This past week’s events unfolded in a series of distinctly different acts marked most indubitably by a dramatic shift in climate that mirrored a mental pivot from beachside ease to urban intensity. A fitting metaphorical reflection for a week that balanced formidable professional challenges with rest, reflection, and unexpected drama due in full to my accidental participation in a monsoon survival challenge. The first act was set firmly in the world of legal structuring and startup logistics. I spent the week drafting founder’s agreements, managing share transfer filings, assisting with entity setup, tasks that were an excellent lesson in legal and operational problem solving. I’ve enjoyed learning about what goes into laying down the foundational work that rarely makes headlines but quietly defines the early stages of a venture.
Once the weekend hit, we left the city for Bintan Island. The weather was unforgivingly hot, but it didn’t stop us from spending time at the beach or stretched out in a hammock. A unique experience for me was a massage that me and Maddie decided to try: a head, neck, shoulder, back massage that was equal parts therapeutic and painful. That evening, we also had a group seafood dinner (thanks to Bucknell) at an ocean-side restaurant with a beautiful view, in which you could look out at sea and see city lights from the coasts of Singapore, Malaysia, and Bintan. Good food = good mood.
After taking a ferry ride back to Singapore, I wanted to get back out into the city before our Easter dinner (It was delish, shoutout chef Ariana) and before having to start the whole work routine again the next day. As per usual, I looked no further than the Botanic Gardens–and thank goodness I didn’t look further. What started as a light jog under overcast skies quickly turned into a torrential downpour just as I reached the Gallop Gate pavilion in the dead center of the park which, in this rain, felt like miles away from the two MRT stations. After trying to wait out the storm, the lights of the open-aired pavilion went out, thunder boomed overhead, and lightning was getting a little uncomfortably personal. As the storm intensified, I found myself increasingly aware of how exposed the structure actually was. It was, to put it mildly, an unnerving experience. Perhaps prolonged exposure to Singapore’s monsoon season breeds a certain nonchalance (the security guard seemed more amused than concerned) but just because the Singaporeans treated monsoons as a minor blip in the radar didn’t mean I was ready to risk my life on lightning roulette. Eventually, the kind German woman I was with offered me a spot in the Grab they finally got, and even insisted on covering the ride for me. Danke to that couple, who spent their last day in Singapore stuck in a Thunderstorm with me! After surviving this, I felt compelled to do some insightful research. Singapore, known as the “lightning capital” has one of the highest lightning rates in the world, averaging 171 thunderstorm days annually! I didn’t exactly get zapped into becoming the Flash, but the whole experience was definitely shocking enough to stick with me.
This week captured a lot of what this experience abroad has meant, a reminder of the importance of balance–between structure and spontaneity, discomfort and growth, planning and weather apps. I have also learned that no matter how well you plan stuff out, something is bound to go awry at some point. Not only leaving home organized and prepared on paper, but also mentally prepared for things to go differently than you expect them to makes all the difference. Shifting your mindset from frustration to curiosity and growth has turned experiences into valuable opportunities to learn and grow from the unexpected.
