For as long as I can remember, hard work and respect have been the two virtues I was taught to embrace as a third generation Chinese immigrant in Indonesia. It was not only for the sake of being accepted as a part of society, but also for the sake of carrying the torch passed on from my great-grandparents who dreamed of a better life for their descendants challenging fate in another land. Starting from zero is never an easy decision, but without any command of the Indonesian language, they struggled and succeeded in starting a new life. Decades after my grandparents walked their first steps in Indonesia, I decided to hop on a plane and find my own definition of life in South Korea.
Sharing a conversation over how silly our childhood dreams were has always been something I enjoy with my friends. Perhaps it is because of the absurdity that comes with those dreams conjured by our foolish young selves that make it so amusing. When I was five, I wanted to
be a zookeeper. When I was twelve, I wanted to be a world-class pianist. When I was seventeen, I wanted to live abroad. It took me seven years to finally pack my bags and leave Indonesia and it ignited an even greater desire for growth which I continue to pursue to this day. As I come to that realization, I wholeheartedly believe that striving for a higher education in South Korea is the best choice I have ever made in this lifetime.
As I immerse myself in this new chapter of life, I enjoy the comfort and convenience that South Korea has provided me during the past two years I have been here. The language that was at first very unfamiliar to me now feels natural to hear and I wonder if my grandparents ever felt the same. I sometimes catch myself struggling to find the right words in Indonesian because I am too used to speaking in Korean and English. Some may say that it is a sign of me losing my identity, but I think otherwise. On Fridays, I still wear my Batik and I cherish every moment when I get to speak in my mother tongue. My recent foreign language acquisition is but a sign that I am acclimating myself to my new world.
As I spend my days pursuing my Master’s degree in Gwangju, I often find myself longing for a piping hot bowl of Bakso Urat shared with my mother or a big bowl of Bakmi Siantar for breakfast with my father. The burning Jakarta sun used to be so unbearable then but those are moments I yearn for. Despite all that, I feel perfectly comfortable living in my new environment, and I actively think about what my next course of action will be in order for me to stay and live the life I’ve always wanted.
As a student of the marketing discipline, I can’t help but be fascinated by how promising my future seems in this country. Every time I walk down the street, I am excited by the vibrant sounds and melodic colors that paint the world. I can almost feel in my bones that the opportunity for my growth will be endless. I dream of a future where I can make use of my experiences as someone who grew up in a culturally diverse country as a strength to help me become a seasoned marketing expert. What an ideal trajectory it would be if I could succeed as a marketer in the entertainment industry in this spirited land where all things are bright. I could paint campaigns with the colors of diversity and aim for the global stage, surpassing language barriers and allowing everyone to experience joy the way I do. I promise myself that I will put as much effort as I can into my studies so that after I graduate, I can work on something that makes my heart soar, my family back home proud, and other people happy. The journey toward dreams is never easy, but I am pushing myself to go out of my shell and build my network as much as possible through internships and social events to pursue that one lustrous goal. With my prior experience as a hospitality marketing executive, I feel optimism surge through my veins and I assure myself that I will succeed. It is not a walk in the park, but I imagine that my eventual success story could encourage others like me to not give up and to put faith in a world where diversity is celebrated.
Dreaming is like a cycle that keeps going with automation. Sometimes it is met with heartbreak and disappointment, other times success. No matter what the outcome is, a new seed of dream will be planted within and desires will nurture it until it grows strong and emerges. It is my countless dreams and efforts that brought me to where I am today, and I will continue to let my mind conjure more stars in my sky to grasp.
When I think of how I want to spend my days as a human, my vision these days consists of a peaceful future. My dreams may not be as big as others, but it does not mean that they are small. I close my eyes and I can almost envision myself taking long walks along the river on a late Sunday afternoon in Gangwon-do. Perhaps that version of me will also be going on occasional drives along the Gangneung beaches with my windows rolled down, braving the winds that graze my face. Without doubt, I will still fondly think of my first home then. In the meantime, it is up to me to work hard and build a road towards that goal. By walking this path, I carry my grandparents’ legacy and honor the sacrifices they made in the way they set an example on how to call a foreign land home.
※ This Essay is the winning entry in a writing contest run by Famigo.
For as long as I can remember, hard work and respect have been the two virtues I was taught to embrace as a third generation Chinese immigrant in Indonesia. It was not only for the sake of being accepted as a part of society, but also for the sake of carrying the torch passed on from my great-grandparents who dreamed of a better life for their descendants challenging fate in another land. Starting from zero is never an easy decision, but without any command of the Indonesian language, they struggled and succeeded in starting a new life. Decades after my grandparents walked their first steps in Indonesia, I decided to hop on a plane and find my own definition of life in South Korea.
Sharing a conversation over how silly our childhood dreams were has always been something I enjoy with my friends. Perhaps it is because of the absurdity that comes with those dreams conjured by our foolish young selves that make it so amusing. When I was five, I wanted to
be a zookeeper. When I was twelve, I wanted to be a world-class pianist. When I was seventeen, I wanted to live abroad. It took me seven years to finally pack my bags and leave Indonesia and it ignited an even greater desire for growth which I continue to pursue to this day. As I come to that realization, I wholeheartedly believe that striving for a higher education in South Korea is the best choice I have ever made in this lifetime.
As I immerse myself in this new chapter of life, I enjoy the comfort and convenience that South Korea has provided me during the past two years I have been here. The language that was at first very unfamiliar to me now feels natural to hear and I wonder if my grandparents ever felt the same. I sometimes catch myself struggling to find the right words in Indonesian because I am too used to speaking in Korean and English. Some may say that it is a sign of me losing my identity, but I think otherwise. On Fridays, I still wear my Batik and I cherish every moment when I get to speak in my mother tongue. My recent foreign language acquisition is but a sign that I am acclimating myself to my new world.
As I spend my days pursuing my Master’s degree in Gwangju, I often find myself longing for a piping hot bowl of Bakso Urat shared with my mother or a big bowl of Bakmi Siantar for breakfast with my father. The burning Jakarta sun used to be so unbearable then but those are moments I yearn for. Despite all that, I feel perfectly comfortable living in my new environment, and I actively think about what my next course of action will be in order for me to stay and live the life I’ve always wanted.
As a student of the marketing discipline, I can’t help but be fascinated by how promising my future seems in this country. Every time I walk down the street, I am excited by the vibrant sounds and melodic colors that paint the world. I can almost feel in my bones that the opportunity for my growth will be endless. I dream of a future where I can make use of my experiences as someone who grew up in a culturally diverse country as a strength to help me become a seasoned marketing expert. What an ideal trajectory it would be if I could succeed as a marketer in the entertainment industry in this spirited land where all things are bright. I could paint campaigns with the colors of diversity and aim for the global stage, surpassing language barriers and allowing everyone to experience joy the way I do. I promise myself that I will put as much effort as I can into my studies so that after I graduate, I can work on something that makes my heart soar, my family back home proud, and other people happy. The journey toward dreams is never easy, but I am pushing myself to go out of my shell and build my network as much as possible through internships and social events to pursue that one lustrous goal. With my prior experience as a hospitality marketing executive, I feel optimism surge through my veins and I assure myself that I will succeed. It is not a walk in the park, but I imagine that my eventual success story could encourage others like me to not give up and to put faith in a world where diversity is celebrated.
Dreaming is like a cycle that keeps going with automation. Sometimes it is met with heartbreak and disappointment, other times success. No matter what the outcome is, a new seed of dream will be planted within and desires will nurture it until it grows strong and emerges. It is my countless dreams and efforts that brought me to where I am today, and I will continue to let my mind conjure more stars in my sky to grasp.
When I think of how I want to spend my days as a human, my vision these days consists of a peaceful future. My dreams may not be as big as others, but it does not mean that they are small. I close my eyes and I can almost envision myself taking long walks along the river on a late Sunday afternoon in Gangwon-do. Perhaps that version of me will also be going on occasional drives along the Gangneung beaches with my windows rolled down, braving the winds that graze my face. Without doubt, I will still fondly think of my first home then. In the meantime, it is up to me to work hard and build a road towards that goal. By walking this path, I carry my grandparents’ legacy and honor the sacrifices they made in the way they set an example on how to call a foreign land home.
※ This Essay is the winning entry in a writing contest run by Famigo.