Well time is as usual going much too quickly. It seems like
the weekend was just yesterday and it is already Thursday evening. Our project
is consuming our lives but we are making some really good progress. For those
of my friends who think I am just vacationing…and not studying…haha… yeah…right…
I would say it averages 1 hour seeing things to every 15-20 hours class and
group work on our design project. And that is probably being conservative in
the estimation.
So I have
narrowed down the direction I want to go in my education (finally…I know
right?) I love the design process and after visiting the labs at Stanford I am
thinking I want to go there to get my masters in mechanical engineering with an
emphasis in design. The project we are working on now is the problem of urban
farming in Singapore. The government housing is very small and population
density is one of the highest in the world so space is a major issue. We have decided
on a modular hydroponic system inspired by these…
Thanks go to the parental for actually giving us educational
toys (for those who don’t know, they were/are teachers). We are making amazing
progress. It is amazing how random bits of inspiration come at just the right
time. I will post more pics/info as we get into the prototyping phase and get things
ready to present.
Another
topic. Things I love about Singapore/Singaporeans. 1 – The whole country is
spotlessly clean…no litter anywhere. 2 – It is one of the safest places I have
ever been. No joke. 3 – The have very harsh penalties for breaking the laws…some
may remember the American teenager getting caned for vandalizing some building…yeah
they don’t mess around. On the immigration entrance form in large red letters
it politely informs all entering Singapore that the penalty for drug trafficking
is death. And this is not like the U.S where you sit on death row for 30 years…nope
they off you ricky tick. That is just how it is here. I am pretty sure that the
most common penalties are caning or death. But you know what? I don’t think
harsh penalties are the reason why people obey the law here. For example I have
not seen more than one police car while I have been here, yet everyone goes the
speed limit and obeys the traffic laws…no it is something more. They have
something sadly many in America and other places do not possess. Respect. You
can see it in the way they carry themselves and the way they treat others.
Which brings me to number 4 – They are unfailingly polite. They almost go out
of their way to help. I love working in a group with students from NUS because
when they are given an assignment or say they are going to do something – they do
it. You never have to worry about whether or not it will get done. It is
refreshing. 5 – They dress very well. It is not uncommon at all to see a fair
percent of the students dress in business casual and I would say about 50% of
girls I see are wearing dresses or skirts. I like it. It brings a different
attitude towards what they are doing. 6 – Their clothes fit. This is more a
stab at American clothing sizing. Why is it that I cannot buy dress clothes
that fit well in America without getting them custom made? Have our waste sizes
really gotten so large for the average population that our dress shirts can fit
3 or 4 of me around the waist? So. Frustrating. Granted I know not everyone has
a 28 inch waist and a size 40 shoulder but I am not alone with this…as
evidenced by the enormous parachute blob of extra shirt around the waist of
most people I see in dress clothes. Fold and tuck away as you might…it does not
look good…nor will it ever. I just want shirts I tuck in without any folding
and extra material. Is it too much to ask not to have to buy so called “fitted”
shirts…and then pay to have them tailored again to bring in the waist to a
normal (I assume) size? America would be much classier if people’s clothes
actually fit them. 7 – The food here is amazing. It is a mix from all over Asia as Singapore is a melting pot. So. Friggin. Good. 8 - Public Transport. They have it figured out. Granted they have a very small space they are working with, I know this would not work as well in America...but hey it IS really nice to not have to drive everywhere.
Well I think that is quite enough for today.
More to come this weekend. Out.
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