One School - Two Campuses - Part II

Some people seem worried about the state that Singapore is in. I must reassure everyone. The jungle has long been in a state of recess.

Facilities in Singapore
Let us get one thing straight. In terms of GDP per capita, Singapore is on the par with France. In terms of growth, Singapore is way ahead of France - which unfortunately with the strike mindset seems to categorically oppose any change.
In terms of technology, Singapore is somewhat more advanced in how pervasive technology is in everyday's life. Obviously Singapore is small (some 4 million people, about 20% of expat...) and it makes implementation a hell of a lot easier.

The MRT is oiled perfectly - and runs just as well as Tokyo's underground system
The roads are NEVER jammed with motionless traffic. Congestion is a word that's banned from the local dictionary
All taxi drivers speak English
Apartments are super modern, include a maid's room (I could barely stand in there), pools, latest amenities, great views, remote controlled air conditioning, cable TV, DSL, wireless, and all the gadgets you can dream of (if you bother to install them).
Banks are direct, online - it takes 7 min to open a bank account or less. Visas are obtained within a day. Air tickets can be booked and issued within 1 hr
Changi airport is amongst the most efficient airports in the world. Your luggage waits for you, not the other way around
Singapore airlines is one of the most comfortable, most entertaining and most profitable long-haul international airline in the world
Singapore food is succulent
Singapore shopping is more accessible to everyone (sales tax is 5% vs over 20% in France) and offers a full range of local and imported product
Singapore has IKEA, Carrefour and Starbucks, just in case you were worried about that

Singapore is the most organized city-country I have ever come across in my entire life.

INSEAD Singapore is pretty much modelled on the city. It's got a bus which takes you to Holland Village (bank, restaurants and shops) and to your student residence. It's got taxis on demand. It's got 24hr access (the Fontainebleau campus does close for a short period of time at night). It's got wireless Internet, it's got TV screens to let you know what's cooking, it's got public PC terminals all over the place, it's got CLOSED meeting room with phone lines for you to access the outside world, it's got free access to local numbers (including cell phones) unlike Fontainebleau. It's got much better Pain aux Chocolat and it is 15 minutes away from downtown Singapore. It's got a library, a print shop, an IT department, a parking lot, an operations department, it runs EMBA classes, exec education and the MBA programme. It's got full time faculty members and switching professors. It's got a cafeteria, two bars and a bookstore, with the usual merchandising - in fairness, the Fonty shop opens longer hours. The Asia one opens only from 10am until 5pm.
It's got an ATM across the road and two food courts across the road (if you dislike Sodexho food)

Housing Situation
INSEAD assists you in finding a house in that they have a listing of agents which you can use. You can also email current students from the previous promotion and arrange for a handover. Most students live in two condominium complexes, about 6 minutes walk away from campus. Heritage (where I live) and Dover. They are next door to each other. It does not matter which one you choose. One is more recent and has better looks (Heritage), sort of Club Med. The other one is older, has a better pool (closer to Olympic style for laps) and larger appartment, with roof gardens. In one case, you walk one extra minute to court but it is closer to food court and local metro station, or the little canal that runs along the metro line.
Both residences have karaoke room, tennis courts, gyms, Movie Theater room and security guards.

Some people choose to live closer to the expact enclave at Holland Village - about 5 minute cab drive (and S$3, or 2 euros...). Some people choose to live elsewhere but they might cut themselves from some of the events, as many BBQs are just improvised.

If people now need more info about the Fontainebleau campus and housing situation, let me know!

More info can be found in early January posts.