Jani Smith is currently at Xiamen University, where she is partaking in a semester exchange. Here are some tips provided by Jani for planning your trip to China.
Visa application:
The visa application for China, the X2 visa, is probably the
easiest of all the things you have to do in order to prepare for your stay in China. The documents that you will need for the visa application are as follows: (1) the application form provided by the
Chinese Consulate (which you can download from their website)
, (2) the Admission Notice Document provided by the host university, (3) your passport and (4) two ID photos.
Please note that one does not need to a Foreigner Physical Examination Form to apply for the visa. The cost of the visa is R400 and the process takes about three to four working days. You can also apply for an emergency visa, which you can get the following day, but there are obviously extra fees involved.
Packing:
Packing for a few months abroad can be stressful, espe
cially if you are a girl. I’ve listed a few general packing tips and guidelines below.
- Ladies, the general rule when you are packing is: if you don’t wear it here, you won’t wear it there.
- Don’t pack too much, and don’t pack anything that needs to be dry-cleaned or ironed.
- It’s better to layer up then to have bulky sweatshirts and sweaters. Nobody will care or notice if you wear the same jeans all the time, or the same black pants. Pack dark colors that won’t show dirt, and don’t pack too many of one thing.
- Very important, keep in mind that you have to pack clothes for
two seasons. You will be arriving in China at the end of their summer, beginning of their autumn (it is still very hot and humid), and will stay until mid-winter (you can expect much rain and wind), so a pair of rain boots and an umbrella is a must have. - Finally, lay out all of the clothes that you are planning to take
with on the bed or floor, now cut the pile in half; that is what you should bring. You will have to carry everything you bring – if you’re not able to carry it up and down the stairs, or around the house a few times, you have packed way too much!
Research your destination’s local customs, culture, and people:
If you don’t know much about China I would advise you to better
familiarize yourself with the country. By knowing even briefly your soon-to-be home’s culture, history, geography, economy, government, etc., your study abroad experience will be enriched
and your time spent will be more meaningful. Talk to others who have been there and seek opportunities to watch movies and read more about the country and its culture. Additionally, it would help to avoid those offensive foreigner-follies (such as pointing with your thumb or not slurping your noodles at dinner!).
Refresh your language skills:
If you think that most people in China can speak English or
at least some English, then you are wrong. On the day of arrival, you will probably need to take a taxi to the host campus, make sure to know how to ask where you can get a taxi and also be able
to tell a taxi driver where you want to go in Chinese. Further
more, once you get to the campus you will need to register. Make sure that you know how to ask where you should pay your rent, where you can get your room key, where the nearest shop is,
where to get wireless internet and so on and so forth. Knowing these basic phrases in Chinese can make a world of difference in overcoming those first few days of adjustment.
Prepare Yourself Mentally:
While good-bye’s can be tough, they’re a necessary part of
this journey. And just think of all the excitement you have yet to come! Expect the unexpected! While studying abroad you will definitely encounter people with different concepts of time and
personal space. Be ready to learn and observe these differences without being judgmental. It will be these very same differences that will undoubtedly enrich your understanding of your own culture. You may also want to educate your friends and family about where you’ll be going and what it is you’ll be doing. Having a strong
support system will help you get through the challenges of living
in an unfamiliar environment far from home.