country profile
student profile
Singapore
Geography
![Picture](/uploads/3/9/3/6/39362409/8942676_orig.png)
Containing 4,701,069 people, Singapore is the 117th largest country in the world by population. It is the 191st largest country by area with 697 square kilometers.
WHERE IT IS?
Singapore is a heavily urbanized, island, in South-East Asia, located between Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore's main terrain is a diamond-shaped island, where it also surrounds smaller islands.
CLIMATE
Situated just north of the equator, Singapore has a tropical climate and is prone to hot and humid weather throughout the year. The average temperature is around 31oC and does not usually fall below 23oC. To excite people with correlation to the amazing weather, activities such as sunbathing, swimming, sailing and other water sports are popular however if you’re not a happy-chap in the heat, there are plenty of air-conditioned places to escape to.
REQUIRED CLOTHING
Lightweight cottons and linens are a must to pack, to avoid becoming overheated in the steamy, Singapore climate. Also remember to carry an umbrella at any time of year, because of the tropical, unpredictable rainy days.
NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES: Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, Vietnam, Indonesia
NEIGHBORING OCEAN/SEA: Singapore is located between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.
APPROXIMATELY HOW FAR FROM:
Sydney– 8h 15min
Melbourne- 8h 35min
Perth- 5h 25min
Brisbane- 8h 10min
Adelaide- 7h 25min
Hobart- 11h
Darwin- 4h 20mins
WHERE IT IS?
Singapore is a heavily urbanized, island, in South-East Asia, located between Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore's main terrain is a diamond-shaped island, where it also surrounds smaller islands.
CLIMATE
Situated just north of the equator, Singapore has a tropical climate and is prone to hot and humid weather throughout the year. The average temperature is around 31oC and does not usually fall below 23oC. To excite people with correlation to the amazing weather, activities such as sunbathing, swimming, sailing and other water sports are popular however if you’re not a happy-chap in the heat, there are plenty of air-conditioned places to escape to.
REQUIRED CLOTHING
Lightweight cottons and linens are a must to pack, to avoid becoming overheated in the steamy, Singapore climate. Also remember to carry an umbrella at any time of year, because of the tropical, unpredictable rainy days.
NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES: Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, Vietnam, Indonesia
NEIGHBORING OCEAN/SEA: Singapore is located between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.
APPROXIMATELY HOW FAR FROM:
Sydney– 8h 15min
Melbourne- 8h 35min
Perth- 5h 25min
Brisbane- 8h 10min
Adelaide- 7h 25min
Hobart- 11h
Darwin- 4h 20mins
History
![Picture](/uploads/3/9/3/6/39362409/932647.jpg?263)
Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent.
Major Events
During the year a vast number of festivals and events are held to mirror Singapore's history of ethnic and religious diversity. There are 10 major public holidays in Singapore, these include
Official Holidays
January 1 – New Year’s Day
Monday 23 January; Tuesday 24 January – Chinese New Year
April 6 – Good Friday
May 1 – May Labor Day
5 May – Buddhist Vesak Day (Birth of Lord Buddha).
9 August – Singapore National Day
19 August – Hari Raya Puasa (End of Ramadan).
26 October – Hari Raya Haji (Feast of the Sacrifice).
13 November – Deepavali (beginning of the Hindu New Year).
25 December – Christmas; Dayet Muhammad; and Hindu holidays such as Thaipusam.
Major Events
During the year a vast number of festivals and events are held to mirror Singapore's history of ethnic and religious diversity. There are 10 major public holidays in Singapore, these include
Official Holidays
January 1 – New Year’s Day
Monday 23 January; Tuesday 24 January – Chinese New Year
April 6 – Good Friday
May 1 – May Labor Day
5 May – Buddhist Vesak Day (Birth of Lord Buddha).
9 August – Singapore National Day
19 August – Hari Raya Puasa (End of Ramadan).
26 October – Hari Raya Haji (Feast of the Sacrifice).
13 November – Deepavali (beginning of the Hindu New Year).
25 December – Christmas; Dayet Muhammad; and Hindu holidays such as Thaipusam.
Economy
![Picture](/uploads/3/9/3/6/39362409/114551389.jpg?199)
Buy a respectable amount of ice cream along the streets of Singapore, imbibe a quality cup of black coffee in any of the numerous 'kopitiams' (coffee shops) or even stay overnight at a popular hotel all for $1 (um, yes please). The mesmerizing Singapore has exceeded itself in having one of the world's most praiseworthy heritage buildings, public transport system, quality accommodation, shopping and world-class attractions.
Money
‘Singapore dollar’ is the unit of currency in Singapore, also relatively known as the ‘singdollar’ which is made up of 100cents. Singapore uses 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢ and $1 coins, whereas notes come in quantities of $2, $5, $10, $50, $100, $500 and $1000 (oh and there is a $10,000 note, as well, not that you’ll see many). Don’t worry, Aussies, the Singapore dollar is a freely convertible currency, $1AUD equals approximately 1.13 Singapore dollars.
Singapore’s reputation for low corruption, stable currency, low inflation and low interest rates has also allowed Singapore to be the renowned Asian financial centre. Consequently, due to this success, Singapore has one of the highest living standards and home ownership levels in the world. While there are no unemployment payments, unemployment is insignificant and Singapore employs thousands of workers in both skilled and unskilled jobs.
ATMs
Major credit cards are widely accepted. Most ATMs will accept Visa, MasterCard and cards with Plus or Cirrus. ATMs can be found in most large shopping centres.
Changing money
Banks can be found all over the city. Exchange rates tend to vary from bank to bank and some have a service charge on each exchange transaction - this is usually $2 to $3, but can be more, so ask first.
Money
‘Singapore dollar’ is the unit of currency in Singapore, also relatively known as the ‘singdollar’ which is made up of 100cents. Singapore uses 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢ and $1 coins, whereas notes come in quantities of $2, $5, $10, $50, $100, $500 and $1000 (oh and there is a $10,000 note, as well, not that you’ll see many). Don’t worry, Aussies, the Singapore dollar is a freely convertible currency, $1AUD equals approximately 1.13 Singapore dollars.
Singapore’s reputation for low corruption, stable currency, low inflation and low interest rates has also allowed Singapore to be the renowned Asian financial centre. Consequently, due to this success, Singapore has one of the highest living standards and home ownership levels in the world. While there are no unemployment payments, unemployment is insignificant and Singapore employs thousands of workers in both skilled and unskilled jobs.
ATMs
Major credit cards are widely accepted. Most ATMs will accept Visa, MasterCard and cards with Plus or Cirrus. ATMs can be found in most large shopping centres.
Changing money
Banks can be found all over the city. Exchange rates tend to vary from bank to bank and some have a service charge on each exchange transaction - this is usually $2 to $3, but can be more, so ask first.
![Picture](/uploads/3/9/3/6/39362409/132463783.png?45)
Stereotypes: true or false?
Similar to us Australians, Singaporeans battle many stereotypes, but how accurate are they? Read further to mythbust well-known accusations of Singapore and Singaporeans.
1. Chewing any sort of gum is illegal in Singapore. False
To a certain extent. The import and sale of chewing gum in Singapore is illegal, with the exception of products that are ‘beneficial’ such as teeth-whitening or nicotine gums. However, consuming gum is not, so you would not be confronted by a police officer if you were visibly chewing in public, as has been suggested by many non-Singaporeans.
2. Singapore is exceptionally clean. True
Uh, this is true. Singapore is widely recognised as a clean and green city, but mostly because littering is punished by public shaming, and there are many cleaners
3. Singapore is in China. False
Umm, simply wrong. Yes, Singapore is 74% Chinese and no, it’s not a part of China. Singapore is a independent city-state located in Southeast Asia.
4. Singaporeans can’t speak English. False
Lol. Non-Singaporeans are constantly dumbfounded, when they discover that Singaporeans can speak fluent English. If truth be told, English is the chief language of business, government and instruction in Singapore.
1. Chewing any sort of gum is illegal in Singapore. False
To a certain extent. The import and sale of chewing gum in Singapore is illegal, with the exception of products that are ‘beneficial’ such as teeth-whitening or nicotine gums. However, consuming gum is not, so you would not be confronted by a police officer if you were visibly chewing in public, as has been suggested by many non-Singaporeans.
2. Singapore is exceptionally clean. True
Uh, this is true. Singapore is widely recognised as a clean and green city, but mostly because littering is punished by public shaming, and there are many cleaners
3. Singapore is in China. False
Umm, simply wrong. Yes, Singapore is 74% Chinese and no, it’s not a part of China. Singapore is a independent city-state located in Southeast Asia.
4. Singaporeans can’t speak English. False
Lol. Non-Singaporeans are constantly dumbfounded, when they discover that Singaporeans can speak fluent English. If truth be told, English is the chief language of business, government and instruction in Singapore.
![Picture](/uploads/3/9/3/6/39362409/905658561.png?80)
How to make friends?
Some may have the impression, that Singapore is full of workaholics and it may be difficult to make new friends, however, Singapore is full of friendly people, not to the extent where us Aussies, are able to slap that guys back, exclaim g’day and as quick as chucking on some ‘snags’ on the ‘barbie’ you have just kick-started a lifelong friendship with the man you just met at the pub. There are a few proposals listed below to find your Singaporean bum-chum. One way to meet new friends in Singapore is to really explore new hobbies and pursue certain interests. And it’s all rainbow and fairy dust from there.
1. Join church / temple / mosque / any-religious-establishment activities
these services tend to have reasons to gather bunch of people, regardless of their background that you’d be able to communicate and relate with.
2. Volunteer your time
there are many associations in Singapore hunting for volunteers. Join activities that require a lot of people to work together like a non-profit organization that would require you to complete tasks, interact and work with people.
3. Go back to class
Enrol in some classes held at a community centre or fitness centre. Those classes - ranging from language, arranging flowers, cooking, pilates etc - are quite affordable and will enable you to meet and cooperate with many people with the same interests as you.
Helpful Tips
When you have reached the stage where complete communication can be established, be wary that in many Asian cultures, 'no' is a difficult word and other ways of expressing disagreement should be sought. When shopping at local markets, attending religious ceremonies, cultural performances, home-stays or business meetings, do keep in mind that exaggerated humour can often be misunderstood and so is best avoided unless you’re sure that the humour platform is accessible. Conversation about deeply personal issues, race, religion and political topics should be avoided, as should comments about the Singaporean 'system', unless you’re very sure (once again) that you have become that close to your peer. Polite nods are common when greeting someone. Due to the restrained approach Singaporeans use, gestures are not as frequent. You may also talk about your recent travels and your plans for the future or the advancing economy in Singapore which is something that Singaporeans will like to talk about.
Some may have the impression, that Singapore is full of workaholics and it may be difficult to make new friends, however, Singapore is full of friendly people, not to the extent where us Aussies, are able to slap that guys back, exclaim g’day and as quick as chucking on some ‘snags’ on the ‘barbie’ you have just kick-started a lifelong friendship with the man you just met at the pub. There are a few proposals listed below to find your Singaporean bum-chum. One way to meet new friends in Singapore is to really explore new hobbies and pursue certain interests. And it’s all rainbow and fairy dust from there.
1. Join church / temple / mosque / any-religious-establishment activities
these services tend to have reasons to gather bunch of people, regardless of their background that you’d be able to communicate and relate with.
2. Volunteer your time
there are many associations in Singapore hunting for volunteers. Join activities that require a lot of people to work together like a non-profit organization that would require you to complete tasks, interact and work with people.
3. Go back to class
Enrol in some classes held at a community centre or fitness centre. Those classes - ranging from language, arranging flowers, cooking, pilates etc - are quite affordable and will enable you to meet and cooperate with many people with the same interests as you.
Helpful Tips
When you have reached the stage where complete communication can be established, be wary that in many Asian cultures, 'no' is a difficult word and other ways of expressing disagreement should be sought. When shopping at local markets, attending religious ceremonies, cultural performances, home-stays or business meetings, do keep in mind that exaggerated humour can often be misunderstood and so is best avoided unless you’re sure that the humour platform is accessible. Conversation about deeply personal issues, race, religion and political topics should be avoided, as should comments about the Singaporean 'system', unless you’re very sure (once again) that you have become that close to your peer. Polite nods are common when greeting someone. Due to the restrained approach Singaporeans use, gestures are not as frequent. You may also talk about your recent travels and your plans for the future or the advancing economy in Singapore which is something that Singaporeans will like to talk about.
Cultcha Vultcha
Since, Singapore is a diverse, ethnic mix; there are four languages in common usage - Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil and English. Good communication and a mutual grasp, often require more than a common language and many misunderstandings are encountered from contradictory concepts of the appropriate or inappropriate use of language. There are certain skills to be knowledgeable about when in Singapore such as being able to flow with their norms and customs and the choice of language.
Singaporean Communication Style
High Context
Unsettling information may be expressed in non-verbal directs. There are many ways of saying “no” without uttering the word. Relationship determines the nature of the communication.
Formal/restrained
In formal settings, titles and family names are used, and hierarchy is always respected and acknowledged. Communication requires self control and restrained emotional expression. Losing one’s temper causes loss of face to both the offended and the offender.
Meeting and Greeting
.Based on ethnic origin and age of the person, greetings will follow a strict practice.
.If a man and a woman shake hands; the woman must extend her hand first. Introductions are always done in order of age or status.
. Nodding the head and smiling is usually adequate, when being introduced to someone of the opposite gender
.Shake hands with everyone in attendance at a social occasion. Shake hands again when leaving.
.Singaporeans may bow slightly as they shake your hand.
.Never signal or point at a person with the forefinger. Do not pound your first on an open palm; this is obscene.
Australia’s norm: *yells at G’day from across the room to the person they know, followed by the shaking of hands and pats on the back, while doing so exclaiming* ‘ahhh mate haven’t see ya in so long, how are ya? How’s the wife and kids?’
Gift-giving Etiquette
. A gift may be declined a few times before it is accepted which displays that the recipient is not greedy.
.Do not bring food if invited to a formal dinner party as it may indicate that you do not think the host will supply sufficient hospitality.
.Gifts are not opened in the presence of the giver.
.Never give alcohol to Muslims, as it is forbidden in their religion to consume any means of alcohol
.offer the gift when you are departing, rather than when you arrive.
.Use both hands to give someone a gift.
.Always bring the host a gift when invited to their home.
Australia’s norm: a gift is accepted almost immediately and the gift-wrap is almost battered when the recipient peeks at what has just been given. The amount you give is the amount you get back.
Business Etiquette
. Communication is business will mostly be non-verbal and you must attentively pay attention to the facial expressions and body language of people you work with.
. When dealing with others always be respectful and courteous as this leads to the relationships necessary within business.
.Singaporeans respectfully pause for up to 15 seconds before answering a question.
.Us, Aussies may not be familiar with this, but always be punctual for social occasions and business meetings. Call if you are delayed as tardiness is viewed as a sign of disrespect.
Dining
.Food is more often than not put on the table with served dishes that are to be shared by all.
.Chinese use chopsticks for most food and porcelain spoons for the liquid part of food.
.the washing of hands before and after a meal are the norm for many Indians. In an Indian home, you will be given a small bowl of water and a towel, use the water to wash your hands.
.Malays and Indians use a spoon along with their hands to eat, but never use your left hand to eat (unclean).
.It is impolite to refuse initial offers of food or drink. To refuse seconds, place your hand above your plate and say, "No, thank you”
Australia’s norm: blessing is said, fork and knife is used in right hand
Dress
.Due to the modernised quality of Singaporeans, many different types of attire acceptable. Dress is normally very casual and Western clothing is most common.
.For business, men should wear white shirts, tie and slacks. Jackets are usually not required.
.Women should wear blouses with sleeves and skirts or pantsuits.
Singaporeans choice of dress is very similar to Australians.
Since, Singapore is a diverse, ethnic mix; there are four languages in common usage - Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil and English. Good communication and a mutual grasp, often require more than a common language and many misunderstandings are encountered from contradictory concepts of the appropriate or inappropriate use of language. There are certain skills to be knowledgeable about when in Singapore such as being able to flow with their norms and customs and the choice of language.
Singaporean Communication Style
High Context
Unsettling information may be expressed in non-verbal directs. There are many ways of saying “no” without uttering the word. Relationship determines the nature of the communication.
Formal/restrained
In formal settings, titles and family names are used, and hierarchy is always respected and acknowledged. Communication requires self control and restrained emotional expression. Losing one’s temper causes loss of face to both the offended and the offender.
Meeting and Greeting
.Based on ethnic origin and age of the person, greetings will follow a strict practice.
.If a man and a woman shake hands; the woman must extend her hand first. Introductions are always done in order of age or status.
. Nodding the head and smiling is usually adequate, when being introduced to someone of the opposite gender
.Shake hands with everyone in attendance at a social occasion. Shake hands again when leaving.
.Singaporeans may bow slightly as they shake your hand.
.Never signal or point at a person with the forefinger. Do not pound your first on an open palm; this is obscene.
Australia’s norm: *yells at G’day from across the room to the person they know, followed by the shaking of hands and pats on the back, while doing so exclaiming* ‘ahhh mate haven’t see ya in so long, how are ya? How’s the wife and kids?’
Gift-giving Etiquette
. A gift may be declined a few times before it is accepted which displays that the recipient is not greedy.
.Do not bring food if invited to a formal dinner party as it may indicate that you do not think the host will supply sufficient hospitality.
.Gifts are not opened in the presence of the giver.
.Never give alcohol to Muslims, as it is forbidden in their religion to consume any means of alcohol
.offer the gift when you are departing, rather than when you arrive.
.Use both hands to give someone a gift.
.Always bring the host a gift when invited to their home.
Australia’s norm: a gift is accepted almost immediately and the gift-wrap is almost battered when the recipient peeks at what has just been given. The amount you give is the amount you get back.
Business Etiquette
. Communication is business will mostly be non-verbal and you must attentively pay attention to the facial expressions and body language of people you work with.
. When dealing with others always be respectful and courteous as this leads to the relationships necessary within business.
.Singaporeans respectfully pause for up to 15 seconds before answering a question.
.Us, Aussies may not be familiar with this, but always be punctual for social occasions and business meetings. Call if you are delayed as tardiness is viewed as a sign of disrespect.
Dining
.Food is more often than not put on the table with served dishes that are to be shared by all.
.Chinese use chopsticks for most food and porcelain spoons for the liquid part of food.
.the washing of hands before and after a meal are the norm for many Indians. In an Indian home, you will be given a small bowl of water and a towel, use the water to wash your hands.
.Malays and Indians use a spoon along with their hands to eat, but never use your left hand to eat (unclean).
.It is impolite to refuse initial offers of food or drink. To refuse seconds, place your hand above your plate and say, "No, thank you”
Australia’s norm: blessing is said, fork and knife is used in right hand
Dress
.Due to the modernised quality of Singaporeans, many different types of attire acceptable. Dress is normally very casual and Western clothing is most common.
.For business, men should wear white shirts, tie and slacks. Jackets are usually not required.
.Women should wear blouses with sleeves and skirts or pantsuits.
Singaporeans choice of dress is very similar to Australians.
Places to go
The list on places to go in Singapore is very long, with a small chance that boredom will be the issue; visitors are lured into the city’s historic ethnic places, particularly Little India. Containing extravagant Hindu temples, curry houses and stores selling exotic produce, the district stays close to its original nature, as does nearby Chinatown, surrounded by alluring shrines; a flawlessly rebuilt Chinese mansion and a heritage centre(Baba house) documenting the hardships experiences by generations of Chinese migrants in Singapore.
Other must-sees
Cultural/historical- SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS- There you can find more than 10,000 types of plants, numerous heritage trees, a tract of rainforest and the earliest ornamental designed lake in Singapore.
Museums- ASIAN CIVILLASTIONS MUSEUM- Sketch the cultural roots of the island’s diverse population through the museums interactive displays. Virtual hosts greet you at each of the themed exhibits, which contain special exhibitions and a fantastic museum shop. Exhibit highlights of this diverse cultural museum include a ninth-century Buddha and a Chinese snuff box.
Amusement- FLIGH EXPERIENCE FLIGHT STIMUALTOR- .Based on the world's most popular aircraft the BOEING 737-800NG – you will be in control from take-off to touchdown with as much, or as little guidance as you wish, from fully trained instructors.
The list on places to go in Singapore is very long, with a small chance that boredom will be the issue; visitors are lured into the city’s historic ethnic places, particularly Little India. Containing extravagant Hindu temples, curry houses and stores selling exotic produce, the district stays close to its original nature, as does nearby Chinatown, surrounded by alluring shrines; a flawlessly rebuilt Chinese mansion and a heritage centre(Baba house) documenting the hardships experiences by generations of Chinese migrants in Singapore.
Other must-sees
Cultural/historical- SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS- There you can find more than 10,000 types of plants, numerous heritage trees, a tract of rainforest and the earliest ornamental designed lake in Singapore.
Museums- ASIAN CIVILLASTIONS MUSEUM- Sketch the cultural roots of the island’s diverse population through the museums interactive displays. Virtual hosts greet you at each of the themed exhibits, which contain special exhibitions and a fantastic museum shop. Exhibit highlights of this diverse cultural museum include a ninth-century Buddha and a Chinese snuff box.
Amusement- FLIGH EXPERIENCE FLIGHT STIMUALTOR- .Based on the world's most popular aircraft the BOEING 737-800NG – you will be in control from take-off to touchdown with as much, or as little guidance as you wish, from fully trained instructors.
The potential of tourism on local populations and environments
Some may think that with over 13 million people entering a country with different customs, and ways of doing things, it can distraught, insult or even ruin the county’s traditions Singaporeans may not enjoy the strong influence tourists are shedding as the country then has to accompany the tourists’ needs. Singapore is also a tight country and with attracting already twice the population of Singapore of tourists that can lead to environment problems such as pollution and urbanisation. However, Singapore has worked for years to ensure their country is tourist friendly. Tourism is a major industry and contributor to the Singaporean economy, as it creates many jobs.
Singapore’s challenging aspects
Singapore does contain challenging aspects for Australians, since the customs and ways of doing things are quite different. One major problem I personally think facing Australians who visit Singapore is their lack of knowledge on how Singaporeans like to ‘work’, sometimes (as hard as it is to believe) Singaporeans are not open to close friendships or humour unlike us Aussies. Singapore is a busy country that never sleeps during the day or night; it’s not like Alice Springs who are asleep all day.
But why Singapore you utter?
It is the 5th most visited city by international tourist arrivals based on statistics and rankings by the World Tourism Organization. Scrape the image of Singapore as a dull, sanitary Utopia – touch the ground and you’ll discover a unique brew of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western cultures, a vibrant, mixture of ethnicity that would do anything but bored you. The graffiti-free crisp clean punctual trains, traffic jams are a phrase not understood by Singaporeans and everyone looks well-groomed and hearty, I’m even convincing myself to head over there now. You’ll definitely gain a quenching experience to see, hear and feel a totally different way of working, communicating, celebrating and believing.