从16人间到自己的房间：我在新加坡的稳定之旅

From 16 Beds to My Own Room: My Journey to Stability in Singapore

English Version

“With just $1,000 SGD in my pocket, I landed my first job in Singapore—a dream come true. But the reality of surviving in one of the world’s most expensive cities quickly set in. From 16-bed backpacker hostels to finally securing my own room, my journey was a rollercoaster of challenges, small victories, and countless ‘firsts.’ Here’s how I navigated sleepless nights, rental scams, and the relentless pressure to make it work.”

The First Job in Singapore:
“Moving to Singapore for work felt like stepping into a new world. As a fresh graduate from Malaysia, I was thrilled to join a construction project in the heart of the city. But my excitement faded fast when I realized 1,000SGD wouldn’t last long. A simple meal cost 1,000SGD wouldn’t last long . A simple meal cost 5, public transport added up, and housing? Forget it. I spent my first night in Singapore sitting on a hostel bunk bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering if I’d made a terrible mistake.”

The 16-Bed Backpacker Hostel:
“The hostel was chaos. Sixteen strangers snoring, rustling plastic bags at midnight, and fluorescent lights that never turned off. My ‘bed’ was a narrow bunk with a stained mattress. One night, a roommate’s phone alarm blared at 3 a.m.—they’d forgotten to silence it. I lay awake, counting the hours until my 6 a.m. shift, thinking, This can’t be my life now. But it was. For $15 a day, I had no choice.”

Moving Up to an 8-Bed Room:
“After two weeks of surviving on instant noodles, I upgraded to an 8-bed room. The difference was subtle but meaningful: fewer backpacks cluttering the floor, shorter queues for the shower. I even made a friend—a Filipino nurse who shared her leftover adobo with me. For the first time, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe I could do this.”

The 4-Bed Room Upgrade:
“A month later, I moved into a 4-bed room. It felt like a palace. I had a locker! A small window! One night, I even binge-watched video on my phone without someone peering over my shoulder. But the relief was short-lived. My savings were dwindling, and I knew I needed a permanent solution—fast.”

The Rental Scam and Loss:
“When I found 500/month room on Facebook, I thought my luck had changed. The landlord seemed friendly, and the photos showed a cozy space. I handed over 500/month room on Facebook, I thought my luck had changed. The landlord seemed friendly, and the photos showed a cozy space. I handed over 250 as a deposit. But when I arrived with my suitcase, the ‘room’ was a storage closet with a foldable mattress. The landlord ghosted me. I stood on the street, clutching my phone, tears mixing with the Singaporean humidity. How could I be this naive?”

Finally, My Own Room:
“Two months later, I found a tiny room in Boon Keng for 750/month. Finally with a window. On my first night, I bought a 5 kopi from the hawker center below and toasted to surviving. For the first time in months, I slept through the night.”

First-Time Experiences:
“This period was filled with ‘firsts’—some exciting, some painful, but all unforgettable.

My First Overseas Stay: Even though Singapore was just across the border, it felt like a world away. For the first time, I was truly on my own, navigating a new city, new culture, and new challenges.
My First 10 Daily Budget: I learned to stretch every dollar. Breakfast was a 1.50 kaya toast, lunch a 3 chicken rice, and dinner a 3 chicken rice, and dinner a 2.50 roti prata. Every cent mattered.
My First Broken Phone Screen: One night, climbing down from the top bunk, my brand-new phone slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor. I felt like crying—it was my most expensive possession.
My First Taste of Independence: Despite the struggles, there was a thrill in being self-reliant. I felt like an adult for the first time, making decisions and solving problems on my own.
My First Kind of Exciting Experience: Even in the chaos, there were moments of joy—like exploring Little India on weekends or discovering hidden hawker stalls with the best laksa. These small adventures kept me going.”

Lessons Learned:

Beware of Too-Good-to-Be-True Deals: Always visit a room in person and ask for a contract.
Budget Like a Pro: Track every dollar—Singapore’s cost of living will eat your savings alive.
Embrace Temporary Solutions: Hostels aren’t glamorous, but they’re stepping stones.
Build a Support Network: Friends in similar situations will save your sanity (and share their food).

Closing:
“Looking back, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. From 16-bed hostels to my own room, my journey in Singapore was a testament to perseverance. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, remember: every challenge is a stepping stone to something better. And hey, if I could survive Geylang’s humidity, hostel alarms, and a broken phone screen, you’ve got this too.”

Chinese Version

从16人间到自己的房间：我在新加坡的稳定之旅

“口袋里只有1000新元，我在新加坡找到了第一份工作——梦想成真。但在这个世界上最昂贵的城市之一生存的现实很快让我清醒。从16人间的背包客旅馆到最终拥有自己的房间，我的旅程充满了挑战、小胜利和无数‘第一次’。以下是我如何应对无眠之夜、租房骗局和无尽压力的故事。”

在新加坡的第一份工作:
“为了工作搬到新加坡，感觉像是踏入了一个新世界。作为马来西亚的应届毕业生，我很兴奋能加入新加坡市中心的建筑项目。但当意识到1000新元撑不了多久时，我的兴奋很快消退。一顿简餐5新元，公共交通费累积如流水，而住房？想都别想。在新加坡的第一晚，我坐在旅馆的上下铺上，盯着天花板，怀疑自己是否犯了一个可怕的错误。”

16人间的背包客旅馆:
“旅馆里一片混乱。十六个陌生人的鼾声、半夜塑料袋的沙沙声、永不熄灭的荧光灯。我的‘床’是一个狭窄的铺位，床垫上还有污渍。有一天凌晨3点，室友的手机闹钟突然响起——他忘了静音。我睁眼躺到6点上班时间，心想：这不该是我的生活。但事实如此。每天15新元，我别无选择。”

升级到8人间:
“靠泡面撑了两周后，我升级到了8人间。变化虽小但有意义：地上散落的背包少了，排队洗澡的时间短了。我甚至交了一个朋友——一位菲律宾护士，她把剩下的阿斗波（adobo）分给我。第一次，我感受到了一丝希望。也许我能做到。”

升级到4人间:
“一个月后，我搬进了4人间。感觉像住进了宫殿。我有储物柜！一扇小窗户！某天晚上，我甚至用手机刷剧而不用担心有人偷看。但轻松感很短暂。我的储蓄在减少，我知道必须尽快找到永久住所。”

租房骗局与损失:
“当我在Facebook上找到一间月租500新元的房间时，我以为时来运转。房东看起来很友好，照片显示了一个舒适的空间。我支付了250新元押金。但当我拖着行李箱到达时，‘房间’竟是一个带折叠床垫的储物柜。房东消失了。我站在街上，紧握手机，泪水与新加坡的湿气混在一起。我怎么会这么天真？”

终于有了自己的房间:
“两个月后，我在芽笼找到一间月租750新元的小房间。没有窗户，没有空调，只有一台风扇和走廊尽头的共用浴室。但它是我的。入住第一晚，我从楼下小贩中心买了5新元的咖啡，为生存干杯。几个月来，我第一次睡了个整觉。”

第一次的经历:
“这段时间充满了‘第一次’——有些令人兴奋，有些痛苦，但都令人难忘。

第一次独自在国外生活: 尽管新加坡就在边境对面，但感觉像是另一个世界。第一次，我真正独立，面对新城市、新文化和新挑战。
第一次每天10新元的预算: 我学会了精打细算。早餐是1.5新元的咖椰吐司，午餐是3新元的鸡饭，晚餐是2.5新元的印度煎饼。每一分钱都很重要。
第一次摔坏手机屏幕: 某晚从上铺爬下来时，我的新手机从手中滑落，屏幕摔得粉碎。我差点哭出来——那是我最贵的财产。
第一次尝到独立的滋味: 尽管困难重重，但自力更生的感觉让我兴奋。第一次，我感觉自己像个成年人，自己做决定，自己解决问题。
第一次的兴奋体验: 即使在混乱中，也有快乐的时刻——比如周末探索小印度，或发现隐藏的美味叻沙摊位。这些小冒险让我坚持下去。”

学到的教训:

警惕过于美好的交易: 务必亲自看房并索要合同。
专业预算: 记录每一分钱——新加坡的生活成本会吞噬你的储蓄。
接受临时方案: 旅馆虽不完美，却是通往更好的垫脚石。
建立支持网络: 处境相似的朋友会拯救你的理智（并分享食物）。

结尾:
“回首往事，我为自己的进步感到自豪。从16人间的旅馆到自己的房间，我在新加坡的旅程是毅力的证明。如果你正在为生计挣扎，请记住：每一个挑战都是通往更好事物的垫脚石。如果我能熬过芽笼的潮湿、旅馆的闹钟和摔坏的手机屏幕，你也一定可以。”