Midwest Games International

embed from midwest facebook page

Midwest Games has become an annual grand event for gatheting malaysian around middle west area of North America. Since 1970, Midwest Games has successfully gathered students from universities in the States and last year midwest has been brightened up with a team from Canada led by Mr Khamsani or also known as flyer. Rumours say that next year there will be Malaysian team from Mexico (lol) and this will further recognize the renaming of Midwest Games to Midwest Games International in 2010.

Midwest Games will be mainly focusing on sports events: soccer, volleyball, basketball, badminton, sepak takraw, ultimate frisbee, tug of war, kayak, bowling, pool, tennis, table tennis, track, golf, online games and various games depends on the organizer. There is also sukaneka for children. Midwest is not all about sport, there are events such as leadership development forum, career day, social night, mamak night, midwest banquet, and midwest night with malaysian performance.

The list of hosts of the Midwest Games since 2000:

2000 - Purdue University, West Lafayette
2001 - Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo
2002 - State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo
2003 - Purdue University, West Lafayette
2004 - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
2005 - University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
2006 - University of Wisconsin, Madison
2007 - Northern Illinois University, Dekalb
2008 - Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
2009 - cancelled (University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign)
2010 - Purdue University, West Lafayette
2011 - University of Wisconsin-Madison

Since Midwest Games is hosted in the United States, students from Canada and Mexico are required to apply for the US VISA.

Links

2011 Midwest Facebook Page
2011 Midwest Website

US VISA Clarification

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After meeting with some fresh ex-CPU students, I heard that Mr Azri recommended that US VISA should be done in Canada because it takes up to 8 week for completion.

I would like to mention that there were about 4 to 6 first year malaysian students who applied US VISA in Canada and got rejected because they required the students to stay in Canada for 1 year and half. (Source: Friend who applied last year)

Regarding the time it takes to complete US VISA. It depends on the officer, interview and your luck.

You can get:
1. As fast as on the next day (most probably)
2. within a week
3. within 2 weeks
4. within a month
5. within 3 months
6. wait zzz
7. rejected

Some of you will plan to make US VISA next year when they come back to Malaysia. However, you should consider this:

1. you plan to do summer course or repeat some course during summer
2. some flight tickets and relatively cheaper from US
3. you spend a lot of money on accessories until u have no money for ticket
4. you plan to play pianos, watch movies and play games during summer in canada
5. you plan to make a trip to europe

some of the reasons stated are nonsense actually ekeke

What next? Read guide. Do it as A.S.A.P (smoke).

Apply!

p/s If you want to know what great in the US, you can read US traveller's blog LOL - http://fa2din.blogspot.com/

Quick Guide to Canada 2.0

Important Documents (must be kept with you at all times)

• Passport
• Financial affidavit
• Acceptance letter from the university
• Boarding pass

Phone and banks

• Your seniors will help you open up a bank account and set up a phone plan. It is unnecessary to worry about them before your flight.
• You have two less things to worry about. Yay!

Clothing

• You will arrive in Canada during the fall season. It will feel like being in an air-conditioned room. A typical Malaysian sweater (or the JPA blazer) will suffice.
• Buy your winter clothing in Canada. Canadians know Canadian weather best. Hence, they know how to produce the proper winter attire. 

Money

• Keep your traveler’s cheque safe.
• The pocket money given by JPA is enough for your journey to Canada. Convert some of that money to USD because it is acceptable worldwide. So you can shop wherever your transit stop will be.
• Bring Canadian coins in case you need to use the public phone.

Electronics

• If you’re bringing a laptop, make sure that everything in it is 100% original. Copyright law is greatly enforced in Canada. Don’t risk it. Also, bring a universal adapter so that you can use your Malaysian laptop abroad.
• Do not bring electrical appliances like water kettle, iron, rice cooker, etc. You can buy all of those in Canada.

Rules and Safety

• Always remember that you are travelling in a group. If one member is in trouble, everyone will be affected.
• Don’t bring meat or plant products because you have to declare them and they’ll probably ask you to show those products to them. That’ll slow the group down. Don’t risk it by not declaring those products (if you decide to bring them anyway).
• A leader will the elected from amongst the group. Please cooperate with him/her.
• Do not go anywhere alone. Have someone with you at ALL TIMES.
• Follow the regulations regarding baggage weight. Don’t exceed even by 1kg.

Arrival

• You will arrive at Terminal 3 (Pearson International Airport, Toronto). Seniors will be there to greet you.
• If you arrive before your residence check-in date, the seniors will find a cheap hotel for you to stay in for a few days. Get in touch with the seniors early so that they can book rooms.

For more information

• Email Muhammad Aiman Azlan at ibnuazlan[at]gmail[dot]com (MASAT Student Welfare Officer)
• Email Elmo Ooi at elmoooi[at]hotmail[dot]com (MASAT President). Tel: 6479664094
• Visit icputoday.com (there are tonnes of information there for you)