BLCU Spring Semester 2010

[bnjmn]

thanks, should have looked at that website more carefully. thought it was the official website.

would have rather applied through the official site as I'm already in beijing and been here for few months.

[rcuthbert]

Hey everyone i'm glad I found these forums! I will also be attending BLCU this Spring. I'm 23 years old from Washington State and can't wait to get to Beijing! I plan on doing the long term program that starts in March. Is anyone else doing a one year program? It looks like everyone has chosen the short term programs.. I will also be looking for a place off campus to live.

@NathanF Are you doing the short term or log term program? If you are doing the long term program I might be interested in finding a place.

Hopefully we can all get together and grab some drinks to get to know each other once we get to Beijing! Oh and if you have facebook hit me up so we can chat. I'd like to get to know as many people as I can before school starts! My name is Ray Cuthbert so shoot me a friend request!

Ray

[phiez]

I'm in the same boat..

short term, 20hrs/week..

I'm going to arrive in Beijing at 27 feb..

I'm 22/f/indonesia..

Hellow everyone..!!

[rohityankee]

Hi

I will be be there for one semsester 20hrs/week.

hope to see you guys there..

[pokipoki]

where are you guys planning to stay the first day or 2 before getting a spot in the dorm?

and do they do roomate matching?

[MikeyNinja91]

@ PokiPoki

I'm staying at the XiJiao Hotel. I hear it is very comfortable and close to the university.

You can book via this website

http://www.sinohotel.com/english/hotelinfo/xi_jiao_hotel_beijing.html

Lots of people also stay at the Conference Center too.

[chriso11]

Thanks Brian & everyone else for their invaluable contribution.

I'm heading to BLCU for the Spring semester later this month, arriving on the 26th Feb. I can speak some mandarin but I haven't been to China before... Maureen, heard you're arriving on the 26th feb as well?

Just some questions which I think hasn't been answered before?

I have booked a single room at the Conference centre, called on 2 separate occassions to ensure my name is recorded down, but have some queries on staying there:

1) Safety/security : given that someone will come into your room to clean on a regular basis, how can I secure my valuables like my laptop, luggage, passport etc? I'm thinking for my passport I'll just have a passport holder which I can strap along my neck/shoulder (I can hide it under my layer of clothes!) For my laptop is there a fixed piece of furniture I can attach a cable lock to?

Is there a extra door lock/chain for each room?

2) Heating: How's the heating in each room like? I'm sure it will still be pretty cold at least for the 1st few weeks of the semester.

3) Bedding : I do believe they provide bedding, but would like a confirmation on this? Are they clean & reliable?

And some general questions :

1) How long does it roughly take to travel to BLCU from the airport? I'm thinking : a) take airport shuttle #5 to xueyuan lu, then grab a cab from there into BLCU campus; or B) take a cab (pre-arranged with BLCU) straight from the airport.

2) the 300RMB Medical insurance that everyone has to pay. What does the insurance cover (in terms of consulting GPs or specialists and/or medication)?

3) What is the nearest bank branch on campus? Is it ICBC? How soon can I get a bank account opened there?

I appreciate any answers provided and thanks in advance.

[Brian US]

where are you guys planning to stay the first day or 2 before getting a spot in the dorm?

and do they do roomate matching?

I had reserved two nights at the conference center as I wanted time to figure out the campus before registration. I only stayed one night as I realized you can get in the dorms right away. I would suggest doing this ASAP as they have been known to fill up, especially dorm 17.

Remember the golden rule that if you don't get the accommodation you want, just show up everyday until a room "suddenly" becomes available.

At dorm 17 I went for a double room (pretty sure 60 a night) and I was asked if I wanted a Korean or Japanese roommate. I told them it didn't matter what nationality, but with 80% of the dorm being Korean/Japanese the odds are there. My first roommate was Japanese, but when I walked in the door he told me he wanted a Japanese roommate (I'm American). Not wanting conflict on the first day I went downstairs and was given a different room with a different Japanese student. I got along great with my roommate and I know some people who have switched up to three times.

I'll try my best to answer questions on the conference center by chriso11, but I only stayed there once last year and two weeks in 2007. I'll compare with dorm 17 as they are relevant questions.

1) Safety/security: At night the gates to campus lock down, but I have never been stopped being a foreigner entering. Easy to get into the conference center, but at dorm 17 after 10pm you cannot enter the building/parking lot without a room key no matter who you are. My friend was in the scholarship dorm (number 2?) with I think visiting hours between 4-8pm. I was able to go in anytime I wanted, again looking foreign/student. Yet, they always stopped our Asian friends and had them check in.

I have never heard of cleaning staff stealing things. I always left my electronics and passport in my room as I was more afraid of losing them. I also never kept more than 400 kuai on me. Make sure to get good locks for bikes/scooters and to lock them to a pole whenever possible.

Is there a extra door lock/chain for each room?

There is a deadbolt on the doors in 17, which wouldn't let my electric key work. You may also put the "do not clean" card out when needed. I noticed a drawer with a pad lock in my closet, but I never used it or bothered to get the combination.

2) Heating: The school took awhile to turn on the central heating for the dorms, but I think that had more to do with the early winter in October/November. Dorm 17 was fine, but my friend in the scholarship dorm said it wasn't until mid November that theirs started working. He ended up buying a portable heater.

3) Bedding: I thought the bedding in the conference center was great and I think they change it often. Dorm 17 consists of a plywood board with an inch thick mattress pad on it. I had a friend buy an extra Ikea mattress pad for 600-700 kuai after she arrived. I did bring my own bedding, which I put over the comforter they provide as extra padding. They say the sheets will be changed every Monday, but I finished off the semester with sheets a good three weeks old (don't judge me).

1) How long does it roughly take to travel to BLCU from the airport?

Depending on traffic a cab ride would be under an hour and cost over 80 kuai. The airport express costs 25 kuai and you can take the subway for another 2 kuai to Wudaokou. I just returned to the States last week and realized how much a pain the transfer stations are with luggage. I packed light, but with all the stairs I was exhausted after getting to the airport express. From Wudaokou station to Airport it took 1-1.5 hours.

2) the 300RMB Medical insurance that everyone has to pay. What does the insurance cover (in terms of consulting GPs or specialists and/or medication)?

This I am not really sure on as I have yet to go to the hospital. I think insurance is 600 kuai for the year and a visit to the school hospital is 1 kuai. My roommate went when he was sick and got some Tami flu, but I think he said his Japanese insurance covered it.

Another friend had a growth that she had checked out and they (pretty sure it was school hospital) immediately wanted her to have an operation. She went to get a second opinion from an English speaking doctor and was informed to just take it easy and it would clear up on its own. I'm no doctor, but she is fine three months later.

The medical insurance is all second hand, so hopefully someone can better answer this question.

3) What is the nearest bank branch on campus? Is it ICBC? How soon can I get a bank account opened there?

They did have an Industrial and Commercial Bank of China branch right on campus, but as of last week it was being gutted. I don't know if a new one will be built, but there is another full branch next to the Wudaokou station. This branch does not take travelers checks, but the Bank of China just North on Wangzhuang street will. Just bring money and your passport and you shouldn't have a problem getting a bank account.

My goal this week is to go to Bank of America and see about their sister bank in China (pretty sure it is the Construction Bank) so I can transfer money easier. Other than that I don't think there is much difference between the banks unless you want to avoid the 2 kuai ATM fee on withdrawing money from a different bank. I also found in 2007 in Qingdao I wasn't able to get money from certain banks with my ICBC card.

[ruds10]

Hi All,

I will be studying at BLCU this Spring as well. I have been trying to book a room in dorm 17 but they seem very reluctant to book for people. A bit unsettling going to a foreign country and not being able to 100% confirm where I am staying but I will see when I get there.

Was wondering how many other aussies are going at this time? I'm from Sydney just finished an undergrad degree. I studied Mandarin for HSC but haven't looked at it in ages.

If anyone from oz (or anywhere else for that matter) wants to chat on gmail or msn I'd love to talk to you! I'm eager to get to China. Will be leaving Sydney on the 23rd of Feb!

[MikeyNinja91]

hey ruds10

I'm an Australian-Chinese living in Tassie and I think another girl called Yvonne from Canberra also posted on this forum. That's all the Aussies that I know of...

I will be arriving in Beijing the day that you leave Sydney so if you need any help when you arrive just let me know. Where are you staying before moving into the dorms?

Send me an email if you want

[roddy]

chat on gmail or msn

Send me an email if you want

Can we ask that as far as possible you keep discussion on the forums - anything that happens via email or IM isn't available for anyone else to benefit from

[AmandaC]

Hi all!

I'm also going to be at BLCU for this semester. I'm really excited but...

I'm trying to organise a late enrollment so I can stay in Australia for a friend's wedding, and have called BLCU twice now. The first time guy who I spoke to spoke very little English but told me to call back on Monday(today) and that somebody would be able to help me. So I called back and the new guy was barely any better! I couldn't even explain why I was calling! Argh! So frustrating! You would think they would have staff on that were multilingual especially at a language school?!?! So unhelpful

I'm getting my Chinese speaking friend to call up for me. (fingers crossed they say yes)

Makes me a little bit worried about how I'm going to cope for the first few weeks, especially being late and behind in class initially.

From what I've read here and in other forums it seems better to stay in an apartment, so I am probably going to live in a hotel first and seek accommodation once I arrive.

Excited to meet you all!

Amanda x

[pokipoki]

hey all

thanks for the replies mikeyninja and brian!

1. when you book for a room in a dorm, do you have to do it for one semester or can it be less? From what I keep hearing, renting an apartment is better off than dorms, however I want to adapt myself the surrounding first before I go look for an apartment.

2. Does anyone know if the one year program is the same as taking the semester program twice? in other words,do the student in the one year program have summer off?

thanks again!

anybody going there alone and nervous as I am?

btw i'm 24/f /indonesia

[IngaZ]

Hi guys,

It seems that I will be studying chinese this spring at BLCU. 2 weeks ago I began all the process and I thought I was late but today I received answer from them but there is not enough time to send me the paper-based Admission Notice and the JW202 Form. So BLCU will help me to change the visa status when I arrive. So now I'm thnking about accomodation)

[greenarcher]

hey all

thanks for the replies mikeyninja and brian!

1. when you book for a room in a dorm, do you have to do it for one semester or can it be less? From what I keep hearing, renting an apartment is better off than dorms, however I want to adapt myself the surrounding first before I go look for an apartment.

2. Does anyone know if the one year program is the same as taking the semester program twice? in other words,do the student in the one year program have summer off?

thanks again!

anybody going there alone and nervous as I am?

btw i'm 24/f /indonesia

1. You don't need to pay for an entire semester but prices vary accordingly. I got Dorm 17 for 60RMB/day last semester plus 600RMB for deposit. I stayed there for 140days. I think it's 65RMB/day for 30days.

2. Yes you have a break in between but programs are not exactly identical.

Lots of Indonesians in BLCU, no need to worry.

[pokipoki]

^ Haha.thanks greenarcher

i'm really not planning to hang around people of my nationality tho...

I'm afraid once I do, I'll stick around them too much to learn anything.

[Maureen87]

Hi guys,

Yep Chriso11 I'll be getting to Beijing on the 26th feb in the afternoon... May be we could meet up... In fact a friend of mine is asking her roomie if she could help me out at BLCU, really hope she can...

And Oh I heard that there is some sort of safe in the dorms? Not true?

Hmmm hey wat about dorm 4? anyone there?

Hmmm like many others I don't know where I am going to sleep on that day...I am just crossing my fingers that everything will be fine like the registration, accomodation etc...

Am kind of scared, stressed, excited well so much feelings now..

hey guys those who are already there, just give us some feedback about wat u think etc...Are there much people around university now? The dorms are full? (coz am freaking already if I have to spend a night outside lol...)

Hmmm still there's a question in my mind... How much RMB will be needed for the first day?

A friend of mine told me that it is possible to pay BLCU later after our arrival for the fees etc... Can someone please confirm that?

Hey guys hope we can meet up there? Hmmm will we know who is who? lolzzz

++

[addeGG]

Hi all, I'm Andreas, 20, from Sweden. I am another level zero chinese speaker and I will attend the spring semester regular course. Cant wait

How much RMB should I bring in cash? And will my VISA card work in Beijing?

[pokipoki]

i'll be arriving feb 24th morning at 8 am..oh..what bad timing.

anybody in the same boat who wants to share a cab with me?

should I book CC in advance or can I just go there right away? is there a price difference from reserving in advance?

thanks!

[MikeyNinja91]

1. You don't need to pay for an entire semester but prices vary accordingly. I got Dorm 17 for 60RMB/day last semester plus 600RMB for deposit. I stayed there for 140days. I think it's 65RMB/day for 30days.

Greenarcher, I'm guessing that was for a double room??????? (sh)