lkui.umsida.ac.id – The month of October 2026 has been an exceptionally vibrant and memorable period for Fauziyah Afifah Siswanto. An English Education student from Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo (UMSIDA), Fauziyah is currently broadening her academic and cultural horizons as an exchange student at the A.K. Kussayinov Eurasian Humanities Institute (EAGI) in Astana, Kazakhstan. Throughout the month, she has successfully navigated the challenges of living abroad, immersing herself in local traditions, witnessing breathtaking seasonal transitions, and adapting to a rigorous, multi-formatted academic system.
One of the major highlights of her October schedule took place (27/10), when Fauziyah attended the highly anticipated Official Welcome Ceremony for EAGI First-Year Students 2026. The prestigious event was hosted at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, a world-renowned architectural landmark in Astana symbolizing global harmony and culture.
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The grand ceremony commenced with an official welcoming address by the Rector of EAGI, which formally ushered the new cohort into the academic year. Following the formal protocols, the stage came alive with a rich showcase of Kazakh cultural heritage. The audience, which crowded the magnificent venue, was treated to a series of traditional Kazakh dances, melodic regional songs, and an immersive Kazakh theatrical drama. The lively atmosphere and high-energy performances made the entire event incredibly captivating for the international student.
“The performances were really beautiful. It was interesting to see Kazakh dances, listen to their songs, and watch their drama,” she remarked, expressing her deep admiration for the cultural wealth of her host country.
Beyond her formal commitments on campus, Fauziyah thoroughly enjoyed the transition of the seasons as Astana entered the peak of autumn. The urban landscape transformed as countless leaves shifted into brilliant hues of amber and gold, providing stunning backdrops where she captured numerous photos of the scenic environment. Adjusting to the local climate presented an exciting challenge; while the autumn weather was generally cool, certain days brought biting cold temperatures. She even witnessed firsthand the first snowfall of the season during the month—a magical and unprecedented encounter that marked a completely new experience in her life.
Her visual exploration of the capital city reached another high point during an evening stroll past the famous Hazrat Sultan Mosque. Observing the massive, beautifully illuminated structure from the outside at night offered a spectacular view, leaving a lasting impression of the city’s architectural grandeur.
Culinary exploration also played an essential role in her cultural integration. During October, Fauziyah stepped out of her comfort zone to try various local Kazakh delicacies. Two traditional dishes quickly became her favorites: lagman, a savory, hand-pulled noodle dish packed with meat and vegetables, and tushpara, traditional Kazakh dumplings served in a warm, flavorful broth. For Fauziyah, tasting local food served as a profound way to connect with the authentic lifestyle and daily customs of the people of Kazakhstan.
However, October was not solely dedicated to leisure and cultural immersion. The month demanded intense academic focus as EAGI held its midterm examinations. Fauziyah completed midterms for four distinct subjects, with each course utilizing vastly different and unconventional assessment formats compared to what she was accustomed to at her home university in Indonesia.
In some subjects, students were required to demonstrate spontaneous speaking skills, testing their ability to articulate complex ideas logically without prior preparation. Meanwhile, the Grammar examination presented a strict analytical challenge, requiring students to complete a comprehensive paper containing 100 rigorous questions. The Chinese language midterm added another layer of complexity, as it specifically evaluated the students’ precision in writing traditional Chinese characters.
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The assessment variety extended far beyond written and oral exams. For her Physical Education midterms, Fauziyah had to complete a grueling series of physical fitness tests. The practical evaluations included the long jump, maintaining a stable plank position, a sit-up challenge, and a highly demanding one-minute hanging test on the pull-up bars.
Although the diverse examination structures contrasted sharply with her previous academic experiences, the UMSIDA student found the entire process rewarding and highly engaging. She noted that the spontaneous speaking tests provided an invaluable platform to build public speaking confidence under pressure, while the varied assessments pushed her out of her academic comfort zone.
Ultimately, Fauziyah expressed great satisfaction with her overall midterm results. Her journey throughout October beautifully illustrates that an international student exchange program is about far more than just classroom learning; it is a holistic journey of personal growth, cultural adaptation, and academic resilience on a global stage.
Source: Fauziyah A. S.
