#ipentu

My time abroad was honestly amazing, and I would not trade it for anything else in the world. Going into this experience, I was nervous. Actually, I was very nervous. I was unsure of myself, unsure if I was making the right decision, and honestly just doubtful about the whole thing. But looking back now, I am so happy I chose to study abroad. I came out of it knowing I made the right choice.

During my time abroad, I met so many different people from all over the world, and some of them are people I still talk to today. I got to see places and experience things I never thought I would. I traveled, tried new foods, met people from different cultures, and learned a lot about myself along the way.

One of the biggest things studying abroad taught me is that the world feels a lot bigger once you actually go out and experience it. Before this, I had never lived outside the U.S. for this long. Being in Singapore and traveling around Southeast Asia changed the way I view the world and myself. It made me realize that I want to live abroad again someday, maybe for more than just a few months. I could see myself living abroad for a couple of years in the future.

It also taught me that not everything has to be perfectly planned out. I met people who were traveling for months at a time, figuring things out as they went, and still making it work. That opened my eyes a lot. Sometimes you don’t need a perfect step-by-step plan. Sometimes you just have to take the opportunity, go for it, and figure things out in the moment.

Housing at NTU

Housing was not included in my program as I originally expected, and honestly, I wish I had known a little more about the housing situation before arriving. NTU has many different halls, and depending on where you live, your setup can vary widely.

One thing I did not realize is that some dorms feel more open-air. For example, when you step outside your room, you might literally be stepping outside, not into an indoor hallway like you might expect at a U.S. university. Other halls are more like traditional buildings with hallways. There are around 16 different halls at NTU, and placement is somewhat random. You can request certain housing, but unless you have a specific reason, you may not get exactly what you want.

I started out in a double room, and my roommate was fine. Halfway through the semester, I ended up moving into a single. Part of the reason was that my double room was really hot, and the heat was irritating my eczema. NTU has an on-campus clinic, so I went there, got a doctor’s note, and was able to move into a single room. The single room was much better for me and a lot cooler.

In terms of food and cooking, you technically can cook if you want to. The dorms have pantries with microwaves and electric stoves for cooking. But honestly, I did not cook. I bought a mini fridge and kept simple things in there like apples, drinks, and yogurt. The canteens on campus are cheap and good, so you really do not need to cook if you do not want to.

Transportation

For transportation, I walked to class almost every day. I was pretty close to most of my classes, so it usually took me around 10 minutes to get there. Because of that, I did not really need to take the campus buses.

That being said, the bus system at NTU is not the best. In my opinion, it is worse than Michigan's bus system. The buses can be slow, so if you live farther from your classes, you should be prepared for that.

Getting from NTU into the city also takes a while. If you are not using a ride-sharing app like Grab, you usually have to take a bus to the train station and then take the train into the city. If you are going somewhere far, like the airport, it can take around two hours by public transportation. With a ride-sharing app, it might take only around 45 minutes, but of course, that costs more.

Academics and Class Schedule

Academically, my schedule was pretty light because I planned it that way. Most of my classes were on Monday and Tuesday, and I had one class on Wednesday. Because of that, I basically had a long weekend most weeks.

I would definitely recommend scheduling your classes that way if you study abroad. If you can get either Monday or Friday off, or stack your classes close together, it makes traveling so much easier. A lot of people study abroad to experience other countries, so having longer weekends really helps.

The academic experience was different from Michigan, but manageable. Since I’m a mechanical engineering student, I’m used to a pretty heavy workload, so having a lighter schedule abroad gave me more time to travel, explore, and enjoy the experience outside the classroom.

Campus and Community

NTU has many resources and community events on campus. There are hall events, group chats, clubs, sports, and activities. One thing they have is a tournament among all the halls, where they compete against each other in different sports, and the winner of each sport takes home a banner for the year. There are also various classes and activities, such as cooking classes and archery, that students can join.

I did not get super involved in those campus activities because I was more focused on traveling and exploring. Looking back, I kind of wish I had tried a few more of them, especially cooking or archery. But overall, I’m still happy with how I spent my time. I chose to prioritize traveling, meeting people, and experiencing Southeast Asia, and I don’t regret that.

Diversity and Finding Community

One thing I thought about a lot before going abroad was what it would feel like to be Black in Southeast Asia. I knew I would be a minority, and I expected that there would not be that many Black students around.

Surprisingly, I met more Black people than I thought I would. One of my best friends at NTU was a Black student from UC Berkeley, and early in the semester, we decided to start a group chat for Black students studying in Singapore. It was not just for Black students at NTU but also for Black students at other universities across Singapore.

The group chat grew to more than 40 people, which was really cool. We had beach days, game nights, and other small hangouts. That community made a big difference for me. It helped me feel more comfortable and more like myself. It was not that I did not want to meet people from other backgrounds, because I definitely did. But there is something comforting about having people around who understand a part of your experience without you having to explain it.

While traveling, I was often one of the only Black people in certain hostels, clubs, or tour groups. Sometimes I would look around and realize I was the only Black person there. Nothing bad happened, and people were generally fine, but it was something I noticed. I think it was something I had to get used to mentally.

At the same time, I would still tell other Black students to travel and study abroad. Do not let that stop you. Just be aware that you may be in spaces where there are not many people who look like you. For me, creating a community in Singapore helped a lot, and I’m really glad my friend and I decided to start that group chat.

Budgeting and Money

Budgeting abroad is something you definitely have to pay attention to. When you travel outside of Singapore, places like Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia are generally cheaper. Food is cheaper, ride-sharing apps like Grab are cheaper than Uber, and clothes can be much cheaper, too.

But even though things are cheaper, the money still adds up. If you take a lot of Grabs, buy a lot of food, shop, and go out often, it can still add up quickly. It is easy to justify spending because each individual thing feels cheap, but if you do that every day, it adds up fast.

Singapore itself is more expensive than a lot of the surrounding countries. The main thing that felt cheaper compared to the U.S. was food, especially at hawker centers and campus canteens. But other things in Singapore can be pretty expensive. So my advice is to keep track of your spending, especially if you plan to travel a lot.

Biggest Adjustments

The hardest adjustment for me was probably a mix of the language barrier, being far from home, and sometimes being one of the only Black people in the spaces I was in. It was not always bad, but it was something I had to get used to.

At first, I was nervous and unsure of myself. But over time, I became more comfortable. I learned how to navigate new places, meet new people, communicate even when there was a language barrier, and figure things out as I went.

That was probably one of the biggest lessons I learned: you are more capable than you think. A lot of things seem intimidating before you do them, but once you’re actually in the moment, you figure it out.

How Studying Abroad Changed Me

Studying abroad changed me in a lot of ways. I became more open-minded, more independent, and more comfortable with uncertainty. It also helped me see things from other people’s perspectives. Meeting people from different countries and hearing about how they live, travel, study, and think about the world opened my mind a lot.

As an engineering student, I think this experience helped me too. Engineering is not just about solving technical problems. It is also about understanding people, adapting to new environments, and thinking from different perspectives. Living abroad made me more adaptable, and I think that will help me in the future as an engineer.

I also learned that I want my life to include more than just one place, one path, or one way of doing things. I want to keep traveling. I want to live abroad again. I want to keep meeting people from different backgrounds and seeing more of the world.

Weeks 17 and 18 were pretty much the last two weeks of my study abroad experience, so things were starting to feel more real. I wasn’t doing any crazy last-minute traveling at this point because, honestly, I had already traveled a lot. During my time abroad, I visited five countries: Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. I went to Vietnam twice, visited Bali, went to Phuket, did the Ha Giang Loop, and spent time in Cambodia. So by the time these last two weeks came around, I felt like I had traveled enough and was ready to slow down a little.

Many of these final weeks were spent preparing for finals. I had one final on April 30th and another one on May 4th, so I spent a good amount of time studying and getting ready for those. It was pretty chill overall, but it was still strange having to switch from travel mode back into school mode. Since the semester was wrapping up, I had to make sure I finished strong academically before leaving Singapore.

After my final on May 4th, I had a couple of days to relax before heading back home. That gave me time to enjoy Singapore one last time, hang out with friends, and say goodbye to people before everyone started traveling or going back home.

One of the nicest parts of these final weeks was spending time with someone I knew who was also studying abroad in Singapore. They had family in Singapore, and I got to meet them, which was really nice. They were super welcoming and very smart, and they took me to a hawker center to try some classic Singaporean food.

That meal was one of the best meals I had in Singapore. I finally got to try chili crab, which is one of Singapore’s most famous dishes. It was so good. The sauce, the crab, and the whole experience of eating it at a hawker center made it feel like one of those meals I’ll remember for a long time. We also had a few other dishes, and everything was delicious.

I was also invited to dinner by one of my dad’s coworkers who lives in Singapore. I went out with their family, and they treated me to another amazing meal. This time I had more chili crab, pepper crab, and prawns. That meal was honestly some of the best food I had during my entire time in Singapore. Getting treated to two really good meals near the end of my trip was definitely a great way to close things out, especially because I didn’t have to pay, which made it even better.

During those final days, I also tried to fit in some last-minute exploring and food tasting before leaving. Singapore has so much good food, and I knew once I got back to the U.S., everything would be more expensive. So I made sure to try a few more dishes before heading home.

One meal that really stood out was Indian food, especially butter chicken. I had butter chicken during one of my last meals there, and it honestly convinced me how good Indian food can be. It was one of the best things I ate in Singapore, and I don’t think I’ll forget that meal anytime soon.

A lot of the final days were also about saying goodbye. I was saying goodbye to friends, some of whom were leaving early or traveling after the semester ended. It felt weird because these were people I had met only a few months ago, but after traveling, going out, and experiencing Singapore together, they became a big part of my time abroad.

I also spent time packing up and getting ready to leave. That part was strange because Singapore had started to feel familiar. At the beginning of the semester, everything felt new: the campus, the food, the weather, the transportation, and the city itself. But by the end, it felt like I had built a real routine there.

Looking back, these last two weeks weren’t the most eventful in terms of travel or big activities, but they were important. They gave me time to slow down, reflect, enjoy Singapore one last time, and leave on a good note.

Overall, studying abroad at NTU was an experience I’ll always be grateful for. I got to travel more than I ever have before, meet people from all over the world, try foods I had never had, and experience cultures that were completely different from what I was used to. I also learned how fast time moves when you’re abroad. Four months sounds like a long time at first, but once you’re actually there, it goes by quickly.

Weeks 15 and 16 were another big travel stretch for me because I went to Cambodia. Since the semester was starting to get closer to the end, I had just finished final projects for two of my classes around April 13th, and then on April 15th, I flew out to Siem Reap.

One thing I did not realize when I booked my flight was that I was arriving during Cambodian New Year. So when I got into Siem Reap and went into the city, it was way more chaotic and lively than I expected. The streets were packed with people celebrating, and the whole city basically turned into a giant water fight.

People were walking around with water guns, hoses, buckets, and baby powder. Some people were in the backs of pickup trucks spraying everyone they passed with water, while others were on motorcycles shooting water guns as they drove by. There were people tossing buckets of water from truck beds, people dancing in the streets, and people slapping baby powder onto each other’s faces and shirts. I got sprayed and hit with baby powder too, so I was pretty much part of it whether I planned to be or not.

It was honestly one of the most unexpected but fun cultural experiences I’ve had while abroad. I had no idea I was walking into that kind of celebration, but it ended up being really cool. The streets near the bars were packed, people were dancing in huge groups, music was playing everywhere, and everyone was covered in water and colorful powder. It felt chaotic, but in a fun way.

I stayed in Siem Reap for another day just to relax and get ready for the next part of the trip. I found a nice little café, did some work, walked around the city, went to a grocery store, and just explored a bit more. Siem Reap was interesting. It definitely felt less developed than some of the other cities I’ve visited, but it had its own character, especially with the New Year celebrations happening.

After that, I traveled down to Koh Rong Island, which was one of the most beautiful beach places I’ve visited so far. The island had white sand beaches, crystal-clear water, and amazing views. The water was some of the clearest I’ve ever seen. It honestly felt like something out of a movie.

I stayed at Mad Monkey Hostel on Koh Rong. The hostel itself was alright, but the social scene was really good. Every night they had some kind of event, like trivia night or other activities, which made it easy to meet people. A lot of the people there were from Europe, especially the UK, and I met a bunch of interesting people while staying there.

During the day, I mostly explored the island, walked around, checked out the beaches, and even went to a gym they had there. One night, I saw a fire dance show, which was also really cool. The island had a very relaxed beach atmosphere, but there was still enough going on to keep things interesting.

One thing I noticed about Cambodia was that the food was very cheap. It was not my favorite food compared to some of the other countries I’ve visited, but you could get a lot of food for very little money, which was nice. From a budgeting standpoint, Cambodia was definitely one of the more affordable places I traveled to.

The biggest event on Koh Rong was Nestival, which happens every Saturday. Nestival is basically this huge day-long beach and jungle party. There were people everywhere, music playing, and multiple DJ areas set up around the space. It felt like there were three different parties happening at the same time.

During the day, they also had something called the Nestival Olympics, where people competed in games like volleyball and potato sack races. There were prizes and money involved, and it was a fun way for everyone to meet each other before the party really picked up.

Nestival was probably one of the most fun parts of Cambodia. I met people from the U.S., the UK, and even someone from Connecticut, which was cool. The whole day had a really good energy, and it was one of those experiences where you just end up meeting random people and having a great time. I pretty much pulled an all-nighter and stayed up until sunrise, which made the next day a very slow recovery day.

The day after Nestival, I mostly chilled, slept in, and eventually went to the gym. Later that Sunday, I rented a motorcycle and drove around the island. I took it to another beach and just explored for a while. I did fall off the motorcycle twice, which was not great, but after a while I got more comfortable with it. Even with that, I had a lot of fun. I definitely understand the appeal of motorcycles now. Riding around with the wind in your face feels really freeing.

On Monday, I took a boat back to the mainland and then a bus back to Siem Reap. I spent my final day in Cambodia just relaxing. One thing I do regret is not visiting Angkor Wat. It is one of the biggest attractions in Cambodia and something I probably should have made time for, but by that point I was honestly exhausted from the whole trip. I decided to just take it easy instead.

I flew back to Singapore on Wednesday, April 22nd, and the rest of the week was pretty chill. I spent time with friends and started getting ready for finals.

Overall, Cambodia was a really memorable trip. It had a completely different feel from the other places I’ve visited. The New Year celebrations in Siem Reap were one of the most unexpected experiences I’ve had abroad, and Koh Rong was beautiful with some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen. Between the beaches, Nestival, the people I met, and the chaos of Cambodian New Year, it was definitely a trip I’ll remember.

At the same time, coming back to Singapore reminded me that the semester is almost over. Finals are coming up, and it feels like everything is starting to wrap up quickly. These last few weeks have made me realize how much I’ve been able to experience while studying abroad, and Cambodia was one more reminder of how much there is to see when you actually take the opportunity to go.

After coming back from Bali, weeks 13 and 14 were a lot slower compared to some of the previous weeks. At this point in the semester, I had been traveling a lot, so I honestly needed some time to relax and catch up on sleep. Week 13 was mostly just about decompressing, getting back into the rhythm of classes, and spending time with friends around Singapore.

Nothing too major happened during week 13, but I think that was kind of the point. Studying abroad can sometimes feel like you always need to be traveling or doing something exciting every weekend, but after a while, all of that movement catches up to you. Coming back from Bali, I was pretty tired, so I used the week to slow down, get some schoolwork done, and reset a little bit.

I spent most of the week going to class, catching up on assignments, hanging out with friends, and just trying to get back into a normal routine at NTU. Even though these quieter weeks don’t always feel as exciting to write about, they’re still part of the study abroad experience. Not every week is going to be a big trip or a major adventure. Sometimes it’s just about living day-to-day in a new place and enjoying the regular parts of being here.

Week 14 was a little more eventful because we had a small graduation ceremony for the exchange students. Even though we weren’t actually leaving Singapore yet, the program hosted a gathering for everyone on exchange. They had food, games, and different activities for us to do, and it was a nice chance to see a lot of people again.

One thing I really liked about the ceremony was that it brought together people I hadn’t seen in a while. Since everyone had been traveling, going to different places, and doing their own thing, it was hard to keep up with everyone all the time. So it was nice to catch up, hear what people had been doing, and see how everyone’s semester was going. I also got a graduation cap, which was a fun little reminder that the semester was slowly coming closer to the end.

That event made me realize how many people I’ve met during this exchange. Some of them I met early in the semester, some through trips, and others through random events or nights out. Even though everyone is kind of moving in different directions and making their own memories, there’s still this shared experience of being exchange students in Singapore together.

Later that weekend, I also went out to celebrate one of my friend’s birthdays. He’s from the UK, and a group of us went to a club to celebrate. He invited a bunch of his friends, and I brought some people I knew as well. It ended up being a really good night because there was a mix of familiar faces and new people. The club was fun, the energy was good, and it was nice to celebrate with everyone.

Other than that, week 14 was still pretty relaxed. I spent time with friends, kept up with schoolwork, and started preparing for my next trip. That week I booked a trip to Cambodia, which I was planning to take the following week. So a lot of my focus was just relaxing and getting ready before traveling again.

Overall, weeks 13 and 14 were definitely slower, but they were still meaningful in their own way. After several big trips, it felt good to take a step back and just enjoy the community I’ve built here. The graduation ceremony was a nice reminder that even though the semester wasn’t over yet, the experience was starting to move toward its final stretch.

Week 12 was my Bali trip, and honestly, it ended up being one of the most fun and balanced trips I’ve taken so far. I left Singapore on Wednesday, March 25th in the morning and flew into Bali. From there, I went straight to Canggu, which was the first area of Bali I visited.

Canggu had a really cool vibe right away. It’s definitely known for its beach clubs, cafés, nightlife, and fitness/influencer culture. One of the first things I noticed was how good the food was. I had oatmeal bowls, pancakes, smoothie bowls, and a bunch of other meals that were all really fresh and healthy. A lot of the restaurants there are very focused on clean eating, probably because Canggu has such a big gym and wellness culture. It wasn’t as cheap as some of the other places I’ve traveled to, like Vietnam or Thailand, but it was still cheaper than Singapore, so overall it wasn’t too bad.

Canggu itself was beautiful. It felt less developed than places like Singapore, and even compared to parts of Vietnam, but that was part of what made it interesting. A lot of Bali feels built into the greenery and jungle, so you’re constantly surrounded by plants, trees, and a more tropical environment. It was definitely hot, but the scenery, food, and overall atmosphere made it worth it.

I stayed at Lay Day Canggu, and I had a really good time there. The hostel was clean, had a good crowd, and made it easy to meet people. I met travelers from Australia, Ireland, France, and a bunch of other places. That’s one of the things I’ve really liked about traveling in Southeast Asia: hostels make it really easy to meet people from all over the world. Even if you’re traveling alone or with just a few people, you usually end up meeting a whole group pretty quickly.

While I was in Canggu, I also met up with a friend who had visited me in Singapore. They were in Bali at the same time with some of their friends, so we met up and went to Finns Beach Club, which is one of the most popular beach clubs in Canggu. That was definitely one of the best nights of the trip. The beach club was beautiful, the performances were really energetic, and the whole place had a great vibe. It was fun getting to catch up with them and meet their friends too.

The nightlife in Canggu was probably the best I experienced in Bali. People go out there every day of the week, so there was always something happening. The crowd was also really young and international. I met people from Europe, other parts of Asia, and Australia, and it was just a fun place to be. There was a lot of dancing, talking, and meeting random people throughout the night.

Another thing I still loved about Bali was riding on the back of motorcycles. Ever since Thailand and Vietnam, I’ve really enjoyed using motorcycle rides to get around. There’s something about riding through these places on the back of a motorbike that makes the experience feel more free and exciting.

I stayed in Canggu until around March 28th, and then I went down to Uluwatu, which had a much more relaxed vibe. Compared to Canggu, Uluwatu felt calmer, less hectic, and less influencer-heavy. The beaches there were also better in my opinion. It felt more like the place to go if you wanted nice views, beach time, and a slower pace.

In Uluwatu, I stayed at another Lay Day hostel, and I continued meeting people there too. I also met up with the same friend from earlier, along with more people studying abroad in Australia. It seemed like a lot of University of Michigan students who were studying abroad in Australia were also in Bali around the same time, so it was cool running into people with that connection.

We went out together one night and had a really good time. I also met someone from the UK who was 25, and we ended up hanging out and going from club to club that night. That’s another thing I’ve noticed about traveling: sometimes you randomly meet people for one night, hang out, have a great time, and then continue on with your trip. It’s part of what makes traveling feel spontaneous.

Uluwatu was also where I saw one of the best sunsets of the trip. The beaches there were beautiful, and the coastline had these cliffs and ocean views that made everything feel a little more peaceful compared to Canggu.

One of the biggest highlights of the entire trip, though, was the sunrise mountain hike I decided to do near the end of my stay. I had been planning to do it for a while, even though it was pretty far from Uluwatu. On the night of March 29th, around 11:30 p.m., I called a taxi service to take me about three hours away to the base of the mountain. The hike started around 3:30 or 4:00 in the morning, so we could reach the top before sunrise.

The hike itself was tiring, especially because it was so early in the morning, but once we got to the top, it was completely worth it. We sat at the top while they served us some food, and then we watched the sunrise come up over the mountains. It was honestly one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. The sun was glowing over the landscape, and you could see a volcano in the distance. It was breathtaking.

That moment really stood out to me because Bali ended up being a perfect mix of everything: nightlife, food, beaches, meeting people, and nature. Some trips are more focused on city life or sightseeing, but Bali had a little bit of everything. I could go out and meet people one night, eat amazing food the next morning, relax on a beach in the afternoon, and then hike a mountain before sunrise.

Overall, week 12 was an amazing experience. Bali was beautiful, the food was incredible, and I met a lot of really interesting people along the way. Canggu was great for food, nightlife, and meeting people, while Uluwatu was better for beaches, sunsets, and a more relaxed atmosphere. The sunrise hike was probably the most memorable part of the trip, and it’s something I’ll always look back on.

Studying abroad has made it possible to travel to places I probably wouldn’t have been able to experience otherwise, and Bali was definitely one of those places that made me really grateful to be here.

After doing the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam during recess week, week 10 was honestly a much-needed reset. I got back to Singapore pretty exhausted from all the traveling, so I didn’t really do too much that week. It was more of a chill week where I just tried to decompress, catch up on rest, and get back into the regular rhythm of classes at NTU.

Studying abroad has been exciting, but one thing I’ve realized is that constantly traveling can definitely catch up to you. It’s easy to feel like you need to do something every weekend because you’re only here for a limited amount of time, but sometimes you also need to slow down and just relax. Week 10 was one of those weeks for me.

That weekend, I went out a little bit because it was around St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and there were some small celebrations happening near the bars. I remember seeing a mini concert or some kind of live music event outside, which was cool. It wasn’t anything too crazy, but it was nice to get out for a bit and see people celebrating.

Other than that, week 10 was mostly just hanging out with friends, chilling, and recovering from the past few weeks of traveling. It wasn’t the most eventful week, but honestly I think I needed that.

Week 11 was a little more exciting because one of my friends who is studying abroad in Australia came to visit Singapore. They arrived on Friday, so I got to spend the weekend showing them around the city. It was kind of fun because by this point, Singapore has started to feel pretty familiar to me, so I actually got to be the one introducing someone else to different places.

We walked around a lot, went to some malls, and stopped by different hawker centers so they could try a bunch of food. One of my favorite parts of having visitors here is getting to show them the food culture in Singapore. Hawker centers are such a big part of everyday life here, and they’re one of the best ways to try different dishes without spending too much money.

We also met up with another one of my friends who is studying abroad in Singapore, so the three of us spent time exploring together. We went to a garden, walked around different parts of the city, and checked out a few temples. I took them to both a Buddhist temple and a Hindu temple, which was cool because Singapore has so many different cultures and religions packed into one city. It’s one of the things I’ve really liked about being here.

One funny thing was that my friend was not used to the Singapore heat at all. They were definitely struggling with how hot and humid it was. At this point, I feel like I’ve gotten a little more used to it, but seeing someone else experience it for the first time reminded me how intense the weather actually is.

Later on, I took them to Marina Bay Sands, and we went up to see the views from the top. That was definitely one of the better sightseeing moments of the weekend. Even after being in Singapore for a while, seeing the city from above is still really cool. We also walked around the Marina Bay area and saw the Merlion, the half-lion, half-fish statue that spits water. It’s one of those classic tourist spots you kind of have to see when you’re in Singapore.

Overall, week 11 was pretty relaxed too, but it was nice having a friend visit and getting the chance to show them around. It made me realize how much more comfortable I’ve become navigating Singapore compared to when I first arrived. Places that felt completely new at the beginning now feel familiar enough that I can actually introduce someone else to them.

By the end of the week, they left for Bali, and I was getting ready for my own trip there the following week. So these two weeks were really a mix of resting, spending time with friends, and preparing for the next trip.

Week nine was easily one of the biggest highlights of my entire study abroad experience so far. This week was our recess week at NTU, which ran from March 2nd to March 6th, and I decided to use the break to travel back to Vietnam and do something I had been really excited about: the Ha Giang Loop.

The Ha Giang Loop is located in northern Vietnam, near the Chinese border, and it’s known as one of the most beautiful motorcycle routes in the world. I booked the trip through Bong Hostel, which is a pretty popular company that organizes the loop. The way it works is you join a tour group and ride around the region for several days on the back of a motorcycle with a driver, who they call an “easy rider.” Your driver takes you through the mountains and stops at different viewpoints, villages, and scenic areas along the route.

One of the first things I noticed about the trip was how international the group was. I met people from all over the world, Croatia, France, Estonia, and more. It was really cool getting to meet people from so many different countries while traveling together.

During the day, we would spend hours riding through the mountains. The views were breathtaking. We were riding through massive mountain ranges thousands of feet high, with huge valleys stretching out below us. At some of the viewpoints, you could look over the edge and see just how high up you were, which was incredible.

One thing that made the experience even better was my driver. He was only 22, and it was his first time driving the Ha Giang Loop, which honestly shocked me because he drove like he had been doing it for years. His driving skills were incredible. There were times when we were zooming down these steep mountain roads, and he handled it perfectly. I trusted him completely the whole time.

The funny part is that he barely spoke any English, so most of our conversations happened through Google Translate. Even though we didn’t share a common language, we still ended up bonding a lot over the few days. We would laugh, translate things back and forth, and just enjoy the ride together. By the end of the trip, I honestly felt like we had built a real connection. I ended up giving him a big tip at the end because he made the experience so great.

Another person who really made the trip amazing was our group leader. He had so much energy and really made sure everyone was having a good time. Every night, he led chants, organized games, and kept the group together. I talked to a few people from other tour groups during the trip, and some of them said their groups weren’t nearly as fun because their leaders weren’t as energetic.

In fact, three people from other groups ended up hanging out with our group instead because of our group's good vibe. It made me realize that while the views and riding are incredible, a lot of the social experience really depends on the group you get. Luckily, I got really lucky with mine. Everyone was super friendly and easy to talk to.

During the day, we would ride from around 10 a.m. until about 5 p.m., stopping at viewpoints, villages, and scenic spots along the way. The landscapes constantly changed. Sometimes we were riding through rocky mountain terrain, and other times we’d enter these lush green valleys surrounded by steep cliffs. At certain points, we rode along narrow mountain roads with massive drop-offs on the side. It felt surreal.

We also visited a few local villages, where we saw people making things like handmade rings and woven hemp textiles. It was interesting seeing how communities live in these remote mountain areas. Some of the villages are built on really steep hillsides, and it honestly makes you wonder how people manage to live there.

The evenings were just as memorable as the riding. Once we got to the hostel for the night, everyone would eat dinner together and then hang out. There was a local drink called “Happy Water,” which is basically a very strong homemade alcohol that everyone drinks together.

There were also these local chants everyone would do before drinking. The one everyone kept shouting was  “Một, hai, ba... Zô. Hai, ba... Zô! Hai, ba... Uống!” and everyone would yell it together before taking a shot. It sounds random, but those moments turned out to be some of the best bonding moments of the trip.

After dinner, the nights usually turned into karaoke, dancing, card games, and just hanging out. We ended up doing karaoke almost every night, and it was hilarious hearing people from all over the world singing everything from American songs to random international hits.

By the end of the trip, I had met so many great people—people I’ll definitely stay in touch with and others I’ll just always remember as part of this experience. It’s the kind of trip where you spend a few days together and end up forming friendships really quickly.

The Ha Giang Loop itself was honestly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. The mountains, valleys, and landscapes were unlike anything I’ve seen before. Riding through those roads with the wind hitting you and seeing the views around every corner was something I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life.

If anyone ever travels to Southeast Asia, I would absolutely recommend doing the Ha Giang Loop. It was easily one of the best decisions I made during my time abroad.

After finishing the loop, I spent one extra day in Hanoi before heading back to Singapore. Hanoi felt a little calmer compared to Ho Chi Minh City. It had less of that huge city feel and was more laid-back. I mostly just walked around, explored a bit, and took in the atmosphere before flying back.

Overall, week nine was one of the most memorable weeks of my entire study abroad experience. Between the incredible scenery, the people I met, bonding with my driver and group leader, and the overall adventure of riding through northern Vietnam, the Ha Giang Loop was something I’ll never forget.

Mason Pratt

Mechanical Engineering

Nayang Technological Univeristy, Singapore

After a few weeks of almost back-to-back travel, weeks seven and eight were definitely a lot calmer. It was honestly nice to slow things down a little bit and just take some time to relax, catch up on schoolwork, and think about what I want to do with the rest of my time here.

I spent Chinese New Year’s Eve in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, before heading back to Singapore. That night, there were many people out on the streets, walking and celebrating. It felt like the whole city was outside. There were big crowds everywhere, and while there weren’t huge events happening where I was specifically, you could definitely feel that something important was being celebrated. I mostly just walked around the city and watched everything going on. It was cool to see how another country celebrates a holiday like that.

The next day, I flew back to Singapore on Chinese New Year’s Day. Later that night, I went out with some friends and watched a fireworks show. The fireworks were honestly just okay, nothing too crazy, but it was still nice to walk around the city and see how lively everything was during the holiday.

Other than that, week seven was pretty relaxed. I spent a lot of time planning my next big trip, which will be the Ha Giang Loop in northern Vietnam during our upcoming recess week. I’ve heard that the Ha Giang Loop is one of the most beautiful motorcycle routes in the world, so I’m really excited about that.

One thing that really hit me this week was how fast the semester is going. When I first arrived in Singapore, it felt like the semester would last forever. But suddenly, it’s already mid-February, moving quickly toward late February. It’s crazy realizing that we’re already getting close to being halfway through the semester.

That realization made me think about how important it is to make the most of your time while studying abroad. Four months might sound like a long time, but once you’re actually here, it flies by. If there’s something you want to do, somewhere you want to travel, or something you want to experience, you really have to just go for it. Otherwise, you’ll look back and realize you ran out of time. I’ve started planning some potential solo trips later in the semester, too, just to make sure I’m making the most of being here.

Week eight had a similar vibe. I didn’t travel anywhere and honestly just spent most of the week relaxing, hanging out with friends, and focusing on classes. After all the traveling earlier in the semester, it was good to take a break and just enjoy being in Singapore.

One thing I’ve noticed while being here is that I actually have a lot more free time than I usually do back at Michigan. Because of that, I’ve started spending time working on some personal projects and passions that I normally wouldn’t have time for. It’s been really nice to explore things I’ve always wanted to learn or try but never had the time for before.

I think that’s another big takeaway from studying abroad: this might be one of the freest periods of time you’ll ever have. Depending on how you plan your schedule, you can have much more flexibility than in a typical semester. Because of that, I think it’s important to use that time to explore things you’re curious about, whether that’s traveling, learning new skills, meeting new people, or just trying things you’ve never done before.

Even though weeks seven and eight weren’t the most eventful weeks in terms of travel or big experiences, they were still important. It gave me a chance to slow down, reflect, and reset before the next set of adventures. And with the Ha Giang Loop trip coming up soon, I’m definitely looking forward to what’s next.

Mason Pratt

Mechanical Engineering