Students love parties, especially during a semester abroad, they are part of it like Amen in church. So much for the cliché. And after about a month into my semester abroad in Singapore, I can only confirm that. I set out alone, didn't know anyone and was a complete stranger. A few parties later there is no longer any question of this. Students are simply the same all over the world, at least in this respect.
Looking back, the orientation day at the university was the most important so far. Not just from an academic perspective, but also from a social perspective. Several JCU (James Cook University Singapore) students handed out lists during their lunch break where people could enter their cell phone numbers. A few hours later, a WhatsApp group was created with pretty much all the internationals from that semester. People from all over the world: France, Spain, Denmark, Holland, Colombia, Australia, Myanmar, Mauritius, Philippines, Vietnam,... Today there are almost 100 people.
The first party was planned for the same evening. After all, there is always a reason to celebrate. At the end of October this is of course obvious: a Halloween party. It's a strange feeling to only know one address, let Google Maps navigate you there and not actually know which people are waiting for you. Luckily, My, my first acquaintance in Singapore, accompanied me. But all initial concerns were unfounded. Because it was like everywhere else in the world, the later the evening got, the more fun, open and willing to talk people were. And after repeating 100 times: “Hi, I am from Germany. Where are you from?” you had a conversation with each person once and by the next morning at the latest you had a face corresponding to the name in your cell phone.
“An amazing party,” I thought, “hard to top.”
Since then we have been a group of around 10 people who almost always travel together. During the week we usually go for lunch or dinner together and pass the rest of the time with a light version of sightseeing or a more hardcore version of “cooling off in the pool”. Unless it's Wednesday, because Wednesday is a special day in Singapore: ladies night. And this is really a ladies night that is worth seeing. Free entry everywhere and, depending on the club, “free flow” or at least one free drink. At this point I should definitely mention that entry would otherwise cost around $20-40 and the drinks are unfortunately in the same price range. We ladies can therefore have a really good time.
However, there is a slight downside to partying here in Singapore. After midnight at the latest, you no longer have the option of getting home by public transport. So you take a taxi, which incidentally charges a 50% surcharge from midnight.
But since we are always a huge group, it is no problem at all to share one.
One party follows the next here. And now I also know that it is always possible to top a party. Because an amazing Halloween party is definitely surpassed by a rooftop party at a pleasant 26 degrees with a view of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel... on a Wednesday!! It really doesn't get any better. But the only way to be really sure what the absolutely amazing party actually is: party on and on.
After all, the cliché should remain intact in the future...
Sandra Guldner is studying at James Cook University Singapore in the winter semester 2015/2016. During this time, she writes once a month on our website about her experiences, impressions and what else happens to her during her semester abroad.
Previous posts:
September 17, 2015: From Bavaria to the wide world
October 19, 2015: Are you still looking or do you already live?
