Last Blog Post

I still clearly remember, the time when I choose module for my exchange here. I was very confused because a lot of various interesting modules were offered to me. Professional communication module stood out from very beginning because it was align with my first plan to take communication modules here. This module was the one that I most waiting for.

The study weeks were coming. I began my learning process here by waking up late and, of course, coming up late to the first session of class at that Monday morning. I was surprised finding the fact that the class was so small, with only 12 students there. The class activity was also so much fun. It was so far from my expectation of serious and quiet class; considering the module name has 'professional' word in it. And my surpriseness was not stop there. Ms lim called me on Wednesday evening. She told me I came to wrong class.

Time flies. Without I realize, our last session was a week ago. I learn a lot, some are as I expected such presentation and writing skills. I also learn things out of my expectation such intercultural communication, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.  

One thing that I learn is writing application letter and resume. I learn to pay attention to every detail that I write at application letter. This skills are truly useful for me because I will graduate soon. At this class, I was introduced to the importance of word chosen as well as design and template used at application letter and resume. Well, it is true that these are actually general principle that people already know in writing application letter and resume. These principles also can easily be found at internet. But, my learning experience at this class was different. I'm sure enough everyone in Ms Lim's class understands what I mean.

Ms lim style in teaching is very unique. She emphasizes a lot in process. You do not simply submit your assignment in one step. You're draft are commented by your friends first before submitted as final one. My first draft was horrible. Thanks to my commenting friends, my final draft was much better. I learn my mistakes through these process. 7C is also stick on my head now. I'm very grateful and thankful to Ms Lim. My decision to stay at her class is not wrong.

As the most intense class I have here, I feel so lucky to have very good and nice friends. All people in the class are so fun! I'm sure enough my pretty much standard English requires a lot of patience from them. I am surprised they still bear with me, even until now. I must say thanks to Terrance, my peer teaching team, for his patience in communicate with me. I do feel guilty for making him spent a lot of money because I couldn't simply get what his mean only by one text. It was not counted for his effort in reexplain everything to me, again, when I could not understand what he said. Trust me, It did not only happen once.

I also must express my gratitude to my proposal team. My thankfulness for these guys: Hue Qi, Gang Rui, and Leon is beyond words. They taught me a lot in everything, critical thinking, efficiency, Singapore's culture; everything. They helped me a lot. They did not leave me behind when I did get lost in middle discussion. I'm sure enough that was difficult, to keep me on track when I got lost, in uncounted times. Especially during that intense times when team need to think harder in proposal. What make they could stand it remains mystery. I seriously have no idea.

Well, I will go back to Indonesia in less than a month. I'm definitely sure I will miss this class, every single person of our class. Hope all of you can pursue your dream. Thanks!

ps: I try so hard to do not put a lot of drama on my last blog post. Hope that works :)

Reflection on Oral Presentation

Delivering persuasive convincing speech, an english one, is huge challenge for me. Doing it in my mother tongue is pretty nerve wracking already. Doing it in english is indescribable. Fully aware of my english, this oral presentation session worried me a lot. I know there is huge hole in my english. I need to work more on it, especially for my grammar and pronunciation.   

   

My team and I managed to finalized our proposal presentation in very last time. We arrived earlier at school to rehears couple time as group. I thought the rehearse time was not bad, since every member already prepared them self. However, I was still worry especially for my pronunciation and presentation time. Due to amount of information that i need to deliver, I did not make it in 5 minutes during my self rehearse.

Then, my time was coming. I think I stammered and nervous in first minute. Fortunately it was not last long because I am familiar with the audience. I also over repeated several word which could lead overemphasize my point. But, I still managed to deliver necessary point though it was not in persuasive fashion yet. I tried to engage audience by asking some questions. I tried to keep my tone and speed, not very slow or too fast. I made eye contact and used some gestures. Apparently, my nervousness drove me to over move during my presentation. Keep moving could distract my audience. Furthermore, as what I predicted before, I fell short in pronunciation and grammar which probably could make my audience feel confused or even annoyed.

For the questions and answers session, I think my team did good job. Because we spent a lot of time to think critically in our proposal. Due to a lot of effort we put on this proposal,  most of questions aroused were predictable. We already figured out the answers. However, tt would be great if we managed the allocation, who will answer each questions. 

I did manage my time to rehearse a lot personally for my part. It makes me do not regret my performance. However, there are a lot of space need to be improved in my oral presentation. This experience makes me realize the importance of public speaking skill. I feel thankful for this oral presentation. I know where I should begin to improve my skill. Lastly, thanks for my team for always encourage and support me!

      

What Tapping Head Means in Indonesia

It is not my first time in Singapore, but it is my first time staying for longer time in Singapore, living in new place which has totally different language with my mother tongue.  Fully acknowledge that communication problems likely aroused, I landed at first week in Singapore right after finishing final exams in my home university. With all excitements and little bit worries, a lot of worries actually, I start my life here. 

As exchange student, I interact a lot with other international students because NUS conducts a lot of event which seems specially design for us. I’m getting know some friends from various country.  We hang out, discuss, and go to concert or just chit chat for hours spending time after meal in dining hall. Everything seems nice and fun. Until one day, a guy tapped my head.

I was so surprised. I was blank for moment. Curious, furious, displeased, all of those feelings mixed. I was speechless and had no idea what should I do. I kept asking how come a guy that I just know for week can tap my head easily while passing by, and acted as it was nothing? Then I realized, I’m not in one of 17.000 islands in Indonesia archipelago, and he is not Indonesian. He probably doesn’t know that touching or tapping someone’s head in Indonesia can cause gang fight.  Yes, Indonesian subjects head, human head, your head, as precious thing. We do not touch other person head easily. Of course joking around with your best friends or patting your closest one is exception. And tapping someone’s head who you know for less than a month, when you’re passing by is not one of exceptions.

I kept feeling uneasy by myself. As I mention before, I just worry my lack in English will trouble me here. Communication problems, not intercultural ones. Since I wear hijab (jilbab in Indonesia, tudung in Malay), I do prepare myself for worst possibilities when I interact with other international students. But this kind of differences such us tapping head is out of my worrisome.  I do not prepare for such intercultural clash. I’m surprised differences can affect me so much. 

Well, I can’t feel uneasy by myself. I want to clarify this problem, ask him directly and tell him nicely. But, next time I saw him, we just met, passing by. Like usual, we greeted each other. And again, I got another tap in my head. Just like previous time, I lost my self for moment. But then suddenly I realized, he did it as greeting. Still felt uncertain, I asked another friend who comes from same country as him. My guess was wrong, she told me tapping head means blessing. But, they do not do that as habit. 

Now I’m relieved. I fully realize that people act differently because they grow up and live in different background. But it’s funny that I still kept feeling uneasy though I acknowledge those differences. I’m also thankful for my blind spot in expressing my self. If I reacted at the time he tapped my head, we probably are not friends anymore. I learn to put more effort in acknowledging differences now. Well, my life here getting more and more interesting.

Application Letter

From   : hafizah@ui.ac.id

To        : hrd@id.mercycorps.org

Subject: Job Application for Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am enclosing my resume  in response to your advertisement of monitoring and evaluation assistant position in Health and Nutrition Program. As chief division of public relation in Biostatistics Student Association in my university, I was involved in research and various data analysis. I was exposed to full range of health programs including planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating during six months internship program in Ministry of Health Republic Indonesia.

I am pursuing my final year on Public Health in University of Indonesia. Throughout my education years, I have been actively involved in data analysis from univariate to multivariate level. I am skilled in operating various data analysis software such as SPSS, Stata, Epi Data. My core duties in Ministry of Health Republic Indonesia during internship program involved assessing and analyzing health programs. I am sure that my previous work experience as assistant lecturer gives me an insight in value of professional work. I am more than willing to contribute my skills and knowledge as public health graduate in helping world communities improving their life. I am ready to improve my proficiency in monitoring and evaluating program to meet your job requirements.

Having served tenure as Liaison Officer during 26^th SEAGAMES 2011, my communication and interpersonal skills were greatly polished. Being interested in communication and public relation, I am a member of public relation team in the University Student Council. This role has taught me to organize activities that give me an insight in leadership skills. Selected as Chief of Marketing and Public Relation division in 2010 at the biggest art festival in my university, I led a team of 20 students to secure sponsorship and media partners for the event. This immensely helped me to learn about managing and leading a team.

I am currently pursuing a semester in National University of Singapore as an exchange student. For this exchange program I have been selected by Temasek Foundation as a LEaRN scholar (Leadership Enrichment and Regional Networking scholarship). During this semester, I have involved myself in various Community Services as a part of the scholarship program.  Being the first time living outside Indonesia, it has helped me broaden my view, live independently as well as make friends and network among people from other parts of the world.

I am passionate about working for the community. Wanting to help other people to get better life, I am ready to contribute in one of 41 branch of office of Mercy Crops. Being the one of the biggest organization in the world, this job will enable me participate in improving the living standards of world society. This opportunity also will help me grow as a human being while being employed and add to my knowledge on public health in a practical life scenario.  I believe my research experiences coupled with leadership and interpersonal skills make me an ideal candidate for this position.

I am attaching my resume with this letter. If I can provide you with any further information on my background and qualifications, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration.

Your Sincerely,

Hafizah

Job Ad

Mercy Corps helps people turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world's toughest places with the tools and support they need to transform their own lives. Our worldwide team in 41 countries is improving the lives of 19 million people.

Jakarta

ME Assistant – Health and Nutrition Program

Responsible for working with Health and Nutrition Program Team and under direct supervision of Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist to develop M&E plan and working in the M&E Activity, relevant indicators and tools for measurement, conduct semi-structured exit interviews, compile the data and summarize the themes that emerge, assist with Health and Nutrition Program Team with their routine data entry task, ensuring the database is updated in a timely fashion, the analysis of data and discuss with Program Manager, Project Coordinator, M&E Specialist and Field Officers how to use the results in implementation.

Qualifications:

-         Possess a relevant university degree or college diploma; AND relevant 2-3 years work experience;

-       Experience working in monitoring and evaluation, ideally in an NGO context. Experience with Health M&E is an advantage;

-       Knowledge on Manajemen Terpadu Balita Sakit (berbasis masyarakat) is desired;

-       Experience in Quantitative data collection and analysis;

-       Experience in Qualitative data collection and analysis;

-       Experience using Excel, Access and statistic software (Epi Info, SPSS, Stata);

-       Fluency in English, both written and spoken, highly desired;

-         Effective time management and organization skills including priority setting and responding to program needs;

-         Effective interpersonal communication skills including: Problem-solving skills, being proactive and taking initiative.

Please send your CV with position applied on the email subject to:

hrd@id.mercycorps.org

Interpersonal Conflict

 One of major matter in communication is resolving interpersonal conflict. Being apart in most of interpersonal relationship, making resolving conflict technique become major issue. Many books and movies adopt interpersonal conflict as theme. Surrounding by bunch of information in resolving conflict everyday, however, people often simply choose to avoid the conflict. As we know, this can be damaging because it can lead to greater problem in future.

Lets take a look at interpersonal relationship in a novel winning South African Boeke Prize in 2004, The Kite Runner. Being nominated at Oscar 2008 for its same name adaption film, story began in Wazir Akbar Khan, a district of Kabul Afghanistan, between 2 close friend: Amir and Hassan. Amir is son of reputable man who lost her wife when she born Amir. As son of Amir fathers servant, Hassan spend his childhood with Amir: roaming in the street and playing happening toys at that time: kites.

Source : http://polsci167.blogspot.com/2011/09/kite-runner-redemption-within-tentative.html

Amir father loves both Hassan and Amir. Yet, Amir feels less loved because Amir father is often harsh to him for being weak, lacking in courage and being not manly enough. Feeling responsible for his moms dead, Amir feel pressure when it comes to communicate with his father. His father who changes into more reclusive after being left by his wife, do not talk much with his son. Unfortunately, this bad communication affects Amir.  Being terribly afraid in making his only parent disappointed, Amir secretly feel jealous with his closest buddy, Hassan

One day, Amir and Hassan spent their afternoon in playing kites. Hassan run to last kite cut in order to make his only friend, Amir, proud and happy. Kite flew to distant cloistered place where Assef, a violent neighborhood boy, await. Assef kept a revenge to Hassan due to his lost in dispute. Hassan refused to give up the kite. Assef did his revenge, assaulting and raping Hasaan. Worrying why Hassan not going back, Amir searched Hassan and hide when he heard Assef voice. He saw the rape, but to scared to help him. After that, Amir and Hassan keep distance each other for some time, untill Amir can not stand his guilty anymore.

Story above is just one plot of the kite runner storyline. It seems so complicated yet giving us small picture the effect of avoiding conflict. Amir father chooses to not discuss and just let his son alone, feeling guilty for his mom's death. Pretending everything runs well, makes their relationship even worse. It effects Amir in his social live.

Just like I mentioned before, people face interpersonal conflicts in daily life. When it comes to solve problems, people have choice to either avoid or face it. Not forgetting the fact that most people already know communicating, seems can be best way to solve problems, then why people still choose to avoid conflict? What factor influence people to either avoid or face conflict?


Reference:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419887/
http://www.wikisummaries.org/The_Kite_Runner

Effective Communication: Is It Important?

Last Wednesday, I attend a discussion that arranged by international relation office of NUS as part of event attached to my scholarship (TF Learn) programs. All of Temasek Foundation Leadership Enrichment and Regional Networking (TF Learn) scholars were invited to share experiences of voluntary, leadership, and community services they have done in their home country. Mr Tan from IBM and Mamie Cheong, CEO of Student in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Singapore also attend the discussion.

At my batch, TF Learn scholars come from various countries in Asia: China, Hong Kong, Korea, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia. With various backgrounds, we shook together; discussing past, present, and future of voluntary work in Singapore and our home country.

Silu, one of TF Learn scholar from China did a presentation. She told us her experience as president of SIFE in her home university at China. I was amazed. I could see this girl had done various important presentations before. As student form country in which English is not national language, presenting your work in English is not easy. Furthermore, doing it in front of important person makes it more difficult. But, this extraordinary girl made it! She was overawing.

Actually, Silu presentation was not perfect. Her presentation was not written in English, but Chinese.  However, we still could understand the idea, from her oral presentation and body gesture. She communicated effectively in delivering her idea in front of student from various countries.

That is just one example of effective communication. You and I probably will have chance like Silu has: delivering a presentation in front of key person. We possibly will have thousands of opportunities that require us to communicate effectively. Indonesia students need to present their undergraduate thesis in order to graduate. Graduated students will have some interview session in getting job. Those are just several formal occasion when people certainly need to use effective communication. Moreover, people  need to present your idea effectively in daily life. I think you will not be pleased if your listener wrongly gets your idea right? Well, the importance of effective communication is undoubted then.