It’s interesting how little my American friends know about my current home city of Singapore. It’s true, it is very far away from the U.S. and very small—so small, in fact, that it has the nickname “the little red dot.” It’s referred to as this because on a map, the dot is often all you can see.
If Americans do know something about Singapore, it often revolves around two things:
- “Gum is illegal, right?”
- “Better not break the law; they will cane you.” (This is a reference to the legal problems an American teen had here in 1994.)
In reality, if a modern, utopian large city exists, Singapore is it. The variety of food, people, and cultures is probably beyond the imagination of many. It’s the best of Asia combined with the conveniences of the Western world in a climate of eternal summer. The country has some of the lowest crime rates in the world, and I feel completely safe here. There are a lot of rules, but Singaporeans value discipline and take great pride in their country’s success.
Lee Kuan Yew, regarded as the founding father of modern Singapore, said: “My greatest satisfaction comes from… mustering the will to make this place meritocratic, corruption-free and equal for all races—and that it will endure beyond me.”
Spending time in Singapore will change one’s perspective of what is possible in developed nations. Of course, Singapore is small and culturally different from other countries, but it is a fascinating place to experience.
Shifting Lenses 
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