Singapore Holiday Immersion Programme 2018
S4S MAN YAN AUDREY HO
From the 9th to 20th of July 2018, I had the opportunity to participate in the Singapore Holiday Immersion Programme 2018 (SHIP). This was my first time participating in SHIP, and my second time visiting Singapore. For two weeks, I attended lessons at CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School with an Integrated Programme (IP) class. Everyone was very friendly, welcoming and willing to answer my questions about their school and daily lives.
I noticed many interesting differences between our school and theirs. These included how each class has over 30 students, and there are only girls, both of which took some time for me to get used to, as it makes the learning environment quite different. While they do have a ‘recess’ it is 45 minutes long like our ‘lunch’. As they have no other break, they can eat snacks in class at 09 00 and 13 15 each day. Each period is 30 minutes long, compared to our 45 minute long periods. They have an outdoor sports field with a 400-metre track. They also have more time in the afternoons dedicated to CCAs, with each session lasting for 2 hours and 30 minutes, while ours are only 1 hour and 30 minutes long. Additionally, there may be up to 3 sessions each week. I enjoyed being a part of, exploring and learning about the school.
On the 12th of July, the school held their annual Expanding Your Horizons science fair. The activities were fun and interesting, and I got to learn more about science as well as explore the school compound. My favourite activities included trying out aromatherapy and being in a portable planetarium dome.
I also got to attend the National Education Show on the 14th July, and it was quite an engaging experience. There were a variety of performances and showcases, including dancing, singing, and marching. I found it quite cool when I got to see the Red Lions parachuting down from the sky. It was really colourful and I enjoyed being able to witness Singapore’s national pride up close. Their portrayal of how Singapore has developed through videos and performances was really touching and memorable.
On my last day, we celebrated Racial Harmony Day, and my class was one of the two best-dressed classes in the grade. I was quite surprised to see the majority of the school wearing national costumes, whether it be sarees, cheongsams, or other forms of traditional wear. We also got to watch an interactive performance about racial harmony.
Overall, it was a really enjoyable experience for me, getting a better understanding of what a student’s life in Singapore is like by experiencing it myself, learning more about Singapore’s culture and national pride, and I also got to make some new friends who took care of me really well. I am grateful to have gotten the chance to participate in SHIP.
