Catch A Glimpse!! Check Your Japanese Language Mastery, Officially!

I was tickled first when the Japan Foundation announced the application for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) or else is known as Nihongo Nouryoku Shiken at the early September this year. This is my first time enrolled in such exam. I excitedly applied for the test and had myself a test voucher to take with this month. I picked level 4 from the entire 4 levels. I just wanted to measure my capability on Japanese language and gain feedback from it in the end. The items required for the test consisted of moji goi or the mastery of kanji (the Chinese characters which adapted into Japanese means), choukai or listening exam that was consisted of only 17 items, and the final part was about bunpou or syntax and vocabulary in Japanese.

In the meantime, I didn’t exercise much due to preceding task of my KKN and preparation of my graduation theses which was absolutely exhausting and confusing. Nevertheless, the result was beyond less expectation that I failed to make it into strategically planned. When it approached the d-day of the exam, I hurried the tempo of studying accompanied by my seniors Hamidah and Isti; they supported me in giving studying resources and taught me on how to deal with grammar items. I borrowed kanji exercise book which it eventually more suitable for expert and I got myself bewildered by the kanji strokes which exceeds 15 strokes. It really shattered my mind out, hehehe.

My seniors told me that there was nothing to worry about, the exam would be just fine and they believed in me. What a supporting occurrence, while I was afraid to give much confidence regarding my very self. I had not greatly experienced in revising Japanese even though I had learned it since the end of my high school term. Chiefly, my aim to study foreign language is to affix my capability in literature, since I’m always interesting in writing and literature stuffs, thus I’m dreaming of translating foreign books and journalisms into Bahasa Indonesia, like the ACT bids me to join them someday.

The test was planned to take time on 8 am, Sunday, December 7 - 2009. However, there was some inconsequential fact when I prepared before the day the test was executed. I stupidly learn the expert kanji and forgot to engage myself with the simplest one I even couldn’t handle! I studied till late of the night accompanied by my friend, and we got stunned due to Spiderman 2 movie on TV. At the morning, I rised late and couldn’t make my time for breakfast. And oh, it was raining, but not hard, out there. I was dashing to catch a bus to take me to Fakultas Ilmu Budaya UGM. When I got there, I should hunt for my test location which was room D 111 of INCULS…. Oh what a tiring sprint…. And next? The test was seized late, for about 90 minutes and it just about took away all my fortitude. The class was rather small and convenient, with only 15 test participants inside it. I fortunately got to the first row of the seats and it helped me concentrate a great deal.

The test was best explained as remarkably gorgeous!!! I’m sure I’ve done well that time. During the transition among 3 sections of the exam, we the participants was given the time to take a diminutive break, and yeah I had sufficient slight break to breathe. To conclude, it ended at 12.30 pm, and well it was still raining at the faculty. But I’d rather satisfied with my work and I’m waiting for March 2009 to take delivery of my score result.

The JLPT is organized once a year, usually the end of the year. The Japan Foundation sought after institutionalizing the requirements to enter Japan by holding such test, so that they wouldn’t get “lost in translation” if coming to Japan or applying to Japanese company worldwide. This occasion also only take place in certain spots, like Gadjah Mada University Yogyakarta, University of Indonesia Depok, Bandung, Makassar, etc where Japan Foundation established its representatives.

The JLPT is welcoming everyone to register, not merely those who take part in certain academic institutions but also for everyone concerned for it. The score, if we pass the exam, could be used as a value-added means of your foreign language mastery, especially for applying for institutions that concerning about foreign affairs, literature, Japanese companies and representatives, or even continuing your education overseas to Japan. After all, learning foreign language is much of an investment to yourself and don’t even lead to a waste if you really fond of it, while we could gain our knowledge and wisdom much more.

Visit JLPT and Japan Foundation official web page.

Amcor's US Election Debate Slight Review

The US Presidential Election 2008 is approaching. No wonder its echo pumps up on every corner of US allies and partner country, wishing the crisis would be wiped out by the new governing regime. The clash between Democrat and Republican had been represented by tight campaign of both parties since last 3 months on some sensitive issues. On academic level, Gadjah Mada University had responded the presidential race atmosphere by conducting English Debate Competition “US Election Debate 2008” in cooperation with American Corner and US Embassy in Indonesia. The event was held on October 31 until November 1, 2008; and it took place on the University Library and American Corner. The participants consisted of representation of the universities residing in Jogjakarta and around.

UMY speaker delivering his case

I was first of all excited to enroll on the tourney but I guess I never attain much time to prepare and to get teammates. So I kept that wish inside by telling myself that it’s time for a thorough regeneration ^^. My resignation from EDS UGM was definitely much of such regret for me, but I later began to enjoy my choice gracefully. The tourney were attended by one special adjudicator from US Embassy/ETA named Ms. Christy [sorry I forget her surname] who had surprisingly cute voice like those voice actors who dubbed for anime series…

The issues debated on the competition are related to what are being disputed inside the presidential campaign on the US recently, like the motion or topic on the quarter final round “This House Believes That Releasing State Assets to The Market Will Help Stabilizing the Economic Crisis”. The round was between UII B as the Democrat, versus UMY B as Republican senators. Lame though, but it was quite favorably when I found that they were noobs with maximum courage to grow up. A close round with margin of 1, that was just common, since both teams had provided their own determination, which was close to each other’s stance. On debating, you cannot play safe and justifying something from what is currently instable although it is feasible. Came with an idea of selling stock for 30% to the private companies wouldn’t be the answer, because you as an incumbent still get your hands dirty there. And aduh mak, they were debating about American ideology, was it capitalism or liberalism? Huhu.

Another quarter final round that I was involved in as chairperson [again from the latest round], team UGM showed up, played Republican role. They were on the position of pro-life side of abortion on the debate of whether or not the reversal of Roe vs. Wade would bring a balance of human rights. This was a quite clear debate and UGM B won against Atmajaya A by proceeding with more excellent judgment on how government of the state would faithfully help raising the babies even they were undesired. And the pro-choice couldn’t make it against the affirmative team when they couldn’t provide argument on how it is justifiable to take out one’s life by certain legal bases.

second speaker from Atmajaya University

I sat as chairperson on that cloudy Sunday for times, and when it came to the semi final round, UGM B met UMY if I’m not mistaken. To pierce it straight to the point, UGM B took another victory by beating them with close margin. I was kind of interesting to the motion “This House would Maintain US Military Presence in Iraq” because I had debated about it previously with team from Akademi Militer Magelang and it recalled the funny times out there. UGM won as Republican representatives by exacting the importance of US troops to maintain transitional government and meanwhile protecting US interest in middle east.

UGM won, and UII stood as runner up.

Trivial moments were when I got the opportunity to hang around with my colleagues in EDS, to greet Ms. Christy from US Embassy, and to have a slight talk with Jonas, debaters from UMY team who was from East Timor. Christy was a nice girl and she thought that the competition was better on the second day. On the other side of the adjudication table, Jonas told an interesting stories to me, Satrio from UNDIP and Ascana from American Corner; about what’s hot on his country recently. He spoke a lot about the East Timor’s Fretilin, a left-wing party which came with rather soclialist view, and also, the scandals within. We also shared thoughts on how East Timor struggled so hard in this transitional democracy state. He also had his view about developing the country to the future. Oh yeah, and I was so envious to the participants, they got books and CD about US politics to be taken with them. I just wanted one and there was no further respond from the committee ;P

Panel Adjudicator : Ardhy from UMY, Satrio from UNDIP, and Christy from US Embassy

I just felt nostalgic that I surprisingly left debate for such a long time. One year unfortunately took my skill away, while I’m now trying to embrace the feeling of winning once again. I’ve never made such a feat to be proud of on the podium, until that time I won and everybody showered me with compliment as they encouraged me to reach righer. I definitely treasure the moment.

Spare Time and Weirdo Weather

Well, nothing much to say about what the last semester college student is doing. Nothing but her undergraduate theses. Apparently, there has been no interest of thinking about it, moreover, working over it all the time. I’m not the kind to do such paperwork, I’m not as rushed as expected to finish it out soon. Oh yeah, and by time I started it out, boredom also occurs when all I got left to write was nothing.

And again, the weather currently has gone nuts. I’ve got no idea why is it so humid outside while the sunlight also stroke down the whole land. It’s like you are steamed all day even when it comes to nights that you wouldn’t keep your cooling agent away from you. Some newspaper said the temperature had reached for almost 40ºC. The most annoying part of the curse is the indiscriminate blackout policy of PLN. Thanks to PLN, my schedule of working my theses messed up.

Another impact of this stung weather, my defenses crumbled. I fell into murderous illness again, that surprisingly I couldn’t stand the pain as usual. The strive continued so that it really did stuck my plan. This is the end of the month, and I should resolve all my documents needed to be submitted before November, or I’ll never finish on February. Well I’ll try to loosen up my target at last.



It’s not like I’ll drown myself deeper into this, so I’m looking for some refreshment. Gathering with friends always put you at ease, because sharing your experiences heals the pain, for sure. Yesterday, I and my friends had a cheerful time. We forced our butts to move to the appointed location on my friend’s Darmaputra Students Dormitory UGM next to Krida Mandala stadium. We were plotting to serve ourselves “rujakan” together, but nobody knows why the pleasure came to an end while the guy who got the fruits even weren’t showing his head off. Didn’t want to be pulled away in disappointment, we just spent the time exchanging stories of holidays and stuff, it was a definitely fun breakthrough, until we all rolled on the floor laughing and shed so many tears of happiness [hehehehe….], and never forget to picture ourselves together ^o^. Halfway later, we went to have a dinner nearby, and went home exhausted.

I hope there will be more celebration, when it would come to the Jogja Debating Forum’s [JDF] League next week. Hmm, cannot wait for the reunion, since it’s been a long while I don’t have spare time to meet my comrades, my best friends, my rivals as well, from all over backgrounds and ages. I liked competition and will always be, because that enriched my courage. The event would be held by JDF on Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, a convenient place to debate with tranquil breeze. The event would use British Parliamentary system, so that I have to get one partner to fight the enemy with. My buddy is Mr. Teddy from UNY and I could imagine what my team would be!!!! We’ll be the freakiest team as two morons consolidate to fight back “IKAN KAKAP” the big fish of JDF huhehehehhe Still I hope the weather wouldn’t breakdown for fishing. *evil laugh*

Time to take my time. Ask your true heart, what should it be then. I like what I do, I do what I like, there’s no need to hurry, just relax.

Yell of The Forgotten

Regarding the Government of Turkey’s long-life oppression over Kurdish minority group, the cycle of violence continues on. The secessionist movement have been organized into Kurdistan Workers’ Party (KWP) and then weakened by the “assault” of their political leader, Abdullah Occalan, since 1999. This had been Turkey’s challenge from time to time, they were proclaimed to promote democracy, while sadly they also built strong wall against the basic human rights, which still apply even inside the what-so-called-separatist to them.

As Al-Jazeera reported on Sunday, October 19, 2008, Kurdish protesters marched on the street on the heavily populated Kurdish area in southern Turkey. They were demanding the government to treat the lifetime jailed Occalan more properly, regretting the government act during these times that said to be otherwise. On Diyarbakir, over 5000 demonstrators gathered and clashed physical contact with the police. Casualties couldn’t be hindered, and so many people detained by the government by that incident.

The Kurd, and the KWP, is being considered by Turkish government as “terrorist” rather than a mere separatist group. About 44000 people have died since its conflict with the Turkish state began in 1984. Government seems not to open talks for deescalating the conflict. The use of forces is becoming the main prioritization to handle the problems. And the supports to Kurdish struggle nowadays are nothing but a peril promise, due to the lacking of international support and recognition of their rights.

From over the mountainous region of Kurdish residence on Middle East, the attack on the civilians began their rapid assult as the area of their homelad were divided on various Arabic Countries, such as Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and even Syria as well. Then the Kurdish was said to be “a nation without a state” as the Israel and Palestine stand now. It should explain that what the Kurdish demanding is a political landscape, which refers to the political territory which only be justifiable by the means of a sovereign state. To contrast with their colleagues in Iraq, the guys at Turkey seems to expel the Kurdish away from the nation’s progress and their rights is not given well. On Iraq, there had been a political consolidation, that by 2006 they established a united autonomous governance but still subordinated under the Iraqi regime.

It is such a wonder why the Kurdish minority group in Turkey failed to resist the government, just by looking on the fact that around 50% population of The Kurd all over the world is residing on Turkey itself. They should have more political and human resources to pursue their aims. By enforcing such an brutal act to stop the demonstrators like above, there could be determined that the Kurdish in Turkey are being violated, and they are just forgotten by the world. There is no doubt that the vengeance and hatred would color their realations futher.

Rehat Sejenak

Wahai blogwalker yang budiman...
Dalam rangka mengikuti Kuliah Kerja Nyata Pembelajaran Pemberdayaan Masyarakat [KKN PPM] 2008, maka blog ini jadi ikut cuti selama dua bulan. Program yang saya ikuti adalah Pemberantasan Buta Aksara [PBA]. Kurang lebihnya begitu, meski sebenarnya bulan lalu saya tidak pernah memperbaharui post saya, he he...

Mendapatkan lokasi Plotting di Desa Wadungan, Wonosobo, membuat saya jadi sibuk mempersiapkan barang bawaan yang sangat banyak, terlebih lagi desa tersebut letaknya di daerah pegunungan Sumbing di mana kabarnya desa tersebut merupakan desa yang lokasinya tertinggi di Wonosobo.

Yup, dari sini saya memohon doa bagi kelancaran KKN kami tahun ini. Semoga apa yang kami lakukan dapat memberi kontribusi yang optimal bagi masayarakat sekitar.

untuk lebih jelasnya tentang KKN-PPM UGM, silakan klik di sini

Adios, sayonara, pareng...

Green Remarks [?]

Well, frankly typing, April 22 has always been a day to renowned the environmental awareness. This even called “earth day” for complimenting the earth for existing and contributing living goods for us human. Just wanted to expose the commemoration on my campus, there was activities to be done, the “no machine-equipped vehicle in earth day” campaign, wearing green-nuanced outfits, and so forth. The KPALH Setrajana, the student unit for environmental [and outdoor] activities had initiated this chain of programs and held some seminar and academic talks about the environment. It was probably just a slight euphoria, but still inspiring though. What attracting guys in there was a horribly wide white cloth for you to write comments about environment on. It was absolutely for memorable purpose, but I hope that this will be a promise to ourselves to commit environmental keeping.

pictures...

Biology Faculty's demo on sunday

post your signatures

Lunch Time Break Music

Well, probably the updates are on a long, long way from routines. After got caught on several bittersweet business out there, finally I begin writing on this stuff again ^-^;
Oh yeah maybe this is relatively out of date, nevertheless, I’d like to show what they’d done in my campus during lunch time. Several months before now, possibly it’s February, a kinky-and-dandy –but-minimalist jazz group came showing up at my faculty’s canteen. This was quite amusing and entertaining, when suddenly we were being surprised with their present of enjoyment, astonished performance on the first place.

The group consisted of two sub-platoons, one of them was called Andy Gomez Quintet and the other one was The Kirana Big Band. The faculty set up a small stage and band equipment on the west side of the cafeteria. As an emphasizing tune of jazz music, they were including saxophone player as well. On one part, they played instrumental jazz; another part was a vocal–lead full band format. As I recall, audiences were distracted so much, and very well relaxed by their music. I don’t get much reference on jazz, but I’m somewhat familiar with the music, maybe that’s just due to the frequent broadcast as back sounds on many TV shows or ads?? LOL.

In the end, I figure out that it was a promotional attempt to gain audiences on their real commercial show the next 10 days [I’ve got the pamphlet somehow I forgot the date]. In my humble opinion, the promotion was successful and not a mere slight excitement. I bet people had gone after them to watch their show live. I supposed there should be another show next time like this, but as long as they don’t get in the lecture way inside the class to bring the noise… Even the lecturer cannot concentrate much…

New Input From the Past

Wah, setelah beberapa waktu, aku mulai menyusun ulang catatan kuliahku yang tercecer untuk nanti kubaca lagi. Rencananya aku akan mulai memikirkan bagaimana untuk belajar menulis sebuah wacana tentang hubungan internasional [HI] yang lebih komprehensif. Untuk itu aku perlu referensi lebih banyak dan menambah porsi diskusi dengan orang-orang terkait untuk menambah wawasan. Senangnya, sekarang sudah banyak yang membantu daripada dulu.
Setelah mencari-cari dan mengelompokkan, akhirnya aku menemukan catatan beberapa waktu yang lalu di antara map-map berisi… hmm aku tak bisa bilang, unforgetable memories. Beruntung, catatan itu sangat penting, karena belum ada dosen HI di UGM yang memberi kuliah tentangnya. Yang spesial, itu kudapat waktu kuliah dengan Profesor Sakai Yumiko dari Chuo University [Chuo Daigaku] Jepang. Dalam ingatanku beliau terlihat awet muda, di saat yang sama aku berpikir bahwa jarang sekali ada wanita Jepang yang sekolah sampai jadi doktor. Mungkin sebaiknya aku bagi sedikit di blog ini untuk dapat dijadikan bahan diskusi lebih lanjut.

*****

Di Jepang khususnya Chuo University, Ilmu HI ditelaah untuk mengkaji dan mendalami perang dan perdamaian khususnya pada kedua masa Perang Dunia. Menurutnya terdapat beberapa isu penting yang beliau alamatkan untuk mengidentifikasi peristiwa yang dapat dijadikan acuan studi. Kejadian yang dimaksud terdapat pada Perang Dunia pertama [PD I] di mana isu senjata pemusnah massal mulai mencuat pasca terbongkarnya Manhattan Project. Isu tersebut disejajarkan dengan isu kemanusiaan di mana lebih banyak korban sipil bergelimpangan.
Kemudian rangkaian peristiwa penting lainnya juga beliau tuturkan, yaitu isu yang memanas di rentang waktu antara PD I dengan PD II, yaitu mengenai usulan dan pemikiran masyarakat idealis mengenai pengaplikasian hukum internasional untuk mencegah perang. Inilah yang menjadi titik tolak dibentuknya rezim internasional yang ditandai dengan munculnya embrio organisasi supra-nasional. Munculnya pemikiran para ahli seperti Hans J. Morgenthau dengan bukunya Politics Among Nations dan juga General Theories of International Politics telah membantu para pembuat keputusan untuk memetakan kekuatan politik dunia.
Sakai-sensei juga sedikit membahas mengenai perdamaian. Beliau menjelaskan bahawa studi tentang perdamaian secara aktif dipaparkan oleh Johann Galtung. Ia banyak memunculkan teori-teori mengenai perdamaian dan pendekatan dalam memahami banyak perspektif mengenai perdamaian. Selain itu Gene dan Sharp juga banyak melahirkan alternatif metode bina damai atau peace building secara non-kekerasan.
Perdamaian dapat dimaknai dengan dua cara menurut Galtung. Yang pertama ialah passive peace di mana perdamaian itu hanya sebatas ketiadaan perang atau kekerasan langsung. Sementara positive peace melihat bahwa perdamaian ialah juga ketiadaan kekerasan non-fisik atau kekerasan struktural yang tidak langsung.
Aku tidak tahu mengapa tiba-tiba beliau beralih membahas mengenai teori hubungan internasional. Menurut yang dijelaskan, ada beberapa model dalam menganalisa politik dan hubungan antar negara. Sekali lagi, sepertinya aku belum pernah menemukan yang seperti ini di buku yang pernah kubaca. Oh ya, seingatku Sakai-sensei banyak menghabiskan waktu kuliah demi membahas model ini.

Yang pertama ialah Power Politics Model [PPM]
Dimunculkan oleh Thomas Hobbes dalam bukunya, Leviathan, chapter ke-13. Jika melihat ilustrasi di atas, kita dapat menyimpulkan jika negara-negara saling lepas dalam mengurusi politik intern mereka. Dalam pandangan ini, problema yang dihadapi oleh suatu negara hendaknya diselesaikan oleh negara itu sendiri. Hal tersebut didasari asumsi bahwa kedaaan politik internasional penuh dengan anarki, dan negara-negara cenderung untuk saling berebut kekuasaan. Makanya jika suatu negara sampai melibatkan pihak luar untuk problem solving dikhawatirkan akan terjadi intrusi politik yang merupakan awal dari serangan pada suatu negara tertentu. Benar-benar berasa realis.

Model kedua adalah Transnational Function Model [TFM]
Di mana hubungan antar negara digambarkan saling ketergantungan, karena kedudukan masing-masing bangsa ternyata tidak sekuat yang dibayangkan untuk dapat melakukan autarchy, dan ancaman agresivitas negara lain tidak dirasa sepenuhnya benar adanya. Dalam rangka memfasilitasi hubungan ketergantungan tersebut, maka negara bekerja sama dengan berbagi sebagian kedaulatannya demi meraih tujuan dan pemenuhan kebutuhan bersama. Model seperti ini pertama kali diwujudkan dalam pembentukan European Economic Society [EEC] yang merupakan cikal bakal Uni Eropa.

Terakhir mengenai Centre Periphery Model [CPM]
Kenyataan bahwa kesejahteraan tidak selau merata telah melahirkan kesenjangan di antara bangsa-bangsa. Oleh karena itu akan selalu ada sebuah pusat di mana power terkonsentrasi yang disebut center. Ada pula daerah di sekitar center tersebut yang berkarakteristik kurang berkembang dibanding center, namun tetap terpengaruh dan bergantung pada center. Area itu disebut periphery, sebagai akibat perluasan pengaruh dari center. Ketergantungan periphery terhadap center merupakan sebuah dominasi kekuatan, di mana tanpa center, periphery tidak akan berlangsung. Galtung menyebutnya sebagai dependency theory.

Dalam ketiga model tersebut, Sakai-sensei juga mengemukakan bahwa banyak aktor yang dapat terlibat dalam jalannya sistem. Bukan hanya negara, namun juga korporasi multinasional, lembaga swadaya masyarakat atau non-govermental organizations (NGOs), serta pula Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa dan bahkan aktor individual.

masih ada lagi... tp ntar yah... hehehe