Three Places, One Summer: A soundtrack to my GRIP journey through Taipei, India, and Singapore

GRIP: KK Fund in Taiwan

Three Places, One Summer: A soundtrack to my GRIP journey through Taipei, India, and Singapore.

Taipei — Coming Home

1. 小城夏天 — LBI利比

Every summer begins somewhere, and mine began at home. Before airports, internships, and new cities, there were familiar Taipei streets, humid evenings, late-night convenience store runs, and spending time with family and friends. Looking back, those ordinary moments became the foundation for everything that followed.

2. Somewhere Only We Know — Keane

In Taipei, I found myself appreciating the places that quietly make a city feel like home—my favorite cafés, familiar MRT stations, and neighborhoods I’d walked countless times. This song reminds me that every city has places that only hold meaning because of the memories we’ve built there.

3. 時間膠囊 — Ryan.B / 丛琳潼

At the time, Taipei simply felt like everyday life. Looking back, it became a ‘time capsule’ preserving the beginning of one of the most memorable summers of my college experience.

4. Vienna — Billy Joel

As someone who often thinks about the next milestone, this song reminded me to slow down. Before beginning my internship, I wanted to appreciate where I was instead of rushing toward what came next.

India — A Journey Into the Unexpected

5. Ilahi — Arijit Singh

My stop in India wasn’t originally meant to be the highlight of the summer, but it quickly became one of the most memorable chapters. Every street, conversation, and meal introduced me to something unfamiliar, and this song perfectly captures the excitement of discovering a place through curiosity rather than expectation.

6. Safarnama — Lucky Ali

Safarnama literally means ‘travelogue,’ making it the perfect soundtrack for this part of my journey. India reminded me that meaningful travel isn’t just about arriving somewhere—it’s about embracing everything that happens along the way.

7. Phir Se Ud Chala — Mohit Chauhan

Travel has a way of pushing you outside your comfort zone. India challenged me to become more adaptable and open-minded, reminding me that some of the best experiences come from stepping into the unfamiliar.

Singapore — Discovering Independence

8. Walking on a Dream — Empire of the Sun

Arriving in Singapore felt like stepping into a city where innovation and everyday life coexist seamlessly. Between working at KK Fund, learning about Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem, and exploring the city after work, every day felt like an opportunity to discover something new.

9. Good Life — OneRepublic

As the weeks went on, Singapore became much more than my internship location. Morning MRT commutes to the office, hawker centre lunches with colleagues, evenings exploring neighborhoods, and weekends discovering different corners of the city gradually became my everyday routine. This song captures the moment when a place that once felt unfamiliar quietly began to feel like home.

10. Home — Kit Chan

One of Singapore’s most iconic songs, Home took on a new meaning during my internship. I realized that home is not only where you grow up—it can also be a place where you build routines, friendships, and a sense of belonging.

11. Location Unknown — HONNE

Some of my favorite memories happened after work, wandering through neighborhoods without a plan. Singapore’s public transportation made it easy to explore beyond the city center, and many of my favorite cafés, bookstores, and hawker centres were places I stumbled upon simply by getting off at a different MRT stop.

12. The Nights — Avicii

By the end of the summer, I realized that my greatest takeaway wasn’t just the professional experience. It was the people I met, the confidence I gained, and the memories I made across three countries. Every time I hear this song, I’m reminded that this journey was about much more than an internship—it was about learning to embrace new experiences wherever they take me.