YOUR STORY IS A GREATEST GIFT

BY. NANI CAHYANI My name is Dhya. I was born in Lanto on 22 June 1980, Bau-Bau, South East Sulawesi. It is the place where I am living now and is not as advanced as other areas in Indonesia. I am the third out of five siblings in my family. And currently my mother raises us alone as my father passed away 4 years ago. I studied at Haluoleo University in Kendari (the capital of South East Sulawesi) for four and half years (2000-2005). It takes five hours from Bau-Bau by jetfoil. Actually there is a private university in Bau-Bau, But I wanted to live apart from my parents at first, they disagreed with my decision until I came up with some logical reasons of studying at Haluoleo University. In 2005, I graduated from Haluoleo University with a great achievement, I was the third best graduate in my faculty, Educational and Teacher Training Faculty. I was offered by the Head of English Study program to teach English at that university but I refused politely because I wanted to work in Bau-Bau, the city where I
was born and the place of all my childhood memories. As a matter of fact, Bau-Bau is a developing city. It has many interesting tourism objects that draw tourists and students from overseas to come for pleasure or conducting research. Bau-Bau is also well known for her fortress of Keraton Buton (which is the widest in the world) and the uniqueness of its culture. The languages that are usually spoken Bahasa Buton (the first language of most people) and Indonesian. A great number of people in Bau-Bau can not speak English so language is a barrier to communicate with them . It becomes my first reason why I am eager to study English. I have been involving myself in some activities where English is practiced. They are : Iinitiated to hold English event where cultural performances and English are blended, such as a speech competition in which I was the head of the committee for two years. It was an event that included students from elementary school students to senior high school students. The event ran well and was a great success. Also, I teach English for senior high school students voluntarily as most of them can not afford to pay for an English course. Iam currently working a lecturer in Dayanu Ikhsanuddin University. I also had some work experiences I worked for Operation Wallacea Trust Lambusango Forest Conservation Project ‘July-August 2005’ as social researcher officer. My responsibilities included carrying out a survey on household incomes for people who live in a border of Lambusango Forest and acting as an indonesia/English translator for Dr. Ruth Malleson, a socio economic assesor, ‘ and British university students who carried out a survey on general public awareness about the Lambusango conservation and their importance in Bau-Bau. Then I have been involved with Global Partners as a Cross Cultural Facilitator for two months ‘December 2005-January 2006’ in an education and cross cultural exchange program. Myresponsibilities included arranging suitable homestay accomodation in Bau-Bau for the participants coming from Australia, organizing and facilitating visits in schools, writing and collecting evaluation reports of the program and working closely with the program coordinator in coordinating the program. Those experiences have triggered me to study English Language and Culture. I have some reasons which make me to study; first i want to get more knowledge for myself and I will share it to the community in Bau-Bau also to the students where I am teaching at Dayanu ikhsanuddin University, Bau-Bau, second I will spend my time to answer question from people who have interest to study abroad, particulary in Holland. Then this will give motivation to the young generations to improve their capacity, specifically in studying English and Culture. Another main reason for me to study English and Culture at your univversity is that i want to be a role model for women and girls in my hometown. Women and girls live in patriarcal society where women have a very limited access,compare to men, to participate in public domain in order to develop their potential, consequently, most women can not work in offices to actualize their capability or play bigger roles in family or society as the impact of society’s mainframe that women can only stay at home and raise up children. Limited access to education and training, health facility and other basic needs have contributed to the low quality of women. I as a woman who has been working for university, Non Governmental Organization and local radio station in kendari and Bau-Bau I am aware of the condition aboveif it occurs in a long period. My effort in finding scholarship hopefully can give a positive impact as well as motivation for women in my city to compete with men in all aspects of life. I also strongly believe that by studying English and Culture will bring benefit for me and my society as numbers of natural objects in Bau-Bau attract tourists, researcher, scientists to come for pleasure or conduct research. Despite my Toefl Prediction Test (an equivalent test) was 540 but I will keep pushing myself to learn harder and keep practicing my English. Will you allow me to have the oppurtunity to study in your university as I strongly believe your university is qualified and have an excellent standard to improve my knowlwdge in english Language and culture. I have such dream study in Holland since I was a child. When I watched television in my house there was a program about the beauty of your country and it would be a great moment having that dream come true and be a useful resources for Bau-Bau City and for my country Indonesia. A special gift is a nice story. Remember all the things you have done, and things we have been through together …. So miss you tonight more than words I can say… I know you will not read this story but I just want to dedicate this for you (My father-I love you always) Baubau, 20 June 2012