After Happy Friday NIght...

Ehm.....What would I say??
I joined the Happy Friday Night, that what the called it. It is on Friday Night where all the student in ICID gather and listen to another student progress report and have Pizza. Last Friday was PhD student's turn. As the first year student we don't have to present that night. So, I just came for Pizza and listened to the 2nd and 3rd year student presentation. It gave some idea what kind of projects or researches are those PhD student are doing. I enjoyed it, especially the pizza...hehehehe...

Speaking about research, we have to find our own interest. It kinds a weird from the first time, finding out what is this department and what do they expect from us. I told my adviser that I need to discuss my research topic so I can start to read some material related to my topic.
Finally, I got my research topic. It's about Service Design. It's something new to me and even in the design studies. So, it requires me to read more and more....

I believe that as God sent me here, He will guide me and lead me to the victory....

"Be a History Maker in HIS Story"

See You Again....

Today, all of the offices and schools are closed due to the Jangmi Typhoon in Taiwan since Saturday. Its many things happened since last time I wrote this blog.

I have Tainan City tour last Sept 20. It was fun because I met some of Indonesian friends as well others from different countries. In my class last week I decided to add 1 course so I have 10 credits for this semester. Its quite confuse though because I don't have any clear "requirements" to complete my PhD here. All the instructions are in Chinese. So, I have difficulty to understand it. Even, some of them are translated into English but still there are some different interpretation for some words. Over all, I doing fine in my class.

I also started my Chinese class. It is a beginner class. We were about 11 in the class and all are men. Wonderful...thanks we have woman teacher. Its fun because we learned the Chinese tones and we enjoy the class.

Dinner with Seniors

I had a welcome dinner with my seniors in ICID last night. Its a tradition for the 2nd year students to welcome freshmen for a dinner. This year, we are 6 freshmen in ICID; 3 foreigners and 3 local Taiwanese students. We went to Korean Restaurant near NCKU.

From the left side: Angela(Taiwanese); Yong, Taedon(Korean); me and Thomas(USA), all of us are freshmen.
At the right side: Sunny(Taiwanese 2nd year); Joe(Taiwanese 3rd year); Wednesday(Taiwanese 2nd year) and Ezra(Indonesian 2nd year).

We had a wonderful moment. I get to know my class mate and seniors. Among the foreigner students. I am the only one who can not speak in Mandarin. Taedon has been staying here quite long time, he finished his master here with Mandarin as instructions. Thomas a Taiwanese born American, his mother is Taiwanese. He was born here and raised in the US, he finished his master in Taiwan using Mandarin as language instructor. So, it means that I am the only foreigner who came here with "zero" knowledge of Mandarin. Anyway, I have enrolled in "Free Chinese Class" provided by the University and I will start my class next week.

The advantage for me is Thomas kept on translating the conversation to English, so I can follow what they are saying about. We talk about our background and why we are here in ICID. It's nice to get to know all of them. All the PhD students in ICID are around 13 students and only 4 foreign students.

ICID is the next adventure and I have to finish this race on time so I can move to the next level.

Two days of NCKU Orientation

I have attended the two days freshman orientation at NCKU. It's good experience. I met other new students from Indonesia and get acquaintance with students from other countries as well. The first day of orientation its about Library and Campus tour. It's amazing to now that the Campus library has established for over seven decades and it has a lot of collections in it. It also has media center room and many discussion rooms can be used for study. Overall it's wonderful to have such library.

The campus tour led me to the heritage of the campus. NCKU was established in 1931 by Japanese Government. That's why the earliest Presidents were Japanese also. It's considered as second top University in Taiwan and has been granted a quite big amount of Government fund. As of now, NCKU has around six hundred Intenrnational Students come from sixty different countries.

I just want to praise God for leading me to this place and study in NCKU. I never imagine that before and never dream about it. One thing that I know is to follow God's will and be obedient servant.

Join me in prayer for God's will in our life as we stay in Tainan and I finish my program as soon as posible. We can not stay too long here because as it is written:

於是對門徒說：「要收的莊稼多，做工的人少。Matt. 9:37

Registration Day at NCKU

Today Sept 8, 2008 is the day of registration at NCKU. I went to the school early morning at 8am. Its too early for people here, in fact they start around 9am. So, I was the first International student who registered today...Not bad..at least I can prove that I am a good student. hehehehe...

I passed through several steps then I went to my department ICID. Someone assisted me and picked me up. I enroll in four courses this semester. Although I do not have any clear idea about the subject but they said that do not enroll too many because it will kill you...I think they probably right in fact I am in PhD program now...I need more time to work on research.

I finished my registration at 11 am..it's fast, isnt it?? So. I went home after that because I know Eva is waiting for me. I will come back on Wednesday to join the camous tour and freshmen orientation.

Lord, thank you for allowing me to continue study and I pray that You help me in my study so I can finish it on time....

"敬畏耶和華是知識的開端；愚妄人藐視智慧和訓誨" Proverbs 1:7