Monday, August 23, 2010

A Foreigner on the MRT


After watching some Youth Olympic basketball, I decided to go on an adventure. Instead of taking the totally convenient and comfortable Youth Games-provided transportation, I traveled back to my dorm room via Singapore’s subway system, the MRT. The Youth Olympic Village is located on the campus of Nanyang Technological University, on the city’s far west side. I was on Singapore’s version of the Millennium Mile, Orchard Road, in the heart of the city.

I found out that the trip would span one subway transfer and one bus exchange. Singapore has a reputation for being extremely safe and having law-abiding citizens. I probably wouldn’t have tried this in Rio de Janeiro. Here are some scattershot observations from my adventure:

-The MRT is very clean and spacious, compared to the other subway systems I’ve experienced (London, NYC, Chicago, DC).
-The MRT has five lines, or routes. The maps are easy to read.
-It was around 8:45pm Monday and their were a lot of business men in my train.
-I was probably the only non-local, a sharp contrast to touristy Orchard Road.
-A more diverse crowd enters at the Outram Park stop. Subways seem to attract two crowds: 1) the working class and 2) the young & fashionable.
-All stops had either a British or Asian ring to it. Queenstown or Tion Bahru were separated by one stop. Further down was the Spanish-sounding Buona Vista. Where am I?
-Everyone in Singapore has a smart phone. iPads can be bought in corner stores. I’m 13 hours ahead of Central Standard Time, but it feels more like I’m 13 months in the future.
-The only other Caucasian around me is carrying a man purse and wearing women’s shoes. He must be European.
-A local is wearing an Allen Iverson backpack. That’s a strange sight in any country.
-Things forbidden on the MRT- 1) No smoking: $1000 fine. 2) No Flammable Liquid/Gas: $5000. 3) No Eating or Drinking: $500. It occurs to me that I’ve been drinking water the past 20 minutes.
-The subway heads above ground midway through the trip. I’m surrounded by high rise apartment complexes. Singapore is a very urban city.
-I get off the MRT and head for the bus exchange, which turns out to be in the middle of a huge mall.
-The mall is packed at 9:45pm. Singaporeans love to shop.
-Now on the bus. I don’t really know where I’m supposed to get off, or “alight,” as they say in Singapore.
-I’m heading down Pioneer Road, a major thoroughfare. There’s a decent-sized soccer stadium on my left. It’s home to the Goomback United Football Club.
-Singapore flags are on every building. The young city-state just celebrated 45 years since it’s independence.
-There are warning signs all over this bus. Mind your step. Mind your head. Please move to the rear. No assault on bus captain (no joke).

I made it. I now understand the commute made by the countless purple-shirt-wearing volunteers that work in the Youth Olympic Village. I feel like a true Singaporean. I’ve lived here for two weeks now and tonight, it feels like home. Estimate time of trip: 1 hour, 15 minutes. Cost: free with Olympic transport card.

Click HERE to see a video I helped create. Click HERE to see some photos of the Young Reporters, including myself.

Singapore Subway

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Sport Media Summer Camp


This time two weeks ago, I was preparing myself for the 24-hour flight to Singapore and the trip of a lifetime. A week from today, I will be readjusting to the Central Time Zone and preparing to begin my graduate studies at TCU. It's been an amazing experience so far, with too many interesting encounters to mention in this blog. I'm learning so much and meeting people from around the world. I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and learning about myself.

As an "Young Reporter" I have spent two days working as a print reporter and two days as a photo-journalist. Tomorrow is day two of my time in broadcast media. I can't imagine a better crash course in sport reporting. The 28 of us young reporters are learning from six of the best minds in sport media in the world. I will be excited to return home, where the humidity is less intense and the food is more familiar. But until then, I am going to take advantage of this unique opportunity and make the most of every day.

Singapore tidbit: Singaporeans are crazy about soccer, specifically the English Premier League, more specifically the team Manchester United.

Click HERE to view my photo album from the Opening Ceremony. Click HERE to read my fencing article from Singapore.

Singapore Singers

Sunday, August 15, 2010

A Kaleidoscope of Sport


Last night's Opening Ceremony for the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore was fantastic. No offense to my Canadian friends, but Singapore 2010 blew Vancouver 2010 out of the water, while floating on top of the water. The stage was literally floating in Marina Bay, with all of Singapore's most iconic landmarks forming the backdrop. From left to right: the Singapore Flier (think London Eye), Double Helix Bridge (made to look like DNA), Marina Bay Sands (think over-the-top Las Vegas casino), Marina Bay itself and countless skycrapers. It was impossible for the show not to be visually impressive.

To make matters more outrageous, fireworks were used liberally, punctuating the end of each segment, whether a dance sequence or traditional Olympic speech. Us young reporters happened to be seated next to one of many small stages in the crowd. Alternating on this stage were drummers, dragon dancers, and even pole dancers. The dance sequences were equally ridiculous and amazing. Well done, Singapore. Let the Games begin.

Singapore tidbit: Although English is the official language for business in Singapore, nearly every Singaporean speaks another language (often Chinese or Malay) at home.

Click HERE to view my Q&A with four-time Olympic ice hockey medalist Angela Ruggiero, who's in Singapore, serving as an Athlete Role Model for the Youth Olympians.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

San Antonio to Singapore


This is both the farthest East and South I have ever been. Until two days ago, I had never ventured past Western Europe. I have definitely never been this close to the Equator. Singapore's tropical climate results in beautiful green forests, but also sweltering humidity. Aside from feeling like I'm walking through thick, wet air at all times, I love this city-state. The flora is unlike anything I've seen before. The closest would probably be Vancouver, which has almost as much rain. It rains here every day around 6pm.

I am staying in the athletes village, which was converted from the National Institute of Education, a sprawling college on the western edge of town. I have to take a shuttle between my dorm room and the dining hall. It's not as close to downtown Singapore as I expected or hoped. It only makes me more excited to begin real work Friday morning at the Main Press Centre in downtown. Today, I'm planning to meet up with my former U.S. Olympic Committee boss, Lisa Ramsperger, who arrived yesterday. I met up with former fellow USOC intern, Ian Jaray, already today. It's great to see familiar faces.

Singapore tidbit: The currency is the Singapore dollar. A $25 t-shirt in Singapore will cost about $18 US dollars.

Click HERE to read my feature on fencers Tim Morehouse and Ben Igoe from Summer Nationals in Atlanta.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

jetlagged and sweaty

singapore is great (and humid) but was too out of it to enjoy my first day. i look forward to hitting the ground running tomorrow. better blog posts to come.