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.<\/p>\n
Visa application:<\/strong><\/p>\n The visa application for China, the X2 visa, is probably the 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Packing:<\/strong><\/p>\n Packing for a few months abroad can be stressful, espe Research your destination’s local customs, culture, and people:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you don’t know much about China I would advise you to better Refresh your language skills:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you think that most people in China can speak English or Prepare Yourself Mentally:<\/strong><\/p>\n While good-bye’s can be tough, they’re a necessary part of Jani Smith is currently at Xiamen University, where she is partaking in a semester exchange. Here are some tips provided … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":589,"featured_media":2853,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44432,44742],"tags":[41283,41269,44688],"class_list":["post-2705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-semester-exchange-postings","category-xiamen-university","tag-china","tag-featured","tag-semester-exchange"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/589"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2705"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2705\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2709,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2705\/revisions\/2709"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sun.ac.za\/summerschoolsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\neasiest of all the things\u00a0 you have to do in order to prepare for your stay in China.\u00a0 The documents that you will need for the visa application are as follows: (1) the application form provided by the
\nChinese Consulate (which you can download from their website)
\n, (2) the Admission Notice Document provided by the host university, (3) your passport and (4) two ID photos.<\/p>\n
\ncially if you are a girl. I’ve listed a few general packing tips and guidelines below.<\/p>\n\n
\ntwo 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.<\/li>\n
\nwith 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!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\nfamiliarize 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
\nand 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!).<\/p>\n
\nat 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
\nto tell a taxi driver where you want to go in Chinese. Further
\nmore, 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,
\nwhere 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.<\/p>\n
\nthis 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
\npersonal 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
\nsupport system will help you get through the challenges of living
\nin an unfamiliar environment far from home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"