Monday, July 14, 2008
The Checklist/ Die Checkliste
To be exact, preparation for this exchange programme started 2 years ago when I began to attend german class. But actually, more than half of the preparations only kicked off this year, I was (still am) really busy and frustrated at some point of time and have (or still trying to) overcome those difficulties...
So let's take a look at what I had or have to prepare!
1) Acceptance letter from NUS and UniZH
Since I am in the LPP, SEP interview in NUS was waived, thanks goodness for that, I hate interviews, just not good with words. NUS was even so kind to allow me to change my overseas partner university after my first round of module mapping; I gave up my first choice university which is much more renown for another university's grant. Its good money I must say, and I need to thank my friends who made me understood reality and supported my choice. Shortly after which, I received overseas letter from UniZH =)
2) Air ticket
The few of us flying together called up many many travel agencies in search of the cheapest air ticket, even though most of the time the difference in price is like $20 or something like that, it still makes a difference, unless you are loaded or trying to get your air tix the very last minute, you have to agree with this point, have to! Furthermore, finding the travel agency that gives you the best price might be something useful in the long run, you don't have to go through that much hassle to look for good price for future trips!
3) Module mapping
I have to go through NUS roundS of module mapping before letting UniZH look through what I want to study over there. This is the most difficult and frustrating part of preparation for me! Module mapping, if you haven't know, means matching similar course so as to transfer the modular credits back to your home university. I have wasted first round of mapping as it was for my initial partner university and the second and third round of mapping were very bad for me. Shit, I don't want to delay graduation!!!
4) Insurance
Everyone knows that travel insurance is a must-buy if you are worried about flight delay and lost luggage. Luckily for this part, my mother, the insurance-guru, settled for me, and of course charged to her credit card, lets not remind her where that $420 comes from when the bill comes. hehe~
5) Visa
If you are getting bored or stressed up about your life in Singapore, let me console you by telling you.... Being a Singaporean saves you much much trouble when going overseas. *I bet my foreign friends are nodding away to this point. For entry to many countries, we don't really have to apply visa! *popping champagne*
6) Money
Money is never too much when saving up for travelling. It could make a difference of either buying a cold sandwich or a warm set dinner when overseas. I failed to save up to my ideal amount but I think the money that I have now should be suffice as long as I don't grab so many sale items when shopping over there. teehee :P
Opened a citibank account which doesn't charge any administrative fee when withdrawing money overseas, thats really good deal eh, no risk of losing big sum of money or hassle of carrying thick stack of notes to everywhere! But then citibank service really disappoints me. They actually didn't process my application and only did so after three rounds of chasing from me!
I should be ready to go when I manage to settle part 1 to 6 but read on.....
7) Itineraries
It can't be just home-school-home when I am already so far away from home right! Since I would be in europe and my parents wouldn't call to check where I am, I must travel around europe!
It was intensive planning of routes and booking of hostels a few weeks before. To be truthfully, it is really tough to come out with a perfect itinerary that everyone likes but I am glad that we managed to somehow finalized our itinerary. Refer to the right side bar of DATES for more details.
3 of us, girls, would also be going london london london somewhere in september! This is so exciting because its LONDON eh, and its our first time flying budget air in europe, so lets see if train or flight is better, hmm~