Siblings at PKU: Shared Journeys of Growth and Learning
Editor's Note
Studying abroad might seem like a daunting task, but having a sibling to look to and confide in can make for a special experience. Meet four sets of siblings who share a unique bond: they are all studying at Peking University.
From the Kua siblings and Ng siblings who maintain their individual experiences while supporting each other, to the Ryu sisters who enjoy exploring new things together, and the Narmandakh sisters who make campus memories together, each sibling pair has their own journey of growth and learning to share.
Get a glimpse into their lives on campus, the challenges and successes they have faced, and how their sibling relationships have enriched their time at PKU!
一路同行，相聚未名。和兄弟姐妹一起上北大是什么体验？从一家人到一起成为北大人，从相互支持到互相成就，一起来看几段特别的“同窗”故事！
01
The Kua Siblings: A thickening sibling bond
Sibling love and support know no bounds. Meet Kua Huai Zhe and Kua Huai-En, two siblings from Singapore who shared a special bond. They had always been close growing up, and when it came time to decide where to pursue their undergraduate studies, they both had the same destination in mind - Peking University. Now, Huai Zhe is a senior student at the School of International Studies while Huai-En is in her first year at the School of Journalism and Communication.
Kua Huai-En (Left) & Kua Huai Zhe (Right)
Huai Zhe, the older brother, had always dreamed of studying abroad and visited PKU's campus during a cultural exchange back in junior college. He was immediately drawn to the school's campus and culture and knew that this was where he wanted to spend the next few years of his life.
Kua Huai Zhe
Meanwhile, Huai-En, the younger sister, had heard all about her brother's experiences at PKU and was excited to follow in his footsteps. She also managed to secure a local scholarship that encouraged undergraduates to pursue their studies in China, which made her decision even easier.
Kua Huai-En
When they both arrived on campus, they were thrilled to be studying in the same place. Although they had overlapping social circles, they made sure to maintain their individual experiences while supporting each other. They enjoyed exploring the campus and discovering new activities to do together, such as playing pool at Khoo Teck Puat Sports Complex and hitching rides on Huai Zhe's e-motorbike.
Huai Zhe and Huai-En riding an e-motorbike to school
Studying at the same university also gave them a chance to better understand each other. Huai-En found it easier to contextualize what her brother was talking about when he shared stories about his campus life, while Huai Zhe appreciated having someone to talk to who understood the unique challenges and opportunities that came with studying at PKU.
As their time at university drew to a close, they reflected on how much they had grown and learned from each other. They both knew that their sibling bond would continue to be strong even after they graduated and went their separate ways.
02
The Ryu Sisters: Navigating a new environment hand in hand
Meet Ryu Hyeoseon, a junior student at the Department of Psychology, and Ryu Hyejung, a sophomore at the Department of Sociology. The two from Korea could be easily identified as sisters at first glance: both have fair skin with facial features akin to each other, as well as similar sweet and quiet dispositions. They could probably pass off as a pair of twins to any stranger, but actually, they are not. Instead, Hyeoseon is the elder of Hyejung by a year. When asked about her motivation to study at Peking University, Hyejung admitted that her sister did influence her decision by sharing about the rich educational resources and opportunities that PKU offers, which ultimately drew her in.
Since their arrival at the campus last September, the Ryu Sisters have been through ups and downs together as they relived the days of physical lessons again. "The workload is tough and everyone here excels in their studies," they chimed in unison on the topic of academic pressure. While settling in and coping with school were slightly challenging at first, the sisters have been appreciative of the help they have received from the people around them and are grateful for the valuable bonds that they have forged with their friends and teachers.
They also count their blessings for being able to look out for one another in a common environment, be it on schooling issues or personal matters. Other than sharing academic advice and going out for meals and events together, they frequent each other's dormitories, given that they only live one block away from one another. "I've been to her dorm so often that the security guard of her block recognizes me!" Hyejung laughs, before diving into the contents of bonding sessions that she and her sister indulge in from time to time.
The Ryu Sisters bonding over a meal
However, through light-hearted bickering, Hyeoseon and Hyejung reveal a 'downside' of studying together: they simply cannot stand their mother sending them parcels meant for two, collectively to one person and changing the recipient between them at random. Therefore, it is more often than not, that their parcels remain under one sister's ownership for a prolonged time because the other would have already succumbed to the procrastination of collecting back her parcels.
Still, they agree that the boons of studying together at PKU far outweigh the banes. "It is always reassuring to have someone, whom you've known for a long time, exploring new things and weathering challenges together with you." With one more year before Hyeoseon graduates, the Ryu Sisters are eager to make the most out of their duo-time here on campus.
The Ryu Sisters in China during their early teen years
03
The Narmandakh Sisters: Making special memories on campus together
The Guinness World Record holders for memory sports, Munkhshur Narmandakh and Enkhshur Narmandakh, are twin sisters from Mongolia who are currently in their final year at the Department of History of Peking University. From enrolling in PKU to graduating from the university, the twins have come a long way accompanied by each other. Let's learn about their story as siblings and their thoughts on studying at the same university.
The two sisters chose PKU because both of them have always done activities together – be it studying or joining competitions. In high school, both of them decided to enroll in the same university since it would be easier for them to take care of one another overseas. Munkhshur also added that it would be easier for them to arrange their schedules to compete in memory sports.
N.Munkhshur (Left) & N.Enkhshur (Right)
The vibrant and holistic environment at PKU intrigued the determined two to brush up on their Chinese language and they finally earned their places at Peking University's Pre-University Program. Enkhshur remarked that taking the same course has made the sisters grow closer due to the increased communication between them. They would always assist one another in and outside of the classroom and this has also helped them develop as individuals.
Of course, even the closest of siblings have disagreements. However, both of them agreed that they would listen to each other's perspectives and aim to solve the issue at hand. In fact, being twins allows them to better understand each other and thus unlock the key to conflict resolution.
Since the Pre-University Program, the sisters have participated in multiple events and competitions, including the 2019 PKU New Year's Party where both of them performed traditional songs.
2019 PKU New Year's Party
Despite the pandemic, they have managed to contribute to the school. Both of them created an association named International Pekingers with other international students consisting of more than 20 core members. The association mainly focuses on providing practical and academic-related information as well as mentoring and coaching sessions for other international freshmen.
After they returned to campus in February, both of them also shared their experience in the PKU Pre-University Program with the freshmen and they expressed hopes that their sharing can aid them in better adapting to campus life and the academic rigor. Munkshur is a firm believer of the balance between work and rest and even though international students may face a steep learning curve, "one day you will thank yourself for not giving up". Similarly, Enkhshur urges everyone to cherish every single day in university since we never get back our youth.
The sisters have interesting stories on campus as well! Given that the sisters look identical, there are bound to be hilarious situations that arise from it. Although they live in different blocks, the facial recognition system is unable to detect Munkshur's face, but it grants direct access to Enkhshur instead! All in all, Munkshur is grateful that her younger sister can be in the same university as her since it has made her college life a lot more enjoyable and she truly cherishes this opportunity. In the same vein, Enkhshur believes that this experience has made them closer and allowed them to grow.
Munkshur Narmandakh
Enkhshur Narmandakh
The Narmandakh Sisters
04
The Ng Siblings: Getting closer than ever at PKU
Meet Ng Xuan and Ng Yuan, two Malaysian siblings studying at PKU together! They have been inseparable since childhood, attending the same schools and now the same university. Xuan is in her final year pursuing a degree in marketing at the Guanghua School of Management, while Yuan is a sophomore studying economics at Yuanpei College. Despite their different majors, they work on assignments together and exchange experiences in different courses occasionally.
Ng Yuan (Left) & Ng Xuan (Right)
Outside of class, Xuan and Yuan pursue their own passions. Xuan is a creative soul who enjoys leisure activities like drawing and baking and is even a member of the PKU Curling Team. Yuan, on the other hand, is a sports enthusiast who has played basketball and martial arts in the past and now plays baseball at PKU. He's also the captain of the Yuanpei College Slow Pitch Softball Team.
Ng Xuan at Guanghua School of Management
Ng Yuan playing for his softball team
What's even more unique about Xuan and Yuan is that they share the same birthday which surprises most people! Last year, they received birthday wishes from many of their mutual friends, which was a heartwarming experience for both of them.
Studying at the same university has brought Xuan and Yuan even closer as siblings. Participating in activities together and supporting each other's studies have brought them many good memories. They even hosted a New Year's Party during the winter break, inviting their friends, cooking delicious food, and playing mahjong.
We're thrilled to follow PKUers' journeys as they navigate life in university together!
”Siblings at PKU: Shared Journeys of Growth and Learning
Writer: Cui Xiang, Zhang Ying, Ng Joong Hwee, Wang Jia En
Editor: Khoo Yeu Her, Li Wanqi, Chao Ranran
Designer: Gan Jia Xuan
Source: PKU News