GESS student Otis Hoelscher shares what it’s like to move to Singapore and why he’s grateful for the experience
“When we first moved to Singapore, I felt like I had woken up on some other planet. It was always warm and even the surroundings were always green. The skies were filled with buildings and everywhere there were people speaking all kinds of languages. To be honest, I felt confused but sort of excited. I guess that’s just life for a third-culture kid in Singapore.”
In the beginning…
“At first I struggled with getting accustomed to the new environment I now call home. I adapted by being more open to getting to know people. I realised it would be the only way for me to make sense of what was going on and make new friends. In a country like Singapore, a third-culture kid is exposed to a multicultural and a cosmopolitan lifestyle and environment. To me, this is the greatest highlight. As you might expect, this is compounded by attending an international school because of the range of multicultural experiences we’re exposed to.”
The advantages of growing up in Singapore
“Growing up in Singapore provides me with the advantage of experiencing a much greater range of cultures, religions and languages than I would have if I’d stayed in Europe. Living here has furthered my cultural understanding and appreciation. I feel more like a global citizen now than I ever have. I have grown attached to this unique culture hive. I feel compelled to learn and to further interact with people sharing different mindsets. I believe this experience has made me more open, and despite my appreciation of my home country, I feel more at home than ever before.”
Being in an international school in Singapore
“As a result of all this, coupled with my unique position as a student at an international school, it might seem like I have no established identity, but this is an inaccurate idea. The fact of the matter is, that being taught in an environment such as GESS International School, which prides itself in its diversity and respect of other cultures and ideas, I now have a new and unique outlook of the world, and a much stronger sense of identity relating to the people around me.”
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This article is in partnership with GESS