Singapore American Newspaper - June/July 2014

Singapore American • June/July 2014

T h e A m e r i c a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f S i n g a p o r e ’s

www.aasingapore.com

MCI (P) 178/01/2014

June/July 2014

ambassador's cup golf

2014 Ambassador's Cup Champions

Since 1958

4-5

The 73rd Ambassador's Cup

By Brian Hill

travel

“The Cup”… like a dew-covered green on an early summer morning, those magical words are enough to raise the pulse of any golfer. This year marked my 18th Ambassador’s Cup – and for longer than that it has been our Major. And like any Major, it’s full of ritual and tradition.

For some, like the first robin of spring, the Cup is a cheerful reminder that summer is just around the corner. For some, it’s time to find your clubs in the closet and remove any moldy granola bars or crusty golf gloves hiding in bottom of your bag. For others, it signals a return to the driving range to search, against all hope, for that magical swing-thought that will have your irons singing and your short game humming like a finely tuned Swiss watch.

Whatever your ritual, the Cup is our chance each year to reconnect with our fellow golfers and share a few laughs. A cursory survey of participants revealed these pre- and post-round rituals – clearly intended to keep the golf gods sated:

21-23

unique hobbies

“I always drink two beers during the luncheon – both are drunk left-handed with an odd numbered golf ball floating in the glass.

It never fails!”

24-27

American Association

2-3

The Ambassador's Cup

4-5

CRCE & Business

6-7

Community News

9-11

Living in Singapore

12-20

Travel

21-23

Unique Hobbies

24-27

Arts & Culture

28

Food & Dining

29

Health & Wellness

30

Member Discounts

31

What's Happening

31

“For years our team has worn matching outfits. We decided to take it a step further this year and are all sporting ‘Who Let the Dogs Out!’ tattoos.”

As you’re well aware, the Cup is replete with traditions that are staunchly upheld by the collective will of the players. It begins with The Collecting of the Ringgit. On closer inspection, that never-ending supply in the envelope in your glove compartment turns out to be a wad of 1 RM bills – and so the frantic search begins.

The Checking of the Golf Bag. Tees … check. Exactly how many

Tournament Champions: Jonny Cook, Adam Ward, Chad Davis, Jacob Green Second Place : Shaun Thom pson, Matt Thomps on, Aaron W arnke, Tom Ra Third Place: De mar nnis Caraviello , Jim Cessford John Lee, Ciar , an Murphy Longest Drive Allamanda Men: Aaron W arnke 275 yds Women: Jack ie Shomaker 20 2 yds Cempaka Men: Andy Ho atson 335 yds Women: Jaim e Majalap 265 yds Nearest to th e Pin Allamanda: Aa ron Warnke 5' 6" Cempaka: To m Michael 3'1" Nearest to th e Line Allamanda: Ste ve Clark 1'8" Cempaka: An drew Collins 2' 6"

balls do I need for a scramble? How many cigars can I realistically smoke in one day? Is that a sandwich?

The Border Crossing provides many opportunities to practice patience. Here’s a handy checklist: • Full tank of gas • Fresh envelope of ringgit • Touch‘n Go card – it’s supposed to be in the envelope with the ringgit • Passport & green card The Cup rewards our patience with 26km of unfettered bliss – the joy of accelerating past 90kph and floating along at 110++kph with nary a car in your way.

The pre-round preparation begins in earnest once you arrive at Palm Resort. Check in, hit the range, register, get your awesome goody bag, get a locker, drink a beer, start planning your strategy, eat, drink another beer, catch up with all the folks you haven’t seen since last year, hit the putting green. At this point you attempt to empty your head of all thoughts (the natural state for some of us) and “be the ball.” Things get quiet on the putting green – time to focus … this is why you’re here, or have another beer and a banana and put on some sunscreen – it’s all good.

As you complete your first hole, the vibe of the round is starting to settle in. Will it be a birdie-binge like last year, or are you secretly counting the holes until the first beer tent and hoping for some Lucky Draw mojo?

For five hours, each team lives in its own world of heartbreaking lipouts, epic drives and tight approach shots. The bubble is occasionally pierced by shouts from teams that are clearly doing better than you are.

Continued on page 4

American Association of Singapore • Strategic Partners

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

a message from the president...

This is a fantastic time of year. Kids hear the final bell before summer break and many who travel home will have a chance to catch up with family and friends, eat favorite foods and (for the millionth time) explain that Singapore is not part of China and that we speak English here! If you’re traveling somewhere interesting, make sure to take this newspaper with you and take a picture for our “SAN in Hand” feature. At the end of summer we want to see how many interesting places SAN (and you!) have been. Safe travels to all.

For those of us staying in sultry Singapore, AAS has a few things cooking. Let’s start the summer right by gathering at the Singapore American School playing field on June 28 for our annual AAS Independence Day celebration. Admission is free for this wonderful afternoon and evening of food, music, games for kids and adults and, of course, fireworks.

As I mentioned last month, they don’t pay for themselves. So, your family or business donation will help ensure the day ends on a high note. Thanks and please contact General Manager Toni Dudsak to give.

If you’re on the job hunt, our Career Resource Center for Expats is hosting a resume writing workshop in June to help give you an edge in the marketplace.

Also, at the end of summer, stay tuned for our annual Welcome Back BBQ on September 7 at Smokey’s BBQ. This is a great time to reconnect with your Singapore friends and tell your tall tales about the summer holiday. This event is always family-friendly and we always subsidize the cost to make sure that everyone can attend.

By that time we should also have some great upgrades to our website, www.aasingapore.com, including changes to the look and feel. Most importantly, our new “responsive design” will allow you to more easily surf the website on your phone or tablet.

Speaking of online viewing, make sure you check out our new Living in Singapore 13th Edition Reference Guide – which was launched in May as an e-book. Now you can access all of the great information in LIS, whether you’re at home browsing the hard copy or on the go and need info via your mobile device. The content has been totally revised and we think you’re really going to like it and find it useful, whether you’re new to town or an Old Singapore Hand.

On a personal note, one of the great things about living abroad is the interesting, talented and genuinely nice people that you meet. The AAS staff bids a fond farewell to our friend, Scot Mario, who’s heading back to New York with his family. Scot is our graphics design master has been responsible for SAN, LIS, signs, banners and most of the AAS collateral material that you’ve seen over the past five years. Scot, we will miss you and thank you for a job well done.

As always, we value your opinion and ideas. If you have questions or suggestions, please reach out to me or Toni, generalmanager@aasingapore.com.

Best,

EDITORIAL Editor in Chief: Claire Slattery, communications@aasingapore.com Publishing Editor: Toni Dudsak, generalmanager@aasingapore.com

DESIGN & L AYOUT Graphic Designer: Scot Mario, scot@aasingapore.com & Joanne Johnson, graphics@aasingapore

ADVERTISING Advertising Manager: Valerie Tietjen, san.ads@aasingapore.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Banana Abroad, Dhruv Angresh, Jeremy Craig, Angel Corrigan, Lucia Damacela, Nithia Devan, Melissa Diagana, Richard Hartung, Jacob Helmueller, Annette Lang, Bart Millar, Samantha Power, Jim Tietjen, Tasmin Vosloo, Meredith White American Association: Alka Chandiramani

A MERICAN ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS President: Glenn van Zutphen • Vice President: Steven Tucker Treasurer: Shelly Dee • Secretary: Stephanie Nash Directors: Joseph Foggiato, Shawn Galey, Christopher Keen, Anne LeBoutillier and Ana Mims Immediate Past President: David Boden • AmCham Chair: Simon Kahn American Club President: Scott Weber • AWA President: Kristina Thompson SACAC Chair: Stu Wilson • SAS Chair: Catherine Poyen U.S. Embassy: Sue Niblock Non-Voting Member: U.S. Military: Rear Admiral Cindy Thebaud

PUBLISHER - A MERICAN ASSOCIATION

The American Association of Singapore (AAS) is a professional not-for-profit organization established to enhance the well-being and living experience of Americans residing in Singapore and to promote relationships, both business and social, between Americans and those from different cultures and nationalities.

AAS was established in 1917 by a small group of Americans living in Singapore to provide a safety net of community support for American residents. AAS continues to provide community welfare as well as programs and community events.

10 Claymore Hill, Singapore 229573 T: (+65) 6738 0371 • F: (+65) 6738 3648 E: aas@aasingapore.com • www.aasingapore.com The Singapore American newspaper, a monthly publication with readership of 10,000+, has been published by the American Association of Singapore since 1958, with the purpose of enhancing the expatriate experience in Singapore.

SUBSCRIPTION

A subscription to the Singapore American is complimentary with an AAS membership. AAS annual family membership is just $70. CRCE membership is $160. To join, visit www.aasingapore.com and have the Singapore American delivered to your home.

Glenn van Zutphen president@aasingapore.com Twitter: @glennvanzutphen

Reproduction in any manner, in English or any other language, is prohibited without written permission. The Singapore American welcomes all contributions of volunteer time or written material.

The Singapore American is printed by Procomp Printset Pte Ltd, 61 Tai Seng Avenue #03-03 UE Print Media Hub Singapore 534167

Become a Fireworks Sponsor Please Help Us Light Up The Sky With Fireworks!

For a $100 contribution, you can become a Fireworks Sponsor. We’ll run a prominent “thank you” in the Singapore American Newspaper’s August Edition and you’ll earn the appreciation and gratitude of the entire American community.

For more information, log onto: www.aasingapore.com or call 6738.0371 for corporate sponsorship.

The Department of the Navy does not endorse any company, sponsor, or their products or services

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

PAST EVENTS

AAS UPCOMING EVENTS

tuesday june

3

Truffle Tasting

It’s time to kick off the black truffle season! Join AAS and Clessidra for a tasting of various delectable black truffle products. From creams and sauces to oils and more, don’t miss this opportunity to hear fun facts directly from the truffle product producer. While sampling the array of truffle products, also enjoy Italian fine wine.

7pm-9pm The Colonial room (Level 3), The American Club 10 Claymore Hill AAS Members: $35 • Non-Members: $55

thursday june

6

Networking Night: Panel Discussion

Do you want to learn more about funding opportunities for businesses in Singapore? Join AAS and Money Matters as we hear from a panel of experts on the challenges and opportunities of sourcing funds for your businesses. Even if you aren’t a business owner, this is a unique opportunity to network while gaining useful insight.

6:30pm-9:30pm The Colonial Room (Level 3), The American Club 10 Claymore Hill AAS Members: $35 • Non-Members: $55

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thursday september

Comedy Night:

A boisterous group gathered on April 25 to watch three hilarious comedians at Magner’s Singapore International Comedy Festival. With an Aussie, an American and a Canadian all poised to entertain, the night was full of interesting gags, props and jokes from the world over.

LIS Talk

Did you recently relocate to Singapore or do you simply want to learn more about living here? Join us for an exclusive event for AAS members and Singapore American School staff and families. AAS is hosting a panel of experts to cover the relevant topics of health and wellness, heritage and culture, as well as settling in.

7pm-9pm The Colonial Room (Level 3), The American Club 10 Claymore Hill AAS Members: Free of charge

for more info and to register for an event:

www.aasingapore.com

Beer Tasting:

On May 15, an intimate group of AAS members gathered to sample craft beers from around the world. Featuring delicious snacks and a variety of beers, guests were able to taste the nuanced flavors in ales, lagers and more.

Singapore American • June/July 2014

2014 SHELL AMBASSADOR'S CUP T O U R N A M E N T Ambassador’s Cup - continued from front cover

Sometimes it’s three tee shots OB followed by a bomb right down the middle, or a 30-footer lagged to tap-in distance followed by a no-doubter dropped right on its heels. These are the moments that keep us coming back – the hope against hope that our elbows, knees and backs will somehow be in better shape next year. The creaks, grunts and groans from the post-round wounded are as much the sound of golf as a well-struck drive or a well-chosen expletive (of joy) echoing in the humid air.

Post-round on the terrace is where scores are tallied, stories embellished and refreshments quaffed in anticipation of the final results. Through the cigar smoke you hear the murmuring increase as the winning teams prepare for the tie breaking “chip off.”

At the poolside gathering we laugh over our triumphs and our “wouldashoulda-coulda’s” while enjoying an amazing buffet and excellent prizes.

One of the highlights of the evening came when Chip Miller, after 21 years of competing in the event, finally won a prize for the first time. And he did so in style, capturing the premier Lucky Draw prize of the evening – clearly persistence pays off!

Many a lackluster round has been salvaged by dinner, drinks and the Lucky Draw, where we adhere to the greatest tradition of all … vowing to win this thing next year. See you in 2015!

Singapore American • June/July 2014

First PlaceTournament Tornament Champions

6 CRCE BUSINESS

Singapore American • June/July 2014

CRCE

CRCE: Career Resource Center for Expats

Redefining Success in the Workplace

By Richard Hartung

D

espite the workplace in Singapore becoming far more dynamic, only about 27 percent of senior management at companies is women, stay-athome-moms can have difficulties returning to the workplace and people with disabilities can face tacit discrimination. At the AAS event Redefining Success in the Workplace, co-hosted with the Irish Chamber of Commerce Singapore, on 22 April – moderated by Channel NewsAsia Reporter Annalisa Burgos, Mums At Work Founder Sher-Li Torrey, Deutsche Bank Asia Pacific Chief Financial Officer and Akaraka, www. akaraka.org.sg, co-founder Robert Vogtle, and Kanchi Founder Caroline Casey shared their stories and insights on how individuals and companies can redefine and achieve success amidst these challenges.

Working Mothers When she started Mums At Work, www. mumsatwork.net, Sher-Li said, people laughed because they couldn’t imagine how she could succeed. Now that she has more than 12,000 working women registered with her firm, however, attitudes are entirely different. Moreover, she has created her own full-time job running the portal and has been recognized as a WorkPro Ambassador.

“As a mother, there is constantly a demand from work and from family,” SherLi said. To help women achieve success, the company lists jobs, provides information for mumpreneurs and discusses flexible work arrangements.

“I decided from the time I had a daughter,” Sher-Li said, “my success is managing my family time and my work time equally. I created it for myself.”

Women in Senior Management In the corporate world, Rob said, changes have been dramatic and the analogy of climbing the corporate ladder is outdated.

“It’s much more like climbing a rockclimbing wall. Sometimes you have to move sideways before you ascend.”

Rob is an advocate for diversity at his firm and is trying to make it a better place for women to work. “The financial crisis wouldn’t have happened if we had more women on the board,” Rob said, so there are also benefits for companies when more women are in senior roles. Still, women need to overcome their own internal barriers because they are more objective about their strengths and may not

take a job if they don’t feel qualified, whereas men will take a chance.

“The best way to get things done is to influence people,” he said, by building networks and by moving from one department to another.

People with Disabilities Caroline said she has an obsession with creating a world where no one gets left out, particularly the one billion people who have a disability. “A disability shouldn’t define you,” she said. “Unfortunately, disability does.”

To overcome that hurdle, she set up Kanchi to promote the Disability Business Case.

“We want to end disability discrimination,” Caroline said, “and the only way is inclusive business systems. There’s an economic case for those one billion people.”

Why this is so important to her, she said, is that her parents found at an early age that she had a rare condition and didn’t want her to be constrained by things she couldn’t do. “They sent me to school, they pushed me to strive to be the best I could.” She told an inspiring story about how she hid her disability until the age of 28 (see www. youtube.com and search “Caroline Casey: Looking Past Limits”), then finally left her job at Accenture and rode across India on the back of an elephant called Kanchi.

“The key to your success is your self-belief, your gut instincts, your dreams,” she said.

Enabling a Flexible Workplace “Very often flexibility is implemented on an informal basis,” Sher-Li said, “not in the system.”

What companies need to do, Rob said, is to encourage that flexibility. “With women especially, there is this stigma [about leaving early]. We need men to say ‘I’m leaving at 4.’ As long as I was going to coach baseball, it was okay.” When men and women leave around 4:30 periodically to volunteer or help a social enterprise, he said, “it becomes the norm.”

Another step towards flexibility at his company is a new global seating plan which only has seats for eight out of 10 staff, so not everyone can come to the office. “If you work part of the time at home,” Rob said, “it will be easier.”

Women also need to set rules for when they stop work and communicate them. “If you work for somebody else,” Sher-Li said, “you have to tell them you have timelines.”

The same thing is important in the corporate context, Rob added. “You have to manage it well.”

Avoid Labelling One step everyone can take to enhance the workplace, Caroline said, is to overcome labelling. “We say labels are for packaging and jam jars. We can’t stop ourselves from being judgmental.” But, she said, people can be aware and work to avoid labelling.

Sher-Li said stay-at-home-moms also get labelled. “I get calls asking if we provide domestic help. When people hear ‘mumpreneurs,’ they think we’re running it as a hobby. People hear a term, they have an image. Companies and individuals need to push away that mindset.”

Key Lessons As the session wrapped up, Annalisa asked each panelist to share one final insight.

Rob said that men in management have a responsibility to support women. Even though men are running the company, he said, “We’ve moved the dial. The supervisory board is 35 percent women. I’ve got people on my team that I’m pushing forward.” And while few women want to be the one woman at a table of 12, “it’s having the guts to push forward.” Making sure more women are interviewed, pushing women forward and supporting women as they progress make a big difference.

Success is also about getting to know yourself better and about connections with people, Caroline said. “The simple things like friendliness and manners are so important in our professional and personal lives. You have answers about what you’re good at.”

Finally, Sher-Li said that people matter the most. “The people that I value are what’s important to me. The things that make me happy and that I consider successful are because of people. Make your choice based on what really matters to you.”

As the session wrapped up, attendees clearly felt inspired and returned to their own workplaces with meaningful insights on what success actually means.

Richard Hartung is a consultant on cards and payments strategy with over 20 years of experience in financial services, primarily in Asia. He also works as a freelance writer for Today, gtnews and other publications.

CRCE June Workshops register at: www.aasingapore.com (1-1) Career Solutions Coach: Miryame Krogmeier Monday, June 2 Various times

Unlock Your Full Professional Potential Speaker: Marjanne van der Helm Wednesday, June 4 10am – 12pm

Create an Effective Resume Speaker: Alka Chandiramani Wednesday, June 11 10am – 12:30pm

for more information about CRCE www.aasingapore.com - click on the CRCE link

Spotlight on Jobs Educational Psychologist A private school, providing an inclusive approach to learning and follows the mainstream International Primary Curriculum UK, is looking for an experienced registered educational psychologist to join our multidisciplinary team. (job #2789) Economics Department Manager This organization is looking for a creative, ambitious solution and task-oriented individual to manage a team of five economic research writers and daily delegate and participate in tasks that involve macro-economic research on every country in the world, writing press releases promoting the business value of different countries, creating new content and update existing content for our website, and creating business plans for their clients. (job #2788) Admissions Manager The role of the Admissions Manager is to be a brand ambassador who understands the school’s value proposition, appreciates individual parent and student needs in order to effectively sell the school to prospects and develop a deep understanding of individual parent and student needs and appropriately tailor the approach to each situation to provide a personalised visit experience and drive a high rate of conversion. (job #2785) Financial Writer A fast-growing financial markets information company is looking for a contract writer to produce collateral, market commentary and other materials on an asneeded basis with a background in producing content for financial markets organizations, and/or service providers selling to those markets. (job #2784) Communications Manager The Communications Manager is responsible for leading and developing external communications for AAS. This includes message development, communications strategy and the day-to-day execution of communications to promote AAS. The Communications Manager will act as editor for the Singapore American Newspaper (SAN), manage volunteer contributing writers, as well as create the copy and manage the AAS website, collateral, social media and other external communications as needed. (job #2793)

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

CRCE & BUSINESS

Business Start-up Series Part 6: Effective Frugality for the Start-Up

By Richard Hartung

I

n this final article for the business start-up series, we’ll look at ways to run the business more cost-effectively and still deliver high value by leveraging smart cost management tools to use limited funds wisely. We’ll focus on staff, office space, telecoms, travel and IT, which are key expenses for most service business as well as for many tech companies For staffing, outsourcing specific tasks by leveraging freelancers around the world through Elance.com or Guru. com can provide cost-effective resources for anything from copywriting and translation to programming and website development, and more.

For short-term projects, local universities are looking to place interns in interesting roles, so contacting the career office to find help can be a way to bring in additional resources.

For full-time or part-time staff, trailing spouses or new entrants to the workforce can be willing to trade off salary levels for flexible work hours or more time off. And if foreign worker quotas are an issue, hiring through agencies like Adecco can be an option, albeit a bit pricier. Along with advertising positions online, publicizing them through community

organizations, university career offices or alumni clubs can be cost-effective ways to find staff.

Office space in older “Class B” buildings can be one of the best values for an office in prime areas, and information about offices that are available is online. As another alternative, some smaller companies looking to share office

space can be found through word-of-mouth or searching blogs, and the number of coworking spaces continues to expand. Working from home is also a possibility, with a serviced office offering a more business-like address and web-based collaboration services like

Webex or Google Hangouts making it easier to collaborate with colleagues in other locations.

Telecommunications costs have dropped tremendously with Skype, and Skype has a wide range of features, including conference calls and the ability to set up a phone number in another country so that, for example, clients in the US can dial a US number that rings through to your phone in Singapore. If you still have a landline, services like MediaRing 1551 offer lower cost international calls from any phone.

Even though travel costs are rising, services like Wego.com that scan multiple travel websites can help with getting the best deal, although some hotels or airlines now have better deals on their own websites. Budget airlines like Jetstar or Tiger have become more reliable, and services like Airbnb or Roomorama offer alternatives for accommodation.

Here in Singapore, services such as Uber offer an alternative to taxis and booking services such as GrabTaxi or MoobiTaxi make it easier to call for a taxi, even if they don’t cut the cost. Ride sharing services such as ShareTransport.sg and MyRideBuddy can offer affordable options for regular

commuters as well. And the best deal, public transport, is an easy alternative for getting anywhere on the island.

On the IT side, remote support for PCs and networks are available on an as-needed basis at relatively low cost through services such as GeekSquad.

Fully leveraging government grants can help reduce costs as well. Whether it’s the Productivity and Innovation Credit to buy PCs, WDA grants for training or something else, a variety of schemes can reduce expenses.

Regardless of the size of your business, then, it is easier than ever to find high quality at lower cost. The ideas in this article are just a few of many to run your business more costeffectively.

We hope that you have found this series on business start-ups quite useful. For more information on any of the topics, please feel free to contact the writer at richard@transcarta.com.

Richard Hartung is a consultant on cards and payments strategy with over 20 years of experience in financial services, primarily in Asia. He also works as a freelance writer for Today, gtnews and other publications.

Singapore American • June/July 2014

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

COMMUNITY NEWS

Celebrating the Successes of the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement

By Samantha Power, Government Affairs Executive, AmCham

T

his year marks the 10th anniversary of the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA). AmCham celebrated this special anniversary at our recent Annual General Meeting (AGM). At the event, Ambassador Tommy Koh, Ambassador Frank Lavin and Ambassador Kirk Wagar each highlighted various aspects of agreement, emphasized the importance of the agreement to both nations and shared how its groundbreaking scope continues to inspire the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.

Ambassador Tommy Koh, Singapore's Chief Negotiator for the USSFTA, recently received the 2014 Great Negotiator Award from Harvard University. During his remarks at the AGM, Ambassador Koh focused on three points. The first was what a tremendous success the USSFTA has been. Ambassador Koh noted, “The cumulative US investment in Singapore stood at 138.6 billion USD at the end of 2012, making Singapore the largest FDI recipient in the Asia Pacific region, ahead of China and Japan, the world’s second and third largest economies. Isn’t this a remarkable achievement?” The Ambassador went on to discuss Singaporean investment in the United States and the thousands of jobs that Singaporean companies have created

there. He encouraged US businesses operating in Singapore to team up with Singapore’s companies, particularly SMEs. His second point was that the United States should not fear trade and trade agreements.

“International trade creates more and better jobs that stimulate and strengthen the domestic economy. For example, ASEAN was the US’ fourth largest export market in 2012.

Amounting to US$75.5 billion (2012), these exports to ASEAN created or supported over 472,000 jobs in the US.” His third point was that the USSFTA is more than just a trade agreement to Singapore.

Since the agreement’s inception, Singapore has viewed it as a bridge across the Pacific.

Frank Lavin, the United States Ambassador to Singapore during the USSFTA’s negotiation, ratification, and entry into force, provided his perspective on the USSFTA’s clear accomplishments. “The US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement was enormously helpful in encouraging US companies to take a serious look at Southeast Asia. It reinforced the view that Singapore was a steady friend, an attractive market and a useful platform for regional activity,” said Ambassador Lavin.

The current US Ambassador to Singapore, Kirk Wagar, shared the view from Washington,

DC. “As you all know the message from President Obama and Secretary Kerry is strong and clear – that US foreign policy remains entrenched in following through on the rebalance towards the Asia-Pacific region. Singapore is the center of this most dynamic region in the global economy. In fact, I would argue there are few places where America’s economic policy and our economic relations with partners play a more important role in the bilateral relationship than here in Singapore.” Ambassador Wagar continued, “By any measure, the US-Singapore FTA is perhaps our most successful bilateral FTA globally. Our total trade volumes have grown 53% in 10 years, reaching the 50 billion dollar mark; US exports have risen by 85%, making Singapore

our 13th largest export market.”

The day’s celebrations marked a decade of increased business and investment between Singapore and the United States. The United States is Singapore’s third largest trading partner and largest foreign investor.

AmCham Executive Director Judith Fergin added, “For over a century, American businesses have been a part of Singapore’s remarkable growth and development. The USSFTA opened exciting new avenues for US firms’ trade and investment engagement here and also stimulated the rapidly growing presence of Singaporean companies in the US market.

The results are commercial relations that are stronger than ever and growth prospects that have never been brighter.”

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

COMMUNITY NEWS

New Technology in SAS Robotics Lab: 3D Printers

By Bart Miller and Meredith White, Singapore American School Robotics Coaches

A

technological idea that has been around for a few years is now coming to fruition, as 3D printers are coming into regular use at the Singapore American School.

When most people hear the term “3D printer,” they think, “Hmm, that sounds futuristic.” But they don’t really have an idea of how it works.

Bart Millar and Meredith White, robotics coaches at the SAS, gave us a run-down of the top 10 things you need to know about this innovative technology.

sites, including Thingiverse. Also, you can draw your own item using a program like Autodesk Inventor and print it in 3D! 5. Are 3D printers a big deal? Maybe. A number of large companies have invested large amounts of money into the technology. There is a possibility that they will become as common as microwave ovens or coffee machines. Instead of going to IKEA to buy new dishes, you might just print new ones.

1. 3D printers have been around for about 10 years. They create three-dimensional models or copies of any object that can fit inside the print space, which can vary in size from a coffee cup to a small building.

4. How does the printer know what to print? The printer receives a computer aided drafting (CAD) file through a flash drive you plug into the side of the machine. The drawing of what you want to print can be downloaded at no cost at many

8. Do I have to be a genius to run a 3D printer? No. The average 10-year-old can be trained in less than an hour to download, save and print files.

9. Where can I see one? The robotics lab at the Singapore American School has had 3D printers for the past five years, and substantially upgraded their machines this year, thanks to funding from the SAS Foundation in recent years and a generous donation from an SAS family of a MakerBot Replicator 2x.

10. Why does the robotics lab at SAS have a 3D printer?

The class used the 3D printer this year to make custom and replacement parts for competitions in Taipei, Hong Kong, Hawaii and Singapore. It saves on shipping and downtime – we don’t have to wait for parts to be delivered when we make them ourselves!

2. 3D printers work by extruding, or squeezing, a semi-liquid building material through a print head and onto a build plate.

The building material can be plastic, ceramic, metal, rubber, or even concrete. The build plate is just a flat plate that serves as a level surface on which to build the model.

3. Then what? The print head sweeps back and forth, putting down a small dot of building material every fraction of a second.

Gradually, the dots form a layer of the building material. One way to think of this technology is to picture a hot glue gun crossed with your desktop printer. Instead of extruding ink onto paper, the print head extrudes hot plastic onto the build plate.

vessels for grafts (the print material is a sort of organic soup composed of blood vessel cells). When you want that new item you saw on television, no need to shop for it – just print it!

6. How big are they and how much do they cost? The most common printer is about the size of a small microwave oven.

The cost ranges from $500 (home use) to $150,000 (automobile industry, aeronautics). A good quality printer for your home would cost around $2,000.

7. What would I use it for? The printers have been used to make dishes, toys, jewelry, auto parts, artificial limbs, and even blood

Photo: Jacob Goldwax, senior student instructor, shows fellow SAS students Alexina Haefner and Jayendra Minakshisundar an important point of 3D printing.

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

COMMUNITY NEWS

Habitat for Humanity Scout Build 2014

By Jacob Helmueller, Life Scout Troop 07

I

n November of 2013, a massive typhoon hit the island of Cebu, wreaking devastation across the country side. One of the poorest parts of the island was hit, leaving behind so much loss.

Before my sister, dad, and I even boarded our plane towards the Philippines, I knew we were going to have a great experience. Both our flights were as smooth as ever, with no problems throughout all of our travels. Upon meeting our guide at the Cebu airport, we traveled to our hotel and spent the night in Cebu city. The

next morning, we left for the build site located two hours outside of the city.

When we arrived at the site, we were greeted by the engineer and the other Habitat for

Humanity staff. Although we were the only volunteers for that week, we began working right away.

For the first two days, the engineer had us digging the foundation for one of the many houses that were going to be built in the community that had been devastated by the typhoon and tsunami. Even though it was

very hot on both of the days we dug the one foot square foundation without complaining.

After being here for a day, you can really see the destruction from Yolanda. We stopped and took a picture of a church destroyed by the winds and storm surge. Unfortunately, this was one of many destroyed buildings in the community.

On our final day at the build site, we were instructed to sift gravel into fine sand that was used for making cement for the foundations. A lot easier than digging foundations!

Overall, we had an amazing time working at the Habitat for Humanity Cebu build. It was an amazing experience that I hope I get a chance to repeat. We met some great people worked really hard and had a lot of fun.

Photos from left to right: Our completed foundation; The first houses at the build site; The destroyed church; HFH sta thanking us for coming.

SCOUTING IN SINGAPORE

Boy Scouts:

Boy Scouts:

Cub Scouts:

Girl Scouts:

contact: Troop 07 www.bsatroop07.org

contact: Troop 10 www.facebook.com/BSATroopX

contact: www.scouts3017.com

contact: singaporeocc@yahoo.com

Singapore American • June/July 2014

A World-Class School Experience Phase II of Stamford's Campus-Opening August 2014

By Andrew Hancock, Academic Dean, Stamford American International School

S

ince our inception, Stamford American International School has been a leader in education. Stamford provides a world-class experience for students from Nursery through High School featuring the International Baccalaureate (IB) program integrated with the rigorous American Education Reaches Out (AERO) standards. Stamford was the first school in Singapore to offer a daily Mandarin and Spanish Foreign Language Program starting from age 2 and to offer 1-to-1 iPad and MacBook Programs to integrate technology throughout the curriculum.

In fact, Stamford’s $300 million campus has introduced some of the most state-of-the-art facilities for an international school in the world. Stamford will continue our advancement in bringing the best international school facilities to Singapore with the completion of the Phase II Development, opening in August 2014.

The Phase II campus development will include additional classroom and specialist space to

support the growth of Stamford’s Secondary School. It will include enhanced sports facilities with an additional swimming pool, full gymnasium, fitness center, indoor climbing wall, Golf Excellence Center and tennis courts. Additional specialist areas will include a Performing Arts Center with more than 500 seats, additional Art rooms, an Art Gallery, additional Music facilities, additional technology rooms and another Learning Resource and Media Center complete with interactive iLEarn facilities.

There will also be a fully air-conditioned Student Cafeteria, a Middle Years Program Learning Center, a Diploma Program Learning Center, a Senior School Study and the Stamford Courtyard, a green oasis for quiet contemplation or socializing. Sustainable operational features will include sensor driven lights, air-conditioning which switches off when not in use and facilities for monitoring overall energy use at the school.

Phase II will include a world-class Innovation Center unlike any facility or resource ever built in a Secondary School. The Innovation Center will be more than just a physical facility; it will be a place of partnership between Stamford’s students and the corporate sector, bridging the gap between theory and real-world execution. Within the Innovation Center, project-based group activities where students discuss real-world issues will be a common activity. By linking the education of Stamford’s students with the realities of the commercial world, Stamford will give students the best possible start on their careers as entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Stamford’s continued development includes many features that are not only new for Stamford but also groundbreaking educational additions to Singapore. Stamford ensures that every new program and facility is firmly supported by proven educational principles and adds to the quality of student education. Stamford is an education leader committed to improving the quality of education in Singapore. Stamford parents, George and Lisa Horsington, add, “We like the fact that Stamford doesn’t just have a vision for the future, it has clear plans for achieving the ambitious goals it has set. Stamford doesn’t follow educational trends, it leads the way … and we look forward to being a part of the school for many years to come.”

Stamford American International School Campus is centrally located at 1 Woodleigh Lane (off Upper Serangoon Road), and easily accessible adjacent to the Woodleigh MRT. For more information, visit www.sais.edu.sg.

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

LIVING IN SINGAPORE

US Embassy: Renew Your US Passport

Does your child’s passport have less than seven months left? Does yours? We’ve provided some tips and a handy checklist on how to renew adult and minor passports while you’re living in Singapore. Renew now!

Tips!

• DS-11: Minors & first-time adults • DS-82: Adult renewals • Appointments and applications at: http://singapore.usembassy.gov/ • Bring photocopies of passports and original documents • Minor passports are only good for 5 yrs • Once 16, minors can sign application • Use calendar reminders to mark 7 months before passports expire!

• School holidays are popular days for minor appointments.

Make an online appointment early.

Adult Passport • Make an appointment online • Submit Form DS-82 in person and 2” x 2” Passport Photo (6 months or less) • Provide current U.S. passport & copy • Pay Passport Fee (Singapore Dollars only or credit card)

Minor Passport • Age under 16 • 2” x 2” Passport photo (6 months or less) • Form DS-11 (leave unsigned) • ORIGINAL U.S. Birth Certificate or Consular Report of Birth Abroad & copy • Child and parents (or legal guardians) must be present • Signed, notarized parental consent (form DS-3053), if one parent cannot be present For more information, visit singapore.usembassy.gov. photo by Kim Hill

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

LIVING IN SINGAPORE

I don't mind taking a longer ride on the MRT for MacRitchie

By Melissa Diagana

I

have only to murmur the first three words of this article’s title and my daughter will break out in song. Normal, since they are part of the lyrics of the “Love Our MacRitchie Forest” song. Watch the video (see References at end of article), and you’ll see Singaporeans of all ages joyously singing and swaying to support the preservation the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR), home of the MacRitchie Reservoir and Forest.

You may have read about the Land Transport Authority’s announcement of the new Cross Island Line MRT (CRL), that will cut across the nature reserve and wondered, why such a brouhaha? The MRT trains would be in a tunnel under the ground, right? Right, but to build that tunnel there will be a great deal of disturbance above the ground. Trees and undergrowth will be cleared for soil investigation, roads will be built to welcome noisy, polluting machinery, and silt from digging will wash into fragile freshwater streams.

As you mop your brow during a hike in the MacRitchie Forest, you may not realize that what looks like a homogeneous forest is

anything but. Within this small forest lies a diversity of habitats, home to an even greater diversity of inhabitants. There are freshwater streams, home to the Forest-walking Catfish.

There is wetland forest, home to the jewellike Blue-eared Kingfisher. There is secondary forest, home to the colorful Twin-barred Tree Snake; this is forest that has regrown since the 19th century deforestation, and is what you primarily see during hikes.

And last but not at all least, there is primary – untouched, pristine, precious! – forest, unique in Singapore and home to the reclusive Banded Leaf Monkey. The CRL would lie beneath sections of all these ecosystems. But since so much will be harmed by its construction, the Nature Society (Singapore) has constructively proposed both northern and southern alternative routes that skirt the nature reserve, gazetted in 1951.

May 22 was the annual International Day for Biological Diversity, created by the United Nations just over 20 years ago to increase understanding of biodiversity issues. Singapore became a signatory of the Convention on Biological Diversity over 20 years ago; with

the recent Love MacRitchie effort, many Singaporeans have become passionate about maintaining the biodiversity of our little island.

How appropriate, thus, that the theme of this year’s International Day is Island Biodiversity.

Singapore, while small, originally had a very rich biodiversity, thanks to its geographical location and variety of ecosystems. “The wild hog is frequent, and there are five species of deer, the usual ones of the Peninsula and Sumatra, from the Rusa [Sambar deer] of the size of a heifer to the kanchil [mousedeer], which is hardly as large as a rabbit,” wrote John Crawfurd in 1856. Today, there is no shortage of Wild Pigs in the CCNR, but the Sambar Deer and the Lesser Mousedeer are so rare that only the lucky and persistent have crossed them.

There has been a drastic decline in Singapore’s biodiversity – of both plants and animals – since the arrival of the British in the early 19th century, due essentially to deforestation (for timber, plantations and fuel) and coastal activities (such as land reclamation, harbor construction and shipping). So the residual native biological diversity that remains is surely worth preserving. The National Biodiversity Centre, part of the National Parks Board, is the focal point for its conservation.

If the mangrove swamps and coral reefs harbor much of the island’s marine biodiversity, the tropical rainforest of the CCNR harbors

much of its terrestrial biodiversity. Some of the mammals living there include monkeys and squirrels, bats and rats, the Malayan Colugo (so unique), the Greater Slow Loris (so cute), the Sunda Pangolin (so odd), the Leopard Cat (so elegant), and several species of civet. The Common Palm Civet, or Toddycat, has lent its name to the Toddycats, the nature and environment volunteer group of the National University of Singapore.

Earlier this year, toddycats of all stripes rejoiced with the opening of the Eco-Link@ BKE, a forest planted on a 50-meter-wide bridge above the BKE. This link between the CCNR and the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was designed to reconnect these two patches of rainforest, to increase the forests’ overall biodiversity by decreasing the genetic isolation of the fragmented animal and plant populations.

After this laudable undertaking, what a pity it would be, then, if MRT construction works in the middle of the MacRitchie Forest continue, as they will lead to habitat fragmentation!

The diversity of life on Earth, the product of millions of years of evolution – how can

Singapore American • June/July 2014

we knowingly opt to decrease it? The natural world provides us with “ecosystem services” such as water catchment and heat mitigation, with recreation opportunities, with a reservoir of sources for future medicines or crops needed under changing climactic conditions, and with, of course, beauty.

UPCOMING EVENTS: The annual Festival of Biodiversity July 12-13, 2014 www.nparks.gov.sg Many upcoming events can be found here: iyb2010singapore.blogspot.sg/ REFERENCES: Love Our MacRitchie Forest: Video:www.youtube.com>Search “loveourmacritchieforest” General information and tours: lovemacritchie. wordpress.com International Day for Biological Diversity: www.cbd.int/idb

Melissa is a molecular biologist by training. She enjoys studying the broader picture of natural history as much as its reductionist details. Melissa regularly writes about medical and environmental topics, and has lived in Singapore for the past six years.

To register, please email: generalmanager@aasingapore.com with your name, age, e-mail, phone number and up to 250 words describing why you would like to be involved.

Open to 15 to 19-year-old students from all schools Cost: $15 per student (money will be donated to The Boys’ Brigade Singapore)

Calling All Youth: AAS Junior Achievement Company Program (12 weeks) Save the Date

T

he JA Company Program has students put theory into practice by developing their own money-making businesses, from concept to business plan, financing, execution, sales and ultimately, growth or demise. The experience fosters understanding and appreciation of the personal opportunities and responsibilities each person has in the workplace. Students will then compete in the JA Singapore Company of the Year Competition.

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. Junior Achievement programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace.

Date:

Fridays, September 13 to November 29 (12 sessions)

Time: 5pm - 7pm Venue: To be determined

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

LIVING IN SINGAPORE

Art in the Garden: Singapore Garden Festival

By Jim Tietjen

F

rom August 16-24 the biennial Singapore Garden Festival (SGF), now in its fifth year, will once again feature as a beacon of preternatural artistry in our tropical paradise.

Since 2006 the SGF has offered awardwinning landscape and garden designs, floral fantasies, and horticultural magic on a grand scale, all indoors at Suntec City. Spread over several levels of the cavernous convention center, it was a treat and a challenge to absorb the depth and breadth of all that floral finery, artfully designed and bathed in artificial light and air-conditioned comfort.

2014 will be different! This year’s show will be held outdoors, for the first time, at Gardens by the Bay. Similar to preceding years, Singapore’s premier international tropical flower and garden show will feature landscape and fantasy gardens, floral windows to the world, balcony gardens, an orchid extravaganza, a garden fiesta and a vibrant marketplace.

To maintain high standards for the festival, National Parks Board and Gardens by the Bay actively seek foreign talent. For 2014 they sent in-house experts around the world seeking the best and brightest in floral, arboreal and landscape-related artistry. They sought awardwinning and up-and-coming landscape and garden designers, florists and horticulturalists willing to showcase their talents in Singapore.

The task was prodigious – with the result to be witnessed in August.

Back in 2012, Joe Palimeno, Principal Landscape Designer for Ledden Palimeno, based in Sewell, New Jersey (USA) was recruited to display his talent at the SGF. Joe was spotted by Singapore experts at the Philadelphia International Flower Show and was subsequently enticed to visit Singapore.

Four months later Joe was back in Singapore with an award-winning landscape design which won him Best in Show and a Gold Award on his first try. This symbiotic relationship has blossomed into a winwin affiliation, with the best (Joe hopes) to come. The SGF has invited him back to reprise his awardwinning performance.

Of particular interest is why Joe first came to Singapore in 2012, and why he is even more excited about returning in 2014.

Growing up in New Jersey, Joe became interested in landscape design through his family’s construction business. Wanting to be in a “green” industry, he joined a local

landscape architect firm. Through seminars and lectures, a lot of on-job training and hands-on experience, he learned the business. He then integrated his construction and gardening expertise to build his own “one-stop” business for the design and construction of functional outdoor living spaces.

Joe sees his creations as art, and as he explains, “a garden should be a place you can step in and experience.” That’s exactly what happened when Singapore garden experts saw Joe’s work in Philadelphia. However, Joe was not keen on going to Singapore. Fortuitously,

Joe’s wife encouraged him to go and have a look.

Joe visited Singapore in March 2012. Just off a plane after a 28-hour transit, he immediately noticed how garden-like Changi Airport was.

Then, as he journeyed to his hotel, he saw the tropical splendor lining the East Coast Parkway.

As he subsequently tried to shake off his jet lag, he walked around town at odd hours, reveling in the colonial architecture, lush gardens and warm weather. Joe’s reconnaissance trip to the city in a garden was a double success: he was hooked and the SGF promoters were happy.

Under festival rules, each entrant is assigned an implementing partner (a local partner in the business); everyone has the same budget; and all have the same plot size – 81 square meters. Joe knew he would have to carefully manage the relationship with his local partner, as this could be his biggest challenge. He met the challenge with aplomb, capturing two awards for his creative landscape design, “The Modernist Garden.”

When Joe was asked to reprise his success in 2014, he accepted without hesitation. During a recent visit to Singapore he learned that this year’s festival venue would be Gardens by the Bay, outdoors! His reaction? “This is what I do, I build outdoor gardens!” This is a challenge Joe relishes. However, he now has a several additional variables to consider: tropical rain and wind; plants in sun and shade from 7am

Singapore American • June/July 2014

to 7pm for a nine-day festival; the grade (his plot may not be flat); view planes; sun angles and lighting (SGF exhibits will be open from 9am to 9pm, so artificial light will be required in the evening); and the scale of the garden in an outdoor setting. Joe believes his biggest challenges in this year will be working in an outdoor tropical climate, and once again, working in harmony with his designated local partner. Joe is looking forward to these challenges with substantial confidence.

To prepare his design, Joe will do pencil sketches, relying on his previous experience in Singapore to guide him. He says his design will evolve up until the moment the garden is built.

All landscape design gardens will be pre-fabricated offsite the week before the show. The plants will be given some time to “acclimatize,” but they will have to re-acclimate once moved to the festival site at the Meadows. Joe will depend heavily upon his local partner to help him choose plants that will “weather” this nine-day outdoor festival well.

Besides his passion for gardens and the challenge of competition, another reason Joe will return to Singapore is for the opportunity to again meet landscape designers from all over the world. With 19 countries represented at the festival, this will be icing on the cake. The experiences these professionals will share via formal and informal networking activities will be invaluable. As you might imagine, Joe says it’s the people that make the show so worthwhile, and through these artisans and their work, all, including patrons, will have a golden opportunity to learn more about design, construction, and maintenance of gardens.

He says, “Designing and building gardens is my passion, and it is events like the Singapore Garden Festival that have elevated my design style to another level. As a designer, show gardens have helped me explore my own style and taste, and this is what continues to drive me on a creative and competitive

journey. Getting a chance to be involved with the [Singapore] Garden Festival has also opened my eyes to the design styles of international designers. It’s not every show that gives you this opportunity. Singapore is an amazing place. I hope that everyone who gets a chance to visit the show will see for themselves the beautiful gardens many designers from around the world have created.”

Learn more and appreciate what the SGF is all about is at www.singaporegardenfestival.com.

Photos (L-R): Joe Palimeno, at home in an artistic garden; Joe's masterpiece the complete backyard garden; The Modernist Garden, Gold Award and Best of Show Landscape Garden, Singapore Garden Festival 2012.

Jim Tietjen flew USAF fighters for many years but prefers to fly gliders.

An avid sportsman and amateur adventurer, he enjoys tennis, golf, diving, treking and all travel. Jim also has a passion for watercolor paintings, carpets and wine.

Singapore American • June/July 2014

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

LIVING IN SINGAPORE

Summer Holiday Activities for Children

By Nithia Devan

S

chool holidays – children look forward to them but they do present a dilemma for many parents. So, if you are planning to stay in Singapore this summer, you are probably wondering how to keep your children occupied and entertained. Here are a few suggestions: Check out the National Heritage Board’s popular Children’s Season 2014, a plethora of children-centric programs and engaging family activities that will inspire, engage and educate the little ones. This year’s festival is made all the more special with the launch of PLAY@ NMS – a new, dedicated space designed for the young ones at the National Museum of Singapore. There, younger kids from 3 to 8 will get to experience history and heritage in a fun and enjoyable manner. For more information, please visit www.museums.com.sg.

Also, check out the heritage trails, which cover different aspects of Singapore’s history at www.nhb.gov.sg/NHBPortal.

For information on the Singapore Art Museum and Art Galleries, visit singart.com.

For dinosaur enthusiasts, the ArtScience Museum is organizing Dinosnores! A Sleepover with Dinos on June 8 and 22 from 6:45pm to 10am the following day. This coincides with its exhibition Dinosaurs: Dawn to Extinction.

Visit www.marinabaysands.com/museum.html for more information.

If your child has an interest in radio and being a DJ, the Junior Radio Academy is running a workshop for 9 to 12-year-olds to provide them with the perfect opportunity to experience just that. Students will see what goes on behind preparing for a radio show and learn about the different equipment used in radio.

A series of hands-on learning include students planning and producing their very own radio

segment on top of experiencing an actual studio recording. For more information, visit www.mediaacademy.sg.

For children who enjoy taking part in theater productions, there are holiday workshops by organizations like Act 3 Drama Academy and CentreStage. These cater for children and

teenagers. Visit: www.act3international.com.sg www.centre-stage.com.

And then there are theater events for children. There is the ACE! Festival by iTheater in June, which is comprised of world-class local and international productions, interactive and exciting workshops, as well as fun nonticketed programs for the whole family. In line with the theme Long Ago and Far Away, this is a festival of enchanting stories and limitless adventures and magic for all ages. These are some of the festival highlights: Puss in Boots (I Theatre Ltd, Singapore); Starbird (Toto Tales, UK); Under the Dragon Moon (Creative Edge Ensemble, Singapore); and Dotty the Dragon (Blunderbus Theatre Company, UK). There are also non-ticketed programs, including the

bilingual Storybook Theatre Workshop Series (The Learning Connection) in line with the National Library Board’s READ program, and Twice Upon a Time story telling sessions by international storyteller, Sheila Wee. Visit www.acefestival.org for more information.

Charlie and Lola return with Charlie and Lola’s Extremely New Play from June 3-15 at the DBS Arts Centre. Enter a magical journey through the seasons, as Charlie and Lola discover that everything is different and not the same. Follow Charlie and his best friend Mary on a Pirate Squidbones adventure! Visit www.sistic.com.sg.

Singapore Dance Theatre’s Children’s ballet series, Peter and Blue, returns with Peter and Blue’s Forest Adventure, a one-hour children ballet blending elements of a fairy-tale with meaningful morals of love and sharing. With choreography and story by SDT Artistic Director Janek Schergen, this ballet is on at the Esplanade Theatre Studio June 5-8, visit singaporedancetheatre.com.

The annual Ballet Under the Stars returns in July for two consecutive weekends at Fort Canning Green – July 18-20 and July 25-27, with the promise of a visual treat. Featuring a world premiere by acclaimed Australian choreographer Natalie Weir, alongside works made especially for the company – Val Caniparoli’s exotic Chant; Edwaard Liang’s breath-taking The Winds of Zephyrus and Opus 25; as well as Edmund Stripe’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Opus 102 and George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations. It’s a chance for the

The Family Outing Challenge

By Angel Corrigan

N

ow that school schedules are gone for the summer, this is your chance to break out of the humdrum routine and do something unexpected. My friend Kimberly Creasman had some great ideas to get her family out of the shopping malls, movie theaters and boring “same-same” activities while encouraging creativity, consideration and discovery. This weekly family contest described below involves each member of the family.

Create a Plan Grab a Singapore map and a couple of Singapore travel guides or do a quick Internet search, then sit down and find out what your family interests are. Some may like discovering Singapore’s history, others may be more interested in physical activities or the wide variety of different plants and animals that can be found here.

Equipped with this information, one member of the family has the responsibility to plan an activity for the whole family to experience together. This way they will be able to do something they really enjoy while taking into consideration what he or she knows others might like to do.

In this friendly competition, the family member who comes up with the most fun or original activity wins! Prize or recognition is determined by you. To make it fair, set a spending budget per person.

Here are a few ideas to get you started: The City: Make some memories Walk the waterfront district starting at Merlion Park and walk around to Marina Bay Sands, stopping for family photos and rest stops. Have a meal (the food court is inexpensive) or take in an art exhibition at Marina Bay Sands.

West Coast: Haw Par Villa This place has thousands of statues and larger-than-life dioramas portraying Chinese folklore, history and mythology.

You will get some very interesting photos here.

The City: Treasure hunt Create a photo treasure hunt in one area of city, such as Orchid Garden, Chinatown or along the Riverwalk. List items to find and take pictures of them to complete the game.

East Coast: Get active Rollerblade or ride bikes at East Coast Park or visit historic Changi War Memorial Museum.

The City: Do good Shop in Little India and spend time putting together care packages for charities, best friends or family back home with an assortment of Singapore goodies.

Just Off-Shore: Travel back in time!

Take the short bumboat ride from Changi Jetty to Pulau Ubin. This is the last remnant of what Singapore used to be.

If you’d like more ideas from Kimberly, visit her blog: worldcreasmans.com/ blog/2014/05/singapore-with-teens.

whole family to pack a picnic and soak in the atmosphere at Fort Canning.

The Esplanade organizes activities for children during the holidays. There is also Flipside – a line-up of quirky and offbeat events. In Swamp Juice, Canadian performer Jeff Achtem presents a gurgling adventure about life in a swamp, ingeniously told through intricate and aweinspiring shadow puppetry. The Japanese group, Maywa Denki, entertain with their musical gadgetry and wizardry in Voice Mechanics. Visit www.esplanadesingapore.com.

Finally, do not miss SRT’s The Little Company’s production of The Nightingale from Aug 1 to Sep 14 at the DBS Arts Centre. This is a refreshing new take on Hans Christian Andersen’s well-loved fairy tale about the Emperor of China who is so enchanted by the lilting birdsong of the plain-looking, brown Nightingale, that he captures and keeps her in a gilded cage for his daily entertainment.

The show, directed by Kate Golledge (Red Riding Hood, 2013), has catchy rhymes, beautiful music and clever dialogue that will definitely captivate young audiences. Visit www.srt.com.sg.

This is not an extensive list by any means but hopefully parents and children will find the suggestions fun and useful. Happy Summer Holidays!

Additional Useful Websites: www.zoo.com.sg • www.nightsafari.com.sg www.riversafari.com.sg • www.sentosa.com.sg Photo: Past production by W!ld Rice.

Nithia is a freelance marketing and communications consultant. She is a passionate supporter of the performing arts, especially local theater.

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

LIVING IN SINGAPORE

Understanding Test-Prep and Applications to American Universities

By Jeremy Craig

F

or those following American university admissions, there have been three noteworthy news stories recently. Taken in isolation, each might indicate that “top” American universities are getting nearly impossible to get into. However, when viewed together in context, they indicate that American universities are getting better across the board. Here are the stories:

The SAT is changing!

Test takers will face a new SAT from May 2016. The changes were finally clarified with some details on question type and test format, and were hardly unexpected. The SAT has been losing ground to the ACT for years and the new test is a bit more “ACT-like” at first glance. The new version will have less arcane vocabulary, more questions on contextual usage and rhetorical style, data analysis, a more straightforward but conceptually more difficult math section, and a longer (optional) essay. If you or your child is in the class of 2015 or 2016 there is nothing to worry about here as the new test will only come into play for the class of 2017. If your child is in the class of 2017 then make sure your son or daughter works hard in school, tries to develop a reading habit (Hunger Games is better than nothing!), and do nothing whatsoever SAT-specific until Junior year. Worrying about the test before a full version is even released places undue pressure on students and takes away from all the time and energy which can be spent doing more interesting and rewarding things.

Student gets into all eight Ivy League schools!

A very bright and well-rounded student named Kwasi Enin

from Long Island applied to all eight Ivies and was surprisingly accepted by all of them. Remember that the Ivy League is just an athletic conference of eight old schools in the northeast, but full credit to this young man. He was clearly an exceptional student but he also was a varsity athlete, sang, played multiple instruments in the orchestra, acted in school plays, was in student government, and in general epitomizes the type of applicant that top schools strive to attract. He was in the top 2% of the class (not valedictorian) and scored a very strong 2250 on his SAT (not the 2300-plus that parents often think is a prerequisite for any top school).

Stanford admit rate hits 5% Joined by many peer schools, Stanford was the first large undergraduate college to have a 5% admit rate (5.07% actually, but who is counting decimal places?). Out of 42,000 applicants, one in 20 got in – these numbers are probably worse for students from Singapore as Stanford is perennially a top choice. What isn’t immediately reported is that the number of applicants four years ago at Stanford was about 32,000. Top schools haven’t gotten markedly better in the last 10 years; the number of applicants to them has grown tremendously. It is easier (but still onerous) to apply to American universities and all students are applying to more schools. Emerging Asia also has its eyes on top American universities; China sent 235,600 students to America in 2012/2013, up 29%. Add to this the American demographic phenomenon of the “baby boomer bounce” and top schools simply can be much more selective than they used to be. Admit rates are a core component to the silly college rankings that come

out each year so it is rare to hear a university telling a student not to apply. Finally, a US$90 nonrefundable admissions fee paid by 42,000 applicants turns into real money, real quickly.

The good news!

With the SAT changing, news of a student accepted by all eight Ivies, Stanford (and others) are getting even difficult to get into, what is the good news? Quite simply, taken together these stories indicate that the American university system is in rude health. A change to the SAT means that schools will look much harder at other factors during the transition period to the new test and these things you have more control over. These other factors are clearly what helped Kwasi Enin and the lucky few who got into Stanford and peer schools. To stand out from the crowd of top GPA and top SAT/ACT students, students need to embrace sports, music, drama, chess club, whatever, to set them apart. Harvard states that 80% of applicants would do just fine at Harvard, and a good 74% of them aren’t accepted and go to another great school. As a result of this nearly all American universities have been able to be more selective and the level of student and instruction keeps getting better every year. Have a look outside top-50 rankings at schools that are a good fit and please, do something useful with your life over the summer holidays other than test prep.

Jeremy is the founder of Testtakers Singapore.

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

TRAVEL

Malaysia: A Family Road Trip

By Annette Lang

W

e always plan our holidays with precision, care and pre-bookings. This year was no exception when we planned our annual pilgrimage home to Melbourne, Australia for one week and then one week in Bintan to soak up the sun! This is where it got tricky – due to unforeseen circumstances we were forced to abandon the trip to Melbourne and were searching for a quick week-long break, instead. So, the answer? Throw the kids in the trusted people-mover and drive across the border to Malaysia for a road trip.

We sat down with an online map of Malaysia and began to contemplate the trip. Planning started by working out how far each point of interest was and how many days we needed to complete the round trip. We knew the kids would not last much longer in the car than 3-4 hours. So we worked out the itinerary as follows:

Day 1: We woke early and hit the road by 8:30am to avoid traffic at the Singapore/Malaysia border. Driving from Singapore north into Malaysia would take three-and-a-half hours, so a stop-off/ break along the main highway would be a must. We planned to drive to Malacca in time for lunch (a lovely historical, quaint town, located along the sea and a paradise for antique collectors).

Refreshed and ready to hit the road after our break, only one-hour away was Port Dickson, our first stop for the night.

We booked a resort in Port Dickson, Avillion, on a personal recommendation. They have traditional hotel rooms but we opted for the suites built over the sea. The rooms have a sea view of the Malacca strait which is pretty cool – they also come with a novelty outdoor bathroom. Although the rooms were a little run-down, the kid’s facilities were excellent.

Day 2: After a full day relaxing at the resort doing lots of lovely family activities, we ventured outside the resort for some meals – a good idea as there is plenty of food variety.

Day 3: We packed the car, said goodbye to Port Dickson and headed to Kuala Lumpur (approx. 2 ½ hours). Staying at the Renaissance Hotel, which was divine, we found a good deal with

adjoining rooms inclusive of breakfast on wotif.com. Here you can relax by the pool or hit the streets of KL – there’s loads to do and see.

Day 4: We decided to visit Berjaya Times Square Theme Park –

it’s a must-see for both kids and adults. Located on the 5th, 7th and 8th floors of a shopping center, this is the region’s biggest indoor theme park that boasts an area of 380,000 square feet.

There are many thrilling and family-friendly rides that cater for children (of all ages) as well as adults. For the adults who want to experience an indoor roller coaster challenge, try the 800-meterlong Supersonic Odyssey, the world's longest indoor roller coaster. We ended up staying for six hours it was so much fun!

Tickets are priced at RM15 for children and RM25 for adults.

at any of the Genting resorts. Early Bookings are advised as the four hotels are all busy, however, you may be able to negotiate as a “walk in.” For a quieter option (or if your husband just has to play a much-needed game of golf ) stay at the Genting Highlands Golf & Country Resort mid-way up the mountain, but expect “no-frills.”

Day 6: At Genting we relaxed and spent the day at the Fun

Park. Visitors can take the Cable Car (it’s the longest cable car in Asia) up or down the mountain. The place has a Disneyland feel, Malaysia-style, including a shopping mall, a casino and a colorful cluster of hotels all rolled up together for a great few days’ entertainment.

Day 5: We roamed the streets for other Malaysian shopping

centers. There are several principal shopping precincts in the city. The most popular is the area bounded by Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Imbi, all located along the hotel belt. A novel experience is the night markets where haggling is welcome.

Mid-morning we left KL and headed to the Genting Highlands (1 ½ hours away). Here you can stay at the top of the mountain

Day 7: Starting the day early with a morning drive from Genting, through KL and back to Malacca (2 ½ - 3 hours), we stopped for a refresh and a wonderful seafood lunch by the sea. The afternoon drive from Malacca back to Singapore is a straight drive on well-maintained highway (3 ½ hours). This was the longest stretch and we would recommend a night’s stay in Malacca. Or if this is not achievable, then take more snacks, more games, more movies (a DVD car player is a must) and more activities to alleviate the kids’ inevitable boredom.

Continued on page 27

Singapore American • June/July 2014

K

oh Tao (Turtle Island) is a 21-squarekilometre island off the east coast of Thailand and is part of the collection of islands, including Koh Samui and Koh Phangnan, frequented by travelers and tourists searching for the idyllic tropical destination. As a regular traveler of Southeast-Asian countries, and Thailand specifically, I was aware of its popularity and adjusted my expectations accordingly. I had mentally prepared for the crowds – in restaurants, on beaches, on boats, in the streets – and for it to be more of a tourist-oriented getaway than the pictures let on. For the first time, however, I needn’t have done that.

This speck of land in the Gulf of Thailand lies 45 kilometers north of Koh Samui and 40 kilometers east of Chumphon and is surrounded by crystalline waters teeming with marine life. As a result, it has become renowned

as one of the finest destinations to dive and one of the least expensive to earn scuba-diving certification.

Sairee Beach, the longest on the island with 1.7 kilometers of uninterrupted sand and the most popular, is peppered with dive schools, dive shops, and hostels offering full packages for those on a diving holiday. On the other hand, it is easy to understand why Koh Toa is often dismissively referred to as place only diveenthusiasts should consider as a destination, but that sentiment, as it turned out, is certainly incorrect.

The Journey After a three-hour ferry ride from Donsack Pier we arrive at Mae Haad, the bustling drop-off for all Koh Tao-destined travelers. The scene is one typical of Thai islands, but once we’re loaded into the ‘taxi’ – a black pickup truck – we realize quickly that Turtle Island has a distinctly different personality.

We get to our hotel, Koh Tao Toscana, located on the periphery of the main town Ban Maae Haad, and climb off the truck, making

our way in relative darkness to the front desk.

There are few streetlights and far less traffic than I had anticipated. After hurriedly dropping off our bags, with the briefest of lodging tours, we head off to find dinner – having not eaten since leaving Krabi that morning.

by Tamsin Vosloo

Discovering Koh Tao A short walk from Toscana, past a scattering of shops with their lights still on and a few wooden-hut type restaurants, we find Bizarro, with a smoking barbeque, urging customers in.

Once we’d feasted on meals of seared salmon, BBQ chicken, ribs and mango daiquiris, the owner comes over to introduce himself. He’d been living in Koh Tao for only three months and after falling in love with the island on a previous trip, he decided to open a restaurant and make Koh Tao his home for a while. He explains that he was one of so many foreigners in Koh Tao doing just that – an indication of the inevitable development underway on the small island.

From an uninhabited tortoise-shaped rock rising from the ocean visited only by local Thai fisherman, to housing political prisoners in 1933, to its first overseas travelers in the 1980s, Koh Tao’s transformation as a destination is far from complete. After giving us a brief but comprehensive run-down of ‘must-see’ sections of the island, the owner mentions we’ve arrived on the eve of Songkran, the Thai New Year and

arguably the most important festival on the Thai calendar.

Songkran Songkran, which means ‘passing’ or ‘approaching’ in Sanskrit, uses the pouring of water over the hands of family as a symbol of washing away the misfortunes of the past year and beginning the next anew. Thus, it’s come to be known as the Water Festival, where all members of the family, from youngest to oldest, lug buckets of water or water pistols, ensuring no one escapes dry. It is traditionally observed between April 13-15, though in places like Chang Mai celebrations can last up to a week.

In Koh Tao the main festivities take place for one day only, on April 13th.

Our first experience of Songkran begins early Sunday morning, when we set out to rent scooters. We venture into the first bike shop we see and after a quick negotiation, head off on Honda Clicker 120CC scooters for only 150 THB (SGD $6) per day. As we pull away from the shop a 4-year-old boy and his two siblings begin shooting at us with some of the most powerful, bright yellow water pistols known to

man. An appropriate start to what was surely to be an eye-opener of a day.

After picking up our own ‘weapons’ we scoot our way to the center of Ba Mae Haad – the heart of Songkran festivities in Koh Tao. Music is blaring and the roads are lined with locals and tourists refilling buckets, jugs, guns, any fillable object at all, and emptying the contents over bikers, drivers, pedestrians – everyone. Staying dry is definitely not an option. We venture into the thick of the celebrations, around Maa Haad, and gaze around us in genuine astonishment. Where else would you find roads filled to the brim, barely enough space for pedestrians, never mind vehicles, everyone soaked through, laughing and shouting, in an island-wide water fight?

Getting Back to Nature Post-Songkran Koh Tao is calmer, quieter,

with many backpackers and others in search of a party having packed up. Though it’s less populated, the island is no less enchanting. The granite hills that characterize Koh Tao make having a vehicle almost imperative and since the pickup truck taxis are expensive, around 250 THB per ride, we were grateful for the scooters.

Still largely undeveloped, Koh Tao’s hills are covered with lush, untouched forest, that give way to secluded beaches and turquoise sea. Aow Leuk Bay, on the southeast coast, is accessible by a small dirt road opening up to a wide beach, lined with palm trees and the clearest of water.

We immediately arm ourselves with snorkels, goggles and flippers, rented at 100 THB for the day, and set off from the shore. Within moments, and barely out of the shallows, we’re swimming among almost 30 baby Blacktip Reef Sharks. Grey, with easily-identifiable fin markings, they sashay undisturbed by us and fellow snorkelers. Unwittingly, we spend over two hours entranced by the bright coral, sharks and tropical fish. With our sun-drenched skin good and wrinkled, and after a delicious late lunch of Som Tum (green papaya salad) and

Tom Yum Goong (spicy seafood soup), we set off for Sai Nuan Beach’s Banana Rock Bar on Koh Tao’s Southwest coast.

Serenity Found Sai Nuan Beach, and the Banana Rock Bar, seems to be plucked straight from brochures advertising serene, unspoiled island experiences. A small beach accessible only by long tail boat or an unpaved and treacherous motorbike ride, it’s relatively isolated. We arrive to a pinkish-orange sky as the sun sets and apart from us and the quietly disinterested barman, there is no one around. After a quick drink we venture a few meters down the beach to another wooden restaurant on stilts. We order dinner and, while we wait, take a dip in the waveless sea, just as the stars come out. A few lanterns and candles shine from various posts on the beach, including the restaurant we’re in.

In the distance, close to the edge of the forest, a father is playing a hand-carved flute as his two young children laugh and dance around him.

I’m struck by the simple beauty of the scene: no

Singapore American • June/July 2014

television, no radio, just the ocean, forest and flute – we really could be at the edge of the earth.

Exploring the Bays Several fellow travelers had told us to definitely not miss out on Mango Beach, so early one morning we hop on our scooters and head

north to find it. A few wrong turns later on unpaved, narrow roads, we find ourselves at the Mango Bay Viewpoint. There is an enormous, flat rock jutting out from the side of the hill, a handmade signpost declaring “Mango Viewpoint” in orange paint and a small wooden hut manned by two friendly locals. Unlike the viewpoints in so many other destinations, we’re the only people there. With fresh mango shakes from the straw-roofed hut, we spend ages staring out, captivated by the view. From this vantage point we see the bay below, a splattering of homes and hotels, and blue, glassy ocean.

Later in the day we finally find our way to Mango Beach but, unbeknown to us, it’s not accessible by land. After a 25-minute hike down to the sea, through an empty resort still under construction, we find ourselves at the water’s rocky edge, with the beach to the left

but no way to get there. Swimming the 300 meters is not a feasible option since we have bags filled with cameras and phones. Dreading the thought of turning around to hike up the hill we’d just descended, we spot two kayaks and a woman in the shade of a chalet. After a few minutes of gestural conversation, we’re permitted to use the kayaks to paddle across.

Empty but for a restaurant and a few chalets, Mango Beach is certainly the most secluded, and we spend hours snorkeling and lazing on the sand, with huge palm-tree hills looming either side of the beach.

Koh’s Coral Hin Wong Bay, in the northeast, is where we find the most enormous and colorful coral.

You can easily swim through crevices, under coral and find tiny caves housing all manner of sea life. It’s also, however, the first place we see signs of Koh Tao suffering for its increasing

popularity. The small beach had sections filled with litter, mainly plastics, on the ground and between rocks. Locals had pegged up handmade signs imploring visitors to leave only their footprints behind. There are a number of groups who’re working to preserve the natural beauty of the island and you’ll see “Save Koh Tao” banners dotted around, urging tourists to acknowledge the effect tourism has on their home.

The downside of spending time on such a gem of an island in Thailand is the knowledge that it will eventually be built up with resorts, potentially losing the rustic charm it still has in abundance. But, for now, we can rest assured its beauty is still natural and there are many people fighting to keep it that way.

Tasmin is a South African freelance writer and video producer based in Singapore

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

UNIQUE HOBBIES

Marching to the Beat of a Different Drum, Fiddle, Guzheng!

By Angel Corrigan

M

y interest in odd musical instruments came from my grandfather.

During the great depression he earned money with his old sixstring guitar. That guitar was his traveling companion and it held many tales of being on the road. It also literally held the tails of rattlesnakes my grandpa had killed on his travels. On hot summer nights, before I and my sisters, brother and cousins were packed off to bed, my grandfather clad in his well-worn, cotton T-shirts, would play his guitar and regale us with stories of his hobo years.

My grandfather also had zithers and percussion instruments, which we were allowed to play. He even had an old electric guitar, made by some guy named Les Paul, which we were allowed to wail away on, but rarely did he let us play his beloved six-string.

Now my assortment of odd musical instruments is an unintended hobby brought on by a subliminal desire to have something as interesting as a rattlesnake tail-filled guitar. Over the years I have come across many weird and wonderful contraptions and I have been able to bring a few home. There are enough now to be considered a true “collection.” I have some criteria for this collection, nothing too stringent mind you. The main one is that each instrument has to fit in my suitcase and must look and sound interesting, like my coconut bird percussion instrument, or my snakeskin one-string fiddle, or the dragon stone xylophone.

Over the years I have come across quite a few odd things – a goat skin drum, with hair still intact, a camel skin tambourine, Guzheng (Chinese harp), Khustar (a Xinjiang instrument), a Chinese double-headed drum, rain sticks, singing bowls and bamboo flutes. These all are part of my weird and wonderful assemblage.

Do I play any instruments myself? Well, no.… I did take piano lessons for four years but never learned how to read music. My teacher finally figured out that I was playing by ear and said she’d love to continue with me if I ever learned how to read music. So, I tinker around on things that give off fun and interesting sounds. I believe that this is one of reasons that two of my children are musicians.

Growing up they got to play and listen to a wide variety of sounds due to my interest in “musical oddities.” Maybe one day, when my grandchildren visit, I can play a tune and regale them with traveling tales of how I came in to possession of one of my wonderful musical instruments. One day I may even come across something filled with rattlesnake tails.

Angel arrived in Singapore in 1999 with her family. She has lived around the world as a military spouse. In Singapore she has worked at the US Embassy and in the fundraising and development field as MD of her own company.

Corporate Partner

Singapore American • June/July 2014

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

UNIQUE HOBBIES

The Materials of Art

By Lucia Damacela

U

nusual collections, unusual materials.

Plainly said, there are no unusual materials within the realm of contemporary art. For a glimpse at their diversity and ‘unusualness,’ a visit to the two currently held special exhibitions at Singapore Art Museum (SAM), would suffice. The spectrum of materials used to craft the art objects on display range from nuts and bolts sculpted to recreate corals; baby diaper fluff pulp performing as snowflakes; and dust saved from restoration work on old masterpieces, applied to create a contemporary painting.

As examples of this diversity, I have selected three sets of objects, all of them part of the Unearthed exhibition, and made by young Singaporean artists.

Animal Traps This work consists of an ensemble of 15 animal traps carefully arranged on a wall.

They are intriguing artifacts to look at. There is one that resembles a tribal mask, another one is shaped like a pentagon, and a third, a hummingbird trap, looks like a gigantic tropical flower. The devices come from places such as Nepal, England, France and Cyprus.

They were designed to catch slugs, Japanese moles, desmans from the Pyrenees, pigeons, fowls, tropical Asian passerine birds, South

American hummingbirds, rats and mice (in seven different ways). Animal Traps is presented

by Robert Zhao, a well-known and awardwinning photographer and multi-disciplinary artist, who shared with me some details about this collection.

A former animal rights’ advocate known for depicting animals and animal-related themes, Robert Zhao has been collecting traps for the past 10 years. Unsurprisingly, it all started in Paris. An abstract, sculpture-like shaped trap got his attention at Aurouze, a famous mouse trap shop established in 1872. Translation issues left him unable to get information about the functioning of this trap from the

shopkeeper. Three years later, he discovered that it was a mole trap, and found the instructions for the device. Acquiring this gadget triggered his active search for other unusual traps. He gets them whenever he travels, as a souvenir from the country he is visiting. To that end, he explores off-the-grid shops that cater to locals, as opposed to tourists, and has amassed a total of about 80 traps so far. This number is likely to increase as Robert Zhao is still collecting them, even though it is getting harder and harder to find something interesting and special. Despite the growth of his collection, the mole trap still remains one of his favorites.

Beyond their variety of shapes, what Robert Zhao finds fascinating about them is that a trap is a good signifier of the relationship we humans have established with animals, particularly with those we don’t want around us. Any time we see a trap, we know there is an animal and there is a human trying to catch it. As the artist says “I collect traps to tell a story of how humans live with animals.”

also become more proficient at slicing it thinner, more translucent, or thicker.

Once he has enough slivers, he cuts them to shape the sculpture, and then glues the pieces together. He doesn’t know how long the sculptures will last, but surprisingly, the older ones are still fine, as the material has not decayed.

He assumes this is due to the preserving effect of the glue.

Ezzam Rahman’s work is compelling because it shows skillfully-crafted delicate objects made with a material that could elicit unfavorable reactions. Not surprisingly, the artist says he likes to explore the human sensory experiences and emotions. He is “trying to mimic nature” with these relic-like skeletons, and is addressing issues related to life and death. The artist prefers using recyclables, ephemeral materials that degrade and disintegrate, to produce works that cannot be seen as investments. Despite that, five of the 21 pieces he has made so far have been acquired.

Ouch!

The second set of unusual art objects consists of five small sculptures of skeletons of land, water and air animals: a lizard, a frog, a fish, a dragonfly and a bird. They look like fragile fossils and, at first glance, seem made of wax.

The material, however, is rather closer to the artist: it is his dead skin, peeled from his feet soles. Ezzam Rahman, a sculptor, started working with his dead skin in 2009 for a class project, and this, his third show of this sort, contains the largest pieces he has made to date. I interviewed him at the beginning of the exhibition, and he talked about the process involved.

The set is called Ouch! As this name suggests, making the sculptures has been sometimes physically painful for Ezzam Rahman. The painful part of the process comes when ‘harvesting’ the skin, as he can get hurt if he cuts too deep, or if the peeling takes a little bit of live skin. After peeling his soles, he needs one or two weeks to recuperate and be able to cultivate new skin. He is amazed at how fast his skin regrows and hardens. He needed approximately a month to grow the amount of hard skin required to make the five sculptures.

At his point, Ezzam Rahman has mastered working with this material, and can tailor it to suit what he is sculpting. He can make the skin softer or harder, which depends upon how long he leaves it to dry before working on it. He has

Forgotten, Abandoned, Forsaken The third set of art objects focus of this article was created by Stellah Lim, an artist trained first as a jeweler and then as a sculptor. She amalgamated these two skills and began crafting sculptures out of discarded and donated costume jewelry.

I met her, together with Ezzam Rahman, at LaSalle College of the Arts; we talked about her collection and her reasons for choosing this material.

Stellah Lim’s current installation, Forgotten, Abandoned, Forsaken, is her third show with recycled fashion jewelry.

It includes a total of three large oval and nine small round pieces, all of them painted in black enamel. The large ones resemble prehistoric ornaments or cave formations; the small ones bring to mind petrified seeds, fossilized animal paws and twisted charred wood. By coating them with enamel, a durable outdoor painting, the artist is giving these former pieces of jewelry the resilience and durability that is the opposite of their fading status when they were subject to

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the whims of fashion.

The idea for these series occurred to Stellah Lim because, as a jeweler, she had a good amount of costume jewelry and didn’t know what to do with it. She played around with the shapes, putting them together, and decided to coat them with paint, and that is how her first series came about in 2008. For her current show she amassed around 15 kilos of these items by asking her Facebook friends, colleagues, friends of friends, for donations. She catalogued the articles by shape, regardless of their material, which could be wood, metal, beads, or plastic.

Then, these necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, brooches, were sculpted together and transformed with the black painting. She chose black matte because it is non-reflective; there is no identity of the viewer or identity of the former object.

Each piece “is there on its own.”

Guided by her paramount concern about waste and excessive consumption, she works with existing materials.

In her words “we just have too many materials around us that we can really work with” and she can’t stand seeing that much stuff going to waste. In that vein, her upcoming show will be made with existing materials as well; she is now collecting doll parts.

Photos by Lucia Damacela (L-R): Animal Traps by Robert Zhao; Installation by Stellah Lim; Ouch! sculpture by Ezzam Rahman. Unearthed Exhibition at SAM. Lucia is a freelance researcher and writer, interested in exploring and writing about Singapore and the region.

She moved here in 2013 and is enjoying the experience along with her family.

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

UNIQUE HOBBIES

Cosplay: Highest Form of Flattery

By Dhruv Angresh

A

s far as pastimes go, nothing seems to create the same level of togetherness in a community as cosplay, the practice of creating or acquiring the costumes of fictional characters in order to imitate them.

More than just playing dress up, cosplay is the primary source of creative inspiration for many fans of all kinds of entertainment, and the trend is catching on. Conventions pertaining to entertainment culture are more prevalent than ever, and each one brims with enthusiastic individuals with their vibrant costumes enlivening the gray walls of convention centers and expo halls worldwide, like the famed Comic Con and PAX (Penny Arcade Expo). In Singapore, there are already six cosplay-specific events every year listed on otakuhouse.com, a Japanese anime-centric website, from a school gathering to the Singapore Toy, Games and Comic Convention.

Not only is it spreading, the art of costume creation is steadily increasing in quality and intricacy. It is not uncommon to see vast throngs of cosplayers at conventions. Each have the most impressively large-scaled, intricate and stunning costumes and props, some of which are the product of months of hard work. To put it in the words of Burnie Burns, the founder of RoosterTeeth, an Internet-based production company who was strolling past the queue to have a cosplay be judged at PAX East one April afternoon, “There wasn’t a single costume in that ridiculously long line that didn’t absolutely blow me away.”

The phenomenon is now at a level where people make a living through the art of cosplay. Famous cosplayers who had an early start on the trend make a living from it are the likes of Jessica Nigri and Meg Turney, both famous Internet personalities for their work in cosplay. Nigri’s cosplay work led to gigs as a fulltime model, voice actress and recurrent promotional work.

She now even stars in her own video game, Lollipop Chainsaw.

Turney’s presence in the world of fandoms and entertainment due to her cosplay include a recently terminated stint at SourceFed, another Internet-based production company and several modeling jobs, as well as her own significant personal online presence.

Closer to home, and closer to the ordinary not-so-Internetfamous people we know, I sat down and talked to aspiring cosplayer Gregor Strähle concerning his craft. For him the experience is most fulfilling when it comes to the big reveal; he’s never regretted making a costume. “Getting squealed at when I struck a typical anime pose,” Jean Kirschtein from Shingeki No Kyojin, a popular anime show, counts as a distinguished highlight of his day; the sense of community he feels surrounded by people that share his love for fictional characters is evident in the excitement in his voice. He is eager to tell me of his hijinks in the skin of personas far cooler than any of this Earth. In fact, most of his interview consists of fanatical detailed descriptions of his “builds,” from the healing gun of Team Fortress 2’s Medic character to the shoulder blades of his card soldier from Alice In Wonderland.

I could hear his eyes glowing with delight in his descriptions.

Modesty is not lost on the cosplayer; he recounts a tale of his showcasing a sub-par costume at Anime Festival Asia, yet still being adoringly photographed by his fellow anime lovers.

And it’s this that is the true beauty I see in cosplayers and their craft, the beauty I am to thank the entertainment industry and happy people everywhere for. When something is created that is loved and enjoyed by people to the extent of complete immersion and imitation, it’s the highest form of flattery. When whole communities of people are formed and strengthened by this joint passion ... I thank the entertainment industry for cool characters and beautiful stories, and I thank humanity

for the culture of happiness and celebration of nerding-out at something awesome. It’s just cool.

Photo: Gregor Strähle dressed as the Medic from Valve’s video game Team Fortress 2.

Dhruv is a grade 10 high school student at UWCSEA. He is a passionate musician and creative thinker. You can follow him and his music at soundcloud.com/drift-a.

Malaysia: A Family Road Trip Continued from page 21

Car travel check list: • Get a map of Malaysia OR purchase a GPS system.

(Make sure the GPS system you have supports Singapore and Malaysian maps).

• Review the travel sites on things to see and do.

• Start planning the stops (young kids need breaks after 3 ½ hours of driving).

• Make sure you are covered for breakdowns (we use the Automobile Association of Singapore).

• Purchase a good steering wheel lock (auto stores around Singapore). Remember – your car has Singapore number plates so try to park your car in well lit, open areas in preference to alleys or dark corners and always use the steering lock.

• Don’t forget passports.

• Touch ’n Go Pass.

• Purchase some Malaysian Ringgit in Singapore to prepare you for the trip, there are many road tolls throughout the highways.

• Don’t speed – the highways are open and straight so speeding is easy but the police are everywhere.

• Ensure you take pillows and some familiar toys for the children. Many days of unfamiliar rooms and drives can easily unsettle them.

• Be vigilant – Malaysia is not Singapore. If you leave your wallet behind or leave valuables lying around there are no guarantees they will be returned.

Would we do it again? Absolutely. Would we change our

planning? Yes, next time we probably will take more time to see some of the smaller, out-of-the-way sites we whizzed by last time. Happy driving holidays!

Photos (page 21): Berjaya Times Square Theme Park by Jeremy Thompson; Malaysian street by Davidlohr Bueso; (this page) Genting Highlands by William Ng Annette Lang arrived in Singapore in 2002 with the expectation of staying two years but fell in love with the culture, the food and the easy and safe lifestyle that is essentially Singapore.

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Singapore American • June/July 2014

ARTS & CULTURE

Get Ready for Fun with Flipside

By Nithia Devan

N

ow until June 8, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is enticing audiences to release their inhibitions, find their inner child and celebrate the lighter side of the arts at Flipside.

The 11th edition of Flipside is seeing Esplanade transform itself into a lively and quirky space brimming with fun-filled performances at unexpected places. The 10day festival, which focuses on the lighter side of performance art, promises originality and amusement with circus acts, mime, comedy, puppetry, dance and music performed by artists from Singapore, Australia, Canada, Japan and more. Flipside audiences are in for many interactive treats – they can compete in a hilarious boxing challenge, be ambushed in a lift or create illusions with their own shadows.

The festival coincides with the Singapore school holidays. “It’s the perfect backdrop for our audience, especially families with children, to let their hair down and really get into the joy that the lighter side of the arts can bring.” said Ms. Ye Jun Min, Producer, The Esplanade.

“We’re working with artists who have gamely customized their acts and made them more interactive so that more people get to be part of the fun.”

Flipside features three ticketed productions and more than 100 non-ticketed performances and roving acts, as well as interactive visual installations and handicraft workshops. This year, a brand new Festival Bazaar which features cupcakes of unique design, zany crafts and more is set up at the Concourse of the Esplanade.

The ticketed events are Swamp Juice, Voice Mechanics by Maywa Denki and Nu Men – The Wild Woman Sings. Swamp Juice is a full-length shadow puppetry production by Canadian artist Jeff Achtem of Bunkpuppets.

Achtem returns from his successful first show Sticks, Stones, Broken Bones held at Flipside 2013. Known as an innovator in the world of puppetry, Achtem revamps the concept of a puppet show by exposing the puppeteer in full view of the audience. By using everyday

household junk to cleverly piece his puppets together, characters are also brought to life through 3D glasses in a visually stunning finale.

Local Artist Judee Tan stars in her own production, Nu Men: The Wild Woman Sings.

Judee is best known for breakout comedy roles such as Kim Bong Cha on the television show The Noose. Her audacious cabaret-style show takes a deep dive into the statement “What

Ukulele, while Lost Tribe of Pulau Gypsy will keep everyone tapping their toes and giggling to their experimental gypsy-inspired swing music juxtaposed with the screening of vintage silent films shorts of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin.

There will also be workshops on intergrated craft and performance by Jeff Achtem and a clowning workshop by Fraser “The Thumper” Hooper. So, keep your children and yourselves amused – catch a Flipside performance in June.

Tickets are available from Esplanade‘s Box Office and from www.sistic.com.sg. Visit www. esplanade.com/flipside for more information and to download a festival calendar.

Photos (clockwise from left): Judee; Swamp Juice by Andrew Wuttke; Maywa Denki.

makes a woman a woman? And what is her song?”

The bustle extends beyond the theatre venues with free performances outdoors, inside and around the center. Performing at the Outdoor Theatre are circus performers from Down Under, with Australia’s Pants Down Circus entertaining audiences with their nail-biting acrobatic acts.

At the Concourse, clown act Ojarusop from Japan executes wacky street performances of magic, mime, juggling and clowning. Local music talents The Jukeleles charms audiences with their sweet peculiar melodies on their

29

Singapore American • June/July 2014

FOOD & DINING

Shrimp Avocado Stack

By Banana Abroad

4 Foods to Keep you Cool this Summer As the mercury rises and you’re reminded that Singapore is just one degree north of the equator, try some of these healthy summer foods to keep you cool.

1. Cucumber: Cucumbers have high water content and are full of minerals and vitamins.

Chopped up, they’re perfect for salads and pickles. Instead of a Greek salad, try a cucumber with snap peas and mint.

2. Watermelon: This fruit is 90% water, acts as an antioxidant and is also is a great source of potassium and Vitamins A, B and C. Aside from cutting off a slice to bite into, try incorporating it into salads for a sweet addition, or blend up a watermelon-mint cooler drink to sip by the pool.

Calling Singapore “warm” is an understatement. During the summer, between torrential downpours, we are treated to such humidity that you feel like you are in a sauna.

3. Leafy Greens: Head to the wet market, or better yet, grow some veggies at home this summer and always have mineral-packed green leafy veggies on hand. Spinach and sprouts will boost energy and are rich in calcium that helps regulate the body’s internal temperature.

Throw sprouts on the BBQ with red onion and serve with a squeeze of lemon juice, salt and pepper.

4. Coconut water: This juice is packed with simple sugar, electrolytes and minerals to replenish hydration levels within the body. It’s perfect for a long afternoon out in the sun. For a sweet treat freeze the coconut water into ice blocks for the kids.

W

ith the constant heat, it’s nice to come home and enjoy a refreshing and light dinner – especially something that involves minimal time near a hot stove.

The shrimp and avocado stack (or messy pile) combines sweet fruit, crisp watercress and spicy shrimp to create a chorus of tropical flavors. Using cumin, paprika and chili to season the shrimp adds a touch of Mexican flavor while the dragon fruit is distinctly Asian.

Mix cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and 1/4 tsp salt with shrimp in a small bowl. Let the shrimp marinate while you prep other ingredients. Mix tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice and avocado in a bowl. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil, salt to taste and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice, honey and a pinch of salt.

To cook the shrimp, drizzle oil into a hot pan, place shrimp in the pan and cook until opaque. Do not overcook or your shrimp will be rubbery. On your plate, lay rounds of dragon fruit on the bottom. Using a round mold (or not) place the avocado mixture on top of the fruit. Next, add the orange segments. Dress the watercress with the lemon/honey/oil dressing and place on the stack. Finish your dish with the hot shrimp.

For more recipes, visit banana-abroad.com.

Ingredients: 1lb. shrimp (peeled, deveined) 1 avocado (cut into 3/4 inch cubes) 1 1/2 cups watercress (or two small handfuls) 1 orange (segmented) 1 small dragon fruit (sliced into rounds) 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved) 1/2 cup cilantro (roughly chopped) juice of 1/2 lime

juice of 1/2 lemon 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp honey 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 1 tsp salt

Photo by The ReflexMan

30

Singapore American • June/July 2014

HEALTH & WELLNESS

How Your Healthy Habits Might Be Bad for Your Teeth

By Dr Bernard Siew, BDS (Adelaide)

Y

ou might be health conscious, eating carefully and exercising regularly. You may have started a new sport or be following a new diet. This may get you looking and feeling good but the same may not be said for your teeth.

Sugar is known to be very bad for your teeth because it causes cavities. That’s what we are taught in grade school. So how is it that by brushing twice a day, avoiding sugar and seeing the dentist twice a year, nagging issues of sore gums or broken down teeth still occur? The answer is that there is more to oral health than minimizing sugar.

In very simple terms, sugar is not the real oral enemy; acid is. The fact is that sugar is broken down by the bacteria in our plaque to form acid which then demineralizes the enamel in our teeth. Sugar = Acid.

Our teeth have an enamel shell, which is a hard crystal structure made of calciums and phosphates. When enamel is placed in an acidic environment of pH 5.5 or lower, it demineralizes (a neutral pH is 7, and an acidic pH is anything from under 7 to 0. The lower the pH the greater the acidity).

Demineralization means the calcium and phosphate minerals are leached out of the enamel. Given enough demineralizing, the enamel will eventually hollow out and a cavity will form.

Your mouth is actually teeth in a saliva bath. The pH of this saliva bath is affected by the food and beverage you consume and then secondarily, from the blood. This means the pH of your blood directly affects the pH in your saliva. Unfortunately, if you have highly alkaline blood (which is very good for you) this won’t counteract saliva acidity sufficiently to minimize the damage to the teeth. To make things even more confounding, a food or drink that is directly acidic can have an alkalizing effect to your blood. A simple example of this is a lemon - a

lemon is acidic (anything sour is acidic) but it has an alkalizing effect to your blood. So it’s tough on your teeth, but efficacious otherwise.

Health conscious folk will know that alkalizing foods are ideal. A diet of fruit, vegetables and nuts will have an alkalizing effect upon your blood and therefore help you be healthy. In contrast, sugar, animal protein and alcohol are acidifying and therefore very unhealthy. From a dental point of view, sugar, animal protein and alcohol are also detrimental to your teeth.

Moreover, many fruits and otherwise healthy diet foods are equally damaging to your teeth.

Apple cider vinegar is currently a very popular beverage recommended by most nutritionists, due to its powerful alkalizing effects to the blood. But it is also very acidic which means that your teeth will demineralize rapidly after drinking it. Indeed, many freshly squeezed juices are acidic; apple juice is more acidic than orange juice.

Endurance athletes and swimmers in particular are at a higher risk of acid breakdown of teeth. Research suggests that enamel acid erosion is much higher in this demographic – the indications are that a very acidic saliva bath in the mouth is created through a combination of dehydration, acidic energy drinks and lactic acid build-up in the bloodstream.

To preserve the integrity of your teeth throughout your healthy and long life, you should be mindful of the acidic levels in your mouth. Minimize or eliminate the acidifying and acidic foods such as sugar and alcohol. Certainly continue your intake of blood-alkalizing foods and beverages even if they are acidic, but ensure you neutralize the acids with the following methods: swish your mouth with distilled or still mineral water, chew on sugar free gum and/or use a neutral fluoride mouth rinse. It

is also important NOT to brush for at least 30 minutes after an acidic meal or drink. Any physical abrasion on a physically weaker enamel will further breakdown the enamel.

It may be useful to remember that while an apple a day keeps the doctor away, it also keeps your dentist very worried.

Photo by The ReflexMan

For more information, contact Smilefocus on 6733 9882 or visit Camden Medical Centre, #08-02, 1 Orchard Boulevard.

31

Singapore American • June/July 2014

CALENDAR

WHAT'S HAPPENING

OF

EVENTS

Any responder should make any further enquiries with the organizer or should verify the information independently if necessary.

MUSEUMS 1 – 30 June Horses for Courses Singapore Philatelic Museum 23-B Coleman Street 9:30am – 7pm www.spm.org.sg 1 June – 6 July Inherited & Salvaged: Family Portraits from the Straits Chinese Collection NUS Museum, University Cultural Centre 50 Kent Ridge Centre www.nus.edu.sg/museum 1 June – 3 August Masak Masak: My Childhood – Children’s Season National Museum of Singapore Stamford Gallery, Level 1 93 Stamford Road www.nationalmuseum.sg 12 – 13 June Night At The Museum Singapore Philatelic Museum 23-B Coleman Street 6pm – 9pm www.spm.org.sg

ENTERTAINMENT 5 July A Night with Mark O’Connor Esplanade Concert Hall www.sistic.com.sg 11 – 27 July The Sound of Music Grand Theatre at Marina Bay Sands www.MarinaBaySands.com/Ticketing 19 July Pacific Boychoir Academy Asian Tour Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage Singapore Botanic Gardens 6pm Free admission

LIFESTYLE 1 June – 31 July Carpet Clearance Sale - up to 70% off Hedger's Carpet Gallery 15 Dempsey Road #01-09 10.30am - 7pm www.hedgerscarpetgallery.com.sg

21 June Build Your Child's Confidence (age 7-9) workshop The Counselling Place 7500A Beach Road #04-323, The Plaza 2.30-4.30pm www.thecounsellingplace.com.sg

SUMMER CAMPS 2 June – 8 August Basketball Camps LJE Sports www.ljesports.com 2 June – 15 August Stars ‘n Stripes Summer Camp The American Club www.amclub.org.sg 16 June – 25 July Camp Magic www.ilovecampmagic.com 23 June – 18 July Village Camps www.villagedaycamps.com/sg 23 June – 1 August Summer Camp @ CIS Canadian International School www.cis.edu.sg/summercamp 7 July – 1 August Summer School 2014 ISS International School www.iss.edu.sg/summer_school.php

MEMBER DISCOUNTS

AAS Member Discounts AAS members enjoy discounts at a range of local businesses. Present your AAS membership card at time of purchase. Please see a full list of discounts at www.aasingapore.com/member-discounts.

2 hours free handyman service worth over $200 when you book your move with Allied Pickfords.

Call 6862 4700.

Receive a complimentary round trip transportation to and from Changi Airport when you book a package tour with Country Holidays. Call 6334 6120.

Receive complimentary insurance consultations with an experienced insurance advisor. Visitors can choose to receive free, no-obligation quotes on Home, Medical, Life, Travel, Motor and Business Insurance.

EDUCATION 6 June Open House Stamford American International School 279 Upper Serangoon Road 9am www.sais.edu.sg 11 June Bilingual Open House Canadian International School Lakeside Campus 7 Jurong West Street 41 9am www.cis.edu.sg

Get a six-month free membership to Expat Living magazine. Redeem: www.expatliving.sg/aas

Receive a 10% discount on all purchases over $100 at both Marina Bay Link Mall and Rochester Park locations.

If you spend over $800 at their Dempsey Store, receive a hand-woven Indian Kelim flat-weave rug (5’6”x3’6”) worth $150 absolutely free (while stocks last). Call 6462 0028.

Up to 15% off Japan Airlines / American Airlines flights!

Special offer for AAS members only – Depart by June 15, 2014.

Receive a 10% discount on a one-year membership.

Special benefits for AAS members.

Located at the Novena Specialist Centre, email community@ tuckermedical.com for further details.

Singapore American • June/July 2014