There were many things that I heard about Singapore before arriving. Then again, due to the distance from Texas, most of the opinions thrown at me were offered by people who never even visited the city-state. I chose not to let the seemingly absurd rules stop me from visiting, and chose to focus on the wonder of innovation and modernization that Singapore had to offer instead. When I arrived, I was surprised to see that people in Singapore were dressed just like people in America and that communication and travel around the country were really simple. The people are kind, the vendors are respectful, and everything was so well-priced that it was impossible to not buy something every time I stepped foot outside of the hotel. I learned that the large Chinese population in Singapore allowed for very stress-free strolls around the city. Encounters with complete strangers seldom occurred, which I enjoyed. I was able to explore the city at my own pace, I was able to shop at a store without feeling crowded or scammed, and public transportation was actually relaxing and quiet. Even hearing business owners and CEOs talking about Singaporean culture in business was so refreshing. The respect that people have for one another here, even in a professional setting, was encouraging and interesting to listen to. The pace overall is something that I could see myself living in, and even just after a week, I know that I?ll miss it when I leave. It?s nice not having expectations when traveling, and if I had expectations, I know that Singapore would surpass them at every turn. I look forward to hearing more about Singapore and I hope to take part of the culture and apply it to my life when I get back to the states.
I had no expectations when I arrived in Singapore. That?s not entirely true, though. Before I arrived, I watched an episode of Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix. In the episode, Phil goes to various famous locations in Singapore such as the Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, Maxwell Food Center, the Marina Bay Sands, and Chinatown. Because of this, I expected a pretty nightlife and amazing food, and it turns out that I got that and so much more. Because Singapore is so small I feel like I saw all of it. From Clarke Quay to Arab Street, from Little India to China Town, and from the MRT to Sentosa Island, I loved every single day of this Singapore study abroad. Even now, I can?t get over how kind the people are, how humid it is, and how clean and seemingly perfect everything is. Even in the slight chaos of Chinatown, there is so much beauty. I felt like a local every time I stepped foot outside of the hotel. Going to Bugis, eating at the hawker centers, sipping on sugar cane juice (with lemon, of course), buying onigiris from 7/11, scanning my card at the MRT- these are all things that I am going to desperately miss. During my visit, I knew that I would visit Singapore again one day. Rarely can you say that you feel like you?ve seen it all when you visit someplace, but in Singapore, you can. Yes, there are rules that seem absurd when you arrive, but hearing people talk about the rules in place really puts into perspective that in order to have a safe city that is made for the citizens, rules need to be put in place to maintain that safe and clean environment. I have learned so much from Singapore and I am leaving with memories that I am already looking back on with fondness. Thank you Dr. Panina, Don, and all my classmates for the best experience! I love S?pore!
