SINGAPORE
I recently (i.e. three days ago) took a new job for a company whose headquarters are in Singapore. Although I would be part of the San Francisco office, my first few months on the job would be in their home base. And so now I find myself in a corporate apartment in the Holland Village district of Singapore.
Before I came here I, of course, did my research on the city-state. I read about its British background, how everyone who lives here came from someplace else, and how there is a huge expat community. Great, I thought, that sounds like just about any other former British colony that I have lived in. I envisioned a mix of Asian and Southeast-Asian cultures with colonial undertones. What I didn't expect was what hit me in the face when I landed here: the opposite.
Everything is in English. Street-signs, menus, directions, warnings about not carrying durian: they're all in English. Not only that, the atmosphere is really that of a British colony. It also smells like a British colony. Historically, it makes perfect sense and now that I think about it, it's my initial assumptions that didn't really make sense. But I had expected that, being smack in the middle of Southeast Asia, it would be, you know, more Southeast Asian.
That said, my first impression of Singapore was one of awe. Sitting there in my taxi from the airport, I drove by slightly run down public housing one minute and the next, the beautiful modern architecture of the Singapore Casino area. Then through Rain tree-lined streets and then by the biggest harbor that I have ever seen in my life. The number of cranes, ships and cargo containers had me glued to the taxi window like a 5-year-old.
Many I spoke to warned me of the Singapore heat. But I have to say I love it. I'm not sure if it's the sweltering Washington DC summers of my childhood or the few years in Barbados and Sydney that got me addicted to this kind of weather, but I have to say that the heat and humidity just make me happy. Granted, I know it's not for everyone, and I can see people here really struggle with it, but I think it's wonderful.
I'm excited to start exploring Singapore. To dig deeper into the culture here as well as discover what all those food lovers are talking about!
As I type this, my fingers are cold. Earlier today I found myself chilly even though I was wearing a sweater and was indoors. The days are getting shorter, and the trees are bare. Heat and humidity can only be found in the steam sauna here. Lu cky u!
ReplyDeleteThat casino looks awesome! I don't understand the lotus structure. Please go on the top floor of the flat top structure!!
I am sitting here in our "sun room" with lots of sun shining our Christmas tree and other real plants, nice temperature and gemuetlich. I remember Singapore as beautiful wide streets, beautiful modern buildings, beautiful parks with lots of orchids, nice friendly people, mostly Chinese looking, wonderful food and HEAT/Humidity!
ReplyDeleteGood luck and have fun :)