The Best and the Worst

Apparently all the 4 person rooms are full...lame. However, I have decided to bring a frisbee and share some Ulti-love with my dormmates. I'm going to make the best of this, always.

Also,

Hi Elizabeth:

Warm greetings from Ming Chuan University, Taiwan.
My name is Amy Tsou. I am a third-year student at MCU International College, majoring in International Business and Management.
Paired by the international office, I'll be your personal Buddy during the entire spring semester.
I am very happy to answer any questions you may have about studying at MCU and help you to get to know our Taiwanese culture.
You are welcome to write to me at any time, or you can contact me on Facebook.

I look forward to meeting you in February!

Best,

Amy

Fiasco...averted.

2011/1/13 Elizabeth Butcher

Ivy,

I am a exchange student from West Virginia University who will be attending Ming Chuan this spring and saw in the handbook if we wanted to stay later than the date scheduled to move out of the dorm there would be a small fee.

Where can I find more details on this? I was hoping to stay until the 27th of June and did not know if I needed to move to a hotel when the dorm date is up or what the fee would be to stay.

Thank you for your time! I am looking forward to meeting you soon.

Elizabeth M. Butcher

West Virginia University

Hi Elizabeth,

you may be charged by additional NT$100 per day for staying longer.

for example, if you stay for 10 more days after the date is up, the extra cost is NT$1,000, approx. U$33, which is quite reasonable i think.

thanks.

ivy

I have decided to stay an extra ten days and spend my 2oth birthday in Taiwan this year, continuing my tradition of a different city every year. This time, however, I thought a different country would bring in my new decade of age nicely. For $33USD? Absolutely.

So, at last, I purchased my tickets today...but amidst the rush of work and time zone changes, the tickets I purchased caused me to arrive the 11th of February at 9:50PM...the day prior to the dates available to arrive. A phone call, crazy explanation, and ten thousand thank you's later, the purchase was voided and I was able to purchase tickets safely delivering me to Taiwan on the correct date. Fiasco averted.

Today was very productive. Aside from purchasing my tickets, I finished a scholarship renewal application and turned in the paperwork to receive my money from the B&E Enrichment Fund.

Status

Airline tickets: purchasing.

Visa Application: mailing after plane ticket purchase

Aside from packing, all that is left is to notify Ming Chuan of my arrival so my Buddy can pick me up!

[30 days to departure]

Hurry Up and Wait.

Well, looks like I told a fib. Apparently I have to include a copy of my airline itinerary with my Visa application...it seems everything revolves around my ticket purchase. I can't claim my B&E enrichment funds without it either...So again, I am waiting. Waiting on my ticket purchase, to wait on my Visa, to wait to leave.

Can everything just hurry up already?

[35 days to go]

In other news, I have purchased my giant suitcase and a few essentials for my impending trip...a few things at a time, but things are coming together. It is incredibly unfortunate however that I may have to purchase a new PC before leaving. Yet another expense I did not foresee to put in the budget, however it seems it is unavoidable. My computer is several years old and last night took a turn for the worse. So many things wrong, yet so many things right. At least it decided to be mortally wounded here instead of there. Thank you, PC gods.

Visa Application

At last, this ominous visa application is complete--the paper version at least. All that is left is to take some photos with a white background to pass for "passport" photos, paperclip it all together, and toss it in an envelope with my blessed passport and MCU acceptance letter and the OIP acceptance I received and wait.

*cue Jeopardy music*

[Another Update]

After meeting with 林老师 yesterday and discussing the trip, a few things have changed. First off, my placement exam will be handwritten. This is a bit of a problem for the writing challenged me, therefore, as I've been wanting to do, I've started from lesson one and am learning to write! (cheers) Secondly, after bringing up the living arrangements to 林老师, she emailed Ivy, our Ming Chuan contact. She replied today with this message:

Dear Hannah,

Based on our inquiry, we double checked with the housing department.

It's true that 2-person rooms have been remodeled into 4-person and 6-person room in Taipei campus due to the increasing number of student population and the difficulty of renting private apartment in the city.

As for Taoyuan campus, 4-person room type remains the same.

We will communicate with the housing department and try to place the students in 4-person room with private bathroom and shower setup.

Thanks for your understanding.

ivy

[Update]

Turned in my Pre-Departure Packet today to Semoa. Looks like I'm okay for not attending the Orientation as long as I read the packet and email her saying I have no questions. Also purchased my International Health Insurance. I really hope money starts to grow on trees...

In other news, I met with Lin laoshi today to discuss Ming Chuan. She is going to call and see if she can move Ke Wei Wei and I to the other dorm (2 person rooms) since that is what the lucky Ming Chuan Exchang Students will be comfortably staying in in our stead. I am very much hoping this works out as then I will not have a community bathroom and will have more personal space. Cross your fingers, kids.

Left to Complete:
Purchase Airline Tickets
Apply for Visa

[58 days to departure]

Home Sweet Home

[Predeparture Orientation]

I missed it. Uh oh.

YES!

Your acceptance packet from MCU is here. Please come and get it.

Semoa

Semoa De Sousa-Brown, Ph.D.
Study Abroad Program Coordinator
Office of International Programs
339 Stansbury Hall - PO Box 6214
Morgantown, WV 26506-6214
Phone: 304-293-6955, ext. 33162
Fax: 304-293-6957
e-mail: Semoa.Desousa-Brown@mail.wvu.edu
web site: http://internationalprograms.wvu.edu/