SIM Study Abroad Experience 2022

Faculty Faculty of Economics Department of Management PDP 6th batch (enrolled in April 2020)
Graduated from Chiba Prefectural Chiba High School
■Studying at: Singapore Institute of Management
■Study period (local stay period): September 2022 to May 2023

1. Regarding learning
   At the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), I took four courses: Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Core Management Concepts, and Statistical Methods for Market Research. The basic schedule was one 180-minute class per week for each subject. At Musashi University PDP, each subject had two 90-minute classes per week (until 2021), so the total class time was the same, but I had to maintain my concentration for longer. Also, all the teachers spoke with a unique Singaporean accent (known as "Singlish"), so I was anxious at first because I could hardly understand what they were saying, but as I asked questions about the parts I couldn't understand, I gradually began to understand. Also, by making an acquaintance at least one person per class, I was able to ask them about the progress of my self-study and the parts I missed, so I felt that it was important to have the courage to speak to them at the first class.
   As for my study method, it was not much different from when I was taking PDP subjects at Musashi University, and I steadily studied and reviewed the material, and practiced past exam questions. However, it is true that I felt that the 200-level subjects I took at SIM were a little different in nature from the IFP and BSc100-level subjects I had taken so far. Until now, I was able to intuitively picture the situation in my head when I read the Subject Guide or lecture slides, and therefore I was able to remember the theory with a sense of reality. However, with the 200-level subjects, it was difficult to imagine specific examples of situations, and it took me a long time to read and understand what the topic was about and what the key points were. Therefore, I sometimes got bogged down in the depths, such as using other Essential Readings and papers and videos on the Internet to look it up, so I think that was a point of reflection in terms of studying for the exam efficiently.
   As for self-study methods, at least when I was studying abroad, SIM provided me with lecture recordings, so I often used them to review. The location was the library or self-study space at SIM University, but the library was very cold, so many of the girls studied at their own pace. I also studied in the self-study space, but when there were classes until the morning and all the seats were filled in the afternoon, I went home to study. I'm glad I paid attention to the speed and comfort of the Wi-Fi when signing the rental contract.
2. Lifestyle
   I had lunch at school and cooked dinner at home. Lunch cost about S$4-6, which was about the same as the cafeteria at Musashi University. Since I was allowed to cook my own meals in my apartment, I often cooked dinner and bought ingredients at the supermarket, but meat and fish were expensive, so I had to be creative and buy them when they were on sale. However, compared to other countries, almost all Japanese ingredients and seasonings are available in Singapore, so I rarely got homesick because of food.
   I spent a lot of time studying during the weekdays, but on weekends I often went to cafes and tourist spots with friends and flatmates. Prices in Singapore are high, so if I go out every week like a tourist, it will cost me a lot of money, but there are also many ways to have fun locally, so I hung out a lot with my Singaporean friends. While a cafe or restaurant would cost at least S$20-40, I often went to newer, cleaner hawker centers and kopitiams where I could enjoy the same delicious food for S$5-10, so I enjoyed chatting there. When I went to local places, the accent was quite strong, and occasionally there were people who could only speak Chinese, but everyone was kind and friendly, so I was able to enjoy myself with gestures without worry.
   In terms of public safety, it's pretty safe, and I feel like I can live here more safely than in Japan these days. Therefore, there are almost no rules about having to go home before sunset or not being allowed to walk alone, so I think it's a great environment to concentrate on studying.
3. About Culture
   Being in Asia, the culture is not as individualistic as in the West, and while it values harmony, it is one in which people are firm in expressing their opinions that they will not compromise on. I felt that this was also reflected in friendships. It seems to be quite rare for Japanese university students to have conflicting opinions and fight, but it is common for Singaporeans to have heated arguments if they do not agree on something, and the way friends become closer through discussion is a friendship culture that does not exist in Japanese university students.
   Also, when I visited my friends' houses, I felt the cultural and religious diversity of Singaporeans. Although they are all called Singaporeans, they come from a variety of backgrounds, including Chinese, Malay, and Indian, and the interior decoration and religious layout of their homes vary greatly. It was very impressive to see completely different religions coexisting in adjacent rooms in an HDB (government-run apartment building where 70% of the population lives). It is standard for restaurants to prepare menus that take into account various religions and food policies, and I thought that the way they work together to create an environment where everyone can live comfortably is a good example of Singapore's culture that values diversity.