Visit 8 Countries for Free

 How many countries have you ever visited sir? This kind of question always comes from my beloved students once they know, I have had overseas experience before. Actually, I have already been to eleven countries,  eight of them were for free, the rest three countries, like: Japan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, I paid myself. 

I guess,  you guys think  I have good english since I was young or just because I am also an intelligent person. Well, Big no!!  When I was in high school, I got 6 in english score. Nothing special though!!  But fortunately in 2011, I got a chance to study english intensively for academic IELTS at ITB Bandung conducted by DIKTI. This English course program  just exclusively dedicated to lecturer for free. I was so exited, being serious and paying more attention to the course. I got no idea about grammar,  only got less vocabulary as well as had no confidence to speak english at all.  In the end, After four months I finished the program and got IELTS certificate with over all score 6.0, which I had never expected  before, because I could apply for study or  short course abroad.

When I had IELTS score with me,  I did my next move, I applied to overseas scholarship program. My first scholarship overseas was a short term training for lecturers conducted by DIKTI to Ohio USA in 2011 and then I follow Academic recharging in 2012 to Germany sponsored by Kemenag. At that time, I visited several European countries since there is no need to use visa so as to go from one place to another place. I visited Belgia,  France and Holland. In 2013 I pursued my Phd in New Zealand for three years. After that, in 2019 I was a part of research matchmaking to Orleans, France held by Kemenag.  I stayed one night in Qatar to visit my high school friend. 

What is the point of my story? You are not  expert at  English right now, you can start your own English learning journey from now. I,  myself just started it when I was 34 years old.  Whenever you have that IELTS certificate with a proper score,  it’s like you have a password to go to other countries.  How come we can apply for such a bunch of scholarship opportunities while we don't have the password though!!

 

Especially for a lecturer like me, government gives the scholarship every year but the english proficient skills is required. Some of us still ignore that english is very important for our career and get a bunch of scholarship offers, that is why I often got those scholarship offers, it’s because not many lecturers concern to sharp their English skill at the moment. 

Furthermore,  what are the benefits of having experience in short course and study abroad sir?  In my humble opinion,  it means a lot to me,  priceless, let’s say you can buy food,  clothes even a car or a house but you will never buy experience.  Studying at Ohio University,  at Goettingen University and at Auckland University is absolutely the best life experience for me.  I am still amazed until now by the quality of the classrooms, the teachers, the technology and the methods they use. I am also blended with multicultural vibes. I have friends from around the globe, not online friends but real interaction with them at that time. Friends from South America for example,  they have no idea about Islam because they rarely meet muslim over there.  Friends from Japan, China and Korea who mostly do not practice any religion and they were wondering about Islam. I was like an ambassador of Islam. They asked me about pray,  fasting and they were also curious about hijab that my wife always wears.  Friends from Malaysia who are always in the same group supported each other, mostly pray at a mosque because they obey religion very much. Friends from France,  they love cooking,  no doubt that modern dish come from it.  Friends from USA, they are nice and humble but New Zealanders are nicer than Americans.  You will get amazed while you walk and meet Kiwi people they will smile at you and say Hi.  Lastly Germany, they have the best technology in the world but it is not easy to talk to them. They are not too friendly to foreigners,  the bad history in the world war makes them choose to be more independent  but not really friendly.

What are the best thing from all over the countries that you ever visited sir?  I really excited when I saw snow for the first time,  I am also thankful since God picked me as a lucky person, I know how delicious gold Kiwi fruit, New Zealand beef,  Biriani rice in Qatar, and Nasi lemak in Malaysia.  Oh yeah, I experienced the height of sky tower in Tokyo, ate Hot Croissant in France, ate Belgium chocolate,  drank zam zam pure water in Saudi Arabia.  I can't come into detail in every moment in each country but for sure,  I enjoyed the sky,  the wind,  the food, every thing.  If you have experience in staying abroad, I  can say,  you want to come back over and over again, you will go and explore other countries and find out that you are too small as  a part of this big world. At the end of the day, You will become wiser,  more humble and grateful person.