Hello!
Yes...after all this time...I finished my posts.
I also planned to write this one at the end but started writing it at around the middle of my post blogging progress haha. I also think it is not bad that I wasn't able to write this text so soon.
I had plenty of time now to think...and re-think many things.
I thought about doing this kind of post like in the middle of my travel, when I had so many different impressions, it would come handy to have a little summary I think.
I am thinking about a lot of things on a daily basis and there were things I wondered about Singapore before going there.
I personally appreciate so much how much of a good host I had. She was very open-minded and we could talk about many different topics, which also helped me understand things better, but also have an additional perspective come into play.
I had all sorts of emotions inside of me during my 3 weeks...it was pretty much a rollercoaster.
For this post I also have a little bonus. I know not many people like it but I thought it would be nice to let ChatGPT come into play as well.
I used it sometimes while my travel and I think it would also be interesting to add some information to my impressions.
This is less a text about "how things are" and more become the format of "how I have seen these things from my perspective and what ChatGPT can add to this", if you get me.
I think it is also important to note: I live in the german countryside, middle class, my family owns two houses in which one we live in, grew up catholic but am atheist, we are germans with a russian family side and migration background. These are a few points that shape me as a person but also shape my view of things.
I think it's important to remember tiny details like this when talking about other cultures.
To me this travel was very exciting and I was surprised, despite how I knew about some of these things before-hand, how weird they could be to me. How much it would be difficult to adjust at some points as well.
Let's start.
over 12.000km away from home
I booked it and then told my family, that way they can't say no.
My mum freaked out. She was fine with me going alone to mallorca but alone to the other side of the world was terrifying to her: "If something happens with you at mallorca, In two hours I am there...but what do I do when something happens over there? I can't just come.".
ChatGPT says:
Singapore is over 10,000 km away from Germany, with an average flight time of about 12–13 hours.
The psychological concept of "proximity safety" explains why parents often feel more at ease if they believe they could physically reach their child quickly.
It was a liberating feeling to me but also I was nervous, I wasn't scared though.
I was going alone and I am used to go places alone and I am used to live in a place where "there is nothing to do", so I couldn't quite wrap my mind around what I am supposed to do there alone.
A lot of activities are for people in company, not for loners. I was worried I get bored and even packed 3 books with me...later turned out: none of them I opened.
I looked up some things to do online but I also wasn't sure what my budget could handle, so decided to do most of it randomly when I am there. Whatever interests me.
All I knew is where my school is and the address of my host. Strangers.
I never use public transport and was afraid I might get lost. I usually get lost having to use public transport in germany + in germany the public transports are horrible.
Google maps have shown the way from my host to the school is over an hour.
ChatGPT says:
In Singapore, the average commute time by public transport is about 45–60 minutes, which is very normal for students and workers alike.
Singapore’s MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) is known globally for being one of the most efficient and safest transit systems.
Many students travel long distances daily, especially if they attend prestigious schools or universities not near their home.
My mum freaked out again "What do these school people expect? How can they just let you alone taking all this way to school?". I was very irritated by her comment.
I am 25.
Me and my dad looked at each other like..
Sensory overload happens when your brain takes in more information than it can process — common in high-density urban settings like Singapore, which has over 5.9 million residents in an area smaller than Hamburg.
Singapore is one of the most densely populated countries in the world — over 8,000 people per square kilometer, compared to about 230 in Germany.
Singapore has one of the highest densities of malls in the world. Malls are not just for shopping — they function as social hubs, especially due to the tropical climate (air conditioning!).
Eating out is very common in Singapore due to the prevalence of hawker centres and affordable food options. In fact, many locals eat out more often than they cook at home.
Homesickness is very common, especially during the first few days of international travel. It's not just missing "home," but also the comfort of routines and familiarity.
Studies show that social connection — even with strangers — can significantly reduce feelings of isolation during travel.
Singaporean people
What I knew before-hand was that singapore was supposed to be a multicultural nation with most people being chinese or indians.
I wondered how people could live together like that in peace, especially because migration is a big topic in germany at this time!!
ChatGPT says:
Singapore is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Asia. As of 2023, about 75% of residents are ethnically Chinese, 15% Malay, and 7.5% Indian.
Unlike many Western nations, Singapore has a top-down approach to multiculturalism: policies actively encourage ethnic harmony, such as housing quotas that require ethnic mixing within public housing (HDB flats).
In Germany, immigration and integration are more recent developments and remain socially and politically debated topics, especially regarding religion and values.
It was quite surreal but at the same time, not as multicultural as I expected. I felt like the different nationalities mixed well, instead of clashing.
Most people I have seen were asian, although I can not exactly say how many were chinese..I only know that most of asians in singapore are chinese. My host even asked me "what do you think of the malay here?" and I answered "I don't know who is malay". I really couldn't tell.
The second most people I have seen were indian. I think they mix quite good together is because their religions are not very different from each other.
In germany it's the other way around: our migrants are mostly muslim and we are a christian nation, our values don't harmonize well and constantly brings up debates.
Although one of the singaporean official languages is english, the older people don't speak english that well. In the MRT the announces are made in 3 (!) languages and you could sometimes see people only reacting to their own language. However I cannot say wether they are singaporean or travelers. It was a weird feeling for me regardless. To me it would be like being in germany and the train has an arabic anouncement right after the german one (or turkish, or russian since we have a lot of them too). Additionally, In general I found singaporean very hard to comprehend.
I myself am not a native english speaker so I felt like I was coming off as arrogant after I told my host "I don't think you singaporean people speak english well" and she was surprised by my statement.
Maybe it was also the dialect that made it hard for me.
After I have made that statement to her I thought a lot about wether I was rude to think that way.
There are many dialects in the german language, some even I as a german don't understand, it doesn't mean it is not german though. Maybe I walked sideways here and should have kept silent about it.
ChatGPT says:
Singapore has four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil.
English is the primary working and educational language — but it’s often spoken with a local twist known as “Singlish,” a creole influenced by Chinese dialects, Malay, Tamil, and British English.
To outsiders, Singlish can sound like “bad English,” but it’s a legitimate local dialect and a marker of Singaporean identity.
I have rarely seen white people btw. and if I did I could clearly tell they were travelers, or they worked there but aren't singaporean because their accent were a lot clearer. I talked with colleagues about the many different people I have seen there and one of them asked me how many black people (in percentage) I have seen and I couldn't remember. I am not sure if I have seen any tbh.
There were some from America or France at my school but when I was out in the streets, I can't think I have seen any.
ChatGPT says:
Singapore’s migration model is highly selective. It's not designed for open resettlement but prioritizes highly skilled professionals or temporary labor from nearby countries.
Most foreign residents are from Asia — including domestic helpers from the Philippines and Indonesia, construction workers from Bangladesh, and professionals from India, China, or Malaysia.
Western expats (often white) are typically in Singapore for corporate jobs, and live in distinct areas or condos.
I think that's probably because migration is a lot harder in singapore, it is far away and maybe not many people are interested in living and working there. When I was in Sentosa, me and my classmate wondered about how much the villas probably cost there and ChatGPT told me that Sentosa was the only place foreigners were allowed to own property in singapore!
That's also an additional point, combined with the whole HDB- complex situation that is reserved only for Singaporeans it makes all sense.
ChatGPT says:
Foreigners in Singapore can’t buy public housing (HDB flats), which about 80% of Singaporeans live in.
They are allowed to buy private property — mostly condos — but with restrictions.
Sentosa Cove is one of the few places foreigners can buy landed property (villas, houses) without needing special government approval.
The people over there were very friendly and relaxed.
Nobody looked at each other like in Germany.
Over here people stare at you. In Singapore everyone just does their own stuff.
ChatGPT says:
Public space norms are more “introverted”: talking loudly, staring, or physical closeness is often seen as rude.
This could also be tied to the collectivist culture: standing out isn’t encouraged, and social harmony is valued.
Also because to them I was "very tall and very pretty", they were interested and asked me where I am from etc. I received a lot of compliments.
That was unusual for me as well. One staff from a mall said "you look like barbie" and my host said as well "you could be a model here". I am just average in my eyes and far away from being a model. All the attention was a bit too much for me, because I am quite introverted in social settings as well.
ChatGPT says:
In many East and Southeast Asian countries, Western features (fair skin, tall height, lighter hair) are sometimes idealized, especially in media.
This doesn’t necessarily reflect actual beauty preferences but can be shaped by pop culture, globalization, and media influence.
In my opinion they were all very slow too.
I think because of the heat it makes more sense to be calm but I am naturally fast-paced and I was the one person that constantly ran inbetween the groups of people from one place to another.
ChatGPT says:
Singapore has a hot, humid, equatorial climate — average temperatures are 30–34°C year-round with high humidity.
People walk more slowly for comfort, and air-conditioned spaces (like malls) become natural gathering spots.
Between HDB and malls: Singaporean lifestyle
This is a point that was probably the hardest for me to adjust to.
I went from a low-key countryside where everyone knows everyone with nothing to do besides going for a walk in the forest to a metropolis with malls everywhere.
I was torn. I couldn't decide wether I liked it or found it absolutely terrifying.
The first couple days I was like "Ahhhh...so many places to choose from! so many pretty clothes! so many shops!!" and later on I found it dystopian "people here are quite poor and they make themselves poorer by constantly buying stuff!".
If you know me for a longer time from my blog or from social media you might have noticed that I challenge overconsumption and try to keep it as a reasonable level, but also I like owning a lot of stuff.
Either because I like the change (for example clothes) or because I need to satisfy my collecting habit (having every color of a lipstick series). I also indulge myself a lot in topics like investing and canceling out bad habits.
Being in a place like singapore where you constantly have shops in front of your nose was irritating.
I was happy about the variety but also it kept reminding me to "stay ground" and appreciate simplicity.
Maybe I can write another blog post sometime about my views regarding this topic if you are interested.
ChatGPT says:
Singapore has one of the highest numbers of malls per capita in the world.
Malls serve multiple purposes: retail, restaurants, recreation, education, healthcare, even libraries or prayer spaces.
This “mall-ification” of public life is also linked to climate — the air-conditioning provides refuge from the heat and rain.
Because of the climate, people seek indoors. Malls and train stations were connected to each other underground. Sometimes you would pass hours inside somewhere without any windows. Inside the buildings, windows are rare, or completely missing. You couldn't tell what was going on outside "is it raining? is the sun still out?". I had moments where I went underground while it was raining and when I went back outside it was sunny again and I had no clue when it stopped. It made me depressed actually. I had a couple moments where I was seeking to get out of wherever I was. I didn't mind baring the heat for a while. Some places, the A/C was so cold, I wish I had a pullover. I was literally freezing at some places. Newcomers at school got sick, one after another. The random times raining doesn't help. Warm, rain, wet, cold...in this order can be dangerous. I am surprised I didn't get sick tbh, but that's probably because also I have the habit to always cover my shoulders. Even in summer, I have to wear thin little jackets. It's not often my shoulders are open and only over there in singapore I took it off sometimes tbh, because it was just so damn hot.
ChatGPT says:
Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate — average temps hover around 30–34°C (86–93°F) with high humidity and unpredictable rain.
To combat this, many buildings are linked via underground passages (like CityLink Mall or Marina Square).
The intense air-conditioning is known locally as the “Singapore freeze” — a common complaint among locals and expats alike.
The host I was staying at had a housekeeper from Myanmar and it was the first thing I looked up with ChatGPT upon my arrival. Having a housekeeper here in Germany means you are wealthy. Some can afford to hire someone cleaning like once a week but not someone who lives with you and works almost 24/7. It is actually quite common there, because helpers are cheap in singapore and because most families have both partners working, it is a necessity there. The helper was cleaning, watching over the grandmother and their son and she cooked food for everyone. I was surprised when my host told me she can't cook. I think you don't need to be an expert in it, but it is a basic skill to me...here apparently not so basic.
ChatGPT says:
There are around 250,000+ foreign domestic workers in Singapore, mostly from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar.
It’s common for middle-class families to hire live-in helpers, often due to dual-income households and caregiving responsibilities (children or elderly).
Domestic helpers live under strict legal regulations, including work permits, employer sponsorship, and limited legal rights.
I told her to me it is easier to work part-time as well, because I also have to do my housework, which she replied to "can't you ask your mum to clean your apartment?". I wouldn't even think about it haha. To me I think "your parents took care of you 18 years and raised you to take charge of your own life. If at all, it should be the opposite way. Your parents get older, can't move as well or have difficulties with it. You have to help them". I should mention at this point neither of us judged each other for our opinions, it rather was an enriching cultural exchange to talk about it.
I also have to mention their parents might be older than mine, but are A WHOLE LOT FITTER. Her aunt, who is 80, could be just a couple years older than my mum if I didn't know her age. Even my host looked 20, but she was 38. They age different I swear. I talked to my host about this too, that I couldn't tell peoples ages and she assured me she had the same problem with their indian neighbours.
The entrepreneurial mindset in singapore was motivating, but also depressive. I constantly switched between these two and I still can't decide. There is a lot of competition but seeing everyone having their businesses and not being afraid to try, is also quite motivating. I posted some of these quotes in my travel posts as well. This mindset is in the air wherever you went.
It made me think "look how big this world is, there is a market for everything", but at the same time discouraged me "look, there is no market where you live. Succeeding in a market like in singapore is crazy." I admire everyone that makes it tbh.
ChatGPT says:
Singapore ranks highly on the Global Innovation Index and Ease of Doing Business Index.
It’s a tech and startup hub in Southeast Asia, especially in fintech, logistics, and e-commerce.
There’s intense competition, but also lots of government grants for local entrepreneurs and SMEs.
Being surrounded by that many people made me feel lonely as well.
I find it hard to find words to describe the feelings I had.
Where I live you know everyone and the world feels so small, which can discourage you if you want to try something big and you stick to the secure options instead but it also is giving you a sense of familarity...of belonging somewhere.
In Singapore, I felt like a nobody. I felt like just another body.
I think especially in metropolises like that, it is soo damn important to have your people around, wether it's family or friends. Being alone is an alienating feeling in a big city.
ChatGPT says:
Urban loneliness is a well-documented phenomenon — especially in high-density cities where people are always around, but rarely connect.
Psychologists note that being surrounded by people without emotional ties can increase feelings of isolation, more so than physical solitude.
I had a talk with my host about dating as well. I think being surrounded by that many people makes it easier to date, but also less committing? On the countryside you are able to commit more easily, but it is difficult to find a partner, especially when you stand out. She told me a lot of women in Singapore have that "drive" and they want to get better, whereas the men are happy with what they got. That's why a lot of women are single in Singapore. She herself wants to get as much money as possible, but her motivation is to be able to provide for her son. She told me a story about a wealthy man, about same level like her cousin (or sister?), and her cousin was interested in him but when shown him a picture of her he didn't want her and even described her as "ugly". She told me that if a man is wealthy, they are highly selective of their partner and that guy is still single after all these years. It all sounded too familiar to me, it is an on-going problem all over the world. People don't find a partner or reject those they would get.
ChatGPT says:
Singapore has a rising number of highly educated, financially independent women — especially in urban areas.
Many Singaporean men face pressure to “earn more” or “be stable” before marrying.
The marriage rate is declining, and singlehood (especially among women) is rising.
The government has tried to address this through campaigns promoting dating, marriage, and parenthood (e.g., matchmaking events, subsidies for childbearing).
I am not pro-woman, neither pro-man. I actually get sick of these discussions and rather have everyone get some sense in their head. Maybe you can remember in one of my posts, they have shown a poster about "not rushing into marriage" or promoting reducing population in singapore. I think it is sad when people can't make families or kids. Those are some of my most important values, needless to say what my opinion about these kind of campaigns are. However, at the same time I understand in Singapore there is not much space. I guess it is better for them not to expand as much? It definitely was interesting to hear, that the phenomenoms we have over here in germany, pretty much exists 1:1 over there too.
ChatGPT says:
Singapore once had a “Stop at Two” policy (1970s–80s) to reduce birthrates. Now, the problem is the opposite — very low fertility rates (1.05 as of 2023).
Current campaigns now encourage marriage and parenthood, not the opposite.
The HDBs have some kind of familiar feeling to it, but they can be dystopian in my eyes as well.
A bunch of big buildings one after another. People stuck into tiny places.
It got me claustrophobic. When you walked in the evening back home, you could see people meeting each other on the first level, to talk, to play...yet I couldn't make friends with it.
I rather live in a house far away from the next person.
ChatGPT says:
Over 80% of Singaporeans live in HDB (Housing Development Board) flats — government-built apartments designed for affordability and ethnic integration.
HDB estates are often self-contained with shops, clinics, schools, and transport nearby.
While efficient, many visitors describe them as “uniform” or “confining.”
What also was a big question mark in my head before going to singapore how I will get along with the camera surveillance everywhere. In Germany private data is a sensitive information and the people HATE when there are cameras anywhere or they have to enter their name somewhere. I also am not a fan of surveillance, because of the lack of freedom but at the same time I wondered if you'd actually feel safer. Every corner had a camera, every each one of them.
I didn't mind walking around anywhere, wether that was during the day or at night.
I feel less safe in my own town and we don't have a dense popularity or high crime like in the big cities in germany. I can't decide wether I liked it, or I rather have no surveillance. I find it difficult to point out if the surveillance had anything to do with it.
ChatGPT says:
Singapore has one of the highest densities of CCTV surveillance globally. It’s estimated that tens of thousands of cameras are in use, especially in public housing estates, MRT stations, and city centers.
The system is part of Singapore’s broader “Smart Nation” initiative, focused on using data and AI to improve urban living — but it does raise privacy trade-offs.
Crime rates are among the lowest in the world — many locals credit strict laws and surveillance for that.
Although Singapore is called to be a "green city", I felt like there was almost no nature.
I talked about it in my posts. I missed the flowers, the colors, the big fields..
The greens you could find here were all planned, planted, matched to the surroundings.
I didn't like it. Also compared to what I am used to, I didn't feel like I was in a green city at all..but that is coming out of the mouth of someone who literally lives in the black forest. Here are more trees than houses.
ChatGPT says:
Singapore is known as a "City in a Garden” — but its nature is highly curated. Over 40% of land is covered by greenery, but this includes parks, sky gardens, and green walls.
Natural wild spaces (like Bukit Timah Nature Reserve or Pulau Ubin) exist but are limited and often deliberately preserved, not free-growing.
Singapore has a rich cuisine but there were also differences to germany. Here they have hawkers for example. The food is very delicious and compared to my place very cheap! I had troubles finding food that is not spicy though. Indians and Chinese both love eating spicy. Even the less spicy dishes were quite a lot for me to handle. On my last day, my host invited me to eat soup for brunch. She knew I can't eat spicy and she thought I could handle it but it turned out to be too spicy for me.
The restaurants on the other hand are a lot more expensive. Here tips are already included in the bill and my european self hated it. At first I didn't really notice until someone from school pointed it out to me. I didn't think someone would charge tips upfront like that. I feel like tips are reserved if I felt like the service was outstanding and deserved, not to be required.
ChatGPT says:
Hawker centres are subsidized by the government to keep street food affordable — meals often cost between 2 to 6 SGD (around €1.30–€4).
Spiciness is a common element in many Southeast Asian cuisines — especially Indian, Malay, and Szechuan-influenced Chinese dishes.
Tipping is not part of the culture — 10% service charge + 7–9% tax is automatically added at most sit-down restaurants.
Being back home
Despite all of these challenges.... Despite me leaving my comfort zone for 3 weeks....
I cried when I had to leave.
I really enjoyed my time in Singapore. I hated having to leave my host.
One thing I cherished a lot while I was over there, was the lack of politics.
Yes, you heard that right.
It became such a norm here in germany to constantly talk about politics, even over there the only people who talked about it were the germans (oh the irony).
Having a break of all that...just living and existing was such a relief.
Over there you didn't have to think about politics that much because it was the politicians who did their jobs. Here they all fail or do the opposite of what's good for the people, so the people themselves are too invested.
ChatGPT says:
Singapore has a more top-down political culture — daily discourse around politics is less common in public spaces or casual conversation. Many Singaporeans are cautious about voicing political opinions openly, especially compared to Germans, who are culturally encouraged to debate and criticize authority.
The People’s Action Party (PAP) has ruled since independence in 1965. Governance is seen as highly technocratic and pragmatic, and the state invests heavily in public services like housing, transport, and education — which might explain why you felt the “politicians do their job.”
Another thing I will miss is liveliness. In Germany everything is regulated and orderly, I guess people coming to our country will think we are stiff, no fun and have something "stuck up our a*ses".
Which is true I guess.
It did no harm to have a flexible routine during the day.
ChatGPT says:
Singapore blends efficiency with spontaneity — people follow rules, but hawker centres are messy, social life is fast-moving, and business culture rewards improvisation. Germany, in contrast, values structure, thoroughness, and precision, even in everyday tasks.
What I missed about germany, and I only realised when I returned.
Silence <3
In Singapore there was constant noise, even at night...when I got out of the airplane at Frankfurt, to get my luggage...I felt like being in one of these zombie movies, where you wake up and everyones gone.
Also partly because the density of people is a lot less here.
I didn't realise how much of a headache I got from all the noise.
The sounds at the MRT, the same damn announcements, the streets and people walking, the traffic signals that made these distinct sounds as well.
Here in the countryside...even more quiet than in Frankfurt.
I actually would like to show you.
I get trauma flashbacks when I hear these sounds again HAHA I am not joking
Now, what after all that?
I still annoy my colleagues about my vacation "well in singapore it was like.." haha.
Will I go back?
If the finances make it possible: definite yes.
Even after 3 weeks I couldn't explore everything, at some point I was just tired and didn't want to explore anymore.
Singapore did became like a second home to me though, even more than croatia (we went there every year when I was younger).
However, I think about going to Japan next...maybe again with EF?
I have to see what my finances allow because I actually try to save.
I didn't ask for it, but ChatGPT suggested a poetic finish and I had to LAUGH because of how accurate it is:
I came back with no tan, three unread books, a deeper appreciation for quiet — and a louder hunger for more.
Next stop? We’ll see. The world’s big, and I’ve only just started scratching its surface.
I got not tan...everyone was surprised why I got paler hahahahahaha.
Please leave a comment how you like posts like this. <3
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