Study Hard, Play Hard

Yes, if you decide to study in here, maybe you will familiar with this phenomenon "Study Hard, Play hard or even harder". At least that I saw in my flat. I lived in International Housing Student from University. For 1st year, University provide us a place to stay from over the world, especially outside European residence. I lived with 4 girl from different country; Slovania, Romania, Rusia and Spanyol. But there are still a lot of student from outside those country who lived in the Housing. Such as Vietnam, Korea, Australia, China, German, France, etc.

I knew that everyday they have a class, sometimes it start at the morning around 8.30am, even some of them should travel to Apeldoorn (one of city near Deventer, took around 10mins), so it means they should wake up earlier than others. And almost everyday, I always see one of flat has a party in side. Even it's not a big one, but there're a couple of people there, cheering up, drinking, smoking and playing the music almost loud. and they also have big party schedule in Tuesday because there's a student promotion in Bloemer (one of happening bar in centrum), it cost 0.50euro per glass of beer, Friday and Saturday, even though there's no promotion but those are weekend time. People spent time outside their flat.

But you shouldn't be like that. If you are not smoker, drinker, party goeser, or something like that fine. Just said it. They will be accept you whatever you are as long as you are an open minded and easygoing person. you just need to keep in mind that you have a right to say "NO" or "YES" and just be yourself. And also, if you are typical person who did that, just keep in mind that your main purpose came to Nederland is for Study. You already mature enough if you brave to stay in here :)

Enjoy your moment in here, and don't afraid about something. Just BE POSITIVE!

*every step that we took was start from our mindset. and you're the pilot of your mindset

SCHOLARSHIP? make it COMEs TRUE not just DREAM it

well, this story based on my experience. please don't compare it with someone else but you can ask me some questions if you want for sure...

I got this scholarship not really easy because I already tried to submit for almost 5 kinds of scholarship that provided for Indonesia. Such as 2x Aminef scholarship with different programme (this is from USA Government), Scholarship from New Zeland Government (this scholarship asked you to provide 3 reference letters at least), AAS (Australian Award Scholarship), LPDP (the famous scholarship from Indonesia Government) and the last STUNED (scholarship form Netherland Government).

Those process are really exhausted for sure but it makes me become better and better while preparing it. So I never said my failure is my disadvantage. But I am trying to share what I have got from my failure.

1. Get a good score for IBT (TOEFL) or IELTS test

This's like the most important point of application. And also take a long time if you should prepare yourself 1st to take a preparation course. This preparation course helps you to increase your ability in IELTS/ IBT. But first thing that you should find is which one your comfort test whether is IELTS or IBT because both has different method. for myself, I prefer IELTS rather than IBT because IBT too computerised, all the time I should do the test in front of computer and it makes my eyes not comfortable. And I took a preparation class in LBUI (Lembaga Bahasa UI) at Salemba. Actually there're a lot of place which have IELTS preparation such as IALF, IDP and British Council (Those are authorised IELTS test provider), and many more. I took LBUI because this's the cheapest one and I just want to know what the test looks like and continue to study it by myself.

Here's some link that I use to practice my IELTS
http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/prepare
http://www.ielts-exam.net
Exam English
IELTS-Blog

or you can just type "IELTS preparation" in google search engine or "Free IELTS Test". It will show you many of resource and I also buy module about tips and trick IELTS in one of IELTS online course. At least, you should make yourself familiar with this test first, especially if you never face this test before.

2. Know your strength point
Because you should write many of motivation letter. Some scholarship provider ask different kind of motivation letter such as Q&A style or free style in writing. Just make yourself familiar with those things. In this section, you should sell yourself and show them that you deserve to receive the scholarship.

3. Join with an organisation as many as you can
Especially for non-profit organisation or foundation. You also can create it by yourself if you like. At least, it shows that you have something trigger you to give a contribution to your neighbour.

4. Find your Referrer 
Try to list down whose the powerful person could be your referrer. Usually scholarship provider ask referrer from your Academic area (your lecturer, docent, professor, etc), Professional area (Line manager, HR Director, Director in your Department or if it's possible President Director) and Social area (your friends in same organisation, leader of organisation, etc)

5. Join in Scholarship Social Media/ Newsletter

Because there are a lot of scholarship out there and it's very variety. You should check which one is suitable with your educational background or your job background. So don't be pessimistic if your educational background very different with your current job, because there's always possibility to get a scholarship. For example Fulbright.
Besides please take an attention for the requirements that they inform. If you keep push yourself to apply but you don't fulfil one or two requirement, you will lost 1 of your chance to apply that scholarship. As far as I know, every scholarship has limit for a person to apply the same programme. For example, AAS and LPDP give 2 chance per person per programme. So use it wisely.

6. Prepare your Document in English
Check all your supporting documents, such as Certificate, Transcript, Birth Certificate, etc. Scan and save it become 1 folder to make you easy. You can go to sworn translator if your document not in English. In Jakarta, I use Arya Pamula, PIC Pak Arifin, email: arya_pamula@yahoo.com
last time it cost IDR 40rb/ page. If you want re-issue the same document, you pay extra IDR 20rb/ page. You can also use delivery service, just send him a mail of your document, he will send the draft and next day he send it to you.

Here are some of documents that required*;

• copies of birth certificate or equivalent;
• proof citizenship i.e. KTP or your passport personal information pages;
• current Curriculum Vitae;
• official (certified*) post-secondary and tertiary certificates/degrees;
• official (certified*) post-secondary and tertiary transcripts of results;
• current (original) IELTS or TOEFL English language test results (a test result obtained in 2014 or 2015 will be considered  current). The TOEFL prediction test is NOT accepted;
• Masters applicants must also attach certified DIII degree certificate/transcript if using DIV or S1 extension certificate/transcript;
• Doctorate applicants must also attach certified S1 degree certificate/transcript;
• academic reference from S2 supervisor for Doctorate candidates; and
• Doctorate and those Masters applicants whose study will include at least fifty percent research must fill the research proposal details on the application form.

 *source: AAS Scholarship

7. Double check for the field priority
It can be your education background or job background (economic, water management, healthy, etc), your residence (Nusa Tenggara, Aceh, Kalimantan, etc), Gender (female or male), etc

That's all that I can share for now, if some of you wanna add or inform others tips, please feel free to contact me :) Enjoy the hunting...

“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.”

(Quran 13:11)

it's nice to be "easy going" person, isn't it :)

it's just a great weekend that I ever had during my stay in Netherland for 2weeks. mm..but for me every day in here is lovely and precious moment :)

one of my flat friend Grace offering me to join with her to spend this weekend with her oma and her daddy's friend. and stay 1 night in her oma's house. Considering that I don't have any plan to go this weekend (even I always find any things to do hahha..) so I glad to accept her offering.

Saturday, Sept 12, 2015

first planning was we left flat at 06.45 at latest to catch up train schedule 07.15am, but due to Grace too tired to wake up earlier so we left our flat at 08.20am to catch up 08.30 schedule. it took around 10minutes to the station by walk from our flat. Thanks god we arrived in time while the train already in the station. It took around 1.5hours to go to Amsterdam Amstel where oma lives. But we should transit at Amsterdam Central to change the train. At that moment, the condition of the train to Amsterdam Central really crowded. Many people standing in the aisle, due to our ticket for 2nd class so we should enjoy the crowded moment. The awkward moment come while we already prepare 10min before the train stop, we already stand up from our seat and trying to reach exit door (we think that it will consume time if we stand up in the last minute and should past all the people who standing at the aisle), they didn't give us the way! even thought I already said sorry or excuse me, they only starring at us, one of them give me away and the rest won't give us away plus say something in Dutch sounds like she mad of me. So at that moment we decide to wait until the train stop. another thing that I should take a note, be careful with your bag pack because they will yelling at you if your bag nudging people while they sit. even you already said sorry, but it sounds that they won't forgive you. so strange -__-"

Met up with oma for the 1st time. my 1st impression oma really old lady, maybe she's around 80 years old. but she looks fresh even using tool to help her walking. Surprising thing she still able to walk for long time even one of her foot not support enough because we walk from Amsterdam Amstel to her house took around 25-30minutes by walk and she keep asking us did we strong enough to walk. the weather better than in Deventer, it's 15celcius but the wind so crazy compare Deventer. I can't handle it and feel so cold. Oma gave me sock and extra jacket to make me warmer. and I feel asleep while waiting oma's friend come.

We went to one of restaurant in Delft called "Shanghai Garden", it took around 1hours by driving. Tante Rosa is our driver at that time. She's oma's friend. very kind person and she's Indonesian who lives in here for long time guess. In the Restaurant I met another oma's friend, age around > 45 years old and there're also teenager around > 17 years old. I guess they are one of son & daughter one of couple there. All people is Indonesian and they all very friendly. Even thought I never met them before and I don't have any connection with grace's family but I feel they welcoming me so well.

After we finished our lunch there, we went to one of oma's friend's house. It took like 15 minutes by driving. They celebrate oma's birthday there. Singing, playing piano, blowing  the candles and the funny thing, there's PINATA!!

yes, usually we used Pinata doll in children birthday party. The birthday person should hit the doll until broken and the inside fallen down. But in this case, the doll very hard to broke. every one in the room trying to hit after seeing oma can't do it hahaha...so they trying to cut, do something so oma can easily open what is in the inside. After oma did it, many angpau fallen down..WOW.. there're so many Indonesian Food, Lapis surabaya, kue bolu, kue beras, etc but I feel not really good. I think I got cold because suddenly my body temperature increase, I got fever. Tante Rosa notice it, she touch my forehead and tell to the host asking a medicine and at that moment, everyone knew that I sick. They really take care of me, the host give powerful medicine called "Aspro"

in 1 hour I become fit and can try every food there (previously I reject everything that they offer hahaha..). While I wanna go home, uncle and aunty said the lovely thing "keep healthy, don't get sick as previous, success for my study", and others motivation word, is it lovely :)

Sunday, Sept 13, 2015

I wake up not too late because last night I sleep at 10.30pm after take a pray. We have appointment with Tante Rosa to have a breakfast at IKEA. Everyday there's breakfast promotion 1euro before 11am so we should left home around 10.30am. Our breakfast Bread, Croissant, Omelette, Salmon, cheese, Orange Juice and a cup of coffee.
Because we already at IKEA, I don't wanna skip the chance to looking around, and I bought long pillow, plastic bag to carry food and multi charger.

Tante Rosa drop us at Amsterdam Centrum because Grace has a plan to buy a coat for winter and also we want to sightseeing around the centrum. Because we should catch up the train, oma decide to go home by taxi. The taxi really different compare in Indonesia and of course expensive, it cost around 23euro to Oma's house (thanks oma for pay it). while I did packing and give the jacket to oma, oma said that's for me!!! wahhh so lucky and happy... ^-^

we take the train schedule at 5.25pm, 25min to wait and transit at Duivendrecht to take Enschede train. It took around 2hours. While I arrive in my flat, there's surprise from my flatmate, Mina and Alba. They cooked a lovely cake for us to eat together. soooo sweeetttt....

and I also don't forget to bring Indonesian food to them so they can taste it (sorry girls I can't cook Indonesian food :( at least I'm trying to introduce Indonesian Food to you :) hehehe..) and surprisingly they like it and they also taken a picture of that. I brought them Nasi oreng, Nasi Kuning, Bihun Goreng, Kue lapis Surabaya and Kue bolu pandan. The most attractive one for them is Kue Bolu Pandan because the colour is Green and they shouting "wahhh..it's green..so cutee.." hahaha...

That's my weekend..how about yours :)

*friendship is a treasure that we need to keep and to maintain :)