Why did you choose to study abroad in Singapore?
I was drawn to Singapore for its clean, colorful city life, and swayed by the metropolitan island nation’s convenient transportation, with access to beaches, jungles, and quality food at all hours of the day (I’m a big foodie!). I hoped I could truly explore all the city-state had to offer in a single semester, and that a Singaporean would agree that I saw all of Singapore.
In what ways has your study-abroad experience enhanced or supported your McIntire education?
Studying business at NUS has given me my own personal and tangible grasp on what the “global perspective” is. I remember naively asking Professor Peter Maillet for advice on “what to look for while studying abroad.” He urged me to be intentional with noting and respecting cultural differences and also shared a story of how valuable cross-cultural exchanges are in multinational business dealings, where subtle social cues can flare into expensive misunderstandings, especially exacerbated by virtual limitations. I always think about that story when it comes to what I brought from McIntire to Singapore.
Though McIntire’s opportunities for socialization and learning are vast, I realized that I was a bit insular in my approach to them. I haven’t yet interacted with an international student during my time at McIntire, or at least the way I have in Singapore. Being able to learn so much over simple coffee with Vietnamese international students, I’ve realized how many more conversations like this exist within my circles already, and I am excited to find them at McIntire.
Outside of the classroom, what has been the most memorable experience you’ve had?
Nature reserves mandate the highest government regulation out of all land areas. On an eco-restoration tour through Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, my group and I reached the beautiful summit overlooking the Singaporean skyline through the frames of undisturbed trees and wayward greenery. Less than 10 seconds after I had taken a picture, a torrential downpour and a flood-adjacent experience commenced on Bukit Timah Hill, the highest point in Singapore. It was my first time getting caught by the rain and so unexpectedly so. It was epic, surreal, life changing…and decidedly ephemeral as the clouds cleared within 10 minutes, and all that was left were the petrichor, wet shoes, and muddy trails. Also, the mouthwatering sight and smell of the Clementi Hawker Center at 1 p.m. on a Wednesday.
How has studying abroad changed your perspective?
Being in a country as infinitely safe as Singapore has also illuminated what I take for granted as an American: expecting English to be spoken and understood everywhere…and the uninhibited freedom to protest and publicly engage the government. On a hike through Bukit Timah reserve, as our guide talked about the disparity between Singapore’s rainforest being a potentially great carbon sequester and the nation’s infinitesimal ratio of land allocated for wildlife versus housing and development board development, I asked why citizens didn’t protest. The simple question elicited a tacit shrug of the shoulders.
