I was once wondering if it was possible for me writing about my college life in my own perspective and glimpses since many people kept on asking me about general stuffs I had experienced outside my homeland, even though I entered the university was not even more than a year. I still felt that I was lack of experience and lores. As time goes by, while being in my 'off days' for I have been waiting for another schedule for final exam, a good friend of mine said he just recently read my blog and he requested if I would ever write a post about general things of my personal college life that people often asked, such as about the university itself, Malaysia's milieu, international students commingling, even until trivial things that people might not find in university brochure. And then I was suddenly reminded that I was ever wondering about this topic as well. So now I am going to write about my personal one-year experience, which is probably sufficient time to share things. Starting from arrival until how I got to see impressions.
It is June already, and I still remember what I was doing in same month last year: surrendering to destiny on which university that would accept me as freshman. Actually, surrendering on which public university enrollment because actually I was already accepted as a student in Universiti Utara Malaysia a couple months before. So, to be frank I for one thought that my position as high school graduate was already secured lol jk. But then destiny just gave its answer, saying that I really must go to Malaysia instead of trying another enrollment in various local universities in Indonesia. Honestly I was happy, though. It was because even up until now I have loved trying new things to taste and feel by my own, and at that time I thought that studying abroad would open another window of peeking to another different world's point of view in various things. Alhamdulillah I had families and friends who were mostly supportive and happy for this. So shortly, the decision was all wrapped. I am going to study in Malaysia.
I first once heard about UUM, which stands for Universiti Utara Malaysia, from my mom who heard her friend's recommendation about studying abroad. My mom's friend explained generally about UUM's atmosphere that was famous for its quiet and serene ambience which were really fit for serious studying support. My mom found out another info about someone who could help and ease student admission to UUM. So we decided to go to her house to dig more about essential infos. I will explain the whole thing about university atmosphere in next few paragraph. And fyi, me and my mom were on short trip to Malaysia in order to survey the physical appearance and its atmosphere in January 2013. We were accompanied to have 'short-tour- around campus with son of my mom's friend. We stayed in in-campus hotel only for a few days. On a day earlier in March 2013, shortly after filling registration form and submitting copies of documents like high school report book transcript, passport, TOEFL/IELTS certificate, photos, national exam score (later on after it was lately published) and paid for required admission fee, I received my offer letter, approximately 2 months later or so, that I got in and accepted in bachelor's degree majoring International Affairs Management. Next I am going to share about essential stuffs about my campus. So here we go!
Ok well before I write about my campus in a whole, I actually arrived here on September 1st 2013 after having 7-hours-or-so bus journey from Kuala Lumpur until Kedah (where my campus is located). All new students had to go through orientation week where we would be informed about various things in campus. I do not know why but up until now I still feel that the orientation week for international students felt soooo long, even longer than just a week. During that time international students got to know each other, that was the time when I met new friends from various countries like Thailand, Yemen, Somalia, Nigeria, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan etc. We played character-building outdoor games, attended meeting to hear information about stuffs, came to in-campus hospital for medical check up, and we even sat for ELPT that stands for English Language Proficiency Test (going to write about this later). By the end of the week, before we all got separated to our permanent dorm for one semester ahead, we must go to a hall named Dewan Mu'adzam Shah for orientation week closing event, including acknowledgements from deans. We also got to see great performances from many countries which is cool! Even Indonesians also took role dancing traditional and modern dances.
This was not taken during the closing of orientation week but during other event I attended. But this really captures the biggest hall in my campus.
After a long orientation week was over and all students were officially stated as students, many of us got to sit for intensive english program for approximately less than one semester because some did not pass the ELPT minimum score. And for those who passed could just start their first semester right away. I for one passed this test so I could just add and drop subjects for first semester.
Next thing is, I am always going to be so excited to tell people about my campus' natural environment which is so damn green. Everyone will see green trees and plants as far they see around. Even though the climate here is also hot when afternoon comes, just like in Indonesia, the green environment does ease the sweaty afternoon a little bit. Sometimes in certain spots you can find a pretty huge part of campus which is forest. Yes, literally forest that you will find it a little bit scary to be left there alone. It can be safely said the almost every building has green view embracing people's sight. But note this! UUM does not have something to do with 'cold places label' like Puncak in Bogor, Indonesia. Here is even seldom to have rain.
Taken when I was jogging by pathway in one of the dorms located inside campus. Such a beautiful trees arrangement.
You can find this view in the back of my dorm, especially when you are about to go to library or campus' chancellery. And yes I am a lucky student for being placed in this strategic dorm yeay!
I know that two pictures of green environment are not enough because I am afraid that it will be too long for a blog post (well. it IS already long lol). But here is a bit information I am going to share about what you can do with this awesome and subhanallah view when you come here. Firstly you can always take random picture and have good good result because UUM is pretty photogenic. Secondly this kind of environment really pushes you to walk around campus if you do not have transportation on your own. Can you imagine most students walking around class to class and other places by 1061 hectares, under sweaty hot afternoon in every single day? Well, not really 1061 hectares since most parts of campus are built-in forestry jungle. But this happens because of the areas structure that really make people to walk around whether they prefer or not. I for one really love walking under my umbrella every day even though the campus provides public bus service (which I really hate for being too crowded every time).
Next thing I am going to share is student residence hall or dormitory. UUM has 15 different dormitories which consisted of different number of blocks according to separation of men and women. The system implemented in every single dorm is students need to stay active academically or even in outside classroom activities, such as student programs or campus events, for they will be given points to collect. So many students join this-and-that events like seminars, talk-show, entertainment programs etc., in order to avoid being kicked by their current dorm. Because like I have mentioned earlier, this campus is pretty big which means that the positions of dormitories are different as well. For example in my case, I am thankful that I have to stay in a dorm that is not really far from library and my major school. In my case, if I choose to stay at this current dorm for longer time, I have to keep up my student activity points throughout the whole semester. And if I got lucky then by the end of holiday I will find out whether they move me to different dorm or not, which can be even further from college I often go to. Talking about the physical appearance and features of dorm, I am not going to share my bedroom picture because I am not too confident in sharing such private spot of mine hehe. But I have already checked my picture collection and fortunately I once took a picture in 4th level of dorm when I was observing every single level of dorm in first semester. Hope it gives enough vision to imagine how most dorms in my campus look like.
Dorm construction is usually consisted of 4 level maximum. My room is on the 2nd level but it is fun to walk around to upper level and enjoy evening view from here.
Briefly, I am still living in the same dorm even until 2nd semester and maybe it is because I am lucky lol. I cannot imagine if someday I will be kicked to far far away dorm because UUM even has dorms outside campus building. Yes, which is too far for people in my opinion.
So here I am right now, currently living in these kinds of atmospheres happily everyday (also almost happily taking random pictures of surroundings everyday). This post perhaps is mainly talking about what I can conclude from my arrival here as new overseas student. There are so many things beside basic things about college life that fit to a blogger post. I probably will write another stuffs in next post which talks about scope in deeper perspectives and also about various trivial things (because from suggestion I heard it may seem interesting as well). Hope this gives information about entering college especially it you are considering to study abroad!
