Post Reflection: See you later, Singapore!
Looking back on the past few months, I have a lot to say about this journey. As a kid, traveling to or studying in Singapore has always been my goal, and I am fortunate enough to cross it off my bucket list through the study abroad program.
The environment of NTU was nothing close to what I imagined in the first place. Located on the west side of Singapore, the campus and nearby areas look pretty different from the city area. It could be inconvenient and energy-consuming many times while trying to move around from such an isolated place; however, staying on campus, I had a chance to expose myself to nature, to be surrounded by a variety of wildlife and learn to conquer up and down hills on my way to class each day. Academics-wise, core courses I took were super challenging to me but added value to my knowledge in the STEM field, which matches one of my goals of studying here. I also experienced being graded against my peers in a true bell-curved manner: it did stress me out as I was unfamiliar with the grading system and the structure of classes, but I also realized that reaching out for help is highly important, especially being alone in a new place.
(One last view of the NTU campus - Thai Dynasty had just opened right before I left, didn't get to try it)
My exchange experience has become more interesting as I look at Singapore as a person born and raised in Taiwan, and as a college student studying in the US. Frankly, the US is still new to me given that I have been living there for only a year and a half thus far, and therefore I found myself frequently comparing things in Singapore to those in Taiwan. The similarities are salient in both Asian countries in terms of languages, food and the public transportation system. However in Singapore, things are obviously pricey, but still quite affordable compared to prices in the US (depending on the situations, cost of living could be even higher than in Ann Arbor).
Interacting with people from various cultural backgrounds was the most thrilling part. Living in a huge cultural melting pot where people are authentic to their own culture while showing inclusivity to each other, I was exposed to several languages with different accents in daily life, which added a level of difficulty both in academic settings and daily conversations. Languages and linguistics have been one of my greatest passions, and I was amazed by how languages have evolved based on regions (for example, Singlish!), and how different it could be in terms of the ways people express themselves despite talking in the same language (another example, when Asians and Europeans who are both non-native English speakers communicate in English). I also got to pick up a few phrases in Southeast Asian languages both from the locals and through travelling. These are things I believe I would only get to observe, experience and learn in the local cultural context.
(Singapore City Center View!)
The whole journey was full of surprise, chaos and challenges. My experience abroad both as an exchange and international student has taught me that a long-term stay away from your hometown is nothing the same as going on vacation for just a couple days, or even a few weeks. The workload of academics as well as the efforts and time it takes to adapt to a different cultural environment are always beyond expectations. My favorite part of the semester was people — my professors, and my friends I met in the hall, in class and in student clubs. By bonding with them, I truly felt like I have built a strong support system who would offer me a hand whenever I was lost or struggling. The kindness and tolerance they showed me have also reminded me that there is a broader community out there in the world, and that it is crucial to stay respectful, curious and open-minded at all times.
I would not describe my semester-exchange as “fun” or “one of the best decisions I’ve made so far.” In fact, it felt like I reached a goal I had set for a long while rather than making a decision to come here. However, the memories shared with a group of new people and takeaways from the experience have made my time here really rewarding, and I am truly grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity. Just a few days away from my second journey where I will be conducting research at National University of Singapore, I am excited to gain hands-on experience in engineering, explore more places I didn’t get to pay a visit yet, and keep putting myself out there in the unexpected to grow.
Goodbye Singapore, and see you again very soon!
Angela Chang
Biomedical Engineering
IPE Nanyang Technological University in Singapore