My Life Abroad: I almost backed out of moving to London at Changi Airport

My living situation

Credit: Victoria Chen

1/6

Any major city will always be space-scarce, and the UK is having a massive housing crisis right now. London is unique because of its large quantity of temporary residents – not just people like me who moved from another country, but also UK residents who grew up elsewhere but have moved to the capital.

Most of us rent with friends, or you meet people on housing platforms that share the same values and lifestyles. I share my living space with three other flatmates and a landlord. It’s uncommon to own property, unless you are a high earner or your corporation has sponsored housing. You can find a room for £500 per month, but it depends on your luck, and it can go up to £900 within my area.

Building a community

Credit: Victoria Chen

2/6

What I can say for sure though, is that you appreciate a sense of family or community so much more when you’re in London. If you find it, hold on to it, because that really affects how you live. But if you love being a lone wolf, go ahead! London is also full of those. But being in the company of others can also change your world, and it is perfect for curious minds like mine.

In Singapore, my friends are probably people I know because we were in the same class or CCA or whatever. In London, nobody cares. In London, there are millions of people trying to find a sense of belonging and community. You can speak to someone in a museum, or at the pub, or at the theatre, and no one will think you’re weird. And if they do, there are millions more to speak to.

Having lived in the UK during my undergraduate studies, I already had a sense of the culture and social etiquette, and pretending my friends were just around the corner (they were not) gave me more confidence. Then I met Singaporeans who lived close to me. Again, finding family and community is so important. But in terms of making friends who aren’t Singaporean, just go for it. You’ve nothing to lose. Join a club or gym, leave if you hate it. Volunteer and build up your karma. There are dating apps and social forums. You’re not in Little Singapore anymore where this stranger is actually the ex-boyfriend of your cousin’s best friend’s sister.

Shout out to my London friends who have been incredibly supportive throughout the best and worst of times. It’s a crazy world and the performing arts is a crazy profession, and I am so grateful for the amount of compassion and joy I have received from them. Because they understand what it’s like to be curious and move into a foreign place while navigating an uncertain economy or industry, they have an understanding of my situation that my loving family may not always get.

Making a living as a working actor in London

Credit: Victoria Chen

3/6

In the past few months, I have grown in professional experience, developed my artistry, forged new friendships and seen more of the world. Deep down I think I’m still the same person who loves eating and talking for hours, takes pride in their work, dresses in the same outfits from 10 years ago, but also happens to be in a city that’s exciting and invigorating in a different way. Maybe the newness of everything hasn’t changed me, but they are hugely affirming, because it’s like the city is telling me “Yes! Grab those opportunities! Keep trying! What do you have to lose?” which I certainly appreciate.

A fish in a tank somehow is still the same fish in an aquarium, but it swims more, right? London offers me both geographical and psychological space. Like Singapore, it’s densely populated, but there’s something refreshing about walking for an hour (without the warmth and humidity!) and feeling like there’s still so much more to see. If I did that in Singapore, I'd already have covered the entire city area from Orchard Road to Marina Bay.

I take pride in everything that I do! I didn’t spend all that time, effort and money getting a visa and being separated from my family to do things I’m not proud of. I’m proud of the things I do, the collaborators I meet, the experience we bring to audiences, and the dedication we have to our work. In this particular industry, you have to be proud of everything that you do.

Celebrate every single win. Yay, you got an agent! Yay, you got a job! Yay, you got an audition! Yay, you sent an email! I say this not because I’m an idealist, but because this industry is brutal. While there are more opportunities in a bigger city like London, there are also a lot more people who want those opportunities. Only 2.5 per cent of actors are working at any point in time, but 95 per cent of them are incredibly talented.

Securing a visa

Credit: Victoria Chen

4/6

As for how I got here, the visa application was incredibly daunting. I am on the Tier 1 Global Talent Visa, which according to the UK Government’s official website, is awarded only to emerging leaders in their respective fields — people who demonstrate exceptional talent or exceptional promise.

This sounds crazy but what is truly insane is the exceptional amount of admin required to get a visa. First, you need to build a portfolio, so that takes a while (or not, depending on how blessed you are). Then you need to get recommendation letters from people of repute, put them altogether in a specific format and submit them.

You don’t need to have secured a job before applying for this visa, but I was lucky enough to book projects within weeks of moving. I need to stress the “lucky” bit. Being at the right place at the right time is so crucial to surviving this industry, and you rarely know when the “right” place or time is until after it’s passed and gone. I’ve had multiple jobs since, because my field is mostly freelance and project-based, but it never affects the visa. Once you get it, it’s yours until it expires, and you can choose whether that’s one to five years.

The peaks, and the pits of living abroad

Credit: Victoria Chen

5/6

Overall, London gives me more extreme feelings. When I’m happy, I’m a lot happier here than in Singapore. When I’m miserable, I’m a lot more miserable here than in Singapore. Everything is a little more intense, but I suppose this is what it means to feel alive? I get homesick all the time, and when I’m in Singapore, I’m homesick for London. It’s complicated when you have two homes and they nurture different parts of your soul.

I moved about a year ago, and as much as I love London, I miss Singapore and its artistic community so, so much. Each city has their own spirit. You can take the person out of Singapore but you can’t take Singapore out of them!

Honestly, I never really felt very “Singaporean” until I lived overseas. It’s so strange! I really don’t wear it like a badge of honour on my chest (I completely forgot about 9 August last year) and I think in Singapore most people would think I’m too westernised to be Singaporean. But whenever someone asks about where I’m from, I feel strangely patriotic. I know who I am and my roots and I’m proud to come from there. And to be clear, my MP didn’t pay me to say this!

Home is wherever you make it out to be

6/6

5-year-old Vic would never have guessed that 15 years later she’d even be in this line of work and living somewhere else. Even Vic from 5 years ago thought she was going to settle down in Singapore! So we’ll see where the wind takes me. I go where the opportunity is, and I have deep gratitude for the people and pathways that make it all possible. I’ll be happy working in Timbuktu or Prague or Hong Kong, as long as there’s space to keep making theatre, and a community who’ll embrace what I have to offer. The best thing about my situation though, is that there’s always a home to return to.