Result

After struggling with my desired university for months time, yesterday I received the rejection letter from them, saying that it is not the matter about my skill or academic performance, but is the matter of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Culture (KMK) of Germany.

I understand, universities only look for talent but not a fairly common student.

Before I started this blog, I had already known the truth.

But I believe in God there is a better plan for my life.

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

糯米糍 

Sweet Glutinous dumplings with red bean filling

Some of the things I do to prepare for the study

In order to refresh my old memory on environmental matter and also the mathematics skill, I borrow books from library to help me recovering my environmental science knowledge, and ask brother to teach me again the algebra and calculus mathematics. Not sure if all these are useful to my further studies, but better than preparing nothing.

I also read newspaper everyday morning to keep myself update to the latest environmental news, issue and technology. I find myself becoming a more environmental friendly people as when I have better understanding about the ecology, earth nature, our community and our environment!

My German learning course started since last November. Before that I have been learning German on my own. But want to make sure I can pass the Start Deutsch 1 exam, I join the course. I will graduate from A.1 soon and will sit for the exam next month! Cheers!
 (Don't think I become a German expert. Obviously it is not enough for one to live in Germany! Even a simple consulation letter from a German doctor,,, I cannot read it at all...@.@!!!)


My German practice...silly writing ^^....

I found an university in Germany

I have spent about 4 months to seek for a suitable university programme which I guessed I would be probably able to study there. Here are some limitations I set when I was looking for the right programme:

The programme must be:
1) Bachelor degree course (or above) ;

2) Interesting to me ;

4) Taught in English ;

5) No language exam is required except TOEFL or IELTS;

6) Super low tutition fee ^^

Of course, must of the time I searched universities within Germany. However, I also spent lots of time to search if there were also suitable programme within Europe that could fulfill my limitation of studies. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any. They were neither very high tutition fee, nor having harsh entrance requirement like: got pass in certain language exam, experiences in certain professional field,..etc. It is absolutely impossible for me to reach those requirement!!!

And then, one day, I found that there is an environmental related programme in BTU, Cottbus, Germany. I couldn't believe my eyes that eventually I found one that could meet all my requirement and most important is: I am interested in that programme! I was an environmental science student before. Now I found an relevant university programme in a German university! Is that a coincidence?

And then I looked into their syllabus, I found that it was very interesting! My favorite modules are Earth System, Ecosystems, Environmental Social Science and Intercultural Competence. I think they can help me to:

 

1) Understand the intercultural influence on public, commerce and government, and so to convey important messages, persuade them and manage our environment effectively;

2) Analyze data and statistics, the diversities of flora and fauna, so to issue an advanced environmental plan to maintain the biodiversity of that region;

3) Learn effective ways of handling waste;

4) Learn ways of minimizing pollutions and wastes generated from industries, learning ways to approach a greener production process and products;

5) Learn about air and water quality control....etc.

So I am going to apply for it^^ I want to save our environment! At least try to save my home city -- Hong Kong!

Concert of Encouragement

In last November my bf and me went to Macau for seeing my bf's favorite singer, Priscilla Chan's, singing concert. I am not her fans but many of her songs are long-lastingly hit. I also enjoy to listen to her songs. During the middle of the concert, Priscilla shared some of her stories happened in her different stages of life. One, she mentioned, was deciding to America for studies in her mid20s. And that was the case I am going through now. At that time, she had to stop, or say, to give up, her bright and dazzling superstar career, so as to further her studies. Although her superstar career was almost faded away after she finished her studies, she thought those years spent on studies changed her mind and was valuable to her. It just like somethings that God wanted to me may be!

After the concert, I felt my desire to go for studies was right. Even though I might have to give up all the things I have in Hong Kong, still I consider exploring myself to a meaningful try is worthy to my future life rather than staying in Hong Kong , never try to find out nor understand the meaning of life.

Pursue my dream

In last year October. I went to a mini mini concert with my friends and family. The performer was my auntie's brother. I didn't know what the concert was about when I promised my aunties I would come. And my aunties didn't know what the concert was about as well! It was actually better that we both didn't know and we knew only once we were in the concert. Because the concert was actually about ---- Pursuing the dreams.

I felt God was too amazing. He used this concert to surprise me, gave me power to continue chasing my dream. After daydreaming (want to study in Germany) for 2 months, I was somehow stuck and started to think negative. I wondered if the thought of chasing such an unrealistic dream was foolish.

I have to say, this song become my favorite song. It has been supplying me lots of power along the time I am working hard on my dream. I think, without this song, I might have given up my dream. And I really thank you to my auntie's bro he made a very inspirational song!

Sorry I am not a good cameraman >.< . Also...It is a Cantonese song.

I translate it to English you will see the lyrics at the bottom:

夢想追尋

夢想追尋不可再漂泊 努力辛苦總堅持 終有日見彩虹

求夢想飛揚 美麗人生閃亮 早已忘憂 樂群歡 給心靈指向

縱然前路是絕境 荊棘隔絕寸草生

困惑故顧慮 將我擊碎挫折令我恐懼

你是全能造物主 恩雨降下寸草生

賜下盼望 美麗夢想愛裡沒有恐懼

無悔去獻上我生命力 讓光陰輕拍我肩膊

我願繼續夢想 每日繼續夢想 要確立我生命

無悔去獻上我生命力 讓光陰輕拍我肩膊

我願繼續夢想 每日繼續夢想 要確立我生命

Pursue my dream

Pursue my dream. Don't drift anymore. Insist to Work very hard. Eventually I will see the rainbow.
Hoping my dream fly. Life is a beautiful shine.

Forgotten the bitterness. Joy with my love. And give direction to my the heart.

Even if the future is hopeless. Thorns isolate any grass to grow.
Confusion and worries crush me down. Make me fear.
You are the Almighty Creator. Your Grace rain let grass grow.
You gift the hope. And beautiful dream. In Your Love there is no fear.

I have no regret to spend my vitality. Let time pat my shoulder.
I would like to continue to dream, day and night, to dream and to establish my life.
I have no regret to spend my vitality. Let time pat my shoulder.
I would like to continue to dream, day and night, to dream and to establish my life.

Consulates Visit

Suddenly an idea of study oversea came into my mind. For a very long time I thought it as impossible and It was only in my dream. But after read that book. Seems it is not that far from me.

If I can work while studying in university, there should be no problem for study abroad.

So I took an university consultation session which held by Goethe-Institute. The professor didn't give me much idea about my study plan (since I didn't have a solidate study plan at that time!), but instead he recommended me to visit the Germany consulate. I didn't think of visiting consulate before! Seems like a kind of very serious place... Anyway, I needed to gather more information so as to make up my plan, so I went there in the next day.

I arrived Germany consulate in the morning. That was a much much more serious place than I thought. Before I entered, I was told to put all my belongings into locker, and passed through "metal check" something like that, treated like I was a terrorist. After that  the security guard let me come in. I queued up, waiting to proceed to the counter and raised up my those stupid silly questions that I wanted an answers. Then was my turn. The staff was a Hongkong lady. I asked her if I could work in Germany while studying and how many hours I could work.  She answered me," As a student you are not permitted to work!" She was very sure for her answer and stood firm, not going to answer me any further questions concerning "work in Germany". She just gave me a paper of visa application detail and that's all! She told me to check everything by myself. In such hopeless situation I asked her," then, what can I do?" She said," think by yourself." That's it! I felt very bad. She didn't answer any my questions at all!!!!

Then I went to Poland Consulate. This time came with a very nice Hong Kong lady to answer my doubt. I told her about my dream and my worries. She was very kind. She listened to me and try to help me. But like many other people, she thought it would be very difficult to get a part-time job in Poland especially when I didn't know any Polish!

Finally I went to Italy Consulate. On the way going there, I was afraid the staff would be like the one I met in Germany consulate today, answered me something like "think by yourself"!!.......Anyway I arrived. An Italian staff was standing near the door. Thanks God, he was a very nice man. Again I told him about my study plan and seeked for advices. He listened to me and answered me every questions. Nevertheless, the only thing was that he also thought my plan was too difficult to achieve. Then I showed him how desperate I want my dream. I told him, " I know it is difficult, but I want to try. I want to try to see if I can succeed." Then out of surprise he replied,

"If you do not try, it is not possible;
But if you try, you try, and you try, it is possible, it is possible, if you try, it is possible!"
He understood my feeling. I was so Happy! He had same belief with me. He gave me courage to chase my dream.

I was so glad that I visited the consulates and talked with the people. Thanks God gave me courage.

The Italy Consulate they gave me two very very beautiful posters as gifts! I told them I love Italy very much. I stick them in my bedroom so that I can look at them everyday ^^.

.

Dream of Study Abroad

I remember when I was 14, I heard about students exchange programme. In the advertisement, Hong Kong students who joined this exchange programme would study oversea, mostly US or UK, for 1 year. That was my first time to know about things like study abroad. I was very excited and put this fantastic idea in front of my mum and dad, asked them if they could supported me. I didn't have much concept on money at that time, and my dad and mum just rejected me by simply answered me, " it is impossible, we have no money."

At at time, I was very unhappy for quite a long time. I didn't expect unaffordable would be the reason of objection.

Time went by, I completed my higher diploma studies, started working for a few years. I saved some money and went traveling. I am a super shy and passive girl. Everyone says so. However, with God and His grace, He took away my fear and let me travel alone twice in Europe. I always wonder, may be God knows I didn't complete my dream of being an exchange student, so instead, He gave me opportunity to travel alone twice.

Those traveling experiences somehow change me. And it is just like a seed planted in my heart. I always want to go back. During the trip, I met many people, some of them were not locals, they studied, stayed and worked there. It is kinda special in my mind, as in Hong Kong 99% of people will not stay and work abroad! May be we only know to make money. We don't know how to feel our lives. And I really admired those people I met that they were not afraid of uncertainty, they were just doing what they thought were right and meaningful.

After I back to Hong Kong for few months. I started to search for information about working oversea. In Hong Kong, we have holiday working visa (up to 1 year) to several countries like: Taiwan, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Ireland, UK and Canada. I have more interest in going to western countries. So I started looking up information for working in those countries, especially Germany.

Well, why Germany? I think it is because she is a big, strong and safe, and non-English speaking European countries and I think I can have more fantastic experience if I can stay there 1 year. Moreover, I guess there won't be too many Hong Kong people choose Germany as she is not an English speaking country! So, easier to get a visa ^^~

In August, I borrowed a book from library. This book is written by a group of Chinese students who studied in Germany. In the book they talked about how they chose universities, their (very difficult) lives in Germany and their working experience in Germany. I found that Germany had very prefect education system. Also,their government encourage high educational level throughout their nation by having very low or even zero tuition fee. Suddenly, I feel in my heart, a hope is flashing, something that I've almost forgotten for 10 years.



"May be...I can try to study and work in Germany..?"

How my dream began...

I believe everyone has a dream. Some people think they don't know a dream because they are afraid to dream, they don't think their dreams are possible to come true and so they forget it.

It is just what on me. I am in my late 20s, I have been working for couples of years. I didn't go into university but I always wish to go into. Sometimes at night I would have dreams of going back to study again. I told myself I am not in teenage I shouldn't think of going back to university. It is kinda wired. Do I want to graduate at 30 years old? By that time nobody will employ such an old "fresh grad"! I just kept buried my dream and let me life go on without much propose. Indeed, I wanted to further my preious studies. I just had no courage to do so. and this matter was just always in my heart and seems it never faded away.

Until last year, some people I met in my traveling trip changed my mind dramaticaly. They are the people not fear to chase their dream, putting risk in their life but they are happy with it. I guess this liftstyle may not suit everyone. But I believe that there is no harm to chase your dream. Although I know eventually we all will be getting old, and die, and all the effort we have spent in  lives will just like "zero". But I think, God gives us lives, He wants to see how strive we are to shine our brightness in our lives. He doesn't want us to stay in a safe condition bcoz of fear. He wants to see, how we try our best to follow Him and chase what He thinks is meaningful without fear.

Since then, I start to think about what actually my dream is. At the very begining, my dream is just to stay abroad and work for one or two years. I think life in Hong Kong is crazy. Thanks to the  stressful lifestyle I got several chornical illness. On the other hand, I want to widen my horizon and to strengthen my character. So, at the begining, I thought about working in Germany or somewhere, I don't want to fear anymore about losing everything I have in Hong Kong but to gain some unique experience in my life.



I will continue to write later and explain why later my dream changed. I hope you will keep your eyes on my blog. I am appreciated to share with you my story and hoping we all can work hard to chase the dreams. Don't give up!

My dream deep down in my heart...

I've a dream. My dream is to study in a German university. This dream has been in my heart for years and I have put much effort on it. Hoping one day I can succeed. I'm just a very common person. I am not intelligent, not young and not rich. I just want to do my best to achieve my dream. Dream is good. Dream is the gift from God. With dream, life becomes meaningful. Everyone should strive to chase their own dreams. I'm not an active blogger. I start to write blog because I want to record all the effort I have done and all the precious experiences I've experienced during the days I chase this dream. And, finally, no matter I fail or succeed, I will not feel regret for all the things I've done.

I would like to share with you.  and I hope my experiences can courage those who also want to chase their dreams.

  

 ---------------------------

 This is one of the Quotes I always think of:

              Believe in Yourself

       
              Set your standards high 
              You deserve the best. 
              Try for what you want 
              And never settle for less. 
              Believe in yourself 
              No matter what you choose. 
              Keep a winning attitude 
              And you can never lose. 
              Think about your destination 
              But don't worry if you stray 
              Because the most important thing 
              Is what you've learned along the way. 
              Take all that you've become 
              To be all that you can be. 
              Soar above the clouds 
              And let your dreams set you free. 

                      by Jillian K. Hunt