Student Question
Thank you so much, Master Chi — I read nearly every article you publish, and each one opens my perspective just a little wider.
I have a question about a family decision I’m wrestling with. I graduated and came to Shenzhen twelve years ago. Right now it’s the three of us, plus my mother helping care for our child — a life I’m fairly content with. This year, my husband was posted to Singapore for work. We’re now weighing whether to relocate the whole family there, and I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice.
Our situation:
- Shenzhen Nanshan core CBD apartment
- A property in Cuiheng New District, Zhongshan
- A property in Huizhou
- I work in finance (~¥300K/year); my husband is in the internet industry (he’s the main household earner)
Reasons to go:
- The family can be together. His Singapore posting could last three to five years — or longer. A prolonged separation carries real risks.
- I’m genuinely excited about the prospect of experiencing life in another country.
- Singapore’s educational resources are excellent; it would broaden our child’s horizons and support their development.
Concerns:
- My career could take a serious hit. I don’t know whether I can find suitable work in Singapore, and I’m deeply worried about losing my competitive edge in the job market.
- Life in Shenzhen is comfortable and well-established. Moving to Singapore would mean rebuilding from scratch.
- Our child’s adaptation to an international education system.
Master Chi’s Response
The sensible move is to start by actively pursuing a lateral role in Singapore before committing to anything. Singapore’s finance sector has developed quite strongly over the past two years, so finding a comparable position shouldn’t be nearly as difficult as you fear.
Beyond that, you already own assets back home — which means you always have a foundation to return to. There’s no need to let that uncertainty weigh on you.
And giving your child a taste of the wider world, an international environment and a broader perspective? That’s genuinely worthwhile.
Objectively speaking, think of this move as a low-stakes life adventure — a small trial by the world with very little downside. That’s actually quite a good position to be in!