Hasta la vista Singapore!

Last day of work in Singapore! It's been such a quick summer, especially with all the traveling that I've been doing the past two months. Traveling so much here makes me realize how little I understand and know the United States. I've barely even ventured out of the Northeast! When I get back I will definitely make trips to the West Coast, the South and yes, maybe even the Midwest, haha.

Singapore really is a very unique place. A hybrid of East and West, with a lot of very efficient planning and strong marketing ploys. It's ridiculous how good they are at selling you stuff. Just yesterday I realized that some restaurants give you a whole bottle of wine when you order a glass, and you can just pour however much you want without waiting for service - this way you drink more without even really realizing it! Gosh, they're so smart. I'm going to miss the shopping malls at every MRT station, the ATMs that litter the entire island, the hawker stands, the humidity (well maybe not this last one, haha). Singapore is such a safe city that I feel like I've really been embolded here to try new experiences and be more carefree (but its probably also part of the ploy to encourage us to consume also though >.<).

Just by being here, I've learned a lot. I've become exposed to such different cultures, histories, regimes and peoples. The Singapore government is so unique - the efficiency and amount of control they have is truly amazing and they're able to propel the country forward at such a rapid speed. Not something that the U.S. can imitate of course but still, the prosperity of this small country is impressive. I've come to appreciate the complexities of SE Asia politics, though I've certainly only scratched the surface. Going to Myanmar was especially eye-opening.

I'm not sure if I would come back to Singapore just for being in SE Asia, but who knows where life will bring me - and I certainly wouldn't complain about an opportunity to work in Singapore. It's an amazing place that sucks in foreigners, it seduces you once you get here with all the VIP-ness.
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