Why You Should Move Abroad. And Do It While You're Still Young.

I live in Germany for 6 months now. Last year in 2016 I decided to study abroad. It was a moment like "That's it, this is my chance. I will study in Germany no matter what happens." Then I promised to myself, and then here I am. After a long, and difficult process. I would never say it was easy. It was hard, but I believe nothing is impossible.

For many the idea of moving abroad is only just a dream. Many fail to make it happen. The secrets are believe in yourself, and don't give up. No matter how scary and how difficult it may seem. It is not as difficult as it sounds. There is always something you can do, and succeed at. 

And finally it was the time for me to leave. I still remembered that day. I had my family at the airport. Deep in my heart I said "no, no.. Don't you go." But ultimately, I had to say goodbye and board the plane by myself. It was the saddest, and longest flight I have ever been on.😭😭

Living abroad is one of the most satisfying and challenging things a person can do. Living abroad changed me. And it will also change you. It could be a life-changing experience you'll never regret. Who knows, it could be your best decision ever.

Here are 4 reasons to move abroad, and do it at least once in a lifetime. 

1. Boost your confidence, independence, and language skills.

By moving abroad, you'll be forced to leave your comfort zone. It means doing things that you don’t feel comfortable with doing. Moving abroad can be a great confidence booster. Why? 

Kangeen Indonesia 🇮🇩🇮🇩

Foto diambil sendiri di Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, Bali di tahun 2012

Beruntunglah kita terlahir jadi anak Indonesia dan bisa menikmati indahnya ibu pertiwi. Tinggal di zamrud khatulistiwa yang bagi sebagian orang adalah mimpi bisa tinggal di Indonesia.

Tak disengaja terngiang di pikiran. Karena itu jadi kepengen curhat di malam ini. 🇮🇩

Ternyata benar katanya “semakin jauh meninggalkan Indonesia, semakin kangen dan sayang sama Indonesia.” 😉

Kangen sama makanannya yang murah2 dan enak. Kangen Surabaya bangeet lah. Dan kalau laper tinggal melipir ada gerobak jualan. Apalagi kalau di Indonesia tukang jualan yang datengin rumah dengan konsep door-to-door (Baca: Jualan keliling). Disini? Boro2… Naah mungkin konsep ini bisa diterapkan disini… *Brb bikin startup gerobak bakso 😂 😂

Kalau keindahan pemandangan Indonesia sih gausah ditanya lagi. Keindahan alam Indonesia dikagumi dunia, bikin envy orang lain. Mulai dari Raja Ampat, Bali, hutan di Kalimantan, gunung Bromo, Gunung Rinjani, dll. Ibaratnya negara kita all in one lah. Hayoo mau bilang apa, pasti bilang gak ada musim salju.. Iya gak ada, cuman ada musim rambutan, musim duren, musim mangga, dll. Di Jerman mana ada musim buah2an! 🙈

Satu hal yang dikangenin juga adalah orang2 di Indonesia ituuu orang-orangnya. Emang siih orang2 di Jerman juga ramah2 tapi mereka cuek. Iya saling menyapa kalau ketemu.. Contoh, udah nih saling sapa halo, servus, guten tag, dll. lalu kemudian diam seribu bahasa.. Setelah itu baru ngomong lagi pas pamitan. Udah deh bye… Bayangkan kalau lo lagi bosen nunggu, Kalau di Indonesia tukang jualan, tukang parkir, satpam sampe ojek aja bisa diajak ngobrol. Apakah ini artinya gue sedang kesepian?? (((curcol)))

Sadarlah bahwa benar itu rumput tetangga terlihat lebih hijau.. Emang siih disini banyak kelebihannya. Lebih ini, lebih ituu. Tapii?!? Selalu ada tapi.
Indahnya pemandangan di Indonesia sekarang jd bikin nyesel. Ih dari dulu kemana ajaaa... Harusnya lebih sering keliling Indonesia. Orang lain mah dijadiin bucket list utk bisa pergi ke Indonesia. Kita yang lama tinggal disana lhaa malah yaa gitu deeh. Sekarang giliran jauh malah pengen balik. Haaa banyak maunya emang. 😭😭

SHOCK!! Sistem Ujian Kuliah di Jerman

Lagi masa-masa ujian semester nih disini.. Atau dikenal juga sebagai Klausurphase sebutan kerennya. Apa bedanya dengan ujian waktu kuliah di Indonesia? Beuuuh... Gue aja kaget. 😭😭

Okedeh mari kita bahas apa aja keunikan dari ujian kuliah di Jerman.

1. Jadwal ujian dibuat oleh mahasiswa

Jadwal ujian dibuat dengan cara melihat ruangan yang kosong dengan jadwal kerja sang dosen. Naah jadi bisa dibilang ini sangat memudahkan mahasiswa. Secara kita bisa bikin yang paling susah pertama dan jeda tiap ujian disesuaikan dengan tingkat kesulitan mata kuliah yang diujiankan. 👏

2. Sistem Penilaian

Naaaah ini niiih yang menurut gue sangat sadiiisss... 💪 Kalau kuliah di Indonesia kan mulai dari absensi sudah dapat nilai. Belum lagi tambahan nilai dari PR, presentasi dan kuis. Disiniii beuuuuh ujian sekali "final showdown" di akhir. Gapake Mid-term dan Final term. Jadi satu diakhir ini yang bikin materi menumpuk. Materi mulai dari awal masuk kuliah sampe kelas terakhir diakhir semester. Dan itu nilai 100% dari ujian. Karena kuliah di Jerman gapake absensi (Masuk syukur, gamasuk yaa rugi sendiri), PR juga terserah mau dikerjakan atau nggak dan gak ada yang namanya kuis. Inilah yang bikin jadi ujian tersadis yang pernah ada.. 😐😐

3. Scoring Nilai

Sistem penilaiannya unik gak kayak di Indonesia yang nilainya pake alfabet. Disini angka 1-5. Dulu kita sekolah dapet nilai 1 ibaratnya udah nangis darah kalo disini sebaliknya. Skalanya kalau 1 luar biasa sangat bagus dan kalau 5, 6 dan 7 itu gak lulus.

Scoring dari Hochschule Hof

4.  Pengawasnya Dosen Sendiri

Iyaa pengawasnya dosen sendiriii.. Karena mereka bertanggung jawab kalau ada salah dalam lembar soal dan pertanyaan-pertanyaan dari mahasiswa. 😗😗😗

5. Suasana Ujian

Duduk di kursi manapun bebas. Tidak ada penomoran kursi yang sudah ditentukan. Kalau tidak mau terganggu oleh suara2 apapun termasuk suara gaib, bisa beli earplug yang juga tersedia di kampus. Walaupun diberikan waktu yang mepet banget, tapi sangat bebas kalau sambil ujian sembari nyemil sama ngopi2.. Gue biasanya sedia kopi sama coklat bounty diatas meja biar makin konsentrasi sama soal ujian.🍫🍹

6. Kalau Gak Lulus?

Naah disini enaknya, kalo di Indonesia kalo gak lulus matkul harus ngulang matkulnya lagi. (Beserta masuk kuliahnya lagi) Kalo disini gaperlu kuliah lagi, cukup ujian aja di semester berikutnya. Tapii,,, Gaboleh ngulang lebih dari 2 kali yaa... Kalo gak lulus 3 kali wasalam deeh. Akan di 'Drop Out' dan andaikata daftar kuliah lagi harus dikampus lain dengan jurusan lain. Sadiiss kaaan. Wkwkwkwkw 😰😰

Jadii siapa bilang kuliah di Jerman lebih gampang. Plus minus sih yaa..

Awesome!! Teeterboard Acrobat

Recently just watched this video. Thanks to Devin Supertramp.

It's Freakin' Awesome!! Did some research on it, and I found another awesome video featuring the same performers.

Can't wait to see it live on stage..

Green Tea and Black Tea

Do you have a favorite tea? For me, it's a very difficult question. I drink tea everyday.. I think my favorite tea is Earl Grey. But peppermint tea is great as well. There's nothing as refreshing and relaxing as a cup of tea. As in Indonesia, drinking tea is a daily routine activity during the day. Most Indonesian drink tea at least 2 cups a day.

Both black and green teas are made from the same plant, green tea leaves undergo minimal processing, while black tea has gone through an oxidation process, called fermentation. Green and black tea both contain antioxidants, which may prevent cancer and other diseases. For years research focused on the health properties of green tea. Recent studies indicate that black tea has benefits as well. In each case oxidation or non-oxidation gives the tea a different set of antioxidant compounds. 

The EGCG abundant in green tea interacts with the cells that line your blood vessels and promotes autophagy. EGCG (epigallactocatechin gallate), a popular antioxidant known for fighting cancer, cardiovascular conditions and more. 

Green tea contains between 9 and 50 milligrams of caffeine per cup, while black tea offers 42 to 72 milligrams, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. This caffeine can temporarily increase your mental alertness, promote productivity and perhaps even aid in weight loss.

 

Green tea comes out ahead of black tea when it comes to cancer-fighting benefits. It serves as a rich source of four catechins. Catechins is a family of flavanols partially responsible for the tea's health benefits. And the result is, green tea is ahead of black tea in its antioxidant quality and quantity. So which one is your favorite tea?

"Nyepi": Day of Silence in Bali

Hello everyone. 2 days ago I was in Bali just for Nyepi. A Balinese New Year's Day. I want to feel the silence of Bali in one day. No cars or residents are allowed on the street, and anyone found engaging in any activity of the sort can be arrested. While hotels can operate with electricity, hotel guests are not allowed to leave their hotel. People are prohibited to go outside, only pecalang (Nyepi Police), are allowed to patrol the area and deployed all over the Island. There's no escape at all, even the airports are closed. And I can tell you, It's worth experiencing!

One perfect reason to spend Nyepi is to experience all the rituals that occur in the days before the day of silence.

People waiting fo ogoh ogoh parade on Kartika Plaza Street

The day before Nyepi we were in Kuta Square junction to see "ogoh-ogoh" (large monsters or evil spirits or the Butha Kala made of bamboo). Ogoh ogoh are made to look as terrifying as possible. Ogoh ogoh represent evil spirits. Kuta Square was crowded since sunset. People were waiting, standing and took a seat while waiting ogoh-ogoh passing the street.

 

Solar Eclipse in Indonesia. It's Every 350 years. Don't Miss It!

Total eclipse is visible from any point on Earth only about once every 350 years. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness.

https://pixabay.com/en/solar-eclipse-sun-moon-astronomy-1116853/

Indonesia will be lucky to host this year solar eclipse. Indonesia will be the best location to watch the spectacular solar eclipse on 9 March 2016 when its shadow sweeps across this archipelago from west to east. Space watchers, amateur and professional astronomers should note the cities where the total solar eclipse can be best observed.

Top Reasons to Visit Bali During Nyepi..

I always wanted to visit Bali during Nyepi. It is always on my bucket list since a very long time ago. This year I will fly to Bali for Nyepi day. And I will see Nyepi celebration by myself.

Every religion or culture all over the world has their own way to define and celebrate their new year. Nyepi is a Balinese "Day of Silence" that is commemorated Saka new year according to the Balinese calendar. It is a Hindu celebration mainly celebrated in Bali. And in 2016, it fell on March 9.  Nyepi is a public holiday in Indonesia. Nyepi is meant to be a day of self introspection to decide on values, eg humanity, love, patience, kindness, etc., that should kept forever. And also a day of silence, fasting and meditation for the Balinese. Where people stay home and are not allowed to use lights, start fires, work, travel or enjoy entertainment.

2008-03-06_1801.32_Ogoh_crowd.JPG by mattspong. Creative Commons Attribution

Quote of the Day

1. A man who never makes a mistake will never make anything.
2. The person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.
3. A fellow who never makes a mistake must get tired of doing nothing.

The Best Time Of Day To Exercise, Study, Eat, And Sleep

Scientists have long known that our bodies have internal clocks, which regulate the physical, mental and behavioral changes that we experience over a roughly 24-hour cycle.

We have our biological clock to help our bodies adapt to Earth's daily cycles. Scientist suggests that nearly every organ in our bodies follows this hidden, biological timekeeping. Our hearts, livers and digestive for example. They have their own internal schedules to help us perform at our very best.

Our bodies have an optimal time to sleep, but also to eat, think and exercise. And disrupting that natural timing could lead to certain health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer's and many more. 

It seems that we need regular sleeping and eating schedules to keep our organs synced to one big, biological clock

Check out this video


Source:
Huffington Post

Year of the Fire Monkey 2016

May the new year bring in your life joys that never fade, hopes that never die, strength that never weakens and take you as high as the sky. Wishing you a very happy Chinese new year of Monkey.

-AlviChimon-

How the Airplanes Fly??

A plane's engines are designed to move it forward at high speed. That makes air flow rapidly over the wings, which throw the air down toward the ground, generating an upward force called lift that overcomes the plane's weight and holds it in the sky. So it's the engines that move a plane forward, while the wings move it upward.

How do wings make lift? Wings make lift by changing the direction and pressure of the air that crashes into them as the engines shoot them through the sky.

For those that keep wondering how do airplanes fly. This video from KLM might gives you some answer. And it's easy to understand.

Check out more of the KLM Cockpit Tales: http://Klmf.ly/1Qy7Ldm

Live Only Once is Enough!!

This quote will get you moving through the day.

 

Last Chance to See the Northern Lights Before They Dim...

Watching the bright dancing lights of the aurora in person are actually one of my bucket list.. But after next year, they're going to be much more difficult to see. The aurora borealis isn't disappearing, but it is expected to appear less frequently over the next decade. The effect is estimated to last until 2024 or even 2026. During that time, the lights will be less frequent and bright.

Quote of the Day - From Steve Jobs..

So would you want to do what you are about? And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Here is the video of 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

This Week Quote...

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure."

~Helen Keller~