Friday 21 September 2018

How I got offered to UK


Lepas beberapa bulan, baru ringan tangan untuk menaip.

This semester break is so different as I spend two months in University of Sussex,United Kingdom for research program. How I got there,..


So the story started on 10th of January 2018 when one of my friend …(lets name him 'A')… told us in the "Chemistry" whatsapp group about the program. He was asking there if anyone interested to join the program so that he can emailed the full details about the program. At the moment there was 2 programs offered. One is International Junior Research Associate (IJRA) and another one is International Undergraduate Research Bursary. So I ignored the messages as I'm not interested at all.

Later, that same night.
I was texting my so call 'crush'…(was a crush of mine.. Not anymore)… And he is telling me that he was wishing to go for exchange program somewhere overseas. Then I got this kind of feeling.. Something like 'oh no. I got to be better than him. So I have to go oversea first. Before him.' I don’t know why, but I always and only feel challenged when it come to him. So I texted 'A' asking for the details about that program. He emailed me.

Go through the emails and details about both program. But they don’t offer any scholarship or sponsorship except the research grant. Meaning that "I will not afford to go there joining the program". Obviously I didn’t apply for both.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

But!

The story didn’t end there..

On 11th February 2018, while I was playing bowling with my friends, 'A' texted me, asking if I'm still interested to join the program as he is desperate to submit few candidates. I told him clearly that I couldn’t afford them. Our conversation goes something like…..

'A' : kau nak join tak IJRA? Aku kena hantar nama dekat Prof Yatimah ni…
Me: tak da duit nak hidup kat sana..
'A' : Prof cakap tak payah risau pasal duit…      (seriously guys.. Don’t ever believe)
Me: ya ya jaa….
'A' : kasi je lah nama.. Nanti confirm tak dapat.. Diorang mesti pilih yang pointer tinggi je..
Me : suka hati kau lah..

This is how I got involved…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The other candidates are very strong. So I'm so confident that I would not be chosen. But.. From all the candidates, they chose 'A' and me. So the process go on and on.. But at the moment I'm pretty sure that will never got the offer…(ya la.. Pointer pun tak lepas.. Apo..)… but the drama got worsen when only me got the offer letter. Which mean, I will have to go alone without 'A'. And aku tak ada duit pun nak pergi..

So I rejected their offer. I told them that I will not afford all the living expenses there. I was so happy at that time. At last, I will not going! Yessssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tapi.. Kusangka panas hingga ke petang. Rupanya hujan ditengah hari..

They (the university that organize the program) got back to me offering full sponsorship (including flight tickets, transportation from and to the airport and weekly stipend).. Basically, everything is free. Yet I still reluctant to go there. Ya lah. First time jauh dengan mak ayah.. Beribu-ribu miles pulak. So, I rejected them again.

After that, UM kejar aku hari-hari weh… call, text, email. So UM agreed to sponsor some more. As preparation of going there. -_-.. Don’t believe them guys. But I agreed somehow. But it just few weeks before the flying date. It is the biggest decision I have ever made in my life. Regret? Of course. At first.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Will write more (how I experience 16 hours flight ALONE, how I experience first time in UK, how I become the most ungrateful person in the world,how I survive there alone, places I've visited while in UK & many more).. But, Till next time .