Self Reflection

THE BEST CLASS I EVER TOOK

I was so happy when I saw the paper that professor gave about final project. Yeah!!! Jenny (진희), Songu (성우) and Jiyun (지윤) with me in a group. That time I did guess that the script might be the comedy because I believe that we were good at acting in that sort genre. But I also felt shy and afraid that can myself help them to write a script or my idea can be accepted by them? Because I sometimes realized that my English is not good enough.  After the last performance of the last class, we gather together and started talking about what we will suppose to prepare for the final exam performance. As the professor said, we should write a synopsis first.

English Through Drama class
Sogang University, Fall Semester 2009

During my first working with my group members, I was very happy because everything was OK, and we really matched each other. There was no fight, and everyone was enjoying in the group, supporting each other. I learned how to work in a group, how to give and accept an idea, how to listen for each other. Wow, lucky me to take this class!

Our team

From left: Jenny, Songu, Jiyun , Natha

The next day, we reported briefly our synopsis, but teacher said it would be hard because the stage that we are going to use is not favorable. So, we did change the script again. We decided to talk about the 3 patients (who with slight mental problems) and one doctor in Sogang mental hospital. It finally accepted.

After a couple of meeting, we still needed to add some lines because according to the teacher our script is too short. So, we did add some lines on the script and also changed the title again from I am Crazy to Madness.

Since the script was finished, we met up to talked about the stuff which we will use on the stage. We rented the patients clothes (we collected 15.00 won each person) and prepared some accessories of Christmas tree.

In the final project, my play was Marilyn. She was someone who suffered from anorexia. She started a diet during her days as an actress. She ended up thinking that she was fat and refused to eat at all. Then one day, she would overeat and the cycle would begin again. I loved my play.

Madness member (I mean us) sometimes did not keep the promise to meet up because some of us had another exam. It made me more worried. But then, my roommate (Sonia) told me that those my group member are good in English and also can memorize their lines quickly, so I believed that our performance will be OK.

In fact, I was really happy because we delivered our lines smoothly and everything went well on the stage. I think the acting of each of us was good, the intonation of speech and pronunciation were good too. Plus, those words that we used actually helped the audience understand better, because we used simple words. 

In addition, our play would have been performed even better, if there were a complete stuff to use. For example the Christmas tree. The best part was that the cohesion between us in the work. It made the successful of our performance.

Overall, I really enjoyed this class and working group with the group members. Thank you so much for Jinni, Jiyun and Songu for your collaboration and everything that you guys did.  다들 소고했어요!!!

Haeundae Beach

기억에는 남는 여행에 대한 기행문   

2009 년 8월에 나는 여름 방학이라서 어디나 놀러 가고 싶은 마음 많이 들었다. 그런데 어디로 놀러 가면 좋을까 고민 많이 했다. 그래서 나는 인터넷 검색하다가 드디어 부산이라는 도시 발견했고 8월 말에 그곳으로 여행을 정했다. 인테넷에 있는 블럭들 불 때 부산에서 찍는 사진들 너무나 예쁘게 나와서요. 

부산에 가는 것은 처음이라서 가기 전에 나는 햇빛이 강할지도 모른다고 생각하면서 여름 옷과 선글라스와 모자, 그리고 물런 카메라를 준비했다. 

그 때 나는 우리 오빠랑 같이 가기로 했는데 오빠가 인천에서 살고 나는 서울(신촌)에서  살기 때문에 만날 장수가 따로 필요했더라. 

그래서 먼저 서강대학교 정문 앞에서 만나서 같이 고속터미널에 갔다. 고속터미널에 도작하자마자 부산행 버스를 탔는데 5시간 걸린다고 해서 걱정 되었다. 왜냐하면 나는 그렇게 차를 오래 탈 수가 없었거든요. 그런데 다행히 부산에 가는 동안 우리 재미있게 얘기하면서 밖을 구경했으니까 하나도 안 피군했다. 

부산을 도작하자마자 지하철을 타고 바로 호스텔에 갔다. 왜냐하면 밤 8시에 거기서 도작했니까요.  그다음 날 토요일에 우리가 해운대에 갔는데 해수욕장 근처에서 사람이 아주 많아서 깜짝 놀랐다. 

사람 장난 아니였다~난 완정 깜놀깜놀 O.O 역시 해운대 쨩

 나랑 오빠 ^^

거기서 우리는 이것저것 많이 구경했고 사진도 많이 찍었다. 아무리 해운대 근체에 볼것 별러 많이 없어도 내가 가장 좋아한 바다가 있으니까 기분이 좋았다. 

나이스 뷰 ^^ 바다랑 하늘 색깔 넘 이뻐임

어머나~강아지들 넘 겹당 ㅎㅎ

해운대의 인어 공주다

한국에 운지 벌써 1년됐는데 바다를 안 봐서 우리 나라 많이 그리웠다. 그래서 나는 "아 좋다. 서울에 바다 없으니, 오늘 하루 종일 오빠랑 같이 바다 근처에서 재미있게 놀았야지" 생각했다. 

밤에 우리가 어시장에 가서 구경했고 좋은 사진도 많이 찍었다. 그리고 나서 어시장에서 신선한 해물을 사고 바다 근처에 가서 남친이랑 같이 먹었다. 그 때는 날씨가 너무 좋았고 신선한 해물을 먹으면서 하늘을 봐서 기분이 좋긴 하지만 별을 보고 싶었는데 못 봤다 좀 아쉬웠다.

해운대의 처녁 풍경

그대신 불꽃을 볼 수가 있어서 괜찮았다. 다음 날 오후에 4시쯤 우리는 다시 버스를 타고 대구에 갔다가 서울에 돌아왔다. 해운대 바다에서 수영하고 싶었는데 수영할 줄 몰랐기 때문에 아쉬웠다. 하지만 아름답고 깨끗한 자연 덕분에 몸과 마음이 모두 깨끗해졌다. 

CeritaQ saat di Kongju City

KETIKA NIIED (National Institute for International Education) South Korea decided to give me sebuah opportunity study di negerinya, berbagai perasaan muncul. Ada perasaan senang, sedih, bangga, dan takut. Maklum, saat itu belum genap 'primeiro ano' di FUP Timor Leste. Senang karena got an opportunity belajar di luar negeri. Sedih karena mesti berpisah dengan keluarga. Bangga karena mendapat beasiswa dan tidak menyangka kesempatan itu datang begitu cepat, tetapi juga takut karena membayangkan hidup sebatang kara di negeri orang.

Saat itu, 24 Juli 2008, ketika aku menginjakkan kaki pertama kali di South Korea, cuaca summernya panas tak kalah saingannya dengan Timor Leste. Sebagai calon siswi di Kongju National University (KNU), aku mesti berpisah juga dengan teman-teman aku yang datang bersamaan di hari itu.

This is the building that I went first in my first time at the university 
공주 대학교 administration office

Aku dijemput oleh staff KNU, dan saat itu aku cuman bisa 2 kata bahasa Korea “Annyong Haseyo” dan Kamsahamnida. Bahasa Inggrisku pun tidak mendunkung, soalnya tidak pernah  aku belajar secara intensive, maksudnya ikutan kursus, hanya belajar disaat SMP dan SMA...dan itu pun nggak begitu ngerti apa2....jadi susah untuk komunikasi dengan teman-teman yang datang dari negara lain....uuuuhhhhh

Agar tidak merasa sendirian 'coz udah pisah sama sahabatku Sonia dan Cornelio (dan juga yang lainnya  aku nggak bisa beradaptasi.....maklum baru kenal!!!!), aku memberanikan diri bertanya pada teman-teman yang akan belajar bahasa Korea (한국어) bersama di KNU.

My high school friends who I came to South Korea with

From left: Sonia, me and Cornelio 

Perkenalan yang begitu singkat padat dan jelas itu, cuman dikit yang bisa aku pahami. Apalagi pembicaraan teman Nepal itu....uuuhhhh.... I really couldn't understand what did he say. Tidak satupun kata-katanya yang aku ngerti, even though he answered dengan amat ramah. Wah, aku baru sadar, ini dia yang disebut Nepal's accent. Nilai tes Bahasa Inggris di SMP dan SMA yang cukup tinggi rupanya tidak bisa langsung terpakai.

Karena perjalanan yang hanya memakan 2 setenggah jam, dengan sebuah suitcase besar memasuki dorm ternyata melelahkan. Dari bandara, aku tertidur. Begitu capek rasanya, saat udah tiba di dorm KNU. Belum lagi udara panas yang terasa membakar tubuh. Padahal, cuacanya sama deh dengan di TILES. Konon, untuk mengusir panas yang membakar tubuh, aku memakai jaketnya Sonia (Kayak winter adja). Ini lagi kelupaan jaketnya Sonia dibawa kesini.....ooooppppssss 

Sesudah got to the dorm's office, kita ambil kunci ruangan terus langsung ke Cafetaria dan had lunch. Akhirnya bisa memenuhi juga deh permintaan perut. LOL. Eh ternyata, ooopppss salah lagi!!! Korean food nggak ada satupun yang bisa mengusir lapar, malah membuatku mau muntah....Susah juga yach!!! I thought that cuman bahasa dan tradisi, eehh....makanannya juga aneh-aneh adja. Terpaksa makan adja.

Langit kian redup, reminds me of all my activities tiap sore di rumah. Aku mulai beresin kamar bersamaan dengan roommate aku dari Morroco. Sesaat aku memandang keluar, dengan pemandangan yang begitu tenang dan...air mata mulai turun...sedikit demi sedikit dan akhirnya lebat kayak hujan....and finally I decided untuk tidur. "HOMESICK".

My two crazy friends. Lamiae (Moroccan) and Cecy (Tanzanian)

Aku memulai kehidupan baru di Kongju, South Korea dengan mencoba mengurus sendiri semua persiapan study. Beberapa waktu kemudian, aku baru sadar kalau aku bisa kontak teman-teman dan juga keluarga lewat Internet. Dan mulailah aku mengirim e-mail pada mereka yang aku kangen. 

However, aku tidak tinggal seorang di dorm, I also have 3 friends, mereka adalah orang Korean, baek hati..."Ji Hye, Sera, Soji", dan others roommateku Lamiae dari Morroco, Cecilia dari Tanzania, serta teman Buvhan dari Nepal dan Johannes dari Sweden.

Ji Hye Birthday party

Hari demi hari akhirnya saya mengenal mereka cukup dekat. Namun aku tidak banyak bergaul dengan mereka sebab takut bahasa Inggrisku mampet. Aku memilih bergaul banyak dengan 3 cewek Korea itu. Lewat mereka, aku belajar aksen bahasa Korea, mulai hafal kata demi kata perkenalan, mulai tahu tempat berbelanja makanan orang barat, dan yang terpenting, belajar bagaimana menemukan buku di perpustakaan, yang di mataku amat lengkap, besar, dan canggih, dibandingkan dengan perpustakaan-perpustakaan di Timor Leste.

Dengan full scholarship, aku tidak perlu pusing soal keuangan. Tugasku hanya belajar sebaik mungkin. Baru aja memulai kursus bahasa Korea, susahnya minta ampun. Sampe-sampe aku menangis karena saja nggak bisa baca dan susah menghafal vocabulary yang diberi, disaat teman-teman lain udah mulai bisa.....uuuuhhhhhhhh.......Kondisi ini membuat aku harus mengatur waktu, belajar dan belajar. 

Setelah mulai gabung kelas dengan anak-anak China yang udah belajar 6 bulan sebelum kita (yang sebelumnya cuman kita ber5 dalam satu ruangan), kita memutuskan untuk punya conversation partner supaya bisa bantu kita masing-masing.

Sayangnya, I don't really like the method that those teachers using for teaching saat udah bergabung dengan anak-anak China. Sulit banget beradaptasi dan mengejar materi. And finally sampai juga di third level kedudukannya....lumanyan juga my Korean skill. I am pretty happy with what I've got and have learned.....dengan bantuan sahabat aku Sonia......(makasih yach Sonia....)

Namun begitu sedihnya saat harus menerima kenyataan bahwa nilai tidak memenuhi standard......TEST umum NIIED. Bahasa Inggris dan Korea, dua-duanya PAYAH. Impian aku yang ingin sekali masuk kuliah di Sogang University jadi kabut.

Tapi kemudian harinya aku nerima phone call, eheheeee,,,,,,aku di terima di Sogang University.....nggak tauh betapa senangnya. Aku nggak bisa ukir dengan kata-kata....(akan tetapi ntar mesti belajar lagi bahasa Korea selama 6 bulan disamping kuliah, terus have to pass 5th level). 

SELANJUTNYA, aku tinggal nunggu waktunya untuk moving dari Kongju ke Seoul....dan memulai hidup baru di KOTA itu. Satu harapan aku adalah bisa mengapai impianku. AMIN