Fit and Proper Test

Interestingly, for about 2 weeks you may register all offered lectures, and then, you can withdraw what you do not need. Just notice the schedule!

During 2 weeks, is time to do kind of "fit and proper test" to the professors or the subjects. 

The previous students said that you have to take class where your professor in charged, but I think it doesn't matter. I did it, though, just because I was adore my sensei, and lucky me I got A+ at the end.

first day

syllabus and some course materials

my first class

I don't know for nowadays, but at the time there were only few students taking a class. For example, there were only the Thai and I attending the class taught by our academic adviser, then there were only 4 Indonesians for another class.

I then realized that there were not so many the Japanese of master degree students. They were dominated by the Chinese.

Orientation and Entrance Ceremony

Orientation...

19th September 2013
First orientation day in Ritsumeikan University. Here we met other new international students. The students had information regarding bicycling safety and disaster from police department and fire fighters. It seemed that safety and disaster are very crucial for people in Japan. Also you will have information of culture adjustment. Anyway, you may skip this orientation, but in my opinion, that makes your student life abroad is not complete.

Clothes? Just wear the casual one, but it's O.K if you want to wear batik. There was no any dress code, anyway. For Indonesia Linkage Program, there were sessions that we could skip because they were irrelevant for us.

After lunch, we had health examination. Women, make sure you are not in your period because it will be postponed.

 

Interestingly, in the afternoon there was welcome party. Besides food and drinks, we played games and mingled to others. Oyeah, they let us know food containing pork. As a result, they served food for us in separated plates, even though we never asked for that.

chicken, rice, and potatoes

sushi, sandwich, and bread with cream

20th September 2013
On the second day, besides getting tour to library and keyword for internet access, we had information related to students activities in campus.

multimedia room

library

24 September 2013
It was an orientation for Policy Science only. We listened to explanation of the syllabus from administration staff. Also, we should submit photo copy of some documents, such as passport, residents card, our 1st year transcripts.

orientation at Yoyokan building

Entrance Ceremony...

25 September 2013
The entrance ceremony was for graduate and undergraduate students, conducted at Suzaku Hall, Suzaku Campus. We were introduced to all deans from all faculties.

papers from orientation

Departure - Arrival

We left at 11.15 pm from Soekarno Hatta. When the previous batch landed in Kansai Airport, we landed in Narita Airport. Lucky us, had first experience with the Shinkansen, and it was FREE. Yeay!

Day 1, 12 September 2013

Mr. SHIMIZU and the first allowance nicely welcomed us. We got residence card from Immigration, then we headed to Kyoto by express train and shinkansen. From Kyoto Station, my friends and I studying in same majoring and living at the same place used taxi off to our apartment (apato) in Kinagusa.

just before landing

first allowance from AsiaSEED

Kyoto Station

neighborhood

Day 2, 13 September 2013 

We went to Kita Ward Office to have Health Insurance and ID Number. I thought it's like Kantor Kecamatan in Indonesia. After that, you are free until the orientation time at university.

on the way to KITA ward

KITA Ward Office

Preparation

During no classes and waiting for departure, I conducted survey and collected data, as well as DP3. I didn't plan to go back, so I prepared everything, for example, my questionnaire consisted of various questions related to topic of my thesis.

Also, I had  many emails regarding the university and accommodation in Japan from AsiaSEED. Actually, there will be a day for predeparture briefing from AsiaSEED in each campus. The representative, Mr. SHIMIZU explained about what we should prepare before leaving, and what we are going to do after arriving.

Actually, the tricky thing is packing. As you want to bring everything-you-think-you-will-need-it-because-you-think-it's-gonna-be-expensive, but you don't want to get trouble as well. My suggestion is just bring whatever you want. I am not really sure whether it's because of the service passport or just no suspected thing inside our luggage, in fact, all of us could get through all procedures.

It also better to have contact of your colleagues going to same university in Japan, so you guys can share information.

Miscellaneous I

Following are some random stuff behind the epic:

don't be shy to take a photo here

going to the class

What I don't like from the building is the toilet. It is only at 4th floor for ladies and 5th one for the men. Actually, there is one at 1st floor, near the student organization. Then, the lift was often shut down on weekends, when we frequently enjoy the internet access from the class.

national seminar

Nicely, we were invited to national and international seminars. They were free of charge, except you want to have the certificate.

international seminar

It was very important to submit on time, because it might affect to the grade. The assignments usually should be put on the administration desk and write down your name in the list, before they are submitted to the related professors.

international seminar at west hall

 

original software

ITB provided original  software of windows that you can buy. Last time, it was just Rp15.000 per year, then increased to Rp400,000 for the whole year, or Rp175,000 for office only. Then, you will get a sticker and certificate.

Ganeca Street

 

Second Semester

Since the concentration of subjects were different, the class was split "The Japanese" moved to smaller classroom.

Finishing 1st semester meant we should focus on application for Japanese universities. We had an extra class to prepare (I called this) an informal research proposal and inception documents.

During January and February were intense time to send application and interview with Japanese professors coming to ITB. Even though your research interest are still in the middle of nowhere, just show convincing performance. That's what I did, I hated it, though!

Anyway, it's time to show your personality. Are you selfish, risk taker, or tolerance? Personally, I was a risk taker and little bit selfish ;). I didn't mind to be expelled by my friends as long as I was not haunted by my curiosity. Besides, I wanted to prove the system was not as strict as their thought. I was RIGHT, eventually. All their worries of regulation were rubbish. All of us were accepted. I did what I needed to do and got what I wished for. I was happy, didn't know them.

This semester was quite fun because we had two trips outside Bandung, Jakarta and Pangandaran. Yet, still many and full of papers and presentations.

Etty Sensei

Ending up the days at ITB, we had Japanese class for about 1.5 months before leaving. Actually, it should be carried out at the classroom of UPT Bahasa, but we asked to move it into our classroom at SAPPK because it's more comfortable.

During Japanese class, we also had to deal with legal documents such as passport and visa. Especially for local government workers, we had to prepare a document signed by Secretary of Province in order to have a recommendation from Ministry of Home Affairs. The person in charge of this stuff in the ministry, named Anto. he handled the rest of documents process. For ladies, don't be spoiled by his not bad looking, once you directly come to his office, you still have to remind him about your document on and on. 

First Semester

Still, during 1st semester, DD ITB-Japan and The Netherlands were in the same classroom, we had additional 3 classmates from SPIRIT Program and a foreigner from Holland as well. It's inevitable that people in charge of administration office would be our friends from the beginning until we graduated.

Assignments talk

I can say that being student was a fun, hilarious and complicated period. Now, all of us, except the Dutch are civil servants, the we should change our mindset dealing with academic papers and presentations, journals, and examinations. Figure it out! The reason to escape from work sounds not a good idea. 

Initially, we had pre-magister classes for just about a week because it was nearly to break for Eid. Fortunately, it didn't affect the grade. 

with Richard Legates (The City Reader Author)

Much reading in order to be critical students was demanding. Critical review, for example, was such a drug, bitter but useful, maybe addictive. I admit it can improve my knowledge and broaden my perspective. Here, you feel that you are inseparable with laptop and internet access. Luckily, the lecturers were nice, even sometimes either their personality or explanation were confusing. Actually, the assignments were challenging and time consuming. Speaking of cheating, you should do it smoothly and in good manner. Then, working experiences are damn helpful. You will find the bright side of working for government. Honestly, however, I just did what I could, whatever the grade I won't be an unemployment at the end.

Mr. Ito was watching the final exam

The subjects were taught in English, but sometimes Bahasa was needed. In several times, ITB invited abroad guest lectures, and we had to attend their classes because they were regarded as replacement classes of related professors.

'kitchen'

In addition, we had special classroom with necessary facilities, so it was like your second home as you may come and go whenever you want. We called delivery service, sometimes, or spent time until night just to have internet access and finished the papers. We shared the class materials into dropbox, so having the copies without knowing the content was pretty relieving. For cleaning, we collected money per month, then we bought our needs, like drinking water.

Celebration

As my target, I made it! Don't worry to each score, just see the overall score!!!

All of us made it, the highest score was 8.5, although there are few friends just got 6. It 's O.K. anyway, but risky. Therefore, few of them retook the test. 

Well, the EAP class finished. As we promised each other to celebrate our achievement, now is the time to arrange the either individual or groups treat. Even though it was difficult to have all of us, promise is promise.

Rice Bowl, treated by Rina

Photo Group, treated by Endah

Trans Studio, treated by Iis, Tika, Romy, Delphine, Ardo, Jenny, and I

  

Sundanese Restaurant, treated differently by Dadang, Ofi, Indri, and Hermana

Also, cinema and karaoke respectively treated by Vani and Nerita. We just celebrated the success of passing through the first step.