After spending two weeks in Singapore, I learned and experienced so much about their different culture and business practices, as well as their unique history. I had never been abroad before, so I did not know what to expect. I was blown away by everything Singapore had to offer. The Singapore business practices are very different from what we consider normal here in the United States. It was very interesting to hear about the different experiences people had who had worked on both sides of the world. The representative for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group spoke about his personal experiences, which included his belief that labor unions in the west make business much more difficult. He believes that without these they are able to accomplish a lot more in the east. The speakers also talked about how culture plays a role in business meetings and the importance of understanding the culture of the company you are working with. A hedge fund manager we spoke with talked about different investing practices that you see on this side of the world. He mentioned the differences in the trading markets, as well as how important currency exchange rates can be. The locals in Singapore were extremely kind and always offered help whenever it was needed. Being able to learn about the different backgrounds and cultures they came from was very important to truly understanding their country. Singapore is influenced by many different types of people and they each contribute so much to their society. It was also very interesting to see how the difference in cultures affects their businesses. Singapore seamlessly blends all of their cultures into one, making something that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. Overall this trip to Singapore was one of the best opportunities I have ever had the pleasure of having. Singapore blew me away in every single aspect.
