rentauli

Well well here the Queen: Julia Gillard remains Prime Minister of Australia

2010-09-06T22:36:00.000-07:00

See! Julia Gillard has finnaly won the election. She remains the Prime Minister of Australia for the coming three years after gaining support from two of the Independent leaders: Oakeshot and Windsor.

Well, well, my guess was right and kind of a pity that it was right.

Julia Gillard doesn't believe in God, and she is not married but lives in with her partner. From a western cultural point of view, that might be normal things, but from an eastern point of view?

She might be a good person, but having no religion; having no belief in God, you may have your say.

This is quite disappointed but predictable as I knew that this could be the result. Well, well, we'll see how she maintains her power over the liberal coalition since there is very slight difference of seats number between them in which 76 seats for labor and 74 for liberal.

This is really politics world that implies thousands of meanings. Of you go.

New PM for Australia

2010-09-06T20:43:00.000-07:00

Probably the new Prime Minister of Australia will be revealed today. After becoming a country in waiting since the PM election on 21 August 2010, today the result of the ballots plus the decision of the MP of the 3 independent parties might be announced.

It's kind of weird that these 3 independent parties leaders appear to be the most influential factors in deciding the top leader in Australia. Yet, the PM wouldn't be from any of the three but from the highest ballots' result collctors of last month election. The PM should be either Julia Gilard from the labor party or Tony Abbot from the opposition leader.

This would be interesting since either one seems to be of people's favorite. Each has her/his own downmarks. Well, let's make it even more interesting. Let's guess who might the chosen Prime Minister of Australia thi evening? Based on some reasons, such as who I prefer between the two for their past promises in their speech, from their persistence and strongwill in the previous debate, from the people's most favor leader I heard from news, from their observed character during the campaign period. I guess the one chosen to be the Prime Minister of Australia for now is Julia Gillard. Though I support none, but because Julia has a bad history of getting her position from Kevin Rudd by being disloyal, I would prefer Tony Abbot than her.

Well, whatever happen, let's see!

Rindu tanah airku

2010-09-05T06:27:00.000-07:00

Ternyata bosan juga berada di tanah rantau walau tanah rantau ini jauh lebih maju dari tanah airku. Aku sudah merindukan tanah airku, tanah kelahiranku. Aku sudah rindu kembali bersama keluarga, saudara, rekan, dan teman-temanku di Indonesia. Aku juga rindu dengan pekerjaanku. Kalau soal makanan, yang paling aku rindukan mungkin rasa andaliman, karena setiap masakan daging yang aku masak ditanah rantau ini rasanya hambar karena tidak ada andaliman.

Aku sudah mulai membiasakan diri dengan beberapa makanan dan minuman western people, tapi masalahnya aku tidak lama bertahan. Seleraku tidak bertahan lama dan aku pasti akan kembali makan nasi.

Tapi saat ini aku sedang sangat rindu, rindu, rindu, rindu sekali. Ingin pulang ke tanah airku. Ya Tuhan, kuatkan aku untuk bertahan sebentar lagi, menyelesaikan semua tugas dengan baik sehingga aku bisa pulang dengan baik pula dalam segala hal seturut dengan kehendakMu.

Aku rindu!

Spring na ngali

2010-09-05T06:20:00.000-07:00

Ninna nunga spring di Melbourne on sian tgl.1 September, alai ngali dope arian nang borngin. Ai boama, sona naik suhu attong. Sai naik ma nyean suhu on di minggu na naing ro on. Ai nungga apala suntuk tumang huhilala marsiajar di musim na ngali on.

Jariku bongkak

2010-09-05T06:16:00.000-07:00

Akibat membuka tirai jendela kamar dengan tidak hati-hati, jari tanganku dihantam frame besi jendela dengan keras. Akibatnya sekarang jariku bongkak dan pegal dan susah digerakkan. Wadow! hansit nai. Ai ma attong molo marangan-angan mangarejohon siulahon, las gabe bongkak ma.

Sudah aku urut dengan baby oil tapi bengkaknya belum berkurang. Padahal aku urutpun sudah dengan menahan rasa sakit. Semoga saja besok jariku bisa kembali normal. Agojo hansit nai na tarantuk on.

Life is only one possessions can be replaced

2010-09-05T06:05:00.000-07:00

Australia dan New Zealand dilanda bencana pada hari yang hampir bersamaan. Karena hujan dan badai, beberapa wilayah Melbourne, seperti Ballarat dilanda banjir. Banyak rumah yang dilanda banjir sampai merusak aliran listrik, sehingga padamlah listrik di daerah banjir tersebut. Banyak juga wilayah yang masi dilanda banjir karena hujan yang lebat dua hari yang lalu.

Di New Zealand, terjadi gempa bumi yang keras sekitar 7 poin somehing dan hasilnya sangat parah. Banyak rumah yang roboh, bangunan hancur, jalan retak dan diperkirakan puluhan tahun untuk recovery. Sangat luar biasa parah gempa yang menghantam New Zealand tapi amazing bahwa tidak ada korban jiwa sama sekali. Beberapa penduduk mensyukuri tidak adanya korban jiwa akibat gempa yang memporak-porandakan New Zealand, Christchurh, namun masih ada juga penduduk yang mengatakan 'tidak ada yang bisa disyukuri atas peristiwa ini'

Namun ada sesuatu yang sangat menyentuh dari beberapa rentetan peristiwa dan wawancara di televisi setelah kedua bencana besar yakni banjir dan gempa ini. Ada seorang ibu yang diwawancarai mengatakan 'nyawa kita hanya satu sementara harta benda itu bisa diganti'.

Sungguh besarlah imannya disaat dia mengatakan itu karena menurutku dia mengatakan hal itu karena dia beriman. Dari sudut pandangku, menurutku dia sadar bahwa harta bukanlah segalanya sehingga dia masih bisa mensyukuri bahwa nyawanya masih bisa diselamatkan dari bencana itu.

Minute to win it new millionaire

2010-08-03T03:07:00.000-07:00

Wow!Great Grand! welldone! You're really good and the best so far. Enjoy the victory of your millionaire time. Those are awesome for what you've done to win it. You deserve it. All the best with your future plan in spending your lots of money from minute to win it. Use it wisely and you'll be in wonderful life. I really enjoy watching the move you've made to kick all the games.

Smart lucky pilot

2010-07-24T04:08:00.000-07:00

The pilot, Captain Brian Bews survived the fire blast jet and was treated in hospital in Alberta in Canada. That was a smart of Mr Bews to escaped before the jet sharply kissed the land. To be able to escape in that horrified situation should have required a lot of experiences for he was capable of acting before the explosion that could have killed him into ashes.

I was sorry for what happened to him as I read the news saying that he was an experienced pilot that has flew that aircraft for long. There should have been something wrong with the aircraft that was missed from the checking up before flying.

He excaped from the jet training show for the 2010 Alberta International Airshow, and now I wonder if he recover soon ,will he still be courageful enough to give it another shot? Will the show be cancelled? or a replacement be recommended instead?

New class tonight

2010-07-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

I will have my other new class tonight, though I don't like evening classes but I have to go 'cos no other option for day class. Well this time I think I am chosing the courses based on my own interest and I do promise myself that this semester will be a lovely time. I love both courses I am taking this semester and really looking forward to adventure them.

Well, I jut hope that I can always remember my promising myself that way and may God bless me all times moreover in hard times. May His bless be always with me and I am worthy to be called his child. I love Thee.

I don't like when you question me like that

2010-07-20T05:12:00.001-07:00

I don't like when you question me like that. You know what? I think you sometimes forget what is me for you though all times I have accepted you as part of me. So, I come to think that all this time I've been pretending to be part of you and worse, you have been pretending to accept that when your heart hasn't.

Thank you for reminding me again, though several times in the past, this kind of incident, though not similar, happened but you convinced me I was wrong and so I trusted you. But, I think this time is real, that you haven't accepted me as part of you by questioning me that way. You and me are two different things, right? We are different?

I am sorry for acting falsely along this time. You know what? Be as who you are as you are a free living creature and you have all the right for that. I am no body for you.

Should English teachers use computer technology in teaching English?

2010-07-19T19:24:00.001-07:00

I had graduated from a training college with very limited knowledge of using computer technology to teach English. With my very limited computer literacy, I was very unbenefitted to teach in an IT Diploma college. I was lucky that I was given a few months training to at least make a power point to teach English in the classroom.

In the beginning it was hard to get adapted but luckily with time went by I gained experiences and knowledge from keep practising.

Nowadays, there are a vast development in computer technology that are very helpful for every kind of learning. A great number of online learning sources, lots of software, and the technology even make possible a distance learning.

As an English teacher, at the beginning I can only use the microsoft office for my teaching purpose, which is power point that will make learning more efficient and interesting. And then.... more stuff I can explore and use for the benefit of my teaching. But this will be told in other time....till then.

Stay Down

2010-07-16T02:44:00.001-07:00

I was shocked to hear the scream 'stay down' and a rush of people running chasing somebody I couldn't see clearly. I was out from the exit door of a super market after my afternoon shopping. I stopped my step and retrieved a few steps back. Then, I tried to find where the voice came from. In a click, my eyes captured a man being strangled by two men on the ground. I looked at people around and tried to examine if that was safe enough to get closer because I had to pass them to get to the road where I was heading home.

I tried to see the parking cars if there were any police officers, and I could see none. I thought that must be not safe enough, yet. Then I looked at people crossing as they finished shopping too. I looked at the road and saw a motorcycle was standing in the middle of the road with none on it. I assumed that must have something to do with this short chaos I heard.

I didn't want to see that scene from a short distance so when I looked at more and more people passing, I walked fast to the end of the road. From a quite distance, I could see that the man that was strangled on the ground was wearing a motorcycle's costume with a backpack on his back, and a helmet on the ground. I thought he must be the rider of the motorcyle on the road. I didn't spend long on the scene as I didn't want to be involved for any circumstances on this strange scene. I heard enough of bad things happened on the road everyday from the news and went away was the best thing I could do. So I left and felt a little bit terrified. That was so real that it might be a crime or something that could harm other people's life.

What a day!

30 Juni 2010

2010-06-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

Hari ini adalah tgl. 30 Juni dan merupakan hari terakhir untuk bulan Juni 2010. Apakah yang istimewa pada hari ini? Hemmmmm, sebenarnya banyak juga kalau dihitung-hitung dan kalau diadakan penelusuran ke dalam sejarah.

Namun, yang paling istimewa hari ini adalah karena hari ini dalah hari ulang tahun salah satu saudariku. Saudariku yang selalu berdoa untukku. Kini saatnya aku berdoa buatnya. Semoga dia senantiasa diberkati Tuhan dalam segala pekerjaan dan pengabdiannya untuk kemulian Tuhan.

Well, there is actually another event in this 30 June which is and should be the latest day for the big sale of end of financial year in Australia, and Melbourne in particular, where I am now living. So, what's next? I think I am gonna move around the shops and have a look at the cheapest price ever. Should there's something interesting and cheap, I might consider to buy it. Hemmm... Let's see what happen after I return, and this journey will start very soon....

Mother's love

2010-06-29T00:11:00.000-07:00

What is this? This is a picture of a mother holding her baby. This picture expresses the mother's love. A mother who will always be holding her children in whatever conditions and whom the children can rely on in whatever conditions.

Mother's love is neverending and unconditionable. A mother will do whatever possible even impossible thing to her children's happiness.

This reminds me of the song 'mother how are you today'.

Yes, mother how are you today? I hope everything is find around you. Pray that you are always healthy and happy and blessed. Pray that I can make you proud of me, one of your children that you raise with love and faith. Mother, I miss you that I dream about you often. Mother, I love you.

I am sorry if I haven't made something that can pay for your hardwork raising and loving me along this time. But, believe me I will never be able to repay you for what you've done and given me. Therefore, I will always pray that God will always answer your prayer, for at least I can be happy when you are happy when your prayer is approved by the Father Almighty.

I will be back soon and will be around you again. Be happy that I am always healthy and happy for His love and guidance are always with me. Thank you that you raise me with faith and bring me all the time in believing Him. He is really good for He is always around me.

God bless you my dear mother.

Yesus Sahabatku

2010-06-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

Yesus adalah sahabatku karena Dia setia padaku, dalam suka dan duka dalam bimbang dan ragu hatiku.

Setiap kali aku jatuh, Dia tidak meninggalkanku tetapi mengulurkan tanganNya dan membantuku untuk berjalan kembali.

Sungguh luar biasa kesabarannya akan sifatku yang kadang menjengkelkan. Sungguh luar biasa kelembutan hatinya akan kebodohanku yang kadang mengesalkan hatiNya.

Aku bukanlah pelukis dan bukan pula seoarang artis pun puitis. Namun, aku berusaha melukis wajahnya yang selalu ada di dalam hatiku. Namun, lukisanku ini tidaklah sempurna malah jauh dari mirip. Namun, hatiku berkata, walau tanganku ini tak sanggup melukis wajahNya yang sempurna namun, hatiku tetap mengenalNya Yesus yang sempurna.

Aku mengasihiMu Yesus, sahabatku yang setia, yang selalu ada bersamaku dikala aku ketakutan dalam hidup pun mimpiku. Terimakasih Yesus. Aku bahagia dan bersyukur karena seluruh berkat dan pengasihanMu. Terimakasih Yesusku.

Musim dingin

2010-06-28T00:38:00.000-07:00

Musim dingin adalah musim yang sangat aku tidak suka karena aku tidak suka dingin. Aku tidak suka dingin karena tubuhku tidak bersahabat dengan dingin. (:

Musim dingin ini membuat aku berpikir beberapa kali untuk keluar rumah dan melakukan aktivitas luar.

Mudah-mudahan kali ini, aku tidak akan terkena cold sore.

Oh musim dingin, aku tidak bisa menghindarimu tapi harus menghadapimu. Tapi tolonglah sedikit berbelas kasih sehingga kau tidak perlu terlalu dingin setiap saat dalam sehari. Can you? (:

Mimpi itu lagi

2010-06-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

Aku merasakan sebuah kekuatan gaib yang hendak memasuki tubuhku. Aku menolaknya sekuat tenaga dan aku genggam rosario di tangan kananku. Aku mengucapkan doa aku percaya dengan tertatih-tatih karena ada sebuah kekuatan yang sangat kuat yang seakan menekan dadaku dan mulutku dan seluruh tubuhku seakan diikat kuat sehingga aku harus berusaha sekuat tenaga untuk mendaraskan doa itu.

Seluruh keluarga sudah duduk membentuk lingkaran, berkumpul dan berdoa bersama. Namun, sosok yang aku ingat kuat berdoa disampingku adalah kakakku, seorang biarawati yang aku kagumi.

Aku hampir tidak sanggup lagi untuk mengucapkan tiga doa salam kepada bunda maria karena aku sangat lemah. Aku merasakan kekuatan yang sangat kuat hendak memasuki tubuhku. Aku berjuang dan berjuang untuk menolaknya. Aku tidak sanggup untuk mengucapkan doa salam maria, aku hanya sanggup mengucapkan 'aku percaya akan Allah...', dan itupun dengan tertatih-tatih. Aku mengulang kata-kata itu karena hanya itu yang aku sanggup ucapkan.

Seakan seluruh tubuhku sudah lumpuh dan aku tidak sanggup lagi untuk mengatakan apapun. Tapi aku tidak mau menyerah, aku genggam rosario di tanganku dengan sangat erat, sekuat tenaga aku menggenggamnya terutama salib Yesus yang aku percaya sebagai sumber kekuatanku. Aku genggam erat dan berteriak, untuk mengucapkan doa 'aku percaya'. Sekuat tenaga aku berteriak dan akhirnya kekuatan gaib yang hendak memasuki tubuhku itu hilang.

Aku terbangun dan aku masih susah bernafas. Mimpi itu datang lagi. Mimpi yang mirip pernah aku alami beberapa kali di masa lampau. Namun, mimpi itu datang lagi saat ini dan aku khawatir apa gerangan arti mimpi itu saat ini. Mimpi yang sama, dan kekuatan gaib yang sama, dan selalu aku terlepas dengan mengandalkan rosario. Dalam mimpiku. aku selalu melawan kekuatan gaib itu dengan berdoa, walau sangat-sangat susah.

Suatu waktu, aku pernah mengalami mimpi yang sama dengan tekanan yang lebih besar. Dalam mimpiku aku teringat akan rosario yang selalu aku letakkan dekat dengan kepalaku kalau aku tidur. Disaat aku tidak mampu lagi, dan aku sangat lemah sehingga tidak bisa mengucapkan doa apapun, aku ambil rosario itu dan melingkarkannya di leherku.

Sungguh mimpi itu sepertinya nyata, karena ketika aku bangun di pagi harinya, rosario yang aku tempatkan di sisi kepalaku sebelum tidur sudah melingkar di leherku. Aku tidak teringat aku terbangun untuk melingkarkannya di leherku, yang aku ingat adalah, aku mengalami mimpi buruk dan ketika aku sudah tidak kuat lagi, aku melingkarkan rosario itu di leherku dan itu adalah bagian dari mimpi, bukan alam bangunku.

Aku tidak ingin mimpi ini, aku ingin lepas dari mimpi ini. Aku tidak mau mimpi itu lagi. Ya Bapa, tolonglah hambamu yang lemah ini selalu. Amin.

Akhirnya avocadoku

2010-06-26T01:29:00.000-07:00

Sudah sejak aku menginjakkan kaki di Melbourne ini, aku sangat benci dengan avocado setempat. Mengapa? karena setiap aku beli avocado pasti, berserat kalau aku makan daging buahnya. Aku suka makan avocado tampa di blender, aku suka memakan daging buahnya langsung. Tentu saja aku akan memilih avocado yang sudah matang dan memakannya dengan memberi sedikit gula pasir. Lezatnya luar biasa, yummy. he he he

Tapi sayangnya selalunya avocado yang pernah aku makan itu berserat, no matter bagaimana bentuknya, either lonjong atau bulat, though aku prefer yang lonjong, karena daging buahnya lebih banyak, I think.

Tapi penilaianku dan kebencianku pada avocado setempat sudah berubah. Mengapa? karena aku menemukan aavocado yang perfect, tidak berserat dan very very yummy. Aku tidak tahu apakah ini hanya satu dalam seribu or what, tapi aku sangat senang karena aku akhirnya bisa menikmati avocado tampa mengutuk2, he he he

Mudah-mudahan next time, aku dapat membeli avocado jenis yang sama karena aku suka avocado walaupun harganya sangat mahal di Melbourne ini. Jika dikota kelahiranku harganya hanya Rp.4000 per kg, di Melbourne ini, harganya $1-2 per buah. Can you imagine?

Well, actually, negaraku adalah negara yang kaya akan sumber alam, sayur dan buah-buahan. Aku jadi rindu makan buah dan sayur dari negaraku, selain bagus-bagus dan segar, semuanya dapat dibeli dengan harga yang jauh lebih murah dari di Melbourne ini.

I wonder, maybe aku akan menanam buah dan sayur nanti untuk keperluan pribadi, andaikan aku bisa punya lahan kecil, dan kalaupun tidak ada lahan, mungkin aku bisa memanfaatkan pot dan plastik. Hemmm.....it comes to my mind now.

I miss Pope John II

2010-06-25T00:17:00.001-07:00

Maybe it sounds strange that I miss someone I never meet in person. But that feeling is real. My idol was and is Pope John II and I miss him much today. Then I search for his picture on the internet and I find this one.

It's quite comforting that I can find this picture and I can feel that I meet him again; though I never meet him before. But looking at his picture, it is as if I am meeting him. Quite strange, again!

I ever planned to make a travel to Rome to meet him. Though I knew that it was very impossible to meet him though I could reach Rome. That time I was so sure that I could meet him before he died. But it remained a dream for he was dead and mightbe I could never collected enough money to go to Rome.

What was my plan if I could meet him? nothing, I just wanted to meet him, sake his hand, and maybe ask for his bless. I just wanted to meet him. Anyway, that was what I intended long time ago.

However, the country I dream to visit is still Rome. I wish I could one day go to Rome and maybe I can still meet him though only his tomb.

I know this is quite strange and maybe not proper. But it is what I feel.

Kevin Rudd

2010-06-25T00:08:00.000-07:00

Kevin Rudd's position as Australia's President has been replaced by Julia Gillard. It was a sudden that the change took place. As I thought of what might happened behind the scene last Wednesday night when the parliament was announced to do the election, I imagined it could be a very dreadful night for him.

My mind travelled to my country's history when Soekarno was to be replaced by Soeharto. It might a little bit the same story.

I like Kevin Rudd, I think he is a good man. I adore his charming leadership and his cute smile, baby face, and good leadership for he cared for his fellow citizens. I still remember his effort to heal the suffer of those people who had been forgotten for long in the society by officially asking for forgiveness on the sake of the previous government; the forgotten generation.

Australia New Prime Minister

2010-06-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

Julia Gillard has just been sworn as the Prime Minister of Australia by the Parliament. The ballot was done at 9am this morning.

I was not actually shocked by the ballot decision but what I didn't like was that she was kind of pretending of not wanting the position along this time.

Well, it is amazing from gender point of view that Julia Gillard becomes the first female Prime Minister in Australia.

I didn't really follow her working for she was only the deputy Prime Minister. Yet, I hope she could continue the good work of the first Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

Actually I prefer Kevin Rudd and I like him. He has the charisma, leadership, wisdom, kindness, and intelligent. Hope he will be cheered up by looking at what he has done satisfactorily in the past.

Perang Afganistan menyita korban

2010-06-22T02:16:00.000-07:00

Perang di Afganistan menyita banyak korban. Pada kesempatan ini aku melirik ke korban di pihak Australia. Belum sembuh luka di hati rakyat terutama keluarga tiga tentara yang tewas karena gencatan senjata di Afganistan, kini tiga orang lagi tewas akibat 'plane crash' di negara perang itu. Sungguh ironis karena dari 10 tentara yang berada di dalam pesawat tersebut, semuanya tidak lepas dari bencana. Malang bagi tiga tentara yang tewas di tempat, namun masih ada 3 orang lain yang luka parah dengan kondisi yang sangat mencemaskan sementara sisanya luka ringan.

Pemungutan suara telah dilakukan via television channel di Australia untuk mengumpulkan suara apakah pemerintah seharusnya menarik pasukan Australia dari Afganistan atau tidak. Sampai saat ini, sudah 70 persen dari pemberi suara mengatakan untuk menarik pasukan dari lokasi perang. Namun, berita terakhir dari pemerintah mengatakan bahwa pemerintah tidak akan menarik pasukan Australia dari Afganistan walaupun sudah ada 6 tentara yang meninggal dalam waktu yang sangat dekat ini.

Pemerintah mengatakan bahwa hal ini tidak seharusnya melembekkan semangat Australia untuk tetap berjuang bersama pasukan Amerika karena Australia adalah sekutu Amerika dalam mempertahankan atau memperjuangkan perdamaian dan melawan teroris.

Sungguh sangat menyedihkan karena disaat kita sedang santai bersama teman, saudara, atau keluarga, kita bisa menikmati hidup dengan teman dengan menonton, berbelanja, rekreasi, dll, tapi di waktu yang sama di tempat yang berbeda ada banyak manusia yang menjadi korban perang. Sungguh ironis.

Kiat berbelanja murah

2010-06-20T18:57:00.001-07:00

Mungkin sangat munafik kalau orang mengatakan ada kiat berbelanja murah karena yang namanya berbelanja pastilah menghabiskan duit. Dan sebenarnya untuk bisa hemat itu yah dengan tidak berbelanja. Selama berada di Melbourne, aku perhatikan banyak orang yang suka berbelanja kalau lagi ada sale. Menurut penilaianku, mereka berbelanja bukan karena mereka membutuhkan barang tersebut tetapi karena lagi sale. Jadi, itu sama saja dengan menghabiskan uang toh?

Nah, bagaimana sebenarnya kiat berbelanja murah yang aku sarankan itu? Nah, sebenarnya harus diawali dengan perlunya barang yang kita ingin beli. Jadi, kalau kita memang sudah butuh sesuatu, baru kita memasuki langkah berikutnya yaitu, menentukan strategi berbelanja murah. Ada 2 cara untuk ini: dengan mengunjungi toko dan browse internet. Misalnya kalau butuh membeli sebuah printer. Anda bisa pergi ke beberapa toko atau dengan menelusuri laman web toko-toko yang anda ingin kunjungi tersebut. Cara kedua ini tentu sangat efisien. Setelah membanding2-bandingkan harga, barulah anda memutuskan untuk pergi ke sebuah toko yang harganya lebih murah. Hal ini benar2 terjadi, dimana dengan benda yang sama, toko yang berbeda memberikan harga yang berbeda pula.

Belanja yang paling seru memang apabila kita sedang hunting barang di musim sale, terutama saat ini dimusim end of financial year. Di Melbourne ini musim end of financial year adalah bulan Juni dan khususnya menguntungkan jika berbelanja barang-barang elektronik. Musim sale besar-besaran lainnya adalah di akhir tahun, yakni bulan Desember, tetapi terutama untuk pakaian.

Tetapi ada hal yang menarik yang aku temukan selama hunting laptop di bulan Juni ini. Kebetulan Laptopku rusak dan aku butuh membeli yang baru. Maka aku mengadakan pencarian laptop melalui internet. Aku menelusuri website beberapa toko yang ada di sekitarku kemudian aku pergi ke toko-toko tersebut. Setelah yakin akan apa yang aku mau beli, aku pergi ke toko yang aku maksud. Namun, tidak selamanya pilihan yang aku telah tentukan dari searching internet akan menjadi keputusan akhir karena pikiranku berubah setelah sampai di toko. Mengapa? karena ternyata ada laptop lain yang lebih bagus dan lumayan murah yang di jual di toko tidak ada dalam catalogue yang aku lihat di internet. Kemudian, lebih menarik lagi ada barang yang harganya jauh lebih murah dari yang ada di catalogue. Hal ini terjadi, karena mereka mau clean stock.

Setelah aku pikir-pikir ternyata ada baiknya juga mencari2 dengan langsung ke toko, namun dengan terlebih dahulu mencari di websitenya. Hal ini tentu saja membantu karena kalau kita belum tau sebelumnya harga barang tersebut dari internet, manalah kita tahu bahwa harga display yang di toko itu sudah lebih murah.

Anyway, yang paling penting adalah jangan sampai berbelanja habis-habisan dan tidak punya sisa uang untuk hidup bulan ini. Itulah nasib anak kost! he he

Lebih baik menabung daripada menghabiskan uang untuk kepuasan sendiri saat ini. Walau aku adalah jenis orang yang suka memberi penghargaan kepada diri sendiri kalau sudah mencapai sebuah prestasi tertentu. Namun, aku masih memperkirakan budget dengan bijaksana sehingga aku masih bisa menabung. Menabung bukan berarti untuk masa yang jauh di hadapan tetapi untuk hal-hal yang tidak dapat kita elakkan atau tidak kita rencanakan. Sama seperti aku saat ini harus membeli laptop baru karena laptopku rusak.

Aku tidak merencanakan laptopku rusak, tapi hal ini terjadi diluar keinginanku. Dan aku telah berusaha dengan alternatif memperbaikinya ke reparasi. Alhasil, uangku lenyap AUD 400 sia-sia dan laptopku masih rusak. Akhirnya, aku memutuskan untuk membeli laptop baru karena kebetulan lagi musim sale besar-besaran, yakni end of financial year. Dan aku tidak berpikir untuk membuang laptop lamaku tetapi masih akan menjaganya menunggu waktunya aku akan memperbaikinya di tanah air.

Pangalihu

2010-06-20T18:44:00.001-07:00

Di borgin na salpu arop do rahanghu asa las ari na naeng ro. Alai dungo ma au ditibu ni ari alani ngalina. Dang na alani na so marsalimut au manang na mate 'heater' hu alai alani alogo na mangullus manusuk tu holi-holi sian janjela ni kamarhu. Ago poang, ninna rohanghu.

Tardungo muse au dang pola leleng alani wekker ni 'handphone' hu. Dungo do nyean au alai holan na naeng pamatehon alarm i. Hupamenak dope matahu las tarpodom ma muse au. Ai ngali hian do attong. Ai on ma tantangan naum balga di musim dingin di tano si bottar mata on. Ngali nai poang!

Karena Cinta???

2010-06-20T00:46:00.000-07:00

Patrick yang telah mengingat kembali kehidupannya yang lalu setelah beberapa tahun kehilangan ingatan itu kembali ke kampung halamannya untuk menemui keluarga dan kekasihnya. Namun, diluar dugaan semuanya telah berubah. Ibunya telah memberikan kamarnya kepada anjing peliharaan dan kekasihnya telah bersama pria lain. Anne, kekasih Patrick telah lama menderita karena kehilangan Patrick dan diperlakukan kurang baik karena Patrick saat itu sama sekali tidak mengenalnya lagi kini telah memiliki Evan.

Tampa diduga, Patrick menemukan Anne bersama Evan dikamarnya tampa busana. Jelas sudah bahwa mereka telah jauh melangkah dalam menjalani hubungan. Patrick sangat kecewa dan pergi meninggalkan kamar Anne. Namun, hati Patrick sangat sedih dan menyadari bahwa kelakuan Anne dapat diterima karena dulu dia memperlakukan Anne sangat tidak baik dan bahkan Patrick telah menghilang dari hidup Anne dalam beberapa tahun tampa berita.

Anne yang masih memiliki sedikit perasaan tersisa terhadap Patrick pergi menemui Patrick untuk menjelaskan duduk perkara yang sebenarnya. Betapa Anne ingin mengatakan bahwa dia telah menanti terlalu lama untuk kepulangan Patrick dan dalam masa itu Evan tidak pernah berhenti memberinya perhatian dan pertolongan dalam masa-masa keputus asaaanya. Patrick tidak peduli apapun yang Anne ingin sampaikan dan mengatakan bahwa dia tetap mencintai Anne dan ingin kembali kedalam hidup Anne.

Namun sayang Anne telah jatuh hati kepada Evan dan ingin melanjutkan hubungannya dengan Evan. Anne minta maaf dan berlalu dari hadapan Patrick. Patrick sangat kecewa dan hampir putus asa sampai dia mendengar nasehat ibunya untuk 'melakukan sesuatu' kalau memang dia ingin melanjutkan hidupnya, bukan putus asa dan 'tidak melakukan apapun'.

Patrick menemui Evan dan menyuruhnya menjauhi Anne. Namun Evan juga sudah mencintai Anne dan tidak ingin meninggalkan Anne. Evan mengingatkan Patrick bahwa dulu dia pernah menyuruh Evan untuk mengambil saja Anne disaat dia kehilangan ingatannya. Patrick merasa hal itu tidak adil karena saat itu dia sedang kehilangan ingatannya dan langsung melayangkan tinjunya kemuka Evan. Evan dengan sigap menangkis tinjunya Patrick dan Patrick melanting membentur tembok. Perkelahian mereka hanya sepihak karena Evan tidak membalas satupun dari serangan Patrick tapi mengelak. Kejadian itu akhirnya disaksikan oleh penduduk termasuk Anne sendiri.

Karena malu dan merasa tidak layak bertempur dengan Evan, akhirnya Patrick meninggalkan tempat perkelahian. Anne merasa kasihan karena Patrick sedikit terluka. Namun saat ini Anne sudah berada dalam posisi serba salah karena dia sudah menjadi kekasih Evan.

Keesokan harinya Anne berangkat ke kantornya untuk memulai hari kerjanya seperti biasa. Anne terkejut saat memasuki kantornya karena seluruh ruangan dipenuhi dengan bunga-bunga indah. Di salah satu vas bunga yang diletak di atas mejanya, Anne membaca secarik kartu bertuliskan: 'Aku akan memenangkanmu kembali, Kekasihmu, Patrick'.

Sejujurnya

2010-06-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

Sejujurnya aku tak jujur
walau aku ingin jujur
tapi mengapa harus jujur
kalau jujur tak berarti

Tiap hari kuberkata
ada apa dengan diriku
mengapa aku benci
mengapa aku cinta

kala mentari bersinar lagi
menerpa angan dan rasa
setiap kata setiap rasa
mencari makna tak perna puna

kejujuran oh kejujuran
setiap waktu diperlukan
tapi kadang tak terkatakan
karena kondisi tak memungkinkan

(wakakakakak..... ini puisi tercipta sesaat saja saat stress melanda...big applause please)

he he he

Bingung au

2010-06-18T18:58:00.000-07:00

Judul on dang adong hubunganna tu lagu ni Jon aliaman na mandok bingung ibana alana adong dua halletna. Alai dison au bingung taringot tu parsingkolaanku. Ai saminggu nai nama ingkon tuntas do tugas proposal skripsi alai mardua-dua do rohangku naeng mangarejohon i.

Ai aha ma tahe dohononku, alani sude on marasar tu sada hadangolan do. Adong ma dosenhu na tung mansai 'strick' ninna di bahasa inggris. Ai na toho hian ma au tingki i paserius hu mangarejohon tugas hi jala lupa ma au manghatai dohot dongan. Ai hu solsoli do di pudi ni ari boasa au pa jujur hu mambahen ibana dosen pamariksa tugashu alani sai saluhutdo donganhu manurat goar dosen na asing mamareksa tugasna be. 'Sial nai poang' inna rohangku do.

Alani i gabe roa ma dapothu nilai sian ibana jala ima bingkasna mambaen au 'down' jala manadinghon sude karejohu taringot tu proposal skripsihu.

Saonari adong do tutor hu mandok asa hupasidung proposal hi alani boi do au maju molo holan alani tugas na sambing i. Alai na maolan huhilala 'move on' molo ninna si bontar mata. Ai mardua-dua do rohanghu saonari las mambahen au bingung. Ai tumagonan do huhilala manjaha novel sian manjaha proposal hi muse. Ai boa nama on? saminggu nai nama.

Hutorushon do manang dang? boa nama on?

The Pearl Hunter by Kim Wilkins 2008

2010-06-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

The story of 'the Pearl Hunter' is so amazing and touching. So much of natural beauty exposures and cultural differences' disputes. The sun set, the stormy seas, the waves, the trees, islands, ships, rocks, and mighty pearl that are all around make it more fascinating.

Yet, the various characteristics presented are well presented; how two frank opposite characters are contrasted. How dignity and propriety are considered highly possessed by the upper-class people. How the low class people would always be treated low and made to suffer all mistakes and be blamed for anything. This was a natural law of the cruel life back then.

How rich people raise their daughters to meet socially high status and be made to marry young rich men for social status. Yet, the daughters seem to understand the meaning of social life better than their parents for they love the men of their hearts not for their richness and status but gentleness and kindness. This drives their parents mad and furiuos.

Constance is a sample of a wise and knowledgeable daughter of a ship captain but fail to think of social status above all as her father demands of her. She preferes loving a man of simple and tender and wise and on her father service than loving a rich man. Constance love Alexander who she first saves on his way to find protection from his first employer. In return Alexander who fristly meets Constance on her kindness saving him and taking him aboard has ever since has a strong loving feeling to her.

Life was hard for Alexander but his meeting Constance brought him a precious life. Moreover since Constance loves him despite his no posession of wealth. Their love grew stronger despite the uncertain future of their love they know very well. Lucky that Constance has a stone heart that she quite inherited from her father that she could always ensure her father that she was doing the right and justice things.

Being in several adventures together, Constance and Alexander were tightly bound with a tender love. And the wise Alexander was very responsibel of whatever he did and made Constance's father's stoney heart melted to give him a chance to love his daughter.

It was a happy ending that Constance's father finally approved their love and gave them support for future marriage. What a lovely story of almost the picture of a true life. I like reading the plots of this novel and very interested in the stories. The way the mystery solved, the way the problems presented and solved, the way the love grows are all awesome. Well done KIm Wilkins! What a great novel!

This is a different Scott

2010-05-03T04:14:00.000-07:00

I wouldn't have thought of that if not wondering around his name. During the class I didn't realize that he was the Scott for our module two lecture. I was still expecting the Scott from our first module. what a mess my mind was!

Quite a course!

2010-03-03T02:10:00.000-08:00

I was glad that I read some of the required reading materials for today's course. I found this unit course interesting as well as very useful. I wrote down on my profile sheet that I would like at the end to be able to create a good worth implementing curriculum. I did mean it.

My lecturer was very kind and clever. He was good at explaining the lecture and patient enough to listen to students' views and comments. He didn't claim students wrong instead encouraged them to freely express their thoughts. I noticed that my lecturer was well prepared and much better from my previous ones, yet this was still the first meeting and probably it was too early to judge.

Overall, during the class, I was happy and could follow the flow well.

till next time

Wanna be the biggest loser?

2010-03-01T22:27:00.000-08:00

What an interesting title when I saw the tv ad 'big loser.' I firstly wondered what that would mean? Had people already lost their mind of competing to be losers than winners instead? What on earth did it mean?

Finally, I watched the series and felt more to sympathetic than confused. Good for them who keenly tried to be the biggest losers, 'go on' I whispered almost to myself.

There were some couples of very fat people competed to lose fat or more appropriately to gain ideal weight. They did sacrificed many things from time, hobbies, habits, appetites, and so many other things I might couldn't imagine at the moment.

Congratulation for those who finally or could I say half the program, had lost up to 42 kg of their fat. (:

So, do you wanna be a big loser???

First day of first lecture

2010-03-01T01:45:00.000-08:00

It's not exactly what I expected before attending the lecture, but to be honest it was awful and I was a bit lost during the lecture. I already read one very important article for today's lecture, the lecture slides and some hints from the unit guide, but from what I understood, it was a confusing lecture. I sometimes lost listening to the speakers' accent and words, most probably because they spoke real fast with some very often new vocabularies.

I could hardly understand the talk' ideas of the three workshop speakers, and I couldn't judge whether other students experienced the same as me, I kept silent. After an hour workshop, we proceeded to the lecturing room and were divided into three groups with different particular lecturers. It was obvious that the three group lectures were all about research, yet with their own very specific study. In my case, I chose the reading, interpreting and communicating research instead either t the qualitative or quantitative ones.

Time went so fast and the first confusing lecture finished earlier thirty minutes from the allocated time. It was quite benefited me because I could rush home for dinner and avoided getting home dark. Luckily, this autumn the sun really set around nine pm. The class dismissed after my lecturer, Mrs. Mary Lou gave tasks to do for the following meeting.

Though my first day lecture was not at all amazing but confusing, I could say it was because it was the starting point for more confusing lectures to come. So, I better keep myself aware and be ready for the coming lectures. I still remember filling the form my lecturer gave the class with a commitment to study more diligently and read a lot. I'd like to commit on doing that, I do hope and will really try.

aku mulai menyukainya

2009-12-16T16:01:00.000-08:00

Hari ini adalah hari yang sama untuk pelajaran yang sama tapi hari ini aku menemukan sesuatu yang baru. Hari ini dia lebih memperhatikan aku. Dia menghampiri aku dan berbicara padaku. Dia membuat aku lebih yakin akan apa yang sudah kuketahui dan yang harus aku ketahui lagi. Ternyata dia sangat baik.

Setelah waktunya pulang, satu persatu kami mulai meninggalkan kelas, dan dia melambaikan tangannya padaku. Aku tau ada yang berubah dari dirinya atau apakah itu hanya perasaanku saja?
Tapi dia memang melambaikan tangannya padaku. Jadi aku tau itu adalah pertanda baik. Akupun lambaikan tanganku dan tersentum manis padanya.

Aku tau, aku mulai menyukainya. Semoga aku semakin menyukainya sehingga minggu-minggu depan, pada hari yang sama, waktu yang sama, aku menjadi lebih semangat untuk belajar.

Semoga!

Breaking Dawn

2009-12-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

I finished reading 'Breaking Down', the 754 pages of Stephenie Meyer bestselling novel of Twilight yesterday morning. I couldn't believe I just did it since the first time I saw the very thick book I felt a great refusal inside me. It took me quite sometime to get back to it for I hardly like thick book. Yet, once I understood the chain of the stories, I couldn't help myself for a desire to keep reading and reading it. Luckily I could manage to sleep at night, I used to keep awake to finish reading a novel when it was just my taste. It took me three days, however, to completely finish the reading since I must also do some other stuff apart from reading it.

The novel was amazingly interesting, to stand at a point of self satisfaction and not to relate it to any logics or beliefs. It's amusing since Stephenie really gave what readers exactly wanted, some swift thoughts that sometimes startled readers but finally gave even more than what readers expected at the first place. A really nicely arranged thought for a happy ending story. Looking back to the characters in the story, I found they're quite related to modern society in the current era. Some sort of thought came to my mind while reading the novel for I also calculated what might appear just afterwards. A bundle of astonishment came up, smile turned up, and my eyes widely opened for my great interest in the way the characters piled up relationships among different families' backgrounds.

Finally, I could fee that peace was above all. Only holy tender hearts could raise the peace in the middle of the terrified horror of war and doom. I loved the characters of peace lovers and praised them for their strong commitment in defending their pure loveable intention in any circumstances. That's really a great point I found, at the moment, that amuzed me since I firtsly devoted my time for reading the four series of Stephenie's novel; twilight, new moon, eclipse, and breaking down. What an achievement. Well done!

Just a day!

2009-12-01T19:20:00.000-08:00

Once I was wandering in the busy noisy town nearest to my resicendency looking for nothing and aftering for none. My feet led me the way through to passing some elderly people who were amazingly appeared so strong in their eighties or nineties. Tidily dressed, they walked and chatted along with their mates seemingly so overwhelming in their hissy conversation to my ears. I smiled and so happy for them that they were enjoying their oldhood. Very rarely could I see this simialr view in my country of origin.

I passed the view hesitantly towards the corner of the town where the local public library situated. I observed the small park in front of the library and noticed some kids playing joyfully under their parents' obvious protection. I recalled a memory when I was a kid and found none like what I saw. A little disappointed but it's useless to do.

Carefully I returned my loaned books and thoughtfully I chose some novels of my interest from the shelves to spend with in my long coming days. That'd be great to spend sometime in the library but couldn't resist my longing to walk more the town, a bit of exploration taste. Hurriedly I brought myself out of the room and hinted to the north. That was a new road for me that day. I should walk farther that day so that I felt at least exploring something.

So glad that my day was a lot different from the day before. I met some nice smiling faces and sweet mumbling baby faces. After all, that was just a day!

Dainang

2009-11-25T19:57:00.000-08:00

Da nunga lobi opat bulan au borhat manadinghon huta ni dainang, huta hatubuan jala huta ingananhu magodang. Ai tung masihol situtu do rohangku sai ingkon mulak tu huta maraehon hatubuan ni Jesus jala taon naumbaru 2010. Alai marboa bahenon ma, ai apala ingkon songonon ma haroa i taon on. Sai gomos pe au martangiang ale inang na burju asa horas jala sehat situtu hamu di huta suang songoni da amang dohot sude angka ibotokku, angkangku nang anggikku.

Molo taringot tu pangalaho, ai molo au da na anak na burju benna molo huingot najolo ai apala na jugul si tutu do au jala maol disuru karejo dijabu. Sai holan na modom do au molo nunga songon na adong karejo na lao siulaon. Alai di nahajugulonhi huboto do dang hurang saotikpe holong ni da inang tu au. Dang hea apala huboto na au pe holong hian do marinang molo so marsahit da inang piga-piga taon na salpu. Ai disima huboto ai aha pe ingkon baenonku asalma sonang da inanghi. Sahali, di na marsahit da inang, tangkas dope huingot, sada pangidoan ni dainang asa unang be arop rohangku ingkon marsikkola tu luat na dao. Hupapos do raha ni dainang jala marjanji do au dang lao be au manang arop be rohangku ingkon marsikkola tu nadao. Molo huingot hatangki saonari, ai olo do mengkel au alani saonari au nunga be di luat na dao.

O alogo ombushon majo sihol ni rohakkon tu dainang, amang, dohot sude keluarga di huta. Sai tung paboa ma ai na masihol si tutu do rohangku alai marboa bahenon ma ai ingkon marsingkola majo au saonari jala dao sian nasida. Sai adong do tingkina ingkon pajumpang muse jala dibagasan las ni roha. Sai Tuhani ma tongtong na mangaramoti sude hita manang di dia pe.

Borders Security Australia

2009-11-25T01:36:00.000-08:00

Australia has a worth praising borders security system. This becomes one of the TV broadcast I find interesting recently. I like it because it is actual and updated. I really couldn't imagine that's happening once or several times I was at the Australian' airports in Sydney and Melbourne. It really went very bad when someone found guilty of carrying something harmful to this country.

I have several times watched on TV some cases in which people tried to smuggle reptiles and drugs and they went to huge trouble. Some came with fake passports and after some processes were sent back to their countries of origin. Even once, there were a couple from India who happily brought cooked dishes from their country but were eventually fined because some dishes they brought were prohibited to enter this country. Maybe that's why I avoid bringing any sort of food or any of its groups that needed to be reported and claimed.

Once two Vietnamese ladies were caught carrying cocaine in their brand new shoes and fined for a lot of money and they finally had to stay behind bars for some years. There was also a man, forget from which country, smuggling a lot of cocaine in his nicely wrapped unique paintings. So many cases revealed in this border security program that need to be known by common people so that they'd aware anytime they travel into any country.

New Moon...not bad!

2009-11-25T00:42:00.001-08:00

Many of my friends were frantically looking forward to the twilight saga:New Moon. They already picked up their own hero or heroine. Women idolized Edward and I couldn't say if men did too but Bella did a huge great job in it. Finally, it started arriving in Cinemas since 20 November 2009. The news reported that it's slightly beaten The 2012. Well, that's a fabulous achievement.

When I watched the New Moon in Hoyts, I was expecting more than what I saw in the movie. Well, there were too many cuts and if I had not read the book before I could have hardly understand it. Comparing my understanding between watching New Moon and reading it, I undoubtedly grant the latter was best. Well, I must admit that it was because the book was a complete edition clearly describing all emotions, backgrounds, scenes and characters.

It's quite amazing that when almost everyone admire Robert Pattinson, I adored the tender calm wise look of Peter Facinelli. What a man! Yet, Taylor Lautner's muscular body was gorgeous, I like it. He really had the body! It's quite a pity that the actress for Victoria was replaced by a new face. Well, in accordance to my friends' opinion, Alice has a gorgeous worth praised beauty.

So, what is exactly the new moon refered to? Could be the new moon for Jacob whose time has come to be one of his warewolves' fellows or the new moon for Edward and Bella for their long parting times for a reunion that promising an unseparable union.

After all, New Moon is not bad. It's a movie full stop.

Super Aneh

2009-09-28T06:21:00.000-07:00

Hari ini adalah hari super aneh karena aku melihat banyak hal aneh terutamanya manusia-manusia yang berperilaku dan berpakain aneh.

Harus aku akui aku bangun telat pagi ini, itupun dengan alasan yang super memihak diri sendiri yakni karena dinginnya musim semi ini. Hari ini suhu udara terendah dalam beberapa minggu di bulan September ini. Suhu tertinggi hanya 13 dan terndah 7. Di pagi hari sewaktu aku bangun, aku cek lagi suhu udara ternyata masih 10 derajat. Aku tidak ingin beranjak dari tempat tidurku yang nyaman tetapi aku harus bangkit karena perutku sudah mulai keroncongan.

Setelah negosiasi ini dan itu, aku bersama teman-temanku berangkat menuju Melbourne Central. Kami inigin melepas suntuk sambil mengerjakan sesuatu yang berguna. Hari ini tujuan utama adalah menuju konjen RI yang ada di kota untuk mengurus hal yang penting pula. Namun Melbourne Central menjadi tempat untuk melepas suntuk dan cuci mata at least kami boleh window shopping.

Duduk bersandar ke bangku di depan toko sambil menikmati snack yang kami bawa, kami dapat melihat orang yang lalu lalang dan yang keluar masuk toko. Ada yang hanya melihat-lihat dan pergi dan ada yang memang ingin membeli sesuatu, tapi kebanyakan hanya seperti kami, untuk window shopping. Kalau kami karena terbatasnya uang di saku, kalau mereka, aku tidak berani menjudge.

Namun, aku menemukan orang aneh hari ini. Ada beberapa pasang orang yang berpakain aneh, berias aneh, berjalan aneh, dan bertingkah aneh. Ada seorang pria yang memakai jubah panjang hitam dengan rambut yang diikat dengan kain yang panjang sampai menyentuh lantai dengan riasan wajah yang menyeramkan berjalan begitu tegap dengan memegang tangan kekasihnya. dari cara aku melihatnya, dan sedikit tergesa-gesa. Mereka tidak tertarik melihat toko-toko yang berjejer di sepanjang jalan tetapi fokus dalam jalan yang mereka tempuh. Sungguh aneh. Hal ini mengingatkan aku akan pengikut ajaran tertentu yang tidak mengakui Tuhan. Hem, mungkin mereka sedang dalam perjalanan menuju sebuah pertemuan penting dalam ajaran mereka.

Tak lama sesudahnya aku melihat sepasang lagi yang berpakain sangat aneh. Mereka memakai kostum seperti kurcaci karena bajunya yang memiliki topi seperti kurcaci.Kostum mereka tampak sangat jelek dan usang dan bermotif kotak-kotak, merah, abu-abu, hijau, dan biru. Kalau pasangan ini masih berminat masuk toko walau keluar tampa membeli apapun. Yang paling aneh dari pasangan ini bukanlah dandananya yang aneh dan riasan wajahnya yang ngejreng tapi kakinya yang tidak beralas sendal atau sepatu. Mereka tidak memakai alas kaki sama sekali. Hem, hal ini mengingatkan aku bahwa ada orang yang aku dengar dari suku yang sama denganku tidak pernah memakai alas kaki kemanapun dia pergi, namun itu karena dia memiliki ilmu aneh yang membuat dia berpantang memakai alas kaki kemanapun. Apakah pasangan ini juga seperti itu, memiliki ilmu aneh? Namun melihat kostumnya aku berpikir lagi bahwa mereka ini adalah bagian dari sejenis ajaran yang juga tidak mengakui Tuhan.

Hari ini memang sungguh aneh karena aku melihat beberapa orang yang super aneh. Aku harap aku tidak menemukan orang-orang aneh lagi di lain waktu. Cukuplah aku menemukan manusia yang sederhana dalam kewarasan yang normal dan masuk akal.

Luka Dingin

2009-09-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

Judul yang mungkin membingungkan karena merupakan terjemahan langsung dari cold sore. Sengaja aku menulis tentang hal ini karena aku kira hal ini sangat perlu untuk diketahui dan diwaspadai terutama bagi orang asia yang berniat tinggal di negara yang memiliki musim dingin.

Jika tinggal di musim dingin selalulah waspada jenis orang yang bagaimanakah anda. Ketahui anda alergi pada apa. Aku bukan tipe orang yang ada alerginya, namun setelah dalam 2 kali kesempatan tinggal di Melbourne di musim dingin, aku dapati diriku tidak tahan dengan dingin. Mungkin aku alergi dingin, sehingga dalam masa 2 bulan muncullah di bibirku, lower lip, sebuah luka, disebut luka dingin. Bentuknya pada awalnya seperti jerawat dan berwarna seperti jerawat, namun karena aku tidak menganggapnya serius, aku tidak begitu memperhatikannya, aku tetap berikan lip blouse. Amat disayangkan karena luka yang pertama membawa luka yang lain sehingga aku memperhatikan sudah ada 3 luka berbentuk jerawat di bibirku. Bangun pagi keesokan harinya aku amati luka itu sepertinya mengandung air. Hal ini membuat aku mulai takut, aku search internet dan tulis 'cold sore,' dan hasilnya sangat mengejutkan. Luka dingin ini sangat berbahaya jika dibiarkan, dan gambar-gambar yang ditampilkan sangat menjijikkan dan menakutkan.

Sebenarnya aku sudah berusaha menjaga kesehatan tubuhku dengan memberikan lip blouse di bibirku dan pelembab kulit disekujur tubuhku setelah mandi, dan terutama telapak tangan karena itulah bagian yang amat rentan dengan kekeringan dan luka akibat dingin.

Segera aku pergi ke apotik terdekat, walau pada awalnya aku berencana pergi ke dokter. Aku minta rekomendasi dari pharmacist yang aku temui dengan menunjukkan bibirku. Dia menyarankan aku menggunakan amcal cold sore dan mengoleskannya 5-6 kali sehari. Aku melakukannya sesuai petunjuk,namun hatiku masih tidak tenang karena sepertinya dalam 3 hari tidak ada kemajuan sama sekali. Namun, aku tetap mengoleskannya dengan harapan akan terjadi penyembuhan. Aku tidak bisa menyembunyikannya karena aku harus pergi ke kampus. Di kampus teman-temanku memperhatikan dan ada yang mengatakan hal itu biasa sehingga membuat aku terpelongok. Ada pula yang mengatakan aku tidak istirahat yang cukup dan terlalu capek. Mereka katakan pasti karena aku terlalu keras belajar sehingga aku mengalami luka dingin. Apa hubungannya capek dengan bibir luka dingin? otakku dan hatiku tak dapat menerimanya. Namun, tidak setelah dosenku melihat bibirku. Aku menjadi percaya bahwa mungkin ada faktor karena aku terlalu capek setelah dosenku mengatakan bahwa itu bisa terjadi karena aku tidak istirahat yang baik, terlalu capek, dan tidak menjaga makanan yang kukonsumsi. Dia menasehati aku agar tidur lebih awal setiap malam, menjaga makanan yang aku konsumsi, menjaga kesehatanku agar tidak teralu letih dan menyuruh aku minum madu dengan lemon. Well, lemon itu sendiri dia berikan padaku, entah darimana diambilnya, setelah usai kuliah.

Akhirnya aku mulai memperhatikan waktu tidurku, tidak tidur terlalu larut, makan tepat waktu, mulai olahraga jalan pagi, tidak terlalu memforsir diri untuk belajar, dan minum air lemon dengan madu setiap hari, ditambah dengan mengolesi amcal cold sore ke bibirku 5-6 kali sehari. Alhasil, aku bisa sembuh, di hari ketujuh, bibirku sudah pulih, walau masih merah, namun tidak sakit lagi, tidak gembung dan tidak berair. Aku sangat senang karena aku bisa sembuh dalam seminggu karena jika tidak itu artinya aku harus pergi ke dokter.

Jadi, jika anda tidak ingin mengalami nasib seperti aku, belajarlah dari pengalaman yang aku bagikan kali ini.

Mari hidup sehat dan bahagia.

Seuntai doa

2009-09-21T02:33:00.000-07:00

Kakiku melangkah menapaki jalan yang melintas sebuah terowong jembatan menuju stasiun bus. Aku selalu malalui terowong kereta api untuk bisa mencapai jalan diseberang dimana aku biasa naik bus. Kali ini aku berangkat lebih awal 30 menit dari biasa karena hari ini aku ingin melakukan sesuatu.

Seperti biasa aku akan menunggu bus di halte sampai bus tiba, dan saat ini aku harus menunggu 10 menit karena bus yang sebelumnya baru saja melintas. Mungkin aku kurang beruntung hari ini, atau mungkin aku sudah mengaturnya sedemikian karena aku ingin melakukan sesuatu.

Sepanjang perjalanan aku sudah menggenggam rosario kecil terbuat dari kayu, hadiah yang aku terima beberapa bulan yang lalu, dan mulai mendaraskan doa-doanya sepanjang perjalanan di dalam hatiku. Dengan berjalan santai aku bisa melakukan doa itu dengan suasana hati yang tenang. Sesampai di stasiun bus aku memilih duduk di halte yang kosong sehingga aku bisa lebih nyaman dan tenang mendaraskan doa-doanya. Hem, aku merasa beruntung bus yang sebelumnya sudah lewat sehingga 10 menit duduk sendiri memberikan aku cukup waktu untuk menyelesaikan untaian doaku hari ini.

Setelah seluruh untaian doa rosarioku selesai, aku menoleh ke papan pengumuman tanda ketibaan bus, dan aku tersenyum karena disana tertulis 1 menit. Mungkin aku sedikit bangga karena aku memiliki daya pengaturan waktu yang baik hari ini.

Seuntai doa rosarioku hari ini adalah doa yang khusus aku persembahkan karena aku sedang memohon sesuatu kepada Tuhanku. Semoga Tuhan mendengarkan dan mengabulkan permohonan anakNya ini.

Hidup menjadi lebih hidup

2009-09-19T18:22:00.001-07:00

Hidup bisa menjadi lebih hidup jika kita memiliki kemauan untuk membuat hidup itu menjadi lebih hidup. Mengapa kita ingin menjadikan hidup lebih hidup? dan hidup yang bagaimanakah hidup yang lebih hidup?

Hari ini aku bangun dari tidur tepatnya pukul 6 pagi, seperti biasa alarm handphoneku yang membangungkan aku setiap pukul 6. Namun, dengan alasan yang sangat membela diri, yakni karena pagi masih begitu dingin dan tidak ada pekerjaan yang mendesak yang perlu dikerjakan dan tidak ada kuliah di pagi hari, aku molor lagi. Aku tarik selimut menutupi tubuhku sampai ke leher karena aku tidak bisa tidur apabila aku tutup seluruh tubuhku sampai ke wajah dan kepala. Aku tidur lagi dan bisa sampai mimpi beberapa kali dengan setting yang berbeda pula. Akhirnya aku selalu benar-benar bangun dari tempat tidur pukul 8.30 pagi. Namun, ada kalanya aku bangun awal, yakni benar-benar bangun ketika alarmku membangunkanku pukul 6 pagi, apabila aku harus masuk kuliah pagi, ada tutorial, dan dikusi. Aku bangun awal karena aku harus memasak bekal untuk makan siangku. Aku selalu menghindari beli makanan di restoran bukan karena alasan makanan siap saji yang kurang bagus untuk kesehatan namun karena minimnya uang bulanan yang ada di tangan.

Hari ini aku pergi ke gereja yang jaraknya tidak sampai 5 menit jalan kaki. Aku bergegas dengan sukacita karena hari ini adalah hari Tuhan. Sesampai di gereja aku memiliki waktu untuk doa pribadi yang agak lama karena waktu misa diundur sampai 10 menit dari biasanya. Ternyata gereja ini kedatangan tamu istimewa, seorang uskup dan beliau didampingi oleh pastor John yang biasa memimpin misa di gereja ini. Banyak hal yang terlintas di benakku saat aku di gereja hari ini. Aku menyadari betapa aku tidak memiliki kehidupan yang benar-benar hidup. Aku memiliki begitu banyak beban pikiran ditambah kemalasan atau yang menghasilkan kemalasan sehingga aku merasa jauh tertinggal dibelakang orang-orang yang memiliki hidup yang benar-benar hidup.

Syukurlah aku meraskan hal ini sekarang sebelum semuanya menjadi terlambat. Namun, apakah aku akan memiliki komitmen yang teguh untuk berubah? aku tidak begitu yakin, karena seperti manusia pada umumnya, aku juga lemah dan terkadang tidak ingat akan komitmen yang telah aku buat. Aku ingin menjadikan hidupku lebih hidup karena aku ingin menikmati hidupku dalam sukacita dan dalam hidup yang sehat. Aku ingin memiliki hidup yang ceria dan tidak terbebani. Memiliki beban pikiran dan bentuk lain adalah hal yang wajar sebagai manusia, namun dalam pengalaman itu aku ingin dapat menikmatinya. Dengan demikian hidupku akan ceria dan ringan. Sepertinya kebahagiaan dan keceriaan hidup yang dulu aku miliki dijajah oleh sesuatu atau banyak hal yang aku tidak sadari. Aku ingin kembali memiliki hidup yang lebih hidup.

Apa yang dapat aku lakukan untuk memiliki hidup yang lebih hidup? Pertanyaan yang sedikit filosofis dan egois. Tapi apapun akan aku lakukan semampuku dan sesuai akal sehatku untuk menjadikan hidupku lebih hidup. Saat ini aku akan mulai melangkah untuk membuat hidupku lebih hidup. Mungkin langkah awal adalah mengubah kebiasaan bangun pagiku yang luar biasa salah. Karena sebenarnya aku masih dan selalu ingat pesan ibuku yang menyuruhku untuk selalu 'bangun pagi.' Bukan bangun kepagian atau bangun telat di pagi hari. Semoga aku bisa. (:

Diantara 'prejudice' dan keharusan

2009-09-17T05:03:00.000-07:00

Setelah hampir tiga bulan mengikuti perkuliahan, aku semakin mencium sebuah demonstrasi penolakan besar-besaran terhadap penggunaan 'bahasa Inggris' di dunia. Hal ini semakin tampak ketika salah satu dosen yang mengajar dikelasku menyatakan beberapa pandangan pribadinya terhadap teori ataupun artikel yang menjadi pokok bahasan di kelas kami. Pandangan yang bernada menentang penggunaan bahasa Inggris di dunia dengan bahasa halusnya yang dikutip dari seorang pakar bahasa Robert Phillipson dengan tuduhan adanya 'linguistic imperialism.'

Linguistic imperialism adalah bentuk penjajahan terakhir yang terjadi dimuka bumi. Dengan keharusan penggunaan bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa international terjadilah penjajahan tersembunyi. Hal ini berbau politik dan ekonomi. Para pakar yang bersuara senada mengkhawatirkan akan hilangnya beberapa atau banyak bahasa minoritas di dunia ini dengan masuknya bahasa Inggris dalam peradaban mereka. Lebih lanjut banyak kritikus yang mengolah data dan mengadakan penyelidikan sampai kepada dunia maya 'internet.'

Dalam penelitian yang mereka lakukan, terbuktilah bahwa ada begitu banyak penjajahan halus yang terjadi dengan menggunakan bahasa Inggris. Mulai dari pengharusan test bahasa Inggris berstandard interntional yang hanya difasilitasi oleh pemilik bahasa inggris itu sendiri, seperti TOEFL oleh America dan IELTS oleh Inggris, sampai kepada penggunaan bahasa inggris untuk mengkristenkan orang lain. Hal terakhir ini sebenarnya tidak dapat dijadikan tolak ukur, karena hanya dilakukan oleh beberapa golongan agama kristen tertentu, tidak benar apabila menyalahkan seluruh umat kristen atas usaha sepihak oleh pemeluk kristen tertentu. Internet juga semakin beralih menjadi alat untuk penjajahan yang menurut pakar akan mengharuskan seluruh dunia menggunakan bahasa inggris dalam penggunaanya.

Jika demikian halnya, mungkin aku akan mengutarakan sebuah pertanyaan. Apakah kita dapat bertahan hanya dengan menggunakan bahasa asli kita? yang tidak dikenal oleh dunia luar tempat kita berinteraksi dan memungkinkan terjadinya banyak mutual benefit?
Apakah aku bisa belajar sampai ke Australia dengan hanya menggunakan bahasa asliku? bahasa Indonesia? apakah Presidenku dapat menjalin hubungan bilateral dan lebih lagi jika hanya menggunakan bahasa Indonesia? Apakah para pakar di negaraku dapat menawarkan produknya baik berupa hasil penelitian, karya tangan, sampai pada hasil cipta ke dunia hanya dengan menggunakan bahasa Indonesia? Mungkin negaraku akan menjadi negara yang paling terbelakan dan tertutup dan tidak akan pernah bergerak ke arah kemajuan dan kemakmuran.

Mempelajari bahasa Inggris dan menggunakannya dalam konteks yang tepat adalah sebuah keharusan. Keharusan karena kita ingin maju, karena kita ingin mengerti dan dimengerti, karena kita ingin mengetahui banyak hal, dan karena kita ingin bertahan dan makmur, dan mungkin lebih tepatnya karena kita tidak ingin dijajah lagi.

Namun, mengapa bahasa Inggris? bukan bahasa Indonesia? adalah sebuah pertanyaan yang dapat dianggap konyol pada satu pihak dan dapat dianggap sebagai trigger bagi pihak lain. Penggunaan bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa Internasional ada kaitannya dengan masa penjajahan, dimana bangsa Inggris merupakan penjajah terkuat yang memiliki wilayah jajahan terluas.

Mungkin saat ini aku dapat melihat sisi lain dari prejudice dan keharusan ini dimana bahasa Inggris dapat dijadikan sebagai alat dalam bahasa lain 'dimanfaatkan.' Hal ini berdasarkan apa yang aku lihat terjadi di negara ini dan negaraku karena kebetulan sampai saat ini aku masih menginjakkan kaki di dua negara. Lihatlah produk apa yang anda pakai saat ini, mulai dari alat tulis, pakaian, mainan, sampai makanan. Ada begitu banyak beredar 'made in china.' Nah, yang ingin aku sampaikan adalah begitu hebatnya Cina memanfaatkan bahasa Inggris untuk menjajah perekonomian dunia. Mereka menjadi nomor satu dimana-mana. Bukan maksudku menyangkal bahwa banyak juga produk 'made in Japan,' 'made in Germany,' dll namun tujuan utamaku adalah mengatakan bahwa produk Cina sudah ada dimana-mana dan menyentuh segala lapisan masyarakat dengan mudah karena mereka sangat lihai dalam permainan harga.

Jadi, mungkinkah kita beralih kepada topik bahwa 'Cina adalah penjajah masa kini?'

Language, identity and the internet

2009-09-16T02:44:00.000-07:00

Language is a powerful vehicle to show one's identity. Through language, people see what he is and whom he belongs to. Internet is no longer exclusive to Americans but has been overwhelming worldwide. On the internet people expose themselves through language. At the beginning the common language on the internet is English. It seems that it is the most effective updated tool for civilization; to the spread of English shows its owner's powerful reach to the world.

However huge the strength of the powerful over dominates the weak, it won't stop the latter to struggle for freedom. People do not want to lose their language and so their distinctive identities. They see the threat of the raising use of English on the internet as to demolish their native languages. Therefore they struggle to put their language on the internet. They start building web pages using their languages, even managing to use their own language as language of instructions. This is not a tough thing to do by western countries but most ASIAN countries are still struggling to make it.

By using own native language, people start sharing their culture, habits, what their countries have and so many things worth to share. This can help them to promote their countries too. However, this free sharing information worldwide grows a big concern that people's distinctive cultures and so are no longer special because they're given freely. It is an assumption that something which is given freely is no longer valued worth and so losing their essential valuable special meanings.

Thank you Jill

2009-09-08T05:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I attended my class in the afternoon. Intentionally, I avoided meeting people in the morning because some parts of my lips I had to cover with white cold sore cream. It was just kind of embarassing.

I arrived early so that I could choose my chair where I could hide my face. What an undeniable thing that I just couldn't hide. My friends came and greeted me. They noticed the white cream on my lip and we began talking about it.

Some friends said they never got such cold sore but my Korean friend said she had it when she felt tired. So, she said that I was just too tired that it came up. I hardly believed it until my lecturer told me the same thing.

In a break session, I rushed to the toilet to look at my lip and clean it, and put some lip blouse because my lips were so dry. Out from the toilet, I met my lecturer and she talked to me. She asked me what I put on it and showed her the cream. She said it was good, and she told me that it was because I was too tired. She asked me what time I slept every night. She was quite shocked hearing that I went to bed late every night. She told me to get enough rest, good meal, and relax.

After the break, all students were in the classroom. I was chatting with my Iraqi friend who seemed so nice to me. We talked outside the classroom, in the corridor. I noticed him holding a paper and he told me that he was preparing for our next week exam. He showed me the paper and it was the test from the last semester. Between our talk, our lecturer, Jill came bringing four melons on her hand. She gave all the melons to me and told me to drink it with mixing some honey. She said it would help me recovering from the cold sore. She was really kind. Thank you Jill. I didn't have any idea where she got the melons, but she was really nice because she really cared for her students. Again, thank you Jill.

I hope I would get better soon and can have more time for myself for rest and relax.

Christians teaching in classroom

2009-09-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

Many Educational observers claim that Christians are spreading thier belief to finally convert people to Christianity through teaching English. These missionaries are sent throughout the world, to the mission lands, to give free English classes. In the classroom they teach students their ideology. They firstly come to impress students in order to get these students' trust, and afterwards, converting them to their belief is just an easy part. In the classroom, they witness as it is what their bible tells them to do. To convert as many people as possible to be Christians.

Then comes a critic that Christians must not convert people they are taught through the bible to respect others. This is the starting point of contradictory between witnessing and respecting others.

Educational observers emphasizes that having a desire to convert people is totally not compatible to respect to others. As Christians English teachers, they should not put their religious values in the teaching process and content. Yet, educational observers are aware of the teaching purpose to 'change.' But this change should not be interpreted as to change to a belief, to Christianity. This is totally unacceptable.

Seeing from a teacher's point of view, I think teaching is really 'teaching for change.' Teaching for change means by giving knowledge to students, by helping them to understand what they've never known before or doubtful about. There comes a change from not knowing to knowing, from misunderstanding to well understanding, from less knowing to much knowing. Yet, the teachers who already own their belief are surely holding to that values in every actions of their teachings. However, these teachers should teach based on what the curriculum tells them. They should teach the content of the lessons not the content of their religions. So, any teachers, despite their religions, should keep in mind to teach the lessons not their belief.

I love you?

2009-09-05T18:26:00.000-07:00

Attended a class overseas, we're taught that the sentence 'I love you' is not something special but just a general sentence to mean common care to everyone.

One of my Asian professors said that she was much troubled with her male westerns colleagues fond of saying 'I love you' to her. She told him several times not to say that to her because it meant special to her. Her friend tried to explain to her that he just liked saying that and it did not mean a thing. There was a clash between two cultures, westerners and Asians. One who sees that as a special thing and can only be mentioned in a special occasion by a very true intention of falling in love. On the other hand, the man only says that for a kind of care which means nothing at all referring to falling in love.

Every Asian students in my class nodding their head when my professor tells her experience above. But what is interesting here, I think, is that she has not been able to accept cultural difference. In order to feel comfortable in such situation, she should be able to negotiate with cultural difference. When she has come to that phase, I'm sure, she can feel comfortable when any westerners say 'I love you' to her. And feels it in more sense of 'real love'when her native friends say the words.

This is just one examples of hundreds of thousands or millions of cultural differences between western countries and Asia.

Cold Sore

2009-09-04T01:43:00.000-07:00

Cold sore is really irritating. It happens to me again. It happened to me last year when I visited this country, Australia, in winter. This time I come again in winter and it's happening again after my two-month stay. What a disaster for me.

From what I read about cold sore it was caused by several conditions, but in my case it was because of the cold season. I now believe that I'm allergic to cold. Lucky that I went to pharmacist last year and this year I went to pharmacy again to buy cold sore cream.

What is interesting is that the sore is happening at the same place as my last sore on my lips. And though it is on my same lip but the shape of the blister is different from last time. Luckily I asked the pharmacist that they recommended me different cream. The one I was given last time was for leaking sore while this one is not. 'Good to ask after all.'

I'm proud of my body

2009-09-03T04:19:00.000-07:00

My body is my beautiful body and I'm proud of my body. This should sound quite irritating to others who see it from a negative point of view. However, I'm stressing here that it's the body that my Lord has given me and I'm grateful for that.

So many people, hundreds, thousands, or maybe millions, out there who are not accepting their bodies. They are not satisfied with what they've been given. They do plastic surgeries and intensely try to be like 0thers. This is just making them lose their own identities of uniqueness. Every man is unique and therefore it is not to regret to have what we've got.

So how can I be proud of myself? I am proud of myself because it is what I get from how for all times I take care of it, from my childhood until I grow up. I have done my best to take care of my body and to make it healthy. So, if this is what my body is, this is what I am proud of. I will surely like every single parts of my body. I like my nose though it is not sharp like those western people, I like my skin though it is not fair, I like my black eyes, my curly hair, and all. Of course it s not to judge others' bodies are not worth admired.

So, I am proud of my body and will always be.

Hard days to come

2009-08-28T03:08:00.000-07:00

I'm coming to another tough days that I need to study more and more. I'm heading to a class test that is really making me quite nervous because of its lots of materials to read and learn by heart. Another urgent preparation I need to work in is my mini lecture. I'm volunteering for a class mini lecture with a given topic. I have read the textx but seems don't get to the essential part yet. I thin I need to reread and reread as I ever heard someone saying how to read and understand is to read and reread and reread again until you understand. What a simple hard work to do.

Oh, I have another coming assignment that needs lots of attention which is my group work presentation. Actually this is quite unburdening me at the moment because this is a group work. There are five of us in the group. I hope with five heads we can result in good work and presentation.

I better keep moving because I need to understand my reading texts. It's hard for me to keep focus when reading, hope this time I can.

Athens burning

2009-08-24T03:53:00.000-07:00

This is 'when the flames united' and ate up a big part of Athens. The flames were just so huge that there was a very unbreakable strong union among the flames.

Athens is burning, thousands of people rushed to a safer place, but the strong united flames kept chasing them. That's really a night mare for Athens. It started last Sunday and is still in red.

Athens was another country that faced the fire after the black saturday fire disaster in January to Australia; Melbourne.

This could happen in any country, so people need to be aware of this very mean killer. It's time to regenerate what old people told the young before. It was that don't play with the flame.

The fire in Melbourne last January and in Athens this July, could be a man's mistake, but when it's getting this huge, the most important thing to do is not to blame each other but to find the way to distinguish the fire.

Hope the fire can be stopped in a short time and may Athens unite to fight the fire.

Beware of dogs!

2009-08-24T03:40:00.000-07:00

Before I listened to the night news yesterday, I wouldn't be so afraid of dogs. But the news was really shocking me. There was a cute little girl, between 1-2 years young, bitten by a dog. It's the dog of her neighbor which seemed to be her playing friends beforehand.

What a misery that the dog bit her face, half of her face to be precise. This afternoon the news reported the progress and the little girl was shown on screen holding by her mother. It was really terrible, one of her eyes was bandaged and her mouth was torn. There're many sewing on her face.

The bad news was the dog's owner said the dog had disappeared. What a terrible fate the little girl had to pas through.

I remembered that in my country, when someone was bitten by a dog, both the bitten person and the dog needed to be put under special care. If the dog died, then the person bitten could die too, and before dying the bitten person would howl like a dog. What a serious illness dog could spread.

So, though people around had so many wonderful and tamed like dogs, I'd never get closer to any of them. They're just all frightening to me since listening to the news. Moreover, from the history, there're thousands of dog bite cases had happened in this country every year and at least one bitten person died every year. What a miserable story.

So, better be aware of dogs every time I meet any of them.

Thank you Neere

2009-08-24T01:33:00.000-07:00

I wanna thanks one of my good classmates who kindly drove me home this afternoon. She was a mother of three daughters. She always rushed to pick her baby from a child care center every after classes.

She was a good person and I'd like to thank her. It was windy and rainy this afternoon but being offered to sit in her car, I didn't feel the cold outside.

Thanks Neere

A frightening friendly man

2009-08-20T23:45:00.000-07:00

I was at Coles yesterday that a man came towards me. I was standing, looking at the the chicken because I already ran out of meat. I compared the price and the expiry date. The man who seemed to be very friendly greeted me saying 'how're you?' I didn't know the man.

I simply said 'fine, thanks,' and looked back to the meat. I pretended not to look at him but I knew he was still there beside me looking at me. I was quite uncomfortable and looked at him. He said 'see you' to me and I just smiled. I wish I would not see him again. He passed and probably bought other stuff. He was not buying any meat at all. He just came to greet me.

After finishing my shopping, I stopped a while on a desk and made sure that I had put my purse on my bag. It was there and then I was ready to walk home. Suddenly the man came towards me again and greeted me. I was suspicious of what this man did, what was he? I pretended to be busy and taking my bags, ready to leave. He kept talking saying I shopped a lot. I smiled and said yes, he said something else and I just answered yes. Oh, I remembered the last one he asked me before he really left me. He said 'do you have family?' and I said 'yes.' I hope by saying that he would go away. It was great the man went away because I said yes. He finally said yeah, cooking for your family?

Thanks God that he went away after that, if not maybe I would be very much in trouble and still didn't prepare of what to do in that situation. How could I escape from that frightening friendly man.

'Language, Identity and Culture'...How are you related?

2009-08-18T04:29:00.000-07:00

Reading two of Stuart Hall's article recently, I find it difficult to see the link of how language, identity and cultural difference are connected. Actually I get some already in my mind, but not so sure if it is how Hall relates them.

Well, I come to an example of hundreds I can find in my background reality. I take one which is so obvious what I represent for and will always do. It's 'batak toba,' one of the ethnics found in my region back to North Sumatera.

Well, I'm a very typical batak woman. I do speak, work, think, and feel like what batak really do. Batak people speak loudly, yet it's not necessarily I'm in a bad temper or anger. I work fast and do some hard work such as lifting and fixing stuff. It is what Batak always do, never be afraid of doing hard work but do that for good, not depending oneself to others, hard to find 'fed up' in his mind. Thinking and feeling are sometimes quite mixed for they've very thin difference. Your feeling will influence your your way of thinking. Batak is not good at hiding their feeling and usually it is clearly seen from the face. I'm quite that way.

I inherit my batak culture from my parents. Firstly I'm born with my surename then I am raised in the culture. I see many of the culture as I grow up. I see how batak dress, how they speak their dialect, how they dance at parties, how they quarrel, even how they swim in a lake. They're just some that I can recall now.

Since I'm well educated in batak environment in which the people speak the dialect, use and apply the ethnical norms in every angles of their life, I can recognize any one of them if I find one at other place.

I am able to do so because the batak already have their identity. What I see to recognize them is their identity. The identity is performed through their language and culture. I know they belong to batak because of the language they use and the culture they show in dressing, speaking, acting, etc. I know that because they're different from the rest I may find them with.

So, is that all? Is that an appropriate way to interpret the interrelation happens in language, idenity and culture?

I'm still thinking.

Holy Communion

2009-08-16T03:12:00.000-07:00

Sunday will never I spend without going to your home my Lord
Seeking for comfort, peace, and love is what my life thirst for
I know that you're there waiting for me coming to your home

Oh Lord how I feel safe in all your guidance

Sunday is time for Holy Communion
God please forgive me for all I have done wrong
so that I am worthy to receive You

Right here in my heart I always want You be
Please remind me always that You are in me

Oh Lord how I miss You all times

Dear Lord thank you for giving me everything
Dear Lord thank you for making me worthy be your daughter
Dear Lord thank you for always be my Saviour

What a miracle that you've healed me today
I thought I would suffer some more days from this fever
But you really know that I must do so much work
I just need to be strong to pass through

Oh Lord how I am grateful for all this miracle

Thank you my dear Lord

I believe in You and your presence in the Holy Communion

I love you my Lord

Winter will you end soon?

2009-08-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

I am so glad that I am here again just to begin a new start for a quite long journey to handle. This is all I want since I know what difference it can make to me and how I really want it my way. At least I can say I want it for all good things I can think of.

Yet, I must say I really have hard times dealing with this one season, the winter time. It's sometimes very freezing that I hide under my donas. I soon fall asleep, sound and warm. But it's a sign of a not good one 'cos I will leave all my work. It may take me hours to really aware of getting of the bed right then.

I keep counting days and weeks, and keep my eyes closely to the weather forecast just to make myself happy when there's at least a day warm in a week.

Oh, winter, will you end soon? I need to get out of this bed and start doing things right. Though I know it's your time still but I'm hoping there's miracle. If you can't leave in this time of my asking, would you at least not too cold every single day I need to get out?

My sweet Reyhan

2009-08-15T21:09:00.000-07:00

I am so happy that I have my Reyhan just right beside me anytime I am at my bed. He is so loyal that I can't help hugging him. He is so cute.

He is here by my side at all times and will always be. He is so special and the only one.

Thanks my Reyhan for always be there when hard times come and try to strike me hard to the ground.

Love you much.

To have my own bible

2009-01-20T23:40:00.000-08:00

One afternoon, to kill the time, again I sat on my couch and turned on my TV. Firstly, as usual, I kept pressing the button up to see what’s on every available channel that afternoon. There were lots of choices but I was bored already to watch any movies. I kept pressing until I stopped my finger for a wonderfully interesting scene. That was a view of a little girl.

The girl was silent but the narrator was telling stories of her. She had a very touching life. Her longing to have her own bible since her young age touched me right on my heart. How could a little girl loved to have something that she had no objections to do anything. She collected penny to penny until she thought enough to pay for her beloved bible. She worked that hard and persistently in order to have a bible only, a bible in Welsh. But when she was ready to seek for her bible, a storm stroked her dream down. She had to put aside her dream and let his father use her money for his medical treatment. What a long waiting for such a faithful little girl. Six years she collected the money by doing many house works in other people’s houses and all was for nothing because she couldn’t buy her bible.

Yet, she was a very obedient and faithful girl. She rose again, did the same hard work even harder and more than ever. Another six years passed and her wish finally came true. With her money she started walking miles and miles to the nearest town where she thought it could be. But what happened? The priest that she expected to have one to sell her was unable to help her get her dream. Every bible written in Welsh were out. She was crying and shaking and she was almost fainted for her longing to have her own Welsh bible would never come true. The priest, watching her sympathetically, rose from his chair and started walking around. He remembered that he got one Welsh bible in his drawer but it was very old and no longer in good shape. He kindly gave it to her and told her that it was the only one he could give. The girl was very happy and grabbed the bible to her heart. She was very happy. At that time she was the happiest person ever. She then set out to go back to her little village holding her bible tightly and her money on her other hand. The kind priest wanted none of her money but gave the bible for free.

That was really a touching story ever I saw in this New Year. I might never forget that marvelous story of a person longing to have a bible.

Then I asked myself whether I ever felt such thirst to have my bibles. By now I have more than three bibles in three languages. I think I need to give more time for myself to feel the thirst of reading God’s words.

Feeling

2009-01-20T23:26:00.000-08:00

What kind of a feeling is this? Am I ill or something? Oh yes, I am at the moment really ill. I got some trouble with my digestion. I took a medicine before sleeping last night but to my surprise, I went even worse. I was quite happy that it didn’t affect my mood today. I could still smile and chat with people with some cheerful jokes. But to be honest I was in a terribly bad health.

People said one’s mind could make him ill. Sometimes I thought this was quite right. When I thought of many things I couldn’t really solve, I got ill in heart. My life was so dark and ruined. I badly wanted to escape but none of the door is unlocked. I fought until losing my last breathes but I was still stuck in the dark hole. I was in pain.

I listened to the silence but wind stroke me down. I cried out loud but none could hear me. I sighed and sighed but none could see me inside. I badly needed help but I could tell no one. This was a secret I had been keeping for quite a very long time. Since something bad I even couldn’t remember very well happened to me, something that made me someone different.

2009-01-20T22:32:00.001-08:00

Today is my birthday. I’m starting my journey again this year with all grace and mercy from my Lord. Thankful I am for everything He’s given me. My happiness won’t be complete with all my beloved family and friends around. But unfortunately with my being in other town, I won’t be able to meet them right here right now. Thanks to the mobile phone that enables me to feel their presence through air that sends me their lovely voices. One by one my family and friends starting from 12 pm rang me and sent me short messages. I am so very overjoyed.

Yet, I was feeling lonely. One thing or two or maybe more I was expecting not yet came to real. Never did I stop begging until I lost faith several times but it’s so seemed very impossible to reach. Would that mean I was not keen enough in praying? Or was that mean I need super extra patience. I knelt down and closed my eyes. I gathered my two hands and started whispering, hoping His ears were very close to my face. I told Him again and again the same things I have been longing for years. If I could see my heart it must be crying that moment that sincerely and wholly my heart was longing for those wishes.

I hope this year; my dear Lord will have mercy on my more that He has given me. I hope He sends me all angels I need to stand on His will. Let Him do whatever He wishes to me and helps me in every weakness He might find in me.

I would like to thank all my dear colleagues at office whose sincere wishes and greetings had undoubtedly strengthened me. May everyone is blessed and the Lord listens to every prayer today.

Christmas Bells

2009-01-13T04:19:00.000-08:00

Christmas bells are chasing to ring. They're ringing to wake everyone from bed, to rise and look at Him. He's there waiting to save each life in darkness. each life that wants to be reached by His hand for salvation.

Never will I have a Redeemer like Him whose heart never be annoyed by my ridiculous easy to change manner for self dissatisfaction, and whose hands never stop holding my striking hands for self ego.

Love is His name. Life is His promise. He is Jesus, my dear Lord.

Christmas bells, Christmas bells, keep ringing and never stop ringing. Keep ringing when I'm falling in pain and disappointment. I am worthy not for my uncountable sins but His Angels come and not once give up walking beside me.

Christmas bells, Christmas bells, I thank you for your perseverance. Let me have though a tiny of your courage that I'm walking close to His path.

Christmas bells oh Christmas bells, your calling is so sincere.

Lunch

2008-11-04T03:46:00.000-08:00

One of my good friends treated us for lunch today. It was for celebrating her twenty fifth birthday. She was one year older by then. Honestly, I was on a diet and therefore quite hard to join the group. However, it was her happy day and I should be happy for her. I broke my own promise that day and went for a big lunch with my friends.

The cook in the restaurants had to prepare several dishes for us because we ordered different menus. We waited patiently until all dishes ready before us. To be honest, I enjoyed the lunch very much because I was starving. I didn’t know if they thought the same thing, but all of us looked well occupied with our own plates. Well, thanks for the treat and might she have a wonderful times in her new year.

What a thunder

2008-11-03T06:58:00.000-08:00

It was night and time for my own agenda. I was writing on my diary when I heard the noisy wind outside my window. I expected it to be a heavy rain in no time. I was right, soon the thunder moaned outside. There were tens of them in a minute. That was actually not in my expectation.

There was an electricity power cut several times that I decided to put my diary aside. I put my head down to my lovely pillow but the thunder was too loud that I lost interest. However, I didn't care, I tightly closed my eyes. Sometimes I opened them when the thunder stroke hard and caused my room trembling.

What a thunder, I thought. I hoped it wouldn't last long so that I could step outside and did some work on my table.

They knew me

2008-11-02T21:22:00.000-08:00

I drove passed along a huge farm this afternoon. I looked outside the window and noticed some farmers plowed their land. That reminded me the day when I once in a farm. This thought brought me to twenty years ago. I was there in the middle of a farm with my mother. She was a hard worker and did all the work. I felt uncomfortable to see her working by herself then I started to get my hoe.

I plowed the land enthusiastically, but it happened. I couldn't manage to stand after only several plows. I got fainted. My dear mother took me by her hand and called for help. Some neighbors came and gave my mother some help. They lied me near our hut and my mother stopped all her work. She packed our stuff and immediately took me home.

Listening to my mother's story, my father and the rest of the family laughed at me. They told me that I was not a farm lady. Hoe was not my tool but pen. Ever since my family never took me to the farm. They did all the work in the farm without me. At the second thought, I believed they're right, pen suited me most of my time.

Grateful should I be

2008-11-02T07:37:00.000-08:00

I started to read my favorite magazine this evening after dinner and was captured by an article indicating a very poor country, a country which had no land to shelter them, Palestine. They were in waiting for certainty to live. I looked at myself and whispered to the magazine saying how lucky I was.

If the Palestinian must wander from one land to the other to continue their lives, I was fortunate enough to move from one good house to a better house and then another better house. Palestinians had the least thing they could carry along during their wandering but I could carry as many I liked to the new house. The new house would give me another wonderful time to crave in memory but the Palestinians would probably forget where they had been yesterday. Day and night the Palestinians were hiding from bullets fire and death but I could do whatever I liked in any of my time of the day. Sometimes I forgot that I was lucky enough and then claimed too much more than what I needed. Please forgive me.

There were still many unfortunate people around the world, in my country, in town, and even in my neighborhood. There were many children crying because of hunger, many parents fight for a piece of bread and a lot of youths begging from the rich in their luxury cars. They were only a little glance of so many others that were not caught in the light of the day. What causes this poverty and who to blame? Is there any solution for fixing up this problem?

Poverty is everywhere in this world, even developing countries still have certain states that suffer from poverty. Poverty happens not totally because of the country’s poor land but more for the man resources. Japan has a limited natural sources but it can lead the technology development and compete in a highly prestigious international competition. India is one of the widest populated countries and has a large land but it is one of the poorest countries in the world. Thank goodness that mother Theresa from Calcuta successfully withdrew the international attention and sympathy to this very poor nation.

Praise be to Lord

2008-11-02T07:24:00.000-08:00

On a battle with evil that night, Anne and family prayed constantly. They prayed that God healed her ill mother. They had no more things to say in prayer but healed her mother. God really listened to them and he certainly cared for them.

He healed Anne’s mother just in time before they lost faith in Him. Anne was overjoyed and praised Lord for everything they had passed through with Him. Anne would never be a minute in her future time be scared of any evil for she believed God would always be there. She loved Him more that she could say and she adored Him for every miracles He gave Anne and her family.