Scholarships for Studying Chinese in SWUFE, Chengdu

I was talking to a friend of mine, who teaches Chinese in SWUFE (Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (西南财经大学)). He was telling me that the uni is offering 10 scholarships for people interested in going there to study Chinese.

I know this is a blatant plug, but I'm doing it since SWUFE was very good to me: the people working there are very committed to teaching and also are very welcoming and friendly. Class sizes were small and staff were always accessible and approachable. That's the way I like it. So many place are just blatantly after the $$$ and don't make any effort at helping students with issues. People at SWUFE always did everything they could for the students. So, I thought I'd mention their scholarship on my blog:

Scholarship for Autumn Semester 2009/10 　

SWUFE will offer full scholarship to up to 10 candidates for Autumn Semester 2009/10. Detailed information as follows:

• Full scholarship for one semester starting from September 2009, including full tuition (RMB 6,640) and application fee (RMB 400)
• Candidates should be fresh international students (first time applicants)
• Candidates should provide:

1. Filled SWUFE Application Form with all information accurately given,
2. Detailed Study Plan in China
3. Official academic transcript from the highest educational institute attended,
4. At least one letter of recommendation,
5. Personal CV

• Please send the above materials to:
  

Mr. Wang Binyu
College of International Education
Southwestern University of Finance and Economics
No. 55 Guanghuacun Street
Chengdu 610074, China

Limited places! Please apply soon!

我校在2009/10秋季学期提供留学生全额奖学金

西南财经大学将在2009/10学年秋季学期为新入学的外国留学生提供多达10名的全额奖学金。具体信息如下：

• 奖学金为一学期的全额奖学金，包括2009/10学年秋季学期的学费（人民币6640元）和报名费（人民币400元）
• 申请者应为首次申请就读西南财经大学的留学生
• 申请者应提供：
• 如实填写的西南财经大学留学生入学申请表

1. 详细的在华学习计划
2. 最后获得学历的学府提供的官方成绩单
3. 至少一封推荐信
4. 个人简历

• 请将以上材料邮寄至：

中国 成都 光华村街55号
西南财经大学国际教育学院
王彬宇

名额有限，请抓紧申请！ 　

New Zealand Journal Part 1

Back before this blog was born, I took a trip to New Zealand. I kept a journal for the 3 or so weeks I was there. A friend or mine, Angie typed it up for me. Some of my friend reckoned that it was quite a good read. So, I found the document on my computer and I ave decided to put it on my blog, in instalments. Some of it may not be terribly interesting or relevant. But here it is anyway:

Sunday, 16th January 2005

2pm flight Dublin to LHR. Nothing special. Arrived LHR. Business as usual going through Heathrow. Just got something to eat and got on plane. Got lovely bulkhead seat next to English couple on way to Longkawi. Flight full of Brits. Not many Malaysians there.

Monday, 17th January 2005

Flight stopped at Longkawi. Ah, the familiar tropical tree-filled hills brought back memories. So did the heat when got off the plane! Around 31oC but like oven. I wanted to stay a while but Malay security women wanted everyone in transit lounge. Read a bit of my book there - quite funny. Got on board plane again. No companion this time except Malaysian Air-Steward who was a sound Liverpool fan. Going back there to KL brought a lot of memories back - both good and bad (but mainly good). I remember being so excited the times before! Anyway, got in and wanted to find ATM. Got the Skytrain to what I thought was the main terminal as I was told there was an ATM there. The place where I got off plane didn't seem so familiar. I remembered the 4 arm corridors feeding into central area with the little forest in the middle. Looked around there and saw no ATM. I then went back to the other Building. Only then did I realise that this was the main terminal - I had arrived at Domestic Arrivals. So back on Skytrain to satellite terminal. Walked around to trying to get a phone card. Didn't find ATM but got my money changed. Walked around upstairs. I had never been there before. Saw Starbucks, BK, Cheers, Malay food place and others. I went for food, to the Malaysian food place (which I originally thought was Chinese). Got nice Rasi Green Curry and eggplant.

Went for plane. There were a few more Malaysians this time. Got on plane. Was wrecked at this stage. Sat in wrong seat. Got into proper seat next to what I thought was the teenaged kid Osbourne (whatever the girl's names is!). Turns out, she was Dutch and going to NZ for cycling holiday. Penny dropped when she mentioned her husband. Well didn't look much like a woman. Crap looking ginger hair and a fat belly (and had no chest). Turns out she was an Amsterdam Police Officer (reminiscent of Harry Enfield). On my other side were some Malaysians. Turns out they could speak Mandarin so had good chat. They were 2 bothers. Was talking with one mostly. He was living in New Zealand. They swapped seats with Irish guy at window so didn't get to talk after that.

Well, had a few beers and drifted into sleep when was woken by some screaming child. Couldn't sleep after that. Played some Mario World to cheer myself up.