Things to Know Before You Go: Singapore

1. Asia is one of the largest countries in the world bu did you know that Singapore is a country and a city! It is made up of various large to small islands at the southern most tip of southeast Asia. Singapore was originally ceded to Britain back in the 1800s then became an independent state by 1965 when it separated from Malaysia, and every since then it has been molding itself into a financial hub.

2. If you don't speak Mandarin its okay! Singapore has four official languages which include; Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English! Then there is Singlish which is a combination of interactions between different ethnic groups that combines other official languages. At the end of the day it never hurts to learn a new language! 

3. Just like America Singapore has some racial categories, not everyone is Singaporean! Singapore society is broken down into four main groups that goes as Chinese, Malay, and "Other". Chinese dominated the majority with a whooping 75% due to the huge migration of 1819 from China.The term bilingual for Singapore means you speak both English and Mandarin. Unfortunately there are some racist tactics that are accepted there, for example landlords can turn down Indian home seekers.

4. If your a foodie like me you have to go to the Hawkers Centers. There is tons of restaurants and cafes that serve local cuisine. It is a self serve area where you can grab and go from different food markets and the prices are great! You might spend 2-4 US Dollars for a meal, so it would be too easy to just pig out!

5. If you love shopping the you'll love Singapore! They have endless malls with some even connected to train stops and underpasses! It's the locals favorite pass time. So catch a movie, go shopping or window shopping. But do note you will not find anything extravagantly out of the ordinary, they carry almost all the same brands we do.