East Meets West in Singapore

by Renee Eng, UCLA

Singapore, a seemingly insignificant island located off the southern tip of Malaysia, is an amazing, sophisticated global city. Convenience typifies the life of Singaporeans, as the locals are called. This tiny island offers everything you could possibly imagine, from hawker stands offering all sorts of delicious Southeast Asian delicacies to five-story shopping malls and an indoor snow park.

During my six months in Singapore, I found it to be the perfect blend of East meets West. Singapore is not so different from U.S. culture that you will feel deprived of the familiar Golden Arches, but is different enough that you will feel enriched by the cultural blend of Chinese, Malay, and Indian customs.

Singapore's location also offers an excellent opportunity to travel to neighboring Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia (you must visit the beautiful island of Bali), Thailand, and Vietnam. The exhilarating experience of climbing Bali's Mt. Agung volcano (9,500 ft.) in the middle of the night or waking up to the early morning chants of Buddhist monks pronouncing the King's birthday in Thailand are some of the unforgettable moments etched in my mind.

Academic life at the National University of Singapore is not unlike the rigors of the UC system; although Singaporeans seem to study incredibly hard. Classes are manageable, and NUS offers a variety of interesting courses with a unique Southeast Asian emphasis. I was fortunate enough to take part in a Southeast Asian Field Studies course and traveled for 4 weeks with 30 other Singaporeans throughout Thailand and Malaysia. I had amazing experiences in rural communities and fishing villages while studying their social and environmental problems.

Studying abroad not only allows you to submerge yourself in another culture and mingle with locals, but also allows you to meet other exchange students from all corners of the world. It will broaden your horizons and erase your stereotypes. So study abroad, take a chance and explore something new. You won't regret it.

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