Sunday, February 22, 2015

The Journey Begins.. Part 3 Flashback - Checklist on Things to Bring Overseas

Hello Guys!

To those yang nak fly, mesti pening nak pikir apa nak bawak kan... I had the same experience as well... Hari2 ade je nak tambah dalam list tuh... pastu ter confuse kan diri sendiri... nak bawak ke tak ... huhu...

Bab pakaian, here are the list, ikut kesesuaian (you might not have to bring all):


1) sweater
2) winter coat/baju sejuk/jacket (tak payah bawak banyak2... beli kat overseas lagi murah... sebelum bertolak, boleh gak cari winter clothing kt kedai bundle in Msia...daripada beli yg baru... utk sapa yg nak jimat la.. u can get a nice one less than RM20, yg RM 3-10 pun ada..)
3) jeans
4) sweat shirt/T-shirt/blouse
5) long john
6) undergarments
7) gloves (kt sini pun ade jual kt Poundland, & Primark, 1 Pound, but you may need to bring juga awal2 coz kalau sampai time sejuk, kot tak sempat lagi nak g membeli tu dah kena go through the cold weather)
8) scarf/mafla (not too much, as u can get it here as well)
8) socks/stocking (sama macam gloves td situasinya)
9) cardigans
10) seluar panjang/skirt
11) baju tido
12) shoes/boots - at least one pair of comfortable walking shoes/sport shoes/snickers as you will be walking a lot here.. mcm aku, aku bwk comfortable walking shoes, boots I bought here...
13) traditional clothes - utk special occasion.. (satu pun cukup rasanya, plg byk 2 helai... aku gi bwk baju kurung smpi 2 helai...tapi tak pakai pun sgt)
14) formal shoes -for special occasion (sepasang dah rasanya)
15) tudung n brooch (brooch payah nk cari sini, & mahal)
16) towel
17) cap/snow cap/hat
18) Baju dan peralatan sukan (ini kalau u guys play sports.. ikut sukan yg korang minat... kalau jenis xbersukan macam aku ni, mmg tak bwk la apa2 peralatan sukan)

*thermal wear could be useful too,but some people beli kat cni je....

Food - ini adalah wajib bagi ku... dan semua yg nk merantau nih.. rasanya...huhu... cuma apa yg nk bwk tu ikut selera masing2

contoh yang ada dalam almari aku

Antara list paling popular adalah:
1) Instant noodles - Mee/Bihun Segera - ikut perisa kegemaran anda
2) 3 in 1 Milo (or any choc malt drinks) /Cereal/Nescafe/Teh Tarik - aku g bwk kesemua ni kecuali teh tarik.. huhu... nak bwk malt drink yg bukan 3 in 1 pun ok kot...
3) Cube/granules pati ayam, ikan bilis, daging lembu - plg famous brand Knorr tu
4) Ready made spices, flavours for dishes.. aku bawak Brahim's brand tu - Rendang, Kuah Masak Lemak, Sambal etc
5) Instant porridge
6) Instant curry mix
7) Rempah2 - ikut citarasa memasing...
8) Sup bunjut adabi
9)  canned food
10) sos cili
11) belacan? aku mmg xbawak... tp ade gak org yg bwk... i dont know how... huhu
12) Papadom
13) Kicap

Toiletries - list mcm kt bawah ni, tapi.. tak semestinya bwk semua...don't bring too much, it is quite cheap in UK...bring less toiletries to save luggage space/weight...



1) Toothbrush
2) Toothpaste -yg kecik cukup, takpun beli set toothbrush n tooth paste tu, dah.. jimat space dalam bag
3) Sabun/Shower gel
4) Shampoo (aku xbwk hari tu, got advice to just buy there.. so sampai2 je aku beli Pantene 400 ml kt Poundland, harga 1 pound)
5) Deodorant
6) Pencuci muka, toner
7) Lip balm - ini penting, sebab kalau sampai time sejuk, bibir mmg kering tp bawak satu dah, later beli kat sini..
8) Body and face moisturiser - penting juga ni, can bring a small bottle or buy here je, sbb kulit boleh jadi sgt kering kalau tak pakai due to the weather here, especially kalau sampai time winter cam aku...... but depends juga.. ikut kulit masing2
* aku bwk Vaseline, mmg sangat berguna, boleh guna bibir kering, kulit kering &; tapak kaki kering.. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E pun ok gak...
9) ketip kuku and other personal stuff

Stationery List

Yang ni mmg kena bawak sebab stationery mahal kt sini... tapi jangan terover bawak mcm nak bukak kedai kt cni... (talking through experience, sebenarnya) huhu

Contoh stationery (ikut course juga...)

1) Pen
2) Pencil
3) Liquid Paper
5) Pemadam
6) Pembaris
7) Stapler
8) Staples
9) Highlighter
10) Cello tape
11) Note book
12) Examination Pad
13) File
14) Puncher -jika rasa perlu

Other Things To Bring

1) Telekung, Sejadah, Al-Quran
2) Sabun Taharah - u might need it
3) mobile phone charger (aku punya tetiba rosak, beli baru kt sini, terkena 10 pound.., kt msia RM10 leh dpt dah. adoii)
4) smartphone - lebih mudah jika ada smartphone, senang nak guna pelbagai apps, nk tgk compass, jadual solat etc...
5) laptop
6) passport sized photos (3-5 pieces) utk smart card university, dan lain2
7) salinan fotokopi - ic, ic parents, passport, visa, financial statement, CAS letter, surat tawaran university, sijil2, laporan kesihatan dan dokumen2 berkaitan
8) Ubat-ubatan.. if u are under medication, dont forget about ur medicines... make sure u have ur medical report with u as well..  selain tu boleh juga bawak minyak cap kapak, minyak gamat etc.. aku losyen yusmira pati halia pun aku bwk... membantu la jugak...
9) sewing kit -depends reti jahit ke tak.. aku mmg tak la... huhu
10) Digital Voice Recorder - yg ni for people yg nak record lectures... aku xbwk pun...but it might be handy
11) Bed sheet, pillow case, blanket - beli masa sampai pun boleh je... as, once u are here, u may need to go to the nearest store to get a duvet n some pillows...
12) Dictionary & Reference books (some dh mmg ada books related to their course... so, bwk yg u think is/are very important & useful sahaja...  but dictionary tu I think u should have... )
Kalau nk beli buku kt sini,  lebih murah beli online rasanya... or u can also buy second hand books yang elok...

Ok, I think that's all for now.... hope this helps.... be reminded, tgk juga tempat mana nak pegi, course apa u ambik, and the environment there... u might not have to bring everything listed here... or maybe ada barang2 lain yg u kena bawa .. Ni contoh je tau... huhu

Sekian dulu Checklist on Things to Bring Overseas

Ok, Cheers!




Saturday, February 21, 2015

The Journey Begins... Part 2 Flashback - Application & Preparation

Hi everyone...

Ramai juga yang bertanya macam mana nak prepare n details skit pasal application sebelum pegi... So my post this time flashback sikit...

First of all, application... I ada explain briefly in my previous post... apa yang perlu untuk nak apply universiti... Kalau tak confident, contact agen2 yang ada kat Malaysia... antaranya, INTERSTUDY, PDVL, MABECS (UK), MACEE (US), GEN Education, IDP  Education dan sebagainya....

Semua documents yang diperlukan tu, (boleh rujuk my previous post), hantar kat agen ni... then they will help to apply for you. Tak pun, hantar je sendiri kat universiti.. apply sendiri through online je, bukak website universiti yang kita nak dan apply course tu through online. Boleh buat sendiri je...

MARA

Applying for MARA lebih mencabar sebenarnya.... apply for university is so much easier for me... cukup semua syarat2 yg diminta & dapat IELTS result yang cemerlang, terus dapat...

Tapi, MARA not necessarily dapat... maklum la.. beribu rakyat malaysia drp 'pelbagai' lapisan masyarakat yang apply... lagipun, dia nak tanggung kita, so need to really convince them to choose you...

MARA selalunya buka feb or mac, tengok juga budget dia tahun tu...selalu la bukak website mara ni http://www.mara.gov.my/ .. tgk dkt terkini dan pengumuman .. baca info kt terkini dan pengumuman tu... kot ada pengumuman pasal study loan .... baca gak newspaper selalu especially bulan feb, march tu sebab ade juga advert kt newspaper... Nak apply, need to be patient... Patience is the key here .. Seriously, kalau nak apply MARA, mmg kena byk sabar... and put in your effort... MARA sebelum ni apply online je.. isi online form dia bila dh bukak... My advice, masa nak apply tu, get top ranking university offer... and also, apply more than 1 university.. kot terlepas intake boleh tukar... I had that experience.. dpt Durham University, IOE, UCL, University of Manchester tapi akibat document lambat, yang September & October intake semua terlepas.... Alhamdulillah I manage to apply for Jan intake kt Northumbria University.. so, I enrol at Northumbria University... Cuma jangan masa dh terpilih utk MARA, uni mana dan course apa nak apply pun tak tau lagi... *facepalm* Ramai kot yang mohon, dah dpt, kena usaha lebih sikit... yang xdpt tu pun ramai yang awal2 dah ada offer merata universiti... dan berbalik juga tu my first post hari tu... nawaitu kita... bukan main apply je ikut kwn or sbb seronok nk g overseas... nak wat snowman ke etc...

Kalau permohonan MARA anda berjaya, segera proceed prepare apa yang MARA nak... get your guarantor (2 org, wajib.. can be both your family members or sapa2 sahaja.. syarat gaji lebih RM1000) Sebelum dpt borang pun dh boleh cari siap siap...Then buat medical check up (be reminded, medical check up untuk MARA boleh buat dekat HOSPITAL kerajaan atau swasta je.. klinik tak boleh...), borang SSLN, e-vettingall the forms, sediakan gambar ukuran passport dan bukak akaun CIMB (kalau belum ada akaun CIMB). Sambil tu boleh buat passport and apply for visa sekali...

Kalau ur first MARA application tak berjaya, try buat rayuan... kalau nak buat rayuan ni, pastikan reasons anda strong... plus, dah ada at least conditional offer mana mana top uni... terbaik kalau ada unconditional offer... kena rajinkan diri juga check dgn MARA... make an extra effort... 

CIMB

Bab CIMB ni kan, pastikan debit kad anda berfungsi. I had a very bad experience. Just nak share takut ade yg terkena... Masa aku nak buat kad debit yang baru dekat CIMB, sbb kad atm aku dh lama sgt, & takde fungsi debit card.. pegawai dia suruh activate kan overseas withdrawal dkt cimbclicks, then tukar pin number dekat atm machine... Aku tanya dekat kaunter, ini sahaja ke, ada apa apa lagi tak sebab aku tak nak masalah dekat UK nanti bila nak keluarkan duit, buat online transaction or transfer money ke UK bank, as elaun MARA aku pun masuk dekat2 aku nk bertolak dah...dia kata ok, takde apa apa dah, itu je... Aku dah settle tu semua, berangkat la ke UK... bila dekat UK, kad debit aku tak berfungsi sbg debit kad... boleh keluar duit dekat atm tapi fungsi sebagai debit card utk beli apa2 online, tak boleh. Aku call customer service, dia cakap, oh, dgn nada gelak gelak, fungsi kad debit cik tak activate, kena pegi cawangan CIMB terdekat. FACEPALM.. Mana aku nak cari CIMB terdekat di Newcastle upon Tyne nih?? kena la sedas dua dgn aku kan... aku hantar email, complain kat facebook pun CIMB tak membantu langsung... For your info, kat cni, banyak guna online... nak reload kad launderette pun online... bayangkan aku tak dapat basuh baju sebab debit card tak berfungsi... nasib ada student msia kat sini yang pinjamkan kad dia...Thanks Sheeqa! Jasamu dikenang...  Aku berjaya reload kad launderette, and buat online transaction lepas buka bank account kat sini iaitu Llyods bank... By the way, Llyods bank ni ade islamic account... I just need surat drp universiti dan passport nak buka account.. tapi amik masa gak nak dapat atm card tu.. nk transfer money or bank in cheque or FDD ke etc from Malaysia tu pun ambik masa jugak... Fortunately I brought some cash in GBP.

So, moral of the story... pastikan DEBIT CARD CIMB anda berfungsi sebelum bertolak... activatekan semua yang berkaitan... penting sementara nk dpt debit card drp UK bank tu... don't become like me.. ;)

VISA

This is the website : https://www.gov.uk/apply-uk-visa
It will guide you on visa application... Yg penting sekali, register, buat TB test, bayar visa fees dan buat appointment...

TB test I did dekat sini:

Dr Ong Kee Liang - Life Care Diagnostic Medical Centre

1st Floor, Wisma Life Care,
No. 5, Jalan Kerinchi,
Bangsar South, 59200
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 1300 222 369
info@lifecare.com.my

Dalam dua jam je siap... harga boleh tahan .. sebab aku mintak report sekali, boleh guna untuk medical report for MARA (tak yah xray sampai 2 kali) and untuk bawak ke sini selain untuk visa...
List of other clinics or medical centre kt sini : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-test-for-a-uk-visa-clinics-in-malaysia/tuberculosis-testing-in-malaysia#approved-test-clinics

Apa nak bawak untuk TB Test? Passport, uni offer letter (untuk UK address) and the test fees ... normally around RM160 - RM 220, depends kat mana buat... (tak tau la kalau naik lagi lepas ni...)

Then, boleh dh buat visa appointment

What u need to bring masa buat visa?

Passport, 1 passport size photo, printout of ur online application form (signed & dated), ur appointment confirmation, visa fee receipt, financial statement/financial affidavit, university CAS letter, Pre Departure TB Test Medical Cert, and other relevant documents like ur IELTS Cert and Transkrip/Degree Cert. Offer letter pun boleh bawak untuk back up. Fees dia bayar online, USD 530...(masa ni Jan 2015) kalau nak priority application, yang siap 3-5 days tu, kena tambah lagi, dlm RM550 rasanya and kena bayar CASH fees untuk priority application tu kat kaunter...

Masa appointment tu, xyah susah hati... aku pun memula ingat apa la dia nak tanya...nervous.. rupanya just some basic things, mcm kenapa nak gi UK, course apa nak study... apa future plan.. personal details a bit... itu je.. not much...  xberbaloi betul nervous over2 sgt... yang penting, remember important details about ur uni, course, kenapa nak gi UK, apa ur plan and ur own personal details...

Next, I wanna share a bit about barang2 nak bwk g UK... but too tired to write... to be continued.... next post on Flashback 3 - Checklist on Things to Bring Overseas..

Bye for Now ;)


Thursday, February 5, 2015

The Journey Begins..................... Part 1

Oh dear, dah bersawang blog ni rasanya... bertahun xupdate... kalau update dedulu pun macam article style jek... huhu....

Anyway, Assalamualaikum & Good Day to those yang sudi baca my blog post nih... Alhamdulillah, setelah bertungkus lumus (skema lah vocab nih) siapkan pelbagai dokumen, ambik IELTS, naik turun pejabat MARA, akhirnya berjaya juga sampai kat Newcastle ni. Although it is not my first choice, but we must always remember, perancangan Allah lebih hebat..... Syukur Alhamdulillah aku masih diberi peluang untuk belajar di bumi United Kingdom ini...

                                                     Newcastle upon Tyne city view

The journey or should I say The Climb (cam lagu Miley Cyrus tuh) mmg macam2 pancaroba nye.... That is why I would like to advise those yang nak apply sambung belajar luar negara tu, kuatkan semangat dan betul kan nawaitu @ niat anda nak sambung belajar tu... Jika niat anda betul dan semangat anda kuat, In Sha Allah, you will find your way & will be able to survive in the foreign land....

 The Millennium Bridge - the lights changes colour every few minutes...

Sebelum aku decide nak apply overseas, I went to whatever education fair yang ada di Malaysia. Almost all yang dekat KL aku pegi. Pegi bukan sesaja jenjalan tgk kiri kanan & kutip beg dan pen free (ade la jugak kan kutip sesikit..), tapi survey macam mana nak apply, the courses, universities, tuition fees, scholarship/study loans available and university agent yang ada. I would advise u guys to go too, mana tau dapat info baru kat sana....


Lepas tu, I start to prepare semua dokumen berkaitan. Academic Transcript, Degree Cert, Reference Letters (2 at least), Personal Statement, CV, Sijil SPM dan Sijil2 lain semua kena scan dan juga fotokopi. Ada yang aku apply terus dekat universiti dan ada yang aku bagi pada agen.
Alhamdulillah, I got a few offers from top uni at UK. Ada unconditional offer, ada yang conditional offer which syaratmya nak kena ambik IELTS... Maka aku pun pulun la amik IELTS dan Alhamdulillah berjaya... Those who would like to take IELTS, amik masa sikit prepare for the test, at least boleh  kurangkan nervous. U can try getting some books on IELTS (mcm2 ade especially kt MPH Bookstore, buy the one yang ada practice test tu, xperlu yg terlalu mahal, asalkan u can practice using the actual test format, mine was just Collin's Practice test, dlm RM64) atau amik je info free kt internet. Blog ni byk tips exam yang sangat berguna- http://www.ielts-blog.com/  Blog ni pula, http://www.ielts.org provides u with all the important info on IELTS.Oh ya, satu lagi, Target Band 7...yg ni bagi u all the tips step by step. Boleh dapat dkt ielts-blog.com tu or tanya je uncle google tu... Dia mesti bagitau punya..;)

Yang agak mencabar ialah fighting for scholarship/study loan... To those yang nak cari info,tak kisah la nak further kat dalam negara or luar negara, try check out this website http://malaysia-scholarship.net/ 
Satu lagi, http://afterschool.my/scholarship/ Info drp prog Diploma smpi PhD ada rasanya di website tu...

For me, I tried applying for MARA and Yayasan Daya Diri....after 2 years, dapatlah bertolak ke UK bawah program adhoc MARA. Pheww, lega, syukur Alhamdulillah...'The Climb' has taught me a lot of important lessons... Antaranya, what you MUST do, what you should do, how to come out with plan A, B C etc.., and who are the ones that really care about you....

Masa mula2 sampai di Newcastle, pihak universiti yang datang ambik so sampai terus kat pintu my accommodation. Cuma I went there alone, masa aku bertolak, takde student Malaysia masa tu. Dah sampai sini baru jumpa a few. My course mates? Mmg takde Malaysian... So, I join the university's Malaysian Society and some other Malaysian and Muslim community. And, of course, daftar dgn Education Malaysia.

Bulan pertama kat sini, sempat la jalan2 sikit melawat kawasan.... maybe next post I will write about it.. At the moment, mengantuk la plak... That's all for today... Aku sambung di lain hari ;)