3.S visiting Tampines Meridian Junior College

Class 3.s and the teachers – Annette and Lotte – arrived in Singapore on August 26, quite exhausted after a long flight. During the first days we got an impression of the fascinating metropolis and, among other things, visited the beautiful 156-year-old Botanic Gardens and enjoyed the view from the impressive Marina Bay Sands skyscraper. The city is striking and very clean, but also full of prohibition signs and cameras everywhere.

The theme of our trip is multiculturalism. Therefore, the students have carried out neighborhood analyses and interviews in Chinatown, Little India and the Arab District to investigate how Singapore’s three major ethnic groups express themselves.

On Thursday morning we went to our partner school, Tampines Meridian Junior College. We received a very warm welcome from both the school leadership and the students, who greeted us with enthusiastic cheers as we entered. After a traditional nasi lemak breakfast (coconut rice and chicken), we joined different lessons with our partner students for the rest of the school day, before heading home with the host families.

Friday was Teachers’ Celebration Day, an annual Singaporean tradition where students put on a large show to honor their teachers. There was dancing, singing and acting – and of course the teachers were celebrated with applause, gifts and handwritten notes.

In the afternoon we went on a joint excursion with the Singaporean host students and the teachers Joseph and Sophil. We visited Toa Payoh Living Space, an exhibition about the state housing areas in Singapore, where the government also ensures that ethnic groups are mixed. Afterwards we visited Marina Barrage, a large dam and an exhibition about how Singapore works with sustainability and the challenges that limited space and climate change bring to the country. It was all very exciting, and we ended the day with a stunning sunset view of the city skyline.

Over the weekend, the host families are arranging various experiences for the students – including excursions, relaxation by the pool, and even an Indian wedding. On Sunday we will all meet again at the hostel, and in the last days of the trip we will, among other things, visit the Danish Embassy in Singapore and continue working on our film project.

So far, we have had a fantastic trip, and we are very grateful for the warm welcome and great hospitality we have received from everyone at the partner school and the host families.