Last week had been very busy for me. It was hectic yet I enjoyed it very much. What was going on? It could have not happen as if I didn’t ask Dwian about one program of Perpika 3 months ago, or so. It is a conference, whose topic broadens from natural to social science, from art to engineering. It is indeed a non-specific theme conference, since its main goal is to be a sharing place of ideas from so diversed students, majors, interests, even places. The one who relates all of that persons is Perpika, an association for Indonesian student in South Korea. That’s why this so-called conference named Conference of Indonesian Students at Korea, a.k.a. CISAK.

The story goes with Dwian asked me to be a member of his team as event coordinator. I approved it and for some weeks later there were several online meetings to be deal with. But then came months of hiatus, marked by final test and winter vacation. Still, some progresses were made until finally the time was coming. February 15 2009, Indonesian Embassy. That’s the conference time and place. Some face-to-face meetings being held dealt with technical preparations of the event. The main issues were lunch meal (mainly correlated with fund), presenter ( lack and uncertainty of material and person), and accommodation. But the committee succeeded to take care of it calmly and elegantly.

February 14 2009. Preparation time. Started from half past 5, we creatively decorated the venue to properly host a conference. Arrange the audience seats, presentation peripherals, partition for photo and poster session, move tables and chairs here and there, set the banner, even create a mushalla–place for muslim to pray. It was almost 8.30 when I accompanied Dwian for dinner and then went home to Suwon. Back to the embassy, Mr. Lee, its a band name, were rehearsing to console the after-conference audience.

Now lets report the CISAK on the day itself. It was 8.30 when I arrived at the embassy. Some members of the committee have been there before me. It was not truly hectic, mostly we were waiting for people. And finally it was decided to postpone the conference from 9.30 to 10.00. Adjustments were made to the original plan. Approximately 9.50 I knocked #502 room of embassy housing and called for Mr. Foster Gultom–ad interim in charge of Minister Counselor. The welcoming speeches commenced the conference, in order from CISAK project officer, Perpika President, and Mr. Foster Gultom. A timing miscalculation occurred and the official opening was done at almost 11 by sounding a gong.

First Session of Presentation was moderated by Mikael Fernandus Simalango. The topics presented were ranged from A Business Opportunity in Korea (Arief Fadillah), Seawater Desalination (Noka Prihasto), and Microfobial Fuel Cell (Windi Indra Muziasari). Another presentation about tellecomunication convergence in Indonesia was cancelled due to technical matter. For almost 2 hours straight, the audience were informed by various insights coming from the experts. But before 1, the presentation session was adjourned and lunch time was launched.

Second Session of Presentation was started at 2. Moderated by Windi Indra Muziasari, this time we talked about Juridical Rights of Indigenous People in Indonesia (Andrea Albert Stefanus), Hydrogen and Fuel Cell (Hary Devianto), then closed by Linguistic Ambiguity (Prihantoro). The last presentation, I personally think, was suitable to bridge a serious and fun section of CISAK, amusing and easy listening. Thanks to the strict moderator, this session finished on time, 15.30. After that, we had a coffee break plus photo and poster session for another half an hour.

I named the last session as ‘Acara Perpika’, which is directed to be a fun familiarity session since the other coin side of this event is gathering. At first, there was almost nothing scheduled here. But eventually, we had a report presentation from three regions of Perpika and music show. The presentations took time of 45 minutes and the show was 30 minutes. We had Andy Tirta Boy, Hadi PS, and Hardian Reza D. who elaborated activity and progress of each region. And finally, Mr. Lee warmed the air with five remarkable self-made songs.

In the end, the conference was closed by the President of Perpika. Most of the audience work together with the committee to order the venue again. But still the committee must do the ‘final touch’ so that there is no difference before and after the show. A promise we made to the embassy.

I am so glad that the event was successful. At first, there was a big worry because of the submitted papers quantity, the limited sponsorship from the embassy, etc. But thankfully all of it has been passed away and left sweet memories. A high respect and thanks given to all committe members, contributors (paper, poster, presentation, music show), moderators, and the audience. I sincerely hope that the same event could be held again next year with bigger scope and result.