Having done my exchange at Singapore Management University, I can say that this has been truly enriching for myself. Not only on a cultural basis but also, perhaps, on a personal level as well.

Singapore is an amazing city. Not only for its food, but also for its internationalism and its safety. It’s a true melting pot. To be honest, one reason why this country is close to my heart is the mere proof that various cultures and different ethnicities can “harmoniously” live together.

What I’ve also heavily enjoyed in Singapore is its travel location. In fact, I’ve seriously caught the travel bug. In the next weeks, I will be going to my 7th country: Hong Kong.

Traveling is an amazing way of discovering yourself. I’ve recognized that South East Asia has an abundance of different cultures, people, history, values and beliefs which had further deepened my perspective on spirituality, my own self-knowledge and perhaps my own self-awareness. Traveling provides you to live in the present, and savor the beautiful artifacts and ways of life.

SMU was very helpful and accommodating during my brief academic stay in the university till the point I was trying out all hawker food centers and getting my ice lemon tea at 1983. But I have to say, there is some academic common ground between SMU and my home University that might have facilitated my integration.

I study International Business at Maastricht University, in the Netherlands. In fact, Maastricht’s grading system is very similar to SMU’s.

Our education is based on the Problem Based Learning system. One thing I very much cherish that SMU has taught me is that self-knowledge is the fundamental secret and one of the core pillars of your later success.

7 Months Ago I would have told you that I’m originally French, Dutch and Senegalese. But today, I can confidently say that I’m also Asian from within.

Seynabou, from Maastricht University (Netherlands),
previously on exchange at Singapore Management University.

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