content page pre departure
Decision Making Where to? Luggage Bag Packing List
Departure day
Dos and Don’ts Emotions
Settling down
Moving In Checklist Everyday Objects Flatmates Cooking Hacks Folding Hacks
After few months Enjoyment Level The Poison The Remedy
This book aims to help you and at the same time brings humour while you are being stress preparing to study abroad. Some parts of the information are for entertainment purpose only. Results may vary. Please do not take the information too serious, you will regret. Life is on your own. It is not all written here. You got to plan your life on your own, not just by following what is inside this book.
pre departure
Does your current course offers transfer program? NO
YES
YES
Is that your ideal university?
do you think you can do it? NO
NO
is there any other ways to do so?
NO er Stay wh
ea ll good.
can you afford the living cost? ey ou a you ar re,
YES NO
NO
scholarships? loans?
YES
NO
for Go
can you accept the fact that you are all on your own in every aspects?
len ge!
YES
YES
l it! Take the cha
YES
NO are you ready to take the challenge?
are you sure? are you very sure?
NO
YES
NO
are you independent enough?
YES
YES
decision making
A handy flow chart guide for the indecisive you. First of all, all you need to do is to decide whether studying abroad is the right choice for you. Why would you want to study abroad? Are you trying to show that you can afford to do so or are you trying to proof something? Let this flow chart make you think twice about your decision.
University of Cambridge University of oxford University of toronto
University of harvard
University of Sao paulo
Tsing hua university University of dehli
University malaya
where to? Know which university to go. Which is the best for the course that you wanted to study. Choose your ideal university. Choose the higher ranking ones so that you are able to brag to your relatives in the future.
luggage bag Packing could be a hassle because you are limited to only 30kg of baggage weight limit. You would probably pack like you will be away from home forever and not going to leave anything behind. Stuff in all your 20 years favourite objects and bring them along with you. Who knows you might need it one day, right? Food stock, electrical appliances, favourite toy, etc, etc. Bring as much as you can. Also, please tell your mother that there will be grocery stores in other countries too. No matter what country you are going to study at. Just in case she does not know about that fact.
Favourite pillow Squeeze that smelliest pillow in, no matter what! You will regret for years if you do not bring it along.
MILO Bring as many as you can as if there is no tomorrow. You know nothing will beat the one back in your home country, right?
Maggi instant noodles Your mum would probably think that there is no way you can get instant noodle in a foreign country.
Spicy chilli sauce You will not be able to find any chilli sauce elsewhere that is as good as your home town’s.
Plush toy Bring your 20 years old teddy. Make sure he is there to wipe your tears and comfort you when you miss home.
Rice cooker It is possible to find a rice cooker in a Western country. Just so you know.
packing checklist
This and that Lip balm Belts Glasses Watch Sunglasses Cap Diary Torchlight Umbrella Laundry net Sewing kit Travel locks Notebook
Technology
documents
Mobile phone charger
Passport
Laptop charger
Medical insurance card
Camera charger
Travel insurance
Music player
Important phone numbers
Headphones
Student visa
Travel adapter plug
Past exams results
Alarm clock
Credit cards
Camera charger
Proof of identity
Departure day
dos
donts
X
Emotions The emotion game is strong during your departure day. Mixed feelings, sensitive soul, confused feelings, etc. You just have to contain yourself and work things out. Time heals. Trust me. Come on. We are living in this digital era. A simple press and you are able to see your family in your phone screen.
settling down
moving in The first step when you stepped into your new accommodation. Empty. Take out your room deco plan that you have planned. You probably will have one because you are too excited to have your own room and decorate it however you want. You will have all your freedom to buy any decorations that you wanted to without your mother stopping you. Start decorating it as homey as possible so that you will feel less homesick.
everyday objects Living in a 4 seasons country is tough because more than 50% of your stuff in your bag would be for backup or emergency purpose. Scarf - Never trust British weather. Hoodie - It could be freezing although it is supposed to be Spring. Chocolate or snacks - You will be hungry all the time, especially during winter! Gloves - Just in case you might need it. Umbrella - You cannot predict the weather, can you? Lenses - Everything seems to be photo worthy since you are in a new country. Plaster bandage - Emergency! Hand cream - Low humidity air. Make sure your hands are well hydrated. Lipbalm - Crack lips sucks! Mints - Avoid bad breaths.
flatmates Dirty kitchen? Clogged sink? Untidy cabinet? Food stealing? Full trash can? There is no way you can avoid flatmates when you are living in a foreign country. Either they chose you or you chose them or you are just meant to be together. Sometimes, you just have to give in and tolerate. Pretend that you did not see anything perhaps is the best way to maintain your friendship with your flatmates. You will be the most lovable flatmate to your other flatmates when you clean up the mess silently without any complains.
Eyes- Pretend that you did not see all the dirts everywhere. Ears- Ignore all the screaming and loud music by your flatmates. Mouth- Only say things that they want to hear. Definitely not the truth.
cooking hacks
ne Al you
ave.
ym Read
ea
ays l is alw
minut es .
.
Ready Meal
te better!
hing tas mayo makes everyt
licious m e d r h you
20
A hint of
atc w d n a
required. Wait for
ok ing co
ea s y
row
coo king
e owly b e a l sl
back t i S . enient v o c and
Frozen Pizza No
Cooking is going to be 90% of your time when you live alone as a student. However, things are not as easy as you think. Everything seems to be easier when you stand aside and look at what you mother does at home. You are totally wrong! You could actually easily start up a fire from cooking if you are a newbie. Do not worry, here are some tips for newbie like you who does not know how to even properly boil an egg.
do is put into o t mic ed
Mayo
Do not hav
e
tock up! S . s e l d noo aving instant
wil do.
Tap Water
se . l prep are anything
Noodle 1
ater
wil be h u o y s Instant 7 day f o t u o 5
to
fancy, tap o s w be
e
The best s
na
ck, sin
ce you are probably too lazy to
Instant Noodle 2
vours!
(e x
c u s es )
Just try i ng
ou t
different fla
Scones If everything failed,
Call delivery service!
folding hacks It has always been a disaster in your room before and after laundry. Do not fear, do not worry! Here are some useful hacks to guide you through folding and sorting out your laundry after washing them.
Hold it up
Fold into half
grab with one hand
aim... toss!
Hold up your clean and dry laundry. Make sure it smells good and no wrinkles could be found.
Fold your shirt into half, so that it would not take up so much space in your closet.
Grab your shirt with one hand and position your another hand to estimate your target location. Ready?
Aim which part of the closet you want to keep your clothes at. Toss as accurate as possible. Close your closet door. Done!
After few months
enjoyment level
up late Waking
freedom
Nigh
t
ou
ts Soci al l ife
Laundry
naggi n
g
First few months of getting used to the fact that you are all on your own could be tough. As promised, time heals. Things get better day by day.
m pa r e n t s
’
enjoyment level wa y fro
A survey is carried out to find out what are the things that international students enjoyed the most while they are away from home. The results are rather interesting.
A
Cooking time
The poison What is student life without some alcohol, right? Friday is the day everyone has been waiting for after a tough week full of lectures. Student life is tough and budget is constraint. Treat yourself with some homemade alcohol instead of spending double the price at a bar. Ask your friends over to your place and chill. Location does not matter, it is the company that matters.
Sugar syrup Lemon juice Lime juice
Vodka
Orange liqueur
Gin
Bourbon
White rum
Lemon juice
Long Island [long-ai-lend]
Whisky Sour [wis-kee-sou-er]
Cranberry juice
Lime juice
Sweet Vermouth
Orange liqueur
Sugar syrup
Vodka
White rum
Cosmopolitan [cus-mo-poh-li-ten]
Daiquiri [dah-kur-ree]
Tequila
Margarita [mar-gah-ree-ta]
Sugar syrup
Whisky
Manhattan [men-hatn-ten]
Water Salt Tea bag
Green tea [Guh-reen-tee]
Sugar
Isotonic [Ai-se-ta-nik]
Coffee powder
Coffee [kof-fee]
Diarrhoea medicine
Egg yolk Water
Beer
Lemon juice Beer
Medicine [Me-di-sern]
Beer [bee-er]
Traditional [thre-di-shen-nal]
the remedy After some homemade alcohols, there is no way you can miss out a simple homemade hangover cures for your whole night out. Try different remedies, some might work, some might not. The risk is on your own.