READ ABOUT THE ADVENTURES OF BAS & RICHELLE AS THEY DID A PHOTO SHOOT FOR ROYAL AMBARRUKMO HOTEL. SEE THE POSTS MADE 14th OCTOBER BELOW.
Talk about how your life is changing - adapting to academic work - where you live - who you live with - problems with student life - trying out new things - new experiences - homesickness - managing your time - keeping a balance between work and play - keeping healthy...
Share your thoughts ~ ask your questions ~ tell us what you think about what other people have to say!
Use the COMMENTS feature below.
Use the COMMENTS feature below.
We arrived in Yogyakarta, the 6th of February, and had some adventurous first days. After having spent 2 days in Kuala Lumpur we were looking forward to finally arrive in our new house that we were supposed to share with some French people. It was pretty difficult to arrange a place where we could stay while being in Germany but after having a Skype conversation with our future housemates we were sure that this house would be the perfect place for us. So we were waiting for my friends buddy to pick us up at the airport. Together with a friend of the French guys who had the key, we drove to the house, stepped in and were shocked. Unfortunately - contrasting to what they told us – it was not safe at all and anyone who wanted would be able to enter. The next day we moved to a homestay. During the semester we came to know that there have been three robberies, once even when one of the girls was present and locked herself in her room.
ReplyDeleteCampus life is absolutely different from high school life, when we were in high school the task that we got was not as many as in the campus life. Managing time was not really matter in high school life. when the first time joined simfoni 2013 I got shocked when I heard the task was innumerable. Beside simfoni there was also palapa. At that time I had to separate my time when I had to do palapa’s task and when I had to do simfoni’s task. Managing time was really needed to make both of the tasks done. When I was doing my simfoni task, I was not sleeping at all, since simfoni’ task was numerous and I had to do all the task. It was fells like a zombie, I was really sleepy at the morning and at the noon, sometimes when the speaker or mc spoke I slept. From that case I knew that campus life is harder that high school life. So, you have to work hard and manage your time wisely, otherwise you can’t through this campus life.
ReplyDeleteTalking of people navigating their way through the confusions of the first week of a new semester, something funny happened during Tuesday morning's first class for Group D in room S307.
ReplyDeleteTwenty minutes into the lesson, about 16 assorted German and Dutch people knocked on the door, came in, and apologetically made their way quickly to their seats at the back of the room. I welcomed them and then continued with my introduction to the course ~ complete with my loud enthusiastic words and general arm waving.
The German and Dutch students witnessed all this with slightly baffled looks on their faces for about ten minutes until one of them raised her hand. "Is this the International Business Communications Course?" she asked. "No" I answered.
And they all stood up and left, just as apologetic as they were when they arrived. I wonder if those ten minutes with me and Class D were enough to have some positive effect on their lives. Good luck to all you German and Dutch students who visited us briefly on Tuesday morning, whoever you are! I hope everything settles down and becomes clear before we get too far into the semester.
Going in to university is a phase that I have been waiting since I was still in high school. There are so many thoughts about it, from choosing the university to choosing the major. It is really hard for me to choose the major, because on one side I want to be an accountant, but on the other side both of my parents are medical doctors and people keep telling me to become a medical doctor. In the end, I chose to be an accountant, because that is where my passion is. Thankfully, my parents are both 100% supporting me.
ReplyDeleteI chose UGM because I want to challenge myself by staying away from my parents. Not that I hate living with them, but I just feel like I can't be an independent person if I always keep living with my parents and I want to have plenty of new experiences. When I was still living with my parents, I could just ask them for anything and they would buy or get it for me, but I can't do that anymore, I have to do everything on my own.
Questions posed under the introduction thread.
ReplyDelete"Has living away from Indonesia affected your Indonesian language to any degree, I wonder."
Because the school that I was attending in for so many years didn't have Indonesian language as a subject, I've been learning Indonesian from my parents and peers, and occasionally from Indonesian movies. As a result of my informal studies, my communication skills in Indonesian is only in the daily conversational level; I still struggle trying to comprehend formal Indonesian language (this is the reason why I took IUP Business in UGM). Indonesian novels are like Shakespearean novels to me.
"Has anyone commented on your accent or vocabulary?"
Some of my acquaintances and friends tell me that I have Jakartan's accent, although I still can't differentiate much between Indonesian dialects and accents. As for the vocab, people tell me that my choice of words can be really awkward and cheesy at times, sometimes they even joke that I should re-learn Indonesian language (maybe I should. Ha ha ha).
"Do you ever encounter trendy or slang words [on TV, for example] that you don't understand?"
There's always those instances where I hear a new words every week, both slang and formal Indonesian language. Whenever I discover new words, whether it is slang or formal, I usually ask my friends directly for the meaning, but when the word is too vulgar or provocative, I usually consult Dr. Google - google sure has everything, even Indonesian slangs that you wouldn't even think of. Ha ha ha.
Oh and one thing I noticed about Indonesian culture is that Indonesians tend to not be straightforward. For instance, whenever I get myself a new haircut and the hairstyle clearly doesn't suit me, most Indonesians would compliment my hairstyle with a slightly concerned or confused expression on their faces; I knew though, that they would say otherwise behind my back. Ha ha ha.
Wooow. This could pass for an essay.
DeleteWooow. Excellent work, Budi!
DeleteWell it's been a tough start for me in campus, especially after 4 months of doing nothing. Getting used to the new atmosphere, where we have to socialize and wake up at 6 again (uuuugh), not to mention the new work load (way different from high school). Oh, and don't even get me started on the hellish orientation the week before, two words "mental torture". But there's always a silver lining, in this situation it would be the friends I made throughout the entire orientation week, the new peers that shared all the memories of that cruel, cruel time. The moments we will look back on and laugh when were older.
ReplyDeleteHaha just kidding it wasn't that bad, just trying to add a dramatic effect and experiment on my writing. well that's pretty much it for "Declaration of Independence"
The End
Moving out from the place you spent your entire childhood and highschool-time is supposed to be a very huge step to become a grown-up person. Moving to a country that is thousands of kilometers away from home to spend an entire year abroad seems to be an even bigger step to become a more independent person and experience things that will change your view of the world. Travelling through Indonesia feels like travelling through hundreds of different countries as every island and every region has its own unique culture, religion and language. But although most of my experiences have been positive ones, I sometimes wished I could have been in Germany especially when it comes to the medical care. Indonesia is a beautiful country and it offers a lot of opportunities as long as you are healthy but when you get sick it can be really annoying when you have to go to a hospital where you have to wait for a doctor for at least two hours who doesn´t speak English at all and prescribes antibiotics no matter what kind of desease you have. But I think these negative experiences are as important as the good ones and they at least let me appreciate things in Germany again that I already considered as self-evident.
ReplyDeleteToday I am a university student not a high school student anymore, so there is must be a lot of thing that change. First is academic, when I was in school the assignment was easier and much less than in the university. In high school I took a science class not a social class, but now I take an accountant majors so i have to adapt more than student who took social class in high school. maybe at the first time in academic i left behind by the social student but later I will catch up them.
ReplyDeleteNow I live with my friends not my parents, it’s very big different because I have to do all the things by my self. We have to find new friends that can connect better with us like in high schol but that's a little bit hard at the first time. I feel homesickness at the very first time I moved here but now I get a lot of new friends that can ease my homesickness. I hope I can manage time better because in the university there are a lot of assignment and event that I have to do, to make me a better person in the future
Well, my life has changed a lot during the last 8 months. I went from Germany, from a country where everything is well planned and organized to Indonesia where everything is chaotic and the culture is more collectivist than in Europe. I wouldn’t have expected that I would like Indonesia that much. Against my expectations, I really love Indonesian food. It is so nice to go out and meet friends for lunch and dinner every day, but I miss German food a lot, especially bread, cheese and good meat. The Indonesian weather is perfect for me because in Germany I am always freezing. I love my motorbike, it offers me flexibility that I never had in Germany. In Yogya I am sharing a house with four friends which is a lot of fun. It offers much more space than our student flats in Germany and I like living together with many people. Living in Indonesia is fine as long as you stay healthy. Hospitals and medical services are not as good as in Europe. Hardly anybody in hospital speaks English and going to hospital includes long waiting hours. Very often the doctors can’t tell which disease you have. They just prescribe you antibiotics and so it is stressful because it takes more time to cure illnesses in Indonesia than in Germany. When it comes to academic matters I had to learn a lot and get used to the everyday life at UGM. It starts with the courses which start at 7.00 a.m., I think I will never get used to waking up that early. Furthermore, for European people it is difficult to be forced to go to class and it is sometimes tiring that pretty much nothing seems to be organized.
ReplyDeleteGoing to university means my first time away from home, and I said to my self “I have to be more independent” infact this is easier said than done, for me it could be a stressful and anxious time when you have managing your entire life and stepping more into the big wide world without the constant comfort of Mom and Dad just like at home. Especially when I knew about the tasks of Ppsmb Palapa (the university orientation) and Simfoni 2013 (the orientation for students of FEB) then, it’s totally enough made my head explode. Because, we have to finish both of palapa and simfoni task altogether, these two kind of orientation were equally important for me as a new student of Gadjah Mada University.
ReplyDeleteI didn't sleep at all and that was the first time I ever stayed up for the whole night and forgot to eat. Many challenges lay ahead on my first week at university. However, the other activities have been waiting, just like AAI, Soft Skills Training, Makrab, etc. But I have never regretted doing all kind of these activities. I feel that there are many beneficial things trough so many meetings, get to know a lot of new faces, things to do, because at the same time I can discuss, share each other, cooperation with people around me and know many things from them. Absolutely I learn how to manage my time and balance a one's social and my academic lives.
Actually, this is not the first time for me to live abroad. After graduating from highschool in 2009, I spent one year in the U.S. working for a non-profit organization called “Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderley” in Chicago, IL. Quite frankly I have to say that besides enjoying work I really fell in love with Chicago itself. It is such an amazing place to live: cool people, great restaurants, sport events, festivals, Lake Michigan, one of the best skylines, nightclubs, and, and, and... I really hope to be able to go back there at some point in my life.
ReplyDeleteNow, living in Indonesia and experiencing South East Asia is especially interesting for me since I can not only draw comparisons to Europe, but also to the U.S.A. Obviously, life is very different over here from Europe as well as from North America. However, I really enjoy getting to know the lifestyle, culture, and people in Indonesia. It somehow already feels like a home to me, even after only 7 months.
For the future I hope to be able to live in another different continent to gain more international experiences and furthermore to figure out where I want to live and work in the long term.
"After graduating from highschool in 2009, I spent one year in the U.S. working for a non-profit organization called “Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderley” in Chicago, IL."
DeleteI will be posting an article about 'tips on doing business with Americans' [there are several similar articles about various nationalities]. When I do, it would be interesting to see how those tips compare to your experience.
When I was at the age of 6, I told my mum I wanted to go to Africa. Not just to cuddle the lions and ride the elephants but also to see the big red sun setting down behind a beautiful wide land. Furthermore I wanted to see how children in Africa live, how they play and what they eat. Well, to be honest, I mostly wanted to go there because of the lions. Contradictory to that I was very shy and silent. My years as a young kid and teenager would have hardly had any impact on any other life out there. By getting older I also became more alive. And then finally at the age of 18 I went abroad. However it was Australia and not Africa. I went there with a friend of me and we travelled through half of Australia, did some small and stupid jobs, meet hundreds of people, got into fights, found love, made friendships that lasted until today, got to know each other and ourselves and we tried things we never did before.
ReplyDeleteNow already 7 month in Indonesia I often think about our time in Australia. And even though both experiences are totally beautiful the time over there was completely different one than here.
But out of all that I would say, that the year in Australia made me more independent, more fearless about new things or challenges and it taught me how to handle people.
Indonesia instead improves my patience, makes me appreciate a lot of things and I learn how different peoples behavior is.
For me my times abroad definitely contributed main parts to the personality i do have now.
So much for that.
Ramona
And even though both experiences are totally beautiful the time over there was completely different one than here. "
DeleteWell this sentence makes no sense....I guess the "one" is to much. Sorry about that.
It is one of the EWS class students' basic human rights: to be allowed to write sentences that make no sense.
DeleteHaving said that, your sentence about "both experiences" made sense to me, even with the unnecessary "one" in it.
Now, I'm a student in Gadjah Mada University not a student in high school anymore. This is the first time I away from home, from my parents, my friends in Bandung. I had to adapt with my new live in different city with new people, new place, new friends.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot a difference between high school life with university life. The subject between high school and university is very difference. In high school, students are generally not expected to have a broad and deep knowledge of their subject. Then teachers direct students to the most important information and ideas in a subject. But in university, students are introduced to a discipline and are expected to become increasingly knowledgeable about their discipline during the course of their university study. Through reading, attending lectures and participating in tutorials, students are exposed to a wide range of information, principles, theories and debates in their field. Then assignment in high school, students are expected to reproduce the core knowledge they have learnt. Teachers set smaller and more frequent assignments. But assignment in university like students are expected to take a more critical and questioning attitude to the knowledge they acquire throughout the course of their university studies.
But the best point should I take is a managing time between study and organization, because to follow the organization is important for me to get a new experience. Now I know that campus life is harder than high school life. Never give up trying no matter how many times you fail then you should have a good manage the time and work hard with campus life or university life.
This is mostly about my problems with student life.
ReplyDeleteI was an exact science student in high school and I think of myself as an exact science person. I was in love with biology and math and I still am in love with biology and math. I always think......no thought that I'd be in med school right now. I have been dreaming about me becoming a doctor since I was a kid, since people questioned me what I wanted to be. And the fact that I am not in med school now hurts.
Accounting was my back-up plan (that screwed me up) if I didn't get to be in med school, for months I've been trying to assure myself that I can be in accounting, I can adapt, I can fit in, I can get used to it since I've been hearing so much about economics from my father. But one week passed already and I am depressed, I am not happy. My heart isn't in it. I listen to the lecturers, but that was just about it, I don't want to know more about it. I don't give a single crap about economics theories or how to manage a business or how to write a journal. I may sound ungrateful but for pete's sake I didn't ask to be here either.
And oh the irony, even though I am already in FEB majoring in accounting, I just ordered a stethoscope, a Littmann classic II stethoscope and I was also subscribing the school of medicine of Yale Uni courses. I don't know..............................
My friends have been telling to try again next year and GOD I WANT TO. I want to try again and taking the major I want and be happily ever after. And hey I just read a quote by Paulo Coelho "If it's still in your mind, it's worth taking the risk." Thanks Paulo. I don't really know whether my parents will be happy or not about me taking the MCAT next year (it's probably the latter) but I'm gonna do it.
And as for now (until next year), I'm just going to let it flow, let it pass. And.......... how to give 100% until next year? I wonder...............................hm
At first, the idea about going to a boarding school back when I was about to enter the high school season was not my pure idea. It was my dad. I was already happy back then since I've got the best high school in Bali without having myself choked with all those test, because I got the 'free pass ticket' to that school by winning a competition held by the school itself. Then suddenly, my father just told me that he had registered me to enter this so called semi-military school called Taruna Nusantara. That made me gone mad at him. We were just like cat and dog. I started to talk with my mom, hoping that he could change his mind, but it was useless. So I had no choice but to agree with him. And magically, I passed all of the test, and so I was given three days by my father to decide where I wanted to study, in Bali or in Magelang. Those days as far as i could remember were days where anything that you eat, anything that you do, never tasted the same. Because once I decided, then I couldn't go back anymore. So I chose to study in Magelang, because I was hoping not to see my father again. And I did it, I graduated from that school. I was happy back then, but then again, my father started to interfere me again about going to university. He told me to go to military academy whereas no one in our family has ever experienced how is it like to be a 'soldier'. The next thing I remembered when I disagreed with the idea of being a soldier was my father, again, interfered me and told me to study in faculty of medicine, because I was in science class back when I was in high school. And then, came the idea, that I was 17 years old, and I did have my own rights to choose where I wanted to go, so I just told 'dad, if by studying in faculty of medicine makes me become your real son, then I don't want to be your son anymore.' I just told him that, and poof, he changed his mind, and here I am, studying in management, hoping that someday I could raise his business to the top. And it seems now my father i happy about everything I decide. And he fully supports me, despite of my stubbornness, but he is happy, and that's what change my little life here.
ReplyDeleteThinking about moving out to another city scared me a lot in the past. But when I went to high school, the idea came across my mind and I felt so excited to finally be able to leave my home, to try new things, and to have more time for myself. Jogja isn't a new place for me. I've been coming to this city since I was a little to visit my grandmother's house in Eid Day or just simply spent my long holiday here. But sadly, she passed away 2 years ago so I can't go back to the village as much as I want to. Now, living alone as a university student gives me a new challege and I'm still trying hard to adjust myself in this new chapter of my life. I honestly never thought that I'll take accounting major, and I never had an idea why I'm here, in this faculty, so now I'm really trying hard to encourage myself to think that this is the best decision and path for me.
ReplyDeleteHomesick doesn't really haunt me lately. Jogja is a good city. The living cost is cheaper, and the best part is that I rarely get stuck in traffic jam. I'm really enjoying my time here with my new friends. The classes are fine, and I like the campus environment too. It helps me to forget that I'm currently away from my parents and family, although managing my health alone is kinda hard because I often forget to eat regularly. I sometimes feel tired after attending classes or activities too.
It's still early to say this, but FEB UGM is such a fun place with a lot of new experiences to be tried out. I hope I can be better than before and I can motivate myself like I used to, so that I can do my best for my grades, and for every aspect in my university life.
"But when I went to high school, the idea came across my mind and I felt so excited to finally be able to leave my home, to try new things, and to have more time for myself."
DeleteI felt something similar when I was 18. For one reason or another, I was actually relieved to get away from home and start out on my own. I don't ever remember feeling homesick. In fact, I have been away from my home country for 22 years and, while I have missed my family and friends [of course!], I can't say I have ever felt homesick.
Back then it was somewhat surreal to digest the fact that I’m accepted in the Faculty of Economics and Business in Gadjah Mada University. I thought that I’m too stupid to even be considered because there are a lot of other smarter applicants than I am. It’s always have been my dream to be one of the students here in UGM. However there are definitely a lot of things that I had to leave behind back in Jakarta. Such as my family, friends, boyfriend, and my bad habits. Of course, here in Yogyakarta I’m learning to be more independent wherein I had to clean my own room, car, do the laundry, etc. Also, because there’s no one here to cook for me, and remembering the fact that I cannot cook, I had to go out by my own every time I’m hungry. Definitely I’m slowly beginning to be more independent despite of my forgetful nature. The only thing that annoys me here is definitely the car and motorcycle. They won’t even give way to you when you want to make a turn, the motorcycle slips in between my car and others. Thus, leaving a beautiful scratch on my car, and by far there’s 6 motorcycles that grazed my car. Fantastic. Lastly, my problem here is maybe my homesickness. My dad wants me to go home once a month, and that’s fine by me. If I miss any of the people back in Jakarta I could just have a video chat or call them when I have the time. I really do hope that I will be able to adjust myself here sooner, and have a great university life.
ReplyDelete"However there are definitely a lot of things that I had to leave behind back in Jakarta. Such as my family, friends, boyfriend, and my bad habits."
DeleteYou could get someone to send them to you by Tiki. Make sure your boyfriend is shipped upright, like a refrigerator. And remember that Tiki might refuse to take responsibility for your "bad habits".
Did anybody seriously consider NOT attending university and, instead, starting work or obtaining some sort of technical or vocational training?
ReplyDeleteI am seriously attending university course sir instead of starting work or obtaining some sort technical or vocational training. In my opinion I chose this university because I plan to take double degree program, and I need to get 3,25 at least for my GPA to fulfill the university obligation.
DeleteI know that may be I can follow Michael Dell, or Steve Jobs who drop out from university and become very rich businessman. My introduction business's lecturer often advising us to go out from UGM and them starting our business instead of pay Rp 25.000.000 every semester and studying hard merely to get highest GPA and become a lecturer like him. He said that become lecturer was a poor person, do you agree with that sir?
I already realize that I am a business student, it means that I should have a business. How come a business student doesn't have any business, it is better to take medicine major rather than business program. So in last week before I just started my business in selling chino trousers. But I am always want to focus only in my studying in this university.
Everything in Yogyakarta seems new to me. I’m from Jakarta, where people expect high standards from us, where we should go to certain cafés in skyscrapers to be called ‘gaul’-enough for the society, where we are judged with what we wear, who we date, and who we are friends with. It’s impossible to be anywhere near of being perfect in Jakarta. I’m so used to the environment there and I struggled the first few days here.
ReplyDeleteI nagged a lot. I compared everything to Jakarta. Jogja doesn’t have this, they don’t provide that, where in the world can I find these items?! It was sort of frustating at first, but I learned that everyone here is sincerely nice and have this heart-warming vibe. Ask any of my friends from Jakarta, there is a certain adjustment that we had to go through. But most of us could agree that it’s nicer to live here rather than the metropolitan city we’re from.
I learned to enjoy the food because it’s cheap. I learned to love the fact I could use my bike to uni. I absolutely love the fact I’m away from my family and learning new things all together. I tried to write this without sounding like a spoiled city girl. That’s just my perspective of things. And i still don’t know where to buy books apart from the periplus at the airport? I’m switching to e-books and I would prefer buying the real printed ones instead. Thanks.
typo bits... i absolutely love the fact that i'm away? kay let's just all do me a favor and ignore this embarrassing post
DeleteLet's hope everyone reads your post and can find all the embarrassing bits on their own!
Delete"where we should go to certain cafés in skyscrapers to be called ‘gaul’-enough for the society"
Delete+1 on this
Well, I don't really know about campus life yet. A week is not enough for me to really feel anything special about campus life. I still live with my parents, so I never feel homesick. Well, my main problem is managing my time. I was given a simple psychological test, and the result is that I am a type of person that generally having problem with time management. I am currently trying hard to fix it. I try to focus on important task, and not postpone doing my task. I will calculate the time and try to do it as fast as I can. I also reduce my play time and not doing something unimportant. I hope someone can tell me how to manage my time well. I feel like I don't have the balance between work and play.
ReplyDeleteKeeping healthy is also hard, but I try to get enough sleep. I will not do any diet for weight loss! I think eat a lot of fruits will help.
It has been about three weeks since I live without my family in a dormitory near campus. I’m often attacked by homesickness. Everything still feels unreal to me, it feels like I’m on a holiday, and I’ll be back home soon. I miss my family a lot. I currently live in an UGM’s dormitory, Bulaksumur Residence, Merapi Building, room 107, with my new roommate from Bandung, Nastiti Weningati or Asti, who studies Architectural Engineering. In the dormitory, I have to do all of things by myself. I don’t know why but I often feel lonely. Alone. University life really teaches me how to be independent and how to wisely manage my time. I start to learn new things to become a better person. I started attending class on Monday morning at 7 a.m., September 19th 2013. The first class that I attended is Mr. Dumairy, Drs., M.A.’s class, Mathematics. We were taught about the basic of mathematical economics. I was so excited because it was my first class. The other classes were also pretty interesting because I was not originally from the social class in high school. So, some of the lessons are brand new to me. I personally think that, the most important thing is to stay in the pink, to keep healthy. Because, it will be impossible to do things if we are sick. I hated vegetables back then, but I learn to love it now, because it will give lots of benefits to myself to keep healthy. I hope I can adapt well, wish me luck.
ReplyDeleteit's been a week i am doing campus life. i think it was hectic enough. many assignments to do. the time of class is depends on lectures. so i can study everytime, go home when the day already dark. i live in jogja with my grandma. my parent lives in bandung. i feel homesick when something not supposed to be, happened to me. i can't handle the problem. but i realized, that i have to take my risk to be independent live. Faculty of economic and busineess at UGM has many events. so i quite difficult to managing my time to study and following the extra activities out of the class. but i am glad that i meet new friends, new environment, new lessons and many more. i wish i can make fast adaption to campus life.
ReplyDeleteby the way, jogja is a cheap city. it's good things so i am not difficult to manage money. actually i am not new person in jogja because every lebaran day, i visited my grandma here. people here are nice but not at all. the weather is hotter than my hometown, bandung. but i am trying to enjoying this city.
I originally come from Jogjakarta. I live in my own house in Jogjakarta, but my parents work in Lampung. I live with my big sister and my lovely boy (my dalmatian). I had been separated from my parents since I studied in senior high school, because they have to work in Lampung and I have to continue my study in Jogja. Well, my life in university will be absolutely different with high school. Although I also had a lot of tasks when I was in high school, but the tasks in university is totally different. For example, the task for student’s orientation (SIMFONI 2013) was totally unbelievable. We had to manage our super limited time to do our best. I slept in about 2 hours a day, and it was so tiring. But unfortunately, I got sick in the first and the second day of SIMFONI. It was because of my vertigo, so I have to go to hospital 2 times for 2 days. It was all because I had force my self to do the tasks, and it made me did not have time to take a good sleep. From my own experience, I think I should concern about my health more, and I should manage my time wisely.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great dog in your blogger profile picture. Have you seen Ramona's black and white dog? Check out [all!] the photos on the blog belonging to "just-mona".
Deletethat's labrador sir, but unfortunately he passed away because of the virus. Now, I have the new one, named Barney. He's dalmatian with the super extra energy and fun
DeleteSince I arrived here in Indonesia seven months ago, my life has changed a lot! First of all, I had to get used to the Indonesian style of studying. Compulsory attendance is something I didn’t encounter anymore after completing my A levels. One professor at UGM recently discussed with us about the school system in Germany and when we told him that it is optional for us to join the class, he commented: “If the attendance wasn’t mandatory, nobody would come to class anymore.” In my opinion this comes within everybody’s personal responsibility as the students should be old enough to understand the importance of going to class. Also the large workload of assignments, presentations, group discussion, quizzes and so on are new to me. In Germany you only have one final exam in the end of the semester and this is the full grade. Class participation does almost not exist or at least it is not relevant for the grade. I consider it also as ridiculous if I’m sitting in a quiz, knowing that this counts only 1% of the full grade. Where is the point in that? But this is the study system in Indonesia and I am here for making new experiences and not for expecting to have everything the same way like in Germany. Besides my studies, I can take advantage of the many beautiful travel destinations in Indonesia and in South-East Asia in general. Travelling around and seeing as much from the world as possible is a good compensation for the study life. Next destination: Karimunjawa!
ReplyDelete“talk about how your life is changing”
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that came into my mind when I first read this sentence was how I currently live quite far from my hometown, which means that I have to live far away from my parents. Being the only child, having to live alone with very loose parental control grants me actual freedom from the daily chores and from my parents’ nagging, especially my mom’s. However, there are many times when things get tough that make me feel alone and, often, homesick. Thankfully, the people in UGM, especially FEB are, mostly, very nice and friendly, and going out with them can make me forget about Jakarta for a while.
“adapting to academic work ... managing your time”
Academic-wise, the campus life, as far as I’ve observed, is actually not as busy as my high school. I went to a top catholic school in Jakarta for 6 years. It was a very strict school and the students were bombarded by endless assignments and exams. Thus, I wasn’t actually surprised when the teachers had actually prepared assignments, either individual or group, for the IUP students in the first meeting. I just hope I can get proper sleep time while plowing through the forthcoming exams and projects.
I will soon go out from the jungle finally.
ReplyDeleteIt was my first thought when an epic announcement popped in my e-mail. I accepted in the Business major of Faculty of Economics and Business Universitas Gadjah Mada. I really couldn't believe it that time. I'm from Duri, Riau, which is lay in the middle of Sumatran jungle and I've been live there since I was born. I never move to a big metropolitan city. Knowing that I will move to Jogja, I feel like I will be free out of the jungle. But in fact, I'm trapped in a new jungle again. Jungle of books, jungle of tasks, jungle of laundries, everything. Because I have to live independently without my parents. I'm suffering that now but I should survive soon from it so I can gain good grades here and make my parents proud. Have to manage life ourselves. Thankfully I used to be busy with bunch of activities when I was in high school so I don't feel such a big matter with my time management here, although I have to survive with my thousand tasks and lack of sleeping time now. Hope that I will get used to this soon.
Now, I’m writing this comment as a new Gadjah Mada University student, one of the best university in Indonesia. Since I’m not coming from other region, I don’t have any homesickness, but one, I am struggling to adapt to my new academic life. My life in uni is totally different and totally new to me. In my high school, which is just a standard and normal government school, language is not a matter, one-way (but sometimes interactive) learning is easy to understand and learn. But in this International Undergraduate Program, language is a big thing. Beside the language, totally interactive learning between lecturer and students is a new thing. Since I am not a communicative or social-active person, learning in that way is something that I should put more efforts on. To be active is my current little goal.
ReplyDeleteNot only the academic life, the social life in Faculty of Economics and Business in this University is something new to me. Socializing with people from many regions in Indonesia or people from other country is something impossible to happen in my high school, which is not a favorite high school in Yogyakarta. Different regions carrying different personalities, the difference of language, culture, or way of life is coloring my life in this faculty. But, up until now, I’m still trying to have as many friends as I can, whether from Jogjakarta or other regions.
Yeah, adaptation is something difficult. But, a dream is not a dream if we can reach it easily.
When I got accepted in UGM, I was a bit shocked. Because I knew that it wasn’t easy to get accepted here. But as time goes on, I know that I should be more confident with myself. When I arrived at Yogyakarta it was like a déjà vu to me, because I went to SMA Santa Maria Yogyakarta before, and now, I come back to Yogyakarta to study at UGM. I don’t really have homesickness because I already get used to live far away from my parents. But I do have some confusing moments because I never really know UGM’s area, so when I first moved to my boarding house, I was like, where am I? It was funny because, I already lived in Yogyakarta for 3 years but the fact is, I haven’t known Yogyakarta well. But then I slowly began to know this area. Entering UGM has made my life change. Even it was just the first week of learning; I soon realize that university life is so much different with high school life. So many task to do and we must study by ourselves, not just studying in the classroom like when I was at high school. Well, I’m still adapting with my new life as a student in UGM, I hope that I can get a good experience here.
ReplyDeleteFor me living on your own foot is not a new experience for me, because I have lived in Singapore once. But to live in Jogja is totally different thing compare when lived in Singapore. The people here are nicer compare with those in Singapore. The food is better as well although sometimes I missed some of Singapore local foods. Back to the topic, the university life in here is totally different from what I have experienced, In UGM there are so many assignments as if they are queuing behind me. To cope with that I usually watch movie every Friday night and Saturday night, to relieve the stresses that had accumulated.
ReplyDeleteAs for homesick, I did not feel any, maybe because of the workload I have and I think Jogja is better compare to my hometown Bogor. The traffic is less terrible and the foods are cheaper. Also there plenty places for hanging out in here. What I do not like from Jogja is probably the weather, it is very hot.
Thanks
For me, university life is so different compared to high school life. In high school, I used to go to school and in he afternoon when the class is dismissed I go home and do my homework. It has always been like this. Even though sometimes I also joined the event organizing activities. But in university life, after the class is dismissed we still have many activities in campus, such as event organizing or the organization's life. As I heard a joke from some of senior in FEB that FEB is actually stands for Faculty of Events & Business. So there are so many events held by FEB's students and I think I need to be ready for this.
ReplyDeleteIt is still so difficult for me to find the balance between academics life, social life and extracurricular activities. I really need to set my priorities because I am an ordinary human being. I can not handle all the things at the same time. I need to choose which activities I can handle. But I am happy because I am being productive. And maybe some of you also have the same kind of feeling and if I may, I'm giving you a suggestion; try to set your priority.
Hello Yogyakarta!
ReplyDeleteAfter 3 years in Semarang, finally I move to a new city, with a lot of new experiences hopefully.
Studying in a university is new for me, us actually. So, I need to adapt first. Those thick books are so boring. Those books also make me difficult to gain my desire to open those. But, I must read, the system in university is different from high school that forces me to study by myself.
One of my activities that I love to do is joining an organization. In this faculty, there are a lot of activities, and I really want to participate there. But on the other hand, I have to chase the good GPA. So, I need to learn how to manage the time well.
The daily life in Yogyakarta is not far different than in Semarang, because I have gotten used to live in a boarding house’s style there. The difference is the access to get foods, in Semarang in front of my boarding house is a food court and minimarket. So I find it so easy to get out and have a lunch or dinner. On the other hand, in Yogyakarta I have to go out of housing complex to get access for eating.
Overall, I think Yogyakarta gives a warm welcome to me, and I hope Yogyakarta can be my second home.
The moment I enter university a lot of new stuff coming out at me; New Experience, Problems with Student Life, Adapting to Academic Works, Trying out new things, Balancing my work and play, and Keeping my body fit. Wow. Entering a new chapter of life does bring you something you can't imagine.
ReplyDeleteThe first problem would be adapting to the academic works. Since the academic system in uni is different High School (SMA), it would take me a whole lot of time to understand it. The simple yet complex system sure makes your brain spinning. However eventually I will get used to it in the future, so no worries.
The thing that I love is the trying out new things part. When I was in High School, I don't really have time to do new things since I have a lot of tasks and assignments (Report and Research stuff). But now, with different mind I can use my time efficiently to do many sort of things, one thing especially is start running my own business which is a clothing business. I will make you guys what kind of clothing business I am working on, it is going to be epic lol.
While doing my shenanigans takes my energy a lot, I can still keep my body fit. By doing what you ask? OCD, the recently popular way to thin your body or in other word, Diet. A diet that recommend you to not take breakfast, but you can eat whatever you like in 8, 6, or 4 hours range. Quite simple isn't it? That is not all of the program. You have to do some working out, but ONLY for 30 minutes and some aerobics/yoga stuff. If you are tired of drinking diet drugs, feel free to search what OCD is.
I still have one topic, which is how to manage my own time, but I will save it for later use. *wink*
Campus life. A life that I always dream of. A life where I could be mature enough to go out late. A life where everyone thinks I’m old enough to do anything I want. A life where I can do illegal things legally (?) I’ve been on fire to face this new life.
ReplyDeleteBut then, this life isn’t as easy as I imagined. College has huge differences compare with high school. Like, in high school, everything is on schedule. The school started at 6.40 am finished at 1.15 pm. After school I went back home, took a nap for a couple hours, English course, homework, and everything. The routine is the same for about 3 years!
After the high school graduation, I got 4 months of holiday. That is a super long holiday. I got a new routine that fit me lot. After I woke up, I played games until I got tired, then I sleep ‘till I wanted to wake up, then I continued the game ‘till I got tired again, then I sleep again, and again and again and again for 4 months.
Suddenly the orientation came and tried to kill me slowly. I only sleep for 3 hours (the longest for that week) then continued to make all the attributes. On the last day of orientation, I didn’t even get a chance to rest my mind and my body. So I ended up at the health post.
Done with orientation, I finally entered my class. I was so happy and excited to officially be a college student. But still, I can’t catch up with the schedule. I can’t manage my time. Too busy doing homework and driving from my house to campus. At last, I caught a cold on the weekend. What a great weeks!
Looking forward for the corrections, thank you
"Looking forward for the corrections, thank you."
DeleteHere's one correction for you. It's "looking forward TO the corrections" and not FOR!
Ha ha!
As I graduated from Pioneer Junior College (equivalent to senior high) in Singapore, most of my friends are excited that they can declare independence by moving out of their parents’ home. Majority of them who goes to local university in Singapore chooses to stay in the hostel, while others choose to go to popular higher education destination such as US, UK or Australia. As for me, I have to admit, I’m not the most excited about going to university as I have to go back to Yogyakarta, Indonesia after living in Singapore for more than 10 years. The most common question that I receive from my new schoolmates would be ‘why would u choose to go back to Indonesia instead of staying in Singapore?’ Well, there are a lot of reasons for my return.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, there is bigger business opportunity and potential in Indonesia as compared to a developed country like Singapore. ‘Be your boss’ has been indoctrinated by my father who is also my role model in the field of entrepreneurship. Sure I can also start a business in Singapore, but more capital is needed and the competition is way too fierce. I commonly witness graduates from Singapore University ended up sitting in a cubicle from 9 to 5 and just continuing with this mundane job everyday. Hence as I eventually would want to set up a business in Indonesia after I attaining my degree, I thought it would be good if I step outside my comfort zone and study at UGM, Yogyakarta.
The next reason would sound a little ambitious. Since young I always wonder why Indonesia is still so poor even though we have so much resources. This thought keep on snowballing especially when I live in a country that does not have anything (except for manpower) but ended up to be very developed. As such I came into conclusion that it is all about resource allocation, and how you make use of it. Of course being a businesswoman is still my life priority, but I would hope that one day I can be a politician and contribute my knowledge that I learn from Faculty of Economics to benefit the Indonesian society.
Lastly, there are several personal reasons for my return and one of them is because of my family. My father has a relatively big family and for the past 5 years, I witnessed several deaths in the family due to old age. Hence I had a chain of thought’ if I’m going to spent 4 years in overseas university and work for at least 2-5 years abroad, by then my father would be around 65 and taking the average Indonesian life expectancy of 72 for a man, I would only have another 7 years to spend with him after leaving him alone since I was 9 years old.’ The concept of ‘death’ has always brings shiver down my spine but I’m pretty straightforward about it. I feel that he has sacrificed a lot for my sister & me and I think he we should spend more precious time with him.
Now that I’m already back to my hometown as a college girl in UGM, I’m not 100% sure if I’m very happy about it, but in the bright side I knew that it is the correct decision. Fitting in is not that easy being my Indonesian is not very fluent (especially when my schoolmates use slang language) and due cultural difference but I’m ready to learn new stuff and begin my new adventure.
You're good. I wish you a very good luck both for achieving your first priority as a businesswoman and also spending precious time with your father.
DeleteWelcome back to the humble Yogyakarta.
When I was in high school, I used to wonder what my college life would be look like. No longer wearing uniforms, no longer presence on Monday ceremony, no longer got punishment because of being late. College life was something I’ve always dreamed of when I was in high school. So, I studied hard to get myself accepted in top universities (which were UI and UGM). Then, I got accepted in Business major of UGM. So, I packed my things up then moved to Yogyakarta.
ReplyDeleteThere are many changes I have been through since I live in Yogyakarta as a University student. College is not as beautiful as I thought as a high school student back then. Living alone here then dealing with college schedules and I have not able to manage my time yet. But I’m sure as time goes by, I will be able to adapt to these things soon. I hope so.
How did your orientation week experience compare to Jeka's?
DeleteI didn't sleep at all. Stayed up all night to do orientation's assignments given by the seniors. And it was torturing.
DeleteI actually moved here since five months ago with my family. I am so grateful that I am accepted in Gadjah Mada University by the time my dad also got relocated in Java because of his work. So I don’t live all alone here by myself. Living in a new place must be takes time to adapt. It is a complete different atmosphere here. But i am excited to learn new language and culture. I onced read a quote that said; at the time you speak a different language, you are actually present a different personality. What do you think about it guys? I think I agree with that.
ReplyDeleteAt first, being a student of one of the best Economic and Business Faculty in Indonesia is sort of unreal to me. I don’t think I am smart enough compare to the other applicants. But praise to God, I made it here now. The previous city I used to live in which is Makassar, is so different with Jogja. These past years, Makassar has developing to a metropolitan city. Where I get used to having nice lunch in cafe, hang out with friends in malls, following the fashion trends, and many other things. Unlike Jogja that possess a strong sense of traditional life. I am not trying to compare both because each one of it has the positive and negative sides. But I honestly quiet enjoy the life I have now. This time, is all what I’ve been dreaming of and I feel I meant to be here. A warm environment that can support me to be an ideal college student. We don’t need to think about what we’re gonna wear to campus. Most of the students are working hard to pursue the best education. It feels almost the exact similar circumstance during my study in American high school back then in 2011-2012. Everything I experienced is new, include the language and culture. There, I lived in a small town that doesn’t have many facilities. I had bunch of school assignments and extracurricular meetings, but still able to balanced them all. Last but not least, I believe that every single bumps in the road we’ve been through and our efforts to be able to adjust in new environment, would turn us in to a better quality of a person.
How is my life changing, you say? As the title of this post said it perfectly, I'm feeling that sense of independence after moving to Yogyakarta. Gone are the days where other people will take care every matter for you while you were still young.
ReplyDeleteTwo weeks into actual university learning, I can feel the difference on how studying is different compared to high school studying. Having only one subject per class, every week, grants you more time to do other things, such as to learn the subjects deeper independently, or to do other activities. Independence is a double-edged sword, however. Should you have the inability to control yourself (including but not limited to studying and extracurricular activities) and have the lack of encouragement to start something, independence might be the one that would ruin your life.
My access to independence, however, allows me to try out things I've never done before. It also made me bothered to do something, as well as putting more thought into what I’m about to do.
Move into Jogja is a big change in my life. I have to adapt my self to a new society, a new place, and new friends. Not only about moving into a new city, it’s also about changing from high school students into college students. In Jogja, I live alone here, so I have to be independent and I have to be able to manage my time and everything. But, I still can’t manage my time well. And I think I’m becoming procrastination sometimes. I think I have a lot of tasks and things to do. But, I feel 7 days in a week is not enough. I love traveling,so after class, if I have time, I usually drive alone, trying to remember street, and I often almost get lost. But, fortunately, I still can find way home. About homesickness, yes, I do miss home. And the worse is on first week in Jogja. But now, I’m fine, because I already have a lot of friends here and my mom keep calling me once a day. Things are getting better now here in Jogja, and all i have to do is enjoying my life,wherever i am.
ReplyDeleteMy life’s changing since the day I graduated from high school. After the graduation day, I can do nothing all day for at least 3 months. Suddenly, now there’re so much assignments and projects to do. And I find it pretty difficult to adapt, because in my senior high school the teachers are speaking in Bahasa Indonesia in every subject. Meanwhile, in IUP every subject is in English. So, I still adapting to that.
ReplyDeleteActually, I don’t want to go to college. After graduating high school, I want to help my mom’s batik business in Jakarta. But I live in Indonesia. University diploma and degree are so important here. In Jogja, I live in Condongcatur with my father. He lives here because of his job. So I don’t have to save my money like other college students. But my mom and my big brother live in Jakarta. Sometimes I call them during weekend for hours.
However, there’s a lake near my house, and I want to try jogging there every Sunday morning, so hopefully it will keep me healthy. I love trying new foods around here. Seems like people in Jogja love sweet foods. I don’t really like it though. But still I love doing culinary. Thank you for reading.
Move into Jogja, especially UGM is definitely one the biggest change in my life so far. Before I got accepted in UGM, I had a big row with my mom about my future education. I was supposed to go to Netherlands to continue my education in Saxion University majoring in International Business, because I got a partial scholarship. But then my mom forbid me from going there, because she said that she's not ready to let me go abroad, yet (even though I got a scholarship). And then because I am a stubborn person, I keep applying for another scholarship abroad (even though my mom forbid it), after a few months of waiting, I found that I got a scholarship from Russian Government to continue my study in Oil and Gas Engineering at one of the university there. But once again my mom found out about that and I had another huge row with her.
ReplyDeleteUntil one day my friends told me about the IUP program at UGM and she encouraged me to try it. After talking with my parents and after I compromise with my mom, I finally take the exam for the IUP program in UGM. And I'm relief that I got accepted, because I can stop fighting with my mom and I also can make her happy without sacrificing my own desire to continue my study abroad. Thanks for reading this.
University life is a brand new life and also a brand new atmosphere for me. It’s completely different with our high school life. I spent my high school in Cilacap, a small city near West Java but it’s still in Central Java. When I moved in to Jogjakarta, I felt so excited to get new friends, new activities, and new experiences. Now, after my first two weeks in university, I realize that university life is not that fun. So many assignments that given to us every day, and we still have another group assignment . The biggest difference is the schedule. In high school, we used to start the lesson at 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. , but in university we don’t have fixed schedule because sometimes when the lecturer can’t attend the class, they will give us a substitute class. It’s not that easy for me to adapt with this new life. But overall, I love it.
ReplyDeleteToday is the day that make I already stay in Yogyakarta for 1 month. A lot of things happen and I understand about collage student now. I may live in dormitory, but still I am independent here without my parents watch over me. I can go back to dormitory before 10 p.m. without any guilty feelings. The difference that I like that the class are not as many as in high school so I can work more harder and the subject is not pure science. In here I must manage between eat three times a day also the money plus money if want to join seminars and music events. The problem in here, i stilll cannot manage the time to tidy up my room..
ReplyDeleteHonestly I think I still enjoy my independence life in here, so I do not feel homesick. However, I miss the place where I used to buy things easily in Jakarta but I do not miss the traffic jam there. Last week, I lied to my mom and it is make me feel guilty. I said to her I am healthy in here but actually at that time I was sick..
"Last week, I lied to my mom and it is make me feel guilty. I said to her I am healthy in here but actually at that time I was sick."
DeleteIf it makes you feel any better, you can call it a "white lie" or a "fib".
I never think I will go to UGM for my university. I never expect I will live in Jogja for long time. When I was senior high school, the only thing in my mind was I will go to UI and still could go home everyday. But sometimes, the thing that you actually want the most is the thing that you never expect to happen. It happened to me. I got so excited and relived for sure when I accepted in UGM especially in their International Undergraduate Program. But then, I started to worry about live in Jogja, alone. It isn't literally alone, some of my friends from Jakarta also go to UGM, but still I have to take care of myself by my own self.
ReplyDeleteThe hardest part about live away from my home, from Jakarta, is I have to leave my comfort zone. I used to bring my lunch from home, and my mother already make it a perfect lunch for me because there’re already; rice, vegetables, meat, milk, juice, and biscuit. So in one day, I used to never worry I haven’t eaten vegetables yet or fruit yet or milk yet. I don’t mean being the perfect-healthy girl here; I have to eat in that way because I get sick easily. Then in here, I have to think all of those things by myself. In Jakarta, if I go somewhere alone, I used to take public transportation (the safety one) and in here.. I just find ojek, ojek, and ojek and transjogja which I only see the station and almost never see the bus.
But in Jogja, I meet many low-profile people, nice and friendly people, and I learn more to live in down-to-earth way. For only one month I've already got many things that I think I couldn't get those things if I still live in Jakarta. So now, I begin to be grateful I choosed to leave my comfort zone.
The independence I first experienced was when I studied abroad in Philippines. It was quite nice. Live far away from parents, manage time by my self, met new friendly friends, and travelling to new places. But since it was high school time, it is pretty different with the independence I experience now in university. The time is more flexible and I do not have to wake up early every day (except for Monday and Friday because I have class at 7 a.m on those 2 days). Also I feel more 'free' comparing to my life back in the Philippines (maybe it was because I stayed at very strict dormitory). I live with my grandmother and grandfather here. The house is quite far from the campus. It spend about 30 minutes by car. actually my freedom would be more complete if I can live just by my self but unfortunately my parents do not allow me. They are afraid that I might fall into wrong society. Well it is okay. At least my grandparents not as strict as the nuns.
ReplyDeleteBeing a colleger feels like a cultural shocked for me. Everything is different such as the circumstance, the subject, the friends, it makes me going crazy. I used to enjoy my high school so much, but it’s time to move from the comfort zone. I live in here by myself although there are some friends from high school who live in the same rent house with me. I have to do everything by myself, but it doesn't mean a thing because I used to doing it. When weekend comes, my parents used to picking me up to go back home and I always wait for it. My hometown is near from Jogjakarta, I just need 1 hour to go there by car. In this new life, I think my responsibility is challenged, because nobody will warn me when I’m doing wrong. So, It’s the time for my maturity to be trained.
ReplyDeleteLast Saturday, four friends of mine came to visit me from Norway. They are staying in our house until Tuesday. Lucky Erik have to share a room with five girls. Since the girls are from my hometown, I asked my mum to buy som stuff that I miss so my friends could bring it to Yogyakarta. My favourite dinner is taco, but I have a problem finding tortillas here in Yogya. I also love the brownies cake, and one of the brands we have in Norway is my favourite. When my friends arrived they brought four packets of the tortillas, four packets of the brownies I love, and a lot of Norwegian chocolate! Since they know that I also love wine, they brought me a bottle of that as well. Wine is really expensive here, even more so than in Norway, so it was really nice of them. The best with the whole packet was something my little sister made for me. I got two cards with poems about us, it was so sweet and made me miss her even more.
ReplyDeleteMy life is changing quite drastically. Since my high school is a boarding school, I spent most of my time with my friends. We did everything together; be it eating, sleeping or studying you name it. Now that we graduated and no longer ‘living together’ I have never felt this lonely in my life.
ReplyDeleteI now do most of the things on my own which is somewhat hard for me to process. It’s weird that I am not homesick at all, I don’t miss my family. Instead, I miss my friends because they were the ones that I shared my thoughts, problems and feelings with for the past couple of years (which felt like forever).
Other than that, I’m only having problems with managing my time studying and money. University is okay so far because the assignments aren't really affecting my health or sleep. Not yet at least and I hope not soon.
I found something different in my college period. For the first time, I thought college period is easy. Why? In the college we just studied about the major that we chose. After I joined the class, I knew that’s wrong. College period is totally different from the senior high school. The college student should be independent. We should prepare our task, homework, and project by our self. The lecture just gave the information and the deadline. They never asked the student to submit the task. If the student didn’t come to the class, they wouldn’t search that. They treated the student as an adult. I got a problem to adapt in the class. I couldn’t find the right way to study. I felt confuse to divide the time for study. I had more than two hours to study in the class but I couldn’t use it effectively. I tried to give more attention to the lesson. I didn’t have a big expectation in the first semester. I just want to enjoy the class and get a good result.
ReplyDeleteI'm fortunate that I live with my family in Jogja so I don't feel homesick like other friends do, but I still have to adapt to the new situation in campus. The first day in campus was a little bit strange, with new friends,environment and of course new teachers(lectures). It was very different from high school life because everything were more complex, but as days go by campus life was getting better and bettter. I settled down fast to the life here and really enoyed it.
ReplyDeleteNow the thing is, I have to manage my time with all these things. Its because in campus life there are so many activity such as joining organizations, being a commitee in an event and many more. I also have to keep the balance between studying and playing. If I don't do that I couldn't be focused on academic stuff because I'm a person that often takes things easy and not to serious.
This is my fourth year in Yogyakarta -I lived in Pontianak since I was born until I graduated from junior high school, and then I moved to and continued my study in Yogyakarta. First year in high school almost every day I got homesick, I cried a lot, I miss my Mom, my Dad, and my brother. And for me it’s a little bit difficult to adapt to academic work in Yogyakarta, because the academic system in Pontianak is a bit different from academic system in Yogyakarta. But now I already get used to with the situation and condition to live alone and be maturer.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first year in university and this is new experience for me. Now I’m still adapting and learning about university life. Many people say that university life is freedom, it means university life is not as busy and tiring as high school life. But I haven’t felt what people say, because for me university life is not really free. I still busy with the individual assignment and the group assignment.
The first statement in my head before going to college is "we're gonna have some fun while we build our future". After "enjoying" the first week i was like " naaah, screw the fun part! i think i'm going to sell my soul to finish all these assignment". I'm quite shocked at the first week as a college student. When i came home, i tried to looked at the mirror and it seem that i've been discovered a horrible creature that covered by sorrow. But when i started to collect all my sense so i could think clear enough to find a solution, i think its because i didn't get used to it so i think that there's a lot of task to do and lately, i think i'm already get used to it. After all, it was worth it to study at FEB that held a great quality standard. Just like some good chaps used to say "Great power comes with great responsibility".
ReplyDeleteHigh school and College are different. Starts from curiculum, friends, and daily habits. In high school, everything seemed so fun. Of course we have classes and homeworks to do, but it was not so bad if you compare it with college ones. In high school we could have lots of times to play, hang out with our friends, being in organizations, and being in a committee events. While we do not really have much free time in college. Actually we have but, we also have ton of assignments that we have to get it done and it's harder. We have to be more seriously, we have to be prepared for the worst things come, we have to study by ourselves, and the most important one is we have to be more independent! For instance is in my situation now. I’m living with my own. There are no parents, no chaperones, and no siblings or relatives. I have no one who are going to look after, I have no one who will always beside me when I need someone to lay on, and I have no one who will be willing to help at the time he/she needs help. So what are you going to do? Who’s going to take care of you? Well.. The answer is you! You’re the one who has to take of yourself, and no one can help you beside yourself. There are friends you have, but they also have to take care themselves before you.
ReplyDeleteVideo/ Fotoshoot for the ‘Royal Ambarrukmo hotel ‘
ReplyDeleteThe adventure started on a casual Thursday night, when Richelle and I were a night out partying in ‘Republic’. That evening they had ‘Free flow’, which means that girls can drink for free and guys have to pay 100k entrance fee and then get the free drinks.
That night Richelle met a guy who asked her if she was willing to do some modelling for the hotel. Richelle said yes and so I got involved in the story. The hotel was looking for a ‘bule’ men and women who could pretend to be a couple that fell in love during their stay in the hotel.
We went over to the hotel for a casting, but apparently they cancelled the casting and just wanted us directly. We had lunch with a lady from the marketing department and negotiated about the terms and conditions. With our stomach full and a new career ahead, we went home to rest for the week in Hollywood.
Day 1 the wedding
DeleteDay one, the day that we were thrown in the deep and had to be a model for the first time in our life. Fortunately we started off easy with a nice lunch in the VIP room to calm down the nerves. So to get all noses pointing the same direction; I had to pretend like I was a successful business men and Richelle was a normal women who was on holiday.
The shooting was not really chronological, because we got married on the first day. Richelle had a nice long white dress and I was wearing a suit with the nice flower in my chest pocket. There were no family or friends, just the two of us and maybe 10 cameras.
They said we had talent and the shooting went pretty fast. Next was the fancy diner where I went down on one knee and asked her to marry me, she said yes. Right Richhelle?
Day 2 the beach
DeleteDay two was my favourite day. We finished school at 9:30 and went straight to the hotel. There was the camera crew waiting for us to go to Yogyakarta’s beaches. I was sitting in the back of the touring car and the air-conditioning was not really working there. It was at least over 40 degrees Celsius, and for me as a Dutch guy, that is like being in an oven for 2 hours! So I drank 2 litres of water, which immediately came out of my pores.
But finally there I was, at one of the most beautiful beaches I had ever seen. So beautiful that I forgot the name… We did a very romantic scene there. Richelle ran over the beach with me pursuing her, and then I took her in my arms and we continued walking hand in hand.
The next scene was at another beach with a lot of high cliffs and rocks. It looked really nice, but we had to run because the sun was already almost down. We had to climb a cliff to get to one of the most beautiful places on earth. We were just in time and shot some really nice videos/ photos.
Cultural differences so far
DeleteAs you might have read on the blog, Dutch people are very organized. I don’t want to offend you as Indonesians, but most Indonesians don’t have this skill. The first thing I noticed during the shooting was that they didn’t prepare themselves good enough. Clothes were missing, the place to shoot was not ready, we were delayed, they had no timetable and just improvised what could be done next.
For me that was really strange and made them look a bit amateur. If I was in charge, I would have made a strict timetable, had a meeting up front to discuss what we were going to do that day, who has which responsibility, so everything went smooth and without any delay.
A second remarkable difference in culture is the physical appearance. I am a men and I wore for the first time in my life make-up. For a movie, that is not so strange, but the make-up was some whitening powder that made me look like a zombie. For Indonesians standards you look good the whiter you are, but this was a commercial that should attract western people, so you should adapt. As direct as Dutch are, I told him that it looked really weird and I was not representable for a western men who was in the tropics. They erased the make-up.(a bit)
Day 4
DeleteDay 4 started of really nice and easy with a massage. This was the part where I didn’t even had to act, because it was fairly delightful. First I found it strange that there was a men rubbing my back, but I just closed my eyes, thought about a woman massaging me, and enjoyed.
We also met the general manager of the hotel. He looks like the very strict, conservative Indonesian manager, but he was actually very kind and informal to us. We drove for one hour and together with the gm we bicycled around in a really nice forest. Though everything sounds quit relaxed and fun to do, it was exhausting me more and more every day. It has been such a hectic week with not much sleep. The shooting normally started at 6 or 7 a.m., so I asked the crew if we could start not that early the next day so we could sleep a bit more. He answered me by saying this; “Oh Bas that is no problem, then we will start at 8 and you can have breakfast here if you want”. I was more thinking about starting at 10 or 11 a.m.. For example In the Netherlands the first class starts at 8.45 a.m. and we usually skip those because we are used to sleep until 10.30 a.m.. We also don’t have use an attendance lists so you are free to do whatever you want.
Day 5
DeleteSandboarding! Day 5 was the day I was looking forward to the most, since I knew we were going to do sandboarding at the beach. For those who don’t know what sandboarding is; sandboarding is like surfing or snowboarding downhill from a dune (sand). I do surfing and snowboarding as a hobby so I already had the feeling of boarding.
I was really enjoying it and my enthusiasm was more than appreciated by the crew. They really liked me showing of on the jumps and making spectacular turns. So I had the time of my life there and so did they. After sandboarding the crew was a bit sandy, but I looked like a sandmonster!
So back at the car we cleaned ourselves with wet-tissues and had a few drinks. Then everyone threw their trash on one pile next to the road. Cultural difference #1286, you should not throw your trash in the nature! So I told them this; “excuse me, you are making a promotion video for your hotel, and all the nice things you can do in Jogja, right? Yes, so why do you trash the places you want to promote? You want people to come have a good time here so you should set an good example and take your trash with you” Like Gandhi said ”If you want to change the world, start with yourself”. They took their trash and the lady from the marketing department said to me: “actually you are right bas, thank you”
The video shoot and photo shoot for hotel Royal Ambarrukmo was an amazing experience. We had the feeling that we had lived for one week in Hollywood. We saw a lot of beautiful places around Yogyakarta as you can read in Bas’s detailed posts.
DeleteI loved the beaches the most; they were so beautiful. The first scene at the beach we had to run over the beach and under a nice rock, at the end Bas has to grab me. We had to do this scene a lot of times, but it was defiantly worth it. Because when we saw the video after it, it looked amazing!
At the second beach we had to stand above a big rock and watched the sunset. We almost missed the sunset, so we had to run and clime fast up to the rock. But the view above the rock was fantastic. This was the nicest view that I ever have had experienced in my life. I will send a picture of it to Adrian for in the EWS Photograph Gallery, so you can judge yourself.
Next week at 31 October our video will be launched during the opening of the new ballroom. There will be more than a 1000 people coming, included the sultan and his wife. I am really looking forward to this moment, because this also will be the first time for us that we see the movie. And it will be a nice end of the fantastic experience.
DeleteBeside of all the beautiful locations, the experience was also memorable because of the people who joined us. The people from the hotel Royal Ambarrukmo and the crew were both very amusing to hang out with. There were some cultural differences for example how to deal with time management. But that says more about the Indonesian culture than over the people.
And of course not to forget my very good friend (and husband) Bas van den Ban, I am very glad that I could share this wonderful experience with him. That has made the experience even better.
Probably after 31 October you all can see our video on YouTube. So put the date in your agenda!
Day 3 Did I do it wrong according to Indonesian values and norms?
ReplyDeleteDay 3 was not my favourite day, because we started off on the wrong foot. Due to their horrible timetable, we had to do an extra shooting on Wednesday. But we had classes from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. so we had to skip classes to be able to do this extra shooting. Eventually we changed our plans and skipped classes for the goods of the video/photo commercial.
We agreed to meet up at 2 p.m. at the end of Malioboro street. We were there at 5 minutes before 2 p.m. We waited almost 40 minutes for them to come, what I found very disrespectful since we skipped classes for the purpose of their needs. I didn’t said it out loud, but they noticed that I was not happy with them being too late.
It was already 3 p.m. before they parked their car and I thought we could immediately start with the video shooting, but no. We followed them without knowing what we were going to do. They walked into a restaurant and I thought we were going to shoot a scene in there. I was wrong. They wanted to have lunch….I already had lunch, I prepared myself to be ready to start at 2 p.m., something they did not. I was talking with Richelle about the procedure and that I found this really unacceptable. So after everybody was done eating at 4 p.m.( exactly when our class would have ended), I confronted them with it and said that I would find it very pleasant if they take this into account for our next meetings.
They didn’t really know what to say and there was this awkward silence. They apologized and said that they will think about it the next time. I think I had all the rights to say that to them, I skipped classes that I didn’t need to skip. I made time for them, to help them to make up for their lack in organizing, and then they mess it up again. What do you think? Was I being too direct? Was I impolite? Feel free to share your opinions so I can learn from it.
No, actually you were not being too impolite by doing that. This is a typical Indonesian problem that bothers me as well (although, as an Indonesian, sometimes I can be blamed for that kind of behaviour too). It is definitely annoying if you have to work with people who show lack of appreciation towards time. In the end you will have to set things straight with them by giving somewhat harsh comments. Perhaps this kind of behaviour is due to the slow pace of life and collectivist culture in many places in Indonesia. Indonesians usually put the interest of the group above personal interests and therefore, any personal interest may not be deemed important enough as compared to the group’s interest. To each Indonesian, this attitude is very much the norm and they can tolerate any mistake if the group’s interest is still prioritised. For any Westerner visiting Indonesia, this might be a huge problem as there will surely be conflicting interests. Since Indonesians might not be too aware of such cultural differences, I think it is okay to tell them straightaway. As such, if I were you, I would probably have done the same. However, be sure not to criticise Indonesians personally, as Indonesians value their prestige highly in front of their peers. Maybe you can work your way around it by criticising them as a group, and then try to tell them personally how they can improve their understanding of cultural differences.
DeleteThe moment when I know I got accepted in Faculty of Economics and Business of UGM I got a little bit shocked. Well, to think that it’s not an easy things to do to enter UGM and many people are struggling to be accepted in here. To be one of a students in UGM has always been my dream because I always wanted to continue my study in here.
ReplyDeleteFor me, high school and university life are very different. Why? Because since now we’re entering the new phase of our life which means we have to be more independent than before. When we’re in high school, we’ll always get fixed schedule and of course we also have plenty time to hang out with our friends. But we can’t always think that things will always remain the same just like back when we’re in high school. We need to take a step ahead. So, my first impression on the first week of my university life was like “ University life is indeed different with high school. Even in the first week. I have many tasks to do “ then later on, I think that by entering the university life it means that I have to study everything by ourselves since we can’t depends on the lecturers unlike back when I was in high school which I can always ask the teachers for more guidance without making any appointment before. The point is, I need to be independent than before.
It’s been a month since I come for the first time in FEB UGM as a student. In this 1 month period, I get and learnt a lot of new things such as new friend, new experience to adapt in the public university and how to adapt with the academics life in the university. At the beginning, I feel like I’m missing my old friends because they are so close to me and now we separated because most of them have to school in the other city. But, slowly but sure, I get settled with the life in my new society right now. People around me can accept me in the society and I have best friends which fit to me in case of their way of study. Although I have settled, I still face some difficulties. In some lecturer class, I feel hard to understand what the lecturer says and I still can’t manage my time to give more portion to study at home.
ReplyDeleteFor me, after a month in FEB UGM, now I can feel the different between high school student and college student, when I’m in high school Each day I proceed from one class directly to another class ,then I did not need to read anything more than once, sometimes listening in class is enough for me.
ReplyDeleteNow in FEB UGM, I’ve to balance my responsibilities and set priorities, because in college nobody will control me, the time will flies quickly, and I need to review class notes and text material regularly.
Students of FEB UGM are expected to be active, not only in academic activity but also in organization, and you’ve already know This faculty held many event, event from accounting, business and economics, so we must decide whether to participate in extracurricular activities or not.
Although there were many different between high school and university, we must be able to handle it. Try focus on your main objective as a college student.
Independence or being independent is not new for me. I have spent 6 years in dormitory and I learned a lot. It's not easy to start something new like "university". Everything changed since i moved here. It's always been "managing", managing time, money, schedule and etc. I think we must have a target for our life. What's our purpose. What's our goal for 1 year, 2 years or more. Everthing must be planed. The hardest thing is to implement our plans in our life. Living in Jogja is easy. Cheap, easy accomodating, and food is everywhere !. Experience that we can feel in Jogja is when we can explore every places, knowing every single unique sites. Especially for cullinary. We could go anywhere, anytime but we couldn't go if you dont know what to eat or drink !. I have tried some of Jogja's cullinary, awesome but sometimes it doesnt work in stomach. Just try everthing as long as it is good and don't forget to do sport even for 1 hour in a week, because we could get sick or obesity maybe hehehe
ReplyDeleteWhen I was going to move out to Jogjakarta to begin my new life as a university student, I was excited, yet scared. It’s not the first time I live my life alone in a new neighborhood as a student. I once live by myself in Balikpapan for Highschool. But Balikpapan is only a 1 hour flight time from my hometown, or 7 hours land-travel time. So whenever I need the urgencies to meet my parents or if they want to meet me, they could just charter the flight and go whenever they could. Jogjakarta is much more different than Balikpapan. My parents have to go to Balikpapan first and made a reservation on airplane that sometimes will be on a full-seated, so they have to wait to another flight that available.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that make me scared is money management. In Balikpapan everything is so expensive (not if you already live there). When I first eat at a good-looking-place diner in Jogjakarta, it only cost me the same amount if I went to a regular eating-place at Balikpapan, which is cheap in Balikpapan, but maybe upper-average in Jogjakarta. This was also happening when I do the laundry, or buying some office supply. Ironically, I spent more money in the first month in Jogjakarta. Maybe it’s because the cheaper the prices, the bigger the desire to buy. I should have made a discipline financial planning rather than spending it unwisely.
Me and Erik went to Bali to have a short holiday before the midterm exams started. We heard that the midterm would start from 29th of October, so we decided to book our trip until then. Some few days after we got here we got a text from a friend; we had our first exam already 28th of October. We had to reschedule our flight back home, luckily it went okay. We will still have a long and nice holiday, although we had to do some changes. We stay in a nice and cheap hotel with short distance to Kuta Beach and the city centre.
ReplyDeleteI actually lived in Bali for three years ago. I was studying traveling management on a Norwegian school in Jimbaran, most just to have a break after high school. It was really nice to see all the places again, it's almost all the same since I was here last time. I could still remember where to go to get to some of the restaurants and the shops we used to go to.
Yesterday me and Erik went to Uluwatu to see the monkey temple and the Kecak dance. It was around 45 minutes driving from Kuta. I loved the place, and the view was so beautiful. Also a lot of monkeys was walking around there freely. We had to be prepared that they could take some of our stuff if we had it loose. I put my sunglasses and my watch in my bag just in case, but I never felt threatened of them. We bought some peanuts that we could feed the monkeys with. Some of the monkeys was really big and took all the peanuts from the cute small ones. We got some nice pictures over there with the view and all the monkeys. One of the pictures is really nice, it's of Erik with one of the big monkeys on his lap. Looks like he really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteWhen the sunset began we went to see the Kecak dance, it was also in the monkey temple. We had read about it on Tripadvisor before we left, a lot of people had comment that the dance was one of the «must do» on Bali. It was a Balinese dance with a story about Rama and Sita. Sita is taken by Rhawana while she is left alone in the forest and Rama will find her and sett here free. In the end it's also a really cool fire dance, with big flames. Through the whole performance there was a choir of chanting and singing, and they didn't use any instruments.
DeleteWhen it still was around 15 minutes left some people started to leave, and then a lot of other people started to do the same. It was a lot of people there so I think it was because they wanted to avoid the long rows in the end. However I think it was rude and it destroyed a bit of the atmosphere for the rest of the guests.
Yesterday, I was a student of senior high school in Jakarta, but now I’m a student in Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta. There’s different from my high school life and my university life and that different was so significant. There were two different from my high school life and my university life.
ReplyDeleteFirst, it’s my daily life. Yesterday I lived next my parents and my family in my hometown, and now I lived 500km or more beside them. I lived by myself and without monitored by my parents, I must have a big responsibility because I was responsible to my parents who invest their money to my academics life.
Second, it’s my academics life. Yesterday I was a student of high school and now I’m student of university. There’s a lot different to study in high school and university. At high school there is teacher who was care with our academics, there’s no one like them in college. It just only depend with our responsibility
When I moved here I realized that I have to starting a new journey here. This is my first time live away from my family, most of the high school friends, and also my girlfriend. At the beginning it’s hard to adapt with the environment of the city it self. But thank god I manage to have a new friends here and they are all a very nice people and slowly I’m starting to enjoy my life here. The second one is to adapt as an university students now there are no teachers that tell you how to dress to the school, reminds you to no come late to the school, to don’t forget to do your homework, and watching you absences. So I’m on my own now I have to manage my life from breakfast in the morning until I have a dinner and go to bed at the night
ReplyDeleteI feel like there is almost no difference between my highschool life and college life. Because I studied in boarding highschool so my routine here is quite the same as when I was a highschool student. Wake up at 5 AM, pray subuh, take shower, have breakfast, turn off my TV and my air conditioning, lock my room’s door, and go straight away to the campus if I have morning class. If I don’t then I usually do something else, such as go to the internet cafe to post some comments on English Writing Skills blog, or download some latest top 10 music. I used to wash my own clothes at my dorm, and now I can just throw my dirty clothes right away to the laundry near my house in Pogung. But, the difference is the atmosphere. I used to have many friends at the dorm so I would not feel alone at home (as I am feeling right now)
ReplyDeleteActually, almost all of the 3rd high school students in my hometown will continue study outside our hometown. Because the universities there are all private university. That's why almost all of us study outside our hometown, even outside the Borneo Island like me. First week in Jogja was terrible. I didn't have any transportation to go anywhere, and I forgot to bring my pillow while my boarding house didn't provide the room with pillow. So in the first week, I slept with my jacket as my pillow. But in the second week, my parents came to Jogja and in the third week we went home to celebrate Idul Fitri. In 19th August, I came back to Jogja. My first week here was not terrible anymore. I'm actually enjoy my life here. But it all change in the second week when I got a terrible accident. My wrist bone was broken and I have to wear plaster cast for one month. At first I'm sad, because I can't ride my motorcycle and I can't attend PPSMB Palapa. As time passes, I've became accustomed to everything such as walk around jakal to buy food, go to campus by ojek, etc. Fortunately, now my cast has been removed and I can ride my motorcycle around Jogja again.
ReplyDeleteI was born in Tangerang and I lived there with my family until I graduated from primary school. My father told that they have to move to Papua and I had to choose whether I lived in Papua with them or I moved to Yogyakarta, lived with my grandmother and my brother that already studied in Yogyakarta from senior high school. Then I chose to live in Yogyakarta because I never went to Papua before and I couldn’t imagine about the situation there. I studied in junior high school 3 years and lived with my grandmother. After that I moved to my private house and my brother studied in Military of Academy in Magelang. I enjoyed my senior high school; my spare time was more than my study time. I studied several days before I had exam and I had some private courses for the difficult subject. I followed the events in my high school because I didn’t need to manage my time with study time. However, it’s different with college. I have to repeat the subject that has been explained by the lecture. For this time I have to manage spare time that I use for the events or organizations, and for my study time to get better score.
ReplyDeleteBy the terms itself, independence means the act of free from the outside control or in the other hand not to subject to another’s authority. Independece has it own meaning for some people. Indonesia’s meaning of an independence might be the freedom from colonist. But for me, the true meaning of independence is living out your university life alone, being far from your family, get out from your comfort zones, not being dependant on others and survive with the following stated above. For someone like me who have been very fortunate for the last 18 years old, getting into UGM is one way to achieve my independence. Yogyakarta is very different from Jakarta. I have learned so much for almost a year and half year. It’s actually the turning point of my life where I become more mature and independent in personality. No maids, and no car in the first year semester of college makes me learn on how to do everything on my own and learned to use public transportation. To be honest, I have never use any public transportation in Jakarta except taxi. The crime rates in Jakarta is one of the main reason why.
ReplyDeleteBeing a college student is how I express my declaration of independence, because I fell that being a college student that is far from my hometown (Jakarta) is such a wonderful yet adventurous experience although you have to survive on your own but I can finally experience freedom in a good way of course . since I’m an adventurous person , living far from your parents can sometime give me an advantage to travel where ever I want, but I have to be responsible for each of my decision because that is part of being an adult. Being a High School student is fun but you are bind by strict rules like uniform , what subject you will take, etc. but being a college student you can choose what major and what subject you would like to study, you can choose a lot of extracurricular activities, and no more uniform! , although sometime I miss my high school.
ReplyDeleteYesterday me and Erik went to the Gili islands. We found out that Gili actually means small Islands, so calling it Gili Islands is actually a bit weird. We decided to first go to Gili Trawangan and stay there for two days, then we will go and visit Gili Meno and Gili Air and stay there for one day each. Gili Trawangan is the one with most tourists, a lot of people come here just to party. It's a beautiful island with white beaches and turquoise water. They don't have any cars or motorbikes here. They just use bikes or horses, so it's really quiet and nice.
ReplyDeleteTo day we went out with a fishing boat to try fishing. Me and Erik coudn't catch anyone, but one of the guys we went out with catched three. We got all of them and just pretended that we got them by our selves. We brougth them to a restaurant so they could grill them for us. The best lunch until now.
Frankly speaking, the new life of university students make them feel like they have become independence, yet I sometimes think we are just shifting our dependence from our parents to our mates. As an FEB UGM student, I feel like now we are being dependent of each other, we help each other solve problems, from the simple ones; like asking them to pick us up from our flat our home, to the complicated ones; like revising and figuring out together the subjects that we don’t quite get.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore; entering university creates new atmosphere in my life. I feel my schedule is always tight, I also think most people around me are mature enough to be called adults. Nowadays, I don’t think I ever waste my day at my flat doing nothing; I always have something to do, especially because in my opinion FEB is the busiest faculty amongst all of UGM faculties. I also started to understand the importance of reading because when I was in high school, teachers taught the lessons fully using the corresponding books as reference. In university, lecturers often use their own thinking, although correct, I do not think everyone understand them, thus we need to do an extra effort of reading the books referred by the lecturers.
In conclusion, life in university is not so bad, however, I do found myself homesick a few times but that is just the risk of having accepted in UGM and I think it is worth it.
Oza
“Talk about how your life is changing”
ReplyDeleteWell, here’s a little story on how I feel about going to college in Jogja.
I have always wanted to go out from Surabaya after finishing high school, but Jogja was never a choice for me. Going to Jogja had never even crossed my mind at first. I was actually accepted in another university and I was dying to go to college there, but my parent didn’t support me. They said it’s too far away from Surabaya (my hometown) so here I am studying in Jogja.
It was hard at first, especially during the orientation days. It felt really horrible to do the orientation assignments and feeling homesick at the same time. But as the time went by, I began to enjoy being here. I made friends with many students from all around Indonesia and it’s really fun. The courses were also seemed hard at first but I have some friends now who can always help me in understanding the materials.
Living alone seemed nerve wracking at first but it turned out to be really great. There is no more curfew and I finally learn to take care of everything by myself. I like it here in Jogja, and although I still miss my life as a high school student, being in college isn’t that bad after all.
Same with Syifa, I didn't expect to continue my study in UGM. I always wanted to study in UI, but then here I am, studying in UGM. Really beyond expectation yet I'm glad to having experience of living alone far away from home. I have to take responsibility of my own and the belief of my parents for letting me live in Yogya. Now, whenever I'm sick, I have to take care of myself alone, unlike in Bogor, my mother is always ready to take me to the hospital.
ReplyDeleteBeing a university student is really different from being a high schooler. There are more assignments than in high school. The books are heavier and the materials are getting difficult, but I'm relief that my friends are willing to help me in understanding the subjects.
Like some of the comments above, the orientation week was the hardest one, because I had a lot of assignments from the seniors while I was homesick. I just wanted to go home everytime my mother called me, but now, I think I'm starting to enjoy my current life in Yogya.
My life especially my school life has definitely changed for 180degree I think. Before as a university student, I was a student in a dormitory, which not different as a Islamic School (pesantren). I was taught about not just academic studies but also Islamic studies. And then I didn't really have to put an effort to gain my score, like just read the book, listen to the teacher and just like that. But now it totally different and I get a little bit shocked. I am a person who feels a little hard in developing the adaptation through the new life, its hard for me to be adapted with new many friends otherwise I just live far away from my old friends, but what, I must and should be adapted and I try to be involved in my new life especially in university life. About homesickness, sometimes I miss Batam as almost my whole life i spent there so what I miss a like the food, the chinese seafood, the situation and condition,but what I most feeling sick is missing my dormitory, in the early i felt so dizzy and i hate to live in dormitory without any handphone or itouch, or something like that but now I really really miss my second home (dormitory) I miss my friends when they were laughing together, joking together, studying together, yea just like a whole big family, i really miss them all. But now I realize, must be adapted and must understand what would I face, Because life is always going on.
ReplyDeleteI would like to give my comment on this article.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, when I got an e-mail from FEB UGM that I passed in S1 IUP class, I don’t know how to adapting in new life, new place, new friends, new organization, etc. So I realize that campus life is different with school life especially senior high school. I think the problem with college student life is managing their time. When we were in senior high school, managing time was not really matter but in campus life we must manage our time because campus life is hectic than senior high school. Based on my experience like Simfoni and Palapa’s task. When I joined in Simfoni 2013, I shocked that we got a lot of task. At that time, I had to spend my time with 2 task: Simfoni’s task and Palapa’s task. Then, I prefer to do Simfoni’s task first.
So if you want to manage your time, I suggest to you to be organized, schedule it and then you must prioritize your task.
Thank you for reading.
Ladyboys, alcohol and sex in Indonesia with the Islam as dominant religion…
ReplyDeleteSince we are allowed to write our own post I want to share and tell you something about what the title states. First subject is Ladyboys; a ladyboy is a man who prefers to be a woman and dresses up like one. I am very strict hetero but I am cool with these ladyboys. One time I went to the ladyboyshow which was super awesome. They were all dancing singing and going crazy on the stage, but then my white skin and blond hair started to attract their attention… So when they needed people to come on stage I was the lucky one who got picked. I was dancing singing and having fun with two ladyboys on stage. They all added me on facebook and that is fine. For my birthday I got a surprise show where two ladyboys were giving me a lapdance. Another time I was once again picked out of the crowd at some anti-bully party where a lot of gay and ladyboys came. I gave a wonderfull speech about that people should be the person they want to be no matter what other people say or think about that. When you stop at a traffic light you see ladyboys entertaining you for money.
Alcohol; an ancient used drug which you can enjoy when you use it responsibly. Especially in Europa and other western countries it is normal to consume alcohol once in a while. So tourist who come to Indonesia would most likely like to be able to have a beer or some nice wine once in a while. Well maybe that’s not going to be possible anymore in the narrow future and Indonesia will lose a lot of income because a decrease in tourists visiting Indonesia. “The leaders of the Islamic Defender Front has been fighting for a ban on alcohol, especially during Ramadan.” Though the government already increases the price of alcohol by 300% by taxation, a restriction will just be stupid. What is happening and why is this country destroying itself? Islamisation of Indonesia, should we be happy about that?
DeleteLets skip the sex to avoid problems.
DeleteFake pregnancy for 23 million rupiah
ReplyDeleteThe last 3 weeks have been the most horrible ones of my life. I became the victim of a serious blackmail. The story you are about to read changed my life and could have ended as a disaster for me.
Chapter 1. Saturday night out in Boshe
Some friends and I gathered at my place for a pre-party. We played some music and drank a few beers before we headed to club Boshe. This was actually a casual Saturday night out without any strange things that happened. But, on that specific Saturday night the 23rd of November, I was introduced by a guy named Nick to his friend; Nelma. Nelma is a good looking 24 year old lady who works at NICB Naga Bank in Yogyakarta. We had a chat and eventually we exchanged numbers to have a drink sometime. I said goodbye to her and her friend Nick and went back to the stage to continue clubbing with my friends.
Chapter 2. A date on the 25th of November
DeleteAfter 2 days texting Nelma and I met again at parsley for a drink. We talked about the casual things like; jobs, education, family, relationship status etc. It really looked like we had a lot in common and there was this click that just felt right to me. That night there was a party in a café which I planned to go, so I invited her to come as well. She was very happy that I asked her and she asked her friend Nick to join us. Her friend Nick is gay and has no shame or boundaries in what he says. He also seemed to be a nice guy to chill with.
Then after the drink we met each other again at the party. I felt good about Nelma so I was flirting with her at the highest level. It also didn’t took long before we had our first kiss. The party was some anti-bullying party and there were a lot of gay and transsexuals. It was fine with me but since I draw quit some attention with my light skin and blond hair, I got a lot of invitations to the tables to have a chat and some drinks with the guys. I am 100% straight btw. So the party was good, things with Nelma went fine, I was pretty drunk and wanted to go home…. I didn’t went home alone, Nelma wanted to stay the night at my place. I was a drunk MAN so she was more than welcome to stay.
Chapter 3. The calm before the storm
DeleteSo to make this story suitable for this blog, I will skip the sleepover party and continue with the drama. After that night our romance story took a huge U-turn. She wanted to leave early the next morning and woke me up at 08:00 am. That was already cruel of her to do to me! But oke. She left without breakfast and paid even for her own taxi, sounds like music to most men’s ears.
I left 2 days later to Pacitan for a small holiday and Nelma and I didn’t really had a lot of contact that week. I was busy surfing so I had no time to sit with my phone the whole time. After my holiday she wanted to have lunch with me at parsley during her lunch break. We just talked and everything was fine. She was very friendly and told me she was very happy to have me in her life now and that I was different than all the other guys blablabla. As a result of those scary stories I told her that she should not get to excited about me and don’t take this all too serious because I am only temporary in Indonesia. She understood and said she was fine with that.
Chapter 4. Still calm before the storm
DeleteThe 5th of December I started a trip through East-java with Richelle. Richelle got the simple task to book execlutive tickets, but we ended up with economy tickets…I forgive you Richelle. Since we took the night train we needed to take some rest and try to sleep, but the seat was just straight and there was no way that I could fall asleep there. So I manned up and made my own bed on the ground consisted of clothes, towels and some blankets. Richelle had more space so she could sleep and I had my custom made Indonesian style bed. I haven’t slept at all haha. It was horrible. But oke, we arrived in Malang and went that night at 01:00 am to Mount Bromo to see the sunrise there. We had absolutely no sunrise and woke up for nothing. We could barely see 50 feet ahead. Sunrise sucked but the weather changed in our favour and we enjoyed our day. That day we went to Probolingo in the afternoon to do some rafting. Rafting was oke but not spectacular enough for me. Every time I wanted to make speed to enter a current, the guide was jelling “Stop stop”. Why?!?!?!?
Chapter 5. The storm
ReplyDeleteWhen we came back in our hotel in Probolingo, I received the most shocking message I ever received in my life. Nelma sent me a message that she did a pregnancy test and that the result was positive! I felt like my whole world was collapsing and I felt sick immediately. I called her up but she did not answered. I didn’t know what to do, I was like hundreds kilometres away from her and I had so many plans. Eventually I managed to get hold to her on the phone and we spoke. She scared the shit out of me by saying it was 100% mine and she was thinking about keeping it. I never felt as horrible as I did at that moment. I tried with every argument I could possibly think of to convince her to do abortion. She was just not willing to do the same as I wanted to. She said that she had to hang up the phone because she was at a party with friends…. Like how can that be more important! You can imagine that I was freaking out at that moment.
I am not the kind of guy who shares his feelings with others, but I was there alone with Richelle and this was not something I could hide from her. Before I found a good opportunity to tell her she already noticed that there was something wrong with me. I told her everything and it ruined the whole evening for the both of us. Richelle was supporting me but it was also hard and difficult for her.
Chapter 6. What to do?
ReplyDeleteWe agreed to continue the trip and I was trying to manage everything from a distance. It was really hard to enjoy the holiday in this condition. The next day I had to bring the bad news to Richelle that I was going back to Jogja to solve my problems.
That same day I talked to Nelma about the pregnancy and she agreed to do abortion. She first came up with a plan to do it in Jakarta in a private clinic. Abortion is illegal in Indonesia so it was really hard to find an opportunity to do it. Nelma told me she was going to take care of it and I didn’t need to worry. Ohja like I will pretend like nothing is going on and just continue my holiday and let the woman I know for 2 weeks, who is saying that she is no sure if she wants to do abortion, arrange everything without me?
The next day she texted me that she already had an appointment with two doctors from a hospital in Jogja. She said that they met in a restaurant and that the doctors were willing to do it on Friday the 13th of December for more than 20 million rupiah….
Chapter 7. I became suspicious
ReplyDeleteIt was the final day of my trip and I was on my way back to jogja where I would arrive on Thursday the 12th of December. Nelma agreed to meet up on Thursday night at my place to discuss everything and get the money for the abortion. The abortion was planned for Friday.
There is a little 007 inside of me and I had the feeling that something was not right. She was not able to tell the same stories and some of her stories were just so strange that they seem almost impossible. All the sudden she didn’t want to meet me at my place but in a restaurant. We talked in the restaurant about how this could have happened and how we were going to fix it. I tried to ask difficult questions to let her make mistakes, which she made.
After she showed me the pregnancy test I was really desperate in solving this and money was not important to me anymore. I was willing to go far to prevent this from happening. I suggested to go to Singapore and cover for all of her expenses. She collapsed and shot down all my logical suggestions to fix it. I was not even allowed to see the doctor or come with her to the hospital. How strange he? So I already had the feeling that something was not right, but I was powerless. If there was a baby growing inside her that was mine, my life would have become a mess.
Chapter 8. The 007 inside grows
ReplyDeleteWe agreed on doing the abortion and she came to my house to collect 10.000.000 rupiah from me before she supposed to go to the hospital. But what she didn’t know is that I have a friend called google and a good set of brains who were helping me to find cracks in her stories. For example; the chance of getting pregnant the first time is very small, you can’t do the test after 7 days, the test is not accurate, there is no chance you can do an abortion in a Indonesian hospital, the price was way too high, she said she already did a USG and the foetus was already the size of a thumb, she had no clue what the doctor was going to do, she was blocking me out of getting information or prove, and a lot more.
So I played along and I was being very nice and friendly to her. That Friday morning I prepared everything to spy on her. My scooter was in position, different clothes and scarf were already packed, I was ready to get this b*tch!! But I had to be sure she was not pregnant.
Chapter 9. 007 in action
ReplyDeleteShe came to my house to get the money and I gave her a hug a kiss and some nice words to make her believe I trusted her. But before I gave her the money I asked if she had her money as well…She didn’t wanted to show me, so I took her wallet and there was no money inside. Strange he? Well it gets even worse. She said that she was going to the ATM first and then to the hospital to do the abortion. So I said “ahhhhh oke well Nelma I wish you the best of luck and you can do this! Be strong and I see you after the treatment. Hug kiss and goodbye “when the cab drove away I changed my outfit and jumped on my motorbike to pursue the cab. I took a different route and made some nice jumps over the bumps in the road.
Nelma works for the CIMB Naga Bank and there are a lot of ATMs there which she could have used before she came to my place. She was lying! The cab was not going the direction to the hospital but to her work. She stepped out and the cab drove away. I waited 1 hour in front of the bank to see if she was coming out, she did not. I got her!
Chapter 10. Business meeting with NICB bank
ReplyDeleteAfter one hour waiting I knew it for sure, she was lying! I called Richelle and asked her to bring me my suit and pregnancy tests. She did and within 20 minutes I was dressed and ready to enter the bank and get my money back! I went in to the bank and because I didn’t wanted to get thrown out by security, I asked to speak to her supervisor first. A lady invited me to her office and I explained the whole situation to her. She understood me and called Nelma to come over to have a quick word.
Priceless! The look on her face when she entered the room and I was sitting there. It was payback time. She was caught and I was in control now. I forced her to go give me my money back and do the pregnancy test again. She was still denying it and telling me she did go to the hospital and that I was being a jerk. Yeah right, I am the bad guy. She already made a money deposit so she had to take the money from the ATM. I got my money back Then I forced her to do the test again, which she did. When she came out the stick was bended and she was not willing to show it to me, she was furious. All her colleagues were looking at us and wondering what was going on. I said;”wait here I have another testpack at my motorbike, wait here for 5 minutes”. She didn’t wait and as angry as she was she went outside.
Chapter 11. Pregnant or not?
ReplyDeleteAt this moment everyone would say and think she is not pregnant, but in my situation I had to be a 100% sure about it. I received a text message that she wanted to meet me and show me the test and prove to me that she was pregnant. Oh huh all the sudden you do want to do the test? Weird. We met in a restaurant and there was also her friend Nick. We told him the situation and he pretended like he didn’t knew about it. We went to the toilet to do the test, I was not allowed to go inside with her so I waited outside. She came outside with the cup and a suspicious smile on her face. We did 3 tests and all 3 tests were positive. I didn’t know what to believe and I was back to where I started, I only knew that I could not trust these two.
We sat down and talked about it. I suggested again to go to Singapore and all the good things but she again slammed from the table. She said that she didn’t had enough money and that that was the reason for not going to the hospital that day. She came with a suggestion to call the doctor to see if he can do it the next day. I was still in James Bond mode so I spotted every small mistake they made. The phone call was seriously not longer than 20 seconds and she came with a lot of information….information the doctor can’t give you within 20 seconds. I was going to play along and caught them when the time was right! We agreed to meet up again the next day at my place and from there we go to the hospital. I was not allowed to go inside and should wait outside for them.
Chapter 12. Spy recruitment and the plan
ReplyDeleteSo after that I explained everything to Richelle and we talked about possibilities. I needed more spies, Indonesian spies. I asked a good friend of mine to help. I will call her spy1. So I went over to her place and explained my situation and she was shocked. She asked an older woman to hear the story and help us. The woman confirmed all my google work and told me that there is no way she can be pregnant. She told me that she probably used someone else’s pee. So we made a master plan. Spy1 called friends and informed them, they were all willing to help me. I arranged 4 people to spy on them in the hospital. These spies knew the hospital and knew in which department you can do curtain treatments. They all had my number and they were going to give me every detail about what they are doing inside the hospital.
Chapter 13. D-day
ReplyDeleteThis is D-day. The day that I will get my life back on track. The spies were in position and briefed. Nelma and her partner in crime arrived at my house and we counted the money, this time she brought her own share of the payment to show me. We went to the hospital together and there I went to a restaurant in the parking lot and they went together inside at 9:50 am. That is when I made my first contact with the head spy and said; “the eagle has landed”. She knew what I meant.
I received a lot of text messages saying that they are going from floor to floor just walking around like they don’t know what to do. They didn’t enter a single room and that was for me a good sign. Oh almost forget! Erik was also one of the spies, he was standing guard at the entrance to help me if things were getting out of hand and we needed to stop them with force.
Then all the sudden I got a text from Nick that they did the USG scan and that he was coming outside to me, because Nelma was going to do the treatment now. He showed me the scanresult and I looked at it. I didn’t know how to read it and neither did he. I knew one of my spies is also pregnant so I took a picture of the result and sent it to her. She replied that the image they gave me was fake and not even a pregnant scan result! So far my plan was working! I received a final text that Nelma was on her way outside and didn’t went into a single room with a doctor.
I saw Nelma and still played my role. I asked how it went and blablabla hug hug. I said “hey wanne go for lunch?” But she wanted to rest. She was walking a bit weird and she was faking pain. We said goodbye to each other and left…. I gave Erik the signal that he could go back home and then I returned to the hospital to discuss with my spies in crime.
Chapter 14. Nelma do you prefer police escort or are you coming back right now on your own?
ReplyDeleteAfter my meeting with the spies we concluded that we are a 100% sure that she is not pregnant and is just after my money. She was still carrying my 10.000.000 rupiah which I gave her in the morning. The husband of one of the spies knew about it and he was on the way to the hospital with the police. We talked and talked but for me I just wanted this to be over with and go on holiday as I planned to go to. So by involving the police I would not be able to go on holiday. So we didn’t involve the police eventually, but is nice to threat someone with that :p
So I called her up but she didn’t want to speak, I had to text… so this is the copy of the text is sent to her;
“You better come back to the hospital and give me the money back. Otherwise I will involve the police and destroy your job. You fucked me over and I know everything. I had 7 people spying on you I had everything under control. You faked you lied and you are getting what you deserve, unless you come back to the hospital right now and give me my money back and apologize. Stop playing your game, you are busted”
“Nelma I have an offer. Police is already on the way to the hospital. I will not involve police or something if you come to the hospital right now and do the scan. I will not let the police investigate, I will not destroy your job. So you have to come to the hospital right now. Just you and me doing the scan. If you don't come now, I will pick you up together with the police and you are in trouble. I will wait here at the hospital for you.”
Maybe some English writing mistakes in it :p
So she came to the hospital, I got my money back and she turns out to be NOT pregnant!
That night we partied so badly and I will never see that horrible person ever again. Oh and I will ruin her carrier before I go back to the Netherlands.
Hope that all the readers enjoyed the story, I tried to make it some action story but for me this was a living hell. But thanks to a few people I was able to settle this and make this end well.
Cheers!
Best holiday ever!!
ReplyDeleteIt all started at 20 October 2013, one of my best friends Brigit Lavrijsen came to visit me in Indonesia. I drove with the taxi driver to the airport to pick her up. I was so glad to see her again after two months. The first day, I introduced her to my roommates, showed her around the house and took her for dinner to my favorite restaurant ‘Parsley’. After dinner we went to bed because we have to wake up at 03.30 for our flight to Bali!
Arrived in Bali, we started our holiday in the Burgerking, to have breakfast. After that we drove to Kuta, our first destination. We stayed in Kuta for two days. The first day we surfed a lot, almost the whole day. And you could see that, we were completely burned. In the night Brigit and I met Amanda and Erik, a couple from Norway and my roommates in Yogyakarta, with them we partied till early in the morning.
The next day no surfing for us, because we were still looking like two big lobsters. So we had chosen for a relaxing day at the beach. After two days of Kuta we continued our travel to Sanur. The reason that we wanted to go to Sanur was because we heard you could swim with dolphins over there.
We went to a travel office asking where we could swim with dolphins. The first office was saying that it was not possible at all. Second office, told us that it is possible but that you have to make a reservation. He called to the company and they told him they were full booked till the beginning of November. We tried another travel company; they told it was possible the next day in the morning. We were like little children so happy! We paid the down payment and went to the beach.
DeleteAfter two hours the man of the third travel office came to us at the beach. The dolphin trip was cancelled. They made a mistake, there was no space until the beginning of November. We could choose another activity if we wanted. This was an enormous disappointment, but we decided to choose something else.
We had chosen for the elephant ride and rafting. This was also really cool! Never sit on an elephant before, so that was also an enjoyable experience. After a nice day we went to a restaurant to eat. Then my phone was ringing! It was one of the travel offices, some people cancelled their reservation and there was space tomorrow morning for the dolphin swimming! We were so happy; since I was young I wanted to swim with dolphins.
The next morning my dream came true! Finally I was going to swim with dolphins. It was amazing! The coolest thing I ever had done in my life. We could give the dolphin, named Pluto, hugs, kisses and fishes. Also we learned instructions that we could give to the dolphin and then he will respond on that, like jumping, moonwalk or searching for a stone.
DeleteDay 6, the last day in Bali, we went to Ubud to see the monkeys in the monkey forest. First we were a bit scared of the quite aggressive monkeys, because they wanted to eat our bananas. But afterwards the guide helped us to give the bananas one by one and the monkeys didn’t take all the bananas from the guide. After Ubud we went to the Tanah lot temple to see the sunset over there. This was a good ending of our amazing trip in Bali.
Back in Yogyakarta, Brigit and I also climbed the Merapi, four hours up and three hours down. But we made it, even as the first ones. It was heavy and cold but is was worth it, the sunrise was beautiful at the top.
In short this was the best holiday I ever had!!