Ohk, so here's the low down on what's happening.
Lu Wee, you asked where is everywhere on the tagboard. I shall answer and elaborate.
About less than a month ago, a few other students and I were signed as Ministry of Defence scholars. Shao Mei's 'everywhere' actually means the RTB news and most of the newspapers in circulation in Brunei. Yes, I actually recorded my one minute of fame (I was interviewed, badly, I might add) and kept most of the newspaper clippings, hehe.
So the deal is that I will be going to China to study for five years. One year intensive study of the Chinese language, i.e. Mandarin, and then continue with four years of East Asian Language and Literature.
The actual name of my degree, the actual university I am going to and the actual region of China (Beijing or Shanghai) I am going to are questions I keep asking but still haven't gotten answers. The thing is, the application to Chinese universities start in April, rather than October last year like UK universities. So all I do is wait, and the application (that I know so far) is pretty easy, a few forms here and there and presto (again, as far as I know), which is a far cry from the ENDLESS essays the other scholars have to do. They will be going to the States instead and every single uni requires its own essay, or maybe two. To make it more difficult, each essay topic is different. And trust me, I partially went through it, painstakingly, even though I am not applying to USA *smiles at Shao Mei*.
A lot of you might ask, 'Why China? Isn't UK or USA so much better?' In fact, a LOT of people ask me that in real life, friends and relatives. I basically have to tell them the same thing, China is no less in standards compared to all unis in the whole freaking world. And then they might go and say that UK is so much better since everyone is there and it is recognised in Brunei.
Well, people like that makes me want to slap them silly because they are ignorant. Despite the fact that I already said that China is on par (perhaps better?) with the UK unis, they still judge China as a low grade country. I must admit, when the Ministry first suggested that I go to China, I was hesitant because of the stereotypes: China goods are of low quality, the Chinese women in Brunei are good at giving foot massages, Chinese people talk really loudly, haha. But it is a new place which not many people choose to go to, so therefore I agreed. And after many hours of online research, I found that the unis I am applying to are pretty much top notch, with an uber big number of international students studying there. Besides, I want to experience the life there for myself, rather than just take people's words that there are millions of limbless child beggars by the roadsides or that Chinese people spit everywhere.
UK is overpopulated with Bruneians. So I rather not be part of the statistics. Just the thought of me studying in UK makes me want to slap myself, no offence to the people who studied there, are studying there and will be studying there, hehe.
But not all reactions to me studying in China are negative. My family, other relatives (note, not all my relatives were supportive, and we call these people 'goyi', haha, *grins at sisters*) and most friends were very happy for me and supportive. Well, maybe not really, because they might only be pretending so that they can call me up when they go to China for holidays. But whatever, I can deal with that.
I actually applied for Oriental Studies for the scholarship and this was before they suggested studying in China. I was excited at the prospect of studying in the US. But China is a MUCH BETTER place since Oriental Studies do include studying China and its langauge. So where better to study China than in China itself?!?!?! I'll tell you where, NO where, haha. It is fate, I say.
I am pretty paranoid that I might eventually not get a placement in any uni because I have no idea what the hell is going on. I am practically doing nothing but wait for the Ministry or the Embassy to give me news of what to do *gives a super worried look*. My number one choice would be Peking University in Beijing. But unfortunate for me, it is ranked top five in the world, close to Cambridge uni, for which Cambridge gave me a very pretty rejection letter (damn you, I don't even want to go there anyway, it's all ugly nerds there *pouts*). But I am hopeful and optimistic!
*Slaps on super huge smile that shows my wisdom teeth*
Oh, so hopeful and optimistic...
Basically since exams ended in November, I have been doing nothing but eat, sleep, watch TV and shop. I feel lucky that I don't have to look for a part-time job while waiting for uni, which brings me to the topic of the attachment.
On the other hand, a part-time job will be better than attachment since I actually get paid for the job. The attachment starts tomorrow, and that's about eleven hours from now.
I CAN'T WAIT!!!
Apparently, due to some miscommunication (you know what I'm talking about, Shao Mei), we (we being Shao Mei, Mabel and I) did not know until a few days ago that our attachment starts this Tuesday. But no matter, we do not have to prepare too much. Just pack all our clothes and essentials.
Yea, as if that is ever easy for me.
I had to change my luggage twice because they turned out too small. I'll be there for only FOUR DAYS, and yet I am using my one-week-holiday bag.
Anyway, better be prepared with extras than be caught borrowing stuff from people.
In a way I can't wait for the attachment to start, but in another, I am not so keen on it.
For one thing, it's going to occupy lots of time. It's five days a week for four months!
If everything goes according to plan (please, please, please), I'll be flying off to China around mid-August since the semester there begins early September. So that means I only have weekends and the first half of August to enjoy myself and spend time with friends and family!
And if my calculation is correct *pushes spectacles up*, I have about 60 free days.
That's SIXTY days starting tomorrow until I leave for uni!!!
Another thing is that there will only be girls during the attachment. It's not that we are separated from the boys, it just so happens that the boys this year didn't get the grades while some rejected the scholarship, and most of them are made in Stupid Factory. So that's three girls from the religious school (going to uni in Jordan), three girls from Maktab Duli (going to the US, don't ask me why it's only Maktab Duli students here) and me.
It's like STPRI on repeat again. Well, an all girls attachment won't be that bad. It's just that it'll be boring, no boy for us to torture and bully.
I hope that Arif (a hopeful still waiting for the scholarship) joins us. Dare I say, 'can you carry this up the million flights of stairs for me, please?'
Anyway, I'll try to blog more often, since I doubt that there will be much entertainment where I'm going. Then you guys can read up every weekdays on how much fun it is to be a MinDef scholar and then you can be so god damn jealous of me and then hate me so much that you become obssesed with my blog because I'll be blogging about all the super fun and super interesting things that we do for our attachment! HA-HA!
Unless it turns out to be boring and they are slave-driving us with housework, essays and reports.
Of course I'll leave that out.
