Raffles Education Corp Welcomes Changchun Delegates

Interview with the interns from Changchun University

In July 2007 Raffles Education Corp offered internships to five Changchun University graduates , giving them the opportunity to work at the Raffles Education Corp main campus in Singapore for a year starting in February 2008.  All the interns are very grateful for this golden opportunity to learn and gain valuable work experience and this what they had to say about the experience so far:



Ms. Wing Dai, Ms. Tata Li, Ms. Peggy Yan, Ms. Sara Wong, Mr. Leon Xu

Ms Wing Dai
Administration Executive (Raffles Design Institute)

What has it been like, doing your internship here in Singapore?
It’s been a great experience. Had I done it in China it would have been totally different. In comparison to China, Singapore is such a small, multilingual, multiracial country, with so many cultures co-existing. As I grew up in a different culture, I think differently, but it does not matter; we cooperate, we communicate, and, most importantly, we learn to accommodate each other. We need to learn more, not just in work related fields, but in life. I think this is the difference.

What is your favourite place in Singapore? And why?
The seaside. I love the sea and when I look at the sea, my world is placid. The blue and clean water, the white clouds, blue sky, the airplanes, the big ships, the seabirds, the wind, they are so far away, yet so close to me.

Ms Tata Li
Administration Executive (Raffles Design Institute)

How is life in Singapore different from China?
Not all Chinese people have the opportunity to work overseas with a comfortable standard of living. I am grateful to the company for giving me this opportunity. I work happily; although life is tough sometimes. It would have made a big difference if I had started my first job in China as the salary level would be much lower. Although the cost of living in Singapore is much higher then at hoem, I still manage to save a little every month. In Singapore, I‘ve met a lot of people and have learned to look at things from a different prospective. Ihave faced some difficulties and I’ve needed to take more risks, but these challenges have helped me grow and I really enjoy life such as this. Also as Singapore is a developed nation, we are exposed to more advanced information and more a mature management system than in China. With this knowledge, I can create more value if I go back to China someday.

What do you like most about Singapore? Why?
I like the environment here. The air is fresher and cleaner than at home. We can find nice food from all over the world. Singaporeans have more money, a higher standard of living and they lead a happy life. I wish my people in China could enjoy a life like this as well and I hope the knowledge and skills I’ve learnt here can make that happen.

What were you majoring in back at Changchun University?
I was majoring in Chinese language and literature and spent 4 years there.

What have you learned so far from your internship?
I have learned many things from my internship but I must say that my biggest achievement is that I have learned to become more financially independent, which is a great feeling. Furthermore, having been living in Singapore for a few months now, I’m beginning to think just like a Singaporean, which to me is important in order to integrate into the culture and work successfully sisde-by-side my workmates. All in all, it makes a brand new and improved me.

Could you tell us more about your internship?
I am currently working as an Administration Executive in the Relationship Department, REC College Singapore. It really is a most rewarding experience. Working in REC College, I have learnt a lot from my supervisor and colleagues. Not only did they teach me how to do things in a better way, but they also let me know how to communicate with others of different status such as students, ICA officers, business partners, and colleagues from other departments. Given the responsibilities, I strive to be independent and try my best to do things better. To be honest, I really appreciate this opportunity to work and learn here. That’s why I am trying my best not to waste a single minute - learning is endless. My sincere thanks to Raffles Education Corp for giving me the great opportunity to learn and work here.

How do you spend your weekend in Singapore?
The weekend is wonderful here in Singapore. My friends and I enjoy it very much. Usually, we go to the gym in the morning because we understand that our physical health is paramount. After that, we go back home and cook for ourselves. Through cooking, we found life is more colorful. But, I also love to go to beaches like Sentosa and East Coast Park to enjoy the sea breeze and sunshine. It really is a fantastic feeling to sit down on the sand and think about nothing. It seems like time has stopped and all of the sadness and unhappy feelings disappear. In the evening at home, we often watch TV news concerning China. In the end, I have tried my best to carry out my belief, which is to live life to the fullest.

What have you gained most from your internship?
During these first few months in the in Student and Administration Services (SAS) department at Raffles College, I have experienced and leaned so much. My colleagues are very kind and nice and in the very beginning, gave me plenty of guidance. After just one term, I found that I had adapted to the job well. In retrospect, I can say that I’ve benefited from my work at SAS in a number of respects. First, and foremost, by dealing with particular student cases and their problems, I have expanded my knowledge and explored my abilities in areas that I find challenging and interesting. Secondly, getting the chance to present my own thoughts was an extremely exciting and instructive experience, both broadening my horizons and to some extent also leading me to position myself more firmly and consciously. Thirdly, by working closely with my excellent colleagues, I have become much more aware of my own position with respect to the function of language. Through many lively discussions with them, I believe to have gotten a better understanding of the student and academic services we are offering and the associated problems, and also of how mutual understanding and possible solutions could be better achieved. Thanks for offering us this chance.

What will you share about your internship with your friends in China?
There is an old saying, “Learning in old age is like writing on sand; learning when young is like engraving on stone.” It is a good opportunity for me to experience the differences in living conditions between Singapore and China. Singapore is  one of the most modern countries in the world and has impressed me greatly with its strong economic growth, transportation and infrastructure. And I can say that my internship in Raffles College is a rewarding experience and provided me with some new perspectives that I had not come across in the past. I also need to stress that my colleagues have worked really hard and that working with them is a great pleasure and their faith in my abilities is a real source of motivation.