How did Sakura Science Plan play a role in your study / research in Japan?

The first time I came to Japan was when I joined Sakura Science Plan (SSP) exchange program as a student from Gorontalo State University. At that time I visited Ehime University, Faculty of Collaborative Regional Innovation for research. Our team research project theme was about Geopark. We visited Seiyo City in Ehime and learned about Geopark and observed the natural features in each Geo-Site area. We named our project "Future Plan of Gorontalo as National Geopark Candidate." We also learned about sustainable development. Now, I am working as a local communicator for project research professor Masayuki Sakakibara.

Please describe your comments freely related to your life in Japan.

I have been in Japan several times, first time when I was student, and after I graduated, I re-visited Japan during July-October 2018 for the academic meeting at Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) located in Kyoto, Japan. I learned many things about the life system in Japan and it was so very different with my country Indonesia. I got many Japanese and international friends living in Japan, especially in Kyoto-Osaka area. I like to make new friends in Japan so that I can learn from each other. One amazing point about life in Japan is the public transportation. It is very good and I feel comfortable to use them. I used subway from Kamigamo to Kyoto, to go to Kokusaikaikan (venue of international conference). I can use bus as transport, but commonly I just use bicycle rather than bus. I borrow that bicycle from the RIHN house. This is the best way in Japan as many people like to use public transportation or ride bicycle. There is parking area for bicycle users so I don't have to worry about losing my bike. Everything is so disciplined and organized very well.

Please describe your message to people who are going to participate in this program.

To learn everything is so amazing. Don't be afraid to try something new. You will never grow if you do not try. Don't be afraid whether you fail or succeed. The important thing is that you are already trying. You can gain lessons from the failure and you can also benefit from success. Everything that happened to me now resulted from my will to take all risks to learn something new. Trying to learn and to adapt to something new made me become a better person than yesterday. For the younger people who are about to join this program, I recommend you to try what I tried. You will find something amazing that you never realized. Based on my motto: study hard and play hard.