【From Taiwan with Love: A Story of an Indonesian Student Who is Struggling in NTPU】
^_^
Hi there, my name is Muhammad Hafizhuddin Al Ghifary, and you can call me Muhammad (穆罕默德). I come from Indonesia and the eldest son from 5 siblings in my family. I graduated from the Al Azhar Indonesia University (UAI) in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations (IRs) and University’s Best Graduate. I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in International Program on Urban Governance (IPUG) at the 國立臺北大學National Taipei University (NTPU), under the Ministry of Education Taiwan scholarship 2018. It is such an opportunity for me to get to know deeper about Formosa, Taiwan. It was a tough decision for me to go to Taiwan since I had no any intention to study abroad but an accident. Besides, as a Muslim, I came up with a critical question that haunted me, "can I practice my Muslim faith in a non-Muslim country? Will I be safe?” But I soon remembered a famous Dutch proverb that goes “Leiden is lijden,” Leading is Suffering, in other words, I must always be prepared no matter what happens.
It was such a memorable "welcoming" moment when I was touching down Taiwan for the very first time. I was waiting for my senior to fetch me at the airport while having lunch. There came a senior lady who was working for a food shop asking for permission to have lunch in front of me at the same table since many tables were occupied during that time. Then I encouraged myself to greet her by saying "ni hao," and soon she started talking to me a little bit longer in Chinese in which I didn't understand since I never learned it before. Luckily, there was a clerk who was able to speak English and helped me to interpret between the senior lady and me. We were having a very pleasant conversation until my senior came and we're about to leave. Suddenly, the senior lady told me to wait for a second, and she grabbed her Pearl Milk Tea which it was the first time I tasted the favorite drink in Taiwan. Seeing her friend did that, the clerk who helped me interpreting also rushed into her room to grab me a Taiwanese cookie. I was surprised and couldn't help but speechless receiving the heart-kindness of Taiwan from both ladies. Since then, I have already considered Taiwan as my second HOME! 我非常爱臺灣!
Being a student in IPUG is such a grace for me. The campus location is really strategic, natural with a mini forest and artificial lake. It's open for public so that we can have sports and recreation with our family. The buildings are astonishing, especially when it comes to the library building that shaped an owl. The teachers are really nice and humble. Not to mention they are really friendly. I still remembered when one teacher treated my classmate and me a Taiwanese iced cream dessert after finishing our assignments in the middle our class running. And the list still goes on and on after one teacher treated us. Moreover, the teachers are really broad and open-minded. They graduated from many top universities in the world, such as University of Cambridge, University of Washington and the Maryland. So no wonder how they would teach and guide us in Urban Governance study.
After all, Taiwan has made speechless with the all beauties within it. And I would say that there is no better place for you to study Urban-related in a calm environment with outstanding teachers but in IPUG, NTPU. My dear beloved brothers and sisters out there, I dare you to come to Taiwan and join us in IPUG!
