Tiffany Meng

Tiffany Meng

Major: Urban Studies

Q&A

What led you to study abroad? Why did you choose your country/program?

I wanted to broaden my horizon by participating in an exchange program. I chose Singapore because of its Western culture. I didn't want to experience too much 'cultural shock'.

What was the most interesting cultural experience you had abroad?

I watched 'River Dance" and drank Guinness during my time in Ireland

What was the biggest challenge/concern of your study abroad experience? How did you respond?

The intense heat and humidity of Singapore. I dealt with it through endurance.

Describe a typical day for you abroad.

Get back 8am in the morning, have breakfast in my hall, go to classes or library, have lunch in one of the food canteens on campus, go to classes or library again, go swimming, have dinner in my hall, workout in school gym and/or chill with friends (mostly other exchangers), go to sleep.

What coursework did you take while abroad? How did courses abroad compare with Berkeley classes?

History and Theory of Southeast Asia Architecture,
Managing Singapore’s Built Environment,
Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction Design,
Seen and Unseen: Explorations in Balinese Theatre
I think classes I took in NUS were relatively more challenging.

What was the most memorable/meaningful aspect of your time abroad?

Definitely traveling to different countries
During my time in Ireland, I spent most of my weekends visiting other countries, which include UK, Netherlands and Germany. And during my time in Singapore, I spent some of my weekends and reading week visiting nearby SEA countries such as Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

What impact did studying abroad have on you personally?

I made tons of self-improvement, such as independence, time management and self-discipline. During my time abroad, I kept reminding myself that "putting yourself in a new and unfamiliar situations can be hard, but these are the moments when you grow the most".

What would you recommend to students considering studying abroad, especially to your country or program?

Take advantage of Singapore's cultural diversity through actively forming friendships with local and international students.