Submitted by Rebecca Beswick on the 2022 spring semester exchange program with the National University of Singapore…
The first thing I noticed when arriving in Singapore in early January was the weather. It is hot. Hot and humid. Of course we were expecting the weather change, with the country being so close to the equator with a tropical climate, but it was still a physical shock compared to Delaware, where there was snow on the ground when we left. We also experienced our very first Singapore downpour of rain, which usually occurs every afternoon for a very short period of time.
Because of these differences in weather, I’ve noticed some architectural choices in the buildings which would not be done in places of cooler climates. First, the hallways of the dorms are open: there is no glass on the windows overlooking the city because it is warm all year round and there is no need for protection from a cold wind. Secondly, most of the university is designed in a way where there is a cover or awning above you, so that there is a good amount of protection from sudden rain showers. Because of all the rain, there is year-round greenery and impressively tall tropical trees.