The 4th Global Academy 2010

It's fun to take part in any events in Busan. As foreigners, we love and enjoy any activities where we can meet Korean and other foreigners as well. This event is a preparatory for IPCC that will be held in Busan on October, 2010. The theme is "Save the Earth, 4U & Me".

photo courtesy of www.befm.or.kr

San and I were eagerly join for the speech contest. We had to speak in English for 8 minutes to present our idea about Save the Earth and Global Governance. This is San's first experience to speak in front of public in English for a competition. I could see that he is nervous yet excited about the contest.

Unfortunately, no 1st winner for foreigners since the judges thought that the speech content of the foreigners were not balance enough compared to the Korean 1st winner. So I ended up being the 3rd winner. San didn't got the prize but it was an unforgetable experience for him ^^.

Link:
To see the video clip, click the link below and choose No. 29
http://befm.or.kr/program/seetheworld/CafeAction.do?cmd=CafeUserBbsL&prgmId=seetheworld&bbsId=VIDEO&URL=/cafe/CafeUserBbsK.jsp

To hear the interview, click the link below and choose No. 340, minute-23
http://befm.or.kr/program/seetheworld/ProgramAction.do?cmd=PlayAgain&prgmId=seetheworld

Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary!

I still remember when I really wanted to go back to my hometown to celebrate my Papa & Mama's 25th wedding anniversary, five years ago. I couldn't make it though, since I had to work in Surabaya at that time, so no special celebration happened on that day.

After I came back from my one-month vacation in hometown, suddenly I realized that this year will be their 30th wedding anniversary! Wow! I will miss it again...but I swore to myself, I can't let it pass without living at least a sweet memory for both of them...

So my teammates were my borthers who were in hometown for school vacation. Diar came up with a very good idea to make a photo collage of Papa & Mama. He would get a friend to help him create that.

For the cake, at first I would like to order a cake with figurines, but the price was too expensive and they needed a good travel agent to deliver it from Surabaya to hometown. So, I tried to order from another bakery shop, but even though this shop has a facebook account, I think the owner didn't get used to receive online order. He didn't reply to my queries and order...so communication was the problem. Finally, Dion managed to order from another person and she gave my parents a flower bouquet as a gift! Wonderful!

Both Papa and Mama forgot that the day was their memorable day, and it was Pearl Anniversary! I called them, and they were surprised...even more surprised when they received the cake, flower and picture ^^ Yey!

Thanks God for both of them. We love you Papa & Mama.

Scholarship...

I got a big big big surprise...Honestly, I cried when I read my name on the list of KGSP (Korean Government Scholarship Program) 2010. So, San were busy to calm me down. He said that normally people would shout and smile when they received a scholarship, but why I cried...

Initially, it wasn't my own idea or interest to apply for the scholarship since I am expecting a baby and thinking that taking care a baby will be heavy and busy enough for me. The school will start on September 1, 2010 and my due date is September 11, 2010.

Well, I never thought about that scholarship until one day, my Korean teacher called me and said that a university is willing to recommend me as a scholarship recipient for KGSP 2010. He, with his own initiative, has brought my canceled application for Korean Language Course in another university (because of financial matter) to that university. Then the staff called me requesting me to complete the apllication only within two weeks.

It totally changed my whole plan! I have bought flight ticket to return to Indonesia, arranged domestic flights for my family trip in Korea and dreamed to deliver the baby in Indonesia with my mom & family around me and...will not come back to Korea anymore.

It might have been the toughest days in my life when San and I had to discussed and prayed for the suddened offer. The road in front of us is uncertain...I may get it or I may not get it. If I choose to stay in Korea, but I couldn't get the scholarship; it would be hard for us financially.

One reason that drove us to make this decision was that it is wiser to stay together as a family. If I go to Indonesia, San would not be able to see, touch and talk with the baby. San's professor reminded us that even though a baby can't exactly remember the face or voice of the parents, but baby can feel the existence of her parents.

My mom, I know that she got dissapointed and worried so much when I told her that I will deliver the baby in Busan, without her besides me. Still she could say like this "If the father (San) said that he doesn't want to be far away from his baby, I believe he will be responsible for you and the baby".

It reminded me straight away to our Father in heaven. If this is His way, and He wants me to pass through it, He will guide, help and strengthen me. He will be responsible for my baby and my family.

Please pray for me and my family.

"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me"

Psalm 54:4