A Singapore Semester 1 Summary…

By Micha Raja, Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore

As Semester 1 draws to a close, I find myself full of several emotions – gratitude, excitement and disbelief at how quickly the past 3 months have flown by. I arrived in Singapore 3 months ago, completely alone with not a clue how the year was going to play out. I was nervous arriving, not sure if I would make friends, settle in well or enjoy the new academic culture I was about to take on. Everything felt so unfamiliar and I remember wondering how long it would take before Singapore started to feel like home.

Now I am writing this blog feeling like a completely different person and I can confidently say this experience has been life-changing. The past 3 months have been some of the best months of my life. I have met people from all over the world and made what I know will be lifelong friendships. One of the most exciting parts about studying abroad in Singapore is the opportunity to travel around Southeast Asia. So far I have visited Indonesia twice and Malaysia and I am going to Thailand next week. Each trip has offered a new adventure, culture and memories that I will cherish forever.

What has surprised me most is how quickly I’ve settled into life here. I have enjoyed exploring the culture here and immersing myself in everything the same way the locals do. The safety and vibrancy of the country have made it such a special place to live and study.

Alongside the social aspect of settling in well, I also feel academically I have adjusted to the new teaching techniques very well. Initially the three-hour lectures took a couple of sessions to get used to but now I have grown to enjoy them, especially because they are so interactive and discussion-based. The lectures actively encourage participation, which makes the session engaging and helps them go quicker.

The past month has been especially fun because we have had so much to celebrate including 21st birthdays, Diwali and Halloween. It has brought a sense of comfort knowing that I can celebrate the same things here that I would at home. It’s also been interesting to learn how Singapore celebrate Diwali for example, compared to how I am used to celebrating it in the UK.

Reflecting on my journey so far, I am proud of how much I have grown personally and academically. Moving to Singapore was one of the biggest decisions I have ever made and although I was nervous at first, it has turned out to be the best decision of my life. I can’t wait to see what next semester brings (once I have got through the next month of exam season).