💼 Marking One Year in Singapore: My Life as an Expat Software Engineer
Tags: career, yearinreview, expatinsingapore, softwareengineering
Published: 2023-07-04 16:56:48

<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/l2JeikcLCAHdLdUac/giphy.gif" />

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## 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](https://www.equinix.se/), as a Software Engineer 👨‍💻. Now, I'm looking back and celebrating 🎉 the milestone of my first work-anniversary in this exhilarating role!

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## 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** ❤️.

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## 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](https://www.visitsingapore.com/dining-drinks-singapore/local-dishes/laksa/)**, _a spicy noodle soup_ 🍜, **[Hainanese Chicken Rice](https://www.visitsingapore.com/editorials/types-of-chicken-rice/)**, _Singapore's national dish_ 🍛 and my Perfect Pair, a cup of [**Kopi**](https://www.visitsingapore.com/editorials/order-kopi-like-a-local/) ☕ and [**Kaya Toast**](https://www.visitsingapore.com/dining-drinks-singapore/local-dishes/kaya-toast/) 🥪.

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

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## 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**](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/equinix_2022-equinix-hackathon-activity-6994010525122625536-VAJ1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop) 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. 

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## 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](https://github.com/shiftEscape) 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**.

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## 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! 🚀

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<img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/8Iv5lqKwKsZ2g/giphy.gif" />

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> _Cover Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@nilsnedel?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Nils Nedel</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/ONpGBpns3cs?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>_