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My First Week in Singapore…
By Micha Raja, Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore My first week in Singapore was crazy, jam-packed, and exciting. I felt so busy everyday even though Uni hadn’t started yet. The first couple of days, I spent settling in, buying house necessities with my flatmates and doing that first big grocery shop. This was really exciting though as it allowed me to explore the area and find out the cheapest stores to shop at. I landed a couple of days before Singapore National Day. As it was their 60th anniversary this year, the celebrations were very big! We headed to Marina Bay Sands and watched the jet show and the fireworks…
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Best Places to Travel from Singapore – My Top Picks from a Year Abroad
Written by Felecia Ogunnuga, National University of Singapore, Singapore As I sit on the plane heading home after a transformative year in Singapore, I’ve been reflecting on the incredible travel experiences that shaped my exchange. While many students chose to travel throughout the semester, I took a slightly different route, saving my big trip for the end of the year. With Singapore’s Changi Airport being the largest and most connected in Southeast Asia, it’s the perfect launchpad for affordable travel across the region. Here are the destinations that stood out most during my time abroad. 1. Tioman Island, Malaysia – Underrated Paradise Tioman Island is one of Southeast Asia’s hidden…
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A Year in Singapore – Discovering Hidden Gems Beyond the Tourist Trails
Written by Felecia Ogunnuga, National University of Singapore, Singapore If you’re heading to Singapore for a student exchange, chances are you’ve already got a list of “must-visit” spots—Gardens by the Bay, Lau Pa Sat, Chinatown, and the Singapore Botanic Gardens. These iconic landmarks absolutely live up to the hype and are well worth exploring. But Singapore is compact, and after ticking off the top attractions, it can feel like you’ve seen it all. That’s why discovering the lesser-known gems can truly enrich your time abroad, especially if you’re here for a semester or a full year. 1. Pulau Ubin – A Slice of the Past Located off Singapore’s northeastern coast,…
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A guide to living in one of the most expensive cities in the world
By Cher Morente, Singapore Management University, Singapore Read for where to eat, have fun and everything else under the sun, coming from a student who made the most of her year abroad in Singapore without breaking the bank! (although I almost did)
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From Strangers to Friends
By Cher Morente, Singapore Management University, Singapore Many travel to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat, infamously known as the real-life Temple Run but, after coming across videos of Koh Rong, I knew I couldn’t skip it. It suddenly became one of my favourite trips ever as the bonds that were enriched over the course of 5 days were irreplaceable.
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Why you should go on a year abroad
By Cher Morente, Singapore Management University, Singapore Debating on whether to study abroad? Here’s why you should, coming from someone who just spent 10 months across the other side of the world and would do it again in a heart beat.
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SMU: A Review
By Courtney Blincow, Singapore Management University, Singapore It’s that time of the year again. All exams are complete and summer is approaching. Usually, this is my favourite time of year; the responsibilities of uni are gone and I can just focus on enjoying my time off. This year is different because, although I have no more academic stresses, I am being hit with the reality that my year abroad is over. SMU has been an amazing and exciting adventure that has consumed my life for the past year and the fact that I now have to say goodbye is crazy. Having spent so much time on campus and with the…
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Reflections on year abroad
By Luna Tejada, National University of Singapore, Singapore As I pack my bags and prepare to leave Singapore, I find myself reflecting on everything this year has meant to me. It’s hard to put into words just how much I’ve gained, academically, personally, and culturally. Studying abroad at NUS challenged me in the best ways. I pushed myself academically, made friends from around the world, and experienced life in one of the most exciting and diverse cities. I learned to navigate unfamiliar systems, manage my own wellbeing, and thrive in a completely new environment. I’ll miss the food (especially kaya toast and hawker centre dinners), the warmth of the people,…
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Challenges Abroad: Adaptation
By Luna Tejada, National University of Singapore, Singapore While my time abroad was filled with amazing experiences, it wasn’t always easy. There were moments that felt challenging, and I think it’s important to share those honestly. The first challenge I faced was homesickness. After the initial excitement wore off, I began to miss my routines, my family, and even Manchester’s grey skies. It wasn’t constant, but it would hit during quiet weekends or when I felt overwhelmed by schoolwork. I found that talking to other exchange students helped a lot, many were going through the same thing, and we supported each other. Another big adjustment was the academic pressure. NUS…
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Exploring Southeast Asia: Travelling during breaks
By Luna Tejada, National University of Singapore, Singapore One of the biggest perks of studying in Singapore is its location, right at the heart of Southeast Asia. I made the most of weekends and semester breaks to travel, and those trips added a whole new layer to my study abroad experience. From Singapore, budget airlines made it surprisingly affordable to explore nearby countries. During my mid-semester break, I visited Vietnam, where I spent a week exploring Ho chi minh, and Ninh Binh. I also travelled to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand — each destination unique in culture, food, and experience. One particularly memorable trip was to Bali. It was a short…
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Student community and getting involved
By Luna Tejada, National University of Singapore, Singapore Before I left for Singapore, one of my biggest worries was whether I’d make friends and feel connected. Thankfully, those fears disappeared quickly after arriving at NUS. The university made it easy to meet people through its international orientation week. From day one, I was grouped with students from all over the world, Germany, the US, South Korea, and many more. We bonded over shared confusion about the campus map and mutual excitement about living abroad. One of my favourite parts of social life in Singapore was the diversity of people I met. Not just international students, but also local students who…
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Living in Singapore: Food, culture and everyday life
By Luna Tejada, National University of Singapore, Singapore Living in Singapore feels like being at the crossroads of the world, a place where cultures blend seamlessly, and every street corner has something new to offer. One of the biggest highlights of everyday life here is, without a doubt, the food. Singapore is a food-lover’s paradise, and I quickly developed a routine of visiting different hawker centres. These open-air food courts are everywhere, and you can get delicious meals for just a few dollars. From laksa to satay to roti prata, every meal was a chance to try something new. The diversity in cuisine mirrors the cultural mix in the country:…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
