As someone who has wanted to go to Asia their whole life but has never gotten the chance, the Asia Business program through Mays has given me the opportunity to do that . Before even entering Singapore, I got acquainted with the other students I’d be experiencing my trip with. Immediately I was able to connect with everyone in one way or another because all of us were business students which only enhanced my experience going forward.
Immediately after making it to Singapore we got taken around the city-country on a bus tour and got exposed to its beauty. The best way I could describe the atmosphere of Singapore is a futuristic jungle. The advanced architectural and technological capabilities of the country could not have been obvious as some of the wildest buildings I have ever seen were everywhere. Not only was everything so shocking to look at compared to what we are used to in America but it was also so clean. Every road freshly paved, bush trimmed and litter removed.
However, despite being very developed, Singapore maintained its connection to nature by implementing green areas within and on top of nearly every building anywhere I looked. Due to the moist atmosphere all of the plants appeared very healthy and green which was very beautiful to look at in person. Compared to the US which in itself has great nature, Singapore brings another level.
Thus far into the trip I have only experienced Singapore, so I am excited for what is to come in Thailand. Singapore is a very small country geographically speaking. So for anyone looking to explore much of the country for cheap, renting some bikes for a couple hours was a fun experience that let me see most of the country. However in Thailand the country’s population and geographic size is much larger. On top of that I have been told the culture is much looser meaning that rules and enforcement is emphasized less. It will be very interesting to see how all of these factors contribute to Thailand’s atmosphere. And further how my experience in Thailand will compare to my time in Singapore and living in the US.
