Observations

What I've observed about Singapore so far:

1. Singapore is a known for being a very efficient and well-run city. However, in fast food restaurants, food courts, etc. Singaporeans go into the restaurant, find a table, sit everybody at the table, and then one person goes up to get food for the entire table. This habit is entirely INEFFICIENT (and very annoying). This happened twice to us today- both food courts we went to were packed! So, like Americans, we wait in line, order, get our food, and proceed to find a table, none of which are available! The first time, we ended up sharing a table with a family, and the second time some people in our group ate standing up. Due to this Singaporean habit, the ordering line appears to be very short, but each person in the line is ordering food for more than just his or herself. Nevertheless, the service time is quicker as the cashier has to handle less money transactions because only one person is paying versus, say, four people. If everyone just waited in line first, like we do in America, once someone received their order, seats would be opening up because people would be finished eating. There would be a steady flow of people in and out of the restaurant. However, I have come to realize that the reason Singaporeans save seats is because Singaporeans (and many other foreigners for that matter) do not eat in fast food restaurants because they are fast. In fact, families sit at a McDonald's for over an hour. They stay not because they like the food, but because of status! Just being at a McDonald's is a way of partaking in modern, Western culture.

2. The Singapore government is ashamed of one thing: they have two systems for cash cards, and they cannot go back because it is already in place. They have an EZ-Link card to pay for transportation (buses and trains), and businesses are only starting to accept payment using a CashCard, which is similar to a GT BuzzCard- has money on it, and you just swipe to pay, no PIN number required. The system is tough on tourists and locals because they have to pay for and load two cards. 

3. Everything is done on the left in Singapore. People drive on the left side of the road. Consequently, the steering wheel is on the opposite side of the car than in the U.S. On an escalator or moving sidewalk, you stand on the left and people pass you on the right. The mosts interesting for me was when Caroline and I were swimming today. A guy got in our lane to swim, and we had to REVERSE CIRCLE SWIM (staying on the left side instead of the right)! 

4. Social etiquette in Singapore: You must cover your mouth when you yawn, putting your hands on your hips is a sign of anger, and it is rude to blow your nose or clear your throat in public. A person head is considered holy because it is the very top of your body. Thus, it is rude to touch someone else's head. That being said, it is also rude to show somebody the bottom of your feet because those are the lowest and dirtiest parts of your body.

5. Singaporeans save 50% of their income! They are the highest saving country in the nation! China is #2 at 38%. The U.S. citizens save 2%! I think Singaporeans save so much because they live in very small houses, and thus do not have a lot of space for superfluous items.

6. The Olympics in China are starting on August 8th, 2008 at 8:08 PM. Thus, 08-08-08, 8:08. This is being done because 8 is a lucky number, BUT this year, 8's have been unlucky for China! On February 24th, snowstorms cause major traffic problems in southern China (the date 2-24 adds up to 8). On March 14th, there was an uprising in Tibet (the date 3-14 adds up to 8!). On May 12th, there was an earthquake in China that killed over 50,000 people (the date 5-12 adds up to 8!!!). Luckily, I do not have any travel plans for 6-02, 6-11, 7-01, or 7-10. 

7. The 1996 Olympics cost Atlanta $2 billion (building the venues, expanding the airport, adding transportation routes like MARTA, etc.). The Olympics were paid for by Americans only (Coca Cola, etc.), not the U.S. government. The only thing gift that Uncle Sam gave Atlanta during the Olympics was two army troops for security. The 2008 Olympics in Beijing has cost $38 BILLION so far, and still counting! And the Chinese government is paying for it all, with a little help from American companies for advertising purposes. 

8. The Olympic venues (the Ice Cube, the Bird's Nest, etc.) were all designed based on winning entries in a global architecture contest! Any architect could submit their newest and most creative idea, and the Chinese government got to pick. None of the chosen designs were made by Chinese architects , because, well the Chinese do not specialize in architecture. None of the chosen designs were made by Americans because Americans are all about building something to be used in the future, like turning the track and field venue into a baseball stadium (Turner Field), and China did not like that idea. They wanted something new and exciting and never seen before. In fact, the majority of the winning designs were designed by Europeans! Why? European architects can never see their new, creative ideas be built because of the preexisting architecture in Europe. However, China has become an avenue for European architectural creativity, so the Europeans just went crazy! One downfall of this though, is that none of the buildings match. haha :)