Q1. Please introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Son Ji-hyun, and I am 21 years old. I am majoring in English Language and Literature at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU). After my first year at SKKU, I applied for the student exchange program. Now, I am studying at the Singapore Management University (SMU) as an exchange student.
Q2. Why did you choose Singapore?
When I first applied for the exchange program, it was unclear whether I could go abroad because of the severity of the pandemic. So, while I was looking for countries where the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was not that serious, Singapore caught my eye. First of all, I found it interesting that even though Singapore is an Asian country, it uses English as its official language. This meant that I could communicate with others easily without having to learn an entirely new language just for the exchange program. Singapore is also famous for its cultural diversity; its population mainly consists of Chinese, Hindu, and Malaysian people. As the exchange program would be a chance in which I could indirectly experience such diverse cultures, I chose to study in Singapore.
Q3. Why did you choose SMU?
I mainly chose to study at SMU because of the school’s location. My family currently lives in Singapore, and SMU is only six bus stops away from home. So, I can easily commute to school. Also, since SMU is located in the middle of the city, I can easily access various entertainment and cultural facilities, including famous restaurants and landmarks. Moreover, SMU’s buildings have been recently built, and the school has excellent infrastructure; there are escalators in the building. Also, not only are all the buildings interconnected underground but the subway station is also connected directly to the university. I was also attracted to the fact that the school is connected to a large park.
Q4. How is your life at SMU?
So far, my life at SMU has been very satisfactory! Last semester, I met students from various countries; talking with friends from entirely different cultures was very interesting. I usually go to class and hang out with my friends on weekdays; the weekends are generally reserved for sightseeing. On the other hand, it is a little burdensome that all the courses are three hours long and consist of team activities and seminars, but I am trying to adapt to the school. I am looking forward to another semester at SMU!