Michelle and her sister Julienne took the opportunity to visit the new GESS campus with their parents during a recent trip to Asia. During the tour, we asked them a few questions about their school days at GESS and their life back then in Singapore.
What did you do after your time at GESS?
We were at GESS from 2011 to 2013 because our father worked in Singapore for two years. Afterwards we went back to Heidelberg, where we attended an international school. Today I am studying German and Chinese for Media and Technology in Stuttgart and my sister Julienne is studying Management and Technology at the Technical University in Munich.
What did you like most about GESS?
It was especially nice that we spent the full day with our friends. In the morning the bus picked us up at our residence, then there were lessons in the morning and in the afternoon, we had our after-class activities also on the school campus. I started playing the clarinet and getting involved in theatre, and my sister Julienne signed up for football and cooking. We built up such a close relationship with our bus driver and the caregivers on the bus, that on our last school day in GESS, we ran back out from our condo to say goodbye to them.
What did you miss most about GESS afterwards?
I think most of all we missed the openness of our schoolmates. In Singapore we made friends super-fast and everyone who arrived was welcomed with open arms. At GESS, students come and go every year, as their parents either move back to their native country or to somewhere else. Back in Germany it was much more difficult to find new friends, because most of the children have never experienced living abroad and therefore do not know exactly what it means to restart somewhere.
As a side note, we loved the cinnamon rolls from the GESS canteen, and also where we were staying in Singapore as we got to enjoy the swimming pool every day after school.
Do you remember some favourite places in Singapore?
Takashimaya at Orchard Road. Once a week, we took a taxi from our residence to go to our English lessons.
We also liked the Swiss bakery, which I do not think exists anymore. We always bought their chocolate croissants with sprinkles.
How has your time at GESS influenced your future life?
GESS has made us incredibly open minded and curious about other cultures, languages and people. My studies of German and Chinese for Media and Technology are certainly influenced by my stay in Singapore.
