This is a continued story from The French Connection.

Has having schoolmates from France join the classroom been a beneficial experience for you, why and how?

Jade’s group mates: Jade’s presence has enriched our lives greatly. Interacting with her has broadened our cultural horizons and thanks to her, we have gained a deep understanding and appreciation for French culture, language and way of life. More importantly, we have fostered meaningful friendships and connections with her that will last a lifetime! We’ve grown a lot together as a clinical group in the past academic year and it has been a great privilege to meet Jade.

Natasha’s group mates: Having Natasha join us has definitely been very insightful and fulfilling for us. She never hesitates to offer diverse perspectives on various topics, such as how medical school is like in France, and the different hospital cultures between the two countries. She also shares about global issues and politics in France, allowing us to gain insights into the interconnectedness of the world.

Most importantly, Natasha’s company is impeccable! From navigating an unfamiliar hospital environment together to observing surgeries together, we are thankful for her, and we have built a lasting friendship from our time together.

Would you also like to go on an exchange programme, why and where would you pick?

Jade’s group mates: Paris! It’d be nice to visit Jade and learn more about how medical school and the healthcare system work there. We would also love to see the wonderful places that Jade tells us about for ourselves.

Natasha’s group mates: Being in a foreign country and experiencing a different culture first-hand can increase our cultural awareness and also help us develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for diversity.

Many exchange programmes offer access to academic institutions and resources that may not be available in Singapore, providing exposure to different teaching methods and perspectives in medical learning. One programme we’re interested in would be Doctors Without Borders. Staffed by medical professionals from around the world, it operates in areas facing conflict, natural disasters, epidemics and other emergencies, providing vital medical care to those in need. We would like to have the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of people in crisis-affected regions around the world, while learning how to deliver medical care in a stressful and resource-limited setting.

From left to right: Li Yan, Kai Lin, Finn, Dr Huang, Natasha, Yu Ting, Ben.

How did you help Jade and Natasha get used to life at NUS Medicine and Singapore, in general?

Jade’s group mates: Jade is a very adventurous and inquisitive person, and she asked us for many food and travel recommendations which we were more than happy to suggest! We took her on a mini food tour the first time we met.

At first, we struggled to help her with banking and exchanging currencies, since we grew up in Singapore, but her independence quickly superseded any difficulty. Regarding schoolwork, the conversations we had about our educational experiences offered a clearer picture on how to adjust to clinical postings in Singapore, especially regarding the topics she had yet to complete in France. We shared notes and study materials, and also advice from our seniors to overcome the various postings.

Natasha’s group mates: We took the chance to meet Natasha before our first posting with her. In between asking questions about her life back in France, we filled her in on our school life at NUS Medicine: our rough daily schedule; posting structure; assessments; and most importantly, tips on how to get the most out of the postings here.

A recurring topic in our conversations was Singapore’s local food. We often went to kopitiams in the institutions we were posted to, and introduced her to the local, as well as various other Asian cuisines. After a quick crash course, Natasha now knows how to order our local kopi, just like a Singaporean! This is one of our fond memories with her.