GRIP, Internships Abroad Strong Start to a Singaporean Summer

GRIP: Business Development in Singapore

Just two weeks into our Singapore immersion, I’ve already fallen in love with this small-in-size but plentiful-in-all-other-ways country.

From marveling at the stunning night views at Marina Bay Sands to indulging in a 10-year old’s grand piano concert at the Esplanade concert hall, I’m constantly amazed by the beauty of this country. From exploring the alleys of Little India and Chinatown to basking in the gorgeous sights of the 164-year-old Botanic Gardens, I’ve come to appreciate the historic and dedicated sights of Singapore. 

Although cliche, certain habits and nuances in this country truly require you to be here even after extensively reading guides to fully adopt. Right off the bat, driving norms were swapped with the driver on the right side and turns fully flipped, which severely tripped me (someone without her driver’s license yet…) up. Escalators were also a change, with the left side being stationary and the right side operating as a walking lane.

When eating at our first hawker center, water wasn’t easily accessible, but with the large variety of fresh juices and traditional coffees and teas, our thirst in the blazing heat was always quenched with just a few Singaporean dollars. In this extremely clean and well-kept country, napkins were also a limited resource, encouraging citizens to consistently carry a small pack of tissues. This small yet essential item turned out to be highly critical in reserving a place to sit and eat in the ever-crowded hawker centers at prime meal times.

I feel incredibly lucky that with my work located in the modern Central Business District (CBD), I have the opportunity to simultaneously enjoy Victorian architecture just across the street at the famous Lau Pa Sat hawker center, which was marked as a national monument in 1973. The bustling energy of the 8:30am and 6pm commutes in this region gives me the daily motivation to enter the fintech space I work in with intention and an excitement to grab a delicious midday meal with coworkers.

While English is the dominant language in Singapore, I appreciate being able to connect with my Chinese background and communicate with my other tongue to so many people I meet. Whether it’s having a conversation with the sweetest lady in the office, ordering a scrumptious soya chicken rice at Michelin-starred Hawker Chan, or getting asked about directions from fellow tourists in the MRT subway stations, I’ve loved being able to fully exercise my bilingualism in such a multicultural country. Over the past few weeks, I’ve also learned to adapt my ear to the “Singlish” accent. Being in this country has also exposed me to bits of other languages. Small details like the Malay terms “Jalan” being “road” and “Pulau” meaning “island” make living here feel even more real.

During my time abroad, I’ve come to terms with a whole new meaning of independence – getting used to a new public transport system, learning about the colorful currency, and tracking down every expense on a notes page. The independence that comes with being abroad is balanced by the amazing support group I’ve gotten so close to within the Penn community and the peers I’ve interacted with through the program from other universities.

My camera roll has since been enhanced by the Singaporean scenery with every individual location filling up a minimum of a row in my phone. Despite constantly being reminded to upgrade my iCloud storage, one of my favorite pastimes while exhaustively lying on my bed is scrolling through the memories already created in two weeks.

With such a strong start to the program, I’m pumped to see what the rest of the summer holds with more exploration within the country and the chance to venture off into Singapore’s neighboring countries and attractions.