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Just like West Malaysia, Sarawak is very advanced and futuristic-y. Many people tend to think Sarawak is just all jungle and rivers. But all in all, it is still very far away from home and the only way to get back home is by plane. Nevertheless, everything here in Sarawak is almost the same back there. We have multiple shopping malls located at the heart of Kuching.
Even so, you are still pretty far away from home , away from your parents and you are forced to life alone with new people, new environment. It's best if you have a clear mindset of what you need to be in uni-life. spirits can be trampled, confidence can be shattered, conscience can crumble, and sometimes life can even be taken. Therefore, make sure to have a strong mind set, be acceptable to change and new opinions,and never give in to temptation and cultured shock. Even with friends, they cannot control you, because you are free to make your own choices. so chin up and see through it head-on.
The Do's and Don'ts
THE DO'S
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Try each and every cuisine that you can afford. Sarawak has one of the world's weirdest style of food and it would be a shame to turn down exquisite delicacies
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Try to be friendly with the locals so that they can show you the wonders of Sarawak. Ask around, For example, you can have a good friend from Sarawak that could bring you up hiking at Gunung Santubong.
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Try adapting to the language. It would be easier to communicate in the future with them. Bahasa Sarawak is not as much different from Bahasa Melayu.
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Bring the things that is dear to you from West Malaysia to latch on to during hard times. That way it keeps you "on the ground".
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Save up money as much as possible. Because the prices of everything here in Sarawak is considerably more expensive compared to West Malaysia. Save up in case of an emergency.
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Study smart and don't give up no matter what .
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Toughen up , mentally and physically.
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Use advanced gadgets. One of the reasons is that UNIMAS uses QR Code attendance. Therefore, you need a phone that supports scanning. Also, go for laptops with good functions. Because everything you do , where ever you go around campus, you laptop will be glued to you. It helps tremendously if your laptop has high speed processor so that lagging can be avoided.
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Find a friend that could accept you for you and support you no matter what. You will encounter people with many personalities, many attitude many flaws. Don't let them get the worst of you, stay as neutral as possible and avoid dramas. It so doesn't with all the assignments piling up .
THE DON'TS
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Do not swim absentmindedly in any river. Sarawak is famous for having crocodile on the loose. So avoid swimming in the rivers to avoid being breakfast, lunch or dinner.
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Do not disrespect your lecturer.Basically, in uni-life, your marks are all depending on how your lecturer likes you. Do not screw up or hurt their feelings ad it will definitely hurt your marks too. Failing a subject equals to repeating the semester.
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Do not neglect your health. Sleep is vital as it helps rest your body and mind.Exercise and eat healthily and regularly.Drink more mineral water as it helps hydrate you.
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Do not do things that is out of your league. uni-life is where students try out new things, but do not let those things ruin your future.
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Do not speed drive. There aren't many speed traps, traffic light and there's a lot of roundabouts and straight roads. Students with vehicles tend to speed off when ever they drive and many accident cases involves student loosing their lives . So, drive carefully.