Wow! That is the only word that can describe my first impressions of Singapore. It is such a gorgeous and pristine country. Landing at the Changi airport and going into town felt like a movie that just kept getting better. We finally made it to the hotel and within seconds of laying down, I went to sleep, eagerly awaiting the first day while also hoping to get over my jet lag.
You may be asking “why Singapore?” Honestly, my answer is due to one of my favorite movies: Crazy Rich Asians! Ever since I first saw this movie, I was fascinated with the Singaporean lifestyle, and I knew that I had to explore it one day. From the movie showing the Marina Bay Sands building to the Hawker Centers (the best, most authentic, and inexpensive food centers in Singapore), it really made me want to travel to Singapore. As expected, the movie was accurate with the magical feeling of Singapore!
The first day, we woke up, had breakfast, and started our walking tour/orientation. Our tour guides, Sharon and Irman, were extremely helpful and made us feel familiar and comfortable with the area. We started off by learning the basics in orientation. From learning about the seats on the transit system, to getting tissues for saving our seats at Hawker centers, Sharon and Irman left out no details! After the orientation, we learned how to use the transit system and were shown around the mall.
Now that I have mentioned the malls, I feel like it deserves a separate section. They are absolutely spectacular! With the humid climate of Singapore, they are an amazing place to walk around with air conditioning and look at all of the clean shops! From grocery stores to restaurants to designer stores, the malls have a variety that allows for a day to be spent just walking around. After we got time to walk around the mall, it was time for lunch!
We went to a very nice restaurant inside the mall for lunch, and it had so many options! I had the pork with fried rice, and it did not disappoint! It was filled with flavor and complimented by the delicious sauce that came with it. It was truly an amazing time with great food and spectacular people.
After lunch, we got the rest of the day to explore. We first went to the MRT to find our way to Marina Bay Sands. The MRT is the Singapore subway system, and it is the cleanest subway I have ever seen! It is bright and inviting with not a piece of trash to be found. In just a few minutes, we were walking off the train with the sight of Marina Bay Sands.
After a few minute walk, we were in the fancy shopping center under the famous Marina Bay Sands hotel. This had many designer stores, drink places, and even a boat ride that went through the mall. This truly was an incredible experience!
In this global experience, I hope to gain knowledge about how Asian businesses operate, especially with the differences in human values they face compared to the United States. Culture is an aspect that plays a large role in the daily Singaporean life. Even in the workplace, I have noticed that companies tend to follow local cultural values to ensure the employees are satisfied, and therefore, will contribute their maximum potential to the company. I feel that navigating the cultural differences is a fundamental aspect of any business, especially if they want to ensure employee retention and satisfaction. In Singapore, employees generally value family and cultural traditions more than they do in the United States.
Compared to the United States, I can already see that this country is much more organized and the people have more respect due to the Singaporean culture. All of the streets and MRT stations have no trash as the people tend to be obedient. One key difference from the United States is that Singapore fines all people for any small or large offense, so throwing a piece of paper on the ground will result in an immediate fine. This is much different than the United States, where people will litter all over without any punishment. The enforcement of fines really helps reinforce the obedience of the people, as well as the overall cleanliness of the city.
As I wrapped up my first day, I am very glad that the movie Crazy Rich Asians led me to explore this fabulous destination. I am excited to see what the rest of the trip holds for us. Stay tuned for more information about the rest of the trip! ✈️
