Pre Norway #1

To let students have an idea of what pre-exchange is like:

1) Money crunch
Every cent that you have will be squeezed out of you. Probably pre-exchange, you bank account will drop perilously close to $0.00 after paying for items like air ticket (cost me $1,706 smackers for a return flight on the cheapest airline), Notebook (I didn't have one prior, and i need one for exchange, another cool $1,700), cold weather clothing (head to toe, haven't really went about it yet, budget of $350, saw a very ultimate one in ZARA). Some countries require you to apply for visa/resident permits, and this could set you back a further $200, fortunately Norway do not require Singapore students to pay for any of these, my foreign friends from China do have to pay for visa AND resident permit. And then there is the dead cost of housing over in the host country. The host institute usually have accomodation arrangements for their international programs, but you've gotta pay for them yourself, the one provided to me by BI will cost me $700/mth, that's another $3,500. Living costs are very high in most popular exchange destinations and judging from Ang's account, you can expect to spend about 2-3 times the prices you pay in Singapore. Basic cooking skills or a friend with culinary knowledge are required if you want to keep costs low. Alternatively you can find hostel accomodation that provide meals, usually only 2 per day, and not on weekends, and tastes shitty. Ang had a kitchen area in his hostel for cooking the odd meal, but he says it's usually full of overnight puke. I expect to spend a further $2000 on food alone in Norway (pure own cooking). And then there's the transport, unlike Singaporean universities where living quarters are mere minutes walk away from the main academic campus, foreign universities often house their international students in hostels bus rides away from it. I budgeted another $1000 for travelling to and fro school throughout the 5 months I'm there. After fulfilling the lower levels of the hierarchy of needs, one needs to have fun! Since I'll be in Europe, I want to maximise my time there as much as possible. Catch a few matches (COME ON YOU IRONS!!!), visit countries I've always wanted to go (CENTRAL, EASTERN EUROPE). Europe is such a beautiful place! Budget for travels/holidays: EVERY OTHER CENT YOU CAN SQUEEZE OUT. For the more prudent, you need cash to sustain yourself when you come back from your giant holiday. That will have to depend on your usage in Singapore.
Total damage: $14,000++

2) Adminstrative Maze
Paperworks are very important. Make sure you get everything in order before you embark on the journey of your lifetime. Exchange application (usually requiring you to fill out detailed forms requiring photocopies of every other thing you have, and a mugshot of yourself). After you get the coveted letter (see below post), it's time to settle things like medical check-up/report, air ticketing (negotiate for more luggage allowance!), travel insurance, visa/resident permit application, indicating the modules you want to take in the host university, and many more. It's important to have a folder/file that contains all you important documents, as paperwork (in order please!) are often the things that prevents/gets you out of trouble.

3) Uncertainty
Heathrow Terminal 5 hit by fresh flight delays/cancellations scrolling across CNA as I'm typing this. Fortunately, Arsenal 1 - 1 Liverpool scroll through right after! DOWN KOCKS! DOWN GANINAS!

4) Fun!
Need I say more?

For those that are put off student exchange due to money, I SAY FRET NOT! GO GET THAT APPLICATION FORM NOW! Here are afew help that's available to you:
- School usually have loans or grants that needy students can apply, I got a $6,000 loan from NTU, some of my friends applied for $11,000 (maximum).
- Scholarships are a matter of sourcing. Find them, and when you net one, you kinda don't have to worry about anything short term.
- You have hands and legs. Work! $6000 in 3 months are not impossible. However, never ever do telemarketing. Seniors have even went over to the host countries and worked their way to dream holidays!
- Parents. Take it as a 1000% interest, yet interest-free loan.
- Friends. I'm very blessed with friends who are offering to help me with money should I have any problem with it. Please, my friends, if you have any problem with your money, I'll gladly help you with it. ;)

So there! Watch this space for more entries!