From financial independence in Indonesia to seeking permission to go out, in Singapore

How a buddy system saved a foreign Vietnamese bride from loneliness in Singapore

How Anna the Vietnamese bride is now herself a buddy to two other Vietnamese women in Singapore

Why these women remain “invisible and voiceless”

Invisible Asia Ep 3: 'I felt so alone in Singapore' 

9:21 mins

Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on audio apps - Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.

The Straits Times' senior social affairs correspondent Theresa Tan speaks to two foreign brides in Singapore on their struggles to adapt to life in a new city, far from their loved ones back at home. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning: 
Once a financially independent woman in Indonesia, Siti finds her movements restricted by her controlling husband in Singapore (0:31)
A timely programme and a buddy system prove a lifeline for lost, lonely Vietnamese bride Anna in the early years of her marriage (2:36) 
Anna pays it forward by befriending other Vietnamese women newly married to Singaporean men (3:33)
The collective plight of the many “voiceless", "invisible” migrant brides in Singapore (5:06) 

Read the full story by Theresa Tan: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-felt-so-alone-in-singapore

Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia

Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b

Discover ST & BT podcasts:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP

Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts

https://bt.sg/moneyhacks

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg 

---

Discover more niche podcast series by ST and BT below:

Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

Follow BT Mark To Market Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt

Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN

Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7

Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad

Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2

Follow ST Sports Talk Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE

Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#InvisibleAsia

Invisible Asia Ep 3: 'I felt so alone in Singapore'&nbsp;
9:21 mins
Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on audio apps - Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.
The Straits Times' senior social affairs correspondent Theresa Tan speaks to two foreign brides in Singapore on their struggles to adapt to life in a new city, far from their loved ones back at home. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Once a financially independent woman in Indonesia, Siti finds her movements restricted by her controlling husband in Singapore (0:31)</li>
<li>A timely programme and a buddy system prove a lifeline for lost, lonely Vietnamese bride Anna in the early years of her marriage (2:36)&nbsp;</li>
<li>Anna pays it forward by befriending other Vietnamese women newly married to Singaporean men (3:33)</li>
<li>The collective plight of the many &ldquo;voiceless", "invisible&rdquo; migrant brides in Singapore (5:06)&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
Read the full story by Theresa Tan: <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-felt-so-alone-in-singapore">https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-felt-so-alone-in-singapore</a>
Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning and Ernest Luis
Edited by: Adam Azlee
Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia">https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia</a>
Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b</a>
Discover ST &amp; BT podcasts:
Channel:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JWVR">https://str.sg/JWVR</a>
Spotify:&nbsp;<a href="https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1593058080836000&amp;usg=AFQjCNE3goVnd7kXZdhGUBsv0tilzvQc5w">https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU</a>
Apple Podcasts:&nbsp;<a href="https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1593058080836000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHg25gDkJn167Fbf-I-qRhDKrKZrQ">https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP</a>
Google podcasts:&nbsp;<a href="http://str.sg/googlestbt" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://str.sg/googlestbt&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1593058080836000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHTAwJU9ckaX5r4SRWmuRkGgVVFBQ">http://str.sg/googlestbt</a>
Websites:&nbsp;<a href="http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1593058080836000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFkQuuxOSaTGtQa1ULD9LO6eFiotA">http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts</a>
<a href="https://bt.sg/moneyhacks" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bt.sg/moneyhacks&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1593058080836000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHD4ovEIO6tmRhNV15Q4x9YzyJcmA">https://bt.sg/moneyhacks</a>
Feedback to:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>&nbsp;
---
Discover more niche podcast series by ST and BT below:
Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on:&nbsp;<a href="http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks">http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks</a>
Follow BT Mark To Market Podcast on:&nbsp;<a href="http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt">http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt</a>
Follow Health Check Podcast on:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JWaN">https://str.sg/JWaN</a>
Follow Green Pulse Podcast on:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JWaf">https://str.sg/JWaf</a>
Follow Asian Insider Podcast on:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JWa7">https://str.sg/JWa7</a>
Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/J6hQ" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/J6hQ&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1604121592032000&amp;usg=AFQjCNG83H6KB4Ijg1sND-Ork6G7d7pJQQ">https://str.sg/J6hQ</a>
Follow #PopVultures Podcast on:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JWad">https://str.sg/JWad</a>
Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JWa2">https://str.sg/JWa2</a>
Follow ST Sports Talk Podcast on: <a href="https://str.sg/JWRE">https://str.sg/JWRE</a>
Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JWas">https://str.sg/JWas</a>
Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
#InvisibleAsia

Synopsis: Our ALL-IN-ONE channel showcases our discussions on Singapore youth perspectives and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, money, career, sports, pop culture and music. 

Follow our shows on your favourite audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify or even ST's app, which has a dedicated podcast player section.

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis & The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

Synopsis: Our ALL-IN-ONE channel showcases our discussions on Singapore youth perspectives and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, money, career, sports, pop culture and music. 
Follow our shows on your favourite audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify or even ST's app, which has a dedicated podcast player section.
Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis &amp; The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

Advertisement