Letter from the Editor: Made with Love in SIngapore
People often ask me how I feel about living in Singapore or why I love it so much? On the eve of its 49th birthday, I feel it's timely to try and answer these questions in writing.
Since the day I first landed in Singapore with my husband 10 years ago, I fell in love with the city. We landed from Paris at 7am on a Sunday and had a list that we had drawn up in the plane of all the things we needed to do to get settled into our new city. It was a list we estimated would take us about 2-3 weeks to complete. Landing so early in the morning on a Sunday, we fully expected to wait a few hours for our agent to get the keys to our flat. Instead, we had a message waiting from her telling us that she would be waiting for us in front of the flat. Nice.
Once we had unpacked and showered, we ventured out to see if we could get a jump start on those errands - life in Paris had given us low expectations for a Sunday, but a single Sunday in Singapore was enough to tick off every item on the list. Well, except for the setting up of our internet line! Having grown up and lived in many great cities around the world including London, Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo, my husband and I have never experienced anything close to such efficiency and user-friendliness. And that was only the beginning of our love story with Singapore...
With more time, I discovered more about this Lion City: how Singapore is a city where differences are celebrated and not derided; where, as a woman, you can pretty much walk anywhere at any time of the day or night without fear; where it is a place you can experience a myriad of different cultures through food for just a few dollars; and enjoy a peaceful life and business environment designed in a way that allows you to focus on the bigger things. This is what I call luxury, and a rare luxury at that. One that few other places in the world (if any) can compete with.
So, yes. Singapore is a small place but only if you want to look at it that way. Because I have discovered that the island nation is huge in possibilities, diversity and heart for those who are ready to open their eyes to it.
10 years down the road, my family and I are proud PRs and I am still madly in love with this country I now call my own. More so ever since I've ventured into building my own business. I have an amazing Singaporean team helping to shape the future of THE FIFTH COLLECTION - individuals that have impressed me with their strong character, deep loyalty and genuine kindness. Through good times and bad, they have made me feel even more part of Singapore than I already did. To them, I am not a foreigner, and to me they are Singapore’s heart, its future and my family. I hope I can one day give back to Singapore as much as it has given to me and my family.
So, happy 49th, Singapore! And thank you for being the home for my family and THE FIFTH COLLECTION. And, in honour of your birthday, I've put together a pinterest board to try and capture my feeling of pride. I am only sorry that I won’t be seeing the parade this year. But next year, for your big 5-0, be ready Singapore because we are going to celebrate with you in style!