My classes were very interesting and gave me a completely new perspective on one of my majors (politics) by offering a different point of view from that which is taught in the United States. My professors were all very kind and helpful, as they understood I am an exchange student and might struggle to learn how school is different here. Despite the initial change, I was able to adjust pretty quickly!
Beyond school, the social and cultural experiences have been very rewarding. Learning how another society operates gives a whole new perspective to life in the U.S., and I surely feel I will return with a brighter and broader perspective of my own. Life in Singapore is similar to the United States, but the differences reveal a lot about Singaporean culture and what Singaporeans prefer versus what Americans prefer. The social experience has meant being able to talk with students from many different countries as well as meeting and talking with Singaporean students. These discussions and talks were always very fun and I learned a lot about other students' lives. They learned about mine, too!
Studying abroad and living in another country has not always been easy, but I found that by the end of the first week I felt very comfortable and right at home! The challenges are the most exciting part of being in another country, and how you face and overcome those challenges can teach you a lot about yourself. While I definitely felt homesick on more than one occasion, modern technology makes this so much easier. If I ever missed my brothers or my parents, I could just call them or video chat and I felt so much better! I encourage anyone who wants to go on fun adventures, meet new people and see beautiful landscapes to study abroad!
