Name: Franz Simeon Vincent E.

Cheng Student ID Number: 22018

Assignment #1

What are your motivations and expectations from this activity, and what did you know
before about the law and legal culture in Indonesia?

Being an international student may be a very rewarding experience that should not be
underestimated. One of the things that motivates me to be one is the fact that when confronted
with this new reality, I will develop and expand in ways I never believed possible. I will grow
into a more mature and well-rounded individual. I will also learn more about myself and how I
deal with challenging situations, which will be useful as I move through life and confront
obstacles. Furthermore, as an international student, I am forced to become comfortable with
being uncomfortable, which promotes confidence unlike any other. It might be difficult for me to
be myself when everyone around me is so different. But, once I am at ease in these settings, I
will learn to never conceal who I am and to always speak for myself. Finally, taking an overseas
course will expose me to new ways of teaching and learning, as well as new ways of thinking.
Learning from various teaching and educational styles can help me learn and retain information
better, ultimately making me a better educator in my field of study.

Additionally, I anticipate that this course will expose me to Indonesia's laws and legal
culture, allowing me to become more politically conscious of the country's politics. I hope to
study how its people live in society and how to respect Indonesia's political framework. Aside
from the fact that experiencing this new culture will benefit me as a student, I expect making
new friends as a result of this activity. I anticipate to make new friends and I hope to keep in
touch with them for the rest of my life. Moreover, I will have the opportunity to meet other
international students from my home country, and we can easily bond over our common
experiences. I also expect encountering difficulties along the way. I may be culturally shocked
since everything one knows and believes about the world might change very rapidly while
encountering a new country. When a student leaves their family and friends behind, culture
shock becomes even more difficult to live with. Fortunately, the course is conducted virtually. I
expect the course to be difficult as well, given that I am still unfamiliar with the educational
system and how professors organize their classes.

To be quite frank, I do not have that much knowledge about Indonesian politics.
However, after doing my research, I discovered that politics in Indonesia is far from different
from politics in the Philippines. Indonesia is a democratic constitutional republic. Indonesia
today has popular sovereignty, which is reflected through legislative and presidential elections
every five years. Since the fall of Suharto's New Order in 1998, which marked the start of the
Reformation period, various constitutional amendments have been made in order to reduce the
effective power of the country's executive branch, making a new dictatorship almost impossible,
and every election in the country is regarded as free and fair. Despite this, the country is not free
of corruption, nepotism, collusion, and money-politics, which allows power or political positions
to be bought. Religion, particularly Islam, also has a role in political decision-
making. Indonesian government is also divided into three powers (trias politica), notably the
executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Joko Widodo's Working Cabinet (2014-present) is
currently in office. In conclusion, before enrolling in an international course, we must carefully
examine the advantages and disadvantages and consider the "why." We must completely prepare
ourselves, make sound judgments, and be ready to go on a once-in-a-lifetime experience.