Week 2

Day 4 Monday
June 8, 2009
Our day started at 9am when our host Alex met us at the school. After a short breakfast we took a tour of the college east campus. One of the places we visit was the beauty lab, the food processing lab and the plant process lab. Around noon we boarded a buss and drove across the city for lunch. We met Dr. Derek Yeo, deputy director of ITE College west. After lunch we continued to ITE College west. After a presentation by Tan Teck Hwa, manager/student development and manager of continuing education and training we toured the hospitality and tourism classrooms.
We would like to say thanks to Dr. Derek Yeo, Tan Teck Hwa, Ms Aw Bee Eng, Mr Justin Chua, and Ms Tan Sie Sie, for giving us the tour and the opportunity to learn more about their Institution. Also special thanks to Alex Yeo Choon Hock who spend all day with us.

Day 5 Tuesday
June 9, 2009
Today we split into two groups, Instructor Laurie and her group spend the day on campus east in the chemical process technology department. The students got hands on sessions with Lee Yew Mun. Afternoon activities included occupational health and safety theory lessons, followed by practical hands on sessions in environmental technology which was presented by Han Sern Chiew.
Myself and the three Baking and Pastry Arts students took the transit to the West campus about 45 minutes LRT ride across the city. We had an ice breaking session with Tan Sie Sie Baking and Pastry Art instructor followed by a pastry demonstration by Tanty Suryani. After lunch we got introduced to Asian desserts and sweets which were mostly jelly and sweet syrup style desserts. Tomorrow the students will have hands on training sessions. Around 5 pm we boarded the train back to the East College.

Day 6 Wednesday
June 10, 2009
Again this morning the Baking and Pastry Arts students travelled 45 minutes on the LRT system to the West College. After reaching the college at 9am all four of us attend the hands on session in the baking labs. I had a change to sit down with Justin Chua Lam Soon the section head of the Baking and Pastry program to discuss course outlines, learning objectives and daily shop activities.
The second group had it much easier when it came to travelling; the environmental lab and chemical technology labs are all on the east campus where we are staying at. This group met at the life science department and had hands on sessions with Ms Joyce Ng. The afternoon hand on session was based on food quality control with Ms Jenny sng.

Day 7 Thursday
June 11, 2009
After another LRT ride to the west side, the baking and Pastry Arts students arrived at the college just in time to be part for the morning demonstration. Today Tan Sie Sie the Baking and Pastry lecturer facilitated the shop class. At this time the students are learning how to compose a plated dessert, presented by second year baking and pastry students at ITE. So far all the demonstration are very meticulous which gives the students the opportunity to ask questions throughout the instructor’s presentation. The course is set up that the instructor gives a demonstration on two products throughout the first day which the students duplicate the second day. The SAIT baking and pastry arts students and I gave a presentation to the ITE students on SAIT, Calgary and our baking and pastry arts program.
The second group’s hands on session are in chemical process technology department. The morning session includes equipment maintenance and the afternoon session included process equipment and process operation.

Day 8 Friday
June 12, 2009
A little change in program, SAIT students decided to give a demonstration to ITE baking students on how to make a pecan pie. Ryan, Kristie and Vanessa are very excited to give a demonstration. There is a lot of interaction between the SAIT and ITE students. Over the past week ITE student went out of their way to accommodate the SAIT students. It is a very positive experience for everyone.
The afternoon session consist of an Asian dessert presentation by Tan Sie Sie. Singapore offers so many different Asian food varieties from so many different cultures which carry over to the dessert section. At this point we did not have any bad food experience; even the cheapest Asian convenient foods available on every street corner are tasty, flavorful and save to eat.
Laurel and her students are active in the life science department. On today’s agenda, sharing of the applied food and science, biotechnology and chemical technology courses, presented by section head Ms Trionna Yio. The afternoon session includes basic instrumental analysis followed by good manufacturing practice.

Day 9 Saturday
June 13, 2009
We all have our first day off. No report today.

Day 10 Sunday
June 14, 2009
Tan Sie Sie, Instructor at the ITE college brought us to the Chinese garden where we seen a 300 year old bonsai tree. It was a very traditional Chinese park, one of the most quite and relaxing places in a fast paced city. We continued on to Holland village, this part of the city has a real European flair. Holland village offers besides shopping a variety of specialty bakeries, pastry shops, restaurants and delicatessen shops. I found it very difficult to take pictures inside any of these places.
One of the most famous bakeries we visit was the Provence bakery and café. Provence is a unique Japanese style bakery and cafe in Singapore. Every piece of bread in Provence is hand-made from scratch whole-heartedly by Japanese bakers.
Late afternoon we finally hit the beach. We arrived at East point park where Kristin, Steven and Ryan decided to go wind surfing. I must say it was a very entertaining and fun afternoon.