Thanks a million my friends ...

Thanks a million my friends ...

By Anhar K. Kramadisastra

Saturday, September 26, 1992, was a very special day for me as it marked the beginning of my one-year fellowship in Ireland. On a chilly, though unexpectedly sunny morning, I arrived at Dublin airport, greeted by a cabin attendant with the "Ceat Mille Faulte", the Irish equivalent to "Selamat Datang".

Although I had never experienced such cold weather in my native Indonesia, it did little to lower my enthusiasm. Months earlier, I had been granted a fellowship to study at the University College of Dublin to perfect my knowledge of environmental questions, under the EC-ASEAN Scholarship program.

After having taken part in a one-week EC awareness briefing in Leuven, Belgium, I was now about to start an exciting post- graduate course.

In Dublin, I stayed at Belgrove Place, a block of apartments where I had to share a room with two other students, an American from Chicago and an Irish man from Galway. Looking back at those happy times, I must say that my integration went rather smoothly as I was greatly helped to adapt to my new life by my two roommates.

Dinner time, when we were cooking together and trying to find ways to accommodate our differences in taste and preferences, was most enjoyable. It was learning by doing, but we eventually settled for happy compromises, which we named after our neighborhood: it was either Belgrove Fried Noodles or Belgrove Spaghetti with variations on Belgrove Sate.

I encountered the same friendliness at the UCD campus; teachers and fellow students were most helpful in many respects. Students were very eager to know more about me because I was the only Indonesian on the campus. I felt proud of such an interest in my country and that encouraged me to learn more about Ireland and the warm Irish people.

Professionally speaking, the 12 months I spent in Ireland were extremely beneficial. Not only because I gained further knowledge on environmental issues and how they are addressed in Europe, but also because I was able to witness by myself the people's awareness and participation in protecting their environment.

I realize that I have been among those lucky few Indonesians who go to study in Europe. It has made me a different man in many ways: It has broadened my horizons and enriched my human and social experiences. Therefore, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to all those -- both in Jakarta and in Europe -- who have made this experience possible, by using once again the typical expression that I've heard so many times in Ireland. To all my friends here and in Europe I say: "Thanks a million."

Anhar K. Kramadisastra is an Indonesian Environmental Engineer who followed a one-year post-graduate course in Ireland, under the EC-ASEAN Scholarship program. After he returned to Jakarta in 1993, he created his own environmental consultancy company and is now working as a Policy Analyst on UNDP's Agenda 21 program.