Singapore

* The first shared value:

(1) Nation before community and society before self.

(2) Family as the basic unit of society.

(3) Community support and respect for the individual.

(4) Consensus, not conflict.

(5) Racial and religious harmony.

* Geographical Characteristics of the Country/City:

Singapore consists of one main island and 60 small islands about 137 km north of the Equator (latitude 1o 09'N and longitude 103o 38'E). It has a total land area of 647.5 square kilometers, of which almost half has been set aside as forest reserves, marsh and other non-built-up areas. Three reservoirs occupy the centre of the island. Almost half of the land (49.67 per cent) is for residential, commercial and industrial use. A mere 1.7 per cent, about 10.8 sq km, is for agriculture.

* Climate:

Depending on whom you ask, Singapore either has four seasons or no seasons. The four seasons are: hot, hotter, wet and wetter.

And no seasons because Singapore has a warm tropical climate with sunshine all year round--making it a good place to develop a perpetual tan. With the sea to further moderate fluctuations in temperature, Singapore's weather is almost boringly consistent--between 32oC (90oF) for a high and 24oC (75oF) for a low. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Singapore was 20.5oC (69oF).

* Languages Spoken:

Because of its multiracial makeup, Singapore recognizes four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. English is the language of administration. Malay is the language in which the National Anthem in sung. In schools, children usually take English as the first language and one of the other 3 as a second language. For all intents and purposes, most conversations and business in Singapore are conducted in either English or Mandarin.

Singaporeans also speak a peculiar brand of English called "Singlish". This local concoction mixes English with common phrases in the Chinese dialects and some Malay. The use of Singlish continues to be a popular topic of public debate. Purists and Anglophiles bemoan the loss of Queen's English as they know it. Proponents of local culture say Singlish is one of the elements that give Singaporeans their distinctive identity.

* Currency:

Singapore Dollar (SGD) 1US = 1.6258SGD

* Public Transportation:

The transport system in Singapore is efficient and reliable by most standards. The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system plies the main stretches across the island, while buses cover other routes. Premier buses and taxis provide a faster and more comfortable ride at a higher price. MRT: The MRT offers a fast and convenient way to zip around, with trains arriving and leaving every few minutes. The trains operate almost round-the-clock, from 5:45 am to 12:15 am. You can either buy a single trip fare card or a stored value one. It works just like subways. Buses: The services are sometimes slow and infrequent, and the drivers are often surly, but the humble bus is still one of the cheapest ways to get around Singapore.

* Holidays you may encounter:

Public holidays:

Labor Day Wednesday 1 May 2002

Vesak Day Sunday 26 May 2002 - The most important day in the Buddhist Calendar, Vesak Day marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.

* Food and Meals:

Almost every major international cuisine can be found in Singapore. With hundreds of restaurants dotted around the island, you will never have to look very far for that wood-fired pizza or Japanese sashimi. Fastfood - Fast food arrived in Singapore in the late 70s and is today a familiar sight everywhere. There's McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Dunkin' Doughnuts and much more. Hawker Centres - Probably the most distinctive eating places in Singapore, hawker centers house dozens of food and drink stalls under one roof. The best advice is, walk around the whole place and take in everything before ordering. Prices are cheap and comparable to those in coffeeshops, although tourist favorites like Newton Hawker Centre and Lau Pa Sat are more expensive. When ordering, tell the hawker your table number and you should get your food within 10-15 minutes. Foodcourts - Together with hawker centers, food courts are the people's main eating choice when dining out. They are usually found in shopping malls, and are air-conditioned and thus more expensive. The choice of food is also more cosmopolitan, with some food courts even offering Italian, Korean, Japanese and Greek cuisine all in the same place. Be warned: at the more popular food courts, you could find people waiting behind you for your seat, so if you like to take your time, go during off-peak hours.

* Police and emergency services:

Remember: dial 999 for the police; dial 995 for fire/ambulance.

Singapore is a relatively safe place to live in. Most housing estates have Neighborhood Police Posts (NPPs). Policemen make regular rounds on foot or bicycles.

* Banking:

There are more than 140 commercial banks and 80 merchant banks in Singapore. Most offer full banking services, including checking and savings accounts, ATMs, fixed deposits, safe deposit boxes, loans, overdrafts and transfers. Most banks are open from 9:30 am to 3 pm or 4 pm on weekdays, and from 9:30 am to 11 am or 11:30 am on Saturdays. Almost all the major foreign banks are represented in Singapore, including the Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, Credit Suisse First Boston, Deutsche Bank, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC).

* Culture