In our first week at the Round Square Conference, we were given the opportunity to explore the breathtaking city of Singapore with our respective Baraza groups, consisting of delegates of the conference, as well as student leaders from UWCSEA. Preceding the outing, each Baraza group met and sorted through the many options of where to go and what to see for our “Discover Singapore Day,” whether it was visiting the Botanical Gardens, Chinatown, or taking a ride on the Singapore Flyer. A few choices were compulsory on this day, but we were able to vote on other options. It was quite difficult to vote for only a few activities, because all the options seemed to be amazing! After putting together a schedule for the day, we were ready to embark on our discovery of Singapore.
Courtesy of the school, all delegates were fortunate enough to be given transit cards to use public transportation to explore one place to the next. After a few subway stops, my group and I got off at a mall where we immediately searched for a food court. After dining, we were eager and energized to take the bus to the Supreme Court of Singapore, but to our dismay, it started pouring rain. This set us back because we had to wait until it cleared up outside, but it was nothing a little ice cream couldn’t help! As we enjoyed our snack, the rain stopped. By then, since we were running short on time, my we decided to go straight to the Singapore Flyer, which was our original plan, to end the day.
We hopped on the bus and headed toward Marina Bay, where we ran into many other Baraza groups waiting to get in line for the Singapore Flyer. We all shared our experiences with each other as we waited to ride this renowned tourist attraction. Finally, we got on the Flyer – and away we went! As we slowly ascended, we played music and took many pictures of the beautiful view around us (despite the fogginess due to the haze).
Seeing the Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, and much more from way up above was incredibly special. The ride took around 30 minutes to make its full rotation, and before long, we found ourselves back on ground level. On our way back to the school, we kept ourselves busy by sharing the photographs we took and discussing what we enjoyed most on our “Discover Singapore Day.” Upon arrival at UWCSEA, all delegates and student leaders waited in line for delicious beef tacos, served from a food truck at the school. There was even a small party for us as we ate!
Overall, “Discover Singapore Day” was one of my favorites of the week for a number of reasons. Not only were we exposed to the wonderful city of Singapore and all it has to offer, but we were also given the opportunity to bond with our Baraza group members and get to know one another on a deeper level. Looking back on this trip, “Discover Singapore Day” was definitely an experience that will forever be etched in my memory.
– Julia Garfinkle ’16