2012, new things to do

In the first month of 2012, I already have something that needs to be done.

I have to make report about my study in a topic that I never touched before, make an abstract to submit it to a conference (yeay!), make another report yet the first report still not finished, prepare for another project, become a committee in conference that is held by Indonesian student in Korea (it's just the beginning and I just become a staff though, hahaha :P), etc. This is a little bit exaggerated, but truly, the report really makes me dizzy @_@. Well, this is normal, by time I'll get adapted with all the new knowledge.

I find another things interesting though, maybe I'll start studying about business and economy. I have a dream to have my own business, even though right now I still don't know what kind of business that I want to run. But still, that's my dream, I have & want to reach it. Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim.

take a look back

Year 2011 is already over. This year, 2012, is the new year and hopefully a lot of new things will happen.

If I take a look back to 2011, a lot of things happened to me. In the early month, January, I was still busy with my bachelor's final project. Alhamdulillah I could finish it within two months and graduate on April. On that month also, I attended event about AIESEC, and there was interview for exchange participant. I attended it and unexpectedly I was accepted. Wow, even now I'm still wondering how could I pass that interview.

After I graduated, I worked at my adviser's company, it is consultant in geotechnical engineering. Well, I just worked there for 4 months, from April to July, and I quit because these reasons:

On July, a lot of things happened to me. First, I finally had a chance to do my master's outside of the country (in Korea). And second, I proposed to a girl, and her family accepted me, so on July 31st I married her! Wow, if I remember it now, it feels so amazing. In the first week of July, the announcement of my scholarship came, the following week I proposed a girl to marry me, 2 weeks after that I got married! Alhamdulillah. And another amazing thing is that my fiancee (at that time, now is my wife :D) also accepted in the same scholarship as I am. So with that condition, I had to quit from my job, and continue my study in another country with my wife.

After those amazing things happened, we both went to Korea on the end of August and started our study here. From that month until now, I got a lot of things (again): friends, experiences, experiments, business trips, homework and exams (what??), witnessing new Masjid in Daejeon, Islam brothers from any countries, etc. Really, a loooot of things happened to me. And right now, me and my wife are still here in Korea, studying here, adventuring here, as a student, and as a newly wed (still? they say, haha).

I just can't stop saying Alhamdulillah for all these chances, blessings, and others. Alhamdulillah.

So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?

(Q.S. Ar-Rahman:16)

2 new seasons

When I knew that I can live in another country, in this case in Korea, I said "Yay! I will feel another seasons that I can't feel in Indonesia". Well, in this year, Alhamdulillah I could feel autumn season, and also winter! ^_^

Autumn season in Korea is a little bit different with another country, it is colder. The temperature from summer to autumn here was just drop from around 25 to 20 to 15 degrees. Even my Korean friend said that there was no autumn season anymore, because the temperature was colder than it used to be. When winds was blowing at me, I was just shivering, especially when I was riding my bike. Wow. But even so, the trademark of autumn season was still there, the red color of maple leaf. It was beautiful. It felt good that I had chance to see that. Well, its not like that I saw a park with full of maple trees, but at least I could see some of it :)

just me in front of the tree

me and my wife

After autumn, it comes to winter season. "Yay! I can see snow, the beautiful white scene!". Okay, that's one thing. But before that, the first thing that I HAVE to feel is the cold weather. Its just not cold, its freeeeeezziiing. The temperature is craaazzzyyy (well, at least for me). In the beginning of the winter, I felt around 10 degrees temperature, and I started shaking. Even in the class, my hands felt cold. One of the professor said: "maybe you that comes from Indonesia feel this kind of weather for the first time, but it's just the beginning, it will get colder and colder, hahaha". Yeaaah right. Now the temperature is around 0 degree, and it still can be decreased. Usually it can be -11 degrees, maybe around January. So, if I want to take a walk, I have to wear at least 3 layers of clothes, including coat, also gloves, earmuff, and balaclava (kupluk?).

Okay, back to the snow. In the morning of Dec 24th, when I came out of my house I was shocked and unnerved. I saw a lot of snow!!! Wow!!! I called my wife and she also excited. We went out and took some pictures! ^^

undisturbed snow (???)

my wife and a snow car

main road near my apartment

another scene of snow car :D

near Gapcheon river

me next to the half-frozen river

(My friend said that in January the river usually freezes, so we can walk on top of it \^^/)

me and my wife :)

Alhamdulillah, its new amazing experiences for me. Next one is spring season. I wonder what happen in Korea when it's spring. Hopefully it will be great :D