Voices from Abroad: Davide Camasi
Singapore, THEMIS: Singapore Management University, Law School
Why should someone choose to drop everything and go to Singapore? Because, in my view, it combines the advantages of the THEMIS program and the opportunity to broaden your horizons while seeing a new part of the world.
Starting from the latter, Singapore, a Western-disguised Asian country with a challenging international environment, forces you to leave your comfort-area and puts you up to intriguing challenges you are unlikely to face should you select a closer country in a cultural and geographical sense. Even going to the supermarket to buy some strange local food will make you interact with people whose only language is "Singlish," a mix of Chinese and English words with a strong Eastern accent!
 Davide and other students eating out in Singapore |
During my four months in South-East Asia, my first experience outside Europe, I have met people from all over the world, creating a network of friends who I am frequently in contact with. With them I have explored Singapore, a densely-populated city, whose majority of citizens is Chinese but with hundreds of thousands of foreigners. It is an extremely organized country, far cleaner than Italy (you cannot even eat or drink in the underground in order to avoid a fine) and generally safe. Immediately before the term's start and a couple of times afterwards I was also able to spend a few days travelling in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, which allowed me to get a glimpse of real Asia, much more chaotic and orderless than Singapore. Such voyages, decided completely on-the-spot, were amazing: I could even try unknown dishes, including fried spiders and scorpions!
However, it is worth underlining that the vast majority of your time will be spent in university, between group meetings, case analyses, classes and individual presentations. Singapore Management University is way more competitive than Bocconi, while Asian students are extremely hard workers. As a THEMIS student, you will be required to take 5 courses, whilst local students reach a maximum of 4 and exchange ones usually attend 3. From a general point of view, each of such courses includes a group project, an individual paper, class participation, a mid-term and a final exam, which means a much heavier workload than in our university. In addition, grades are based on a comparative scale and are likely to be definitively lower than what you are used to. I believe that such a negative element can be balanced by the previous positive features, but it is something you should be aware of before selecting this destination.
In the end, as regards the THEMIS program's features, one should not also underestimate the value of its seminar, held in March, that gathers participants for a brief Moot Court session which is likely to be extremely challenging and helps keep friendships and connections alive. I am looking forward to it, as I am sure it will be another great experience.