Checking into my dorm was..stressful! I had a minor heart attack when I couldn't find my passport, thinking I lost it at the aiport. Luckily it all worked out and I moved into my new room in Hall 10. I was not so pleasantly surprised upon entering a room that was extremely messy and dirty on my roommate's side..also, upon encountering bugs and ants, I once again had a minor heart attack.
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Luckily, I found help in the caring heart of Suyin, my first Singapore friend. A sweet, innocent, and gentle soul, Suyin helped me that first night try to find a phone, and we met up the next day for her to show me around campus, help me get a phone, eat lunch at Cant A, etc. If it wasn't for Suyin, I may never have made it through.
During my mild depressive episode, I talked to my family who made me feel better and encouraged me to not let the culture shock get the best of me. Also, if it wasn't for the kindness of Yee Poa Poa and Uncle Arthur, I also may never have made it through! Spending the next few days being treated like American royalty, I spent invaluable time with my dear grand aunt and uncle, going shopping, eating at delicious restaurants, eating sweet fruits, learning all about the Beng family, sleeping in my own double bed on the third floor of their house, and being waited on hand and foot by their maid, Theresa, I was, to say the very least, spoiled.
Me, Uncle Arthur & Yee Poa Poa
Coming back to camp NTU after spending time as a princess is always tough, but I was in a much better frame of mind. Excited to meet all of the new exchange students at today's orientation, I could hardly wait to get back to school. The orientation was so much fun. There were about 400 exchange students from all over the world there. Everyone was lost and didn't know anyone else. Everyone was vulnerable and anxious to meet and talk to anyone and everyone. The variety of accents, dialects, and cultures was overwhelming. I couldn't even begin to process the amount of diversity that was right in front of me. The first person I met was Marko, from Finland. Tall, shy, blonde, and extremely nice, we met walking over to the lecture hall, unsure of whether we were even going in the right direction.
Next, I met Susana, from Mexico, probably the sweetest, funnest, most genuine girl I have ever met in my life. You can't help but love her!!
After the orientation, we all went to eat a huge Chinese lunch buffet and chat and mingle. Of course, as I'm standing there eating my food and talking to Daniel, my chinese friend from Australia, I dropped my entire plate of food on the ground. Quite a way to start your exchange program, I know.
Soon I met Christina, from North Carolina, the true Southern Belle. After discovering we were in the same Hall just 2 floors apart, thanking god, and sharing our similar horrifying stories of our transition from the US to SE Asia, we became friends instantaneously. Next, I met Fernanda, but we call her Fern, from Mexico as well - a truly sweet and beautiful girl who shares my dying wish to visit Cambodia. Lastly, our little international group consists of Alexis and Melissa, also from Mexico.
So there we were, the 8 of us: Marko, Susana, Christina, Daniel, Fern, Alexis, Melissa, and Me, the food dropper, sharing stories and cultures and goals like none other. We are all going to travel together as a group throughout the semester, and talking about the different places we are going to go to - Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, etc - was incredible. After going to the International House to finish our registrations, we decided to meet back up later on that night for dinner and to take the MRT downtown to Clarke Quay to meet all of the other exchange students.
Christina and I devised our plan of trying to switch our local roommates and become roommates. We are on a mission to get our roommates to become BFF so that we can live together. I also met my roommate, Yingyu, from China, who came back from Taiwan after her holiday and gave me some Taiwanese candy. A sweet girl, who claims that she will be gone a lot because she is always in her boyfriend's room upstairs.
Anyways, Christina and I got ready - I met her mom on Skype - and we went off to meet everyone. Words can't describe how exciting it is to be with people who share your interests and openmindedness, who have ventured way outside of their comfort zones as well to experience a world so completely new and different from what they are used to. I can't even begin to say how comforting that feeling is, and how special it is to meet people who are just as thirsty for adventure as you are.
Our group went to Jurong Point by bus and MRT, and split up to eat dinner at the mall. I ate with Daniel the Australian and Fern the Mexican. How insane it is that 24 hours ago none of us knew each other existed, when we were then eating dinner together - all from very different parts of the world - at one table! The 4 of us girls - Christina, Fern, Susana, and I (2 Mexicans and 2 Americans) had a great time talking about anything and everything - from American stereotypes, to Obama, to American celebrities, to our "types" of boys, to the places we want to travel and see. When we finally reached Clarke Quay at about 11 pm, we were pretty tired, but walked along the beautiful Singapore River and the absolutely amazing lights and music and restaurants and clubs along it. In our first night in a country where you only have to be 18 to buy alcohol, the 4 of us girls sat on "the bridge" at the River talking and chatting and laughing as if we have known each other forever and sipping orange sodas.
The Girls: Fern, Christina, Me, Susana
On the MRT. Oh and that's Daniel the Australian
Love these girls!
After splitting a taxi ride back among 6 people (the MRTs stop running after 12) Christina and I lazily walked back to our rooms, exhausted. How I have the energy to write this right now I have no idea. It is 3am and I am practically sleep typing, so I will end here. I am so happy, so excited, and truly blessed to have this experience..
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