Nus business school student exchange programme

Name: Ng Hui Min

SEP Semester: Sem 2 2004/2005

Host University/Country: Lund University/ Sweden

2. What strong points does our School have compared to your host university?

3. What strong points does your host university have compared to our School?

4. What expenses did you incur at the host university for one semester?

5. Please type a THREE to FIVE page report of your personal experience in the host university.

a) Your overall experience overseas (initial cultural shocks that you encountered, lifestyle, about the university, academic aspects)

b) What you learned from the exchange program

c) Your advice and suggestions for future exchange students designated to go to that university

From the moment I was accepted to go on exchange; I started reading up both about LU and Sweden. The testimonials written by seniors who have previously been to LU was a helpful source of information. Travel guides on Sweden were also useful in informing me about the lifestyles of the Swedes and their cultures etc.

From Singapore, I flew to Copenhagen Airport in Denmark as it is the nearest international airport to Lund. From there, I took a train across to Sweden. As I have arrived one day earlier than the stipulated exchange students’ arrival date, I had to spend my first night at the train hostel which is just beside Lund train station. Since I was there a day earlier, I had the opportunity to explore the quiet and peaceful Lund Town. The shops there were nothing compared to the ones we have in Orchard road. Nonetheless, they provided me with the shopping therapy I desired whenever I feel bored during the 5 months I was in Lund.

Having read the testimonials of seniors who have been to LU for exchange in previous semesters, I more or less knew what to expect from the schools and hostels. I have read that all hostel rooms come with an attached bathroom. Thus, the moment I arrived at my room in Sparta, I started searching for my attached bathroom. Imagine my dismay when I realized that there was none in my room! It was then that I realized that only rooms in Swedish corridors come with an attached bathroom. As mine was in an international corridor, meaning the students staying there are also exchange students like me, the bathroom is a communal one. The condition of my room is also not as good as those rooms in the Swedish corridor. But, despite the initial disappointment, I soon grew to love my corridor as days passed. Since the people there are all exchange students, they are friendlier and are more willing to help you if you ever need any help from them. The students there are also very fun loving and together, we have organized more than one corridor party (albeit illegally). The corridor party that left the deepest impression was the “pimps and whores” party where everyone came dressed as either a pimp or a whore. It was very fun seeing guys cross dressed as a whore and vice versa.

Studying in LU is also not as hectic as studying in NUS. Since there are no tutorials, I am only required to go to school around twice a week for 2 hours each. The style of the lectures is also very different from what we have in NUS. The stark difference is the fact that the lecturer hardly provide us with any notes. There is no IVLE from which we can download notes from. Students usually go to class with just a lecture pad and copy down whatever the lecturer flashes on the screen.

As LU is a university town, there are not many things to do at night as most of the shops close in the evening. However, every night in LU is one bustling with activity as the students go for partying at one of the nations every other night. A nation is like a student club/pub and it is managed by the students of LU. Every nation is named after a different part of Sweden and Swedish students from that part of Sweden will be part of the nation. For example, students from Gothenburg will be part of the Gothenburg nation. Every nation has a different activity everyday. From the LU student website, we can find out which nation is offering lunch on a particular day and which one is opened for partying. Also, once in a while, the nations will also organize a Sit-ning which is a Swedish dinner. I would strongly recommend going to at least one Sit-ning as it is truly an eye opener. It is during this dinner that you really get to come in contact with the Swedish’s culture of drinking and merrily singing before their meals. The Swedes will bang on their tables and sing very loudly before encouraging one another to gulp down their drinks. During the Sit-ning I went to, I also had the opportunity to try one of the famous Swedish alcoholic drinks known as the schnapps.

As I went to LU in semester 2, I had the opportunity to experience one of the more important yearly activities in Lund known as Siste April or the last of April. On this day (April 30^th), all the people staying in Lund will go for a picnic at a big park. It is where students gather together to drink from morning until evening time. After which, they will go for a BBQ at one of their friends’ place. There will also be a huge celebration in the parks organized by the Lund community with a big campfire being the greatest attraction of all. I have heard from one of my lecturers that on this day, the people staying in Lund will go for Smorgasbord which is like a big buffet with lots and lots of bread and herring fish. However, I heard from one of the Swedish students that they do not go for such a buffet anymore.

Lund in winter is very cold and I would suggest to students going there in winter to prepare lots of thick clothing. A pair of waterproof boots is also important to aid walking on the snow. It doesn’t necessary get warmer in spring as even though the temperature is higher, the wind is still as chilly thus we still need to layer our clothing whenever we want to go out. However, do be prepared to remove layers when you get indoors especially when you go for lessons as the classrooms are well-equipped with a heating system. In addition, do not forget to pack lots of moisturizer and lip balm in your luggage as the air in Sweden is very dry and thus dries your skin very easily.