THANKS 2016

THANKS 2016

Unforgettable! That word is a word that can describe my life in this year. Yup, during 2016 I have passed many things which are so important and precious for me. Before entering this year, same like the other years, I had a lot of plans and resolutions. One of them was that I had to finish my study in university. Finishing my study in public administration, political and social science faculty, Hasanuddin University was my most priority for this year. I made some plans to make my targets happened systemically. I set my time to remind me and to talk to me that there are something to do and stop wasting my time uselessly.

In the early new year, my classmate – Andrew- invited me to join with his friends who wanted to make a new project about a social movement which was created differently. This project had a purpose to share and spread positive things surrounding us by creative and imaginative quotes, illustrations, and videos to people, especially for youth in social media. Then, we had got a deal to choose “SIPAKAINGE’” as our name project from our region – Bugis Makassar-  that means “reminding one another “ as well as our purpose to do this project.

Sipakainge’ really helped me to know managing social media account for public. Even though we did not be expert men behind it but at least our knowledge about one of the important things in this era had been improved. Sipakainge’ made our team to work hardly every day not except me. One of my advantages to join here was that I could explore my passion in creative illustration and sometimes in videos. I was chosen by our team to be a coordinator of creative division. Because of our work, day after day our creations were liked by people and Sipakainge’ was appointed as media partner by some companies, one of them was Politeknik Bosowa. I had a good team with different background, they were Andrew, Rafli, Musyrifil, Eka, Alif, Irsa, fahrian and bowo. Sipakainge’ did not exist for a long time, because of our own work and purpose to continue our life and some different thoughts to continue this project. So, Sipakainge’ just ran fewer than one year, but whatever the ending was, Sipakainge’ had taught me how to produce good and positive creations which can be enjoyed and useful for many people. Keep “SIPAKAINGE’”!

This is  Logo of Sipakainge'

In April month, beside of my birthday, there was one special thing that happened. That was my big bro’s wedding. Due to his wedding, finally I have a sister. For your information, my mother especially my father used to considerably want to have a daughter and so do I by the way, so that was why he made my hair long like a girl when I was a kid, because I just have two siblings and all of them are boys. So that, this wedding was so precious for us because we have a new member in our family, and the feeling was more special as that person is a woman and her name is Asma. By that our life become more colorful and at least there is a more compatible person who can accompany my mother to hang out hehe. Alhamdulillah, until this article has been uploaded, she has been pregnant for 4 months, hopefully she will give a cute baby in 2017 for us. And we still hope the baby will be a girl. Aamiin.

Getting married is the dream of all people. One day i will.

Among twelve months in this year, June was the best month ever for me I think. In that month finally I finished my formal study in Red Campus, Hasanuddin University. During 4 years being in this campus, I got so many stories. Joining in student organization had changed my life, especially for my confidence. I have got many good friends, senior and junior who gave me new spirit, knowledge and precious experiences. I had graduated at the appropriate moment as well as my plan on June 6^th 2016 exactly after studying in one of the best campus in Indonesia for approximately 3 years and 9 months. Getting 3.72 as my grade point average with cum laude predicate made my graduation more special.

This time was when i just started explaining my script in front of examiners. Taken by Chica.

After finishing my presentation, my friends directly gave me some gifts. Thanks sis!

My "Relasi Men" who always be good partners in or out of class. Let's reach our dreams dudes!!!

Taking a photo with "Anu dudu" crew, -several unique persons that i have.

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I am the first one of them. Smiling beside letting me go, after having great years together.

How happy i was, making my parents proud of me.

But, there was still one thing before my graduation that I think it was also special, it was the day which became my last day to take a structural responsibility and mandate as a council of organization. After running the organization for a lot of difficult days and time, finally I became “a free man” by that day. I cannot lie to myself that I had spent much and much time to give my concentration and energy to sort out organization, so that I spend and concern of my time more just for me and my passion after leaving my formal function. In the end of my time being in that organization, there was one decision and policy that was decided by the forum members and make a big difference on this organization. I am sure until this time that the decision which was taken is not pure from a whole members and just was made by a few people who too intervened with their bad ego. It really made me disappointed, beside of realizing that there are still the members who are not good and still disrupting the organization. Somehow, this organization has given me more good things than the bad things. So, whatever happened, it is my obligation to say thank to this organization. 

The Last 5, they were such good people. Best friends who always be together along taking many big and hard responsibilities from 2012 until 2016 including becoming the council of organization for our last year in our organization - HUMANIS FISIP UNHAS-

It felt so free after putting our structural responsibility on our junior - next generation-. "Kejayaan Dalam Kebersamaan!"

Next moment was when celebrating Eid Mubarak – A holy day of Islam- 1437 H. A long time it had been, we did not reunited in Makassar to spend our time together with a big family. Though it was not a whole family, but it felt still so special as my several family members came to Makassar. Moreover, after Eid Mubarak we went to Bulukumba, particularly Bira Beach – one of the most beautiful beaches in Indonesia- to make quality time. It was that I just love!

Making a sudden wefie before traveling to Bira!

Being with family is the most precious thing we felt.

Lastly, I feel so happy that my decision to go to Pare gives me a lot of advantages. New relations, families, knowledge and experiences. Going to Pare and Jogja was like the most productive time of me in this year – it was a such good moment-. My days ran systemically and perfectly, and the most important thing was that I got what I need to. My English skill had been improved significantly and I got my target score of TOEFL which was 507 - it is more than what I expect to- , although I know I must still keep studying and gaining much knowledge about English . 

TEST English School Members period September 2016.

Give away!

In the end of this year, I am still looking for a job which appropriate with me. I think for now It is rather be getting a job than continuing my study instead. I finally figured out that if you want to get some precious things, you also must give your best effort. So much so that I really hope I will get a good job in next year with other good moments like what happened in this year by my best effort. But, before leaving this year I just want to be so grateful to GOD for everything He had given to me and I THANKS 2016!

The Sense of Art

-THE SENSE OF ART-

Talking about “desire”, everyone must be having their own special thing to do, it is usually called as a hobby but some people call it in another word as a passion. The passion is not actually created but it comes purely from its subject. People have different hobbies, because there are so many kind of interesting activities that people can do such as art, sports, reading, literature, cooking, even sleeping, and etcetera. Now, I will not give my opinion for all examples of passion but I will explain what I know about the first one, art.

A number of people usually do not realize that all things surrounding them are art, art cannot be separated from our life. Everywhere and every time we will meet art. Firstly, In the early morning, we will be woken up by the beautiful sound of Adzan and then we open the window, directly, we can see one of the best creations which is made by God, the sun. After that, eating our mother’s delicious breakfast before going to work has become our habit to start our day. There are art effects there making anything better. Those are what I mean about art in a simple form.  

As people commonly know, art is only about music, drawing, dancing, making a statue, acting on the stage or something like that. They think that only an artist or an art worker who can do the things about art, and what they do is not the art if  they do not act or create what an artist does. But, actually art is universal and has no limit. Everyone cannot do good working if they do not have a sense of art. You can make yours useful to help your work, because everybody has it. Managing the time to study, to work, and to play appropriately are a part of art. Leading the team, setting the room, and making some strategies for marketing cannot be success without art sense.

The other sides, if we improve our knowledge or skills in the more specific part of art like making some arranged noise (music), creating several beautiful portrayals or launching a nice movie, we will get more advantages and more enjoyments. Usually, people spending their time to make some creations or to do something about art are more creative than people who do not. Moreover if we start doing it when we were a kid. So then, we can use our creativity on every activity impressively.

Other advantages which we will get if we have a passion in art are we can make some entertainments which will be felt and will be enjoyed by not only us but people who watch us also. It will be some pleasure and a privilege. Some people recommend the others to try to play the music, because it can make us stay young. I do agree with it. People never feel bored to play music and neither do i. Another creation as well as astonishing portrayal is good to be enjoyed too. And there are still many kinds of creations of art that we can make and enjoy together. One of interesting things about the art is we can share our ideas or our thoughts and describe about everything that we think of with art in different way and more impressively.  

Lastly, I just want to say that all of us can do everything about art. Start from a simple thing to a more specific thing. Everything that we do is art and art cannot be separated with us. Can you guys imagine our life without art? It will be empty.

79 Days in Java

79 Days in Java

After I had graduated in my university by June 2016, I had no idea what thing that I had to do. A few days later I looked for a job, and most companies had a lot of requirements and one of them was that we must have good skill in English to be accepted in their company. So, I thought my English skill was not good yet.  So then I started looking for some information about a good place to learn English in Indonesia with low price but good quality. As a result, I found one small  city which had so many good places to learn English there. That city is Pare but it is usually called “Kampung Inggris” by people. By that, I directly made a plan to go to Java land particularly in Pare, Kediri to learn English language. I preferred to go to there and to gain any other new knowledge instead of just staying in my home without nothing to do. 

Several days later, I finally went to Pare on August 8^th 2016 with two friends called Alam and Ulfa, they are really good persons. I came to Pare with bad skill in English. But, I had spirit and two purposes to come there, firstly, I wanted to improve my all English skill such as grammar/structure, speaking, pronunciation and absolutely writing. And the second was I wanted to get 500 scores even more in TOEFL. And, I hope I can reach it.

In first month, I directly took three classes, the first was in Oxford International Language Academy. I took Basic and Intermediate one for TOEFL structure there. I met two good and smart tutors there, they were Miss Hesty and Miss Ifa, and of course I met many good friends there, several of them were Faqih, Alfian, Fahri, Akbar, Rizki, Samsu, Yuan, Irma, Firda and Hanna. Learning in Oxford really makes my knowledge in English better than before. Oxford had taught me so many good structure lessons from basic to advance, and those are really useful for my speaking and especially for my writing. I grateful for being there! 

This picture shows when I was in Basic TOEFL class in OXFORD with Miss Hesty as my tutor.

Here is when I was in Intermediate 1 TOEFL in OXFORD with Miss Ifa as my tutor.

Because I just took structure class in Oxford, so that I took reading class in another course, Global English. I took that class with my friend from Oxford, Alfian. In this class I did not have many memories, because I just studied here for ten meetings in two weeks. However, this class could make a little improvement in my reading skill. Thank you GE!

As my purposes came to Pare, I considerably spent my time there for studying as much and as good as I could. The society and the atmosphere were really fantastic to learn, moreover all students there made me to study hard. Beside of taking structure class, I also took speaking class in Daffodils for one month. I was taught by Miss Austin. She is good in speaking. Joining in speaking class in Daffodils, My friends and I always did public speaking in front of class one by one. I felt more confidence to speak with English language after joining in this class. Every day I always wait for this class, because this class was the most enjoyable than the others and this class was the last class in a day. I had many funny friends there who helped me to improve my speaking, they were Chandra, Vicky, Bang Teja, Rio, Jihad, Wahyu, Hadi, Latif, Galih, Sabiq, Fia, and Astrid. Nice to know you guys!

Here we are, members of SPEAKING STEP ONE CLASS in DAFFODILS

Even though my main purpose came to Java was to learn English, but I thought that I needed to have some holidays to refresh my brain while I studied. Because I knew that in month two I would get strict schedule, so that I spent all of my time for holiday in East Java in the first month and I decided to visit some good places before I entered my second month. 

The first destination was Mount Kelud, after that my friends and I directly went to Gumul – one of the icons of Kediri-. People say that we had yet to be in Kediri, did not we visit Gumul. So that was why, we made sure we had been there whatever the condition was.

This is when we were in Mount Kelud, Kediri, East Java

Just “being” happy in front of Gumul, Kediri, East Java

One week later, My friends and I with the different formation went to one of the best places in Indonesia, that was Mount Bromo. There are so many tourists from many countries coming here every year. This was my first time to be there. We were there by travel agent and we could visit three destinations such as Blok Savana, Pasir Berbisik, and absolutely Mount Bromo. I think this place is more astonishing than are two places before. You can see it on these photos below.

                                                                 

     When I was enjoying the view in Blok Savana

We can see many good views from top place here

This was such a beautiful Mount Bromo’s Sunrise

It took many times to get this picture in Pasir Berbisik :D

This picture was taken when we were hiking to the top of Mount Bromo

In my first month, one of the most important aspects was my boarding house, Oreon. I was really lucky for staying there. I met more than twenty new persons who had their own purposes to come to Pare. Most of them were from Sulawesi, particularly Palopo. Several of them were Ardy, Adit, Iqbal, Ray, Abrar, Rashya, Fabian, Habib, Richard, Arsel, Henrikh, Naftalis and Fahrir. We always help one another, sharing the knowledge one another, and laughing together. We were taught by Mr. Dedy and Mr. Rudy to improve our speaking skill every day, in the early morning and in the evening. They were really successful to help me to improve my speaking skill. Some other advantages that I got here were I was in the same room with Mr. Rudy, so I could ask him for everything that I wanted (about English exactly), and the free high speed connection of Wi-Fi really made me alive hahaha. If you come to Pare someday, you should stay in Oreon guys. Thanks OREON!

These persons who helped me to adapt quickly in Pare. Thank you dudes!

Month Two. Wohooo, finally I could pass my first month in Pare with many good memories and much knowledge. In that time, I confused to decide which course would I choose next, between Elfast and TEST English School. Both of them are good, especially for TOEFL CAMP. Each course has its own strength and that made me more difficult to decide it. However, After I got more information from my friends, then I decided to choose TEST English School as my next destination. But, we could not enter ESTABLISHED TOEFL CAMP in TEST as well as in another course. Because there were many student candidates who came from many cities and wanted to join in this program, so we must do Pre-Test before we were accepted as a student in TEST by official. 

How lucky I was. I could pass the Pre-Test, and it meant that I was a student of TEST officially after I finished the administration. Joining in Established TOEFL CAMP class in TEST was one of the happiness. I could meet a lot of smart, kind, good, ambitious and inspiring people. Most my friends there have many big dreams, those dream are get scholarship and go to study aboard, those are so prestigious and great dreams. I hope you guys can reach your dream. Aamiin!

The schedule of learning in TOEFL CAMP was so different from my schedule in first month. We got a strict schedule for one month. The class started at early morning, at 05.00 A.M o’clock exactly. So, This schedule forced me to wake up earlier, but it was so good to build my good habit. In first week, we had memorizing class, structure class, speaking and debate class, and writing class. Then, in second week until the last week we had six classes in a day, start from scoring class, structure and review structure class, listening class, reading class, and the last was study night. How strict and thick the schedule was, right?

Although the schedule was so strict and sometimes made us bored, but my friends never stopped studying and neither did i. Moreover, we had good and smart tutors here who taught us all about TOEFL especially for many tricks to answer TOEFL questions. They were Mizu Satria but people usually call him Jmbex as a Chief of TOEFL Department, Mizu Imam who had gotten Fullbright scholarship, you can imagine how smart he is, Mozel Shilvia –our writing tutor and the only beautiful tutor we had- was the person who just got her IELTS score more than 6.5, she is not only beautiful but also smart, so that was why there was one of my friends that interested in her hehehe, and the last was Mizu Didin. He just started doing his job as a Mizu for the first time in our class, He is a shy person but his knowledge about English is so good. I really thank for your knowledge that you gave to me Mizus and Mozel!

They were our mizu and mozel for one month.

From left side: Mizu Imam, Mozel Shilvia, unknown :D, Mizu Satria

 

In another side, we had some refreshing activities which made us happy such as Movie Class, Candle Light Night, TEST 5^th Anniversary, and Farewell Party. Learning in TEST will never be forgotten. I have new family here with many different and various characters and unforgettable memories with them . They were Senen, Ali (Arabian man who has dream to be a pilot, amiin bro), Sugeng, Rohman – my roommates who always support one another, wake me up in the early morning, and good partners for speaking­­­­­­­-. I also have some friends from the same land, Sulawesi (as you know, There are so many Sulawesi especially Makassar people in Pare and I think they are number two after the native people.) They were Miko, Tommy (our King of Listening), Radiah, Angelina, Jannah, Syukur, Arland and our chief Taslim . And absolutely, I have still many kind friends from other cities, From Sumatera, Kalimantan, and Java. They were Satria, Fauzi, Edwin, Aryo, Halim, Rofiq, Bang Bandrun, Bang Aulia, Tanjung, Didin (our Buncis), and Faidzin (our professor), Shyta, Gevia, Meitry (our Queen of Structure) Ardika (our Queen of Reading), Cherly (The Barbie), Rizda, Mbak Karin, Nanda, Enda (The funniest girl), Berliana (our Diamond), Mbak Shelvy, Thanty, Oky, and Dewi Nice to meet you Guys and I hope we can meet in another time soon!

This pict was taken in our last day before we were separated in front of our room with Senen, Sugeng, and Rohman

 Me with Ali and Syukur when we were looking for something to eat.

These Pictures were taken when we attended TEST 5^th ANNIVERSARY

And then, we got The Second Winner by our Flash Mob Performance. This was our class by the way :D

This time was when we celebrated our last day together with our Mizus and Mozel exactly – Farewell Party-

The day after farewell party I directly went to Yogjakarta with Shyta by train, we did not join in study group because I preferred to study by myself instead of joining in that class to prepare Real Test. In Yogjakarta I stayed in my cousin’s boarding house. I felt so comfortable there. I went to Yogjakarta to do Real Test with my friends from TEST in Gadjah Mada University and did some great holidays there because as we knew Yogjakarta has so many beautiful places to visit, has not it?

The first place that I visited was Prambanan Temple with my cousin, Rama. I entered that place without paid because Rama had a project there, so we were free to enter. Before I went to this place I had a plan to have some conversation with foreign people to implement my speaking. Then, I met one young lady from England there and accidently she is a Manchester United’s fans same with me. Prambanan Temple is such a beautiful place, every tourist must be visit this place before leave Yogjakarta. Have you been there guys?

 

Rama and I when we were taking a photo in front of Prambanan Temple

The second destination was Kebun Buah Mangunan, Bantul. This time I was accompanied by Rama and Hanan -my another cousin from my father family- and Shilvy –Hanan’s girlfriend-. This upland provides many good views with many angles. It will be a romantic moment if you guys come here with your couple.

 

Taking a photo here was so great!

Before we were in Kebun Buah, we also visited Hutan Pinus, that is such a good place too as well as Kebun Buah. The weather was so mild there and the atmosphere was so quiet. You should be there!

These are beautiful places, right?

Finally, the moment of truth was coming, the day which had been waited by us for two last months especially for me had come. Yup, on Wednesday, October 19^th 2016 we did Real Test. This was my first time to do Real Test of TOEFL. I felt confidence enough about my answers on Listening and Structure sessions but not on Reading session. Now, all results are depending on GOD (Now, till this article has been posted, our Real Test result has yet to be released). We had learned, tried our best, and prayed. Whatever the result will be, at least I have gotten so many knowledge about English and I will keep learning English.

These photos were taken after we did Real Test of TOEFL in UGM.

After the darkness ends the brightness appears, after having the hard situation which forced me to study hard, consequently the day after Real test I felt so free while felt worried about my TOEFL score hehehe. So much so that, I spent my last time in Java particularly in Yogjakarta by doing some holidays with Rama and several friends who still stayed in Yogjakarta for a few days, they were Miko, Cherly, Jannah, Gevia and Aryo.

Our first destination was Ratu Boko Temple. The views were so amazing. We could see Bantul City from upside.  This temple was also one of the places which was involved in “Ada Apa Dengan Cinta 2 Movie” Do you remember this place?

If you guys come to Jogja you should enjoy this Temple!

And then, my days in Java was almost over. But, before I went to my home we had still one day to do holiday. Along I was in Java I never visited the beach, so that, my friends and I made a plan to go to beach. The chosen beach was Wedi Ombo Beach. In this beach, We could not swim too far, because the wave of beach was so dangerous but we could still enjoy the beach from the coastal areas.

When we were in one of the world heavens

Our next destination in that day was Fort Vredeburg. This place will provide you a lot of information about the spirit of Yogjakarta people to defend Indonesia’s Independence with many good technologies inside. The fort is so cool!

Fort Vredeburg is Amazing Fort as well as Ford Rotterdam in Makassar I think

The last destination in that day was Gumuk Pasir – This was Cherlie’s request-. This place is far enough from Yogjakarta, in Bantul exactly. There were many people there when we arrived. This place is so famous, there are many couples who come here, even making Pre-wedding photos is so nice here!

We were shot by Gevia in Gumuk Pasir

That was my last day to do holidays, but I set my time to visit my father’s families before I went back to Makassar. I was so happy that I could meet them again after a long time. I Hope they are always healthy and happy there.

They are my beloved family who always support and pray for me.

Lastly, I was so grateful to God that I had these astonishing experiences. I had decided a right choice to come to Java. And what I got there were not only Knowledge about English but also got many new good friends who became a family and got many new good experiences about anything. I will keep these memories. Thank you and See you!

Note: Thanks for reading this article. I have no another purpose to write this article but just for sharing my time in Java for about more than two months and practicing my writing skill. Because I think the only way to keep my English skill when I am not in Pare anymore is just by writing an article.