Exchange Programme with Convent of Holy Infant Jesus, Singapore (19-26 July 2025)
At the end of the 2024-2025 academic year, six S1 students from our school were selected to participate in a highly anticipated exchange programme with our sister school, the Convent of Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) in Singapore. This enriching experience provided a unique opportunity to both DGS and CHIJ girls for personal and academic growth. We are profoundly grateful to Ms. A. Tong and Ms. S. Yap for their guidance and arrangements, as well as to Ms. S. Yeung of CHIJ, whose hospitality and care ensured a smooth and welcoming experience.
Upon our arrival, we were accommodated at St. Andrew’s Hall, a hostel near the school that allowed us to immerse ourselves in a new living environment and showcase our independence among new acquaintances. This arrangement encouraged adaptability and social engagement with those around us.
Our time in Singapore was a blend of cultural enlightenment and academic discovery. After an initial visit to Universal Studios Singapore, we began our school week at CHIJ. The school’s environment was remarkably diverse, with students from various backgrounds, including Malaysia, India, and even Hong Kong! This brought an atmosphere of genuine hospitality, which immediately made us feel at home among the CHIJ girls. Our student buddies helped us in many different aspects, guiding us through the campus, recommending diverse food options at the canteen, and introducing us to new friendships. We quickly bonded over shared interests in hobbies, music, and sports, whilst teachers provided opportunities for collaboration, allowing our exchange of insights on our different educational systems in different countries.
On Wednesday, I joined my buddy for her Culinary Arts extracurricular activity. We prepared coconut herbed rice, a popular Southeast Asian dish, by first picking out fresh herbs from the school’s own gardens. This experience offered a distinctive comparison to the cooking lessons at our school. While our curriculum focuses on the scientific principles behind cooking using STEAM concepts, CHIJ’s programme emphasizes the cultivation of fresh produce, providing an insightful approach.
Each afternoon, we embarked on sightseeing tours to different landmarks, including Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, and the Night Safari. These visits were both informative and enjoyable. At the Marina Bay, we went to an exhibition on early Singaporean culture in plays and theatre, spoken in Malay, the exhibition includes original sets from the comedy play; Gardens by the Bay contains a large variety of cactus species, along with Cloud Forests and their stylistic themes; and finally, the Night Safari is home to many animals, mainly known for their nocturnal animals such as leopards and lions, and also for their large animals, such as the Asian elephant and the Malaysian Tapirs.
This exchange programme was truly an unforgettable experience for us; being able to make new friendships of different races and cultures and even bond with the students in our form from DGS was exceedingly valuable. From academic learning through daily school life, to having fun at night with our friends at the hostel and mingling with the locals, we have gained many precious memories. When students reached out to talk with us or just give a small introduction, it brought us great joy and comfort to know that friendships really can be made so easily despite language, culture and distance; this felt precious and valuable especially with something so fragile as friendship birthed between two strangers.
We extend our sincerest gratitude to our teachers, Ms. R.L. Wong, Ms. A. Tong, and Ms. S. Yap, for their tireless leadership and unwavering support. We also thank Ms. S. Yeung and the entire CHIJ community for their exemplary hospitality. Finally, we thank our Headmistress, Mrs. Lau, for granting us this exceptional opportunity to create lasting memories and forge new relationships overseas.