it’s nearly over

Miss Mandy said I have to write more English in my blog. Oh, btw, she is one of officer in International Relations Office in NUS and she’s taking care of the TF-NUS scholars. I guess I wrote in English a lot. But sometimes I just want to write in Bahasa Indonesia since it’s easier for me and makes me write faster. But this is good for me — writing in English — because I still have trouble on writing in English. That’s why I also have trouble with my essay here. *sigh*

Anyway, this past 3 weeks was crazy. I went to Bintan on 21-22 March with 15 people. All are exchange students. We were having fun, though all of us have so many assignment to do. And we ended up not doing the assignment well because we were so tired. The next weekend after Bintan (28 March) I went to Pulau Ubin also with some exchange students. We went for cycling and it was really fun. But it was also exhausting. Just like Bintan trip. The next weekend after Pulau Ubin trip — which is yesterday — also a busy weekend for almost all exchange students. The International Relations Office of NUS held a farewell tea for exchange students who went to NUS this semester on Friday. Ironically, I haven’t seen some of them. Since I didn’t come for the welcoming tea — because I was still in Indonesia at that time — and I also didn’t come for the orientation.

Just yesterday, a BBQ party held for TF-NUS students. Too bad not all of them were coming. Some of them are still doing their voluntary work. Well, good thing I have done my 10 hours community service, so I could make it to the BBQ. Before that, I went to Asian Civilization Museum with Josef, Morten, and Jess. That’s how I managed to get Josef walked me to the BBQ place. Because the place is so far and I have never been there before. The BBQ itself was so fun. Though deep down I’m still worrying about my essay (aaarrghh). But I’m really glad that I had a chance to get together with all fellow exchange students, at least once before we all go back to our countries.

Yeah, my journey in Singapore is nearly over. Just one month and then I have to go back and continue my real school (hehe) in UGM. I kinda feel sad about it, since it took a while for me to finally get settled and get used to everything here in Singapore. With all nice people I’ve met, and all the activities I’ve done. Though I miss all people back home, but I don’t feel like leaving so soon. I guess that’s why lately some people held so many events. And all of them involve “farewell” in it. I even stayed up so late these past 3 days just to play ping pong and fool around with some friends. It is exhausting, but maybe because we don’t have much time left, we want to use these remaining days to be together.

It feels like just yesterday when I first arrived in PGP steps and confused with all the new atmosphere that I have to live with for this semester. But now, I have to leave all these familiar steps, residence, rooms, food stalls, faces, and everything… I hope I don’t get too sad when it comes to the day for me to go home.

I can’t believe all of these are nearly over…

Finally…

This week is exhausting. It started with a good thing because I went to Kuala Lumpur with some friends and enjoyed the weekend there. We left last last Friday, had fun, and got back to Singapore on Monday, to start the routine all over again. Still with some euphoria of having fun in KL, and also the tired feeling, I just repeated my weekdays activities, aallll ooover again. Except, this week it was doubled. I haven’t had any assignment before. Unlike some people who started studying like, three days when the semester began, I was pretty relaxing and had not much to do. But this week? I had to do more readings, printed some materials and did the tutorial assignments, and of course, attended the lectures. That wasn’t it. I had some friend came along from Indonesia to do some conference, and I really wanted to see him because it’s been a while since the last time I saw him. So I did it in my lecture day, I went to see him straight away after the lecture. Plus, I’ve been distracted with so many things, so I can’t really concentrate to my priorities. I stayed up late and ended up doing nothing. Well, I did read something, but just not all the readings. And I woke up late, too. And I had this emotional thing that kept distracting me. So , yeah, I was exhausted, physically and psychologically.

Good thing, I finally started my voluntary sessions. I’ve been worried about it for weeks, because the project director hasn’t contacted me and confirmed that I would be able to join his project and fulfill my 10 hours community work. While some fellow TF-NUS LEaRN students already fulfilled their 10 hours! So no wonder I was worried, right? Today, I was doing a workshop in campus about leadership and volunteering, when I got this text message from Samuel, the project director for MINDS, said that we (Sita and I) have to meet him to start the voluntary sessions. So we went to meet Samuel, without any clue what we’re going to do. I was a bit nervous at the beginning, but once we started, I enjoyed it very much. Oh I have to tell about MINDS. I forget what it stands for (whoops), but it’s working with different ability people. People with down syndrome, autism, aged around 10-20ish. So they have routine sessions, every week. It started with songs and dances (it’s been ages since the last time i sang “twinkle twinkle little stars”), and then some games (ladder-snakes, colors, writings, drawings, etc), and continue with making some flower from paper after a short tea break, and then exercise (BASKETBALL!! yeaah!) as the end of the session. At first, Samuel told us that it would not be easy to engage with them in first day. We need to be patient, talk to them, and be friendly. But I found out it’s not that hard. I’m volunteering for a girl named Jia Yen. I can’t guess exactly how old she is, but I’m pretty sure she’s teenager. She likes to sing, and remember all the moves of the dances. She likes to play the game with colors (I forgot what it’s called. I’ll check out next week). She ate all the cookies, and she’s good in basketball. And, the best thing I like about her is, she smiles A LOT! Though, it was a bit difficult for her to make the paper flower. I helped her out on it. Then she wrote on the card and planned to give the flower with the card to his brother. She wrote “happy valentine’s day” on it. She’s such a nice girl. But she’s not the only nice person there. Everybody was so nice. Particularly, the kids. They kept on smiling, and excited toward everything. Sometimes, yeah, might be over excited. Some would scream and yell so loud. But it doesn’t matter. I still enjoyed it. And I definitely will be back next week (Insya Allah).

So… yeah, finally…. Finally I started my voluntary work. Finally…

I was so sad the night before, but seeing that kids cheer me up again. Why was I sad? Because I finally said something and then made me quit wondering about it. Finally, I got what I was looking for. Haha… Confusing? Yeah it has nothing to do with MINDS. Oh yeah, and I realized this week was really tough, especially the weekdays, but I began this week with happy feelings and I finally ended it with smile. I don’t know why, I like counting the weeks.

Anyway, though I’m not celebrating it, Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone.

first two weeks in NUS

I have arrived at Singapore like… two weeks ago. On January 17, 2009. At first, I was really confused about what I have to do. Because I was a week late (the semester in NUS started on January 12), the classes are already begun, the briefings and the welcome parties are already finished. So I have to find a chance to mingle and make friends by myself. I don’t really wanna be late, though. But my final exams in UGM made me late. At that time I just realized, I won’t get any holiday then. Because as soon as I finished my semester in UGM, then I have to start a new semester in NUS. My first thought was, “oh well, then I’m gonna have one year full of courses, classes, tutorials, and other activities that keep me busy, and no holiday??!!” but on the other hand, I’m really excited to begin the new semester in NUS, because it’s gonna be a really good experience for me, I know it’s going to be useful for my future. So, let’s not think about holiday, I said to myself.

First thing I did is find some friends, at least in my cluster in PGP Residence. I feel a bit awkward because everybody already know each other, and they are already settling down as well. So I spent my first day in PGP with Sita, my fellow Indonesian for TF-NUS LEaRN. She arrived 10 days before me. So she already knows the situation, and I asked her almost everything. But then I know I shouldn’t friends only with Sita. Luckily, I brought some souvenirs from Indonesia. So I used them as a way to make friends. Some girls in my cluster found them really nice and later I don’t feel that awkward anymore. Most of them are nice girls. The rest? I just never met them. At least till now.

The chance to make friends also come when the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) set a “Get-To-Know Host Family” Programme. It was a dinner, and also a chance to celebrate CNY, they gave us this goodiebags with oranges in it. And finally I met fellow TF-NUS LEaRN Participants from various countries. India, Philipine, China, HongKong, etc. Too bad I didn’t meet my host family that night. But the OSA told me they will send e-mail to inform me about my hostfamily. So I guess I just keep waiting.

I also make friends in my classes. One of them are going to UGM next semester! I’m so excited about it. So now she’s accompanying me here in NUS, tell me this and that, and later I’ll be her guide in Indonesia. Oh, her name is Therese by the way. She is Singaporean and she is a really nice person. She keeps practicing Bahasa Indonesia with me. And we often go out together for supper or lunch. I also introduce her to my Indonesian friends, Jennifer, and of course Sita.

Oh, I almost forgot. The main activity of TF-NUS LEaRN actually is to enrich leadership and network, and the participants should fulfill 10 hours community service and work as volunteer in several voluntary clubs at NUS. it’s arranged by NUSSU and it allocated us, the participants, to certain voluntary club based on our interests and our preferences. I’m allocated to MINDS Fernvale, a project for disable children. I haven’t start the volunteer work yet, I guess it will be started on February 14.

But before that, I had this workshop for volunteer development, held on January 24 by NVAC (NUSSU Volunteer Action Committee). That’s where they introduce every community service clubs and projects, and then we can choose which project that we want to be involved. I also made some friends in that workshop. The workshop itself was really interested. I learned how to do first aid, and also the most interesting part is the balloon sculpting course. We’re taught how to create a rabbit, dog, and flower from balloons.

Right now, I’m still waiting for the info of my hostfamily, the volunteering work, and also I start struggling with my moduls. The courses and the tutorials need my full attention, and that means I need to study harder. For me, so far life in NUS is getting more exciting and I really can’t wait for my voluntary work. Though sometimes I still feel homesick, but I try to not really think about it and start to make more friends.

That’s my first two weeks in NUS. More stories about NUS and my activity here will be coming soon!!