BLCU

Why I choose BLCU?

Because BLCU is the first school that provide program for foreigner to learn Chinese Language. And simply, I want to experience to school in International Environment.

After almost 6 months in here...

The Language program is suitable for me. BLCU have many selection programs, from the Intensive 6 hours/day and Regular 4 hours/day, from 12 weeks, 20 weeks, and 1 year.

WuDaoKou 五道口. Great places!! Many Korean Restaurant I like, have many selection places to go shopping. 

Foreign Students

The list of the foreigner who occupied BLCU, I would say the first place is Korean, 2nd is Indonesian, after that, still got, Japanese, Thailand, France, Italian, Philippines, American, England, Russia, etc. So many countries!! My Class got Korean, Japanese, Australian, France, Philippines, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and me, Indonesian.

Registration, Placement Test ( 20 Weeks Regular Program )

Registration Date is on 13th - 15h of September (Fall 2010 program). All my friends came on Sept 14th, so we decided to have registration on Sept 13th on the morning. The line was already long from the morning.

Prepare your JW 202, and your Temporary Residence Form for registration. Then you will pay the school fee on the 2nd floor. Better pay with cash, because it is easier and won't take much time. After pay school fee, you need to pay the medical insurance. I never get one, so I don't know the procedure really well. Just prepare the money and passport.

After pay the fee, go downstairs, and go to the International Students Office, to take your student card. Prepare every form you've got on the building, and your passport and 2 photos of your. And It's done. Simple and Quick.

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After registration done, just go and see your name for the placement test, the room, the building, and the class they placed you. example : Last Semester, I had my test on 210, Run Run Shaw Building, they placed me on B1 Class.

On the placement test day, they will give you test according to your chinese level. If you are beginner, ask for the A test. The A test is filled with english and pinyin, so don't worry. If you already know some chinese, ask for the B test. The B test is filled with simple and easy hanzi.

First, you do the written test. Later, the teacher will give you conversation test. If you can't understand what the teacher said, just said " Ting Bu Dong! 听不懂！“ ( I don't understand ). Answer as long as you can. After conversation, the teacher will give you Reading Test. Last semester, I failed on these test, that's why they place me on B1. These semester, I skip these test, since the teacher know I'm from B1 last semester. Another student also skip these test, with the same reason as mine.

That's it. The day after, just saw the announcement. And go to the class, to receive your book and your first day. On the first week, you can still keep change class, upgrade or downgrade.

My tips is don't downgrade your level if you think you still can handle. The first few weeks, you need to study harder to keep up with your classmates, but after that it will be easier. 

For intensive program, I heard from my friends. They had conversation test on the morning, and HSK Test on the afternoon.

Food Inside BLCU

These post are related to the food situation before the new dining halls are finish built. Right now, the old canteen and including Diamond Restaurant and Muslim Restaurant were already moved to the new places.

These is the situation when I was studying on spring semester 2010.

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Inside BLCU, there are also many restaurants to try.

Diamond Restaurant

With selection of International Dish, from Japanese food to Indonesian food, they serve Indonesia's Oxtail Soup too. :) With price range up to 40 RMB. The First BLCU Restaurant, I went to eat.

Indonesia Sop Buntut ( Indonesia's Oxtail Soup )

BLCU Canteen

BLCU have 2 canteen, but it's connected, the old one is the one near South Gate, it's local student canteen serve chinese foods. It's typical canteen, where you choose which one you want to eat. On the 2nd floor, it's like food court, with many counter. 

If you want to eat in these canteen, you need BLCU Food Card. To get the food card, click here, it has been posted by another blogger.

The other one, is located on the back of the old one, they said it is International Students Canteen. The two canteen building is connected. On these canteen, on downstairs, the same typical ordinary canteen, where you choose what you want and pay.

On the 2nd floor, there are restaurants located there. There are sandwich places, Japanese food restaurant, and chinese restaurant. I love the food there.

There are many selections of sandwich, pizza and salad there. 

If you buy sandwich on the evening, they give discount.

And in afternoon, they give free drinks.

The Japanese Restaurant is called Momoya,

It's the same restaurant chain with Momoya Restaurant inside Xi Jiao Hotel, behind BLCU.

My Favorite Dishes on Chinese Food Restaurant on 2nd floor.

The Sandwich and Japanese Restaurant are managed by the same management who owned HOPE,the restaurants located below dorm 4. They also manage the Karaoke room near gym and coffee shop on library. There are same selection of food in their restaurants. But not everything.

Hot Pot

There is another restaurant behind Coretto Bar, shabu shabu restaurants. The concept is the same with Xiabu Xiabu. And the price is almost the same. 

CC Restaurants

On the first floor of BLCU Conference Centre, there are Chinese Food Restaurant and Japanese Food Restaurant. The Chinese Food Restaurant is managed by the hotel, you also have breakfast there if you stay in CC. And the Japanese Food Restaurant is the same with the one located near East Gate of BLCU, the one near KFC.

My Favorite on CC Restaurant

The sushi are half price on the evening, the reason why I want to have dinner on the restaurant near KFC.

I don't know if the new one on the first floor of CC is have the same promotion or not.

There are another restaurants inside BLCU, like Muslim Restaurants, Coretto Bar and the one near Friendship Store. But I'm not yet tried the food there. The Muslim Restaurant, I had tried. I like the bread, my friend love the caramel apple they have.

BLCU Conference Centre Room

The very last look of my room before I left Beijing.

The Bathroom

Sorry for the messy room.. Hahaha.. 

The prices for single room is 115 RMB / day, the same prices for single room on #17.

(-) It's a small room. Most of my friends screamed when went to my room. 

(-) Small space for the inventory. I don't have the wardrobe pictures, forgot. Well my wardrobe is broken also, it's not really efficient, and it was so small. That's why you can see the blanket standing around beside TV.

(-) There are night curfew now. When you went home after 12, the door will be locked. And you need to show the key of your room. And I heard you have to report the guest, guest cant stayover.

(-) Laundry room only on 4th floor and 6th floor, Kitchen on 7th floor.

(+) Not loud like #17. You barely heard someone on corridor. Quiet places. I heard #17 have the thin wall.

(+) Free breakfast. With selection of mantou, cold dishes, coffee / tea, porridge, soft cake, and cookies.

(+) The Hotel staff are nicer than the #17 staff.

(+) Carpet. Warm and Nice in winter.

(+) Close to the classroom

(+) Reservation is easy!! I just write down my name, not like #17.

(+) Cleaned everyday, bed sheet are changed once a week.

About safety. I will honestly tell you, once, I lost some of my money inside my room. I know it's my fault too, since I didn't place it in safe places, or lock the place where I hide my money. Or unlucky. My friend hide his money on his book, and he place it on his table, the money is fine. Not before I lost the money, the housekeeper is rotated, the usual young two who clean my room are moved to other floor, and I've got the 2 old lady who not really nice. I can't accuse them, since I don't have any proof. Read here.

Oh yeah, one time I found my door left unlocked. The housekeeper after clean my room, they didn't close the door fully. If you push the door, my room can be opened easily.

And in front of CC, my Thai friend lost his electric bike. He just left it for a while on the afternoon, he didn't lock the bike, he just took the key, because he thought he will comeback not long after. And his bike was gone. CC don't have parking area for bike. You just park them in front of the building. where the back library were. While in #17, there are guards and large parking area with fences around it. I often left my bike, just took the key, without lock the tire, and it's always fine.

Well, on anywhere, we need to be careful. Because on #17, there also someone who lost laptop, because forgot to lock the room.

Crime happened, because there were an opportunity to do it.

B1班 Spring 2010 Regular Short Term Course

The photo collection of each students of B1班 as gifts to all our theachers

来老师 received the gift.

闫老师 received the gift.

There were 7 Korean, 6 Japanese, 2 Indonesian, 2 Thailand, 1 Italian, 1 Sri Lanka, and 1 Mauritius, 20 people on one class. We have 4 teachers, 何老师，王老师，来老师，闫老师。何老师 was replaced by 闫老师，because she was selected to teach Mandarin in Thailand suddenly. She is the best teacher!! She is so friendly, nice, young and really care about all her students. We really miss her..

With classmates who most of them were Korean and Japanese. You really can learn the difference of stereotype of Japanese and Korean. Everyday of my life like the scenes from Japanese or Korean Drama. Korean are more extrovert, while Japanese are introvert. Most of my Japanese classmates received the prizes for attending class full time ( 20 hours/week, 20weeks/ term ), while Korean, 2 of 7 Korean are not allowed to attend the Final Test. :)

The prize for attending class full time. It's not mine.

Thank you for all the experiences, guys. 我忘不了你们！如果`有机会， 咱们可以再见！

Sorry.. :(

Sorry for abandon these blog.. Hahaha...

Too enjoying my time in Jakarta..?  Not really..

Maybe because simply I don't know where to start..

Well, right now.. I'm counting down going back to Beijing..

Next week, Sept 2nd I will fly from Jakarta to Beijing by Garuda Indonesia.. Will be arrived on Sept 3rd morning..

The difficulty I have right now is I can't book Dorm 17 Single Room..

I don't know why they gave us (not just me) much trouble..

They said we can book rooms on July... when my friend wanted to book a room on March..

Then my agent called and they said they will open on July..

In the end of June, I heard my friend, she already book the room, then I tried.. Suddenly they said it's already full.. WHAAT!!??

I tried until the end of my time in Beijing, they still didn't allow me..

And my agent tried again... And call them on August, they said reservation after 16th..

Call again, call again, until they said " Stop Calling!!"

-.-;;

Why they gave us so much trouble just to book a room, I'm willing to pay..!!

I know that every girl on the front desk are mean... the boys are a little nicer but they're afraid of that old girl.. ooppss.. old woman.. ( yang paling tua n jelek lah, yang mukanya jutek kaya kodok!! )*sorry I cursed with Indonesian* ;)

Now I booked the double room on dorm 17, since all my friends are going to live there..

But before left, I already booked CC too.. just in case..

Some my friends successfully booked single room dorm 17, because they were lived there right now, booked early, and through agency.

Sadly, my agency don't have really strong connection with BLCU ( I thought )..

since another agent can pull a string and booked for my friend..

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Another apology because I said on my previous post that I will blog before going back to Jakarta, but I'm sorry I couldn't because then, my internet connection was expired.. and when I tried to use wi-fi connection, I couldn't get through the firewall.

Graduated

I'm officially graduated, so say HooOOooraaaaaayy...

Right now, I'm planning to go back and do it one more semester, I'm not yet ready to say goodbye to Beijing.. Lost in Beijing : part two.. :)

What do you want to order?

I found these in BLCU's Canteen.. Hmm...

How about Winter Bamboo Shoots Cow? or Taiwan Burns the Chicken?

Registration and Blablabla..

February 28th, 

Wake up, went to Bank of China. I thought we already create the account through the agency, the card can be use directly. But nope, we need to activate the account in BOC there. My friend have the money for school and accommodation there, he need to transfer it from USD to RMB. You have to put it USD in your BOC account, not RMB, the regulation stated it, but you could transfer RMB through Money Changer.

It said that my debit card, BCA, can used here, I'm gonna use it BCA Debit Card instead of my BOC, because more convenient for my parents to send the money, they just put it in my bank account in Jakarta, like they usually did when I was in college, and BCA can be found everywhere in Jakarta, than trusted money changer or BOC branch.

After BOC, lunch in Korean restaurant, then back to BLCU, had registration process. It was easy, just showing the JW 202 in the first floor, pay in the 2nd floor, then back to 1st floor to have the student card. :) Well, I have agency who process it, and it's not have long queue like I was imagined from reading many blog. I''m officially BLCU students.. My friend failed to register, since he had long term Admission Notice and he wanted to register the short term instead. Until today, he not yet finished the registration process.

On the evening, we shopped in local supermarket, buying snack, instant noodle, bathroom supplies, long john, laundry bag, etc. The funny story is we went dinner, just me and my friend, with BROKEN chinese language we order the chinese food. My friend order beer 啤酒，but they serve an alcohol drink with 59% alcohol. :) I think the server just got 酒. Beijing start snowing, :( it supposed to get warmer, but they're gone colder.

March 1st

Have Placement test today, feel so nervous, can't study well enough. Have placement test with bunch of korean, japanese, and the rest of class, just me, Indonesian, Italy, Mexico, and USA.

The teacher speak the chinese clearly, I can understand her speech, but chinese people, nope their word just gone to my brain without my brain processed them. I can do the written test, it's much easy, but the writting essay, reading and conversation, I failed throughly. She said she will gonna place me in B class. Wow.. From the written test, she said I qualified placed in B+class, with these broken chinese? I don't think so.

She directly process the test and said the result, but my friends not have the exact process with their placement test. One have the teacher have the conversation test in the middle of written test, other have the same things like mine, but the teacher not stated the result to her. I think I've got the nice one, since the Japanese who said 听不懂 more n more, are placed in B class.

Have big lunch in restaurant inside campus, no problem like yesterday, it's easy and delicious too. :)

After lunch, we went to register the internet, the places was closed for lunch, and I need to go the bathroom, back to CC, my room key can't be used, well, I didn't pay yet, they said they give us 3 days, the dateline was supposed to be tomorrow. We want to pay in Sunday, but they said they accepted the payment in Monday. We went to the receptionist, have the key activated and pay the entire accommodation for one semester. 

Went back to the internet, have queued for several time in front of the place with bloody wind blowing, give the body much freeze. Everybody is desperate to have the internet connection, pay 140RMB/month. With many people blocking and squeezing. :)

Internet on, then we went to station, to create the transportation card. Had dinner in Korean BBQ restaurant, with broken chinese language, once more, we didn't get what we want. I need to improve my chinese language more. 

The 6 month study in Jakarta, with 4 hours a week, just pinyin, not so much helping. Lucky, I learn the hanzi 汉字 myself and got the good score in written result. The result of placement day will be out in tuesday afternoon (today). Update soon.

For the internet access, I recommend you to use VPN, there are many selection in internet. If you want to know what I'm using, please message me or leave your email in the comment. :) I'm luck to have my friend who already studied in Shanghai, she know what program we have to used.

I was so disappointed not brave enough to go to China from Sept, known one friend who already study from Sept from the beginning, he already speak fluently now. I could be him, well enjoy the moment now.

Here I am in Beijing

Already arrived safely, I'm alive n breathing in Beijing.

Saturday, Feb 27th 

Jakarta – Shenzhen – Xiamen- Beijing

Around 01.00 am, take off from Jakarta to Xiamen.

Not long time after takeoff, the cabin crews start to serve early-morning/supper/breakfast; hash brown, hamburger beef meat, and supposed to be 2 slices pancakes, served with croissant and fruits.

Fell asleep, wake up for several minutes, saw the sun rise on the right window ( I sat in left aisle, near the right window, 26A).

In the morning, without conscious fully, the captain announced that the airplane will land not in the Xiamen, but in the Shenzhen, because of the foggy weather in Xiamen. I thought waiting will be 1 hour, instead we wait so long, until a group of gentleman on the back row start to argue because of the long waiting.

On the 11.00am, the time we SHOULD be arrived in Beijing, we just took off and arrived in Xiamen, 50 minutes later, then directly went immigration procedure, then to Beijing with the same aircraft and the same crew.

And again, we waited for several time before can take off. Long waiting. We arrived in Beijing, through everything and took bus in 18.00 pm. Phew, we’re late for 6 hours. Maybe that’s why Soekarno Hatta Airport is no.2 most punctual airport in the world, since we never have that climate problem. The most problem is rainy season, where the landing land becomes slippery.

Because of my agent is the official representative of BLCC (Beijing Language Culture College), with most of the participant is BLCC students, just 2, me and another boy who going to BLCU, we directly went to BLCC from airport. Have dinner there, then straight to BLCU.

I’m staying in the Conference Centre , it has been booked by our agent, have 2 single room on the same floor. Meeting another new student who already in the hotel, while chat and plan for tomorrow’s plan. Another Indonesian students greet us, they invite us to eat street-snack, like BBQ or satay, cheap but delicious. They help us and give many tips to us.

Never been in Beijing, and arrived in Beijing with 0 degree Celcius, and just worn one shirt, sweater, jacket, skinny jeans, without long john, it’s so freaking freezing.

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Went to both BLCU and BLCC, well I feel so lucky to choose BLCU, I can tell you it's so much BIGGER place, have more foreigners, that I'm expected to. In BLCC when I visit for dinner, many Indonesian there, well they said the campus only have foreigner who have Chinese heritage. 

I'm going to tell you more about CC and Dorm #17 later, since I'm not yet visit my friend who stay there. But it's true, CC is closer to the class room, and Dorm #17 is more far.

a friend come along..

I'm happy to inform you that one of my college friends will joined me to be 'Lost in Beijing'..

Suddenly a few days a go, my friend text me to ask about my China Education.. She asked me, where and how much will it cost.. I'm not really hope she will join, because she told me she still thought about it..

And surprisingly, she text me 2 days ago, that she will join me at BLCU these march.. unfortunately, she with her friend will go with different agency as mine.. I thought to join her agency, but my new friends (that went to BNU n BLCU like me) encouraged me more to join my agency right now..

Yes, I apply my China Study through agency, why?

1. It's more easy and convenient... than applying by myself.. I know it's easy..!!
   
2. My first thought, that I will go to China by myself ( before my friend joined me), so through agency, I will come abroad with new friends that will be through all experiences with me, together.. (senasib sepenanggungan)
3. The Agency will take care everything.. from school application, opening bank account, visa, registration of dorm... so I can sit back and relaxed..
4. At least, when I arrived in China, I wont be alone and completely lost..
   

Right now, I'm so happy. My friend will come with me, in the same university, same city.. I hope we will stay in the same dorm.. Even the agency is different.. She is one my close friends through college.. She just graduated first in Diploma 3 program (3 years study) and went back to her home city, while I'm continue my study for one more year..

I think it will be a little awkward, but it will bring more nostalgic moment.. Hahaha..

I joined one forum in Indonesia, it's the biggest online community in Indonesia, that is Kaskus.. One of the topic in that forum, is China, where we kaskuser share everything about China.. In there, I was looking information about Study in China.. and in kaskus, I met 3 new friends who will go to China with me, ( 2 (BNU & BLCU) of them are already mentioned above, and the other one (BUU) is studying Mandarin in the same private course with me.. )

and while the application date near closed, more kaskuser showed up asked about the same thing.. I'm happy to help them, and to see blcu become their consideration.. It mean more new friends.. I cant help but excited.. ^^ even my private course teacher just found out that I will come to China next feb, she help me a lot, and she is shared more story about Beijing with class.. I cant wait but truthfully I'm also scared..

BLCU it is...

Hey...

Now I already decided and register for 6 month short term Spring 2010 of Chinese Language Program in BLCU.. Wew, that's long... :D

After very-very-confused (overreact!!?) about choosing university, I just forgot about another important thing, which program n how long..

I promised myself to start register on Tuesday, no matter what which university or it will be more longer.. then there I was, driving to my agency, register to BLCU and then I just forgot.. I hadn't yet discussed it with my father about the program, I just discussed which university.. (He choose BLCU, btw) All I remember was my father want me to study for 1 year, because when I said to him that I wanted to study only 1 semester, He said that it wasn't enough.. (and He can speak Chinese..)

So I decided to register one-year program.. When I went home and told him, he said why I didnt register for one semester, he was afraid that I didnt like living in China, especially Beijing (the bitter-sweet city, nope, it's CHINA!!)

SO, on today, I went back to my agency, complete the document, and change my registration to one semester, application of F visa.. and DONE!!!

One of my close friends, Kelly, told me that her cousin who went to BLCU told her, that BLCU is right place, not everyone in BLCU party much like the gossip said..

And I feel more confident with my choice, after email one of BLCU student I met at one forum, he also said that It's better to choose the short term program than long term program, because long term program is 1 year class with the same group of students and teachers, so you stuck on the same classes through one year..

I hope you dont get bored reading my long post of blog.. hahaha..

Which One? BLCU-BNU?

Well, It all started from the moment I'm graduate from my university.. The first things to do for a new unemployed like me is finding a job.. Well, at least that's whats in my mind.. I want to look a job in my field, hospitality or tourism industry..

Because of bad economy, and not really good opportunity at while, my dream becoming a flight attendant must be paused.. ( I said paused, not stopped ).. SQ not hiring, Cathay Pacific not, Korean Area is missed.. Garuda definitely not ( my parents would freaked ).. so looking for hospitality field, not through 2nd interview at Mandarin Oriental.. got bored at home, I'm thinking to take some language courses to fill my free time..

First, I thought I want to improve my English speaking skill, but the class is not opened yet, too minim student.. So, I thought mandarin would be good choice, the class had just started, so I joined a little bit late.. For many years, I'm so thankful my parents is not kinda parents that push their children to learn mandarin.. n I'm WRONG!!..

When my Dad heard that I want to take mandarin courses.. He told my mom, better made me go to China.. And then the story went on and on, I've given two choices, continue to master degree or go to China.. I choose the 2nd choice, learn mandarin in China.. when I ask all my friends, they supported me to go to China... ( yeah, you, Norita, Kelly, Burhan, JK.... )

and then here I am.. this is my first step to be lost in Beijing.. hahaha..

first choose the right school... and these step no move any further, because I'm still confused...

1. BLCU or Beijing Language and Culture University..

well it spoken to be the one and only university that specially in teaching Chinese languages to the foreigners..

(+) :

* most of all books used in universities throughout China for learning Putonghua is created by BLCU

* 40 years experience for teaching Putonghua.. ( Mandarin language )

* Many foreigners go here..

* Wudaokou area, it said to be well lively neighborhood, with many restaurants, mandarin courses, shops..

( - ) :

* Highest education cost..

* It was said many Indonesians come to here.. but It also said it much become so much fewer nowadays..

* Too much foreigners means many chances to use english, instead mandarin..

* Negative Influences and Surroundings, such as clubbing, partying.

2. BNU or Beijing Normal University

(+) :

* It well said to be one of the top universities in China for its own people..

* Known for teacher's colleges..

* Not many foreigners come here.

* Because it is local university, so many Chinese people go here as well..

* It's little cheaper than BLCU.. just little...

( - ):

* Too much homework, it is said 2-4 hours to do the homework at one day..

* Some foreigner commented about the teaching system is not appropriate or useless ( maybe because they are not used to.. )

* Too many koreans, japanese and also Indonesian..

Well for third and fourth choice was CNU or Capital Normal University and Tsinghua.. I dont get much information about Tsinghua because it was said to be 2nd best local university but poor in chinese language program.. ( like learning about languages in ITB ( one of Indonesian top university that best known for engineering major ))...

3. CNU or Capital Normal University..

(+) :

* Much more cheaper..

* One of the best dorm in Beijing..

* Convenient, gym, shops, classes, dorm are located in one building..

( - ):

* Many Indonesians, especially from East Java..

* One of my agencies told me that it was located in one building, the students are poor experienced talking with local people.. ( their Chinese don't improve much )

* They are divided in groups from the country, Indonesian with Indonesian, Thai with Thai..

so, which one.. now my mind more to BLCU than BNU.. said 60% BLCU and 40% BNU..

For looking universities, I know some people who through the same experience that is finding the right universities..

There are 3 peoples... One goes BUU, one goes BLCU, and one goes BNU.. hahaha.. and each of them are told me to go where they want to go... I'm still confused though.. at these saturday, there will be Chinese Education Fair, I will attend and hope at Monday, I will register in one of the agencies.. so I can book the dorm ASAP.. ( the dorm systems are the first come first served, so I must be hurry )