USA Exchange Report University of Warrington College of Business

Jadeon Lie Spring 2018 Monthly Activity Log

January 2018 When I arrived at Gainesville, the first feeling is the air breathed in is so refreshing that I felt energized. I paid $1.5 to take bus 25 at the airport to UF Hub. I had the check-in meeting and two mandatory orientations. I got my UF ID card with which I could enjoy free bus ride. I also met my exchange local buddies from Global Gator Guide and Navigator. In Business Bash, we could meet business school student organizations and learn more about the schedule of club activities. In Student Organization Fair, different organizations introduced us their vision and events. I purchased my insurance plan and opened my bank account here in the States. I bought my textbooks. The first month passed by very quickly as I tried to navigate around UF campus and dealt with administrative matters.

Feburary 2018 This month was full of assignments and midterms. As I started to adapt myself to the system and environment there, I also had to study and do assignments. It was a very busy month for me because of different assignments, quiz and midterms in different courses every week. However, I tried to relax myself by watching Lunar New Year Festival Show held by UF CASA and KUSA which was quite entertaining. Also, Global Gator Guides arranged us to watch gymnastics competition in the evening which was really exciting. UF Team did so well! Moreover, in Weaver Hall, we made Thank You cards to military soldiers on 23rd. Additionally, one of the Global Gator Guide helped us take headshots in front of the world gator statue at Heavener.

March 2018 I was so sick that I could not leave the dorm during most of the spring break. So I was actually glad that I did not join any trips planned by my friends. I took the spring break as a time for a rest and to recover myself. After the spring break, I still had test and/ or midterm every week this month. But I participated in different activities throughout the campus, like Gator Night. Sometimes, there are fairs in the Plaza of the Americas where you can play games and get information. Moreover, NaviGators organized a BBQ in Lake Wauburg. We tried kayaking and enjoyed a lovely afternoon there.

April 2018 On April 1st, we enjoyed Easter breakfast organized by Greenhouse Church and learned about Easter history. We also watched Easter show in a big stadium. Besides, we watched Orange & Blue Game which was like a must-go sports event recommended by UF staff when we first arrived at UF. Before the game, I enjoyed the tailgate party. Local families outside UF campus also took part in the activity. My final exams commenced in the middle of the month. But I tried to squeeze my time to go to different events.

May 2018 This was the last week I stayed in UF. After I enjoyed the final exams of different subjects, I went to Bat House near sunset time to see thousands of bats flying. I also visited Florida Museum of Natural History. I returned to Weaver Hall the utensils (including the items I brought from HK) to be recycled for the next round of exchange students.

General Exchange Information

1) Visa Procedures I am holding HKSAR passport. I applied for the visa type J1 as an exchange visitor. It costed HK$1280. It is safer to apply for visa as early as possible because interview date may be late and you want to get back your passport and have your visa ready in a timely manner.

You should bring your approved DS-2019 form and the other documents required by the US Embassy for visa interview.

You are allowed to stay in the US 30 days or less before and after the program period as shown on the DS-2019 form. 2) Orientation Activities We had 2 mandatory orientations. Absent students will be dropped from fall courses.

For all the exchange students, UF International Center Orientation was on January 5, 10:30 am – 12 noon, in Carleton Auditorium.

For students taking business courses, College of Business Orientation was on January 6 at 11:30am in Heavener Hall. We enjoyed lunch together and learned about some important aspects of registration, courses, and college resources. We also walked around campus and completed some fun tasks.

I obtained my UF ID card (“Gator 1 card”) at the UF ID Card Office in the Reitz Union building.

3) International Services & Activities There was no pick-up service. My Gator Guide was not in Gainesville when I arrived. I went to UF Hub taking bus 25 near the airport which was quite convenient. I completed the check-in meeting right away. Unfortunately, there was quite some walk from the Hub to Weaver Hall.

If you have any questions, university staff would be happy to answer you.

4) Accommodations I lived in Weaver Hall which is an on-campus choice for international students. You can choose a single room or to live with a American roommate. Weaver Hall is near Reitz Union and Gator Corner Dining Center for meal plan. There are some off-campus housing options available which are cheaper.

There are a limited number of spaces available in on-campus housing, and requests are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you want to live in Weaver Hall especially a single room, I would suggest you to complete the online application as soon as possible.

Make sure you go to Weaver Hall Basement when you first arrive as you can grab as many equipements as you want, like beddings, kitchen utensils, hair dryer, lamps, etc. The dorm also provides washing machines.

5) Courses Registration Jason Ward helped exchange students register the business courses because we were not be able to add most courses on our own. Their system does not recognize our previous coursework. For some courses especially accounting courses, they may need to see the syllabi and the grades on your transcript for each prerequisite course. I registered the other courses online.

Undergraduate students can take a maximum of 18 credits per semester.

6) Teaching & Assessment Methods For most business courses, we had midterm almost once a month. It was quite intensive. The class size varies depending on the courses you take. We also used canvas as course website.

For business students, there will be no class on Friday so it will be easier for you to plan your weekend trip. Since I took classes outside of business school, I had lectures every weekday.

7) Finance & Banking You may chooese to bring all the USD you need from HK to UF. You can get a debit card by opening a bank account in Wells Fargo in Reitz Union nearer to Weaver Hall in 15-minute walk. It’s more convenient to use the debit card with advanced cash deposit for shopping without the need to count coins. You can do so with Bank of America with longer distance compared to Wells Fargo away from Weaver Hall.

8) Climate The daily temperature range is so wide usually chilly and even cold in the morning and at night while sunny in the afternoon. The weather is dry too. For this semester, the weather was quite unusual. This week was warm and the next week could be very cold. Sometimes, the rain comes suddenly even without sunshine.

9) Health & Safety I went to UF International Center and found the person responsible for insurance. She recommended me to buy the insurance plan from International Student Protection around $300 which was much cheaper than UF Student Health Insurance Plan $747.00 for Spring 2018 and $849 for Fall 2018. 10) Food I usually cooked myself as the food outside was so expensive. If you prefer not to cook, you may purchase a meal plan. There are so many restaurants you can try downtown!

11) Transportation I usually took RTS bus, which was free for students. You just need to show your student card to the driver. The bus fee in general is $1.5. You can rent a bicycle and buy a helmet just to be safe. Some people play skateboard.

12) Communication There is wifi in the dorm and the University. One trick is the wifi at supermarket is even better than that on campus. So if you want to make a online call, you may want to call in supermarket.

13) Sports & Recreation Facilities You can have access to a wide range of sports facilities on campus as long as you present your Gator 1 Card, such as swimming pool and gym near Weaver Hall. It is free to use kayak, pedal boats, canoes with time limit in Lake Wauburg.

14) Social Clubs & Networking Opportunities UF has over 1000 student clubs and organizations for you to have a fruitful exchange experience. Every exchange student taking undergraduate business classes at UF will be automatically assigned a Gator Guide as an exchange buddy. You should also join UF NaviGators International. They will send you email before you go to UF.

15) Cautionary measures I recommend GATOR SAFE app which gives instant notifications and instructions when on-campus emergencies occur. You may also have access to different campus safety resources.

There are many signs around the campus that show “Don’t walk alone at night” which is self-explanatory.

There are over 335 Blue Light Emergency Phones on campus. Pressing the button, you can contact the University Police Department official immediately. You may report crime, fire, medical emergencies or to request a police escort.

Items to Bring DS-2019 Form Winter clothing Sunscreen Umbrella Lotion USD Adaptor

Useful Links Student visa ustraveldocs.com/hk/hk-niv-visaapply.asp ustraveldocs.com/hk/hk-niv-typej.asp

Gator 1 Card bsd.ufl.edu/g1c/

Campus Life: http://www.ufl.edu/campus-life/