(The photo and the text are from the interviewee.)

     Lan Haoyang, graduated from the major of Finance of the International College of GCC in 2021, is now a postgraduate student in University of Nebraska Omaha. The following is the sharing of his overseas experience.

     It's almost a year away since I have started the postgraduate program, and I have been busy with study and work in the past year. Everyone simply notices on my social platform that my life is just about beer and skittles and it seems that I am always trying new things and have a wonderful life. But in fact, I live a very ordinary and regular life every day with a good mood and an effective planning.

     In addition to the regular courses and homework every week, I have part-time internship every week, but as an international student, I can only work 20 hours a week. I usually arrange the courses in the afternoon or evening, so in the morning I will go to the office and work from 8:30 to 12:30. I major in Financial Engineering and Business Management, and I am currently working as an operation intern in a multinational trading company, tracking the shipment of orders and scheduling during transportation.

     A stable job guarantees my income, which supports my daily expenses. A good working atmosphere makes us free from worries of involution and we communicate more via emails. We only need to finish our own work on time and enjoy our free time after work. When off duty, I always get my own itinerary for the day well-arranged, such as having a haircut, shopping for groceries, going to the library to do homework, going to gym, or having dinner with friends. Actually, life is not that colorful, but we still need to live our life well. I'm also confused about where to go in the economic downturn, but I'm still full of confidence in the future. All I need to do is to finish the trivial things in my life and live every day well. In the morning, I set myself the goals of not making mistakes and finishing my work on time. If there is anything that I want to eat, I will treat myself within my capability. I will also arrange the tasks that I need to complete and reduce the unnecessary consumption. If my happiness is based on consumption, I need to work harder to fulfill it. There are not many entertainment or recreational activities in the United States, so being lonely is normal. How to adjust mentality determines the quality of life.

     I think there are two key words for studying abroad, independence and loneliness. You will adapt to loneliness when eating alone, going to supermarkets alone, attending classes alone, or even having a hot pot and watching movies alone when you are bored. Independence means when you are being alone, you will be forced to move forward on your own. You need to depend on yourselves in assembling the furniture and fix the problems of water, electricity and network. You can sleep for the whole day; you can also stay at home by instant noodles and McDonald's. But time flies for overseas study. In foreign countries, there is no nagging from parents, no discipline from counselors but self-discipline. A truly wonderful life is to make every day valuable. Only by learning how to manage and plan time can you become a better self.

     Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the teachers of this program in the International College. Compared with other international students, many difficulties have been solved ahead of time with their help. I am lucky to be able to study abroad through the Sino-foreign cooperative education program of the International College, which has really helped me and changed my life track.