Exchange in SUTD Week 4: Explore around Bugis

After getting more and more familiar with Singapore, we decided to pay a visit to Bugis. The reason why we chose Bugis is that Keng, our exchange buddy from SUTD, told us Bugis is one of the best places to buy trendy clothes and stuffs.


Since we have stayed in Singapore for four weeks, we tried to be more like locals. On arriving Bugis, we rushed to the Albert Hawker Center for lunch. There, I got my first try to order traditional coffee by myself. For those who like to drink coffee or tea, you must know how to order like locals! To keep it simple, "kopi" and "teh" are Indonesian and Malay term for coffee and tea respectively. In addition, there are also special ways to customize your drinks. For me, I always order "ice kopi c kosong" because I prefer coffee with milk and no sugar.

Getting some durian juice :)

Mee Goreng (馬來炒麵)

After lunch, we went to shopping in Bugis+ and Bugis Junction. My friends bought some decent dresses, and I got myself a pair of good sandals. It's a pity that we didn't have enough time to go to Bugis Street this time because we chose to visit The Cat Cafe after dinner. Though the entrance fee is not cheap, we had a chance to pat the cats. More importantly, we all love cats so much.

Korean food approved by Korean

Lazy cat zzz

Hi

Exchange in SUTD Week 3: School Courses

For exchange students, we have to choose a pillar or a cluster when we apply for the exchange program. Since my major in college is economics, there is no suitable pillar for me to choose from. Thus, I chose to be in the cluster HASS (Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences). 

Course Selection 

Most of the course-related issues can be done online. For exchange students, we need to select at least 2 subjects or at most 4 subjects. Before arriving Singapore, we should roughly decide our course selection. After the term starts, there will be an add/drop period when we can make our final decisions.

My Courses   

At first, I chose a total of 3 courses noted as below

• 02.230 Health Communication and Behavior Change
• 02.202 Organisational Processes
• 02.226 Leaders and Followers

After attending the classes and searching the syllabuses, I finally decided to take 2 courses noted as below

• 02.230 Health Communication and Behavior Change
• 02.135 The Question of Technology

Both courses are under HASS. Health Communication aims at learning why people behave the way they do, especially about health issues. The Question of Technology focuses on questioning technology in view of philosophy. In sum, HASS courses emphasize on discussion in class and group projects. 

Due to my poor English, sometimes it's tough to totally understand what professors or other students said. I remembered that I faced the most difficult articles I've ever read in the class The Question of Technology. Nevertheless, I will still try my best to gain knowledge in SUTD.  

A glance of SUTD's classroom

Exchange in SUTD Week 2: Celebrating Chinese New Year in SG

This was the first time that I celebrated Chinese New Year in a foreign country. After chatting with exchange buddies from SUTD, I found out that they also celebrate Chinese New Year because there is a large proportion of Singaporean who are Chinese. However, the ways we celebrate are not exactly the same. For instance, in Taiwan, we usually have a whole week break, but in Singapore, they only have two days off. Moreover, in Taiwan, most of the family will go on a vacation during Chinese New Year. On the other hand, the Chinese in Singapore tend to gather together with their family or meet their friends.

I have never thought of going back to Taiwan since I came to Singapore. However, when my family and friends posted photos of their dinner on New Year's Eve, I began to feel homesick! Though I didn't celebrate CNY with my family this year, I did experience CNY in Singapore with exchange students. On New Year's Eve, we had lunch in Din Tai Fung (Tampines Mall). Actually, Din Tai Fung is a restaurant derived from Taiwan, and is famous for its dim sum. I never tried it in Taiwan, but somehow I tried in Singapore even it's more expensive than in Taiwan.   

On the second day of CNY, we went to Gardens by the Bay in the afternoon, and then we watched the fireworks at Marina Bay. The garden is so beautiful that I will absolutely come again. Although we didn't go inside the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, the outdoor garden is pretty decent. We also got to watch the fantastic lighting show of the Supertree Grove. After the show, we followed the crowd to the Marina Bay and waited for the fireworks. 

All in all, it is definitely an unforgettable memory, and I wish I could keep enriching my exchange life in the future.

SUPERTREE

meditate...

River HongBao

Insane...

For more information:

• http://riverhongbao.sg/
• https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/

     

Exchange in SUTD Week 1 : Matriculation and Orientation Program

The program took place on Jan 22 to 23. It was also the first time that all exchange students gathered together. In this term, we have around 20 to 25 exchange students.

Jan 22

We have staffs from Office of International Relations to welcome us and explain the details of student exchange program. Then, staffs from different departments also gave short talks on student-related issues. During lunch, we met our exchange buddies from SUTD. After that, we were separated into three groups, and we went on the campus tour and localization journey with our buddies. Our buddies taught us how to purchase EZ-link card and prepaid SIM card.

Jan 23

In the morning, we spent our time completing matriculation documents. Here, I would like to give a big thanks to an exchange student from my college, who went to SUTD last semester for suggesting me to do the medical checkup first before coming to Singapore. After we're done with the documents, our exchange buddies took us around Singapore. I also want to give a big shout out to all the buddies for being so hospitable.

Trying local food at hawker centre

Satay from Indonesia! Shiok!

I took a bite before the pic...

Exotic Arab Street

Durian! eww...

Exchange in SUTD Week 0: Hostel Check-In and Preparations

Hostel Check-In

Usually we should arrive in Singapore by January 21 because the matriculation program would take place on 22 to 23. I decided to come to Singapore on 17 to have more time to settle down. It is really kind that SUTD hostel provides early check-in for students. 

After I arrived in Changi Airport, I took the SMRT to SUTD immediately because the open hours for check-in ends at 5 pm. Thankfully, SUTD is only two stations from the airport. By the way, it was also the first time I experienced the weather in Singapore. It was really hot! 

My Room

For exchange students, we should either live in the student hostel or find an off-campus accommodation. As for me, I chose to live in the hostel.  

The room type I chose at first was Single (Ensuite) Room. However, due to limited vacancies, I was offered Single (Non-ensuite) Room. The housing fee for non-ensuite room is SGD$1836 (around NT$41000) throughout the whole term.

To keep it simple, the main items in the room are wardrobe, single size mattress, desk and bookshelf, drying closet, and of course fan and air-conditioner. My first impression of the room is simple but decent. As for other facilities, please check out https://sutd.edu.sg/Campus-Life/Housing/Non-graduating/Room-Type.

Important Things to Do on Day 1

• Get an EZ-link card
• AC! AC! AC! 
• Decorate your bed

EZ-link card is a stored value card for public transit use on the SMRT and buses. It is very similar to the EasyCard in Taiwan. EZ-link card can be topped up via ticket machines in train stations or convenient stores. Do notice that once the card value is lower than $3, you can't enter the train station or take a bus. After getting an EZ-link card, I think the easiest way to go to SUTD is by MRT. I would suggest you to download the app "SG MRT".

Next, I would like to talk about the methods of topping up your air-conditioner in SUTD hostel since it was my first thought when I entered my room. There are two ways to top up. The first is to use the EVS machine outside the housing security office, and the second way is to top up online via Visa or Mastercard. However, the first way is hard to achieve since the machine only accepts Nets. Thus, I would suggest exchange students to bring a Visa or Mastercard from your hometown to make life easier. If you face any questions, you can ask Office of Housing (located on block 59) for help.

After you got AC in your room, it is really important to have a good sleep since it has been a tiring day. The hostel will provide a mattress so things you need are bed sheet, quilt, and pillow. To get all the stuff, just simply visit Changi City Point which is a mall near SUTD. I remembered the first day I went there, the bedding is on sale. On B1, there are shops like FairPrice (supermarktet) and Daiso where I got most of my daily necessaries from. 


This post sums up the most important things to do on day 1. I will catch you guys in the next post.