My note on the concept of collaboration

Being the social animal that we are, it is almost impossible for us to not interact with other individuals in our daily life basis. And If you're working and living in a big and populated city, it is something that you will encounter with other individuals probably almost every single day. Interaction somewhat becomes a way of survival to be part of the wave. In this kind of context, interaction between some people tend to go to the level of collaboration.

There are many reasons for people to collaborate. The main purpose is to achieve or approach the common goals. By collaborating, all the power, talents, assets, and ideas are combined. This mechanism allows people to achieve common goals faster, more effective, and more impactful than if you are a solo fighter. Collaboration is also a peacemaking medium in which keeps people busy thinking and doing to create something or make difference in their groups and communities. I imagined if all of the people in Indonesia are busy collaborating, we will have a productive yet conflict-free nation!

From my experience, collaborating with other people could be a nice yet challenging thing to do. With collaborating, we will get the work done for sure. And having to work with other people, they complete the part which is out of our ability or specialty. This process also allows us to practice and sharpen our social skills. Collaboration could be challenging when expectations and capabilities of individuals involved are failed to be noticed and accommodated. Given the diverse characteristics and backgrounds of individuals involved, it is essential to take time to understand and accept the differences to collaborate more effectively.

Though it is always possible to be accommodative, in reality we don't always have the energy to please everyone, particularly if we put so much focus on our ideals and the things we want to achieve. In this kind of context, according to myself, collaboration shall be modified to the extend between small-knitted, like-minded, and similar vibes of individuals. It is important to be in a squad that stimulates you to think and do better.

Of all the available options within our network, we have the rights to choose the people that we want to collaborate with, especially if it is for the long run. These people are likely to be the ones you shared the same values, ideals, and have the vibe connections.

My note on the concept of Culture

Last weekend I was involved in an activity where I have to assess one's ability to adjust to new environment and culture to be able to perform self growth from it. From that activity, I am seeing young individuals who are determined to become world citizens by gaining experience and learning interculturally. What is it about this intercultural experience and learning that attracts people to be immersed in?

The concept of intercultural experience and learning is very closely associated with culture. In my definition, culture represents a wide aspect in our everyday life, from our way of thinking, way of living, way of creating something, etc. I think that every single person is part/product of a bigger culture and they represents the culture of their own at the same time. The process of creating culture involved external stimulus as well as generating our own values and ideals.

We see and witnessed varieties of individual ways of living, thinking, etc. We can see that, potentially, there are many ideas and new ways that could be developed by opening our minds to learn and see how the way of others may benefit us. Ideally, with open minds, we can be more receptive and able to unleash limitless creativity to create or improve many things in life. But on the realistic side, of course there are challenges to overcome when implementing the effort, from really believing the power of oneself, being misunderstood by others, to unsupportive external conditions (i.e corruptive government, conflicts,  etc).

While it seems that there may be no boundaries when it comes to discovering culture, the boundaries actually exists within ourselves as individuals. In other word, the extend to where we can change our behavior (even though we have been culturally empowered) actually has limit. If you happen to follow Daniel Pink and his show at Nat Geo channel, it is validated how we are tend to be 'lost' in our habits and culture, therefore controlling it becomes necessary. Or we all recalls on how our prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) always behave in kind manner in order to inspire and influence the disbelievers to take the right path. Culture could also be formed as influence to inspire and empower.

I guess these young people are aware on how intercultural learning and experience will benefit them by being able to learn about something that they have never been exposed to,and also being used to accepting new stimulus. The experience will have effect not just in short term, but also long term, as culture is not something to be mastered in an overnight. It is a fluid entity, which will stimulates, inspires, and challenges us in our entire life.

my note on community based tourism

source : https://socentindo.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/community-based-tourism-in-waerebo-flores/

How is the way of travelling changing in the nowadays context? And how is it associated with the idea of improving communities?

For you wanderers and explorers, I am pretty sure that you have the thought that there are many ways to experience the world. As an ultimate traveler, you tend to find ways to be connected with the people that you meet at your destinations, as well as the surroundings. You will make the best of your time and money to gain as much experience as possible. Travelling is not just a means of leisure, but also a means of exploring local cultures, food, history, landscapes, etc

For us millennials, travelling has becoming something that is incorporated to our lifestyle. Travelling is somewhat the catharsis media of the buzzing routines millennials tend to have. We realize the importance of taking our time offs and to keep exploring.  On the other hand, there are some people who are dedicating themselves freely, and took the opposite approach. Out there, there are individuals who directly took part as catalyst, entrepreneurs, agent of change that promotes tourism in many different ways. With their creativity, these people offers new ways of travelling to the emerging market, while on the other hand also engaging and collaborating with the local community to help improve their lives.

We see this growing trend of travelling, particularly among youngsters in Indonesia. If you look closely, what is there to miss? Our nation has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. And on top of that, given thousands of islands that existed in this nation, there are many settings and cultures that could be explored. Given these potentials, it is not too vague to say that tourism is a promising industry that is worth to be explored. With their entrepreneurial mindset, some people took the chance to create something out of it. One example that I am going to emphasize in this writing is the concept of community based tourism.

Community based tourism allowed local residents (often rural, poor, and economically marginalized) to develop strategies and plans to promote the local potentials by inviting tourist to visit their communities. This will includes activities such as organizing festivals, providing homestay, as well as marketing products of artisan goods. This system allows residents to earn income as land managers, entrepreneurs, service, etc. On the consumer side, community based tourism allows tourist to discover local habitats and wildlife, as well as knowing more about traditional cultures, rituals, and wisdom.

Kampung Wisata Mola is one example of community based tourism implemented in Wakatobi, Sulawesi. The idea of this project is to develop an ecotourism that allows the establishment of sustainable socio-cultural interaction. Wakatobi has one of the richest underwater life in the world which attracts thousands of tourist coming to experience it. With quite a number of visitors coming, the local community who established Kampung Wisata Mola are findings ways for visitors to also experience their majestic local culture in various ways, such as tasting local culinary, introducing the Bajo star telling tradition, and let tourists to have hands on experience being a traditional Bajo fisherman.

The concept of community based tourism somewhat contribute in offering new ways of travelling and exploring and empowering communities at the same time. These two ingredients are important in creating a sustainable social enterprise, where in the bigger context, business and development are also shifting to a more impactful and environment friendly causes. Community based tourism may be small business units which contribute in creating new employment opportunities in communities. Specifically, this system also allows the transfer of knowledge, as well as exchange of ideas and experiences between tourist and the local people. If managed properly, these advantages will enhance growth as both sides gain new perspectives, skills, and knowledge from the process.

So, are you on board?

I want my kids ...

I want my kids to be a proud Muslim and always have the willingness to learn more about their religion.

I want my kids to have minds that are broad, and they could imagine of anything to achieve their dreams.

I want my kids to have hearts that are open, so they could have empathy and forgive easily.

I want my kids to understand that failures should not beat them, and they have continuous energy and aspiration to keep going.

I want my kids to know that working hard is important, yet are not blinded by material things. I want them to know that happiness is sometimes a simple thing.

I want my kids to be constantly grateful, especially when they face difficult times.

I want my kids to value their life by keeping on exploring the world, and enrich their perspectives by doing it.

My kids doesn't have to be the smartest, as long as they know what they are doing, and what they do is useful for others.

I want my kids to be in the blessed path and be happy about their life.

Amin ya robbal alamin