Andrew Went

Curtin University, Australia
Exchange to Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was going on an exchange programme to Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Coming from isolated Perth, the fact that my new home would be a central hub to many exotic lands and nearby adventures in all directions was an opportunity I could not resist.

Upon arrival at my hall and trudging up the countless stairs with my heavy backpack, sweating profusely, I was a little shocked to see a ceiling fan the only source of cooling in the room. “What have I gotten myself in for, sharing a room in the most stifling, humid conditions I’ve ever encountered for the next four months”, I wondered. Sure enough though, by the end of semester, I found that walking out of my over-airconditioned lectures was like receiving a big warm embracing hug from all of Singapore.

The city of Singapore itself is amazing, rather utopian even – so clean, efficient, colourful and full of life – with many diverse cultures living together in a fast-paced modern but friendly city. Having the chance to live there for several months gave me an insight and breadth of experience few transiting tourists get to experience. Singaporeans are hardworking but generally happy people, who have embraced technology but also hold onto the traditions of the past. The mix of cultures meant somebody was usually celebrating some kind of festival somewhere on the island at any given time.

One is spoilt for choice when it comes to food in Singapore. There is so much variety to cater to anybody’s desires, and it can be found cheap too if you go to the hawker centres, where the locals go. I am now a master of the chopsticks. I’m also having serious roti-prata withdrawal symptoms since I’ve been back!

Stories of people having their hands cut off for spitting are widely exaggerated, in fact I’m not sure who has a more boring job in Singapore, the police or the weather bureau (hmm…. hot and humid let me guess). By following the general rule of thumb of doing what the locals do, there was no trouble and we discovered many interesting things that I’m sure are not in the lonely planet book. For example, the mystery bus where we would just hop onto the first bus we saw and get off where it looked interesting, safe in the knowledge that we were not going to stumble into the “bad part” of Singapore – there is none.

One of the highlights was being able to learn to scuba dive in one of the best locations for it in the world, in perfect conditions, at the Perhenthian islands in Malaysia. During my very first dive, we had a turtle swim right past us and a shark appeared too! I was also fortunate to travel to Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and China.

It is not the places I’ve been to that have made this experience so valuable and enriching but the people I’ve met and the friendships made along the way. In the exchange group, there were over 200 people from all over the world, equally as excited and enthusiastic as I in exploring and experiencing as much as we could. I learnt much about the cultures of the people I was traveling with as well as the countries we were traveling in. I made many life-long friendships and I hope to spend many years globetrotting and visiting them all. I also had the pleasure of hosting my roommate, from Mexico, at my house for a week over Australia day.

I would highly recommend that anyone given the chance to go on exchange to seize it with much gusto and make the most of the time you have there. The best piece of advice I can give is to hit the ground running and don’t stop. Be outgoing and meet as many people as you can. Leave your comfort zone far behind and you will have an amazing experience!!!

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