Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Lam Tsz Shan @ Singapore Management University (from CityU) 17 August - 21 August 2009
Monday, 17 August 2009
Today was the first day of the new semester in Singapore Management University. However, I have no class on Monday, Thursday and Friday. That means today was my day-off. But I still had to go back to school. Because SMU organized an event called “Walking Food Trail” for both international students and exchange students in this afternoon.
“Walking Food Trail” was an activity to let international students and exchange students to know more about Singapore local food, especially those famous food courts and food stores near our host university.
We were divided into different groups and went to different routes and found those “checkpoints”- the delicious food. I have joined into an international group. They come from different countries, like China, India, and Germany. We were assigned to go to Orchard Road and Dhoby Ghaut. Since I have only been to Singapore for one week, those places I never went to before. Those places are closed to my host university. I can go there to have lunch during my whole semester. We have tried many local foods and also other countries food, and I only remember Yakun Kaya Toast, Bee Cheng Hiang, a food court called Kopitiam (It is a famous chained food court over Singapore.). They also took us to try Hong Kong food, but those “Hong Kong food” I never seen in Hong Kong. Obviously, the Hong Kong foods in Hong Kong are better. Finally, our group won the second champion of the game. Each of us gets SGD10 coupon of Ben & Jerry.
I enjoyed the activity very much. I can try many local foods free of charge. Without this activity, I do not know that there are so much famous foods near my host university. Singapore is also a food paradise. I think I will become fatter in Singapore, although I love Hong Kong food more. Also, I meet a lot of friends come from different countries. They are all very nice and they are in the same situation as me. All of them have just arrived Singapore for a week.
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
My tough semester begins! Today is my first day to have lessons in SMU. I have two classes today, one from 8:30am to 11:45am and another from 3:30pm to 6:45pm. I wake up early today at 6:30am. I am quite nervously about attending the classes. Because my CityU classmates told me that SMU is very tough comparing to CityU after they attended the first lesson yesterday. And they said that it is very difficult to find group mates in the class as Singaporean do not like exchange student in their group.
The academic workload here is very high. Also, the learning environment is totally different from CityU. There is no other sound when the professor is speaking. Everyone has to place their name card in the front and the professor will pick you to answer the questions. The proportion of the participation marks is very high. Therefore, all students will not wait for the professor to call their name and raise their hands up to answer the questions. It is totally different from Hong Kong educational system. I feel a lot of pressure under this system. And it makes me feel very tired after the class. I have to keep brainstorming every minute to think the answer of questions. Although I do not like this educational system, I think it will be a good training for me. I hope that I can learn from the Singaporean and bring this culture back to CityU.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Today needs to attend two classes. One of my neighbors also takes the same courses with me. She is international student coming from China. Her name is called Chao Nan. She has studied in Singapore for 2 years. She is very nice. She also teaches me Mandarin. She told me a lot of things about Singapore and SMU. She also thinks that studying in SMU is very tough, look like a hell. All SMU students fight for the A+, not only A range. I think Hong Kong student should learn from the Singaporeans. In these two days, I recognized those hard-working Singaporeans. In week 1, they already go to library study. Contrast with Hong Kong student, Hong Kong student may go to play in week 1. Singaporeans prepare all their class material before and arrive at the classroom on time. I really appreciate their learning attitude. I think this exchange experience must be unforgettable and I can learn much things from the Singaporean.
Thursday, 20 August 2009
I get a day-off on Thursday. So today, I went to National Museum of Singapore with my CityU friends; together with a friend come from U.S. is also an exchange student in SMU. National Museum of Singapore is just located opposite our host university. It is an historical building with very beautiful design. I think it is very difficult to find a similar building in Hong Kong.
The Museum provides a multimedia handheld device to guide the tourist around the History Gallery. We can read descriptions, watch videos and listen to interesting stories. I appreciate this device very much. It makes the museum become more interesting to visit. It is better than just read the descriptions near the treasures. We have visited it about six hours long. I have never used so much time to visit a museum and I still have a lot of zones not yet visited. I must come back again.
I found that Singapore’s history is very similar to Hong Kong. I never recognized it before. I even don’t know Singapore was also colony of British. I learned a lot from the museum. I also knew why Singapore can be so successful in those years. I appreciated their President Lee Kuan Yew. The history of Singapore is very short, but they can chase after Hong Kong and even better than Hong Kong. Hong Kong is losing. Hong Kong people should learn from them.
Friday, 21 August 2009
This week comes to an end. Today I joined the city tour for both international students and exchange students organized by SMU. We were also divided into different groups, but this time were a large group and involved more people come from different countries.
I made some new friends from Myanmar. I was very confused when they told me their nationality. I did not know which this country is. One of them can speak Mandarin and she told me the Chinese version of the country name. I recognized which the country is, but I did not know much about this country. They told me that there are many Chinese in Myanmar. They are also Chinese, but only one of them can speak Mandarin. They also told me that many poor people in their country. I think the other memorable experience in Singapore is I can meet many different nationality people. Singapore is an internationalization country. Many different nationality live here.
In the city tour, we went to many famous scenic spots, like Chinatown, Little India, Merlion, Clarke Quay, City Hall. Singapore looks like Hong Kong, but Singapore’s weather is better than Hong Kong. I always see blue sky in Singapore.
Today was the first day of the new semester in Singapore Management University. However, I have no class on Monday, Thursday and Friday. That means today was my day-off. But I still had to go back to school. Because SMU organized an event called “Walking Food Trail” for both international students and exchange students in this afternoon.
“Walking Food Trail” was an activity to let international students and exchange students to know more about Singapore local food, especially those famous food courts and food stores near our host university.
We were divided into different groups and went to different routes and found those “checkpoints”- the delicious food. I have joined into an international group. They come from different countries, like China, India, and Germany. We were assigned to go to Orchard Road and Dhoby Ghaut. Since I have only been to Singapore for one week, those places I never went to before. Those places are closed to my host university. I can go there to have lunch during my whole semester. We have tried many local foods and also other countries food, and I only remember Yakun Kaya Toast, Bee Cheng Hiang, a food court called Kopitiam (It is a famous chained food court over Singapore.). They also took us to try Hong Kong food, but those “Hong Kong food” I never seen in Hong Kong. Obviously, the Hong Kong foods in Hong Kong are better. Finally, our group won the second champion of the game. Each of us gets SGD10 coupon of Ben & Jerry.
I enjoyed the activity very much. I can try many local foods free of charge. Without this activity, I do not know that there are so much famous foods near my host university. Singapore is also a food paradise. I think I will become fatter in Singapore, although I love Hong Kong food more. Also, I meet a lot of friends come from different countries. They are all very nice and they are in the same situation as me. All of them have just arrived Singapore for a week.
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
My tough semester begins! Today is my first day to have lessons in SMU. I have two classes today, one from 8:30am to 11:45am and another from 3:30pm to 6:45pm. I wake up early today at 6:30am. I am quite nervously about attending the classes. Because my CityU classmates told me that SMU is very tough comparing to CityU after they attended the first lesson yesterday. And they said that it is very difficult to find group mates in the class as Singaporean do not like exchange student in their group.
The academic workload here is very high. Also, the learning environment is totally different from CityU. There is no other sound when the professor is speaking. Everyone has to place their name card in the front and the professor will pick you to answer the questions. The proportion of the participation marks is very high. Therefore, all students will not wait for the professor to call their name and raise their hands up to answer the questions. It is totally different from Hong Kong educational system. I feel a lot of pressure under this system. And it makes me feel very tired after the class. I have to keep brainstorming every minute to think the answer of questions. Although I do not like this educational system, I think it will be a good training for me. I hope that I can learn from the Singaporean and bring this culture back to CityU.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Today needs to attend two classes. One of my neighbors also takes the same courses with me. She is international student coming from China. Her name is called Chao Nan. She has studied in Singapore for 2 years. She is very nice. She also teaches me Mandarin. She told me a lot of things about Singapore and SMU. She also thinks that studying in SMU is very tough, look like a hell. All SMU students fight for the A+, not only A range. I think Hong Kong student should learn from the Singaporeans. In these two days, I recognized those hard-working Singaporeans. In week 1, they already go to library study. Contrast with Hong Kong student, Hong Kong student may go to play in week 1. Singaporeans prepare all their class material before and arrive at the classroom on time. I really appreciate their learning attitude. I think this exchange experience must be unforgettable and I can learn much things from the Singaporean.
Thursday, 20 August 2009
I get a day-off on Thursday. So today, I went to National Museum of Singapore with my CityU friends; together with a friend come from U.S. is also an exchange student in SMU. National Museum of Singapore is just located opposite our host university. It is an historical building with very beautiful design. I think it is very difficult to find a similar building in Hong Kong.
The Museum provides a multimedia handheld device to guide the tourist around the History Gallery. We can read descriptions, watch videos and listen to interesting stories. I appreciate this device very much. It makes the museum become more interesting to visit. It is better than just read the descriptions near the treasures. We have visited it about six hours long. I have never used so much time to visit a museum and I still have a lot of zones not yet visited. I must come back again.
I found that Singapore’s history is very similar to Hong Kong. I never recognized it before. I even don’t know Singapore was also colony of British. I learned a lot from the museum. I also knew why Singapore can be so successful in those years. I appreciated their President Lee Kuan Yew. The history of Singapore is very short, but they can chase after Hong Kong and even better than Hong Kong. Hong Kong is losing. Hong Kong people should learn from them.
Friday, 21 August 2009
This week comes to an end. Today I joined the city tour for both international students and exchange students organized by SMU. We were also divided into different groups, but this time were a large group and involved more people come from different countries.
I made some new friends from Myanmar. I was very confused when they told me their nationality. I did not know which this country is. One of them can speak Mandarin and she told me the Chinese version of the country name. I recognized which the country is, but I did not know much about this country. They told me that there are many Chinese in Myanmar. They are also Chinese, but only one of them can speak Mandarin. They also told me that many poor people in their country. I think the other memorable experience in Singapore is I can meet many different nationality people. Singapore is an internationalization country. Many different nationality live here.
In the city tour, we went to many famous scenic spots, like Chinatown, Little India, Merlion, Clarke Quay, City Hall. Singapore looks like Hong Kong, but Singapore’s weather is better than Hong Kong. I always see blue sky in Singapore.
Labels: 2009/2010 Semester A
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