So, it’s been a while I haven’t wrote anything yet. It’s because I’m adapting to my new life in China! You know, the transition from leaving Bali then moving to China is just like a flash of light. I was applying a scholarship program named Chinese Government Scholarship for my post-graduate program, and the result came out like literally less than two weeks before I had to start my program! Finally now I have time to open my blog. I wanna update you guys how my life is in China.
Brief about Chinese Government Scholarship
I bet some of you have the desire to continue your study abroad. However, thinking about the cost, you might just put it aside and choose to rather work. There are a lot of opportunities out there and one way to actually enable you to study abroad without worrying about the cost is by getting scholarship. Of course, you need to put an effort to it, but it’s better to try right? I myself had applied to several other scholarships before landed on Chinese Government Scholarship. Thank God I got it.
Chinese Government Scholarship or more known as CSC is a program from the Ministry of Education of P.R China that opens for applicants with all nationalities out of Chinese. It offers scholarships to all degree, from Undergraduate to PhD program, and also Chinese Language program. Usually they open application around the beginning of the year until around April, then the selection process begin, and you’ll get the result for September intake. Not only CSC but there are numerous scholarships that you can try in China. More information about you can visit their official website.
Why China?
My actual plan was to do my master in the UK, cause it takes only a year to graduate, then I’d go to China and study language program. It’s kindda like my way to travel and study at the same time, plus you get some allowance – so, it’s like you get paid to study. Unfortunately I failed to get the scholarship to UK. That’s why I was a bit lost for a while. That’s when I had this long buffer after my work and holiday in Australia then just stayed in Bali.
It took me that urge, you know, to rise that willingness to apply for scholarship again, cause it’s not an easy thing for sure. I had to do research about which university I wanna to go, I had to write essays, I had to follow all the process. I failed once, somehow it’s still a bit traumatizing cause I wanted it so bad but I failed, so I was so disappointed at that time.
At one point, I decided to apply for CSC in language program but it’s not easy to find university that wants to accept CSC applicants for language program only. Actually, it’s also really hard to find information about the university itself, because most of their websites are in Chinese, even if they have English version, but still finding information is so inconvenient.
I knew that I wanted to study and live in Chengdu. I changed my mind to apply for master program cause from my finding, most of the universities partnering with CSC accept degree than language program. Last but not least, it has to be an English-taught program (for me). You can do Chinese major program but you gotta learn Chinese language for a year, so three years in total. That’s a bit too long for me. Also I’m not quite sure if a year studying Chinese enables me to understand overall courses in Chinese.
I found this university – Southwestern University of Finance and Economics – where I’m studying Enterprise Management. There are two campuses here, Guanghua and Liulin Campus. I lived in the dorm for international students in Guanghua Campus because it’s closer to the city, but all my classes are in Liulin, which is about 40 minutes by subway. Yea, it’s a bit of a distance, fortunately my classes are only from Monday-Wednesday this semester.
So to answer this question, why china? First, because I got the scholarship, of course. Second, China is huge so it takes time for me to travel. Two years should be enough for me, I hope. Third, I’m interested on their culture and learning Chinese definitely a huge advantage as well.
How’s life in China?
The first week was hard for me, I guess it’s normal when you just move to a new place. It takes time to adapt, always. Then after a while, you know some people, you get used to everything and life is much easier. Chengdu is a pretty laid back, creative, and fun. I always try to find communities to involve more on events to get more experience and meet some new people. Chengdu has a good number of expats. I joined hiking groups, ultimate frisbee, couchsurfing, and many more. I feel like university life is not really for me cause I’m older then the others haha, so I prefer doing other activities out my university.
Here’s the good things: Good subway system, so many useful applications such as mobike, wechat, didi, a lot. You don’t have to carry cash anymore cause you can use your phone for all the payment. Living cost is also pretty standard, and there are many attractions in the city.
Here’s the bad things: POLLUTION! I hate it. Blue sky and sunshine are like scarcity things here. I don’t really mind with less sunshine but the pollution is just too much for me. Also, I always have a small problem with the local, it’s not a big thing but sometimes I get annoyed by that. My appearance look Chinese so when I couldn’t understand the word from them, they’d give me this unfriendly attitude. Anyway, I got used to it haha.
Okay I think that’s it for now, I’ll keep you guys updated with my adventures in China!
Touchdown in Chengdu: 4 September 2018
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