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Regular version of the site

The Romance between Knowledge and Wisdom: HSE - My Self-Treasured Paradise

The first adaptation days in Russia of Alchatib Satria Rizaldi were not easy. He used to live in Indonesia, a place where hospitality is a lifestyle which apparently in Moscow it is not obvious. The coldness of Russia's weather was seemed to equate the first treatment he received from the people he met randomly at the airport and public avenue. But during his 2-years study at Political Analysis and Public Policy program and HSE, the attitude has been changed and now he shares his experience with us.

To start with perfect honesty, my adaptation days in Russia was not easy and as a first-timer, I feel offended and a bit bullied by the feeling of being treated as an outside. At one point of time, I came to believe that I would not last for long in Russia, even with my adaptation skill (which I consider quite extraordinary) given my extensive times traveling and working abroad. The ice was eventually broken when I met Ekaterina at HSE Study Office. The program manager gave me every hands-on, yet direct assistance and advice not only support my study at HSE but also helping me to deal with adjustment problem at dormitory given that I as well was struggled with health issue upon arrival in Russia. From Ekaterina, professors, and friends I met at PPD and broader social science faculty, I started to realize that HSE is a place where people celebrate togetherness intellectually. These two keywords are of an important imperative for international studentship environment whose contextualization embedded at my pieces of training at HSE, leading to an experience of chairing an International conference in Georgia (2018), went on a diplomatic negotiation in Italy (2017), as well as two separate book and scientific article authorship afterwards. From then on, I started to name the university, a paradise of knowledge and wisdom. 

HSE is a place where people celebrate togetherness intellectually

     During my time at HSE, I was blessed with countless experiences on research and supports for my personal development on and off campus. As such, I was given the opportunity to involve as a Teaching Assistant and Research Consultant for PPD where academism and professionalism were being exercised at different level. For that matter, I am forever grateful for the tutelage and mentorship of Professor Arnab Roy Chowdhury with whom I spent the most time at my orientation year to navigate my university deliverable, co-curricular endeavor, as well as my wider plan on the life after university. Secondly, gratitude flies out to Professor Artem Uldanov who has invested his time and most importantly his "trust" for garnering cosmopolitanism and progressiveness in me, especially during my research fieldwork in Jakarta. I thank both professors for believing in my ABI (ability, benevolence, and integrity) during my time in HSE. I consider both individuals, my superlative support system, as well as loyal friends whose words and presence will forever go a long way throughout my career. 

   This year I graduated from the university with excellent result and most importantly with dignity and pride as a part of a world-renowned research community. Eventually, from the deepest side of my heart, I'd like to thank all my mentors, Sergey Parkhomenko, Svetlana Inkina, Sanjay Kumar Rajhans, Victor Attila Albert, Caroline Schlaufer, and the rest professors for their time invested for my academic and personal development. My classmates, Matthew, Maria Jose, Malang, Morris, Tun, and especially Agustinus from Zamrud Khatulistiwa (The jewel of the equator) well as Rasha of Biladi Syaam (The land of Syam) with whom I tied brother/sisterhood throughout these two years. As I previously conveyed upon graduation speech, as young people, we are always good enough to change the world. 

Thank you HSE, thank you for making me a who I am today, and indeed (courtesy to Matthew), HSE is where dream comes real. 

Alchatib Satria Rizaldi, graduate 2019 (Indonesia)