You know what? This week will officially be my last week of study at the UTS. Yes, it’ll be the end, since I’ve spent a complete 1.5 years here studying the post-grad journalism course. Well, the results for this semester won’t come out yet until next month actually, but still, I can consider it’s done here.
So, what’s next? Going back to my home country, Indonesia, that’s for sure. And that’ll be right at the end of next month as well, or to be precise, exactly three days before the New Years Eve.
Now talking about study, I might need to write down a bit on how it’s been quite tricky for me since the very beginning last year. It’s not that the course is so tough or what. No, not at all. In fact, I can say my course is one of the most joyful an easy ones around. No exam at all for the three semesters. Don’t most of you guys my fellow students envy me for that? 
However, it is a challenging part of life (in general) for me, because studying has not been part of my life for about eight years. Yes, after months of transition, I’ve been working on my field since at least 2000 until 2007. True, that my years of working were also in writing, and that it is exactly what I have been doing here at the UTS Journalism. But the study part is what I mean.
I’ve been forgetting how to read, to analyse or criticise academic readings, been away from the sense of exploring methods and academic data/sources. I’ve been out of “heavy” theories for years. And most of all, I’ve been doing my regular activities on my own way following the common journalism practice in our country – or if it makes more distinction: in my local neighbourhood.
Of course, it’s not an excuse for the study. And again, I’m not saying that my 16 months of study (more or less) here, in a country that only a couple of hours’ flight from Indonesia but far more developed, is not an enjoyable one. Not at all. I did enjoy all of it, and I still do (especially because there’s more practice than theory in this course).
After all, it’s completely my own choice, right? So, yes, I’m just glad that I can finish it all now. An end of another part of life. That’s it.
One other thing for sure is that end of a study period doesn’t necessarily means to stop learning. Because as we all know, learning is a lifetime activity. While who knows, I might still want to [formally] study something again sometimes. Who knows…
*The picture is from MS Office Clip-art archive.
Congrat bro!
But, I want to ask you.. why don’t you tell you have been finished your study. and now, I don’t know where you are..
two weeks ago, some of us said that you came to Riau Pos, it is true that you can’t find us there.. and you are looking for our phone number?
reply please.
Thanks Ndra..
Sorry for not telling you. And yes, it’s because I didn’t have any of your contact numbers.
I did go to Ripos that day (for about an hour on Wednesday), and I’ve asked some friends ’bout any of your numbers. And then I only got Wido’s and Febry’s.. (but couldn’t meet them as well).
I’m in Jakarta now, work for the JPNN. You can get my phone numbers from the girls (Wido, Febry) or other Ripos crew (Tedy, Adrie)..