HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!

I don't want to be sentimental...but.....maybe this is one of the best gifts I get for my birthday...Linda and her staff has planned a birthday party for us who were born in January and February (Fahmida, Mary, Noureddine, and I)...hikhikhikhikhik.... so touching........ even though that was a small party, but .... I know the spirit within!Thanks Linda, Jennifer, Rose, my fellow teachers especially Abdessalam who (on behalf on other teachers, I guess) has given me a meaningful present: A note book!!! (I must study harder. Am I correct, Abdessalam?)

Fahmida, I, Noureddine, and Marry held the birthday cake

Okay, let's move on to the next project...sorry...the new story. Mmmmm...we have a chance of becoming guests stars (I don't know the term) for Global Tourism Class under Prof. Wang. This class' objective is to recognize the world's tourism resorts and thaat was our job to introduce our beloved country to them. We were grouped and three students were assigned to gather info from us. That was nice "chat" as we did it while enjoying some pizza, coke, and chinese food. Yummy........!That's pretty cool, though. We can share anything as they listened carefully.

Sharing in the Global Tourism Class

Then.......tratatatatatatatatatatatatatata...... One of the most exciting moments came!!! We went ice-skating!! It was Saturday morning when we headed to AKRON Ice rink arena. We paid $2 for renting a pair of skating boot. I was so nervous as I heve never done it before!! But that's okay, at least there is always the first thing for everything, right? I started walking by holding the fence!!(what a shame...) I saw soooo......many little kids skated freely (another "what a shame")..but, minutes later.....ready...get set...gOOOO...... gedubraakkkkk, fell down (the third "what a shame"). Practice makes perfect, guys...and finally... I made it...... I could skate on thick ice....like a professional.....huakakakakakak. You know what? Several times I fell down and it felf hurt all over my body until the next morning....Ouch! At least I learn on how to skate, you know?

Ice skating...unforgettable experience

Suharyadi "Harry Potter" is in action ready to rumble!!

One more thing, the hottest issue in the US right now is....... the General Election. The candidates are racing neck to neck to be nominated for the presidency! Awesome! Democrats comes with OBAMA and CLINTON, Republican with John McCain, Huckabee, and Paul. CNN is the most concerned TV station on this issue. So far, Obama is the front runner for democrats, while McCain is for Republican. What's going on in the future.....Which one do you prefer?????Obama, Clinton, or McCain? Wait till November 08!

Change we can believe in (Obama's motto)

ENJOYING NEW LIFE

Pheewww.....

Never have I been so tired like this.....so many assignments, homework, and also projects that must be done. But it's okay...everything has its own consequences and at least I still got the power to let my story flow through this blog.

Okay....where was I?..mmmmm oh ya the activities were just like what I wanted to do. Because every Saturday we have no class, sometimes we use Friday evening to relax. The first thing to do on the first Friday evening was watching movie. It was funny and so touching...the title was (if I'm not mistaken) "Car, Train, and aeroplane". two thumbs up!!!!!!! It can make us laugh or cry.......huakakakakakakak....hikhikhikhikhik

Watching movie at White Hall

Another activity was.......oh ya...I got an opportunity to have dinner with some brother moslem at Masjid of Kent. This happened because my advisor (DR. Rafa M. Kasim) is a moslem and he invited me to join the dinner. I met a lot of people (mostly from Arabic speaking countries) who studied at KSU. That was amazing that I can be the guest for that dinner.

In front of Masjed of Kent after ashar prayer

Having dinner with some brothers at Masjed of Kent

Beside that, I also had an opportunity to attend Teacher of the Year Conference with Andrea Peterson as the teacher of the year. she shared everything about teaching including 5 things young generation doesn't possess: critical thinking, hardworking, discipline, teamwork, and leadership. Do Indonesian youths suffer from the same problem?? I think so......

With Andrea Peterson (National Teacher of the Year)

We also had a chance to visit Wellness and Recreation Center (simply called the Rec Center) with Dr. Marty Jencius (Harry's advisor). It was awesome.....one building complete with all kinds and types of exercise that you want....baskeball, wallclimbing, swimming pool, gym, jogging track, racket ball, futsal...all are in one building!!!!!!!! I can't believe that!

Nuraini, Dr. Jencius, and I (Harry was taking the picture) in front of the Rec Center

You too......take a deep breath coz more amazing moments will come up after the break!!!!

I WILL SURVIVE!

Hi all,

Sorry for not posting any news due to piles of assignment. But it's okay, I 'll continue my story. Ohio was getting colder and colder and yes, the warmest thing in Ohio was the "Welcome". The thing that I mentioned before finally fell down. THE SNOW!! January 14th 2008 was the first time I touch the snow, and just like a little boy, I played with it outside the apartment. That was also the first time we had a special seminar class with Dr. Linda Robertson (later on I'll just mention Linda)

Linda and I for the first special seminar

THE SNOW!!!!! Look cool, huh (or cold??)

Kent State University is a great university with 35.000 students, and hundreds of buildings. My first class took place in Gerald R. Read, White Hall. Mr. Read was, according to Linda's info, excellent person as he devoted his life to intercultural exchange activities. My whole program was actually under the College of Education, Health, and Human Services (EHHS) and mainly handled by the Center for International and Intercultural Exchange (CIIE). The first seminar is about Cross Cultural Communication, continued with introduction to the faculty members during lunch time.

Welcome Luncheon. Sitting in the middle is Dr. Joane Arhar (a professor whose expertise is in research), next to me is Saji (India), Mary Chan (Malaysia) and Abdessalam (Marocco)

In front of White Hall, KSU

From the first time I knew that I would have a lot of activities to accomplish, so no matter what, I will survive. One of the ways to survive is actually adjusting my tongue. As you know, there is no spicy food in Kent, so we decided to cook Indonesian food.(Sounds silly, right?) But that's also one of the ways we saved our money (so that there will be billions to take home........just kidding!)

Bon Appetite! Indonesian food ala Kent State! Looks yummy.........

In this program, we were assigned to choose two visiting classes. I myself chose Design Multi Media Instruction and Research: Second Language Pedagogy (I'll show you my project later, okay?) The rest will be advanced technology, ESL, and some leadership and teaching seminars. (I think enough talking serious stuffs!!!!!)

Ooopss, I almost forget to let you all know that we were acknowledged as Kent State University "students", therefore we have student card number called "FLASFCARD" funcioning as our ATM, and sometimes for free pass for some entertainment events! Isn't that great?

Inside the Kent State Student Center for taking the FLASHCARD

What else should I tell you? Is this not enough? Don't worry....Isna's blog will be right back after these commercial break!

Cheers!!!!!