Kim Esser landed in Singapore for the USC Marshall Learning about International Commerce (LINC) program. She will provide instructional support during the 10-day program, which exposes first-year USC students to Singapore's vibrant business culture as the culmination of a spring semester course about global business. Here's the second installment of her report from the field:
After landing in the dead of night on Sunday, we had a free morning to get our bearings and reset our body clocks to Singapore time. Many of us took a tour of the local area including China Town (filled with hawkers' stands, shops, and temples), the lively riverfront cafes and restaurants along Clarke Quay, and a river tour. "Horses sweat, men perspire, but ladies only glow" definitely applies to the climate here. We later regrouped at an Indian restaurant near the esplanade for a welcoming kick-off to the week's activities, followed by a live band performing outside on the riverfront.
Monday morning we began our "business" schedule. The first stop was the Singapore Housing Development Board. This government agency develops and provides a majority of the housing options for Singapore residents. The students were able to view full-scale mock-ups of all the apartment options families choose from. For lunch, we had a panel discussion with three USC alums, including Vincent Ng, head of the USC Alumni Association in Singapore. The students learned how their careers can lead them to destinations around the world and gained an appreciation for the worldwide reach of the Trojan network.
After lunch, we were off to the U.S. Embassy, aka "The Fortress." Security was incredibly tight as we were individually processed. Three representatives gave us an overview of operations and the services the embassy provides to U.S. citizens. Then they spoke about their daily lives and described careers in government service. It gave us a little feel of "home away from home."
We wrapped up the day with a trip to Qian Hu fish farm, the largest distributor of ornamental fish in the world. We were able to see the vast majority of their stock (average price $6900 SGD) and observe how they ship. The highlight was visiting the spa pools where visitors could stick their feet into ponds filled with fish that would come to "nibble." It was an international smorgasbord for the fish as everyone squealed and cringed with the experience, the guys moreso than the women. But we all left with wonderfully exfoliated feet!
So far, everyone is getting a feel for this amazing city and all the opportunities that await.