by NATALIE BOYLE, TEDA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
For the most part, the only dreaded part of international trips is the flight, compounded with the chaos of the airports. Some people have gone so far as to suggest that a better way to fly would be to simply sedate travelers after they check their bags, so as to lessen the pain and frustration one often experiences with both the airport and the actual flight. Sadly, that day has yet to come, and so we still have to manage that agony.
The actual traveling undertaken by all MUN conference delegates is plagued by horror stories; four hour layovers and delays with nothing to eat or do are the bane of most delegates, and that’s just the airport. To top off the frustration of confusing and often dirty airports comes the ordeal of dealing with disgusting seat mates very close to you, unpalatable food and ten sleepless hours breathing recycled air. It’s amazing how much easier traveling seems to be when the airport isn’t, at least, a hell hole. In general however, flights never go as planned and patience is tested and then you get to Singapore.
Coming from the tiny Tianjin and Xiamen airports as Teda International School did, Changi Airport was a haven. “There’s food! And internet! And it’s clean!” said one very happy delegate, Amy Williamson. These stories of initial awe are perfectly understandable. Changi is huge, boasting three movie theaters, a pool, ‘napping areas’ and little foot baths next to the very fast travelators. Not to mention the fact that Changi is a shopper’s paradise; with over three hundred stores, it’s as big as most malls.
Unfortunately, at this point when delegates have only arrived, these facilities have been largely ignored and have been treated apathetically by delegates in their haste to get out and actually enjoy Singapore. When asked how the airports were in terms of cleanliness and facilities over the course of their journey, many responded with “umm . . . I dunno . . . Ok, I guess?” Most simply didn’t remember. As the conference gets into gear, delegates have other, more important matters on their minds, like how they’re going to rule the world one day.
For the most part, delegates are oblivious to the airports they pass through until they encounter a problem. Then they’ll simply debate with the poor lady behind the counter until they get what they want, and so their skills find a practical use, and travel becomes quite a bit easier.
For the most part, the only dreaded part of international trips is the flight, compounded with the chaos of the airports. Some people have gone so far as to suggest that a better way to fly would be to simply sedate travelers after they check their bags, so as to lessen the pain and frustration one often experiences with both the airport and the actual flight. Sadly, that day has yet to come, and so we still have to manage that agony.
The actual traveling undertaken by all MUN conference delegates is plagued by horror stories; four hour layovers and delays with nothing to eat or do are the bane of most delegates, and that’s just the airport. To top off the frustration of confusing and often dirty airports comes the ordeal of dealing with disgusting seat mates very close to you, unpalatable food and ten sleepless hours breathing recycled air. It’s amazing how much easier traveling seems to be when the airport isn’t, at least, a hell hole. In general however, flights never go as planned and patience is tested and then you get to Singapore.
Coming from the tiny Tianjin and Xiamen airports as Teda International School did, Changi Airport was a haven. “There’s food! And internet! And it’s clean!” said one very happy delegate, Amy Williamson. These stories of initial awe are perfectly understandable. Changi is huge, boasting three movie theaters, a pool, ‘napping areas’ and little foot baths next to the very fast travelators. Not to mention the fact that Changi is a shopper’s paradise; with over three hundred stores, it’s as big as most malls.
Unfortunately, at this point when delegates have only arrived, these facilities have been largely ignored and have been treated apathetically by delegates in their haste to get out and actually enjoy Singapore. When asked how the airports were in terms of cleanliness and facilities over the course of their journey, many responded with “umm . . . I dunno . . . Ok, I guess?” Most simply didn’t remember. As the conference gets into gear, delegates have other, more important matters on their minds, like how they’re going to rule the world one day.
For the most part, delegates are oblivious to the airports they pass through until they encounter a problem. Then they’ll simply debate with the poor lady behind the counter until they get what they want, and so their skills find a practical use, and travel becomes quite a bit easier.
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