[Week 1-2] Settling In and Exploring

Classes have begun. On the off days: solo trips around Central and Eastern Singapore.

Week 1: January 12 - January 18

Looking back of what I've done this week, I guess the exchangers I've met were right. I really explored almost "all of" Singapore. It is an exaggeration as I've only visited a few of the major landmarks of Singapore. But I was surprised because I thought I would take things slow initially instead of diving straight into exploring.

Making connections here isn't too hard! You just need to step out of your comfort zone. For the first day, I didn't want to eat dinner alone and asked the RA if she would to eat together. She already ate HOWEVER she texted in our floor's group "open jio" which meant "open invite" group dinner! Next thing I know, I was eating dinner with a group of local students. I was a bit nervous because of course, I was a foreigner and even though they spoke English, it had a Singaporean accent. I tried listening the best I could since I didn't want to be rude and continuously ask them to repeat what they said. Overall, they were very welcoming!

One week later Comment: I believe I got a hang of Singlish! I don't remember myself asking for things to be repeated as often now :)

Below are the highlights of my week~

Jan 14: National Museum of Singapore, Plaza Singapura

Jan 15: Hangout with my local buddy (Rifle Range Nature Park, Beauty World, Chinatown, queia) and Welcome Tea for exchangers

Jan 18: Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Ce la Vie

Week 2: January 19 - January 25

This is when I realized that Singapore as MANY shopping centers, plazas, and malls. After that realization, I was planned to make a tier list of all the shopping places I've been to. Will it be worth it? Who knows...

Highlights of this week~

Jan 21: ArtScience Museum (Studio Ghibli Museum), Suntec City

Jan 23: NUS Museum

Jan 24: Chinatown (Maxwell Side)

Jan 25: Raffles Place, Raffles City, Marina Square