Shija Mohamed (Business + NOC ’20)
Manager, Revenue Strategy & Planning at Rula
Dallas, TX; previously, New York, NY
What does Singapore’s National Day mean to you now that you’re living or working overseas?
National Day means a lot more to me now that I’m living overseas. It reminds me of home and where I come from. Living in the US has also made me appreciate how much Singapore has achieved, and I’m grateful for the opportunities being Singaporean has given me.
How do you usually celebrate National Day where you are?
In New York, we usually get together with our Singaporean friends for good food and to catch up. The Singapore Consulate also hosts a National Day celebration, and it’s always nice to celebrate with fellow Singaporeans over local food.
Do you have a favourite National Day memory?
My favourite National Day memory is the half-day celebrations in school, followed by playing football with friends. I always looked forward to the holiday and ending the day with the National Day Parade and fireworks.
Looking back on your time at NUS, how has that experience shaped the way you stay connected to Singapore?
NUS gave me the opportunity to venture overseas through the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programme, which eventually led me to where I am today. It also introduced me to lifelong friends from NOC and exchange, whom I still keep in touch with regularly. Even though we’re now spread across different countries, those friendships continue to keep me connected to Singapore.
How do you satisfy a craving for Singaporean food where you live?
Whenever I’m craving Singaporean food, I’ll visit one of the local Singaporean/Malaysian restaurants. In Dallas, there are also home-based businesses run by Southeast Asians that sell authentic food, which definitely helps whenever I’m missing home!
Nur Aisyah Lyana Binte Mohamed Satria (Arts & Social Sciences ’22)
Currently pursuing a Dual Master’s in Technology & Global Affairs at Sciences Po Paris and IE University while interning in AI Data & Safety at ByteDance Singapore
Singapore; Paris, France; and Madrid, Spain
What does being Singaporean mean to you now that you’re studying overseas?
Living abroad has made me appreciate Singapore even more. Being Singaporean is about carrying our multicultural values, languages and sense of community wherever I go!
In what ways do you stay connected to Singapore while living abroad?
I stay connected through food and community. I visit The Hood Paris and Kaya Café when I miss home. When I have time, I’ll cook rendang and sayur lodeh, make teh tarik or Milo, and attend gatherings with fellow Singaporeans.
Do you have a favourite National Day memory or uniquely Singaporean experience?
Last year on National Day, I organised a zine launch for Cerita Kita zine and it was attended by other Southeast Asian storytellers. It was really fun having them come over for the launch, listen to our Singapore experiences/memories and also have them try some Singaporean food. We even had NAMIE who previously sang the NDP song to sing live during the event!
Looking back on your time at NUS, how has that experience influenced your connection to Singapore?
NUS encouraged me to connect the local with the global. Whether studying Singapore through Global Studies or preserving our literary heritage through Malay Studies, it gave me the confidence to represent Singapore overseas while bringing new perspectives home. It also inspired me to contribute to the community through writing, youth initiatives and preserving our cultural heritage. NUS gave me some of my strongest memories of Singapore, from organising community projects to building lifelong friendships across different backgrounds. Those experiences are what I find myself missing most while studying overseas.
Do you have any personal reflections?
Living in Paris has made me realise that celebrating Singapore is often found in the little things. I also realise that home can exist wherever Singaporeans gather. I loved slipping back into Singlish whenever I met fellow Singaporeans, whether over a meal or at gatherings at the Singapore Embassy in Paris. Having celebrated Chinese New Year and Hari Raya in France with other Singaporeans (and even Malaysians!), I’m excited to wear red and white, or perhaps even a traditional Malay outfit in front of the Eiffel Tower. It feels symbolic to carry a piece of home into one of the world’s most iconic landmarks.
Living abroad has made me appreciate that being Singaporean isn’t just about where I am physically, but about the culture, language, food, and sense of community that I carry with me. In many ways, being away from home has only made me feel even more Singaporean.
Keith Wo (Yale-NUS ’18)
Sustainability Consultant (Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency) at Schneider Electric
Seoul, South Korea
What does Singapore’s National Day mean to you now that you’re living or working overseas?
As I work in sustainability, National Day means a lot to me that we, as a nation, have the responsibility to protect not just the people, but the environment that we live in. Protecting the environment not just contributes to Singaporeans but for the world in general which is the realisation I have come to being overseas
Have you had a uniquely Singaporean experience while abroad?
South Koreans are always really curious about Singaporean accents and Singlish, like the words that we choose to use, like “can”. My friend even sent me an Instagram story on Singaporean phrases, like, “By right, cannot. By left, can.”
What have you come to appreciate about Singapore after spending time abroad?
I think branching out of Singapore has given me really new perspectives of Singapore. How green and clean Singapore is, and now I actually love to be outdoors more when meeting people back in Singapore! Soaking the sun in Sentosa, taking walks and cycling by Punggol Connector, picnics at Botanic Gardens.
How do you satisfy a craving for Singaporean food where you live?
I cook it at home! Not great at it but sauce packs have saved my life. I have also made Bak Kut Teh for my Korean friends.
