Discovery McHale

This Friday, December 3 2011, UGM held a special program with a prominent figure from the United States of America. Judith McHale, An Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the State Department. The event took place in the Senate Room, Second Floor, North Wing Rectorat UGM from 08.30-11.00. Around a hundred person joined the program, mostly lecturers and students. The day's program was also connected to nine Indonesian universities through video conference. Instead of talking about public diplomacy and US foreign policy, the program mainly discussed about the significance impact of entrepreneurship. Mr. Joko Moerdianto, UGM Executive Secretary was in charge of the session by being a moderator. While, beside Mrs. McHale, the other speakers; UGM Rector-Mr. Sudjarwadi, Vice Minister of National Education Ministry-Mr. Fasli Djalal, and US Ambassador to Indonesia-Mr. Scott Marciel signified the specialty of the program.

courtesy to http://www.ugm.ac.id.


Now let's get to know closer about Judith McHale :

She has a strategic yet important position at the Department of State. Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs are very urgent issues regarding the US foreign policy. Moreover, it is a big homework for the States to influence public opinion, domestically and internationally through smart diplomacy. I wouldn't talk much about political aspects of her position but explore about what we can learn from her endeavor and professional experience.

MTV and Discovery Channel. Who didn't know these two internationally-well-known channels. So, what's the matter? It matters since Mrs. McHale had once become an eminence figure who succeed to gain a big achievement for those companies. She had a very sharp visionary sight, and were very passionate about the world development. She was also concern about culture and education which accommodate her hardworking into many accomplishments.

Her recent position acquires skill to deal and engage with various different people from around the world. Therefore, she has to equip herself with outstanding qualifications of communication skills, as well as her broad-knowledge. Her background and upbringings were also an advantage for her career. She was nurtured in diplomatic atmosphere since she was a daughter of the US diplomat. She valued a lively experience abroad, especially in South Africa and Great Britain. Hence, Mrs. Mc Hale also absorbed the spirit of apartheid struggle in South Africa.

For further biography you can read on this website.

Sincere regards,

satisVication

I called it "satisvication". It doesn't imply anything, except the acronym I made, stand for "SATurday In feStiVIty of Culture, Art, hisTory-SensatION". Haha =)

This Saturday, a group of NOHA (Network of Humanitarian Action) Visiting Scholar, mostly from Europe, joined with us, program coordinators and staffs from Office of International Affairs, UGM to spend the lovely Saturday to celebrate the preciousness of culture, art, and history.

First, we went to Imogiri, Bantul district, southern part of Yogyakarta province. We had a pilgrimage in Royal cemetary, a traditional resting place of Sultanese of Surakarta and Yogyakarta. Interesting pieces for me are, first, the brilliance idea of Sultan Agung on how he put the concept of this cemetary. There is always a great philosophy on it, meaning of beyond and within things. Second, the value of stepping forward and higher. I define as the need of process, takes times, willingness, efforts, and target. Third, "we can make it, if we want it". Before 'hiking', the guide told us how many level of floors. At the beginning, maybe we are doubt about making it or not. But if we want it and enjoy it, we fight our hesitation and win with satisfication.

When we had to step down the floors, I really felt like running. I liked it. It made me feel lighter and easier to get to the bottom floor. But friends stopped me to do so. They warned me if I could fall down and get injured. So, although I have independent thinking, but the social consequences costs more.

Next, we headed to Prambanan, to see "The Ramayana Ballet". It was my first time seeing the performance in Prambanan. My previouse one is in 'Ratu Boko Temple'. We also had a dinner in the Prambanan complex with such a loving yet nice nuance and atmosphere. Interesting pieces are, people were so excited about having dinnner, but then they complained that the food taste isn't as costly as the prize. For me, since the food are free, it tasted okay, and I am thankful to taste a lot different things. What can we expect from the presence of food. Enough for me.

Ramayana Ballet Performance. There are many tourist spent much money to enjoy the performance. Many visitors from another city and province as well. After a while longing for a seat, finally I sat next to, and among foreign tourists who seem enjoyed the performance. The tourists on my right side, focused on capturing the scene of the performance, using his SLR camera, while the foreigner on my right side, paid most attention only to the stage, even rarely blinking.

This cultural performance and the foreign tourist gazing grabbed me to the experience when I was also being a foreigner and enjoy the kind of art and culural performance. I amaze how art and culture binding people together with appreciation and amazeness. People can have different understanding and interpretaion, but we appreciate this form of creativity and expression.

When we see, we even compare things. Normal. We did many times, including to compare the performance. Based on my previous experience seeing 'Rama-Shinta storyline' performance, What I got, first, it's different. Compare means value, which I can value that the performance tonight was paid much more so the quality of performance needs to exercise and improve more.

I also concerned about regeneration. For the sake of cultural heritage, I think we really need to preserve and regenerate this kind of practical art and culture.

dont look at us!! look at how beautiful background we had. sorry for the blurry pics.

The Highlight News Last Night was:

OOps! I did it (again)! Pathetic side of me!

"The fool one is one who falls into the same hole, again, and again."

Why, I never learned from my previous precedent! That I can call PATHETIC!

Thank you my dear friends who always understanding and helping me out!

Regards, _Kf_

UGM Graduation in May

left to right : phi'i, mbak rien, dedek, me :)

Today I dressed up in purple. Since early morning, my kost friends and I was excited to see our good friend's graduation ceremony. Another personel of SWA 7A Family, Mbak Ririn finished her study in UGM. We are also very enthusiastic to take a lot of pictures in the spot because my friend brought her SLR camera. The photos below was taken from my camera-pocket anyway.

There I also met another group, from another family, OIA family who congratulated our friend's glory. I am so proud of you friends, especially when seeing your cum laude shawl.

I would love to extend my sincere congratulation to dear friends,

Ririn Fina Pebriani - Forestry Faculty

Fitri Trapsilawati - Engineering Faculty

Guruh Eko Saputra - Engineering Faculty

Dyah Pandam Mitayani - Cultural Science Faculty

and other graduates

I hope you are a way success in years to come.

Be a good ones in whatever path you choose.

Regards, Kf

UQ Visit to UGM

The University of Queensland Visit to Universitas Gadjah Mada

Yogyakarta, May 4th 2010

This is one of my duties as Program Coordinator for Australia Region in the Office of International Affairs, UGM. I have to in charge of all arrangements and agendas during the university partners visit to UGM. Afterwards, I have to keep in progress with cooperation and partnership initiated. The activity during the University Queensland (UQ) Delegation Visit can be read in OIA website.

After Official Meeting with Rector and UQ Presentation about 'Building an Excellence Research Activity', UQ celebrated Centenary Event by inviting UGM Senior Executives and UQ Alumnies to have lunch reception in Bogey’s Teras at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Yogyakarta.

This is OIA Team for UQ Visit to UGM. Thank you guys for your great effort and contribution to make such a successful program. The delegation seemed delighted and impressed with our hard-work. Looking forward to welcoming another Australian university partners hearty.

Best regards,

tension

the picure is taken from here

what happen if all urgent? what happen if there is no excitement? what happen if all tension seems on your burden? what happened if you have less-time? what happen if you desire the best but lack of resources?

what i wanted to do right now : just shouting out loud. (although it's impossible). So, God i rely and count so much on you.

please mercy on me God,

DREAMs and SKRIPSYalala

Weekend supposedly being a great time to have a spare time to 'pleasure'-ing ourself. That's not applied for some PCs who had a meeting today, talking about our BIG 'DREAM'. The progress seems slow but sure (hopeful). Yeah, we still tried to conceptualize the programs, sponsorship, proposal, recruitment, budget, and so on. Saturday morning-almost afternoon, we met up in front of Office of International Affairs, UGM Main Building, South Wings, second floor. Seriously? in front of the office, since no one of us had a key to open the door.

I myself came a bit later when already found out four of my friends there sat down (*lesehan) and discussed things. We merely dealed with DREAM preparation, but sometimes we also joked, had intermezzo, gossipped, and laughed, at the end. They often laughed at me when spontaneously words came out from my mouth. Most time I didn't understand the reason what being so funny. But it feels so refreshing when they laughed, I laughed, and we all laughed. We really need hillarious atmosphere to entertain our serious world that force us to deal with overload-work, project, and problem. It feels like a brief instant escape from those burdens.

DREAMs. Ough, our big project with a big target. I knew that we can make it since I trusted my friends capacities. But surely we can't work alone. We need a strong teamwork to make it done successfully. We need to FOCUS. But I can't imagine what happens if everyone focused on their other priorities that's more important and related to FUTURE!! "Dear friends, I am sure with your full of ZEST, you can do both, or even more, quite well!!"

People said that 'logic can't work without logistic'. We couldn't agree more on that. Since we're so hungry, we decided to continue our meeting in 'Warung Sederhana' and still discussing about DREAM and also other lighter talk. I had sate padang for my meal. So did Pupu and Timur. Mbak Michelle had nasi padang and ayam, while the original Padang guy, Mas Heru, had nasi padang with rendang and teri. Ehmm. Padang food fulfilled our hunger.

You know what? Today discussion really reminded me of my Dad's advice, about my next SKRIPSYalala. I even heard most my friends said that it was SKRIPS(h)It. They thought that it was like a shit. I myself dont want to say so because if i think so, I am sure it will influence my self-inconsciousness to think so. Then, it will be so. So, I am trying to make it happy, by saying it is my SKRIPSyalala.. Wow, suddenly I also think that it can work as a SKRIPSialalala which has a bad word also (sial). So, I dont want whataver unlucky situation will be. That is why I used (Y) instead of (I) on my 'SKRIPSYalala'

My Dad is right, somehow. He taught me about the importance of preparation. He reminded me that if I want to achieve good things, I have to be prepared. Wise word even said, "Fail to prepared means prepare to failed'. So I gotta watch out. Sooner is better. I better think now when everything is still in calm, not in chaos, not underpressure. Bismillah.

SUPPORTING SYSTEM

One of Paolo Coelho's book, titled "The Winner Stands Alone" implies powerful messages to its readers. I wont argue about that. Here, what I want to explore more is about my interpretation to its title; "The Winner Stands Alone". Somehow I dont really agree on that sentences. In my opinian, the winner doesn't stand alone, because he/she has a strong supporting system. I understand that to be a winner, man should have such qualities, such as independence, confidence, persistence, and competence. If those quality wrapped up in one man's body, he/she would likely tend to be more independent and self-reliant.

Supporting system. I got so familiar with this phrase since my Rector gave an inspirational remark in the Office of International Affairs, on the day, I was officially recognized to be one staff working part-time there. I often amazed with this old-grey hair yet wise person I ever known. On most my times spend with him, whether accompanying international 'guest', being notulist in the meeting, having breakfast and coffebreak together (off course in my capacity as Program Coordinator and younger generation), and another special moment, I always being so inspired and motivated.

Okay, I will focus on my title on this blog. Because talking about my Rector figure will take pages and pages. Just stay tuned, I will write my experience 'working' with him later on. I understand that there are many wrong judgment from those who don't know him quite well, especially those who's opposing his public (read:university) policies.

Back to 'supporting system'. Rector once said that we have to work effectively by building a strong supporting system that synergize each others position. By doing so, we can work paralelly and efficiently. I really agree on that. Supporting system means alot in working environment. It will create a positive and healthy working atmosphere that will bring person in more productive way of working. It also means that we have to appreciate, support, and strengthen each others potentials.

My curiousity asked me to use search engine with key words 'supporting system'. There is no exact definition or link related to what I really want. That term is merely best described in business-technology and life organism. For example, I found 'Life Support System' in Wikipedia pages that said:

In human spaceflight, the life support system is a group of devices that allow a human being to survive in outer space. NASA often uses the phrase Environmental Control and Life Support System or the acronym ECLSS when describing these systems for its human spaceflight missions. The life support system may supply air, water and food. It must also maintain the correct body temperature, an acceptable pressure on the body and deal with the body's waste products. Shielding against harmful external influences such as radiation and micro-meteorites may also be necessary. Components of the life support system are life-critical and are designed and constructed using safety engineering techniques .

I also found the definition of "Decision Support System" from Wikipedia as well, which constitute a class of computer-based information systems including knowledge-based systems that support decision-making activities.

So, based on my finding from search engine, the term are far from my interpretation. If I may conclude, there are similarity of the two-"life support system" and "decision support system". First, consist of more than two elements. Second, sophisticated yet complicated. Third, yah, that'all I thought so far.

Supporting System on My Own Word

I define supporting system as a basic foundation to be success. I think that success can be easily achieved by those who has a strong supporting system. From the definition of system, we understand that it is a set of various components working and supporting each others to achieve one mission or one goal. I myself identify supporting system could be tangible and intangible elements.

From tangible elements, I will say (for example): full support from parents, supportive friends, trusted colleagues, our network, facilities we invent, and so on.. Intangible elements could be our experiences, attitude, strength, positive minds, healthy lifestyle, etc.

If those elements work together and synergize each others, I am positively sure that we can achieve what we define as a success. So, starting from this moments, Let us build a strong supporting system, and we have to be supportive as well to be one element of others supporting system.

Good luck everybody!

image : blogs.sitepointstatic.com/images...stem.jpg

INDONESIA on her eyes: "democracy, modernity, and gender empowerment"

Dear readers,

Maybe you wonder why I put the picture of a woman with black blouse, beatiful smile, strong eyes, and using eye-glasses on the left side of my post. There for a reason.

She is one powerful lady in this country. Recently she is holding a high position in Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Directorte General of America and Europe Affairs. She is the alumni from the same department as mine, International Relations Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Bu Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, we used to call it, Bu Retno, in short. Bu Retno-Deplu more spesifically, because UGM has two prominent ladies whose name is Retno. The other one is UGM Senior Vice Rector for Academic, Research and Community Service (WRS P3M), Prof. Dr. Retno Sunarminingsih, M.Sc., Apt, who happened to be a wife of Bambang Sudibyo, our previous Indonesian Minister of Education.

Firstly I heard the name of Bu Retno Deplu was from my International Law lecturer, Mr. US who used to talked much about his various activities and his networks, including his good relation with with her. He further said that he still stayed in touch by text messaging her. Then, I started to know her more whan I was accepted to attend international event in Norway. I searched with Mr. Google to find out the Indonesian Ambassador for Norway, and surprissingly her name was appeared many times in the results, Retno LP Marsudy, Indonesian Ambassador to Norway. I got so excited then, since I knew that she is UGM alumni so I thought it would be easier to approach her for helping my coming to Norway.

Until finally, my friend from Universitas Indonesia who's also got accepted in International Student Festival in Trondheim, Norway told me that Bu Retno didn't work there anymore. She knew her very well because Bu Retno is a mother of her (ex) boyfriend. Oh, I see:)

Then, I finally met her in person when she visited UGM in the occasion of the Rector meeting with the US Ambassador and White House envoy to Indonesia. The meeting was uphold regarding the plan of Obama visit to Indonesia, in the month of March, including the plan to visit UGM.

I can see that H.E. Cameron Hume, US Ambassador to Indonesia is likely keen on visiting Yogyakarta and UGM, especially. This is the second visit of him. The first one is when the US Higher Educators visited Indonesia last November, if I am not mistaken. The purpose of all the meeting whether with US Higher Educators, US AMbassador, and White House envoy are basically the same. They want to strengthen the cooperation and relations with UGM, as one oldest and biggest university in Indonesia.

What I want to say in this post as you can read from the title, I was impressed with Bu Retno thought and principle that she shared in a small discussion with the Head of OIA, the Deputy of OIA, PCs, and friends. I got so many insights which was beneficial from my self-improvement. Her sentences that I remember the most are about :
First, we have to start knowing 'WHAT WE REALLY WANT'. We often reject things without understanding what we really want. I thought that's a typical of woman. I think. Hehe. Second is about INDONESIA, as a country with the largest moslem population in the world, Indonesia is famous of being a moderate contry. She underlined that, "If you see Indonesia, you see democracy, modernity, and gender empowerment".

That's being so unique about Indonesia.

image 1 : www.detiknews.com/images/content...rop2.jpg

image 2 : mystockvoice.files.wordpress.com

DOs and DONTs

I started today with such a lost, disappointed feeling. But I tried to wake up and make the best effort to create a better day. I woke up, breathed deeply, and released my worrisome about my previouse bad. I often missed the moment of morning surrender recently. There is such a deep hollowness afterwards. But it's a worthed lesson learned.

All of sudden, I looked to my white board that used to be a weekly planner hang on the wall. I never used it since I had my cuty notebook planner. After a few moment of silent, I caught a brilliant idea. I grabbed my black boardmarker, then drawed a thin line to divide that board to be two parts. On the right side, I wrote a big DOs and the left one said DON'Ts. After that, I listed what I should DOs and what I should avoid (DONTs). It was just surprissing knowing that I am on trouble recently, especially due to time mismanagement that caused a long cycle of life mismanagement.

Morning 'til afternoon. I struggled with my fundrising proposal. Printing, copying, editing are not really special task since I always had done with them. After all finished, I headed to campus. First, I went to my IR department office. From a distance, I saw a crowd of people gathered in the lobby. They are IR student class 2006 fighting for their undergraduate thesis. After saying hello, smiling, and having a little conversation with them, I straight came inside the office. Fortunately, I met Mrs. RTN whom I had been searching for since the previous week. Thanks God, she already understood my intention to meet her. Without need to explain more, she answered my big question mark in my head.

In the beginning she asked forgiving for not grading yet my termpaper (as my 'susulan' exam). That is not a real big deal for me. I am still quite optimistic that I will get a good grade thou. My main intention actually is about asking for my department financial contribution due to my upcoming-2 weeks-program in Thailand which is just around the corner. Hell, yeah, I got dissapointed that my department rejected my proposal. Based on Mrs. RTN answer, my department just made a policy about 'financial contribution' to the international events. It's kind of pathetic that my department cut out the funding because I have already experienced international event. So, IR department only let the fresh students having no international experience to use their money. Huff. If that's the criteria, I must be eliminated since the first round:(

My mission is not accomplished. But somehow I am still optimistic. My next destination is Mandiri Bank. I had to pay my school tuition today. If not doing it soon, there would be various consequences. Let say, I might have no money left on my pocket in the end and I was threatened not able to fill my KRS. So, better to do it sooner.

Another meeting was setted up after finishing a bank transer to Rector account. I had to meet my Vice Dean of Student Affairs in my faculty. I had to wait for her about a quarter hour. I felt a little bit relieved since she promised me to give a financial support. She didn't decide yet since she have to review my proposal. She said almost the same things with my previous meeting in my department, about the lack of faculty budget, a massive MUN conference, and the idea of internazionalization.

Today, I dealed with the negotiation as part of the art of begging. Let's see whether it succeed or not. After done with my fundrising mission I had to go to my office, Office of International Affairs. There, we had done a half of selection process of recruiting new PCs who will be our new partners soon. Today like usual I chatted and laughed in the same time I worked in the office. This is a pleasure, and I enjoyed. Thanks to Pupu who gave me a nice 'gantungan kunci' of Singapore where she just visited this weekend.

Minutes by minutes passed slowly because I had nothing to do. So, when mbak Icha asked for outing to have a lunch, I undoubtfully agreed. Mas Timur then wanted to join with us. We decided to go to Pizza Hut. It was great pick bacause I really wanted to go that place since last night.

Always being so special and recharging moment to spend with good friends. We ordered 'sensasi delight 4' and a very sweet ice cream. We eated alot. We talked alot. We laugh loud. We are happy to be in today. We are happy to be together, in laughter, overcoming our hunger.

Thanks God for everything. You are still The Greatest. Thanks for this breathing, this disapointment, this friendship, and the day you blessed me with a smile of the sun. What a beautiful today is!

I promised to be better tomorrow. Doing those DOs and avoiding those DONT's!!