Singapore

Two weeks ago, I left the island of Java for the first time in 7 months. It was like tasting and feeling freedom at the same time. I desperately needed a change of scenery. I chose Singapore to be my first getaway because my family friend, Monica, currently lives there. When I booked my ticket last July, I was excited to explore Singapore. But as my departure date came closer, I became more excited to see Monica than Singapore. I was desperate to reconnect with someone outside of the Peace Corps bubble.

Monica had to work during the weekdays, but we still managed to catch up each night. She took me out twice to enjoy Singapore’s nightlife. She even convinced me to smoke a $40 Cuban cigar on a rooftop bar. What luxury!

During the weekdays, I explored Singapore by myself. This was the first time I had ever explored a foreign country alone. It was exactly as fun as I thought it’d be! I didn’t make an agenda or force myself to go to touristy places. Each morning I looked at a map, found an area that interested me, and then went for it! I liked the idea of exploring a city and not being tied down to a strict agenda.  

On the first day, I literally sat inside Monica’s apartment enjoying the air conditioning and free wifi. I barely got up out of her bed. When I finally did muster up enough motivation to leave, I ended up across the street from her apartment building and into a comfy seat at the movie theater. It was a lazy, rainy day in Singapore and I felt as if I had lived there for years.

On the second day, I acted like a true tourist and headed to the Asian Civilization Museum. When I got to the museum, tangled wires, loudspeakers, and a microphone scattered the atrium floor. I asked the staff if here was a performance going on later. They said, “Yes, there is a jazz band playing here later today.” Obviously I stuck around to enjoy the live music!

A college professor from Singapore asked his students to play a few jazz numbers at the museum. They played songs by Duke Ellington and Frank Sinatra. They even played Moon River, one of my personal favorites! I’m so glad I went to the museum on that particular day. I think I enjoyed the band more than the museum itself!

Overall, Singapore was fun, but I did not fit into the local culture. Everyone was dressed in expensive outfits complemented with Louis Vuitton bags, Kate Spade shoes, and Gucci watches. I did not fit in with my long, hippy flower shirt and my baggie t-shirt that reads “Help the Homeless.”

I once read an article stating that a country’s best quality is also the country’s worst quality. Singaopre’s best and worst quality is….

Drum roll please….

It’s perfect.

It’s perfect in the sense that everything is clean and orderly. There are many rules and regulations in Singapore. These are the ones that intrigued me the most.

 1) Each animal is quarantined and observed for a month before being allowed into the country.  This ensures that the animals is disease-free and safe to enter the country.

2) The license to own a car is sometimes valued higher than the car itself (this expensive license helps regulate the number of cars let into the country).

3) If you are found homeless in Singapore, the government will place you in housing until you land on your feet.

Overall, the country is also incredibly safe. According to Monica, you can leave your wallet on the table of a busy café, come back an hour later, and discover your wallet untouched. She also told me that many Singapore residents chose to leave their doors unlocked. Now that’s trust!

However, the country has no flare, no zest. Everything in Singapore looks and feels  brand new. It’s as if they forced the personality out of Singapore and left only the orderly, well-dressed people. Don’t get me wrong. Singapore was great, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.