Adjusting: Clark Quay, Marina Bay, and Chinatown

I have been in Singapore for about five days now, although it seems like it has been so much longer! It's amazing how much can happen in such little time. I can see why it's good to post blogs more often, because now I have a ton of information to squeeze into a post! These last few days have been spent adjusting to the new weather and time zone, exploring a few things around Singapore, and most importantly relaxing before classes start (today!). 

Pool on campus, I'll be visiting this a lot!

It is about 90 degrees (F) and humid here almost every day, a big switch from the snow I left at home! Although it can be a little too much at times, I am finding ways to deal- like going to the pool every day. Also, I think I am adjusting to the time zone pretty well! I have been lucky enough to get pretty normal sleep for the last few nights. I've been told to stop comparing the time at home to here because it will "just make me more tired." 

Me with the Merlion

A few nights ago we ventured to Clark Quay, a strip of restaurants and bars downtown. Because NTU is pretty far away from the main area of the city, this was my first experience seeing all the lights and buildings. We then walked down by Marina Bay and saw the infamous "merlion" and the Marina Bay Sands resort, home of the infinity pool. The entire area was so beautiful all lit up at night! 

Marina Bay

Ice Kachang

Yesterday we explored Chinatown. The streets were full of little shops selling various trinkets or medicines and there was also a hawker center (local food center). This hawker center had a lot wider variety of Chinese dishes than served on campus. You could order things such as chicken feet or intestines (eww!). However, there were several stands that served different types of fruit juice that were so delicious! Many different options from papaya to honey pineapple to watermelon to kiwi... very refreshing after walking around a lot. We also ordered a dessert called "ice kachang" which was basically shaved ice that you could get with a variety of toppings such as strawberry, mango, jelly bubble things, and even beans. It was very interesting, and not too bad if you stick to the areas of the toppings you like. 

Hindu temple

One of the coolest things about Chinatown were the different temples we could visit. Interestingly, there was both a Hindu temple and a Buddhist temple in Chinatown, both were absolutely gorgeous. When entering the Buddhist temple, we needed to make sure our legs and shoulders were covered so they supplied us with shawls and fabric to wrap around ourselves. It was so interesting to see the intricate detail inside of the temples and also to see the difference between the two. 

Buddhist Temple

Covering ourselves so we could go in the temple

 I should also probably say that Singapore in general, but especially NTU's campus, is absolutely gorgeous! One of the most surprising things I found here is how green everything is. Although Singapore is a huge city, it is very clean and full of green trees and plants. I feel like I am living in a jungle! I've even been told you can see monkeys sometimes by some of the halls. 

View from my dorm window

                                                                         

Art and Media Building

I should be sleeping

Well, my plane leaves for Singapore in approximately 9 hours, so of course sleeping is out of the question! Bags are packed (and within the weight limit- I checked :)), electronics are charged, papers are in order, and I have just been racking my brain to remember "that thing I'm forgetting." I have a huge day (and then some) of travelling ahead of me with a total of 32 hours of transit before reaching Singapore, and a total of 39 hours before reaching my dorm. It all starts with an early departure (8am) from Traverse City to Chicago, where I will meet up with Amanda, a friend from CMU who will be finishing the journey with me! (yay!) After about a 6 hour layover in O'Hare I will depart for Singapore, with a brief stop for fueling along the way in Hong Kong. I am scheduled to arrive in Singapore at 1:30am Jan 9 local time (1:30pm Jan 8, MI time), at which time a (hopefully smooth) trip through customs awaits us. Then, we will kill a little time before checking into our dorms at 8am, and get right to business with NTU exchange student orientation at 10am! I foresee a lot of caffeine in my future for this part of the trip :) 

I am so grateful for the amazing Christmas break I had! I was able to see a lot of family and friends, celebrate my birthday, enjoy a little northern-Michigan winter by snowmobiling and skiing, and spend a lot of time just relaxing. However, I think it is all FINALLY beginning to sink in and, more than anything, I am ready to get to Singapore and get settled! So long, Michigan! See you in 4 and a half months :)

(Also, interesting fact I learned about Singapore TODAY: It is located at approximately 1.4 degrees north latitude! That's right, 1! With four months of that heat, even I better be able to come back with a tan..)
   

View of my dorm at NTU- Ready for the warm weather!
(http://www.ntu.edu.sg/hso/Undergraduate/HallsofResidence/Pages/Hall12.aspx)

Fitting my life into a large suitcase, duffel-bag, and backpack.
Huge thank you goes to two of my best friends for helping, you know I would
be last-minute rushing if not for you!

Singapore?

                For my first blog post, I would just like to address some common questions that have come up when telling people of my decision to study abroad this spring in Singapore. I have gotten a very wide range of reactions, from “Singapore is great, you are going to have such an amazing time!” to “Umm… why? Did you get to pick where you are going?” Yes, I did in fact get to choose my location, and I could not be happier with the decision! I am looking forward to living on an exotic island that very few can say they have been, meeting people from around the world, and experiencing life in one of the most clean, modern, and safe metropolises. Also, I am not ashamed to say that I am more than a little happy to be giving up a freezing snow-filled Michigan winter for the 90 degree weather of Southeast Asia.

                Overall, I think the majority of people just don’t know that much about Singapore. I’ll be the first to admit that before beginning the study abroad process, I was uninformed about Singaporean life and culture. So, I have compiled a nice list of interesting facts about the country!

Interesting Facts About Singapore

1. Singapore is both a country and a city. It is made up of one main island (the city of Singapore), along with a lot of other small islands.

http://www.asiaonline.com.au/singapore/attractions.html

2. It is located in Southeast Asia- South of Malaysia and North of Indonesia

3. English is, in fact, a national language of Singapore in addition to Chinese, Malay, and Tamil   

4. Singapore is known for having several strange laws which they are very strict about, because of this it is one of the cleanest countries in the world. 

http://www.singaporeaninlondon.com/2008/10/5-reasons-why-singaporeans-return-to.html

       Examples: The sale of gum is forbidden              
                          It is illegal to spit and jaywalk in Singapore, with fees of up to $600 

5. Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where I will be going to school, is rated in the top 50 universities in the world. 

http://www1.spms.ntu.edu.sg/~oson/

6. Singapore is one of the greenest cities in the world, nicknamed “The Garden City”

A building at NTU where I will be going to school! 
http://greendesign1.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Green-Building-Design-of-School-of-Art-Singapore.jpg

7. The world’s first night zoo, “the Night Safari,” is located in Singapore (Interesting fact: I LOVE ZOOS)

http://www.cbstour.com/distour.php?no=110&type=Excursion%20Tour#

8. This really cool pool is also located in Singapore! You know the one that people are always posting on Pinterest?

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/innovation/city-solutions/

This is a very limited amount of Singaporean facts, but every day I learn something new to add to the random list I have already been compiling. As the days keep flying by before my departure date of January 7, I am not only unbelievably excited but also incredibly nervous to begin this new adventure. I know that this experience will be one of the most difficult, yet absolutely rewarding things I have done thus far in my life and I cannot wait to start this next chapter! I would now like to close it out with these inspiring words from Mark Twain that are very near and dear to my heart: 

http://lucieonthelam.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/travel_quote2.jpg