My Time Abroad:
Tumaini Johnson
Hello! My name is Tumaini Johnson. I am currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science here at Davidson. As part of my academic development, I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Singapore in the fall of my Junior year. My time in Singapore was both exciting and educational in numerous ways that surprised me. This experience has become one of the most pivotal parts of my collegiate journey!
The Bustling City Of Singapore
Building Covered in Plant Life
Downtown Singapore
Southernmost Point of Continental Asia
Singapore is at the southern edge of mainland Asia. The entire country is a single city, and it is beautiful, hosting a population of over 6 million people. If I had to compare it to other urban cities in America, Singapore is a strikingly different experience than that of New York City or Chicago. As a frontrunner in sustainability, the city is built around reducing carbon emissions. Nearly 50% of the land is made up of green areas which includes numerous forests and land reserves. There is also an intertwining of skyscrapers and plant life, creating a unique look to many of the buildings. In fact, their commitment to sustainability is evident everywhere, so much so that their tap water is considered as safe to drink as filtered water and even of better quality.
All About Culture
Night View of Marina Bay Sands
Chinatown
Singapore has an eclectic mix of attractions and activities with places such as Sentosa and Orchard Rd being two of the biggest attractions in the city. In my opinion however, none come close to Marina Bay Sands as a place to encapsulate the beauty of Singapore’s skyline.
Timely Travel
MRT Station
Using Local
Bikes to get
Around
Inside the MRT
Transportation was also seamless. The two largest modes of travel I used were the bus and train. On days that weren't that humid, I often used the bike sharing service to get around. Traveling by car was scarcely used, and I would only call a Grab (the Uber of Southeast Asia) when I needed to travel to the other side of the city quickly. The train system was incredibly streamlined, safe and extremely clean. No matter where I was, the stations never felt more than ten minutes away. The bus system was also easy to navigate with enough routes that waiting for a bus never felt long, and they also arrived at the destination in a timely manner.
Cuisine Eats
Hawker Stall
Accredited with
a Michelin Star
The culinary spots dotting the city were quite vibrant. Singapore hosts its fair share of dining range, from all levels of pricing be it fast food to fine dining. One of the most interesting culinary aspects in Singapore’s food culture is the Hawker Centers. I would describe a Hawker Center as a “bustling food street fair in a mall food court”. At these public food halls, you can choose from a plethora of food and drink options. The food here is inexpensive yet incredibly tasty and sumptuous, with a full meal typically ranging from 5 to 10 Singaporean dollars. You get gourmet level food at fast food prices. This helped reduce my daily living expenses in Singapore while also allowing me to indulge in the delicious dishes of the country.
Trying Food from a Hawker Center Inside A Mall
Shrimp Ramen From Hawker Stall
Spaces For Everyone
Graphic Art in Chinatown
Trying Food
from a Hindu
Temple in Little
India, Singapore
Beyond my fascination with the city itself, what continued to draw me in was the deepening understanding of community. I had continuous opportunities to engage with Singaporeans and their culture. The biggest aspect of community in Singapore, is how they encourage residents to embody their culture. Singapore has a myriad of ethnicities and cultures. The most prominent ethnic groups in Singapore are Chinese, Malay, and Indian. With this, cultural elements such as religion, culinary dishes, and even some social practices differ between many of the residents. To reflect the multiculturalism in Singapore, the city hosts enclaves like Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam that allow their most prominent ethnicities to preserve their unique culture. This is not to say that Singapore as a collective does not have a shared culture, it undeniably does. But it celebrates the cultural differences in these enclaves. During my experience, I was drawn to the uniqueness of these different locations as social spaces.
Broadened Education
Administration
Building of Singapore Management University for Orientation
Groupmates for Final Project in My Operating Systems Class
My time exploring the city was time well spent, but even more worthwhile was the academic knowledge I received in Singapore. Through the CIEE program, the host institution for my education was Singapore Management University (SMU). One of the primary purposes for studying abroad is being able to learn with a worldwide perspective, whereas you might be funneled into a singular view in the United States. The classes I took were focused on my major, with the goal of attaining credit for the required courses back at home.
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The learning process at SMU was different. The blocks were a lot longer and we only met once a week for each course. This meant the homework was a lot more intensive and the onus was put on you to find the time to complete all assignments. It helped sharpen my time management skills. I was able to make friends in my classes, who gave me more insight on the education system at the university level in Singapore.
The Surrounding Areas
Me and My Study Abroad Friends Trying Some Local Clothing in Melaka, Malaysia
Alleyways of Melaka
I had the opportunity to travel outside of Singapore to Melaka, Malaysia during school break as part of my study abroad program. This trip provided me and my fellow program participants a deeper understanding of Southeast Asia in general. We previously learned about the history of Singapore, Malaysia and their separation, but travelling to Melaka, Malaysia allowed us to somewhat grasp another point of view and experience life in Malaysia as well. We engaged in cultural activities, wore their traditional clothing and ate Malay food.
Opportunities and Beyond
The rich experiences I received in Singapore would have never been possible without the aid of Davidson and the scholarships I found through the Study Abroad office. One such scholarship was the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a federally funded scholarship. While the scholarship helped ease the financial weight that comes with studying abroad, what surprised me is the breadth of opportunities that comes with it. During my time in Singapore, they helped me connect to a networking event hosted by ‘Reach The World’ and Citibank. I was able to converse with professionals at this event, who reviewed my resume, provided professional advice and guidance and helped me look at my career choices from a worldwide perspective. One major aspect of this scholarship is the continued opportunities, as upon completion of Studying Abroad I am now a part of the alumni program. I linked-in an esque site that gives me access to jobs, internships, networking events and community engagement opportunities. They have helped me gain confidence in my career aspirations in a way I didn’t expect. For those contemplating pursuing Study Abroad as a part of their collegiate education, please consider looking into this scholarship, it is incredibly helpful.
Time Well Spent
This four-month period of my life proved incredibly impactful to both my academic and personal journey. Since my time in Singapore, I’ve become more confident in unfamiliar spaces and unpredictable situations. Some of the events I partook in expanded my view on career choices that I never even imagined would align with my major. The new environment tested my ability to adapt and while there were moments where I could feel the pressure of living alone thousands of miles away from my old friends and family members, much of that was fleeting and were superseded by the wealth of skills this experience equipped me with.
Despite the short period, the time spent in Singapore and the friends that I made while abroad will remain lifelong meaningful memories. I am glad that I made the choice to study abroad. And I recommend that if you have the opportunity to study abroad, go for it! The experience will last a lifetime