2015 KGSP-Graduate -- 2nd Selections by NIIED

Today is the 2nd selections notice. And it come out in the evening (as usual).
It's a pity, I didn't passed the 2nd selections, because in the 2nd selections, you will compete with applicants from your country.

For university, only there's 10 people from Indonesia that will got the scholarship.  And I'm not in that 10 people.

Mmm.. It's a strict competition. Everything is beyond of luck. So, will I try again next year? :D

Credit: http://studyinkorea.go.kr/en/sub/gks/selectBoardArticle.do;jsessionid=26AE4D3274AFC41DF3EB989BAEAA91B0.node_20

2015 KGSP-Graduate -- Recommendation Letter

Today, I decided to contact my professor at University, and ask for Recommendation Letter. I can't go to the university, so I contact him using email.

Hope he is willingly fullfil the recommendaion template, and send it back to me.

2015 KGSP-Graduate - The Notice

Those who wants to apply for KGSP this year (2015), the notice is out. You can visit the website and read the guidelines.

Site: http://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/en/sub/gks/selectBoardArticle.do;jsessionid=44F37E26D686BE121D6DBDDCAE592ABC.node_20

REMEMBER: Read it first, don't ask anything before you read it. If you really willing to apply for the scholarship, then I thought "read" is not a big deal. And try to understand the procedure is an easy things. Don't be lazy.

There's some method of applying, by Embassy and University.

For Embassy
For Indonesian, see the notice in embassy website (http://idn.mofa.go.kr/). There will be a notice about KGSP Graduate Program. Don't forget to see the deadline, because it's different with what is written in KGSP Guideline. This year, the deadline of KGSP through Korean Embassy in Indonesia is 6th March. For university, you can choose 3 of your choice (look the file ""03.2015 GKS Graduate courses University information(English).pdf [2441388 byte]"). Don't forget to call the embassy if you have any questions. But READ the guideline first before you call.

For University
See the university and major that you desired in the link above which wrote: "03.2015 GKS Graduate courses University information(English).pdf [2441388 byte]". Open the file and use "FIND" to searching for the university you desired or the major you wants. You can see the deadline of the application through every university information. DON'T FORGET, every university has different deadline.
Once you found the university and major you desired, then contact them via email to make sure the requirements and the deadline.

The deadline information in NIIED website is global, so to make it spesific, look the information in every university or embassy.

Good Luck~

Last Time at Phil House > Seoul ~ South Korea > Day 11 (1) - 2014 October 18 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

We move to other hotel today. The hotel name is Blessing in Seoul. It's budget hotel and nice, but unfortunately, the location is a little far away from subway station. From Phil House, we ride taxi.

Let's see for the last time of Phil House 8 dorm room.

Then we move to Blessing In Seoul Hotel near Dongdaemun.

Blessing in Seoul
2-7 Cheongnyang-ni-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea
+8270-4632-3290

The hotel is nice, it's a budget hotel. And the receptionist when we arrive is so kind. He really help us. We still can't check-in that time, so he said that he will help us to put our luggage on our room once the check-in time allowed.

Unfortunately, the hotel locations is far away from subway. Walk took 20 minutes to Hoegi Station, and this is the closest station to Kyunghee University and University of Seoul.

So there's so many students in there and also shopping street, restaurant and cafe.

Ewha Women's University Shopping Area 이화여자대학교 > Seoul ~ South Korea > Day 10 (4) - 2014 October 17 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

From Gyeongbokgung Palace, after rest for a while near the palace area, we go to Ewha Women's University shopping area.

Stop by Ewha Women's University / 이대 station then exit 2 / 3 and walk for 5 minutes then you will see a lot of store.

I didn't buy anything in here, just walk around, until I found the entrance of Ewha Women's University. Because it's university area, so there's so many students in here.

There's so many street food and cafe too.

2014 KGSP-G - The 1st Result of Sookmyung Interview

Ms Kim said, there will be a bit delay from 9th April to 24th April. But today, in the morning, I got an email.

She said, that unfortunately, I didn't nominated because the number of students from Indonesia that can be nominated is limited. But I passed the interview, and she offer me "Special Scholarship of International Students".

I feel relieved once the result came out. Even I have not been nominated, but it's okay. It's an experience to apply such a great scholarship. That's give me another challenge and experience.

So, time to move on. Let's move to next target...

NB: I just want to share it to you guys, who interested to apply for KGSP. Event I didn't nominated, but if you need information, and fortunately, I can help, then I will help you.

Thank you

2014 KGSP-Graduate - Waiting for 1st screening result

They said that they will notify us at 9th April 2014 by email. But until today is over, they still didn't contact us. Mmm... So I decided, tomorrow I will email Ms Kim.

2014 KGSP-Graduate - Interview from Sookmyung Women's University

The interview will take time 08:20. I have already wait at store from 07:30. Then at 07:40, the staff member calls me, to remind me about the interview which will take at 08:20.

Then I wait again.

And at 08:42, the professor from my desired major, call me. There's two professor, I didn't get their name because it's too echo.
First they ask me to introduce myself. Then they ask me why I apply for this major which absolutely different from my undergraduate major.
Then they ask me about my undergraduate university situation. And they also ask me if I willing to go to Korea if I have been accepted. They also ask me how did I know about Le Cordon Bleu.

At 08:50, the interview ended.
(The time is Indonesian WIB Time, Korean time is 2 hour later than Indonesia.)

I try to answer it, just like I'm answering my friends questions but with manners.

I hope I give the best impression for them.

Now just wait for 9th April for the 1st candidate notice from KGSP. They said that they will notify us via email.

2014 KGSP-Graduate - Phone Call from Ms Kim, Sookmyung Women's University Global Lounge International Admissions

This morning, while I went to deliver flight ticket to customer, there's a phone call from South Korea, +82-xxxxxxx.

I already have a feeling that it's from Sookmyung Women's University.

So I pick up the call with carefully.

And... Ms Kim calls me, she want to check if the number that I use was correct or not. And she tell me, that before April 2nd, they will give me email to notice me about the phone interview which will take place on April 4th.

All the information about the interview will write at the email.

So she remind me to always check my email.

I'm nervous, I understand what she talking, but I'm really nervous, so I just try to ask and ask again. OMG~~~ How embarrasing...
But I hope that I give her the best appearance through the phone call.

Wish us all the best.. :)

2014 KGSP-Graduate - Pick up the package from JNE and send it directly to Seoul by EMS

This morning, I decided to go to JNE early to take my package. Fortunately, when I arrived there, the package carrier was on there, so he gave me the package directly.

Then I went back to re-arrange it, together with the notarized transcrip & degree. And don't forget to copy of another 3 set. Then sent it to Seoul by EMS.

Now, it's time to waiting.

2014 KGSP-Graduate - The document package hasn't arrived yet... :(

Because I'm out of town, so I don't know if the Shipping company send the documents to my travel agency or not yet. But when I tracked it at the evening, it said that 3 o'clock at the evening, they just received from Jakarta.

I think, they will send it tomorrow. So, tomorrow morning, I will call them and ask them if the documents on the office or not. If the documents was on the office, I will pick it up by myself.

*cross finger*

I'm run with the time... XD

2014 KGSP-Graduate - The Birth Certificate sworn translated was sent to me

Mitra Penerjemah send the birth certificate today. Hope tomorrow it will arrived early. But tomorrow, my travel agency was closed. Oh no.... I have to go outside of the town because something that related with my passport. Mmm...

Today I send the birth certificate using email to Ms Kim. And she accepted it too. So I just need to wait for the documents arrived to me safely, and send it to Ms Kim as soon as possible.

2014 KGSP-Graduate - Using Sworn Translator and Notary for Notarized the Documents

This morning I send the birth certificate scan copy to Mitra Penerjemah (http://mitrapenerjemah.com). And they said, it needs 1 to 2 days. But I ask them for 1 days. And they will try it.

And today I also decided to go to Notary at my hometown to get the degree and transcript notarized. The fee is 150.000 IDR for 4 page. (It's cheaper than using legalized service).
I search the notary using google, and found 2 listed notary near my locations.

I go to the first, but pitily, the notary not at the desk because she is not Magelang person.

So I go to the second, and she willingly to give the notarized.
...
...
...
And after 1 hours, the documents has been notarized.

But how to give it to the Embassy? OMG~~~~~ I decided to ask Mitra Penerjemah first.

The Mitra Penerjemah said, that I have to legalized it at the University if I want to notarized it at Embassy. It's not enough if only with notary.

So, I decided to try the worst. I send the email to Ms Kim and attached the notarized documents by notary, and ask her to receive it first before I notarized them at Embassy.

And now, I just can wait for the reply and received the worst. I thought if they still wants the documents notarized by Embassy, then I just try to go to university to legalized or give up. Because I read some KGSP Scholarship Students (http://ahmadnasikun.wordpress.com/2013/01/26/tips-and-tricks-for-kgsp-korean-government-scholarship-program-part-2/) that there's no problem to notarized the documents only by notary.

...
...
...
...
...

At the evening, Ms Kim answer my email. She said that she received the documents, and will subtitute it temprorary until I send the original documents. Wait.. What? What's that mean? If I'm not wrong, it means, that the notarized document by notary was accepted. OMG~~~.. So I don't have to bring it to the embassy. Yipeee... I'm so happy.

She said, she will wait for the original even it's already over the deadlines, but the most important is before the interview.

And I can't wait to send it to them soon. Just wait for the birth certificate now.

2014 KGSP-Graduate - Sookmyung Women's University notice me about the documents

Today, the Sookmyung Women's University representative, send me the email that they have already received the documents. But they need some supplement documents to be posted soon.

1. Notarized Degree and Transcript by Korean Embassy
2. My Birth Certificate on English

Oh No... I'm panic. No.. I can't panic. So I try to think and search, how to get the notarized documents by Korean Embassy and how to translate the birth certificate into English from Indonesia, and it's official.

I found sworn translator company. And I just realized, I can used them because they are sworn translator. Which means, they are official from the goverment. They have to passed some exams from the Government official university, and get the official number as sworn translator.

But which one is can be trusted? So many of them on google search.

So I try to browse some forums, and I found Mitra Penerjemah.

MITRA PENERJEMAH ("Penerjemah" at English is Translator)
The website is: http://mitrapenerjemah.com/
At their website, you can see the tracking list that show their send the documents to customer. From here, I try to contact their Yahoo Messenger (you can found it at the website) and ask for the price. Altough the price was available at the website, but some of them, is confusing because I never try anything about this.
They can help us to notarized the documents to Embassy too. So I try to ask anything about it.

They answer my email. Their service is good, the contact person was nice, and willingly to give us some information.

I decided to use them to sworn translate my birth certificate. But the document was not here now, so I tell them that I will send it to them tomorrow morning using email.

And about my transcript and degree, the documents was already on English, so they said, I didn't need to sworn translate it into english again. And for notarized, just legalized them at University first, then send it to them. They will help us to legalized it to notary, then to Korean Embassy.

I'm confuse. Because, it seems complicated. What should I do?? Mmm... I couldn't come to University to legalized them because of the distance problem. Mmm...

What should I do? What should I do?

2014 KGSP-Graduate - The documents has been arrived at Sookmyung Women's University

I used EMS Korean Tracking, to see where is my documents.

--> http://www.koreapost.go.kr/eng/sub/EMS_Search.jsp?contId=e1020600

Just put your EMS tracking number at the box above.

The Tracking

Now I just wait for the university to notice me via email. A lot of people said that they will notice us if they received the documents.

2014 KGSP-Graduate - Send the Document to Sookmyung Women's University

Today, I plan to send the document for KGSP Program to Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul ~ South Korea.

- CheckList for Application Documents : OK (1 original + 3 copy)

- Application Form Korean University : OK (1 original + 3 copy)

- Introductions : OK (1 original + 3 copy)

- Study Plan and Future Plan : OK (1 original + 3 copy)

- Letters of Recommendation : OK (1 original only, because it sealed by the Profesor that I requested for Recommendation Letter. Don't worry, the University will help us to copy another 3 copy)

- Pledge : OK (1 original + 3 copy)

- Personal Medical Assestment : OK (1 original + 3 copy)

- Degree & Transcript : OK (1 original + 3 copy) --> My degree and transcript was already at English, so I didn't have to translate it. But I haven't notarized it yet, because I don't know how to notarized at Korean Embassy (the University ask me to notarized them at Korean Embassy when the 2014 KGSP Notice come out, and I send the email to them to make sure).

- ID Passport : OK (1 original + 3 copy)

- Parent's ID (Passport) : OK (1 original + 3 copy) --> Put it inside small envelope, and marked the envelope as "Copy of Parent's Passport", because at the application documents, it didn't give any information about your parents. This ID was used only to prove that you are not Korean.

- my CV : OK (1 original + 3 copy)

So everything is ready. I make the original put a transparant plastic and put inside 1 envelope. And the other 3 copy, each set put them at transparant plastic, and put all 3 set at 1 envelope. And I marked the envelope as Original & 3 set of copy.

Then put them together inside another envelope.

Don't fold the documents, just let it 1 full page. So you need a big envelope.

I used airmail envelope to put all of them together, and use chocolate envelope with smaller size then the airmail so that they can fit inside the airmail envelope.

Just try to make everything nice, so when they open it, they will have 1st good reaction.

Write the address using computer and print it.

I use EMS to send the documents. It cost less than 200.000 IDR for approximately 400 to 500gram weight from my hometown. And it tooks 5 to 7 days.

2014 KGSP-Graduate - Notice by NIID

Finally, the notice is come out. Usually, the notice will come out on early February each year. If you have desired to apply scholarship at South Korea, then never missed the notice.

You can open the website: http://studyinkorea.go.kr/en/sub/gks/selectBoardList.do?bbsId=BBSMSTR_000000000714 and bookmark it so you won't miss it.

I want to try it for this year. Half year ago, I found the major master degree at Sookmyung Women's University, for MBA (MA) Le Cordon Bleu Hospitality Management. Then, I found this Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) by NIID (National Institute of International Education. So, I'm waiting for it and decided to apply for it.

There are two method to apply the program.
1. by respective Korean Embassy
2. for the Designated University

You can download the guidelines through the notice. Read carefully, and follow the instructions. If you read it clearly, you will understand what have needed to apply.

Download te attached file list, and read it carefully.
Read the guidelines first, then choose which method you want to apply.
Then Choose the University and Major at 4-2014 GKS Graduate Courses University Information (English).
Beware about the deadline.
Preparing all the documents.
And send it.

IMPORTANT: Don't forget to check the deadline!
If you choose via embassy, then call your embassy to check the deadline of KGSP.
If you choose via university, then check their website, or university information about the deadline of applications. Or you can email your university for further information.

REMEMBER: not all embassy or university has the same deadline as what is written at KGSP Guidelines. The deadline at KGSP guidelines, only the guide that show you how usually the deadline take time.

Re-registration & Stroll around UIBE # Beijing - China

Today, we re-registered our applications and also make the payment for the course. It took place on the basement of 6th building. They will asking your name using Chinese first, and if you can speak chinese already, they will give you short interview. I'm one of the application that have an interview. They ask me to read a book. And fortunately, I can read it. I have already learn chinese language for 2 year for intensive. So they ask me to do the placement test.

After the registering finished, we stroll around UIBE with Greatwall, to take photos together. We arrived at the east side of the campus, which there's a small park in there. It's so beautiful, with the snow cover the park. With the sunny weather, make it more beautiful.

After took photos, we ate lunch at the red restaurant again. :)

My Life at UIBE from 2nd March 2007 to 8th January 2008 # Beijing - China

In Mar 2nd, 2007, I start my journey in Beijing to learning Chinese Language at 北京对外经济贸易大学 *beijing duiwai jingji maoyi daxue* University of International Bussiness and Economics which known as UIBE (http://www.uibe.edu.cn/).

I apply for the chinese language course at December 2006, with the help of my cousin that study at 中医 *zhongyi* (北京中医药大学, *beijing zhongyiyao daxue* Beijing University of Chinese Medicine - http://www.bucm.edu.cn/). She help me to apply at UIBE and I send the documents by Fax.

Then in January 2007, my approvement to joined the Chinese Language in Beijing was arrived, then I apply my visa at Nusantara Tour Yogyakarta (http://www.nusatovel.com/site/id/). I need to do medical examination, but when I'm at Yogyakarta, I only check-up for HIV, Hepatitis and Drugs. All of my friend, doing the complete medical check-up which cost much. (But when I'm arrived at Beijing, I need to do another medical examination at hospital with the help from school, and it didn't cost as much as when you do it in Indonesia).

Because when I came to Beijing time, my cousin will not be there (she had holiday, so she is back Indonesia), so my Mom ask me to join Greatwall - China Education Consultant in Indonesia (http://www.study2china.com/). They help me to reserve the dormitary room, doing school registration at Beijing and guide the payment (at Beijing), help us to open bank account in China, and accompany us to go to China for the first time for the 1st weeks after we arrive at China. There's another advantage if you join this agency, you can meet with your friends first so you won't feel lonely when you arrive at China. There's a briefing 1 week before you depart to China. And because I'm at Magelang, so I join the briefing at Semarang which took 1 month before depart. And I have already met some friends when the briefing time, they are Nit, Vi, and RW.

We departed from Surabaya Juanda International Airport to Beijing by Cathay Pasific, which transit at Hongkong for lunch.

Arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport (http://en.bcia.com.cn/), there's a bus from UIBE which pick us up. There's 22 students that go with me to UIBE. We arrived at night. The journey from airport to campus was 1 hour.

I got my Beijing Phone Number using M-Zone. Greatwall help us buy it, and give it to us in the first time we arrive at Beijing.

Once we arrived at dorm 6 (6th building), Greatwall help us to pick our room. You can roomating with whoever you want, same country with you or foreigner. I requested for another Asian roomate. I got room number at 4th floor. The dorm didn't have a lift, so we have to climb the stairs to go up. But there's a help from the staff to bring our luggage upstairs. There's 6 floor in the building.

My roommate hasn't come yet, so I will be alone at my first night at Beijing. But that's better so I can adapt with the room first. Because too tired after a long day journay, I go to sleep directly that night.