Written by: Queenie Lim
Edited by: Soh Ying Qi & Dominic Koek
Photos by: Queenie Lim
Exchange University: Tilburg University
“A lot of people describe exchange as a life-changing experience, and for me that holds true as well. Besides having to be independent in terms of making travel decisions, you have to be independent in the daily ways of life.”
I had a liberating exchange experience because I got to embrace the laidback culture in Europe, which is something that Singapore does not offer. Most shops close on Sundays and no shops remain open for 24 hours, which may seem like a bad thing at first. However, when you adapt to their non-hectic lifestyle, it naturally becomes a way of life. In Paris, it is also common to drink with friends right after work since work ends on time. This is a stark contrast to our way of life in Singapore, where we work overtime and only have time to socialise from Friday evening till Sunday. I might be generalising, yet this is probably true for most work cultures.
Through this exchange experience, I’ve learnt to not be as competitive as I used to be. It is a good trait to be competitive. However, when I stopped comparing myself to others while on exchange (since there is no bell curve), it really does feel good and less stressful, in general.
The Impactful Moments: Meeting New People
While traveling around Europe with my friend, I got to meet so many new people through my stay at Air-BnBs and school. As an introvert, I thought meeting new people would be extremely difficult on exchange since I am shy most of the time. Despite this, I got to experience great hospitality from the hosts and learn more about the difference in cultures throughout Europe. I also made Asian friends in my Dutch class!
Tips for a Positive Exchange Experience
1. Make use of your European residence permit to get free (or discounted) access to museums and attractions.
This is especially useful if you are planning to visit many museums.
2. Use Flixbus discount codes (5 trips for €99) if you want to save on travelling within Europe.
If you are prepared to take buses across Europe, this would come in handy. Most plane flights aren’t that cheap (and I still have not figured out the price algorithm), and buses are the lesser of the two evils, anyway!
3. Travel light
Don’t think too much about Asian food. Don’t think too much about packing winter clothes. When you come in during the summer, you slowly adjust to the cold as the seasons change, so you would probably overestimate (while in Singapore) what you need on exchange. However, this is based on my experience in the Netherlands. You may want to think twice if you’re going to be in an area further up north!
There are also Asian markets around. It’s more expensive but you can opt to buy only what you need.
4. Use Olio if you want to clear your items before returning to Singapore.
Olio is an app that allows you to give away things that you don’t need to someone who needs it more. I didn’t manage to give away my stuff since people in the Netherlands don’t know much about it. However, I think it would be popular in London, as I’ve seen promotions about the application on the Tube.
About UniverSalPals
UniverSalPals is an initiative that invites students who have gone for the NTU-USP Study Abroad / NTU Global Education and Mobility (GEM) Explorer Programme for a semester to chronicle and share about their adventures, changes in perspectives, and growth paths on exchange. Living in a foreign environment for 5 months isn’t a long time, but you can’t say it’s short either. You’ll be surprised at how much a semester exchange abroad can teach you – both about the world and yourself.
