Being Muslim in Russia

According to wikipedia, Islam is the second largest after Christian Orthodox. It is around 25 million muslim. But compare to Indonesia, the number is nothing. In Indonesia, 85% of the population are muslim.

There are lots of things between being muslim in Indonesia and in Russia. 

1. Masjid

In Indonesia, I can find masjid easily to pray. In my neighbourhood, there are 5 masjid. I can go to any masjid I want. But in Russia, especially, Izhevsk, there are three masjids. They are Izhevskaya Sobornaya Masjid, Masjid Imam Nury, and

я тебя не отдам, (I will never give you)

I'll give you or in english is I will never give you. I like this song very much. I heard this song for the first time in Elena's car. I had tried to find the song but i failed. I asked my Russian friends about this song. But they didn't have any idea about it.

Then, my best friend, Rinat, he found the song in the last two days before I went back home. I was so happy and touched. I ever asked him about this song too but he

сарапул, A Place of Money

Sarapul is located in Udmurt Republic. It is 66 km from Izhevsk. It takes only one hour to go there from izhevsk. Sarapul is a city near Kama River. Just like Izhevsk, Sarapul is an industrial city too. There are more than 100 000 people live in this city.

Here are some places I visited when I was in Sarapul.

1. Kama River

This city is not that big. You can see the big river from across the street. This river is big and the stream is kind of hard. Along the river, there are some benches you can sit on, and some stairs to the river. You can feed doves there and if you are lucky you can meet seagull.

2. The Green Alley

If you walk along the river but against the stream, you can find a beautiful alley. Maybe for some people there is nothing special with the alley. But for me, this alley is beautiful and worth seeing *in summer especially. And after the alley, there is an old bridge, where

воткинск, The City Where Swan Lake Born

Votkinsk is located in Udmurtia Republic, Russia. From Izhevsk, you can go to the north. It takes around one hour to go there.

Votkinsk is the city where the famous composer, Tchaikovsky, born. This city is not big. The number of people who live in this city is not more than 100 000.

There are some places to visit when you are in Votkinsk.

1. Tchaikovsky Music School

This music school is the most famous music school in Udmurt Republic. If you want to be a musician, this school is the right place.

There is a monument of Tchaikovsky in front of the school. If you are lucky, you can listen to some students playing their instruments.

2. Tchaikovsky Monument

This monument is dedicated to remember the great composer Tchaikovsky. It is located near the lake

Hitchhike: сарапул, Meeting ex KGB Officer

The next morning, we went to сарапул. This city is located at the south of Izhevsk. This city is kind of far. We agreed to meet at the южная автостанция at 10.30 am. The weather was not very nice. It was cloudy, cold and kind of dark. I even brought umbrella in case it would be raining.

And it was. hehehe. When we started to hitchhike, the day started drizzling. We were kind of worried since we haven't got any ride. Then, Rinat said we needed to walk further. There is a T-junction ahead. We crossed it and waited.

Around 45 minutes, there was a car stopped for us. Rinat had a talk with him and he gave me a sign to get in the car. First thing first of hitchhiking is talk to the driver and be as friendly as possible. Though I dont speak Russian, I can mark up some words.

The driver is kind of old, I bet he has some grandchildren. From what I understand, they talked about me, where I am from and what I was doing in Izhevsk.

What shocked me is the driver was an KGB

Places to Visit In Yekaterinburg, Russia

I went to Yekaterinburg, Russia from 8-10 May 2014. I went there because I had an exchange program in Izhevsk. For me, Yekaterinburg is kind of the mixture of Moscow, St. Petersburg, and suburbs. Me and Rinat when there beside for seeing the tourism places but also to meet his friend from Tunisia, Marwan.

At there, we met Olya and Elena. They are couchsurfer. They took us to beautiful places there even Olya's friend invited us to a birthday party. Three of us stayed in Olya's flat. 

We were so lucky. We were there when they were celebrating Russian Victoy's Day. And I had a chance to see the huge weapons Russia has. Here are the places in Yekaterinburg you must visited.

1. The Church of Blood

Most of in every city in Russia have church on blood. It doesn't mean that the church is really on blood. The church is actually dedicated to Romanov family who killed cruelly at the end of the revolution time. All the family members and their servant were killed.

Everyone is allowed to visit this church as long as you (woman) cover your hair, no short skirt, and wear long dress. If you are not, the church usually provides some cloth to cover the legs and scarf. For man, wearing shorts is a big no no.

2.  The Beatles Monument

In Yekaterinburg, there is the beatles monument. Though the wall is full with graffiti but it's still nice. There is a quote on the wall, "the love you give is equal to love you make ..."

HITCHHIKING: воткиск

Yeah, you are right. HITCHHIKE. Hitchhiking base on wikipedia is a transportation that gained by asking people, usually stranger, for a ride. Yep, stranger. I had this experience with my buddy, Rinat. He has visited seven countries by hitchhiking. IT IS AWESOME!!!!

So, here is the story. It was Friday. I needed to but the train ticket from Izhevsk to Moscow. At first, I wanted to leave on Tuesday,  27 May. When were lining up to buy the ticket, I was doubt to leave on Tuesday or Wednesday. He suddenly asked me what I would do on Monday. I said nothing particular except packing. And he asked further, whether I went to the job. I said, no. Today was the last day. Then, he asked again, what I would do in Moscow. I explained to him that I would meet my Indonesian friend and go for sightseeing. He surprised me by saying this, well, if you dont mind, we can go to Votkinsk on

TNT Interview

In May, I had an internship in Arboris Club in Izhevsk, Russia, there was a local station television, TNT, interviewed me. I was so nervous like hell. It was my first time being interviewed by someone.

The process of the interview was not so long. Maybe around 10 minutes. There were two guys from the TV, one cameraman and one interviewer. I was accompanied by Taras, the head of my exchange program and Yulia, she works for that tv too and as my translator.

Here is the link of the video. тнт ижевске . I dont know why I couldn't embed the video from youtube. It's clearly that the video is there but I couldn't find it.

Enjoy the video :)

Places to Visit in Moscow, Russia

I have visited Moscow, Russia last week. I was there twice. First, when I arrived from Indonesia and the second one, when I was going to leave Russia. I was accompanied by Indah Larassakti, an Indonesian woman who are taking her master degree in Moscow State Pedagogical University. Here are the places we visited :)

1. Love Lock

Love lock is located in Luzhkov Bridge, Moscow, Russia. If I'm not mistaken, there are several steel strees where you can put your lock. When I was there, it was raining. The picture didn't come out good. Laras said that people who are couple or married, they put their lock in one of the lock trees then throw the key to the river. :)

2. St. Basil Museum

St. Basil is the main site I want to visit in Moscow. I remembered when I was a child, I saw an ensiklopedia book about Russia and there was a picture of St. Basil. At that time, I refer St. Basil as a castle for princess. I said to myself, one day, I have to visit it. And there I was. 

St. Basil is located in Red Square, Moscow. The ticket price to get inside the St. Basil is 100 rub for student, 350 rub for adult or non student. There was a sad story behind the beauty of St. Basil. The workers who built it, they lost their eyes. It is because the architect was so afraid that the workers would make similar one with St. Basil.

Here I am (1)

Yep. When you read the title, you are right. I am in Russia, right now. It has been almost two months. The journey is kind of fast. And now, I dont know where to start. Maybe it would be easier if i divide into several important dates or weeks.

14 March, 2014

I arrived in Domodedovo Airport at 3pm. The captain says it was 10 outside. I started to wear my thick jacket and prepare to got off from the plane. I knew that there would be an immigration checking. Since i am a foreigner, I have to go to foreigner line. But, there was no such a thing. all foreigner and local people are in the same line. The worst thing was the awful line. Lots of people cut the line and nobody protested about it. I met another foreigner. He said that this aweful line is nothing compare to Bombay, India. I was like what the ...

Then the security lady said something in Russian and her gesture showed to go to the second floor. And some people suddenly went up including me. Ofcourse the line was not much different but this one was faster.

I saw people just stood like 2 or 3 minutes in the immigration gate. It was the time for me to go to immigration gate. The officer asked what the purpose of my visit was. I said I joined social project for AIESEC. She checked over and over again. I was asked to take off my glasses since the picture in my passport is without glasses. I stood there more than 15 minutes. I was thinking that whether I would go home directly from the airport.

Butterflies in My Tummy

I am going to have an internship in Izhevsk, Russia. I am going to work in one of Arboris Club as a teacher. The job description is teaching English through culture. The periode of teaching is from February to April. Therefore, I plan to fly there on 29 January.

But it didn't run as I expected. The process of making IL took longer than usual due to Russia will be the host of Winter Olympics. I needed to send additional papers such as CV and recommendation letter. They promised my IL will be done on 27 of January. Aamiin.

Today is Thursday, 23 January. It means four days to go. And what makes me feel unease is Jakarta's flood. I am so afraid that the Embassy office is closed because of the huge flood. Since I am in Semarang, I need to send my papers (the passport and the rest requirements) to the agent. I can not do it by myself. I don't know a thing about Jakarta. It is way easier for me to hire an agent to do in my behalf.

The butterflies are actually my nervous feelings. This will be my first time to fly by air plane. Nervous for being alone traveller. Nervous for being a foreigner there.

Most of Russians do not want to speak English. It will be a huge challenge for me. Alhamdulillah, because of the internet and technology, I can contact the PPI Rusia. I asked some helps.

Well, I think that's for now. I will share more if my IL has come and I start making Russian Visa.

Assalamuálaikum.

One step closer

Hallooo guys. Long time no see. Ups. I mean write. hehe. I want to share a good news.

From the title, you can guess. It is about my dream. One of my dreams will come true. I will have internship in Izhevsk, Russia for three months. It is becaused I join AIESEC GIP Program. It provides a chance to have internship in world wide. But this program aint a scholarship or so. So, you will use your own money to pay the airfare, visa and accomodation for the first month.

I am a teacher, mathematics teacher. I need to develop my skills both in teaching and handling the students. By joining this program, I am not only get both advantages, but more. I will got paid and I will have experience in teaching abroad. :)

The process of matching and preparing everything to go are not easy. Now, what I am feeling is, confused but excited.

CIAO :)