So I have been lucky enough to call Singapore my home for a month now and, finally, I am beginning to gain a tan that stops people instantly knowing I’m British through my skin looking like it has never seen the light of day. Although the sun burnt nose is still an indication, it is albeit slightly more subtle…
It has so far been the hardest yet most incredible experience I have ever had and I could not be happier that I decided to come on exchange! At the beginning; the campus, the culture, the food were all confusing as hell. Jet lag on top of all this confusion meant lots of self-pity and skypes home begging someone to book me the next flight home (what’s £600 between friends?). I spent the majority of the first few days wearing sunglasses so as to save anyone I came into contact with the awkwardness of not knowing how to deal with the crying exchange student, who was wandering about trying to get her new life together on a campus bigger than her home town. However, upon finding my feet, and more importantly friends, I have come to love campus life and all the fabulousness that comes with it (there is an infinity pool at my residences?!).
Singapore is so diverse in culture: Little India, Chinatown, Orchard and Arab Street have all hosted fantastic nights, notably a street party that led to us dancing literally on the ceiling in a bar, that have diminished any longings I’ve had for Oceana or Sobar. Furthermore, I have located a Starbucks that means I do not have to have noodles and chicken for all three meals- horrah! (Quick side note about food: never order porridge here, they make it with fish…).
I have already been fortunate enough to visit both Thailand and Bali for long weekends away, both being equally incredible trips. Thailand was jam packed full of hiking to see sunsets, visits to temples, biking around Pai (leading to the worst helmet hair I have ever encountered; imagine Monica from Friends) and eating enough food that I had to be rolled back to the airport.
A definite highlight of the trip was the night market, which essentially meant solidly eating for four hours. Whilst everyone else browsed the jewellery and clothing, I took advantage of eating 7 rounds of food. Pictured is the world’s best pancakes (yes I ate every single one and I regret nothing).
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Bali was a lot more relaxed and essentially involved me pretending to be hipster on an Island full of man buns and girls who surf. The island was so incredibly beautiful and was inhabited by some of the nicest people I have ever met.
Above is a private beach called Karma that we managed to sneak onto and, thus, got treated like royalty (free cocktails and king prawns delivered straight to your bed). Safe to say we didn’t leave until we were the last ones on the beach and the staff were starting to give us the eye. One of my favourite memories though is when we went to Potato Head Beach Club, which was again super fancy, to watch the sunset.
