By: Nugraha Satria Utama
Tuesday (March, 27th 2012), I was attending AMINEF (American Indonesia Exchange Foundation) with some of my friends. AMINEF was held at Seraton Hotel, which took us about an hour to find it because the location is too hidden (for us who doesn’t know well about Surabaya lol).
The first thing we did is: find Mr. Kuddah!! And, with ease, we found him was sitting next to an Americans, which later we knew as Miss Nancy. First reaction of Mr. Kuddah realized that we were there was like: “Please, oh god, don’t you dare come here!” Heheh.
Ignoring Mr. Kuddah reaction, we came to his table and had a little chit-chat with him and Miss Nancy. Miss Nancy was a very kind and cheerful person. She always said “I love you! I love you!” like Michael Jackson on the stage. We got so many important and useful information about Northen Arizona University, such as: it is located in four season place which in winter the temperature is 5oC in average, there are a huge dorminatory there, and in ramadhan, they will be having feast together (buka puasa bersama in Indonesian). Furthermore, she explained about the engineering there, the cost of living (which relatively cheap), and how to get scholarships.
After having a little chit-chat, we move to the other table. But, before that me and my friend were discussing our first conversation. We talked that the way Miss Nancy talked was easy to understand, not as hard as our first thought. Got a plenty of confidence, we walked to the next table, the Kansas State University of Manhattan. There were Mr. Andrew (if I’m not mistaken about the name).
The way Mr. Andrew talked was different with Miss Nancy. He talked so fast that made Budi, who sat in front of him almost die in order to understand to Mr. Andrew said. Ferdy and Hasbi kept silent, I wasn’t so sure they understood either.
Mr. Andrew explained to us that the universities in the middle of U. S. A. costs a lot cheaper than in other places. It only costs an half compared to other places. He said that even if we haven’t graduated yet or even if we just a first year we can be transferred to Kansas State Universities. And, he said, to get a scholarships there you have to become very competitive and smart, especially in speaking English.
The next table we attended was SCAD (The Savannah College of Art and Design). There, we found Miss Karen. She explained us that there will be no test to enter SCAD, you only have to meet all of the requirements, such as: completed application of admission, evidence of English proficiency for student whose first language is not English, and many more. And after completed all the requirements, you won’t be tested again (not like in the Indonesian universities). The other important information was it is OK if you don’t have any skills in the field you interested in, you can start all from zero.
It was true that I can almost understand what people said entirely, but as the time goes I’m getting dizzy, because, you know, it took a lot of concentration to understand what the people there said! (To be frank, it was the first time I had a face-to-face conversation with Americans).
Walking home, I found out that I, without realizing, spoke English again. This made me even dizzier. When I had arrived at home, I found that my mother and sister were sitting in the living room. Then, I shouted “Thanks God, Indonesian!! Now I can speak Indonesian again!!” lol.
22 April 2012 pukul 05.12
Yes, I didn't understand with what Mr. Andrew talking about...
I was so shy. I think that Mr. Andrew realized that a ugly person in front of him didn't know what he talking about.
hahaha
But, that is a nice experience
M. Budi M.