Patrick Lim

SFS ’16
Age: 21
Hometown: Singapore and London
Major: International Politics (International Security)

Where are you from? Compare and contrast it to Georgetown. Where are you more comfortable?
I was born in Singapore, spent 15 years in London, and now I live in New York. Comparing Georgetown to London, I would say Georgetown is less manic, especially compared to New York as well. But it’s very political here, and in London you can distance yourself from it. Both here and in London though it’s very easy and quick to be able to get to the center of where things are happening. I would say I’m more comfortable in London, because it’s home.

As an international student, how easy do you think it is for foreign students to settle in at Georgetown?
I think it’s very easy. In my opinion, after a while you stop seeing the difference, in terms of culture and how we interact with one another. At the beginning, you might stick to your cultural group, to your own country or even throughout the year. But as you get to know Georgetown it becomes very easy for international students to interact with Americans and assimilate.

What’s the most challenging thing you’ve had to do here?
I would have to say setting up the Brilliantly British club. We weren’t very sure because none of us had set up a club before, so there was a lot of things we had to set up very quickly to make it succeed. Dip Ball was very stressful, but less so because it was a bigger team that included people with a lot of experience who’ve been through the process before, so it wasn’t as bad. 

If you could lead a protest on one thing, what would it be?
I wouldn’t lead a protest about it, but something I wish it was easier for international students to get a job here and get paid, especially regarding the process you have to go through. Right now I’m in the midst of sorting this out, and it’s all very tedious because it’s a lengthy process that you have to go through and can be very stressful, but you can’t avoid it.

The best and the worst thing about Georgetown?
The best thing, this will sound very cliche, is the location and the opportunities we have to work in politics. Regardless of whether or not you’re international, there are so many opportunities. There’s think tanks, the White House or wherever. The worst thing about Georgetown is that it’s very politically focused, so you have less room for people who are more into music and the arts. Obviously it’s not damaged their reputation, but it’s just something it lacks and something I think it could use some more emphasis on. 

What’s your favorite class you’ve taken at Georgetown, or is there one you really want to take?
I’ve heard that [William] Daddio’s class “Transnational Crime” and “Comparative Law Enforcement” are really interesting. I’ve taken a sociology class on terrorism with Daddio which was insightful and I learned a lot.

Interview by Jess Kelham-Hohler