Goodbye Singapore Sports Council, truly a great work place with amazing people.

Goodbye Tanty and Haz, my caring bosses and mentors.

Goodbye kaya toast, my favorite breakfast.

Goodbye Josh and Nuraini, true and loyal friends.

Goodbye Clarke Quay: place full of bars, clubs, fun memories.

Goodbye Jon. We made a great mismatched intern team.

Goodbye chilli sauce. Ketchup will never be the same.

Goodbye fellow interns. Thanks for the fun lunches and pool games.

Goodbye Superb Hub, not exactly ‘superb’ hostel but still a good home.

Goodbye wise old cab drivers, the best tour guides in the city.

Goodbye durian, forever the weirdest fruit I’ve ever tasted.

Goodbye Asian Youth Games, the big event that was as fun as it was stressful.

Goodbye creepy drifters who wander around my area.

Goodbye NTU returnees, always great to have you guys drop in for a visit.

Goodbye Arab St. I’ll miss the sheisha bars and loud Muslim prayers every few hours.

Goodbye friendly Philippino guy at 7-11. Thanks for the late-night snacks!

Goodbye ridiculously elaborate shopping malls. Too many to count.

Goodbye local accent…that I might have picked up-lah

Goodbye Tiger Beer, my trusty beverage of choice.

Goodbye MRT, best way to travel.

Goodbye Sentosa, touristy beach but it was there when I had Florida withdrawals.

Goodbye McDelivery; my stomach rejoices.

Goodbye Little India and Mustafa Center aka Indian Wal-Mart.

Goodbye laksa, spicy seafood, rotti prata, and other delicious local food.

Goodbye exotic travels. Still so much to see…

Goodbye NTU, still fresh in my mind as the place where it all began. 

Goodbye Temasek, Singapura, Lion City…

Goodbye Singapore! I will return.

Tonight I had a big Singaporean dinner with some of my coworkers and they were anxious to have me finally taste the spiky local fruit known as durian. The whole seven months I’ve been here, I have been afraid to try it because of the horror stories I heard of people who found it utterly disgusting. But many locals love it and I knew I had to give it a try before I left.

The so-called “king of fruits” is found only in Southeast Asia and is known for it’s tough spiny skin, unique flavor, and pungent smell. The odor can be smelt even through its thick skin and many people can’t stand it. This has led to durian being banned on the buses and trains in Singapore and it was even featured as a challenge on the TV show, Fear Factor. 

For me, the scent wasn’t terrible but it was not nice by any means. It reminded me of the scent of a supermarket’s fresh produce section…gone bad.

After ripping open the husk, you find the large walnut-sized seeds inside covered with a thick, custard-like flesh. This is the edible part and the taste is truly unique. It’s difficult to describe and my taste buds seemed completely confused. One moment i found it deliciously sweet and the next moment it was bitter and almost onion-like. But the texture was soft and gooey, and I actually found myself kind of enjoying it.

My coworkers couldn’t have been happier to see me enjoying their local delicacy but they quickly bought another local fruit, the mangosteen, to help me wash down the bitter aftertaste. The mangosteen is like the yin to durian’s yang. It’s small and the inner sections are cool and juicy. Great for a dessert.

So in the end, the infamous durian proved to be not quite as bad as I thought it would be. I’m glad I finally got a chance to try this crazy fruit and I recommend trying it to anyone who comes to this region feeling adventurous. You may hate it, you may love it, but you’ll certainly never forget it.

Singapore is a massive metropolis of a city with plenty of buildings that form an impressive skyline. There are many iconic skyscrapers with unique architecture and many more are being built right now.

Out of all these buildings there is one that sticks out as my favorite. The Parkview Square building lies about two blocks from where I live and since the area has fewer tall buildings, this one stands out like an imposing overlord of the domain.

It struck me as unique because of its very un-Singaporean design. It sports an art deco style, complete with gargoyles and statues, that makes it look like it would be more at home in old New York or Gotham City. I have actually heard some people refer to it as the ‘Batman building’ when it looms overhead at night with an eerie glow. I was really curious about its origins and asked a old cab driver about it (I learn a lot from these guys).

Apparently, the building is not as old as it looks. A Taiwanese tycoon had it built in 2002 and it is mostly used for office space. However, the ridiculously rich foreigner is very picky about who rents out space and would rather see a space remain empty than rent to an ‘unsuitable’ tenant.

As if the building wasn’t weird enough, the bar in the lobby, dubbed Heaven, has a three-storey high wine chiller and when people order a bottle, their server will put on goofy angel wings, strap himself to a harness, and ‘fly’ up to the higher parts of the shelf to grab the bottle.

So that’s Parkview Square: the skyscraper  I walk by every day that reminds me that the city I reside in is just as crazy and full of surprises as the ‘Batman Building’ itself.

Singapore’s National Day is not until August 9 but last night I was lucky to get a sneak-peek at the huge celebration to take place.

The event is so big that many practice shows are held to warm up for the main event and last night was the official dress rehearsal. A friend of mine was able to get a hold of a couple of the elusive tickets and she thought I’d like to join because I wouldn’t be here for the real thing. I was in.

The event started around 5pm and was held in a huge open-air stadium on the bay with the downtown skyline in the background. A main part of the show was a chapter-by-chapter story of Singapore’s history from discovery up to the modern metropolis it is today. There were elaborate performances to illustrate this history with hundreds of dancers, musicians, and the comical hosts.

The more traditional part of the show was the military parade in which contingents from all the branches of military paraded in front of the Minister of Defense for inspection. To make the segment a bit more exciting, there was a “terrorist attack” and the military sprang into action complete with tanks, boats, and Black Hawk helicopters. There was even a squad of paratroopers who swooped in from high in the sky. It was pretty entertaining. 

After the military saved the day and the spectators were feeling patriotic as ever, the Singapore story continued with more epic performances, flashy costumes, and of course, fireworks. It was pretty much exactly like the real show in August except for some notable absences of celebrity guests and government officials, like the Prime Minister, who will be there on the big day.

As the finale was wrapping up, we spectators were treated to another surprise…in the form of a massive downpour of rain. Our flimsy ponchos were no match and we were soon up to our ankles in runoff. Needless to say, we were drenched in no time. But most people stood their ground, waving their flags and glow-sticks, their national pride not to be washed away.

This whole patriotic scene definitely made me miss the U.S. but I still couldn’t help but feel a little bit at home with these people from all over the tiny island nation, soaking wet, but still proud to be Singaporean.

Ok so this is a quick post but it was just something funny about Singapore that I had to share before I leave. 

In Singapore, napkins are virtually non-existent. Really. Unless you are in a very nice sit-down restaurant or a chain like McDonald’s, it is very rare to get a napkin with your food especially at the numerous hawker centers and canteens.

I’m still confused as to the reason for this. One theory I heard was for litter reduction and other people say that the eateries don’t want to spend on a lot of wasted paper.

What baffles me more is that many Singaporean people eat a lot with their hands (even rice) and I would think they would need napkins even more. But the solution seems to be either washing hands in the sink after the meal or bringing along a pack of tissues to use as your personal napkin supply.

I’ve been here long enough now to have gotten accustomed to this fact of life. It actually isn’t so bad and it does cut paper costs. But if you’re a Western tourist coming to visit here, my advice to you is to buy a little pack of tissues to carry around…otherwise you’ll be in for a surprise.

After a whirlwind week of exciting events, victory, heartbreak, and ups and downs, the 1st Asian Youth Games Singapore 2009 drew to a close on Tuesday.

I lost track of time as I spent the days being shuttled between venues in all parts of the island and helping out with media management. My advisor was often busy elsewhere and would send me, in her place, at some venues with only volunteers and a PR agency rep to help out. It was a lot of responsibility, and I had to learn and plan a lot of things fast. And everything did not always go according to plan. Whether it was the unexpected mobs of Thai media showing up at the last minute, rain delays, or desperately combing the volleyball beach for a Kazakhstani translator, we always had our hands full.

But despite all the stress, I had a great time. I mingled with the media (often interns like myself) and enjoyed free meals with the volunteers. I also had front row seats to see some of Asia’s best young athletes in action. I was mostly on Sentosa Island working at the beach volleyball games which were a lot of fun to watch. The sun was shining (mostly), the crowds were supportive, and the vibe was relaxed.

I worked all through the week (and weekend) and by the end I was exhausted. But it was worth it. Despite a few hiccups, the Games were a success and I think everyone had a great time. As I sit in the quiet, air conditioned office now with little to do, I kind of miss those hectic times. I guess there’s always the next event…

The ’1st Asian Youth Games Singapore 2009′ have officially begun…and I am busier than ever. 

I am working a lot on site and assisting with media management at the soccer, beach volleyball, and sailing events. We have to make sure that they all are taken care of and stay within their boundaries. The journalists are usually pretty nice and cooperative, but we sometimes get some drama queens who complain about schedule changes and needing bottled water.

Fortunately, complimentary food and beverages are provided for the media (and those who work with them) so the media is happy and I get to enjoy some free meals which are most welcome with my intern income.

On top of all my media managing duties, I also have to help oversee all the media volunteers at the venues. These kids can be either be a big help or a huge liability, especially if they leave their posts and chat with media. But for the most part, we get along fine. 

I’m still new to this industry so it’s been a crazy crash course of PR learning while on the job with some trial and error. But I think that’s the best way to learn.

There’s so much to talk about but here are some highlights of my experience lately…

- The opening ceremony was on June 29th and was very elaborate (similar to the big one in Beijing last year). Lots of pyrotechnics and expertly choreographed dances by Singapore youth in colorful costumes.

- The H1 N1 epidemic has been hanging over our heads the entire time making PR all the more challenging. Athletes from the Philippines and Hong Kong were infected and the soccer teams were forced to withdraw. But Team Singapore was nice and played exhibition matches, “Friendship Cup games,” with the two teams before they left.

- Saudi Arabia and North Korea played each other in soccer on Sunday and it was INTENSE. There were injuries and yellow cards every few minutes, as the two tough teams clashed. North Korea eventually silenced a jeering crowd of Saudis with some super-accurate corner shots and tied the game (2-2). This was my favorite match so far.

- I watched Singapore make a valiant effort against Iran’s powerhouse soccer team. They ended up losing 2-1 but really played their hearts out. 

- During a press conference with Saudi Arabia’s Brazilian coach (really), the translator could only translate Portuguese to Spanish. I had to step in with my broken Spanish and translate to English for the local media. Never thought I’d need Spanish in Asia.

That’s all I can think of for now but more to come. We’ve only just begun…

Sorry for the lack of posts recently but I have been keeping really busy at my summer internship working for the Singapore Sports Council. 

It was a job that took a lot a persistence (emails, phone calls, and hassles with the Immigration Authority) to finally get but it was worth the struggle.

I work in the Media Relations Division and we handle all the press and media issues for the Council. Right now, the big event is the Asian Youth Games, the first of its kind and warm-up for the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore next year. Needless to say, this massive international sporting event keeps us very busy and it doesn’t help that the specific division itself compromises of only about 4-5 people.

Most of the past month, I was kept busy working with my fellow intern, Jon, putting together a Media Guide to give all of the foreign media when they arrive to cover the Games. The Guide comprised of background info about the Games as a whole, the specific sporting events, and even a travel guide about Singapore. We had a writer put together a list of recommended attractions, restaurants, night clubs, and malls in Singapore to help the visitors get the most out of their stay here. The project took a lot of coordination and effort. I did such varied things as proofreading and editing to calling people (repeatedly) to get them to send us the most up-to-date information and pictures. It was definitely stressful at times but it was a great learning experience.

Now, the Games are upon us. Athletes are already arriving and preliminary soccer matches are taking place. I’ve been busy following around my advisors, Tanty and Haswani, to different sport venues and helping to train volunteers and coordinate such things as media seating and photographer zones. It’s nice to be able to leave the office and go on these little “field trips” and I’m experiencing new things every day.

I will try to keep you posted with some brief work updates and fun facts as often as I can. Stay tuned!

In Singapore, they take the term, “ice cream sandwich,” very literally. Dozens of ice cream stands dot the city streets and offer blocks of ice cream in many flavors ranging from vanilla to red bean.

Now, this ice cream is served in blocks and the only way to eat it is to sandwich it between two wafers…or bread. As weird as it looks, I ventured to try this treat while I was visiting the marina. I got a block of raspberry swirl ice cream on a piece of folded bread with a tinge of berry-taste to it. It was actually delicious and only one dollar…totally worth it. I guess sometimes the literal way is the best way.

In the last few weeks, I’ve been in a bit of a transitional period. My time at NTU has come to an end but my time in Singapore is far from over.

I have started working as an intern for the Singapore Sports Council in the media relations division. I was thrilled to get the job and get some great international work experience but I knew things would be changing for me. NTU was doing some remodeling and many of the residence halls were being shut down, including mine. The few available rooms were given to international students taking summer classes.

It was clear that I had to move off campus but I had no idea where. As the NTU eviction date crept closer, I went through a manic week scrambling to finish up job arrangements and scouring the internet for places to live in town that I would be comfortable but not cause me to go broke paying city rent. There was one day when I went on a marathon of home tours to see various rooms-for-rent of all types. Some were too expensive, some were too inconvenient, and some just had creepy roommates. But finally…I found something.

There is a little discreet apartment/hostel building on Arab Street in the heart of Singapore’s Muslim district. The place is owned by Mr. Hub, a friendly middle-aged Chinese guy who takes great pride in his humble establishment. Despite the old warehouse-look on the outside, the place is actually very clean and neat inside. There are three levels of rooms (singles and doubles) that are nice but very small. I mean they are TINY, like the size of a walk-in closet (see pics).

But this place has everything that I need: affordable rent (even with my measly intern income), comfy bed, AC, computer desk, internet, and a tiny locker for clothes. There are common utilities like laundry, refrigerator, and bathrooms on each floor. And the location is, well, perfect. I’m a block away from the Bugis MRT station and work is only 2 stops away. Two nice malls are within walking distance and downtown is right around the corner. Just by wandering around the surrounding area, I think I saw more of Singapore than I had seen in all my time living at the remote NTU campus. 

Despite my humble dwelling, I’m truly living the city life and it’s definitely something I could get used to. Let the adventures begin…