Old post -- > Informative for those who wanna come to Kursk. [Edited]

Welcome to my blog.. I am Kok Horng.. People call me Kelvin here though..

Hello.. It came to my knowledge that the new students are coming to Kursk on the 29th and the 30th of September!!

So, I think there are a few people reading my blog that are future students that will be coming here to study.. So, I thought I would wanna give some head-ups for those new students..

I will give some suggestions as to what to bring and what to expect here in Kursk..

I will just start off with what to bring...

The first question that arise after being told the departure date in an average future student mind is.. What should I bring?

Here are my personal suggestions based on some personal experiences..

1. You guys don't have to bring super think clothes.. Just some sweaters.. and a windbreaker will do.. You do not.. DO NOT need to go to some shop and buy a winter jacket that will cost you quite a large sum of money! By shop is mean.. Univers*l Trav*ell*r and Winter's T**e etc.. WINTER IS OVER~!! It is spring now! Although the temperature is still around the sub-zeros.. but I think a sweater+ a t-shirt + a windbreaker (or normal jacket) is WARM enough! Mind you.. there are no fans and aircons indoors.. so.. taking out all your layers indoors is quite troublesome!

2. Well, MALAYSIANS!! You better bring a rice cooker along with you because there are no rice cookers for sale in Kursk.. So, if you wanna eat rice.. I suggest you bring a rice cooker along.. If your bag is too heavy and you cannot afford to leave anything in Malaysia (means you cannot bring a rice cooker here).. You can consult me for the method to cook rice without rice cooker! ahhaha.. I am a pro in doing that as my rice cooker spoiled. I developed a method to cook rice.. ehhehe.. XD

3. Books for first year.. mhmm.. YOU ONLY NEED AN ANATOMY ATLAS!! THAT'S ALL!! NOTHING ELSE!! (UNLESS YOU PLAN TO STAY HERE FOR SUMMER.. VERY VERY VERY FEW SENIORS DO THAT THOUGH)..

4. You will obviously need a medical coat and a medical cap.. =))

5. If you wanna cook curry or any other dishes that requires some special stuff.. For example.. curry powder.. chili powder.. ikan bilis.. oyster sauce.. chili sauce.. ikan bilis cube.. dark soya sauce.. You better bring them from Malaysia.. =))

Moving on.. As to what to expect.. mhmm.. I saved the best at fifth! ahhha.. make sure you read it.. XD

First thing to expect is actually from the Russian customs.. They will ask you a question when they see your passprot/visa.. "Otkuda?" Yeap.. it is in Russian!! They obviously know you are a first timer and yet.. they insists on speaking Russian to you first.. Well, it actually means.. "from where?" But when they ask u.. just tell them you don't speak Russian.. They will "kindly" repeat it in English..

Second thing.. to those future first years.. PREPARE FOR ATRABODKA!! It means extra class or detention class if you may.. ahhaha.. you guys are late for like 1.5 months! So, you guys gotta catch up with you lessons.. XP

Third.. Prepare quite some money in your atm.. You don't have to bring US$ 1000.. just bring 200-300 should be enough BUT make sure you have money in your bank account so that you can cash out from the ATM in the university.. (In order to save from the conversion loss!) Speaking of ATM cards.. Make sure you activated you "PLUS" service or the oversea service activation.. If not.. you will face trouble cashing out your money!

Fourth.. Prepare for slippery roads.. I think by the time you come here.. the ice would have melted away totally.. but I still have some doubts.. So.. be careful.. I mean slippery as in really slippery!! LOOK WHERE YOU ARE WALKING!! If you see a clear surface.. you better re route!! ahhahah... Trust me.. I tried "skating" down a 1 meter stretch.. Well.. today afternoon.. LOL.. If you are caught in the slide.. try not to move your legs.. just stay still.. you will "skate".. ahahah.. if you move.. PREPARE TO FALL HARD ON ICE!! =))

Fifth.. This is actually the BEST part! BE PREPARED TO WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! and WAIT! while registering! ahhahha.. Well.. AT LEAST A FEW HOURS! ahhahaha.. Its the "Welcoming" gift from Russia to you!! XD

Sixth.. Don't expect teachers to speak good english, okay? Don't get your hopes too high because before you realize.. IT WILL BE CRUSHING DOWN ON YOU!!

Lastly, should you have any question.. ask me k?

My MSN, Yahoo, facebook address is kokhorng_ooi@yahoo.co.uk

Sincerely yours,

Kok Horng @ Kelvin