It is the various experiences on this trip that have made me realise my own progress and development in relation to my connections with nature as well as the idea that people’s connections may differ within the same environment depending on their relationship with that environment. 

I grew up in Kuwait. Nature to me was the desert; wide open expanses of sand and shrubs. I travelled to Australia for university four years ago and I was exposed to something new: bushland, greenery and water. It took me a while, years even, to develop my own personal connection with this new and contrastingly different environment and accept it as nature.

Coming to Singapore, I had my own previous personal experiences in nature, both of which are similar in the sense that at times you could walk for a long time without seeing or hearing city life. Therefore coming to Singapore and seeing nature amongst city life, I was confused at how people connect; I could not see how it was possible. However the longer I spent in Singapore, exploring nature and seeing the various environments Singapore has to offer, the more my view, perception and connection with nature here has changed. I have come to realise that Singapore is doing exceptionally well to maintain and create nature, what little nature they have, for the people of Singapore to enjoy, utilise and connect. I have also been able to identify through street talk and my own observations which environments in Singapore are tourist attractions and which are not. From this I have been able to learn about who goes to which environments and what connection they may develop. Examples include the Super Trees at Gardens by the Bay and the Green Corridor, respectively.

I think that a connection with nature is something which develops over time; it cannot simply be created. I also believe that it is important in Outdoor Education (OE) to help an individual identify with a place. In Singapore, I found that many people connect with nature through recreational activities and exercise such as jogging. Although this may be different from how you or I connect with that same bit of nature; a connection is still made which could potentially lead to the respect and appreciation of the environment and a passion to look after it (Ty also touches on this in his post ”Innovative Nature”). From this we can then develop mutual connections with each other, and this is what I feel we need to acknowledge and encourage within OE in Australia and around the world.