'In Myanmar, we bathe in the stream or use a bucket and pail,' said the native of the 100-household Min Gon village, about 1,100km north of Yangon.
'We have longer visiting hours at our hospitals so our patients' family members take care of these chores.'
Still, the 35-year-old bachelor was undaunted. It made him only more eager to master his new tasks.
He holds a nursing diploma and has worked as a registered nurse at the Myit Kyi Na State General Hospital for five years, overseeing up to 70 patients each time.
Now, the assistant nurse at the National University Hospital's orthopaedic ward has around 12 patients under his direct charge. On his team are also nurses from India, China, the Philippines and his home country.
From interactions with co-workers and patients, he has built up a basic vocabulary in Mandarin and Hokkien, and intends to learn Malay.
As to what drives him, Mr Soe Myint, who will be receiving the national Silver Excellent Service Award this year for his three-year service at NUH, said Singapore offers many opportunities to 'challenge and upgrade myself'.
He plans to earn an advanced nursing diploma here in the next few years and a degree.
'I just try to do my daily tasks well. For example, we currently have a patient from Bangladesh who cannot speak English at all. When I attend to him, I use all the body language and gestures I can think of so I can understand what he needs to be comfortable.'
Debbie Yong
Five years ago, Mr Soe Myint didn't know how to operate a hot-water shower but he has come a long way and plans to get a degree here. -- ST PHOTO: ASHLEIGH SIM