Valerie Chua
Hi! I’m Valerie, a Year 3 Sociology student from Singapore on semester exchange! While I have travelled to many countries around Asia, this is the first time I’ve set foot in the UK and the rest of Europe.
Singapore is a small island nation in Southeast Asia, but the entire country is also a bustling city that houses more than 6 million people. As a port city, our country’s history is deeply tied to migration, and most Singaporeans are either descendants of immigrants or are immigrants themselves! Because of Singapore’s multiracial identity, I am grateful to be exposed to many different cultures and ways of life, and I am grateful to celebrate the holidays and experience the delicious cuisines of friends from other races. Growing up here has definitely given me a sense of adventurousness of trying new things, and it has also taught me the importance of openness in making friends from different cultures and ethnicities. I also appreciate Singapore’s emphasis on teaching schoolchildren to be bilingual in English and their mother tongue. While I consider English as my first language, as it is used in Singaporean schools as the main language of instruction, learning Chinese has helped me to appreciate my cultural roots and connect with the vibrant Overseas Chinese community in Scotland.
There are many other things that make Singapore stand out. I miss the efficiency and convenience of its public transport system, with shopping malls, food places, clinics and libraries located less than 10 minutes away from home. Every corner of the city is safe, and I always feel safe travelling and walking home alone at night. As for the weather, while I used to complain about Singapore’s tropical heat and sunshine, I miss having bright sunny days and blue skies from back home.
However, I also realised that Singapore’s convenience, safety and small size also made it easy for me to live in a bubble. Moving abroad to Glasgow, I have learned to be more independent in getting around the city and the rest of Scotland, and I am now a lot more outgoing in making new friends away from home. I love how the city feels so organic in its liveliness and authenticity, with historical buildings and breathtaking scenery that are completely different from the man-made skyscrapers at home. There is also a lot of cultural diversity that is similar to Singapore, and I can always satisfy my multitude of cravings for shawarma, paratha, ramen and Chinese stir-fry! The unique teaching environment in the University of Glasgow is also a nice change of pace, as the lecturers are so passionate about what they teach and my fellow students are always eager to participate and share their views in class.
Don’t be afraid to ask me more about my experiences as an international exchange student, and I am always happy to share more about what life is like in Singapore!