My initial impressions of Singapore were the cleanliness, the impressive architecture, and the strict legal system. Singapore was extremely clean, everywhere we would go there was no sign of littering. The locals seemed to take pride in the natural beauty of their country. There were constantly street workers cleaning the streets, whether that be simply sweeping leaves off the ground. Singapore was also filled with lots of impressive architectural pieces. Whether it be the Marina Bay Sands hotel or the way they were able to manage space and build upward. This really showed the forward planning that the country had to do. They also seemed to preserve many natural ecosystems within their country. It seemed as if there were parks filled with different plants and animals every few blocks. The way they seemed to build around these ecosystems was truly fascinating. I had never seen anything like it. Finally, I was very shocked to learn about the strict legal system in Singapore. Learning about the fines for things that you constantly find here in the United States was very impressive and a little bit scary. Something as simple as chewing gum could get you a fine of $200 US dollars. To me this is just another example of the country?s commitment to their cleanliness. Another thing I was very surprised to learn was their extremely strict laws against drug use. Local police are authorized to randomly drug test both local citizens and visiting foreigners. The penalty for being caught with any sort of illegal drug is the death sentence. Overall I was amazed with Singapore in every aspect after just being there for a few days. Singapore seemed to have so much to offer even after only being there for a few days. I was excited to see more of this beautiful nation and learn more about their culture and history.
