~May Your Light Shine :D~

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

this is a letter i wrote to Today, a newspaper publication in singapore. not sure if it will be published, but just wanted to share with you all...

As a Singaporean studying overseas, the challenges that international students here face, is an issue that is close to my heart as I am able to empathize with them. Going overseas to study, is not just a matter of geographical relocation, we also bid farewell to our family and friends.

Many international students suffer from homesickness, especially if our host country is vastly different from our home country. Just imagine being all alone, without a familiar face by your side, adjusting to the demands of a tertiary education. The price of your favourite local delights like Hainanese chicken rice is at least double or triple that in Singapore and you may have to travel 30-60 minutes to find a place that sells it, only to find it tastes nothing like what you have in Singapore. Regardless of how much you may like other types of food, going for months without the comfort of local food can be very depressing. The feeling of isolation is exacerbated if the locals do not speak a language you are fluent in.

Most students like me, learn for the first time how to look after ourselves when studying overseas. Independence is a double-edged sword that could mean being away from the watchful eyes of our parents as well as having to be responsible for day-to-day living, like cooking, ironing, grocery shopping and budgeting, things that we may never have to worry about if we stayed at home. The lack of parental supervision may sound like a dream to some. However it could also result in being exposed to harmful influences, with nobody to stop us going onto the wrong track.

It is with deep sadness that I read about how a parent worries for her child’s well-being in school and other negative feedback about how we Singaporeans treat international students. I do not wish to believe that this is the norm, but I feel that we, especially local students, can do more to ensure that our international students have fond memories of their studies here.

One of the greatest joys for me as an international student in Australia is not only being able to get to know Australians and their culture, but also the multitude of other nationalities that have congregated there, including Japanese, Zimbabwean and Pacific Islanders. It is truly an eye-opening experience but one does not have to study overseas to experience it. You can do so staying in Singapore by simply befriending an international student. Trust me, it will certainly be rewarding, at the very least, you would have gained a friend.

Having interacted with the locals in Australia, I can also understand their point of view. Some of them do not know how to approach us international students. A number have never travelled outside Australia and may be afraid of interacting with us lest they offend us. However, I have taken the initiative in getting to know them and have since forged many friendships.

Cliques occur everywhere and are definitely not limited to schools in Singapore. It is a natural human instinct to group with others who are similar to oneself, hence the proverb, “birds of a feather flock together”. It takes a considerable amount of effort to get to know and develop relationships with another from a different background to oneself. University life is hectic and fast paced, which makes it unsurprising that many, both Singaporeans and foreigners alike, would choose the easier path of hanging out with one’s own countrymen.

There is nothing essentially wrong with that as sometimes cultural preferences (for example, the pub culture in Australia is not my cup of tea as I am allergic to alcohol), makes it difficult for those of different backgrounds to develop close bonds. However, assimilation and integration is a two-way process. Both local and international students have to be willing to broaden their horizons and have the eagerness to learn and accept each other’s differences. Being culturally exclusive is similar to being a frog in a well that refuses to accept the existence of a world beyond the well.

Lydea blogged at 7:59 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...