Evaluating Intercultural behavior

In Singapore, it is natural to order in Chinese at canteen if you know how to speak it. I felt that there was no communication problem at all until one day.

On that day, I was at business canteen ordering my dinner before class. I planned to order shrimp noodles at the noodles store. When the uncle asked me my order, I said in Chinese: “I want a bowl of ‘Xia Mian’.” The uncle looked at me, and asked: “Ha Mian?” I shake my head and repeated my order: “I want ‘Xia Mian’.” The uncle frowned at me and asked again: “Ha Mian??” I felt very puzzled, and repeated: “Xia Mian.” Then the aunty who is cooking noodle came and said: “you want ‘Ha Mian’ or not?” This time, I told her in English “I want shrimp noodles.” Then the aunty whispered: “eh, ‘Ha Mian’ loh.”

After this incidence, I felt that although I have been here for almost five years, there are still a lot of intercultural differences I haven’t found out. Although most Chinese Singaporeans know how to speak Chinese, The ways we speak, and the words we use are very different.

I also have the feeling that English have played an extremely important role in today’s world. If I don’t know English, I could never have that bowl of shrimp noodles ordered.

Biodata of Wang Danhua

My name is Wang Danhua, I’m a year 4 statistics student from National University of Singapore. I chose statistics major because of my strong interest in numbers. However, I don’t like a theory, that’s why I don’t chose maths as my major. Because of my strong interest in numbers, I also took a minor in financial maths. My aspiration is to find a job related to finance.

In my four years of university life, I have joined a lot of Co-Circular Activities, such as Chinese Drama, Wushu, Video Community, and etc. I gained a lot from these CCAs. Joined Chinese Drama made me learned how to be a team player. Joined Video Community made me learned to always hold a good attitude toward my work. Joined Wushu made me gained the spirit of insist on something.

I love travelling. Although as a student, I don’t have much time and money to travel, I have made a lot of travelling plans for my future life, hope I can made them come true some other day. I also like music and reading books, especially Chinese books. Whenever I was reading books, I was also listening to music.

Finally, as a graduating student from NUS, I hope I can find a job related to finance. I think my personality and my experience have made me a suitable person for this kind of jobs.

Cover Letter for Internship program of Risk management Institute

Wang Danhua
435 Clementi Ave 3
#10-204
Singapore 120435
Phone no.90923601
U0602663@nus.edu.sg

September 6, 2009

Dr Oliver Chen
Program Director
Risk Management Institute
21 Heng Mui Keng Terrace Level 4
Singapore 119613
National University of Singapore

Dear Dr Chen,

I am interested in applying for the RMI Research Internship Program listed from the RMI website.

As a statistics major student, I have strong interest in finance, and hence took a minor in financial mathematics. After finished the entire minor courses in my second year, I am now also taking statistical courses related to finance. Therefore, I have confidence to handle works related to your research projects.

I am sure that I can get used to the work environment very fast. I am willing to learn, and can learn fast. I like things to be way ahead of schedule, thus I always finish my work earlier than expected. My personality also involves face every difficulty in life optimistically, willing to help people, willing to accept advices. Having these good tempers help me to improve myself from day to day.

I will be an asset to your program, and this internship would provide me the ideal opportunity to expand my research skills. Hope I can meet you soon in the future.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and time.


Sincerely,

Wang Danhua