Adventure Singapore

3 months ago I moved to Singapore for three reasons in no particular order…1) to find work, 2) for an adventure and 3) to spend away my savings and claim UN funding for people below the poverty line.
I succeeded in 2 ½ out of 3.

Singapore is a lovely country. There’s nothing more I can add to the thousands of descriptions that you can find in travel guides about the country's multicultural heritage, awesome governance and perfect mix between east and west. It is all of that and more. You just have to experience it. For me of course the best part about Singapore was the food at the hawker centers. Apparently eating at a hawker center is on the list in a book called “1000 things to do before you die”. I don’t know if doing the same thing 1000 times counts…cos if it does…I guess I’m good to go. There’s no place I went to more than a hawker center (hmm…in speech I should be very careful when I say this.”Hawker” sounds very much like something else…and considering prostitution is legal in parts of Singapore too…it could really give the wrong idea…..anyway).

The last 3 months has really exposed me to some very interesting experiences. At times I’ve gone through trying periods of isolation where for days I’ve gone without talking to people face to face because I knew only a very very limited number of people here. Then there are always the constant hits at one’s confidence when a lot of your job applications just get ignored and in the rare cases, when someone actually takes the time to reject them. To add to it, there was the constant watch on my budget to make sure I could sustain myself for as long as possible ....and yet often being penny foolish, pound foolisher (ok ok…”more foolish” for your puritans). Finding the right balance between spending, on doing something that would take away the stress of being unemployed, vs saving, so I could stay here longer, was always a battle. Of course it was no Will Smith “In the pursuit of Happyness” kind of stuff. It was more like staying at home or walking vs taking the mrt to someplace nice. Or a battle between a meal that would make me happy vs a tiny sandwich. I think the sandwich won more often…

Of course there are some wonderful memories too. Catching up with visiting friends and lazing on the beaches of Sentosa was awesome. Just walking around and exploring different parts was always fun. One very distinct memory is sitting alone on a pavement outside Mustafa Center contemplating what the hell I was doing with my life amidst the bazaar like hustle and bustle of Little India while a nearby shop blasted out a hindi song on full volume. (sorry about that long sentence…I have no idea where to put the commas).

But I think the thing I’ll remember the most about Singapore is the people. Of course our MBA cohort already knows how awesome Serling is. Even other people I’ve met are quiet nice. Balkis introduced me to someone who became my mentor by default and constantly encouraged me. The family in whose house I rent a room has been very kind. I also reconnected with my cousin who I hardly spoken to before moving here which was really nice. When I leave from here later this week, more than the H-A-W-K-E-R centers, it’s the Singaporeans I will miss. Really la.

Hyderabad, Phoenix, Coventry, Singapore. Next stop….Hong Kong.