What are university students in Singapore like?

[seahorsegirl]

I will go to Singapore soon to study there as an exchange student. I'm looking forward to it, so I would really like to know your experience with other students there. Are they nice, is it easy to find friends and so on?
I've been told that many students there are kind of selfish and preying on your weaknesses, also that they are often a little superficial. However I hope this is not true or at least cannot be generalized. So maybe you can share your experience with me :)

[Anonymous]

I studied high school there. Yes they sometimes tend to "prey on your weakness". There was a girl in our class who is super sensitive about her hair and they alway messed up with her hair. And other girl who was very ticklish and she used to get tickled a lot, stuff like that. But otherwise they are nice people.

[seahorsegirl]

Thank you :)
Well ok, that sounds like fun and it's not really something bad haha
Actually I heard something that I found kind of weird. I was told that in Singapore in universities they have this tradition to do regular photo shoots where girls have to be in bare feet, whereas guys don't. Have you ever heard of this?

[Opinion Owner]

Hmm we were at a trip to an university and we saw a student there who is completely barefoot and it was really odd so some other girls told us that that's because she didn't attend a barefoot photo shoot or something. So yeah, maybe that's the photo shoot you're talking about. I'm not very surprised as it was also a bit common to steal a girl's footwear in high school.

[seahorsegirl]

But so she was barefoot because she didn't attend the photo shoot?
I heard that you have to take off your shoes and socks to attend the photo shoots.

It was common to steal girls' footwear at high school? Why? And has this happened to you, too?

[Opinion Owner]

Probably.
Yes it was a bit common but it didn't happen to me thankfully, I was there just for one year.

[seahorsegirl]

Don't you think that's a little weird that the girls have to be barefoot for a photo shoot? Why only the girls? And why barefoot?
Anyway, since I'm going to study there and I would be really uncomfortable having to do this, do you know anyone you could ask about this? Maybe someone you know who still studies there and who could tell you if this whole story is true or not? I would really like to know

[Opinion Owner]

They probably wanted to embarrass the girls. I can try to contact some of my old friends but it's been a long time so I can't promise anything.

[seahorsegirl]

Yeah it almost seems like that's the whole point of it, to embarrass the girls. For me it would be super embarrassing for sure. How would you feel if you had to do this?

And yes, if you could ask your old friends about it, that would be awesome! Thanks :)

[seahorsegirl]

And about that girl you saw, so you were told she had to attend a barefoot photo shoot, and because she didn't, she was punished by having to go barefoot on the campus? So that means they really don't give you a choice about this?

[Opinion Owner]

I'd also feel very embarrassed if only the girls have to be barefoot while boys wearing their shoes as you said. I don't know if she didn't attend the photo or refused to take off her shoes or something. Looks like you have a choice, you can not attend the photo but then you'd have to walk around the campus barefoot for who knows how long!

[seahorsegirl]

Yeah, I'd also feel embarrassed even if everyone was barefoot. I generally feel uncomfortable when people see my bare feet.
Mmh sounds like you do have to attend the photo shoot then... But maybe I could just take off my shoes and wear my socks during the photo shoot. If I could wear socks, it wouldn't be a problem for me. Do you think that will be possible?

[Opinion Owner]

I'm not sure if it's worth trying to take the risk of going barefoot in the campus in front of everyone later. At least in the photo other girls are also barefoot and you're not the only one.

[seahorsegirl]

Yes, that would be terrible if I had to walk barefoot in the campus. But that barefoot photo shoot sounds pretty bad, too... :(
Although maybe there I could somehow manage to hide my feet so that they are not seen in the photos afterwards.
So yeah, it would be great if you could find out more about this by asking your friends.

[seahorsegirl]

So will you ask them and tell me, if and what they replied? :)

[Anonymous]

Can you stop with the bare feet thing? It makes you sound like a psycho

[7771999]

Super specific question

[seahorsegirl]

Yes I know, but I don't know where else I could ask it. Do you have an idea?
And have you studied there?

[7771999]

I'm sorry. I haven't 😬

I honestly don't think I could ever study abroad.