Yap Shien Tah

Class of 2017
Majoring in Psychology and Organisational Behaviour & HR

“Hey, where are you heading to for exchange? Lithuania? Where is that?” my friends often enquire with a puzzled look on their faces. To be honest, I had personally never heard of Lithuania as well, until I applied for exchange to the ISM University of Management and Economics. For the benefit of everyone, Lithuania is located along the Baltic Sea, in between Poland and Latvia. It is a young nation as it only gained independence in 1991 after exiting the Soviet Union. Nonetheless, as I came to find out, it still has deeply rooted cultures and traditions.

So why did I choose Lithuania? I chose it precisely because of its unfamiliarity. The exoticness of Lithuania intrigued me. The very idea of being able to experience something unique convinced me to immerse myself in a foreign culture I have minimal knowledge about. I believe stepping out of your comfort zone is what going on exchange is all about – Exploring foreign lands, cultures, and developing a global perspective in the process. 

A trip with the International Students Network to the Trakai Island Castle, with the frozen lake in the background

During my exchange, I met people from all over the world, and all walks of lives. Some of them were friendly, while others seemed aloof. I even encountered one or two explicitly discriminatory acts. Yet, from time to time, you experience the good-willed nature of a stranger and that is what matters. For example, someone notifying you that your boarding pass has fallen to the ground, or voluntarily offering you directions. It is actions like these that leave an indelible mark on you.

Once, when I was travelling to Šiauliai, a city up north of Lithuania, I met an elderly man when he sat beside me on the train. He had a head full of silver strands, wore a wrinkled smile, and carried an old backpack. We exchanged a friendly glance, and I was about to fall asleep when he initiated a conversation in Lithuanian, a language I was not very familiar with. Unfortunately, he was not fluent with the English language either. However, we managed to communicate through bits and pieces of both languages, eye contact, and hand gestures.

We shared some basic information, like where we were from and where we were heading. Moreover, he took the liberty of getting up several times during the train ride to retrieve his backpack from the overhead compartment, pulling out maps and items to aid our conversation. For instance, he pointed out where he lived on the map and where I could go to take a bus to my destination. His sincerity and amiability was something I would never forget.

As our conversation came to a pause, he started reading an English-Lithuanian book about the countries of the world. Right there and then, I realised that I was sitting beside a man that exemplified a lasting desire to learn. Furthermore, he could easily have ended the conversation at any point of time, but chose to communicate with a stranger despite the language barrier. He not only reminded me of my aim to adopt an open mind-set, but to also explore cultures bravely.

This brings me to the idea of adopting a global perspective. A global perspective is very much advocated by SMU. But what exactly is it? I believe that it is up to us to define it. As we gain new insights, we shape the meaning of a global perspective in our minds. To me, it means to have the ability to see past labels and differences – be it cultural or interpersonal differences, in order to gain a better understanding of the situation presented. It also allows us to leverage on such differences, to be open to novel ideas, to respect one another, and to see life in a different light.

If you are unsure of what to expect during your exchange semester, do not worry about it! Just figure out your main aims, and take on the semester with an open mind and an open heart. Go forth and realise your global perspective!