In less than two weeks I will be in Japan, gone for half a year. I realized this last Friday. The longest time I have been away from home was four weeks. There is an adventure ahead of me. I am really excited to start the journey, but on the other hand a bit anxious. This is probably normal, but a totally new situation for me.
Before taking off I still have some things left to do. On Sunday I packed my 80 litre Rimowa suitcase. As expected not all my stuff will fit in it. So I bought a new suitcase on Monday (Samsonite this time). I can take two suitcases with 23kg each with me on the flight. Thanks Lufthansa （ ´∀｀）
I know this is a lot and it's going to be difficult moving from town to town with an extra suitcase. But I really need the extra space. I'm taking a lot of cosmetics with me, because I read on the Internet, that Korean cosmetics often contain bleaching additives. Korean women like to be white as snow.
Moreover I need clothes for winter AND summer and the same goes for my shoes. I don't want to walk around with one pair of shoes all summer （￣へ￣）
I haven't finished packing the second suitcase yet. There's still over one week left and I'm still missing a few things. Furthermore my tests at university will start tomorrow. Wish me luck ..._〆(・∀・＠)
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Visa update
It's here, it's here! I'm totally excited right now!
Today I got a registered letter of the Korean consulate in Frankfurt a. M., Germany. And now I am able to stay in Korea for more than 3 months Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ
Maybe some might find the details interesting, so here they are:
I applied for a student visa (D-2) at the Korean consulate in Frankfurt a. M. (this one is responsible for people living in Bavaria). You can get further information at the embassy's website: Embassy of Korea in Germany
I had to send them the following documents:
I sent the letter last Thursday and got it back today (Wednesday). When I called the consulate they told me it could take up to 10 days to process my application. But I included a letter, asking to process my application with priority, because I want to leave for Asia in a few weeks. I think that's the reason why it only took them three days. Thank you consulate ｍ（．＿．）ｍ
A student visa permits multi entry to Korea - *yay*
You know, that I can't guarantee for all the information I gave you. This is how it happened to be in my case. If you have questions about this matter it's always the best way to ask the persons in charge (i.e. embassy) in your country.
Now I'm going to leave for my Japanese class. I hope nothing will ruin my excellent mood today (^ _ ^)/~~
Today I got a registered letter of the Korean consulate in Frankfurt a. M., Germany. And now I am able to stay in Korea for more than 3 months Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ
Maybe some might find the details interesting, so here they are:
I applied for a student visa (D-2) at the Korean consulate in Frankfurt a. M. (this one is responsible for people living in Bavaria). You can get further information at the embassy's website: Embassy of Korea in Germany
I had to send them the following documents:
- completed application form
- one recent passport-size colour photo
- Letter of Acceptance from the Korean university
- passport, valid for the time you want to stay in Korea
- proof of sufficient funds
- certificate of enrolment at my German university
- prepaid, self-addressed envelope
I sent the letter last Thursday and got it back today (Wednesday). When I called the consulate they told me it could take up to 10 days to process my application. But I included a letter, asking to process my application with priority, because I want to leave for Asia in a few weeks. I think that's the reason why it only took them three days. Thank you consulate ｍ（．＿．）ｍ
A student visa permits multi entry to Korea - *yay*
You know, that I can't guarantee for all the information I gave you. This is how it happened to be in my case. If you have questions about this matter it's always the best way to ask the persons in charge (i.e. embassy) in your country.
Now I'm going to leave for my Japanese class. I hope nothing will ruin my excellent mood today (^ _ ^)/~~
Friday, January 11, 2013
Step by step
I've waited so long for these two documents:
Finally my visa application is on its way to the embassy in Frankfurt. I hope it will be processed very soon.
Since a few days the general program of my journey is set. My boyfriend and I will definitely visit Japan (since we are really bad addicts) before going to South Korea. Here's the plan:
I'm really looking forward to it. But my exams at university are going to start the week after the next. I'm super busy and can't enjoy planning as much as I normally do. （￣へ￣）
Since a few days the general program of my journey is set. My boyfriend and I will definitely visit Japan (since we are really bad addicts) before going to South Korea. Here's the plan:
| Day | Destination | Things to do |
|---|---|---|
| 03. Feb | Bye bye Germany | Try to sleep on the plane while thinking the turbine is awfully loud. Realising that it is impossible to sleep even though I am totally exhausted. Watch some films where I don't understand most of it because I am not able to turn the volume up anymore than it already is. |
| 04. Feb | Hello Japan! I've missed you so much! | Check-in at the Ryokan and a nightly walk in Asakusa. Explore Tokyo and some other cities. I think the Skytree is a must see. |
| 11. Feb | Osaka | This time we are stationed in Osaka and not in Kyoto. I especially want to go to the Pokémon Center and the aquarium. |
| 16. Feb | Hiroshima | Just a two days. We love the food! |
| 18. Feb | Fukuoka | Last destination in Japan. This is the time of my long awaited first visit at an Onsen. Beppu, I'm coming! ( ^_^)／ やぁ！ |
| 22. Feb | Busan / Korea | We will go there by ferry from Fukuoka. |
| 25. Feb | Soul | Seeing original Gangnam residents. |
| 1. Mar | Incheon Airport | Seeing my boyfriend off to Germany. Somehow going to Daejeon. |
| 2. Mar | Daejeon | Moving into my new room on the campus. |
| 4. Mar | Still Daejeon | Let the Korean university games begin! |
I'm really looking forward to it. But my exams at university are going to start the week after the next. I'm super busy and can't enjoy planning as much as I normally do. （￣へ￣）
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Planless planning
I applied for the exchange program of my university in June '12. I was nominated in July and after that nothing. Yes, there was this short email in October telling the International Office of my university that I had to wait until December to receive further information. So I waited, and waited. It became Christmas, it became New Year and still no reaction whatsoever. It was time to do something. Some of you probably now how long it can take to acquire a visa and I was planning to go on vacation in Japan, before arriving in Korea. Last week I had four weeks left to get the ball rolling.
So I wrote an email to the lady who is in charge of my at my university. Guess what, she was on vacation. (,,#ﾟДﾟ) I was getting really really nervous. Luckily I could reach somebody else of the Office of International Affairs and this woman reached out the Korean university by email. And my worst nightmare at that time became reality. At that time they hadn't sent the documents but assured me they would send it out the next day. It was send on the way two days later. Of course not to my place but to my university.
The process time of the visa is clearly the bottleneck. All the other things are easily and rapidly achievable. But I couldn't complain. Finally I had some dates on hand and was able to book the flight. I am going to fly to Tokyo, Japan at the start of February for the cost of 893€ (1167US$). It would have been much cheaper booking the flight more than one month in advance.
Until today 4:40pm German Time I wasn't sure if I was gonna get the Korean documents in time. Maybe there was a tsunami, blizzard or evil postman disposing of my important letter. You know that's likely to happen when you really really need something badly. (ﾟｰﾟ)(｡_｡)
This afternoon I finally received the email I longed for. The documents made it safely to Germany and I can go and get them tomorrow. You can bet, that my letter to the embassy will also leave tomorrow.
Finally I want to say that I am no more upset about the International Office in Korea, because since they started contacting me last week they helped me out a great deal and are eager to give me everything I need.
So finally I can feel a little at ease about this matter.
So I wrote an email to the lady who is in charge of my at my university. Guess what, she was on vacation. (,,#ﾟДﾟ) I was getting really really nervous. Luckily I could reach somebody else of the Office of International Affairs and this woman reached out the Korean university by email. And my worst nightmare at that time became reality. At that time they hadn't sent the documents but assured me they would send it out the next day. It was send on the way two days later. Of course not to my place but to my university.
The process time of the visa is clearly the bottleneck. All the other things are easily and rapidly achievable. But I couldn't complain. Finally I had some dates on hand and was able to book the flight. I am going to fly to Tokyo, Japan at the start of February for the cost of 893€ (1167US$). It would have been much cheaper booking the flight more than one month in advance.
Until today 4:40pm German Time I wasn't sure if I was gonna get the Korean documents in time. Maybe there was a tsunami, blizzard or evil postman disposing of my important letter. You know that's likely to happen when you really really need something badly. (ﾟｰﾟ)(｡_｡)
This afternoon I finally received the email I longed for. The documents made it safely to Germany and I can go and get them tomorrow. You can bet, that my letter to the embassy will also leave tomorrow.
Finally I want to say that I am no more upset about the International Office in Korea, because since they started contacting me last week they helped me out a great deal and are eager to give me everything I need.
So finally I can feel a little at ease about this matter.
Initiating starting sequence
Hi guys!
This is my new blog (apart from Nippon and I). I am going to study in South Korea during the next semester and I want to share my experience with you all. Maybe an introduction is the best thing to start a blog.
I am currently a graduate student at a German University. My major is Micro- and Nanotechnology. Before I started this course I finished my Bachelor in Engineering Physics. Not bad for a girl, huh? (^_-) (^_-)-☆
I didn't have the time to go abroad during my undergraduate studies so this is my last chance to experience a longterm stay in another country while being an easygoing student.
So here I am. And starting in March I will already be in South Korean, specifically Daejeon. This is the fifth biggest city of Korea and is located south of Soul, the capital.
In this blog I want to write down what I find interesting, what annoys me, stuff like that. Maybe it will be helpful for somebody else in the near or far future. This is also the reason for writing in English and not in German. So my posts can be understood by a broader audience. And since I'm there already talking, reading and writing English at university (I have no clue off Korean) I figured this would also help to deepen my skills of the English language (and those of my family and friends). For those who really don't want to read this in English, I'll add a Google Translate Button （＾＿－）☆
Nothing else won't come to my mind. If I've missed something I will add it later on. Feel free to leave comments.
cu
This is my new blog (apart from Nippon and I). I am going to study in South Korea during the next semester and I want to share my experience with you all. Maybe an introduction is the best thing to start a blog.
I am currently a graduate student at a German University. My major is Micro- and Nanotechnology. Before I started this course I finished my Bachelor in Engineering Physics. Not bad for a girl, huh? (^_-) (^_-)-☆
I didn't have the time to go abroad during my undergraduate studies so this is my last chance to experience a longterm stay in another country while being an easygoing student.
So here I am. And starting in March I will already be in South Korean, specifically Daejeon. This is the fifth biggest city of Korea and is located south of Soul, the capital.
In this blog I want to write down what I find interesting, what annoys me, stuff like that. Maybe it will be helpful for somebody else in the near or far future. This is also the reason for writing in English and not in German. So my posts can be understood by a broader audience. And since I'm there already talking, reading and writing English at university (I have no clue off Korean) I figured this would also help to deepen my skills of the English language (and those of my family and friends). For those who really don't want to read this in English, I'll add a Google Translate Button （＾＿－）☆
Nothing else won't come to my mind. If I've missed something I will add it later on. Feel free to leave comments.
cu
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