CUHK Paperwork

Okay, this post is actually kind of pointless. I'm just warning you of the potential troubles you might run into after you receive your acceptance letter. Just get your paperwork ready early because you're going to receive an acceptance letter with a list of documents (requested by CUHK--not UCEAP) that has to arrive in Hong Kong (not be sent to Hong Kong) within two weeks.

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On June 6th, I received my official acceptance letter from CUHK. You will have a checklist of papers that you need to gather and send to them by June 18 (meaning it has to be in their office by then). You basically have a little less than two weeks to fill out all the forms. Be smart and do everything ahead of time because all the things on that checklist will be sent to their office in Hong Kong. If you want to send it via USPS First-Class Mail International, it will take about a week or two to arrive (should cost less than $10). Express Mail would take approximately three days to arrive in Hong Kong, but it will cost you $38. There's also another option, which is to send it to the UCEAP office. That's what I chose to do.. since it was the cheapest thing to do. You should receive an email from the UCEAP advisors regarding this option.

I did most of my paperwork back in May because I had too much time on my hands. The biggest issue I encountered was trying to get my proof of financial support document from the financial aid office. It's sort of a hassle trying to get that document, so just ask for it in advance (I mean like a month in advance). I made the mistake of not doing that. I requested the document via email to the advisor on June 7. Then, I went to the Student Services Building on June 8 to find out how I would obtain the paper since my advisor did not to answer my email. I'm actually supposed to pick it up today, June 12. Good thing I didn't wait for it because my paperwork would have arrived extremely late.. or I would have had to pay a lot to get the paperwork there on time. Well, instead of the proof of financial aid document, I just sent in my mom's bank statement along with my own to prove that I would have enough money to study abroad. Luckily, my new bank statement didn't come yet.. otherwise, this wouldn't have worked.

Jenn

On Comfort Zones

Yesterday, I booked my flight to Hong Kong. I will be boarding Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong on September 3rd. And, for those of you wondering, my airfare was about $650 one way. Anyway, at the very moment that I purchased my airfare, it hit me that I will be gone in three months. =(

I love being back home in Alhambra. Other than the fact that I get pampered at home, there is just nothing as comfortable as being back home. I have family and friends that I know I can see whenever I want. I have a car that I can drive to go wherever I want. I have everything here, and I have nothing in Hong Kong.

I know that I'll be pushed way out of my comfort zone in Hong Kong. I'll be on my own. I'll be homesick. I'll miss everything about LA. I might even regret studying abroad. The thing is... there is no turning back now. 

I'm going to have to make a lot of adjustments to my lifestyle, and it'll take time. I can only cross my fingers and hope that I will adjust quickly.

Potential issues/adjustments that I have to make:

1. I'm an introvert. I will have to be more outgoing at CUHK because.. I will have zero friends there. I need to make friends (quickly) if I want to have maximum fun there!

2. I'm very easy going, but people think I'm intimidating.. so I have to force myself to smile more (lol).

3. I like staying in. That's just how I recharge my energy. But, I know that I should really spend more time exploring the country. :( Cognitive dissonance. 

4. I'll have to walk everywhere and rely on public transportation. 

5. I'm going to have a room mate. I hope I get along with her. I really do.

6. I won't even know which dorm I'm living in until the end of summer. I'm seriously praying that it's not super far from the main campus. I'm really not trying to walk 30 minutes or climb a million step to get to class. :'(

7. I have to manage my money very well. I'm living there for a whole year, and I have no clue how much I would realistically be spending a month. I also have to set aside money for the traveling that I'm going to do around Asia. I actually think it won't be too bad though. I won't be able to shop online as conveniently there, so I guess that's kind of a good thing.

8. I absolutely hate humidity. Riverside's dry heat is heaven compared to any sort of humid weather. 

9. I'm going to be scared of getting lost every time I go out. LOL. I won't have the luxury of having my 4G phone to guide me anymore! :(

10. I hope the Chinese classes won't be too hard for me. The third year Chinese series at UCR was pretty easy. Fourth year was a totally different story though. I had to drop that class because it was too intense.

Anyway, I don't know why I'm being so pessimistic. I guess it's because I'm not a huge fan of change. I just have to tell myself that everything will be okay.

Jenn