blink Posted September 8, 2009 at 10:23 AM Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 at 10:23 AM If any of you are here yet we should get together for coffee before the whole registration debacle starts. How about Wednesday or Thursday? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanxue Posted September 8, 2009 at 07:19 PM Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 at 07:19 PM Hey guys, I've received a 1-semester Confucius Scholarship for BNU and will be going there for the spring semester next year. I'd appreciate if you guys could keep this thread updated with what's going on at BNU, how the classes are, and everything else!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blink Posted September 9, 2009 at 08:16 AM Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 at 08:16 AM FYI near the elevators in dorm 3 is a table with students who will help you with... well probably anything. When I went by there this afternoon their was a Japanese speaker and an English speaker named Clive. He went with me to the China mobile service center a few doors down to get the PUK (personal unlock code) for my locked SIM. (I tired at the wumei where I bought it and got laughed at definitely beyond my Chinese ability) They'll be there until thursday evening and then I think again during registration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazing grace Posted September 10, 2009 at 03:51 PM Report Share Posted September 10, 2009 at 03:51 PM You are lucky that you have such helpful and friendly students. The ones here at Xinsong weren't particularly helpful yesterday. Unfortunately the single rooms in No.3 and No.2 dormitories are fully booked. I have put my name on the reserve list for both. Fingers crossed that they will have rooms... Just a tip for future students who want a single room- reserve your room online as soon as you can! That being said, I have a lovely flatmate (I think so, we've only known each other for half an hour) She is Thai and her mandarin is amazing. We speak (or rather she speaks and I try) mandarin. Blink- I would love to meet up over the weekend if you are free? (And anyone else who wants to of course!) I will pm you my phone number. Please give me a call! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtops Posted September 11, 2009 at 06:00 AM Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 at 06:00 AM Yeah, this flatmate thing is a pain. I've been out of school on my own for awhile and haven't shared a double in years. Ah the joys of tiptoeing around so as not to wake the snoring man three feet away from me at 10:30 in the morning. The joys of being woken by the tiptoeing man at 10:30 at night. The joys, the joys. How I missed them. I, too, am on the waiting lists for singles because I was pre-registered for Number 1 Int'l Student Dorm as a scholarship recipient. Last year I had a friend here at BNU and he was under the impression that it would be easy to find a single, but now it seems that may not be the case. Anybody who went here recently have thoughts on that? I may wanna think about moving out if nothing comes up, but that brings up a $$ question... What is the cheapest accomodation one's gonna get in this area? I don't need much more'n a bed, not even a kitchen. Also, how did you new guys register for the internet? I was told by my department (Chinese language) that I have to wait until the 19th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrianlondon Posted September 11, 2009 at 09:47 AM Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 at 09:47 AM It might have changed since 2006/2007 but my experience is that compared to a single room on campus, if you're staying for a year you'll save money by renting a studio or small one-bed off campus. If you're only there for one semester then it's tricky as most lets would be for 6 months minimum and you'll pay a premium for a shorter one. It can be done, though. You could check websites for a flatshare (such as thebeijinger.com) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtops Posted September 11, 2009 at 12:40 PM Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 at 12:40 PM Yeah, I figure it'd be cheaper, too, but since I'm here on CSC money I have a housing subsidy I can use only in the dorm system--if I take a BNU simple single I'm only paying 15rmb a day, or about 500rmb a month. Before I walk into Wo Ai Wo Jia, what do locals pay for a very basic one room/studio around here? I doubt it can be what people are asking on The Beijinger seeing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blink Posted September 11, 2009 at 01:06 PM Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 at 01:06 PM Internet is 100Y a month. The office is in dorm one (the scholarship student's dorm) on the second floor. Take the stairs in the lobby not the ones that lead to the rooms. Its next to the Japanese restaurant. It's not wireless - you have to have a cable which you can buy at the desk in dorm 3 for 20Y. BTW At least some of the doubles in dorm three are like mine - A/B apartments. They have a shared livingroom and bathroom, but separate bedrooms. All the good things about having a roommate without sharing a room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtops Posted September 11, 2009 at 02:06 PM Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 at 02:06 PM Hah! I love it. One of the volunteer helpers sent me to the Technology Building for internet. They sent me to my department. My department says it's a no go. Then it turns out I can get hooked up by walking downstairs? Pretty funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted September 11, 2009 at 02:15 PM Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 at 02:15 PM Welcome to China Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrianlondon Posted September 11, 2009 at 05:50 PM Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 at 05:50 PM The internet's quite slow. And it doesn't get any slower if you share a connection. I know it's only 100y but if you get a wireless router and password protect it, you can share the cost with your flatmate and probably your neighbours too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazing grace Posted September 11, 2009 at 06:18 PM Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 at 06:18 PM I completely understand the room sharing thing- I shared for one night and it was ok but I can imagine it being a pain in the long run. I have now moved rooms and am at No. 3 dormitories which are much much nicer! Just decided to chance it this morning and walked in to "enquire" about the waiting list that I had registered on a couple of days ago. The lady said there were rooms available, went to see one and here I am! They were calling people on the waiting list when I was there so if you've put your name down, they may still get in touch. Although I would just just go to the dorm you want and ask as adrianlondon had recommended. The other single here is still free so I'm sure there are others in this building that are free too. I went to see the rooms in No. 2 as well and the room I saw was quite like the one I'm in now. Like blink said, you share a bathroom, living room and have your own (lockable) single room. bigtops- Did you get the blue brochure with a breakdown of the rooms? According to that there are only 26 single rooms in No. 1. No. 2 has 96 singles. No. 3 has 292 singles and 59 apartments (2 singles, 1 bathroom and 1 living room) So it's definitely worth checking the other dorms out if you are willing to pay more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted September 12, 2009 at 12:02 AM Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 at 12:02 AM but if you get a wireless router Which is probably going to cost the difference of what you would each save Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cui ruide Posted September 12, 2009 at 07:23 AM Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 at 07:23 AM how's everyone's temperature checks going? ;p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrianlondon Posted September 12, 2009 at 05:07 PM Report Share Posted September 12, 2009 at 05:07 PM Each person who shares the internet will save 100y a month, so 400y a semester. I can get a wireless router here in London for under £20, they must be dirt cheap in zhongguancun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted September 13, 2009 at 02:32 AM Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 at 02:32 AM Ah, didn't read the part where it was 100 RMB a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtops Posted September 13, 2009 at 01:54 PM Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 at 01:54 PM Ah, you lucked out Grace. I popped in today and no luck at number three or number two... Do I take it you mean that all of the doubles in both buildings actually have single bedrooms? I've never seen that brochure and from what they said at number three it sounded like they also have doubles where you share bedrooms, but maybe I got that wrong. Guess I'll have to keep checking in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrianlondon Posted September 13, 2009 at 02:57 PM Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 at 02:57 PM I don't think No3 has any shared bedrooms. There are small "apartments" which consist of two small bedrooms, a small living area (with two seater sofa, TV and fridge) and bathroom with actual bath (the individual studio rooms only have a shower). Apart from where the cleaners live - I think they are four to a room! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazing grace Posted September 14, 2009 at 03:02 AM Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 at 03:02 AM No there are no doubles here in no. 3 but there are in no. 2 according to the brochure. Someone came to look at the other room today so it looks like the place will fill up. Hopefully I'll get a flatmate cos it was getting a bit lonely! Big tops- have you put your name on the waiting list? adrianlondon- what's it like here in the winter? are the dorms warm enough or should I be prepared for the cold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrianlondon Posted September 14, 2009 at 10:15 AM Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 at 10:15 AM I was plenty warm enough. The heating in winter and the aircon in summer both work well. My Indonesian flatmate did complain about being cold and used to walk around in those horrid looking thermal underwear outfits you'll see for sale everywhere as soon as the temperature dropped. I'm from London though, not Indonesia, and had no problems at all with the temperature. It only dropped to -9C when I was there and it stayed very dry; I felt warmer than when London gets to 1 or 2 degrees but damp. It took a few days for me to get a flatmate in Dorm 3 too. At first a Japanese guy moved in, but he ran off as soon as he saw me! Then an Indonesian guy moved in and that was fantastic. He'd come as part of a big group, some of whom had been studying at BNU for a year or more. I instantly had friends and help finding my way around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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