On sabbatical in Singapore during the pandemic

Going on sabbatical leave during a pandemic is not something one would plan for. These things just happen and I am very grateful that it happened to me.

I have always liked the idea of an ETH satellite in Asia, and have been wondering how the Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC)—being part of the ETH family—set in a geographically, politically and culturally different environment, might work. This was one of the main reasons for choosing the SEC as the place to go for my sabbatical leave.

After a year of planning, when everything finally seemed to fall into place, the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world. My family and I were able to leave Switzerland for Singapore in early March, just in time to avoid any travel restrictions. But the pandemic caught up with me nonetheless: On the very first day of my sabbatical, the SEC was closing down and had sent most of its staff to work from home.

During the two weeks before Singapore went into “circuit breaker”, as the lockdown is called here, I belonged to a small group of people still allowed to go to the office. To me, this time was crucial in order to prepare myself for the coming work from (my temporary) home, allowing me to meet most members of the SEC management team in person and to familiarise myself with the institution.

Unfortunately, the unexpected turn of my sabbatical leave kept me from exploring the city for months. It did, however, open up exciting opportunities as crises always offer rare glimpses into systems and processes that normally would be more or less hidden.

I became part of teams responding to ever-changing situations, aimed at keeping the institution running smoothly and taking care of employees. Our duties largely consisted of dealing and keeping up with changing regulations and tracking requirements mandated by the government. I was taken aback by the unfamiliarly high level of implementation details that came with them, as well as by the harsh penalties.

Being familiar with these regulations, I was able to notice the compliance in practice. At first glance, people and businesses in Singapore just accepted the extensive restrictions, the very close tracking and the never-ending good behaviour campaigns. Below the surface there was more: I was fascinated by the subtle reactions made up of a unique mixture of patience, conformity, sometimes even indifference, but also common sense, humour and defiance – to some of them the authorities surprisingly and implicitly responded by suddenly lifting restrictions that seemed not to be challenged only days before.

Had my sabbatical taken place during “normal” times, I would never have gained such insights within this short period. I am also very grateful to my colleagues in Singapore for their generous support. In the end, the conclusion I draw from my sabbatical leave is also my answer to the question I am most frequently asked: No, it was not bad luck, much more it was – in this respect - lucky timing.