BAYU SON , Jakarta
" CAN we start now ( can we start now ) ? " The sentence was uttered several times Ballroom show host in Surya , Arya Duta Hotel , Jakarta , Saturday ( 31/8 ) . What power , politely call it , apparently , was not able to create a scholarship program Darmasiswa 566 participants who were enjoying coffee break move .
After a delay of 15 minutes , the event reader back in action . This time he changed the sentence calls . " We will start the workshop now . Please back to your seats ( We immediately begin . Please return to your seat ) , " he said . Sure enough , the participants then left the coffee break and prepare for the event .
Scholarship is a scholarship program for young men from countries that have diplomatic relations with Indonesia . Program in collaboration the Ministry of Education and Culture ( Kemendikbud ) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( Foreign Ministry ) that entered the 40th . Participants this year reached 566 people from 77 countries . Subsequently , they were distributed to 46 universities in Indonesia for six months to a year .
Several countries sent participants with large numbers. Call it the Japanese who send 47 participants . There is also the United States ( 25 ) , China ( 40 ) , Hungary ( 42 ) , South Korea ( 25 ) , and Poland ( 40 ) . To neighboring countries in the ASEAN region , Thailand and Vietnam to send the most participants , respectively 40 and 20 people .
The day they got a briefing about intercultural relationships with Farida Rachman Agoes IRID speaker from the University of Indonesia ( UI ) . When the initial exposure , then the participants understand why host using interrogative sentence .
IRID explained , although suggestive question , the sentence is actually a call for participants for the event can begin on time . However , because it is not accustomed to such calls sentence , most participants ignored .
For more than an hour IRID explain a number of manners and ethics prevailing in Indonesian society . One was about the pep talk . If you ride public transportation , the passenger in the seat next will definitely ask about the objectives , age , income and even work up without invites acquainted . " Never say " It " s not your business" ( Do not ever answer , It's none of your business ) , " he said .
The participants were stunned . Some were mumbling and asked a friend in astonishment to the next . IRID explained , such questions are common in Indonesia and does not intend to want to know . " They just asked , then forget it , " he greeted the participants with a nod boisterous .
Which is no less exciting is the basic introduction session Indonesian . Although agreed that Indonesian is easy to learn and is pronounced , inevitably they had confused the number of vocabulary which has a similar meaning .
Zoe McLaughlin , participants from the U.S. , standing as he raised his hand . " Could be an example of when and to whom we are using the word " you " and " your " ? " he told Wenny Oktavia , speaker of the Language Center .
Wenny explains , the word "you" is used to close friends or someone younger . However , to those people , the word " you " can also be used . He also explains the frequent use of a word which means the opposite if it is written in English .
Indonesian lessons followed with enthusiasm by the participants . Including when they are taught to spell the letters in the alphabet Indonesia. Like a kid who was just learning to read , spell them together one by one the letters A through Z. The participants were more excited after being told that they could speak the Indonesian language in 100 hours or less if you mean it .
At that session , some participants were seated in the back row seemed to be asleep . There were a few empty seats at the same time utilize to lie . They had jetlag after a long journey . Moreover , a number of new participants arrived a few hours before the event .
The orientation aims to introduce all things about Indonesia . Not just a matter of manners and language , but also culture and other things . One important thing is the food . Since the beginning of the orientation , the participants familiarized eating Indonesian cuisine .
Over lunch , they were treated to rice , fried rice noodles , tofu soup , meat seasoning sauce , and certainly not lagging sauce and prawn crackers . The dinner menu is lodeh tempeh . Initially , the participants hesitated to take lodeh the shape and scent to them strange . However , once taste it, some of them smiling as he pointed out the food on the plate .
Surprise for the participants continued to dominated the opening ceremony entertainment . Committee presents music by Saung Angklung bamboo Udjo . The participants carried away and sang a number of hit songs .
Each participant had a mission when Darmasiswa scholarship program . Participants from Mexico Sara Alicia De Los Cobos Garcia claimed curious Javanese dance . According to him , the Javanese dance like a dance in his native land . Therefore, Sara chose Dance majors Indonesian Arts Institute ( ISI ) in Surakarta applications submitted .
" I want to learn the new style of dance ( I want to learn a new dance technique ) , " he said .
Well , when returning to the country for another year , he promised to introduce Javanese dance movements with typical dances of Mexico. Female 27 years old was hoping there was a more active cultural exchange between Indonesia and Mexico .
Another case with Muhammad Zubaui Ogier , participants from South Africa ( Africa) . He was placed in the Department of Art Craft Indonesian Arts Institute ( ISI ) Denpasar , Bali . However , he had more expectations . " I also want to learn the art of painting , photography , and more . Could ? " she said .
Zubaui said , education for themselves is something that is expensive . Therefore, once informed of the scholarship program in Indonesia , he is working to help . The reason , the cost of living in Indonesia is cheap . Moreover , he considered art in Bali has characteristics that are not owned by other countries .
The enthusiasm of the participants made the Chairman of the Task Force Darmasiswa RI Pangesti Wiedarti shocked . Understandably , in the scholarship program , the participants will be directed to the field of science .
He said , the enthusiasm of the participants was extremely large . In fact, the true cost to Indonesia is not cheap for most participants . Although labeled a scholarship , the committee does not provide accommodation when leaving and returning to their home countries . " So , they save to get in here , " he explained .
Indonesian and art became major favorite of participants . A small portion of them also want to explore the health sciences , engineering , to study Islam . Outside the majors chosen , they will also learn about the culture of Indonesia. After graduation , they will promote Indonesia in their respective countries .
From the experience of previous years , there was always a reluctant participant home despite her study period is up . They choose to extend the visa for the next scholarship . Some are deciding to work or even married to an Indonesian .
Pangesti asserted , Darmasiswa scholarship program is very effective to introduce Indonesia . Especially for those countries where people are not so familiar with the archipelago . Even more importantly , the program proved that the quality of education in Indonesia is not swamped by other countries . ( * / c5/ca )
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