MY JOURNEY IN SINGAPORE
Hello! My name is Clarissa, and I’m from Sarawak, Malaysia. I am nursing student in Singapore.
The first time I heard about Friendships@SG was through a friend. She found it on social media, joined, and even received a welcome gift.
I remember asking her, “Where did you get this?” and she told me it was from Friendships@SG. I was surprised and wondered why I didn’t have it too? Then I realized I must have missed the sign-up link.
Some time passed, and my friend invited me to join a few activities organized by Friendships@SG. But at that time, I chose to focus on my studies, so I didn’t go.
A few months later, she invited me again and this time to go to Pulau Ubin. I had been feeling quite bored staying at home all the time, and I wasn’t very used to life in Singapore yet. I was also a bit afraid to go out alone because everything still felt new to me.
Since I love exploring nature, I decided to give it a try. I signed up, thinking it would just be a simple day to relax, explore, and take a break from the usual routine.
But that day turned out to be much more meaningful than I expected.
When I arrived, I met other international students from across Asia. Most of them were also nursing students, which made me feel more at ease. What stood out the most was how the Friendships@SG members welcomed me so warmly—without judgment, just genuine kindnes.
I remember laughing freely, something I hadn’t done in a long time. For the first time in a while, I felt light, comfortable, and truly present in the moment.
And somehow, in the middle of it all, I felt something I couldn’t quite explain—it simply felt like home.
Friendships@SG also organized a special event for us Sarawakians and Sabahan people on 31 March 2025, under Borneo Beyond Borders, where we celebrated Gawai and Kaamatan together. I was really happy when I heard about it. I immediately decided to go, because I couldn’t return to my hometown in Sarawak—the flight tickets were too expensive, and there aren’t many Gawai and Kaamatan celebrations in Singapore.
Being far away from my family made me feel quite sad at times, especially during such a meaningful festival. I really missed home.
But this celebration meant a lot to me. I felt so glad and thankful that they created a space for us to celebrate together. What made it even more special was meeting people from Borneo like me—others who also couldn’t go back home. In that moment, even though we were far from from our hometown, it didn’t feel so far anymore. We were able to celebrate, laugh, and share that sense of home together.
I also met some seniors through Friendships@SG who are from the same school as me. They have helped me a lot, and we spent time hanging out together. It was such a fun and memorable experience, and I’m really grateful for those moments we shared.
When it was time for their graduation ceremony, I felt so happy and proud of them. At the same time, I felt a deep sense of warmth and gratitude—it was a bittersweet feeling.
Even though we didn’t meet very often, it felt like I had known them for a long time. The bond we shared felt genuine and meaningful, and that made those moments even more special to me.