My Year in Review: 2013

“There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want.” ― Bill Watterson


If I had to sum up 2013 in two words, they’d be "awesomely hectic!" And when I say hectic, I mean the kind that makes you wonder if sleep is just a mythical creature from ancient textbooks. Most of my year, surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly for anyone who knows me), was spent… studying! Yes, you heard that right.


As I mumbled in a previous year-in-review (back when my Bahasa was doing more heavy lifting), I’d snagged an MBA scholarship from KAIST. Me, the Computer Science guy, diving headfirst into the deep end of business. My goal for 2013 was simple, if a little ambitious: soak up as much knowledge as humanly possible from this intensive one-year MBA. Little did I know, this noble pursuit would demand a rather significant sacrifice from my life balance. My sleep schedule became a tragic comedy, and my social life? Let's just say it went on a prolonged sabbatical. But hey, looking back, it was only by some divine guidance and protection that I not only survived but actually thrived (mostly) in a foreign land. A testament to sheer stubbornness, perhaps, and a whole lot of grace.


KAIST Information & Media MBA 2013



January: A Winter Wonderland

안녕하세요! So there I was, a fresh-faced Indonesian in Seoul, bracing myself for the first winter of my life. And boy, did it deliver! We’re talking a bone-chilling -16.5°C. I remember the air stinging my face, each breath turning into a visible cloud, and wondering if my toes would ever truly thaw. I'd arrived in late 2012, spent New Year's Eve doing "nothing" (which, when you’re in a new city with new friends, is actually everything) around Gwanghwamun, and then hopped on a bus to Nami Island – you know, that famously picturesque spot from Winter Sonata. It was breathtaking, even if my hands were numb from trying to snap photos.


The real fun, or rather, the "pre-academic event," kicked off right after: new student orientation. Walking into that room, I was surrounded by brilliant minds. Managers from big corporations, folks with years of experience under their belts. I felt a tiny flutter of imposter syndrome, but mostly, it was just inspiring. This program was clearly going to be a masterclass in learning from the best. Our short, four-week semester plunged us into IT Strategy & Management, Media Economics, and Business Presentation. It started innocently enough, but then came exam week. Sleep? Showers? Those became luxuries only spoken of in whispered legends. (Though, in my defense, it was very cold winter!). Yet, despite the academic acrobatics, the toughest part wasn’t the schoolwork; it was the quiet ache of missing loved ones far away.



February: The Real Grind Begins (And Sleep Becomes a Myth)

And so, the "real" school life unfurled. This semester was a dive into the fundamentals: Marketing, Accounting, Statistics, and Media. But for me, the real highlight was "Entertainment Industry Analysis" – dissecting the broadcasting, movie, music, and game industries. It was like getting a backstage pass to the magic, a fascinating detour from the usual business jargon. And with these interesting new subjects, the "hectic" life officially escalated. Proper sleep wasn't just precious during exam weeks anymore; it was practically a mythical creature, spotted only in fleeting dreams. Yet, somehow, when you genuinely love what you’re doing, when you’re utterly fascinated by the learning, even the exhaustion morphs into a strange kind of fun. It’s like running a marathon; you’re tired, but there’s an inexplicable joy in every hard-earned step.



March: My "KAIST Was Tougher Than I Thought" Moment

Oh, March. March might just hold the crown for "toughest period in my KAIST life." I remember my dean’s interview call in 2012, and a friend from an earlier batch warning me about the "crazy workload." My younger, slightly naive self thought, "Pssh, I’ve handled tough semesters at ITB. I’ve survived Samsung, barely sleeping more than six hours a day. How bad could it be?"


I was wrong. So wonderfully, hilariously wrong! KAIST was a whole new beast. Maybe it was the one-year intensive program, but it felt like a stress amplifier, cranking everything up by at least 50%. The last two weeks of March were a blurry, hellish sprint. My daily survival kit consisted of energy drinks, caffeine, and vitamin C. A peculiar cocktail, perhaps, but it kept me (miraculously) alive and, even more miraculously, performing well. What a wild ride! On a lighter note, though, this was also the month Arsenal pulled off that legendary 0-2 win at Muenchen. Against the best team in Europe, no less. Yes, that match. Some victories just stick with you.



April: Cherry Blossoms and Coastal Breezes

Ah, the sweet, sweet week after final exams. It’s always been my favorite time for a brief escape, a chance to reclaim a sliver of sanity. So, I packed my bags and headed to Jinhae for the Cherry Blossom Festival. And what a sight! The entire city was awash in a delicate, blushing pink. Sakura trees lined every street, their petals fluttering like confetti in the gentle spring breeze. It was utterly breathtaking, a stark, beautiful contrast to the sterile fluorescent lights of the library.


Beyond Jinhae, I ventured to Busan, Korea's second-largest metropolis. This coastal gem was a revelation. Over two days, I soaked up the vibrant energy of Gwangalli and Haeundae Beaches, wandered through the serene Headong Younggungsa Temple clinging to the cliffs, took in the panoramic views from Busan Tower in Yongdusan Park, and navigated the bustling chaos of the Jagalchi Fish Market. It was, without a doubt, my best trip of 2013 – a much-needed breath of fresh, salty air for my brain. Back at school, the workload felt (relatively) normal. We delved into more Marketing, Consumer Analysis, Social Media, Decision Analysis, and ICT Systems. And somewhere in there, a new song became the undeniable soundtrack of the season.



May: Sleep? What's Sleep?

Spring in Korea, it turns out, is a fleeting, beautiful whisper. Soon enough, "hectic school life" wasn't just a phrase; it was a way of being. Going home from the lab to the dorm between 4 and 6 AM became a disturbingly normal occurrence. I distinctly remember Tuesdays: a marathon of classes from 10 AM straight through to 10 PM. Menbung! (That's Korean for a mental breakdown, in case you were wondering, and it felt pretty accurate).


Amidst the delightful chaos, a true highlight: thanks to a friend, I scored a ticket to see my favorite Korean band, 클래지콰이 (Clazziquai Project). And not just any ticket – first row! No, they’re not a K-Pop idol group (I'm not really into the idol scene). Clazziquai is this wonderful, slightly-off-the-beaten-path mix of electronic, acid jazz, and a bit of pop. If you're curious, check out Fluxus Music. Being so close to the stage, feeling the music resonate through me, was pure magic.




Towards the end of the month, after finally conquering the Spring semester, a few classmates and I journeyed to Jinju, Gyeongsangnam Province, for a different kind of work: volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Korea. Swapping academic papers for hammers and nails, we helped build houses for people in need. It was incredibly humbling and immensely satisfying, a powerful reminder of what truly matters. We even managed to squeeze in a much-needed "vacation" by staying overnight by the serene Jinyang Lake. Physically and mentally, it was a profound reset button.



Summer had officially started, but in the academic world, "summer" certainly didn't mean "vacation" for us. We plunged into a five-week summer semester, tackling four intensive classes: Strategic Management, Advertising/IMC, Media Entrepreneurship, and IT Case Presentation. The reading list was brutal: 12 cases and 26 papers, all to be devoured in a ridiculously short timeframe. But there were gems, like working with the Associated Press in our Entrepreneurship class, providing business development ideas for AP Mobile in the Asian market. Despite the frantic pace, summer classes were actually great. And the weather? A sweltering 32ºC, just like Jakarta, with humidity to match. It was a strange kind of freedom, going to school in a tee, and even seeing some brave souls sport shorts in class!



July: Seoul Internship

The summer semester finally wrapped up in the first week of July, leaving me with an eight-week break before the Fall madness began. My plan: snag an internship in Seoul, ideally in business development. Let me tell you, finding a job in Korea without fluent Korean is like trying to find a perfectly ripe avocado; it's possible, but it takes effort. After a few attempts, I landed at SK Planet, a tech firm focused on digital content and internet service platforms. I joined their LBS (Location-Based Services) business team, diving into market expansion possibilities for their products in various countries. It was a fascinating glimpse into the real tech world.


Just before my internship kicked off, I attended CISAK (Conference of Indonesian Students Association in Korea) in Daejeon. To my surprise, I was invited to moderate the "Interdisciplinary Social Science" cluster. My background, as you know, is decidedly not social science, so it felt like being asked to conduct an orchestra when you only play the triangle. But after devouring all the submitted paper abstracts, I found my confidence. Thankfully, everything went smoothly! I also had the immense pleasure of meeting Ridwan Kamil, then mayor of Bandung, who delivered an incredibly inspiring speech on "Knowledge for Society." Truly a highlight. Meanwhile, Arsenal was on their Asia tour, hitting Indonesia. A pang of regret, a wistful sigh. A poor student's budget simply didn’t allow for a flight home and a match ticket. ㅜㅜ Such is life.



August: Beyond Expectations

My internship with SK Planet was, overall, a great experience. Wonderful colleagues, a pleasant office environment, and intriguing tasks. However, I must confess, I had hoped for something a bit more… impactful. It sometimes felt like they primarily needed a "foreign perspective" rather than deep strategic input. Still, I poured myself into it, striving to deliver far more than what was expected, and I sincerely hope my contributions were satisfying. Perhaps, I thought with a small smile, a little more luck wouldn't hurt next time.



September: Autumn Blooms

BOOM! September brought glorious news: Arsenal signed Mesut Özil for £42.5 million! It felt like a seismic shift, a clear signal that a new era was dawning for my beloved club, where we could finally compete financially with Europe's giants. Meanwhile, Seoul's weather transformed into something akin to Bandung – crisp, cool, utterly delightful. I truly fell in love with autumn here.


Fall semester began with a fresh slate of interesting classes: Corporate Finance, Operations Strategy, e-Business Strategy, Growth Strategy, and IT Modeling. And then, some truly lovely surprises popped up: the Dean's List and BGS (Beta Gamma Sigma) membership. Humble moments of pride, indeed. 


But beyond the academic accolades, September marked the beginning of a truly special journey. I started volunteering as a tutor/lecturer for Indonesia Open University in Korea. My mission: teach Introduction to Business to 27 Indonesian blue-collar workers. These incredible individuals, often working 12-16 hours a day, six days a week, showed up for class with an insatiable hunger for knowledge. Their enthusiasm, despite their exhaustion, was profoundly moving. Sharing my experiences and knowledge with them, seeing their eyes light up with understanding, was a privilege. My deepest hope is that they will take this newfound business acumen and build successful ventures back home.



October: Caffeine and Chaos

Just when I thought I'd mastered the rhythm of KAIST life, October arrived to remind me who was boss. School life, predictably, escalated back to its usual frantic pace. It reached its absolute zenith in one unforgettable week: two exams, two presentations, one term project, one term paper, one quiz, and one case report. All within seven days. I honestly don't remember how many liters of coffee, energy drinks, or sheer willpower I consumed that month. "Haha" doesn't quite capture the frantic laughter of survival.



November: The Philosophy of Autumn

I've come to believe that autumn is truly the best season. It might be less overtly romantic than spring's bloom, but it carries a quiet, profound wisdom. It reminds me that beauty, like the vibrant leaves, doesn't last forever. That beneath the fleeting external display, it's character, personality, and one's inner strengths that truly define us. A thoughtful, philosophical pause amidst the academic whirlwind.


From November onwards, the academic pressure finally eased its relentless grip. Our remaining courses were Corporate Finance and Operations Strategy. Crucially, we also embarked on our Consulting Project, which served as a practical substitute for a master's thesis. This wasn't some hypothetical exercise; we had to find a real client with real-world problems and then craft actionable solutions using all our freshly acquired business knowledge. My team's client was SK Planet's 11street, their e-commerce marketplace. Working with the head of their M&C (Marketing & Communications) department, our challenge was clear: how to boost their growth by maximizing the number of female buyers. It was a fascinating, hands-on learning experience that perfectly bridged theory and practice.

December: Endings, Beginnings, and a Cold Christmas

And just like that, December arrived, signaling the bittersweet end of my KAIST chapter. A swirl of emotions hit me: pure, unadulterated relief that this intensive program was finally drawing to a close, mingled with a genuine sadness at the thought of not seeing my friends as often. Finishing all my exams and reports just before Christmas felt like crossing a finish line after a grueling ultra-marathon. Yeay!


It was also my very first Christmas far, far away from home. I had envisioned a classic White Christmas, the kind you see in movies, but what I got was a Cold Christmas. It was frigid, the kind of cold that sinks into your bones, but alas, no magical snowfall. I spent Christmas Eve at a Lutheran church, a new experience for me, having grown up in reformed and pentecostal traditions. On Christmas Day, I joined a beautiful joint service at Youngnak Church, where I'd found a wonderful, supportive community in Seoul.



Overall, 2013 was, without a doubt, an awesome year. I absorbed so many lessons here in Seoul, not just from the textbooks and lectures, but from the everyday hustle and the profound personal growth. It was also the year I truly understood that my life balance had gone a bit wonky. My hope, as I looked towards 2014, was to reclaim a healthier equilibrium, to find that sweet spot between ambition and well-being. And as always, I prayed for God's continued guidance, trusting in His plan for the path ahead. 

Happy New Year! Here’s to always striving to be a better person than we were yesterday.

Posted on 31 December 2013 Category: ,

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