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March is where the assignments start intensifying and after midterm week, finals is just right around the corner. Studying for exams has always been my weak point and for MNO3303 Organizational Effectiveness, it was no exception. If you’re not used to intense pressure, imagine studying an entire textbook for a 30 minute, 32 question exam. At NUS, the professors will only tell you which chapters are tested and it is your responsibility to be well prepared on every single topic you can think of. My classmates have told me that past professors used to weigh the exam at 35% of our grade which is high; however, this is because there is no final for MNO3303 which is understandable. Although the exam currently weighs 20% of our grade, it is still a lot and every mark counts. One thing that stuck with me while I was studying would be the words that Mr. Koh left when my group interviewed him about Project Dignity during recess week: “Every person can succeed, but there will always be factors that challenge us. Every single one of you now are the future leaders of tomorrow. There will always be someone who can do what I am doing now better than I. That person may be you one day, so focus in school because what you invest in is who you are eventually bound to become.” Project Dignity is a project that consists of training programs, culinary classes, hawker centers, bookstores, and many more. What sets this project apart from others is how Mr. Koh gives those with disabilities a chance. Rather than view them as someone with disabilities, he sees someone with the ability to change their life. It is the first project of its kind in Singapore, and Mr. Koh shared that there are many hurdles to overcome since he launched the idea in 2006. In the near future, he is thinking of expanding to Hong Kong and spread the value of dignity around the world. Note: the food at Dignity Kitchen is really good! If you ever want claypot rice or rojak (a type of Indian salad) & want to contribute, Dignity Kitchen in Serangoon is the place to go :) Aside from studying, the next few weeks are also jammed with group projects as the semester is coming to an end in about a month half. One thing that sets group projects at NUS apart from back home is how much depth and knowledge you gain from the readings that bring these projects to life. The local students are very school-oriented, therefore, it is my responsibility regardless of whether I am an exchange student to help out my peers as much as possible. On a lighter note, with one exam out of the way, it’s time to explore! Seoul, South Korea | March 9 - March 10, 2019 I planned for South Korea about three weeks ago before I decided I’d take a trip to Hong Kong for recess week. As there are barely any flights that fly out of Singapore to South Korea, my only choice was Korean Air. For an all service and more than six-hour flight, the prices were not too bad (around $500 to $550). Scoot does have an flight to Incheon International Airport; however, there are limited timings if you plan on flying out over the weekend. Also, flying on Scoot is more expensive than Korean Air after you add in baggage and seating options. I have provided a tips/places to visit list under the “Trips” tab for any reference you may need. This trip completed my journey of being able to walk through all four terminals at Changi Airport. Before studying at NUS, I’ve always heard good things about the services that Changi had to offer. I’d say that by far, I would love to depart from Terminal Four if I had a choice. This terminal is much newer compared to the other three terminals and due to its distance, only houses a few airlines. Instead of the usual security check right before departing, you go through security right after going through immigration. With only less than 48 hours to spare in Seoul, it was really difficult to hit popular tourist places. This didn’t stop me from going to a few spots such as Buckhon Hanok Village, Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insadong, Itaewon (Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art), and Dongdaemun. Upon arriving, I took a short detour to Hanuel (Sky) Park right across from the World Stadium Station. You can either pay 3,000 won and take a round trip trolley up to the park or follow an uphill path (291 stairs). This park is lesser known and it’s not a common place that tourists frequent. I wanted to get an aerial view of Seoul as well as the Han River and was in luck that they did not get rid of the whole silver grass field just yet. In all four directions, you can see Namsan Tower past the Han River and more. Later, I met up with Anna Chen, a fellow Freeman Scholar, at Myeongdong for quick snacks. Known for its endless streets of food, I found a stall that sold delicious Korean pancakes! The area is also full of shops, but Hongdae would be the ideal shopping district if that’s up your alley. Afterwards, we walked to Insadong to explore the area before arriving at Dongdaemun Design Plaza right before sunset. Myeongdong, Insadong, and Dongdaemun are easily walkable on foot (about 20-30 minutes each direction). DDP is also designed by Zaha Hadid who designed the Jockey Club Innovation Tower in Hong Kong. With that in mind, you can expect the inside of the plaza to be filled with quirky designs. To end the day, we walked to Gwangjang Market (winding street full of delicious street food) for dinner then back to Myeongdong for Sulbing (a Korean dessert cafe that sells bingsu or snow ice). The next day, I woke up bright and early to get to Bongeunsa Temple where I was able to watch Koreans pay their respects or practice their daily rituals. In one corner of the temple, stood a fully bloomed dark plum cherry blossom tree. There were many professional photographers surrounding the tree trying to get the first picture of spring. I ended up at Bukchon Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung Palace where people were walking around in hanboks. Unfortunately, I was not able to arrive in time for the changing of the guards; however, I had one of the best hotteok (Korean sweet pancakes, but with vegetable fillings) nearby :) Leeum - Samsung Museum of Art is separated into two museums: Historical and Modern. Photography is not allowed within the museum so please don't break the rules. The only areas that visitors could take pictures at where the artworks on public display. This included a floating staircase as well as gravity stairs. For a few minutes, I had this place to myself. Being in Seoul for the first time was quite overwhelming, so whenever I had the opportunity to sit or stand in peace, I made sure to take it. I went back to Dongdaemun Design Plaza later to snap a few pictures of the rose garden and admire the quirky design that Zaha Hadid seems to embed into the buildings she designed. I ended the day at Hongdae to get some shopping in and get a quick bite of Korean barbecue before I left. As the sun began to set, it was also time for me to leave.
The week before and after recess week is always tough. At NUS, everyone is trying to beat the bell curve which means that it is even more important for exchange students to receive as many marks as possible. With no classes after DSC3203 on Tuesday, I took a short break from studying and strolled through Marina Bay. Hong Kong | February 23 - February 28, 2019 Hong Kong is one of those trips I took on a whim. With a last minute change in my schedule, no real plans again, and my camera in my hand, I hopped on the earliest flight I could. After settling in to a backpacker hostel in Tsim Sha Tsui, it was time to eat! Anna Chen, a fellow Freeman Scholar studying at the University of Hong Kong, was kind enough to set aside time to take me to Mak Man Kee Noodle Shop near Jordan Station. Famous for their wontons, it was just what I needed after a week of consultations and midterm papers. Nearby was Yee Shun Milk Company which served the best steamed milk I’ve had :) Since I arrived right around monsoon season, it was raining a lot so it’s best to bring an umbrella during February-March. The next day, I woke up bright and early to go to a list of places that Anna helped me compile. Hong Kong consists of not just one but several islands. Thus, transportation can be expensive without proper planning (especially taking the MTR across the islands from Kowloon/New Territories to Hong Kong Island). I bought a Airport Express Pass (one ride from airport + 72 hours of unlimited rides, 250 HKD or $30) and an additional 24-hour tourist pass (65 HKD or $8). This allowed me to run around Hong Kong with unlimited rides for five days and was a much cheaper option than purchasing an on-loan Octopus Card for 150 HKD that required topping up. Since the Airport Express Pass is an Octopus Card itself, I actually managed to only have to top it up with 100 HKD on my way back from Kowloon to the airport. Note:
I started out Hong Kong by tackling places near Tsim Sha Tsui. I went to Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Jockey Club Innovation Tower in Hong Hom which is known for its quirky architecture by Zaha Hadid. As I walked back to TST towards Victoria Harbour, the sun came out for a brief moment giving a clear view of Hong Kong island’s beautiful skyline. Just a 20 minute walk or a MTR ride to Austin Station was Xiqu Centre. Also known for its architecture, the inside of the Cantonese Opera/Chinese traditional theatre resembled an egg. Later in the afternoon, I met up with Anna at Choi Hung Estates where we eventually went to Lok Wha South Estate which are perfect places for photography. We ended the day at another famous wonton place and made it back to Central Harbourfront Event Space in time for the last day of the Hong Kong Pulse Light Festival. On Monday, I went to several other hidden places in the New Territories which are also great backdrops for photographers. As I hopped onto the blue East Rail line to make it back to TST so I could explore Hong Kong island, I felt as if I was secretly in Taiwan. Without barricades and open stations, there was barely a difference between the MTR stations in Hong Kong and the train stations in Taiwan. On the way, I made a pit stop in Sham Shui Po to eat in Hong Kong's iconic dai pai dongs. Dai pai dongs are essentially open-aired, cooked food stalls found in wet markets around the city. It's quintessentially Hong Kong consisting of the cheapest eats you could possibly find. I visited the Montane Mansion (Transformers Place) in Quarry Bay. Along the way back to the station, I was intrigued by all the trams and taxis that zoomed past me so I climbed up to a an overpass to get a better view. Since the weather wasn’t really good the days I arrived, I decided to make it to Kennedy Town before sunset. There is a swimming shed in the area which is about a 20 minute walk uphill. Hidden midway up the hill and a few flights of stairs, the spot is really nice if it’s not raining. Near KTown is HKU or the University of Hong Kong. Down the street from the station is what’s commonly known as Instagram Pier. You’ll either see people taking pictures or exercising along the pier. After meeting up with Anna for clay pot rice which is a perfect meal for the cold Hong Kong weather, I ended the day on a night cruise around Nathan Road from Mong Kok back to TST for night photos. The roads of Hong Kong used to be brightly lit with neon signs which is what most people think of when it comes to Hong Kong. Unfortunately, neon lights damage our environment and the government has pushed for an effort to change most neon lights to LED instead. Note/Tips:
Hong Kong Island isn’t small, but it’s easily walkable by foot from one end of the MTR Island Line to the other. I returned to Hong Kong Island to tick off the remaining places that consisted of Sheung Wan to Tin Hau. It’s not a trip to Hong Kong without having some dim sum so I met up with Anna at Lin Heung Tea House. Afterwards, I made my way to Sister Wah in Tin Hau for some famous beef brisket noodles. Causeway Bay is a huge shopping district but it is where the Olympic Bridge is located. Etched into the steps are all the years and locations the Olympics took place at. Next stop is Wanchai. It’s an area known for arts and temples as well as its neon-lit streets (it's where you'll find the Blue House, a significant landmark & one of the remaining few tong lau or a style of residential building notable for balconies). Wednesday was my last full day in Hong Kong. The weather was exceptionally nice so I took a stroll in the far areas of the New Territories. I eventually made my way back to Hong Kong Island and took a tour of HKU. In-between, I went to cha chaan tengs for a quick Hong Kong style breakfast/lunch. I ended the day watching the sunset at PCWA (Western District Public Cargo Working Area). With an upcoming midterm and many group projects in March, it was time to return back to NUS.
I came to Singapore with only one thing in mind: focus on what matters most - whether that is finding inspiration, spending time with family & friends, or learning to understand the preciousness of life - I knew this would be the perfect time to do it. Three weeks into the semester, I realized that I desperately needed to switch up my day-to-day lifestyle of working and studying to aimlessly wandering around and seeing all that I can see. And so I booked a ticket to go back to Taiwan for Chinese New Year's.
From observing and learning the history of Singapore through various artwork, we were both left in awe. Singapore was not always the peaceful concrete jungle it is today, there were eras in its time where the island-country faced endless chaos. Aside from the historic pieces that laid in the old Supreme Court Wing, there were modern art pieces too. The most eye-catching one was the Minimalism: Space. Light. Object. exhibit which showcased the ideas of presence and absence.
The next day was New Year's Day. I followed my grandparents and cousin around to various temples in Taipei to continue paying our respects. The temples were packed with families big and small hoping to start the new year fresh. In Taiwan, after you eat dinner - there is always room for light snacks so I headed to Raohe Street Night Market. It is normally a 10 minute walk to reach the other side of the street; however, since it was New Year's, police had to standby to direct foot traffic. My go-to snacks are always popcorn chicken, braised pork on rice, black pepper buns, Chinese four herbs soup, fried donuts, passion fruit juice with basil seeds, tofu beancurd, and a good ol' bubble milk tea! At the entrance of the night market is another temple (for me, it is customary to pray in front of the temple if I pass by one). Taipei 101 is a must-see during New Year's Day at night because there is always neat pictures on its LED screen :) This year, a popular light display from Japan called "Luminaire" was showcased near the Taipei City Hall for the first time over the Lunar New Year holidays. First showcased in Kobe, Japan after the Hanshin Earthquake of January, 1995 - the light display is meant to inspire a sense of hope and a work of progress.
Week five is where professors begin to add on assignments and study guides for midterm exams. For my marketing course, my tutorial teacher assigned us a group project as well as an individual assignment that focused on the recent popularity of Korean pop culture. We are asked to create SWOT analysis and marketing recommendations based on how the Korean brand (Hyundai) affects the market in Singapore. For my service operations management course, my group is deciding on targeting the hotel industry and where technology fits into the service sector for this industry. The main objective is to provide our classmates with new theories that could potentially bring a new wave of ideas on how to better serve customers through what they experience. For my organizational design course, my group had the opportunity to set up an interview with the founder of Project Dignity during study week. This is a project that allows local Singaporeans to view those with disabilities by their abilities. Under the project, there is Dignity Kitchen, Dignity Mama, and Dignity Learn.
In about a week, it will be recess week here which is synonymous for study week. For most exchange students, they'll be going to other countries around Asia. Due to time constraints, make-up classes, and midterms the following week after our break, I will not have the leisure to leave Singapore, but I wholeheartedly believe that I'll find something special to do. Regardless of where I am, traveling to a nearby place for even an hour has the ability to change you as a person. There will certainly be times where I wished I was exploring somewhere new and times when I'm forced to face situations out of my comfort zone. Yet, these moments will teach me about myself - especially the places I still have not visited in Singapore.
2-3 weeks of school flew by just like that - with many new stories to tell :) As I currently sit at a little coffee shop in Holland Village, I have seem to finally catch onto Singapore's rhythm of life. When I am down at the canteens for breakfast, I see locals with a plate of kaya toast and a cup of kopi (coffee) chatting about what they will eat for lunch. When I am at the library down at the business school, I hear students ask "eat already anot?" At that moment, I realized just how important food is to Singaporeans and what food had to do with its culture. If you walk through Singapore's alleyway regardless of where you are, you are bound to find a little stand selling a variety of food - from Chinese mixed vegetables to Indian naan to Hainanese chicken rice to Indonesian laksa. So if you are ever feeling hungry, just walk around and you will find something to eat (all for less than $SG 10, too)! Besides thinking about food and dashing for the canteens right after class regardless of where we are on campus, NUS students study hard. Even past midnight, you will see NUS students studying in the study rooms and seminar rooms in the residential halls. As each course meets for 3 hours every week (except lectures with tutorials), a good chunk of your weekend is reserved for studying. With only three modules and one tutorial, it is still hard for me to keep up with all the homework and take-home exams that the professors have already given to us thus far. My trick is just to simply finish as much as I can the day I finish that module. Whatever I cannot finish, I set aside either Wednesday or Thursday and try to finish everything before dinnertime. After dinner on most days, I go out to explore since the sun does not set in Singapore until half past 7 everyday. (Note: It does rain quite a bit so it's good to have an umbrella or a light windbreaker handy) Sometimes, I will go to Kent Ridge Park and do a little walking around Kent Ridge's Heritage Trail which is just right behind the Science Park. There's a good panoramic view of NUS. Other days, I tend to go down to Marina Bay and just take a stroll along the bay front. If it's not raining, the sunset at Marina Barrage is definitely a view! (Hint: If you don't want to squeeze with people to see the Garden Rhapsody down at Gardens by the Bay, you can get a pretty clear view from Marina Barrage) Garden Rhapsody Times: Every night, one show at 7:45 pm & another at 8:45 pm Due to the amount of coursework that I have, I have not found time to plan any trips around Southeast Asia just yet. As next week is Chinese New Years, I purchased a ticket to fly back to Taiwan from February 5th to 7th since I do not have much time to spend with my family in Taiwan normally (about $340 USD). Unfortunately, one of my group projects require that I conduct interviews with a company to gain insights about their management operations, therefore, I am unsure whether I will be going anywhere for recess break which will be from February 23 to March 3rd. With my schedule, it is quite hard to do a one-day trip while focusing on school work but I do plan on visiting at least a few Southeast Asian countries before I end my studies at NUS. Budget Airline Tips:
Since next week is Chinese New Years, Chinatown has an annual parade and lighting ceremony followed by a fireworks display every year. I happened to be in Chinatown during the lighting ceremony without knowing which fell on Sunday, January 20th this year and is a three-hour long festival filled with entertainment and a lot of street food. The fireworks start at 9 pm. As it is the year of the pig, a huge pig lantern was lit during the lighting ceremony and every weekend prior to February 4th, there is different shows put on by local dance groups that you can see! The Asian Civilisations Museum also holds a Light to Night Festival to explore Singapore's past through artworks shown around One Fullerton. The iLight Singapore event is another art installation across Raffle's Place and Downtown Singapore. Both festival/events are to highlight 2019 as Singapore's Bicentennial Commemoration. I attended my last welcome reception last week on January 21st. As PGP House is dedicated to being environmentally friendly, we all brought our own reusable lunch boxes and utensils. I got to meet a few of my fellow housemates on my floor as well as those from the other blocks as well. A side story: "Ga Di Lang" To me, Singapore is just like home back in Hawaii - hot weather, a lot of sightseeing, and most importantly, the people. It was only until recently have I been able to fly back to Taiwan and really get in touch with my roots. Growing up, I learned Taiwanese (Hokkien/Minnan) from my grandparents and it is currently an issue in Taiwan where the younger generations are starting to lose the language. Not many of them know how to communicate in Taiwanese anymore and sadly, it breaks that relationship you have with the older generations because they cannot understand you. Even in Hawaii, it is rare to find anyone who can speak Taiwanese. On one of my Grab rides back to NUS, I stumbled upon a driver who asked where I was from. When I said the United States, he pointed out that I did not really have an American accent. After he figured out that I was Taiwanese, he replied: "ga di lang" which means we are the same people. I chatted with him in Taiwanese and learned quite a lot during that short 20-minute ride. He told me that Hokkien and Minnan are still widely used in Singapore today because they value the idea of understanding your culture. We might not come from the same province or country, but to be able to understand each other and listen to their stories means a lot to me. Our conversation reminded me of my grandfather who spoke to me completely in Taiwanese and as a child, you don't really think twice about what they tell you. However, it is fleeting moments like these that bring a heartwarming sense of familiarity. Since landing in Singapore, it's nice to hear those who are your elders and even young children speak Hokkien or Minnan. This might be why I have settled into Singapore much quicker than most of the exchange students who I met so far. It is as if I have never left Hawaii or Taiwan and is a constant reminder that you really don't know who you will meet & a short chat with someone can change your perspective on a lot of things. A few exchangers are still dealing with culture shock and I understand why. Sometimes, it is really hard to find your place but that should not stop you from going out there and face the world. This is one of the things my Grab driver told me and as I reflect over the past three weeks, it is small stories such as these that I hope I will continue to share as the weeks go on. Candids: Module registration for business modules is similar to how we choose courses at UHM; however, rather than knowing the results of your add/drop selection immediately or on a first-come-first-serve basis, the system closes twice per day during business days. The NUS Business School operates on its own module registration link and here are a few tips:
Registering for my modules was stressful, but overall I managed to eventually secure the minimum 3 modules that I needed to count as a student at NUS. At first, I was given finance, accounting, and economics courses but the accounting course was an introductory one and therefore, I had to drop it. I was notified later that I either did not meet the pre-requisites for finance or the class was oversubscribed (full) for economics. After working around with the system and going through the very limited courses (~20 courses) that were available to exchange students, I finally settled with a introductory marketing course and two management classes. As an accounting major, I am not sure how I will accommodate to the two upper-division management courses that I was allocated with; however, I am finding these topics quite interesting and I can notice the difference in teaching styles between professors here at NUS and at Shidler. The coursework is tough, but I am ready to take on this next semester in a new environment amongst new faces! Note: Most professors post the syllabuses and lecture notes before the first day of class so make sure to access it via IVLE or LumiNUS (the newer system for accessing your modules; both sites operate like Laulima) and see if there is anything important! For textbooks:
After a rocky 11 hours and 10 minute flight to Taiwan, I alighted at Taoyuan International Airport on December 24, 2018 and rode the Taoyuan Metro, followed by the Taipei MRT to Shipai Station. Prior to Singapore, I stayed in Taiwan for two weeks before taking a 4 hour and 45 minute flight to Changi Airport. Taiwan I was fortunate to be able to spend the holidays with my grandparents and relatives in Taiwan. Despite the cold weather, I used the opportunity to explore the outskirts of Taipei or places less visited by tourists. The trip to Taiwan was short; however, I was able to stock up on any necessary items that I needed for my semester exchange in Singapore. Since the things that I needed were much cheaper in Taiwan, it was ideal that I brought enough items to last a month or more. Singapore - PGP House When people say Singapore is hot, it is definitely hot and humid! Since I did not have much luggage with me, I took the MRT from Changi Airport to Kent Ridge ($SG 1.95). The whole trip took about 1 and a half hours, but the scenery along the East-West Line (green) gave me a glimpse of what Singapore had to offer. From buildings lined up symmetrically to the bright-colored neon signs of Singaporean businesses, I could not wait to immerse myself in the culture. As a non-graduating exchange student, we are allowed to check-in earlier before the NUS students begin to move in on January 13th, thus the first week on my floor was empty. I was allotted a Single Type C bedroom in Prince George Park's House (Block 23) which is essentially a part of Prince George Park's Residence but with more of a hall culture behind it. Hall culture means that there are a lot of activities for you to do and since PGPH is made up of only five blocks, we are a tight-knit group. At PGPH, you are expected to share bathrooms, showers, and the kitchen in a common area with your fellow housemates on your floor; therefore, if you are not comfortable doing so, I would advise asking Housing to relocate you to another Residence/Hall. Upon arriving at your room, there is only a mattress, an empty closet, and a desk with a chair for you to do your studies at. I bought most of the things for my room in Taiwan, but items such as pillows, bedsheets, and blankets were purchased at IKEA on Alexandra Road. Near NUS is Clementi Mall which is the nearest mall for your one-stop shopping needs as the mall has mostly everything you would need. If you do not wish to go too far after moving in, then PGPR has its own mini-mart. Since Singapore's weather will always be around the mid-thirties (celsius or about 85°F), I would not suggest studying in your room if you do not have AC. At PGPH, there is a reading room on the first floor where my housemates and I study at. There are also TV rooms, break rooms, seminar rooms, and printing rooms with AC in the other blocks (housing units) at PGPR available for us to use. Orientation for Non-Graduating Exchange Students/Registration Part Two After moving in, there was orientation the next day at Lecture Theatre 27. At orientation, information about safety, code of conduct, module add/drop, Global Relations Office, and more were presented to us. I met people from Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong at orientation. Each of them came from different majors which was quite an interesting aspect to see. We all brought very unique topics to the table and became friends really quickly! As for registration, all you have to do is bring a passport. However, the ICA offsite enrollment process happens on the same day so if you are lucky to be the very first ones in line and you have everything ready to submit for your student pass, you are ready to begin your student life at NUS. (Pro tip: get to registration early, especially since we are from the United States, thus we are placed in the first or earliest block with at least 10 other countries. If you go early, you'll have everything done in an hour on the same day!) Bizad Orientation Day and Welcome Party Having taken care of registration part two in the morning, it was time for another orientation organized by the NUS Business School's Bizad Club. At orientation, we were welcomed by Dean Dr. Helen Chai and informed about the module registration process for business modules only. The module add/drop website opened on that day and we had until Tuesday of the following week to secure any courses that we would like to take or drop those we do not want. The Bizad Club were kind enough to organize a short tour around the Business School were we had the chance to visit several study areas that they frequent as well as how our classes would look like in either Biz 1 or Biz 2. We were broken up into groups according to where we resided which was PGPR and I actually met someone in my group who was living on the same floor as me! After the short tour, I had a short break to rest before heading back to University Town for the welcome party. I met more people from Montreal, Canada and a few of the students in the Bizad Club. Many of them were finance majors and it was interesting to hear that NUS students did not have the opportunity to secure classes as how exchange students did. They secure their modules based on a bidding process which allowed me to understand why business modules were highly sought after even by NUS students who were not a part of the Business School. PGP House Reception - Be Frugal and Pay it Forward. One last event after settling in was the reception for PGP House. As I brought up earlier, PGP House embodies a hall culture meaning that there are several interest groups (clubs) ranging from badminton to baking and even movies! I joined the baking interest group that night and met a few of the IG founders. At the event, we were introduced to our hall master, resident fellows, managers, and resident assistants. I had the honor of speaking with our hall master, Professor Prahlad Vadakkepat as one of my fellow housemates and I wanted to know more about the sustainability effort that PGP House is known for. PGP Houses' motto is "Be frugal and pay it forward," which Professor Vadakkepat pointed out means to thrive with our housemates, find ways to give back, and ultimately have fun :) Arrival Tips:
Singapore is a place where you get the best of many worlds and the National University of Singapore offers a multitude of courses that will definitely broaden your worldview. Before embarking on this journey, there are many steps to accomplish, but the Manoa International Exchange (MIX) and Shidler's Office of Student and Academic Services (OSAS) are there to help.
Step 1: Which program is best for you? At the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, there are two types of programs for international study:
Step 2: Check out pre-approved courses. After figuring out which program you would like to do, it is best to take a look at the courses you still need and what courses you can take abroad. If you are a Shidler student, there is a designated link on Shidler's website that allows you to explore all the pre-approved courses that could potentially transfer back from the school you are studying at abroad. *NOTE: For NUS, it is not a guarantee that you will get your courses even if you follow Shidler's pre-approved course list. Make sure that you inquire with [email protected] (The Non-Graduating Programme Office) for help! Step 3: Submit the application by the deadline for your respectable program. As stated above in Step 1, MIX and SAC have different deadlines and require different supporting materials, if needed. For MIX specifically: Summer, Fall, & Academic Year Exchanges:
The next few steps are for MIX/NUS only (and the dates are for when I received the notification and/or submitted): Step 4: Receive Nomination Notification from MIX & Submit Nomination Form (June 19) This is where you will accept whether you will be going to your MIX Partner University. Failure to submit the nomination form may result in a cancellation of your nomination! Step 5: Receive Next Steps for you MIX Partner School (August 30) The e-mail comes with the link to the application for NUS as well as other resources such as important information for module restrictions, application procedures, required supporting documents, deadlines, visa applications, and more. There is also a pre-departure checklist attached - make sure to get it all done before you depart! MIX Pre-Departure Checklist:
Step 6: Submitted Freeman Scholarship Application (August 30)
Step 7: Received official e-mail notification of selection as Spring 2019 Freeman Scholar from OSAS (September 6)
Step 8: Submitted NUS Online Non-Graduating Exchange Programme Application (September 10) The application opens on September 1 for Semester 2 (Spring Exchange) and closes October 1 (Singapore time), so make sure to submit the deadline before then. Step 9: Accept Offer from NUS & take care of registration essentials (November 16) A recent-sized passport photo in a specific format (0.75 pixels aspect ratio) will be required before the deadline to accept the admission offer.
Step 10: Complete Registration Part One (December 6) Your Student ID, NUSNET ID, and NUSNET password will be distributed to you. These login credentials will be used to access things such as your NUS e-mail, IVLE for courses, and EduRec to pay for your Miscellaneous Student Fees (Student Services/Health Services Fee) at the time of Registration Part One.
Tips:
Resources: The following links are provided by NUS and are helpful in terms of the admission and registration process:
Dear Mr. Graeme Freeman, I would like to take this opportunity and express my sincerest gratitude for your generous support of me and my fellow Freeman Scholars in allowing us to study abroad in Asia for the upcoming Spring 2019 semester. Your contributions, as well as the Freeman Foundation, has been essential to realizing my goal of studying abroad during my college career at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa without the need to worry about any financial burdens. My name is Irene Chen and I am currently a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance from the Shidler College of Business. I am working towards on becoming a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Financial Analyst; however, I hope to one day attend medical school and become a neurosurgeon. I want to devote myself to a future career in both the business and medical field not just to save lives, but to also go beyond and educate others on how valuable education is. My parents immigrated to Hawaiʻi from Taiwan a month before I was born in search of the American Dream. However, due to their inability to speak and understand English, my parents worked two to three jobs every day to support our family. My parents fell deeply into debt and although our family had enough to eat, a roof to live under, and clothes to wear, as the oldest of three children, I had to help my parents alleviate their financial burdens. We could not afford any trips abroad and I only heard brief stories about Taiwan from my parents. Through those stories, I always imagined what it would be like if I had the chance to visit this place my parents called home. As such, I look forward to studying abroad at the National University of Singapore and visiting Taiwan as well as neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. As the flagship university of a multi-racial and multi-cultural country like Singapore, the National University of Singapore is unique just like Hawaiʻi with such a diverse population and rich culture. I have always wanted to be at the forefront of such a prestigious place for business and to pursue a curriculum that links global learning opportunities and the possibilities of being able to learn outside the classroom. Not only will studying abroad at the National University of Singapore open me to rigorous, relevant, and rewarding business education, I will be able to bring back to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with the best of global knowledge to succeed in my current and future endeavors. By spending time at the National University of Singapore during Spring 2019, I will get to enjoy the best of both worlds. Once again, thank you for your generous support. With your help, I am a step closer in my path to studying abroad in Singapore as you have contributed in a wonderful and unexplainable manner to my academic pursuits and my future career. The contribution process begins in the heart of an individual and is then manifested by the deeds that a person does which I hope will enrich everyone’s life that I am able to reach as a Freeman Scholar. Sincerely, Irene Chen |
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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