Friday 1 February 2013
Singapore Sam returns home to Worthington
Talk about it
WORTHINGTON — After hopping around on the other side of the world for several months, Singapore Sam got quite the welcome home party Friday afternoon from Nancy Johnson’s first-grade class at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Worthington.
Sam accompanied Johnson’s niece, Melissa Saigh, her husband AJ and their young daughter, Linna, to Singapore last August while the Saighs were living there for AJ’s job. The first-graders followed Singapore Sam’s exploits by Skyping on the computer with Melissa and Linna periodically during their Singapore adventure.
The Saighs took the stuffed frog with them as they toured in Singapore and Thailand and collected artifacts to show the students.
On Friday afternoon, Melissa and Linna escorted Singapore Sam back to Worthington and presented their bag of souvenirs.
“Here are some stickers for the Singapore Flyer, the big Ferris wheel,” explained Melissa as she pulled items out of the bag. “And here are some shells from the South China Sea.”
The bag also contained a washcloth featuring the popular southeast Asian character Hello Kitty, currency from Singapore and Thailand and a flier from Underwater World in Singapore, which Melissa pointed out was similar to the one at Minnesota’s Mall of America.
“Everything you guys are touching is from all the way around the world,” said Melissa. “Isn’t that cool?”
During the Saighs’ classroom visit, the students had the chance to ask some questions in person instead of over the Internet, and Melissa shared one of the more unique experiences of their southeast Asian stay.
“My husband and I got to go swimming with the sharks,” she said, eliciting an audible gasp from the students. “We actually went into the water with them. They were wild sharks. They could bite you, but they didn’t. I was very scared, but once you’re in the water with them, it’s fun.”
Johnson conceived the idea of sending Singapore Sam with the Saighs as a way to connect her students to the world.
“They’re learning about another country, and they’re learning about how we’re all alike, but different,” said Johnson. “I think that’s been a big thing.”
Each of the first-grade students has his or her own passport, and as they learn about new countries during their studies, the passport gets a new stamp. So far this year, they’ve gotten stamps for Singapore, Canada and Mexico.
And they will learn even more about Singapore in the months to come, as the Saighs are returning there for a longer, two-year stint. Anticipating that visit, Johnson had a special present prepared. Out of a gift bag popped a new mascot — Singapore Sue, a plush puppet. The note accompanying Sue read: I am coming with you to Singapore. I can’t wait to go. I hope we go to the pool. Love, Singapore Sue.
The Saighs have been back in Minnesota since November and will depart again March 1.
“We will be there for two years, but Linna and I will come back twice a year and stay for a couple months each time,” explained Melissa. “We found out (that we would be going back to Singapore) while we were still there. It’s a good opportunity for our family, and we loved it there. It’s just hard being away from the grandparents for that length of time.”
Melissa anticipates that connecting again with the students will help to stave off any homesickness.
“It’s a way to be tied back to home,” she said. “It can be so easy to forget where your roots come from. Seeing their little faces and hearing their questions — there are so many things they really want to know — is really a lot of fun. They have so much energy. And this way they get to experience it, too, through Singapore Sam and now through Singapore Sue.”
Daily Globe Features Editor Beth Rickers can be reached at 376-7327.
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Singapore Sam returns home to Worthington
Singapore Golf Association says it understands Singapore"s land constraints
Singapore Golf Association says it understands Singapore’s land constraints
By Olivia Siong |
Posted: 01 February 2013 2111 hrs
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Singapore Golf Association says it understands Singapore’s land constraints
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Golf Association says it is sad that some golf courses may disappear in the near future, but understands Singapore’s land constraints.
On Thursday, the government announced in its Land Use Plan that land with lower intensity uses like golf courses may be recycled to achieve higher land productivity.
Mr Bob Tan, President of Singapore Golf Association, said: “Well I think it is sad, but I understand fully that we have limited land. We’re land scarce so we have to make use of the land that we’ve got. Golf has become increasingly popular among the youth. The elderly, the retirees have taken up golf too for recreation.
“And with less golf courses, obviously access is going to be more of an issue. But I think we’re all pragmatic and realistic and at the end of the day, if it’s between housing and golf, I think housing obviously takes priority.”
There are currently 18 golf courses in Singapore, occupying about 1,500 hectares of land.
The Ministry of Law says golf courses in Singapore are generally on a 30-year lease.
The majority of their leases will expire between 2021 and 2030.
And for golf courses that will be phased out, their lease will not be extended.
Mr Tan estimates the leases of about 50 per cent of golf courses will be up by 2021.
The leases of golf courses, including the Singapore Island Country Club and Tanah Merah Golf Club, are expected to expire in 2021.
But the Tanah Merah Golf Club told Channel NewsAsia it has not been contacted by authorities so far regarding the renewal of its lease.
It added there has also been no indication that their lease will not be extended.
“If there are less golf courses for golfers to get tee times etc. In time to come, we will definitely see less golfers. Or they will make a concerted effort to go to the neighbouring countries and play there, take Malaysia for instance, rather than playing in Singapore,” added Mr Tan.
When contacted, the General Manager of Tanah Merah Golf Club, Mr Kok Min Yee, said authorities had not contacted them regarding the renewal of their lease to date.
He added that there had also been no indication that the lease would not be extended.
A spokesperson from the Singapore Island Country Club said it had written on previous occasions, and again in September 2012 to PUB to enquire about the status of the renewal of their land lease.
The club added it is awaiting their latest response and will keep its members informed of the status.
Jurong Country Club and Keppel Club declined to comment when contacted.
Analysts add what the land is used for in the future will depend on its surroundings.
Mr Nicholas Mak, Executive Director of Research Consultancy at SLP International, said: “If that golf course is located near a reservoir, then that area may not be suitable for redevelopment into an industrial estate because there is a risk that the reservoir may be polluted. Perhaps other possible uses for that golf courses could be high-rise residential, since residential homes with views of reservoirs or other waterways are very popular in Singapore.”
The Ministry of Law said it is working with the planning agencies over the next few months to firm up the long-term plans for the sites occupied by the various golf courses. It said it will initiate discussions with the individual golf courses regarding lease extensions, only when that exercise is completed.
- CNA/de
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Singapore Golf Association says it understands Singapore"s land constraints