Singapore: A retrospective

After returning from DrupalCon in Singapore, I’ve had a chance to really sit and think about the whole experience, as well as the experience leading up to it.

This was my first real trip away from the bubble of Australia and New Zealand, and I think of it as a success. I got out of my comfort zone, met new people and had fun - and managed to see a bit of the city as well.

I was initially very worried about the heat given my frustratingly sensitive skin - and it was hot - but there was enough air-conditioning around to give myself reprieve. I even had access to a rooftop swimming pool and cold beer. So, in between all the plans I had I was able to relax for a bit.

detail my own thoughts below. This blog post is written over 12 months after the event. But, I wanted to bring this into the modern light for my own benefit, and to share some photos.

The trip

I ventured to Singapore for DrupalCon - it would be my first DrupalCon. I was speaking, I was volunteering, I was barely into my new job and previously I was planning on spending my time there with another crowd. I was working for a competitor in the hosting space - but leaving the agency model.

My talk was probably among my worst, my photography was decent but left me personally with a lot to be desired. I made sure to take a couple of days to see other parts of the city, and an ambitious trip out to River Wonders because I wanted to find a good present for my daughter.

When I left Singapore, I left without feeling like there was something else I really wanted to see. I left feeling fulfilled and although it would be nice to come back some day I feel my trip was complete.

Probably the biggest take-away apart from all of the above was meeting new people. New colleagues, and meeting the Drupal Association properly including one who I spent quite a lot of time with and enjoyed many fun and interesting conversations with and quite a few drinks as well.

What went well?

Shall we start the retrospective?

The first major observation would be traveling solo and all the challenges that entails - being forced out of my comfort zone and facing real-world problems and solutions - I love that. I love the position of challenge and discomfort and this is exactly why I made myself a promise to “go somewhere new every year” when I last reviewed by life goals..

The people - I had the opportunity to get acquainted with some new contacts and new faces. I spent considerable time with some of them and I now consider them friends on the rare occaseion I might get to see them.

I really look forward to seeing at the people conferences, and the feeling seems mutual. I follow them on the limited social media I do have, and I support their causes and work on social media from afar and next time we get together - it’s going to be amazing. Community is why I continue to work around Drupal events, and this is no exception.

The experiences and fun I have with the community, the conversations and the harmless mischief we get up to together, and the stories are concreted in my mind for an eternity.

What didn’t go well?

The situation I was in from the start was… interesting. I had just shifted jobs, and I had a talk planned. I was also committed to a volunteering role which I believed I was prepared for, but that didn’t align with reality. The preparation was not adequate for such a dark venue.

So, for one my employment was fresh. I simply wasn’t a good long-term fit for the previous company and a spout of bad timing resulted in a move I personally believe was inevitable. So now, I was moving out of the agency world and into infrastructure hosting proper - no halfway-between this time.

The team I was planning to come with were there and emotions on my side were still very high so seeing them was difficult and welcoming at the same time. I still managed to spend a fair bit of time with both of the companies. I was however, committed to making this event happen so long as funds weren’t stretched too thin. I planned minimal vocational activities as most of the things I planned were basically free. Things worked out as I was looking into cancelling at one point.

My talk, although peer-reviewed and well practiced… I am really unhappy with. I’ve since done another talk at DrupalSouth Melbourne but a lot of the points made in my DrupalCon talk I feel fell apart. Perhaps it was the fact I was presenting to a new audience on a hot topic that has since gone back into the oven, perhaps it was all the anxiety of moving jobs, but it simply isn’t my finest presentation. There were so many factors working against me for this speech…

Lastly, for photography. You could say I was unprepared for a bunch of things. For the record, I’m actually a seasoned motorsports event photographer, but the conditions and setting at an indoor conference is so different that my expectations for preparation were eclipsed by a dark venue. I simply wasn’t prepared. The main striking point is that I couldn’t get my shutter speed up to scratch. Although the photos turned out decent, I had much larger hopes for what was delivered. I was too critical on myself and I will continue to be - however I will get better.

What must I do better?

I think the biggest areas for improvement are related to speaking and photography.

With speaking, more planning with less time between the event and planning the talk, with perhaps more public or internal feedback would be a good start. Choosing more authoritative subject-matter would also benefit me.

After speaking in Melbourne a few months after Singapore, and having submitted to the upcoming Wellington Drupal event I am confident I can work my way across that bridge and lear something from it.

Improving on photography is a much harder ambition. For those that do photography you’ll know well that gear gets you so far, and experience is the only other tool you can tangibly use. So the fix for these problems would also include a financial and time-based investments into more expensive gear that would work well under low-light conditions and possibly a Flash. Besides the investment of money experience would be ideal.

Over the following year, I spent more money on new lenses and flashes than I will ever admit, but the results really do speak for themselves. I will very likely not need to spend another dollar for quite a long time. I’m now in a position where I can focus purely on experience and I can organically get a lot better on my own.

If you want a follow-up, check the next retrospective!

What have I learned?

As a result of my first time in Asia, I have learned just how pushy people can be. I have learned to thicken my skin a little because I am sure in coming years I’ll need to say no more often as I don’t enjoy being pushed into anything. I was even roped into a cheap scam I refused to pay what they asked - but I had to give them something as I fell victim.

I learned just how open and obvious some things are, compared to Australian culture. And as per my love for Asian food nothing came as a surprise. The food I had in Singapore really was amazing - and I’ve taken a few lessons with me.

I’ve acquired an ongoing effort to adopt a taste for durian. I even will purchase the occasional durian ice cream or other product regularly to develop a taste. I also came back with a renewed love for dragonfruit, and the willingness to seek out and try new fruits - which I do at every opportunity.

My time in Singapore has got me into the habit of seeking out and trying new things whenever I can - and although I would argue I was always like that, it is now far more deliberate.

The end is nigh

Finishing my week in Singapore and coming home definitely required some adjustment. I was tired, I missed my new friends, I was keen to see how these new experiences manifested in my life at home. And, they did! I’ve found small little ways to celebrate and honor my new experiences and to continue seeking out new tastes and traditions.

I’ve been very intentional about the past year, as I will continue to be in the future. But, I had to enable myself to do such a thing again. Nobody other than me going to tap on my shoulder and make things like this trip happen. And this lesson is what I will be taking on into all future planning.

I want to continue developing these amazing new relationships, I want to fulfil the promise I made to myself in 2024 to see somewhere new every year. I want to continue developing my maturity and career inside the Drupal community. I’m the only person that can give me that guarantee.