Why and How Can I Study in Malang? (A Story behind Studying in Malang)

Haii...
In this writing, I would like to share my story about Why and How can I choose Malang to be the place I take undergraduate program? ... First of all, I'd like to tell you that I am a Cirebonese. Since I was child until had been graduated from Vocational High school, I lived with my parents in Cirebon. Then, I am being away from home for taking bachelor program in Malang.
Let's begin...

In August 2014, I went to Malang for continuing my study taking a bachelor program in University of Muhammadiyah Malang majored English Language Education Department. Why Malang?
Well, Malang is chosen to be my destination of study since my first semester of high school.
Before entering high school, I once (February 2011) had a traditional dance performance in Cultural Evening events in Kuningan, West Java (related to traditional dance posted in the other article).

My group's performance in Cultural Evening 2011
Taken from: Facebook Yayasan Prima Ardian Tana

In there, the performer was not only from cities of West Java, but also other cities in Indonesia. Traditional dancers from other cities in Indonesia also were performing their area's traditional arts. One of the most remarkable performance was presented by the representative of Malang city. There were 5 (five) traditional dancers brought up Bapang dance (traditional dance from Malang). The dancer were performing amazingly and powerfully. Their performance encouraged me to learn the Bapang dance. However, I don't know where to learn the Malang's traditional dance in my home city (Cirebon). Therefore, my eager was forming an ambition to go there for learning Bapang dance 🤣 Although I did not know the precise place for learning Malang's traditional dance, going to Malang was becoming the time that I waited most. 

Bapang Dance Performance in Cultural Evening 2011
Taken from: Facebook Yayasan Prima Ardian Tana

After having such ambition, I read a lot article about Malang city, related to the culture, weather, situation, lifestyle and so on. I even had few times  presenting about East Java specifically Malang  as the topic of my presentation in high school (Tour Planning course). In my presentation, I was exploring and explaining the traditional culture, food and even tourism object. Knowing those things (especially tourism object) about Malang was leading me to be more enthusiastic to be there .

Then, I told my parents related to my plan for taking bachelor degree in Malang. Once, my father suggested me to choose another city Surabaya as there is my father's relative (brother), Bandung or Yogyakarta. However, I did not wanted to (still choose Malang) 😂 Finally, my parents allowed me to choose studying in Malang, because it is one of cities of education, besides it also located near Kediri. FYI, Kediri is my father's home city, my father also has several relatives in other cities in East Java (e.g. Sidoarjo & Surabaya). Therefore, my father would be easier to go to his home city if he wanted to visit me.

Back to my plan !!
After deciding Malang, I was interested to study in one of states university, but the major that I wanted was only vocational education (D3).  So, another major related to language was chosen. When the admission days opened, I joined a university selection test, named Joint Entrance Selection of State Universities (SBMPTN).
and you know guys????
(white flag raising) I was confused to answer most questions of SBMPTN (I admitted that I was having less preparation, I  also was graduated from Vocational school not from common high school) 😂

 ---long story short---

A week before the announcement of SBMPTN, my father, Diki (my lil bro), and I went to Kediri for visiting my father's home city. In there, we met one of my father's cousin who is apparently graduated from one university in Malang. She influenced and suggested me to apply in another university as an alternative if I am not accepted in university through SBMPTN.

In the next day, I eventually went to Malang and apply in University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM). I was having no information about UMM and the major itself. The chosen major were selected by my intuition. Surprisingly, I chose English Language Education Department as my first choice and Communication Science as my second choice.
....
The announcement day was coming. I finally did not accepted in university through SBMPTN, but UMM was accepting me to be one of new students on 2014 majored English Language Education Department. I never thought that the university where I studied was very Amazing and Incredible. I am proud to be UMM Student...

That's all my story, thanks for reading ^^