Preparation for study abroad-- What to bring and what not (Updated 14/11)

Preparation is tired isn't it?

Going from Malaysia to UK, to a strange country is hard to pick what to bring and what not. I will just give some comment.

I try to avoid to bring powder because it might make me get into trouble. I heard that someone's Milo was not allowed to carry out from the airport =____= that's why I didn't bring much powder and liquid and even cream style products!!!!!

but when i reach Heathrow Airport, there is not even single baggage checking (may be its because too many students carry too many baggage?)

1.Milo?

Here's the thing, i found Milo here for £3.58 for 400g (one tin).

Alright one day when I happily bought Milo and went home, I discovered that their taste are different. The one I bought was manufactured by Nestle Kenya. The taste is more chocolate. Sadly.

~~~~~~~~~~~[Update 12/03/14]~~~~~~~~~~~

There was Milo in package where you can find in the Welcome Chinese Shop beside Asda. It cost 2.88 Pounds. Kinda expensive but it has the same taste with the one in Malaysia. I feels so touch.

2. Maggie?

You can find maggie for £1.38-£1.98 for one big packet (5 packets) in Chinese Shops. Don't worry. A lots of Malaysian students here too, and they all craving for Maggie all the time. 

3. Nescafe?

Here, you can't find ant 3 in 1 Nescafe. UK ppl likes fresh coffee. I only found 2 in 1 nescafe. but you might find malaysia white coffee in China Town and Chinese Shop for £4.++. 

~~~~~~~~~~~[Update 14/11]~~~~~~~~~~

Yes, now they do sell 3 in 1. The 3 in 1 coffee is a New item here. So it still not cheap though.

4. Skin Care

Other toiletries I wont talk much as most of them could be found and it won't be too many problem. but just SKIN CARE for girls I really need to talk about it.

Drugstore brands are different from Asian style. And my skin getting terrible after going to UK because of the weather. I though it would be dries up and my pimple might be heal because my skin won't get oily easily. but now my skin getting terrible. I think it is because the weather is too dry. U know dryness could also cause pimple right?

So it would be hard to find brands which you use in Malaysia. So bring more if you want. Some suggests don't bring too many because you don't know the weather condition. That's true also. So you still need time to find skincare which are suitable for you. it takes time. so bring more your favourite products. And masks.

I have no choice but to purchase it from Ebay as my skin getting more troublesome.

But for body lotion, just get it here. Brands like Vaseline are easy to find,..

5. Contact Lens Solution

One thing which is expensive and most surprise me is CONTACT LENS SOLUTION. walao sibeh expensiveeeeeeeeee! the same size same bottle which sold in Malaysia for RM30++, cost me £12!! 

~~~~~~~~[Update 14/11]~~~~~~~~~~ 

However I discovered the brand like Asda brand (Supermarket brand) do sell really cheap solution. Though I don't know whether it is trustable.

5. I suggest you to bring 

thermal flask, 

microwavable container (Tupperware), 

nail cutter (here expensive), 

some stationary (mostly you can only find fable castle, so bring more your favourite pen),

fullscap(it's hard to find narrow line, suggest you to bring some).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some food are cheaper by comparing to Malaysia. 

1. Luncheon and Ham 

2. Vegetables 

 (potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, tomatoes, pepper, etc) 

Those vegetables which are expensive in Malaysia (Asparagus, Fennel, Brussels Sprout, etc) will be around the same price with other vege, like one pack for one pound.

But, for ordinary veges which are cheap in Malaysia (Chinese cabbage, Choy-sin, Park-choy, Winter Melon, Bean Sprout etc) are relatively expensive. Winter Melon one slice for 2 pounds. May be it would be considered as cheap for local people, but for us, lots of vegetables where asian could not accept (me no likey spinach -_________-).

I suggest you to GET USED to it. I fall in love with Broccoli. 

Food are still ok if you know how to cook. Surprisingly there are so many male knows to cook. European ppl are more independant. they not only cook, they bake too......

Raw food like Pork, Beef, Chicken, prices are around the same price in Malaysia, as long as you purchase the supermarket brand but not those 'Butcher's choice' 'Special' one. Pork rib are 5 pounds per kg where Malaysia sells for RM22 per kg. 

After staying a period of time in UK, I discovered that raw food are cheaper than processed food. So just stay healthy, don't eat too much sausages, processed food.........

Thanks for reading :)

Preparation for study abroad--Winter Clothing (Update: 14/11)

What I mean is what to bring and what not to bring.
I was so lazy to check about the WINTER CLOTHING because there are so many type of it ie cardigan, sweater, trench coat, wind breaker, .....etc. I don't have any mood to sort these out but luckily i got my mum and my aunt :p

My aunt studied in New Zealand so she has some experience on what to wear in Autumn and Winter.

Firstly, what I want to say is that you don't need to buy ALL winter clothing in Malaysia before going to UK. UK has many types of winter clothing and boots which their prices are much more convenient by comparing to those sells in Malaysia! I was shocked when I first saw the clothes. 

Their pattern are more fashionable and you will have a variety of choices. Especially shoes. Luckily I didn't buy it in Malaysia because it is very heavy and I've got not enough spaces to squeeze it in!

When i was in UK, i found that they are cheap. Some may have same price as in Malaysia but their pattern is better and very nice. The cheapest I found is £6 per pair.....

But I think it would be safe if you bring some clothing. Just in case.

One day we (girls) waiting for the shopping guys (kinda weird isn't it), they came back and say the leather shoes which they found, sells £40 but in Malaysia the same shoes cost RM400!! They went store like Nike, and say that some is really cheaper than Malaysia. Hmmmmmm\

1. Wind Breaker / Trench Coat

I wonder are these the same....

Windbreaker

Trench Coat

but their functions are more or less the same. It will not warm you but it stops the wind from entering your cloth. Hence it would not be suitable for wearing in Winter. It suits for Autumn and perhaps Spring. I went Universal Traveller in M'sia but they have very limited of these. It is cheap in UK, so I really advise you not to buy in Malaysia. My friend bought one for £18. And there are more coat which are cheaper and many choices.

2. Sweater/Jumper

These two type also look the same-_____-

Jumper

This is also cheap in UK...I saw £5 for each in some shops. 

But I brought one Sweater from H&M;

3. French Coat

My aunt bought this one in H&M HongKong:

I love this coat!! Many people also envy me say it looks really nice.

She bought it for HK$399, so it would be around RM200.

French Coat is warm for me, so I bought another one:

£18, Primark, Atmosphere.

This coat has cap, so it would be fine for small rain.

I like French coat because it makes you looks tidy and elegant. I would suggest you to buy one here. 

4. Winter Jacket

This one is the must have. If you come here around Sept, it is still the end of summer/beginning of Autumn, which is normally around 10-19 degree, you still doesn't need to wear this. Plus it is really bigggggg and waste the luggage space, so you might buy it when you already in UK.

5. Cardigan

Cardigan is really thin and you might only wear when indoor. (with heater) This is not necessary but....as a girl.....hehehehhehehhe

Normally I also feel a bit of coldness even though I'm indoor with heater. So I would wear thermal wear, T-shirt, Cardigan and French Coat. So when I having class, I would remove my French Coat. I feel a bit cold when my skin expose too much to the air. hahhahah!

This is also £5-8 where you can see a lot of it in Primark etc.

6. Baseball Jacket

This is not necessary but it is better than those knitting jacket because the air won't get in easily. But there are many kind of this jacket. The materials are important. I bought this in Padini with about hundred ringgit because it is very thick. but those I bought in Sungei wang for RM25 and really really thin like a t-shirt. So i just throw them at home hahahhahaha.

Sometimes when it is just too cold, I try to wear thermal wear, t-shirt, baseball jacket and french coat. And it end up too heavy and I looks really fat. I couldn't even lift my hand! hahhaha!! 

7. Thermal Wear

The above are two types of thermal long pants. The right one is normal thermal pants which you may just wear it alone. The left one is legging thermal wear so you might wear it under Jeans so that it won't makes you looks fat. 

The thermal wear above cost £5 for each (either cloth or pants) @ Primark. However, I found that it is not very warm. There are some other material which looks like swim wear. I'm not sure about that.

Marks & Spencer sell one thermal wear for £12.

There are a lot of different material, which now I still couldn't suggest you which material to buy. But let me just give some advice.

For Girls it you don't want to look fat, you may wear LONG SOCKS (below) which is really long until your knee.

Sometimes I wear long socks, legging thermal wear and my Jeans. My leg yet still looks skinny.

There is once I wear Long socks, legging thermal and one black legging outside. My friend said nobody would know I wear 3 layers since I was so skinny. Hahaha.

A lot of korean, girls, wear legging even it if really cold.

This is the pant I bought in Universal Traveller which I found it very warmful.

The Universal Traveller guy told us that in UK, the lowest temperature will be 4-5 degree. Screw him. It's already 2 degree now even it is still Autumn. I wonder what will happened during winter.

8. Boots

I didn't bring any boots came here. I just brought 2 sport shoes and 1 slipper. Boots are heavy and they consumed a lot of space, so I prefer don't buy it first in Malaysia. I came here during September, so it is fine even though not wearing boots. 

Beware that there are a lot of boots made by different material, which some of them are not water resistant.

Firstly i cincai bought my first boots in Asda:

£18, George

This is clearly not water resistant, so when I saw another boots, I buy it without hesitate:

£19.99, Store Twenty-One@Near Asda.

This is the cheapest LEATHER boots I ever saw.

Yes, in fact, I did mentioned that the boots are cheap, I would like to add on. If you want those man-looking leather boots, those are more more more expensive by comparing to those simple looking boots(like the above). And boots which are not leather, are very cheap (below).

Below are the boots/shoes could be found in Primark @Oxford Street. You can see that, the prices are not extremely expensive

(Below) 

New Look @ Near Asda

New Look's shoes are still acceptable, like aroung £20 for one pair of leather boots, where I think that it is still acceptable. But If you go to bigger New Look like the one in Watford, they have more shoes but some of them the prices are much more higher.

(Below)

Shoes Zone @ Near Asda 

 

I didn't buy any shoes in Shoe Zone because they're not really I liked. The price are not really friendly for me. However, as they're shoe specialist, some shoes really designed and really light, comfortable.

9. Gloves

Found one type of glove which is quite convenient i think, although i haven use it.

George, 5 pounds

It is quite convenient especially you need to touch your handphone.

However I did saw some 'touchscreen' gloves in the market, where some fingers will have special material which will make you able to slide your phone.

10. Scarf

There are a lot of scarf made by different material.

Firstly, the RIGHT side in blue color one, I bought it in Primark, for £4, which is really really cheap. It is made by knitting. The middle one is made by wool (?) which I'm not really sure. The left one is normal scarf where you can get it more commonly in Malaysia.

As the picture below, you can see that the scarf left side could be folded very flat, which you don't need a lot of spaces to keep it. So it is ideal to bring it to CLASS as you don't need to carry it heavily. For the blue one, I can sure that it is warmer, but I don't think it is suitable to bring here and there unless the weather is very cold.

Again, you can get a lot of different type of scarf with a reasonable price here. But I would suggest you to ring at least one from Malaysia.

In conclusion, you dont need to buy too many winter clothing but you must bring some because you may not buy it immediately after you reached here! bring 2-3 would be sufficient but not too much! I suggest just to bring some normal jacket because it is not really worth it in Malaysia. 

Thanks for your reading :)

Preparation for study abroad--Visa in East Malaysia

Actually I would like to start talking about my fantastic UK life, but I think first of all I should talk about how I done my Visa. to UK.

Firstly, get your passport. ((OOps)

Many people asked me how I get squeezed into those very pack appointment and they were so worry because they can't book any appointment! (the Website always shows fully booked)

I would say you really really really need to prepare early. Mine actually quite rush because I took too much of time to decide which university to go.

I am from East Malaysia, so it is really a headache to do the Visa.

If you're from the same place, you should aware that:

1) there are limited appointment because they only have one day open to people every TWO weeks!! 15 Sept is the day that I should arrive uni, but I only done it at the end of August! By that time, only 2 days were left: 23 Aug and 5 Sept. Because of the Merdeka day....hmm....holiday....

I checked online and the dates available stated are so many then I sinang sinang slowly prepare all the documents. My dad scold me for many times......... then he suggest me to find MMS agent to do all the application. Thanks GOD I found MMS agent. They have more connection to the agency? and squeezed me in the appointment!!

Finding an MMS agent cost you service charge of RM350 if you only find them to do the Visa. If you find MMS agent since the beginning of your application of Uni and let them start with you, then there would be no charge at all.

And, doing Visa in East Malaysia need extra RM650. So my total cost is over RM2000 (i cant remember how much it is). If there is something wrong with my application for the Visa, I might need to fly KL.

If you're staying in KL then you're lucky because the office in MCA building open every weekdays.

2) it takes at least 15 days for the Visa. My badge is slower because Manila was having storming or what so the whole badge delayed.

3) the postal address could write MMS address if you're asking them to help you. This is because the postman would know this place better and won't delivered wrongly. I got mine from the ABX express near Tong Hing/Home and Garden etc in KK because they called my to collect. When I tell MMS agent, their expression are so funny. They say hhuhhh? i think they lazy to delivered it. Haahahaha

4) check the expiry date of the Visa.

5) Other information you could find from the official website of the UK Broad Agency. But just don't believe the appointment date. Hahahhaa

6) if you're running out of time, my advice is to find MMS or IJM or etc agent cuz they will know how to solve it in a very short time.

Other important information you might find it online, so I'm not gonna talk much about that.

If you have any question, feel free to ask me :)

Introduction

Firs of all, just to introduce myself by using my not-very-good English.

An LLB law student from Brickfield's Asia College. (my English should be very good right :/)

I've done my Year 1& Year 2 from BAC, and currently doing my Year 3 of the degree.

Passed my year 1& 2 with ngam ngam hao result HAHHAHAHA

I'm gonna talk abt the procedures on applying school overseas, visas....etc.

Currently studying in University of Hertfordshire (UH).

I will share all the informations and also my life in UH and all those senka important things.....

See ya.....