Apr 2005

I thought I'd take a break from my usual "a week in the life of" postings, and tell you a bit about life as an exchange student in Singapore.

The overall difference is the intensity of the semester. Regardless of whether people are on pass/fail gradings (most of the Americans, and some Europeans) or not (like us), the semester just seems so intense. We travel more, party more, and generally do more than the local students.

It even seems to be the unspoken goal to travel more than the other exchange students!!! Personally, I've lost this already - I haven't travelled since midterm break, and many others have since travelled twice!!! I need to catch up!

On campus, we do stand out - there are 400 exchange students here, and the majority are white, in a country where Caucasians make up less than 2% of the population, you expect to. For me this was unexpected, as when I came here with my family in 2003, where we visited was mostly on the tourist trail. That and we also always had each other, acting as a kind of buffer between us and the rest of the population.

Now, being a student here means I eat locally, I shop locally, and I am beginning to feel more and more like a local in all but accent and skin colour. It's happened so quickly too! Soon I'll be speaking in Singlish, lah!

But back to the original point of this post: The Halls v PGP debate!

The Halls of Residence (Kent Ridge, Sheares, King Edward VII, Temasek, Eusoff and Raffles) are like USyd's Colleges, except less clique-y. They are all known for one thing or another (sports, music, cultural activities etc) but they are definitely not exclusive. You do need CCA (Co-curricular activity) points however to stay in one - and these can be hard to get. The existence of this partly explains why the hall musical committees have up to 8 people in them. Everyone desperately wants those points!

For an exchange student in those halls, life seems a little bit harder than it is for us in PGP. There are no rooms with attached bathrooms in any of the halls, and only KEVii has optional air-con in some rooms (for an extra charge). Whilst some exchange students have really become involved in hall-life, many don't, and seem to feel intimidated by the pre-existing relationships that those on their floor already have. Some halls have countered this by placing all the exchange students together in one block - really just creating a mini-PGP.

The food is OK - I find it a welcome change from my usual Thai/Japanese/Lemon Chicken at PGP - although it is oily. What they lack in variety and taste, they sure make up for in size. The portions are huge by Singaporean standards, and the meals definitely leave you full. I know some students, however, who commute to PGP every evening for dinner, as they dislike hall food that much...so if you are reading this and thinking of coming, bare that in mind. It is monotonous.

The plus of the halls is the atmosphere. You will get to know your neighbours and you can run to someone else's room on the other side of the hall at any time and see them. In PGP, with its security gates and restricted lift access, you can't do this, and have to meet someone at a common meeting place to get to their room. Secure, yes. Practical, no.

Personally, if I was here another semester, I'd stay in a hall - just to get a balance. However, I'm really glad I stayed in PGP - based on my experience with my local friends, it is a lot easier to meet other exchange students, and despite what everyone says, you still get a different perspective on the world from meeting them (it just may not be the Singaporean perspective. For those only going one semester, you really have to make a choice - hall or PGP. I've met people in both who disliked it, and people in both who loved it. It's your call.

Ciao!

i guys,

Last Friday to Saturday (just over 30 hours) my Dad paid me a visit! I was very excited, as it was the first time one of the family has come to see me in my new home.

It's a strange feeling - almost as if they are invading your turf, but the overriding happiness that comes from seeing your family takes over, and its all good. Whilst Dad was here I stayed with him at the Holiday Inn Parkview on Orchard, and I lived like a tourist. Big hotel breakfasts, buffet lunches, and steaks all the way!! I think I've satisfied my cravings for Western food now. I can go back to noodles and rice for another few months!!! (It only takes one big Western meal for me to be sick of it now - strange huh?!)

We spent the entire time together, and it was really good to catch up and just relax (next week is full of assessments and stuff for Uni - 2 presentations and an essay ). We also went to see "Being Victor Borge" - a stand-up show about the life and comedic talents of Victor Borge. Mum & Dad got to see him perform before he passed away a few years ago, and I thought this would be the best chance I'd have of seeing some of his material performed live.

It was really worth it. Not only was it held in Jubilee Hall in Raffles Hotel (with its old-school opulence), the jokes were great - most of the show was laugh-out-loud funny, especially the opera scene at the end, where Rainer Hersch creates alternate subtitles to songs from operas. Classic.

Anyways, as I mentioned, this week is frantic, so I better get back to it.

Ciao!

Having just returned from a live concert at the Esplanade (Singapore's answer to the Opera House), I thought I'd talk about the live music scene in Singapore.

Frankly, its got nothing on Sydney.

Whilst Sydney has the Metro, Enmore, Hordern, Gaelic, Candy's Apartment, and all the clubs and bars all over Sydney that host live music and DJs, Singapore has the Esplanade (strictly classical, opera, jazz, and some "fringe" performances), some live jazz and blues bars, and the clubs. The closest it comes to a live music venue is its Indoor Stadium, and the Suntec Convention Centre. Both are multi-purpose venues that double as conference rooms and sports arenas. They are not designed to hold live music, and thus don't do it very well.

Having said that, HMV in Singapore is huge, and stocks a much wider variety of music than I've seen at most Sydney music stores. Case in point: Scottish Indie rock band Idlewild, who really haven't "made" it anywhere are top-20 in Singapore. The store is at the Heeren on Orchard Rd, and its well worth a visit.

Hopefully before the semester is through I'll get a chance to visit Wakemeup Music, an indie-alternative store in Commonwealth, near where I live. It seems dedicated to local, regional, and indie punk/alternative bands - just my style. Should be interesting.

I have seen two concerts here though, which is why I feel I can comment on the state of the live music scene. As many of you know, I see many concerts in Sydney - on average 1+ a month. Here I've seen two, and that's not because I'm busy doing other things - its because there is NOTHING else!!!

The two big "festivals" (if you can call them that), Baybeats and ZoukOut! are held in the latter half of the year, so I miss them

Last Wed I saw Simple Plan at Suntec. Yes yes, I know, I've sold out, I'm a teenybopper and I should be shot etc. etc... But I have to say, despite all the flaws (missing the expat-local support band Pug Jelly, having to stretch to see over the 8yr olds sitting on Dad's shoulders) they put on a good concert, and I had an excellent time. Also, I was back in my room by 11:30! Couldn't do that in Sydney.

Word of warning: Singaporeans don't mosh like Aussies do. They stand and hold up one arm and rock it forward and back. It took a bit of getting used to. Apparently only the Malays mosh - and there were few of them at the concert.

The concert I saw earlier tonight was far more refined. Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto performed by the NUS symphony orchestra, including one of my Malaysian friends, Jae Sern.

It was awesome, although I have to admit I was very tired, so I found it hard to concentrate at times, but the performance was flawless. Really really impressive.

I think when I return to Syd I'm going to have to make more of an effort to go to classical concerts - after all, I'm nearly 20 and I need to start being more civilised!

Lastly, and definitely not least: Today is my Mum's birthday!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Just kidding!