EXTERNAL BENCHMARKING

GUIZHOU EDUCATION ASSOCIATION FOR INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE (GEAIE)

PROGRAM MAGISTER PAI UIN SUNAN KALIJAGA YOGYAKARTA

Diary in Guiyang City

Minggu, 21 Juli 2024

09.02

Today I will go to another city of Guizhou Province, as a part of China-Asean Education Week (CAECW) 2024. Yesterday, I have visited many sites of Duyun and Guiyang Cities, like museum of art and Polytechnic College. I was very impressed by the rapid development of Guiyang City, particularly and China generally. So I have an opinion about China as a one of role models for other countries in the world.

During our trip and travel from Guiyang to Duyun, I have witnessed good infrastructures, especially concerning highway, that were filled by many tunnels so the highway is not up and down, not zig-zag, and the trip could be faster and more enjoyable. By high technology in highway-construction, the government has been able successfully to overcome many constraints and challenges of mountain area or highlands.

Diary in Guiyang City (2)

Minggu, 21 Juli 2024

09.38

One of the interesting experiences during Guizhou trip was a visit to tea garden and College of Tea, continuing to division of Batik creation. There we had an opportunity to practice in creating a batik linen. After making every effort to create a batik linen, we drained our creation until being dry and we took it home.

At the Guizhou College, I met some teachers from Tangerang City Banten that have been attending a short course or training in digital literacy for ten days. I think through such programs, China gradually plays important roles as the developed country in Asean region or Southeast Asian countries.

Soft Diplomacy and Challenging USA hegemony

Minggu, 21 Juli 2024

10.22

We know that China is a great nation; It has inherited cultural heritages in many fields, such as art, traditional medicine, military, trade, and culture. China has a long history, since second or third centuries AD, this nation has played a strong role in Asian region. We recognized the history of many dinasties in Tiongkok (mainland of China) that colonized a wide territory until abroad, like Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty.

In the modern era, China has succeed to rise up as a competitor for USA super power, so their billateral relationship being fully colored by cooperation and competition. This maybe becomes a new balance for global strategy, at one side, but at another side, it causes many tensions among countries regionally and globally.

According to me, China implements a policy of "semi-closed system" in its modernization; It strengthens the exclusivity of language and the excellency of technology with openness of trade and economic. China seriousely builds its capacity as a great nation in influencing the others by outstanding power of technology and economic.

Through such a policy, China pays a great attention to lead the other countries softly; It makes them feeling admiration; China makes them dependent to its expansive development through invesments, cultural exchanges, billateral cooperation, etc. China truely expands its influence and invisible roles to many countries in the world, and reduces hegemony of USA and its allies.

Vacation at Xiaoqikong

Senin, 22 Juli 2024

10.19

Amid the CAECW agendas, we have an opportunity to visit Xiaoqikong Scenic Area. At this area, we saw a lake and small rivers running around the forest.

Thousands of people stood in line for queue of entrance into the main place of picnic; they would be picked up by buses that delivering or dropping them to the tour purpose.

There is a drammatic moment after doing a flying fox game, namely I left behind of the group because the bus has departed before I existed from a restroom.

The flying fox game was very exciting, and I attended this game with friends, so I should finish it after all of them. Time was over before finishing. Consequently, the bus did not compromise to wait us. After having been left behind of bus, I tried to seek and ask to the local tourist about buses with direction to last station. Then, the local tourist showed me although facing language hindrances. Strangely, I could arrive at the last station before my group departing first and leaving me behind.

Visiting Guizhou Nursing Vocational College

Selasa, 23 Juli 2024

06.06

On Monday, we visited Guizhou Nursing Vocational College, having a lunch and dinner at that campus. Some students showed us how to help immergencely casualty, heart attack, victims of war needed first aid.

That College has a room of simulation to show us about helping them, eventhough to practice in helping with first aid. We were invited to see around the College's collection of miniature of human anatomy with detail.

We were welcomed cordially, we had a lunch and dinner, so we getting useful information about a medical treatment and getting fullness with tasty dishes. China has facilitated us well and made us to recognized its smart approach.

Anshum Water Fall

Selasa, 23 Juli 2024

14.50

At the last day of our "Bridge to See" Guizhou, I have an opportunity to visit Anshum Water Fall; there are thousands of tourists with enthusiasm to visit it and to take a photo at near it. In the holiday season, the citizens of Guizhou spend much their time to go recreation together.

I see them still cherish the family warmth. So, I see them using "a time quality" through togetherness in picnic. They laugh, eat, drink, play, etc., together, with their husband, wife, son, daughter, father, mother, and relatives. In short sentence, amid their busy life, however they still need to get and give (mutual) attention, attachment, and love (each other).

"Bridge to See" Guizhou has facilited us to observe directly the actual Guizhou with its culture, education, ecological environment, cuisine, hospitality, etc. Thank for attractive and impressive experiences that we gained from this program; thank very much for such program of Guizhou and China governance. We will disseminate our meaningful to our community in Indonesia.

Bye-bye Guizhou, See You Next Time

Rabu, 24 Juli 2024

10.25

Having completed all agendas of CAECW during 6 days, we must go back to the country. We have undergone many impressive moments, both formally or informally. In general, this program has been performed successfully, whereby all participants have been able to finish their planned activities well.

At the closing ceremony, the chairman of comittee has hoped this international cultural exchange truly contributing to strengthen a mutual understanding among China, Indonesia, and Malaysia. However, harmony and cooperation can not be built until the presence of mutual understanding and mutual respect.

Openness of China to us and its hospitality in serving us during this program makes us to recognise the meaning of brotherhood, the meaning of sincerity and the meaning of humanity, for all God's creatures in the world, although living with many differences.

As a new super power country, China exactly requires a mutual cooperation and a mutual understanding with its neighbor countries, like Indonesia and Malaysia. This matter should be paid more attention, not only for China but also the other countries. This is the meaning of "mutual".

Arriving at Jakarta

Kamis, 25 Juli 2024

03.48

After completing or taking flight distance from Guizhou-Beijing-Soetta Airport, approximately 8,5 hours, we arrived at Jakarta safely although very tired. While waiting our schedule of flight to YIA, we spend the time at Soetta Airport for doing prayer, and taking a rest and a relaxation.

Exactly, attending CAECW has exhausted our energy and stamina so we feel running out of steam. But, we get many valuable experiences during attending such program, physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Through that program, as if we look at the mirror, so we are able to see our strength and weakness; we can learn about all sides of our life: goodness and badness, progression and regression.

Our duty is to select and to criticize all experiences; whatever we can do and whatever we can't do. It means "not only cultural borrowing we need but also cultural creation and developing so we will achieve any progression.

- Mahmud Arif's Diary (the Head of Study Program)