if u can go, go.

and so, i'm rotting bored at work cos my boss does not come in till one hour later. decided that i'll share my story on how i came about deciding on SEP.

You know the feeling when your friends start leaving you and go overseas to study?

I always thought to myself how is it like to grow up in a far-away land. There was always this envy. Maybe cos i've always been more of the independent sort. I ever asked my father if i could study overseas, and his answer was 'Go and get a scholarship lor.' ok... apparently, i wasn't smart enough. so, here i am stuck in NUS.

Upon entering NUS, I found out that perhaps, it ain't that bad. I realised that there were many opportunities for students to go abroad. Student Exchange Programme was one of them that didn't have such high requirements on CAP and so, I decided that i will want to go for it. I applied for the school's Language Preparation Programme, in which students opt for either French or German. At that time, I was only interested in French. However, i placed German as my second cos i was scared they wouldn't even offer either to me. In the end, I was offered German. It didn't take long for me to accept the offer, most probably because, going to Europe was a bigger dream to me. My first German module, German 1, nearly killed me cos the course was so intensive. But i liked it. It was fun to learn a new language. So, i moved on to German 2, 3, 4.

Why a third language? Perhaps, it is because i've always had the idea that acquiring a third language will boost my CV. Why a European language? Like i said, going to Europe was a dream to me. My brothers were always flying to Europe for training the past few years. Stories from them were so interesting. I wanted to experience it myself. I ambitioned to stay there for a few years, to work there. To do so, the first criteria was to speak their language. Besides, since NUS offers the chance, why not? It's so expensive to learn a new language in an external centre.

After German 2, I went for immersion. It was like a try-out. When i landed in Frankfurt, the first thing that came to my mind was... 'WOW! i'm IN europe.' I was so excited! I stayed with a host family in Muenster. They're really nice people. The immersion programme consisted of German lessons, excursions to Bremen, Bonn, Cologne and other small towns. Maybe because it was the world cup season.. but the Germans really gave me a good impression. It was really interesting to have everyone around you speak a different language. It's like... i'm in another world. ok... i sound like a mountain tortoise. but it really is amazing!!!!!

I can go on and on about immersion cos obviously i enjoyed myself so much and i wanted to go back to Germany for more..

Anyway, i returned to Singapore and it was the applications period for SEP. I had intended to go for the summer semester because German universities' winter semester clashes with NUS's semesters. BUT... 'You can always go after graduation wat...' was my father's reply when i asked him again. After that, i dropped the idea. I didn't ask any other questions, didn't probe any further. I had to be really hard on myself. to drop the idea of doing exchange. i will always remember the effort i took to not pass by Central Forum during International Exchange Day, cos i didn't want to tempt myself. Of course, it didn't work out. Wanling took some brochures on Europe. cos she wanted to go Switzerland... and we looked at it during Film n History lecture. After much hesistation, I brought the matter up to my brother. 1 hour brother-sister talk. and i set my mind to it. i was going to Germany what ever it was.

As one from Rovers, the phrase 'talk is free' always lingers. Indeed, just saying 'i want to go to Germany for exchange' is simple. Going about to prepare for it was tiring. There were so many occasions when i just wanted to forget it. Applications, choosing universities, looking through countless German sites, interview, module mapping, etc... I must seriously thank my friends who were all so supportive and encouraged me to hang in there. It was also difficult when you have friends who keep asking you not to go. all i can say is thanks for appreciating my presence.

Before I got my acceptance package, there were still doubts. Insecurities... but when i received the email to ask me to collect my package, it was really like.... 'CONFIRMED'. I could finally start planning my flight, get my insurance done, and whatever other stuff. it's like... taking one step at a time, i'm getting things on my list checked.

Looking back, planning for exchange is really not an easy task. but i believe that it will all be worth it. I might suay suay kena the worst things in Germany. But like people say, what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. I hope to return a stronger girl.

Lastly, i wanna tell my friends who have thoughts of going for exchange. My reason for exchange is so that i can master the German language. and i'm standing firm with it. It's the reason that keeps me going. Friends, if you want to go on exchange, think of why you want to go for exchange. Write them down on a piece of paper and keep it safe. You have your concerns. Write them down too. Research on how you can solve them. Eg. Finance: SEP award/ loan/ work part time/ etc. Homesick: MSN/ Skype/ etc... You'll come to realise that there will be ways to minimise your concerns/worries, and your reasons will keep you motivated. Abit cliche as if i'm trying to promote exchange (cos i'm working in NUS's International Relations Office), but really. It will be a once in a lifetime experience.

According to Michelle, who's been in Japan for almost 9 months, she said that for once, she's afraid of returning to Singapore. I hope that i will come to love Germany so much i want to stay there all my life.

kk... i hope that those who are still considering exchange will set their mind to go for it, after reading this long entry. My manager has given me my work and i should start on it.

module mapping... ROAR

i hate it! i hate it TOTALLY

stupid module mapping. everything is in german how i map!?! den the stupid german maths fac coordinator is not replying me also! i think he's paid to slack too. just like myself. but at least i get things done at work wat!!!!!!!!!!

i helped a german student source for modules yesterday. den i was thinking..... WHERE IS MY REPLY?! ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm so angry.

no module mapping done, means NUS will DRAG me back from germany. dat will mean everything tt i've planned will go into the drain.

ARGH!!!! okok. pissed pissed. i should BREATHE. i shall SLOWLY slowly translate EVERY single word and try to understand what the stupid uni is gg to teach in the next course.

Counting down...

Reservation CONFIRMED!!!!!!

my flight's been confirmed. FINALLY. 31st July 2007, i'll bid farewell to Singapore!

i'm so glad this issue is settled. one reminder to pple who wanna go on exchange. don't wait until last min den get tickets. i nearly didn't get mine. i'm so thankful tt i've been blessed and was able to get the ticket that was of my choice.

now, it's time to do module mapping.... stupid CLS. roar. maths dept also... ROAR.

summer school.

yeah. confirmed. i've just sent in my registration form for the Lake Constance Summer School 2007. This means that i've gotta arrive in Germany on 1st or 2nd Aug, implying that i'll have to depart on 31st July or 1st Aug.

That will be around............................ 1month and 15days more? WAH BIANG! i didn't even realise!!!!!! so soooooooon!!!! okok. i shall make good use of my 1.5 months left in sgp.

next step now, is to get my air ticket. i hope there are still seats!

summer school????

i can't make up my mind. should i go for summer school or not? the university has agreed to waive my tuition fees for summer school. that cuts down my designated expenses by about half. i'll also get to do one german course during that time. which means, less modules for the proper semester. BUT! e accommodation still costs quite a bit. dad says finance part is ok. so what's stopping me? am i getting last min jitters? i can't decide!!!!!!! i'm gg craziieeeeeeeee

sept course confirmation

muahahaha.... confirmation! to sept course. which means, i'll have to be there by 3rd sept! cos course starts on 4th sept.

excited excited.... :)

housing + language course down.

okey. now, two down. a few more to go...

sent both sets of documents over today. it'll reach btw 7-9 days. i hope the school will still accept it. next up will be my air ticket, visa, and then module mapping. i think tt's about it. i'm halfway thru the week.. hopefully everything goes as planned. (i.e. finish air ticket and visa this week)

i was just thinking about it. and it sent a chill down my spine. i asked danny about his preparations. he said he brought 40kg of stuff over. urm... i'm like flying there myself. how should i pack my things so that i can move over from zurich to konstanz smoothly? one bag pack, luggage? what if someone steals my luggage? ok. yes. i'm being paranoid. but then again, being alone in a farway land is not that simple really. i fear for the worst, but yet again, i'm excited about what i'm gg to face. we shall see. i believe i should be able to do it.

anyway, holiday planning's also not as easy as it sounds. it's gg to be winter and everything so cold. brrrr... xiaowen wants to go to eastern europe. i'm ok.. i don't mind. then wat about the rest? i was just considering... back to muenster to visit my host family again is a definite thing. then... to holland? can contact immersion kenneth's aunty. norway? i just met some norweigen students here so, hopefully they can host us. who else? fawn will be in swazeeland, chai and meixuan in UK. think tt's about it.

ok laa... shall plan hols slowly AFTER i do module mapping. must be kuai. =)

cheque in Euros??

haha. it seems that after all, my housing application is STILL not settled. i was wondering the whole day after i put aside the exchange matters to finish up with work and then leave IRO.

I am required to send a cheque of 350Euros as deposit for my housing application. In my memory, all the cheques my parents have wrote for me prints S$_________. so, urm... HOW ah?!

haha. so silly right? LUCKILY, my mother worked in a bank last time. there's something called demand draft and another called TT (telegraphic transaction or something liddat).

i feel so stupid lah! hahaa... but at least, i learn something new today! okok... let's hope everything goes well. and i get a place to stay in.

on another note, Shrek 3 was good! altho i missed like almost 1/3 of it. company was good, and i met a hell lot of pple. thinking of it, i really wonder how many movies i'll be watching when i get to germany. prob none. but i'm ok... not a movie person anyway... and there's always youtube and crunchyroll around... muah ahahha >*evil grins*<

applications applications and MORE applications

i was going crazy today in IRO (International Relations Office, NUS aka my current workplace). it was not work that was driving me crazy. instead, it was my exchange applications. ok... some part of it was work larh. i'm a slacker, but i still get work done.

Well, as i've mentioned, i received the email to collect my admissions package like around 24 may? yeah. ard there. but cos i was working at Oriental, i didn't have time to go down to NUS to collect the package. Only managed to see/touch/open it on monday 28 may. THEN, i happily trotted off to Stong on 29th and came back on Sat, 2nd June.

I sat down at my table and opened the package once again on Sat night, and then found out more about the accommodation options. emailed the pple i could get info from, and then wait. yes. WAIT. never did it strike me that my applications, due on 15 June, will take about 5-7 working days to arrive in Germany. So, i started checking out information on postage at IRO today when i found out..... sending my application TOGETHER with the cheque can only be done earliest tomorrow, 5th June. then, wait for the letter to Fly over to germany, 5-7 working days. it reaches the university, hopefully, on a working day, and it will slowly be sent to the relevant office, relevant person in charge. WHEN WILL THAT BE?! NO IDEA.

and so, i started panicking. sending by courier will cost me 35 bucks for a piece of A4 paper and a cheque of 350 Euros. faintz. so, should i send by normal air mail? or by courier????

this is when i found out that working in IRO is wonderful when ur boss is in charge of the country you're going to. Owl, aka Mr Ow, my boss, very nicely sent out emails to University of Konstanz for me. ok... it's not a CONFIRM-i-can-get-a-place thing, but at least, i feel much more confident with his help.

right now, i can just pray and hope that the applications will reach on time. all i can say is that, i should NEVER be so last minute again. it seems that i never ever learn my lessons. Nevertheless, now with housing and september course application half-settled (waiting for confirmation), i have to prepare my visa, air ticket, proof of financial resources and health insurance. i think tt's all... ok. PLUS module mapping. tt's last on my mind.

stupid science fac larh. idiot. i hate the SEP in-charge for science fac. they suck. make me send in ALL the application forms, making me think that they'll submit everything for me. den when i email the partner uni, only ONE form sent over. what they do with the rest sia? EAT UP AH? proof of financial resources COST 20 bucks for a piece of paper. retarded science fac. they better be able to account for it.

Preparations...

And so, I decided that I shall start blogging about my exchange.

The admission package from University of Konstanz has been lying on my table since i collected it from the Registrar's Office last Monday.

I was so happy when i received the email from RO asking me to collect my package. It was like.. WAH! there's like a confirmation that i'm definitely going to be off to Germany coming September. After collecting my package, I trotted back to IRO to open it. Acceptance letter, BW-Stipendum, September Sprachkurs,..... so EXCITING!!!!!!!!! Owl was urging me to go for the August summerschool too!!! make me so gian! well, if BW is willing to pay for it too, i'll go. shall kuai kuai wait for the reply now...

Currently, finding out what are the best options for accommodation. emailed Lee Ting who's a Singaporean living in Konstanz now. no reply from her yet. Emailed Frau Geiser's daughter, Miriam and she's such a lovely girl. It is clearer with information she's provided me with, yet i can't really make up my mind as of now. BW is only giving me 400Euro a month.. the accommodation options provided by the school will cost about 220Euro a month. that will mean, half of my allowances gone. Shuxian who's in Stuttgart is living with her host family and she's paying less than 200Euro for her place. ok.... come on. money does matters when u're overseas and alone.

i just hope that whatever happens, everything will be ok... waiting for owl to respond regarding august summer school now, so i can go book my air ticket, get my visa done, send my application for housing and sprachkurs, i'm like rushing for time for everything. hopefully, all can be settled by end of this coming week. don't wish to drag any longer... ok.. besides module mapping tt is. it sucks. but i know i've got to get it done no matter wat. urgh. disgusting.

Anyway, was asking max about sop's bday party. the evil twins are contemplating on whether they should have a chalet. i made a promise to max in sec 2 that i'll remember them and will be there to celebrate their 21st bday. it seems tt i'll not be able to hold on to the promise. it sucks. but i know, going to germany is going to life-changing. 21st birthdays are important, but birthdays come every year wat. like wat LG say, what's so special about the days in the year? every day in the year occurs only once a year wat!

besides the evil ones, i'll be missing many others' bday: my own THREE siblings, su, wan ling, joseph, jeffrey, wah. so many others i can't remember. and mine too.... my 21st! not to mention, brother zhi han's wedding also... heartbreak. *piang*

but i know it'll all be worth it. i must get thru this. it's my first steps to growing up. my first steps to soaring into the sky. i shall make full use of the opportunities given to me... may i learn as much as i'll be able to.

Germany, here i come.