This week was my first official week in the office and my first full week in Singapore. It was quite a week with many new experiences and new things.
To begin my overall experience, so far Singapore has been one of my favorite cities i have visited. Unlike Australia which is very much a western country, Singapore is most certainly an Asian one. Though they reside on similar parts of the globe they could not be more different places, but i love Singapore for that reason. Singapore as an Asian city is so different from anything I have experienced before. Everything from the interesting cuisine, to the pace of work and life are new experiences I have very much enjoyed. The food is incredible and I have tried no many new things. My favorite thus far has been a dish with rice, pork, and fried egg. I get it at least twice a week from the mall across the street from our hotel. Speaking of malls, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE!!!! This city is a shopper’s paradise with lots of high end stores. It’s too bad I’m broke and can’t afford designer. These malls are also underground, which makes sense as it feels as if half of this city is. While this was confusing in the beginning it has since made it very easy to get around as I get a feeling for the best ways to navigate.
Work thus far has also been incredible. I am really enjoying the experience of working at Global Financial Consultants, which is a small wealth management firm. The best part is that because the firm is small, I feel as though my work is appreciated. I am slowly progressing through tasks at my job, getting more and more responsibility. I also really like the other members of my team. We have already been out to lunch on several occasions and have been out to drink for my boss’s birthday. Because the team is small I feel like I have already made a real connection with them. Though I am working for free, which I question at times, I feel as though I am gaining valuable experience through this internship, and for that I am grateful.
Overall the first official week has been great. I can’t wait to get more responsibility at my job, and continue to explore the city and its many prevalent cultural differences from the west.
