Perspectives from our exchange students
Three exchange students reflect on their time at Yale-NUS
This semester, Yale-NUS College is hosting a diverse group of 53 exchange students from Asia, Europe and beyond. For some exchange students, the College’s residential life with its close-knit community is vastly different from their home schools, while for others, a semester abroad at Yale-NUS is a chance to experience Singapore and try new activities or explore opportunities unavailable at home. Either way, every experience proves to be a unique and cherished episode in their lives.
We speak with Hung Nguyen from Duke-Kunshan University in China, Amir Sultanbekov from Aalto University in Finland, and Pablo Lopez Basurco from University College Utrecht in the Netherlands who shared with us their favourite moments on and off campus.
Hung decided to do his exchange at Yale-NUS College because of his interest in the College’s Psychology programme and the opportunity to work on psychology research here. For Amir and Pablo, Singapore serves as a gateway to an unexplored region, allowing them to immerse themselves in the rich culture and history of Southeast Asia. As Amir shared, “Having never lived in Asia before, I wanted to explore the culture and life here – and escape the European autumn!”
Hung (third from left, first row) with the Yale-NUS men’s football team at the Inter Faculty Games earlier this year. Image provided by Hung.
Nevertheless, all three were drawn to Yale-NUS’ vibrant student community and residential life, which offers numerous opportunities for exchange students to immerse themselves in College life.
Hung fondly recounted participating in the ‘Makan Makan’ food exploration series organised by the College’s Student Affairs Office, where he was able to sample Burmese cuisine cooked by a Yale-NUS College student in a small restaurant-style setting and learned sign-language whilst sipping a bowl of pho (Vietnamese soup dish) at a restaurant run by a Vietnamese couple who are deaf. He also relished the chance to play at the Inter Faculty Games with the Yale-NUS badminton and football teams, sharing that he would “always cherish the time when we fought as a team for the blue shirt we take pride in”.
Amir has been spending the semester exploring Singapore after landing in the country on National Day and participating in the festivities spurred his interest to learn more about the island-state’s history and culture. One of Amir’s favourite excursions was the College-organised visit to the Singapore Night Festival in August, where exchange and local students alike wandered through the streets of Bras Basah and Bugis, interacting with local art, cuisine and architecture. On campus, he also enjoyed attending coffee-roasting sessions at Elm College, hosted by Associate Professor of Science (Neuroscience) Ajay Mathuru, with whom Amir is taking Foundations of Neuroscience. “I have never studied the subject before, and I am fascinated by it! Prof Ajay is an amazing professor and the class is great!” he said.
Pablo was inspired by his Yale-NUS classes to explore the region beyond Singapore and has participated in various experiential learning opportunities.
In late September, he went on a field trip to study traditional Balinese dance in Bali, Indonesia. The field trip, organised by Associate Professor Irving Johnson from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Department of Southeast Asian Studies, will culminate in a dance drama titled “Sutasoma: The Journey” on 17 November, where the participants will perform with their newly acquired skills.
He shared, “The great academic quality of Yale-NUS, especially in anthropology, encourages me to view the world from a more open and diverse perspective, and so far, the experience has surpassed my expectations!”
Pablo performing at the Balinese Full Moon Ceremony on his field trip. Image provided by Pablo.
Regardless of where their pursuits them – within College walls or beyond Singapore – our exchange students cherish the community they have found at Yale-NUS, and are eager to make more memories together with their friends before the semester ends.
