Finally, it's DONE!

After struggling really hard for almost a month, I'm officially done with my housing. ^.^v

First of all, I felt really bad for breaking my promise to a girl. Luckily she has found someone. If not, I can't imagine how terrible the issue will be. I guess she definitely hates me now. So, again, I am sorry.

Secondly, thanks to Hoay Lynn, Lit Ung and Chi Kai in helping me for the room at The Reserve. If Hoay Lynn had not told me about the room, I wouldn't have found it. That was super helpful. Thanks a lot my pretty senior. As for Chi Kai, thanks for calling me and answering my questions. However, you gave me the wrong info about the way to pay online. As long as you have VISA or MASTERCARD, regardless of which bank and which country, you can pay online. And my facial expression turned to =.=" when I saw the back of my dad's credit card written "VALID WORLDWIDE" in capital letter. As for Lit Ung, thanks for spending time to listen to my whines and story, plus explaining to me the real situation to clear my mind.Thank you guys.

During the process of finding a suitable and great housing, my best friend, Lexie Lee has definitely been very helpful to me. She tried to help me in every possible ways which I felt really grateful to have her as my best friend, even until now or maybe in the future, I will remember it. Besides, when I nearly collapsed, Jishuen stood by my side, helping me to find available housing during the night until early morning when he could just sleep. I felt lucky to you by my side every time to back me up. Thank you, my dearest Lexie and Jishuen.

Guess how much do I have to pay? $1125.00
Yes! It is in Dollar, not Malaysia Ringgit.
Here is the breaking down of the total:
Deposit is $750 [two-month rent]
First installment payment is $375 [first-month rent]

Expensive huh? But it's nearer than the one I found in the first place. It's 2.4 miles away from my campus. The rent includes water, internet and all the other amenities. The great thing about it is that it's fully furnished with full-size bed, dresser, built-in computer desk, ceiling fan, couch, chair, coffee and end table, TV stand, dining room table, four chairs. [copy paste from the webpage. XD] Though I have no idea now of who I'll be living with but luckily it has individual bedroom lock. Plus, it's great to have bathroom attached to my bedroom. 
Here's the example of floor plan:

Some other photos on facebook: 

[These photos are from Chi Kai's photo album. I hope he won't mind. =)]

-Living Room-

-Kitchen-

-Bathroom-

-View from Balcony- (I think)

By checking out his album, only then I know that his girlfriend is a good cook. I think I'll be going to his place quite often. ^.^ [paisei har...本小姐是不会煮饭菜的]

Hope his girlfriend won't just cook specifically for him only. Haha! [I want 'tumpang']

p/s: I can wash the dishes after having the meal... heee heee...

我知道, But I Just Miss You Too Much

从来没想过
不能再和你牵手
委屈时候 没有你
陪着我心痛

一切都是我
太过骄纵
以为你会懂
一直忘了说
我有多感动 [Thanks for the rose and every other things] 

我知道你还是爱着我
虽然 分开的理由
我们都已接受
你知道我会有多难过
所以 即使到最后
还微笑着 要我加油

我知道你还放不下我
才会 在离开时
闭着眼没有回头
我们都知道彼此心中
其实 这份爱没停过

曾经完整幸福的梦[My dream was to study abroad together with my loved one]
在脑海里头
我多希望你
还在我左右

答应你 我会好好过[I'll try my best to live well]
不让 这些眼泪白流[Though I might cry every night missing you]

I Hope Everything is Just a Dream

Have you ever wanted to wake up from a dream and every bad dreams and nightmares you have will just remain as dreams?

YES! I have always wanted it to happen. But...it never does. 

For those who have read my previous posts, sorry guys, wrong info. I have some corrections to make here.

Corrections:

I am not going to stay 5 miles away from campus, instead, I think I will be staying less than 1 mile from campus. Do you think it's a good news? Yea, maybe you think so, but I am not sure about it. 

Wondering why? Good! I am about to tell you. Remember the awesome, fantastic and great service Brookside Townhomes I mentioned and even put its link in my previous post? Yea, it gave my only room to others. The three girls who have signed the lease have found a friend to move in with them. Guess it's my fault for hearing wrong info. Thro the phone for the first time I asked "does it mean that I have to sign the lease, pay the rent and move in on the same day?" The other side of the phone, "yes, you can do that." So, stupid me, having no idea of what is security deposit, thought that I have to send them my scanned I-20 and the roommate matching questionnaire then everything is done. Overwhelmed by the room I thought I have reserved, I was very exciting and happy that day. And now? Brookside said I haven't paid the deposit so it's fine for them to give the room I wanted to the person which is found by the three girls. And that was the only room available! 

What a great way to make me stay awake whole night crying and searching for housing online, hopefully can find a room to stay. Throughout the searching, I found a place called Providence Court & Providence Hills. They have some rooms left and they only offer 1 bedroom/1bathroom and 2bedroom/2bathroom. They expect people who want to rent to have found their own roommate or friend to rent together. 1bedroom/1bathroom is definitely too expensive, around $600-$700 though all the utilities are included. While the latter one, it's affortable since it's around $800 for two persons but the thing is I can't find anyone to stay with me because I am going to Missouri all alone. What a way to start my life in US. 

However, in the end, I was too worried about not getting roommate and all the other rooms would be filled up. Hence, I decided to find University Place Apartment. Yes, it's really near to campus. But most people who have lived there give bad reviews and feedbacks. I have found out about it like long long time ago. That's why I kept finding other housings and calling them to ask for any available and affordable room. I was even glad to have found this room which is 5 miles (7.7 km) away from campus and it costs me $506 every month. (Exceeding the budget that JPA gives me by $6.)
http://www.uplace.com/lease_rate.htm

Lucky enough, there are still rooms available for 2bedrooms apartment and I can just rent for one room. I don't have to rent the whole apartment all by myself and find a roommate myself. Too bad the 3bedrooms are full. Speaking of this, I forgot to ask him how many bathrooms are available in the 2bedrooms apartment. I was talking to him about something (I forgot what was it about) and the phone call just ended suddenly due to the fact that my phone is out of credit. Haha. Not going to call him back until Tuesday morning (US) because Monday is the holiday for Independence Day in US. 

It's good that the rooms are available now but I'm still worried that it won't be available again. Getting this room (if I really get it in the end) is somehow lucky. More appropriate meaning in Chinese would be “不幸中之大幸”。My mom still requests for this and that for a room. To me, it's good enough to have somewhere near campus to stay even though it might be a crappy one. 

$ in $ out

After banking in the cheque into the bank, I went to Sri Gawa to stock up my stationery to US. Took this and that, ended up paying RM 25.10 for mechanical pencil, pencil leads (Buncho), 2 liquid correction pen (Pentel), 2 glue stick, and 3 highlight pens. Still, that wasn't enough. RM 20 were spent in Popular in Central Square. =.="
Now I am indeed poor.


Peng and I walked around in Central Square where he was finding external dvd rom and me, was looking at clothes and stationery. =P In the end, bought a piece of vest, just RM 10 and it fits me! ^.^ (hard to find clothes which fits me.

The vest will be worn inside of a T-shirt. 

I like the shoulder part.

VISA Photo is Taken Today

As what the title stated, I went to have my VISA photo shoot today. Before that, Sik Hoe told me that his VISA photo test was rejected. =.=" I'm really scared mine end up the same too. Then I have to go for another one. The cost is very expensive. Mine is RM 13.00 for 4 tiny pieces of VISA photo.

Went to "Ten to Ten" near my house. Again, my photo was taken by a friend of mine who is working in that shop. He took 5-7 times for me due to the lighting which he was not satisfied with. So, my eyes were flashed with the white light for many times. Guess this is one of the reasons most people don't have good and natural expression for their passport, license, IC photos. Haha! Besides, it was very hot wearing the coat in that room, though he lowered the temperature of the air-conditional after awhile. ^.^

Yeah! I'm going out later with Ah Peng again since he's on his way back to sp and expected to reach after 4 p.m. What to do later? Play arcade games? Play left for dead 2 in CC? Go Sri Gawa to buy some stationery?

Oh Yeah! Just received a call from mom while writing this post. My salary for the 10-days work has reached. Gonna take the cheque from my mom's friend later. ^.^ Yeah Yeah Yeah~ Yippee Yippee Ha Ha! Hopefull I can go SG first before briefing! I don't want to be "grounded" in Malaysia. =(

So many things to do later. Have to pick up my photos around 5-6pm later too. Feel nice to have all the things done in one go. ^.^ Have to settle housings and visa tonight! The office of Brookside Townhomes has not yet replied my email. =.=" TWO DAYS already! Gonna call them again tonight. Don't wanna wait for email even if they said they will reply me. Just ask them on the spot and settle it. Really wasting my time and money.

Oh yeah oh yeah~ Most important thing would be my salary... Hehehe! ^.^ *start shaking and dancing*

Mizzou's SHC and Trulaske

Though I have called Brookside and wanted to ask them questions but the female manager seemed to be busy. I think I heard her saying that she was busy signing a lease agreement. She promised to reply my email in seconds... Yea yea yea... I don't think she will before I sleep because I have waited for an hour already.

While waiting for Brookeside Townhomes to reply my email, I checked out the Student Health Center of Mizzou. To my surprise, it is very informative and helpful! I really can't believe that the center has free yoga classes called the Yoga for Stress Management. (It's not really free because it's sponsored by our own paid student health fee.) I think they will only teach some simple yoga postures. Besides, they provide lessons on meditation called the iRest (Integrative Restoration, Yoga Nidra) which costs $40.00. It is stated that it helps to improve sleeps, reduce depression, anxiety and fear, improve interpersonal relations and increase sense of control in life. The class is 2 hours per week for the total of 8 weeks. These two are under stress reduction program. There are meal planning tips and sexual health advocate peer education provided by the center too.
http://studenthealth.missouri.edu/HP/stressresources.html

Mizzou also has Woman's Center. I guess other unis will also have that. But I really like the service provided by Mizzou. All these centers and information make me feel that Mizzou do care about the students. But for now, I have no idea of how those centers work, whether it's active and really helpful or not. Guess I shall just wait and see into it when I am there for my first semester.

Other than that, I also look through the upper level admission for Trulaske College of Business. To my concern, I found that upper level admission is only available in Feb and Sept. I definitely wish to get in and choose my major in Feb but I do not know whether I am able to do so. The eligibility is completion minimum of 45 semester credit hours and the admission is based on CGPA (Mainly is CGPA.) and availability of seat for the major chosen. However, the deadline is due in September for Feb admission. So, I have no idea whether I can apply or not because I thought I have to apply using my first semester result in Mizzou. I think I have to see my advisor. Trulaske has special extension for some students, such as good students who transferred into Trulaske and needs more time to complete requirements (I think I am in this category.) and so on, but extensions are for a semester only. On the other hand, it's scary to know that if the student has completed 60 or more semester hours but still couldn't get admitted to the Upper Level, then the student will be transferred out of business school!!! [怕怕]
http://business.missouri.edu/1839/Default.aspx

Hungry...but it's too late to take food. =( Gonna sleep. Still have to take VISA photo later. (Definitely look ugly. sad.)

No Turning Back

There's no turning back now. If there's a way to turn back time, I would change my decisions. It's impossible to say that I have never regretted. If I did, then I would be a big liar.

There's only one thing I would want to change, which is unis that I applied.

First time knowing University of Wisconsin - Madison, I thought of applying. I think it's a pretty good school. Reasons I gave up?

1. Too many people are applying.

2. I thought it was hard to get admitted and I thought I must be admitted by Madison.

3. Priority date was 15th Dec 2009. I thought I must submit before that day.

4. We were too late to be officially together, hence, we don't have much time to decide which uni we want to go together because we have our own plans before we are together.

What now?

Going to University of Missouri-Columbia alone.

I was admitted by this uni in the end of Feb and received my I-20 in March, I think. This is the reason why I gave up applying to Ohio State University (OSU) in the last minute. My thought: no point applying to another extra uni when you have secured one. Don't waste the money.

Ended up being alone in Mizzou and four of my friends are going to OSU together.

It's fine. What's more? My first choice uni, University of Washington, gave me reply in late of June! So, while waiting for it, I can't do a thing for Mizzou! In the end, what I got was "Thank you for having interest in UW". How sad that was! Due to this factor, I am not able to get the housing I want. Spending all night to find for other housings, and the result? Most of the places are full! All my courage ran out last night. Tears flowing helplessly.

In the end, I found a place called Brookside Townhomes. Called them. Lucky to know that there are three rooms left for the plan I want which is the Four Rooms: Walkout. The place looks nice. (From photos on website) It's expensive. The basic is already $424.75 though the website states $387.75. With furnish (I don't know whether it's fully furnished or semi-furnished), they add-on $31.25, making the rent to be $456.00 per month. I dare not sign up for the utilities package because $474.75 per bedroom. ($50.00 per month) I don't have sufficient money to pay for the total rent all together every month if I sign up for utilities. So, have to save on electricity. Besides, the houses are 5.1 miles away from my uni! Though there are free buses every 30 minutes to fetch the residents, but I think I still have to prepare early because the journey might take 15-20 mins, not including the walking I have to do after reaching campus. Breakfast will be prepared every morning. It's a good service but I do not know whether it is healthy and tasty or not. The manager even said that I will only sign my lease agreement on the day I arrive US. So, I have to pay on the spot, sign on the spot and move in on the spot since she said I can move in anytime in August. However, the lease ends on 15th July every year. I don't know where am I going to live from that date until 14th August. Gonna try looking for some temporary room when I am there in the states. Hmm...what else? Oh! Roommate matching service is provided. Hopefully I end up living with pretty good roommates. Weight room, pool, internet are included in the rent too, together with hushwall! I like this criteria. I can have the room all to myself without worrying about disturbing others, especially when I webcam with my bf. Unlike other living places, Brookside Townhomes has no computer labs which provide free printing. Guess I'll have to find a solution for it.

Link to the Brookside Townhomes to see photos and floorplans: http://www.brooksidetownhomes.com/units/four_four_wo

Next would be my visa. All the SEVIS fee, visa application fee and service fee are paid. Now just left with...oh ya! I forgot about visa photo! Gonna find one day to take it. Totally forgot about it. So, I just left with the form, visa photo and interview. Lot of things to be done actually. I've not even start buying winter clothes, luggage bags and etc... Can't believe that the day to fly to US is so near. Start to feel a bit scared. ~.~ NO MORE HOLIDAYS... wu~wu~wu~ =(