New horizons in New Haven: Study abroad experiences at Yale University

As a first-time visitor to both New Haven and the United States, I embarked on my Study Abroad Semester with nervous trepidation and anticipation, excited to begin my time at Yale University.

When applying for my Study Abroad Semester, I was interested in attending Yale due to its academic rigour and vibrant residential life, and happily I was not disappointed by either!

As an Environmental Studies major with interests in environmental justice, my courses in Global Environmental History with Professor Sunil Amrith and Environmental Justice in South Asia with Professor Kalyanakrishnan Sivaramakrishnan, both renowned experts in their fields, proved to be an enriching academic experience. Building on the strong foundation laid at Yale-NUS College, these courses have allowed me to delve deeper into specific areas, such as South Asian environmental issues. Attending conferences like “The New Perspectives on Energy History” conference organised by Yale’s Environmental History Department and the weekly South Asia Studies Colloquium also provided me with many opportunities to meet and engage with scholars in various academic fields of interest and learn more about developments in these fields. Additionally, being in close proximity to the Yale School of the Environment, where I hope to apply for graduate studies in the future, was particularly enlightening as I was able to attend discussions on contemporary environmental issues and meet with career advisors to learn more about pursuing a career in this field.

At an event organised by Yale’s Agrarian Studies Program honouring prolific political scientist James C. Scott (centre at table), whose work featured in many of my Yale-NUS syllabi! All images in story are provided by Sheriah Peries.

I was also grateful to participate in events on contemporary topics of significance, like the “AI and Algorithms in Government” conference organised under the Yale Institute of Social and Policy Studies (ISPS), which tackled questions on understanding, integrating and governing the use of Artificial Intelligence technologies in Government and Policy-making institutions, and “RebLaw”, a conference organised by Yale Law School on providing legal support for social justice issues, which included panels on environmental racism and anti-colonial struggles.

Amidst these academic pursuits, I also found time to explore Yale and New Haven; joining new communities and engaging in student activities at Yale has been instrumental in making meaningful connections with my peers, and discovering new experiences. Residential life, while similar to Yale-NUS College due to the communal living setup, is much larger in scale; Yale has 14 residential colleges for undergraduates! I was placed in Benjamin Franklin College, and I enjoyed partaking in the numerous activities available throughout the semester, including their pottery studio, where I developed my skills on the pottery wheel, and joining the Franklin Intramurals broomball team with my suitemate. The Yale Intramurals, an inter-residential college athletic programme where teams compete in different sports to gain points, allows anyone to participate regardless of experience, which is how I found myself making my debut for Benjamin Franklin College at broomball, a combination of ice hockey and soccer, skidding across Ingalls ice rink to hit a ball with what appeared to be a hockey stick in my shoes (not ice skates!). This was my first foray into winter sports, and I truly enjoyed the experience!

A group picture at our Y-VISP goodbye ceremony, held at the Yale Farm. Sheriah is first from right in the front row.

The Yale Visiting International Students Program (Y-VISP) also organised outings for current and alumni Yale-NUS students, such as a field trip to Mystic, a quaint New England seaside town, and a visit to the touring production of “Hadestown”, an award-winning musical, at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, where we were able to spend time with the Yale-NUS community despite our busy schedules. Another highlight was touring the Yale Farm with the Yale Farm Manager Jeremy Oldfield, whom I first met during Yale-NUS Senior Visiting Lecturer Dr Linda Puth’s Ecology of Food course last year, when he met with us online to discuss sustainable farming. These activities allowed me to discover more of Yale beyond its academic opportunities, while helping me make new friends at Yale too.

After the spring semester ended, I stayed on at Yale to take summer courses with the support of the Yale-NUS Academic Scholarship. At the same time, I also assisted the Yale Environmental Humanities Department to conduct research on New Haven’s environmental history. Overall, I find that my time at Yale has fostered a strong support network and enriched my academic journey, laying a solid foundation for my future endeavours.