Its now official! My application to Beijing Capital Normal University has been filled in and is soon to be (or maybe already) sent off in the post. There’s no backing out. Despite original indecision between going to Taipei in Taiwan or Beijing/Tianjin in China, the decision has now been made.

This means that I can now start getting on with making some travel arrangements and booking accommodation. As I intend to leave for China in early July, I will need to sort out visas, book flights and find some accommodation. My current plan is to get over there, settle in in a hostel for a couple of weeks then join my family who are coming over to travel for a while. After the traveling is over, it will almost be time for the university semester to begin, at which point I will move into student residences, at least for the first month.

There are still some minor headaches; for example I am not yet sure how I will shift all my stuff over there (books, computer, etc) and have no idea what to do with it while I am traveling, putting it in airport storage could be an option. Visa’s could also be troublesome as I am going to be both traveling and studying; I have heard it is possible to set off from Britain on a tourist visa and later convert to a student visa whilst in Beijing, I need to check whether or not this is possible.

As for the moment, I am starting to look around for flights and of course, I’m reading my travel guide to give me some ideas. Most important of all, I’m working hard at my Chinese so that I can communicate when I get over there!

More updates soon!

Jono