This National Day, we talk to two City Harvest Church members who are studying overseas about their experiences away and what it feels like to come home.
EMIKO ONG
Emiko is 22 and pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. A member from AZ Zone, she shares how she keeps up her spiritual development, and what she misses about home.
What made you decide to study overseas?
I wanted to pursue dietetics, and when I was looking for a course, there was only one university in Singapore offering it, and the course had just started with a very small cohort. So I applied to a few overseas universities, and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) was the first to get back to me. Having heard about their well-established dietetics programme, I decided to accept the offer.
What has life in Australia has been like for you?
Before leaving for Brisbane, I told God that I wanted to be planted in a local church and continue serving Him during my time in Brisbane. I did not want to be stagnant in my walk with God; I wanted to continue growing. God led to me a church—I’m currently attending Hope Church Brisbane and also serving in the campus ministry as the president of Campus Christian Movement, is a Christian club at QUT affiliated with Hope Church. I also serve in my lifegroup (which is equivalent to cell groups here in CHC), leading praise and worship and Bible discussions.
Being one of two Singaporeans in my cohort, I have made friends from different countries and cultures. Studying abroad has opened my eyes to a different way of life. It has also forced me to become independent and experience “adulting” as I have to pay for my own bills and take care of myself.
People in Brisbane are polite and very friendly. One example of a cultural difference and a kind gesture that I have picked up is that when people get off the public bus, they say thank you or wave to the bus driver. A small act of appreciation and kindness can make a difference in someone’s day.
How often do you come home?
Last year, I flew back to Singapore a few times because I had to attend my older sister’s wedding! But this year, I will only be going back once, at the end of the year.
How often do you call/Facetime your parents and friends?
I try to call home once or twice a week, and I catch up with my friends every few months through Zoom! In between, I do stay in touch with my friends through text messages.
What was church life like before you left?
I grew up here in CHC and went to church with my parents every week. After children’s church, I joined a youth cell group and before leaving for Australia, I was serving in a youth cell group, E135, as a connect group leader.
Emiko with her two besties, Jerome and Ian
Jerome Choong and Ian Tan are two of my closest friends from church. I became good friends with Jerome when I was 11 and Ian when I was 13. We served together in cell group and CityRadio. Seeing each other grow and serve God with our unique gifts encourages me, and I am really thankful for having friends like them who have journeyed with me through different seasons!
What have you missed most and why?
I miss the cheap and good food in Singapore! I never craved hawker food until I moved abroad, and now I find myself craving Singaporean food, but I can’t justify paying $25 for subpar nasi lemak.
I miss my family and being homesick is probably the hardest part about studying abroad. I miss having hawker dates with my dad and shopping dates with my mom! I miss spending quality time with my parents, but we often call to pray together, which helps me feel close to them even though we are physically apart.
Emiko and her family
I definitely miss fellowshipping with my church friends and leaders. I am grateful for great leaders who have invested a lot in my life growing up, and I would often share with them about my life and ministry here in Brisbane. I still give them full access to speak into my life, and I still seek their advice even while I am here.
What was something about being Singaporean that you took for granted before you went overseas?
Definitely how safe I felt while living in Singapore. Now that I am living on my own in a foreign country, I have become extra cautious and careful if I’m going out at night which is something I did not have to worry much about in Singapore.
What is your wish for Singapore on its 58th birthday?
My wish for Singapore is that this country will continue to enjoy many more years of peace and security!
ONG MIN
Min is 21 and reading Law at the University College London. The AZ Zone member shares the challenges of adulting far away from home, and the things she is grateful for as a Singaporean.
What made you decide to study overseas?
I decided to study overseas at University College London because I felt that, education-wise, it would provide me with a more diverse experience from what I had been through in Singapore. Being on the cusp of my 20s, I also thought it was the right time to step out of my comfort zone in Singapore and become more independent away from the shelter of home. There are many things that are dear to me in Singapore (family, friends, food) and so it wasn’t easy to come to the decision to study overseas, but it’s been a really rewarding experience thus far.
What has life in the UK has been like for you?
Life in the UK, and London specifically, has changed quite a bit over the last two years that I’ve been there. My first year was certainly more overwhelming with settling into hall life and academic work. To put all long stories short, the onslaught of freshmen activities were memorable (for example, explaining to my cohort mates at a pub social that my Singaporean friend and I, who share the same surname, were not related; running to catch the yacht for a Halloween party). In less thrilling news, I had the not-so-unique experience of catching the inevitable Freshers’ flu not once but twice, and dealing with laundry-related woes. Luckily, there are more than enough Singaporeans studying in London to make it feel a little like home, and living in central London means that there’s always an Asian supermarket within walking distance.
I study law and have minimal contact hours per week—when I started first year, Covid restrictions had just ended so lectures were conducted via Zoom—which means that there’s lots to make up for in self-studying. I struggled to find my footing with the new content and new routine all throughout first year, but in second year I found that I had picked up skills along the way which gave me more confidence in doing my assessments. I also particularly enjoy the small group tutorials that my faculty offers, in cosy numbers of 10 or fewer. Having professors from a diverse range of backgrounds also makes for really memorable classes, even the dreaded early morning lecture on a Friday.
In my second year I moved into a rented flat with a few friends. That came with a whole new host of adulting experiences—dealing with gas leaks, water seepage, disposal of furniture. At some point I was sending weekly emails to my poor landlord. But overall I feel much more at home in London compared to my first year. I owe a lot to my church community in London for providing me with a constant source of support, and for redirecting me to God amidst the distractions of university and living in a big city.
How often do you come home?
I’ve thankfully managed to come home for every long holiday I’ve had since my first year, which is typically twice a year (a few weeks of winter break in December to January, and a longer summer break from June to September).
How often do you call/Facetime your parents and friends?
I usually Facetime my family once every one to two weeks, usually on the weekends. Calls with my friends are more sporadic depending on our schedules, but Telegram bubbles are a lifesaver!
Min with her family
What have you missed most and why?
Definitely the food! The food scene in London is really interesting and offers a great range of cuisines, but nothing can top hawker centre prices in Singapore or the satisfaction of eating a good home-cooked meal. The reliability of Singapore’s public transport system is also dearly missed whenever train strikes are announced in London. I’ve had classes cancelled because teachers couldn’t commute to school, so I’ll withhold any future complaints about the MRT.
Living apart from my family makes me miss the little things, from dinners at home to late night chats with my mum to always returning to the same place for ice cream on the weekends. It’s also been interesting to see how things at home have changed each time I come back. My younger brother is growing up so fast and it’s been surprisingly fun to bond with him over new common interests.
I attend a church in London which conducts services quite differently to City Harvest – I’ve been greatly blessed by my time there but it’s also always nice to return to a familiar environment in CHC, and to see everyone worshiping God so wholeheartedly together. I’m also incredibly grateful to have had meaningful and honest conversations with my cell group leaders and friends about church and our faith, where my thoughts and questions have been met without judgment, but with love and understanding instead.
What is your wish for Singapore on its 58th birthday?
It’s been really encouraging to see that so many Singaporeans my age have invested in their interests and hobbies and transformed them into small businesses, stepping out from typical career paths. In my time studying overseas I’ve met people who take vastly different and unexpected paths in life, so I hope that Singapore becomes a place where the value of that is more recognised. As a Christian, I also hope that I (and other Christians) will treasure and not take for granted the freedom we have to share the gospel in Singapore and seek new opportunities to do so outside church, trusting that God is working through our country.
