Master of Arts (candidate)

It’s the end of April on 2013, and my latest post in this blog (before this one) was on October, LAST YEAR. Blah. I suck on keeping this blog up to date, I know. No further doubts about that. I have my excuses of course, but I bet you don’t want to hear it, do you? It’s just boring, and same old same old excuses like I have already said exactly in the previous post before this one.

So anyway. The most important thing in my life right now will happen next week. YES. NEXT WEEK. What is it? Hm… Let me refresh your memories a little.

I have mentioned quite a few times here that I am currently pursuing my masters degree in Universitas Gadjah Mada, and that I am writing my thesis, and that I went to Japan regarding the research for my thesis, and so on. Well, I am so grateful now that my thesis’ draft has been accepted by my supervisor (or in short: ACC). And in exactly 7 days from now I will have my thesis defense.

I hope it will all go well, and please, please, wish me luck for my thesis defense next week!

Hey October!

So… Uhm. I know. I’m not proud. Definitely not proud for abandoning this blog, for so many months. And yes this is not the first time I did that, but I’m always back eventually, aren’t I? Well, there are reasons why I didn’t update my blog as often as I’m supposed to. As lame as they may be, but still I have reasons. Hehe…

Well, now I guess it’s time for a little bit update. Not a lot to tell really. I’m still struggling with my thesis just like I was two months ago. And just last month I went to Jakarta to follow an exam conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Indonesia. You know, as a bachelor of International Relations, they say the ideal job for me is being a diplomat. But if you ask me, that’s not what I really want to be right now. Well, I used to want to be a diplomat back in the day. But not anymore now. Nevertheless, l still went and did the exams. Again, I have my own reasons. I don’t think I will explain about it here, because it’s gonna be really boring. So let’s leave it like that.

Today, the result of the test is out. I already had a feeling about it. And my feeling was right. I didn’t get in to the next level of the test. I’m not gonna be a diplomat. At least not for the time being. But I’m not disappointed at all. I think my Mom will be more disappointed than me. Because being a diplomat is not really what I want, so I didn’t take it the hard way. I’m chilled. And hugging my thesis real tight (haha, no I’m not).

Anyway, so what I really want to be, then? I’m 23 years old, in my final semester of Master study, not having any job at all, and still financially supported by my parents. Some of my friends are on their way to be real adults, having steady jobs, getting married… some even already expecting and having babies. And me?

Well, I have this particular dream. A dream of what I want to be once I graduate and get my masters degree. And I think I’m currently on the right track to achieve it. I’m not gonna tell what it is, but once I got it I will tell all about it here. For now, please pray for me and wish me luck!!

Oh, and can you believe that it’s already October? In a blink of an eye, 2012 will pass, just like that. Time does fly, doesn’t it? I wish we live everyday with joy and make the best out of it!

If Only

If only you knew, the heavy feeling that I have in my heart. Keeping it for so long only to learn that I might not be able to ever tell it to anyone for the rest of my life. I have been trying to arrange a thousand words in my mind, having an imaginary conversation and repeat it again and again, only to realize that I might never be able to do it and that I have to hold my tongue forever. So don’t ever think that silence is only the sign for nothingness. Because they say there’s always a calm before the storm. Now, sit back and relax. Time will tell.

(maaf saya lagi galau)

Hello Ramadhan

Ah I know, right, I said before that I will try to update my blog daily like what I did in Japan. But I failed. Well, I do have proper excuses for that. First I had to struggle with my finals, and after that I had my thesis proposal seminar. Thank God, they all went well. The grades are coming out now, not all of them yet. So I haven’t had any idea about my exact GPA. Although, I think it’s gonna be lower than the last semester. It’s okay though. I can’t really expect perfect grades since I didn’t come to classes for a month. Some lecturers are pretty generous though. And I’m really thankful for the grades that they gave.

Oh, yeah, I am already in Bengkulu now, my one and only lovely hometown. It’s nice to be here. Last time I was here was December 2011. So it’s been a while. And I’m glad to be home. Especially it’s fasting month now. Yes, Ramadhan. I never experienced first day of Ramadhan in Bengkulu since 2005. So it was a long time ago. These past six years I was away in Jogja, and would go home to Bengkulu only a few days before Eid. So it is interesting, isn’t it? Well, I do enjoy it now, although I just realized now that Ramadhan in Bengkulu is a lot more crowded than years before. So it’s better not to go out at the afternoon, because everyone is also going out in that exact time.

Oh there’s also one more excuse of me not updating my blog that often. Because I’m in Bengkulu and the connection here is so slow. So it made me lazy to update my blog. Hehe.

Well, I guess that’s it for now. I hope everyone enjoy Ramadhan, and get the best out of it, and may Allah bless all of us.

 

Back to Normal

This is the first post that doesn’t include “day…” in the title, after more than a month, because I’m already back to my normal life. Yes, as the graduate student of Department of International Relations, Gadjah Mada Universty, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Well that doesn’t mean when I was in Japan for 43 days I wasn’t affiliated to Gadjah Mada, but now let’s emphasize in the “normal” part. Tokyo wasn’t normal in a sense that it feels like a dream, time flew so fast while I was there. One second I was getting to know everyone a little better (and some of them end up to get along really well with me), the next second it was already time to say goodbye.

It’s nice to be back in Jogja of course, to see the familiar places and faces. But I start missing the time I had in Tokyo. The morning wake up calls from Timothy, the everyday breakfast time with the Pooh family (Tim, Helen, Lama, Golf), the chatting through phone at night with Lama, the random visits to my room from Ken-san, the card playing in Helen’s room (casino Pooh!), the bumping-in-to Luke who always insisted that I look short, the sukebe stuff that Hanif, Golf, and Ken-san talked about everytime they got together, the laundry activities and gossip time in relaxation room, the walking around Shinjuku, the subways and metros, the sightseeing around Tokyo, the weather, the way Japanese people dress, the….. Ah, too much to write. Those are moments that I will never forget for my whole life. I’m grateful that I got the experience, and it definitely will give impact to whatever I’m doing in the future.

Ah, now what? So far the plan is to graduate as soon as possible. Well, I’m getting closer. This coming Monday (July 9) I’ll be having a seminar for my thesis proposal. So, I hope it will go well. Also, I’ll be going back to my hometown, Bengkulu, next week, and will be spending the fasting month (Ramadhan) as well as Idul Fitr there. I hope I’ll get some work done while I’m there. Also I hope I can still consistently update this blog even if my life is back to boring now I’m no longer in Japan.

I guess that’s it for now. Please wish me luck for my thesis proposal seminar, everyone!! And may you all have a great weekend!!

Day 42-43: Aqua Stadium, Farewell Party & After-Party, Departure from Japan

This is gonna be the post about the last days I had in Tokyo, Japan. Yeah, sad! Good thing I didn’t cry, I might, but I held myself.

Day 42, I took a chance to go for last minute sightseeing, this time again I went with the two Indian guys, Mangboi and Lama. I spent so much time with them the past few days that they started forgetting that I’m a girl and start calling me “little brother”. Anyway, we went to the aqua stadium in Shinagawa and enjoyed some water creatures. Here are the pictures!

The entrance to the aqua stadium

fish!

me and fish!

me and fish again!

Me with some Indonesian celebrity, Ari Wibowo. Can’t believe of all the places in the world I got to meet him in some aquarium in Japan!

Sea lion performance

dolphin performance

In the evening of the same day, the Japan Foundation held the farewell party for all the participants. At this occasion, we were allowed to invite whoever we met during our stay in Japan. Our host family were also invited. So I got the chance to meet Hiroshi-san and Kimiko-san again. At the farewell all the participants were also given 2 minutes each to give speech about the program. However, my battery was ran out at the aquarium, and I totally forgot  to charge it until the last minute before going to the farewell party. So my camera went dead half of the party. But I managed to get (almost) all the photos of the participants during the speech. There are three persons that I didn’t get the pictures. The first is Saren (Cambodia), he went first for the speech so when he spoke I was still eating my dinner. The second person that I didn’t get is Hanif (Indonesia), he was the third person to speak, after me (yes I was the second), and I didn’t get his picture because I was still recovering from the embarrassment of my speech. The third was Toun (Laos), she was the fifth person to give the speech, and I think I didn’t get her picture because I was talking to someone or what. Oh well, here are the rest of the photos.

With Kimiko-san (center), the host family of me and Nisa (right). Hiroshi-san hadn’t come yet by that time because he was still at work. By the time he arrived, my camera’s battery already ran out. Too bad I couldn’t get the photo with him in my camera.

Me, delivering the speech. My face was weird! My speech was weird too, because they called me to the stage when I was chewing my food, and I talked too fast and people laughed at me. Haha, quite embarrassing.

Helen (Indonesia). I didn’t get the photo of Hanif, the other Indonesian, because his turn was right after me and I was still recovering from the embarrassment. But when it’s Helen’s turn, I’m already alright.

Timothy (Malaysia). His speech was pretty funny, he asked the Japan Foundation to extend our stay so we can hang out a little more.

Nisa (Malaysia)

Zura (Malaysia)

Jojo (Myanmar)

Margaret (Myanmar). She’s still ill and still under treatment in the hospital. However, as the farewell is the special occasion, the hospital allowed her to come and join the event, along with her parents. And that day was also her birthday! All prayed for her recovery.

Jaja (the Philippines). The kid on the stage is the guest star. He’s the son of one of the host families who came to the party. Kinda distracting people from Jaja’s speech but still really cute!

Roxy (the Philippines). The kid was still on the stage.

Golf (Thailand). His speech was also interesting. Telling stories about sukebe things.

Hanh (Vietnam)

Hiu (Vietnam)

Mangboi (India)

Lama (India)

Shweta (India)

Luke (Australia)

Hana (Australia)

Akane Matsumoto (tutor, Japan)

Ken Shoda (tutor, Japan)

Hiroshi Kamitsuji, the official from Japan Foundation who has been assisting us even before we came to Japan

As the farewell party ended pretty early (8 PM), we decided to continue the party in the hotel. Golf was the initiator and offered his room for the party. I packed my stuff for a few hours then joined them around 11 PM. I ended staying up pretty late despite my early flight the following morning. Anyway, I managed to take some photos during the after-party. Forgive me if they’re not in the best quality.

The booze (alcohol) they prepared for the party. Of course none of those I can drink. Doesn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy, though.

(left-right) Timothy, Jaja, Hanh

People chatting

Duo sukebe (Golf & Hanif) were talking about some sukebe stuff

Golf getting sleepy

Managed to get a photo with Golf sleeping as the background

When woke up, Golf did weird stuff to Lama.

The last people who stayed that night. Me, Lama, Golf, Jaja, and Ken-san. Me, Lama, and Golf went to bed at 3.30 AM. While Jaja had to stay up because she has to go to airport at 5 AM, and Ken-san stayed up to give her company.

In the morning, which is Day 43, I only managed to take a few photos because we were too hectic checking out, having breakfast, and taking care of the luggage. I went to the airport together with the other Indonesian, Hanif and Helen, the Indian, Lama, Mangboi, and Shweta, and Golf, Saren, and Jojo. These are the last photos I took before leaving Japan.

Lama and I were the first ones who finished settling our luggage while waiting for the bus to the airport, the rest were still busy with their stuff. So we sat there and we asked Ken-san to take our picture.

In the bus while going to the airport. The photo is kinda blurry because the bus was moving.

Waving our final goodbye from the bus window to Mangboi, Shweta, and Lama who had to go from different terminal to fly to India. I didn’t get the photo of the group who head to Thailand (Golf, Saren, and Jojo) because I was sitting in the other side of the bus. This photo is the last photo I took before officially leaving Japan.

Whoa.

That was quite a long journey, wasn’t it?

43 days have passed, and now I’m again sitting in front of my laptop somewhere in Jogja, Indonesia. The experience, the trip, the culture and academic exchange, and most of important of all, the people I met there, will never be forgotten until the day I die. This program was one-time and life-changing experience that will be part of what will shape who I am in the future.

What I had during the 43 days might only be a vague memory one day, maybe years from now I barely remember what I said that night in the farewell, or even that day when I did my presentation in front of the participants. But it is definitely one of the best moments I have ever had in my life.

So, that’s it for today. Good night, everyone!

Day 40-41: Ueno Zoo & Final Presentation

This is the most crucial time. My journey here in Japan is almost over. So right now I’m trying to absorb as much as I can and keeping it in my memory so that years from now I will still remember what happened here and how the people acted. Because I might not see some (if not all) of them ever again in my life.

But hey in the mean time I would like to share photos of this fun trip I had to Ueno Zoo with Lama and Mangboi on Day 40. Also some (not-so-good) photos from the final presentation we had on Day 41. So let me weep in my bed now because the farewell is coming!

But Ueno Zoo is a really great place, especially if you love animals! Enjoy the pictures here!

Lama so excited to see the giant panda

Two Indian guys that I went to the zoo with, Mangboi (left) and Lama (right)

the gate to the giant panda house

LOOK HOW CUTE IT IS!!!!!!!! <3

Just sit there and keep eating and eating and eating bamboo

Mangboi in front of the panda house

Me in front of the panda house

Sumateran Tiger, an animal from home. I know it’s a little bit unclear, plus the tiger was being lazy.

Gorilla

Sea lion

When I saw this owl I directly shouted “Hedwig!” (Harry Potter’s fan will know)

Polar bear. Was too busy eating its food so we cannot see its face.

A bunch of seals enjoying sunbath.

Me in front of the seals.

Lama being a daddy gorilla.

In front of the penguin sculpture.

Penguin!!

Mangboi with the penguins

Shoebill Stocks

Kangaroo being lazy

Two-horned rhinoceros.

Giant tortoise

I wanted to take picture with the huge panda statue but all who queued up were kids. So I just took it from a far.

Group photo in front of the main gate of the zoo.

So that was fun. But the next day which is Day 41 wasn’t as much of fun, because all of the participants of the JENESYS program have to do the final presentation regarding their research during the stay in Japan. I know the pictures here are not that clear and you cannot even see their faces, but I think I’ll post them anyway. So here they are.

Timothy making a very funny face before the presentation. Can’t stop laughing everytime I see this picture. LOL!

Some of the participants

Helen (left) doing presentation about Shinto Wedding Ceremony in Japan

Timothy doing presentation about population ageing in Japan.

Some of the (other) participants

Golf doing presentation about war history of Japan

Mangboi doing presentation about Manga Industry in Japan

Lama doing presentation about industrial robotic in Japan

After the final presentation, we took the group photo in front of the hotel where we’ve been staying these past 40 days.

Ah, only one day left and then I’ll be headed to Indonesia. Yogya, to be exact. I miss being there but I definitely will miss being here too. Always, I’ll get sentimental everytime things like this happen. But life goes on. Like some friends here say, “what happens in Japan, stays in Japan.”

But I’ll sure bring back to my home country all the memories I had here along with these people.