Welcome to Home on the Dot, the podcast that explores the meaning of home on the little red dot called Singapore.
We feature stories inspired and produced by students from the National University of Singapore, opening a door onto the everyday lives, hopes, fears, memories, and dreams of young people in this dynamic, fascinating country.
Singapore is a country on the move. Those who can afford to do so are moving up the housing ladder, from public housing flat, to private condo, to landed property. Those who cannot afford to climb the housing ladder – specifically residents of subsidized rental flats – may also be on the move, but not by choice. In this episode of Home on the Dot, we explore the relocation of rental flat residents. We tour Dakota Crescent, an HDB estate recently demolished, and talk with volunteers who helped residents move. We talk about Singapore’s largely invisible poor and their unique housing challenges, and we discuss how “befrienders” try to create a sense of community amid the changes that come with relocation.
28 Feb 2021
Homebody
When Covid lockdowns began around a year ago, some people joked that homebodies didn't even notice. While many young people bristled at being stuck at home, it was thought that homebodies were glad to no longer attend class in person or pretend to have fun at parties. In this episode of Home on the Dot, we discuss how Covid-19 has impacted young people, particularly the experience of being under lockdown in the constant presence of family. As we mark our first year anniversary of living with Covid-19, we hear from NUS Geographer Tracey Skelton, who discusses the disruptions Covid has brought to children and young people, for whom spending much of the past year stuck at home has meant a loss of independence and a feeling that their lives are on hold. We also hear from Zack, a Japanese Studies major and self-proclaimed homebody, for whom lockdown brought on an existential crisis, as home spaces that were previously comforting became weird with his family around 24/7. What do we lose when we are all forced to be homebodies?
15 Feb 2021
The Home Game
Buying your first home can be a daunting experience. It requires a long-term commitment and a tolerance for risk, not to mention a willingness to compromise if you buy with a partner. Many young Singaporeans buy their first home through the Build-to-Order, or BTO, scheme. These are flats in towers that have not yet been built. Applicants must meet strict requirements and wait years between application and the handover of keys. This birth of a home requires planning and patience. Unfortunately, even the most organized couples may fail in their first or second attempt, thus delaying both a couple’s marriage and the moment they can step into their first home. In this episode of Home on the Dot, we hear from two young couples navigating the bureaucratic, social, and financial complexities of realizing the dream of their first home, and we learn how society’s expectations surrounding marriage and home ownership cause some young Singaporeans to feel left behind in the home game.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
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