I’m writing this essay to apply for
The 2nd Study Tour “Life of Muslims in Germany-Study Program 2018”
in Berlin-Germany, on July 7th-21st July 2018. Since for
a long time, I have a deep interest in Europe countries especially Germany. I’ve
learned a lot about Europe and Germany geographically. They have four seasons
that is so interesting for an Asian person like me that only know two season
only in my country. Germany is also one of the largest countries in Europe with
total population is about 82 millions people.
Germany is famous with it
contributions to the world in many areas. For example, technology, literacy,
politic, art and even spirituality. Germans is well-known as creative, focus,
efficient, discipline and hard-working people. There are so many Germans that
are well known all entire the world including in Indonesia because of their
contributions. In classical music, there are Ludwig van Beethoven, Mozart,
Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, Scumann and Strauss as composers. I do
love listening their composition. Then there are Karl Marx, a famous
philosopher, that wrote Das Capital.
In cultural field there is Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. In politic, we all know
about Otto von Bismarck, Adolf Hitler and Angela Merkel. Even Albert Einstein
with his well-known relativity theory was born in Ulm, Germany. And recently,
we all know famous Germans actresses like Heidi Klum, Kirsten Dunst and Claudia
Schiffer.
In sport areas, Germany is also
outstanding. Many names like Michael Schumacher, Steffi Graf and Dirk Nowitzki
are well-known in Indonesia. And most of all, Bundesliga is very famous among
Indonesian people. Their football clubs like Bayern Muenchen and Borussia
Dortmund have so many fans here. Names like Oliver Kahn, Mesut Ozil, Franz
Beckenbauer, Michael Ballack or Lewandowsky are very popular. Even, when
Germany became the Champion of World Cup 2014, There were a lot of mothers in
Indonesia that gave her newborn name as Ozil.
Germany is a country with the second
largest muslim population in Europe after France. Islam itself entered Germany
since Ottoman Turk Empire surrounded Vienna with their troops in 1683 but was
defeated then. At that time there were a lot of moslem Turkey soldiers prisoned
and brought to enter Germany. Islam was also broadly learned by Germans
orientalists. Some of them did deep studies about Islam. Heribert Busse (1926)
wrote Die Theologischen Beziehungen des Islam Zu Judentum und Christentum. He
affirmed that Islam was independent from Christian
and Jude’s influences. He actually admitted that there was strong relation
between Islam and Christian-Jude, but he was sure Islam didn’t imitate them.
Gustav Weil (1808-1889) wrote a monumental Historich-Kritische
Einleitung in der Koran (1844) that told about logical chronology in Quran.
Otto Pretzl (1893) who continued his Proffessor’s research, Gothlaf Bergstars
from University of Minns, wrote about variety in Quran reading. Another Quran
researcher was Bergstraesser who reconstructed Quran history.
For me personally, I’m very
interesting to learn about life of muslims in Germany because I used to be
minority when I lived in Bali for about 7 years to finish my medical doctor
degree. Balinese people actually was warm-hearted, humble and friendly people.
They are also very welcome to other people even foreigners. But, Bali bomb
tragedies that happened at 2002 and 2005 hit them quite hard. After the
tragedies, suspiciousness to muslim was increased among them. And I, as a
muslimah that wear hijab, experienced some sceptical attitudes from some of
them.
I have some expectations of being
participant of this program. First, I want to know how Germans muslim handled
the issue that linked terrorism with Islam. Especially because they are
minorities in Germany. Then I want to learn about tolerancy among religions in
Germany. I want to share this tolerancy issue in Madura later, because
Maduranese is well-known as religious muslims and I concider that this issue is
importan for them. Second, I want to learn about economical aspect that Germans
muslims face in Germany. This issue related to my concern in developing
economical aspect and entrepreneurship in Pesantren environment. And third, I
want to learn about Germany health system superficially, related to my concern in
developing health services in Madura.
All of experiences that I will get in
this program surely will be shared extensively. Sure I will take time to
presentate about insights and experiences that I get in front of our students
and santri in all of Pesantren that related to us, especially Nazhatut Thullab
Boarding School Sampang, Mamba’ul Ma’arif Boarding School Jombang and Darul
Ulum Boarding School Jombang. I want to inspire the students to do something
great. And then I will also share my experience to all of mothers in my village
that join in Komunitas Ibu Pembelajar (Learning Mothers Community) Nazhatut
Thullab. I want inspire and motivate them so it can elevate their spirit in
educating their children. Last, I will write down my insights and experiences
to my social media account, especially instagram. I have more than 3000
followers, most of them are students in high school, college or university and
also housewives. Some of them used to say that caption in my instagram inspired
them a lot.
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