Fluidity

Introduce yourself!
My name is Coco, and I’m from Jiangxi province, Nanchang, China. I recently graduated with my Masters from Shanghai International Studies University’s (SISU) school of Journalism and Communication. This trip to Singapore is my graduate trip with my boyfriend, Lec, as his professor invited us to pay a visit.

Congrats! Why did you decide to study journalism?
During my undergraduate years, I majored in English. Over time, I discovered a strong interest in communication and new media. That’s what led me to pursue this field more deeply, and I’ve been studying it for the past two years at SISU.

Interesting! So do you have any idea of what you want to pursue for work?
Currently, my plan is to study for one more year in Hong Kong and maybe find an internship there. But honestly, I’m not very sure about my future career. I think what I need to do now is to explore and try something new because the job market in China is very competitive and many graduates can’t find jobs. So I just want to broaden my horizon since I’m still young.

Yeah, the job market is tough, even in Singapore! Speaking of Singapore, you mentioned that you came here because your boyfriend’s professor invited you?
Yes, and also because my boyfriend is a fan of airplanes (laughs)! He wanted to take the A380 airbus from Singapore Airlines. This is actually a last minute trip—we decided a week ago to spend some time together before we part for a bit because I have to go back to my hometown to stay with my parents for a while.

Oh! What are some things you’ve done in your time here?
We’ve mostly spent time walking around and sightseeing. We went to tourist spots like Marina Bay and Clarke Quay. We also went to take a look at the casino and passed by SMU.

Fun! Now that you’re finally going back home after spending a few years away in a different city, is there anything you miss about it?
Yes, absolutely. I really miss the food and my family back home. Over the past few years, my hometown has developed a lot. Before I went to university, Nanchang was a city that few people knew about. But now, more and more visitors are coming, and many of them are falling in love with it.

I’d describe it as a vibrant and welcoming place. Our food is known for being spicy, but it’s not just the food—the people are warm and friendly too. You can really see how hardworking they are. Since we’re an inland city, not near the coast, many locals go out to work in other places. Still, it’s a wonderful place, and I miss it dearly.

Then what would you recommend people do or eat there?
Nanchang is well known for rice noodles and spicy food, so that’s a must-try if you ever visit!