Singapore National Day

I feel like Singapore is the Disneyland of the world. Everything you see is meant to be seen; it's nice, clean, efficient, and there for your use and pleasure. Everything else is hidden under trap doors, secret alleyways, and corners of the island where no one goes. This really becomes apparent with special events. Actually, it doesn't even have to be that special. Everything here is a production and it's planned to perfection. Money or resources don't seem to be of any concern and things go up just as fast as they come down. It's amazing how something seems to be going on everywhere you go, and the preparation and length they take to make it happen blows my mind every time.

The National Day celebration was no exception to this. National Day is like the 4th of July, it's Singapore's birthday and this year was Singapore's 45th! To explain a little bit about what I said above, I have been here for over two months, and even though National Day was just two days ago they have been rehearsing and practicing for this event every weekend since I have been here (and probably before). Major road routes have been closed every weekend for parade rehearsal, fighter jets and air force routines were ran in precision on every Saturday, and dress rehearsals and sound tests occured in the stadium erected in the middle of the city every time I go by. Oh, and the entire city is decked out with National Day flags, banners, streamers, signs, and advertisements. It's pretty amazing.




Another thing that amazes me about Singapore is how smoothly everything goes. I asked Nat if she thinks it's because the rules are so strict and the fines and punishments are heavy, or if it's because the people just obey. My Singaporean colleague says that it's just because the people have grown up being used to the way things are. Nat and I couldn't help but image the mayhem that would occur if the same event occurred in a place like London. With that said, there were more police and official personel present than I have seen the entire time I have been here. I didn't find them necessary, but it was kinda cool to see!





The festivities themselves did not dissapoint. Although we didn't have tickets into the stadium area, we still enjoyed walking through the masses of people trying to see everything we could. We eventually found a grassy place to sit with a view of the city and the fireworks show that would close the night. But first was the air force show!





And tanks!





So I'm pretty sure when they planned the fireworks show, someone was drinking a beer and said "dude, it would be way sweet if we lit of fireworks from the tops of all the tallest building in the city during the the fireworks show." So they did it. I feel like everything in Singapore is decided the same way...obscene but somehow it always works.





One thing I find great about Singaporeans is the pride they seem to have in their country. I can't really call it patriotism because I feel like it's almost the same way I feel about my University. It's almost an emotional connection that makes you happy and proud about what you support and where you came from. In the UK they complain about the weather, the NHS, or more weather. In the US we complain about politics, the economy, or the fact that no matter what our country is doing we don't like it. But in Singapore, everyone seems pretty happy. Maybe I'll probably look back at this post a year from now and feel like I'm being pretty ignorant, but for the time being I'm pretty happy to be here and I can see why Singaporeans are proud for their country.

During the next two months, Singapore has two more major events coming up. The first ever Youth Olympic Games (you'd think they were the real olympics based on the exposure and preparation they have here) and a Formula One race. Stay tuned for more about those!