Exchangers' Outing 2024

I’m grateful to the exchange students and local exchange buddies in my student community for proposing this trip, for I would hardly have foreseen myself coming anytime soon to the Singapore Zoo, Mandai Wildlife Group. It had been a long time since I visited, leaving one of my few consolations: the rediscovery of the beautiful oasis bolstering the park.

The 'Buddies’ is a meaningful initiative by the NUS College Club’s Welfare arm, and this field trip saw some of the student organisers and host undergraduates, including Yash, Ymir, Cheng-Yu, Yee Shien , play host to our exchange students whilst being visitors themselves to Mandai. Some of these exchangers I had the privilege of catching up with include Andrew, Sarah, Farkas, Pablo, and Nicolas.

As their Residential Student Life Manager, it helps me to know, support, and be actively involved in the ideas and initiatives they have as community-builders:

I particularly commend my student organisers for bearing with me as we doubled up the planning process into a learning experience - from communicating more effectively with external parties, being strategic with budgets and timelines, to making decisions on the ground as circumstances presented themselves. The end of this programme leaves me confident to attest to their abilities to handle more exciting projects going forward, and build a stronger ecosystem of programming for the college community.

Big thanks again to Mandai Wildlife Group and the Singapore Zoo for increasing accessibility to their parks through educational tour pricing. I may have anticipated a battle against the sweltering heat but did not expect to spend a full day there with all its attractions so well-designed for a seamless experience. The kids zone, with a section for domesticated animals - literally, a common cat, amongst other features across the park helped me reimagine the value of this space for visitors and minds beyond the average patronage of children and tourists.