Preparing For The UK
I must admit, it is not going to be easy being an overseas student. With all the applications, paper work, planning of things to buy, currency exchange, choices of airline, accommodation issues, and the list goes on. Looks like its going to be the UK. I can only say goodbye to Aussyland, where the weather is so much better, and friends I have got there.
The UK, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, a far away place where many have described the weather as being horrendously cold. Yes, it is going to snow this winter, which begins in November, a month and a half just after I land in Newcastle airport.
My application to Northumbria University at Newcastle wasn't really a smooth one. I started my application in November last year, and was only allowed a phone interview at the end of May this year. A week after the interview, nothing was heard from the faculty at the university. Being me, I decided to email the Senior Lecturer at the faculty, asking about the outcome of the phone interview. By this time, my choice of this university in Newcastle Upon Tyne was the last choice standing in all my 6 choices initially. The rest were either too competitive for me to gain admissions to, or I actually withdrew my application due to the fact that the place of study was too dreadful, as you can imagine county english towns like Northamptonshire and Derbyshire. Newcastle Upon Tyne on the other hand is a more lively city, and I use the word "city", with a good night life and a good percentage of student population. My 1st choice at The University Of The West Of England, Bristol, rejected my application due to the fact that they only offer places to their own UK citizens. Anyway, besides the point, I was quite relief when this university at Newcastle is going to offer me a place.
I must say that the administration procedures and paper work that I had to do was quite a mild stone. I had to make appointments for health medical screenings to be done and consultations with doctors that didn't come cheap. Besides the health check, there was also the check for no criminal offence in Singapore. This brought me all the way to the CID Headquaters, where I had to apply for a Certificate of No Criminal Records. I had to pay $45 just for that certificate. Not to mention all the calls I have made to the university with regards to my application and all the registered mails that I have sent out. Application was tough.
Then I had to plan the things I would need to buy, and I mean important things, like; a laptop, webcam with in-built microphone, thumb drive for projects, external hard drive for movies and songs. These are just the electronic items. Then comes the clothing and bags. I would probably need to get all the clothes I would need for the next 9 months or so, as shopping for clothes over in England can be rather costly. I would need to get another pair of jeans, some t-shirts, inner wear for the up and coming winter, briefs, a deuter bag pack, a good haversack where I can slot my laptop in as well.
Another issue I had was with the British Pound, which has gone up lately. Everything is 3 times the Singapore Dollar over in Newcastle, England. Really have to watch my spending, even on food. I would probably need to cook all 3 meals by myself. Buying an air ticket when I am over at Newcastle would also mean a high taxation on my flight ticket price. I would probably need to get a 2 way flight, there and back, to prevent buying a ticket over there.
Next on the list of agenda, is the decision on which airline to fly with. Most of my fellow year 1 freshmen have bought a 2 way ticket with KLM, the Dutch Airline, which will fly from Singapore and stop over at Amsterdam, and then to Newcastle.
The UK, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, a far away place where many have described the weather as being horrendously cold. Yes, it is going to snow this winter, which begins in November, a month and a half just after I land in Newcastle airport.
My application to Northumbria University at Newcastle wasn't really a smooth one. I started my application in November last year, and was only allowed a phone interview at the end of May this year. A week after the interview, nothing was heard from the faculty at the university. Being me, I decided to email the Senior Lecturer at the faculty, asking about the outcome of the phone interview. By this time, my choice of this university in Newcastle Upon Tyne was the last choice standing in all my 6 choices initially. The rest were either too competitive for me to gain admissions to, or I actually withdrew my application due to the fact that the place of study was too dreadful, as you can imagine county english towns like Northamptonshire and Derbyshire. Newcastle Upon Tyne on the other hand is a more lively city, and I use the word "city", with a good night life and a good percentage of student population. My 1st choice at The University Of The West Of England, Bristol, rejected my application due to the fact that they only offer places to their own UK citizens. Anyway, besides the point, I was quite relief when this university at Newcastle is going to offer me a place.
I must say that the administration procedures and paper work that I had to do was quite a mild stone. I had to make appointments for health medical screenings to be done and consultations with doctors that didn't come cheap. Besides the health check, there was also the check for no criminal offence in Singapore. This brought me all the way to the CID Headquaters, where I had to apply for a Certificate of No Criminal Records. I had to pay $45 just for that certificate. Not to mention all the calls I have made to the university with regards to my application and all the registered mails that I have sent out. Application was tough.
Then I had to plan the things I would need to buy, and I mean important things, like; a laptop, webcam with in-built microphone, thumb drive for projects, external hard drive for movies and songs. These are just the electronic items. Then comes the clothing and bags. I would probably need to get all the clothes I would need for the next 9 months or so, as shopping for clothes over in England can be rather costly. I would need to get another pair of jeans, some t-shirts, inner wear for the up and coming winter, briefs, a deuter bag pack, a good haversack where I can slot my laptop in as well.
Another issue I had was with the British Pound, which has gone up lately. Everything is 3 times the Singapore Dollar over in Newcastle, England. Really have to watch my spending, even on food. I would probably need to cook all 3 meals by myself. Buying an air ticket when I am over at Newcastle would also mean a high taxation on my flight ticket price. I would probably need to get a 2 way flight, there and back, to prevent buying a ticket over there.
Next on the list of agenda, is the decision on which airline to fly with. Most of my fellow year 1 freshmen have bought a 2 way ticket with KLM, the Dutch Airline, which will fly from Singapore and stop over at Amsterdam, and then to Newcastle.
Then there is the accommodation bit to worry about. Heard from the 2nd year students at Newcastle that some hostel mates tend to steal your food from the shared fridge. I will be sharing the kitchen and fridge with about 8 to 10 people. Our individual room size will probably be smaller than the average size, and the showers will probably be too small to allow you to bend down and wash your feet.
What will become of me? Maybe I'm just thinking too much. Things may get better after I have settled these issues.
I just managed to rent some Hongkong and Taiwanese serials to load it all into my external hard drive. I don't usually watch chinese serials, but its just an anticipation that I'll probably miss the asian way of life. Trying my best to get hold of as many chinese serials as possible. Maybe I'll end up borrowing some from friends who enjoy watching these serials. I have been spending these few days uploading softwares and transfering files and songs into my laptop. These are all essential stuff that will ensure I survive confortably in my hostel room during the winter.
posted by Surfer Dude @ 12:14 AM
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