Intro: During My Stay In Taiwan

(This is a featured post, you can visit Ipirel Community blog to see the original version)

It's been (almost) 2 months. Yup, I'm here, only me out of my country. This is my first time to go abroad (and first time to go by the airplane) alone. Akk...the feeling when I know I was accepted and I have to go here by myself is worried. Of course. It's because I'm really going here by myself.

I was picked up by my friend's friend. She's really kind, she is Taiwanese whose my friend's bestfriend. I live in Tamsui District which is so far from Taouyuan International Airport. And I feel like I owe to her. Not only picked me up at the Airport, she was also helping me a lot (in one day) to complete all the requirements I have to fulfill.

It was on winter when I arrived here, in Taiwan. I was surprisingly shocked by the weather. It. Is. Really. Cold. Since I'm a kind of person who can't stay longer during the cold weather. Even though, my hometown relatively has a cold weather (around 24 degrees). We know that normally it is 28 degrees above in Yogyakarta. But here, in Tamsui, it was 8 to 18 degrees during the winter.

I meet TKUISA (Tamkang University Indonesian Student Association). Big thanks to Hielmy and Linggar (they also came to Tamkang University last semester to take Exchange Student) who asked them for helping me during my stay here. At least I feel like home when I'm with them. They are really helping me, indeed!

I'm staying at Reitaku International House. This dormitory is only for Exchange Students (and some of Taiwanese who will help us during our stay in Taiwan), and I meet a lot of people who come from different background and countries. People in Reitaku is really nice! We always have plan on weekend. So I can travel a lot here! Haha. It was nice meeting them here.

Unfortunately, only a few persons who can speak English, especially for Japanese and Korean. One of my roommates is Japanese, and the other is Korean. The first day I moved into Reitaku, she said that they can't speak English well. Suddenly I know, the reason the come here is to learn and speak Chinese well. While, I can't speak Chinese at all. The only language that I can use here is English.

It's been hard at the beginning also to look for food. As we are not allowed to eat pork, and I can't speak Chinese. In the very beginning, it was confusing for me, which foodshop I would visit, since all are written in Chinese. And of course, they also have a little ability to speak English. That is why, it's important for me to take chinese course. At least for me to be able to say 我要沒有豬肉 (I want to buy food without pork). Haha. Struggle. Hard. Life. Is. Tough.

As I can't stay longer during the cold winter, there was a night when I was so freezing I just can't sleep. It was killing me. I can't help it myself, it was too cold for me, seriously. But my roommates are really kind. One of my roommates lend me her towel so that I could feel warmer. Luckily, this month winter is over! It turns to a sunny day. Yup, I welcome myself to the Spring Break in the beginning of March! Yeay! I don't need to layer my clothes again, and not suffer to that kind of freezing weather.

It's quite a short post. Hehe. Actually I want to share more about my stay in Taiwan. And, see you in my next post! It's probably gonna be about my Spring Break <3

DIY: Vintage Binder with Divider (Re-design Old Binder)

Halo, apa kabar? Akhirnya bisa kembali lagi menulis setelah lama rasanya tidak mengupdate blog ini. Kemarin, saya baru saja mendesain ulang blog ini, bagaimana nih menurut kalian tentang blog layout saya yang baru? Saya juga ingin menerbitkan artikel baru, tapi sepertinya belum ada ide sampai akhirnya saya ingat kalau belum membuat artikel tentang DIY binder ini.
Hei, how's it going? I finally can write again after quite a long time being away from this blog. Yesterday, I just re-designed my blog so you may notice a different layout in here. How is it? Do you like it? I also wanted to post something but I have no idea what to post until I remember that I haven't posted this DIY scrapbook yet.

Prologue: Don't Be Regret, You'll Earn It Even Better

It's been a hiatus for 2 months, gee where have I been? I'm almost forget that I have a blog the one I shared with. Do you guys asking why I left this blog too long? It's been a hectic at my campus, and my social life. I've been enjoying this season, good things come to me. I didn't thought that life is this easy without my close friends. For a prologue, I'm studying in International Relations, and taking international class program (IPIREL). I love all the international things, and my friends, they are also cool!
It's good to be here. Many chances we can take, especially to go abroad, to see the foreigners, be friends with them. I really want to do that since a long time. But, once I tried to enroll it last semester, I was rejected, even two times, and my friends were accepted. They both now leave me, and go to their destined country to take an Exchange Program for a semester. I was really upset of myself that time..
I imagined how can I live my life at campus without them, my close friends, though many good friends here but still they are not that close to me. Anyway, my life seems happier without them. Oh no, no, I mean, I can still adapt with the others, enjoy many things here. Interact better, adapt better. Laugh, kidding. I never imagined that way since I was the one that hard to easily adapt with other, and tend to always be in my comfort zone, always be with my close friends.
But now I can stand alone. I can do anything I want without surrounded by my close friends. This time I think that I am getting better, resolving my number one problem: can't stand alone. I feel like no one can let me down. It's the one that motivate me, to be the person that is better. It's me, myself that changes me.
It's yourself who will change you. After that, you will find it easier, your life. You don't have to desperately regret on your failure. Just focus on how you can face a life differently, and just relax. That's what I've done. I've never look back to my failure, I was happy that my friends got that chance, and I'm just regret how I can't do the same. They are great. But it's not that I have to give up. I never stop trying instead. Then I promised myself to not focus on my regret, but just to enjoy my life better, and the problem unconsciously will be solved.
This season, I got that chance even easier. I still can't believe that I've done that. Remember the word that Allah always hears your prayers, when you failed, He will change it with the better one and I believe that. Alhamdulillah for this. I feel this time is my best moment of life that I can solve a little problem that comes to me. So, for you who don't belive you can do or you've failed doing a thing, just don't be regret. Try to focus on making yourself better in any sides, not to focus to chase the things you want. Because if you only focus on that things, you will never change yourself to be the better one. Then, you might failed again :)

Freeport and The Environmental Issues

source: http://kulitinta.com/

Freeport McMoran or so called Freeport is the largest mining industry that has placed their mining production in some areas. It is a U.S. based industry which also placed their mining in Indonesia, precisely in Mimika, Papua. The mining industry is producing copper, gold, molybdenum, cobalt, oil and natural gas. Freeport is also the largest traded copper producer, the world’s largest producer of molybdenum and a significant gold, oil and natural gas producer. (Fcx.com, n.d.)

PT Freeport Indonesia is located in Mimika, Papua. PT Freeport Indonesia has placed their mining production in a remote area of Papua which has giving many benefits of mining production. There are many mining product such as gold and copper. As we know that Papua is reach with its natural resources, and it is that makes Freeport McMoran then placed their production in Papua.

The impact of Freeport

Freeport in Indonesia is often claimed as harmful. Since, it is considered as exploitation of Freeport to Indonesia. The shares of PT Freeport are up to 90.34%, it is a quite big amount of shares. Moreover, they are big company dealing with mining production. The fact is that Indonesia only gets 9.36% shares, and the royalty that Indonesia gets is only 1% (liputan6.com, 2012). It means, Indonesia only gets a little advantage of having PT Freeport in Papua, or it can be said, we don't have concrete benefits in this.

Moreover, PT Freeport Indonesia has the environmental issues, and it is the reason of why most of Indonesian hates Freeport (Fcx.com, n.d.). Although, Freeport has has monitoring the operation area in Mimika, there always been environmental issues in this mining production. Since, PT Freeport Indonesia has utilize geographic are in Mimika to find the natural resources. The mining production of Freeport is also considered as an abuse of environment, as we know that it happens in a remote area of Papua where there still many poverty.

Impact on Environment

The environmental issues of Freeport happens in many cases, such as deforestation, polution, acid rock drainage, and even flood. The Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) like WWF that also concerns in environmental issues has argued this issue regarded in many disadvantages of Freeport mine in Indonesia.

Deforestation

The mining production in Papua is indeed make deforestation, since to look for mining product, we have to search it deep into the earth layers. The deforestation that happens caused by PT Freeport Indonesia is quite huge. Moreover, Freeport is using open-pit mining techniques in which it causes significant deforestation and open the remote forest areas to transit settlers, land speculators, and small-scale miners (Mongabay.com, 2012).

Pollution

The mining production by Freeport also causes a chemical pollution that will endanger the forest environment. The chemical pollution comes from the tailing method that also used by Freeport and it disposes hazardous wastes to stream near to the production. Afterward, the wastes flow and reach the Arafuru coast with mangroves are planted there. It will also pollute the area around the beach, and the plants near by the beach.

Acid Rock Drainage

Acid rock drainage were caused by the copper which contains of metal sulfides. When the copper dug up, it crushed and will be exposed to air and water. It threaten to contaminate local water supplies in watesheds adjacent to Freeport operation (Wwf.panda.org, n.d.). Almost all of the rocks disposed by the mining are acid forming. Although those waste rocks have been disposed, there will still produce pollute. The acid from waste rocks have strong acid with pH = 3, and it's quite high for mining production. The higher acidity of waste rock also that makes acid rock drainage then come out.

U.S. response towards this case
Freeport is more beneficial for United States rather that Indonesia, although it is a private sector. However, Freeport still give a contribution to United States in terms of economy. As mentioned above that Freeport gives only 9.36% to Indonesia. The rests are for Freeport, and as Freeport is U.S. based industry, it is indeed that U.S. will take the benefits. It is one of the reasons that makes PT Freeport Indonesia want to extend the contract in Papua. It gives us understanding that U.S. government agreed to extend because the benefits that U.S. get are a lot.

Arguments
Indonesian government agreed to extend the contract without seeing how much the impact towards Indonesia, especially in the environmental issues. Also, Indonesia doesn't get any benefits of it. It is true that it will open the jobs demand in Papua. However, we can see there still many poverty happens around Mimika, Papua. Also, the waste rocks and pollution really gives bad impact to Papua. The thing is that, Papua is being exploited by Freeport by taking all the natural resources without giving many advantages to Papua, give a bad ecological footprint,  and damage the environment and the beauty of Papua, Indonesia.

Source:

• Fcx.com,. FCX_Freeport-McMoRan Inc. - Our Company, Who we Are. Retrieved 29 June 2015, from http://www.fcx.com/company/who.htm
• Hirsch, P., & Warren, C. (1998). The politics of environment in Southeast Asia. London: Routledge.
• Leith, D. (2003). The politics of power: Freeport in Suharto's Indonesia. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press.
• liputan6.com,. (2012). Bangsa Indonesia Harus Ambil Alih PT. Freeport. Retrieved 29 June 2015, from http://www.liputan6.com/read/429224/bangsa-indonesia-harus-ambil-alih-pt-freeport
• Mongabay.com,. (2012). Rainforest mining. Retrieved 29 June 2015, from http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0808.htm
• Ptfi.co.id,. PT Freeport Indonesia. Retrieved 29 June 2015, from http://ptfi.co.id/en/csr/freeport-in-environment/environmental-performance
• Sakai, M., Banks, G., & Walker, J. (2009). The politics of the periphery in Indonesia. Singapore: NUS Press.
• Thejakartapost.com,. (2006). Lawmakers confirm report of pollution at Freeport. Retrieved 29 June 2015, from http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2006/05/11/lawmakers-confirm-report-pollution-freeport.html
• Wwf.panda.org,. Freeport mine. Retrieved 29 June 2015, from http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/new_guinea_forests/problems_forests_new_guinea/mining_new_guinea/papua_freeport_mine/

Random Thoughts and Ramadhan Greeting

Hi!! Happy Ramadhan for all Muslims in the entire world! The holy month is starting again and let's do something more benefit to ourselves and people surrounding us.

This ramadhan is different for me since it's my first time have my first fasting day in my dorm. Yaa, it's my second year at college, but last year I have my Ramadhan surrounding by my family since the lectures had done and Ramadhan begins at the holiday. But this semester is not, I have to have Ramadhan in my dorm with the others until my exams done. However, it's not that bad, there are still friends who also live in dorm and do fasting without family. It's a new experience, tho. I enjoy this, but still, I wanna soon to go home.

BTW, my exam will begin next week for two weeks, and the assignments are waiting to be done. It's kinda busy week, not only for this week but since the first June, I feel like I have limited time, that's why I couldn't update my blog post often. But, indeed, it's fun! I'm not a typical busy person, and I didn't join any organization. But, join committee is indeed so fun! I have new friends, and new experiences of course, and without stick to a thing and have a responsibility for too long in a period.

To look for experiences, we don't have to join organization, but doesn't mean we become a passive student. When you stick into your passiveness or still hold onto your independence, what you'll get is nothing. So, even if you don't like to be a busy person or stick to an organization, join committee might be a good choice. I've just barely realized it since I join some committees, I feel almost no negative effect after this, instead I get lotsssa benefits.

So, since we're still young, experiences are good to fulfill our boring life, to live a better life and to get you more professional and get you more capable. Once again, happy fasting! This Ramadhan will be benefit and enjoyable if you say so.

One (Really) Fine Day

I'm about to share my trip on last April 3 and 4 with my college friends. We've decided to go camping....at the beach! I've wished it would be amazing cause I've never been going camping at the beach. We've planned a long time before it held, and it was actually been canceled but luckily, the trip was held.

So, here we go. Begin the story at afternoon, we started the trip on 3 p.m. planned to reach the sunset after we arrive and finished build a tend, but the time wasn't enough and we've arrived at 6, means that we couldn't see the sunset. Though we've disappointed, a bit, we still had so much fun there.

This was the nite atmosphere:

The blurry photo of us

We brought two tends, (actually) one for the girls, and the other for the boys, but some of us weren't sleep that nite

Wishing star falls for the second time

Meanwhile in the morning.....

We've got a little bit of sunrise. It's not the perfect one, but it's still quite good to enjoy our morning at this beach. Took took photos again. There was a little hill with some cottages there to see the beautiful Sadranan from above. The hill was full of cute plants, and corals, and some pine trees hiding behing the cottages.

A failed jumping pose

The side of the cottage

Sadranan from above

Us in full formation see the new hopes of other vacation! :p

Uh eh, I forgot to mention where it was. The beauty of Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, has attracted us too bad because it has amazing beaches to visit. and Sadranan beach is one of those. This was my first-ever trip to go camping on beach, and it was cool! I mean, I've got some new energies to recharge my almost-boring college day. LOL. So, wait up my another escape....prepare to watch lots photos again!

Close to Nature, A Trip to Kalibiru And Glagah Beach

It's been so hectic, so many things to do. Semester 3 was a hectic semester and I always really need holiday holiday and holiday, though almost once every week I spend my day with my friends to go somewhere to refresh my brain. But it's not enough since the assignment always coming. The fact that I can not update any post here, and my project wasn't done too, make me ask myself "could I finish those all on time?" and even I couldn't answer it myself.
It's been almost a month since I promise you to post my vacation report, and here it is now. Sorry for postponing it so long, but surely if you know where I was with my friends, you're gonna envy me! Hahaha.
It's been around a month ago, on September 29th, I was experiencing a touring (well, actually my life in a college is freer than before. I never went touring before I go to college, so pity, right?) with my friends. It's not really the first thing since I've ever went touring to Boko in semester 2 and I always go home with my motorbike (it's such a touring also, I think hahaha).
The place is still in Yogyakarta, precisely in Kulon Progo. I went to two different places, a hill and a beach! Yea well finally I go to beach again after a long time haha. The first place we visited is Kalibiru. When I went there, I feel so amazed, you know the scenery........was great.

We can see the beautiful Sermo Lake from the top and I can take a photo in a flying fox stop but trust me, it's scaryyy. I'm a height phobia actually. I was going to there only a while, because I'm afraid, I imagined something like i would fall, however in fact it's impossible.
It's not only being treated by a beautiful scenery of Sermo from the top, when we go down through the downstairs, it's been like a fall season in Indonesia has come! Really, it seems like fall. Leaves are fall down, made itself as some bunches of leaves that fall..

What so beautiful isn't that? I couln't stop capture any spot there, and if I could, I should do much photo session there with a suitable clothes there. But, I think it's much enough for me to do such a photo session. Luckily, I wore a bit stylish clothes so it doesn't make a photo session really fall.

The next place is Glagah beach. You've ever heard about it? I'm sure you don't, and I'm also. I think it's not in one of the beautiful beach in Yogyakarta's beach list. But don't think that Glagah is not as beautiful as other beaches. You can see here....

 It's not quite wide, it's a small beach. What I love about the beach is those concrete which can withstand the waves. It makes the beach looks so brave since it can handle the waves. But the waves still look so strong to fight against the concretes. And I feel like I want to go there again to see the sky and the bright sun which can burn my skin and I'm still in love with the beach.

I always prefer to go travel and to close to nature rather than just go to the mall, looking for nothing and didn't find anything. By visiting the nature, we can realize that we also should keep it. Sure, human needs nature to fulfill their needs. However in this global life, the more we exploit nature, the more nature will try to kill you.