A Precious Chance to Study in RMUTT Thailand

Education is an important thing in life. Why? Because it can make people have so much knowledge that can improve their skills in order to reach their dreams in future. Some people want to study abroad to enrich their knowledge. That’s great idea! Then, how if you have a chance to study abroad with scholarship? Wow! I think that it’s a great and very amazing chance! That’s what happened to me. I give thanks to God because I am one of four students of STIE Mandala Jember (East Java, Indonesia) who are selected to be students of Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT) in Thailand. I and my friends will study in RMUTT Thailand for one year with scholarship. We take business administration program in that university.

All universities must have an orientation for new students. It happened also to international students in RMUTT. On August 5th, 2016 at 12 p.m all international students came to green building of RMUTT to attend international orientation. There are many new friends that I met, they are from Austria, Germany, and Cambodia. Before the international orientation began, all of new international students and staffs of international program ate together. After that, the orientation began with speech from head of international program. She welcomed us. Then, there were some buddies who introduced theirselves in front of class. They explained us about what we should do and don’t in Thailand, like we should respect to King of Thailand and his family, we should smile to others because a smiling face is a sign of respect toward surrounding people, we shouldn’t touch head of others, we shouldn’t point at others because it’s not polite, etc. They also taught us about how to greet and introduce ourselves in Thai language. Then, all international students introduced theirselves one by one in front of class in Thai language. There was a fun dance which buddies taught us first, then we danced together. It was quiet fun! I was really happy and enjoyed the time. The end of international orientation program was all of students, buddies, head and staffs of international program took some photos together.

Photo of International Orientation

After international orientation, all students attended the first class on August 8th, 2016. I and my friends from STIE Mandala Jember came to our first class early. In class, we met new friends from Thailand who are very kind, they are Fah and Bast. We talked to them while we were waiting the lecturer came. Then, someone came to class and informed that class is cancel. Fah and Bast invited us to go around university by bus, and of course, we said “YES!” because we really wanted to know all buildings in university. When we were in bus, they showed and explained us about some buildings in university. In fact, this university is so big and amazing! It has many faculties which have some buildings, also nursing room, library, swimming pool, gym center, football field, and other buildings. We stopped at main canteen and we walked to library. The library is so big and there are many books that we can read and borrow. Fah and Bast showed us where we can find books in English language an explained how to borrow books there. They helped us to know the university very well. It was very interesting and useful for us.

Photo in library (left to right: Intan, Lutfi, Fah, Natalia, Achmad, and Bast)

On the next day, we had class with Dr. Umawasri. She is very intelligent and speaks English so well. She teaches us about introduction to international business. First, she explained the course objectives, teaching methods, and rules in her class. Then, all students had to introduce theirselves in front of class in English. At that time, some students were nervous, including me and my friends. When it was my turn to introduce myself, I said in my mind “You can do it, Natalia! Be confidence!”, then I could speak English well in front of all friends and lecturer. She also gave us spirit to always practice our English skill and be confidence. The next subject is quantitative analysis in business by Mr. Katawoot. He also explained about course description, teaching methods, and learning plan. He is patient and funny so that his class was fun and I enjoyed it much. Then, on Wednesday, we had subject of Mr. Ryan. He teaches us about English business report writing. He is kind and very smart. In his subject, there are individual assignment and group project. Every individual assignment must be posted in our blog. He will teach us how to write a good English business report which is important and useful for us. Actually, we take 6 subjects in this semester, but 3 subjects are still cancel.

Overall, I am so happy to have a precious chance to study in RMUTT Thailand. First reason is I can enrich my knowledge here with many lecturers who are very competent in their subjects. I also can improve my English skill in speaking and writing. Second, Thai people are kind and friendly. They always smile when they meet other people. It also happened to my Thailand’s friends, like Fah and Bast who are willing to accompany me and my friends going around the university. The last reason is I am glad to have many friends from Thailand, Austria, Germany, and Cambodia that I never had before. It is a great pleasure to know and have friendship with them. Big thanks to God!