What's aboard studying abroad - Part One: The Convo's

One of the interesting things about studying abroad is the conversations you will have with other international students. My graduate program is a relatively new international branch of the main campus as a results the student size is relatively small. And the professors are flown-in to teach for each semester and video classes are administered to add more variety to the course-load. The student demographics consist of 80% Chinese, the rest include 2 Americans plus me, an Indian student, an Indonesian student and a Taiwanese student. But the only downside to the demographics is that there are only two girls in the entire program :|.....

But conversations in the study hall can get pretty interesting. So lets call the Indian student "Raj". So Raj is quite the character and relatively outspoken. The initial conversation started around "Lenard's" (an american student) internship experience in Sweden ( Big Bang Theory fans should should begin to see a pattern with the names :). But somehow the conversation migrated to why America does not have a distinct culture compared to most Asian countries. Surprisingly, Raj had more knowledge about the American heritage tree than me and Lenard combined. Sigh!!! But I found out that Indians in India call Native Americans in America, "Red Indians". But if you ever meet a Native American, do not refer to them as Red Indians ( it is quite offensive). And I also found out that about 40% of Americans are of the German descent ( I totally should have known that).

Then the conversation migrated to which cars Chinese People buy.  This time a few Chinese students join in the conversation. Background Info- My campus is situated in Shenzhen, a major financial hub in the Guangzhou province. And I have seen more Lamborghini's, Tesla's and BMWs here than I have anywhere in the US. So apparently the worst car that anyone can buy down here is the BYD brand..... Never heard of it ? Me Too. But this is because it is a Chinese Brand and wait for it, the acronym expands to mean "Beyond Your Dream" :)

And the Convos continue.....

As Always Live Life Righteously.

Yellow Brick Road to China

New Year.........Graduate School in China.....Wait What??.
First and Foremost, All the Glory and honor Belongs to the Lord God Almighty for his mercies and GRACE.

Now, lets rewind back to 2014. May 2nd 2014, I graduated from college with my BS.c in Electrical Engineering. (Yes, I did it and all the glory belongs to the Almighty GOD). And his mercies just abounds more and more. Thank you, Father. And after graduation, I headed down to Washington state for an internship with Boeing ( Another tale for another post).

Started the internship in July 2014 till about October 2014. And in October, I got accepted to graduate school down south which offered an exchange program to CHINA. After talking with my mom ( I just love my mom so much), I decided to take the leap and step on the First Yellow Brick to china. Yes, I know what you are thinking.....no google, no facebook, no instagram and squat toilets!!!!..... child something hit you on the head :). Actually while at Boeing, I just could not get accustomed to the 7am - 3pm schedule. Wished for something more exciting and outside of a four corner cubicle. Carefully for what you wish for, you could end up in china.

 Although I may be writing about the rosy parts, I was tested mentally and emotionally throughout that entire period. I cried a freaking ton of times, criticized myself heavily about everything but above all I grew. I flew back to my home-state and accepted the offer after talking to a few faculty who taught in china. After applying for my Chinese visa, I knew I was on the Second Yellow Brick. 

Between November and December, I lost my passport then had to apply for a replacement copy
(mind you they require a 6 weeks period to return the replacement copy) and I had to apply for a freaking ton of scholarships. Actually about 5 scholarships, but it felt like a freaking ton. Probably the one thing I don't like about applying for scholarships is requesting for recommendation letters from professors. I feel like a fly buzzing in their ears always asking them for recommendation letters. But you got to do what you got to do when graduate school cost about $8,000 + $3000 for the flight ticket.

Buying my 28hour flight ticket to Shenzhen, China, was another Yellow brick closer to OZ. December 27th, a day before my birthday I was standing at the check-in line at Hartfield Jackson airport en route to china. I had a 30mins flight stop over in Seattle, which I almost missed because the airport was so dang big. Then another stop over in Shanghai and finally arrived in OZ, Shenzhen China. And guess what, I technically didn't have a birthday in 2014 because I flew between time zones and totally skipped December 28th.

So Yes, I am in China.
And as Always Live Life Righteously.