I am Zhou, a junior in the Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore (NUS), and I first chose architecture simply because I liked it. When I was a child in Chongqing Foreign Language Junior High School, I liked Lin Huiyin’s poems, and when I realized that she was not only a poet, but also a female architect, I was curious about the identity of architects.
Later, I saw the Vietnam War Memorial designed by Lin for the first time in Washington, D.C. When I stood under the memorial wall and felt the great peace of mind brought by this seemingly simple geometric structure, I felt a longing for the identity of an architect at that time, and then I chose the Department of Architecture of the National University of Singapore (NUS), which was also a kind of fulfillment of my childhood dream, right?
In 2011, NUS published a book for architectural beginners called “abstraction”, and it took me three years in the NUS Architecture Department to understand the meaning of “abstraction”.
We who were only exposed to architecture were also worried about whether we could get a good grade or not. My first year tutor was a former student of Louis Kahn, and we used to jokingly discuss how to judge the criteria of a good or bad building, and he answered us with Louis Kahn’s words:
“A great building must begin with the unmeasurable, must go through measurable means when it is being designed and in the end, it must be unmeasurable.”
This quote struck me and I went to the internet to find it, and it’s really there. Until now I am still exploring how to define “unmeasurable”. Architecture is as abstract as this “unmeasurable”, a good architecture must be beyond physicality, to quote from the book, “it is a physical manifestation of the human spirit”. It is a physical manifestation of the human spirit. Like the name of the book “Abstraction”, if architecture wants to start from abstraction, then the education of architecture must start from understanding what abstraction is. I think this is what the Department of Architecture at NUS is trying to tell the freshmen students.
The point of education is to find ‘fullfillment’ in life, and everyone has a different definition of ‘fullfillment’; some people find satisfying work, others find meaning in life. The architectural industry has received mixed reviews, but what architectural education has brought me is not only the basic modeling and drawing, but also critical thinking and different perspectives of the world.
Wake up and start getting ready for a new day at 7am. I live in the PGP hostel at NUS near the metro station, this hostel area is very spacious and cozy, each building has an exclusive study and recreation room so that I can study and relax at any time of the day.
Taking the school bus to the campus from the hostel. The morning was very pleasant in Singapore, with the warm sunshine and breeze welcoming me. Upon arrival at UTown, I first went to the canteen for breakfast. NUS has a number of canteens and restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines, including traditional local food and international cuisine. I usually opt for the traditional Singaporean breakfast of kaya bread and eggs, which usually consists of three parts: raw eggs, kaya bread and a cup of hot coffee or tea.
At NUS, we have a very diverse program with a wide range of subjects and majors to choose from. The diversified education model and teaching methodology of NUS enables students to learn and experience a more colorful curriculum life, for example, there will be elective courses, and I myself have taken Art History.
Architecture is also an expression of art, and the history of art and architecture are actually the same in many periods. In the class, the teacher will lead us to go to the museum to appreciate and analyze the works of art in the field. Many of my classmates who studied architecture also took this course, and they found that they are more interested in art than architecture, and they would like to work in museums in the future, for example, as curators. The NUS education system gives you more flexible choices.
At the end of the program, students will go to the library to study together. The library at NUS is world-class, with a huge collection of books, journals and research materials, allowing us to study and research better. There is free access to computers and other devices to find and read a wide range of materials, as well as to discuss and interact with fellow students. There are also free 3d scanning and 3d printing instruments in the library for students to use, which is more friendly to architecture students.
In the afternoon, I participated in a club activity. At NUS, there are many different student organizations and societies covering a wide range of interests and hobbies. I joined a club for Muay Thai, where the instructor made us learn basic skills such as boxing, kicking, and defense, and also introduced us to some advanced skills and strategies. Under the coach’s guidance, we engaged in a series of exercises and confrontations, which both exercised our bodies and improved our skills.
In the evenings, my flatmates and I usually go to the NUS gym to work out.NUS has state-of-the-art fitness facilities that allow us to do a variety of sports and fitness activities.
About the Study Abroad Experience
Actually, life in Singapore is just as fast-paced as life in a big city. Whenever we had a vacation, my friends and I would choose to visit a nearby island or country. As a native of Singapore for eight years on weekends, I might choose to take a bus with my friends to Malaysia next door to have fun. 7:00 a.m. in the morning, I boarded a bus to Johor Bahru at Orchard Road in Singapore. This bus is comfortable, air-conditioned great and has free WiFi.
Along the way, I was able to enjoy the beautiful scenery on both sides of the road, including lush green trees and gardens. This impressed me and made me feel relaxed. After about an hour, arrived at the border crossing. This is the border between Singapore and Malaysia and is one of the busiest places. Here, it was necessary to show my passport and undergo a border check. Although the checking process took some time, the whole process went very smoothly without any problems.
Next, the bus entered the territory of Malaysia. I was attracted by the scenery around me, including the houses and local residents on both sides of the road. The architecture here is different from that of Singapore, more traditional and old-fashioned, giving it a unique feel, and it takes about two hours to reach Johor Bahru.
The city is welcoming and vibrant, with plenty of food and attractions. Johor Bahru, Malaysia is a city full of culinary delights, with a wide variety of cuisines ranging from traditional Malay, Indian and Chinese dishes to cosmopolitan Western favorites to satisfy the taste buds of different visitors.
First, we went to taste the local “Bak Kut Teh” (pork bone tea). Bak Kut Teh, a soup made from pork bones and herbs, is a rich and flavorful soup that is one of the most iconic cuisines in Malaysia and Singapore. In Johor Bahru, you can find many traditional bak kut teh restaurants, such as Hong Kee Bak Kut Teh and Geylang Bak Kut Teh, where you can taste the authentic Malaysian flavor.
Secondly, you can try the local seafood. Johor Bahru is close to the coast and the seafood here is fresh and delicious. In Johor Bahru, you can find a variety of seafood restaurants.
Last but not least, you can also enjoy local desserts and snacks such as “Wing Kee French Fries” and “Coconut Milk Rice”. These snacks are usually sold at small roadside stalls and are cheap, yet very authentic in flavor. Especially the “Wing Kee French Fries”, which are crisper than ordinary French fries and have a great taste when topped with a special sauce.
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