Internship in Academia Sinica Taiwan, “Engaged with Global Community”

July 25^th is my First time to see the sunrise in Formosa (Taiwan) land. I was in Taiwan for internship, starts from July to September 2010 in Research Center for Information Technology Innovation Academia Sinica Taiwan. This program is a part of cooperation between Academia Sinica and Mathematics Department, Syiah Kuala University. Every year start from 2009, 2 students will send to Taiwan to learn open source.

My first in the internship was memorable. In early morning I walked from my apartment to my office. Step foot on that morning much faster and enjoyable. I felt different on that morning, the spirit and my body condition is better than before. I walked like a teenager in Taiwan that runs with an upbeat style while listening to music with headset from my mobile phone. Indeed, the atmosphere that morning was not so oppressive because the streets wet with rain that came down, but the sweat still poured. Walked from my apartment to my office make me become more healthy and fit. I had to hurry, because I should get to the office on time. The day that I arrived in Taipei, Mr. Marr (my advisor in Taiwan) gave map to me, the map that show the direction where is my office.

Apparently here every vehicle running on the right, so I feel a little weird but fun.
After walking for 25 minutes, I arrived at the Information Science Institute building. The map showed the building is the place where I would intern. When the main doors opened automatically I asked the officer at the front desk what floor is for intern students.

That day I met lots of Taiwanese friends, because many researchers at the building said hello and we exchanged business cards. Tim is my mentor. He guided me during the internship. My first task is to learn about Media Wiki. They gave me a week's time to learn about Media Wiki, ranging from installation and modification. But in the afternoon I completed all of my tasks and Tim was very surprised and he confused what should I do next.

Internship in Taiwan is impressive. I had to adapt to new neighborhood. Actually the adaptation process was quite impressive. Tried to get used to with new habit and get used to new neighborhood where not all could run smoothly as I think and unexpected incident sometimes happen. I looked for the answer to make the condition remains stable. It wasn’t easy to get through all this, but I feel the power that was always pushed and watched me one of them is the power of prayer from my parents.

 

Taiwanese live in modern and advance city. In many cases they are really care about disabled persons, parents, pregnant women and small children. Other rules if you are not in hurry you should walk in right side and if you want to walk quickly you should take left side.

After one month on in Taiwan, experienced many things, there are few complaints and also amazed. I also have a chance to feel Ramadhan in Taiwan. At weekend in the first week of Ramdhan as usual, quite impressive, exhausted and full of challenge, of course accompanied by sore feet, yes .. Although the transportation here is adequate but we still have to walk to find info about transportation or the place we were going to visit. The most experience that really meaningful to me is I have chance to celebrate my Iedul Fitri in Taiwan. That was a first time I celebrated Iedul Fitri not in my home even not in my country. I felt little bit sad, regret and upset but when the day of Iedul Fitri I met lots of Indonesian friends and celebrated it with explore Taipei city.

ICOS 2010

When I was internship I also have a chance to follow International Conference on Open Source (ICOS) 2010, held from September 17-19, in Koahsiung, Taiwan. I was one of the invited speakers. My presentation is about partnership between Aceh and Taiwan Community. On that presentation I explained about Aceh province, Syiah Kuala University, and about Tsunami and earth quake that hit Aceh in December 26, 2004.

I also explain that immediately aids from Taiwanese came just after Tsunami and earth quake hit Aceh. The aids almost 200 tons includes food, clothes and daily needs and Taiwanese also builds many buildings and houses. The aids still continue till now and total of the aids more than 50 million US Dollar. And right now the biggest aids for Syiah kuala University is ICT buildings. The building is use for development ICT in Aceh, also becomes the place to teach computer for teachers. It cost 2 million US Dollars. The aids also come from ADOC, they give 20 computers and 20 laptops.

The partnership between Aceh and Taiwan community also gives chance for young talented Aceh student to internship in Academia Sinica. The program starts from 2009 till now. This program gives chance to Aceh student to learn open source, open their mind about Taiwanese culture and advance technology. They also have chance to communicate with other people and share ideas. Taiwan also sends their student from National Tsing Hua University. From 2008 till now they sent volunteers to teach open source in rural area in Aceh province. The program called E-Mate (E-Learning Medan Aceh Taiwan).

To conclude my presentation, in my opinion the partnership between Aceh and Taiwan community need improvements, because Taiwan and Aceh need each other to develop their country. They need community development to keep this condition such as discussion on mailing list or share with others people to let them now the condition. Taiwan also needs to engage with global community and strengthen the volunteers program. Taiwan needs Aceh because they have to learn about culture and let the Taiwanese communicate with global community with global language, not only mandarin.

Aceh also need help from Taiwan, student from Aceh have to continue their study in Taiwan, and also they need to strengthen the internship program, so Aceh student can learn more not only about open source but also Taiwanese culture.

In ICOS, I also have a chance to engage to global community because in ICOS lots participant from overseas, so we could know each other and had a warm discussions.