me and being a student.

Oct 6, 2024

I am a transfer student who enrolled at Tsukuba in 2020. Since I was a transfer student, I was placed directly into the third year. I completed my third year online due to COVID-19 (the most common reason at that time). During my third year (2021), I was fortunate to be offered a job as a government employee at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Indonesia (MoEF). Unfortunately, MoEF regulations require me to work there for at least three years if I want to keep my job after completing my studies. Because of this, I took a three-year leave of absence from Tsukuba (2021-2024).

Now, here I am, a student again after three years. It’s not easy—I have to adapt to the system on campus again. That's probably why I need to re-look which credits I need to take in order to graduate. This is also the reason why I only recently enrolled in this course, as I was late in realizing that it was offered this semester. But as they say, better late than never.

Today, I’m trying to catch up with the class by creating this website. Writing this took a lot of inspiration, which is why I decided to grab a coffee on campus rather than doing it in my apartment. On my way here, I encountered quite a few crows—well, at least it’s better than the rats you often see in my country, haha. I’ve noticed that Tsukuba University is surrounded by big trees. I wonder what’s behind those trees—maybe a family of squirrels? And what reptiles might be hiding in the grass? Exploring the biodiversity at Tsukuba could be exciting. I hope I can find out someday.

Oct 7, 2024

Today marks the first day of my third week in Tsukuba. The weather is pleasant, and I can already see the leaves starting to turn yellow, signaling that the fall semester will literally take place in autumn. Despite this, I still see many butterflies flying around. I wonder where they go when the flowers are no longer in bloom. I’ve never thought about this before since, in my home country, the climate is different—it feels like summer all year round. Butterflies there can enjoy flowers and pollinate whenever they like. But what happens in countries like Japan, where the seasons change so drastically? Perhaps it’s something I need to explore as an LES student.

Oct 8, 2024

Recently, I’ve realized that my routine here isn’t as busy as when I was still working, where I often met people from various impressive backgrounds from around the world, discussing business and figuring out how I could assist them. Here in Japan, at least so far, I haven’t encountered anything quite as big—or probably not yet. However, I feel grateful for the chance to step away from the rat race of Jakarta’s capital city.

Perhaps now is the time for me to appreciate the little things, like a can of coffee from the vending machine, the grass still wet after a light rain, or the students rushing to class. I know that one day, I will miss these small moments. So, I’ve decided to make every moment of my student life here counts, finding beauty in the simple things and learning to romanticize life.

Today, as autumn approaches, a soft rain lightly wet the campus paths. The sky was cloudy, creating a shadowy feel along the way. I could hear crows calling, mixed with the sound of students chatting as they walked by.

It was quite cold today, with a strong earthy and woody smell coming from the trees, especially after the rain. Golden maple leaves had fallen, making the path look beautiful. This was a new experience for me, coming from a tropical country where such things don't happen.

On the wet, slightly slippery ground, with moss growing in some spots, I noticed flowers still standing—the red spider lily. Not far from it, I saw two spiders making webs. I looked them up and found they were Joro spiders (Trichonephila clavata), which are common in East Asia. They have bright yellow and black bodies with long, striped legs, and their webs feel slightly sticky, lightly sticking to the skin.

Oct 12, 2024

A bright Saturday like this is too good to be spent indoors. Exploring the city of Tsukuba feels perfect on a day like today, especially since I need to prepare myself for the colder weather here. I've never lived in a cold climate before, so I need to get ready as best as I can.

My journey began with a walk to the nearest bus stop. The day felt bright, with just the right temperature—not too hot, not too cold. The sunlight gently warmed my skin, and I realized I really should be getting more sun. When I arrived at the bus stop, I noticed two spiders weaving their webs. One was quietly waiting for its prey, while the other was luckier, enjoying its breakfast. Both spiders looked similar to the ones I saw last time, though they were of different sizes. I hope to see many other kinds of animals while I'm in Tsukuba.

When the bus arrived, I got on and gazed out at some of the campus buildings in Tsukuba. One thing I’ve noticed is that buildings in Tsukuba, and Japan in general, tend to have a similar design—neat, square, and orderly. They look nice, though a bit stiff to me. Maybe the Japanese prioritize long-term maintenance over building aesthetics. The real beauty of this campus lies in its natural surroundings and the cleanliness of the environment.

When I arrived at Tsukuba Central, I walked around to buy some jackets and clothes for the autumn and winter seasons. I hope they'll keep me warm. The atmosphere at Tsukuba Central is unique, filled with the sounds of people. Even though I don’t understand Japanese, the voices are varied. Some are offering products while holding out forms, some are selling things, and others are just chatting. All of this is mixed with announcements, the sound of buses, trains, and more. I’m slowly moving from the quiet of my apartment to the lively buzz of the city.

After finishing my shopping, I headed back. Walking around all day turned out to be quite tiring. It seems like since I moved to Japan, I’ve been hitting my daily target of 10,000 steps more often. After a day of shopping, I felt happy and healthier.

Oct 13, 2024

On Sunday, I had a fun activity planned. The Indonesian Student Association in Tsukuba held a barbecue at a park, about 40 minutes away from campus. The weather and temperature were perfect for spending time outside.

At the park, many trees had already started to lose their leaves, and the ground was covered with a soft layer of fallen leaves. The cool autumn air felt refreshing but not too cold. There were a lot of families with young children playing and laughing, filling the park with cheerful sounds. It made the place feel full of life.

There were three groups in total, including ours. The other two groups were Japanese. Even though we didn’t speak the same language, the friendly atmosphere made it easy to talk to the group next to us. We smiled at each other, started chatting, and even shared some food. It felt really nice to connect with others, and the park became a cozy and welcoming space for everyone.

Oct 14, 2024

Today, I made a mistake with my schedule. I thought I had class, so I didn’t make any other plans for the day. I stayed in my apartment, expecting to attend my usual lessons, but when I double-checked, I realized there was no class after all.

Since I had already cleared my schedule, I decided to spend the day at home. I got busy with household chores like doing the laundry, cooking meals, and heading out for some grocery shopping. It was nice to get all these things done, but after a while, I started to feel bored.

With all my tasks finished, I didn’t want to just sit around. So, I decided to go for a haircut near the campus. I grabbed my bike and cycled through the cool autumn air. The ride was refreshing, and the change of scenery helped lift my mood. A simple haircut turned out to be just the little break I needed from the routine of the day.

Oct 22, 2024

After reading the writing, I initially felt confused. The language was full of uncommon words and poetic descriptions that made it hard for me to understand the meaning at first. The phrases were beautiful, but I had to slow down and break down each word to fully understand what was being said. As I went through it word by word, I started to appreciate the imagery, though it took effort. It made me realize that I need to learn more about these “fancy” words and improve my vocabulary. Reading texts like this can be challenging, but it’s also a great way to expand my understanding of language. I’m now more motivated to explore more complex writing styles, so I can get better at recognizing these kinds of words and appreciating their use in literature.

Nov 2, 2024

The first week in my apartment, I couldn’t shake a spooky feeling every time I stepped outside, especially at night. Right by my door, there’s a thick little bamboo forest. Growing up in Indonesia, I’d heard plenty of horror stories about bamboo groves, so each time I opened the door, my mind would wander to those tales, and a shiver would run down my spine.

One evening, as I opened the door, a light breeze flowed in, carrying the cool, fresh scent of bamboo. It felt gentle and inviting, not at all like the scary thoughts in my head. The leaves rustled softly, almost like a whisper, saying, "Don’t be scared. I’m happy you’re here." I stopped for a moment, letting the wind brush against my face, and felt a calm settle over me.

In that quiet moment, I realized I didn’t need to fear the bamboo. Now, each time I open the door, I welcome that fresh breeze. I know the bamboo is just a part of my home, standing there peacefully, giving me a bit of nature’s air every day.

Dec 3, 2024

Reading "On Dumpster Diving" taught me a lot about waste, value, and how we live in a modern consumer society. The author talks about dumpster diving, not just as a way to survive but also as a way to show how much we throw away. It made me realize how much good stuff gets wasted just because people don’t want it anymore.

I also learned that dumpster diving involves ethics. It’s not about taking everything you find but knowing what is still useful and what isn’t. This reminded me of how animals in nature use everything they can without wasting, which is so different from how people often live.

What stayed with me most is how little value we give to things once we’re done with them, even if they’re still good. This made me think about how I treat my own belongings and how I can try to waste less. It was a simple but powerful reminder to be more mindful about what I use and throw away.

Dec 10, 2024

The article "Mottainai" taught me about the importance of reducing waste and respecting the things we have. Mottainai reminds us to not waste what is still useful and to appreciate the value of everything around us. It made me think about how much we throw away in daily life and how I can make better choices to reduce waste. The story of tsukumogami, where objects are believed to have spirits and get angry when thrown away carelessly, really stood out to me. It’s a creative way to teach respect for the things we own (probably I will use this story to my little nephew later). This article has inspired me to live more carefully and thoughtfully, treating the things I have with gratitude.

Two Ways to Apply Mottainai in My Daily Life

1. Avoiding Food Waste: Since I prepare meals every week, I can plan better to make sure I use all the ingredients and avoid throwing food away. I can also get creative with leftovers to make sure nothing goes to waste.

2. Taking Care of My Belongings: I want to take better care of my clothes, shoes, or even appliances like my fan to make them last longer. However, I realize that repairing these items in Japan is often more difficult and expensive compared to Indonesia, where fixing things is more affordable. Because of this, I will focus on maintaining my belongings well, like cleaning them regularly and handling them with care, so they don’t need repairs as often. This way, I can still practice mottainai and reduce waste while adapting to the challenges of living in Japan.

These small changes can help me live more responsibly and show respect for the resources I use every day.