Streaming RCTI

Today I read some tweets from Indonesian artists in Twitter, so I knew that some of them will perform in a TV program called Dahsyat. Dahsyat was broadcasted by an Indonesian TV station called RCTI (Rajawali Citra Televisi Indonesia). I tried to googling (searching by using Google) and I got some result from www.binus-access.com/bee-watch/

Picture 1 Binus Access

but it is not possible to establish a network connection at that time. I searched more and I found this website is useful since I could stream RCTI from http://www.mivo.tv/

Picture 2 Mivo.tv

If you need to stream RCTI as well, you can try to access it and choose RCTI.

P.S.: This is some of the thing that might happen to us, the international student.

ACE Leadership Competition - Testimonial

This is my testimonial for ACE's committee:

"Being a international student in UNSW means focus in studying by reading course materials, attending lectures, working on assignments, etc. to gain technical skills. It was me before I joined ACE Leadership Competition. The more I involved in the program, the more I realized that I need other skills beside technical skills and those are people skills through various challenging activities. Challenge drew me out of my comfort zone and entered learning zone which was perfect to develop myself. ACE Leadership Competition gave me not only the knowledge, but also chances to apply the knowledge and know myself better. I recommended this program to all postgraduate students in Australian Business School because I believe that everyone needs and is able to be a better person for his/her life and community."

I share this to the world because I found it quite good to motivate myself...^^;

8< - - - - - - - -

After the competition, I got
- 1 certificate of attendance
- 1 $50 voucher from UNSW Bookstore
Later, I got an e-mail from Student Development Office

Picture 1 e-mail

The content of the e-mail is that I got FREE TICKET to Magical Masquerade Ball worth $68. Thus, I have a very good impression to both the committee and GSA (Graduate Student Association).

Magical Masquerade: Preparation

There will be a ball at the end of this teaching period (week 13). I volunteer to do marketing for the event. One of my job is making posters.

I found this websites are very useful to supply non-royalty pictures:
1. Stock Exchange
2. deviantART
(there are some that are free, but the rests are not free)

I found a website that can assist me to determine matching colors through themes, that is Adobe Kuler. I chose "africa" by "Sifa" from Kuler. Here is what the theme look like:

Picture 1 Kuler Theme: africa by Sifa

I used the color in the middle (third from left and right) as background like it is suggested by Kuler. This is an example of a poster that I made from that source:

Picture 2 Sample Poster

In the end, this poster was not chosen as one that will be used, but I think it looks good (since I am the one who made it.

FAQ about designing poster:
1. Q: What should I care about paper?
A: There are some different sizes and types of paper. As an example, that poster was printed in A3 (equals to 2 times A4 or 29.7 x 42.0 centimeters) in a glossy paper (200 grams).
2. Q: Which file format should I use for the poster?
A: It depends on your purpose. If it is to edit further, a raw file that still keep the picture as detail as possible is better. If it is to print, .pdf file would be sufficient.
3. Q: How to make sure that the picture quality will be good?
A: It is better to make sure that the pictures at least have a resolution of 300 dpi (dot per inch) and it is different with ppi (pixel per inch). Don't get messed up!

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

This morning my friend told me that & Jerry's would come to UNSW Anzac Parade at 12:00AM. He knew it from his friend's post in Twitter. So, around that time I went out to Anzac Parade and I could not find it there. About one hour later, I found out that it was not on the street, but it was inside UNSW. So, they brought their car into UNSW and make crowd. The ice cream was free and there are two different flavor: vanilla and chocolate.

Picture 1 Ben & Jerry's Van from Angle 1

Picture 2 Ben & Jerry's Van (Closer Look)

There are two people, the one on the left (purple shirt) gave vanilla-flavored ice cream, the other one (blue shirt) gave chocolate-flavored ice cream.

Picture 3 Other than Ice Cream

The chocolate one is less desirable, so I just took it (I did not have to wait as long as if I got the vanilla one). It is sweet with a little bit bitter taste (just like chocolate). It is nice.

Picture 3 Chocolate Flavored Ice Cream (with Chocolate Chip)

Sydney in Orange

This morning I woke up at around seven o'clock and I saw the sky was orange. I thought I woke up too early, then I checked my watch and I was still too early, so I felt asleep again. Later, when I would go out of my house, my house-mate told me that there was a thunderstorm. Later, I realized that the sky was orange because of dust and it happened everywhere in Sydney. My friend even told me that he thought that he was gonna die and he did not have to study again. I did not take any photos at that time, but my friend took it from her apartment in Anzac Parade Street, Kingsford.

Picture 1 Anzac Parade Street in the morning

This is photos at around eleven o'clock it's already much better.

Picture 2 Anzac Parade Street at around 10AM

Picture 3 UNSW at around 10AM

Note: Thank you for the photo, Tina!

Gossip Geek

UNSW CSE (School of Computer Science and Engineering) Revue is going to do a play, "Gossip Geek" between Tuesday (22) to Thursday (24 September 2009) in Science Theatre. The theatre is a teaching space, so it is often used for lecture. They put brochures in many places, but besides that they do this with the building:

Picture 1 Outside Science Theatre

I can read "Gossip Geek" from the arrangement of paper on the window. This is how if you look at it from inside:

Picture 2 Inside Science Theatre

I can read "geek" in reverse order. They put the posters in certain arrangement, so from outside it can be read as "gossip geek". It will be difficult to notice it from inside, I may just think as a stupid way to arrange the posters.

UNSW: Randwick Campus

UNSW Main Campus is in Kensington, but they have several other campuses like this one, Randwick Campus. The Campus in Randwick is mainly used for language study.

Picture 1 UNSW in Randwick

Picture 2 Language School

Picture 3 Street View

It is actually separated from the main campus by Royal Randwick Race Course and one block of housing in Allison Road. Now it is difficult for the main campus and this campus to expand their land because their surroundings have already been occupied and the price has already relatively high. So, UNSW has some campuses in different area and for students like me, it is an opportunity to visit the other campuses.

UNSW Open Day 2009

I was so surprised with this university. I had never thought that they can attract a lot of people. I knew that they put posters in the university and other places, they bought spaces in public area like bus stop, and they have a website about it. They also managed to provide free direct bus (no. 900) from central station (City) to UNSW (Kensington Campus) every about 5 minutes.

One day before Open Day (Friday), it was still quite quiet.

Picture 1 Track for Solar Cars

On Open Day, it was very crowded since morning. UNSW practically only gave free guide books, goodie bags, ballpoints, and other simple merchandises. They also give free pop corn and cotton candy. There are also free stuffs from sponsors like V (in cans).

Picture 2 Lower Campus View

Picture 3 Upper Campus View

Picture 4 Free Pop Corn (behind it, there was a free cotton candy stand)

I don't know how they did it, but it seemed to be a successful Open Day. I also thought that brand name was very important because people who came there was not only teenagers, but also adults. I thought they have already have a perception that UNSW was a good university and that day was a good chance to get more information about their desirable course.

International Festival

International Festival was held by and in UNSW since Tuesday (25) to Thursday (27 August 2009). On Wednesday It happened that before I attended my lecture I saw the crowd, then I figured out that they held a night market from 4PM (I thought it was not late enough and the sun's shine was still quite bright). PPIA (Perhimpunan Pelajar Indonesia Australia), an Indonesian community club, also opened a stand there. They sold mochi, I could not believe it, even though Cianjur and Semarang were famous by their mochi, but mochi was not Indonesian food, as far as I knew, it was Japanese. Besides that, there are some other stands that represented other countries like China, Japanese, etc.

Picture 1 Night Market (Front View)

Picture 2 Night Market (Back View)

This event reminded me about my reason to study here, in Australia, especially Sydney, was that this place was diverse. Here I can meet people from different nationality, so I can also study their culture. Globalization is an issue and it has changed the way people usually do things and it is often involved people from different culture. A person, in his/her life, has some options like creating his/her own culture and let others follow or following the culture that has been established. In term of globalization, it is easier for me to do the second one because I don't have enough power to do the first option, or in other word it is usually called adaptation. If I can get accepted by the global world, I am sure that I will have more options and opportunities to do more.

Note:

Later, I just realized that when I tried to blend with the culture that has already existed before I am here, other people are important. I evaluated my actions based on other's responses to what I did, so I think it is important for the former people to be aware of this otherwise it will be difficult for new people to feel accepted and adapt themselves.

ACE Leadership Competition - Closing Ceremony

Five days after the competition, we were gathered again in Marriott Hotel, Circular Quay, for closing ceremony. It was a cocktail event, so they only provided us with cocktail (champagne, white wine, red wine, etc.), light drink (lime, lemon squash, etc.), and some snacks. It was started at about 6:30 PM.

Professor Alex Cameron, The Dean, did the opening speech. The speech from Juliet, today's keynote speaker, gave me the idea that technical skills without communication skills will not take you further in your career.

After those speech they announced the winner based on ten categories for ten teams (everyone is the winner), but the last three were third position, runner-up position, and the winner. I got the fourth position, the label is as the team that mimic homeless people, if I am not mistaken. Each of us got a voucher (valid for 12 months) worth AUD50 to buy a book at UNSW Bookstore. Since I paid AUD50 for this program, it was paid back.

After it had ended, many of us still chatted or took some pictures outside the room. When I met Shahid and he complained to me because I called him, "Sir". I realized my mistake, this is Australia, a different place with where I came from. I should just call him by his first name.

ACE Leadership Competition - Last Day

This third and last day is about EXCELLENCE. We were gathered in ASB Business Lounge (sixth floor of ASB Building) at 8:30 AM. This time we did not get any breakfast. There were several activities for this day.

1. Business Case

Our role was as a consultant. Each group picked the case at certain time and had one hour to prepare for seven-minutes-presentation. Each group was assigned to certain room and facilitated with paper (A4 and A1) and two color marker (black and blue). We got about one hour before picked the case. We use the time to prepare things that we thought we would need to mention or discuss. After we got the case, we use half an hour to discuss and another half to write down the presentation on A1 paper.

2. First Presentation

We got seven minutes to present and another two minutes for being questioned and answered those in front of the judges and handycam (our presentation was recorded). We supported each other's answers for each question that was given to us.

3. Self Assessment

We self-assessed ourself by using questionnaire that was given after we got out of the presentation room. It was about:

a. what we think went right for our team

For our group:

- We understood the case

- We made the structure before, so our presentation was well structured.

- We listened and tried to understand to each other's ideas (brainstorming).

- We stuck with the time.

- The questions were unpredictable (like if you do that, what do you think your competitor will do?), but we had the information (from brainstorming), so we could answer the questions.

b. what we think are the ways in which we could have done better

For our group:

- We discussed things that we had planned but we did not because of time schedule (like contingency plan, risk analysis, etc.).

- We managed our presentation (like blocking).

c. negotiation style

d. Belbin (it was introduced to us on the workshop at the first day of the program)

I did not planned this, but when I thought about it, each of us played our Belbin's role for at least:

- 1 originator

- 1 coordinator

- 1 supporter

- 1 finisher

It happened naturally without planning.

4. Lunch

They provided us lunch.

Picture 1 Lunch

5. Feedback

Each group received feedback from the judges. Positive feedbacks were that we did good, our presentation was structured, and we did a good start (strong introduction). Negative feedbacks were that we gave to many solutions (we should just pick the top three). After we received our feedback, instead of chatting with others, our group returned to the room and prepared for second presentation although we did not know whether we would make it to second presentation or not.

6. Second Presentation

Only top three groups were given a chance to do the second presentation and my group made it.

After that the judges gave us their speeches. They emphasized about these:

- eye contact, always look at the audiences at their forehead, not stare at their eyes (not only the presenter but also the other members).

- to not look at the board all the time

- structure, tell your ideas then re-confirm what you have told

- to keep it really-really simple

Shahid talked to us and he told us something and I realized that I took all of the challenges without complains, I worked on it with my group, and I presented my group work. This way, I took a step in my life.

7. Experiential Exercises

- A competition to make a structure from a piece of A4 paper as tall as possible in 15 minutes.

We managed to build one, but it did not last long because of air conditioner (external factor). When it was started, everyone just jumped into it (no plan), even though in the end, after one of us came with a good idea, everyone stopped working individually and helped.

- A competition to gain control of a series of straw.

We managed to control it, but other groups can do it faster than us. We did not understand it, we just realized that it was all about time when it was over.

Some last words:

- Ash (Project leader for this day) told us about leadership, that is not only about coordinating, but also influencing.

- Stan (Project leader for second day) told us to keep things that we like.

ACE Leadership Competition - Second Day

This second day was about COMMUNITY. We were gathered in 183 Campbell Street, Surry Hills at 7:50 AM. It is known as Table for 20, an italian cafe. We used its upper floor. This morning we got a T-shirt and a breakfast with various choices.

Picture 1 Preparation for breakfast

The upper floor looked like a bar, but in fact it is also a base for Hope Street, a social organization. People from Hope Street gave us information about homeless while United Way (our sponsor) gave us the case and the tasks.

The tasks were about homeless people and it was basically:

1. to engage with people and raise awareness of http://www.commoncause.com.au

2. to create a fundraising structure

A moderator was assigned to follow us during the day and make notes about us. We were given AUD50 to cover all of our expenses, including the moderator. We were given time to work in there until 11:00 AM. We brainstormed and left from there a little bit late.

Problems:

1. We decided to buy a concession TravelTen card to travel by bus to Apple Store in George Street. When we got in the bus, three men dressed in blue got in and they asked for our card. After they looked at the card, I did not get concession. So they asked for my driving license and to noted my address in his book. My teammate kept speaking to one of them. I was relieved when they told me that this time they let me go, but later I would not. Two of us got caught, two others had concession, and one managed to get out of the bus before asked.

My thought: a team should care about its team member and each others condition. In that way, we may avoid the group to make decisions that make others uneasy.

2. After we reached The Apple Store (the store has lots of display products and internet connection), we tried to implement our idea about the first task that was to engage with people through facebook (create a group for the website) and twitter. Each of us worked with a display laptop. Just after we started our moderator told us to re-read the task and we just realized that we misinterpreted the first task. We made a sudden plans and moved from there to find a printing service. It was Saturday, so it was difficult to find one. Fortunately we found it in OfficeWork, so we could print and also use their display laptop to design. We were about one hour behind the schedule.

My thought: External resource is important, in this case at least it is to check whether we got the right idea or not. I was thankful that our moderator played her role nicely, otherwise we might have lost our points for the first task. Allocation of spare time is important.

3. We worked on our presentation slides (power point) and finished it just before 4:00 PM in Marriott Hotel. Each of us prepared our presentation while other groups presented. After I made up my speech, my teammate had an idea to not use the presentation slides because many groups did not manage to finish theirs. We agreed and we re-arrange the part that each of us had agreed before. I had to re-prepare within about 16 minutes (each group got 8 minutes) and then when we presented it, I just realized that my part and my other teammate part was overlapped. We worked as a team, so I did not do everything that I have prepared and I did some of it spontaneously. With this plan, we still did not manage to finish our presentation. I was disappointed because I thought that we had so many great ideas but we did not able to communicate those because of time limitation.

My thought: For presentation, especially when it is so much to talk about within a short period of time, I think it is better use put pictures (as proof or illustration) or diagram (to guide the audience and help them to get our idea) than write down all the words, pictures, and everything else (so we can just read those in presentation slides).

After presentation self-service dinner was served for us.

Picture 2 Dinner

After dinner, Doug Taylor (judge and keynote speaker for today's program/competition, CEO of United Way) gave a speech to us. The thing that I remembered from it was that we could start from anywhere and take a step, it would direct you.

ACE Leadership Competition - First Day

This was the first of three consecutive day when I will be involved this program which was held by Australian School of Business (ASB) for its postgraduate students. This was the first time the program was run and it cost only AUD50. There were about 50 students joined this program and we were arranged to 10 different groups. It was started on Friday, 21 August 2009. This day the program was about ADVANCEMENT.

ACE Opening Function

It was held at 8:00 AM in Marriott Hotel, Circular Quay. We were asked to wear business attire which I think refer to a black suit.

We were provided self-service breakfast by Marriott Hotel since 7:30 AM. I tried a chocolate croissant, two donut (one with strawberry jam inside and one with caramel topping), a cup of tea (Pickwick Refresh Green Tea and Lemon), and a glass of apple juice. The cakes were good, but the drinks were just usual.

Prof. Chris Adam gave speech and declared opening of the program. At 9:20 AM two bus took us form there to ASB.

Leadership Advancement Workshop

After we reached ASB, we were directed to Room 115. The workshop was facilitated by Denise Weinreis. It was meant to equip us with knowledge about teamwork and get us ready for tomorrow's competition. We got a break from 12:00 AM - 1:00 PM and a voucher worth AUD10 for foods and drinks in Quad.

We assessed ourselves by using Belbin questionnaire, then there was an activity called Zin. Some teams of about 9 people were formed and we competed each others. My team was managed to be the first to solve the problem correctly. Other team that came second held a grudge against us and our time difference is not more than 1.5 minute. I evaluated myself and found that we actually could submit the problem earlier, but some of us might not in the same page. I mean that some people like me did not think to win, I just wanted to answer it correctly. If all of us were intended to win the activity, we might submit it earlier.

I remembered that last week I was introduced to group development model (Tuckman, 1965) in a lecture. It is consisted of five stages that are Forming-Norming-Storming-Performing. This day I was told that it was not entirely correct and she showed us a model that she developed with her partner based on a research. This is the model:

[picture]

I was disappointed with my lecturer. I remembered that several months ago I listened to a speech that said that if somebody told us something, be suspicious! The activity was continued until about 4:00 PM, then we were briefed about tomorrow's program.

Sixty Years since Foundation Day

It has been 60 years since University of New South Wales (UNSW) was founded OR if it is compared to other university, it has ONLY been 60 years. Sixty years can be considered as short period by someone or long period by someone else, but I am sure that within that period history was written. With history, the university can look back, compare between the past and the present, and find out its achievements. History is important, not only for the university, but also for me, because in history information about my past was kept. I need it to monitor my progresses and learn so I can do it better when the chances come. There lies my hope that I will not take the wrong track and discover my ICE TRACK.

Photos on The Celebration Day, 30 July 2009, are as follows.

Picture 1 Quadrangle Lawn from angle-1

Picture 2 Quadrangle Lawn from angle-2