03.17
adi rahman
Being a foreigner in Birmingham is a new think for me. I learn how Englishman talks. They casually speak faster than what I learned at English classes. I didn’t know that elderlies are more than the youths or at least the same. Also, I didn’t expect so many immigrants have come to the UK and that being a PR (permanent resident) has become a life time dream. I haven’t seen all but I believe I’ll get used to all of these alien culture.
I’ve just stayed in this city for less than 2 months. There many Indonesians who have been living here for 2 or 3 years. A few of them are already PR’s. Based on my study program which is PhD study-by-project, I’ll have to stay for at least three years. Papers and documents have been approved which means I don’t have worries about legal requirements. As we all know, any illegal actions against immigration law are subject to fines or even deportation.
Being a student in Birmingham is like a dream for most Indonesian. A friend of mine said that she had a friend who are happy to die for being able to study in the city. Of course, I’m exaggerating. Birmingham, the second biggest city in the UK after London and located in West Midland, has many old shaped buildings which is so iconic and unique for a person like who comes from Indonesia. In Indonesia, we can hardly find houses which retain its original and traditional architecture. The more modern-shaped your house is the more people look up at you. Being seen as “the haves” is like a unwritten rule. In Jakarta, you can have a look at Dutch-style houses near Stasiun Kota. But, that’s it. Keeping colonial buildings in their original shape is costly and the city council rarely has both financial sources and managerial-capacity to support them.
Old Joe, a tallest clock tower in campus, is my favorite. During graduations parents and graduates take a selfie or family photograph showing Old Joe as the background. The city library is also beautiful. It’s the first library of that kind of shape in Europe. I haven’t visited it yet but I plan to do so soon. Another fascinating spot is the Black Sabbath bridge near city center. It’s an honor for the lead vocalist of hard-rock metal band Black Sabbat, Ozzy Osbourne. Before I visited the bridge, I didn’t know he is from Birmingham. About 10 minutes walking from the bridge, the Victoria Museum stands gracefully. This magnificent tourist destination and photographic scene is located near city train station providing easy access for non-Birmingham visitors.
10 September 2021
