[Jared Russell]

Jared here again, on Monday morning. Currently we are at Temasek secondary school in eastern Singapore, and we're in the process of picking our jaws up off the floor. Let me just say that in the US, we are in trouble when the students we've been seeing all week enter the workforce: the educational system here is in many ways vastly superior to anything we have. The classes here have interested students, dedicated teachers, a LOT of technology, and you can really tell that the government/ministry of education care a lot about the kids. In the US, I think the government sometimes says it does, all the while diverting educational funding to other endeavors.

Now for some quick thoughts about this gorgeous, gorgeous place:

-Yesterday I was on the beach for most of the day, and it looked like I was in a postcard. Clear water, palm trees, resorts - just amazing. The kids we met earlier in the week came with us to the beach, and we had a great day together. However, despite twice re-applying SPF30, I'm a toasty red today. I guess that's what you get for being 70 miles from the equator...

-People drive very aggressively, but they don't seem to get angry when they get cut off or tailgated, for example. Very interesting.

-At the Science Center presentation, we got asked a LOT of technical questions - more than I can ever remember in dozens of demonstrations. Things like what kind of PID algorithms we used, the pros and cons of omniwheels, and a lot of questions that just reinforce that idea that those who think we in the US are the indisputed leaders in technology are in for a rude awakening.

-The tropical fruit here is delicious, but if anyone ever offers you something called a "durian", RUN FAR AWAY! I've never tasted a fruit that reminded me of gasoline before, and I never plan on doing it again. And the smell... Things like the local starfruit, jackfruit, and papayas are, however, amazing.

I hope to post again soon!