29th November 2014.
After the heavy rain, I travelled through time to July 2011.
The month when I officially got my bachelor degree and graduated as Cum Laude only by the Grace of God.
That time, i thought about anything, "what i want to do after graduated from university."
Of course, i always wanted to go to Germany. I did really want to continue my study there. But, you know what, which field i was interested in? Politic !
Politic? No way, since when i interested in Politic? Since i saw many bullshits promises on Television, Newspapers, so easily spoken and easily forgotten. I was interested in politic, and I wanted to take Public Policy and Good Governance Master Program, which is always offered by DAAD annually.
I thought to be a politician and rule maker is the most strategic way to change the way of life of the people. What i felt about my country, nope think about my country was too big for me. What left on my mind was my parent's hometown, Tana Toraja. When i came back to Toraja in 2008, everything was just the same with ten years ago, no improvement at all. I just saw it like i saw a very messy room, and i want to fix that room. The room was too dark, no light. No hopes here, children are grown up without dreams. They seem like surrender to life. You know what, there are only three kind of professions that young men and women want to be, here : A nurse, a police, or PNS.
What's wrong with those professions? There's nothing wrong with those professions. They all are good. What i hate is, they choose the profession when their eyes are closed. They can't see other professions which are also interesting and challenging for them. They choose them like they have no other choices. Therefore, there is no spirit of fighting there. I can't find any young men or women who have enthusiasm when they are talking about their future. I just can't stand out with war without fight.
Basically, that's the reason why i want to be the part of governance. I'd like to create policies which can improve the quality life of people there.
Ok. Stop. Let's fly to 2013. I had so many plans in my head, still stick to the plan to go to Germany. My friend introduced me to someone who already and is studying in Germany. What he has told to me, was true. After I checked it for my self to DAAD, it is impossible and will be very difficult for me to take master programm which has no correlation with my previous study. I am an engineer, graduate from Engineering Faculty, and then I want to be a politician? Did i just make a stupid plan?
Well i didn't even have my answer yet. I just don't want to study in engineering again. So complex and not interesting. I want to touch up with society. I think, I lost my path that time.
Now. Let's continue to 2014. Time flies. Everyone seems so common with that sentence. I don't like to compete with time, because i know at the end, time always beat me. I just can give meaning to time. Well, almost several months I lost my path. But thank God, i still remember my dream, Go to Germany. Although i didn't know where should i walk, i still did my preparation to go to Germany. I went to German course, practice IELTS on my self, prepare draft of recommendation letter, translate all my certificates. All i did without any destination yet. So i have to find my destination. I tried to find the booklet, the booklet which i printed in 2012, a month before graduation. Thank God I found it. The booklet contains about all master program offered in Germany which provides DAAD Scholarship. So, I read again the booklet, but at that moment, i only read the master program in engineering field section. I found that renewable energy is a little bit interesting. And Offenburg University seems suitable for me.
I tried to find again, anything related with renewable energy which can attracts me. My profession as an engineer, it has helped me a lot, to realize the strongest competency i have in my self. I always have great enthusiasm to learn, to find about everything that i don't know, why and how. I said this as my strongest competency is because i rarely find it among my partner in the same division.
I started back to my path, i searched a lot about renewable energy, tried to envision again the "energy" and "Tana Toraja". Well both are sweetly meet at the "energy independence". Yes I dare to dream this for Tana Toraja. I already found the inspiring woman, Ibu Tri Mumpuni, who has succeeded to light up almost 65 villages in Indonesia. And not just light up, she also has improved the socio-economic life of the society. I dare to dream my self, to follow her parth, or even to join with her in her mission.
So, in March 2014, I submitted my application to Offenburg. It is a small university. But I like it very much, all the
programs offered, the environment, and their current researches. In April 2014, DAAD announce their Master Scholarship Program for Developing Countries, which are available for application in 2014. God, i was shocked. Offenburg was not in the list of DAAD Scholarship for 2014. In this year, DAAD only offers scholarship to Oldenburg and Flensburg University. I was so sad, but just couldn't stay and did nothing.
21 May 2014, i got an email, that my admission to Offenburg is granted. The course would be started in Winter Semester October 2014. I have to pay the semester ticket. It was very cheap only 200 Euro. But how do I get to Germany without scholarship. I didn't have 8400 Euro in my bank account as financial proof to apply visa. Honestly, I didn't have money at all at that time. I can't spare my salary, because i have to pay the bank loan, for the house i have built with my family. But i can't accuse my family for all has happened. It was all my decision. I would not regret it at all.
At that time, i almost give up, don't know what to do. Is there any scholarship beside DAAD which can bring me to Germany..to Offenburg? Yes, my spirit awake again when that question pop up in my mind. I searched a lot, tried to find anything about scholarship to Germany. Huff..it is difficult mostly scholarship are for someone who wants to have their future as lecture. Meanwhile, I don't want to. But then I decided to apply for DAAD Scholarship too, to University of Oldenburg for Renewable Energy Master Program. September 2014, i finnaly succeeded uploading my application to Oldenburg University. But honestly, I prefer Offenburg than Oldenburg. That's why i still looked ways to go to Germany and study in Offenburg.
To go to Germany? Well, I also think about that. When i was searching about master program in Germany, specially for engineering field. I realized that mostly program requires high level of German language skills. Some requires B2, C1, and even C2. So upset, if i count that with the German Course i was taking at Goethe that time. I still need minimum 2 years and maximum 4 years. Whaaaaaatttttttt ????? No way...that's a very long time for me. I also can't take intensive course, because it means i have to leave my job, and where then i can have money? No..no...not good solution. I tried to make Plan B. There were two alternatives for Plan B: Au Pair or Working in Germany. Well after consider all the things, especially my Germans skill, i choose Au Pair as better alternative for Plan B. And Plan C: to study in any country beside Germany. But i never followed up my Plan C. I have invested my money for my Germans language, i didn't want just spend it for nothing. It shall be used and returned. I have to master German language. I have started and i have to finish it well. Au Pair will be a very invaluable experience in my entire life. Living with a German family for one year, learning their language and culture, take care their children, and helping them to prepare dinner, and spending holiday with them. Before i decide to take Au Pair as my Plan B. I already consider all the things what people think about me. I don't care, this is my life.
I have applied Au Pair since August 2014 through an Indonesia agent. But, i already told them first, that i will not be available for Au Pair until February 2015, because i had to prepare and submit all my application for several scholarship program. Then, I let my agent to find one family in Germany who needs Au Pair. They have done their job very good i guess. No news until October 2014 come. A family was interesting to make me as their Au Pair. When i heard that from my agent, i took over their task. Because i think my agent was so busy, and often reply the email from family so late. I said to my agent, let me take over your job. I will make correspondence with the family. So, I and the family, we sent email each other. And they wanted to interview me. Hm...i'm not confidence enough to be interviewed with German family. What if i don't understand what they have said. Oh..such a foolish thing i just thought. They are prospective family, whom i live with. I should confidence with all i have. As usual, i have to know the profile whom will interview me. From the family name, i searched everything about the husband and the wife profile in internet. And so surprised, they are really an outstanding and well educated family. The husband, Dr.Philipp Hufenbecher, is a Managing Director in a consultant company in Hamburg. And the wife, Constanze Hufenbecher, is a CEO in a printing company in Hamburg. They have two adorable girls, Pauline (10 years) and Josefine (6 years). After looking at their profile, i have no doubt to live with this family. So, i try my best for the interview. The same day I arrive in Jakarta from my vacation in Jogja, i had an interview with the family from 11 pm to 12 pm. Unpredictable, i spoke German fluently with them. I thought they might have another candidate for Au Pair, but at that day, they said, they want me to be their Au Pair. They will contact their agent to handle the agreement. Wow !!! So quick.
So, my plan B was run very well. Meanwhile, i also still worked in my Plan A to find scholarship to study in Germany.
Through someone who is also inspiring, i got information about KAAD. KAAD offers scholarship for almost university in Germany. But it was also for lecture. Unbelievable !!! I still didn't believe that. I follow my intuation to keep searching about KAAD. Finally, I found a blog from KAAD alumnae who says that KAAD Scholarship is open for public. So, don't give up when they say that the scholarship is only for lecture. Well, his words has risen up my spirit again.
10 November 2014, i submitted my application for KAAD Scholarship Program. And 19 November i was received an email, that my application was concidered, and i was called for an interview on 28 November 2014. I was really really happy. I couldn't believe. Furthermore, on 20 November 2014 i went to German Embassy to apply Au Pair Visa. All documents required has completed. And thank God, i have no problem at all at administration check. So, till now (29.11.14) i'm still waiting for my visa. I hope my interview results at Embassy will not screwed up my Plan B.
So, we got closer to present time. On Monday (24.11.14) I got sick, i got bad cought and headache. And it was getting worse till Tuesday. I couldn't stand with my body, it became so weak and i got fever. So, for half day I slept at the files room in my office. In the middle of hundreds folder files of projects, i worry about my interview on 28.11.14. I must not sick, i have to recover soon. But my body could not handle it anymore. I just slept. In the evening, the fever getting worse, it reached 39.5*C. My God i felt no power at all. I surrendered to God. Wednesday, i felt better, and decided to see a doctor. After went to hospital, i totally have rest for the sake of interview. The doctor suggested me to have 2 days bed rest (it means wednesday and thursday). But, i was planning to go to Office in Thursday, because i will have annual leave in Friday for the interview. Well that's me always care about my work, even my work not always care about me. So in Thursday, i worked as well i was not sick. After office hours done, i prepared anything regarding my interview. I listed all the question that might be popped up in the interview, and write down all my answers, and then i practice to answer it in english. Wow, i have written many pages for my Q&A interview.
We're going even closer. It just recently happened. Yesterday (28.11.14), my interview scheduled is 15.15-16.00. So, i practice once again in the morning until afternoon. And at 13.30 I went out from my house to Universitas Atmajaya, where the local KAAD Committee will interview me.
I stepped out surrounded by dark clouds in the sky. And decided to walk back to my house to take sandals. And then continue my step to the main road where i can find taxi. The water started to fall down the road where i have to walk. Thanks God, I didn't have to wait too long for a taxi. Suddenly, minutes after i got into taxi, the rain fall heavily, the wind blew so strong. I could saw it from the windows car. Thunders everywhere, flood. What a day for an interview. I was sure that i will getting wet if i decided to stop at the Benhil bridge. The rain was too heavy. So, i told the driver to drop me off via Plaza Semanggi, so we would turn in Bridge Semanggi. But, the time kept running, meanwhile we didn't move. We were trapped in traffic jam. So, i told the driver again to drop me off at Benhil bridge. Wow..flood everywhere. Thank God i brought my sandals. So, i had to go through the flood, still half of my knees, i could handle it. So, I walked, I was prefer to protect my clothes rather than my backpack with my umbrella. So, after getting through the flood, i entered Universitas Atmajaya, with sandals, and my backpack was completely wet, but not my clothes (though it was a little bit wet, the interviewer would not see it). So, I arrived safely, 30 minutes than scheduled, and reported my arrival to my interviewer, Ibu Juliana Murniati. She is Dekan Fakultas Psikologi Atmajaya.
Ok. The interview started at 15.20-16.30. There are three interviewer: Ibu Juliana Murniati, Professor Anton (Dekan Fakultas Hukum Univ.Atmajaya), and Romo Aluk Toro (Romo in Univ. Atmajaya). I felt ready to cas..cis..cus...
Unpredictable, they interviewed me with non-formal or casual style, like we are talking with our friends. And now what in Bahasa Indonesia? Hahahahaha... I thought the interview had run well, because i heard several positive comment from two of the interviewer. Romo said that I was really well informed, well prepared, and so determined. Prof Anton said that my answer is a genious answer. Meanwhile Ibu Juliana, she kept typing the main point from my answers. And arrived to one conclusion in a question, "Do you know what is KAAD?"
"yes, we both said together the abreviation of KAAD"
"Correct, and do you know what Akademischer means?"
"This scholarship only for lecture?"
"Yes, you're just not match with KAAD, you're currently working in a private company, right?"
"Yes, actually i already knew it."
"So, you have known that?"
"Yes, but i found a blog from one of KAAD alumnae, Dionisio Jusuf, he said that we shall not give up although KAAD committee say that the scholarship is only for lecture. The truth is KAAD is open for public. So, i didn't give up, and here i am now."
"So you are truly well informed and looking about anything."
Then the committee explained everything about KAAD scholarship programm.
"Ok, we're already finish, do you have any question?"
"Yes, can i change my period of application for this scholarship?"
"Yes dear you can. Into when?"
"From 2015-2017 into 2016-2018"
"Ok. Why?"
"Because i'm doing Au Pair for one year in Germany. I think my germans still in low level. So, i want to improve my Germans, so that I can be more confident in college. I will have Au Pair from February 2015-February 2016. And then i will back to Indonesia. But i still don't know yet what should i do in the middle time of February till October 2016"
"Stay in Germany, you don't need to come back, you just have to extend for one or two months, and enter our school in Bonn, you will also learn German there."
"Really? What a perfect ideas. Thank you Ibu Juliana."
"So, do I need to resend again my application for this scholarship?"
"Well, i think no, you just need to tell to KAAD Bonn, be active there, and send your application file to my email."
"Ok. thank you very much Ibu."
"So, is there any question again?"
And I asked them my next questions. I really enjoyed our dialogue. And their suggestion. I am so thankful for having this opportunity.
At the end, i just tried my best, i don't know what the result will be. What i believe is everything happens for my own goodness, since from the first time I already invite God in my plan. I asked Him many times, which path i should take, and He also answered me several times because i didn't believe His answer until I realize, indeed God wants me to walk on the path He has chosen for me first.
I surrender to You Jesus, my God and my Lord. There's nothing I can do without you. If I'm still standing right now for my dreams, it is all by the grace of God.
To God be the Glory. Amen.
