Having lived and studied abroad before did not stop me from getting that pre-departure jitters. I was unnerved about moving to a new place and surviving the first few weeks on my less than mediocre Mandarin skills. And, don't even get me started on the immigration paperworks!
However there are loads I have learned in regards to pre-departure preparations, and I thought it'll be a good idea to share some tips and my experiences! Hopefully, for those of you who are thinking of studying in China (or studying abroad in general), you'd get a bit of insight on how to avoid such madness and stress! ^^
Visa Application
I have to stress that this is the most critical part of all pre-departure preparations. And it will also be the most stressful, but only if you let it. What I wrote here are based on my experience and I suggest to do as much research as you can, especially since immigration rules would change over time.
1. Know your visa
China has a ridiculously long list of visa types. There are two types of Chinese Student Visas, X1 and X2. Long-term students studying for more than 6 months are issued an X1 visa, those studying for less than 6-months gets the X2 visa. Students on X1 visa are required to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit within 3o days of entering China, which basically serves as another visa that allows you to enter and exit China as you wish.
2. Know what you need to get your visa
This may seem like a no brainer, but it is imperative that you know exactly what you need to apply for visa by heart. You can easily find out this information through this website. However, if your country is not listed, simply go to the Chinese Embassy's website in your country.
Come to the embassy or visa application centre with your passport, completed visa application form, JW202 form, acceptance letter, copy of your passport. In some cases, they might also need a copy of your national ID. Basically, make copies of EVERYTHING. In my case, they only took copies of forms and letters, and let me keep the originals.
3. Sometimes, a physical health check is needed before visa application
This applies to some countries (not quite sure which), including Indonesia. The physical health check form is downloadable, and requires a physician's signature and official stamp for validity. The health check includes complete bloodwork (Hepatitis, Syphilis, AIDS, etc), ECG and chest X-ray. Bring copies of the health form and ALL lab results etc to the embassy along with the aforementioned documents. Keep all originals with you. Just in case.
Also, make sure to do the physical check and ALL labs in the same place. I did my blood test in a different lab than where my doctor practices, simply because it was logistically more convenient for me to do so. The visa centre turned me away and I ended up having to do the physical check over again and paid more. Such is a hassle one would want to avoid.
Once all the visa hassle is over though, you basically could relax. It took them a measly 4 days to give me back my passport.
4. Bring ALL copies and original documents with you
…and have them on your carry-on during your travel to China. And by documents I meant your JW202, admission notice (THESE TWO ARE VERY IMPORTANT AS IT IS REQUIRED FOR REGISTRATION IN UNIVERSITY), health form, lab results, etc. You never know what they might need when you go through immigration. They usually just stamp your passport and let you enter. But, as I said, just in case.
Keep those documents safe at all times. If you are on an X1 visa, you will require the documents to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit. I haven't gone through getting the permit yet, but I will update this blog as soon as I've done so.
Other Tips
1. Pack Smartly
You're packing the next 6 months or a year of your life into a suitcase and/or rucksack. It is imperative that you be efficient with your space and weight. There are LOADS of tips on how to pack smartly. One of the most common suggestion is to roll your clothes instead of folding them. Apparently, that's what flight attendants do when they have to fit 10 days worth of clothing into a carry-on. However, I must stress that, contrary to popular claims, rolling your clothes doesn't necessarily mean it will be wrinkle-free. I guess it depends on the material of your clothes as well. But it really do save space though!
My attempt: stuff socks and tights in shoes!
Also, most important tip: don't try to bring your whole wardrobe. Yes, ladies, that means leave those shiny heels behind. We really don't need that many shoes. We will survive! *weeps at my favourite black heels*
Despite packing light and smart though, always make sure you bring everything you need. It helps to make a detailed checklist and cross them out as soon as you've put it in your suitcase. This helps to not be tempted to put more in!
2. Pack for all kinds of weather
Most of the mistakes international students' make when coming to China is expecting it to be a sunny paradise. Imagine their surprise when arriving into Hangzhou in 8 degree Celcius weather and constant downpour. The weather fluctuates quite extremely in China, so better pack for all kinds of weather. I mean, it's March and it's still pretty much freezing. Plus, most Chinese dorms don't have a central heating system, so your room gets chilly. You would be thankful to have that warm sweater to sleep in at night!
3. Prepare yourself!
By prepare I mean learn some Mandarin before getting to China. I really don't think it's a good idea to come to China being very clueless about the language. Get a phrasebook for common situations, download flashcards or apps, or if you're keen, get a textbook and start learning beforehand!
Because I was a funemployed graduate, I had A LOT of free time in the two months I was home, so I decided to take lessons to refresh my Mandarin. If you do have an ample amount of free time, it's worth to find a tutor or join a class. You'll at least get the basics and will be able to say ting bu dong when you get to China. Also, if you have learned beforehand like me, refreshing your Chinese is a great idea so you could get on to a higher level rather than starting completely from the beginning.
4. What will I not be able to find in China?
I'm glad I typed question into Google before I left. There are always a couple of things that are just close to impossible to find in some countries. Best example: tampons. It doesn't seem to be the popular feminine product of choice in Asian countries. I wept as I walk up and down the aisle frantically looking for tampons when I moved back home to Jakarta.
Some bloggers have compiled a list of things that are rather hard to find in China. Amongst those on the list aside from tampons are deodorants, skin products (that will not bleach your skin) and medicines. And so far, I'm glad I took that advice because I have indeed had trouble finding deodorant, even at the biggest Watsons or WalMart.
5. Get a VPN subscription
The only reasonable way to get past the Great Firewall is to get a VPN subscription. The only reason why I can make and keep this blog is because I got myself one. I personally used StrongVPN, and paid $55 for a year's subscription. There are loads of choices for VPN providers, and they offer different prices and packages.
What is this VPN thingy I'm rambling about, you ask? Well, I'm no techie, so here are some links I consulted to truly understand what it actually is, how it works and VPN provider comparisons. But, seriously though, do get it! I mean, how else are you going to upload pictures and make people at home jealous stalk people you secretly hate on Facebook while you're in China?
6. Research, research, research!
Find out as much as you can about your new city and your new university. Chinese Forums is a very helpful website to gain insight from current students of language programmes in numerous Chinese universities. The forum really helped me a lot to clarify information, because sometimes the university staff are just not good with giving clear info. Also, it's a good place to find future classmate, arrange a meetup when you get to the university and explore the area together. I mean, it's always a good feeling to have someone who is on the same boat with you, rather than having to figure out EVERYTHING on your own.
Expat forums and city guides are a good place to get information about exciting stuff to do and see in the city. Most of the time, there are also locals who are active in the forum, and maybe getting in touch with them would answer some questions about the city. And hey, maybe you might also find yourself a language exchange partner!
In a nutshell, the pre-departure stage will always be pure madness. There's just a whole lot of preparations to be done, and the anxiety of going to a strange place truly does not make it any less frustrating. But, I didn't let that get the best of me. Despite the amount of researches and preparations that need to be done, it's best to just be excited for what the future will hold for you.
So I guess if I could give one last preparation advice: just prepare to be surprised!
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