catatan Alexander

In the waning days of December 2024, as the world tilted toward the promise of a new year, I found myself aboard a plane slicing through the clouds, bound for Taiwan. The island loomed in my imagination not just as a destination, but as a beacon of knowledge and beauty—a place where the past and future danced in harmony. I had been granted a rare opportunity: a week-long immersion at the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR), a bastion of innovation nestled in the heart of this vibrant nation. Little did I know that this journey would weave together days of profound learning and nights of dazzling exploration, leaving me forever changed. The moment I stepped off the plane at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, a wave of humid air kissed my skin, carrying whispers of the island’s subtropical soul. The terminal buzzed with life—travelers darting to and fro, their voices a symphony of Mandarin, Taiwanese, and English. I collected my bags, my heart thrumm...