#AyushiChowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 17 in Singapore: Step 17 Goodbye Singapore

This is my last week in Singapore… I can not believe this journey. Before I start reflecting on my experience, here is what I did to make the most of my last week in Singapore. I went to Marina bay sands, the barrage, ate canteen waffles, went biking, walked by the gardens, saw sunrise, ate at the Indian stall in Saraca, had an ice coffee, went to Fairprice, had a sleepover with my friends. I also had to unfortunately say bye to all my study abroad friends and Singaporean friends as no one is from the US - we have made a 5 year pact so I hope to see them all in 5 years.  

Without a doubt, this has been one of my most conflicting weeks of my life. It is sad to let go but I would do it all over again and again. 

Now reflecting on my post that I made in Week 1: 

Find a Singaporean Hobby to join

Examples: Running or Badminton

Take a class on what is important to Singapore

Examples: Singapore environment or Singapore history

Try distinct Singaporean foods 

Examples: Singaporean dishes or Malay dishes

Learn local phrases

Examples: Singlish, Tamil, or Chinese

Travel Exploration

Example: Countries around Singapore and Singapore islands

For my goals, I bought a badminton racket and played badminton with my friends. I did take an environmental sociology course. I did try Singaporean, Malay dishes, and so many other dishes. I did improve my Tamil, and I did learn Singlish from my Singaporean friends. I did explore Singapore and its islands. 

This was my first time living away from home and I was able to manage my own finances, cook my own meals, learn to take care of myself, etc. This has pushed me to become more resilient and understand that failure is success and the fastest way to reach a goal is slowly. As I prepare to return home, I am filled with a mix of emotions. I am sad to leave my lifelong friends, my second home, but also excited to see my family, dog, and home friends. It is difficult to navigate because I know that so much of my mind and perspective has changed and now I am returning back to a place which always felt so stagnant. I can not wait to see the new possibilities that will enter in my life. 

Da!

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 16 in Singapore: Step 16 Travel Asia

I had the opportunity to travel to East Java this week with my friends. One of our friends is from Indonesia and we wanted to visit her and her beautiful country. We planned our trip by flying there and back from Jakarta as it is the cheapest option. We went from Jakarta, Yogya, Malang, Bondowoso. We intricately traveled our trip on budget and booked homestays with Indonesian residents. We traveled through east Java by train and were able to see the beautiful rice fields and mountains. 

We visited several locations such as the sultans retreat to learn about the indonesian history and reign of its sultans. We ate food such as Nasi Goreng and Martabak. Many individuals in Indonesia do not speak English so remember to learn Indonesian key phrases beforehand. Also, respect by addressment is a common courtesy in Indonesia so remember certain phrases. For instance, thank you is “makasih”, so when talking informally you could say “makasihiya” or when talking to a much older man you would say “makasih pak” to older woman “makasih boo”. This is part of their culture and creating connections such as these bring a new light of foreigners to their space. We visited several religious homages such as mosques and temples. Indonesia has beautiful mosques and temples, if you would like to visit these places make sure to wear proper clothing that adheres to their culture and take off shoes. Also when visiting certain places, a guide is needed so make sure to book on ethical and small business sites. 

Indonesia was incredibly tiring and beautiful here are some pictures of my travels: 

Asia is absolutely beautiful. Indonesia and Singapore are only a part of beauty and I can not wait to come back when I am older. Each country has its own beauty of people, culture, food and I can not wait to experience more of this!

Makasih,

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 15 in Singapore: Step 15 Finishing Up

We have technically graduated but we still have a few finals to wrap up in and assignments to finish but the packing has begun. For academics, grades come out in late summer time so make sure to send those back to U of M when received. Also, dorms must be cleaned and left spotless or fees will be given to your account so start cleaning and removing items. This is also the time to start selling items that you will not take back such as a fridge (if you have one), any utensils, or dust bin. You can sell it on the whatsapp and telegram group chat for NTU marketplace. You can also sell it on Singaporean selling apps like Carousell. I tried both of these options and was able to sell a few of my items. My advice starts early. As for extra food or cooking items you can leave it in the pantry or if you have Singpaorean friends you can just donate it. If not…bin it. Get ready to understand instructions on your singpass account. If you are leaving before your pass expires then no issues but if you are staying past expiry date you need to cancel your singpass and acquire the 30 day tourist visa which allows you to stay in singapore longer. Additionally, understand the rules about key drop off make sure you drop off your key the day the housing date says so. If you do not do this, you will be charged. Hall office hours are usually up until 5pm but if you would like to drop off your keys later in the night you can have a key box. 

 I hope this information is helpful to you but now this is what I did this week: I finished up my exams and went to Marina Bay sands and the green heart. Marina Bay each month has a new set for the trees. This month was disco month so it was very pretty to see. For Marina Bay Sands as a student you can get a pass to see all the iconic sports for a bundle! I go as much as I can because it is different each month and an incredibly beautiful place to bike. 

This week is also a perfect time to start planning any additional activities or traveling as now studies and revising are over. To get the cheapest transportation, take a bus to Johor Bahru and then a bus to Kuala Lumpur because KL is a bigger airport than Singapore airport and the flight tickets are much cheaper. That is a route if you plan on visiting other countries other than Malaysia. It is also part of Singaporean lifestyle to visit JB, KL, Malacca, and other beautiful places in Malaysia. Remember when traveling, try new things, learn new phrases in different languages, and adapt. This is a way to respect people's culture and country. Try your hardest to stay away from incredibly touristy destinations as in recent years the culture of their people and lands have begun to disintegrate due to over tourism. For instance, places like Bali, Cherry blossom streets in Japan, Maldives, etc. Remember to do your research beforehand and work with ethical touring companies. Most importantly, see the world, try new dishes, speak with locals, and have fun!

Thanks,

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 14 in Singapore: Step 14 Graduation

It is almost time to say goodbye…I really can not believe that it is almost done. It went by so quickly. Nonetheless, NTU set up a goodbye party where you can come in, use the photo booth, get free lunch,get a graduation hat, listen to live music , and etc. The graduation party was in North spine which is one of the most important buildings on campus as it was a supermarket, canteen, classrooms, air conditioned study spots, and most importantly the NTU merch shop. The merch shop has really pretty merch and I highly recommend getting stuff to remember NTU. Also at this point, it seems only proper to get NTU merch as it is very popular on campus :)

Here is us graduating: 

We got to say goodbye to a few people and enjoy the friends that we made during my time here. Meeting people from all over the world, each with their own stories and life experiences. I can not wait to see them for a study abroad reunion (hopefully in the works). 

I also wanted to share this beautiful view from my room. Simply trying to appreciate the view I get from my dorm in the night. I believe Hall 5 is one of the best dorms to stay out. If you are unsure about opting for a double or single room get a double room because those rooms have the best view on Hall 5. Regardless, it is all a luck of draw when applying for housing. You may live off campus but it is incredibly more expensive to do so but you will have much easier access to the city. 

Hall 5 is also very far to the good canteens which may take a 15 to 20 minute walk. Canteen 2 is the closest and quite good. Saraca and Tanjong require a bus unless you prefer to walk under the hot sun. Tanjong hall has badminton courts!! Nonetheless, each hall has its good and bad. One thing I did appreciate for hall culture is the bonding events for halls they have parties, bracelet making, volleyball competitions, etc. This is a completely different school culture from what I have experienced. It was incredibly fun and wholesome so make sure to join the hall groupchat and block groupchat to get updates on the activities. Additionally, each hall should have study rooms no matter what!!

Cheers, 

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 13 in Singapore: Step 13 Exam Week/Prep

This is exam week!! Most courses have final exams, some do not. The courses that do not have final exams have more final projects and presentations. Those courses tend to be business courses. With that said, if you are not a great test taker or would preferably like to just take a course without a final exam then take business courses and look into the syllabus before registering for a course. Nonetheless, this week is exam week!! This means prepping for all the material that is needed to understand the final. Professors are incredibly communicative so reach out if you have questions and approach them in class before class times end. 

Read carefully and make sure to arrive at the location AT LEAST 15 minutes beforehand. This will allow time for preparation of your items in the correct spot and to find your seat. Unlike U of M, NTU creates an exam hall for several courses. For instance, my exam was in a huge hall in the Wave and the time allotted for the exam was three hours. Therefore, NTU will group up other courses that allow the time for two hours. I had individuals from physics, finance, and sociology all in the same room taking an exam. This means there are a lot of seats so you must find yours in time. Additionally, it is a pen only exam so get rid of your number two pencils…

ALSO, though Singapore is hot, their air conditioning is top tier and maybe considered over the top so make sure you grab a sweater or jacket because those three hours can get chilly. 

This is where I took my exam, there were several unfamiliar faces as there are so many courses taking the exam so remember to stay focused, follow the directions on the walls and find your seating as soon as the doors open. Another piece of advice, if you would like to leave the exam hall in the case you have finished your exam…you can only leave before the last 30 minutes. If not they will not let you leave the exam hall as it can get distracting with so many people moving. I think this is a great rule and helps individuals stay focused in the last 30 minutes!

Also side note, this week a lizard snuck into my room!! So make sure to plug up any holes in your room especially under the door frame there is a slight opening which lizards like to sneak in through. THEY ARE HARMLESS but I unfortunately do not like lizards so I was able to create a trap and catch and release it back out safely. This is very common and they usually will leave your room but sometimes they like to stay there longer than needed so you can try to help it out like I did :)

Stay safe, 

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 12 in Singapore: Step 12 Campus Insider

On days when you just don't want to leave campus and want to have a productive/moving day, here are a few activities that are a must!

First I would like to introduce the infamous NTU canteen waffles and ice coffee. Each canteen makes it differently and to each their own. For me, I highly recommend canteen 16, the person that makes my waffle makes it well but it always depends on the time you go because there may be another individual working there. Additionally, the ice coffee is very good and together it's even amazing!! Definitely going to miss it when I come back :(. 

Here is a picture of my delicious meal :) -

Next, waling around campus is beautiful or even doing a run on campus is great. There are several routes you can take. I enjoy the blue route. The blue route is laid out clearly; it is a path with blue all around campus. One thing to look out for is the animals as NTU preaches harmony with nature so must be cautious of the monkeys, mongoose, otters, and snakes. This may sound intimidating but I have only encountered a monkey and it was harmless. Always remember to act slow and cautious and be respectful that's it! Additionally, do NOT go to the Chinese gardens at night because many animals are active there. It is beautiful in the day - must go! The other creature you should look out for are stray cats! They are absolutely cute and some may approach you BUT make sure they approach you first because some are aggressive as they do not trust humans fully. Each hall actually takes care of a cat. It is very cute. They lay out water bowls and food for these cats and are very well taken care of.  Here is beautiful cat that I met near Tanjong halls: 

Another activity you could do is go to the gym: there are several gyms on campus, There is one near Tanjong, hall 1, Saraca(Tamarind) and there is also the Wave which is a multifunctional gym. Unfortunately, only club members can use those gyms but the track,soccer fields,and basketball/volleyball courts are open to the public. Additionally, if you would like to join a sports club team you can but must be heavily dedicated! Dedication is a key value to have when joining these teams, absences are not a possibility. If you would like to play rugby is a great club team to join. It's quite fun

Lastly, if you would like to go shopping or groceries you can cross the bridge near hall 4 and 5 and go shopping near the area. They have markets and small shops. The place I liketo go is FairPrice in Boon lay interchange. This is where I get my groceries. It is incredibly popular so make sure not to go on the weekends as it is incredibly hectic but late night or early morning weekdays is a great time to go. I go late at night and then grab a bike with basket and bike back.

Enjoy, 

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 11 in Singapore: Step 11 Events and Concerts

There are many concerts in Singapore. Several famous artists came to Singapore and in my semester artists like Brent Faiyaz, IU, and Bruno Mars came to Singapore. I got the opportunity to go to a Bruno Mars Concert. It was absolutely amazing! 

The concert was held in the Singapore National Stadium which is quite far from campus. It is around a 45 min to 1 hour commute so plan ahead if you would like to go there early! The National Stadium is huge and holds an important note not just as a concert venue but is a multifunctional space that is used for sports, ceremonies, celebrations and community events. The stadium embodies national pride and contributes to the social, cultural, and economic fabrics of Singapore. 

There are other big events Singapore holds such as the international Rugby games which are in late may or even the Formula 1 Singapore which is usually around September or october. If you are a huge formula 1 fan and would like to experience it in Singapore then you should choose to study abroad in your first semester not second. Regardless, if you would like to immerse yourself into certain events make sure to plan ahead and apply on time so that you can do in your desired semester. 

Here are some pictures of the concert: 

After the concert, it is always a great option to eat food with friends. More specifically, go to a hot pot or barbecue place which is usually open until 2-3am (make sure to make a reservation it is incredibly popular). For those of you that do not know what hot pot is, it is a fusion that comes from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean flavors.  It is basically a soup that is placed in the middle and continues boiling and then you order side dishes and you are able to dip and cook the side dishes within the liquid. It is very good and the pricing is quite reasonable. The pricing is set meal pricing. The location we went to is called Haidilao in Boon Lay Interchange.  More importantly, it is incredibly filling!

After that, since it was already past 12 we were unable to take the bus or train so since we were too tired we chose to take a gojek (like uber) back and it was around 3 SGD per person. It is possible to bike back to campus which would be around 20 minutes. 

Paalam, 

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 10 in Singapore: Step 10 Group Work

This week I had a lot of group work to do. In contrast to my studies at U of M, NTU really enjoys their group work and projects. Collaborating in classrooms is a huge part of the curriculum especially in humanities courses. My favorite courses that I took were my sociology classes. The professors were incredibly enthusiastic and passionate about their work and their students. The courses were “Global cities and Globalization” and “Environmental sociology”. I highly recommend these courses and are very niche to NTU. For these courses, I had to do group essays which can be difficult as everyone has different writing styles etc but it is a great way to meet locals!

I was able to meet some of my Singaporean friends through group work. My Singaporean friends and I would hangout by either heading to fresh markets, FairPrice, Biking, Little India, Chinatown, Haji lane, Marina Bay Sands. These are great places to spend time and understand Singaporean culture and view the strong multiculturalism within Singapore and the dynamic of modernity and nature. Not to mention, the food in all of these places are amazing! If you are not vegetarian, you must try chicken and rice (halal options available) and satay. One of my favorite places to eat is Haji Lane. This week my friends and I went to Haji lane to grab some falafels!

Another activity I love to do is biking. I was never very fond of biking before Singapore as I lived in the suburbs and there was not a lot of access to bike paths but Singapore does a great job of providing bike paths. It is absolutely beautiful biking during sunset. My favorite spot to bike is quite close to campus. It is called Jurong Lake gardens. You would leave campus taking the 179 or 199 bus and then head to pioneer train station or boon lay train station and then get off at lakeside gardens. Walk 2 minutes into the garden and the entrance side should have a bike park area where you can grab an Anywheel bike. Here are some pictures of biking at Jurong Lake Gardens. 

 

After biking, I came back to my dorm and went down to the basement to get cold water. My block of the coldest water is the big dispenser in the basement which can be inconvenient so make sure to get a big water jug so that you do not have to keep climbing down the stairs (girls take the top two floors for housing). Additionally, if you would like to have a refrigerator (for possible ice cubes or other foods), you must declare the fridge and must pay a fee of 80 SGD. This helps cold drinks on a hot day or just cold water whenever you need it! I personally did cook a lot so I had a fridge. Nonetheless, here is a beautiful view of my dorm as I come up from the basement.

Have a great day!

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 9 in Singapore: Step 9 Early Morning Week

This week I spent my time waking up early watching the sunrises, visiting parks, exploring campus and keeping myself safe from the random thunderstorms. Singapore is obviously a tropical climate and holds high humidity and an average temperature of 30 degrees celsius (86F). Therefore the intense heat causes rapid evaporation which leads to intense and sporadic thunderstorms and lightning. The rain brings in a cool gust of wind and air so here is me sitting on my room ledge with the windows open rather than using the air conditioner…

Singapore also has very beautiful sunrises which all should be seen from the east side of the island but here is the sunrise as I catch the train early in the morning. The train system in Singapore stops running around 12PM and starts back up around 5:30AM and this also applies to buses as well. With that said, when staying out late make sure to go with a big group or not too far because then you can split a grab/gojek bill (car service like Uber) which can be expensive or you can bike back with an app download of Anywheel. Anywheel is a bike service that has several locations all over Singapore and it is 2 SGD per hour.

On NTU campus specifically, I enjoy exploring our beautiful campus and taking the AIR CONDITIONED buses. To understand the bus routes on campus download NTU omnibus. It will tell you every bus and its real-time updates. This is incredibly useful especially for the red and blue buses as well as the 179 and 199 buses which take you out of the campus towards the city.

Singapore has several parks. These parks are perfect for movement and time outside. I went to one of the Mangrove forests. This is highly protected areas as visitors must stay on designated paths, no littering, and keep noise to minimum to avoid disturbing the wildlife. Its quite beautiful as Singapore supports the movement of living in harmony with nature and educating the public rather than building fear. They promote care for sustainability and creates natural barriers for its coastal regions. 

போயிட்டு வரேன்,

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 8 in Singapore: Step 8 Enjoy Recess Week (Spring Break)

This week is recess week which is just 1 week long just like spring break. This was a great time spending time and planning with my friends to travel and experience different parts of Asia. We as a group agreed to explore the rich cultures, and vibrant cities of China and Korea this week. More specifically, we explored the cities - Shenzhen, Guangzhou, followed by exploring the several districts within Seoul. 

Above is a nighttime picture of me in front of Shenzhen's beautiful highrise skyline.

After our layover in China, we went to Korea. We visited several places but the National Museum had such rich history and taught me a part of history I was never taught. It was interesting to see the elegance and refinement of Korean paintings and calligraphy. We saw several art pieces that depicted traditions, landscapes, buddhism, historical events, and even daily life. 

Another beautiful spot was Namsan tower. The view over the city is breathtaking. Though it is quite a hike up it was beautiful!! There are several transport options if you do not desire to walk such as cable car and buses which cost money. Lastly, the seven-eleven stores in Korea have everything!

Here is a picture of the walk down and city lights in front. 

감사합니다/谢谢

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 7 in Singapore: Step 7 Prepare for Midterms/Project Proposals

This week is the week before recess week (spring break). I only had 1 exam for my business course which was given in essay format. I also had to present my project proposals for 3 of my classes. Though this topic may not be the most interesting post, I will break down what I did in order to prepare for my exam. 

For the beginning of the week, Monday (I do not have class) so I spent my day visiting the buddha tooth relic temple. I got there with 1 hour public transportation to visit this cultural landmark. It is a sacred architectural sanctuary that is a testament to the legacy of Buddhism in Singapore. The temple embodies the admist hustle of modern day Singapore while remidnignindividueas to seek solace and tranquiility within their lives. 

****SIDE NOTE: Make sure your clothing is below knee length, chest and arms are covered. If not they will provide public use clothes before entering the temple. 

Here are some pictures:

My exam was on Thursday, so I spent Tuesday and Wednesday preparing. The exam style was an essay so I spent time understanding concepts and application. Usually, they always give practice exams which are quite similar to the exam format. The exam is taken in a huge auditorium with every section and is grouped up by your tutorial section. 

I thought I did well on my exam. One piece of advice is to carry around your laptop charger and converter ALWAYS because your laptop may lose more energy when in a lockdown browser. My project proposals also went well as they were approved. This was a different experience for me as I never needed to have a 1 on 1 group conversation with the professor to approve a project but it was incredibly helpful.

Next, I treated myself to some desert because I just took an exam. I highly recommend everyone to try Bingsu. It's very shiok!!

To end off the week and this post, I want to emphasize the importance of calling family either every day or at least every week so that they can see this wonderful part of your life. For me, I try to call every day so that I can see hi my dog. Regardless if you have a dog or not make sure to call home!

Next week is recess week so my friends and I planned to go to China and Korea. See you in next week's post. 

Have a great week!

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 6 in Singapore: Step 6 Appreciate the wonders of Singapore

Before we start this week's blog content, I would like to share with you a very tasty breakfast that I had this week. It is called Kaya toast. It is around 4 SGD for toast, two soft boiled eggs and iced coffee.

This week's content is about Marina Bay Sands. One of the must-visit destination spots for anyone visiting or studying in Singapore. Marina Bay Sands is a great location to see anything. Activities range from light shows to hiking, food streets, casinos, museums, etc. My favorite part of this area was the cloud forest. The cloud forest is breathtaking and shows how Singapore was able to incorporate a verdant oasis within its bustling urban landscape. The cloud forest highlights the need to protect and preserve so many vital natural resources for future generations. I also really enjoyed the Super Trees which lit up at night and each tree is equipped with photovoltaic systems that harness solar energy to power the lighting and irrigation systems of the gardens. Here are a few pictures: 

Another iconic spot is the Marina Bay Sands building which is supported by 3 skyscrapers and does wonderful light shows. You walk along the river to see Singapore's iconic skyline.

****SIDE NOTE: Marina Bay Sands is around 1 hour of public transport away from campus so it is important to plan ahead especially if you go in the night since public transport closes around 12. 

There are so many other beautiful places in Singapore but Marina Bay really captivates how far Singapore has come in a short period and their tenacity to keep growing technologically, culturally, and sustainably! 

Thanks for keeping up with me,

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 5 in Singapore: Step 5 Keep Up with School

Around week 5, the Professor will start deep diving into projects and group work. It is important to be attentive and available to your groupmates. One big difference I have noticed from school at U of M and school at NTU. Group work is integrated throughout every class and it is throughout the entire semester. This is great because I am able to meet local students who are all incredibly lovely people! They even show me which snacks are their favorites and which ones I should avoid. Here is a SMALL list of the snacks to get here: 

As for drinks, Ribena and Milo are all time favorites here and they are definitely worth a try! 

Now back to school, to keep up with work, I try to do my best to communicate consistently with my groupmates and spend time getting to know each other first. Doing this allowed me to understand their local lifestyle and what we can do as a team to accommodate each other's needs. 

***SIDE NOTE: if anyone plans on studying abroad here, I highly recommend taking a sociology class here. It is incredibly interesting and my professors are so invested in their research and students. 🙂

It is an incredibly serene studying space and allows for me to focus well. 

To take breaks throughout the day, I usually go on walks, especially during the night which is very pretty (Singapore and Campus are incredibly safe and there are lights everywhere). Here are a few pictures of my breaks: 

Thanks for keeping up with me! 

Se la mat Jalan, 

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 4 in Singapore: Step 4 Making the Most of E-learning

This week was E-learning week which means that all classes will be handled online. NTU does this for students to give them a mental health week. I think this was amazing after the rush of information and adjustments in the first 3 weeks! It was also interesting to see how Singapore sets up its online learning compared to how it was for me in 2020. One thing I really enjoyed about their style of online learning is how interactive it was. For instance, I would watch 2-3 minute videos of my professor explaining a concept and then there would be a mini quiz with hints and explanations provided which really helped me learn the concept well (there were multiple tries so no harsh pressure to cram the knowledge into your head).

The weekend before e-learning week was Chinese New Year so the festivities carried over. Due to this, my friends and I wanted to spend part of the week in Malaysia and Vietnam. On Chinese New Year's Day we went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We spent the day going to Murugan Temple and Thean Hou Temple. We were able to see the excitement of all Malaysians as it was Chinese New Year's Day. 

For Chinese New Year, they even changed the colours of the Petronas towers from silver to red and yellow. They had several decorations around the Petronas towers as well. It was extremely beautiful! Here is a picture of our view:

In Vietnam we were able to take our classes online while still being able to experience the culture and city of Hanoi. We were able to visit several temples and see the rituals taking place during this festive time of the month. We were also able to see the breathtaking beautiful rice field paddies and the bay of the descending dragon. One thing I learned from both of these places is the knowledge that they have to offer. Simply talking to a few of locals in Malaysia and Vietnam provided a completely different understanding of their culture and perception on the world. With that said, I will 100% be returning to these places when I get older. Here are a few pictures of my experiences: 

4 weeks in and I already feel sad about leaving my friends and east asia. So beautiful! (I think I may have overused the word beautiful but I mean it!!!!)

Take care, 

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 3 in Singapore: Step 3 Bonding with Exchange Students

There are a lot of activities to do on campus! There are even hall bonding events which can be dances, playing volleyball, game nights, etc. NTU is farther out compared to the heart of Singapore where there is more of a lively atmosphere. There are several famous hawker centers, and places like little India and Chinatown where we all met to meet one another. Here is a hawker center called Lau Pa Sat! It is very good and has several cuisines and options for even vegetarian, vegan, and halal foods.

***Side note: In all honesty, it can be hard to find purely vegetarian food on campus canteens but canteen 2 and Saraca have a few good stalls. The rest of Singapore accommodates well to vegetarians! 

Lau Pa Sat: 

Other activities outside of school that I participated in are going to Universal with a few of my friends! It is important to head there early in the morning to make the best out of your day! Additionally, as a student make sure to book tickets 2 days in advance because you get a student discount online. In person tickets are a standard fee for everyone. Universal Studios is on Sentosa Island. To get there you can call a grab (like Uber) and it's best to split it with friends because it can be expensive or you can take an hour train to the island or take a bus and a train to the bridge which you can walk across to the island. All of these options are relatively cheap and around the same pricing (BTW there is an entrance fee to sentosa island but it depends on your mode of transportation). 

Going to Universal studios in the first few weeks, while meeting people, was a great choice and bonding experience. We all got to release our inner child, go on rides, eat food, and walk around the different worlds.

*****PRO TIP: always bring a poncho as it can unexpectedly rain!!

These are just a few activities to enjoy with friends in Singapore! It was absolutely amazing and I highly recommend it! Stay tuned for next week's blog.

Chao ah, 

Ayushi Chowdhury

[umichenginabroad]

Week 2 in Singapore: Step 2 Exploring One of the Most Beautiful Campus in the World

2 weeks in and I absolutely love the environment! Singapore is overall beautiful but Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is considered part of the top 10 most beautiful universities in the world. NTU highlights an eco-friendly, modern architecture design with lush greenery. On my way to class I get to walk through the Yunnan Garden and I get to have this view:

Classes began January 15th but students have two weeks to finalize their courses which is considered the add/drop period. This is a very intense time…BUT I SPENT QUITE AMOUNT OF TIME FINDING COURSES THAT REALLY INTERESTED ME and I was able to get the schedule that I wanted as well as learn about interesting topics! So far, I would say all the teachers are very enthusiastic! 

Here is what a very general day in my school day could look like: 

Wake up and head to class

Walk by these beautiful buildings and get to my class in the "Hive" building (last pic):

Walk by another beautiful building to go to a nearby  canteen get lunch (3-6SGD per meal)

(this is the over head view of the pic above...students can climb up as you can see on the stairs)

^^My delicious food that I got for around 4USD.

Head to meet up with some friends to play badminton (got the racket for 7SGD)

This is what my day can look like for a school day. Next week I will show what a day can look like for a non-school day.

See you all next week,

Ayushi Chowdhury