NTU students on exchange share what they took with them on their overseas learning adventures and the keepsakes that they’ll be bringing home
by Tan Zi Jie
Final-year student Charlize Su spent a semester on exchange at a Dutch university early this year, taking psychology and communication modules.
Academics aside, she learnt how to cook and manage things independently.
Now back in Singapore, she says living on her own gave her time to contemplate.
“With a change of pace, I had time to think about life and what I want to do. Living in Europe has made me consider living abroad in the future,” she says.
>> Take there >>
ASIAN FOOD
“I can’t help but crave Asian food when I’m far from home. So I brought a lot of noodles and pastes, such as Korean Samyang noodles, mala and bak kut teh.
Eating out in the Netherlands is expensive, so to save money I learnt how to cook. Meals were a team effort with my housemates; I picked up tips when we cooked together and tried different online recipes, even fusion cuisine. It was a learning journey, and it felt great to see my friends enjoy my food… So I think I’m a chef now.”
Charlize Su (Year 4, psychology)
Exchange in Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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ROOM DECOR
“I am quite sentimental, so I brought my stuffed toy, photos with friends and family, LED lights and diffuser to make my stay comforting and feel like home.”
Athena Hair (Year 3, business)
Exchange in University of New South Wales, Australia
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COMFORTABLE SHOES
“I make it a habit to walk around George Washington University’s city centre campus, where classes and food courts are accessible. In fact, we are only a few minutes’ walk from the White House. My friends and I also hiked along the Great Falls in Virginia and explored the US’ great national parks.”
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PHOTOS OF EVERYDAY LIFE
“I’ve been taking many, many photos of random and mundane things, not just the attractions. I want to remember the small details like the apartment I lived in or the time spent with my university friends.”
Mohamed Nur Hazim (Year 3, computer science)
Exchange in George Washington University, United States
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GYM KIT
(Strength training belt, knee sleeves, wrist wraps and liquid chalk)
“I’ve been powerlifting for three years. It’s an outlet for me to release tension and any stress I may be feeling. My kit isn’t readily available, so I brought my equipment over.”
<< Bring home <<
CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY BELT
“This is a belt I need to wear to every class. Thai university students wear uniforms here, which I found surprising. It took a while to get used to wearing a uniform again. It can feel nasty when my shoes or pants get wet, even up to the mid-calves, during Bangkok’s monsoon season.”
Kim Zi Jie (Year 4, public policy & global affairs)
Exchange in Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
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SOUVENIRS FOR FAMILY
“I’ve been buying postcards, keychains, banners and magnets. I try to get a souvenir from each major place I’ve visited.
I initially had some concerns about going to North America, having heard news of discrimination against Asians. However, after being in Canada for the past few months, this belief has changed as I’ve found the people here rather accepting of diversity.”
Yap Shen Hwei (Year 3, computer science)
Exchange in University of Waterloo, Canada
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FLØDEBOLLER
“I volunteer after class at a non-profit organisation called Specialsport.dk. The founder introduced me to this Danish chocolate-covered marshmallow sweet that tastes really good.”
<< Bring home <<
SHEEP POSTCARD
“I met a cute sheep during a site visit to The Open Air Museum at Lyngby for my history of technology class. I decided to buy a postcard of her and frame it up. The postcard is now on my desk and ‘accompanies me’ while I study.”
Gong Deyang (Year 3, civil engineering)
Exchange in Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
This story was published in the Sep-Oct 2023 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
