Alright, let’s talk about doing a master’s over in China. It wasn’t some grand plan I had from the start, more like something that just sort of happened.
I remember I was feeling a bit stuck after my bachelor’s, you know? Didn’t really see a clear path forward job-wise, and I’d always had this itch about seeing more of the world, something completely different. China popped into my head. Why? Honestly, partly because the costs seemed lower than heading West, and partly just pure curiosity. It felt like stepping into a whole other universe.
Getting the Ball Rolling
So, I started looking. Man, that was a process. Spent ages just trawling through university websites, trying to figure out which programs were taught in English, what the requirements were. It wasn’t always straightforward. Some sites were great, others… well, let’s just say Google Translate worked overtime.
Finding the right program took time. I wasn’t aiming for the absolute top-tier places, just somewhere decent that offered something related to my field, international trade stuff. Eventually narrowed it down to a couple of universities in different cities.
Then came the paperwork. Oh, the paperwork. It felt like endless forms. Transcripts, recommendation letters, study plan, proof of English… had to get everything translated and notarized. Sent off my applications, trying not to mix anything up. It felt like throwing messages in bottles into the sea, just hoping one would reach the right shore.
- Searched universities online.
- Checked English-taught programs.
- Gathered all the documents – transcripts, letters, etc.
- Got official translations done.
- Filled out application forms for a few places.
- Sent everything off and waited.
Landing and Settling In
Getting that acceptance letter felt huge. Flew over there a few months later. Landing was a sensory overload – the crowds, the signs I couldn’t read, the different smells. First few weeks were a blur of sorting out registration, residence permit, finding my way around campus, opening a bank account. Everything felt like a small adventure, or maybe a small headache, depending on the day.
The university dorms were… basic. Shared room, shared bathroom down the hall. But it was cheap and right on campus, so couldn’t complain too much. Made friends with other international students pretty quickly; we were all in the same boat, figuring things out together.
The Actual Studying Part
Classes were different from what I was used to. Some professors were amazing, really knowledgeable and engaging. Others, well, sometimes the language barrier was noticeable, even in English-taught programs. Lots of lectures, less interactive discussion than I expected in some courses.
The workload was manageable most of the time, but things ramped up during thesis writing. That was intense. Spent countless hours in the library, fueled by cheap coffee and instant noodles. My supervisor was helpful, pushed me when I needed it. Dealing with research databases and finding relevant sources sometimes felt like a challenge, especially navigating resources in Chinese.
Met a mix of people – other internationals from all over, and local Chinese students. Sometimes there was a bit of a divide, but mostly people were friendly if you made an effort.
Life Beyond the Books
Living there was an experience in itself. The food! So much variety, so cheap. Exploring the city, trying street food, navigating the public transport. Took some trips during holidays too, saw some incredible places using the high-speed trains. Trying to learn basic Mandarin was essential, even just for ordering food or getting directions. Made daily life much easier, though I never got close to fluent.
There were frustrations, of course. Things not working as expected, bureaucratic hurdles, feeling like an outsider sometimes. But overall, the good definitely outweighed the bad.
Wrapping It Up
Finished the thesis, did the defense, graduated. Felt like a massive accomplishment, more for navigating the whole experience than just the academics. Did it drastically change my career path? Hard to say directly. But it definitely broadened my perspective, made me more resilient, more adaptable.
Looking back, it was a challenging, sometimes confusing, but ultimately really rewarding couple of years. It wasn’t always easy, lots of fumbling around and figuring things out as I went, but that’s part of the story, right? Just jumped in and managed to swim.
