What I Did These Past 2 Months

Hi, blogger! With me, Maya here.
Sorry I didn't post anything these last 2 months. My schedule was driving me crazy, really.
So.. how's life?


Now, I am on my Spring Vacation until April 10th. Can't wait to see my very first Sakura :)


A lot of thing happen to these 2 months, that's why, I don't think it's gonna be a good idea to write all of them here, you might get bored as well =P So, here's some highlights of my life these 2 months:


1. Winter Vacation: Fukuoka Trip
I went to Fukuoka for a week with my friends. One of them is half-Japanese so she got a house (her grandma's house) to stay :)) I got first-hand-experienced about the real Japanese New Year. We ate Kotoshi Udon on 31st December and ate Osenchi on 1st January. And also, I accidently received Otoshidama from Shimoo Family. Million thanks!

Then, we had a little Fukuoka Tour, Tenjin, Hakata, Fukuoka Tower, thank you my friend, Muti and Ai. Sorry, I didn't help you a lot back then :D

2. Taiwanese Cultural Week: Nature Dance

In APU, we have multicultural weeks, every semester, there will be several countries that selected to make a one-week full of introduction of their country's culture through stall in cafeteria, free foods, and end with grand performance. I joined the Taiwanese Cultural Week Grand Performance, performed as Nature Dancer. I love the music and the movement, because it was mix of traditional Taiwanese dance and western ballet. 

I know I am not a good dancer but I love dancing. I think dancing is a way to express your feeling, that's why I tried my best to dance with joy, so people will see that I wasn't only memorizing random movement, but enjoy it. The custom was.. unwearable for me =P too cold to be worn in the middle of the cold winter, especially for me, who experienced winter for the first time after 12 years lived in a tropic country. 

3. Best Group In Workshop II Class

I had this class, must be taken by all first year student in my university. Blending the international students with the Japanese students through a group project. The aim is to make the students encounter the multicultural environment. My group consisted of 5 people, from Japan, China, Korea, and myself, Indonesia.

We had meetings 3 times a week to accomplish our group project. And we were paid off for our hard work. We won the best group both in small class and big class presentation. You know, when this semester over, I went to the big lecture class and it's like a movie. How we didn't expected to win at all, and then everybody gave applause to us. I remember looking around to the audience and see them all congrats us. One of the best moments of my life.

It's kinda sad the class and our group is over. My group member somehow taught me a lot of things. One of them came back to Korea for military service. We still keep in touch with everyone. Hope we can work together as a group again in the future :))

4. Fukuoka and Kansai Trip with my Family

My family visited me last week. My parents came on 12 - 15 February, while my brother came from 14th until 19th February. The four of us had one-day trip together on Valentine's Day, we went to Fukuoka Tower and ate dinner together after parted for about 5 months. Then, from 15th until 18th, me and my brother had a trip to Kansai Region by Shinkansen. It was my first time to travel by Shinkansen. 

We went to Kobe (Kobe Port Tower), Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Kyoto (Kiyomizu Temple) and ate Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki (Osaka's most famous foods). Tiring because I only depended with my limited Japanese skills and reading map skills, and my brother couldn't help a lot since I am the only one who understand Japanese. There were some bad experiences too, like getting lost, getting yelled by the bus driver, etc. But, I'm proud of myself I could bring my brother until Kansai. Fun, because I got to USJ and Kobe. I went to Kiyomizudera again lol.

As siblings, we still had that little fight back then. It can't be helped anyway lol. But I am happy to meet my family this holiday.

Still got a long way to go. I might go to several places this holiday. I also practice Saman Dance. I will dance more. Even though I am not at that, but I just love it.

See you later then!

Take care of your self, thanks for reading :DD

See ya' and bye-bye!

Here in Japan,

Maya

My New Year Resolution

Hi, everybody! It's me, Maya!


It's near the end of the year and I want to do my annual new year resolution~


So, first, what had I done this year?


Not-so-good memories:


1. I got straight-U for my AS Level Examination. 
I was soo shocked! I tried my very best back then and I failed.


2. Somebody screwed up my life
This one I could not tell a lot. He just came by, screwed up my life, and gone. I learnt to never trust someone like him anymore.


3. My beloved grandfather passed away
I love my grandfather, and he just passed away before my High School National Examination. I was so sad back then.


Great memories:


1. I went to Hong Kong and Shenzhen
I love traveling! Hong Kong and Shenzhen are good places! :D


2. I got into University of Indonesia for English Literature major and ITB for Business Management School
This one was so cool! I could never believe my luckiness. I got into two tough universities in Indonesia! How lucky I am~ Can't be more grateful than I was to Allah swt. I was such a studyholic back then. So glad it was worth it.


3. I passed the UN (National Examination)
It must be a miracle! Can't believe it! But, even though my score are not so high, I am proud that all of them are pure from my hard work. I did not cheat and I'm proud of myself because of that.


4. I was accepted to Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Japan
Japan! My first time I lived by my own. Such an interesting journey. Journey of my life. I met a lot of people here. A lot of memories and lesson I got from this university life. I love being here. I love my new friends. I love my dormitory life. I love everything's here. Even though things are getting though, but I won't give up!


5. I went to Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto! I love Kyoto so much! I love the temples and everything. Should come back!


Then, here it is~ My new year resolution!


1. Get Straight-A (and scholarship)
I will work hard for it! がんばります!


2. Learn Korean Language
I really want to learn Korean~ Somebody, please teach me more Korean!


3. Better luck in my love life
I hope my love life will be better this year, at least get a boyfriend? lol


4. Be a more talkative Maya
I really need to break my shell~


5. Mastering the Japanese
More practice, more practice!


6. Be better Maya. Better personality. Better style.
Yes~ and the new me~


Okay then, tomorrow I am going to Fukuoka so I will not have any chance to update my blog there because I am staying in my friend's house and there's no internet connection there. So, everybody~

Happy New Year~ あけましておめでとうございます! :)


Enjoy your holiday and thanks for reading!


Bye-bye and see ya'!


-Maya

Winter In Kyoto 京都

Hey, everybody! This is Maya!


This is my second post in this new blog. Last week, on 17 - 20 December 2010, I went to Kyoto for the first time in my life. I always wanted to go to Kyoto at least once in my entire life, and I love it!


So, I went there by ship which was so luxury for me, compared to any kind of ship I've ever rode on when I was in Indonesia. Looked like a mall rather than a ferry.

It took about 12 hours to arrive in Osaka Harbor. Yes! Osaka! Two cities in a row =D but, in Osaka I just passing by so it didn't really count. From Osaka Harbor, we went straight away to Kyoto by bus which took 2 hours. 

First time I saw a beggar in Japan. Kyoto was cold back then and I wish that beggar had someplace that warm enough to live. I know how it's feel when you're cold. I just experienced it a month ago, so I wish I can help him.


The Kyoto Peace Tour was about discussing about Peace with Ritsumeikan University students and the Ritsumeikan Uji High School students. So, our first destination was Ritsumeikan University! I think it's a nice place, really. First university other than APU that I visited in Japan. 

Then, we met the students and went to Kyoto Peace Museum. There was one badge that really interested me. It was written:

"Why do we have to kill the people who kill people to show that killing is wrong?"

Think about it. Why? And I found a lot of new facts about peace. Peace is not only about war or conflict but also hunger, lack of clean water, environmental, etc. But then, we saw about war and conflict. How was the condition during the war made me so grateful I have a peaceful life. Compared to how many people struggling out there to keep alive, we are the minority. We are the lucky ones. And it doesn't guarantee us to get this peaceful life for the rest of our life. We have to take the action.

After that, we discussed about peace in small class. Our group came up with great conclusion and I got a very great conclusion about what peace means. 

I used to think peace is always related about war. But, actually, peace is the harmony between people. It is a feeling and there is not so many people that could achieve that peace even though their country is not in war. Like when the North Korea bombed the South Korea a month ago. I heard some random news that if the war happens, all the Korean students in APU must come back to Korea (I do not know if it's true or not, though). But, at that time, when I heard that, I was extremely sad. How can I be in peace when my friends have to go to the war? Even though my country is not the one who will have the war, but I feel so sad.

Peace is something abstract, but when you achieve it, it is so beautiful.

Back to the trip HAHA, we did presentation about Peace.

After the presentation, we had Fashion Show time. I wore Kebaya and  made a lot of friends. So much fun!

So, the next day was sight-seeing day! We went to Kinkakuji and Kiyomizudera. I love Kyoto! So much beautiful temples! I wish I could go to Gion District and Arashiyama. And those places in Memoirs of Geisha and Hatsuyuki no Koi. Enjoyed every moment there~ 

Bought a lot of omiyage (souvenirs) there, and the best one was the Kiyomizudera's snow globe! Also the chirimen handicrafts and Hello Kitty Chirimin Mirror. The Kyoto's famous sweets also delicious! I ate every tester (sorry, can't help myself) =p

In Kinkakuji I took an omikuji (fortune teller), even though it was not written as Very Lucky, but I'm happy with my result =) I kept it~! And I bought a lot of omamori (good luck charms).

In Kiyomizudera I took omikuji again and I got bad luck! Haha so I tied it on the place where all tied bad omikuji were tied together. Later, they will burn all of them and made the bad luck turn into a good luck.

After that by bus we went to Kyoto Station and ate some lunch. Saw a very expensive and big parfait! Somebody, please buy me one someday~ I really want to try it! LOL

In Kyoto Station, we went to the department store and window-shopping (sorry for the guys, Yup-san and Andre). Clothes in Kyoto are too expensive! I might have to get a full time job if I want to buy some clothes over there.

In the evening, we went back to Osaka to take trip back to Beppu. I saw Seto Ohashi in the way. So so happy! I thought I would never see it again. It made me want to go back to Kagawa even more. I shouted in the deck of the ferry "TADAIMAA~!!" (I am back!) seriously. I just extremely happy~

It was very tiring but soo fun! Even my friend from Myanmar said this, 'Maya! You looked so happy during the Kyoto Peace Tour!" hahaha. I want to go back there again someday, for longer visit. Maybe a week? Two weeks? 

It's like going to dreamland and go back to reality. I really want to come back!

Thanks for reading. I'll post more posts in the future!

Bye-bye and see ya'!

-Maya

The Beginning Of My Blog

Hi, everyone!

I'm Maya! I'm an Indonesian girl, currently living by my own in Beppu, Oita, Japan. Yes, you heard it. Japan.
I am in my freshman year here, and I am going to 'refresh' my life and also my blog by creating this new blog.

I am 18 right now. I love a lot of things. I still like Disney Channel. I love reading novels. I like to write very much. I love traveling and taking photos. I currently attend Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and right now I am struggling with mastering Japanese Language. But I love learning new language so it is kind of like a hobby for me. I want to learn Korean by next year.

I love watching movies and during high school, my dream job was being a movie director. I got a lot of dreams. Dreams that I do not think will be enough space if I write it all down here. I am a girl who dreams big and not afraid to make it real. I believe in lies and I believe in the power of heart.

Okay, that is all for my short post. I know this post is not good enough. I am in the middle of writing my 1000-words-report. I will be back with great blog posts next time so, see you around!

Thanks for reading :)

See ya' and bye-bye!

-Maya