On 2 April 2007, at 1 am in the morning, 78 students from different courses in Temasek Polytechnic set off for Shanghai, China as part of the Global Citizenship Shanghai-Suzhou Program. It was the start of a 6-day study trip. The group was accompanied by 4 lecturers. The purpose of the trip was for the students to experience the life of a typical global citizen and the challenges that he or she would face. Shanghai was selected as it is a cosmopolitan city and a major economic and industrial hub with a magnificent night view. Suzhou was selected as it is an industry-oriented province.
During the trip, we visited the Suzhou Industrial park, two multi-national companies, the Suzhou-Singapore International School, the Shanghai Bo Ai Children’s Rehabilitation centre, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Nanjinglu (the famous shopping district in Shanghai) and many other interesting places. One of the highlights of the trip was a ride on the Maglev train which can reach a maximum speed of 430km/h. A 30-km train journey took us only 8 minutes instead of 45 minutes by coach.
Visiting the various places was not just fun - we gathered information and pictures for our group assignment and presentations. We were encouraged to pose questions to the persons-in-charge of the various learning sites. They were friendly and tried to answer all our queries. We also managed to attend a business forum with Singaporean members from the Suzhou-Singapore Club and China-Singapore Suzhou development at the Suzhou Industrial park. The session provided us with further insight into the personal experiences of those working overseas, and taught us how they adapted to the cultures of the foreign countries.
We also had a community service session at the Shanghai Bo Ai Children’s Rehabilitation Centre. The session served as an important lesson for me and it made me realize how fortunate I am. The children in the centre had been abandoned by their parents because of their disabilities. This was the result of the “One Child Policy” in China, as the parents only wanted healthy children. However, despite their disabilities, the children are cute and lively and we enjoyed our interactions with them.
I am glad to have signed up for the trip. It was not only enjoyable, it was educational as well. I had the opportunity to experience the life of a typical global citizen and the challenges that one would face. The trip has really sparked in me the desire to work overseas after I graduate.
By Koh Jun Kiat
Diploma in Financial and Business Informatics
