Singapore

At the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, I’d met a Singaporean player named Kuhan. When I first met him, he wasn’t exactly known for his tennis. In fact, before arriving at the academy, Kuhan had never even played the sport. His parents had sent him there hoping he’d lose some weight. But what Kuhan lacked in tennis ability, he more than made up for with confidence and an incredible sense of humor. We became close friends, and during my gap year, when I told him I was coming to Singapore to cover the WTA Finals for a tennis magazine, he immediately invited me to stay with his family.

Kuhan happened to be out of town, but his parents and his brother, Lax, welcomed me as if I’d known them for years. His family showed me a side of Singapore I never would have experienced on my own. Lax took me to rooftop bars overlooking the skyline, while his mother introduced me to the local neighborhoods where Chinese, Malay, and Indian cultures blend together.

I’ve returned to Singapore several times since. Kuhan has stayed with me in San Diego, and we’ve traveled together in different parts of the world. Our friendship has been a reminder that when you’re open to meeting new people, you never know who will become such an important part of your life.