"Home Away from Home: A Memoir of Community Service in Begaganlimo"

 "College Field Study and Community Service Experience" 

Begaganlimo January 2024

Hello fellas! It's been a long time since I wrote an article. First of all I'm going to say sorry for being such an inactive writer because the things I need to take care of in my life. Now, I'm back and ready to write many more of my opinions and journey in life. Here, I will tell you all about my field study and community service in Begaganlimo Village.

Begaganlimo is a village placed in Kecamatan Gondang, Mojokerto, East Java. My university chose the village because of the beauty and the potential of the village. Me myself with all my fellow friends (Group Regular 5) was so grateful to be placed in this such a beautiful village. Begaganlimo is surrounded by shady hills dan dense many kind of trees. The village itself also filled with kind hearted people. 

Before we jump right in to the implementation of our group work programs we have to do some sort of survey there. Regular 5 have been visiting the village for about 4 until 5 times before D-day. The purpose of the surveys itself was to make us to be more understanding about the village's culture and of course the surround society. The headman Mr. Joko Suroso was such a bless to us, he really open up to us as a college students. He did not create even tiny little bit distance between the village government and us as a visitor. He's just such a humble, kind, generous, patient, and kind hearted leader. Even Mr. Joko Suroso let us all access all of the public facilities there. 

Not only the headman, but also the people in Begaganlimo are really kind. They always put a smile everytime we passed by, treating us the same as their children, and never gave us a pressure to be exactly the same like them because they know we are still learning to socialize, they really accept us the way we are and personally I'm so thankful for them.

Begaganlimo surrounding nature is such a gift. This village is given such a many amazing and magnificent places. Let me tell you like "Lembah Harapan" and "Akar Seribu", both of them are such a fantastic natural beauty. Near the "Lembah Harapan" there's a river that has clear water with a wonderful view. My friends and I often visit there just to clear our minds from the stressful work and reports.

I want to enclose several photos of mine here to make you guys know how begaganlimo really is. Here are some! 

Look at how beautiful the view is here (this is the river by the way)

This is me with the whole of my publication team (I'm on the right side lol)

See how magnificent the nature is!!

We did our field study and community programs for about 12 days. Doing so many activities and programs there such as socialization, tutoring, and social programs with the kids, teenagers, and adults. Let me tell you guys, the first 2 until 3 days there I felt so homesick. I've been so far from home especially from my parents. I literally cried the day I had to finally go to the village. It's just really hard for me to say goodbye to my family. But after one week I started to feel comfortable and get used to it. I miss home still but I can enjoy my time there with my closest friends and the surround society. Finally we reached Day 12, it was really hard actually leaving but it is what it is because "there is always a goodbye in every hello."

To be honest I personally got so many lessons of life from there. Like how finally I managed to be separate from my parents and being independent for almost 2 weeks. Trying to redeem all of my negative emotions and thoughts, can cope and having a peace with my stress and myself. Understanding that life is not as easy as it was when I was a baby. I need to fight for it, there's many sacrifices to succeed in life. Have to deal with so many type of friends the selfish ones, the humble, the annoying, and the average one. How to socialize with someone totally new for myself. I'm 100% sure if it wasn't because of this programs I wouldn't get that kind of experiences. In the last 2 days I got so emotional like I miss home but also sad to leave this wonderful place behind. Having so many memories there the good ones also the bad ones but still it all were worth it. I'm making new friends, the bond between us getting stronger each days that's the part that I adore so much. We cry, we smile, we happy, we sad, we stress, and we sick together. There's so much ups and downs and drama for 12 days but it will always stick in my mind for the rest of my life. 

Thank you to all my fellow friends who's willing to be friends with the silly me. Thank you so much for the cheer up and the smiles we share everyday. It is such an honor for me to share our days together! Also big thank you for the kindness of the people in Begaganlimo. We were really happy to do the service program there!

That is all my story I can share about my field study and community service in Begaganlimo Village guys. Let me know in the comments if you guys want me to write about some particular topics. Hope this article can help, be beneficial, and entertaining as well ya! See ya on the next writing footers!