Friday, June 24, 2011

Get your master degree Abroad !

Have you ever planned to have a master degree abroad?  Let’s discuss some of the most fave-destinations.
1.       United States – I have lived for a year in The State, I lived in a small county called Marathon, that is located in Wisconsin. In my point of view that the most matters come from the tuition fee. United States usually differentiates the tuition fee between foreign and local students.  For master degree, the fee is usually around $ 40k until $100k, absolutely it depends on the major, science is usually cheaper than Business or other social degree.
Living cost, for a dorm, again! Depends on the location, usually dorm charges about 400-800k a month, remember, most of the dorms have a shared room, hence, be ready to share everything with you roommate or even having trouble with the roommate :p
Food, Dorm usually provides a meal-plan, as my experience, dorm food is so westernized and most of them are junk! Nevertheless, for saving money and for those who are too lazy to cook, dorm is the best choice.
Approximate fee for living a month : min $1000
Note: find your interest and list of universities  http://www.petersons.com/college-search.aspx
2.       Europe – A chosen continent by me, regarding to many reasons and contemplation :
-       Most European countries do subsidize their education, and some do not differentiate the tuition fee among local and foreign students. Nevertheless, of course some of them do, foreign student could pay twice than the EU citizens (Netherland, England), however! the fees are a lot cheaper compared with the US.
-        The living cost is cheaper à Especially in Germany. The government gives sufficient amount of budget for education in Germany includes the student hall (studentenwerk) that’s why the accommodation fee is suppressed and also the international student get the same opportunity.
-      All the subjects are taught in English. Most countries in the EU offer a degree that is completely taught in English, it is intended to attract more students from abroad.
-    And Maybe! The university provides and offers scholarship for a limited number. In the Netherland, Indonesia is one of the Top Priorities, but remember, the number of students that are applying for scholarship could be thousand, so sell your self and make a strategy.
Find your degree in EU : http://www.mastersportal.eu/.
So, when you have found an interesting degree, try to contact the “contact person” and do not hesitate to ask them question about any opportunity that the university offers.
3.       Australia – I could not share that reliable information about this continent. I just have visited, but not actually lived there J. But Australia gives a huge number of scholarship by it’s program ADS, this year they will give 400 scholarship for the students.
But for those who provide their subsistence, the mentioned facts below will bring ideas to be contemplated:
-           Australian dollar is higher than the US (data taken in June 2011)
-          Tuition Fee is closed enough with the US

Thus….What is your choice? J

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Persiapan Mengambil S2

Akhirnya program satu tahun di US tak terasa sudah berlalu, sekarang saya sudah berada lagi di Tanah air, menikmati panasnya matahari, polusi udara Jakarta, dan kemacetan pastinya, tapi tentunya kumpul lagi dengan keluarga, makan enak dan bertmu adik kecil si “kuro”.
3 bulan lebih menuju keberangkatan untuk melanjutkan s2 di benua biru, semua dokumen harus disiapkan seperti keperluan pembukaan account di Jerman, menerjemahkan ijasah SMU ke bahasa Jerman dan dokumen-dokumen lain yang tentunya harus dipersiapkan dari sekarang. Semua diurus sendiri, berbeda sekali dengan waktu keberangkatan ke US, dimana semua2 sudah diurusi oleh Aminef J
Selagi mempersiapkan segala dokumen untuk keperluan pembuatan Visa, my second brother ternyata mendapatkan kabar baik bahwa dia mendapat beasiswa ke Belanda, dan senangnya lg dia mendaftar ke universitas tersebut karena rekomendasi dari saya juga (jadi sejelek-jeleknya saya ada sedikit andil, mungkin dia harus kasih saya komisi, hahaha *kidding), dia akan kuliah di Belanda selama satu tahun dan tahun kedua di Negara lain (tergantung penjurusannya), dan saya akan menetap di Jerman selama 2 tahun, jadi rumah bakal sepi pasti tanpa kami berdua yang suka ngegeracak rumah…haha
Sekarang saya masih dalam proses menunggu pembukaan account di Jerman, dimana saat menunggu itu merupakan situasi yang paling tidak meneenakkan, rasanya pengen buru2 cepet2 semua proses selesai, tapi sekali lagi, masalah waktu, menunggu dan menunggu. Dan repotnya lagi, selama pembukaan account di deutsche bank Jerman, bank tersebut tidak menerima telepon atau email yang berkaitan dengan masalah pembukaan account, jadi harus sabar aja d nunggu prosesnya.

*info lebih lanjut mengenai info mencari s2, akan di share di posting berikutnya :)

Sunday, May 15, 2011

VOA

Check this out- VOA Video :)

This video is about my impression during my study in the US and it was posted by VOA (Voice of America)

Sale, you got a bargain!

Have you ever experienced to buy some stuffs for some amount of  $ and than within 1-2 weeks, the price declines to half of it or even less than it? That will be the experience that you will get when you arrive to the US.
Yes, in the US, discount will bring some interesting points to the customer or even the people that never planned  to buy anything, but when they go to the shopping center and see the 50% off, or even buy 1 get 1, everybody will change their mind and grab their wallet and see how much money still remain. Consumerism is part of the problem that US faces nowadays, when people bought stuffs more than that they could afford.
Before spring break, I bought one Holister T-Shirt which cost around 30$, then after about 2 weeks, when I just got  back from spring break, I went again to the store, and found the price was 12 $ after discount and additional reduction for 50%, finally,  it costs 12$! I was so shocked and decided not to buy anything else unless it is in the final sale. LOL
But somehow, we will never know when the final sale is. Sometimes, if you just miss one day, you will miss the discount, but everything will be in the bargained price eventually.
One another experience:
I went to GAP store, and found an awesome Shirt, it was $30 that day, I wanted to buy it so eagerly, but then I decided not to buy, then in 2 weeks, it was $22, then after couple days, there was 40% additional discount for everything because that was a mother’s day. Hence, finally I got the shirt for only $13 includes the Tax J
Furthermore, usually the store will give you coupon that you could get it by register online or by signing up in their account.
Not for this:
1.      If you are very eager to buy something, just think it twice, especially for the stuff that is not that necessary to be bought.
2.    But if there is only limited item (size, color, and so forth) just buy it! Unless you will miss it.
3.      Happy shopping and enjoy the discount

It’s time to Say Good Bye

Ada pertemuan pasti ada perpisahan, that is nature and the universe makes that formula.
Bulan agustus 2010, semua anak2 dari Negara yang berbeda, beberapa dari mereka sudah saling kenal sebelumnya karena mereka sudah mengikuti pre-academic (program summer, untuk bahasa inggris), namun sayangnya, saya tidak ikut, jadi dari Atlanta (orientation) saya lansgung diterbangkan ke Wausau-Wisconsin. Dimana Wisconsin, terkenal dengan state yang asri karena merupakan state penghasil dairy product terbesar, jadi bisa dibayangkan bahwa sebagian besar state ini adalah farm, sungai dan bukit J
Selama hampir satu tahun, ada keluhan, ada pujian, ada tawa, ada tangis, ada cinta, ada kebencian, atau singkatknya ada suka dan ada duka.  Satu tahun menjalani hidup bersama dengan semua teman2 dari Negara yang berbeda, tinggal dalam 1 dorm yang sama, mengejar bus bersama, makan bersama, or even we missed the bus together. Hal itu tentunya akan membuat kenangan manis yang akan lebih indah diingat ketika kita tidak mengalaminya lagi.
Pada akhirnya, satu minggu dari sekarang, kita akan berpisah karena keadaan dan peraturan, dimana kita harus pulang ke Negara masing-masing, dan kembali menata hidup yang sebenarnya. Hal ini tentunya cukup berat dimana teman2 berasal dari berbagai Negara  yang berbeda, mereka berasal dari Guatemala, Brazil, Elsavador, Nicaragua, India, dan teman2 dari program lain yang mayoritas berasal dari central America. Kita tidak akan pernah tau kapan kita akan pernah bertemu lagi.
Dari pengalaman selama 1 tahun ini, pelajaran yang bisa diambil adalah, bahwa semua manusia itu sama, dari manapun mereka berasal,  dan alangkah indahnya jika kita dapat hidup tanpa membedakan ras, Negara ataupun agama. Karena sekali lagi setiap manusia itu sama, dan perbedaan harusnya membawa kekuatan!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

U.S. Colleges Focus On Making International Students Feel at Home

Colleges Focus On Making Foreign Students Feel at Home 1Tepatnya  24 Agustus 2010. Hari itu kita anak-anak CCID (Community College for International Development)  dikumpulkan menjadi satu dengan anak-anak dari central amerika. Anak-anak central amerika sendiri tidak bisa berbahasa inggris, jadi ketika kita disuruh kerja kelompok, pasti ada satu anak central America yang berbahasa inggris untuk dijadikan penerjemah.  Disana kita berdiskusi mengenai value dan nilai2 yang ada di US dan kita bandingkan dengan Negara kita, mana yang positif dan negative. Setelah dikusi kelompok, kami semua diajak untuk bermain scavenger hunt. Scavenger hunt sendiri merupakan permainan berkelompok, dimana setiap kelompok diberikan sejumlah list kegiatan yang harus mereka lakukan, biasanya berupa pertanyaan dan kita harus menuju suatu tempat agar kita bisa menjawab pertanyaan itu. Scavenger Hunt sebenernya bisa di-improve, seperti scavenger hunt photograph, jadi kita diminta untuk foto2 di spot2 tertentu.
Nah, ketika kita lagi asik2nya bermain dengan scavenger hunt dan menentukan strategi2 supaya kita bisa selesai lebih dulu, ada seseorang yang membawa kamera besar mengikuti kita terus (I felt like celebrity that time) lol. Selidik punya selidik ternyata orang ini adalah seorang wartawan, bagaimana saya bisa tau? Kira2 beberapa hari setelah acara tersebut, saya diberikan link oleh college NTC bahwa ternyata kegiatan kita diliput dan dimasukkan ke news paper. Nah apa hubungannya si isi blog ini sama judulnya, makanya baca link ini  http://chronicle.com/article/US-Colleges-Focus-On-Making/124108/#comments
Hope it will be inspiring!!!