I feel like there are a lot of similarities when it comes to conducting business in Singapore and in the United States. Both are ranked extremely high in how business ? friendly they are. For example, both countries have modern infrastructure (having the latest technology, stable electricity, and an abundance of resources makes it easy to run a business there) and both have an educated workforce (high supply of quality labor). Both countries also speak English, which is one of the most spoken languages in the world.
The main difference comes from engaging with individuals in the two countries. From visiting Singapore, I got to learn how friendly and respectful the people there are. Everyone is super helpful and always willing to talk. For example, when I was waiting in line at a food stand, someone noticed that I was confused about what to get and told me what was good on the menu. Another example is when I was going to a basketball game and got lost at the stadium. The staff noticed that we were lost and took 20 minutes to personally walk us to where we needed to be at for the game. This courtesy also extends to those in the service industry in Singapore. When we toured S.E.A Aquarium at Sentosa Island, I really got to learn what exceptional service was. They told us how it was necessary to always take the extra step to ensure that customers leave happy, and this was the main point that I really took away from the business tours. I hope to own a dental practice in the future, and learning how exceptional service is done would help me gain a competitive advantage.
Studying abroad was definitely a great experience for me. I felt like I learned a lot from going on the trip. It changed my perspective in that it opened my mind to what the rest of the world had to offer. Prior to the trip, I was excited to leave the country for the first time in years, but I wasn?t thinking too much about it. However, travelling to Singapore and even touching down at Qatar sparked so much interest in learning about the different cultures all around the world. Going abroad made me realize there is much to explore, and that interacting with locals and trying the food for yourself is the best way to go about doing that. Singapore was, for the most part, everything that I had initially expected it to be. There weren?t too many surprises for me in terms of the culture or lifestyle there. However, the few cultural differences that I did notice made me appreciate the country much more. This trip to Singapore was my first study abroad and I made so many amazing memories. Having an amazing group to travel with also made the experience much more enjoyable. I?m really happy that I chose to study abroad at Singapore – it was truly an unforgettable experience.
