Singapore, a colorful place
From the first step on the airplane, I was surprised by the flight attendants on Singapore Airlines. Their uniforms were unique and unfamiliar to me, and many seemed to have Indian roots. For a moment, I wondered aren't most Singaporeans Chinese heritage? That was what I had assumed, based on what I'd seen in the news and my limited knowledge. It felt like a promising adventure from the beginning.
When I landed at Changi Airport, I passed smoothly through the automatic gate using my passport. But after that, I had a small hiccup. A staff member at the SIM card counter wasn't very friendly. I had pre-ordered a SIM online, but the plan I chose turned out to be unavailable in reality, even though they still listed it online. Without internet access of my own, I had to go to the provider's office in the city to change it and in the end, I even had to switch to a different provider to fit my trip plan. Just a minor issue early on, but everything went well afterward. I also took a tour through the different terminals at the airport. They were truly vast and impressive.
Just like in Korea or other countries I've visited, jus like I always do in new places, I explored as much as I could. I went to tourist spots, tried local food, visited Nanyang Technological University, used public transportation, observed the culture, browsed shopping centers, and even went to IKEA.
Visiting Singapore was my first time being in a truly multicultural country. I was excited, but it also sparked a lot of curiosity. On the subway, I saw a student and an elderly woman with different skin tones sitting next to each other. It was fascinating to me. They share the same nationality but I wondered what do they feel?. Somehow, I sensed a distance. Maybe it was just a normal gap between strangers or generations. I also saw a diverse group of secondary school students, and they seemed to get along well together talking and laughing together. For them, this diversity might be a normal part of life. But for me, someone raised in a more culturally uniform environment, this kind of everyday diversity was new. Growing up, my friends and I looked quite similar. I only thought about differences when seeing people from far away places like Europe, Africa, or America, not in my daily life or classroom.
When it comes to language, Singapore is different from countries like Vietnam or Korea. People don't all speak just one language. While English is commonly used, there are many smaller groups that speak different languages as part of their everyday life. This wasn't too strange to me, because when I lived in Korea, I was a foreigner, and many of my friends were from different countries too. We all spoke different languages. But what I mean here is something different. In Singapore, the diversity of language isn't just among foreigners. It's part of the country itself.
I had heard so many beautiful things about Singapore before coming. My experience felt a bit different from those idealized descriptions. Maybe my expectations were too high or maybe I simply didn't spend enough time there to fully understand it. Or maybe my time in Korea had such a strong impact on me that it became a benchmark for everywhere else I go. Singapore is quite small too but within that small space, it holds something impressive: a mix of development and multicultural life that feels rare.
One thing I really liked was the international work environment. I remember walking around Marina Bay with my Egyptian travel buddy, watching people from many countries move through the city, between tall buildings after office hours. That image stayed with me --- how beautiful it is to see so many people from different places working and living together.
The cost of food and souvenirs wasn't too bad, at least compared to Seoul when I was there. But the room fee was definitely expensive.
There's one memory I have to mention: the morning I had to leave for Malaysia, I had a stomachache, probably from something I ate at a food court the night before. I bought some medicine and went to a noodle restaurant, lying down on a chair because I was so tired. It was still early for lunch, so I was one of the only customer, and the staff didn't seem to mind.
Later, on my way to the border with Malaysia, I started to feel better. I had a conversation with someone on the bus. At one point, I left my luggage underground while I quickly went to a convenience store to spend some of the cash I had left. I ended up not using much of it and I still have some of that money now. When I returned, the security team told me I shouldn't leave my luggage unattended. They had noticed something unusual and responded quickly. That made me feel seen and safe.
I almost forgot. Singapore uses left-side transportation. It was my first time experiencing that, and I was quite confused at first, especially when trying to figure out how to take the bus. The bus stops were interesting too. It seemed like they were thoughtfully designed with the passenger in mind, knowing people would be waiting, watching for the bus to arrive.
These were just first impressions, from only a few days in the country. But they meant a lot. To me, Singapore is a must-visit destination. If I had to describe Singapore in one word, I'd call it colorful.
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