Our Student Reflections

Hello Huai Chyi!

1. Which city are you originally from, and what are some of the must-do / must-see things in your hometown?

I am from Klang in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. As a royal town, it has plenty of important historical heritage such as Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery, Istana Alam Shah and Kota Raja Mahadi. Other than that, various religious sites representing the multicultural society in Malaysia can be spotted in the city. For instance, the 100- year-old Kuan Im Teng Klang (Goddess of Mercy Temple), Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in gothic style and Sri Sundararaja Perumal Temple, the “Thirupathi of South East Asia”. Besides, I grew up eating Bak Kut Teh, a Chinese dish which brews herbal soup using pork ribs. Klang is known for this mouth-watering dish and you must definitely try it!

2. What persuaded you to come all the way to Singapore to pursue your university education?

I made the decision to pursue my tertiary education in Singapore as NUS is a highly ranked university with a good reputation, which would be able to provide me with a fulfilling educational experience. Besides, Singapore is a safe country seeing stable and vigorous economic growth, which is a vital factor for my future career development.

3. What inspired you to choose the course and major you are enrolled in?

I am currently a year 2 student majoring in chemistry. I chose chemistry for a simple reason – I love chemistry! Since young, I have always been fascinated by the idea of viewing the world in a microscopic perspective and understanding the mechanisms of natural phenomena. And chemistry is the best way to break down the world and see it as it is. Chemistry is also the central science which constitutes the fundamental principles of most sciences and thus is able to open one to different professional opportunities.

Eusoff Hall Choir

4. What are the hobbies you have picked up during your time here, and what would you highly recommend others to also pick up?

The top 3 co-curricular activities that I have picked up during my time here are music, community service and language.

For music, I was the soprano section leader of Eusoff Choir when I stayed in Eusoff Hall during my first year of studies. I got to know a lot of my hall pals in the same group and we performed together for different occasions.

As for community service, I was also in Eusoff Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS), we committed at least once a week at the Clementi Training & Development Centre to just carry out simple and fun activities with the people there, such as cooking, taking a walk, dancing and so on. As for language, I have been taking French classes and I have just got my “Elementary Proficiency in French” badge! What I would say to the others is venture outside of your major, be open to take risks and try new things!

French (Elementary) Badge

5. Aside from study, what else is there to do in Singapore, especially the weekends?

With the convenience of public transportations in Singapore, one could practically go anywhere in the city. You can fill your weekends with a wide range of activities such as going to the gym in UTown, watching movies, window-shopping at The Shoppes of Marina Bay Sands, enjoying nature in the reservoir parks and the list goes on! I have hiked at Bukit Timah Hill, Singapore’s highest hill before, and it was a tremendous experience as I was able to immerse myself in the wonders of nature in a city known for its futuristic settings.

Bukit Timah Hill

6. How has your campus stay been so far?

I am staying at UTown Residence (UTR), a residence equipped with various facilities such as a gym, a swimming pool, restaurants, air- conditioned study rooms, etc. As most residents here are international students, we get to be exposed to people with all walks of life and widen our horizons through exchange of culture.

Having a meal at a French Restaurant

7. What are some of the most memorable moments you had while staying on-campus, in halls / residential college / residence?

As one of the resident assistants of UTR, I have co-organised several events in the residence and Mindfulness Training Programme was one of my favourites. Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which one focuses on being aware of living in the moment. While the event was held online, it was great seeing how this programme has helped many of our residents cope with their stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

8. Which canteen food stall on campus would you highly recommend?

I highly recommend the Taiwan Ichiban stall located at Fine Food, UTown. Their salted crispy chicken rice is a must-try! The price is reasonable and the staff is amicable too.

Taiwanese Food at Fine Food, UTown

9. What are the must-do / must-see attractions for fellow international students coming to study in Singapore?

Definitely go visit the avant-garde touristic spots in the city such as the Merlion Park and Marina Bay Sands. But also take a moment to experience the vernacular Singaporean life as it is: raw, unpretentious and beautiful. So, dine like a local at hawker centres, check out extraordinary HDB flats and stroll through Little India!

Skyline of Marina Bay, Singapore

10. If you could turn back time, what is the one thing you wished you had done before relocating to Singapore for your higher education?

I wish I had learned to cook some of my country’s cuisines before coming to Singapore because I really miss them!

All images are courtesy of Tan Huai Chyi.

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