Thank you from Poland

July 31

Today I returned to my country. Next three weeks I will be spending with my family and friends. I also have some exams to pass…

This summer I learned a lot: about other people, about different cultures and most importantly about myself. It was amazing experience and I would like to express my gratitude to all those who gave me the possibility to complete this International Public Service Project.

First of all, I would like to thank the Clinton School of Public Service for offering a program where knowledge gained in the classrooms is confronted with a real live during field projects. I wish to thank all the staff and faculty at the Clinton School for their support, guidance, care and attention.

I would like to thank all of the staff of Dreams @ Kolam Ayer for their vision on this project. I wish them the best of luck with fulfilling the Center’s mission.

I cannot express enough gratitude to all the volunteers and Dreams @ Kolam Ayer members. Without their support and co-operation this project would not have been possible.

Thank you for a great summer, successful project, useful experience and unforgettable memories.

It’s time to say goodbye

July 30

Over the last week I was working on a report for Dreams and luckily I managed to prepare the 54-page report on time. Today during the final meeting with Dreams’ staff I presented the results of the evaluation. The meeting with Dreams’ staff was an occasion to discuss the findings and future recommendations.

All surveys that were collected

Roger

Andy

June

After the meeting I invited everybody for a cake.

I got an awesome gifts from June, Andy, Roger and Patricia.

I cleaned up my desk and ...

I left the Center for the last time

I packed my suitcase and around 9 I headed to the airport. I was accompanied by Roger and at the airport Andy was waiting for us. It was really nice of them that they escorted me to the airport. We had a great dinner there and I ate another ice kachang (this time without corn ) and I almost missed my flight…

Another ice kachang

Andy and Roger wanted to be a 100% sure that I will leave Singapore so they came to the airport

Fun @ Dance Studio

July 29

At the Center, there is a group of boys that is passionate about dance. They are spending their free time in the Dance Studio @ Dreams. Some time ago they said that they will prepare a dance show for me and today I had a privilege to see it. I was really impressed by their performance. Below is a short video where you can see the dance.

 

After the show they continued their practice and I could witness how many times during their dance evolution they hit the floor. I have been playing volleyball for more than 15 years now and I dive for a ball and roll many times and I know how it hurts to hit the floor… They are crazy!!!

With the dancers

Today it was also the last day when I had a chance to interact with kids. After finishing the work I took them for a dessert. It was a surprise for them but also for me since for the first time I’ve eaten ice kachang.

On the way...

During one of the focus groups that I conducted, among things that young people would like to have in the Center was ice kachang. At that point I had no clue what it was. When asked for clarification they only repeated: “It’s great!!! You have to try it.” After that I made some investigation and I asked June, my food-expert, what ice kachang is. It turned out to be one of the favorite desserts of Singaporeans. Shaved ice covered in fruit syrup and inside you can find kidneys beans, rice, grass jelly, corn and…. It was interesting experiment.

Ice kachang: ice, fruit syrup, chocolate, and corn... What a mix!!!

Eating ice kachang

Eating ice kachang

I still don't understand why they mix corn with chocolate!!!

My Last Sunday in Singapore (July 26)

Yesterday, it was the last Sunday of my stay in Singapore. On my list of things to do/see were still some options. I also promised myself that I won’t touch my laptop on Sunday (I am working on my final report for Dreams and I am spending long hours in front of the computer screen so at least Sunday must be a laptop-free day.)

First I went to the swimming pool. Singapore is a paradise for swimmers with arguably the highest density of public pools in the world. They are all open-air complexes with 50 meter-pool, smaller pool for kids and middle pool for everybody to relax and have fun. The entrance fee is ridiculous: S$1 for adults (S$1.30 during the weekend) and S$0.7 for children (S$1 on weekend).  Actually, this is so cheap that half of the visitors don’t swim at all. They just come from nearby housing complexes for a few hours to chill out, read and relax in the sun.

After the swimming pool, I went to the Labrador Park where a Labrador Secret Tunnels from the World War II are located. I was in the war bunker, I saw imposing six-inch guns and machine gun posts. The multimedia presentation in the historic 1886-built casemate enriched my knowledge about the history of Singapore. The rich variety of flora and fauna in the Park was amazing and the view of the sea from magnificent cliff was incredible.

Labrador Nature Reserve

Labrador Nature Reserve

At the coast

At the coast

Machine gun post

Six-inch gun

Entrance to one of the secret tunnels

The Secret Tunnel

Inside the secret tunnel

Inside the war bunker

Beautiful view from the cliff

Labrador Nature Reserve

Labrador Nature Reserve

After that I went to Sentosa Island. I was there for the first time at the beginning of my stay in Singapore but I wanted to go there one more time. I saw a sunset over there and I went to the part of the island that is said to be the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia or Asia’s closet point to the Equator (I planned to go to the Equator Point in Indonesia but my project kept my very busy and I couldn’t  do that ).

Sentosa Island

Sunset in the Sentosa Island

Stanley in the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia

Stanley in the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia

Sentosa Island

Sentosa Island

Tree Top Walk

July 25

During one of the meetings with Dreams’ staff, I suggested that I would like to go to MacRitchie Reservoir Park and I would like to take some kids from the Center with me. Today with June, Andy, Roger and some 20 kids we went to the park. The main reason why I wanted to go there was a Tree Top Walk which is a freestanding suspension bridge that connects MacRitchie’s two highest points.

On the way to MacRitchie Reservoir Park

MacRitchie Reservoir Park

To get to the bridge we had to on food cover a distance of 5 kilometers. The path was strewed with rocks so it was not an easy walk. And it was quite hot that day. I found the walk nice and relaxing but for some participants it was too long and too tiring. But the view from the bridge was astonishing and the experience of walking on the suspension bridge awesome. 

Board presenting special features that can be found at MacRitchie Reservoir

The 5th National Women Canoeing Championchips took place in the Park

Contestants before the race

MacRitchie Trials

MacRitchie Trials

On the trial

Almost there

Tree Top Walk - the suspension bridge

The suspension bridge

Panoramic view from the bridge

On the suspension bridge

On the trial

In the park there are lots of monkeys

MacRitchie Reservoir Park

As I said it wasn't easy

Catching some breath

Those who survive are on the picture

 After the visit in the park we went for a dinner. We ate some Thai food which was delicious (as everything I ate in Singapore).

Leaving for a dinner

National Day Parade

Singaporeans are getting ready to celebrate the National Day Parade. The National Day Parade is a national ceremony that includes a parade on Singapore’s national day (August 9) in commemoration of Singapore’s independence.

This year it is 44th Singapore's Bday

One of blocks decorated with flags

Another block with many flags

Singapore – A Fine City

Singapore is amazing for many reasons. One of them is that it is an extremely clean and safe country and when you arriving to Singapore from neighboring countries you feel like entering a different world. But to establish and maintain such a modern nation in the tropics strict rules and fines are essential. Thus Singapore is often called A Fine City. The first rule you learn at the airport: death penalty for carrying drugs (it was on my boarding card!). Crimes such as murder, kidnapping, unauthorized possession of firearms are also punished with death. For some crimes, for example illegal entry and overstaying your visa for over 90 days, vandalism, Singapore imposes caning as a punishment. Chewing gum is still banned, but there is one exception – chewing gum is now available at pharmacies for medical purposes (e.g. nicotine gum). If you need it you have to ask for it directly, show your ID and sign the register.

In MRT, you cannot smoke (fine = 1000 SGD). Eating or drinking is also not allowed (fine = 500). Fine for unlocking emergency break is 5000 SGD, for bringing flammable goods also 5000 SGD. And you also cannot bring durian.

Durian is unique fruit found in South East Asia. It has spiky skin (real spike like 2 cm outside) and famous for its odor. Somehow there’s no fine for Durian… They only said “No Durian”. You can’t bring durians to some hotels.

At the MRT station

In the MacRitchie Reservoir Park

In the MacRitchie Reservoir Park

In the MRT train

This one is my favorite

People and language

Singapore is a true melting pot of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Arabic communities. You can see women with Chinese features wear sarongs and Arabic dress, and this cultural aspect contribute to making Singapore such a unique destination.The official languages are English, Malay, Chinese (Mandarin) and Tamil. English is the main language of Singapore and has been heavily promoted as such since the country’s independence. In school, children are required to learn English and one of the three other official languages.

However, most Singaporeans speak a localized hybrid form of English known as Singlish (“Singapore English”), which has many Creole-like characteristics, incorporating vocabulary and grammar from Standard English, various Chinese dialects, Malay, and Indian languages.

The second most common language in Singapore is Mandarin, with over 70% of the population having it as a second language.

By law, all signs and official publications are required to be primarily in English, although they are occasionally translated versions into the other official languages. Also the announcements at the MRT Stations are in three languages.  

Sign at the construction site in 4 official languages: English, Chinese, Tamil, and Malay

Day in the Center

Below are some pictures presenting how every day at the Center looks like.

Kids in the Computer Lab

Patricia at work

This is "my" desk

Kids in the Cozy Corner

The Center is like a temple so leave your shoes outside But seriously when entering a Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist building, shoes must be removed.

The library

The Center provides also some food for the young people

The Jamming Studio

June in the kitchen

Andy and Roger during lunch (they cooked it!)

Dance Studio

Playing Monopoly (I was the Banker)

Three Temples and Chat with a Monk

July 19

I’ve already written about the Buddhism altars however Buddhism is only one of many religions in Singapore. The other very popular are Christianity, Muslims, Sikhism and Hinduism. On the other hand some religious materials and practices are banned in Singapore. The Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example, are prohibited from distributing religious materials and are sometimes jailed for their conscientious refusals to serve in the Singaporean military.

Today, I went to Chinatown where I could experience many different cultural places of worships located in close proximity to one another. On the corner of Pagoda Street, there is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, Sri Mariamman Temple.

Shoes stay outside the temple

Sri Mariamman Temple

Little girl is praying

Sri Mariamman Temple

Sri Mariamman Temple

Sri Mariamman Temple

Sri Mariamman Temple

Hindu family after a prayer ceremony

Also located near to Sri Mariamman Temple are the Jamae Mosque and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. 

The front of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is very impressive

Entrance to the Temple

Main altar

Inside the Temple

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

 The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum is a worship place of Buddhist devotees and a Buddhist culture museum as well. The Buddhist Culture Museum was established in order to collect, research and exhibit Buddhist artifacts from Asia region. There is a big collection of images of Buddha. The Temple is housing the Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic in a magnificent Relic Stupa composed of 420kg of gold donated by devotees.

The Buddhist Culture Museum

Stanley at the Buddhist Culture Museum

The Buddhist Culture Museum

The Buddhist Culture Museum

The Buddhist Culture Museum

The Buddhist Culture Museum

One of very interesting people I talked with was a monk. He came to Singapare from Thailand and I met him in the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. He was very curious about my project and asked thousands of questions but I also get some information from him. This is how monks’ everyday life looks like:

- They get up at 4 am to begin prayer, followed by alms, meditation, studying, and then more prayers and meditation. They go to bed at 11:30 pm.

-  They eat 2 meals a day. They go out early in the morning to ask for alms (=food) from people. What they get from alms is all that they have to eat for the day.

- Most monks do not have electronics (tv, radio) because they have they can’t afford to buy them.

- Monks believe in action. They help others and do lots of service projects in the community.

- The robes usually are orange, gold or yellow. They can’t be black or white.

- They do not wear any jewelry.

- Monks can’t be involved in politics. They don’t vote.

- Monks are not allowed alcohol or perfume.

- They can smoke cigarettes.

- Monks can eat some meat.

- They shave their heads because they do not need to look attractive to anybody.

- All males Buddhist have to serve as a monk for some time (this is how they pay to their father for raising and supporting them). Some only serve the 3 month period (that’s the minimum) but many of them serve for much longer.

- Monks do use internet.

Teh Monk in the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

Leaving the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

After visit in Chinatown I planned to go to the swimming pool. However, on the way to the Kallang Swimming Complex I came across a Malay wedding ceremony. The ceremony took place in one of many Relax Corners (an area with places to sit, where during the week people gather to talk, play board games, read etc.). There was lot of laud music and dancing. I wished the newlyweds all the best and headed towards my hotel.

The bride and bridegroom

The group that was performing during the wedding ceremony