Two Hours with Prof. Hess-Luettich

Bahasa Indonesia – Deutsch

University of Berne

I was reading while waiting for the professor in the lobby. He was still on the way.

Several times later some people just came into the lobby. It was a European man among them. He saw me and I also saw him. Then he smiled at me and mentioned my name. Therefore I knew that he was the professor, whom I was waiting for. I thought it nice, that the professor could recognize me right away. We haven’t met each other yet before. :-)

I stood up, shook hands with the professor. We talked shortly. Then he invited me for dinner. Oh, he was so nice. I didn’t expect it. We went to the restaurant right beside the lobby.

We talked about some interesting themes. The professor gave me a bottle of kayu putih oil, which comes from Buru Island. (kayu = wood, putih = white, so kayu putih = white wood. But, there must be a Latin name for this plant.) I was pleased so much about the oil. It was a pleasant evening, but time went on, sometime one must stop. We must go on our own life. The professor must fly to India on the next day where he also would give lectures. Again a long flight! The professor was only shortly in Jakarta due to stopover. He had given lectures before in 2 cities in Indonesia.

I know Prof. em Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c Ernest W.B. Heß-Lüttich since 2003. I would apply for a scholarship from Switzerland at that time and I needed a confirmation of acceptance from a recognized university in Switzerland. I got the confirmation of acceptance from Prof. Hess-Luettich, German Department, University of Berne. Thanks to his confirmation of acceptance I could apply for the scholarship.

Following quotation of his first email dated 8^th October 2003

Dear Ms Sihombing Purnama-Juita:

I beg for understanding, that I wrote late, but I just come back today from conferences in Brazil... .

I took from your letter, that you are interested in studies in my department. ...

He was so nice. :-)

Switzerland only gives scholarship simultaneously in limited quota for many countries in Asia. It means there wouldn’t be scholarships special only for Indonesia. The woman in the Swiss Embassy told me that at that time. It is different from Germany. DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst / German Academic Exchange Service) Jakarta is there for Indonesia

Following quotation of the refusal letter from Switzerland:

Bern, 26.3.2004

Dear Ms Sihombing

Recently you have applied for a scholarship from the Swiss Confederation. ...

The Federal Scholarship Commission was forced to make a strict selection due to the number of incoming candidacies, which exceed the offered scholarships greatly. This led to it, that variously good candidacies could not also be considered.

Unfortunately we must inform you, that the Commission has not awarded the scholarship to you. ...

This is so sad. I would love to be a lecturer in a university. But I need a scholarship, so that I could continue my studies and work afterwards at the university. However it was so difficult to get a scholarship. On the contrary there are people, who are not thankful. They get a scholarship so that they can continue their studies in Germany. But they don’t come back to the campus in Indonesia. They are married with Germans and stay in Germany.

As far as I know, a source of German scholarship is the tax, which the Germans pay to the country. A German friend told me, that he can only enjoy a half of his salary, while the rest is deducted for the tax.

Maybe the system must be changed. Who receives scholarship, but he or she makes it useless afterwards, he or she must return the money to the scholarship donor. The scholarship donor gives scholarship of course for a good aim, to help a “poor’ country like Indonesia. (I say “poor”, but in fact there are many rich people in Indonesia)

The Indonesian Police and Military have such system. But now I don’t know whether the scholarship is still available.

As I was in the last semesters in Universitas Indonesia I have applied for a scholarship in the Indonesian Police and Military. These 2 institutions were together and there were called ABRI.

ABRI demands the scholarship holder to work for ABRI at least 10 years. This scholarship program is called PSDP / Perwira Sukarela Dinas Pendek (Voluntary Soldier for Short Service). After 10 years these scholarship holder are free. They may continue working for ABRI or just resign. If the scholarship holders resign earlier than 10 years, they must return the money to the state!! It is fair. I agree.

So, I am not a professor at any German Department in any university, probably I would never be a professor :-( ; but I was happy, that finally in November 2015 I met my ex-future counselor of my master thesis personally, who is a professor. And I am also glad to work as a private German teacher. Flexible working time, no stress from e.g. unfair boss and from e.g. evil colleagues. ;-)

If we, I and the professor, would meet again, only God knows that. :-)

You have read text 42.
Please read text 43: Storm Might Come

Back to text 41: Dissolved Sound “Umlaut”. It Is Already Correct!