SIM Study Abroad Experience 2024

School of Liberal Arts and Sciences of Economics and Business Administration (EM), PDP 8th batch (enrolled in April 2022)
Graduated from Miyagi Gakuin High School in Miyagi Prefecture
■Studying at: Singapore Institute of Management
■Study period (local stay period): September 2024 to June 2025

From the fall of 2024 to the summer of 2025, I studied abroad at the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) for approximately 10 months. When I was in high school, I had studied abroad in the United States and Japan, but at that time, the school, teachers, and host family supported me in many aspects of my life, and I think there were few opportunities to make decisions or handle procedures on my own. In contrast, this time, I had to handle everything on my own, from visas and housing to course procedures and dealing with any problems I might encounter, in a country I had never even traveled to before. This experience made me realize once again what it truly means to "live abroad."

1. Academic challenges
Classes at SIM were mostly lecture-style, and in some ways were similar to the teaching style at Musashi. However, some of the teachers spoke Singaporean Singlish or had a very strong Indian accent, and most classes moved at about twice as fast as they did at Musashi. At first, I struggled to keep up, but as I got used to it, I gradually became able to adapt to the differences in speed and accent, and it became easier to understand the content of the classes. Also, at SIM, each class was three hours long, and at first, I found it difficult to stay focused for three hours, losing concentration many times along the way. However, towards the end, I found my own pace, and by the end, I was able to concentrate fully for the entire three hours.
SIM offered a wide range of course options, and the opportunity to gain exposure to a wide range of fields, including social media management and marketing, was a major draw. Furthermore, because many students at SIM were taking the same UoL courses, the atmosphere of studying was naturally conducive to staying motivated. As exams approached, many students would be studying in the library and shared spaces on campus, and I naturally found myself sitting at my desk. In fact, one change I noticed while studying for exams was that I've become a little more organized in my approach to studying. While I used to study in a rush before exams, this time I started reviewing early and thinking about how much time I should spend on each subject. I feel that my study methods and approach have definitely improved.
In addition, the assignments given at the midterm and end of the term were similar to the format of the actual exam, and by focusing on structuring my answers, I was able to practice well for the real exam. Through these experiences, I was able to review the parts of the assignments that I was unable to do well, which I think gave me an opportunity to reconsider my own learning methods.
2. Living in a different culture and adapting to the living environment
During this study abroad, I didn't live in a student dormitory, but rather shared a house with a friend who came to study with me from Japan. I had lived in a student dormitory during high school, and after graduating I moved to Tokyo and lived alone, so it wasn't completely new to me, but the contract structure and rules in Singapore are very different from those in Japan, so finding a place to live at first was more difficult than I had imagined.
Furthermore, I had a hard time getting used to the local climate and diet at first, and I got sick many times. Singapore has a hot and humid climate all year round, and most of the food I ate when eating out was oily and heavily seasoned, so it was especially difficult to manage my health at first.
As I was gradually getting used to the local climate and rhythm of life, I started cooking more for myself than I did in Japan and was able to prepare meals that suited my physical condition and preferences. I was reminded of the importance of maintaining my health in an unfamiliar place and the ability to create my own rhythm of life.
Also, the cost of living in Singapore is high, and my sense of prices was off, so my expenses ended up being higher than I expected. So, by starting to use a household accounting app, I was able to visualize how much money I was spending, and I started to be more conscious of saving and planning my spending. One of the biggest learnings I've had is that I've become more conscious of how I spend my money and my ability to manage my life, rather than just going about my daily life in a haphazard way until then.

3. Wind band music and connections with people
During my time studying abroad, I was able to resume playing in a brass band after a long time, which was very meaningful to me. Having the opportunity to play the instrument I had been playing from elementary school through high school again in Singapore helped me to get back into the rhythm of my life and feel mentally stable, and it gave me a sense of fulfillment in areas other than my studies.
The brass band I belonged to was made up mainly of Japanese expatriates, but there were also many local Singaporean members, so I was able to interact with a variety of people. As we practiced and conversed in a mix of Japanese and English, I was naturally exposed to differences in culture and ways of thinking, and I had many interactions through music, which allowed me to feel the power of connection that music has.
Furthermore, because many of the group members were working adults, I learned a lot about aspects other than performance, such as how to practice, how to manage time, and how to maintain a sense of responsibility. Practicing within limited time and participating in concerts added structure to my life abroad and provided emotional support. The experience of working toward a goal in a way that was different from studying and achieving a common goal with my peers allowed me to experience the joy and sense of accomplishment that comes from working together.

4. What I gained from studying abroad
Through this roughly 10-month study abroad experience, I have not only improved my language skills, but I feel that I have also gradually experienced changes within myself in many different ways. The new people and events I encountered every day, the things that did not go as planned, and the things that were more fun than I had imagined - all of these experiences have broadened my horizons and will have a profound impact on me in the future.
At first, I was often confused by even the smallest of everyday things, and there were many situations where things didn't go the way I wanted, but as I repeatedly thought about and decided on each thing, I feel like I've started to see my own pace and way of doing things. I feel like I'm gradually gaining not only language skills, but also the confidence to live life as myself wherever I am.
Also, spending time in the multicultural society of Singapore made me realize many times that things I had taken for granted were not actually so, but it also gave me the opportunity to realize the importance of accepting and respecting the existence of different values.
This experience studying abroad won't immediately give me the answers to my future career path or life, but I'm sure that the fact that I made my own decision, took action on my own, and saw it through to the end will support me in any situation in the future. I hope to remember this experience and, when I'm in doubt, trust in my choice and move forward one step at a time.