Heyyyyyy...
An email early Monday morning marked the beginning of my tasks for the week. I was directed to start compiling resources on the subject of environmental protection in shipping routes around the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. As the second-busiest port internationally, Singapore's shipping corridors have only grown in importance over the past decades. Intensified shipping activity, however, has resulted in increased environmental degradation around these Straits. At the same time, there is not a long-standing international legal consensus that can guide littoral States on how to protect the maritime environment from anthropogenic ecosystem destruction. All of last week just looked like me documenting how this problem emerged and what the relevant legal regimes currently prescribe.
In other news from my life:
1. My office lunches are steadily improving. A harrowing experience at the office canteen on my first day (picture oily kaprao; I have no photos, that would be too psychologically damaging to the viewer) swiftly converted me to a bring-your-own-lunch employee. I've consumed such a quantity of salmon and rice at this point that I'll surely be sick of its sight by the end of this month. Experiencing a Chobani Flip was also a new life experience (a spectacular display of human ingenuity and invention) this week (I have a caramel, peanut butter, chocolate one in my bag right now).
2. On Wednesday, I arrived punctually at a dark, non-AC'ed office for 8:55 AM. When no one arrived by 9:20, I turned to Google, which revealed that it was, in fact, a statutory holiday. I celebrated by taking a scenic walk, buying a new book, getting my Arabica matcha, and picking my friend up from her work downtown.
3. All of my newfound work friends are being dispatched to present at research conferences internationally for the next month, so I am (largely) alone at the office. So much for socializing...
Annex
Image #1: The outside of my office!
Image #2: Secondary perspective; image taken seconds before the heavens opened up and rained for 48 hours consecutively.
Image #3: Other NUS buildings on my walk home...
Image #4: Little India near my friend's office.
Image #5: Scenes from Wednesday's walk.
I study Politics and Peace, Conflict, and Justice at the University of Toronto! Last summer, I researched historical maritime delimitation disputes between Canada and the United States. This summer, I'm working at the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore to research submarine cables and pipelines in the territorial sea.
I grew up between Singapore and Vancouver, which has undoubtedly influenced my current interest in global affairs and international relations. I love travelling (I'm hoping to travel to Morocco next), tennis (playing and watching), and reading.
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