My initial impressions were accurate in the sense that Singapore, despite its small population and it being a fairly new country, is one of the most advanced societies in the world. The trait that I think exemplifies this and that Singapore embodies the most is efficiency. For example, the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is the public transportation used by the majority of the population due to the extremely high costs of owning a car and their efforts to limit pollution. Although Americans might associate a negative connotation with public transportation because it can be unsafe and a hassle, Singapore?s metro system is clean, safe, and easily accessible from any point on the island. A second example of Singapore?s efficiency, and my personal favorite, is its famous Hawker markets. Hawker markets are large food courts with stalls around the perimeter serving everything from full meals to snacks and drinks for very low prices. Most people eat at hawker markets instead of cooking at home because of the incredibly affordable prices, which in turn helps reduce the amount of waste produced by the entire population. To help with recycling, a lot of the stands also serve their food with wooden utensils and reusable dishes. Being at the hawker markets and MRT stations also allowed me to observe the locals and learn how some of their certain customs, attitudes, and habits helped shape the country as well. Some of the values that stood out to me and seemed consistent with most Singaporeans were respect, recycling, obedience, and innovation.
Having the opportunity to spend two weeks in Singapore has impacted me in more ways than I could have imagined. Not only did it allow me to create lifelong memories, but I had the chance to become friends with people that I would have never crossed paths with if it wasn’t for this trip. Being in a group with people of different backgrounds allowed me to learn about something from various points of view based on the others? analysis.
