Dumela Hafrik fam! Ke a leboga to everyone who answered my panicked messages last week about the residence permit appointment. I walked into that office with a folder thicker than my winter coat and walked out with the actual sticker in my passport! Is this what winning feels like? The lady at the counter even smiled when she handed it back — is that normal??

Tiny tip from a rookie: make two copies of everything, even the page that feels useless. They wanted my admission letter twice. Twice!

Three months in and I finally feel a little bit official. Next mission: figuring out why Hangzhou winter is personally attacking me.

Ke a leboga again, you guys are the best. 🙏