Coming to China was surreal. I’m Taiwanese American. My family immigrated twice: my grandparents from China to Taiwan during the Chinese Civil War and a second time to the U.S. when my parents were seven and 13 years.I speak Mandarin, but have never visited China. So, coming to China, especially Beijing, was particularly meaningful since my late grandfather grew up in Beijing.

• Read more about MIM China Study Trip 2026: From AI Innovation to Ancestral Roots

Halfway through the INSEAD journey and the Fontainebleau chapter completed. A moment to pause, reflect and absorb as we pack the little nests we built in France and get ready for Singapore.Guided by professors generously sharing years of research and experience, and a pace that demands consistency, focus and sharp prioritisation.Alongside the core programme, I was fortunate to get involved in different initiatives outside the classroom:

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There is a question no one tells you to ask before arriving in Singapore. Not "Where will I live?" Not "How will I get around?" But something quieter and more personal: "Will I still be myself here? Will it feel like family?"This Ramadan was my answer. And honestly, I did not see it coming.We had just survived P3 practicals, running on fumes, on group chats, and on the kind of adrenaline that only INSEAD can produce. In the middle of all that, I was fasting. Waking up before sunrise. No food, no coffee, all day under the Singapore sun.

• Read more about From Hawker Stalls to Heartfelt Seats: My Ramadan at INSEAD

This blog was co-authored by the following MIM'27

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Winter in Europe can be tough, especially if you’ve never experienced real cold before. The days get shorter, the skies turn grey, and suddenly you start wondering if Paris is still that great, romantic, and beautiful city you thought it was. For many of us, this change of light and rhythm can feel a bit heavy. The motivation drops, the evenings feel longer, and a small winter blues slowly sneaks in.

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Dear MIMs,Congratulations on surviving P2! You may now exhale for the first time in six weeks.If I had to describe P2 in one sentence, I’d say it was a mix of academic pressure, unexpected friendships, cultural celebrations and moments where I wondered if I actually lived anywhere outside the Asia Centre.

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