Unity in Diversity

Hay, it's been a long time since the last post ya. Recently I re-read my old post and I just found out I still haven't finished my Shanghai post. Lol.. Will update it soon maybe. The last post of Shanghai was on 2013 btw, lols. Well, today I just suddenly feeling in mood in writing and I have several topics on my mind right now, but since it's 10 pm now and I should have a task to do tomorrow morning, I decide to just write down one post on today. 

Today's post is about unity in diversity. I had a lesson discussed about this topic on my first year in university, and I didn't feel something special on this topic. People says we should experience first to get the feeling, so do I. Last week when I went home from my office by public transportation, there was something a bit irritating happened. I went home by KWK (the red small car, not the big bus). Since it is a small car, there's no buskers or beggars there. So I just sat there on my way home as usual and the traffic lights was red. Suddenly a mid-age man came in and sat there. When I recognized him as a beggars, I though he just want to sang any song or begged, but what he was doing was sat there and was talking (I forget what the exact he said, but he said something like..), "Please give me a money. I'm here is just begging, at least I don't do any criminality. You are Chinese don't only know how to colonize Indonesia. U stay here, and it's not your country." Then when finally only one people who gave him money, he went out from the car after mumbling that Chinese are stingy and something I didn't hear too clear. 

Well, I felt nothing on the moment actually, because it wasn't my first time listened something like that. But his words was just repeating on my mind and I felt a bit mad. Coincidentally all of the passengers are Chinese and there were only 2 Indonesian. Maybe that's why the man said something irritating to us. But he really doesn't have any right to blaming at us and says that stupid words.

I don't know what happened in the past between Indonesian and Chinese. I just know Chinese were being persecuted on 1998. The motive of doing these cruelty I also have no idea. But it just the past. I know we all (both Indonesian and Chinese) are still do some discrimination. But here we are, we both are just one package. We live together for century, together built this country be better. No us (Chinese), I don't know what happen to Indonesia actually. And they just do racism to Chinese! However Portuguese, Dutchman, Japanese colonized Indonesia longer than China (hey, had China colonized Indonesia, btw? I didn't study the history well), and they ADORE these Japanese, Portuguese, bla bla bla-man. Wtf! 

Beside all, I remember one thing that very memorable during my summer course to Shanghai. As I told on my previous posts, I met with new friends from all countries. We spent time together, having lunch and dinner together, traveling the city till night, playing together. Our group was consist by Indonesian, Spaniard, Korean, African, and Chinese. We come from all different countries with all different cultures and languages. Once, we all were on the MRT, and we're talking and joking very fun. I saw other local people were watching at us curiously, and we didn't care. We were really enjoying our time, and all the differences are not a matter at all.

Surprisingly, we even played the same childhood game! I can't describe the game because it has no name. But I always thinking only Indonesian who know these games, but they DO know and we played it together, recalling the best time of our childhood memories, and if u want to know how was I feel, i felt VERY AMAZING. For sure, I stopped and looked around all my new friends, seeing they were laughing, telling a silly jokes, spending quality times, didn't care with all differences lie between us, it so PRICELESS.

Trying to have we-fie without any narcissistic stick

We can blending and mingled with all people we just met. Why Indonesian and Chinese who had already lived together for years still can't get this unity in diversity spirit? I'm looking for this happen yah. :)

Shanghai post #3: Good Places to be Visited in Shanghai #1

After spend 6 weeks in Shanghai, I recommend you some places u should go when u come to Shanghai. But I easily forget place's name, I wish I can do my best to remembering the name of the good places I wanna mention here. Hahaha..So here is the list of places u SHOULD go when u in Shanghai:

1. 外滩 Wai Tan, The Bund

People say this is the symbol of Shanghai. The view is so great with the skyscrapers and European architecture on the both side. Blue sky and the lake just make the view excellent. I went both in day and night and I can't describe how beautiful it was, so I don't know which is more beautiful in day or night. You should try both because the view is just totally different between day and night. You can take a public boat to explore the beautiful lake about 5 minutes. It cost very cheap, I forget but i think only around 3-5 RMB. U can see the beautiful boats, beautiful buildings with beautiful lights. Perfect!

The Bund in the day

The Bund in the day. Fall in love with the blue sky and colourful umbrella

The Bund in Night

The Bund in Night

 2. 南京东路  Nanjing East  Road
The main road that located almost in the center of Shanghai is one of the never sleep area in Shanghai, Nanjing Road. Nanjing Road divided as Nanjing East and West Road, and my favorite and I know everybody agree with me is Nanjing East Road. Nanjing East Road block any vehicle to cross around. It looks so sophisticated and also beautiful. It also sells some local foods or snacks. This is a real Shopping World! and as other places in China, I found out a group of people are dancing, playing a music, etc. Feel so fun yet romantic.

Me and Jess

I love the red roses there.. So beautiful

Nanjing East Road in day

3. 田子坊 Tian Zi Fang
The other beautiful place in Shanghai that u really should to come. This is a small beautiful alley that I will never realize its existence if my friend didn't invite me to come to, Lol. However it is very famous and attract many foreigners. It has a lot of cafes and (maybe) a delicious foods. Yeah I didn't get the chance to try anything in here coz I always came too late. P.s. the foods here maybe a bit expensive.

Tian Zi Fang in night

Tian Zi Fang in the day. (I had never gone here in the day. I find this beautiful photo in Google and share it. Never know that Tian Zi Fang has a great view although it is a bright day)

Lucky me, I still had a chance to taste the famous of "Modern Toilet" in here. This is an ice cream restaurant that has an unique design. They make it as a toilet! U can see all the decorations are closet and also for the ice cream and cute merchandise.

Yah, as u see above, the ice cream is looks like shit. My Spaniard friend said, "This restaurant won't get any customer in Spain. They do believe u are what u eat. U eat shit, that's mean u are..... *evil laugh*". Well, at least we forced him to get a try and he said the taste is ok, but still, he doesn't want to eat it. Btw the ice cream is Haagen Dazc. Hahaha..

Me and Friends

 4. 豫园 Yu Yuan
Oh men too much beautiful places in Shanghai that u should visit. Maybe u got tired to read "u should come" in all numbers, but really, u should come this place too! Hahaha.. U'll find a lot of chinese merchandise here and taste some of delicious foods. There is a dumpling shop (i forget the name), but it is really really famous. U didn't need to know the brand, just look where is the longest queue in Yu yuan near the bridge, and u will know what they are waiting for. Yu yuan sells a lot of cute stuffs but u really need have a negotiation skill. If u wanna buy a panda chain, they open about 15 RMB, and u can ask them for 5 RMB/each. Beside all the cute stuff, u can enjoy the beautiful old chinese architecture and it is more beautiful with the lamps in the night.

Ok, I really dislike this photo coz me and Jess are so small, and there is a man's head in the left side. But the background just so beautiful to be missed.. :)

Yu Yuan in the evening

Good friends met in Shanghai

I still have a dozen of beautiful recommended places to visit in Shanghai. But i'm too busy recently to update my blog. That's why I post this post first ya.. Stay tune for the next beautiful places to be visited in Shanghai. I promise will write it soon :)

Shanghai post #2

For the second post, I wanna share a little of my feeling about this summer course and also Shanghai. As I mentioned before, I feel so glad to be a part of this awesome course. I'm happy to know and have a great friends from other countries. I spend 6 weeks in Shanghai, since that, I feel so close with my new friends and feel so familiar with Shanghai. Fyi, this is my second time go to China, and I'm happy to have a chance visiting one of the best city in the world, Shanghai.

My friends are come from Korea, Spain, Indonesia, Africa, China itself, America, Italy, etc. Mostly I spend my time with my close friends from Spain, Korea and Indonesia.

Well, the first week I arrived in Shanghai made me a bit depress, because I had no friend. I join this summer course with a close friend of mine, Jessica and her sister, Maya. We went to several places, having breakfast-lunch-dinner only 3 of us on the first week. I talked to Jeng that this would be so bad if we keep traveling around only for 3 of us for the whole summer course. One the second week, there was a good moment when I was in lift and met with some friends from Africa and China. Then we also had a new friends from Korea and Spain. I will introduce them in the later post.. hahaha..

I love Shanghai, not only because it is one of the metropolitan city, but also coz it really leaves me a great memories. Shanghai has a good public transportation. I had never known how is the feeling to be in MRT before came to Shanghai. It is good. And I also love the bus there. I compare it with Indonesian public transportation, such as mikrolet, metro mini, kopaja, transjakarta, etc. It just soooo make me shy. Dirty, have no rule, messy, not safe, etc. And can't be denied, Shanghai is so much safer than my hometown. I love Indonesia so much, really. But I really wish Indonesia can be better in all aspect. You can see how clean, beautiful, and safe other country. How can Indonesia attract foreigner to come if the locals itself feel anxious everywhere, everytime, everyplace.. Hahhaa.. Somehow, I know Indonesia will be as good as other country, but dont know when.. Wish it will be asap. Goodluck!

The Public Bus

Great View of Shanghai

Sunset in Shanghai

Summer Course in Shanghai part #1

Haii.. longg time no post yaa.. Actually i wrote something 2 months ago by my phone, but it was a stupid connection and all i wrote was all deleted. And my heart broke.. so I decide to write in on my computer instead. Hahaha..

Some of my friends maybe know that I was having a summer course in China. I was back to Indonesia about 1 week ago, so recently posts will talking about my experiences in there :)

I feel so happy to have the second chance to have a summer course in China with Jessica (again), and this time is longer and more fun. I have a chinese short course (6 credits) in Shanghai Normal University for 6 weeks, and I was join in the advance class [it was divided as 3 classes, beginner - intermediate - advance]. My class consist by 11 people: 6 Indonesian, 1 American, 3 Japanese, and 1 Korean.

Shanghai Normal University

My Class Member and the Teachers

The Chinese courses programme is quite good and I'm very very grateful I join in this courses. I found many friends over the world, improving my Chinese and English skill, and exploring Shanghai, of course :)
I have too much things to be shared and I'm thinking to divide it be several parts. For today's post, I will post the random general info. Hahaha.. This is some awesome view of my university..

The view from the balcony of my dorm

View of a Garden Beside of My Dorm

My class is held from Monday to Friday, from 8.30-11.00 and 11.30-12.00. I have the different teacher for each shift, and I love them both. They know how to teach university students, have a lot of creative way in teaching, and always have ideas to force us to elaborate our skills.

Shanghai Normal University itself have 2 areas. Each area has a lot of buildings. My dorm and class are located in the different areas. But it is so near. We just need to cross a big road, a very short bridge and arrive. I was spotted a beautiful colourful flowers everyday I cross the road. It is quite weird coz it is blooming every morning I went to class, and all shriveled when I walked back to my dorm, and will blooming again in the next morning. Hahaha..

The Colourful Flowers

The View from the Very Short Bridge to My Campus

Nan Da Lou (南大楼） - I study in this building

Shanghai Normal University

 And how I love the path in my school. It is wide, very clean, and I love the trees along the path.. U can see the first photo above and the photo below. I love to take a walk in the evening by myself since Jess is too lazy to accompany me to. Lol

The Path in My University

Beautiful tree

And one of the interesting things in my school, as the usual Chinese people, they like to have an evening dance. You can find a group of people are dancing, wherever. On the road, garden, etc. And there is a group of people who always dance in the back of my school. Usually when I walk to have a dinner in the back of my school, I will find them. The moment when I shoot this photo, they feel a little shy but they keep dancing. hahaha

And the other good things of course the food! I will post about the delicious yet very cheap foods, my lovely worldwide friends, and a dozen of great places to go in Shanghai soon.. Stay tune yaa :D