What do you guys think
about studying abroad?
Is it fascinating?
Luxurious? Challenging? Expensive?
It could be all of the
adjectives above. I personally think that studying abroad would also give you
broad knowledge about the world. That's why when my friend told me The Japan
Foundation would hold a seminar of Japanese education, I was very excited to
come. Despite my major, Psychology is not very developed in Japan (looking for
Psychology course or scholarship in Japanese university is like ordering a rendang
in French bakery, no kidding) I decided to come anyway. The seminar was on
Saturday, April 19th 2014 and strangely I got free time. I and a
friend went to The Japan Foundation at Summitmas Building in Sudirman, Jakarta.
After a silly detour by train, more than 10 Transjakarta shelters
and a long walk, we arrived safely at the Summitmas Building. Not many people were
around, probably because it’s Saturday. We greeted the receptionist and they
gave us a sticky label to be used as an ID. We were 30 minutes late so the
first speaker was already on her first half of presentation. She was from
JASSO, a scholarship foundation for foreign students and just like the purpose
of the foundation, she explained scholarship mechanism. Second speaker told the
audience about living expenses and some sponsors messages, and then followed by
presentation from to Japanese private universities, the APU and Tokyo
Metropolitan University.
While listening to the speakers, I saw interesting phenomenon. There
were many parents in that seminar. Even parents were dominating the Q & A session.
I was wondering, where were their kids? Were the kids busy preparing stuff for
National Exam so their parents storming the seminar for them? Why not looking
for the information by themselves? I might be wrong, but I couldn’t help myself
from picturing spoiled brats in my mind..Perhaps they really didn’t have time
back then, OR they did are brats so that’s why their parents sent them abroad.
Second interesting stuff was the goodie bags. The goodie bags weren’t
that attractive, but they were heavy. Each bag contained a bunch of brochures,
printed full color in high quality paper. How much money was spent on that?
Clearly they put a big hope in it, as one potential student’s tuition should be
able to cover all expenses for the goodie bags. I also amazed by their aggresivity to promote outside of Japan. Especially APU, with their selling point in multinationality atmosphere (that means they promote the college all around the world)
The ultimate disturbance swarmed my mind was the reality that
Indonesia had become a sexy market (again!) for foreign private education
institutions. The trend was similar to other imported goods like clothing,
shoes, or cosmetics. Many Indonesians love something foreign, including
education. It’s understandable if someone prefer foreign stuff or education for
the quality, but its shameful while studying abroad is only used to look cool. “As
long as it’s foreign, then it’s good!”
So do I against studying abroad now?
Not really. As I mentioned waaay above, studying abroad is a
perfect way to see what other countries have done in many fields. It could help
pampered kids to be more independent, and make the nationalism grows stronger. Indonesia
needs high quality young generations and studying abroad could provide those young’uns
great education. I personally would love to go abroad as well if I have chance.
But honestly, it’s painful seeing Indonesia only becomes a market for other
countries to sell things, including the education. I remembered one of my
lecturer said Indonesia’s economy is built from consumerism and it’s not good
since we’re very dependent to foreigners.
So, after done “stealing” abroad, don’t be a “peanut that forget
its shell”. Share that valuable wisdom to others in Indonesia. Perhaps one of us
is a future pioneer of Indonesia’s education revolution. Changing Indonesia
from a mere market to a destination for foreign students quench their thirst of
knowledge. Or maybe a pioneer in different field, who knows?
And we left the seminar earlier since we got bored haha. Good luck
for those who’ll start their life abroad this fall semester J I bet none of you guys would read this note, but I hope deep inside each one of you somehow the same message is already planted.
