回国准备¶
Preparing to return home after graduating from studying in the UK
Firstly, here
Congratulations, you've graduated
Secondly, every year during graduation season
It floods our screens
Reminding us how quickly time flies by
Ding ding ding... This year is no exception
I've seen all sorts of poses, photos, and
Funny little videos, hehehe
Yes
At this moment, you must be very excited about graduating
And if you haven't graduated yet, you must be longing for it
If neither applies
Um...
Pretend I didn't say anything.
What should I pay attention to before returning to my home country after graduation?
Don't panic, after all, your journey of learning has just begun. There are still many multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blank questions, essay questions, brainstorming questions, disadvantageous questions, or even a blank sheet of paper given to you, asking you to cut it and come up with your own questions, and finally answer them yourself. Of course, the possibility of this is negative because, after all, when it comes to practical matters like marriage and work, can you really convince your parents and make your own decisions? Well, darling, I believe in you, so you must believe in yourself and work hard.
Cancel your UK bank account. This guide has instructions on how to cancel a bank account.
Go and cancel your bank account. Although it's not necessary to cancel it, for example, I didn't cancel mine, and I was quite scared and worried. When I was in China, I repeatedly asked the NATWEST bank staff whether I would be fined or mysteriously charged if I didn't cancel my account, or if it would affect my credit rating in the UK, and so on. But the response was that as long as the bank account is not linked to any automatic payments such as utilities, gym fees, etc., or there are no irregular overdrafts or any illegal activities, there is no need to cancel it. If you don't use it for several years, the account will be closed, usually after 5 years.
However, if you have any linked payments or outstanding debts, if you don't settle them and cancel the account, you may face high fines and be blacklisted in the UK. So when you apply for a visa the next time you go to the UK, they will immediately know that you have a poor credit history. Of course, this is specific to Natwest Bank, for other banks, you need to inquire about their specific procedures.
When renting a house, it is best to inform the landlord or agency of the exact date you will be moving out 1-2 months in advance. This way, they will have sufficient time to return your deposit. Usually, the deposit is not returned immediately after moving out; it may take 2 weeks or even 2 months, or even longer. So it's important to inform them in advance to prevent any delay in returning your money. Also, remember to frequently remind them, preferably before you leave the UK, to ensure you receive your deposit.
When moving out, you should restore the room to its original condition before moving in. As long as there is no deliberate damage, the deposit should be returned on time. If you are renting a house, you will need to clean it and restore it to its original state. So far, I haven't heard of any agency, including Chinese agencies, foreign agencies, or individual Chinese landlords, not deducting any deposit. Usually, they deduct a certain amount per person, ranging from £20 to £50. Why is that?
Well, you ask me, um, I guess it's because they usually use the excuse that it hasn't been restored to its original state, such as minor scratches or inadequate cleaning, and so on. Among them, the most important thing is that many students cover the smoke detectors in the house with pockets. Remember, before moving out, be sure to remove them; otherwise, your deposit will be deducted, about £50 or so.
If you are living in student apartments like Study Inn, etc., and it is discovered that you covered the smoke detectors with pockets, you may face a fine because this behavior is illegal in the UK.
For example, when I moved out for the first and third time, one was a school dormitory and the other was a house. I moved out according to the prescribed time and cleaned it myself because I didn't pay any deposit, so I didn't incur any fees. The second time I moved out, I rented a house through a Chinese agency. There were four rooms in total and four people living there. The agency said we had to restore it to its original condition before moving in, and they would inspect it. So the four of us started cleaning by ourselves, including clearing the weeds in the garden. In our garden, we had many self-grown potatoes, flowers, and some artificially planted onions.
After cleaning half of it, we felt unsure and contacted the agency again to clarify their requirements. The agency said that cleaning included dust on the windows, mold on the walls, carpet cleaning, cleaning the range hood and refrigerator, as well as every nook and cranny of the house. If it's not in compliance with the requirements, the deposit will be deducted. We asked how to ensure that the deposit won't be deducted, and they replied that we must use their recommended cleaning company. This way, if it's not cleaned properly, the responsibility lies with the cleaning company. In the end, we chose the cleaning company recommended by the agency, which costI apologize for the previous response. Returning to your home country after graduation involves several important considerations. Here are some key points to pay attention to:
Immigration and visa matters: Ensure that your visa or residence permit is valid until your departure date. If you need to extend or transfer your visa, make sure to initiate the process well in advance. Contact the relevant immigration authorities or consult with an immigration lawyer for guidance.
Accommodation and rental agreements: If you have been renting a place during your studies, notify your landlord or rental agency about your departure date according to the terms of your rental agreement. Give them sufficient notice, typically 1-2 months, and inquire about the process for reclaiming your deposit.
Financial matters:
Bank accounts: If you have a local bank account in your study country, consider whether you need to close the account or if it can be maintained remotely. Some banks may require you to close the account in person or provide alternative arrangements for managing it from abroad.
Outstanding bills: Settle any outstanding bills, such as utility payments, internet bills, or outstanding debts, to avoid complications or penalties after your departure.
Health and insurance:
Health insurance: Review your health insurance coverage and understand its limitations or expiration date. Ensure you have adequate coverage until you return to your home country or arrange for new coverage if needed.
Medical records: Obtain copies of your medical records, including vaccination records and any ongoing treatments, to have them available for future reference.
Academic documents:
Transcripts and certificates: Request official transcripts and obtain any necessary certificates or diplomas from your educational institution. These documents may be required for future job applications or further education.
Personal belongings:
Packing and shipping: Decide whether you will take your belongings with you or ship them back to your home country. Make necessary arrangements for packing, shipping, or selling any items you do not plan to take with you.
Tax obligations: Understand your tax obligations in both your study country and your home country. Determine if you need to file tax returns or claim any tax refunds before leaving.
Network and connections:
Maintain contacts: Stay connected with friends, classmates, professors, and professional networks you have established during your studies. Exchange contact information and stay in touch through social media or professional platforms.
Alumni networks: Explore opportunities to join alumni networks or associations related to your educational institution. These networks can provide valuable connections and resources for your future career.
Remember to plan and organize these tasks well in advance of your departure date to ensure a smooth transition back to your home country after graduation.
If you have a cute little pet, remember to bring it home with you. Even if your pet is not cute, you should still remember to bring it back to your home country.
Remember to bring important documents such as passport, visa, BRP, graduation certificate, transcript, and so on.
You can make a graduation plaque at your school for your graduation certificate. It can stand upright and have engraved words on it. Although it may be expensive to make it in the UK and cheaper to engrave it in your home country, the one made by your school in the UK feels different, and the memories associated with it are also unique.
PS: Graduation is the beginning of stepping into another dreamland, a transparent space full of dreams. It's beautiful. Taking hesitant steps, I ventured in and imagined. If this place is covered with lavender in all directions, even the sky is filled with it. I stand in the center, close my eyes, feel the arrival of the wind, listen to the swaying of the flower sea, and couldn't help but burst into laughter suddenly. With an upward curve on my lips, I open my arms and start spinning. I open my eyes, and there it is, it's really there.
Now, imagine if there are mountains, lush greenery, flowing streams in this place. The riverside is adorned with little daisies, and the grass hides nuts. Those are the nuts of squirrels, and they are also my nuts. I take a nut and place it in my palm, then crouch down. There's a chubby squirrel in front of me, so round and plump. Its agile nature is not hindered by its round shape. It quickly runs towards me, approaching my hand, and suddenly brakes to a halt.
Then, it cautiously looks left and right, examines the situation, and then leans over with trust. It sniffs the scent and exclaims, "Wow, it smells so good!" In a flash, it grabs the nut with its mouth and runs away, all the way to a spot one meter away from me. After looking around, it swiftly digs a hole with its hands, then takes the nut out of its mouth and holds it in its hands. It glances at the nut, gives it a lick, and finally buries it in the hole. Once it's buried, it even moves a few leaves to the side. Perfect. Then, it happily goes off to play.
Now, imagine, wow, a rainbow! It's the first time I've seen such a rainbow, a circular rainbow. It descends from the sky straight into the ground, then flies back up to the sky, surrounding me and forming a circle. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, the colorful ribbons dance in the air, embellishing the four-dimensional space and making it even more beautiful today.
Now, imagine if there were ladders descending from the sky, leading to a house surrounded by spring colors. There are people waiting for you there. The whole space is deep blue. Here and there, small stars with blinking eyes are playing hide-and-seek, cheerfully urging me on. Occasionally, a colorful shooting star streaks across the sky. Every time I climb a step, like magic, there's a surprise. On the first step, petals rain down from all directions—roses, lilies, cherry blossoms, peonies, daisies. On the second step, colorful birds fly in, dancing. One of them mischievously flies onto my shoulder, bringing a beautiful flower crown for me.
On the third step, I receive a candy. It's quite magical, shaped strangely, small and resembling a tiny box. The box is made of sugar and not at all sticky. The surface of the box is intricately carved with drifting clouds, exquisitely done. Surprisingly, the box can be opened, revealing a small, small floating candy flower inside. It seems like with a slight movement, it could spill out.
Dreaming endlessly, imagining without end, you are there, so he is there.
Do you understand?
How many "if" did you see above?
Are you the same as me?
Infinite energy,
With yourself.
As Papi Jiang said, the future you will keep graduating, graduating from one project, graduating from being a novice, graduating from a failed relationship. Each time you graduate, it's a new beginning. Graduating from school is just one of the graduations in your life. There are various other graduations waiting for you.
Keep going, seek change, surpass yourself, become better and better. That's what you should do now. Everyone will go to another world, but not everyone truly lives from the heart.