Living in Japan

Just as a brief intro, the first until the third paragraph is about my personal life. So, if you want to jump to the explanation of settling in Japan, you can start reading from the fourth paragraph.

It’s been a while since the last time I wrote in my personal blog. Forgive me for abandoning you for a long time. So hereby, let me bring you my status-quo. My life has changed a lot. Now I am studying in Japan (Kwansei Gakuin University) for Chemistry Master program for one-a half year (until March 2019). How did I end up here? It was a quite long story. Since I graduate from Biology bachelor degree in September 2016, I continued my study in Biology master degree in the same university from my bachelor degree (UKSW, Salatiga). Then after attempting a year in UKSW’s master degree, I was pretty lucky to be granted an opportunity to study abroad in KGU Japan due some collaboration works of UKSW-KGU which will give me (hopefully) two Master degree’s from both universities.

Going for overseas study is not an easy thing to accomplish. Preparing all the required documents for the university, dealing with the immigration office (visa, passport, etc), dealing with communication problems with the university office, and even facing financial support issues has been a tough mission for me. Now, I am settle enough to strive through my new life and environment here. To be honest, it’s not an unusual thing for me living in such a half-dead situation. In my bachelor degree, I joined the student board organization and somehow managed to be the chairperson of the executive board. I met many people, with different and strikingly beautiful way-of-think. It changed me a lot, and day by day I will always have organization problem to deal with. It bulked my mental of survival instead of living.

A matter of instance at the moment I finished from bachelor degree was to move-on. It wasn’t an easy thing for me to step forward and leave a trace behind for those special memories and friends I had on the student board organization. I had to restrain myself and only provide sight for those who seek for my perspective. Helping should never overwhelm the parameter of intervention. So then I was focusing myself on my master degree, which later made me chosen as the student to study abroad.

Now, I am stuck in the middle of Japan. Thinking about it, I must tell you that until this point I believe Japan is a good place for vacation, but not for living. If you think you will have a typically romance-harem anime plot life here, that’s completely wrong. Everything is provided in Japanese, and it is quite hard to find a good-english Japanese speaker here (2 out of 10). For social life, they’re not as open as European nor Indonesian (basically my homeland). So, If you do plan to live here, I recommend you to study Japanese.

Next case about living in Japan is the price. Everything here is pretty expensive, moreover for an Indonesian like me (since the exchange rate of IDR to yen is high, 1.000.000 (read: one million ruphias) is around 8.500 JPY). I have to pay around 40.000 JPY for my room, and around 20.000 JPY for food. This calculation is even without the expenses I have to pay for other things (trasportation, etc). So, you can imagine yourself how much you should afford to live here. At least to survive, you need a daily job so then each month you got some salary to help you. It might be difficult to get a full-time job in Japan (I don’t know, never experienced before), but it’s easier to get a part-time job. The salary for part-time job varies around 20.000 JPY (normally more or less). In order to get a part-time job for a foreigner, you have to deal with some “permit” administration in the immigration office when you arrive at Japan (better when you arrive). It’s not that that hard, just ask the officer: “baito”, and hopefully they will understand. After you get the permission, you now can seek a part-time job with a regulation usually maximum 28 hours you can work per week.

For people who want to visit Japan just for vacation, I suggest you to bring about 200.000 JPY (a family with four people having vacation for more or less one week). Mainly your expenses will be used on hotel (7000-10.000 JPY per room/day for a 3-4 star hotel), transportation (by train may exceed 50.000 JPY, but if you use shinkansen it might be much more expensive), and also food. This 200.000 JPY budget is just in case you want a “luxurious” vacation. But if you’re planning to get the most cheapest and it’s only for two persons then I guess around 50.000 JPY for a week is enough. Don’t forget that you still have to pay for the airplane which has a varied price. If you’re from Indonesia and you don’t bring many baggage, then I recommend you to use Air Asia.

So that’s a just a scratch of my experience which I could share. I’m still new though, but I hope it helps you a lot. If you have further questions about a plan to go to Japan, feel free to leave a comment or you can contact my personal email.

8 November 2017
@albert_karwur

Pengecut

Katanya seorang pemberani itu bukanlah orang yang tidak mempunyai rasa takut sama sekali, melainkan orang yang bisa menghadapi ketakutannya untuk bisa terus maju ke depan. Bukannya mundur ke belakang

atau malah macet; stuck; tersangkut untuk kemudian tersandung kenangan.

Saya ingin menjadi orang seperti itu. Saya ingin berteman dengan rasa takut dan bukannya berusaha lari atau memusuhi, hingga pada akhirnya saya hanya berkejaran dengan rasa takut itu sendiri.


aku takut kehilangan kamu.

@albert_karwur
18 Juni 2017

Broken-Hearted

It's simply impossible to deny your feelings. Seriously, it's like when you love someone you just do it. You just make your move, and go-get-her. You don't need any theory nor words; it's your action which speaks louder. Same thing when you're sad. You might smile, but your teared up inside-down and somehow you just ruin your whole day. Your 'broken-hearted'.

When you're 'broken-hearted', you seek for a solution. But you cant find any solution under your logical thought. You're feeling insecure. You cant sleep even when you're tired already. You just get day-dreaming all day long thinking about her. Towards these symptoms, I am stuck inside it.

Since it's almost been 2 years together, you really know the best way to kill me. It's what I hate the most. Just by being silent, not in words only, but practically actions. Under these condition I've been puzzling around, regretful of what I've done and trying to make a way back to this relationship. 

But yes, I know what's my fault and I shall carry the lessons forward. But dear don't be hard. It's okay to be angry, but not to live in anger.

In the midst of my hectic night, I was thinking words we spoke recently: "It's easier to fall in love rather than to stay in love". Now I'm feeling it, and it's true.

Be well dear, sleep tight.

I love you.

@albert_karwur
13 February 2017

Kamu Ingat?

Hei kamu. Kamu ingat? Tepat setahun yang lalu, akhir Desember 2015. Kita adalah dua yang saling tidak kenal. Kamu adalah kamu; dengan kerumitan cerita yang diam-diam setia kuikuti dari kejauhan. Bukan bermaksud menguntitmu, hanya saja aku kagum. Kamu, ya kamu. Seorang hawa yang pada satu waktu independen dan tegas, dan pada waktu lainnya childish dan menggemaskan. Semua itu kurangkum dalam satu frase yang tak terpisahkan definisinya, karena itu berarti kamu. Itu yang kucatat dalam buku bulan Desember. Dan karena saking senangnya aku mengikuti ceritamu, aku sampai tidak sadar. Aku menjadi lebih dari sekedar penggemar rahasiamu. Aku menyukaimu.

Mungkin disisi lain aku juga kurang romantis ya, mengingat kali pertama kita jumpa empat mata. Kita duduk di teras agra, berhadapan. Gagap bicara. Malu tapi mau, enggan tapi ingin tahu. Kamu ingat?

Dari begitu banyak detail kita yang terlewatkan bersama, kini sampailah kita disini; dititik ini. Titik sedekat dua kelingking yang saling memagut. Terimakasih sayang; untuk cerita sepanjang 2015. Sungguh, terimakasih.

Selamat natal dan Tahun baru chacha :)

Kamu ingat? Jangan nyengir, aku tahu kamu pasti tidak akan lupa dengan ucapan itu.

-  dedicated to my dearest  -

@albert_karwur
3 January 2016

Suatu Malam

Kamu tertawa, tapi dengan jelas aku bisa melihat air mata yang tidak sempat mengembang. Tertahan. Atau lebih tepatnya ditahan. Dan air mata yang tidak sempat menggenang tersebut ternyata bukan satu-satunya hal yang ditahan di malam hari itu. Afeksi yang membanjiri hatiku juga harus dibendung supaya tidak jebol dan menyapu apa yang sudah kita punya saat ini, sesuatu yang terlalu berharga untuk dipertaruhkan hanya karena saya berharap afeksi itu tidak berjalan satu arah.

"Kita akan terus mencintai setelah disakiti. Tapi kita akan mencintai dengan cara yang berbeda, tidak akan pernah sama lagi."* Begitulah saya mencintaimu sekarang. Dengan segala ketidaktahuan saya mengenai dirimu di balik selapis ekspresi wajah serupa topeng gareng yang tidak pernah berhenti tersenyum, dengan segala ketakutan saya akan datangnya rasa nyeri dan kehilangan yang meninggalkan sesak berkepanjangan.

Aku dan kamu. Air mata yang menggenang. Perasaan. Sesuatu yang (entah sampai kapan) akan terus ditahan.

12 Agustus 2015

@albert_karwur

Marah

Sejauh yang bisa saya ingat, selalu ada segenggam kemarahan yang terpaksa saya simpan rapat di dalam hati. Tidak mudah untuk menyembunyikannya, tapi juga tidak sulit untuk menjadikan apa yang seharusnya kasat menjadi tersirat. Berbekal tawa menggelegar dan kemampuan untuk menghindar yang sudah dipoles bertahun-tahun, jadilah kemarahan yang sudah membatu itu berada di luar jangkauan pandangan mereka yang tidak saya izinkan untuk masuk ke dalam batasan perimeter personal.

Saya marah. Marah yang merah. Marah yang gerah. Marah yang pasrah. Marah yang belum juga menjadi telah. Marah yang sudah terlampau lelah untuk mencapai sudah.

Saya marah pada mereka yang tidak mau mengenal namun telah berani menjatuhkan vonis. Pada mereka yang terlihat agamis namun dari mulut mereka tercium kemunafikan berbau amis. Saya marah dengan mereka yang berteriak perjuangan dan kemudian dengan percaya dirinya memilih berkubang dalam lingkaran setan politis.

Saya lelah dengan tragedi. Terkadang dunia ini tidak lebih dari sebuah parodi kolosal dengan begitu banyak pemain figuran yang cuma seliweran tanpa menangguk banyak perhatian. Masing-masing saling sikut untuk sedetik lebih lama di bawah pancuran lampu sorot. Semua benar, semua halal.

Sampai sejauh  mana kita, manusia, mengkhianati kemanusiaan itu sendiri?
Sampai kapan kita memilih untuk buta dan tuli untuk tenggelam dalam lumpur keluhan yang tidak berujung?

@albert_karwur
30 Juli 2015

Sun, Night, Moon

In the beginning, there was Nothingness.

Nothingness gave birth to the Sun.

The Sun had immense power. It had control over everything and anything, but it was pure and kind. The Sun helped give life to the World and all its creatures. It caringly took care of everything and maintained peace. There was nothing that the Sun did not notice, for the World owed its existence to it.

For a while, all was well.

Almighty though it was, the Sun eventually grew tired of being alone. Eventually, the Sun decided to speak of this to the Nothingness.

“I am tired of always being present,” said the Sun.

“So, what is it that you want?” asked Nothingness in reply.

“Please give me company, so that we can take turns watching the World.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes.”

“But one that can take turns for you must have equal strength with you. Are you alright with that?”

“I do not care,” answered the Sun recklessly. “If worse comes to worst, it will be my responsibility.”

Nothingness looked at the Sun and sighed.

“So be it.”

And Night was born.

Sun, Night, Moon

a short by Chris Zhou

Possessing equal powers with the Sun, the Night was everything its sibling was not. If the Sun was open, the Night was elusive. If the Sun was wise, the Night was much more… brash. But, the Sun cared about the Night very much, as it was its only company, and gave it half of the World to take care of. The Sun called its share of the World a day, and the Night—an arrogant being to its core—called its share its own name, a night. Just like the Sun told Nothingness, the two began taking turns.

While all is well in the day, the night proved to be problematic. Evil and wrongdoings ran rampant in the protection of the darkness, something that the Night fancied so much it dedicated all of its share to revel in. The Night had fun in seeing conflicts and wars, and so violence and bloodshed had turned common. The Sun did not enjoy this, but it knew that it had no right to criticize—it had asked for a sibling, and Nothingness had given it just that. So the Sun did what it could do and bestowed recovery and health for all the creatures to protect themselves from the dangers of a night. It had even introduced to the creatures a source of light in the night, the fire.

The Night did not like what the Sun had done. It decided to confront its sibling.

“I thought you gave me half of the world to be mine? What business do you have, snooping around?” asked the Night coldly.

“I gave it to you to take care of, not to be your plaything. If you continued doing what you did, the night will soon lay waste to everything,” the Sun said sternly.

“That is not a big deal,” sneered the Night. “If anything, that is the natural course of things. Creatures are meant to destroy one another.”

“You are wrong, Night. There is a reason why we can coexist, isn’t there?”

The Night exploded in laughter.

“The only reason you are still around is because I let you. Face it—whatever you do, I can do it better.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You gave fire to the creatures so that they would see you in the night? I can turn it into something to my advantage. I can… no, I will make them hurt each other using the very thing you gave them.”

“How dare…” the Sun’s expression hardened.

“Oh, yes. In fact, I think I’m beginning to get bored of your presence, sibling. What say you we decide who the ruler of everything should be?”

“Night… you do not want to do this…” The Sun said cautiously. The Night was clearly riled up at this point.

“No objections! I will give you time to prepare. Let us settle this in war!”

As the Night left the Sun alone, the Sun knew it had no choice in the matter.

The Night, in preparations for battle, gave birth to Lies, Malevolence, Cunning, Deceit, and many other evil values to arm its creatures. Wicked feelings became their weapons, allowing them to unleash their wildest potentials. No means are beyond these malicious beings.

The Sun, on the other hand, gave rise to Courage, Steadfastness, Justice, and many noble values for its creatures to defend themselves. The path of the pure and the right became their weapon of choice.

Finally, the Great War between the Sun and the Night began.

The Great War lasted from years to decades to centuries. The World had become a barren place as the result. For every cheating ways that the Night had its creatures pull off, the Sun would always have a triumphant comeback. But nothing could stop Night’s advances, even with the Sun’s loyal creatures at its side—especially because the Night did not play by the rules.

After one particularly intense battle, the Night had the Sun cornered.

“It’s time… to say goodbye… my sibling,” said the Night, panting.

“I will not say goodbye, my sibling,” replied the Sun.

“Then I assume you are ready to surrender to your fate.”

Without any further ado, the Night ended its sibling’s life.

And then everything was dark.

The Night had won. With the Sun’s existence vanished from the World, there was nothing in its way to cover the world in darkness. Nothing had given the World light but the Sun. Fire, which was given by the Sun to the World, was forever banned by the Night. Eventually, the Night banished the fire from existence as well. The World went into dark times. With the Night’s pastime being violence and conflict, battles and fights waged without stop.

But the Sun had left something before it died.

It had given birth to Love.

Before the final battle the Sun, sensing its doom, realized that Night would win the Great War. But, by then, the Sun had realized that it would take something greater than just the Sun, or the Night, to end the meaningless battles. So, with all the strength it had left, it created something… distinct. It created something that was a part of itself, and part of its sibling.

Love was contagious. Love quickly spread across the World, without fail attaching itself to every single creature living in the dark. Finally, it had gotten to the doors of the Night itself, and discreetly it planted itself inside the Night. Love was gentle, yet firm. As a result of two contradicting beings poured into a single feeling, Love felt dynamic and universal. It was also scarily addictive. It had given everyone it crossed paths with a resounding joy like nothing else they had ever felt. All the creatures, and even Night itself, rejoiced because of this new feeling.

But as powerful as Love was, it was not complete. It was something that was created by the Sun, with some of the feelings and values that the Night had. So without the Sun’s existence, Love would never be whole. This drove the Night and all its creatures crazy—mainly because they never thought they would need the Sun for anything. Love has accomplished its mission: to introduce the importance of balance.

At first, the Night restored fire, thinking that it would help. But nothing worked.

So the Night and the whole World begged Nothingness to restore the Sun. And Nothingness, secretly amused by the Sun’s ingenuity, granted their wish.

The Sun was alive again, but this time, it made a pact with the Night to ensure everlasting peace. The Sun would give a little bit of itself in the night, and the Night would have a sign of its presence even during the day.

And so, the Moon was born out of this agreement.

Perhaps that’s why the moon is so romantic.

By Christopher Zhou