After struggling with the thesis around the last 3 months, on that day, 25 September 2019, finally and alhamdulillah, I have graduated from Tohoku University as a Master student majored in Environmental Studies. This is not a short story, but a quite long story during the last two years working on research and spending a lot of time in the laboratory.

It was two years ago when I started my study life in Sendai city, Japan, after passing the entrance examination and nominated as one of the MEXT scholarship students. I got one of the best study opportunities ever to study in one of the developed countries of Japan, to explore more about my major.  It was challenging when I arrived in this country with nothing but the willingness to learn my best. I had no experience of going abroad and staying in a foreign country. Coming and arriving in Tokyo with no enough ideas to get Sendai, until finally, I could sleep in the empty apartment room with one and only bed and blanket given by Indonesian brother suddenly I met before as my new neighbor.

Before, I could never expect what I would get exactly and experience during my study in Japan, as it was still beyond my realistic dream yet. Even at that time sometimes I felt doubt about myself whether I can survive or not studying here. But reality makes my self confidence by the time. The people surrounding me make myself go ahead facing the challenges.

Time goes. And everything goes smoothly while at the same time some obstacles came. The worries about my ability and all of my unconfidence feeling flee away as my focus was set better. Until the joy coming and make my day here entered its good pace.

Gratefully, I was under a very kind supervisor as his student, in their laboratory. My laboratory seems to match with what I want to have during my study life. The members of my lab are kind, friendly and supportive, not like I usually heard from some of my friends who told about their feeling being in the lab. They are easy-going friends and sociable enough, even though most Japanese are not likely that supple. In line with the student members, My supervisor, I could say that he is a really kind and understanding man. He also is a family man, who seems really have big care in his family. In my sense, it explains how he treats other people as well.

Indeed, the Indonesian brotherhood helps me a lot as we have many chances to share each other story and information. They are like my family here. And I am indebted a lot to them.

Last but not least, there has been a special person beside me now, after my family in Indonesia. She is one and only my beloved. Though we have been together by only at least 7 months, we have always a good time to support each other and she supported me a lot during my tough time finishing research and thesis. The day of graduation becomes one of the moments we start new lives in the new place far away from home. I never forget how tough she struggles with daily life staying in the room most of the time that she never did before. But, she survives for us. The photograph capturing me and my wife during the day of graduation is one of the best graduation moment all this time.