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts
• Mr Andrew Hooper-Nguyen - Chairman, The Kind Exchange
• Mr Anthony Michael Fulwood - Chairman, Zhenghua INC Committee
• Mr Joseph A. Anderson - Board Member, Singapore American School Board
• Mrs Marie-Caroline Dallery - President, Friends of the Museums

MODERATOR

• Dr Leong Chan-Hoong - Head of Psychology Programmes, SIM University

Registration Details Here