Ahrreby spent a term in Singapore studying at the Nanyang Technological University.
A beautiful view from my one-day quarantine hotel, surrounded by scenic bike paths, charming cafés, and peaceful riverside streets.
Bugis, a vibrant district bursting with colourful shops and delicious bites from every cuisine—made even more special by my first outing with a fellow exchange student who became a close friend!
My host institution, Nanyang Technological University! On the left is the iconic Hive, with its funky design, tutorial rooms, and lush greenery.
The view from NTU’s art building, of the rest of the art building! The campus scenery was absolutely stunning.
An outing with my new exchange friends to an exhibit of Gardens by the Bay: Cloud Forest. It was so refreshing and cool within this dome.
Visiting Pulau Ubin, a small island off Singapore’s northeast coast! What started as a small hike organized by a fellow UW exchange student turned into an unforgettable adventure with 80+ exchange students joining that day!
The Singapore River, framed by the legendary 5-star Fullerton Hotel.
Ready to start the most scenic bike ride of my life, from Marina Bay to East Coast Park with fellow international and exchange students from NTU!
Standing in front of Lord Murugan’s statue at Batu Caves. This was during my one-week trip to three Malaysian regions during exam season: Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, and Penang.
Ahrreby, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Co-op
Q: Why did you choose your host country and institution?
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I knew I wanted to return to Asia after too-short vacations in Japan and South Korea, and Singapore offered me the chance to consciously explore Southeast Asia for the first time. NTU Singapore was also one of the few Asian universities offering a Kinesiology/Sports and Exercise Science–related program that aligned with UW’s semester calendar, making it the perfect fit.
Q: What was an average day like in your program?
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Lively and unforgettable, NTU stood out for its stunning blend of modern architecture and lush greenery, convenient free campus shuttles, and engaging lectures and tutorials. Joining a CCA allowed me to explore new Indian dance styles and genres, while the friends I made and the warmth of the staff and students made the experience truly memorable..
Q: What was one of your favourite experiences from your time abroad?
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One evening at sunset, my new friends and I rented bicycles by the Singapore Flyer and rode through the city as day turned to night, passing the glowing Marina Bay Sands skyline and its reflections on the river before heading to East Coast Park and back. It was exhilarating and heartbreakingly beautiful—a fleeting moment I knew I could never experience in quite the same way again.
Q: What was it like to live and learn in another language? (If applicable)
- N/A
Q: Were there any challenges? If so, how did you overcome or cope with them?
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Incredibly hot! I am a lover of snow and autumn so I was battling the waves of heat rolling over me everyday. I learned to adjust my habits to walking slower to conserve energy and taking more than one cold shower a day to keep cool. I was still sweating a lot but it helped.
Q: Did any of your experiences challenge the assumptions you held about your host country or culture?
- N/A
Q: Has this exchange helped you personally, academically or professionally?
- This exchange helped me discover how deeply I love travel, cultures, and languages. I found myself surprisingly comfortable in unfamiliar cultural environments, eager to learn about people’s stories and perspectives. Beyond discovering my passions, I discovered my own strengths—the ability to connect deeply, make lasting friendships, and love wholeheartedly when my heart feels freest and fullest.
Q: What were your experiences like when you returned home? Did your understandings about your own life or reflections on your experience change after you came back to Waterloo?
- Returning to Canada was surprisingly jarring; I found myself missing Singapore’s efficiency, warmth, and strong sense of community, and noticing how often individualism, complaining, and rudeness stood out to me. Even months later, I still compare the two countries and recognize how deeply societal values shape everyday life. And, of course, I was hilariously shocked by how cold my own home felt after becoming accustomed to Singapore’s tropical heat!
Q: If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
- Nothing! I luckily met the best people, made the best friends, took the best courses for me, and had the best experiences that I could possibly have. Everyday I felt so fortunate to be where I was.
Q: Do you have any advice for Waterloo students thinking of studying abroad?
- 100% go for it. It is a long process from application until departure, but it is so worth it. As cliché as it sounds, it will really help you discover your best self and have the most fun you could have in your young life. Even if you don’t expect it, priceless moments will come to you naturally. Travelling to nearby countries and social gathering swill be much easier now too, as the pandemic is slowly making its exit.