All the way from Cambodia to The United States

It was Saturday 26, 2014, the day my dream is realized and another chapter of my life begins. I know it has been very hard for them to see me off but at the same time they look so delighted. "I'm so glad to have you because you always make me so proud", said my first man in a shivering voice. I hugged him and I almost couldn't hold my tear. He made me so emotional in that fine evening. My flight departed at 8.35 pm, but we left home very early just to avoid traffic jam and some other unforeseen accidents that may happen. We arrived at the airport three and a half hour earlier.Yeah I know it was pretty early. But early is better than late. After an hour of waiting for the check-in counter to open, I get my bag checked-in. And now it's almost time for boarding. I still remember very well the moment I hugged my mom, dad and my two best sisters [in the world] very hard in my arm. It was so heartwarming, touching and of course emotional. This is the second time I left home for a long time. The first one was when I won the PETRONAS scholarship to study Information and Communication Technology at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia for four years. And now it's gonna take another two years. Alright! Time to say good bye to my beloved ones for two years. Let's call it a "see you" instead. I walked inside, and when I looked back, I saw them watching me without blinking. The plane took off. I was now at Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. It was my first time in Vietnam and you know what? something unforgettable happened to me on the first stop. I never took that long flight before, so I didn't know what I am supposed to do during the transit. I asked the lady at the airport, okay I was unlucky to ask the wrong person, and she told me to go to the immigration post. Only when the immigration officer stamped in my passport for entering Vietnam, he realized i was not here to visit. So he shouted in this language. I wasn't nervous because I know it was not my fault but I was curious what was going on. He went to his friends' desk and kept talking in his own language. I asked "What happened? Can you speak English?" he didn't say anything, then he brought me to the transit counter. Only then I know he shouldn't stamp on my passport. I didn't know how serious it is, but he really acted like the sky is about to fall. But he was very funny and kind indeed. He escorted me all the way to the gate I'm supposed to board. I had to wait for about 2 hours for the next flight. Another hour later, he was searching for me all over the place because he realized he forgot to give me another stamp for the exit. Lucky, I came back to the old place after walking around the airport. So he brought me to the immigration and sent me back to the gate. I still remember his face. My next stop is Narita International Airport, Japan. I was waiting and waiting for the final flight. It's time to board the last flight. Finally, after almost 13 hours of flying, I make it to America. Yay! Finally! it was a culture shock at the airport. I didn't know that I have to pay $5 to get the trolley when I never did so. I couldn't get access to the airport free wifi to inform my family that I arrived safe and sound. They were very worried as there were so many plane accidents happening these few weeks. I asked around, people said there is nothing free in America. You gotta pay. I want to get a pre-paid phone card which was in a kind of "vending machine", but I didnt know to use it. People were very unfriendly and in rush. So I decided to use the public telephone to call to my friend in California. Dang! I don't have any coins. I tried to exchange with the mini mart at the airport but she asked me to exchange with the money exchanger. I was like "can I just have 1 dollars exchange with you? " because nobody was there at the money exchange.  After walking here and there and found no way to reach my family and friends, I took the subway to the dorm, yeah that's the horrible experience ever I have in New York. I know I should take taxi direct to the dorm, but I thought it wouldnt be so hard because I get used the subway in Singapore and Malaysia. Oh man! It was nothing near at all. It was scary. I couldn't catch the announcement. I took the wrong line. I didn't know where to take off. People in the train don't know the station I wanna get off. What should I do? But thanks god. I met a guy who knows the station I wanna get off well and he told me to get there. I am inally at High Street station. I have one big bags and two small bags but there is no lift at all. I learn that Americans don't like to have elevator at the station but it comes very handy at this moment. I brought my big bag up and with the little help from the girl who was waiting for the train to come, I am HERE.

Hello America!
Hello New York City!
Hello St. George Residence!
Hello Fulbright fellows!

I'm glad to be here. 

I get lost in books...

During our first excursion to Times Square, we stopped by the New York public library and that was the only time I forgot why I am here, with whom I am going with.
Books have been playing a quite big role in my life: inspire me, motivate me, help me to shape my personality, and to become who I am today. And the best part of being in NYC, in America is that you see bookstores, libraries everywhere. When you live in a city like this you always feel the rush and hurry but still you can create your own little quiet world in these bookstores.

I love getting lost in books...

 



reading is never enough...

  

New York Public Library



Scholarship Hunting (Dream Comes True)

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and hoping different result.

this kinds of words were mentioned by Albert Einstein many years ago in responding to the people who do not want to make a change. I believe everybody does not want it to happen to oneself, let alone myself. Having been living in my home country for more than 28 years, I learned that many things should be changed and improve in terms of my personal value as well as the people around me. I always believe that change is needed for an improvement. While "change" does not guarantee success, there is no success without it. One of the things that I dream to make the change is starting from myself. Like a famous singer entitled King of Pop said in his song lyrics that if you would like to make a change, you should start with "the man in the mirror." then here I go. In this writing I would like to share briefly about my "journey" to get the opportunity to get my Master's under Fulbright scholarship, a dream come true. I graduated from my bachelor degree in English Education in 2012 from State Islamic University in Riau, one of the provinces in Indonesia. I did not continue my study to master's program at the time because of two reasons: 1. I do not want to have it in Indonesia, and 2. I can not afford it. I decline continuing it in Indonesia because I was not sure about it's quality (which is a shame thing to say)especially in my field of study, English Teaching. this is worsen by the overwhelming tuition which is relatively expensive. So, I decided to apply for abroad scholarship. Nothing to lose. It is in April 2013, I was called for an interview in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. I was so excited, but i the same time I was nervous. I was wondering why I was called because I thought that my application writing was not that good. However I tried to calm down and to be optimistic. in the day of interview, I was "interrogated" by a panel of three interviewers. One word to explain the interview: Complicated!. I went off the room while saying: "if it;s for me, I will get it, if it's not, I would try again", July 2013, I got an email which said that I was accepted to study for my master's. I was very happy at that time. It felt like my dream was almost coming true. But the following email which I received discouraged me since I had to complete a series of test called IBT TOEFL and GRE. I was trying to do my best, resigning my self from my job as an English teacher because I want to focus on preparing the tests. It took very long process until.. February 2014, I was officially accepted in Central Michigan University, one of the best campuses offering Master's in TESOL. I felt blessed to what happen to me. A common English teacher, not a special person, can go a broad to study. It is one of the biggest things I have obtained in my life besides a very lovely family and a caring wife. God has been so nice to me.

In New York everybody dresses differently. With such a variety of cultures, it is almost impossible to see a style very similar to others. Some people may use their native clothes and others maybe make look New York’s streets like a constant fashion parade. Sparkly shoes, weird hairstyles and so many trends that it seems no logic that almost all cars at New York are so similar. Didn’t you notice it?... the majority of cars are black, grey or white, and the yellow cabs, and all are very big. For instance, It seems that there is no red cars. I wonder why with a place with so many variety of style does not have different cars. However, I have asked to a New Yorker (actually he was a Colombian guy who works at the AT&T near to Manhanttan campus) and he has said that it was because depending on the color of your car there can be an increase on the insurance rate. But guess what, green is the color of New York’s new taxis, so I hope I can see more color around the streets.

Here we are, St. John’s University!

After 32 hours crazy long flight from Taiwan, Dubai, Milan, and JFK, I am finally in New York!!

It’s hard to believe the dormitory and school are so terrific!! I would like to thank people in St. John’s University to help us enjoy this wonderful place. When we visit the Grand Central and Times Square, everything is spin very fast around this big apple. I am thrilled and need time to digest. But I feel so lucky to stay in the center of the world with friends from around the world. 

It will be the best time of my life.

We talked a lot about the NYC at the class today. It is never enough of talking discussion observing. Even though it is not my first time I am here, I am getting excited as a small child when I walk on the streets of this amazing city. Confidence, power this is mostly what I feel about this city and then these factors becoming part of me. I feel lucky to be part of St. John's University and  happy that it is happening in NYC.
Are not we lucky Fulbrighters?! :)

Looking forward for upcoming two weeks of study, adventures and fun!

P.S. We are getting used to NYC subway, we can handle anything now :D

What about have an ice cream in New York City???

  I believe that many of us want something sweat to eat after a long day in Manhattan. Chun Tung, Eva, Frangiska and me we went out to explore the neighborhood of Brooklyn and we found a cool place near by our dormitory where you can buy a delicious ice cream and you can enjoy the sunset with Brooklyn bridge and Manhattan at the background. Keep in mind that very close to the ice cream store is one of the most famous Italian pizza restaurants in New York City. So if you are hungry you should look for Grimaldi’s. Yummy!!!!

We are the part of NY & NY is the part of us

Hey guys!
Did you notice that,even besides long flights to NY from our countries, terrible jet lags for some of us, fast changes of our normal lifestiles, we are pretty good in following the rules which New York sets?
Without much rushing we are accomplishing a lot: we are never absent on classes, we try to acquire from the city as much as possible (thanks for extracurricalar activities), and leave a part of us in each spot we visit! That's not always easy, isn't it?
We are here only for 3-4 days but part of us already belongs to the city...

And let the whole world wait...

Time to study

Time to party

And we are the part of that

To remember each moment

               

Spike Lee's Do the right thing

This is a thrilling film by Spike Lee! It was shot in NYC - Brooklyn  in 1989.  This movie is full of cultural clashes between different communities living in Brooklyn at that time. I like the way soundtrack and dialogues are intertwined in this film. The pace is fast and fluid. The characters are the true triggers of these almost chaotic narrative made of conflicts that sometimes end up in violence and sometimes strengthen the sense of belonging. I hope you will like it!

First Impressions: NYC and St. John´s Program

Hi Fulbrighters! The purpose of this post is express our first impressions about New York City and St John´s Connection Language Program. Feel free to write what you think!. The rule is not to repeat other comments without adding new information to promote discussion.
In my case, NYC is an exciting place to start our adventure as International Student. We where here only for three days and we had visit a lot of great places like Times Square, Central Park and Brooklyn Bridge. Sharing this moment with others fulbrighters from all over the worlds makes the moment unique.
Refering to St. John´s program I want to congratulate Pamela, Sue and their greatest team of teachers and assistants!. The building is beautiful and people is so kindly. A special greeeting to  Sofia and Danielle, our Group B teachers. They makes our classes very confortable.

Visit to the Times Square

It was very nice to have visited the public library and do the Times Square tour today. As some of us would say it was a whole adventure. It is very impressing for me to be in a city that I had only seen in movies (so many times) and even its cartoon characters. I found it funny that we had to beware of these super heroes who can actually hurt people. Thank you Shea and Cassandra for your guiding us.  The walking around that Alexander mentioned was great too, I just wished I hadn't taken my laptop with me, haha. I am happy to have visited the Central Park and get to know the city a little better. So I'm leaving you with a picture that I took of our friendly neighborhood spiderman!

TimeS Square tour

Today after classes we had a tour to TimeS Square. We have visited Grand Central, NYC Library, The Bryant Park, TimeS Square. Part of the group also has visited the famous apple store on 5ave, central park and Columbus Circle. There are some pictures, so you can enjoy our adventure too
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