A Blog about Education Abroad

Tag: China

  • Amanda in China

    BLOG ENTRY #1

     

    As the last few weeks before my departure approached, I realised that after almost four years my time in Stellenbosch was nearing an end, what a strange thought! The final weeks before my departure went by quickly and were mainly spent packing up my room, and finishing my thesis, I hardly had time to feel sad about not being able to spend another summer in Stellenbosch. Once all my things were packed up, I flew home to Johannesburg to spend the last few days before my departure with my family. I also had to start getting serious about packing my bags, as I have the habit of postponing until the very last minute (which happened again anyway). Packing was difficult because I would arrive in Beijing in the summer with warm temperatures, but soon after it would become winter, and not winter like we know in South Africa, Iā€™m talking about -18 degrees here! It was a tough job, but in the end everything was packed and I was ready to go. Feelings of both nervousness and excitement followed me onto the plane – I was on my way to my home for the next 5 months! Big, long hugs and last words with all my loved ones at the airport, and I was off!

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  • Tandi in China

    Tandi in China

    PREPARATION:
    The few weeks before departure were very busy and rather stressful for several reasons. Trying to sort out travel arrangements; including VISA, bank, flight, accommodation and university residence arrangements on top of trying to complete academic work was challenging. My applications to Xiamen were also not received on the first and second attempt, before it was received on the third attempt quite near to the planned departure date. Due to application problems, my admission letter also arrived beyond the expected time, which caused a delay for my Visa application. These experiences taught me that extensive planning goes into an exchange programme and that timing is quite crucial. Moreover, regarding such matters, I learnt that it is better to do things in advance to make room for unforeseen complications.

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  • First Impressions of studying in Beijing

    First Impressions of studying in Beijing

    Here follows three students first impressions of Stuying in Beijing.

    Monique in Beijing:

    Prior to my departure for Beijing, I was in a state of frenzy – excitement, nerves, and a jumble of inexpressible feelings that seem to occur every time you realize that you are indeed entering the grown-up world. A lot of the preparation beforehand entailed admin: packing up my room and carting boxes to storage, finishing my thesis,sorting out banking matters and writing up countless lists of things to remember. The planning for admin sucked up most of my energy the week before I left but it at least distracted me from worrying about the unknown that lay ahead.
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