Another Ending, Another New Beginning

How amazed I am of my self, when I have a lot of things going on recently and happened in my life the past one year, I didn't put any effort to at least write something here.

Anyhow, it seems it was just yesterday when I wrote about my one year journey of pursuing my master degree. Now, it's almost the end of July, and I'm only two steps behind to get my graduate title. Couldn't be happier, especially because the struggle that I've been through during this semester was amazing. Countless sleepless nights, filled with reading and writing like crazy. 

It was May 9, when I finally submitted my thesis draft. I decided to choose the multiculturalism and higher education as my thesis topic. I know, it doesn't sound at all like any international cooperation related issues esp. with mainstream high politics or development issues. But, started from my deep interest in migration topic, I chose the title "Multiculturalism in Internationalization of Korean Higher Education?: Case Study of Seoul National University". I will talk more about this later I guess, to put it in more details. Back to the thesis submission date, so by that day I felt like "YEAH, I'm closer to graduation". Then less in a month since then, I finally did my thesis defense in May 29, 4 pm KST. I experienced another "YEAH" moment..

I thought after that day I can breath more easily, but in the opposite, seemed like the real struggle just started back after the defense. Seriously, even though my revision was not much, but to finalize the very very very fix final draft was not an easy task. I enjoyed my procrastination period so much, and I realized I had only less than a week to get everything done. Another challenges were all administration details and stuffs, also the process to get all signatures and approvals from the committee members.

And just last week, I FINALLY gave my final PDF file of thesis to be printed, I just have to wait one or two more days then I will be able to submit the hard copy to the main library, get the approval thesis certificate and submit it to the administration office. Then hopefully I can enjoy my last August here before I come back to Bandung in September 1.  *fingers crossed*

As my master degree struggle here will come to an end soon, I have many things to be faced right after I come back. Settlement of my career and preparation for my big day (SMILE, aameen). This year should be a very special for me and my family, since not just me graduate and facing the new chapter of life, my sister is also graduating from university. 

The real celebration and congratulations should be given to my beloved Mom, for all the supports, loves, patience that she never tired giving off. If it is not her, me and my sister would not be able to achieve these all. I love you, Bu.. :* 

Our family is not just ordinary one since we lost our beloved Dad 13 years ago, so I always feel, making my Mom proud or at least not being dissapointed with her daughters is one important thing. Especially after last year, when we have to loose our beloved Grandpa, Kiki. I was still in Seoul when he passed away, and I am still feeling like he is around with us. I know every beginning will come to an end, people's story, people's life. And even though I already experiencing loosing my Dad, it didn't help at all to feel less pain when I had to loose Kiki. I wish I was a better granddaughter to him, I wish I called him more often, I wish I showed him more how much I love him. I love you always Ki.. :) So, knowing that the closest family that my Mom has is only her daughters, I feel more and more responsible for her happiness. I wish and I will try to always put smiles on your face Bu. :)

Thank you Seoul for all the lessons that you have taught me so far. 

Dear Allah SWT, please give me strength to face the new beginning and new chapter of my life.

Dear my future husband, insya Allah, let's make a happy future together. 

Seoul, July 24, 2014.

Almost a year of journey, pursuing M.A. :D

Feel super ashamed because I was and am drowning in my so-called "busy-life", and have not enough eagerness to be able to write something again here.

So here I am now, already holding my bachelor degree more than a year ago, currently studying in a city named Seoul, so far away from home.. *____*

As my titled of this post "Almost a year of journey, pursuing M.A. :D", I am now having a different path of my life, finally tasting what I really wanted since years ago, studying abroad. It is not as happy and cool as I thought previously, since it is so hard to be away from home, it is also hard to study "hard" and "deep", it is so hard having obligation to be exactly graduate within 2 years, since I have scholarship only for 2 years.

Before sharing what I am having now, probably it would be good to share as well how could I ended up here, in Seoul. So basically, right after my graduation on February 2012, I was officially became a scholarship hunter. I figured by my self, that academic field would be the best option for me rather than working in company. I was having a very hard time though, -the time when you actually a zero-income person, but you have no eagerness to be an "employee" even so many people were asking "where are you working now"-, so actually I was struggling by tutoring and stuffs to still at least have some super little amount of money. I was so tired of people asking me "you are still unemployed?", especially because my friends also my relatives were already starting their career. But, I was convincing my self, that I actually was also starting to build a further path to build my future career. So, I submitted around five applications for scholarship in US, UK, and Korea.

Did I say that I was having a hard time? Yes I did, and it was not ended for several months, when I received rejection and rejection from the scholarship committee, even I got some Letter of Acceptance from universities. In May 2012, I got three rejections, and I started to loose my confidence to be able to get the other scholarship. But then, in the end of June 2012, I got a call for interview from POSCO TJ Park Foundation for my scholarship application in Seoul National University. It was again hard for me, because I was having my best friend as my rival for this scholarship. Right after the interview in the beginning of July, I reached this feeling of "probably my friend will get it and I would still have my other opportunities". Then again, I started to prepare other scholarship applications, more applications. :D

Anyhow.. My feeling came true, one day in the third week of July 2012, my friend sent me a message telling that he got the scholarship from POSCO. I congratulated him for sure. I felt sad undoubtedly. But God always has the best gift for us, less than two minutes after, I got this email from Seoul National University, that I got the full scholarship from other  foundation, that is KOGAS Global Fellowship Program. *Yes, remember that I actually applied for five scholarship, than I got four of it rejected, but finally I got the last one accepted*. I felt "freeze" for a moment, I still remember that I was sitting on my bed, with my laptop in front of me, my phone in my hand.. Right after I told my friend that got the POSCO scholarship, then jumped into my mom, so happy but still did not believe and still, "freeze". Hahaha.. I felt so grateful.. I feel so grateful.. :)

So, in the end of August of 2012, I flew to this city I'm currently staying, Seoul. I am enrolled as student in International Cooperation major, Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS), Seoul National University (SNU). Still a little bit hard to believe though, I became one of the student of so called "the best university in Korea", and having this KOGAS company to pay my tuition and to give my monthly allowance. So basically, I am being paid to study. :D :D  To have more info about my school, please check through this link and you can also find some possible scholarships there under "admission" part. And as well, if you want to know more about Seoul National University in general, and you have interest to pursue your study here, please check this guidebook of the university.

What are "interesting" parts from my graduate program here in GSIS, SNU? First, we need to complete 45 credits (including 3 credits for thesis) to be able to graduate. Not like regular master program who gives 24 credits as requirements, we have 45 credits within 4 semester. So, we need to take always 12 credits each semester to be able to graduate ON TIME. Multiple effects from this compulsion, we have tons of reading materials, essays, reviews, paper, presentations, quizzes, exams to be done. Time for fan-girl-ing or watching K-Pop concerts are subjects to be not-questioned to us, since even resting is a very precious moment that we could have. Second, to be able to graduate, other requirements that we need to fulfill before eligible in submitting your thesis proposal is having language proficiency certificate (which are only TEPS or TOEFL IBT are accepted for English), and two compulsory qualifying exams. This qualifying exam is similar to "comprehension on subject/ course exam", so basically we have two subjects (one from our major, and one from other major) to be passed in this exam. Third, I guess those first two parts are the "interesting" parts in other words "hard" one, so for the third, I would like to say that thank God, in GSIS, courses are 90 percents conducted in English, only some courses for Korean Studies major that are offered in Korean. So, for us who are not able to speak in Korean, don't worry, we can survive. :D

After 10 months of struggling this "graduate-student" life, I have achieved some points, like having four courses passed well, one qualifying exam passed also, and having good friends that I can rely on. But still, I still have ten more courses to be passed, one qualifying exam to be done, English proficiency test to be done as well, thesis proposal to be submitted, thesis to be written, and thesis supervisor to be found. Hahahahaha.. Guess I am still having more to be done than has done. I am grateful, yet stressful. I had and have so many times asking my self "what am I actually doing here" when I felt so tired and scared that I will not get through it well. But, I can see that so many people are struggling harder than I am, why should I be scared of something that I can and should overcome with? I can do it, right? *hopefully*, and... however it is hard, this is what I want and always wanted, so there is no much time to be wasted only being scared or stressed. Just face it, :D. So many people out there are hoping to have what I have now.. So, regardless of the hard time that I have to deal with here, I am more than happy and grateful for what God has given to me.

Adios!

Hope I will get back to this blog soon, many things to be shared to you all. :D

x.o.x.o
Anggi 

My traveling experience: smart and affordable

Hi readers, I am really excited to write this post because even I haven't traveled as much as Mbak Trinity or Mbak Claudia Kaunang, I think it won't be bad though to share my experience about traveling. 

My very first time abroad was around seven years ago when I was in my freshman year in senior high school. I joined one program named Expand the Sound of Angklung 2004, held by Keluarga Paduan Angklung SMA Negeri 3 Bandung. This is a cultural mission aimed to promote one of the Indonesian traditional music instrument called ANGKLUNG. Yeap, angklung is a traditional music instrument made from bamboo, and it is originally came from West Java, Indonesia. Back to the mission, it was held in some countries in Europe (Germany, Belgium, France, Scotland, Poland, and Czech) for 40 days. My position in this program was as one of the team's member, and my role was *of course* as an Angklung player.

Europe Map

My second time abroad also related to cultural program, it was the same program indeed, held in 2008. (You can check my previous post about Expand the Sound of Angklung 2008). Different from 2004, that time I had already graduated from senior high school, and was in my second year in university. The destinations of this program were Greek and Italy. I gave my role more intense that year because I was responsible to organize the preparations as marketing and public relation team. My position as international relations student in UNPAD (Universitas Padjadjaran) gave me a lot of advantages because I can get some links to help organized the program, such as link to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesian Embassy, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, etc. As the results, with all the helps, that time we didn't have to pay any fiscal tax, we got some financial assistance for the lodging, and warm-full assistance from Indonesian representatives there. :D Great isn't it??

Me in front of The Basilic - Vatican

Both of the programs above, were being held in quite a big group of 35-37 people. We were helped to arrange the tickets and the in-land transportation in Europe by local travel in Indonesia. But for the itineraries, visa, lodging, and other related programs, we arranged it by ourselves with help from friends who lived there and from the Indonesian embassies.

My third time going abroad was in 2010, in the practicum program held by my department, International Relations Dept. FISIP UNPAD. We went in group of 9 people, 8 students and one lecture (a good, kind, and handsome one :D). And our destinations were two major cities in Australia, those are Melbourne and Canberra. I think this trip was one of my best experience in organizing an independent trip. Although we had to struggle with all the factor X things called campus's bureaucracy, finally we MADE it. 

Our Team (from left to right: Diva, Iffa, Nabil, David, Me, Gheo, Ayu, Kang Indra, Lydia)

For the tickets, fortunately we could got an affordable one (but a full-service board GARUDA INDONESIA) from a Garuda Travel Fair 2010. My friends David and Nabil were the one who had to put so so so much efforts regarding this! Haha, thanks pals because of you two we could get a special price though you both had to wait two days in a row till midnight. By the way, we got a less than 5 millions IDR for one round-ticket Jkt-Melb-Jkt (1 stop in Denpasar). :D :D

For the visa, we could met all the requirements quite easy, except one thing, the invitation letter(s) from the institutions we were going to visit, because our trip is a formal-academic one and not a holiday. But after some correspondences with the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, General Consulate in Melbourne, and Indonesia-Australia Student Association (PPIA), we finally got the letters *more than we expected* :D, and only by phone-interview, in a week we got the visa already! YEAY!

For the accommodations (lodging), we were also very fortunate. In the first three nights, we were welcomed by Kang Indra's/ Papap's family in Pakenham, Melbourne. It is Kang Indra's brother's family, Kang Cepi's family. We just need to give 100 AUD each person, but we in return we got a full delicious breakfast and dinner, also a very unforgettable barbecue party in St. Kilda Beach. For your information, the accommodation's cost per one night in Melbourne is quite expensive (around 25-30 for the cheapest without breakfast). That is why I called ourselves as FORTUNATE one, having Kang Indra's relatives who can help us along or time in Melb. Kang Cepi's wife, Teh Inda, is a very very remarkable chef. Her foods were very yummy, she even asked me about the food preference through email before we got there, is there any of us who has allergic in some kinds of food or not. We also get the opportunities to played along with their cute children, Raziq and Naya, whose English are MUCH WAY better than mine. Hahahahhaa. :D During our time in Canberra, we *again* got very fortunate for having a FREE accommodation in Wisma Atdiknas KBRI. I just need to send a formal letter to the attache in charge, with the recommendation from  PPIA Pusat (central Indonesia-Australia Student Association). We also got a full helps from the Indonesian students there who didn't mind to accompany us wherever we go by their car. *SO SO SO HAPPY*. Alhamdulillah.. For our last day in Melbourne before going back to Indonesia, we spent the night in a hostel in Spencer Streets near the Southern Cross Station (so we could easily catch up the earliest sky bus to airport in the morning).

For the in-land transportation, we used bus, tram, and train in Melbourne, and bus+free car in Canberra. In Melbourne, we could buy a daily single ticket that we could use all day for any kind transportation, it was around 10-11 AUD per ticket. If we plan to go after 6pm till 6am in the morning, we could get a cheaper kind of ticket. (I forgot the name). 

For the foods, it is not hard to find any Indonesian food, McD. Burger King, Subway, and Chinese, and other international food there. So if you're a Moslem, u don't have to worry to have a halal food. Once agaaaiiiin, we were so fortunate regarding this thing. Despite the fact of the yummy food made by Teh Inda, we also got the opportunities to have treats from our Indonesian friends from PPIA Victoria and PPIA Melb. Uni. Once was a rice and noodle curry, once was Italian food. :D :D Owhhh, forgot, we also got the treats in Canberra, from the Wisma Atdiknas, and from the embassy. :)

All I can say, the living cost in Australia is expensive in my point (re: wallet) of view. So, for having an affordable budget there, you can get it at least from the accommodation part, which drained our money the most. Find a friend who lives there, or a friend of your relatives or your friend. :) :) :) If you are or are not shopaholic, Victoria Market in Melbourne is a good place to spend your money for buying merchandises, clothes, shoes, and other things.

My fourth, fifth, and sixth times going abroad happened in one year, 2011. And the destination are all the same, one city one country, Singapore. It wasn't a vacation though, all were done regarding my task as one of the organizing committee of Angklung Orchestra in Concert IX, Angklung: the Musical, held in Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, 17th July 2011. 

Keluarga Paduan Angklung SMA Negeri 3 Bandung in Esplanade Concert Hall , Singapore
(me in the middle wearing pink gown)

Singapore is one one the most familiar country for Indonesian tourist. But I think it will be okay if I would like to tell few of my experience there. I'll give the details in other post, OK? :D In brief, all my trip to Singapore are the "pas-pas-an one" a.k.a tight budget. I went there by Air Asia (two of them were direct flight from Bandung, and the other were from Jakarta). I spent most of my nights in Teh Nisa and Kang Very crib in Tampines, but in my last trip (15-21 July 2011), I also spent my nights in some hostel and hotel with my partner in crime Chalaks. 

All riiiiiighttttt, I think the length of this post is more than I expected. I'll see you around in my next post.

Share it if you like.. :) 

X.O.X.O - Anggi -