Tips for studying in China for the first time
I am a Indonesian student studying in China. The Chinese university I attended is China Pharmaceutical University, located in Nanjing. Nanjing is a quiet and beautiful city.
After I successfully applied for the Chinese scholarship, I came to China. The experience of coming to China is exciting and full of unknown because it is a first time trip to China for me. Although I am ready, I still have some obstacles, which is inevitable. I will share my experience of coming to China for the first time and provide advice to you.
BEFORE DEPARTURE
Before you get on the plane, make sure you have a convenient Chinese address. I searched the university's location on the Internet in advance and bought a ticket. Use the Google maps to record the location of the university for backup in China. You can also download the AMap, a popular Chinese app that accurately displays your location and has navigational features. It is available in English and you don't need to worry about the language of the application.
Cash is preferred for international students who came to China for the first time, although Alipay and WeChat are common in China. I exchanged some RMB in advance. You can also exchange RMB at a bank in China. Major Chinese cities have international ATMs. Many Chinese companies, especially large chain hotels and gourmet restaurants, support credit cards. Before you come to China, make sure your bank knows that you will be using your credit or debit card there. You do not want to cancel your card on the go for unusual transactions.
ARRIVE IN CHINA
After a long trip, I came to Nanjing, China. You can take a taxi or subway but need to identify and choose a taxi with a formal qualification.
In accordance with the Chinese and English signs, I found a formal taxi queue. Waiting in line for the taxi, I showed the taxi driver a note with a Chinese address. Most of the taxis in this queue are safe.
Most taxi drivers can't read or speak English, so using Chinese is very important. I prepared the Chinese note in advance. Translator app is also a good idea.
Once you land at the airport, someone may give you a lift and say "taxi". As a foreigner, you will immediately become a target. Ignore these people. They will charge you a property before you start.
Taking the subway is a very challenging thing. If you like, you can also choose this mode of transportation.
IMPRESSION OF CHINA
China is really big. I was amazed at the huge number of buildings everywhere. It's a wonderful feeling that people are everywhere, surrounded by this fundamentally different language. I am already in China. This is an adventure. It is one of the coolest countries in the world!
ARRIVE AT SCHOOL
The environment of China Pharmaceutical University is very beautiful, which is my first impression. Upon arriving at the Chinese university, I quickly completed the registration with the help of the school staff.
I got relevant information, including the address of the accommodation. If you arrive at a Chinese university too early, you may need to check in hotel. The Chinese school will also organize all foreign students to apply for temporary residence permits. At the time of enrollment, all freshmen were told to offer their documents in a certain room on a certain day, and officials of the Immigration Bureau then came to the Chinese campus to inspect and approve all residence permit applications. There are also buses that took us to the medical check-up center and back to the campus, so we don't have to worry.
In the afternoon, I went to the local bank to get some money. If you want to use an ATM, then look for big banks. Chinese national banks such as Bank of China, China Construction Bank and China Merchants Bank accept Visa and most international cards and offer English language choices.
DELICIOUS CHINESE FOOD
I came to the canteen of the Chinese university, which is far better than I thought. The price of food is cheap, but the most important thing is delicious! If you are a vegetarian, sometimes it will be a little tricky to find a dish that suits you.
END
When I was in the international student dormitory, I wanted to tell my family that I had arrived safely. I found myself unable to access Facebook or Google. Even WhatsApp doesn't seem to work either. How is this going? The Internet censorship system is the bane of all foreigners in China. That is, unless you have a VPN. Before you go to China, it is best to set up a VPN on all devices. Download some of China's must-have apps, such as WeChat, Taobao, QQ.
