September 2010 - National University of Singapore

A publication on overseas educational opportunities
September 2010
A Cultural Voyage in a
Metropolitan City
by Lee Shu-En
B.Soc.Sc. (Sociology)
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Class of 2011
Hosted by NUS for the first time, the 8th ASEAN
Youth Cultural Forum (AYCF) was held from 7 12 June 2010. The event was organised by the
ASEAN University Network (AUN) and co-hosted
by IRO and the Centre for the Arts. There were 16
different universities under the AUN from Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and
Singapore which sent delegates to this event.
This year’s theme - “City, Technology and Tradition”,
created a platform for participants to broaden
their understanding of different cultures and bond
with fellow participants in spite of their linguistic
barriers. As a student liaison, I got the unbeatable
deal of being able to mingle with people of various
backgrounds and immerse myself in diverse cultures
over a five-day event.
The participants were truly impressed by the
workshop by Mr Peter Sau on ‘Multi-Cultural
Immersion in Asian Cultures’ where they were
exposed to excerpts from four Asian classical art
forms – Noh (Japan), Beijing Opera (China), Wayang
Wong (Indonesia) and Kudiyattum (India). They also
gained new insight into the use of commercially
available technology to record, edit and execute
sound design elements for live performances in a
workshop on the use of Audio Technology for Live
Performances, conducted by Mr Jeffrey Yue – sound
designer for the National Day Parade 2009.
As part of the field trip, participants explored historic
sites in Singapore such as the Padang, Kampong
Glam, Little India and Baba House, and soaked up
new cultural knowledge. A refreshing excursion was
led by us Student Liaisons one evening to places such
as Lau Pa Sat, where the delegates were exposed
to Singapore’s gastronomic delights; the Victoria
Concert Hall, where a tour was conducted through its
inner premises; and lastly the Merlion Park, where the
participants wrapped up a long day with breathtaking
views of Singapore’s beautiful city skyline and Marina
Bay. It was immensely enjoyable to play host and guide
these foreign delegates around the various attractions
in Singapore.
Participants viewing cultural artefacts
During the Closing Ceremony, the merging of
“City, Technology and Tradition” was beautifully
exemplified by the intriguing performances given
by the participating universities. Teams from
varying universities with diverse strengths were
paired together to put up a total of eight exciting
performances for the Closing Ceremony. I watched
amazed as the participants mashed two cultural
dance styles together while at the same time
integrating the theme of the Forum into their final
performance with aplomb despite having only two
days to prepare.
As a student liaison, I had the great pleasure of
interacting closely with the delegates from the
different universities, guiding them around NUS as
well as introducing them to the sights and sounds
that Singapore has to offer. I believe that I speak
for my fellow student liaisons to say firm friendships
were forged regardless of nationality, race or cultural
differences. The 8th ASEAN Youth Cultural Forum
was not only a resounding success, but a most
memorable event, with memories that will stay with
all the participants for a lifetime.
Performance at the Closing Ceremony
Group photo with various delegates
Beyond the
Glitterati of
New York City
Glamorised by Hollywood movies, famed by
shows like “Sex and the City” and “Gossip Girl”,
New York City has captured the hearts and
imaginations of millions all around the world as
a city bursting with energy, opportunities and
fashionable high-rollers. I was not spared. The
Big Apple’s reputation awed me and attracted
me to take up an unpaid internship with the
Asian American Federation (AAF), a non-profit
organisation based in NYC.
Having completed my Student Exchange
Programme at the College of William and Mary, I
flew to NYC to begin my internship with the AAF.
My knowledge and understanding of NYC was
not only deepened but was completely reshaped
as my internship experience exposed me to
another side of the city.
AAF engages itself with fund-raising efforts and
research on behalf of the Asian community,
especially with the struggles of immigrants
seeking a better life in NYC. Far from the financial
might of Wall Street, high culture of downtown
Manhattan or the glittering lights of Times
Square, my work dealt with the fouler side of the
city. Within the glitterati and razzmatazz, lays an
impoverished Asian community struggling to deal
with a new environment, floundering to make
ends meet.
by Mok Zhi Rong
B.A. (History)
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Class of 2011
Through my interactions with member agencies of
the AAF, I was presented with a story of blood, sweat
and tears of Asian immigrants, a story not associated
with NYC. I not only understood numerous issues and
challenges faced by the Asian community in New York,
I learnt about the stereotype that Asians are associated
with. A stereotype, that contributes to their struggles.
Asians are thought to be the “ideal minority”, to
be academically inclined, brilliant and therefore,
well off. However, through my interviews
with social workers, the reality stood in stark
contrast to this mistaken perception.
Street view of Manhattan Chinatown
The truth was that, many Asian adults in NYC did not
possess sufficient language skills. Some of them are
not even able to fill up forms to request for government
financial assistance or to even navigate their way around
hospitals. About one-fifth of the Asian community lived
below the poverty line in the Big Apple.
In retrospect, I led the life of a college student, which
was a fruitful experience. I also experienced United
States as a tourist, which was fun-filled. And my
final experience as an intern opened my eyes to the
“invisible” struggles of life in the city that proved to be an
enriching and meaningful experience. To have had the
chance to experience all three? Priceless.
Seafood stall set up in Manhattan Chinatown
Sheena Tan’s enthusiasm over Korean
culture motivated her to apply for a
Student Exchange Programme to South
Korea. Little did she know, her love for
everything Korean granted her a memory
she would never forget!
Interview by Lulu Marlya
B.Soc.Sc (Sociology)
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Class of 2010
Armed with a year’s experience in
Korean language classes, Sheena,
currently a fourth year Communications
and New Media Major from the Faculty
Sheena and her friends at the
of Arts and Social Sciences, set off to
Asian Campus Summit
attend the Korean University in the spring
of 2009 as part of the Student Exchange Programme. Knowing that this
would be a “once-in-a-lifetime experience”, she documented her weekly
travels and new experiences on her blog, furnishing it with lots of pictures.
For her, it was a way for her Singaporean friends to be updated with her
life and for her to create a memory-document for herself.
In June 2009, Sheena was given an opportunity to attend the “Asian
Campus Summit” from the Korean University International Relations
Office. Together with six other Singaporean students, Sheena attended
the 3-day seminar which gathered other students from ASEAN memberstates who were also studying in Korea. The seminar was run parallel with
the ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) CEO Summit. Conducted on the
picturesque Jeju Island, Korean and other ASEAN students engaged in
discussions and cultural exchanges. Singapore Idol, Taufik Batisah was
there to represent Singapore, where each ASEAN country presented a
performance during a dinner.
Filming on the train to Nami Island
A “REALITY
TV” STAR IN
KOR E A!
– AN
INTERVIEW
WITH
SHEENA
TAN
The biggest highlight of the summit for Sheena was the walk with the
First Lady of Korea and ASEAN CEOs at “Lonely Rock” (oe-dol-gae).
“It was really tight security and there was so much media attention! But
everyone had an opportunity to talk to her.” That first brush with the
media was not going to be Sheena’s last.
Following the summit, Sheena maintained a close relationship with
the Presidential Council of Nation Branding (PCNB). She assisted
them with camps and conducted forums and seminars on blogging
and photography etc. Three days before she was due to depart for
Singapore, the PCNB decided to do a 30-minute documentary about
foreigners living in Korea.
Filming went on for four days, “It was strange! Having three cameras
following me and my friends all the time, caught attention from the
general public especially while shopping in Myeongdong. Didn’t help
that I looked similar to a Korean celebrity at that time.”
From her experience, reality shows are never completely spontaneous.
Even though the producers and directors gave her freedom to decide
her itinerary for the day, she constantly had to speak Korean. If English
phrases were used, she had to explain it in Korean as the target
audience was mostly Koreans.
The hassle of changing her flight to a later date was a non-issue since
she was presented with a big farewell dinner, had a whole day trip to
“Nami Island” (site of the popular Korean drama “Winter Sonata”) and
even managed to catch a baseball match. “A baseball match is a mustgo activity in Korea!” Sheena insisted excitedly.
Getting up-close with the First Lady of Korea
Up till today, Sheena maintains close relationships with the new friends
she made in Korea, people in PCNB and continues to express her
enthusiasm for Korean culture in the form of K-pop, which includes
music and dance.
Group photo with the panel speakers for Leadership and Effective Governance Seminar
Time in the two weeks of the APRU (Association of Pacific Rim
Universities) Undergraduate Summer Program progressed in a
peculiarly surreal manner. I had been waiting fervently for this
programme to come. Interestingly, when it did, it felt illusory initially,
as I believe it would be for everyone else who abruptly came to be
encircled by a group of foreigners. The first two days, Day Zero and
Day One, crawled by languidly, with everyone still alien to each other.
However, time soon sped by as we attended seminars after seminars,
and as we reached new levels of friendship. Progressively, we had
begun to forge bonds that led us from distant, unknown strangers to
become, ultimately, a close-knit APRU family.
If anyone had asked me, prior to this programme, what I would have
expected to acquire from this undergraduate programme, my reply
would have been: diverse exquisite friendships, an enhancement
to my resume, and definitely, novel insights on leadership. Posed
with the same question in the present, and my response will be:
understanding. I gained a plethora of understanding, whether in
terms of global perspectives or on different paradigms of leadership
from innumerable leaders in different fields. My exposure to different
cultures allowed me to assimilate and understand their multifarious
philosophies of life, and from the entire programme, I achieved a more
comprehensive understanding of Singapore.
In my view, the most significant and noteworthy part of this
summer programme is how I got to learn about Singapore and her
different mechanics of sustainability and development. We had
talks and seminars touching on variegated subjects, with some
as abstract as, “Leadership through as the Arts” to Leadership
in environmental development. These subjects confronted the
dispositions we had on the mechanics of leadership and added
an element of consideration in terms of sustainable development,
a term constantly reiterated throughout by different speakers.
The insights gained were holistic, and towards the end, I believe
everyone, including myself, gained a better appreciation of
the Singapore society, as much as in terms of leadership.
a tribute
to my
APRU
EXPERIENCE
by Jacqueline Owyong
B.Soc.Sc (Sociology)
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Class of 2013
My favourite component of this programme is actually the
workshop on “Facilitation Skills for Leadership”. We were
introduced to leadership, in a subtle albeit contemplative
manner, via a series of four evening workshops. Through a
(literally) painful introduction and specific case studies, my
outlook towards leadership was transformed. On my part,
I felt compelled to analyse the careless generalisations that
I had made about leaders in different settings. Before the
workshops, most of the delegates (myself included) possessed
very idealistic views of society and leadership which were
radically challenged in a meaningful manner. The four sessions
thus provided us with more maturity and insight in our thought
process.
Of the interaction with the foreign delegates, the most
memorable aspect was the minute details of the moments we
shared together: waiting at the entrance of Prince George Park
Residence (PGPR) every morning for two weeks, while our
leader pestered everyone for their buddies; singing gaily to the
old classics by Britney Spears and “Stand By Me”, coupled
with learning “the jerk” (a dance move) in the open spaces of
the residence and not forgetting the numerous hand games
taught to us by our Japanese counterparts, which filled the gaps
between courses and meal-times with laughter and amusement.
Finally, our attempt at a language course for everyone to learn
the slangs/language from different groups was a momentous
gathering. It was a cultural exchange indeed.
Farewell Dinner – Display of diversity in the 5th APRU Undergraduate Summer Programme 2010
At the end of the two weeks, all of us felt like we had known
one another for a long time. As most of us departed in tears,
we agreed that this was only the beginning of our friendship. In
these two weeks, I was within and without – both a Singaporean
and a tourist away from home discovering my own home. It was
here, in this APRU undergraduate programme that I truly earned
a wondrous experience to treasure and behold.
JUMP
START!
by Oh Hui Cheng Yvette
B.Soc.Sc (Psychology)
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
University Scholars Programme
Class of 2012
Photo taken with my fellow Jumpstarters and the kids
Participating in the Student Exchange Programme (SEP)
is like embarking on a journey filled with new adventures
and experiences. My SEP experience at the University of
California, Irvine was one such extraordinary journey that
was exciting, enriching and enjoyable at the same time.
I remember snowboarding for the first time at the top of
a mountain and experiencing for myself the thrills of a
Latino wedding. My most vivid memory, however, was of
the time spent at Jumpstart!
Jumpstart is a leading nonprofit organisation in the field
of early childhood education. Its mission is to cultivate
a child’s social, emotional and intellectual readiness for
school, to establish the foundation for success. Trained
college students work with under-served preschoolers for
a full school year to help these children develop essential
language, literacy and social skills together with the
teachers and the family.
I was excited to work with the children from the 3-5
year age group. We had weekly seminars and team
meetings to plan for the twice-weekly group sessions
with the preschoolers. On top of that, we assisted the
teachers during their classroom time. These sessions
were especially useful for newcomers like me, who
had no prior knowledge of the American education
system. At the same time, I picked up invaluable skills on
communication and interaction with children.
A typical Jumpstart children group session consists of
several activity timeslots that are designed to allow the
children and teachers to interact. From Snack Time,
Circle Time, Reading Time to Choice Time, I bonded
with my partner child over a myriad of activities. I saw
firsthand the progress made by the children that I have
interacted with over the course of a semester. That was
the most meaningful and enjoyable part of this journey.
My name spelt by my partner child!
NorCal Adventures: Learning & Living in the
Berkeley Community
by Amelia Chia
B.Soc.Sc (Political Science)
Faculty of Arts and Social
Sciences
Class of 2011
Picnic lunch with interns and board members of UNA-USA East Bay
Imagine taking up a part-time internship with an international nongovernmental organisation, taking courses conducted by brilliant
professors, getting to know people who come from Europe, the United
States and South America, or living in a house with 59 strangers. Now
imagine doing all that at the same time, and you would have formed an
impression of my unforgettable experience at the University of California,
Berkeley under the Student Exchange Programme (SEP).
I took a module in Global Peacebuilding: Service Learning and Civic
Engagement and during the lessons we discussed issues pertaining to the
efforts required for the creation of sustainable peace zones – imagining a
peaceful future, conducting an overall needs assessment, developing a
coherent peace plan, and designing an effective form of implementation
for the plan. To fulfill part of the requirements for the course, we also had
to complete a part-time internship programme that would provide us with
opportunities for service learning and actual work-life experience.
I took on an internship at the United Nations Association – East Bay
Chapter, and my job was to host the organisation’s first International Career
Lunch at Santa Barbara with friends from school
Fair and Forum. The aim of this event was to educate the youth about careers
in international development, international law, human rights and also to
increase youth involvement with the East Bay chapter of UNA-USA. We had
speakers who have had careers in the World Bank, Peace Corps and United
Nations to share their tips and experiences, and to answer questions during
the small-group discussions. My interest in helping fellow undergraduates
with career development and experience as a NUS Career Guide with the
NUS Career Center proved to be extremely relevant and useful for this project.
I can envision the success of an adapted version of such an event in other
national UNA-USA chapters, and even the implementation of a similar project
in Singapore with UNA-Singapore and the NUS Career Center.
Living in “cooperative student housing” was most enriching. Basically I stayed
in a large house which students from different colleges lived together, sharing
a kitchen, living room and study room. I made friends with international
students from different parts of Europe, the Middle East and South America.
Learning and living in the Berkeley community was truly a once in a lifetime
experience that left a deep impression on me. Here’s my advice – go on a
journey of your own too, and make an extraordinary experience out of it.
Introducing For The Very
First Time…
The Peer Advising
Programme!
Everyone needs a PAL!
So you have secured your place at one
of the 180 partner universities. You are
excited about the prospect of spending
1-2 semesters away from home. But
what’s next?
Here at the Peer Advising Programme,
we have Peer Advisors (we call them
PALs!) to answer your queries and
share experiences that are specific to
your destined country or university.
They have been there and done that –
just ask them anything!
Become someone else’s PAL!
You are strongly encouraged to join
the Peer Advising community upon
your return. As PALs, you will have
the opportunity to give back. Become
buddies with incoming exchange
students, participate in exciting Peer
Advising Programme activities, and
share your wealth of knowledge with
other NUS students interested in
student exchange.
Check us out at http://www.
nus.edu.sg/iro/nus/students/
prog/peeradvising/index.html.
Remember to join us on Facebook
and follow us on Twitter @
NUSPeerAdvisors!
http://www.facebook.com/nusstepout
UPCOMINGEvents
IRO has lined-up a whole series of exciting Internationalisation at Home (i@home)
events to promote international awareness and build global citizenry among the NUS
community. So be sure to mark your calendars!
Event: Discover Germany
– Land of Ideas
Date: Wednesday,
8 September 2010
Time: 11am – 5pm
Venue: Central Forum
Event: Middle East Day
Date: Wednesday,
15 September 2010
Time: 10am – 5pm
Venue: Central Forum &
Central Library Theatrette
Event: A Student Celebration China, India and You
Date: Tuesday,
26 October 2010
Time: 11am – 5pm
Venue: Central Forum
Discover German culture,
food, games and why
Germany is the “Land of
Ideas” by joining us in this
event jointly organised by
the German Embassy and
IRO. There will also be
fantastic prizes given away.
Come and experience the sights,
sounds and flavours of the
Middle East! There will be dance
performances, mini-workshops
and demonstrations to showcase
the richness and diversity of
the Arab, Turkish and Persian
cultures. Learn about important
cities and their achievements
through our exhibition, lectures
and panel discussions.
Find out about the array of
cultural, study and business
opportunities in the two growing
Asian powers - India and China.
Try your hand at Chinese
calligraphy, tea appreciation and
henna painting. Speak to your
peers who have gained first-hand
insight in these countries. Win
exciting prizes by participating in
the quiz and logo competition!
Please visit our website www.nus.edu.sg/iro for more details.
UPCOMINGProgramme
THE WASHINGTON CENTER INTERNSHIP
Deadline: September 18, 2010
Internship period: 22nd Jan – 8th May ’11
LATEST
TWC internships offer an extensive selection of programmes ranging from advocacy, service
and arts programmes to political and business programmes. Participate in the Leadership
Forum that will give you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet distinguished leaders from
the business, nonprofit and government sectors as well as the diplomatic community. You
can also expect to attend The President’s Lecture Series and Embassy Visits Programme.
For a complete list of available internship programmes, visit IRO website
at http://www.nus.edu.sg/iro/nus/students/prog/internship/index.html
Internship inquiries should be addressed to Ms. Mai Chu at iroctm@nus.edu.sg.
International Relations Office
3rd storey, Unit 03-03, Shaw Foundation Alumni House
11 Kent Ridge Drive, Singapore 119244
Tel: (65) 6516 4356 Fax: (65) 6778 0177
Website: www.nus.edu.sg/iro
Company registration No: 200604346E
Editorial Board:
Leong Wai Yee (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
Lulu Marlya (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
Ng Kai Ling (Faculty of Engineering)
Ulric Sin Wei Yuan (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
Lim Mei Mei (IRO Manager, Marketing & Communications)
Kuar Kah Huay (IRO Management Support Officer, Marketing & Communications)