Conference… Oh conference…

Alhamdulillah, in the last 3 months I’ve been able to experience what’s so called the Conference. Both are international conference held in Surabaya, Indonesia and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Here is the long piece of the story. 


My very first conference experience is in Surabaya, organized by Information System Department of ITS (Insitut Teknologi Sepuluh November) the ISICO—Information System International Conference. The participants came from various regions in Indonesia, South Korea and Taiwan. It held on December 3^rd-5^th at Empire Palace Hotel Surabaya. So, you must be wondering what did aerospace engineering student do in information system conference?? Yes, they also offer computer science topic and my final project is also about it (Genetic Algorithm as the method I used). As I told you before, this was my first conference and I was ALONE! Without my adviser and there is no other ITB student. One of my senior (Pram) said that that conference should be my public presentation rehearsal before I present my work in front of the real International professionals.

Opening Speech

Shorten story (maybe I’ll tell you the complete story in another posts), the conference went as well as it should be. I met many people from different regions with different customs. The most unforgettable experience is when I met Mrs. Florencia from Philippine, she is an English professor, she’s so motherly, kind and always make me feel comfortable each time we talked. She’s really look like my mother. She gave me a lot of advice that makes me feel more relaxed when I’m about to present my paper. Here are some of her advices:

Mrs. Florencia and I

“You don’t really need to feel nervous. This is your work, you’re really good at it. Nobody else in this room knows your paper more than you do. So don’t be nervous. Stay calm and confident. I believe you’ll do it with a flying color. You’re very charming, they’ll pay attention when you present your paper.”

Flying color!! It’s been a long time since I heard that! And that really is calming! And even more was because she said that I was charming (hehehe :P). And here are other advices.

Perfect Background

“why are Indonesian people mostly presenting their paper in the left or right side? Not in the middle?” and I said “probably because we’re lack of confidence, or maybe it just our tradition—I mean bad tradition—we used to do it since childhood. Me too..”

“Well I hope when you’re presenting your paper you’ll stand up in the middle. Because everyone will pay attention to you. That’s what you’re not gonna get when you stand there (pointing the right side of the stage). Beside, your picture will be perfect with that background.” 

“In Philippine we used to provide a podium in the middle of the stage for the presenter. There's a podium, but I haven't see someone use it yet.”

That was the most “booster-ing” my confidence. And thanks God, Alhamdulillah, I can made it with a flying color!! 

Batik-ing in Madura Island
(How to rotate the picture???)

Long story isn’t it? Sorry, hehehe..

Ok for the second conference, I’ll try my best to shorten it. The second conference was held in Vietnam. Organized by HCMUT (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology). It was also went very very very well! I felt really happy to know my paper was accepted in this conference. Many lecturer and ITB students join this conference. In this conference I was present a paper which still discuss about my final project, but from the routing problem point of view. Oh! And before I went to Vietnam, I learn some of common Vietnam language from my Vietnamese friend (cảm ơn anh Thuong!!). I also met some Vietnamese students. They’re very friendly and hospitable, just as those who study with me in Indonesia. :) And of course, the most excited part from that two conferences is the free time part! I’d bet you’ll prefer to see the picture than read my writings, so here they are… 

Conference Participants

Dr. Hisar M.P (my supervisor) and I

Walk the Night Out

:)