Submitted by Navleen Kaur the 2024 Spring program in Singapore, Republic of Singapore…
I arrived in Singapore this past week to start the next part of my program: the internship. Many things shocked me in Singapore. Even though my dad and close friends had told me a little about their experience visiting Singapore, I did not register the information fully until I arrived in Singapore and saw things firsthand. Firstly, Singapore is a very modern and trendy city-state. The airport in which I first landed and all the malls and nightlife I saw during my taxi ride to my residence surprised me. I had been told that Singapore is technologically advanced, but I didn’t know it would be so efficient, clean, and beautiful. On the first full day I had, I went grocery shopping and a small robot wandered the aisles of the mall! I am not sure what the purpose of the robot was but I think it is fascinating that Singapore is already starting to incorporate robots into people’s daily lives. Furthermore, the mall culture is very strong here. Because Singapore is near the equator, it is usually around 90 degrees Fahrenheit; however, the humidity makes it feel like 100. If it is not extremely hot and humid, it is pouring rain. So, most Singaporeans have developed two hobbies: eating and shopping. We are living in Orchard Parksuites which is located in the most high-end neighborhood. Here, fancy malls are selling a range of things from Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Burberry, and all other luxurious brands. On the basement level of these malls is what we know of as the food court. Some malls in Singapore have Hawker Centers in the basement while others have fancier restaurants and dessert shops. Where I live, there are mostly fancy restaurants and dessert shops nearby. Moreover, the eating-out culture is serious here. Before getting here, my dad did tell me that most people in Singapore prefer to eat out because food is very cheap here while groceries tend to be on the pricier side. He said that most people only have kitchens for a show (some apartments do not even come with a kitchen) as no one cooks. I started going to Lau Pa Sat and other Hawker centers near me and found such good quality, tasty, and inexpensive food. For some context, you can get a full meal at the Hawker Centers for $7.50 which is about USD 5 (and this is the expensive Hawker Centers). I have been told that the Hawker Center in Chinatown sells food from $2-3 Singaporean dollars! Lastly, I have noticed that the subway culture is very proper and strict here. In the mornings, it is important to stay silent in the subway. This means no talking on the phone. Furthermore, people line up in front of the subway doors instead of pushing and shoving or standing wherever they please. Everything is formal and people are considerate. Even when you are going up or down the escalator, it is important to stay on the left-hand side and leave the right-hand side free for people who want to walk up or down quickly. I am so excited to explore and learn more! (Submitted on March 24, 2024)