Little Things, Big Experiences. : Become an Interpreter

Hello all... Glad to be back writing again :)

I write this because someone told me to wake up from my loss for something. >.<

One of my best moment as student at Japanese Literature of Universitas Gadjah Mada is when I was become a member of TOEGAMA. TOEGAMA is abbreviation for Tomodachi Egao Gadjah Mada. Tomodachi is Japanese for friend while Egao is Japanese for smile. I know it sounds weird but that doesn’t make us feel down at all. But I think the name is just fine. The whole thing began on the 4^th term when 2 of my senior, Mbak Pijar and Mbak Safi came to me, and asked me whether I want to join TOEGAMA or no. As soon as they finished explaining about TOEGAMA I eagerly accept the offering. I felt so lucky but on the other hand I felt just like a victim of SUPERTRAP. :D But honestly I will never ever forget that moment.

Our activity within TOEGAMA is none other than accompanying the students and sometimes the professors of Ritsumeikan University, Japan on their research. They formed a team named CheRits. They set up activities concerning natural disaster within Kalakijo, Bantul, Yogyakarta. By the way the project was made because Mr. Tatang Hariri, one of my lecturers is an acquaintance. They are doing the project up till now. The activities hold by spring (haru) and summer (natsu) each year. Which mean twice a year. Each year there are new members from both TOEGAMA and CheRits. I have been come along with them twice. Each times with different team. The first one was last year’s summer and the second was this year’s spring. My role is as companion whose job is translate the project’s plan and help them to communicate with the locals. They can’t speak Indonesian at all. But they really give their best to say thanks, good morning, good evening and the other simple words.

dinner at Gajah Wong Restaurant

Ari Wijaya, Risa-san, Me

Me, Tasuku-san, Mbak Safi

Matsubara-san at Kalakijo

Mikihiro-san at Kalakijo

Me and Kubo-san at Museum Gunung Merapi

Me and Nanako-san at Museum Gunung Merapi

The activities usually take about a week up to 10days. We do the preparation at MM UGM by hold a meeting. On the meeting we talk about our plan and preparing everything for activities in Kalakijo, Bantul. Usually at the 3^rd day the Japanese students go for some home stay in Kalakijo. They adapt pretty well with the environment and condition within Kalakijo. The first time I came along I stay with Nanako and Risa. The owner of the house was very kind. They gave a considerable amount of foods for us, lent us comfortable beds and gave us warm welcome. The following day we meet at a room in an elementary school to set up the Special Field Trip plan which is one of our projects. We work together with the residents of Kalakijo start from the youngsters, teachers, house wives, and children. They are really cooperative. The Special Field Trip was held at March 12 this year. Unfortunately, I was unable to join because I came home to Bali for Nyepi. So I can’t tell you things about the Special Field Trip. But as far as I know it was ran successfully.

Meeting at MM UGM

Meeting at Kalakijo

I myself learnt a lot of things like speaking Japanese for example. Beside that I learnt how to interpreting Japanese, understanding the character of Japanese People, etc. At the end of the project we usually hold a farewell party which called ‘Sama-Sama Party’. Beside from having dinner we also present performances both from TOEGAMA and CheRits. At the time we come closer each other, but in the other hand we have to say farewell because the Japanese students have to come back to Japan the following day. We are always waiting for them to come back to Yogyakarta.