Singapore ranked 14th friendliest country in global survey
126 replies, posted
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[IMG]http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/dkX9NA7gj51xAWgY6RwGsw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MjM4NDtjcj0xO2N3PTM1MDA7ZHg9MDtkeT0wO2ZpPXVsY3JvcDtoPTQzMDtxPTg1O3c9NjMw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2011-12-20T131913Z_01_SGP101_RTRIDSP_3_SINGAPORE.jpg[/IMG]
REUTERS - Workers transport newly penned "wishing spheres" to the centre of Marina Bay in Singapore December 20, 2011. These spheres, inscribed with people's Christmas and New Year's wishes, will be part of some 20,000 spheres that will be laid in the water during the new year's celebration. REUTERS/Tim Chong (SINGAPORE - Tags: SOCIETY CITYSPACE)
[B]Singapore has been ranked 14th in a list of the [URL="http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/world-s-friendliest-countries.html;_ylt=AiEk6rmSoSXwuiEJvM1sPl8BV8d_;_ylu=X3oDMTFqMDgxZXM0BG1pdANBcnRpY2xlIEJvZHkEcG9zAzEEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTMybWhzdG0wBGludGwDc2cEbGFuZwNlbi1zZwRwc3RhaWQDM2IyOTVmZDEtMzNlMC0zNzdiLWJlNTItNzEyZTRmOWIwOGI2BHBzdGNhdANzaW5nYXBvcmUEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD"]world’s friendliest countries[/URL], according to a global survey of expatriates.
The HSBC Expat Explorer surveyed over 3,300 expatriates in over 100 countries. In the initial survey,
[URL="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-488166-singapore_vacations-i;_ylt=AlaS7xlxogL_d3v6L7ofKxsBV8d_;_ylu=X3oDMTFqaWd2Ymg3BG1pdANBcnRpY2xlIEJvZHkEcG9zAzIEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTMybWhzdG0wBGludGwDc2cEbGFuZwNlbi1zZwRwc3RhaWQDM2IyOTVmZDEtMzNlMC0zNzdiLWJlNTItNzEyZTRmOWIwOGI2BHBzdGNhdANzaW5nYXBvcmUEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD"]Singapore[/URL], [URL="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501622-hong_kong_vacations-i;_ylt=AgXUTE3ATXOmS70Fe3rYowoBV8d_;_ylu=X3oDMTFqaTNjbzlmBG1pdANBcnRpY2xlIEJvZHkEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTMybWhzdG0wBGludGwDc2cEbGFuZwNlbi1zZwRwc3RhaWQDM2IyOTVmZDEtMzNlMC0zNzdiLWJlNTItNzEyZTRmOWIwOGI2BHBzdGNhdANzaW5nYXBvcmUEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD"]Hong Kong[/URL] and the United Arab Emirates came in as the top three overall scorers.
What impressed expats living in each of these countries were improved career prospects and high incomes.
However, for the [URL="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=ArApgGARYog8wm70Jh_GosoBV8d_;_ylu=X3oDMTFqc2Fobm1zBG1pdANBcnRpY2xlIEJvZHkEcG9zAzQEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTMybWhzdG0wBGludGwDc2cEbGFuZwNlbi1zZwRwc3RhaWQDM2IyOTVmZDEtMzNlMC0zNzdiLWJlNTItNzEyZTRmOWIwOGI2BHBzdGNhdANzaW5nYXBvcmUEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdlBHRlc3QD;_ylv=0/SIG=12cd8f2ps/EXP=1327857612/**http%3A//www.forbes.com/pictures/egim45edme/1-new-zealand/"]annual report by Forbes magazine[/URL] on the friendliest countries, the magazine isolated the survey results to the ability and success in befriending locals, learning the native language, integrating with the local community and the assimilating into the new culture.
That's when it found Singapore fell short in helping expats to feel at home with the local community. Expats living in Singapore said that they tend to hang out with fellow expats and were more likely to send their children to international boarding schools.
So which country topped the list of 31 "friendliest" countries?
New Zealand scored the highest, with expats raving about the Kiwis’ friendliness and “pitch-in-and-help” mentality that helped expats to feel welcomed.
The country’s navigable government and good healthcare system were also draws to expats.
Australia came in second, with South Africa, Canada and the United States rounding up the top five.
The least friendliest country, according to the Forbes formula, was the United Arab Emirates.
Other notable entries were the Philippines who ranked 8th, and Malaysia, who came in at No. 10.
Of the Philippines, the report said, “This country is friendly on wallets, too: 47% report an increase in access to luxuries, including domestic staff, swimming pools, and owning properties.
On Malaysia, it said, “ Many expats here say they have learned the local language and befriended locals.
Said one respondent, “Malaysia is a peaceful country. Government transactions like tax, EPF [Employees Provident Fund], are very efficient. Food is relatively cheap. Also the country is clean and green and they respect the environment.”
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[URL]http://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-ranked-14th-friendliest-country-in-global-survey.html[/URL]
[/B]I call bullshit
I'm going there for 10 days in March. Anyone from Singapore willing to meet up with me and 3 Friends for a day and show us around?
[QUOTE=Killuah;34225352]I'm going there for 10 days in March. Anyone from Singapore willing to meet up with me and 3 Friends for a day and show us around?[/QUOTE]
I wouldn't mind
Wow, people from Singapore are friendly :D
The US is part of the top 5? HA. That's a complete joke. I understand what they by rate but still.
Also insert joke about Canadians being nice here.
They should have tried to do the Friendliest cities, seeing as how the US is ranked #5. A day in New York is way different from a day in rural Wisconsin.
US above Ireland?
What?
I guess that's because people who chew gum are assholes?
[QUOTE=KillaGunna24;34225425]The US is part of the top 5? HA. That's a complete joke. I understand what they by rate but still.[/QUOTE]
The U.S. isn't all that bad once you're outside of the Bible Belt.
[QUOTE=Chickens!;34225468]US above Ireland?
What?[/QUOTE]
I blame Dublin and Cork people, the land of a thousand welcomes is pretty much dead.
ITT: people bitch about their countries not being up there and bitch about America and new Zealand
south africa in the top 5 ahahah this must be a joke
[QUOTE=KillaGunna24;34225425]The US is part of the top 5? HA. That's a complete joke. I understand what they by rate but still.
Also insert joke about Canadians being nice here.[/QUOTE]
When I was there in 2010 people were really friendly and happy that we are interested in their country, everyone didn't have anything to talk about but how they somehow relate to some German.
Hell, when we went to downtown San Francisco some random bum named A.J., a crackhead like out of the book told us we could park for free everywhere after 7 p.m.
We had beer in the car and gave him a can for that and had one of the most interesting conversations.
The other day some random students let us camp with them in their camping spot for free.
What about the land of vikings
I thought Swedish,Norwegian and the danish were friendly?
[QUOTE=Ignhelper;34225614]What about the land of vikings
I thought Swedish,Norwegian and the danish were friendly?[/QUOTE]
They are the happiest people in the world.
Not the friendliest though. [IMG]http://i.somethingawful.com/forumsystem/emoticons/emot-smith.gif[/IMG]
I know that the government is anti-gay and shit, but I went about 5 or 6 years ago, the people there were really nice and friendly to me in particular. But, at the time had really light blond hair and blue eyes, which at one point someone said that it is really rare to see someone with blond hair and blue eyes in Singapore and that's why they were so friendly to me.
Libya is number one? what the hell
New Zealand is dummy
[QUOTE=Ignhelper;34225614]What about the land of vikings
I thought Swedish,Norwegian and the danish were friendly?[/QUOTE]
Vikings aren't friendly, they rape and pillage anyone that comes near them.
Latvia is unfriendly to everyone so fuck off
Don't they have insane drug laws though?
[QUOTE=TF2Master;34225691]Libya is number one? what the hell[/QUOTE]
Wait what, where'd you get that.
I even ctrl-f'd for Libya in the original article, where did you get Libya from
[QUOTE=Chickens!;34225468]US above Ireland?
What?[/QUOTE]
Ireland is pretty awsome i wouldn't mind going
also who is number 1
[QUOTE=Native Hunter;34225833]Ireland is pretty awsome i wouldn't mind going
also who is number 1[/QUOTE]
Kiwis
Canada Down three from last year :( We're nice people I swear
[QUOTE=Hidole555;34225655]They are the happiest people in the world.
Not the friendliest though. [IMG]http://i.somethingawful.com/forumsystem/emoticons/emot-smith.gif[/IMG][/QUOTE]
Actually, the Latino Americans are the happiest people in the world, Scandinavia just has it very well when it comes to money/equality/material possession/low corruption etc. However, generally the more things you have, the less you focus on what's important, which is why the Latinos can enjoy life so much better than us.
[QUOTE=Jackald;34225463]How I imagine a trip to America going:
"Hey there, welcome to America"
"Thanks for the welcome"
"Did you have a good trip?"
"Yeah it was ok, bit of turbulence on the way in"
*Stony stares of silence*
"JESUS MUST NOT WANT YOU IN OUR COUNTRY THEN YA GIDAMMED COMMUNIST MUSLIM IMMIGRANT FAGGOT, I'M CALLIN THE POLICE"
Though i'm sure that's an exaggeration.
There's no way they'd say "Welcome to America"[/QUOTE]
Are you seriously implying that the entire US is just the Bible Belt/South?
[QUOTE=Native Hunter;34225833]Ireland is pretty awsome i wouldn't mind going [/QUOTE]
Ireland is probably among the nicest places in the world around the towns, but in the cities there can be quite a few assholes, same for any city I guess.
Rating a nation bigger than Europe friendly is quite dumb. (The US)
The US is pretty damned diverse.
Mexico is thirteenth.
Ok.
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