LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

I'm so excited that today is the last day of school. These few days everything seems so streesful. The restrain in preparing the end year performance and report distribution caused me tired.

I'm looking forward to having a nice vacation. I'm sure this incoming journey on my vacation will become one of my greatest memories.

DO YOU EMBRACE CHANGE?

I copied the writing in italic below from Bo Sanchez's blog. I put it here so I can share it with you.

One day, a guy calls up his Boss at home, but gets the bosses’ wife instead.
She said, “I’m sorry, but he died last week.”
The next day, the man calls up again and asks for his boss.
She said, “I told you, he died last week.”
The third day, the guy calls up again and asks for his boss.
The wife was mad and shouted, “Don’t you understand? I already told you twice—MY HUSBAND, YOUR BOSS, DIED LAST WEEK! Why do you keep on calling?”
The guy laughed and said, “Because I just love hearing it…”

Bo Sachez wrote wonderful analysis about this joke. I hope you find time to read his brilliant thought. I just love it and you might agree. Here's the link:

http://bosanchez.ph/do-you-embrace-change/

PEMILU

Aku risih sekali dengan Pesta Demokrasi kali ini, yang menguras banyak uang tapi mengingat proses persiapan, pelaksanaan dan (aku prediksi hasilnya akan) menyedihkan. Pemilu kali ini aku bener-bener gak content.

Aku sama sekali tidak ‘doyan’ politik. Tapi bukan berarti aku gak bisa menilai pemilu kali ini sangat tidak efektif. Begitu banyak calon legislatif yang notabene tidak ‘qualified’ yang siap ber-gambling. Lembaran kertas suara besar dihiasi gambar-gambar partai baru dan sejumlah muka-muka tidak dikenal, harus aku contreng. Siapakah mereka? Apakah 'trust' dari rakyat bisa dibeli? Aku juga yakin bukan hanya aku yang tidak paham, mungkin lebih dari setengah penduduk Indonesia juga berpikir demikian.

Apakah kertas-kertas suara itu dipakai secara benar? Bagaimana dengan kertas untuk mereka yang memutuskan untuk golput atau kertas yang digunakan tapi menjadi tidak sah karena pemilih kurang paham? Adalah sebuah ironi melihat pemborosan di Negara ini.

KANKER SERVIKS

Tahun belakangan ini, ramai praktisi kesehatan dan artis-artis duta kanker servik mengkampanyekan pentingnya vaksinasi pencegahan penyakit ini. Bagi sebagian orang memang masih asing. Aku juga sempat berpikir… "yah, mudah-mudahan kalo gak macem-macem dan banyak doa, semoga virusnya gak mampir deh."

Tapi seiring waktu, banyak membaca dan mendengar, bagaimana Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) ini sulit terdeteksi sehingga banyak yang kecolongan, aku memutuskan untuk mengikuti vaksinasi masal yang disponsori oleh perusahaan tempatku bekerja.

Teman-teman wanita, yuk mari kita pahami bahayanya kanker leher rahim ini. Tau gak, menurut riset yang aku baca, setiap 2 detik ada 1 wanita di dunia yang meninggal karena kanker ini. Kalau kita paham, kita pasti tahu dan mau mengupayakan pencegahannya, bukan?

TIPS TO GET RID OF A HEADACHE

I often get headaches and feel sick without knowing the reason. Few times after joining field trip with my students, I threw up after we arrived at school. For sure, it’s not because I’m sick riding on a bus (mabuk darat).

As a Javanese, my mom always tells me, ”dititeni (diperhatikan) apa yang bikin kamu suka pusing” (translation: notice what cause your headache).

DO NOT WASH HAIR!
(If I don’t have enough time to dry it before I cover my hair with something-usually my helmet)

Yesterday I received a funny email from a friend in my mailing list. The email was about Therapy by Nostril (Terapi Via Lubang Hidung). Here are the tips:

When you have a headache, close your right nostril, and use your left nostril to breath for about 5 minutes. The headache will be gone.

If you feel too tired, do it the opposite way. Close your left nostril and breathe through Your right nostril. After a while, you will feel fresh again. Because the right side belongs to heat, it gets hot easily. The left side gets cold easily.

Believe it or not, I closed my right nostril and I was able to breathe freely, maybe because all the liquid inside the nostril pushed outside after I opened it. Though, my headache was not gone, perhaps because I never had the headache when I tried the exercise.

Just Try!

MEWUJUDKAN MIMPI MASA KECIL

Andrea Hirata di seri tetraloginya yang pertama berkata bahwa tiap orang dibekali bakat alami yang diberikan Tuhan dari lahir. Hanya saja, banyak orang yang tidak sadar akan bakat yang mereka punya, karena mereka tidak mencari tahu bakat alaminya ataupun tidak ada kesempatan untuk membinanya. Itulah mengapa banyak orang mengambil kesempatan sebagai pencari bakat. Demikian juga dengan banyak orang tua (dan punya uang) yang membiarkan anaknya mengikuti berbagai kegiatan extra kurikuler baik di dalam maupun di luar sekolah, semata hanya untuk mencari apa bakat yang dimiliki, diminati dan bisa dikembangkan oleh anaknya.

Andrea Hirata sangat apik menyajikan pendapatnya tentang bakat alami ini. Adalah sebuah ironi ketika seorang anak kecil yang punya kegemaran bermain bola, namun dia sibuk dengan tugas membantu orang tuanya mencari nafkah. Siapa yang tahu, dia punya kemampuan setara dengan striker Perancis, Thiery Hendry, bila dibina bakatnya. Siapa juga yang bisa tahu nasib pengamen jalanan yang bisa sepawai dan se-exist Jimi Hendrix kalau punya kesempatan?!

Awal bulan ini, aku memikirkan dan akhirnya memutuskan untuk ikut suatu kegiatan untuk membina hal yang aku suka. Aku tidak peduli ketika tahu teman-teman yang mengikuti kegiatan serupa terpaut 20 tahun lebih muda. Merasa lucu dan konyol sih, tapi aku tetap merasakan excitement tersendiri. Aku mau balas dendam akan kealpaanku (dan mungkin juga orang tuaku). Aku hanya ingin melegakan hati selagi punya kesempatan. Aku mau mewujudkan mimpi masa kecil sebelum... tidak bisa lagi.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Indonesia has the world's longest coastline at nearly 85,5000km.

• Indonesia is home to more volcanoes than any other country.

• Jakarta, Indonesia capital, is the city's fourth name after Sunda Kelapa, Jayakarta, Batavia.

• In 1962 when Senayan Stadium hosted the Asian Games, it was the largest stadium in Asia, holding over 100,000 people.

• Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world.

• When the Dutch arrived, they planned Jakarta to serve as a tropical Amsterdam, which is how many people regarded the city during the 18th cemtury.

• The Wisma BNI 46, measuring 262 meters tall, is one of the tallest buildings in the southern hemisphere.

(Source: Jakarta Java Kini: Expat Directory)

JAM SEKOLAH DIMAJUKAN

Kebijakan majunya jam sekolah di Jakarta yang baru berlangsung kurang dari 10 hari ini tentu masih perlu penyesuaian dari tiap individu. Ini mungkin bukan suatu issue lagi. Tapi benarkah mekanisme politis ini benar bertujuan untuk mengurangi kemacetan? Walaupun bersyukur sekolah tempatku bekerja tidak/belum mengikuti majunya jam sekolah ini, aku risih dengan peraturan ini. Aku rasa tidak cocok ini dinamakan KEBIJAKAN, karena ini tidak bijak. Mungkin ini subjektif, tapi memang sejak hari pertama diberlakukannya anak sekolah masuk jam 6.30, aku merasa dirugikan karena perjalananku menuju tempat kerja bertambah macet dan bukan berkurang.

Sekarang aku tidak bisa lagi berangkat jam 6 pagi dengan harapan sampai di sekolah jam 6.45 seperti biasa. Kemacetan bertambah ketika aku harus menerobos kepadatan kendaraan dari mereka yang mau berangkat sekolah, terutama ketika melintasi wilayah sekolah mereka. Waktuku diperjalanan tepat ketika mereka terburu-buru mengejar waktu masuk sekolah.

Musim hujanpun sudah datang. Jelas ini akan menambah semarak kemacetan kota. Semoga tidak terjadi hambatan yang cukup berarti untuk semua pengguna jalan. (walah...kayak polisi lalin aja).

BE EXIST IN WHERE YOU BELONG

This Sunday is so special. With many of young people in my church, I have a teawalk with Sunday mass in an open field at Gunung Mas Tea Plantation. The theme of this event is "Vianney Christmas Youth Day". The word Vianney refers to Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, a saint from Ars, and the patron saint of our church. We adapted his name into Indonesian to become Santo Yohanes Maria Vianney.

It's a surprise to know that my church has so many young people. My priest said the young participants who are gathered here number 500. Wow...what a big number! Being in charge as one of the committee members in Youth Parish, I am surprised by this fact. One thing that concerns me is that these so many people do not appear when the church needs them. Many of them love to join fun things but many of them seem lazy or too busy to be bothered. Service and commitment are something that young people need to build.

In the homily, the priest said, "Have you looked around? I hope you will find 'someone' through this event". My priest had a hidden motive then. Yes, he is concerned about many young people who have mix marriages. We always have option to build something wonderful more than just to feel the passions of falling in love. Is it not wonderful to walk the same path together, with shared dreams and goals?

So, do you think it is a personal option to be passive? I think I need to be accountable for fostering the development of faith in young people. I need to be accountable for what I do here, now.

MY JOY LIST

( http://bosanchez.ph/what-is-your-joy-list/)

I agree with Bo Sanchez, so I listed the things that give me joy in life. I believe by being responsible for what make me happy, my life will be more meaningful and content. Here they are:

1. Wake up earlier in the morning
2. Thank God for all the blessings in life
3. Pray Novena
4. Spend some time to watch the sky and breathe the fresh morning air before bathe and do routine
5. Save some part of the monthly salary into my dead account
6. Be intelligent in managing money
7. Share what I have to others in need
8. Spend some time with family
9. Help mama doing the house works
   
10. Tell my boyfriend “I love you” everyday
11. Have regular exercise
12. Choose good food to eat
13. Play with Dhanika (my niece) often
14. Keep in touch with old friends
15. Hang out with friends
16. Spend time to read book everyday
17. Be friendly and make others happy
18. Have clean and neat room
19. Share ideas, life problems and solutions with others

They are only some of my simple and common joy list and I want to make them happen. So, these are my New Year Resolutions. By living that lists consistently, I know my life would be more blissful.

New Year is Right Around the Corner

I remember that I always have time to reflect my days for an entire year and also to think about the best resolutions for the year to come. So, today is the last day of the year. Do I have any resolutions yet?

I have two resolutions last year. Yes, I did take a look at my post last year first before I write this one. I see if my resolutions are successful. Fortunately, I did make them. I did manage my money this year better than years before. However, I’m not satisfied with it because that’s not the best I could do. It will be something to work out still in year 2009.

Well, it’s time for contemplating what I can do best for my life next year.

TRIP TO DUNIA FANTASI (FANTASY WORLD)

This is Christmas holiday, and semester break right now. The second day of it, I went to DUFAN with friends. I have to admit this embarrassing fact that the last time I went there was when I was in grade 5, sixteen years ago. I don’t believe it myself. Whereas, many of my friends could visit this amusement place monthly.

Having not visited Dufan in a long time, I see it has changed much. I still remember that time when, with heroic style, I rode Ontang-Anting (wave swinger) and Halilintar (Roller Coaster). I think those rides were the most wanted ones. Now, there are many more fun rides that could raise our adrenalin.

Below is Kora-Kora. This is the first ride I played with two friends yesterday. I thought that’s the scariest ride of all. Others might not agree with me. They would say Tornado (the next pic) is the scariest. Maybe they think so because it’s the newest ride.

Other exciting rides I rode yesterday were Halilintar (Roller Coaster), Kicir-Kicir, Niagara-gara (Flume Ride), and Ontang-Anting (Wave Swinger).

After all those extreme rides, we knew how to cool down. Riding a horse on the Merry go Round, and relaxing on the Giant Wheel were enjoyable.

Finally, I know that this trip is the best way to start my holiday, and is also a great way to end my year.

DOUBLE TROUBLE, DOUBLE BLESSING

This is the first time I give the students' report to their parents. I have never been a homeroom teacher, but this time my principal entrusts me to accompany my friend for the parent-teacher interview.

Not a usual chat with parents, this time I learn about parental concerns for their children. I notice how different parents bring up their kids keeping in mind their desires for their children.

I learn something special today about parents who have twin daughters. I adore these parents so much. A wealthy family who are so friendly, wise and off course they are highly educated. Being parents of twins who is one is a gifted kid and the other one is a slow one is very challenging. These parents know that their gifted child could accelerate to the next level of learning. In order to support their other daughter, they don’t give any special treatment among others. But what they give is challenge to foster their children loves of learning. The result is wonderful. The parents know each of the kid strengths and weaknesses. They are solid as a family.

One example of the parents’ support in their kids’ development is the fun time they share daily on the way to school. The dad and the mom actually have their own car with a driver, because their working places are so far from each other. But to accommodate private time with family, the drivers are in one car and will do their job after the parents take their kids to school. The mom said to us (my friend and I) that on the way to school is an effective time to review the lesson at school while planting the significant values of tolerance for others.

Wonderful!

NASIHAT UNTUK PRIA LAJANG

(dari : www.rumahrenungan. com)

Seringkali kita mendengar pria lebih memilih untuk melajang lebih lama dengan alasan2 ekonomi. Lebih spesifiknya mungkin ingin punya rumah pribadi dulu, punya mobil dulu, punya gaji sekian juta dulu atau beberapa ratus juta untuk sebuah pesta pernikahan. Karenanya, sebelum mencapai pernikahan, para pria bekerja ekstra keras mengumpulkan uang demi kemapanan.

Ini tidak salah. Sudah selayaknya untuk punya kehidupan yang aman secara finansial saat berumah tangga dan memberikan kenyamanan bagi istri. Tapi, pada saat kemapanan itu sudah dimiliki, ada situasi yang bisa menjebak para pria. Saat seorang pria sudah begitu kaya, maka semua jenis wanita akan datang kepada dia menawarkan cinta. Tapi akhirnya semua menjadi buram, apakah mereka datang karena cinta, atau mencintai uang kita. Sampai akhirnya sesuatu yang buruk terjadi, hingga kita menyesal kenapa kita bisa menjadi begitu kaya.

Wanita mana yang tidak akan datang bila kamu begitu tampan, cerdas, kaya dan muda? Semua ingin merasakan keindahan dari meteri yang kamu punya. Itu semua gambaran bahwa uang bisa memanipulasi perasaan. Dan parahnya, itu adalah uangmu! Bila saat ini kamu memiliki mobil dan seorang pacar, kamu tidak akan pernah tahu, apakah wanita ini masih mencintamu kalau suatu saat kamu hanya naik sepeda motor. Bagaimana kalau kamu tak lagi punya rumah pribadi dan hanya ada tempe di atas meja makan. Tahukah kamu? Tidak. Karena dia datang pada saat kamu bisa memberikannya kenyamanan2 finansial yang dia idam-idamkan. Cintakah yang kamu punya? Bukan. Kamu hanya memiliki wanita yang mencintai kenyamanan yang bisa kamu sediakan.

Beruntunglah bagi pasangan yang telah menikah dan mereka berdua memulainya dari bawah. Mensyukuri mobil mereka, karena mereka berdua pernah merasakan panas-hujan dengan sepeda motor. Menyenangi spring bed baru mereka, karena mereka berdua pernah tidur bersama di atas sebuah kasur busa kecil. Terharu dengan rumah pribadi mereka, karena dulu mereka pernah tinggal hanya di sebuah kost.

Beruntunglah para pria yang memiliki wanita yang begitu mencintai mereka dan mendampingi di saat-saat berjuang menuju kehidupan yang lebih baik. Bila ini tidak juga mengubah pikiranmu, maka teruskanlah mengumpulkan uang dan berjuang menjadi tersohor. Sampai suatu saat kamu sadar, bahwa menjadi kaya seringkali adalah sebuah kutukan.

Note:
Teori dan nasihat yang bagus walaupun jamak alias common! Tapi kurang setuju juga kalo seakan-akan wanita sebagai 'predator' dan pria yang melulu dieksploitasi. Gender gak ngaruh kalee... Kalo stereotypenya seperti itu sama-sama ada tuntutan mungkin ya?! InsyaAllah, pria ganteng, pintar dan kaya tidak mau dengan wanita yang hanya menuntut kemapanan financial. Trus gimana pria dengan silver spoon in their mouth (kaya karena keturunan)...kasian juga kalo mereka tidak yakin dengan cinta pasangannya. Males juga sih kebanyakan teori kayak gini (walaupun aku baca dan malah aku post disini, hehe...). Menurutku pribadi, apapun yang sudah ada atau diperjuangkan bersama adalah blessing. Masih gak yakin??? Doa yang kenceng!!! Setuju??? yuk mari!!!

APA YANG AKU BUTUHKAN SAAT INI?

Jawabannya adalah PIJAT. Selesai!

(Hehehe...memang aku gak butuh nulis banyak...cuma butuh pijat. Pegel semua nih badan.)

I FEEL FREE...

Today I have my lesson observation done from my teaching coach and my principal. The result is not yet in my hand, but I just feel satisfied coz it feels as if my hunchback has gone. I said so because off course I felt I did it well. It means I’m saved from the harness of the working world. That is getting fired.

I feel funny to talk about this. However, I stay positive. I am a good teacher though. I love what I do. This is my world.

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL TOUR
OLD JAKARTA, SUNDA KELAPA AREA

Sunda Kelapa was one of several ports along Java coastline once used by the Sundanese Kingdom of West Java. My tour of Old Jakarta includes the following sites, which are near each other: Sunda Kelapa harbor, the Bahari Museum and Menara Syahbandar, the lookout tower. Close by - in the Kota area of the city - is Fatahilla Square. I visited Fatahilla Square few days before, but my friends and I wanted to experience the Cafe Batavia again.

Sunda Kelapa harbour is one of the most interesting and picturesque sites of Jakarta. To watch the bustling activities at Sunda Kelapa is a feast for the eyes. Lined up along the quay, the large wooden sailing vessels are painted in bright colors and still carry the same design that has been used for centuries by islanders of the archipelago.

Pinisi boats awaiting cargo at Sunda Kelapa Harbor.
Strike up a conversation with the sailors and workers, and you may be invited aboard one of the schooners.

We can rent a canoe to ride along the harbor and acroos to the Bahari Museum

I forget to take picture of the Bahari Museum. The sturdy construction of the warehouses ensured the centuries-long survival of the buildings, which now house the collection of the Maritime Museum. The museum now displays Indonesia's maritime history.

Menara Syahbandar - Lookout Tower is where we can see an excellent view of Old Batavia.

Menara Syahbandar from below

Oops, missed the harbor scene

We asked a man who paddled our canoe who said we had one more site left to visit. That was Pasar Ikan (Fish Market). Unfortunately, our time was not right. Fresh fish is sold at the covered market starting at 3 a.m. every day.

(Source: The Jakarta Explorer, 1999)

LOVE WILL KEEP US ALIVE

Another wonderful live music I experienced last weekend. It was performed in Cafe Batavia, North Side of Fatahilla Square. I love all the songs the performers sang. One of the songs made me melted in my mind. Oh my...I miss sayangku so much.

"Love Will Keep Us Alive"

I was standing
All alone against the world outside
You were searching
For a place to hide

Lost and lonely
Now you've given me the will to survive
When we're hungry...love will keep us alive

Don't you worry
Sometimes you've just gotta let it ride
The world is changing
Right before your eyes
Now I've found you
There's no more emptiness inside
When we're hungry...love will keep us alive

I would die for you
Climb the highest mountain
Baby, there's nothing I wouldn't do

I was standing
All alone against the world outside
You were searching
For a place to hide
Lost and lonely
Now you've given me the will to survive
When we're hungry...love will keep us alive
When we're hungry...love will keep us alive
When we're hungry...love will keep us alive

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL TOUR
FATAHILLA SQUARE

Yesterday I went to Taman Fatahilla (Fatahilla Square) with two friends. This was the town square and administrative center of 18th-century Batavia. Flanked by the Batavia city hall on the south and the Dutch Reformed church on the west, the town square was the center of much activity during the 18th century. The square in front od the city hall was used for public executions as well as pleasant events such as weekly fairs, markets and holiday festivals.

There are many things to be seen and to be visited in this town square. I would love to put the photos rather than explaining much of them.

The old town scene along the way to the Fatahilla Square
Museum Sejarah Kota Jakarta-Jakarta History Museum

Behind the Museum there's a statue of Hermes (Greek Mythology)

Here are what we can see in the museum.

Replica stones from the first Hindu Kingdom in Java, The Tarumanegara Kingdom of the 5th century

Si Jagur - Old Potuguese Cannon

Museum Wayang - Puppet Museum

Balai Seni Rupa - Museum of Fine Arts

Cafe Batavia, one of the Jakarta's oldest buildings

JAZZY FRIDAY WITH IRENG MAULANA AND FRIENDS

Initiating my long holiday, I went out to dinner with a friend last night. We called it 'buka puasa bersama'. We went to a place in Kuningan area, and found a table for two, right in front of the stage. Waiting for the band to start, we ordered our meal.

Finally, Ireng Maulana and Friends came to the stage. Who doesn't know Ireng Maulana, anyway? I'm not a fan of Jazz music, but I know this guy is one of the best guitarists that Indonesia has. Yes, I remember He and his band, Ireng Maulana All Stars, became the main band for a memorable music quiz when I was a little, called Berpacu Dalam Melodi, hosted by Koes Hendratmo. Many beautiful songs were sung by the performers. Most of them were popular songs. It was wonderful.