Based on what I have seen during my first week abroad in Singapore, I have been impressed with the sophisticated culture and the differences between the US and Singapore. I hope to gain more experience dealing with the Singaporean business culture and gain more appreciation for the lifestyle in Singapore.
Singapore is full of greenery and modern buildings at the same time. The island is very small therefore when designing the country, you can tell they kept environmental protection at the utmost priority. On top of their modern skyscrapers, there are rooftop gardens and trees unlike in the US. I have never seen greenery on top of buildings or in urban areas because in the US there is room to keep urban and rural areas separate. In Singapore, they have made a conscious effort to incorporate nature into the city.
Upon entering the country, the first difference I noticed was the level of professionalism and sophistication in Singapore. In the US, it is common to speak very loudly, show your shoulders, make small talk with strangers, and laugh loudly. In Singapore, it is almost the opposite. People are more respectful of noise levels and rely more on body language. In my first interactions with Singaporeans, I found that they are soft-spoken and not familiar with small talk with strangers. The social norms of Americans and Singaporeans are vastly different and interesting to witness.
The first week in Singapore has been a culture shock and very eye-opening for me as I have never been to Asia before. Asia is so different from America and Singapore is a unique part of Asia. I hope to continue to see things that challenge my perception of the world. I am most looking forward to the cooking class that will teach us how to make a popular local Singaporean dish.