Hello everybody.

So today is the announcement of Plan 2013. It’s probably not a biggy for anybody else, but it is for me!

I’m going to Beijing for a Chinese course in approximately 48 days.

This post will probably be posted in January when I finally have everything laid out.

I didn’t do it for when I went to Seoul and ended up forgetting most of the things when many of you asked. So for this post I’m thinking of putting down my application process and etc so that more of you can get the most of it. I’m quite lost looking up for information but sites like the Chinese-Forums.com did help a bit with testimonials from different people all over the world.

I really don’t like sharing plans that are not ‘set’ because I don’t want to be asked for updates or feel obligated to explain possible plan changes. Frankly, it gets quite strenuous if you’re trying hard to wish for the best and people are like “So how?” and some people tend to insert irrelevant and unnecessary comments about wherever you’re going.

Now waiting for the day people will say I’m heading to China because I’m crazy for Chinese Pop (sarcasm intended, only for those who pulled the whole Korean Pop thing on me then). Have always been thinking of brushing up on my Chinese because I’ve never been good at it. My speaking and listening improved tremendously when I was in Seoul because I hung out mainly with Cinaboy and I think the amount of Chinese I spoke there probably summed up to more than what I have spoken my whole life before Seoul. I then came back and stopped speaking altogether. The last time I really used Chinese in a proper conversation was when a Chinese women got lost in Taylors. I’ve planned to get there right after I came back from Seoul – since I was still riding the wave. Then I took up my Diploma course and ended up being here today, four years later, with a Degree in Media Management.

It’s an ultimately delayed plan to implement. I’ve wanted to do it right after my degree but folded the idea again because I thought I’ll be missing registration already anyways. My course was ending in November, and my following internship would end Mid Jan. I read up somewhere that the course starts June July and I wasn’t willing to wait a few more months (and spend time not getting a proper job) just for the course. So I decided I’d end my internship and go job hunting.

It was then when Amanda dropped a note asking if I was going over (because we talked about going there together awhile ago) because she decided to stay in Beijing for a while more. I talked things out with her and got to know that I am actually NOT late for application – and I only had about a month to be doing nothing after my internship until the course starts.

This was 25th of September 2012. The moment I finished talking to her, I started my research and proposed it to my family – to which they kind of happily accepted, which I am grateful for. It’s always nice to have people who support what you like to do, and you don’t get that too often. I don’t know what I want to be, but this is what I like to do. Sent off to explore, meet people, sightsee, fall and learn.

I started emailing people from China from broker sites to land myself a good place to stay because I heard the Tsing Hua dorm is sort of dodgy – and most importantly co-ed. I wouldn’t mind co-ed apartments or anything but dorms do sound a little intimidating. They don’t go off too cheap too, but definitely a great cost lifter if compared to other houses in Beijing. However, probably about 3-4 days of emailing tenths and tenths of people – I only got one final answer.

Accommodation in China, especially those for rent – can only be discussed the month or most preferably TWO weeks BEFORE you fly over.

I almost flipped at all their responses. I can’t be flying to an unknown country not knowing where to stay But you gotta live by the country’s code of living – so I’ll try again after getting my dates certain etc. So anyway, for those who are here for the procedures – or those who’re curious about the application process, here goes!

 I’m doing this because I’ve only got so much information online from the experienced and they were all quite backdated so probably processes have changed – I don’t know. So this post is not for the text-weaklings because there’s going to be a WHOLE lot of text. Unless you are waiting for your cake to bake, or you are hiding from the world and have absolutely nothing to spend for the next 15 minutes.

Timeline for my application for the Chinese Course in Tsing Hua University for the Spring semester in 2013.

 

15th October 2012

Today’s application recruitment day!

I went to my uni early in the morning and rushed straight to the computer lab to sign up! The Online Application System that wasn’t there in the website is now finally there (http://is.tsinghua.edu.cn/EN/navigator.php).

I ended up being Applicant Number 2.

 

25th October 2012
My documents were finally acknowledged. They asked for me to pay the application fee which was about RMB 400, which converts to about RM 200. One thing worrisome about this is that paying for the application fee does not guarantee your admission. Normally language courses will take you in, but there is still that sense of anxiety in you. They take credit card payment, but I suspect they charged me a little bit more. Not sure if it was the conversion or surcharge.

 

8th  November 2012

Checked my application status today.

Have been having a couple of problems logging in the Online Application System to check my status because instead of showing the login form – the site keeps telling me there is a system error because I am not logged in. Problem is, I couldn’t even log in.

But good news is I tried logging in with Mozilla (Both Google Chrome & Safari gave me the same error), and I’m finally admitted! The administrator left a note at the top of the application system above my form with a long note.

Apparently registration of the course is on the 18th of February 2013 which means I have to be there to register and pay. Probably would have to be in Beijing before the 18th – and that’s gonna be a tight call. Would have a short family trip for CNY to Tanjung Jara on the 11th of February and coming back on the 14th. Probably would have to fly off on the 15th of 16th of February 2013.

Should be my first experience getting on a plane to different destinations in a span of one week!

 

18th December 2012

It has been a long pause since I last started doing anything. But I started clicking on the air tickets and they were running out. I still haven’t got my package yet. It’s been more than a month – but my application package’s status is still unknown. But amidst all the hoohaa, I’ve finally bought my air ticket today. It was quite a rush, because I didn’t know prices were hiking up slowly.

So yes. got my airplane ticket today.

Probably gonna break news in a while. Maybe in January.

I’m not prepared.

Is this funny?

 

19th December 2012.

AHHHH! For those who caught this message few weeks ago.

Screw this. Haha secret is not so secretive anymore. It’s been published for a day – but i never knew

Going to keep it back again Hope nobody saw . But my blog stats are not suggesting so.

#failedsyoksendirisurprise.

 

31st December 2012

Haha reading back on the previous logs above.

18th December says I’m not ready. But 31st December be is fully geared up to be in Beijing!

Truly excited about the journey, can’t wait to go already! And I have finally decided to be staying in the dorms (which Amanda will highly disapprove of) because it’s so much more convenient. The problem now is that I won’t be able to confirm 100% that I’ll get a spot, but I think I probably will!

Wee!