I am a mix bag of emotions right now because it has been 23 days since I left Singapore and I am now 4 days away from leaving Asia. First, I am incredibly sad because I really love this region of the world. I learned a lot about each and every country and more importantly, I discovered parts of myself and my own identity. I am also beaming with gratitude because not only did I get to live and to immerse myself into Singaporean culture for 4 months, but I also got the opportunity to travel around the region. I have met so many incredible people and I have made countless memories. From hanging out with sheep at a sheep café in Seoul to wolfing down rolls upon rolls of pho cuon in Ho Chi Minh City to spending Chinese New Year with family in Guangzhou, each experience has shifted my outlook and has challenged me to be reflexive.
Months ago, I was a bit nervous to move to Singapore and I was worried about surviving in a new city and being away from home for another 5 months. However, in hindsight, I really do think that my experiences at Northeastern have prepared me well because co-op in Seattle taught me to live independently. It made for a smooth transition to settle in one new city (Seattle) to the next (Singapore).
Ultimately, it was the right choice to study abroad because I cannot emphasize enough how life altering the experience was. I feel so different because I am humbled by the amount of knowledge out there in the world. I also am grateful for Singapore Management University’s hospitality. The students there are incredibly intelligent and kind, so I would highly recommend attending SMU for a semester. All in all, these five months were unforgettable and one day, I aspire to move to Asia.
