Youth Exchange Program

Everyone starts out with a dream. Whether as a child or as a grown-up, our dreams should one day become a reality. Since I was child I had a dream to study abroad and I always prayed to God to allow me to realize my dream. The Indonesia-Malaysia Youth Exchange Program broughts my dream to a reality where I could explore Malaysia even though it was only for ten days. It is a great privilege and pleasure for me to share with you a wonderful experience about My Journey in Malaysia. Before going to Malaysia, I didn’t know much about the country apart from what was depicted in tourist brochures. But after spending ten days in Malaysia I’ve become a lover of all things Malaysian. We were 15 persons as Indonesia delegations from 15 different regions;
I am Tia, from Gorontalo, Isti from Ternate, Junet from Ambon, Henry from Manado, Ina from Palu, Arum from Banten, Leony from Lombok, Victor from Flores, Igun from Palembang, Fadia from Padang, Bire from Balik Papan, Anang from Jakarta, Mere from Jogyakarta, Popoy from Medan, and Reza from Makassar). My friends and I went to Malaysia on July 15 and there, we took part in a lot of activities. We arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Airport and we stayed at the Vistana Hotel for two days. In Malaysia we visited many places such as; Kuala Lumpur, Putra Jaya, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan. Our first destination was the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Selangor on July 16. UPM is a dynamic learning centre that is acclaimed for its world-class academic distinction. UPM provides superior educational facilities and services as well as accessibility to modern conveniences to support the academic needs and lifestyle of its community. UPM offers a wide range of education fields comprising agriculture, economics, management, human development, education, modern languages, music, pure sciences, medicine and many others. We visited Kolej Kedua at UPM and there, we were introduced to all the facilities that they had, such as the library, kitchen, UPM students centre, computer rooms, a guest room, meeting rooms, administration office. Besides that, the sport complex houses excellent sporting facilities including a stadium, an international standard swimming pool, a playing field for activities such as soccer and rugby as well as indoor volleyball, netball, basketball, gymnasium and badminton courts. We were also took part in volley ball and basket ball competitions, and to our delight we were the winners!. We spent almost five hours exploring the UPM. It’s very large and I couldn’t stand sitting for such a long time in the bus. The Next day, we visited Genting Highlands which is a place well known for gambling (casino) and it’s Entertainment Center. Genting Highland is located on a mountain which is very far from the sea. We had to take a cable car (Gondola) to reach it. Then, if you’re in Malaysia and you think of motor sports, there’s only one place to go: Sepang International Circuit. We visited Sepang Circuit on July 18. It is situated next to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and easily accessible via the expressway. There, we were introduced to such things and facilities as the Formula One Circuit, an Off-road Park, a Motorcross track and an Automobile museum After that, we visited Putra Jaya which is a city that characterizes the spirit of Malaysia in its fullest sense in the 21st century. Putra Jaya will symbolize the nation’s aspirations. Putrajaya is a thoroughly modern and vibrant city. It is a model township that has been constructed with detailed planning, innovative urban design and utmost concern for the preservation of the environment. Its beautifully landscaped roads and parks, as well as modern buildings clearly reflect the duality of its theme-“Garden city, Intelligent City”. One unique thing that we got in Putrajaya is the vision to have a new federal Government Administrative Center to replace Kuala Lumpur which emerged in the late 1980s. The relocation was to ensure that Kuala Lumpur will continue to develop as Malaysia’s principle business and financial centre. Putrajaya is divided into two major areas; the core area (comprising the government precinct, mixed development precinct, civic, & cultural precinct, commercial precinct and sports & recreation precinct) and the periphery area (comprising residential areas, parks, and public amenities), which are separated by a large man made lake. How nice guys! We were surprised when we wanted to enter Putra Mosque. The pink-domed Putra Mosque is constructed of rose-tinted granite and can accommodate 15.000 worshippers at any one time. The prayer hall is simple and elegant, supported by 12 columns. We (girls) were advised against wearing revealing attire and male visitors were advised to wear collared shirts, long pants and shoes. And you know, robes and scarves or head covers are available for women at the entrance of the mosque. Putrajaya is the manifestation of the symbolisms of man, nature and science through detailed planning, innovative urban design and a respect for the environment. After Putra Jaya we went to Negeri Sembilan which is best known for its seaside resort of Port Dickson but this “Land of nine territories” has much more to offer holiday makers and day-trippers. As I mentioned before that we studied in ILKEB Port Dickson for five days and it was one of the great experiences of my life. I had great experiences in ILKEB Port Dickson. It gave me a lot of knowledge about leadership, education, communications, entrepreneurship, etc. I learnt about it first hand and this helped me to think of ways to implement similar systems in Indonesia, There were so many reference materials while I studied there and I also loved all the extra-curricular activities such as hiking and kayaking. The course was only five days long, but it gave me the chance to experience another culture and society. And along with other experiences it gave me a complete comparison and wide view of different cultures and societies generally. Truly, there are too many things to mention! Perhaps, I would say that the academic life, which is incredibly tough is also very rewarding. The education system in Malaysia was totally different from what I’d experienced as an undergraduate in my country. On the seventh day, we had to go to Selangor, a land of fascinating sights and attractions, as well as a rich and colorful historical heritage. For me, Selangor offered unforgettable memories and awe - inspiring images because there, we were in a home stay program where we lived together with a Malaysian family. The genuine warmth of Malaysians is sincere, wherever one goes. The many wonders of Selangor will prove to be a unique and rewarding experience which no one should miss. The interesting thing in Selangor is the people. The people of Selangor are a fascinating diversity of Malays, Chinese, Indians and various other ethnic groups. While they live in harmony, each community has preserved its distinct culture and time-honored traditions. The last two days before we came back we stay in the Vistana hotel and visited some tourist destinations like the Kuala Lumpur tower, Petronas twin tower and also KLCC. Kuala Lumpur offers an exciting nightlife, theater shows and symphony orchestras. It is known as a shopping city. Some of the entertainment that we can find in Kuala Lumpur includes theatres, orchestras, choirs, and beautiful cultural shows every Saturday. Kuala Lumpur, the commercial hub of Malaysia, abounds with a vibrant blend of shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities for visitors. In Jalan Masjid India, running parallel to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, this street is lined by shops selling Indian items such as sarees, sandalwood oil, bangles, silver anklets, gold jewelry, brassware and Indian silver tableware. Besides that, we visited Central Market, this is formerly Kuala Lumpur’s principal wet-market, and this bazaar-style arts and crafts center offers a wide variety of works on sale by local artists and craftsmen. Other shopping centers are Bukit Bintang Plaza, Sungei Wang Plaza, Chinatown in Petaling Street, etc. I’m very pleased that I was given the opportunity to visit Malaysia. Traditions, custom, and food in Malaysia were somewhat of a culture shock for me because I’ve never been abroad before. The biggest culture shock once I’d arrived in Malaysia was the cold weather in the Genting Highlands. If I had to list the things that linger in my memory they’d be: clean city, friendly and kind people, twin towers, great classroom and great teachers. I’d been in that amazing country for ten days, but after receiving warm and friendly hospitality from my house parents, colleagues, and even strangers, I felt as though I’d been there for ten years. It was a life-changing experience. It gave me direction to know what I want to do next. There are so many talented, intelligent and idealistic young people in Indonesia who have so much potential to do great things but many of them aren’t able to continue their studies. Especially in this millennium and era of globalization where qualifications are becoming increasingly important, Youth exchange programs are one of the best ways to create good bilateral relationships between Indonesia and Malaysia. I think it’s really important for Indonesia to have better human resources and for people to have experienced different countries; learning about public services, human rights and democracy. This will really help these people to go on and enrich Indonesian society at large. Finally I just want to give my fellow students suggestion: Be yourself, see what’s around you, identify your vision and mission in life and try to achieve it. Be confident, believe in yourself and do your best! By : Tryanti Abdul Rahman English Department Gorontalo State University

Study Abroad for better future

STUDY IN USA? ? ? JUST STARTS FROM A DREAM

Would you believe that everything starts out from a dream just as Marwah D. Ibrahim said? And “Imagination is more important than knowledge” (Albert Einsten). I believe these two philosophies and they have really impacted my life.
I started as free lance staff in the Center for Language Training and Overseas Study Preparation, in Gorontalo State University in 2004. I imagined “how can I go overseas?” Hence, I tried to realize this dream by studying and working so hard. My job was really helpful and supported me to find new things and up to date news in my everyday life. International scholarship information became my main concern. It’s not about money but for sure, it’s about experience and improving my knowledge and skills especially my communication skills to help me interact with people from various professions.
I greatly beneficiated from searching scholarship information and providing that information for the people who needed it. I had several chances to go abroad such as joining a youth exchange program, a youth camp or even studying for one year in college. Last April, I got a scholarship from Fulbright through American Indonesian Education Foundation (AMINEF) in the Community College Summit Initiative Programs. I was very happy to get this scholarship, because this scholarship gave me a chance to study business management and administration at Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, Florida, United States of America.
It was on August 5th 2007, that I departed from Soekarno Hatta International Airport to KLIA and continued my journey to Heathrow, London. From London, I finally arrived at the John F. Kennedy International Airport. 25 hours in a plane was the longest journey that I have ever had in my life. It was the greatest thing in my life. Truly, it was exhausting but exciting. From New York, the committee picked me up and dropped me to Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. There, I met with lots of international students from different countries, they are from Egypt, South Africa, Turkey, Brazil, Russia, and Pakistan. We had orientation for two weeks and it was fun. I had a blazing time with all my friends from those countries. They are all the greatest people that I have ever met in my life.
The United States, the land of my dreams, has provided me with a good life. It gave me virtually everything I wanted. I could say that my life has changed since I came here. Now, I can feel a new atmosphere and find new things which are totally different from before. Starting with the pilgrims until today, I can certainly say America is the most prosperous land in the history of the world. It is affluent socially, economy, and politically. Astoundingly, flowers from different color can make one united garden.
It’s not only from the bird’s mouth and from some text books mention that we hear that in the USA we could find freedom, but also it’s what I feel and know after I stayed here for 2 months. It is just like they said. Education in America is an access to self-confidence, technology, and a career. Here, in Hillsborough Community Colleges, they provide many resources for students to study, including a tutorial center, library, cyber cafe, computer lab with the free internet connection, and study club. We have at least one computer in each classroom, lessons are taught through different sources, and we have a security system that makes us safe. These resources are a straightforward example of how technology flourishes in education.
I knew that until I got here it would be difficult to say I truly knew what I was getting myself into with Business Management. I think I’m starting to understand. Week one exposed me to financial accounting, economics, principle of marketing and international business. This was nothing I haven’t seen and studied before, but the demanding nature of each course really makes my work hard. Besides that, obviously I have learned the language and I think I’m getting better day by day, but perhaps more important is how much I learned about cultures, the people, American family, and even myself. I learned how to better stand up for myself and my beliefs, and to express myself in another language. What could make a person more confident than that?
Finally through this writing, I would like to share with my fellow students and friends how important it is, to study abroad. Let’s start from now, you have to focus on the future. Let’s face it “the world is getting smaller” First-hand knowledge of another culture and foreign language ability will help to put us in demand in today’s competitive job market. Most importantly, the experience of studying abroad will give us the opportunity to learn more about many things, for instance cultures, leadership skills, technology and the world in which we live. “You can achieve what do you want, by dreaming it first and try to realize it” (Tryanti Abdul Rahman, HCC- Florida, USA September 22nd, 2007)