I have never been overseas; therefore, the flight here was very tiring; however, I was able to calculate my sleep so I would not be jet lagged when I got here. We were allowed to explore the airport on our own once we settled in. I can say I had never seen anything like the Singapore airport. It was attached to a shopping center. One thing that I am very grateful for is that there is not much of a language barrier, as I was afraid of not being able to communicate. Additionally, I was also afraid of how my stomach would adjust to the food, but so far everything I have eaten I have enjoyed. Since I enjoy Asian cuisine and this study abroad has widened my palette. I tried the ice kachang and even though some of my companions did not enjoy it I found it tasty. I view the Singaporean hawker markets as fast food restaurants that serve authentic food quickly, conveniently, and cheaply. Everything here truly amazes me. We visited the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and I was amazed by the architecture and business planning that goes into each one of their locations. We saw the backside of the hotel and learned what it took to function as a business. I was looking forward to visiting the URA Singapore City Gallery to learn about how they planned out the structure of the country. The infrastructure here is very well designed, and I believe that is part of what makes it successful. They are constantly thinking about how to improve for future generations; therefore, their structure is carefully designed. They also focus on building a more sustainable country by reducing their carbon emission and increasing their green areas. There are so many locations to visit that allow you more about the history of Singapore and how it developed into the country it is today. I enjoy the company visits that were planned because they cater to all majors, and we are able to see how a business unites to run as a whole.
