Hello
everyone, my name is Yeni Khairina, some people call me Yeni, Mak Yeni, or
Jenny (using the red scarf in the first picture was me) :3. I am from Bogor Agricultural University (Microbiology Major). I join
the long term PARE program for 6 months until March 2015.
It
is the first experience for me to visit Japan. So many people ask me about “how
it feels to live at Japan? Did you really enjoy it?” then I just give the short
answer "hey…it’s AWESOME". About experiences…hem…..too much till I
can’t tell here one by one. Maybe for
the first time there is a little bit culture shock with the lifestyle here
where the people is really discipline (well…. I am not really good with that)
and appreciate about the time, but yeah…it doesn’t matter at all, now it
actually gives a really positive impact for changing my bad habit. I remember
that the aim of this program is to foster our ability of cultural understanding
among the diverse cultures. And yeah….that’s totally true…... a greater sense
of love grows towards my own culture as well as the other culture through this
program. Along this months, I have joined some cultural festival where many
countries proudly showed and performed their respective cultures (Ishikari
festival and HUISA). For example in Ishikasri Festival, I have an opportunity
to try traditional dress like Kimono (with a long part of sleeves, if I am not
wrong they said it is for the woman before married), Ao dai (from vietnam), and
traditional dress from Cameeroon. In addition, I also enjoyed a very fabulous
performance from another country like how to make mochi, barongsai, japanes
traditional games, face painting, dance performance, and many others. But, the
most memorable part (now I am crying) is having a chance to introduce my own
culture. In that time, we played Angklung and cook some Indonesian food (Nasi
Goreng). Hem…Honestly, I was very nervous because it was my first time to play
that traditional Instrument. I felt that my hand become so stiff and trembling due
to many eyes looking on us. But then, I started to think that “hem….ok just
enjoy it! Good or bad are not the point now! Have fun and keep smile while you still have teeth”
then Voi-laa....big applause for our performance especially when we try to play
sukiyaki song with angklung. I was very happy no…we were very happy, and
Indonesia also very happy that many people appreciate our culture as well as we
appreciate the other culture. I really grateful that there are so many kind of
cultural events held especially in Hokkaido because it really gives us the
chance to introduce our culture while learn about the other culture as well.
OWESOME J