Chloe LowThe Jan 30 release of the postings for GCE ‘O’ level holders and the impending graduation of many GCE ‘A’ level and polytechnic students amid a poor economic climate unreceptive to job-seekers has brought up an obvious question:
Where to next?
For many of us it’s a dream to further our studies overseas. The thought of cooler climates, western cuisine, wild college parties and all the freedom one might have from being so far away is certainly very appealing.
The falling values of the sterling pound, US and Australian dollar make these options more attractive to parents than ever.
However, is going abroad to study really as fun as it sounds?
UrbanWire peeks at the lives of a couple of Singaporeans studying in the United Kingdom (UK).
Low Yim Tong, 19, is a first-year undergraduate at the London School of Economics (LSE). Every morning at six, Yim Tong wakes up in a freezing 70sqft room with no heating. Not used to the cold, Yim Tong often wears double layers of socks to prevent her feet from getting frost-bitten by the icy dorm flooring.
Waiting for the common bathroom to be available is an everyday affair and can sometimes drag to an hour. The bathrooms are made up of several shower cubicles with curtains in place of doors. Showering can be quite an experience. On an unlucky day, Yim Tong can find herself in the midst of a cold shower due to a faulty heating system. After washing up, Yim Tong makes her way down to the dining hall for breakfast.
“It takes some time getting used to the food over here,” said Yim Tong. “They serve this oat meal porridge for breakfast which is something like the Chinese porridge you get back in Singapore except that it is very sweet and even now I still can’t get used to it.”
Carrying her heavy text books, her laptop and bag, Yim Tong sets off on her 20min daily trudge to the campus.
Lessons in the UK usually start at 9am. Short days entail one hour of lessons and on long days lessons can last till 7pm. Reaching the end of the day is the highlight and as a foreign student, it’s the time to let loose and explore the attractions of Great Britain.
However, going out in the UK is not as convenient as one might expect.
One reason for many students wanting to go abroad to study is the desire for more freedom. In reality, however, this might not be the case.
Even with the exchange rate becoming more favourable, with the higher cost of living, it’s difficult for a student studying in the UK to get around.
Yim Tong tells us, “One thing I hate is not being able to lead a free life here as I would in Singapore.”
She explained, “When walking past shops you are unable to buy small things that you fancy or even travel wherever you like. Even sports and outdoor activities are expensive!” Yim Tong exclaimed.
Therefore, Yim Tong usually spends her afternoons studying in her room or attending extra school talks and workshops on CV writing etc.
JocelynChng, 19, is a fellow Singaporean studying at Warwick University. She tells us, “The weather in the UK is very unpredictable. One minute it could look like the perfect day with no clouds in the sky, the next it is raining cats and dogs.” Therefore when going out in the UK, in addition to school books, an umbrella is indispensable.
What about food?
“Dining out is no good either,” said Jocelyn. “Due to the high costs in the UK, it makes it very difficult for Singapore students to dine out. Even at Macs!”
A Big Mac for 13 pounds?!?!? That is almost S$26!
That’s why most foreign students in the UK have to settle their meals by cooking for themselves.
“We are forced to cook here as it is the cheapest alternative. However it doesn’t always turn out very well…”
When studying abroad, most students have to keep close tabs on their budget. “We have to be conscious of the items we buy when grocery shopping,” said Jocelyn. Food with longer shelf life like canned baked beans and sourdough bread is often a popular choice.
In addition, “Unlike Singapore where there is always a convenience store or supermarket around the corner, grocery shopping in UK is irritating as the stores are usually pretty far away.”
Kitchens found in the dorms would probably send shivers down Martha Stewart’s spine. Many a time Jocelyn takes close to half an hour to just light the stove. And if the stove refuses to light up, she is resigned to cooking her food in the microwave oven. “When you cook eggs in the microwave they turn rubbery and disgusting, but there’s nothing a little salt will not fix!” Jocelyn chuckles.
“It gets dark pretty early, and the nights are quite long in the UK,” she added.
One of the major drawbacks of studying abroad is definitely homesickness.
“It happens, especially on long nights, when you just wish you weren’t here, and back home in the company of friends and family,” laments Jocelyn.
Being so far from home, Singaporean students usually join university-based Singapore student societies to cope with their longing for home.
“They have Singapore-themed fairs over here and the members of the society sometimes host pot-luck dinners with local food to satisfy our craving for good ol’ Singaporean dishes!” Yim Tong shares, “It’s no Newton Hawker Centre, but under those circumstances even laksa cooked with milk and Coke satisfies the most desperate taste buds!”
To sum it all up, studying abroad definitely has its perks. However, one must be aware of the downsides of being so far away from home before rushing to commit to an overseas university.
“It’s hard, and one must be prepared to sacrifice creature comforts we usually get at home. But I have no regrets. The friends and experiences I make over here are more than worth it!” concludes Jocelyn.