Seah Tiong Kiat
Class of 2017
Majoring in Sociology
Overseas Exchange at Concordia University, Canada
Doing an international exchange is not just about having fun and travelling. Being away from home for so long carries with it its own set of problems and discomforts. I have felt homesickness, loneliness, and had to learn how to live independently the hard way. Feeling out of your skin is something that comes along with international exchange. But at the same time, it is through these various forms of discomfort that have helped me grow in ways I could not if I stayed in Singapore.
I recently went for an exchange at the University of Concordia in Montreal, Canada. It is a city university that is highly similar to SMU. Montreal’s climate is the opposite of Singapore. People joked that there are three winter seasons in Montreal, because winter temperatures typically lasts for eight months. In January and February, it could get colder than -30 °C!
Partly because of the climate, life in Montreal is very different from Singapore. Going outdoors is like going on an expedition, where you have to put on three to four layers of clothing, gloves, and boots, yet still feel cold when the wind blows against your face. The snow appears beautiful at first, but can turn into a slippery road hazard and dirty slush that gets stuck on your shoes all the time. The worse part of it, the sun sets at 4pm and you feel sleepy before you are finished with dinner.
Domestically, life is different in the smaller details. The necessity of using a heater results in the corresponding necessity of knowing its safety precautions. I was surprised to find out that fire is a common problem in freezing Montreal, with heaters being one of the leading causes. Also, rubbish is only collected a couple times a week, unlike the convenient centralised rubbish system that we are so accustomed to in Singapore. Living in a foreign country may seem charming and attractive, but it also entails the need to learn and make many small changes in daily life that may create inconvenience.
While there may be many unpleasant things accompanying life on exchange, they have made me grow in ways I could not while living in Singapore. For one, I have learnt to cook not just well, but also fast, which is necessary when I want to be punctual for class, wake up late, and still have a good breakfast. I have also learnt to drive in the cold, speak a foreign language, and take care of my own apartment. It is through being forced to live independently that I learnt to do many things on my own.
Last but not least, international exchange is never the same without the friends you make in another country. For me, it was not just the locals, but the other exchange students from all around the world that made my experience in Montreal. Although it was difficult at first, due to the multiple accents and cultures, we got closer through outings and meals over at one another’s places. They taught me so much more about other countries, cultures, and lives. They became my family away from family. Most important of all, they showed me how much it matters to have people whom you feel close to no matter where you go.
Potluck with the other exchange students
For those of you who are going for exchange or planning to go on one, my message to you is a simple one. Exchange is not just learning about other countries, but more so about learning to appreciate what we already have. I have learnt to appreciate family whom I can always rely on, and friends who are always with me. You lose both of these when you are alone in a foreign land, and building a network of close relationships from scratch can be a tough thing to do.