First Time Joining Summer School (part 1)
Hey everyone! Long time no see, huh? Yeah, it's been a
minute since my last blog post, so thanks for sticking around!
Anyway, I'm here to spill the tea on my experience at the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) Summer School 2022. Yup, I'm bringing you some overdue deets, but better late than never, right?
So, picture this: I stumble upon this gem of an opportunity through a group chat. They're hosting this summer school all about poverty, a topic that really gets my brain buzzing. Naturally, I'm intrigued, until I hit a roadblock—the application fee. It's a whopping £1400 (you do the calculation in IDR), which might as well be a gazillion bucks considering my bank account. Cue the internal dilemma.
Fast forward a bit, and I spill the beans to my Ibu (not my biological mom, but still a mom figure in my life). She hits me with some wisdom: "Why not shoot them an email? Maybe they offer financial aid." Genius, right? So, I muster up the courage, shoot off an email, and hold my breath. Lo and behold, they do offer aid!
Talk about a plot twist. I scramble to meet the deadline, and bam, I'm in! On June 1, exactly my birthday, I got an email from one of the committee, saying that I got accepted for summer school and even received a cost waiver.
Here's the scoop: when life throws you a curveball, don't sweat it! Get crafty, reach out for a hand, and keep on truckin'. And hey, when you conquer those hurdles, give a shoutout to your squad who had your back. Life's an adventure, so why not make it a wild ride?
It was such a beautiful birthday gift that I did not expect, at all. Really, I was not expecting it since I tried to apply for it just because I did not want to regret not trying it, nothing to lose. Alhamdulillaah, Alhamdulillaah, Alhamdulillaah. It would not be possible unless Allah made it perfect for me, all praise to Allah.
The course ran from August 1-13, 2022, a solid two weeks of brain-bending brilliance. And you know what? I went all in—I blew my entire stash of annual leave for 2022 just to be there! Yup, you heard right, no vacation days left for beach trips or Netflix marathons. But hey, when opportunity knocks, you answer with a big ol' grin, am I right? 😄
Just when I thought I had everything under control, bam! The laptop screen decides to throw a hissy fit after I accidentally bumped it on the edge of the bed, and wouldn't you know it, it's Sunday, so all the repair shops are closed. Another day, another drama-drama, Taylor says.
So there I am, panicking like there's no tomorrow, feeling all sorts of helpless. But guess what? Cue the magic! I'm telling you, Allah's got my back because I was surrounded by a bunch of amazing folks ready to lend a hand. Big shoutout to Kakak, Ibu, and my junior for coming through in the clutch.
Kakak saved the day by lending me her spare laptop, while my junior stepped up to the plate and took my busted one to the repair shop. Yep, to get the help, I had to go back and forth Depok-Otista, but worry not, as long as my problem's solved. Talk about teamwork, right? It's moments like these that remind me how lucky I am to have such awesome people in my corner.
Despite the laptop fiasco, the summer school kicks off with
a bang. Well, kinda. Turns out, it's just me, Data from Indonesia, and Ignacio
from Spain at the pre-school gathering. Awkward? A tad. But hey, we make the
most of it and bond over our shared awkwardness.
Alright, buckle up folks, 'cause day one of the summer school was a whirlwind of emotions. Excitement? Check. Nerves? Double check.
With the pandemic still lurking around like an unwanted guest, we kicked things off with the obligatory swab test. Nothing says "welcome back to the real world" quite like a nasal poke, am I right?
But hey, amidst the sea of anxious faces, I spot a familiar one—my seniors and my lecturer from college, Kak Hotna, Kak Arif and Mr. Rofiq. Small world, huh? Funny how you can spend years under the same roof and never cross paths until fate decides to throw you together at a summer school.
Once inside, it's like stepping into a whole new universe. The legendary Sabina Alkire herself graces us with her presence, and I manage to muster up the courage to introduce myself without tripping over my own words. Winning!
The best part? Making friends from all corners of the globe. We've got Spain, The Philippines, India, Uzbekistan, Italy, Armenia—you name it. Sure, the in-person gang might've been small, but thanks to the magic of technology, we've got online buddies tuning in from as far as Seychelles. Talk about a full house!
Alright, let's rewind to before the real action kicked off. Picture this: Mr. Bambang Brodjonegoro, the former Finance Minister of Indonesia, stepped up to the mic to officially kickstart the shindig with a speech that set the tone for the whole shebang. Pretty fancy, right?
Then, cue the entrance of the one and only Prof James Foster from George Washington University who joined us virtually. He's the brains behind the whole multidimensional poverty measurement gig, alongside the legendary Sabina Alkire. We're talking formulas upon formulas upon more formulas. And let me tell ya, it's been a hot minute since my brain had to do some heavy lifting like that. But hey, it's all part of the fun, right? Time to dust off those brain cells and get 'em firing on all cylinders again!
Alright, brace yourselves for the main event: Sabina Alkire took the stage to school us all on multidimensional poverty measurement. And let me tell you, she didn't just teach, she performed. Her delivery was nothing short of poetic, weaving a spell with her words as she broke down the complexities of poverty in a way that's both mesmerizing and enlightening.
I found myself completely entranced by her explanations, hanging onto every word as she painted a vivid picture of multidimensional poverty and its far-reaching impacts. It's like she's casting a spell of understanding, making the intricate concepts accessible and engaging for all of us eager learners.
Major props to Sabina for not just teaching, but captivating us with her wisdom and insight. It's a masterclass in more ways than one, and I can't wait to see what other gems she has in store for us! In the evening, Sabina had to jet off to another country (sorry, the specifics slipped my mind) in the middle of our summer school shenanigans. Talk about a plot twist! But hey, she's a busy bee with wisdom to spread, so who can blame her?
Wrapping up the day on a high note, I decided to grab dinner with my newfound partner in crime, Carolina. Can you believe it? She's not just any old friend; she's my ride-or-die, my human diary—basically, we're inseparable.
And get this: Carolina's not your average Joe. Nope, she's a total brainiac who just snagged her master's degree from Oxford University, no biggie. Oh, and did I mention she pulled this off just two days before our summer school kicked off? Talk about impressive!
So there we were, chowing down on some grub and swapping stories like old pals. It's funny how quickly you can click with someone, right? Here's to the start of a beautiful friendship and many more dinner dates to come!
With day one officially in the books, it's safe to say the adventure is just getting started. So buckle up, folks, 'cause there's a whole lot more excitement and stories headed your way! Stay tuned for the latest updates straight from the trenches. Until next time!
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