Posted By
kaychin on
29 Jan 10, Fri |
Permalink
As a school with big international ambition, the university where I teach has a lot of programs aimed at attracting bright minds from all over the world.
And although I taught several foreign exchange students in my previous classes, I haven't stopped to make sense of what it really means until recently, when the issue of overcrowding of foreigners, became a regular talking point among friends.
In my photojournalism class this week, the big agenda was on Idea Generation - where and how to find meaningful projects to do.
What is important in the process, is also to find out more about the individuals.
So to get the ball rolling, each of the student was given a few minutes to talk about what they care about, or the things that upset them.
Without any warning, Nuria, one of my students, just announced to the class that she is unhappy with foreigners who come to Singapore and take away jobs.
She described herself as xenophobic.
I was a little shocked by her outburst and honesty, but even more worried because there are two foreign exchange students in our class.
Not wanting to turn it into a United Nations session, I tried to steer the conversation clear of the war zone by asking the irate student whether she intended or has done anything to address her anger.
"Not really," she said.
Fortunately, nobody took her comments personally, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Then it was the turn of Susana, the Mexican exchange student.
Although only in Singapore for three weeks, the Chihuahua native certainly has a lot to say.
First, she shared her observation that Singaporean students are obsessed with studying.
"I go to the library first thing in the morning and it is filled with people. I see people studying while eating their breakfast, while eating their lunch."
Her culture shock, unfortunately, did not stop here.
"It is funny that here, people take off their shoes before going into the house."
In the afternoon brainstorming session, where each of them had to come up with a few ideas by reading the day's newspaper, Susana further educated us with her take on geopolitics.
"In Mexico, we always think of Singapore as the equivalent of New York City."
She added further Singapore is very safe but not her country.
Then came her observation that almost got me rolling on the floor.
"I noticed that in your newspapers, there is a lot of Americans."
"In Mexico, even if there is a positive news about the USA, the newspapers will always find ways to oppose it."
That was when I could not help but to say, jokingly of course, that Singapore is the 52th state in the USA.
Nicholas Chee, our guest, was more serious in his response.
He stated, and rightly so, that's because the USA is a major trading partner.
After hearing her rave about Singapore, I couldn't help but to ask if she found Singaporean men attractive and if she would date any of them.
She smiled diplomatically, but I think her answer was 'No'.
Just when I thought that there would be no more international issues on our agenda, Dihui, the exchange student from Xian, China, decided to talk about a grave topic.
"In China, the death of the individuals is never publicized like the way it is done in your obituary page."
"Except only when someone important, like a party member, dies, then everyone will be informed."
Yes, that was something I didn't really know.
Last semester, I also learned a few things about kosher and Sabbath by talking to Emmanuelle, the feisty exchange Jewish student from Los Angeles.
Looking at the pictures on her Facebook, I had just assumed that she was the typical exchange student who spends more time on the beaches of Bali than her school assignments.
But she was determined to prove me wrong by turning in, for her final class assignment for my course, an essay on how exchange students really spend their time. A few of the pictures were of her fellow exchange students mugging in the library.
I had asked her point-blank, in one of our casual conversations, if she was religious and she replied, "Very."
But according to her, not as religious as a group of Swedish girls, who was always going to church.
"Really?"
That certainly isn't the typical Singaporean impression of Swedes.
Several semesters ago, I had another Mexican student in my desktop publishing class and he often entertained me with his alternative views of the world.
With his thick beard, Eduardo, who is now back in Mexico, wants to be a great writer like Marquez or Neruda.
But what I remember most about him was his assessment of our new National Library building on North Bridge Road.
He told me, "The more I look at it, the more I love it, and I dream of it having wings, and one day, it will fly to Mexico."
"In Mexico, we don't have beautiful buildings like that."
I know many Singaporeans hate the building so much that they would want Eduardo's dream to come through.
This week, Paulina, who was an exchange student the same time as Eduardo, wrote to tell me that the two of them are now living together.
"We have your pictures in our living room."
I hinted to her that I would like to take some credit for them getting together, but she totally missed the cue.
But at least I was assured that I am very much on their mind.
She promised that if there is a wedding, I would be invited. If they have a baptism for their first-born, I will be invited.
I also hope that when Eduardo's first novel is published, the National Library building he loves so much will feature somewhere in the book.
While waiting for my Mexican invitations, I'll just try, in the meantime, to enjoy whatever international exchanges that come my way.
Tags:
Sign in now to post your comments. If you are not a member yet,
Sign Up now!