...it's just what I think and experience...

2013 Reflection

January

I can still sense the excitement and the tiredness of my 2-month graduation backpacking trip in Malaysia, Laos, and Thailand. Arrived in Indonesia in the mid of Jan and straightaway got stuck in my graduation preparation. Another wonderful thing besides my master graduation happened in January was a visit from a best friend from South Korea.

Fabruary-March

Nothing really happened. Just got hectic submitting my CV and cover letter to some organizations. Almost had a chance to work in Bali but suddenly cancelled. It’s also a time that I visited Jakarta the most for job test.

April

Finally got a job in one of foreign companies in Indonesia. I got accepted for their future manager program. So.. time to learn and to act as a manager. But sadly that I had to officially leave from Yogyakarta to Jakarta. Definitely sad but all the great memory in Jogja would still remain in my mind.

May-September

Experienced a month living in Jakarta. It was lonely and queer. But afterwards I moved to Kediri, East Java, until September for my work assignment. Luckily Kediri is a very nice small town. The people are nice, the foods are delicious, and the town is laid-back.

It’s quite near to everywhere in East Java so I had my 2nd chance to visit Bromo. Yet unfortunately I still missed some interesting spots.

October

Moved back to Jakarta and strived to settle my life in the bustling capital city of Indonesia.

November

Fell in love again with someone but it’s still complicated. But I started to realize that the idea to live in Jakarta is not that bad. But still, I don’t want to spend the rest of my life here. I got to know and met some nice people who I could call friends. This month, I had my chance to visit the old-ancient-tribe of Badui in West Java. Trip was amazing!

December

Few trips to Cianjur and to my hometown, Pangkep. I visited a newly found historic ruins on a mountain in Cianjur called Gunung Padang and went to witness the second largest karst in the world located nearby my hometown in South Sulawesi called Rammang-rammang.

Go Travel and See the World

Go travel and see the world as you may find that it is just so stirring; experiencing a different culture, studying in a different environment, speaking foreign language and savoring a various cuisines. Especially if you are still a student, no reason that you do not go travel and see the world for free!

You will discover that you are very grateful to have Indonesia as you country where you were born. It will have you realize that you really adore Indonesia as it has the most scrumptious food in the world based on Time Magazine. On the other side, you will find that your country still needs your active contribution as there are even more countries out there that are more developed than Indonesia for they have good quality of human resources. Somehow, that’s what I feel so far. Witnessing many develop countries has got me ponder what I can contribute to Indonesia so it can stand in line with those develop countries. The more I travel, the more I fathom that my country’s future is on my shoulder.

Note that plenty of scholarship and travel grants are available. So go travel and see the world. You may utilize Google or any other media to search for scholarship information that will be abundantly shown on your laptop screen. It’s been easy today as internet provides almost everything that we need. If you type “scholarship” on Google, believe me that you can never stop clicking links about scholarship. Bear in mind that the more you search, the more you find.

Besides, subscribe for news letter from scholarship institution to give you more accurate and regular information about student exchange or else. One that you should not ignore is the announcement board in the corner of your campus. Your campus staffs will never stick on some useless information. You might be laughing to read, but frankly saying, reading announcement board is one of my hobbies when I was still in university. Announcement board must contribute a lot on your way to make your dreams come true. Thus, keep watching it so you can go travel and see the world.

However, you’ll never find your way to travel and see the world if you just wait for your friends telling you about such programs and asking you to apply together. You have to be aware that telling your friends “why don’t you tell me about this” is very out dated and inexcusable; moreover if you blame your friend as he or she is going abroad and left you behind.

You need to go travel and to see the world if you want to compare your quality with the other student in the other countries. Enroll international summer course or apply for a student conference as you will mingle with many outstanding students from many countries. You will learn that it’s very fruitful to have discussion with diverse minds from diverse countries. In this occasion, you will grasp your true potential in international environment. Nothing can really portray your emotion if you are accepted for a program abroad. It will open yourmind and eyes and you will learn more about the world than our newspapers provides in our daily life. It will be such a thrilling moment in life.

Do not believe in your TOEFL score before you go travel and see the world. Prove that you didn’t waste your 6 years studying English at school and 2 years taking pricey English course by practicing English with foreign people that you will meet in foreign lands. Yet please don’t be too upset if, in fact, your English skill isn’t understandable enough for foreign people. It’s not solely your fault, it is possible that your foreign friends have even lower grade for English. Take that as the art of communication.

Yes, you have to go travel and see the world. You will be so grateful that you have been to so many places, yet you’ll be humbled by the fact that the world is still a big place and you’ve seen only small part of it. At some point, you must be challenged that you need to put more effort to take part in another international student program which offers fee-waiver in order to you can see the rest of world. That’s what I call as addiction of traveling as a student.

Go travel and see the world. Staying for a long time in foreign country and getting along very well with people from unalike culture will augment your knowledge on how to deal with cultural difference. I am so flabbergasted when I had to take shower in a sento –a public bathhouse in Japan- where all men get naked in the same room and take shower together, savoring a duck blood soup in Vietnam, or being ignored when I spoke English with French people. But that’s the uniqueness of diversity. There’s always a droll story when we have to grapple that.

So, go travel and see the world if you want to pursue your dream having an international career. See how people in the other parts of the world study, work, and make a living. Learn how you can adapt yourself in international environment. And, convince yourself that the world can recognize your potential as a talented student.

There’s no more reason, go travel and see the world!

This article is also in my page on Kompasiana

The Interesting Facts About Indonesia!

Strangely, once I was asked in Germany where Indonesia is. I frowned and wondered how come on earth there’s someone who didn’t know where a country called Indonesia. Since Singapore is a lot more popular than Indonesia, I merely blurted out that Indonesia is below Singapore and it’s a much larger than Singapore. Afterwards, he just nodded and said, “Oh...I didn’t know that!”

Up to now, I am still wondering if there’s anybody does not have any idea about Indonesia, at least Bali (though some people always think that Bali is a country, not part of Indonesia).

Amid the outstanding diversity and thousands of uniqueness, Indonesia should be a popular country. These are some facts that will amaze you about my beloved country:

Indonesia is the world largest archipelagic country consisting of 17.504 islands (including the 9.634 islands that have not been named and 6.000 islands are uninhabited). So still have chance to buy an island here, lol!
Borneo, Sumatra, and Papua are the three of the largest islands in the world. Wow!
Indonesia is the largest maritime country in the world with water covering an area of 93 thousands km2 and the length of the coast is about 81 thousand km2 or almost 25% the length of the beach in the world. That would be ashamed if any Indonesian cannot swim. C’mon..we have the largest swimming pool!!
Java Island is the most populous island in the world where about 60% is almost the population of Indonesia (about 130 million inhabitants) lives on the island which covers only 7% of the entire territory of Indonesia. Don't worry we still have lots of oxygen to breath in Java!
Indonesia is a country with the largest tribes in the world. There are more than 740 tribes / ethnic groups, where in Papua alone there were 270 tribes. FYI, my tribe is Bugis in South Sulawesi.
Indonesia has the largest regional languages; 583 languages and dialects of the 67 main languages used by various tribes in Indonesia. And I can only speak two of them!
Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world. The number of Moslems in Indonesia around 216 million people or 88% of the population of Indonesia. Also has the largest number of mosques. But please note that we are not a nest of terrorist!
Buddhist monument (temple) in the world is the temple of Borobudur in Central Java with a height of 42 meters (10 levels) and long relief of more than 1 km. Believe me, it's stunning!

Budha in Borobudur Temple

A country where Phitecanthropus Erectus, the early men from 1.8 million years ago, was discovered. This is our ancestor’s home!
A state that the first born after World War II in 1945. Indonesia is listed as the 70 oldest country in the world. Merdekaa!!!
Indonesia is the first country (until now only one) that ever came out of the United Nations (UN) on the date January 7, 1965. RI rejoined the United Nations in 1966. We do have guts!
Indonesian badminton team is the top winner of Thomas Cup, which is about 13 times (the first time was in 1958 and the last was in 2002). But now China is running so fats behind us!
Indonesia is the main producer of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in the world and supplies the world demand of LNG about 20%. Still wondering why the price of LPG in here is rather expensive!
Indonesia is ranked first in some agriculture products, such as clove, nutmeg, rubber, and crude palm oil. It proves that our soil is so fertile.
Indonesia is the larger exporter of plywood, which is about 80% in the world market. I hope it does not cause deforestation!
Coral reef in Indonesia is the richest (18% of world total). Come to Indonesia if you wanna see it!
Indonesia has the world's largest shark species which is 150 species! I have experienced swimming with a shark!

Swimming with sharks

The largest orchids biodiversity in the world: six thousand species of orchids, rangingfrom the largest (or Grammatophyllum speciosum Tiger Orchid) to the smallest(Taeniophyllum, which no leaves), including the Black Orchid which is a rare and found only in Papua. It reminds me with Anaconda movie: the black orchid!
Indonesia has the largest mangrove forest in the world. This plantation is beneficial to prevent the erosion of sea water. The fruit can even be made as a cake.
Ancient animals are still alive: Komodo can be found only in Komodo island in East Nusa Tenggara Province. Komodo is the biggest lizard in the world. It can reach 3 meter in length and 90 kg in weigth. It should have been one of 7 Wonder Heritages.

Komodo

In Sumatra we have Rafflesia Arnoldi, the largest flower in the world. When the flowers bloom, it can reach 1 meter diameter. Why did Rafflesia Arnodly find it? We found it first before he came here.
Indonesia has the smallest primate in the world, the Pygmy Tarsier (Tarsius Pumilus) which has only 10 cm length. This primate looks like monkey and lives in the tree in Sulawesi. It must be so cute!
About the snake, Indonesia has the longest snake in the world: Phyton Reticulates, 49 feet (14,94 meters). I think he eats people! That’s why….!
As Indonesia has a large sea area, Indonesia has the world smallest fish found recently in the muddy swamps of Sumatra. It’s only 7,9 mm long as adult or about the size of mosquitoes. Uniquely, the fish body is transparent and has no bones in the head. Lest finding Nemo!
Lastly Indonesian people are the second biggest Facebook users in the world (34 million users) after USA. It’s part of our daily routine already!

Those are just some wonderful facts about Indonesia. But actually have more!

Whatever people say about Indonesia, whether it’s bad or good, I still proud of Indonesia and being Indonesian.

Happy independence day, Indonesia!

So, still have no idea about Indonesia???

Source: click here

A Story from ISU 2011

I passed a group of student, I heard they excitingly talked about ISU, and soon I googled it: What is ISU?

As usual, I came to Google! I’d like to find what ISU is, a program offered by my university. I know that I can have information about it by asking to my uni staffs. Yet, sometimes Google is more truthful.

I put the key words – ISU- and these are what I found: Illinois State University, International Space University, Iowa State University, International Salvage Union, and many more. I knew that those are not what they talked about. That time, Google failed to satisfy my curiosity.

In fact the depiction of ISU was well explained in a slip of paper sticked on an information board in my campus. ISU (stands for International Summer University) is a 3-week joint program, started from July 11^th to 29^th, organized by my uni (MM UGM) with WU Vienna University of Economics and Business. The theme of this program is Consumer Behavior and Marketing Research.

I found that the program was thrilling and interesting. Having three weeks program and activities with 20 Austrians would be a great flee from my classes. Since then on, I decided to apply and I was accepted (after proving that I can definitely perform traditional dance!). Even more, I was assigned as the group coordinator for my Indonesian fellows. Challenging!

ISU 2011 Participants

The program was not only about sitting down in class and discussing a particular topic with the professor, but we also had company visit, store check in a giant retail shop, cultural evening, field survey, and free fun program.

Most of the time in the class, we worked in a group. Honestly saying, it’s not that effortless to work with people who have dissimilar culture although it’s not the first time for me and I could easily get along with them. Too many things need to be compromised. Yet I reckoned that it was a part of the lesson in intercultural learning on how I should be more adaptable in any activities and situation.

Some session in the class was the tedious part of this program. I guessed wrongly as I thought that there wouldn’t be so much assignment during ISU. That’s why I said that it would be a nice escape from my classes as I didn’t need to attend my class for three weeks. Yet someway it was fine since I could and know many things in the class, such as: the fact that the Austrian students also “Facebooking” during the class (I thought this habit only infects the Indonesian students), putting a frame in flip chart is somehow important (is it?), cockroach is not cute for the Austrians (actually for some Indonesian too), a prejudice that Indonesian eats sushi, snotting in the class is okay for the Austrian, and so on.

For the interesting program during ISU, I should say that the cultural evening is the utmost, where we all performed our own culture. From Indonesian side, we had prepared it for about a month. So, no wonder if we were very relieved afterwards. It was perfect! All the performers did their best. I myself performed Bambu Gila dance (Crazy Bamboo) dance which is one of cultural sacraments from Maluku. And kudos for the Austrian too! They prepared some nice dishes – which I forget how they call it - and a game “Who wants to be a chocolate millionaire”. Even now I still can feel the excitement of everyone during the night. Thumbs up for everyone!

And the saddest part??? Perhaps the farewell! Three-week might sound very short, but during the time we really had great time together. We did enjoy some tiresome session in the class together, party and dance on the floor together, had excursion together, and dinner together. What we missed was only "sleep" together! Lol :))

Overall, the program was well organized and everyone was great companion during three weeks. I have no regret to join this program except I should write 3 papers and do 4 presentations as the consequence to leave my classes (D*mn!!). But it’s really nothing compare with the experience I get!

Here, we shared a moment until the end of the program and we will keep sharing until we meet again. Therefore, it’s not yet “good bye” but “see you later” in another part of the world.

"Why cant we get all the people together in the world that we really like and the just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. The we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos (Charles M. Schulz)"

Happy Jakarta Phobia

The celebration was just over! Jakarta is now 484 years old… Just like usual, Jakarta’s anniversary celebration on June 22 is always a time to praise and to grumble everything about it. For some people, Jakarta is such a man-made hell, but the others find that they are still enthralled with millions of Jakarta’s happiness promises.

(Old Potrait of National Museum)

I can freshly recall my memory when I was a kid. Jakarta was my dream city! I was very enthusiastic when my sister told me about Jakarta as she went there for holiday. Monas, Ancol, Dunia Fantasi, and other captivating sites in Jakarta were my lullaby almost every nite. Even worse, every time I was sitting on my drawing class in kindergarten, National Museum (Monas) was the only-single object that I drew. Nothing else!

But that’s my past nice childhood story of Jakarta. At the moment, I am not a big fan of this capital city anymore! Frankly speaking, I am suffering from “Jakarta Phobia”

I don’t know when exactly I get this phobia. My first experience I step my feet on Jakarta’s land was not that thrilling as I expected. It was in 2007 when I represented my uni to a competition in there. It seemed like my childhood dreams about Jakarta had fade out. No more excitement to see Monas and other things in every corner of Jakarta.

I have been to this city for less than 10 times so far with maximum 3 days visit. I always feel not comfortable and safe when I walk and talk to people. Trapped in traffic jam for couple of hours is just like torturing myself. Threats of crimes are always in my mind whenever I go around the city. Creepy! I feel so odd every time I am there. That’s why I am so reluctant if I have to go to Jakarta.

I guess that I am affected a lot by tons of media information about Jakarta. Every single TV station, newspaper, radio, or even online media reported about dark side of Jakarta; murder case, stressful traffic jam, devastating flood, pollution, and etc. Who can stand for that?

My biggest fear right now is when I have to buzz off from Jogja and move to Jakarta for working or pursuing my career there. It isn’t deniable that most of blue-chip company is located in Jakarta. Thus, if I still want to work for prominent company or NGO, I have to compel myself live there with all the consequences. Yet I do hope that my entire life won’t end up there tho!

Therefore I wish Jakarta can transform into my dream city again where people live in harmony, no frustrating jam and pollution, and contentment can be experienced every day. Also, I wish that my Jakarta phobia does no longer exist!

Does anybody experience the same thing with me???

Anyway, happy anniversary, Jakarta!