About Us

L to R: Joslyn, Tejala, Afifah, Tessa, Andy, Inez, Yanhui

Joslyn (13A01)

I am looking forward to the trip because it will take me beyond the classroom. It will definitely help me to learn other things besides just literature and GP as we get to visit places that will enlighten us on aspects of the culture of UK like the schooling system. This trip will also help me to better appreciate what we learn in literature classes since we will be experiencing and visiting places which are closely related to what we are learning. This will definitely be a rich and holistic experience as we will not only expand our academic knowledge, but learn more about ourselves,  particularly our strengths and weaknesses.  This is so as we are given an opportunity to step out of our comfort zones and take responsibility for ourselves and our group mates.  Thus, I hope to not only take back knowledge and experience that are school-related, but also to develop my own character and forge bonds with the rest of the group along the way. :)

Tejala (13A01)

Hi! I’m Tejala, from 13A01. I love reading, listening to music, and learning about new things. I’m really excited for this trip to London as it’ll be focusing on two of the subjects I like: History and Literature. Over the course of this trip, I hope to deepen my understanding and appreciation of these two subjects through the trips to the various museums and historical sites in London. I also hope to learn more about London’s culture and lifestyle, as well as make friends with the students there.

Nur Afifah (13S26)

My hobbies are dancing, reading and baking. I really enjoy watching performances and exploring new places and this trip would give me an opportunity to learn more about the British heritage and culture. I have never been to the UK so I look forward to this trip as I would be able to see iconic sights and landmarks that London is known for and also learn more about the history behind them when we visit them. I also look forward to watching the plays when we are there.

Tessa (13S28)

Hi! I'm Tessa from 13S28. I am passionate about dance and good food. Through the trip, I hope to make new friends and learn more about London's history and culture while deepening my appreciation of the Arts. I am especially looking forward to the museum visits and getting a chance to photograph the architecture in London.

Andy (13S27)

I'm Andy from 13S27. I enjoy taking photography and I like analysing poems in class. To me, literature kind of liberates me - I feel like I can sympathise with the writer and I share some of their sentiments. That encouraged me to experiment in poetry. However, they're really not that good. Still, I hope to someday publish some of my own poems, which is why I want to go to London because I want to learn creative writing. I also want to know about London's culture and history and I want to observe the people there. There's so much that I want to say but I can't put it in words. So, overall, I hope to learn as much as I can from this trip.

Inez Yuen (13A02)

I enjoy watching all sorts of movies, televesion series and theatre performances when I have the spare time, so the highlight of the trip for me would be watching the night theatre performances. After seeing many scenes of London being shot in so many different movies, being there in person would itself be a huge treat. Besides visiting the popular and almost cliched London tourist attractions like the Big Ben, I would be sure to pay attention to the fine detail of the city. Its busy bustling streets, small street coffeehouses, and its cosmopolitan society. These little things that often go unnoticed are in fact the very memories that I will eventually take away from this trip.

Guo Yanhui (13A02)

I love reading, Radio 4 podcasts, and jazz from 1920s Shanghai. I’ve also harboured an inexplicable love of English monarchy history for as long as I can remember, which is really why I’d like to visit London - to experience the history and culture (and literature!) of this enduring city.

L to R: Sonya, Charmaine, Nadia, Gabriel, Jasmine,  Amanda, Michelle Ler

Sonya (13S15)

Hi, I am Sonya and I'm a self-proclaimed caffeine addict and bookworm. I read everything from sci-fi, fantasy to horror, mystery, thriller, historical, noir and classic literature and poetry. Someday I will have the guts to pick up my pen and write my own novel. Someday. What I'm looking forward to in London is to experience London life and culture firsthand, of which I have read so much about, as well as to watch the plays and visit London's infamous museums such as the Imperial War Museum, of which the WWII exhibit is something I really want to witness. Additionally, I can't wait to take part in the Creative Writing workshop, and have a look at the Globe Theatre. Through this trip I hope to broaden my horizons and gain travelling experience. I'm greatly looking forward to this trip and am grateful for this opportunity I have been provided.

 Charmaine (13S05)

I'm Charmaine. The main attraction that I'm looking forward to on this trip would be the plays that we would be watching due to London's  reputation for having the best theatre scene in the world. I hope to learn more about literature as a whole, going beyond the physical boundaries of printed words on paper and explore London in such a way. This trip provides me with that opportunity and I am glad to be a part of this.

 Nadia (13S26)

It's an honour being provided with the opportunity to go for the Literature Enrichment Trip to London as the London culture is one that involves arts, music and museums, all of which I  am interested in learning more about. I am also thrilled to be able to visit the various museums such as the Imperial War Museum and other places. I hope to be able to widen my knowledge and appreciation for Literature and foster new friendships with my schoolmates.

 Gabriel Lee (13A02)

 I am any regular 17 year old boy excited over his virgin experience to London especially with the absence of parental supervision. Not that it would make much of a difference since teacher supervision can be equally strict but then again, it is a stigma that has pre-existed since the rebellious streak grew in me. Physically mature, towering at a height of 183 cm, I appear pretty scary as commented on by many friends. Well, you know what they say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” so similarly, do not judge a big man by his appearance because my personality would totally contradict my appearance. For one, my mother used to tell her friends I was a 7 year old trapped in a big body. My friends will also assure you that I am definitely not one to be even remotely scared of. Once I get familiar with you, you will come to realise that. My primary school report books are evidence of as described, “bubbly”, “mischievous” and a good many other traits that render my big body and serious face ironic. 

 My interests would include sports, running, everything that would be fitting of my built. I would consider myself very active. Sitting down for long hours is definitely not a capability of mine although I do try hard at harnessing it. I am the person who has the ability to fall asleep almost anywhere be it showers, standing on the MRT or in classes. Therefore I am only fully awake when engaging in sports or something physical. My other interests are the ones that got me interested in going London. Oddly, I love shopping although I am a boy. Most boys would just laugh or be bored at the mere mention of shopping. I think this is probably where I stand out as well. Although I am fully aware that this is definitely not a shopping trip, the chance to see new things and even buy back souvenirs is enough to entice me. Secondly, I take an interest in architectural designs. I constantly fawn over the intricate building designs all around the world. London is no exception. The Big Ben and Buckingham Palace are luscious to the eyes as I would describe it. Being able to see them live and of course snap a few photos with these architectural beauties in the background would be a dream come true indeed. On a side note, I would have better looking Facebook and Twitter profile pictures. Last but definitely not least, this is a literature trip. My interest in literature would be a major factor in my interest in this trip. This might seem as a textbook answer, one that you might use to heighten your chances to get into the shortlist for this London trip in a nerve-wrecking interview with two straight-faced teachers questioning your presumed motives for signing up for the trip. Honestly, this trip would definitely be beneficial to our literature studies especially since we will be attending workshops on Othello and Duchess of Malfi, both of which we are doing in school. Also, it would be an eye opener to witness the historical trail of literature blossoming in England as well. 

 From this, hopefully you will have a better understanding of who I am and my purpose for signing up and going for this trip to London. I am the videographer of my group, assigned banner bearer for the whole trip and also a boy seeking out some fun in the harsh and tumultuous conditions of junior college life. London is calling (so is my official Cambridge sweater). 

Jasmine (13A02)

Hello, I'm Jasmine from 13 A02! I'm in water polo and I love literature :D

I would like to go to London because i've never travelled to the UK before, and I want to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for literature through the places we will visit. I cannot wait to visit The Globe as it has been one of the many famed landmarks that I have been dreaming of seeing ever since Secondary School! I also hope to be enriched by the diversity of London and to experience being independent in a big city like London.

Amanda Lee (13A01)

Hi! I am Amanda. Something about myself: I am currently in hockey and my hobbies are sleeping, reading, scrapbooking, cooking and playing sports. The reason for wanting to go for this Literature London trip may be most probably because I am curious about the life and culture in London. I have never been to a lot of countries in my entire life and the furthest was to Bangkok, so I hope with this trip to London, I can broaden my travelling experience. I am very excited to witness the beautiful sights of London and to develop a greater appreciation for plays. Most importantly, I hope that through this trip, I will find my way into liking literature.

Michelle Ler (13A01)

I am Michelle Ler, from 13A01. I enjoy music and the arts a lot, and reading is one of my favourite pastimes:) I wanted to join this Literature Trip to London as it is a once in a lifetime chance for me to be able to broaden my knowledge on literature in a foreign country, and I wanted to experience the culture and lifestyle there in London. I wish to learn more about the different literature authors, as well as form friendship bonds with not only my fellow school mates who are on this trip, but also the students there at London.

Clockwise from top left:  Xu Cheng, Raymond, Chantelle, Andrea, Michelle Chia, Gayatri

Xu Cheng (13A02)

The reason as to why I applied for this trip in the first place was because I was - and still am - sure that it will be an experience of a lifetime. A Literature Enrichment Trip to the UK seems like something that would not pass me by once more in life, considering I have already completed much of my time as a student (no idea what I'm actually going to do in university) and I have insufficient personal drive to seek these locations and partake in these activities on my own, nor does my family. Furthermore, the people I will be going with are the friends that I have made in the first, one of the two, years of my life as a student of SAJC. It will be their company that truly makes the trip memorable, being quite sure that unforgettable memories would surely be forged during the period of these ten days.

What I seek from this trip is to actually see another place with an immigrant culture up close, to answer the questions of: how different would it be from Singapore? Why is it so different? Also, another point of interest the trip holds for me would be the Full Day Immersion at Gumley House Convent - I want to see what life is like, as a student outside of Singapore. We constantly lament about stress, about the difficulty of our studies, about the futility of our studies. Now I want to see for myself what the educational system in which ours was derived from has grown into.

I am a junkie for urban fantasy (the Dresden Files, Urban Magic, Iron Druid, etc) and Game of Thrones. Hi.

Raymond (13S12)

Well, I am very interested to go to London because I am curious about how the live theater works over there, especially in the renowned Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Furthermore, I am also thrilled to learn about the school culture in London as I am given the opportunity to attend Cambridge for a day or two there. This will be my first time visiting London, or in fact United Kingdom also. This trip means so much more to me as it is not easy visiting London from my country. When I heard of this trip, it was like once in a blue moon opportunity for me. Through this trip, I hope that I will be able to understand the significance of art pieces, poems, proses and other literary arts more. I believe that this trip will broaden and deepen my insights and views regarding certain issues and themes that are related to literature, such as the journey to discover one's identity. I also hope that I can learn the art of writing a poem or prose (to be honest I am more interested in poetry though) through the workshop that we will have in London. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I am always fond of literature because it is so intriguing by how each individual can perceive it so differently. I hope that I will be enlightened by my teachers as we visit London too (just like in classroom). Literature always blows my mind. Haha! 

Chantelle (13A02)

I’m Chantelle from 13A02. Although I have been able to travel on year ends with my family, I’ve never been to Europe. Since I was from a neighbourhood school, I did not get the chance to go on overseas school trips and this literature trip has presented itself as a good opportunity for me to experience what it is like to explore another part of the world with my schoolmates.

I do hope that this opportunity to visit London will be an eye-opener, in a way where I’ll be able to know another part of the globe better and also where I would be able to get to know my fellow schoolmates, some of whom I’ve never talked to. I also know that going for this trip means that I’ll be assigned many tasks but I hope it’ll all be worthwhile.

Andrea Tan (13A02)

Literature, and English in general, has always been a great interest of mine, to the extent that I am actually thinking of pursuing either one of these as a degree. However, being in Singapore limits exposure as we do not have a developed arts culture. I really hope that this trip will help broaden my perspective of literature and help me gain a more in-depth understanding of it. I look forward to seeing more plays and being immersed in English culture, even for just a short while, and to share my experience with my friends once we return. For the saints travelling along with me on this trip, I hope we can get along well, especially since most of us don’t really know one another too well!

Michelle Chia MeiXue (13S28)

I enjoy photography, reading and listening to music. For the trip, I'm looking forward to watching the plays. I really hope we will be able to watch Merchant of Venice, but it will be an amazing experience regardless of the plays we watch. The literature trip will be my first trip to the UK, so I'll definitely be exposed to a whole new culture there. Thus, through the trip, I hope to broaden my perspective and experience and immerse myself into a whole new country and culture.

Gayatri (13A02)

I am Gayatri from 13A01, doing H2 Literature. I want to go on this trip as I know that I will not be able to gain a chance like this in the future. Even if I do, I don't think it'll be as enriching as this one as since I'm going with my schoolmates, I think there are various opportunities in which we can learn from each other. By clearing our doubts together, we will able to learn together. 

In this trip, I hope to broaden my knowledge and gain a hands-on appearance to learn about the art and culture in London. Currently, I have limited knowledge about lifestyle in London. Through this trip, I hope to return more experienced and share with others fluently about Literature in London.