First Step in The Netherlands

The journey to Netherlands has lots of preparation in my opinion. I am going to Saxion University of Applied Science, in Enschede, The Netherlands.

It is my first time in Europe, my very first trip to Europe, and my very first time to be far away from my love ones for more than six months. But here I am now, there are things I need to enjoy and learn, and let it be my experiences.

I might not be an expert here, but here I am trying to share something. There are several steps to prepare, but let me classify it into several parts.

PRE-DEPARTURE PREPARATION: This preparation is the preparation for the registration up to the day before leaving for the study to The Netherlands. Usually, you will have a briefing from the Saxion University of Applied Science about things that you should prepare and the requirements.

A. Registration
In this part, you need to prepare several documents to prove that you are valid enough to be part of the family in the University. First of all, you need to sign up for studielink to ensure that you are valid for the applications to The Netherlands (studielink.nl). Next, you should fill up the requirements and steps to apply to the university you would like to register, then the related university will send you email to register in the university platform's. In this case, it will be sis.saxion.nl. The email will consist of your student number and the one time password (OTP) that you could change later on.

In order to be applicable for registering in Saxion University of Applied Science, you need to have at least 6 for IELTS test, and GPA of 3 out of 4. For Saxion University of Applied Science, you could register since October up to June. But the faster you enroll, the better, since you will receive the announcement faster and you will have more time to prepare for your departure. In addition, for Saxion University of Applied Science, you need to upload several documents in the link, which are:

• Photo
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diploma (or we called it as Ijazah and SKHUN in Indonesia); both original and translated version
• Transcripts of the grades in both original and translated version (up to the semester you take)
• Copy of Passports
• Language test (IELTS)
• Motivation Letter

B. Acceptance

After you finish the registrations, all you need is to wait to the announcement of the acceptance to your enrollment. The announcement will happen around December if you applied since October to November. You will receive the notification through email along with your acceptance letter and the fees that you need to pay to the university. 

C. Payment

The payment will include the a-year of tuition fee in Saxion University of Applied Science, Visa Fees, Insurance, and your Housing Fee for a year. The university has deadline for the payments, and you will be officially become the student of Saxion University of Applied Science after you complete your payment.

D. Visa Preparation

Next thing to do is, preparing your visa. Saxion University of Applied Science will help you to apply your visa to the embassy, but you need to complete several documents in order to do so. You need to fill up some forms and upload it in the sis.saxion.nl. 

• Antecedents Certificate
• Immigration Application Form
• Proof of Finances

Basically, Saxion University of Applied Science will send you the guidance to fill up those documents and you can ask the representatives too. But for a glimpse, the most important part is the proof of finances. You need to ensure that after the payment to Saxion University of Applied Science, the balance of your bank account number will still have the minimum requirements.

After finishing the applications to Saxion University of Applied Science, you will receive email from Saxion University of Applied Science that you are applicable for the visa application and you need to schedule your time to the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta. So you will need to schedule the appointment with the Dutch Embassy for the fingerprint and visa photo. After few days (maximum 10 working days, you could pick up your passport and visa).

E. Additional Information

It will be nice if you could try your best to get scholarships from Saxion University of Applied Science, because they provide various scholarships for the students inside and outside the EU. You could visit saxion.nl for more information about the amount of scholarships and the requirements.

DEPARTURE PREPARATION: 

Before departing, you need to ensure that you bring the ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS with you. Because it will be necessary for the immigration and for opening Dutch Bank account. The documents needed are:

• Passport
• Legalized Birth Certificate
• Transcripts
• High School Diplomas
• IELTS 
• Insurance Certificate
• Passport Pictures
• Acceptance/Admission Letter from the university

PS: make enough copies of above documents!

ARRIVAL:

After your arrival, ensure that you have your passport and admission letter to pass the immigration officers, pick up your luggage, and go to meeting point directly if you join the pick up services of Saxion University of Applied Science.

Lastly, have fun!

Six-weeks in Bali

People said, “Life in Bali is so much fun.”
“You can have holiday anytime you want.”
People said, “Life in Bali is so much fun.”
“You can come and go without doubting how.”
People said, “Life in Bali is so much fun.”
“You can enjoy life even you are dumped.”
People said, “Life in Bali is so much fun.”
“Society won’t judge even you are sucks.”
People said, “Life in Bali is so much fun.”
I said, “It would not be fun without your love ones.”

Well, my journey in Bali for 6 weeks come to an end.

I have never expected that I will cherish all my time in Bali.  From the co-workers to the environment. I thought my life would be super boring because I would be all alone by myself and I had no one I know. But miracles come to me.

One thing I kept being grateful of despite of being far away from my love ones, the one I used to spend my time with me, is my fellow trainees. Through many ups and downs, we went through it with laughter and silly stories of each of us. Through many unluckiness I had in life, I still have them as my lucky charms and happy pills. And I am so grateful that they still stick with me until the end of my Training Period. Special shout outs to my Mercare Squad!

I really would like to thank them for making my training experience become so unforgettable and become less tiring. Thanks for all the silly jokes during the break time and after work!

The next thing I would like to highlight in my training experience is my Accounting Department. In the middle of the business in the office, we still managed to have some fun making fun of each others and put on pranks on one and another. Despite our differences in ages, we still have lots of memories to cherish!

Last but not the least, my guardian angels that helped me a lot through my stay in Bali. Thank you so much for always trying to be there for me and help me nights and days no matter what time it is. Super grateful to know two of you since my first day of stay and really sorry if I made your life become so troublesome~ Thanks for transforming from strangers to friends and now to brother and sister to me! See you soon in another chance!

In the end, there will always good bye(s) after another hi(s). But I am so thankful that at least I have the chance to know each of them during the short period of my training experience in Bali. I might not always be the best version of myself but they always stick with me in every versions of me, especially my just-woke-up face lol

Thank you guys for making my 6-weeks so meaningful that I have never imagined that I will cry leaving each of you! See you on another chance!