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As I wrap up my studies and enter in my final exams, I want to start off by saying this semester has been academically challenging in a way I haven’t felt in years. Before I left Singapore, I had to complete one last group presentation for MNO3303. Two of us were under the weather while another had to deal with family emergencies. And yet, the remainder of us managed to come together to pull through for the presentation despite knowing we might not be graded well. This is one thing I’ve noticed about most business students at NUS — teamwork matters & no one wants their personal issues to affect the team as a whole. If someone is missing, it’s up to us to fill in that spot. And that’s reality. But regardless of what happens to our final grade, I couldn’t have asked for a better team.
Same goes for my very talented best friend in Hong Kong, she’s the best person this world has to offer. I hope she knows that her hard work wasn’t in vain — do enjoy the fruits of your labour in your travels throughout Asia :) I’ll be waiting in Taipei. And you’re going to read this from me a few times but I guess what I’m trying to say is thank you. To the people who support me now. To the people who will support me in the future. To the people who I’ve met this semester abroad, who I’ve shared memories with, who I’ve explored with and who I’ve lived with, thank you. You’ve all made me who I am. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Seriously the best few days I’ve had are each time I’m on a trip with or near someone who’s made a difference. Catch up soon! Bangkok, Thailand | April 12 - April 15, 2019 Due to the scorching heat, it was a one-man trip in Bangkok for me. But, in between I caught up with an old, old friend and the first thing she does is splash me with water :) Honestly, I’m proud and sad. Sad that this might be the last time I see her. Proud that everyone is doing bigger, better things. But most of all, it’s the fact that I have those few amazing friends who have always been there for me. Regardless of where I am, wherever they are — I’m home. Whether that be Taiwan, Hawaii, or who knows — I doubt you guys will ever understand how much your encouragement and support means to me, but thank you. sawasdee pee mai! สวัสดีปีใหม่ (happy new years in Thai!) I flew in shortly after Jonathan on Friday which gave me three full days to explore Bangkok. My friend spent most of her time showing me around Chinatown, the Golden Buddha, and the huge water parties down at Silom Road during Songkran (Thai New Years). I actually didn’t realize this trip fell right on the start of the festivities which meant I had to fix my itinerary but you definitely can’t miss out on the water fights so protect your phone, grab a water gun, and get ready to get soaked! Just make sure if you’re at a temple to not throw water at the monks. You can also take part in showering the Buddha with water at the temples as a sign of respect. Also, Thai people might rub a white powder on your face as blessings, just don’t get it in your eyes. For food, we had tom yum and other Thai delicacies while hopping from street cart to street cart down Yaowarat Road :) I spent the rest of Saturday sitting at one of the banks along Chao Phraya River and watched the sun set with her. Tip: Thailand’s exchange rate is +/- the same as Taiwan so $1 USD = 30 something Thai Baht. It was easier for me to just use 100 Thai Baht as a marker ($3 USD) which I always do in Taiwan too. So if anything is over 100 baht, it might not be worth purchasing unless you know you really want it. On Sunday, I used Grab the whole day since Bangkok’s public transportation can get a bit overwhelming especially with the Songkran festivities. First stop was Bangkok’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) where I spent a good 2-3 hours staring at art. Then I took a short detour to Chatuchak Weekend Market for lunch. You’ll find a lot of good deals and coconut ice cream lined up along the market if you need something to cool down. The Siam area is a huge shopping district so if that’s up your alley, go for it! Ended the day hopping on and off the tourist boats down Chao Phraya River. I arrived just in time for sunset at Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn). People say it’s prettier during sunrise, hence its name, but sunset is pretty too :) And you can’t leave Thailand without visiting at least one night market. I ended up at Ratchada Rot Fai Train Night Market for dinner. This market is more known for its seafood which isn’t too expensive, but not when you’re on a budget. The only issue is the huge amount of people so if you hate squeezing through, Chinatown has a lot of good street food too. Monday, I just took it easy and went on a food adventure. A lot of things are closed on Mondays so plan accordingly or schedule your trip to Thailand between Tuesday to Sunday. Songkran festivities go from April 13 to 16, but it’ll usually last a whole week which means all the more fun if you come at this time! Braving the chances of getting soaked again, I had pad thai, thai tea, grilled meat and whatever I could stuff my stomach with before my flight. I squeezed in some last minute shopping along the many souvenir shops of Bangkok’s congested streets. And that wrapped up my first time to Thailand. On a side note, registration for classes back at UH Manoa fall around this time too. If you have any questions, don’t forget to email Rikki or [email protected] for help! Arriving back in Singapore on a late night flight meant waking up at 7:30 am to add my courses right before my final seminar for DSC3203. But, I managed to secure what I needed and am currently studying for my MKT1705X final. This final is comprehensive and comprises of 50% of my final grade, therefore, I’m going to get some extra reading in these next two weeks :) Overall, NUS taught me a lot about myself — more so my weaknesses. Through the high standards that NUS holds itself to, and as a business student at NUS, you’re in for really stressful, but eye-opening experience. For me, I’m very shy and timid which isn’t a good thing when most of your grade has some component of group projects to it. However, with the help of my teammates, I managed to pull through. I know I still have a long way to go before I learn to speak up, but I’m working on it. Now, it’s just the final stretch of exams left and I’ll be spending the rest of my time abroad in Taiwan. All the best to you, now and ever. — Irene side story:
After presentations, Prof Mel shared a couple life lessons with all of us. She reminded us that many of the principles we learned in organizational effectiveness can be applied to our own life. And it’s true. “What is your goals and what do you hope to achieve in life? What makes this life count — well-lived and impactful?” Though it sounds cliche, this is something we really have to figure out while we’re still undergrads. “Design you as your own organization.”
Prof Mel left attitude last as she shared her story of her recovery from being diagnosed with brain tumor. It didn’t matter what she achieved at that point in life or what she had yet to achieve, she’d never be able to enjoy what life had to offer if she wasn’t healthy. It makes you realize that what you’ve done so far doesn’t matter but how you lived your life and whether you left even the slightest of an impact on those around you. It might sound farfetched, but we’ll all eventually pass away someday and it takes courage. Fortunate to recover and be our professor for the semester, Prof Mel started a brain tumor society to raise awareness. She started with only 10 members and it has now grown to 370 members. It never occurred to her that she would be with us today, sharing her story, and supporting those who are walking the path she used to face financially and morally. And that’s the most meaningful thing Prof Mel has done with her life. “Impact others when they most need it, even the smallest action can become the most significant thing you do in your life. What is your value proposition? You are all on the path to gaining an enriching career, but remember to do something meaningful as well.” One last story is about a student at NUS and one of her beneficiaries. This student has been battling brain tumor for the past three years. Despite fighting and battling cancer, Prof shared this student only had a few weeks to live, no more than two months. But this student was so determined that they made the best out of these few years traveling. “This is happening amongst you all, in NUS, and your age too. None of you realized, did you?” Prof Mel’s last story to our MNO3303 class reminds us that we’re all human beings. We’re not invincible but we should always know that there’s more to life than just studying. And I think it’s safe to say that NUS as well as this semester abroad has taught me enough lessons again to last me a lifetime. A first chance could be a last chance so don't let it be a missed chance. Comments are closed.
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Apa Kabar, Ni Hao! My name is Irene Chen. I am currently a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa pursuing a BBA in Accounting & Finance. Join me on this journey through Singapore!
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June 2019
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