tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:03:36 +0000The story about Indonesian girl who stranded in a far away country named Germany.http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (asti)Blogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-7182768369239500940Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:34:00 +00002009-12-09T02:45:51.437-08:00DepartureNow I am back in my home country Indonesia. I am glad that I am home, especially when Germany starting to get cold again. However, I feel extremely sad to leave Germany. I feel part of me is missing. I miss my lovely friends, my cozy room, my walk at Botanical Garden, my daydreaming time in a tram, my football watching and playing time, my, my, my… In short, I miss my life in Bremen.Maybe I have http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/12/epilogue.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-862719786503131922Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:24:00 +00002009-11-14T18:41:37.548-08:00DepartureMy visa for living in Germany is ended on September 30th 2009. Here are some things that I should and prefer to do before ending my incredible journey in Germany.Reason to go homeAs a German graduate, I am entitled to extend my visa for a year for seeking a job in Germany. Although this is a very interesting offer, however I have to consider it carefully especially I won’t have any income http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/11/things-to-do-before-going-home.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-7771605307756348096Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:37:00 +00002009-10-27T19:45:28.994-07:00Studying in GermanyAfter having a graduation ceremony, the real party is begun. Me and my classmates enjoy our night starting with dinner in a fancy sushi restaurant. We eat and chat there until around 11PM.After that, our journey of bar hopping is started. We go from one bar to another to experience the atmospheres. Unfortunately, it is Wednesday; so not many bars are open after midnight.But as people say “Third http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/10/graduation-madness_27.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-6808918552883249324Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:23:00 +00002009-10-27T19:35:16.254-07:00Other Cities in GermanyThis is my last traveling in Germany before I fly back to my country. With a very limited time, I can’t travel far. I have to choose one city nearby Bremen where I can visit it without staying. The option is going to a city that I haven’t visited before or; a city that I have visited before but to a place that I haven’t visited. In the end, I choose to go to a city that I haven’t visited http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/10/lubeck.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-3469658577347155961Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:23:00 +00002009-10-21T22:26:17.470-07:00Studying in GermanyActually it’s not common to have graduation ceremony in Germany, but since majority of my class is foreigners, having graduation ceremony is necessary. With a ceremony, we will leave Germany with nice memories; beside, the ceremony also acts as a farewell party. It’s nice to see most of the classmates in one place again before we all get separated.The ceremony is far from formal. It opens with a http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/10/graduation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-7110845731726895201Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:08:00 +00002009-10-21T22:13:53.374-07:00ReligionOK, the title is too long, I admit. But don’t worry, I’ll explain it.Idul Fitri is the celebration after the fasting month or Ramadan is over. When I came to Germany in 2007, I have my fasting month in Germany so does the Idul Fitri. However, the Idul Fitri day is on the weekdays which means normal class day in Germany. So, I couldn’t celebrate it as I used to have in Indonesia.It was a funny http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-first-hopefully-not-only-real-idul.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-4841121874564875251Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +00002009-10-21T22:07:47.976-07:00EventShoppingBremenA week after my first experience in opening a stall in flohmarkt, I try my luck again. It’s still on the same place, the Wesser River. This time, the weather is totally different from the previous week. It’s a bright sunny day.I start very early from my place. At a tram stop, I see two Chinese girls with big suitcases. They take the same tram with me. When the tram stops at the central station, http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/10/flohmarkt-part-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-5348673393332506408Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:58:00 +00002009-10-21T22:00:07.869-07:00Studying in GermanyThis is the last step of my Master study. After completing the writing of the thesis, I have to present it and defend everything that I have written.The deadline submission for the thesis is August 17th; in this time, all theses are handed to the supervisors and/or examiners. Then, starting September 8th the thesis defense period is started.As agreed with my supervisors, I got a date on Septemberhttp://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/10/thesis-defense.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-8373234609950448890Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:14:00 +00002009-09-10T14:36:37.018-07:00EventShoppingBremenToward my departure from Germany, I have to sort my stuffs. Which stuffs that I will bring home and which stuffs that I should leave. I will leave all my household stuffs like the plates, glasses, cooking utensils, clothes hangers, bed sheets, etc. These stuffs will go to a new Indonesian guy who will study at the same program like me starting this year. But there are stuffs that I can’t http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/09/flohmarkt.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-2881583503976166235Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:27:00 +00002009-08-25T08:42:52.542-07:00Traveling in GermanyI found a new way of traveling and meeting people, it’s called Couch Surfing. This is a community where people volunteer for hosting travelers. Of course these people are also travelers, so when they travel [hopefully] they can be hosted.I know this community from a friend of mine and I realized this community is mentioned in the Lonely Planet guidebook. But the reason to join this, in the http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/08/couch-surfing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-1602706900106189903Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:27:00 +00002009-10-21T22:21:20.096-07:00ReligionThis year I am experiencing the fasting month in Germany. My first one was in 2007 when I just came to Germany. At that time, I had the fasting month during my language class and the beginning of my study.Last year, I had the fasting month in Indonesia because I had to do my research. Surely it is nicer to have it home as the environment is very favorable. Most people are fasting so you won’t http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-2nd-ramadan.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-5804336964208321959Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:26:00 +00002009-08-21T12:54:45.175-07:00Studying in GermanyAfter we (me and my classmates) submitted our thesis on the deadline day, we are having a party. This is to celebrate our freedom. Finally, we are free from reading numerous literatures, comparing and analyzing our data to literatures, and being confused by supervisors’ inputs. Furthermore, we were always together in our first year of study, but then we went separate ways in the second year.http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/08/after-thesis-submission-party.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-6265175557568403455Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:23:00 +00002009-08-19T13:28:16.843-07:00Studying in GermanyFinally… I have finished writing my thesis and have submitted it! Pheew… what a relieve! I have started my writing from May; and although I have finished my first draft on mid-June but still I have to revise many things. Even 2 days before the deadline, I still received a last-minute correction from 1 of my supervisors. I have 3 supervisors; while normally there’re only 2. In the beginning http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/08/thesis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-1177390963898322306Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:44:00 +00002009-07-11T08:42:04.142-07:00EuropeI have a chance to visit Holland again. This time is not for holiday; it’s for participating in an Indonesian Students Conference in Den Haag and a social visit: visiting my aunt and uncle in Enschede. Den Haag (2 – 5 July 2009) I visit Den Haag for participating in a conference. Actually, I wasn’t aware about the conference; I participate just as a favor to my friend.Here’s the story…Few http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/07/holland-revisited-time-of-visit-2-8.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-2635616075503394383Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:53:00 +00002009-07-01T09:03:50.753-07:00EventAgain, there’s an event organized by Indonesian students in Bremen. It’s called Indonesian Day. In this event, the Indonesians try to introduce the culture of Indonesia through performances and bazaar.Traditional dances, songs, wayang puppet show, angklung music are performed; while pictures, traditional toys, and foods of Indonesia are part of the bazaar. In my opinion, this event is very http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/07/indonesian-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-6899885311361795063Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:35:00 +00002009-06-24T14:49:09.364-07:00EuropeItaly! Who doesn’t know it?! It’s an interesting country with many historical places and good foods. And for me, Italy also means football, one of my cultural passions. OK, that might sound silly. But anyway, Italy is surely a-must-to-visit for travelers.Purpose of visitAfter only dreaming for years, finally I get my chance to go to Italy. I have decided myself from the beginning of New Year thathttp://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/06/surviving-italy-time-of-visit-12-19.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-6503825410331529509Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:56:00 +00002009-06-01T04:24:41.762-07:00FootballFinally….!!! My dream comes true…. Mission accomplished!I got a chance to experience the city party due to football. As a football mania; I grew up watching this kind of celebration on TV. I watched how the football heroes were welcomed with huge party all over the city. And since I never had any experience of that, I really want to know how it feels. (Well if you wonder why I never had the http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/06/german-league-cup.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-206211620287863168Thu, 21 May 2009 12:52:00 +00002009-05-21T05:53:31.176-07:00FootballIn May 20th, Werder Bremen plays for UEFA Cup final against Shaktar Donetsk from Ukraine.I am so excited with this; because if Werder wins, then I’ll have a chance to experience having a whole-city-party due to football. I have missed that chance last year when Germany lost against Spain in European Cup final.To watch the final, me and my friend went to a well known club called Largehaus; where http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/05/hooligans-lesson-learned.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-7265342726437065098Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:13:00 +00002009-04-28T09:21:06.056-07:00Concert After being a very successful in organizing Slank concert my friend decided to organize another concert. Maybe he will become famous concert organizer in Indonesia someday. He organized one for New Year’s party but at that time I was in Indonesia.This time, he organizes a rock festival called Indorock Festival. Indonesian bands from all over Germany are invited to compete here in Bremen. The http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/04/indorock-festival.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-8690094354957737787Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:24:00 +00002009-04-24T01:28:40.818-07:00FootballFor all my life, I never got any autograph from any International Star. Never! You name it, movie stars, football stars, politicians… Never!Okay I may sound exaggerating because I got Werder Bremen players autograph during Werder Bremen Fans Day; but this time it’s more special.Remember Ivana? The Brazilian girl who work as publicist for Portuguese-speaking footballers; and found me through this http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/04/autograph-from-international-football.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-7402100778326143996Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:55:00 +00002009-04-11T05:07:58.125-07:00FootballTicket PossessionThis year Werder Bremen doesn’t do good in Bundesliga; they’re stuck in the middle position somehow. But the good thing, they can compensate it in Europe league; they reach quarter final of UEFA Cup.For this game, they will face Udinese from Italia. I see the posters of the game, a week before the game, all around the city. I would like to watch it in stadium, since I never see http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/04/werder-bremen-vs-udinese.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-978086502486101081Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:18:00 +00002009-04-09T02:23:23.292-07:00AdministrationHome CountryToday, April 9th is an election day in Indonesia. This is the first step in the whole election fiesta, voting for our representatives in parliament. And since I live abroad now, I have to vote from abroad; which will be my first time.Since last week, I got my voting paper by mail. This is an advantage for me because then I can investigate all candidates; well at least from internet. And another http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/04/parliament-election.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-826609667488704808Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:42:00 +00002009-04-04T04:49:49.386-07:00F and BIn Indonesia, I am so crazy with full cream milk. This milk isn’t for drinking as it is; but it’s a part of mixture with others. For example, avocado juice in Indonesia means you have blended avocado with chocolate full cream milk as a topping. Also, there’s a drink called ‘Happy Soda’ which is a mixture of soda water and white full cream milk. I am also love to mix my own drink; like ginger tea http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/04/full-cream-milk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-5918544213530509090Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:04:00 +00002009-04-03T10:08:40.346-07:00BankWeatherOne day after I arrived in Bremen, I go shopping. It’s necessary because I don’t have any food or basic toiletries stuffs. Beside, it’s Saturday; if I don’t go shopping this day then I’ll be suffer the whole weekend as normally stores are closed in Sunday.Anyway, so I go to the nearby supermarket and buy a lot of stuffs. Usually I pay my stuffs with ATM card. So this day I do the same, I give my http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/04/frigid-atm-card.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1821210960354306089.post-1853763438807767122Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:13:00 +00002009-03-31T12:27:24.706-07:00WeatherOf course the temperature is the most important to adjust. But there’re also other effects that should be aware.First, the clothes. I have to readjust myself in wearing layers of thick clothes which is heavy and tiring. Forget skirts and short pants. I just hope that I’ll be lucky enough to wear them sometime…Second, the skin. The humidity is low so the skin is getting dry easily. I am so amazed http://surviving-germany.blogspot.com/2009/03/weather-readjustment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (asti)1