Reflection + Singapore Must-Sees

Wow, what an absolutely amazing semester!

Somehow, every semester of IBEA just keeps getting better. If you had asked me last fall which semester I thought would be my favorite, I would have told you there was no way anything could beat the U.S. semester. I got to live at home with my family, spend time with my friends from USC, and be surrounded by all of my international friends. It truly felt like the best of all worlds.

But after spending this semester in Singapore, I take that back. I absolutely loved my semester there.

I think part of what made it so special was that it was my second time studying abroad. I already knew what to expect, and I knew myself so much better. Last semester helped me figure out which routines and habits mattered most to me, so when I got to Singapore, I was able to settle into life much more quickly.

Don’t get me wrong, there were still some bumps in the road. Going from three months with no classes, from early December through the end of February, to suddenly having assignments, presentations, and deadlines again definitely took some adjusting. But I already had my workout routine figured out, knew how I liked to eat, and had a much healthier balance between school, travel, and taking care of myself. That made the entire semester so much more enjoyable.

I also did not have the constant pressure of squeezing in hours of work between classes or trying to be the perfect host every day. During the U.S. semester, I wanted to make the absolute most of every evening and weekend because I wanted my international friends to have the best experience possible while visiting my home. I loved that semester so much, but it definitely came with a different kind of pressure. In Singapore, I was finally able to slow down, settle into a routine, and simply enjoy living there.

Finding a Home in Holland Village

I also loved my living situation. Two of my friends and I lived together in a great apartment in Holland Village, which became one of my favorite neighborhoods in Singapore. We were right next to the MRT station, had grocery stores within a one- or two-minute walk, and had everything we needed nearby. It really felt like home.

Another huge highlight of my semester was my Fitness First membership. They had 14 locations around Singapore, and I made it my mission to visit every single one. The staff and personal trainers were incredibly kind. They taught me how to properly warm up before workouts, stretch afterward, use foam rollers, improve my lifting form, and even organize my workout split. I felt like I got free personal training for four months!

I wrote more about that experience in my blog about my routine in Singapore, but it truly became one of my favorite parts of everyday life there.

Singapore exceeded every expectation I had. If you are ever lucky enough to visit, here are some of my favorite places, activities, and tips.

Jewel Changi Airport

Singapore Bucket List & Tips

Must-See Places

• Walk around Singapore, or try the three-day S’PORE TOUR challenge if you are up for it!

• Singapore Botanic Gardens

• Chinese Garden

• Orchard Road for great shopping

• Marina Bay

• Marina Bay Sands

• Merlion Park

• Gardens by the Bay

• Marina Barrage

• Jewel at Changi Airport

• Haji Lane

• Arab Street

• Chinatown

• Little India

• Holland Village

• National Museum of Singapore

• National Gallery Singapore

• Treetop Walk and MacRitchie Nature Trail, and be sure to look out for the monkeys

• Sentosa Island

• Sri Mariamman Temple

• Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

Haji Lane

Food & Restaurants

• Hawker centres. Bring cash, since many stalls are cash-only.

• Lau Pa Sat, one of the most famous hawker centres

• Mixue. Try the brown sugar pearl sundae!

• LAVO, an Italian restaurant on top of Marina Bay Sands

• NOVA, a rooftop bar with an incredible view of Marina Bay Sands

• Try durian, Singapore’s most famous and, in my opinion, worst-smelling and worst-tasting food

• Captain Kim Korean BBQ & Hotpot Buffet, my friend group’s favorite place for special occasions

Lau Pa Sat

Fun Things to Do

• Watch the Disney fireworks by Marina Bay Sands

• Watch the Spectra Light & Water Show. I recommend walking around Gardens by the Bay first, then heading over for the show.

• Listen to one of the free waterfront concerts

• Have a picnic at Marina Barrage

• Go for a late-night run or bike ride through the city

• Try HYROX

• Take a day trip to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, for an incredible massage

• Spend an afternoon at the beach on Sentosa Island

• Go on the Night Safari at the Singapore Zoo

• Explore different coffee shops

• Go to a music festival at the Botanic Gardens

• Try the ropes course at Forest Adventure

• Have the hot chocolate at the Fullerton Hotel

View of Marina Bay Sands (MBS)

Places I Did Not Make It To, But Were Highly Recommended

• ArtScience Museum. Book early because tickets can sell out.

• Singapore Oceanarium

• Museum of Ice Cream, which is especially great for people with food allergies

• Singapore Flyer

• Pulau Ubin

• Universal Studios Singapore

• Free movie nights on Sentosa

• Esplanade performances

• Singapore Zoo during the daytime

• Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Thank you, Singapore, for such an unforgettable semester.