Question time!

Over the past few weeks as I share my excitement about this trip, I've received a ton of awesome questions. So I thought I would share some of those FAQ with you all, along with the answers... plus some others. :) If you have questions, let me know by commenting below!

Number 1 most frequently asked question...

Q: Will we be able to speak English there?

A: Yes! Although we will be in Asia, English is one of the main languages in both Singapore and Malaysia, and pretty widely spoken. i do anticipate putting some of the (little) knowledge of Mandarin I have to use though!

Q: Where is Singapore and Malaysia?

A: maybe a map or two would help :)

The map on the top shows my overall journey... I will be flying from Newark, New Jersey to San Francisco, California. From there, I will meet my team and fly out to Singapore. We will be spending a few days in Malaysia. The map on the bottom shows the countries surrounding Singapore & Malaysia -- including Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Q: How will we be traveling from Singapore to Malaysia?

A: We will be renting a bus and driving to Malaysia and back.

Q: What is the size of Singapore?

A: The map on the left is Singapore. Singapore has mainland, as well as around 63 islands. Singapore is slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington D.C., and approximately 1/4 the size of the state of Rhode Island, which is 1,545 sq mi. Ready for this?

Singapore is 277.6 sq miles!

Q: What is the time difference?

A: Singapore & Malaysia are exactly 12 hours ahead of Eastern Time in the US, so just switch the am/pm. :)

Q: Have you ever been outside of the country before?

A: Nope, I have never been overseas! This will be quite a new experience for me. Most, if not all of the others in my team will be experiencing going overseas as a first as well.

Q: How many people are you going with?

A: There are around 10 other students like myself who will be going as part of the team from the US. We come from all around the States.. Maryland, Michigan, Louisiana, Colorado... just to name a few. We will be accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Au, as well as Dr. Theresa Moon, who is the CEO and founder of ICC.

Q: Where will you be staying?

A: We will be at host homes during our stay.

Q: Will you be able to see your family while you're in Singapore?

A: Yes! I will be visiting my aunt and cousin, as well as my great-grandmother during one of the days. I am so excited!

Q: What exactly will you be doing for these conferences?

A: I am traveling with the Institute for Cultural Communicators as a Communications Coach, assisting and supporting in the planning and leading of the conferences in Malaysia and Singapore. I will also be mentoring and working with the local team, and work alongside them as they lead. The conferences are for ages 6 and up. Specifically, I will be leading the Young Communicators for Christ track, which is for students 6-10 years old. The first ever ICC conference in Malaysia is expecting over 300 people, which is so incredible and exciting!

Q: What challenges are you most expecting for this trip?

A: I think going to different cultures outside my corner here at home will be challenging in itself... different customs/ways of life, and different communication styles! Though both countries speak English, their way of communication will be different than what I am used to. Even Singapore has a different "dialect" of English called Singlish that is very interesting! I am also anticipating being stretched to be flexible during the conferences. Leading around 50 young students will keep me on my toes for sure!

What do you think of these facts? Shoot me a comment below :)