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Clarence Koh, a 30-year-old software engineer residing in Singapore, has found a unique professional rhythm by aligning his work hours with those of his US-based company. This setup, which began during a remote overseas internship amidst the pandemic, allows him to balance the demands of his career with a flexible personal life, despite the challenges of a nocturnal schedule.

Navigating the Global Clock: A Singaporean Engineer's US Workday

Clarence Koh's journey into working US hours from Singapore began unexpectedly. While pursuing computer science at a Singaporean university, he enrolled in a year-long international work-and-study program designed to foster entrepreneurial spirit. The program initially intended for him to intern at a startup in Toronto, but the onset of the pandemic necessitated a remote completion of his internship from Singapore.

During this period, the startup he was interning for was acquired by a US company. Following his graduation, Koh reached out to his former manager and secured a full-time remote position with the acquiring firm. Initially, he attempted to blend Singaporean day hours with a partial night shift, but this proved inefficient due to delayed communication and workflow. Recognizing the need for better synchronization, he and his manager decided to fully shift his working hours to align with the US team's schedule.

Now, Koh's typical workday begins around noon in Singapore. He utilizes the quiet hours of the US night (Singapore afternoon) for focused, independent work. As the US team comes online, his evenings and nights are filled with meetings and collaborative tasks. His workday concludes around 5 AM Singapore time, after which he goes to bed. This arrangement means he takes a break in the late afternoon and early evening to engage in social activities, hobbies like dancing and reading, or spend time with his fiancée, a nurse whose fluctuating schedule benefits from his flexibility.

Beyond personal adaptability, this unconventional schedule has enabled Koh to pursue his passion for the outdoors. He frequently takes short weekend trips to nearby countries for hiking, seamlessly integrating these adventures with his work week upon his return. This level of autonomy and freedom would be unattainable with a conventional 9-to-5 job.

However, this lifestyle is not without its drawbacks. After three years, Koh admits that full adjustment to the nocturnal routine remains elusive. Sleeping during the day, particularly in Singapore's August heat, can be challenging. He consciously avoids air conditioning due to environmental concerns, sometimes leading to disrupted sleep. Weekends also pose a dilemma, as social events often occur on Saturday mornings, requiring him to temporarily shift his sleep patterns, which can then be difficult to readjust for the start of the work week.

Despite these trade-offs, Koh deeply values the flexibility and control over his time that this remote work model affords him. He acknowledges the increasing rarity of fully remote positions in the current job market. While he occasionally observes the crowded morning commutes of others with a degree of shock, he accepts the inherent difficulties of his schedule as a worthwhile compromise for the enhanced personal freedom and adaptability it provides.

My journey as a traveler has undergone a significant transformation, shifting from a superficial desire to merely tally countries visited to a profound appreciation for immersive experiences. Reaching my 50th country was a pivotal moment, making me realize that the sheer number held little significance. My early fascination with global geography began in my teenage years, fueled by studying flags and capitals. This led to an ambitious goal of exploring every European nation, a dream that was initially realized through brief, whirlwind tours of Greece, Italy, and France.

In my college years, I resumed my travels with renewed vigor, albeit maintaining a fast-paced approach. My trips were often characterized by tightly packed schedules, aiming to maximize the number of destinations within limited timeframes. I recall one particularly hectic 10-day excursion through Greece, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, and Germany, where cultural immersion was sacrificed for rapid transit. This period saw me spending minimal time in each location, often just checking off major landmarks and, at one point, even considering a two-hour layover as a country visit. The pervasive influence of social media, with its emphasis on country counts in personal bios, inadvertently fueled this competitive mindset, making travel feel like a race to accumulate destinations rather than truly experience them.

A significant shift occurred when I experienced a layoff, which ironically provided the freedom to redefine my travel approach. This period allowed me to embrace "slow travel," dedicating several weeks or even months to each location, particularly during an extensive journey through Asia and Australia. This unhurried pace enabled me to delve into local histories, customs, and daily routines, fostering a deeper connection and appreciation for each country. Experiences like exploring the Kinabatangan River in Malaysian Borneo or obtaining advanced diving certification in Indonesia highlighted the richness that extended stays offer. Returning to familiar places, such as Italy or Bosnia and Herzegovina, has further solidified this perspective, showing that genuine engagement and building relationships far outweigh the thrill of merely adding another stamp to a passport. While the joy of discovering new places remains, the emphasis has irrevocably shifted from quantity to the quality of the experience.

Ultimately, true travel goes beyond superficial checklists, fostering personal growth, broadening perspectives, and creating meaningful connections that enrich one's understanding of the world. It’s about appreciating the journey, the people encountered, and the wisdom gained, rather than just the destinations marked off a list.