Asia Semester Programs Spring Semester

Food Power of Singapore

Submitted by Riley Hazel the 2024 Spring program in Singapore, Republic of Singapore…

Singapore is a super small country bordering Malaysia and one of Indonesia’s islands. It doesn’t have much sustainability on its own despite being such a popular and rich country. The island of Singapore is so small with its overpopulation, that most of the island is buildings with little to no room for farming of any kind. Therefore, imports are always needed, and alongside that come higher prices. Now, if you go to the market and get a pack of ground beef, it will be about $25 Singapore dollars. On the other hand, if you get a hamburger and chicken combo with rice and veggies from the well-known, and almost Michelin star hawker centers, then it will cost you $10 Singapore dollars. This is a massive difference in prices for just a meal, which is why most of the country focuses on eating out at these centers rather than spending a fortune on food at home. I’ve experienced this myself, and wow, the food at the hawker centers is just fantastic. Sometimes you’ll find Michelin-star food stalls, other times you will find ones you think deserve a star, and all the meals typically cost less than $10 Singapore dollars. I’ve realized this and have exclusively eaten out ever since I came to Singapore. Hawker centers are air-conditioned or open-air food centers with stalls that serve a variety of cheap but amazing food. First-hand experience, I’ve loved every bit of trying the multitude of Singaporean cuisine this country has to offer from these centers, The best part is, that I may spend just $30 Singapore dollars a day on meals, which is an insanely low price when you look at it. This astonishes me, as despite having access to farms and food within America, prices for such food are more expensive than even in Singapore. This is one of the great things about Singapore I’ve learned so far. (Submitted on March 28, 2024)

Singapore Work Culture

Submitted by Riley Hazel the 2024 Spring program in Singapore, Republic of Singapore…

I’m finally in Singapore working as an Intern within the country. It’s an exciting experience and something I’m super happy about. This country is vastly different from America and Australia in culture and laws. However, as I’ll be working in Singapore as an Intern, I have learned about the different work cultures here. For the most part, the biggest factor is the slogan, “Work till you die.” While that may exist in cases within the States, work is your life over here and everything you do should be focused on it. I’ve noticed that boundaries are kept regarding clock ins and outs, but even then if you’re on the clock, it’s all hands on deck, no messing around. It’s a very serious working environment, much different from what I’ve experienced back home. Another thing is that there is a high superiority complex in Singapore as well as in most Asian countries. A rookie will simply not talk to the boss about projects, nor talk back to them about issues unless advised to. It’s vastly different from the U.S. as it’s both an individual and group-based work environment, compared to Singapore where the collective is more important than the individual. Everything is super serious over here even when breaks are handled, such as days would be 9 am to 6 pm as lunch is not considered a working hour. Life is also super fast-paced as everything needs to be done in short time lines, but its also super organized. It’s crazy to see how downsides can quickly be turned into positives over here, but then again the work culture is stressful. A lower employee can’t give as much feedbac k on a project as back home in America, and even then it’s hard to move up in the chain without respecting that. Thats’ the work culture I’ve seen so far, and it’s really interesting to see it all at work. (Submitted on March 26, 2024)

Singapore’s Efficiency

Submitted by Navleen Kaur the 2024 Spring program in Singapore, Republic of Singapore…

I arrived in Singapore this past week to start the next part of my program: the internship. Many things shocked me in Singapore. Even though my dad and close friends had told me a little about their experience visiting Singapore, I did not register the information fully until I arrived in Singapore and saw things firsthand. Firstly, Singapore is a very modern and trendy city-state. The airport in which I first landed and all the malls and nightlife I saw during my taxi ride to my residence surprised me. I had been told that Singapore is technologically advanced, but I didn’t know it would be so efficient, clean, and beautiful. On the first full day I had, I went grocery shopping and a small robot wandered the aisles of the mall! I am not sure what the purpose of the robot was but I think it is fascinating that Singapore is already starting to incorporate robots into people’s daily lives. Furthermore, the mall culture is very strong here. Because Singapore is near the equator, it is usually around 90 degrees Fahrenheit; however, the humidity makes it feel like 100. If it is not extremely hot and humid, it is pouring rain. So, most Singaporeans have developed two hobbies: eating and shopping. We are living in Orchard Parksuites which is located in the most high-end neighborhood. Here, fancy malls are selling a range of things from Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Burberry, and all other luxurious brands. On the basement level of these malls is what we know of as the food court. Some malls in Singapore have Hawker Centers in the basement while others have fancier restaurants and dessert shops. Where I live, there are mostly fancy restaurants and dessert shops nearby. Moreover, the eating-out culture is serious here. Before getting here, my dad did tell me that most people in Singapore prefer to eat out because food is very cheap here while groceries tend to be on the pricier side. He said that most people only have kitchens for a show (some apartments do not even come with a kitchen) as no one cooks. I started going to Lau Pa Sat and other Hawker centers near me and found such good quality, tasty, and inexpensive food. For some context, you can get a full meal at the Hawker Centers for $7.50 which is about USD 5 (and this is the expensive Hawker Centers). I have been told that the Hawker Center in Chinatown sells food from $2-3 Singaporean dollars! Lastly, I have noticed that the subway culture is very proper and strict here. In the mornings, it is important to stay silent in the subway. This means no talking on the phone. Furthermore, people line up in front of the subway doors instead of pushing and shoving or standing wherever they please. Everything is formal and people are considerate. Even when you are going up or down the escalator, it is important to stay on the left-hand side and leave the right-hand side free for people who want to walk up or down quickly. I am so excited to explore and learn more! (Submitted on March 24, 2024)

Vietnam: A Self-Reflection of Buddhism

Submitted by Riley Hazel the 2024 Spring program in Singapore, Republic of Singapore…

Vietnam: Communism and Religion

As a practicing Catholic, you would expect me to stick to churches. However, I try to explore other religions, respect them, and learn what they teach to understand them better. This week, I went on Spring Break to Vietnam and Thailand, but here I wanted to talk about Vietnam, a communist country, and its religion. Unlike China, which extremely restricts religion, Vietnam embraces religion, although about 14% of the population practices something. The most common religion here and in most of Asia is Buddhism, more specifically Mahayana Buddhism with half of the 14% practicing it and the rest being Catholic. However, when I was touring the country, I came upon a temple with massive statues of the reclining Buddha, happy Buddha, and standing Buddha. I learned that the reclining Buddha is calm in death, the standing Buddha is teaching, and the happy Buddha means prosperity. While at the temple, simply walking around the temple and seeing all the worshipers of Buddhism astonished me. The quietness, the respect by taking off shoes in each area, and the prayer across every statue were wondrous. While most view Buddhism as a religion, I view it as more of a philosophy of life in how we as humans can learn to be better based upon the past teachings of others. While reading the teachings of the Vietnamese Buddha who reached Nirvana, the pure afterlife of Buddhism, I understood that life is about the struggle, it’s about the ups and downs. It only isn’t until you realize the good in everything that you can learn to be as free as the Buddha. This journey of understanding and learning was able to further support my philosophy of life and for that, I’m grateful. Vietnam in the end, is a vastly communist country with propaganda everywhere, it doesn’t feel much like it, even when it comes to religion. (Submitted on March 15, 2024)

Beauty of Queenstown

Submitted by Navleen Kaur the 2024 Spring program in Singapore, Republic of Singapore…

I spent this past week in Queenstown for my spring break! I had been to Queenstown with my family a few months back; however, I knew I wanted to revisit because Queenstown is one of the most magnificent places I have ever visited. I had covered a lot with my family including nearby towns Arrowtown, Wānaka, and Glenorchy. So, I chose to stay in the heart of Queenstown for six nights and fully explore all this town had to offer. I spent my first day wandering around Kiwi Park which is a wildlife sanctuary with many bird species. As part of the entrance fee, I got to learn more about the kiwi bird – a national symbol for New Zealand – from a specialist. Furthermore, I got to participate in the conservation show in which specialists shared more interesting details about numerous reptiles and birds native to New Zealand. We also got to see these animals close up! The next day I visited Milford Sound which is located in Fiordland National Park. This is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it was amazing to learn more about how this site is a fiord (formed by glaciation) and not a sound (formed by flooding of a river valley). I did the two-hour cruise and got to see all the magnificent steep mountains and cascading waterfalls. My group was lucky enough to spot a full rainbow, dolphins, and seals – who were lounging on a huge boulder. During my time in Queenstown, I also boarded the TSS Earnslaw which is the only working commercial coal-fired steamship in the southern hemisphere! The cruise was amazing as we got gorgeous views of the mountains on either side of Lake Wakatipu. We also got treated to a fantastic BBQ lunch with numerous vegetables as well as dessert options. Afterward, the day ended with a sheep shearing and herding demonstration. In my free days, I loved walking around Queenstown Gardens, exploring the cafe scene in this town, and enjoying treats at Fergbaker. I had an amazing time, and I cannot wait for more adventures in Singapore! (Submitted on March 15, 2024)

Indigenous Acknowledgement in Sydney

Submitted by Josiah Taylor on the 2024 Winter BUAD program in Thailand/Australia…

Growing up in American public school systems, we read lots of histories and accounts about the mistreatment of Native Americans. They were forcefully removed from their land and zoned into special reservation areas. Though many of Native descent now live across the US, assimilated into American society, original land ownership is rarely recognized. When it is, in township names or University statements, it’s a “nice to have,” rather than an expectation.

In Sydney, during my two weeks here, it has seemed quite different. Though our countries share similar histories of British colonization, it seems the expectation that native land is remembered and acknowledged. Tour guides and company representatives preface tours with an acknowledgement of the local tribe. The Aboriginal flag has also flown alongside the Australian flag above the Sydney harbor bridge since last year. This may be a more recent movement and, for all I know, it could be contained to the nearby area of Sydney, but it’s shocking and fascinating to see how wholly a country can embrace and recognize their troublesome past in order to move towards better relations with indigenous people.

This is not to say the Australian people have it perfect. Australia Day, much like our Columbus Day, has been met with floods of protests and controversy in recent years, some are even calling it “Invasion Day.” However, it is fascinating to see how quickly they’re progressing in this movement as compared to the US.
I do believe America is headed in a similar direction as it grows increasingly more important to recognize and uplift marginalized groups, but it will be interesting to see how, due to cultural differences, we will approach it differently. (Submitted on January 30, 2024)

Final Week of India

Submitted by Madeline Greenly on the 2024 Winter ENGL program in India …

We have arrived back In Delhi, and finally got to experience the many shops and long winding streets that are Old Delhi. There are many things to see here, and it was pretty overwhelming at first. Very quickly I took to liking it. Old Delhi is exactly how I pictured all of India to look, just from all the stories I have heard from people and the pictures I have seen on the internet. It’s packed, fast paced, exploding with colors, sounds, and speeding rickshaws. We got the opportunity to visit Jama Masjid, which is one of the largest Mosques in India. It was absolutely gorgeous. We had to remove our shoes to enter and don some robes over our clothing. Afterwards we braved the streets, weaving in and out of the crowds and stopping quickly to buy Knick knacks, spices and tea.

After old Delhi we were off to Agra, where the famous Taj Mahal is located. There is really nothing that could have prepared me for the sight of this thing. Shah Jahan was the emperor that commissioned the Taj Mahal to be built, in honor of his favorite wife. It was built with walls surrounding it so that the building is not visible until you are directly in front of it. It was huge, with stunning white marble inlaid with many precious gems and stones. Flowers were carved into the walls, the petals gleaming with vibrant colors. We took hundreds of pictures, none of them really doing the building justice. Many pictures were taken of us as well. By this time we were accustomed to it, so we told many people to kindly delete them.

Following this we visited Agra fort, which was bigger than it looked on the outside. Many places were blocked off and were being used by the Indian military. We were shocked to learn what we had only explored about ⅓ of the entire fort. The same flowers and stones that decorated the Taj Mahal also appeared in the craftsmanship of these walls.

Next, we were off to Jaipur. Here we tried many Rajasthani dishes, and watched a bollywood movie called Fighter. It reminds me a ton of Top Gun, except this film had two amazing dance scenes. The whole movie experience felt more like a broadway show than a movie theater. People were cheering, taking videos with their phones, and there was even an intermission. While in Jaipur, we also visited the Amer Fort. This place was massive, located on top of a huge hill. We ran around in the upper levels of the fort, looking down from the fort’s walls at the many tourists below. Many people had come there to take pictures for their engagements. They donned wedding attire, and posed with each other romantically in the beautiful curving archways. We also visited the Monkey temple, Hawa Mahal, and the royal palace.

Soon we will be leaving India. We are back in Delhi currently, and we will explore more of Old Delhi today for more shopping. I’m going to try and find the oldest perfume shop in Delhi today. Crossing my fingers…

I have learned and experienced so much while studying in India. Each day has been jam packed with activities and traveling. Being with such a small group, 7 girls total, has been so much fun. I believe the friendships I made on this trip will continue through my lifetime. I am always going to miss the mountains we climbed, the momos we ate, and the people we met. I have had the privilege to explore so many places in India thanks to our amazing professor Dr. Barua. I fully plan on returning to India one day! (Submitted on January 29, 2024)

A Day with the Elephants

Submitted by Bethany Pasmore on the 2024 Winter DIST program in Thailand …

Well, my study abroad trip to Thailand has come to an end. It has been an incredible experience – one that I will never forget. My favorite activity this week was our visit to an elephant sanctuary called Into the Wild in Chiang Mai. The elephants were very friendly and fun to be around. First, we helped feed the elephants bananas and watermelon. I was surprised to watch them gulp down unpeeled bananas. They could eat so quickly! One of the younger elephants named Grace was especially greedy. She would quickly take as much food from people as she could, even if she was still chewing what was in her mouth! I enjoyed feeding her the most. After some pictures, my group went on a scenic hike up a nearby mountain with the elephants. We enjoyed following their lead and watching them interact with one another. Afterwards, we returned to the main part of the camp and ate lunch. The lunch consisted of various native fruits, chicken and potato curry, and papaya salad. It was delicious! Then, we learned about medicine balls. According to their caretakers, elephants need to eat medicine balls composed of various natural herbs to aid their digestion. So, we mashed up a concoction of sugar cane, tamarind, grains, bananas, vines, etc. to feed the elephants. After eating a few medicine balls, the elephants were led to a mud pit, where we gave them a mud bath. The tour guides enjoyed throwing mud at each other and smearing mud on our backs. Now that we were all muddy, everyone ran to the water and jumped in. The elephants joined us for some swimming as well! The highlight of my experience was being able to ride on one of the elephants while she was swimming. It was extremely fun! Overall, the elephant excursion was a unique experience that taught me a lot about caring for elephants. I will miss Thailand and the beautiful Asian elephants, but I hope to return there one day! (Submitted on January 29, 2024)

How to Come Unprepared for Your Trip

Submitted by Ava Malkin on the 2024 Winter DIST program in Thailand…

A night market in Bang Sean Beach, Chon Buri, where we would walk around with the locals

Before this trip, I researched Thai foods I had to try, clothing expectations, and practiced a few everyday Thai phrases. I bought proper attire– modest, covering shoulders and knees, yet light for the weather– so that I met the cultural standard. I was able to try lots of street food, such as pad thai and Tom Yum, with knowledge before about which foods were spicy or had a different protein than I was used to. Additionally, I expected there to be a language barrier during many of our academic and cultural excursions, so my classmates and I learned a few key phrases to help us communicate. Although we did rely on Google Translate for a few encounters, we tried our best to rely on our general language skills to have conversations.

The prior research was incredibly helpful, but it was more important to simply exist in the culture and take in every moment. My classmates and I said “yes” to every opportunity for a new experience and prioritized curiosity. We coined the phrase “When in Thailand…” frequently to push ourselves out of our comfort zones to enjoy the new culture. Every day was another opportunity to learn, so we always felt interested and asked questions along the way wherever we went. My best advice is to understand that some things cannot be solely textbook-knowledge. A lot of the information I learned was street-knowledge, or picked up along the way! I saw how people treated one another, how they shared a smile at every opportunity, or how they moved about their day. This was the most exciting part of the trip, the constant acknowledgment that I am one tiny part of the massive world, and I still have so much to learn. I acclimated just by riding the MRT (subway) or walking around a market, observing the interactions between Thai people rather than reading about it on a page. Our trip was filled with culture shocks and new experiences, but I enjoyed every moment of it. Reflecting on my study abroad in Thailand leads to feelings of immense gratitude in understanding that I have grown and developed so much in these last few weeks. The journey, however, is not over! I look forward to many more years of travel, and many more years of wisdom to be discovered. (Submitted on January 28, 2024)

Bihu Celebrations

Submitted by Meghan Rogers on the 2024 Winter ENGL program in India …

Our transport to Assam (Guwahati) was a bit rocky at first in the Bagdogra airport. A gong would go off multiple times an hour calling flight boarding gates and any status updates. The volume had one level and it was LOUD. With only 2 boarding gates and many flights departing, the airport was chaos. Once we finally touched down in Assam, we were then transferred to our homestay family where we will spend the next week or so! The homestay is a completely immersive experience in and of itself. On our second day in Guwahati, we visited the Kamakya Temple and received vermillion blessings. The temple was amazing with stands outside lining up to buy beautiful jewelry, nicknacks, and scarves.

The family that two of the other girls and I are staying with has a 5 story private K-12 school in their backyard and 5 labradors roaming around the outdoor campus. Because the Assam harvest festival, Bihu, was on the 14th and 15th of January, our host family held a festival at their school for many of the high school students to perform traditional songs and dances including drums and flutes. All of the girls were wearing red and cream traditional saris with a bright red lip and the boys wore cream dhotis with a headpiece. The performances were breathtaking.

Prior to the festival, we had mentioned to our host family that all of the girls in our study abroad program would be interested in taking some sort of traditional dance class. One of the dance teachers was available a few hours before the festival and offered to host a 2-hour class for us. We had such a fun time and picked up the dance fairly quickly. Toward the end of the class, our dance teacher, Arpana, slipped in that we were going to be performing at the harvest festival alongside the students, we were floored, laughing so hard in disbelief. Two hours later, we were on stage with over 200 people watching us dance.

After having a late night, we were off to Kaziranga National Park the next morning for a 3-day reset. Once we arrived at Diphlu River Lodge, we were welcomed by hospitable staff, luxurious huts, and a buffet lunch on the outdoor patio. There were elephants with barback mounts riding them throughout the resort with lambs and cows roaming freely. The Diphlu River Lodge is a beautiful resort with amazing accommodations and beautiful views. Diphlu also held a Bihu celebration with incredible performances and a delicious barbeque by the fire pit and dining hut. While in Kaziranga we saw over a hundred rhinos, hog deer, water buffalo, and many more animals. The safaris that we went on were absolutely amazing and lasted anywhere from 3 to 5 hours each. While we were most excited to see a tiger, we unfortunately never crossed paths. We got Swedish massages and enjoyed a very fun and relaxing stay. After 3 days and two nights in Kaziranga, we began our return to Guwahati. We stopped for a roadside coconut and continued on our way to begin our service work with the Parijat Academy. (Submitted on January 29, 2024)