Even after a visa has been granted, entering China safely, going through security at the airport and registering at the police station, you're still not sure whether you can actually stay in the country or not. In order to obtain a residence permit for the country, a physical examination is needed. Today was the day to get myself checked in the hospital. The first night in my new apartment I slept like a baby. I was exhausted from the trip, time change and new...

Traveling to the other side of the world is a first for me. I had found out what I needed to know, where to stay the night, which metros and trains to take to get from the airport in Beijing to the University in Jinan. Usually traveling involves a lot of waiting, with no difference this time. I had a lot of waiting today… At first it didn't seem to be that bad. After arriving in Kiev I had some take for a toilet break and then I could almost directly board...

Here I am, five o'clock in the morning, waiting to board the plane and to start a new adventure. I am waiting in the almost abandoned airport of Amsterdam. While it is still dark and quite outside and my luggage is being loaded on board, I am already looking forward to fall asleep in the plane. By not sleeping this night I hopefully prepared myself for the six hour time difference in Beijing. I've never had such a long flight, nor such a big difference in time....

So this is it, T minus 15 hours and counting. Preparations are in full swing. Bags nearly packed, documents almost ready, passport photos are taken soon and my blog is close to having its first entry. It wasn't an easy choice, but after careful consideration (more or less) I have decided to go China for one school-year. For my studies at Saimaa University of Applied Sciences in Finland I have the possibility to go abroad for one year to obtain a double degree. M...