From engineer to registered nurse, Tan See Hwa's career change also saw her moving from Singapore to the United States (US) in 2003 to join her senior engineer husband, Dr Siah Eng.
Theirs is a relationship which started in Singapore during their undergraduate days. Romance and marriage flourished despite the separation of continents when Eng left for studies, first in Europe, then in the United States.
Now in her late 20s, See Hwa is happily settled in Portland, Oregon, with her 30-something husband. She and her husband share their work-life experiences with us via email.
QWhy did you choose to work abroad? And why the US?
Eng: My path to where I am now in the US is, to say the least, somewhat convoluted.
When I graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1999, I worked as an engineer at the Defence Science Organisation (Called DSO National Laboratories in 1997 after its incorporation as a not-for-profit company). After a while, the work at DSO was not as challenging and stimulating as I had imagined.
Hence, I decided to look into pursuing graduate studies in universities outside of Singapore. At this juncture, I had already refused Master degree courses in NUS due to the programmes' lack of rigour and challenge.
After receiving graduate offers from several universities, I enrolled in the Technical University of Munich in Germany for a Masters of Science (MSc) programme. I was looking forward to experience studying in Europe. Unfortunately, the programme disappointed me in its lack of academic rigour and I had a difficult time adjusting to the bout of culture shock in Germany.
Finally, I transferred to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in the US, enrolling in an MSc programme in Electrical Engineering. I graduated with MSc and PhD degrees from the University of Michigan after four years.
During this period, I had the privilege of working with my advisor, doing some interesting research while seeking the necessary funds from sponsors to support our research - without which I would not have the financial resources to complete my degrees. These experiences, together with a challenging and rigorous academic programme, were a unique experience that I would have missed had I remained in Singapore.
QBefore you join your husband in the US, how did you maintain your relationship?
See Hwa: I was studying and working in Singapore during the time. We registered our marriage in 2000 before my convocation. For the next three years, I worked as an engineer.
We saw each other once a year, as we did not want to spend too much on airfares. When I visited him in the US, I spent just two to three weeks with him.
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We called each other at least once a day, using VoIP (voice over Internet protocol), which saved us a lot of money on international calls. Due to the time difference between the two continents, his voice was the first thing I heard when I woke up or before I went to bed.
I missed my husband a lot. It was difficult maintaining a long-distance romance and marriage with each other.
Nevertheless, we have tremendous faith and trust in each other. The vision for our future was the beacon for both of us to be strong and to withstand the physical distance between us.
QDid you leave for the US on your own or were you accompanied? Did that make a difference to your transition? How much of a difference?
See Hwa: I left Singapore in the plane on my own. My family saw me off. I had emptied my bank accounts, quitted my job, and said farewell to my family and friends. I was flying into a 'territory' unknown, compared to my previous experiences.
My attitude then: 'I must cry my heart out now, and not look back. Leave the raw episodes of my existence behind'.
Bracing for the roaring plane's takeoff, in tears of joy and hope, it marked a brand new chapter of my life.
QWhen you first went to the US to join your husband, how did you cope with the new environment?
See Hwa: I was looking forward to spending more time with my husband after years apart. But, I had to adapt to living in our wooden townhouse with several roommates. As students, we used many hand-me-downs to save for our tuition. I guess I was getting more than I expected!
The first thing I did to cope with the new environment was to learn driving from my husband. It is essential to drive oneself to work, school, run errands and travel to destinations like the mountains or beach. I was thrilled to obtain my driving license in a month.
I found making friends and talking to counselors in school a safe and excellent way to cope with my new environment and culture. That was invaluable for an alien like me.
QAfter living in the US for over four years, what are your high and low moments?
See Hwa: Spending a long time in further studies took a toll on us. In the process, we sometimes questioned ourselves whether it was worth spending so much of our youth in advanced education.
I immediately took pre-requisite courses for nursing school when I arrived in the US in 2003.
Nursing schools are very competitive: spaces are limited. Thus the schools look at many criteria, including grades and experience.
I enrolled in a nursing college in 2004 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in December 2005. The next year, I started my nursing profession after I passed the State Boards Exam and obtained the Registered Nurse license. I am currently working in Specialty Surgery in a major medical center here.
But, for my last semester in school, I was living alone in Michigan while my husband was working in another state.
To be nearer to clinical settings, I moved to a run-down apartment in downtown Detroit, Michigan. My apartment was old and filthy. I was living in a ghetto neighbourhood - alone.
I saw many homeless and mentally debilitated people on the streets, heard police siren and gunshots almost every night.
My car was stolen off the street two weeks after my move. It was definitively one of the lowest points in my life.
After my studies, we were every blessed to be first-time homeowners. After all, we were tired of living in rental apartments for so many years.
Our double storey house is in an upper middle-class neighbourhood, its back to tall trees. And it has a garden for us to relax in. This was one of the highest points in our life.
QWhy did you switch from engineering to nursing?
See Hwa: I graduated from Nanyang Technological University with second uppers (Bachelor of Engineering, Second Upper Honours in Electrical and Electronic Engineering) in 2000.
I was bonded to work as a project engineer in a local organisation, but did not enjoy what I was doing. I was not satisfied with my job and I realised that engineering wasn't really what I wanted to do.
It was rather a natural reaction to the limited breath of education available to me in Singapore. As unimaginable as it may sound, I thought I wanted to do something different with my life.
Nursing was a wise choice. There is room for growth in nursing, unlike engineering, in the US.
QCan you also share some of your job-switch experience, please?
See Hwa: I had to deal with some prejudice, which made things a little trickier. My Singaporean family members and friends generally found it difficult to support my decision because they viewed nursing as a less esteemed profession than engineering.
However, nursing in the US has a more prominent and autonomous role than that in Singapore. Therefore, there is considerably more social respect towards the nursing profession.
As an engineer, I met people mostly in the pink of health. In nursing, it is quite the opposite. I feel privileged to deal with complex patient care and to grow with every new experience.
QWhat are the top five things you look out for when you relocate?
Eng:
Economy of the country that you are relocating to.
Ease of adaptability.
Language barrier.
Education resources - There are times where one might seek a career change and having good universities helps with the transition.
Opportunities and racism.
About opportunities, this refers to attractive job opportunities for both spouses, if both desire to work. This perception of abundant opportunities depends on one's profession and circumstances. America provided us better opportunities than Singapore.
However, we personally knew several Singaporean couples over the course of our stay in the US, in which one spouse was unable to work or find a job. Without a fulfilling job, life can get a little slower and the spouse may feel that he or she is missing out on something.
In addition, one may want to know if the profession allows part-time work. Having the option to work part-time will help many people like us, who have no live-in maid or in-laws here.
As for racism, I refer to the absence of racial prejudice in, and not limiting to, the neighbourhood and workplace.
See Hwa: I can't agree less.
QWhat advice or suggestions do you have for those moving abroad to work and live?
Eng: Be prepared for a unique experience that can either be good or bad and never give up easily.
Via AsiaOne, See Hwa and Eng would like to wish their families, friends, and the schools they have studied in, well. She told AsiaOne in one of her emails: "Please let them know that we still think of them from time to time! We thank them for the support and love they have bestowed upon us."
» If you have messages to post to loved ones in other countries, do email us.
My experience in Germany could have been better. Still, the lessons from this experience became the basis from which I would later progress on. There will be periods of ups and downs during times of adversity, issues that you will need resolve.
What doesn't kill you outright will make you stronger.
See Hwa: One can be easily crushed psychologically if one comes unprepared. New life experiences abroad can come in direct conflict with one's upbringing and culture back in Singapore.
The Singaporean community can be relatively small overseas. We lack an extensive network of social support. Therefore, it will help a lot if family members and friends provide well-informed and tactful support and encouragement to their loved ones starting or settling abroad.
QWill you come back to Singapore? Your reason for your decision?
Eng: I have been involved in research and development at a high-tech company for the past three years. Thus far, it has been really exciting and rewarding for me.
The chances of my return to Singapore to work are slim, if any exists at all. My doctorate elevates my skills set to a truly global level.
When I graduated from the University of Michigan, I did apply for several jobs in Singapore, but the lackadaisical responses I had received made me feel unappreciated and unwelcome. On the other hand, the responses I received from companies in the US had been most enthusiastic.
Given the Singapore's government policy to concentrate on non-Singaporean talents at the expense of the local populace, I see no reason to return in the foreseeable future.
See Hwa: As long as we are able to live comfortably, we will stay where we are right now. Nursing is a more socially respected profession, with huge potential, in western countries such as the US, as opposed to Singapore. Naturally, this would weigh heavily in my decision.
