Slow in Singapore
This is a coffee shop near my apartment covered in Singapore flags for National Day.
Most of my life I have prioritized productivity, getting things done, achievement. Being accepted to teach at one of the best international schools in Asia meant more of the same.
However, I knew I couldn’t keep going the way I had been. I needed a new life motto—one that did not require me to work for hours on a weekend, one that grounded me. And so, go slowly was born.
I moved to Singapore alone. Travel was calling me, and home was calling Jon. We made the decision over many tearful conversations and deep discussions about our relationship, our dreams, and our hopes for the future. As I finish up my first year in Singapore, I am grateful for our decision. I feel so loved by Jon and so grateful to have someone supportive of my dreams. I think if you ask him, he’d say the same thing. With his love pouring through phone calls, snail mail, and care packages, I was able to fully embrace my new motto: go slowly.
In the beginning, I felt the pull to overachieve, to work too hard, to do too much. I had to constantly chant to myself—go slowly. It was like with each day lived in Singapore, I began to find my footing, even breathing, and a balance I’d been searching for.
The slow, steady rhythm of my life in Singapore grounded me. Singapore has been such a healing place for me in so many ways. The lush green, the simplicity of on-time trains and easy-to-use buses, the same-day, every-day forecasts brought me joy. I began running, slowly at first, then I picked up the pace and the time. I found my stride, and I found my peace.
Along the way, I found friendships, too. The kind that feel easy and cozy and just right. People who laughed with me over hawker centre meals, hiked jungle boardwalks, and picniced in Fort Canning Park. People who reminded me that being present matters way more than doing it all.
And then—there are my fifth graders. This little crew has carved out a big place in my heart. They are curious, kind, funny, and resilient. Loving them came easily. They made the classroom feel like home and the work feel like purpose. Watching them grow this year has been such a pleasure.
I also gave myself space to wander beyond Singapore. On weekends and breaks, I adventured to new countries—Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia. I traded the urge to “do it all” for long meals, slow mornings, and the joy of simply being somewhere new. I learned that travel doesn't have to be fast to be full.
Singapore is the steady, hum-drum life to the hip-waving, fast-paced music of Panama. Singapore’s focus on sustainability and cultural harmony fascinates me. While the temperatures mirror that of Panama, the lifestyle matches Finland. I felt oddly prepared to move here, like it was meant to be.
Go slowly is something that will stick with me, no matter where I move to next. It’s no longer just a motto—it’s a mindset. One I’ll carry into the next school year, the next adventure, the next unknown.
Meanwhile, I can’t wait to share such a special place with people in my life. Seeking visitors: 2025–2026.
