Wara Mena ^_^: Learning Express 2015 at University of Muhammadiyah Malang

Hy guys,

How are you doing?

Here we were in the Opening Ceremony of Lex Malang 2015

Meeting and learning with new people are wonderful especially with new people from other countries. By communicating and sharing with them we will get so much knowledge and lessons especially about cultures, languages, and even ways of thinking.

We were ready to go to Malang Town Square to by things needed by public transportation :D

On the lately March, I followed a selection for joining Learning Express Programme held by International Relations Office of UMM. This programme conducted by Singapore Polytechnic International which held in The University of Muhammadiyah Malang during two weeks. And the last but not least, finally, I was selected to be one of Indonesian buddies to do a collaborative learning with Singaporean and Japanese students. What a great opportunity!

Milk Candy Group first presentation presented by the

representative students of Singaporean, Japanese, and Indonesian

Learning express is an international social innovation programme by Singapore Polytechnic International which offers you opportunities to experience the natural world, learn new skills, and make meaningful new friendships. It is like a community service to care others and create something in demulcenting society’s burdens. We were learning how to know others’ problems and help them finding its solutions by using our sense and sensibility and empathy. This programme was aimed to broaden students’ horizon in the real lives.

This was a cooporation among University of Muhammadiyah Malang, Singapore Polytechnic International, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, and Kanazawa Technical College. I met 12 buddies from Japan, 25 buddies from Singapore, 25 buddies from Indonesia (UMM) , and some facilitators from those three countries.

Our incredible facilitators! ({})

By being a part of this programme, I got a lot of knowledge and experiences about design thinking theories. We did not only learn how to design thinking, but we directly take a part in the local community by applying the design thinking theories. Besides, I made friends with new buddies from other countries such as Singapore and Japan who came from different cultures and paradigms. We were gathered in a multi-nasional, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team. I was so lucky! Hehe.

Discussion session in UMM Gazebo :)

There were three groups, namely Milk Candy, Larvae, and Cassava. Kenta, Masaki, Yuki, Andrew, Daisuki, Pras, Rauf, Joelene, Cheryl, Amanda, Yaquan, Susan, Amel, Echy, Lia, Dias, and I were united in Milk Candy Group. We made friends quickly among one to another. There were a lot of things we did together. There was no miss-understanding, egoism, arrogance, and the other annoying things. We worked cooperatively every time and respected to the others’ opinion. That’s why, our relationship was so strong and nice.

Milk Candy group's members and Ibu Isma :)

Day by day, we became so close. Singaporean buddies really love healthy food and less sugar juice whereas Japanese and Indonesian buddies are the other way! Haha.Everyday, Yaquan, Joelene, and Susan ordered avocado juice. Tahu, tempe, and kerupuk could not be denied as the daily menu although we had the other menu too. They loved to go to Indomart buying a lot of food moreover the prices were so cheap according to them! HAHAHAH

Outbound in UMM Stadium :) So hoooooooooottt!!!

The most memorable moments happened in Oro-Oro Ombo village in Ibu Isma’s house when we did observation. Ibu Isma is the milk candy factory’s owner. We stayed there for three days in a comfortable homestay owned by her. Everyday, we had discussion section related to the milk candy making process. As the purpose of Learning Express programme, we must find the problems which were faced by Ibu Isma and as could as possible try to find out the appropriate solutions. We finished all of the process fruitfully because of hard working and compactness. We also enjoyed the village’s fresh air and natural environment and even tried to make the milk candy and crackers too! WOW, it was challenging and very interesting!

They loved to see cows everywhere haha!

Step by step well done, then finally we must show our prototype to all guests of LEX exhibition. All the members of Larvae, Milk Candy, and Cassava groups presented their prototypes in front of ibu n bapak who have those three factories and in front of UMM students. All of them were satisfied looking at our prototypes! Hurray!!! At the exhibition day, we felt so blue due to we would finish the programme soon. Huwwaaaaaaa, I was the first person who was crying in the early morning! :’( We shared happiness, sadness, knowledge, experiences, hugs, tears, food, and everything during two weeks somehow. They called me “Mama” for I was so kind and care to others. hehe Whatever lah, it was not a matter. As I know, I love them so much! J