First few weeks in Singapore!
By: Giulia Conti Fruet, Wharton ’25
Giulia’s Absolute Internship Group!
Business Development in Singapore
As an international student from Brazil, I presumptuously assumed that I was used to the experience of living abroad. Although living in the United States prepared me for some of the challenges of this program (being far from my family and hometown for example), being in Singapore is a completely different experience. Before last week I had never been to this country or even this continent before. I had never had an immersive experience in Eastern culture and, although I did some research before applying, knew very little about life in Singapore.
As much as you hear about how modern and beautiful this place is I promise it does not do it justice. My cab driver described it as a “city in a garden” and I don’t think there is any better way of explaining how the buildings blend in with the multitude of parks and natural elements. When I applied I was understandably nervous about navigating the visa process, finding an internship, and being across the world in a place where I did not know anyone. I was pleasantly surprised at how Absolute Internship (the company that organized my cohort program) facilitated the entire process for me. They started my visa application, found a company that aligned with my interests, and dealt with all the technicalities that tend to stress you out every time you travel (SIM card, public transport card, accommodations, etc).
Furthermore, we are staying in an incredible co-living space with almost 30 other students from across the US who are also working with Absolute. This living situation coupled with the numerous events planned by the company (happy hour, day and weekend trips, networking events, etc) has made it very easy to form a community and make friends. We all get to explore the city together, and this support system made me feel much more comfortable in a foreign place.
Now that a week has passed and we’re settling into our routines, I have been even more enchanted by Singaporean culture. Public transportation is clean and effective, everyone is extremely welcoming and polite and even if they don’t speak English they will attempt to start a conversation even if it’s
through gestures and half-sentences. My favorite part is the food. Singapore is extremely expensive, however, food can be very cheap.
Our program leaders and my coworkers introduced us to hawker centers. They are similar to food courts with a lot of options of local cuisines and you can pay 3 to 6 Singaporean Dollars for a meal (and they’re serving sizes are definitely NOT small). I love eating at these places because it’s when I feel most immersed in the culture here. You will see a lot of workers enjoying their lunch break and the majority of the people will speak Chinese.
It’s only been a week but I have fallen in love with this place and its culture. The people here will truly do their best to make you feel welcome and at home.
The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to intern or conduct research abroad for 8 to 12 weeks over the summer. Participants gain career-enhancing experience and global exposure that is essential in a global workforce.