Exploring my New Home

-- Written Jan 30th --

Happy (now belated) Chinese New Year/Gung Xa Fa Cai!

It's definitely been a while, wow. I am currently on the bus back to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur as I spent Chinese New Year with my family in Cameron Highlands, in Malaysia.  School has gotten hectic very quickly but I want everyone in Canada to know I'm alive and well! I feel that the school system here at Nanyang is surprisingly similar to that of Queen's and it has helped with the adjustment. I actually like the setup much more here with all the different sub-schools being interconnected. It presents a sense of cohesion that virtually doesn't exist at Queen's. I have gotten lost in so many buildings though… so I can't say I haven't felt like a lost Frosh once again. 

'BOH' Tea Plantation Hills, Cameron Highlands

Some cute (and cold) tourists!

Above are a couple photos from our Cameron Highlands trip. We got to visit the tea plantations that the Highlands are known for and explored the quaint little town below the hills.

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First thing I want to comment on regarding Singapore is that I'm so happy with my living arrangement! The hall I live in feels a bit hotel-y but I am lucky that I have AC (aka aircon) so I'm not complaining too much. The humidity was hard at first but I have adjusted, so things are a lot less terrible nowadays. Another thing I love is my roommate Valerie. She doesn't have Facebook therefore probably won't know this post exists so I'm just going to rave about how much I love her.

Valerie is a Singapore local, this is her first year and second semester living in our resident. If I talk to you regularly, you probably already know about my overflowing love for my roommate. She might actually be one of the coolest human beings I've ever met. The first night I came in, she was so welcoming and gave me the wifi password, offered me lemongrass lotion from Taiwan and said we could share the fridge. Valerie, you had me at wifi. She sometimes brings me home food without my asking, because apparently one of her clubs gives her free food at times. I am SO #blessed.

Okay, that's a summary of my platonic feels for Valerie, let's move on: SINGAPORE!

This city is amazing. The list of all the things I want to see was long to begin with and continues to grow. My first check off the list was a visit to the Chinese Gardens. The Gardens were so beautiful, and I want to say probably one of the most beautiful and peaceful gardens I've ever seen. I spent about two hours just walking around and being alone and it was a nice stroll. I arrived after closing hours for many gated areas so unfortunately I couldn't visit the shrines in the Japanese Gardens or the turtle museum, so I will definitely be back.

 

My view from the top of the tower (right)

After the gardens, I went to Chinatown. It was decorated with lanterns and Roosters everywhere in preparation for Chinese New Year, which apparently is quite big as there is a large Chinese population here. To be honest, Chinatown has been incredibly saturated with people each time I've gone, and it's almost too overwhelming, but I end up buying a lot of food and random items for very cheap. It can be a fun place to be if you like having your personal space taken from you!

What will the Year of the Rooster bring to you?
Probably good luck, fortune and prosperity

To play with cute dogs

I've also visited Bugis a few times. Bugis train station is the center of many must-sees as well, including a large tourist market known as 'Bugis Street', Haji lane and Arab Street (have yet to really explore these last two). I ended up going about two weeks ago with a couple new friends Kelly and Suwen, also from Ontario! We spent two hours getting distracted at the market, but we made it to our end goal:

Aside from the city itself, one of the best parts of exchange so far is the amazing connections I've made here. I definitely have a disproportionate number of friends from Ontario, and I've met many other Queen's students in the weirdest ways… but I've also met people from places as close as Australia to as far as Europe. It feels like frosh week all over again; we are all so eager to meet and befriend each other. A exciting time indeed. 

Another amazing connection: my parents came to Singapore to visit me after my first week of school! DKM for showing a slightly emotional side for a moment, but since I grew up away from my biological parents and siblings, I feel like a little girl again getting excited to see family and to have had my parents there for my 'first day of school'… it is really nice (:

Cute tourist photos at Marina Bay

A photo I snapped quickly while walking between Marina Bay Sands Hotel
 and the Supertrees

One of my brothers' high school friends Janice and I showed them around Singapore, especially Marina Bay Sands, the Supertrees, as well as the Botanical Gardens and Chinatown. They love the city as well, and also commented on how hot it is here compared to the Philippines… which is both funny and sad, because I wish it wasn’t this hot (and apparently will only get hotter).

Regardless I love this city, I love exchange and I am so excited for all this travelling I get to do! In fact, a group of us will be travelling to Bali/Java, Indonesia in less than 3 weeks, and Valerie and I will be jetting off to Japan in May!

..."Running out of pages in her passport, hanging with some girls I've never seen before" are words Drake once sang about me.

Speaking of songs, there's a song that makes me think of my current home:

"Valerie" By the Zutons/Amy Winehouse either version works. Dedicated to my main girl Valerie TXH <3 

Cha Gheill!

Arlene