SEKAWAN DI NEGERI KERAJAAN

Ishak, Erwin, dan Hakim adalah 3 orang sekawan. Mereka lagi kebingungan untuk ngelanjutin studi-nya, mau kemanakah mereka nantinya..

Erwin: Sak, Kim, mo nerusin ke mana kalian?

Kim: KUA deh hahah.. gak denk, sepertinya mau di Queen’s College Oxford deh.. kalo lo Sak?

Ishak: Hm.. aku sih menuruti perintah orang tuaku, mo ke Trinity College Cambridge, terus kamu sendiri Win?

Erwin: Iya sama.. saya juga nih ngikutin kemauan bapak, kuliah kedokteran di Edinburg University.. Huah sepertinya membosankan deh, saya sih padahal pengennya ke Cambridge.

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Ever heard of the British Invasion in the mid 90’s?

How about these bands: Oasis, Blur, PULP, The Cure, Stone Roses, RIALTO, Spice Girls, Radiohead, The Verve, Kula Shaker, Supergrass, The Smith, Lighthouse Family?

If you answer YES in the above questions, then either we were raised in the same generation or you have a fair knowledge of music. If you answer NO, then there’s no harm for you to continue reading and learn a bit of what the generation X has been listening to in the mid 90’s. Need to warn you as well, you may encounter a very not so exciting part of my life in this note. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!

My adolescence years were spent throughout mid-end of 1990’s, according to the social and media experts I’m categorized as GENERATION X. It’s a generation who loves doing eXtreme activities, such as: eXtreme Sports, eXtreme Actions, eXtreme Fashion, eXtreme Music (we’re not relating this to a band known as EXTREME, which I’m sure you are all very familiar with).

Moving on, I fell in love with music during my junior and senior high school years. With a burning desire becoming the next BIG thing in music from Kalimalang [a place where I was raised], that’s when I decided to learn how to sing and play music instruments (guitar, guitar bass, and drum).

At that time the mass media were all talking about the 2nd wave of British Invasion. After the success of The Beatles in the 60’s; it’s time for the ”OASIS VS BLUR” era to take on the world. That’s when British music started to influence my music characteristic, not to mention my appearance at that time as well! (Tailor made baggy trousers,2nd hand adidas jacket shipped from China to Poncol, hairy and curly sideburns following the footsteps of Mr. Liam Gallagher, fishing cap from Bandung, smallish 70’s shirts that I found at my dad closet--> btw, if you’ve seen my dad, I wouldn’t say that it’s actually small:), a very low back TRUNKS from Dragon Ball Z style hair cut with long pony DORA style in front--> believe me, this type of hair cut was a HIT at that time)

But after I enter uni life at UI in year 2000, I decided to scrap all of that GENERATION X life style and start a new life as a medical student……3 YEARS AFTER……with no surprises what so ever, I resigned from the faculty! It turns out the life of a medical student wasn’t actually what I’ve always wanted for (you can spot it from the hair style that I had, see below). I realized that music was a big part of my life and I wanted to learn more about the industry and how music has shaped youth culture all over the world.

I understand that Indonesian pop music was much influenced by USA music. But I remembered during the 90’s I was so into British music and it has been in my back catalogue ever since! That’s when I started to search for a music business degree in London. After days of Yahoo!ing (google wasn’t that famous in the early 00’s)…VOILA, I’ve found a perfect match! A degree that suits my passion and certain it will be very useful for my future career, it’s: Mass Communications and Music and Media Management (Long, eh?!?) at London Metropolitan University.

September 2004 was the month that I will always remember. It was the time when I started my undergraduate degree in London. And this time I’m finally learning something that I am very passionate about. I studied: Film and Radio Production, International Communication, Music Industry Management, Music and Advertising in Television, Global Music Distribution, Global Media, my all time favorites POP MUSIC HISTORY, and many other subjects. After studying approximately 2.5 years and meeting with new friends in London, I graduated with a BA. (Hons) degree in Mass Communications and Music and Media Management with upper second class honors accreditation. I was one of the two “first” Indonesian students from UK that carries the degree.

In a riot in making poverty history @ Edinburgh

How do I implement the subjects I learned in class into real working experience you may ask? I implemented my studies by becoming a contributor for several music, life style, and travel magazines in Indonesia. Becoming a contributor, I was given a chance to interviewed music performers and reviewed their gigs. By doing so, I am able to analyze how the music industry works; I even sometimes managed to swap ideas with the musicians that I interviewed, to name a few: Josh Groban, Keane, JayZ, Fall Out Boy, New Found Glory, Muse,Snow Patrol.

Furthermore, I also managed to participate in one of Mark Ronson's video clip called Valerie and for the first time in decades I organised a performance of a band from Indonesia in the UK for mass consumptions.

With Mark Ronson

Now that you have read my story; If you ask me why London? I will start by asking you… Ever heard of the British Invasion in the mid 90’s?

Horay!  I was shouting inside my heart when I finally arrived at Heathrow airport.

A few months earlier, I was in a crossing road, to decide where I wanted to further my studies over a few choices such as Australia, USA, and of course UK.  My school in Singapore had collaboration with universities from all of those countries.  Hence, the decision to make was not an easy one.

Questions were immediately pop-up in my head.

What if I am sick, who is going take care of me while UK is so far away from Indonesia?  Will the Europeans people like to be friend with Asian?  Can I follow the class?  Some lecturer think that Asian people was lack behind, please proved it that they are wrong.  Be proud to be Indonesians Mate!  J

You do want to know why I finally choose UK over other choices, don’t you?  I hope ten reasons below helps you make-up your mind to UK  J

Best Education

1. Guarantee quality education
In other countries, it is 'known' easy to earn a "title" (read: “graduate”).  That is not the case with UK University.  If you failed in any of 2 subjects during your study means you are out (DO).  Though heh?

2. Shorter studying time
Typically it took you 36 months to get an Honour degree as an undergraduate.  My previous credits were transferred from Singapore school.  Hence, it took me 12 months to complete my Honours degree programme.   Another 12-18 months to get a master degree (post-grad).   In other countries, it takes another 24-36months to get a Master Degree.

3. More recognized qualification in your chosen field. 
Consider fact no. 1 above.   Another example, for our homework references I could borrowed more than 10 books at one go from the library!!!  J

4. I want to go out as far as possible from any other Indonesians to practice my English..  * he he he *  They are to many Indonesians in Australia & USA.  On every corner or turn you will surely meet an Indonesians in those countries. Tips: O is pronounce as U. ie. “Munday” not Monday.

Best Culture

5. During holiday, I can travel to so many other Europeans countries.  Nicest one mountain peak?  Switzerland [Jungfrau?].  They are eternal snow in the peak, + some people like to play skiing during summer in Europe?  * ha ha ha ha *  My passport was full of visas’ of the Europeans Country.

6. People from different country will act differently, based on their background & culture.    In UK, you will not only meet Briton from different county side, but also different nationality from Europeans continent such as Greece, Spain, French, Switzerland, Dutch, etc.   It is fun to mingle around with them.

7. As I want to be an entrepreneur, I believe UK opens (business networking) door to the Europeans Union market.   It is considered as one of the most expensive place to live (expensive not only to us, Indonesians).  In principle, it is great to have friends from all over the world.  Who knows after you are graduated, you can start a business together.

8. If you like to watch modern opera, theatre in London is a good place.  The theatre ticket is not as expensive as if they played anywhere else.   At least just go once and watch “Phantom of the Opera” or “the Cats”.

9. Many legend started from England, Sherlock Homes and Robin Hood, to name a few.

10. Last but not least..  speaking of culture, who doesn’t know anything about the “RED DEVILS”?  If you have not been to “OLD TRAFORD” stadium, you have not been to UK mate!  :p

As I mentioned above, I want to fully utilize my time in UK and get as many business contact as possible while I was there.  Hence, I was graduated with Honour class, and have friends from Europe & Asian continent.

My advice to you is going there, study hard, pray hard, but play harder.  J
If you are looking for grade, take subjects that are easy to earn good grade. 
If you are looking to widen your networking circle, join the student society.

Quoted from UK Alumni admin note, success is not depending on what you know,
“the old rule that it is who you know that matters not what you know, is very valid” [-- Williams Harris]

Have a fruitful studying time...

Cheers mate,
Julijanta Gunawan