A locally abroad experiences

Postgraduate study is all about keeping an open mind – seeing things from multiple perspectives and trying not to have a fixed expectation of what your outcomes will be. I learned to have trust in the discovery process, rather than aiming to get to a predetermined conclusion. My communication skills developed immensely, so now I’m much more confident in my writing and in interviewing other people.

(Collen Dollan - US)

I bumped randomly into this writing of Collen on the website. She talks about postgraduate life as an foreign student in UK. 

What struck me the most is the idea of OPEN MIND she points out. I will (hopefully) join her path in coming years to be a student (again) in any foreign island... BUT what I just realised was that my journey to have an open mind has already begun! I don't need to wait another year as a foreign student to learn about being OPEN MINDED. As, God has taught me a lot during the process, surprisingly, HERE, in my very land and country. The journey of annihilation to be the broken bread and poured out wine for the past two years has BROUGHT me to understand the statement above deeply. 

As far as what I could remember....I didn't find any huge difficulties to have an open mind to befriend with my multicultural friends. I didn't find myself trembled on my knees when I have to encounter a lot of differences and hardship on a newly acquainted cultures and habits... Why? because I WAS PREPARED TO BE SO. I wasn't put any expectation on the possible outcomes I must gain. I didn't close my eyes and my mind because of the excitement of embracing something NEW and DIFFERENT. I was so excited to be in a foreign land along with different people. I was prepared. Fully prepared. Smoothly passed. and Joyfully made it through. 

Because the hardest part to see with an open mind is when you are in the most unneeded-to-be-open-minded place, which is in your own LAND.  Where everything is so recognisable and common. Where you are not PREPARED for anything new or different. Where everything (in your mind) SHOULD be perfectly fine. And when everything is closed enough with your values, which makes you close your mind.....and eyes.

I learned this a lot when I was back to my own country after a long gracefully "vacation' abroad. I learned this a lot when I was having a bursting passion to contribute something towards the development process of my country. I learned this a lot when I made a most-changing decision of my life to join a Christian Humanitarian Organisation, where everything should be finely aligned with my values and passion and spirit and .... everything! Oh, I don't really need to be open minded to be home and work in a place that shares my very values right???

But, all is wrong. Totally wrong. Massively wrong!

and I learned a lot.

I learned to: see things from multiple perspectives and trying not to have a fixed expectation of what your outcomes will be.

I learned (and am learning) a lot :)

...to see from different perspective and not to put any expectation. 

you will be surprised if you refuse to :)

Thank you Jesus for giving me an unexpectedly ABROAD-experience that has taught me tons of lessons, here. A locally abroad experience of mine :)

kezzy. 

Halmahera

#journyeofannihilation