ScribbleScrabble

When Logic Overcomes Aesthetics

2008-08-25T21:23:00.001-05:00

The crappiest, most expensive book I have ever bought in my entire life....

Used book price $112.80

Note the torn bit at the lower left hand point. Looks as if a mouse took a great big chew at it, yummy yummy.

Believe me, if it weren't the last book on the shelf, and if I didn't need the book by Thursday, I never would have touched it.

Manila

2008-08-25T20:42:00.002-05:00

So Manila wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. And Philippine Airlines was pleasantly delightful. On my way from Jakarta, the flight was empty so I was able to secure a 3-seat row all to myself. Good sleep.

When I got to Manila, I checked in at the transfer desk, to confirm my hotel arrangements. As had been notified, I was assigned to Century Park Manila. The lady officer asked whether I wanted transportation to and back to the airport in lieu of 1breakfast. Knowing from my good friend Uthe that I would be charged 700 pesos (Rp 175.000) to get to anywhere in Manila by airport taxi, and remembering the bread & pastries my mom packed for me, I opted for the transport immediately.

I headed for the airport taxi center where I was greeted by a male officer. I’d like to note that one recurring theme during my 34 hrs in Manila was my age. At least 3 people asked me, and of course they all assumed I was below 25, hahaha. How flattering. Now, when you get to be my age, this becomes a sensitive issue. But for Filipinos, apparently, age may be a common subject, as was for this male officer.

“How old are you?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You look very young. Are you 22? Or 24?”
“I’m older than you think.”
“Are you married?”
“Not yet.”
“Perhaps you would like me to visit you at the hotel tonight?”
“No thanks!”
Heeeeeeeeeeeh??!!!! Kampret ni orang! Isn’t that just a little harassing and a great bit offensive?
But I let the issue go.

Century Park, although a bit outdated, was OK for a five-star hotel. At least it was better than the terrifying reviews I read about it on Yahoo. Apparently management fixed themselves up a bit. I checked in and asked whether the hotel could sign me up on a city tour. Michelle, the kind receptionist helped me to find a basic half-day tour: 2,750 pesos. Later she called me to my room to tell me they would pick me up at 8.30 and that the price had become cheaper: 1,375 pesos, not bad.
Now I forgot the name of my tour guide but he was very kind, outgoing, and informative. God bless him. There were five of us on the tour. Two Singaporean girls who spoke Malay and a couple from New Jersey who had just moved in to work in Manila. We went to the Manila American Cemetery & Memorial, Rizal Park, and Intramuros. We also passed by the Business District and other interesting spots like the Cultural Center, Coconut Palace, and Folk Arts Theater.

I bought lunch at a bento place behind the hotel. Not so great. So again thank God for the food my mom packed me, I luv you Mom!!

Eniwei, I spent the rest of the day in the hotel. Sleeping, reflecting, sorting things out. It was a memorable day. The day after Indonesia's Independence Day. The day Musharraf resigned from office. The long day before I begin a new and unforeseeable phase in my life.

Intense Itinerary

2008-08-22T05:11:00.004-05:00

It all began with my call to my father’s long & trusted travel agency. However, instead of talking to my father’s agent -- who has been catering to his travel needs for just about the past 17 years, I settled for a newbie thinking at least she would be able to provide me with the same standardized minimum service. I requested a one-way ticket to Honolulu. Several alternatives were mentioned. The first was a flight on China Airlines at around $1000 or so dollars, with an overnight layover in Taipei. Had my parents been in Taipei this would’ve worked out perfectly. In fact, I would’ve definitely extended the layover to a 1-2 weeks’ stay in Taipei. But since my parents were lovingly enjoying their summer vacation in Jakarta, this night in Taipei did not sound appealing. Knowing I was expecting another option, the agent offered me a flight on Philippine Airlines (PAL), with a special student price of just $730 bucks. I was supposed to leave at midnight, get to Manila in 4 hours, transit in Manila for 10 hours, then take a 10 hour flight, landing in Honolulu at 8 in the morning. Considering the price, and time savings (no need to spent the night in Manila), it was a very reasonable deal. Even too good to be true. Nevermind the 10 hour wait in Manila. So I was confident this was the best choice for me. I booked the ticket and was asked to pay within the week.

At the travel agent desk, waiting for my ticket to be issued, I luckily caught what would’ve been a tragic mistake. The ticket was booked for mid July, NOT mid August. So I sat there, patiently waiting, to see what flights were available in August. China Airlines: waiting list = not good. JAL: 4000 freakin bucks = so not good. Korean Airlines = available but a bit pricy. Philippine Airlines = same as the July schedule, same price. Perfect. So without thinking and without double checking, I issued and paid for my golden ticket to Hawaii.

Then came the day when an acquaintance in Hawaii offered to pick me up. I was in Jogya, my itinerary in Jakarta. I called home and asked my sis to read me the itinerary. It was pretty late, so I can understand why she wasn’t excited about reading the schedule to me. She said “Arrive in Manila Mon, Aug 18 and depart to Honolulu Tues, Aug 19.” “Say that again???!!!” And so she read the schedule one more time. I was in disbelief. Knowing how my sister can sometimes be a bit of a zombie, a mean one as a matter of fact, I called back home and asked my maid to read the itinerary more carefully. Reading everything literally word for word, letter by letter, she basically stated the same thing. That I would arrive early morning in Manila, and head for Honolulu the following afternoon. So instead of spending 10 hours in Manila, I would be getting 10 +24 hours. Perfect!!!

Still in shock I checked the PAL website looking for available flight schedules. Apparently there were no flights from Jakarta to Manila they day I was supposed to leave for Hawaii. So I had no other choice. Enjoy 34 hours in Manila it is!

So I don’t know if this was a blessing in disguise or just a stupid mistake. I had always wanted to go to another ASEAN country. But my priority had always either been Thailand or Malaysia, never the Philippines. ( It would’ve been a totally different story had Lucha, my best friend from PS 3, been in Manila.) Yet in all these instances I had always imagined travelling with someone, never alone.

To make the story worse, I had to wait 3 days to finally find out in which hotel PAL would put me. Hearing Century Park Manila, I googled the place only to find horrific reviews about the 5 star hotel, giving me all the more reason to fret about my trip to Manila. So there it is, saudara-saudara, the calamity preceding my journey to Honolulu. I will leave you to wait for additional updates. Until tomorrow, or whenever else I have time to write & upload everything on the web. Miss you all….

The Reason Behind

2008-08-22T05:10:00.001-05:00

I opened my email that day never expecting to read the following words…

“The PhD Committee convened, and I am pleased to inform you that we have admitted you to our PhD program in International Management with focus on Marketing for the Fall 2008.
We are looking for a few young, bright doctoral students who share with us the dream to bring our research reputation to the next level. Your profile and academic aspiration fit our research orientation. We expect to place you in a respected research institution after you graduate. If you choose to join us, you will be offered an 11-month graduate assistantship….”

That was it. The email that has and will continue to turn my life around. And to receive it only 17 days after sending in my formal application, it’s like a match made in heaven. Somehow, I now believe, that somewhere out there, someone is working up a storm to direct my life down here.
Now, I would have to pack my bags and leave for Honolulu, hopefully to spend four years of my life as a grad student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. God is good. There is a perfect time and a perfect place for everything.

And thus the reason why factors 1, 2, 3 in my previous blog have now turned a 180.

I'm Back!

2008-08-22T04:54:00.001-05:00

So… it’s been 1.5 years or so since my rambling on this blog stopped. You may understand why. First and foremost, crappy internet connection. Second, lack of interesting story to share or too much confidential information to disclose. Third, no time.

But now, I will try to revive what I have long abandoned. This apparently means that factors 1, 2, 3 have turned for the better. And in my future entries, you will learn why. Hopefully in the short months or years to come, the 3rd factor will not become an issue. So enjoy it while you can. Sit back, relax, and you’re more than welcome to read my ramblings.

L'appartment (opening scene)

2008-04-03T00:58:00.004-05:00

The jeweler:

Look at this one
Simple, yet majestic
Sober but far from common
It's charm resides in its solemnity

This one is more whimsical. More titillating.
But don't brush against it. You may hurt yourself.
It's made to be caressed only by the eyes.

More discreet than the last one, and yet full of surprises
It may seem dull, but in another light it will glow like a star.
Look how it sparkles. Amazing isn't it?

The guy:
Yes. I don't know. I like all three. I'll call you.

WHICH ONE DO you LIKE?

0274

2008-03-18T00:26:00.007-05:00

Jempol in Jogja
Window to the world

Gudeg maniaTravel to the top

Aiiiih keren si Adele

2008-03-17T05:06:00.003-05:00

Chasing Pavements
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soLlNubWltI

I've made up my mind,
Don't need to think it over,
if I'm wrong I am right,
Don't need to look no further,
This ain't lust,
I know this is love but,

If I tell the world,
I'll never say enough,
Cause it was not said to you,
And thats exactly what I need to do,
If I'm in love with you,

Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere,
Or would it be a waste?
Even If I knew my place should I leave it there?
Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere

I'd build myself up,
And fly around in circles,
Wait then as my heart drops,
and my back begins to tingle
finally could this be it

Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere,
Or would it be a waste?
Even if I knew my place should I leave it there?
Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere

Should I give up,
Or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere,
Or would it be a waste?
Even if I knew my place should i leave it there?
Should I give up,
Or should I just keep on chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere

Big Girls Don't Cry

2007-11-22T05:23:00.001-06:00

i didn't cry ;)

Da Da Da
The smell of your skin lingers on me now
You're probably on your flight back to your home town
I need some shelter of my own protection baby
To be with myself and center, clarity
Peace, Serenity

I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It's personal, myself and I
We've got some straightenin' out to do
And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But I've got to get a move on with my life
It's time to be a big girl now
And big girls don't cry
Don't cry Don't cry Don't cry

The path that I'm walking
I must go alone
I must take the baby steps 'til I'm full grown, full grown
Fairytales don't always have a happy ending, do they?
And I foresee the dark ahead if I stay

Like the little school mate in the school yard
We'll play jacks and uno cards
I'll be your best friend and you'll be my Valentine
Yes you can hold my hand if you want to
'Cause I want to hold yours too
We'll be playmates and lovers and share our secret worlds
But it's time for me to go home
It's getting late, dark outside
I need to be with myself and center, clarity
Peace, Serenity

La Da Da Da Da Da

green light, 7-11 (stay; u2)

2006-12-01T11:06:00.000-06:00

As I was driving home from Danny's bday bash tonight, this song was playing on the radio. If this sounds familiar to you ... then it's dedicated to you. Miss u guys so much!

Green light, Seven Eleven
You stop in for a pack of cigarettes
You don't smoke, don't even want to
I see you check your change
Dressed up like a car crash
The wheels are turning byt you're upside down
You say when he hits you, you don't mind
Because when he hurts you, you feel alive
Is that what it is?

Red lights, grey morning
You stumble out of a hole in the ground
A vampire or a victim
It depend's on who's around
You used to stay in to watch the adverts
You could lip synch to the talk shows
And if you look, you look through me
And if you talk it's not to me
And when I touch you, you don't feel a thing

If I could stay... then the night would give you up
Stay, and the day would keep its trust
Stay, and the night would be enough
Faraway, so close
Up with the static and the radio
With satelite television
You can go anywhere
Miami, New Orleans, London, Belfast and Berlin

And if you listen I can't call
And if you jump, you just might fall
And if you shout I'll only hear you

If I could stay... then the night would give you up
Stay then the day would keep its trust
Stay with the demons you drowned
Stay with the spirit I found
Stay and the night would be enough

Three o'clock in the morning
It's quiet and there's no one around
Just the bang and the clatter
As an angel runs to ground
Just the bang and the clatter
As an angel hits the ground

9 Ways of Marrying the Wrong Person

2006-11-30T05:42:00.000-06:00

I was cleaning out my email when I ran across this forward. Now if you know me well enough, you will know that I don’t care too much for these types of emails. I think reading forwards is a waste of precious time especially with the dial-up download rate I’m stuck with. But because recently a number of close friends have been wrestling with the thought of marriage, I thought this piece might be a bit of use. This commentary is especially dedicated to the girl confused because everything is going her way, the lovely lady who is reconciling with her ex, the jobless-but-thrilled-bride-to-be, and the guy who has just hooked up with yet another one of the girls of his dreams. Good luck to all, and may I present…. 9 Ways of Marrying the Wrong Person by Rabbi Dov Heller, M.A. It's lengthy so if you get tired, stop reading. If you don't, read on. Simple right?

1. You pick the wrong person because you expect him/her to change after you’re married. The classic mistake: NEVER MARRY POTENTIAL. The golden rule is, if you can’t be happy with the person the way he/she is now, don’t get married. As a colleague of mine so wisely put it, you actually can expect people to change after they’re married… for the worst! So when it comes to the other person’s spirituality character, personal hygiene, communication skills, and personal habits, make sure you can live with these as they are now.

2. You pick the wrong person because you focus more on chemistry than on character. Chemistry ignites fire, but good character keeps it burning. Beware of the I’m in love syndrome. I’m in love often means I’m in lust. Attraction is there, but have you carefully checked out this person’s character? Here are 4 character traits to definitely check for:

Humility: does this person believe that doing the right thing is more important than personal comfort? Do I want to be more like this person? Would I like my child to turn out like him?

Kindness: does this person enjoy giving pleasure to other people? How does he/she treat people he/she doesn’t have to be nice to? Does he/she do volunteer work? Give charity?

Responsibility: can I depend on this person to do what he/she says he/she’s going to do?

Happiness: does this person like him/herself? Does he enjoy life? Is he/she emotionally stable? Ask yourself: do I want to be more like this person? Do I want to have a child with this person? Would I like my child to turn out like him/her?

3. You pick the wrong person because the man doesn’t understand what a woman needs most. Men and women have unique emotional needs, and more often than not, it is the man who just doesn’t get it. Jewish tradition places the onus on the man to understand the emotional needs of a woman and to satisfy them. The unique need of a woman is to be loved – to feel that she is the most important person in her husband’s life. The husband needs to give her consistent, quality attention. This is most apparent in Judaism’s approach to sexual intimacy. The Torah obligates the husband to meet the sexual needs of his wife. Sexual intimacy is always on the woman’s terms. Men are goal-oriented, especially when it comes to this area. As a wise woman once pointed out, men have two speeds: on and off. Women are experience-oriented. When a man is able to switch gears and become more experience-oriented, he will discover what makes his wife very happy. When the man forgets about his own needs and focuses on giving his wife pleasure, amazing things happen.

4. You choose the wrong person because you do not share a common life goal and priorities. There are 3 basic ways we connect with another person:
· chemistry & compatibility
· share common interests
· share common life goals
Make sure you share the deeper level of connection that sharing life goals provide. After marriage, the two of you will either grow together or grow apart. To avoid growing apart, you must figure out what you’re living for while you’re single – and then find someone who has come to the same conclusion as you. This is the true definition of a soul mate. A soul mate is a goal mate – two people who ultimately share the same understanding of life’s purpose and therefore share the same priorities, values, and goals.

5. You pick the wrong person because you do not have a deeper emotional connection with this person. To evaluate whether you have a deeper emotional connection or not, ask Do I respect and admire this person? This does not mean Am I impressed by a Mercedes? We do not respect someone because they own a Mercedes. You should be impressed by the qualities of creativity, loyalty, determination, etc. You should also ask: Do I trust this person? This also means is he/she emotionally stable? Do I feel I can rely on him/her?

6. You pick the wrong person because you choose someone with whom you don’t feel emotionally safe. Ask yourself the following questions: Do I feel calm, peaceful, and relaxed with this person? Can I fully express my self with this person? Does this person make me feel good about myself? Do you have a really close friend who makes you feel this way? Make sure the person you marry makes you feel the same way! Are you afraid of this person in any way? You should not feel you need to monitor what you say because you are afraid of how the other person will view it. If you’re afraid to express your feelings and opinions openly, there’s a problem with the relationship. Be on the look out for someone who is always trying to change you. There’s a big difference between controlling and making suggestions. A suggestion is made for your benefit; a control statement is made for their benefit.

7. You pick the wrong person because you don’t put everything on the table. Anything that bothers you about the relationship must be brought up for discussion. Bringing up uncomfortable stuff is the only way to evaluate how well the two of you communicate, negotiate, and work together. Over the course of a lifetime difficulties will inevitably arise. You need to know now, before making a commitment: can you resolve your differences and find compromises that work for both of you? Never be afraid to let the person know what bothers you. This is also a way for you to test how vulnerable you can be with this person. If you can’t be vulnerable, then you can’t be intimate. The two go hand in hand.

8. You pick the wrong person because you use the relationship to escape from personal problems and unhappiness. If you are unhappy and single, you’ll probably be unhappy and married, too. Marriage does not fix personal, psychological and emotional problems. If anything, marriage will exacerbate them. If you are not happy with yourself and your life, take responsibility to fix it now while you are single. You’ll feel better, and your future spouse will thank you.

9. You pick the wrong person because he/she is involved in a triangle. To be triangulated means a person is emotionally dependent on someone or something else while trying to develop another relationship. A person who hasn’t separated from his or her parents is the classic example of triangulation. People can also be triangulated with things as well, such as work, drugs, internet, hobbies, sports, or money. Be careful that you and your partner are free of triangles. The person caught in the triangle cannot be fully emotionally available to you. You will not be their number one priority. And that’s no basis for a marriage.

Ok people, got it? Now say thanks to Rabbi Rov!

oleh-oleh dari jakarta bay city

2006-11-04T11:51:00.000-06:00

Iseng-iseng ke Iceworld. Pengen tahu gimana siiih mereka (Ancol Jakarta Bay City) ngejual es & suasana musim dingin. Well, jawabannya begini. Bayangkan aja elo masuk ke dalam kulkas besar, sebuah ruangan besar tertutup, tanpa jendela atau ventilasi yang cukup berarti. Di dalamnya diberikan dingin buatan. Kaya AC yang kelewat dingin. Tapi dinginya, dingin artifisial. Jadi inget frostbite di Salem, blizzard di Chicago, dan snowstorm gila di Champaign. Well, the iceworld experience cant get any close to those 3 experiences. Yang jelas, salju dari es yang diserut pake mesin gak bisa nandingin salju alami deh.
Now let's talk about the ice carvings inside. Uhm... I dont know where to begin. Can you actually call those 'carvings' art? Let's just say, my dad will not advise me to go there to "see" the replica of the statue of liberty. The only fun thing was the ice sled ride that we were able to go on. Yes... even full-sized adults (that means people bigger than me) are able to go on the ride.

Dont expect to stay too long though. The artificial cold gets to you after a few minutes. You can go in and out of the big fridge as often as you like (as long as you dont break/lose the paper bracelet they put around your wrist, but after going in twice you usually lose interest.

So was the experience worth it? Well, if you want to fill your day doing something out of the ordinary, you might want to give it a try. But if you expect to be awed, astonished, incredibally thrilled, or see miraculous works of art, then I'd advise you to stay home. You might get more of that by sitting in front of your tv the whole day. I tell you , I had a better time after Iceworld; sitting by the beach, staring into the ocean, starving, waiting for some people to break fast. Hehehe. Thank God for the luscious dinner at Bandar Jakarta afterwards.

Hiiiih...laper... nunggu buka di Ancol.
Hihihihi.... di Jakarta ada snowman juga loooh....
Norak abis...

Three stooges & the penguins

Friday the 13th

2006-10-13T11:01:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, the 2 sets of pillows & bolsters which I ordered from Lala arrived at the office. Seeing the actual products in front of me, I realized it would be too much of a hassle for me to bring them home by bus. So I decided to do the not-so-pleasant yet most practical thing that came to mind: bring a car to the office this morning. I tell you this is not such an exciting task, especially if you keep in mind the Ramadan traffic I’d have to face. Luckily the traffic wasn’t all too heavy this morning, so I was able to arrive “on time” for a 9:00 am meeting at Kuningan.

Our meeting finished at around 10:30 and since Iboy had some personal errands to make, Sigit and I headed back to the office using my car. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. That was until we reached the Chase parking lot. In search of a parking space, we eyed a blue Suzuki APV pulling out of a space on the 5th floor. We were still on the 4th floor, which meant we still had to make a left turn to reach to our desired parking space. Knowing I would be passing the descending APV, I stopped the car before making a turn. I carefully waited for the APV to pass me. And then what happened saudara-saudara…….???? The blue APV ran into my freshly painted purple Baleno. Arrrrgh!! Or quoting Yoga’s words… “What Tje Fuk???” What the hell did I do wrong?? Nothing! I was in my lane and I stopped. I patiently waited for the darn APV to pass me. But the APV? It was in the wrong lane and it easily ran into the right tip of my car. So now the bumper is full of skid marks, my right lamp out of place, and the very tip of my machine cap also tarnished.

The person who hit my car was a driver from a 7th floor office. Obviously I couldn’t expect much from him. All I asked for was for him to acknowledge his careless driving. Even that took a while to get out of him. Good thing a handful of witnesses was at “the scene of the crime.” But what was worrying me more was the fact that my car had not been insured for quite some time. Looking at the wreck, I made a rought calculation of how much I’d have to strip out of my thinning bank account. So evidently I screamed my heart out and fought for my rights. I demanded this case be reported to the office. After a brief session with the General Affairs Department, they agreed to cover my loss. To do so, I had to bring my car to their service station near Mal Ambassador. After the car was inspected the office informed us that the APV was actually fully insured, with coverage for third party liability. So instead we had to go to Asuransi Central Asia (ACA), file a claim and settle everything there. Although this may sound brief, the whole process actually took hours. I didn’t get back to the office until 4:30 pm. Good thing Sigit was there, not only as a witness but also to drive for me since I was still in a sudden state of shock.

So then I think ok…that’s the end of my ordeal today. But guess what else happened today? Dandi, my cousin, picked me up this evening. Before skimming the city, I decided to get some fuel. The funny thing was, when Dandi was about to open the gas cap he wasn’t able to find one. Apparently, within the course of this week, someone somehow managed to steal my gas cap!!!

Uuuggh…unbelievable! What more can I ask for??

Now believe it or not I realized when filling out my claim at the insurance company that today was Friday the 13th. I don’t want to be superstitious or anything, but could it be just a mere coincidence that all this bad luck occurred on this day. FYI, I also witnessed the remains of 3 other car accidents during the course of the day – a significant increase compared to what you would normally see in a given day.

Oh well, I don’t know. And I don’t care. All I wanna say is that today was a crazy, emotional, and tiring day. I’m just glad that everything was settled well. I even apologized at the driver for screaming at him (although he should’ve been the one apologizing for blaming me as the reckless driver). All I have to do now is wait till after Lebaran to bring my car to the auto body repair workshop.
Uuugh….

words of wisdom

2006-09-23T13:14:00.000-05:00

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” (Maryanne Williamson)

Ms. E or Me?

2006-09-22T22:50:00.000-05:00

Ok...kenapa gw post gambar ini?
Alkisah gw minta dibikinin iklan. Karakternya: cewek, in her mid 20s, smart tapi gak nerdy. She's a creative writer, happy with her current career. She's supposed to be attractive & sensual, but not overtly sexy.

Uhm...kok jadinya kaya gini yah...
Hihihi... Kalo diliat dari potongan rambutnya sih, mirip gw! Mirip gak? Mirip gak? Huahaha... GUBRAK!!!

gubraaakkk

2006-09-15T09:27:00.000-05:00

i cant believe it took the same amount of time for me to go from Chase Plaza to Semanggi as it did for me to go from Semanggi back home to Kelapa Gading. i guess this statement can simply describe my current state of mind.

perempuan pekerja dan majikan

2006-09-05T12:28:00.000-05:00

Di luar matahari makin terik. Semakin banyak orang memadati bis kota yang melaju tersendat karena macet pagi hari. Seorang wanita berdiri di muka bis, menghambat alur masuknya penumpang. Berkali-kali kenek dan sopir memohon agar ia bergeser ke dalam, namun sang nyonya yang serba bulat dan besar itu –matanya, hidungnya, bibirnya, hingga bokongnya– benar-benar tak sadar betapa ia menjadi penyumbat jalanan yang amat mengganggu. Melihatnya, bayangan Ms. Piggy tak kunjung hilang dari benakku.

Duduklah aku di kursi aisle, baris ke tiga dari depan. Aku masih setengah sadar, diselimuti rasa kantuk yang luar biasa. Aku mencoba duduk dengan nyaman, menempelkan bahu di sandaran kursi, namun seorang perempuan muda yang baru saja lolos dari jebakan bokong Ms Piggy, tiba-tiba menggelendotkan diri dengan cantikya di sandaran kursiku. Ingin rasanya aku mendorong perempuan itu dan mencaci-makinya. Tidak bisakah ia berdiri dengan tegap? Ingin juga rasanya melanjutkan khayalan pagi hariku saat itu, namun isak tangis perempuan penggelendot itu sedikit banyak mengusik dan menarikku ke alam sadar. Mataku masih terpejam, namun kupingku tetap waspada. Aku mendengar perempuan sedih itu becerita pada perempuan berjilbab yang berdiri dengan tertib di sebelahnya.
.
“Terima kasih ya mbak, sudah bantu saya. Saya baru diusir majikan. Belum pernah saya dapat majikan sejahat ini. Orang Kelapa Gading, Mbak. Kadang sampai dua hari saya gak dikasih makan. Tadi saya diusir karena minta gaji. Gaji saya gak pernah dibayar. Saya cari kerja Mbak. Mbak tahu orang yang butuh pekerja?”

Gadis berjilbab yang disapanya menggeleng dengan sopan. Benar ia telah membayarkan ongkos patas AC jurusan Pulo Gadung-Blok M untuk pekerja rumah tangga yang malang itu, namun sebatas itu saja ulurannya. Kini tampak keengganannya untuk berhubungan lebih lanjut dengan perempuan yang tak kunjung berhenti bicara tentang nasib buruknya itu.

Makin keras dan seringlah isakan tangis sang gadis malang, namun tak ada yang menanggapi. Sampai akhirnya wanita yang duduk di sampingku bertanya perlahan.

“Mbak butuh kerja?”
“Iya Bu.”
“Mbak mau ke mana sekarang?”
“Saya gak tahu Bu, saya gak tahu jalan.”
“Kalau begitu, mbak mau kerja buat saya saja? Rumah saya di Pulo Gebang.”
“Mau, Bu.”
“Ya sudah, nanti kamu ikut saya turun ya?”
“Iya Bu. Terima kasih Bu. Terima kasih banyak.”

Sungguh bagai putri dari kayangan wanita itu, dengan suaranya yang begitu lembut dan penuh kasih. Niat tulusnya menyejukkan hati siapapun yang mendengarnya saat itu.
Selesailah sudah permasalahan. Gadis malang itu pun tak malang lagi. Kini isak tangisnya berubah menjadi air mata bahagia.

Munculah keheningan. Keheningan yang dipenuhi bayangan. Bayangan akan masa depan yang membahagiakan bagi keduanya. Gadis malang mendapat majikan yang baik dan bijak, majikan pun mendapat pekerja yang gesit dan tahu terima kasih. Lalu munculah sebuah keraguan. Mungkinkah ini semua sandiwara belaka? Mungkinkah si gadis malang adalah penipu ulung yang akan menggerogoti si majikan yang baik hati? Bukankah jaman sudah berubah? Hati orang kini siapa yang tahu. Dapatkah kita percaya pada orang yang benar-benar asing, yang muncul begitu saja tanpa referensi? Sungguh berani wanita berhati tulus ini. Ia mau mengambil risiko yang begitu besar. Membawa perempuan asing berlabuh di bawah atapnya dan bekerja dalam rumah tangganya.

Perempuan yang tadinya bernasib malang itu tak lagi dapat menahan luapan bahagianya. Ia bertanya pada calon majikannya.
“Bu, nanti saya kerja apa?”
“Ya kerja rumah tangga. Mau kan?”
“Iya, mau Bu. Sebab majikan saya jahat Bu. Orang Manado. Belum bayar gaji saya, ” gadis itu bercerita ulang, “Makanya saya mau ke Yayasan Bu Sugita dulu Bu, di Blok M.”
Patut dicatat informasi yang kurang konsisten. Bukankah perempuan tadi tak tahu harus menuju ke mana ia? Mengapa kini ia berkata hendak ke Blok M?
“Oh jadi kamu sekarang mau ke Yayasan?”
“Iya, betul Bu.”
“Ooooh. Ya sudah kalau begitu. Kamu ke Yayasan aja dulu“

Perempuan pekerja itu tertegun sedikit, mencoba mencerna apa gerangan arti pernyataan tersebut.
Dengan ragu ia bertanya, takut mendengar jawabannya“Jadi, saya gak jadi kerja di tempat Ibu?”
“Iya. Maaf, saya pikir kamu bukan orang Yayasan. Kamu balik dulu ke Yayaysan-lah.”

Keheningan.

Rasa kecewa yang mendalam muncul di hati perempuan pekerja itu. Kalau saja iya tak bercerita panjang lebar. Kalau saja iya mau melupakan masalah gaji terhutang majikan Manado itu. Kini masa depannya kembali tak jelas. Apa yang akan terjadi? Haruskah ia kembali ke majikannya yang jahat itu? Akankah ia mendapatkan gajinya kembali? Bagaimana nasibnya? Akankah bantuan dan tawaran kerja yang menyejukkan datang untuk kedua kalinya?

Perempuan majikan pun berpikir dalam hati, “Apakah saya membuat keputusan yang salah? Haruskah saya tetap membantunya?”

Perempuan pekerja itu pun menangis lagi dalam hati. Ingin rasanya ia memohon agar dapat diberikan pekerjaan itu kembali, tapi apa boleh buat. Nasi sudah menjadi bubur.
Di luar hari makin terik. Makin banyak penumpang yang berdesakkan ke dalam bis. Perempuan yang serba besar dan bulat pun turun sudah. Dan semakin banyak orang yang mencari tempat di dalam bis. Perempuan malang itu pun terdorong ke bagian belakang bis, makin terpisah dari mantan calon majikannya tadi. Makin jauhlah ia dari masa depan yang menyejukkan, dari kedamaian dan kepastian hidup. Kepalanya kian berputar, perutnya pun melilit. Tak kuasa ia menahan isak tangisnya. Kini air matanya yang penuh kekecewaan, kekesalan, dan amarah tak kunjung berhenti bergelinang. Tak ada yang bisa ia dilakukan. Inilah nasib yang harus ia tanggung. Nasib orang kecil yang hidupnya bergantung pada belas kasih orang. Dalam bis yang padat penumpang itu, ia menangis kian keras. Dan betapapun kerasnya ia menjerit, belum ada seorang pun yang mendengarnya.

Kring Kring Kring Ada Sepeda

2006-08-09T08:44:00.000-05:00

It was one of the most creative outings I've been on. A tour around Old Batavia by sepeda Oentel. Looking at the old (un)preserved buildings of the past. Thanks to the great people at Sahabat Museum for such a fun experience. I'll definitely come to the next event. A tour around Menteng by delman. Don't have much time to write my story now, so I'll just upload the pics bit by bit.

If u want to see the coverage, click here http://www.liputan6.com/view/3,127010,1,0,1154944432.html

the cuzs @ Sanur... eh museum bank mandiri

@ museum bahari

on the bike

a sad view from the top of Menara Syahbandar

With our Thai Friends

2006-08-03T21:57:00.000-05:00

the Thai & mspe crew

tante Ange ketemu sama Nya-nya
tourists in Jakarta
joe-ann-yudi-ange @ lara djonggrang

Last Day in Chicago

2006-08-01T05:06:00.000-05:00

on the boat

air-etta-ange-paksi on Michigan Ave
in front of the Wrigley building after our boat ride

gorgeous pics by a gorgeous photographer, thanks Herry!

reuni feui96

2006-07-31T01:38:00.000-05:00

well, its been a decade since I first met my college friends back in 1996. I cant believe its been 10 years. gives me a chance to look and reflect. where i've been, how far i've gotten compared to the people who relatively started on the same track as i did. am i a success, am i a failure. what do u use as a measure? the car you drive, the label on your name card, the number of kids and nannies you bring along? i don't know. each person has their personal measure of success and happiness. i'm just glad i got a chance to meet up with old friends. i forgot to bring my camera so i don't have pics to upload yet. but we did get 1 picture shot as a souveneer. should've been taken with a hubby n kids, or alone, but i took mine with my pal As. I'm not much in a story mood now, so I'll just post the pic and head offline for today. Good nite & good luck.

untitled

2006-07-23T11:04:00.000-05:00

The Songs They Sing

2006-07-20T09:36:00.000-05:00

It’s funny what kids pick up nowadays. I just spent a week in Jogya and had a chance to meet up with my three adorable nephews. They give you the best laugh when they start singing. And I’m in awe at the songs they sing, the lyrics they know by heart.

You see when I was a kid, the songs I knew didn’t go far from Balonku, Pelangi-Pelangi, Bintang Kecil, or Aku Seorang Kapiten. Now listening to these kids, I’m amazed at what sticks in their heads.

Nephew #1:
Setiap ada kamu otakku berpikir
Bagaimana caranya untuk berdua bersama kamu

Aku sedang ingin bercinta karena…
Mungkin ada kamu di sini
Aku Ingin (lagunya DEWA)

Nephew #2:
Aku memang suka pada dirimu
Namun aku ada yang punya
Lebih baik kita bertemanKita berteman saja
Teman tapi mesra (lagunya RATU)

Duh kecil-kecil udah belajar jadi penjahat kelamin, gimana besarnya nanti ya? Padahal kelas satu SD aja belum?!! Can’t wait to see them grow up. I wonder how many hearts they’re gonna break?! Huahaha….

Call for Desperate Measures

2006-07-15T09:34:00.000-05:00

On a bright Saturday afternoon, at 3 o’clock, came a phone call from IDF. Turns out there’d been several calls since 1 o’clock from their number in Cikini, but because I left my cell in my room, I didn’t hear a thing. Alkisah, IDF had been preparing their program booklet that needed to go into printing at 8 pm that night. The problem was, their designated translator had to go out of town and couldn’t finish one (the largest) portion of the booklet. Rumor has it they asked another translator to do the job, but apparently her work was not up to standard a.k.a abal-abal. So they called me to do the emergency job. Eight pages double spaced in less than 5 hours. Yeee….yang bener aja. Padahal kan jam 6 sore gw ada acara di Kotabaru. That means I’d have to have it all done in 3 hours. Impossible! But eniwhooo, I couldn’t really say no since that would indirectly mean I refuse to help my dad. Too bad he was still on a plane from Surabaya, so I couldn’t complain. I asked the IDF crew for a time extension and sent the job past midnite. Now I wonder whether I’m gonna be paid! Hehehe… I already told them my rate was in dollars now. They just laughed. If only they’d asked me to do the job from the start -- could’ve paid me double the rate than waste it on that abal-abal translator. Oh well, we’ll see.

Tambah Satu Umurku, Bukan Kecil Lagi

2006-07-10T21:30:00.000-05:00

Birthday present #1
Got stood up by my professor. Made an appointment to meet my Kajur at 10 am, Monday morning. Turns out my prof had been sick since the week before and couldn’t make it to campus that morning. I wonder why his secretary hadn’t informed me about his illness earlier. Had I known, I would’ve made a later appointment so I would have time to confirm his availability that day. Oh well, tough luck.

Birthday present #2
Witnessed a throw up. Took the Mayasari Bhakti Patas 84 from Kelapa Gading to Depok and back home again. Cheap Rp 4.500,- one way. Big bus, full AC. Note: taking the car to Depok costs nearly Rp 70.000 nowadays (Rp 50.000 for gas, Rp 16.000 for the not-so-free-way, and Rp 2.000 for UI entry), so taking the bus was a great alternative for thrifty me. Better yet, the road was packed on the way home, so thank goodness I wasn’t driving. Anyway, I grabbed an aisle seat. Across from me was a young lady carrying a baby in her arms. Sitting beside her were her 2 sisters, it seems. As I was trying to fall asleep listening to Dewa blasting from the speakers I saw some commotion from the corner of my eye. The lady across me nearly threw up in her baby’s face. Good thing her sister quickly took the baby and she was left to barf into a big black plastic bag. Eueww…

Birthday present #3
My Dad went missing. I knew my dad was scheduled to come in from Amsterdam that Monday morning at 10.10 since I was the one who took care of his itinerary. But until 4 pm that evening, my dad was nowhere to be seen or heard. Since my dad has his regulation against carrying a cellphone, we couldn’t contact him at all. We called his hotel in Amsterdam but he had already checked out. We called the airline and his name wasn’t on the flight. I kept checking the email, but there was no news, nothing. Great! Knowing my dad, no news is good news, but still, we worried a bit. Good thing my dad came home the next day. It turns out his flight was double booked and more than 20 people had to spend the night at Schiphol. It also turns out that he had sent a fax home informing his whereabouts but it never got to us. Come to think of it, I did remember Bayu Buana saying his return flight was still on waiting list, but I assumed they settled the matter before issuing the ticket. Furthermore, the travel agent didn’t remind me of the waiting list issue when I picked the ticket up. So it couldn’t have been my fault, could it?? Duuh… I hope not… But in the end everything was resolved, wasn’t it?

So that was how I spent my first 24 hours as a 28 year old (eeeh..tua!). Well, at least I got to see all my other relatives, and my dearest friends sent me their wishes. Jess & Kris came back from Bali that day, and Oon also came by. The end.

2006-07-07T14:13:00.000-05:00

The heart dies a slow death
Shedding each hope like leaves
Until one day there are none
No hopes
Nothing remains

-Memoirs of a Geisha

The Transjakarta Ride

2006-07-06T15:20:00.000-05:00

It was Nad’s bday a while ago and yesterday Be was in from Bogor, so we decided to have lunch together. Nad’s treat. Since Nad couldn’t be out long from her lunch break we decided to meet around her workplace in Pecenongan. I asked around and found out I could take the busway from Kelapa Gading and get off at Pecenongan. All I had to do was walk one block from that stop and I’ll be happily sitting in Happy Day Juanda, which was where we decided to meet. I made my calculations: busway roundtrip Rp 7.000,-, one angkot ride home Rp 2.000,-, a Transjakarta experience, priceless. It couldn’t be beat. It was a much better alternative than taking a car. Would save me from the stress and frustration of driving in Jakarta, or would it?

So I was on my way. My lovely mom was so kind as to drop me off at the Kelapa Gading bus stop. I was among the first to wait for the coming bus. I waited, and waited, and waited. And… I waited some more. Finally the bus came. As a pool of people had gathered during that waiting time, only half of us were allowed in. I was not included. I had to wait for the next bus.

Protest #1: haven’t these people heard about the FIFO concept? First in, first out? Wasn’t I first at that bus stop? Shouldn’t I have been first to get on that bus? I guess they don’t have that kind of conscience around here. The concept obviously is TOFO, tough one, first out. I forgot you have to have a fisting mentality around here.

Luckily, it didn’t take long for the next bus to arrive. The bus was full, so I stood. In front of me was an elderly woman. To her right were her two granddaughters, one chubby, the other a bit malnourished. They shared a seat together and they seemed to fit just fine in the chair. Half-way into the trip, the woman left of the grandmother got off. According to the unwritten code of bus riders, it was obvious I was the “rightful owner” of that seat. How terribly surprised I was, when that elderly woman unapologetically filled the freshly emptied seat and asked her skinny granddaughter to sit in her seat. I wanted to scream my head off. If you looked carefully then, you might’ve seen steam coming out of my ears.

Protest #2: What was this woman thinking? Doesn’t she know how tiring it is to be standing in a speeding bus full of people? Hey, maybe she’s just thrifty, like me. Maybe she wanted to get her money’s worth. She bought three tickets, she’s entitled to three seats. Her small granddaughter only took up half of the seat though. What values is she teaching these children? Shouldn’t she be teaching them about sharing, and understanding limits? Instead she’s teaching them greed, getting your fair share without looking at the suffering others around you (me among others). I felt like giving that old woman a lecture, but who was I to say these things. Plus, I didn’t want to make a scene. So I think, have people begun to lose their hearts in this rough city?

In conclusion, I stood my whole bus ride to Happy Day.

On the way home, Be dropped me off at the Monas busway stop. There was a line there, so it minimized that TOFO concept people are so eager to practice nowadays. The bus was full, so I stood again. It was pretty hot. Looking up, I saw the filter clogged with dust. No wonder you couldn’t feel the aircon. Anyway this time I was in a better mood, maybe because I was full.

I must note however that standing on a Transjakarta bus is really straining. The handles are not in a fixed position so it makes it difficult for you to grasp firmly to it. Even if you hold tight, you’re always jerked around in the direction of the bus. In order to stand straight, you really have to work your hand hard. I realized that when this morning my entire right arm became sore. Felt like I’d been lifting weights the night before.

Anyway, on that ride I gave up my seat twice. And people were so overwhelmingly surprised, and of course pleased, that anyone would actually do that for another. I guess Jakarta isn’t as friendly as it used to be.

Well… its not the end to my story yet. Let’s just say a little (or a series of?) unfortunate event(s) happened to me on that way home. To cut the story short I missed my stop and ended up getting off all the way at Pulo Gadung. Definitely a big mistake. I’d only been there once before, and that could have also been considered as an accidental visit. It was in high school, when I overslept on the 52 bus and found myself waking up in a near empty bus at was already pulling into the terminal.

So yes, yesterday I panicked a bit but I still tried to look cool. I knew there was a Mikrolet (M30A to be exact) that would pass somewhere near my home, but I couldn’t find that number amidst the hustle and bustle of the terminal. Ojek was nowhere to be seen either. I scanned the area looking for a familiar number. I saw the M37 mikrolet and got on although I wasn’t sure of its route. I asked the woman sitting next to me about the route, and she didn’t know more than I did. So I just stayed in my seat and kept my fingers. Worst case scenario, I’ll end up in Senen, since on the window it said Pulo Gadung-Senen. Thank God that mikrolet passed thru Kelapa Gading. I got off near the mall and safely took another angkot home. The end. P.S. So I guess I still have a bit of street smarts left in me.

it's us again...

2006-07-04T09:59:00.000-05:00

Reunion

2006-06-22T21:43:00.000-05:00

champaign beyatch cabang jakarta: yudi-ardi-ange-beby ;;)

Salam dari Ratu

2006-06-20T09:10:00.000-05:00

LELAKI BUAYA DARAT - r a t u

lihatlah
pada diriku
aku cantik dan menarik
dan kau mulai dekati aku

ku beri sgalanya
cinta harta dan jiwaku
tapi kau malah menghilang
bagai hantu tak tau malu

lelaki buaya darat
busyet aku tertipu lagi
mulutnya manis sekali
tapi hati bagai serigala

ku tertipu lagi oh
ku tertipu lagi oh

ku beri sgalanya
cinta harta dan jiwaku
tapi kau malah menghilang
bagai hantu sakitnya aku

mungkin aku bodoh
mungkin aku naif
atau mungkin memang kamu
penjahat wanita

tapi untung nya
aku masih punya kekasih yang lain
tapi mengapa aku
masih saja tertipu olehnya

Earthquake Update

2006-06-06T21:28:00.000-05:00

I was in Rawamangun last night, when I ran into my second cousin, Dandi, who had just got back from his supposed vacation in Central Java. He was out in Purwokerto that early morning when the earthquake happened in Jogja, but he was soon on his way to the disaster area. Of course what he told me couldn’t have been much different from what I’d been seeing on tv, but coming from someone who’d actually been there, it sounded so real.

Right after the quake, people feared a tsunami would come. They fled in panic, not knowing where to go. Their only sense was to head north, away from the South Sea. Around Mas Nur’s (Dandi’s brother) neighborhood, people were getting ready to burry an elderly man who had passed away earlier that morning. As they were carrying the body, the tsunami issue spread. Amidst the panic, the body was left on the road as the people carrying it ran for safety. Poor man, may he rest in peace.

Another of Mas Nur’s neighbor was injured and brought to the hospital. The halls outside were full of bodies; breathing and not. So packed was the place that Mas Nur’s neighbor had to wait near the parking lot where 15 dead bodies laid beside.

Although my closest family are safe, some distant relatives suffered from the disaster. As of today, four relatives’ home have been affected, and a distant cousin in Prambanan had to have her arm amputated.

For one or two nights, Jogja was out of electricity. Walking from Tugu to the South, Dandi says it was pitch dark-black. It had rained that first night. The ringroad was jammed, with cars, ambulances, and help on the way. What normally was a 15 minute ride, took more than 2 hours. Imagine the ruins: houses collapsed, hotels split in two. Imagine the smell: of dust and bodies departed.

As days go by, people become weary. Bodies continue to be uncovered. People are still living in tents, relying on help. They have nothing left. Just their bodies and shattered souls. Their Javanese stomachs are starting to go soar. As Dandi says, they’ve been eating too much instant noodles. They long not just for food, but for rice. How much longer must they endure these conditions? How long will it take ’till Jogja recovers? For how long will people keep sending help; until they forget or until another disaster distracts their attention? Could things ever be normal again? Not in a long time. Maybe never, for the scars and the memories will always remain.

Back in Jakarta

2006-06-03T21:15:00.000-05:00

So yes, I’m back in Jakarta and in my first 24 hrs, I was reminded of some things of this good old place.

Jakarta is heaven for the perfect massage & scrub. Even if I fall deadly asleep in the middle of it all, I can still feel great. No need to go to Philly and pay $40, just have yourself a fresh Rp 50.000 bill (well a li’l bit more at bersih sehat) and you’ll put smiles on people’s faces.
I don’t have to worry about going over my minutes when talking on my cellphone…
Jakarta is hot. I took 3 showers on my first day.
Jakarta has mosquitos. This was brought to my attention when I found 3 red spots on my thigh. Aiiyaaa….

Good ole Jakarta.

In Singapore

2006-06-03T21:11:00.000-05:00

So I was glad to run into Bayu, a 2004 Fulbrighter, in Detroit. We shared the same itinerary afterwards, which meant that I had a friend to share the 6 bland hours of waiting in Singapore. At first I planned on getting a place at the transit hotel, but I overheard a guy saying it was fully booked already. So instead we hung out at the rest area or I think it was called the “tempat rehat” where they put in sleeper chairs & stuff. Because all the sleeper chairs were taken, we sat at this cool looking chair and chatted a bit. Next to us were some computers and a long narrow table for people to plug laptops. So there was this guy, typing or browsing away at his computer, when suddenly a bunch (20-ish) of armed Singaporean policemen came by him. I was like… what? I wonder why they picked on this guy? Was he browsing or downloading some kind of restricted material? If that was the case, I’ve got to hand it to the Singapore PD, they sure work fast!

But no, that wasn’t the case. They were just checking for IDs and making sure the people hanging around at the airport at that unlikely hour were those who were rightly there. So that included us, who had to present our passport and tickets. Well I remember experiencing the same thing in a bus to a transit hotel in Japan, but it wasn’t that threatening as there were only 2 authorities. But this time, imagine waking up to of finding a bunch of policemen, more than half of them pointing rifles -long big automatic weapons- at you face. Believe me, it was not a pleasant sight.

Grumpy Grandma

2006-06-03T17:57:00.000-05:00

My 13 hours on NW 0025 from Detroit to Narita was a very interesting experience. I got an aisle seat, which was great, but with the grumpy grandma sitting behind me, I would’ve settled for any other seat, really!

It started early on, when I suddenly felt something slightly hit my head. I realized it was a blanket that the woman behind me put on the back of my chair. The steward that passed by said, “Be careful Mam, you don’t want to hit the lady in front you.” Listening attentively, I heard her reply, “Why not?”

Whaatt??…did I hear her wrong?? Did she just say why not?? Ok…calm down, maybe I heard her wrong. But then I saw the steward look apologetically at me. Grabbing the blanket he said to the woman, “OK Ma’am, if you don’t want the blanket, then I’ll take it away from you.”

Fine…I’ll let it go… I don’t want to create problems. I stayed in my seat, and minded my own business.

After some time… the other (kinder) grandma sitting next to the grumpy grandma wanted to get up and walk around. I felt my chair being pulled back as the grumpy grandma tried to get up. I thought, Ok…she was fat and old, she needed support to get up. Then I felt her hover her body over my chair. Then she welcomed herself and positioned her hands at the top of my chair. Hellooooo??? Doesn’t she see a living being right below here? One who was trying to get some rest and sleep?? I don’t know if I was oversensitive or what, by I definitely felt as if she was invading my space. Well, it was my chair she was standing over, and my head she was forcing to move to an uncomfortable position. In short I felt disturbed, and I let that be known by moving about and sighing a bit. I repositioned my head on the chair, and waited for her to move away. I waited and waited. I looked back and saw that nobody was hovering over her chair. So if she wanted the flabby wrinkly grandma could’ve stood at her seat instead of mind. This offended me. The blood in my head was boiling to a point that could get me to explode.

So I kindly said, “Excuse me Ma’am.”
And the freakin’ old lady, just stood there, looked back at me and said nothing back
S h * t
What was that supposed to mean? Did she not hear me? Does she not know that I was irritated? Damn you white female chauvinist!
So I said again, “Excuse me Ma’am.”
And I got the same reaction.

f c u k

Now those of you who know me well enough should know what I did next.

I turned my head around and glared straight into this selfish kampungan flabby woman’s eyes. “Is there a problem Mam??!!!”
“What?”
“I said, do you have a problem? Would you mind not putting your hands on my chair?”
“I’m just waiting for my friend to come back, she’s still walking around”
How dare she reply that way!!
“Well, would you mind not putting your hands all over my chair? If you like, you can move them to your own chair!”
And with no apologies the frumpy lady shifted her hands away from my chair.

Hell, what’s wrong with this person?? Was she one of those freakin’ prejudiced Southerners, or did she just have an attitude? With all the age she’s accumulated I’m sure she should’ve known better. And where did she go to school?? Didn’t they teach her anything about being polite and acknowledging other people’s private space?

Or was it me? Was I being overly judgmental and sensitive? It’s just that never in my plentiful years of using any public transportation have I come across anyone so obnoxious, and never have I been so irritated & personally offended (except when running across those perverts on the PPD). If these were the kinds of people the States were really made of, boy was I glad to be leaving the country.

And so…that was how I began my 13 hr flight to Narita. With a maniac woman who sat behind me, who continued to disturb the whole aircraft by talking non-stop throughout the *nite* and by laughing oh so passionately at some useless movie she was watching while everybody was trying to get some sleep. But at least she was kind to the baby sitting next to her.
So I wonder? Did I read the wrong signals? Was it she with the attitude? Or was it me who she thought had the attitude? Well whichever way it was, she certainly made me feel uncomfortable. And I certainly showed it to her.

Thanks!!

2006-06-03T17:45:00.000-05:00

I hate packing. I’ve always hated packing. Plus, I’m a procrastinator. Put that together, I get something called Packing Like Crazy at the Last Minute. So it was my final night in Urbana. I had just gotten back from buying last minute titipans at Walmart. When I got back to my apartment, accompanied by Etta & Paksi, I realized I still had a ton to do.

First and foremost, I had a bunch of past exams I needed to discard. I couldn’t just throw them out for fear some smartass would pick it up and leak the questions to future adv 481 students. So I bought a paper shredder for Etta & Paksi to have fun with. Turns out there were more problems made then solved. The shredder worked according to its own mood, dying down whenever it grew hot or tired. Ms. Etta our Electrical Engineer was very attentive with the machine-using patience, water, and tweezers to urge the machine to work again.

So I guess you ask, where the hell is this girl’s priority scale, having friends play around with a shredder on her last nite in Champaign. Well, I can’t answer. I know I should’ve started earlier, or just put more thought into packing. But my heart had been so heavy about leaving that I just couldn’t force myself to do it. Talk about lack of determination I guess-and of course that tendency to leave things till the last minute.

Well, if it weren’t for Paksi and Etta who cheered me on thru the nite, and helped me out with everything, I would’ve had a thorough mental breakdown. I was repacking clothes into the vacuum bag, since one of them suddenly stopped functioning optimally. I was sucking air out of bags past midnite, and vacuuming my room by early morning. My poor roommate, she must’ve also had a sleepless nite, from all the noise. The vacuum also managed to drop itself onto my legs, well it may be better stated that I managed to drop the heavy vacuum onto myself that set me to laughter and tears at the same moment.

So the three of us worked thru the nite. None of us got any sleep. Etta…. I’m so sorry I put you thru all that trouble… I know you’ve never been that great at staying up, and u are one of the most organized people I have ever known, so I’m sure what you experienced shocked you. I’m sure it didn’t even hit you in the face until I left and everything passed by. You just saw a panicked friend and you gave me all the support I needed – you can’t tell how much I appreciated that.

And Paksi, I know you’ve never been the type to be so hot on helping people pack & move about. In short, you’re not “keyudis-yudisan” who’d jump at any opportunity for a pahala-giving workout session by helping people pack and move. Although staying up late has never been a problem for you, I know how difficult it is for you to even walk up a flight of steps. So I know you’ve put in a lot of effort to help me out, carrying boxes up and about, throwing out trash, going up and down two (not just one) long flight of steps. So I hope you know that you’re help did not go unnoticed. So can’t thank you enough.

So to Etta & Paksi, I am so ever thankful. I love you both.

And of course I have to thank Lia, who appeared as the most beautiful being that early morning of the 31st, (because she was the only one with decent sleep & bath-and because she’s just plain beautiful – u know I’m not the only one who says that) and helpingly drove us to the airport.

Plus, I have to thank Driya who came by the airport with the sweetest goodbye card ever. We had a splendid time the nite before. Well Paksi… If you’re ever in need of a drinking buddy, you know who else to call now… heheeh…

And although he left for Jakarta earlier, I can’t leave Ardi out, cuz of course he helped with those boxes I shipped out. Carrying & helping me pack up that stuff, and driving to Chicago with a car full of boxes I know wasn’t all that fun.

So guys… there’s nothing I can say now, except thank you, not just for being there but showing that you really care. You’ve certainly outdone yourselves, cuz you’ve certainly used as Extreme would say more than words is all you have to do to make it real !!

So thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
From the bottom of my heart.

PS. I’ll try to be a better packer the next time round ;P

Getting Hit On

2006-06-03T17:29:00.000-05:00

My final days in Champana were filled with many lasts… last dinner with my roommate, last call to friends, last errands, last trip to Walmart, and one which I am especially happy to announce is my last eventful packing experience (I will go into this in a later post).

Among the last rituals I attempted was my last, as Paksi would call, “ajojing disco dancing.” Well we made plans here & there, in Champaign & Chicago, but all attempts were failed. One planned trip to Soma, ended with sleepy souls at the Stake ‘n Shake (padahal dah niat dandan gitu loh), a planned event at the Hunt after Japonais, ended with full stomachs and dizzy heads (too much MSG!!) at Triple Crown, and another planned trip to Soma was filled with disappointments as Soma was closed for Memorial Day (I think). So, on my 2nd to last night in Champaign we ended up doing casual drinks at Cowboy Monkey. The members: Ange-Etta-Driya-Lia and Paksi. Well at first there were 4 of us, minus Lia. Then Lia called and said she wanted to join, so Paksi went to pick her up, leaving three gorgeous girls with three gorgeous drinks at the table.

Eventually, as I was calling to check up on Paksi & Lia’s whereabout, a not-so-gorgeous guy came to our table. He asked if we would mind him joining us. Of course we would, but evidently no one had the guts to say so. In the midst of my phone call, looking away from the guy, I told Driya, “Ini cowok gak jelas ngapain sih? Udah usir aja Dri, bilang aja kita gak tertarik.” And here’s what happened after:

Driya: What? What did you say?
The Guy: Do you mind if I join you guys?
Driya: Sorry, what? I didn’t here you. What did you say?
Me (in my head): starting to laugh
The Guy: lit up his cigarette and reached for the ashtray in the middle of our table
Me (in my head) OMG, ni orang pede banget sih, gak tahu ya dicuekin, kok gak pergi2 sih?
The Guy: slurring some unclear words…(not that he was too drunk)
Etta: looked away, awed, in shock, speechless

Me (calling Paksi): Woiii di mana siiiih? Buruan dong, lagi digangguin cowok gak jelas nih
Paksi (on the other line): Huahhahahha… Iya ini dah mo nyampe kok.

The Driya came with her magic line:
Driya: Sorry, no English
Me: ketawa terbahak-bahak
The Guy: astounded, pressed his luck by staying a little while, and finally left

Huahahaha ancur. Lucu loe Dri!!! You’ve definitely got spice girl!That was the funniest thing ever… We totally cracked ourselves up afterwards.

Jogja

2006-05-28T01:49:00.000-05:00

Kok kayanya postingan gw terakhir yellow mellow gak jelas gitu yah...abis sediih banget sih bakal ninggalin Champaign 3 hari lagi... Plus, packing, mensortir barang mana yang dibawa pulang mana yang dibuang, sambil mengenang2 gak jelas bikin sedikity wishy-washy ajah. Eniwei...terus kemarin malem denger kalo Jogja gempa. Since nobody from home called me, I assumed everything was ok. Made efforts to call home, but the connection was bad. When I finally got hold of my mom, she said everything was ok. Just minor damages at my uncle's home in Gedongkiwo, somewhere in the South side of the city. The latest info I got was that two people from that area passed away. My aunt's home in Bulaksumur (the North side) was ok, just some things breaking but nothing major. My parents place in Kotagede (the West) was ok too. Good thing my mom was at home in Jakarta, and my dad was in Taipei - so they were safe & sound. I can imagine how panicked my mom would have been, had she been there. My cousins and their children did have to evacuate for some time, but they headed back home by night and slept outdoors. So I'm glad my family is in good shape. Some bad news however, the home of Pak Tamar (the man who kindly waits on our house) was destroyed. Good think he was ok, though.

Coming home I expected to take a good long vacation in Jogja. Now it seems, it wont be too much of a vacation. It would be too depressing to see the wreck and devastation in this charming little city. I can't believe something so fatal could happen to a place so familiar to me. The place where I used to spend nearly all my Christmases, where I once (for a short time) struggled to memorize Pancasila and went crazy studying ha-na-ca-ra-ka, as well as where I meet with all my beloved relatives. Especially my adorable yet crazy nephews who were the first creatures on my mind last night. I wonder how they felt experiencing this state of chaos. Were they tired, scared, sad, or cold? Knowing them I'd think some would've been excited rather than depressed. Well a good thing about coming home soon is that I'll be able to see all the damage in person, and maybe be of help. And hopefully I can still run abound with these three vicious yet lovable creatures:

bagas & enggar, dicekik sama medha...aiiih!

My prayers go to all those who suffered from this quake. May departed souls find peace in their new home. And may the devastated find virtue from this crisis.

Spring flowers

2006-05-26T04:02:00.000-05:00

Lifeless are the spring flowers in my living room
Their colors faded
Dry and crippled
Breath sucked away

This is the end of a story
A journey
Of hopes
Of pursuits

Yet beauty remains
In shape
In form
In the wishes they once brought

Like memories engraved
Of success and failure
Of satisfaction and disappointment

The flowers are dead
The season has passed
As are the stories
Books closed
Packed and shipped away

Another cycle will come
Of flourish and fade
Pleasure in solitude
Sorrow in laughter

Fresh flowers will bloom
New stories to be told
The beauty of memory
The mystery of future
So be it
And faith remains

confined to the home

2006-05-25T14:22:00.000-05:00

It's gorgeous out...
Hot (86 F), with a little bit of wind
But what do they say?
Stay away
A severe thunderstorm is coming
Deadly lightning at risk
Seek shelter
Keep a distance from windows

Hell...
It's not even raining outside
Still... I've restrained myself
Nobody wants to get stuck in bad weather

Warnings...oh warnings...
Getting the better of you
If only they came at the right place
the right time
the right instances

Maybe they do
You just don't care to listen
You just don't want to

Jerry Maguire

2006-05-25T13:49:00.000-05:00

another one of my faves

Secret Garden-the Jerry Maguire Soundtrack (Bruce Springstein)

"I was just about to tell you
That I love him
I do!
I love him...I love him
And I don’t care what you think
I love him for the man he wants to be
And I love him for the man that he almost is
I love him Laurel
I love him...I love him"

She'll let you in her house
If you come knockin' late at night
She'll let you in her mouth if the
Words you say are right
If you pay the price
She'll let you deep inside
But there's a secret garden she hides

"You’ve got to be fair to her
She loves you
If you don’t love her
You’ve gotta tell her"

She'll let you in her car
To go drivin' round
She'll let you into the parts of herself
That'll bring you down
She'll let you in her heart
If you got a hammer and a vise
But into her secret garden, don't think twice

You've gone a million miles
How far'd you get to that place where
You can't remember and you can't forget
She'll lead you down the path
There'll be tenderness in the air
She'll let you come just far enough
So you know she's really there
She'll look at you and smile
And her eyes will say
She's got a secret garden
Where everything you want
Where everything you need
Will always stay a million miles away

"I’m not letting you get rid of me
How about that
I’m the smart one
I love you
You complete me
… "

"Shut up
Just shut up
You had me at hello
You had me at hello"

day 2

2006-05-15T18:04:00.000-05:00

because it was raining yesterday, we didn't have a chance to take pictures up & around campus. so that was exactly what we did after lunch today.

the graduate (where's mr(s) robinson?)graduate @ the gate

so i wanted to take a picture of me jumping with joy, but after numerous attemps we have concluded that i'm not a very good jumper. my jump pictures look as horrid as floating ghosts, so to respect our 13 & below audience, i have decided not to post them here

here's paksi - showing me how to jump

the jump with radityo

the jump with margretta

the walkway

the almamater

the altgeld

the motherly figure

the memorial stadium

the honda (a tribute to yudi)

ciyee2 gw!

2006-05-15T13:01:00.000-05:00

so, sunday may 14th 2006, i walked with 13 other advertising masters in the college of communication - u of i graduation. it was a cool and chilly day.

the day started when etta came by to help me get dressed. i wore a semi-kebaya with a sarong that took calculation and determination to put on. thank god, etta was there or i would've driven myself crazy.

costume & make up by etta suretta... :D

went to campus with alex & susie and we then lined up with all the other grads: jennifer, holly, whitney, derek, keelah, julie, double-brett, keelah, sukwoo, helen and wil. too bad the camera was with my friends, so we didn't take any pics beforehand (not such a smart decision)

the ceremony itself was pretty entertaining, cuz our speaker, a u of i alumn, an exec vp at anheuser-busch ran his bud ads and played a real cool spoof on the real men of genius ad just for us comm-grads. so, i can say by far, it was one of the koolest graduations i've ever been to.

by the time the procession was over it was raining out, and my fellow graduates disappeared. i looked for my indo family first, finding them to still be in the auditorium. so we took pictures & stuff and finally headed for FLB for some punch and cookies. Evidently all my friends had left. ran into sukki and pv on their way out and took pics. it sucked that i couldn't take pics with all my friends. but the weather was so unaccomodating that everybody just seemed to want to get away.

so somebody insisted to include the vase in the picture

thanks for the gorgeous flowers luvs...but really that vase was extremely heavy - certainly got my biceps to work hard!

on the quad with the ayong fam, mr. nugraha & ms. angdjasrin

with my super-funkeh prof, pv-he's bending his knees, in reality he's twice my height!

the girls (smile bebeh)

the day before @ ms. budiman's graduation

3 movies 3 soundtracks

2006-05-11T02:53:00.000-05:00

Something to remember my projects by...grrr

PUTERI GIOK (ancur berat deh nih film)

Kebyar(-kebyar) - Gombloh

Indonesia ...
merah darahku, putih tulangku
bersatu dalam semangatmu

Indonesia ...
debar jantungku, getar nadiku
berbaur dalam angan-anganmu

kebyar-kebyar, pelangi jingga

biarpun bumi bergoncang
kau tetap Indonesiaku
andaikan matahari terbit dari barat
kaupun tetap Indonesiaku
tak sebilah pedang yang tajam
dapat palingkan daku darimu
kusingsingkan lengan
rawe-rawe rantas
malang-malang tuntas
denganmu ...

Indonesia ...
merah darahku, putih tulangku
bersatu dalam semangatmu

Indonesia ...
debar jantungku, getar nadiku
berbaur dalam angan-anganmu

kebyar-kebyar, pelangi jingga

Indonesia ...
merah darahku, putih tulangku
bersatu dalam semangatmu

Indonesia ...
nada laguku, symphoni perteguh
selaras dengan symphonimu

CA BAU KAN

Waktu Kan Menjawab - warna

Usahlah bertanya
Aku memang sayang
Hanyalah namamu terpatri dihatiku
Janganlah gelisah
Aku sungguh cinta
Hanya disampingmu inginku bersama....kasih
Hingga langit memudar
Pusat tak lagi berawan
Hingga akhir dunia

Reff :
Biarkanlah hari berselang malam
Seribu gelap berganti terang
Waktu kan menjawab
Hanya dirimu satu cintaku

Mengapakah harus bertanya
Dalamnya cintaku
Tak kupunya jawaban
Hanyalah waktu kan menjawab semua

GIE

Gak tahu judulnya apah - okta featuring eross
sampaikanlah pada ibuku
aku pulang terlambat waktu
aku akan menaklukan malam
dengan jalan pikiran ku

sampaikanlah pada bapakku
aku mencari jalan atas semua keresahan keresahan ini
kegelisahan manusia
reeeetaaaklah
malam yang dingin…..

** tak pernah berhenti berjuang
pecahkan teka teki malam
tak pernah berhenti berjuang
pecahkan teka teki

keadilan huuuuuu….
berbagi waktu dengan alam
kau akan tau siapa dirimu yg sebenarnya
hakikat manusia

BACK **

keadilan… 2X

aku terlusuri jalan yg setapak ini
semoga ku temukan jawaban
aku terlusuri jalan yg setapak ini
semoga ku temukan jawaban jawaban2x… ohhhh ohhh….

Me & Sis

2006-05-07T18:21:00.000-05:00

When we were young, people could tell us apart instantly. My sis was the extrovert and I was the introvert. She was the wild sassy one, doing cartwheels and always prancing around for attention. She was opinionated, creative, and hard-headed (well that, I am too -- runs in the family). Anyway, my sis was the free sprit. I, on the other hand, was the calm witty one. I was always reading, dreaming and writing up fictitious stories. I was perceptual and controlled. Generally speaking, she was the fun crazy one. I was the smart boring one.

you should know by now who's who

Then somewhere along the lines, things started to shift. I’m still the bland one, not caring too much about how I look and what I wear-for example, and in the eyes of some people I know, I’m still overly reserved. But somehow my sister and I seemed to have picked up a twisted value system.

Relatively speaking, I’m the risk taker, she’s the risk averse.
I speak without thinking, more of the I’m the feel-and-do without thinking My sis on the other hand seems to have become the wise think&think again kind of person.

While she always seems to be the politically and ethically correct
I can only strive to be one
And up to this point, I must admit I’m only hypocritically succeeding
(apa kata ibu-ibu nanti?)

So in all of my endeavors, she’s the one who tells me to stand by the river when the currents are strong, but I’m the one that goes jumping into the wavy waters anyway.
She’s the one who sticks to the lines, while I tend to stretch the lines a bit (or a lot).
She’s the level headed one, while I’m the pathetic romantic.

Although I am scared of every single feathered being on the face of this earth
(In biology they fall under the taxonomy of Aves)
I still believe in flying, and flying high.
And if I ever have to fall because that, I fall hard – flat on the face.
At least by flying I can see the view from up above.
One I would never see if I never take the jump.

I don’t know which way is right, or which way is better.
But I know that if I never jump, I never learn my lessons.
Then again, as hard as it is for me to admit, she’s been pretty correct in reading the consequences of my preferences.
I've experienced my thrills and paid the prices that came along with them
Had I listened to her I might've saved myself a few tea bags
There are no regrets though

But when another round comes along, should I listen to her sensible views? Or should I stick with my questionable senses?
Should I stay behind the line or risk the tides?
Yet, I thank her now and again.
For always bringing me back to reality
For facing me with bitter truths that everybody hates to hear.
I become more mindful
But I’ll always choose to walk the tight rope
Experience the exhilaration
And accept risk of failing
(Except when it comes to the case of getting heavily intoxicated and dealing with a whole week of unbearable irritation; that I’ve learned my lesson well, and that I think my sis is so much better at ;P )
Cuz life just ain’t that fun when you stand in the sidelines

Thanks Sis!

#$^#^%#&&%

2006-05-07T07:59:00.000-05:00

It's 7:57 am, as I type this entry. I haven't slept since waking up from a short 1.5 hour nap at 00:00 am. At this rate, I can't help but imagine that one of these days, I would get up from my seat and just fall to the ground. Strangely enough, I haven't been that sleepy. Maybe it's the coffee or just plain determination that's keeping me up. Well, whatever it is, I still have keep this pace till Friday. Six days to go. At least I got one freaky paper out of the way. Working on my second project, the website, is nice for a change, but I can't dedicate too much time on the only fun thing I'm working on. The coming week another paper (that I haven't laid a finger on yet) is awaiting to be made. Oh shoot! I forgot about grading 80 exams (at least I'm sharing that with E!) and 10 papers by the end of the week. Is it do-able? I really don't know. One thing's for sure, I can use a bit of luck, and a lot of energy. I'm in over my head!!! Please don't let me disintegrate too soon. I just need to be on my feet till the 12th. I can collapse anytime after that. Well not on the 14th though, since I'll be graduating then. But I can't even think that far ahead yet. I'm just taking things day by day. Trying not to panic (although on paper/screen it looks even scarier) and sticking to my schedule.Something...someone...somewhere...somekind of heavenly power, please help me get through this.

After the last day of class

2006-05-04T15:28:00.000-05:00

After an early supper in our last ADV 587 class, Susie, Mihyun, and I managed to take some quick pics on the bright gorgeous Quad.

with Mihyun who is leaving today for summer break in Korea...
with the best and only roommate I've ever had, Susie made me some noodle soup when i was sick last nite ;)

well actually Nad-nad used to make really great Indomie Goreng for me, but we were neighbors at Permata, not roomates (right?), so u still get credit for ur Indomie Nad! Huehehe...
the three of us on the Q

brand morocco

2006-05-04T12:15:00.000-05:00

we're done. there it is... the fruit of our insane labor.

(i know...i know...like i have nothing better to do than to upload pictures of my group reports! but it's just such a beauty, that i couldn't help myself)

She

2006-05-04T02:17:00.000-05:00

Geez... I wonder if I suffer from ADD (attention deficit disorder). I doubt it, though something seems to magically appear every time I have a paper soon to be due, but not so due. Hueheheh.

So.. tonight I'm hung up on this song: She (Tous Les Visages de L'Amour)
Elvis Costello - from the Notting Hill Soundtrack

it's really calming, woos me to sleep, which actually is not so good for me at this time.
enjoy!!!

She may be the face I can't forget
The trace of pleasure or regret
Maybe my treasure or the price I have to pay
She may be the song that summer sings
May be the chill that autumn brings
May be a hundred different things
Within the measure of a day

She may be the beauty or the beast
May be the famine or the feast
May turn each day into a Heaven or a Hell
She may be the mirror of my dreams
A smile reflected in a stream
She may not be what she may seem
Inside her shell....

She, who always seems so happy in a crowd
Whose eyes can be so private and so proud
No one's allowed to see them when they cry
She maybe the love that cannot hope to last
May come to me from shadows in the past
That I remember 'till the day I die

She maybe the reason I survive
The why and wherefore I'm alive
The one I care for through the rough and ready years

Me, I'll take the laughter and her tears
And make them all my souvenirs
For where she goes I've got to be
The meaning of my life is
She....She
Oh, she....

something about the chair

2006-05-04T02:02:00.000-05:00

These last few days (and the next days to come days actually) has been absolutely stressing for me. Well, it serves me right for procrastinating a whole semester’s worth of work – something I’ve been really good at for some time. Anyway, the craziness level of my work has been balanced by the chaos in my room. So, after keeping him in my closet for an entire year, I finally put my beloved red mushroom chair into use. Again he serves his main purpose: for me to put all my junk on. Now everything that would’ve been on the floor is now neatly tucked under a blanket covering the chair. Pheeew…

I Love Chicago (Although I Love NY Even More)

2006-05-04T01:19:00.000-05:00

Ok...here are my 4 season touristy pictures in Chicago. Yang ini foto2 rada narsis. Besok gw post foto2 rame2nya deh.

my fave li'l nook in downtown chi; ghirardelli & borders @ d watertower

new chinatown

lincolnshire: katanya chicago, tapi kok jauh ya
nah kalo yang ini deketan dikit: lincoln park zoo
state st.

chinatown

shedd aquarium, et. al.

millenium park after a blizzard

chicago skyline

mich ave & water tower

Calling Home

2006-05-03T01:45:00.000-05:00

Call to Jakarta

Marni: Halo, selamat siang.
Ange : Halo Mbak, Ibu ada?
Marni: Mbak Ajeng yah? Wah Ibu lagi ke Jogja, Mbak.
Ange : Oooh, ok. Minta nomor telpon Jogja lagi dong Mbak.
Marni: Sebentar ya Mbak. (Marni berlarian memanggil Marsih. In the background:
Mbaaaak…. Nomor telpon Jogja piro yo???)
Halo mbak, ini nomornya: 0274-450-xxx
Ange : Ya udah…makasih ya mbak!

(SIGH #1)

Call to Rumah Jogja

Dad : Halooo!
Ange : Hi Dad! What’s up? It's me!
Dad : Ajeng, gimana, ada apa?
Ange : Gak papa, iseng aja, lagi bosen. Katanya Papa mau ke Malaysia, kok di Jogja?
Dad : Ke Malaysia kan masih minggu depan.
Ange : Ooooh.
Dad : Waah Mama lagi pergi nih Jeng. Lagi belanja. Kemarin tas Mama yang isinya
makanan, gak kebawa dari Jakarta.
Ange : Hah?
Dad : Iya, nggak kebawa di bagasi sama pesawat.
Ange : Ooooh.
Dad : Jadinya Mama lagi belanja makanan. Mungkin baru balik sejam lagi. Ini papa
lagi ngajar.
Ange : Hah kok di rumah?
Dad : Iya, ada mahasiswa datang dari Solo buat konsultasi.
Ange : Ooooh, ya udah deh. Salam buat mama ya….
Dad : OK, take care, luv u!
Ange : Luv u!
(SIGH #2)

Call to Mom’s Cell

Mom : suara ribut2 in the background
Ange : Mamaaaa!!!
Mom : Eeeeh, ya wis ya…nanti telpon lagi yah??! (CLICK, HANG UP)

Hahhhhh??!!! &%&*^*(&$$###@@
(SIGH #3)

Huuuh…!!! So much for calling home.
Maybe gw emang di suruh konsen ngeberesin paper kali ya??
Tapi kok malah bikin blog gak guna gini yah?? Huehehe....

I have to go

2006-04-30T10:14:00.000-05:00

I sat there, in the pitch dark black
Silence filled the air as the car moved forward
I count the minutes, the seconds
Something was keeping me up

I tried to sleep, but couldn’t
I tried to imagine beautiful things, but didn’t succeed
I counted the stars
I focused on the blinking lights
I even tried keeping track the number of golden arches I passed
Something was bothering me terribly

When will we get there?
The clock is ticking, but we’re never reaching
Don’t you know that I’m anxious?
Don’t you know that I’m suffering?
Don’t you know that I’m on the verge of disintegrating?

How much longer do I have to hold this?
My hands are sweating
My head spinning
I can’t stand it any more
Don’t you know I have to go to the bathroom so freakin’ badly???!!!
Aiiiiiiihh… kebelet pipis atuuuuh!!
Emang enak??!!!

Watch Out for the Seeds!

2006-04-26T22:27:00.000-05:00

As I was late heading for campus today, I had to skip breakfast. Obviously, by the time I was through with office hours this afternoon, I was nearly starved. At home, I realized I didn’t have any ready food to eat. I decided make some pasta, and whilst waiting for water to boil, I stuffed myself with some grapes. They were red globe grapes -with seeds - made in Chile. And… they were absolutely delicious, sweet to the very pit. The only thing that kept me from gobbling up the round fruits were the seeds. I had to be careful not to swallow or choke on them. How I wished they were seedless, but then again, even seedless grapes have seeds in them, and none could compare to the grapes I had today.

Then for a split second, I stopped to think. Isn’t that the way everything is though? Most of the time, you can’t have everything you want. No matter how sweet your life is, you still have to watch for the seeds. You can be filthy rich but have a flawed nose. Even if you had the money to fix your nose, you’d still have to deal with your insecurities. You may have the perfect home, the perfect job, the perfect body, or the most perfect partner, but there’s bound to be a thing or two you’d like different. Nobody’s perfect, it’s only part of being human. The roads in life are never perfect either, and that’s part of learning. Learning to make compromises and being happy with it.

After all, what you want may not be what’s best for you. So you can set goals, set your strategies, strive for what you want, but there’ll always be seeds in the way. You have to make an effort, and overcome obstacles. Sometimes you win, sometimes you loose. But one thing’s for sure, there’s no such thing as a free easy ride.

If Only

2006-04-25T13:06:00.000-05:00

Last nite, I took time out to watch a 30" home video -a travelogue to a nearby city in the midst of a beautiful spring. To be honest, it was like watching a full length uncut music video.

Two creatures, strolling through the park, sitting side by side, just smiling, laughing, making funny faces, and giving occasional looks of admiration -- all the simple gestures of friendship...or wait-then again, maybe it was a little more than that ;P

Anyway, even though I wasn't there with them, I was overjoyed-thrilled-excited (you name it) to see the footage. In retrospect, I think it was so much better for me to see this on tape rather than being there in person. For you know, sometimes, the camera, the people around you, the world, and even an ever loud-sometimes obtrusive camera(man) can DISAPPEAR when you have a certain person right by your side. Huahahahha....

To conclude I'd like to post one of the soundtracks in this video. I've gotta give it to you Mr. Producer -- it breaks my heart to watch the footages. If only...

Brighter Than Sunshine (Aqualung)

I never understood before
I never knew what love was for
My heart was broke, my head was sore
What a feeling

Tied up in ancient history
I didnt believe in destiny
I look up you're standing next to me
What a feeling

What a feeling in my soul
Love burns brighter than sunshine
Brighter than sunshine
Let the rain fall, i don't care
I'm yours and suddenly you're mine
Suddenly you're mine
and it's brighter than sunshine

I never saw it happening
I'd given up and given in
I just couldn't take the hurt again
What a feeling

I didn't have the strength to fight
suddenly you seemed so right
Me and you
What a feeling

What a feeling in my soul
Love burns brighter than sunshine
It's brighter than sunshine
Let the rain fall, I don't care
I'm yours and suddenly you're mine
Suddenly you're mine

It's brighter than the sun
It's brighter than the sun
It's brighter than the sun, sun, shine.

Love will remain a mystery
But give me your hand and you will see
Your heart is keeping time with me

What a feeling in my soul
Love burns brighter than sunshine
It's brighter than sunshine
Let the rain fall, I don't care
I'm yours and suddenly you're mine
Suddenly you're mine

I got a feeling in my soul ...(repeat chorus to end)

Ijo Royo Royo

2006-04-24T12:49:00.000-05:00

This just in...fresh from my inbox, sent by my sister.
Mom... I know u'd kill me if you found out I posted u here...huahahhaa
But forgive me for I have nothing better to do today :P

Pementasan Calon Arang, Graha Bhakti Budaya-TIM, April 23, 2006

Ijo royo royo, mamaku kaya Putri Giok (ayooo tebak, which one is my mom! giveaway: 2nd to right --gak mirip gw bgt yaah??!)

Mirror Image

2006-04-22T18:56:00.000-05:00

Our obsession with self-portraits began with one of our trips to St. Louis -- when the original Champaign Beyatch members were still intact: Ange-Paksi-Yudis. When coming across an airbrush artist at the mall we were at, Yudis had this bizarre idea about getting his caricature done. He said he’s had a few of them done, so he wants to add another to his collection. So while he got his picture made, Paksi and I went our separate ways, wandering through the stores in that nearly vacant Missouri mall. I don’t know what it was with that place, the stores were open, but they were boring, and not so many people were around, so there was an empty feeling to the place. But anyway, that’s not the point of my story.

The point is, once Yudis got his caricature done, I was tempted to get one of my own. And after I had mine done, so did Paksi. So that night, we each went home with a picture of ourselves. Comparing how similar each picture was to our own features, we concluded that mine looked the least bit like me.

you be the judge. does this look like me?

Days went by. Then came the day we strolled around Navy Pier in Chicago. It was around the time Yudis was getting ready to go back home. Paksi and I had been talking about getting a sketch of the three of us together. For some reason, Yudis didn’t seem overly excited about the idea. Maybe our bond meant the least for him. But again, that’s beyond the point. We saw some artists at Navy Pier, but as we were in a rush to meet friends for dinner, we never got that trio picture done.

Months later, came our trip to New York, and our walk in Battery Park. I remembered a long time ago, in grade school, when Mom, Dad, me, and Luq took a day-trip to the Statue of Liberty. That afternoon, we had someone draw a picture of us. I distinctly remember, I was in a blue shirt and Luq in a pink one (obviously). With that memory clinging, I was determined to do another drawing that day. There were many types of drawings available: portraits, caricatures, and even manga (Japanese cartoons). I was distraught, and asked the others (Paksi & Ardi) what kind of sketch to have made. Paksi said he might do a portrait, so I settled on doing the same. Clever enough, he told me to go first. Ardi did a manga. Having seen the early sketches of my portrait (one that I could not yet see), Paksi changed his mind and did a manga instead.

So, when the portrait was done and it LOOKED NOTHING LIKE ME!!! Huahaha…. That serves me right for having such high expectations for what seemed to be a really cheap price. Paksi & Ardi’s manga turned out better (although it didn’t really look like them either but as a cartoon, you can always get away with that). My portrait on the other hand, looked like no one I’ve ever met. It looked like a sad, pathetic, tired person who didn’t have a future. Do I really look and act like that? Well I was tired after the trip to Liberty & Ellis Island, but I was hoping the Chinese opa-opa who did my picture could’ve done a little bit better.

Paksi, with rosy chubby cheeks
Ciyeeeh Ardi, looks like Anthony who would sweep Candy-Candy's heart away...haha!

Well, I was so disappointed in the portrait that I left them at Paksi’s apartment. The other day Etta & Lia came by to Paksi’s for Easter dinner. They saw the picture and wondered who in the world the person in the picture was. Naturally they assumed it was Kak Beby (who they have never seen before). Wuaaahahhahaha, that totally cracked me up!!!

So I guess, now it’s your turn….you tell me! Who is the person in the picture?

Huaaaaah!!! Miring pula gambarnya...!!

A Lesson in Filmmaking

2006-04-22T17:23:00.000-05:00

Although I spent yet another afternoon in front of the computer, I've decided to write another entry. My friends are up (or down) in St. Louis (please forgive my lack of geographical awareness), and I'm bored. So I guess I'll tell y'all what we did last nite.

OK!!! So we spent nearly the whole day yesterday working on NEW YORK: IF ONLY (part 1 & 2), which apparently had to be broken down into 4 DVDS. Thank God for the templates on iMovie (was that the name?) that made the whole process so much easier. Nevertheless, it was extremely time consuming. Choosing the appropriate background music, matching it with the footage, arranging the sound volumes, selecting pictures, and cutting out long boring footages -- well the whole process was equally stressing and fun. One thing’s for sure though, I don’t intend in going into filmmaking any time soon!!! But finally seeing the end product, I can say all the effort was worthwhile. And, of course, thanks to our cameraman/director/editor/producer (he’s a one man band), many interesting so-called candid shots were included. His philosophy: the uglier & more embarrassing you are on screen, the better. So in short, what you see is what you get. New York: If Only (UNCENSORED). And since laughing at yourself is a healthy mental exercise, I ain’t complaining just yet!

To get a copy of the exclusive New York: If Only (UNCENSORED EDITION) please call
1-800-YOU-WISH!!! We'll be waiting on the other line. A $29.99 value for only $9.99! (Shipping & handling not included). Be sure to have your credit card number ready. Call now, while suplies last!!! Don't forget to ask our operators about our Sizzling St. Louis, Sleepy in Seattle, and SOS SFO videos as well...

OK, starting to get KRISPY here... I better sign off!

Soundtrack of the day

2006-04-21T13:00:00.000-05:00

The Blower's Daughter (Closer Soundtrack)

And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her sky

I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...

And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
And so it is
The colder water
The blower's daughter
The pupil in denial

I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...

Did I say that I loathe you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?

I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind...
My mind...my mind...
'Til I find somebody new

Bells-a-ringin

2006-04-21T12:52:00.000-05:00

It’s not too often reality hits me in the face. I’ve always had my way of doing things, and have never regretted the choices I’ve made in life. Like they say, anywhere you go, any step you take, there’s always a lesson to be learned. But it wasn’t until I was browsing through my tons of unopened emails that some things began to strike me.

On my Tonggak-tonggak Tak Bernyawa mailing list (featuring the incredible Sanur girls of A3y), two invitations to upcoming weddings were posted: Ella’s on May 21st and Sheren’s on June 3rd. Of course, I couldn’t be happier for my dear friends. But it seems as if the second wave of weddings is starting to take toll.

When we had just graduated from college, the first generation of A3y brides walked down the aisle: Meiltrine, Dini, Femmy, Bian, Yani, Maureen (uhmmm, I hope I didn’t miss any names). Now they’ve become the Mommy Club who will be bringing their babies to the next reunion. Isn’t that so cute?? Wish I could be there.

I’m clustering the newlyweds and brides-to-be: Maya, Mbe, Ella, and Sheren into the second wave bride category. The numbers are shifting, but I guess I’m still with the majority who hasn’t posted invitations just yet. Let’s see, there were 32 people in our class, so I guess there are still 22 fun-fearless-single-females left among us. Pheeew… still safe there!

My FEUI 96 mailing list posted an invitation to a class reunion; to celebrate a decade being bound by the yellow jacket. Ten years??!! Wow, that’s been a while! Sure enough, bells rang loudly calling me to reflect upon myself. Where have I been? What have I achieved? It just seems like time has flown by and I’m standing still in my place. Career wise, I’ve been here and there, doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that. The past two years I’ve been hitting the books, in other words taking a vacation from reality. The way I see it, school is like a hiding place, a safe resort where you can lead a slower pace in life, and still get away with it ;P. But time is ticking and calls to return to reality are pulling at me. It’s time get back in the game – time to play in the game of life!

Uuughh… berat!

word of the day

2006-04-19T10:38:00.000-05:00

just learned a new word!

tab·u·la ra·sa (tby-l räs, -z)
n. pl. tab·u·lae ra·sae (tby-l räs, -z)

1.
a. The mind before it receives the impressions gained from experience.
b. The unformed, featureless mind in the philosophy of John Locke.

2. A need or an opportunity to start from the beginning.

starting over: you can forgive, but can you ever forget? ;P

City of New York

2006-04-17T13:11:00.001-05:00

Here are the pictures...

At Canal St. Subway Station -- on our first night after dinner at Boqi and dessert & milk tea at Tea-riffic. So we managed to wait at the wrong platform & went up & down & around before getting off at the wrong station too. Let's just say we had to walk alot that nite.

These two pictures was after lunch at Chinatown and heading for Philly using the all great (smelly) Chinatown bus.

This was our second nite in NYC. Had dinner with Sahal & Tati. Before that we had coffee @ Dean & Deluca and then strolled thru Broadway & Soho (more like a long tiring walk that got people extremely exhausted). We went to St. Mark's place, by Astor Plaza. I forgot what the restaurant is. But I remember having something called a Korean pancake, nothing like the all-great American pancake. If you want my advice, don't try it!!!

Went to Sunday mass @ St. Patrick's Cathedral. Don't I look extremely intelligent with glasses. Hahhaha!

Ok... our great walk thru the Village. My beloved school Public School 3, at 490 Hudson St, the corner of Hudson & Grove. Those steps seemed so big and high back then. Everything seems tinier in proportion now.

I realized that this was just a block away from where the Friends' cast had supposedly been living - Grove & Bedford. That tidbit we found out when running into a group of people taking a walk-tour of the all great Greenwich Village.

My beloved apartment 55 Bethune St aka 463 West Street, New York, New York 10014.

So here we are at the Statue of Liberty. Don't we look so friendly together. In reality we're Ms. Bawel & Mr. Nyinyir who even subconciously seem to be kicking each others' feet.

This was at Ellis Island. Cool huh?

-to be continued

Athens, Ohio

2006-04-14T00:15:00.000-05:00

Ok... so these are some of the pictures I took in Ohio. It may not seem like much. Well, that's because there really wasn't that much to see or do. Hahahaa....
So I went to Athens because I had long promised Anis that I would come and see her. This in turn led me to disappointing the Champaign Beyatches since that meant I couldn't join Yudis & Paksi on their road trip to Atlanta and Tampa!!! I know it sucks... but someone out there convinced me to be consistent with my decisions-and although I missed out on some crazy times with the guys (n could've prevented some unwanted gossip)- I have no regrets.

So I stayed at Anis' place and she was the sweetest host ever. It was winter and cold, especially since I had been in warm San Francisco the week before. So all I ever did was sleep when I got to Athens. Waking up mid-day was part of our routine schedule. Then Anis and I would take time chit-chatting and doing nothing, and by the time we ready to head out, it woud've already been dark outside. So apparently it would've been too late to tour the ol' haunted campus of Ohio University. And as it was the midst of Winter Break, Athens was a dead town nearly the whole time I was there.

OK, picture time...

Mbak Lina-Ange-Brutus-Yogi
Moi with the OSU mascot
Moi again

Ok, those three pictures were in Columbus-at the airport. I spent a week in Ohio, and managned to be at that airport 3 different times. 1) when I landed from SF 2) when we picked Mbak SQ-who had just come from Indonesia- up 3) when I was flying off to Chicago... aiyaaa...

Mbak Lina-Papanya Annaya-Yogi, Ange, Mbak SQ dgn potongan rambut baru (tampak belakang)

Preparing for New Year's dinner; staying in for NYs?!!! Makan dodol durian, eh ketan duren, atau apa yah namanya? Yang jelas ueeenaaak!

With Yogi -king of dangdut cabang Athens; Ange-sok sibuk bantu2, padahal sih semangat makannya aja tuh yang menggebu
Di depan rumah Pak Amarell yang dihiasi lampu2

picture taken down by request
ceritanya nih foto candid kali ya...? Nah akhirnya bareng Jeng Anis, sang tuan rumah. Terima kasih ya nduuuuk...dah ditebengin manusia kebo

wah... akhirnya sampai kampus Ohio University juga loh..meski udah gelap.. Itu di depan gedung apa ya..? hehehe lupa juga...

Terima kasih ya teman2 yang menemani dan meramaikan kunjungan singkat saya ke Athens!!! Termasuk semua oknum yang berpartisipasi menciptakan rekor saya pergi ke Walmart kira2 4-5 kali dalam seminggu itu..Nanti kalian aja deh yang main ke Champaign... dijamin lebih seru!!!

Indonesian Cultural Night

2006-04-03T22:30:00.000-05:00

It's been awhile since I've made an entry. A lot has happened but I don't have the time nor energy to write here just yet. It seems as if I've been sitting for the past 24 hrs in front of the computer. I'm exhausted, but there's so much to be done.

In the mean time, I'm uploading our latest picture from the Indonesian Cultural Night we held on April 1st.

*part of the fashion show crew...dangdut mania*

This was another segment of the Indonesian Cultural Night...

*with the President, who finally let everything out -literally- after the big show was thru*

Opportunities

2006-03-17T14:31:00.000-06:00

It's funny how unexpected opportunities suddenly come knocking at your door. Well actually, buzzing at you buzzer is more like it :D

Life is a Jigsaw Puzzle

2006-03-17T12:00:00.000-06:00

It seems only a while ago I was running through the long dark corridors of Sukarno-Hatta to catch my night flight to Singapore: my first stop in a series of flights to get to Urbana-Champaign. Not much was running in my head then. I had no expectations of my days to come. I couldn’t imagine it all: living in smalltown USA, going back to school, being away from my friends and family. School and being away from family was not a big matter for me, it was the part about being in smalltown that was so not me. I’ve always been a city kid: Jakarta, New York-the farthest I’ve ever diverted from city life was 6 months in Yogya; and even that for some people could still be considered a city scene.

Anyway, that wasn’t what was consuming my mind back then. My thoughts were caught up in the past-my disappointment of unfulfilled hopes. I was too numb to think about anything else. But I was glad to be getting away from it all. This was my moment: to change and to grow. Nevermind the fact that it would happen in the middle of nowhere.

Urbana-Champaign welcomed me with a comforting blandness: the monotonous cornfields, the silence, just pure simplicity. This was where I found serenity, literally and figuratively. This was where I made peace with my broken dreams, now fully thankful for it all to happen. This was where I found my potential (to cook-note: still a potential…haha), my independence, and sense of responsibility (although I'm still always procrastinating).

Now the time has come for me to start packing my bags (at least to start thinking about packing them). I’ll soon be stepping back into the land of hustling cars, honking horns, pollution, traffic jams, and pickpockets. There’s a certain comfort in the back of my head, but fright overshadows it all. For me, it is uncertainty waiting at the door and crucial decisions lying in store. Decisions I’m not ready to make, that is. I think it's because all the pieces haven’t fallen in the right places. So I’m clinging on to every possibility to put off this task.

But then again, I guess life is a jigsaw puzzle. The pieces are never complete. You’ve gotta work with what you have and go with the flow. Just go out there and beat the odds.

Another day in chicago

2006-03-14T21:58:00.000-06:00

Have you ever heard of bar hopping without actually going into bars? Well that's exactly what happened to us this weekend in Chicago.

It started when we realized that Lele had left all forms of identification: passport, ID, drivers license, library card, what have you-in Champaign-Urbana. There was no alternative. We had to find a place that wouldn't card upon entry. We first headed for Sedgwick's, a bar located on Lincoln, Sedgwick, and Armitage. Since we only had one car, we split up and half of us took a cab there. Being among the cab riders we got there early and found a bouncer at the door. Realizing that our group consisted of people well above drinking age, we hoped Lele could get by easily. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Even though we explained-well Lala stepping forward most of the time-that Lele had her car held after a supposedly speeding incident, she still wasn't allowed in. So we had to head out and find another place. Too bad for Paxi since the bar played 80s music-which was sort of his trademark.

Anywhoooo... whe headed for Japonais next and found yet another bouncer at the door. This time Paksi stepped forward, trying 1001 ways get Lele's in: from simpole chit-chating to nearly bribing. It didn't work. Evidently, the guy said we looked like a young bunch. Although a flattering fact, at that moment that was not really advantageous. So again, we had to think hard and find other alternatives.

Sushi Samba became our next destination. This time we tried to fit everybody in the car. It was a bit of a torturing ride for those squeezed in the back seat of the car, but Sushi Samba proved to be a good call. We slipped in easily, managed to secure seats right on time, and ordered drinks without questions.

So there were at Sushi Samba: Yudi-Lele-Ange-Renata

Before the bar hopping incident we had a luscious dinner at Mizu. Pics down below:

Vicki-Lala-Yudi-Ange-Lele-Paxi-Rentanida-Ria-Jeffry

Got to finally meet up with Lala . Haven't seen each other since forever.

Earlier that day was a touristy session. Had lunch at Pizzaria Uno. Strolled down the crowded Michigan Ave, and even explored Navy Pier (we went on the Ferris Wheel as a matter of fact).

@ the watertower on Mich Ave

@ Navy Pier

see this couple? friends of 11 years picking up a fight on chicago st. some things never change.

Me in Urbanaland

2006-03-14T01:24:00.000-06:00

Hi guys, piye kabare?

Welcome to another edition of Ajeng in Urbanaland…..(btw, di sini nama gw jadi Angel dari Angeline, hehehe-ancur yah?!) Hari ini tanggal 12 September, tepat 1 bulan sejak terakhir kali gw menapakkan kaki di tanah air tercinta, dan tepat 3 bulan pula sejak gw berubah status jadi manusia jomblo. Hiks hiks… Kata orang, kalo dah lewat 3 bulan perasaan kita bakal lebih tenang, apalagi kalo terpisah jauh antara jarak dan waktu, tapi kok tetep ya…kadang2 gw masih suka galau…? Au ah gelap… He he. Meskipun demikian, skrg gw udah lebih settled kok, menikmati dorm gw yang nyaman… dan mulai menikmati masa-masa kuliah di kampus nan megah ini.

Gila ya… ternyata kuliah di sini amat sangat berbeda dibandingkan dengan di Indonesia. You actually learn something here… bener2 ngerasa tambah pinter gitu. Cuma jangan ditanya… tugasnya banyak banget. Setiap orang harus selalu prepared dengan berbagai macam bacaan yang bakal dipake buat diskusi, kalo gak baca gak bakal ngerti apa2 deh… dan akibatnya terpaksa diam membisu di kelas di saat yang lain sibuk bertukar pendapat (ada satu kelas yang nugasin baca +/- 80 halaman setiap kali pertemuan dan… kelasnya 2 kali seminggu so 2 x 80=160 halamanlah….) Gw ngambil 4 kelas, Advertising History, Research Methods in Advertising and Communications (Qual), Foundations of Advertising, dan International Advertising. Terus ada satu kelas lagi, Advertising Research Methods (Quant) di mana gw sit-in, alias gw ngikutin kelasnya doang tapi gak harus ikut ujian,

Setelah babak pertama kehidupan gw di sini berkutat soal mencari apartemen yang layak, babak kedua gw adalah…. BELANJA!!! Weekend2 terakhir ini gw selalu menyempatkan diri ke “kota.” Di sana ada beberapa toko besar seperti Walmart, Target, Meijer untuk keperluan sehari2 dan Best Buy & Circuit City buat barang-barang elektronik. Dan ternyata… nasib sial gw tetap berlanjut.

Alkisah gw beli TV, seperti biasa prinsip gw adalah "Lebih Murah Lebih Baik". Ada sih yang amat murah, tapi 13” - kuecil banget nontonnya harus sambil merem-melek, dan kemungkin untuk menjualnya kembali suatu saat nanti kayanya bakalan susah. Akhirnya gw menemukan sebuah TV 20” bermerek KONKA!!! Cukup $89.99 saja! (Note: tivi-tivi seukuruannya berkisar $129) Bukan flat screen tapi menyerupai flat…hehe. Dengan bangga gw membawa pulang tuh TV. Dapet tebengan naik mobil Lala, temen gw yang amat baik. Setelah sekian jam nonton, baru gw sadari-saudara..kalau ternyata TV gw itu penyok!!! Jadi sisi bagian kiri TV gw tuh tampak seperti pernah terbentur sesuatu. Duh…Amerika… jelek banget sih! Kemarin, gw kembali ke Best Buy untuk menukarkan TVnya… dan ternyata…. Tetep aja lho yang baru juga ada penyoknya… tapi kali ini dikit, 2 buah penyok tapi kecil2, kalo gak tll diperhatikan gak kelihatan kok, tapi tetep aja bikin bete. Dasar KONKA! But then again, ada kelebihannya di sini, beli apa2 dalam 30 hari boleh dibalikin full refund or exchange.

Kejadian lagi, setelah dipaksa sama temen gw yang bernama Yudis, gw beli satu set piring, gelas dan mangkok merek Corelle di Meijer. Lumayan tuh… lightweight, microwavable, & dishwasher safe, pokoknya highly recommended deh. Eh, pas sampe rumah & boxnya gw buka… tyt ada satu mangkok yang pecah! So, setalah gw memakai piring2 lainnya selama +/- seminggu, gw balikin dong, dan uang gw kembali 100%. Akhirnya gw beli set yang sama di Walmart yang harganya lebih murah. Cuma beda beberapa sen sih... gak efek banget yah?

Kisah lain lagi terjadi dengan notebook Toshiba gw, yang baru 4 hari dipake udah gak bisa dipake online gara2 virus. Padahal dah pake Norton lho…. Oh well, untung dah dapet antivirus (McAfee) gratisan dari kampus, jadi dah bisa online lagi.

Satu sumber kebahagiaan gw lagi adalah mencari barang di clearance sale. Kemarin gw menemukan sepatu Nike dengan harga $30 saja. (harga sale normal biasanya $50-60, dan full pricenya jangan ditanya…) Bener2 tinggal satu, dan untungnya pas ukuran gw (gak laku kali ya….ukurannya terlalu kecil buat rata2 orang US). Kemarin pas lagi di toko sepatu liat anak kelas 4 SD ukuran sepatunya 40 kali ya…??? Badannya kecil, kakinya guede banget!!

Di sini gw juga mulai menikmati mudahnya dan murahnya belanja online. Harus ati2 nih, kalo gak bisa ketagihan. Pasalnya kalo pinter cari barang, bisa dapet yang bener2 murah. Bahkan ada yang shipping-nya gratis. Kemarin gw nemu buku pelajaran yang BRAND NEW, harganya $10 lebih murah daripada versi USED BOOK yang dijual di toko buku. Gimana gw gak melonjak kegirangan??

Kendala gw di sini cuma satu…. gak punya mobil. Sebenernya gak terlalu masalah sih karena bus system di sini amat sangat bagus. 5 menit sekali sih ada berbagai rute bis yang mengitari kampus. Untuk ke “kota” juga ada bis ½ jam sekali. Masalahnya kalo hari Minggu, bisnya amat sangat terbatas. But, eniwei, kebutuhan akan mobil baru amat sangat terasa saat belanja hal-hal seperti kulkas, TV, or microwave. Or belanja bulanan, barang2 kaya susu, juice, makanan, yang ternyata kalo ditambah-tambah, akhirnya jadi BERAT BANGET. Kalo dah gitu gw harus cari tebengan or bawa bala bantuan. Beruntung gw disini ada Lala dengan mobilnya dan juga Dodo (orang Bank Indonesia) & Yudis (anak FE 98), sahabat2 gw kala belanja, yang setia membantu gw menggotong2 berbagai barang belanjaan…hehehe! (Note: Masing2 sudah punya pasangan di Indonesia, dan berbeda agama, jadi jangan berharap menjodohkan gw dengan either one of them :P )

Berhubung gw tinggal di dorm, gw gak boleh masak. So, kemarin dengan PDnya gw nebeng masak di apartemen si Dodo. Sekali2 masak buat 2 sahabat gw itulah...Gw masak spaghetti, dengan bumbu instan pastinya… dan ternyata menurut anak2 enak. Mungkin karena makannya dah jam 9 malam dan semua dah pada amat sangat kelaparan. Abis adanya cuma panci kecil jadi masak spaghettinya harus berkali2. Terus dagingnya agak gosong, gara2 lampunya gelap dan gak keliatan kalo dagingnya dah mateng apa belum….hehehe. But all in all it wasn’t that bad.

Malam itu gw juga masak rendang… dengan bumbu instan Indofood pastinya! Tahu gak apa yang terjadi? Setelah bermenit-menit merebus daging, gw mengamati bahwa daging di panci tidak berubah wujud dan air tidak mendidih sama sekali. Baru gw sadar, ternyata, gw salah naro panci!!! Panci gw taro di depan, padahal kompor listrik yang gw nyalain yang di belakang….hue hue hue… Untung pria2 itu tidak ada yang tahu ttg kedodolan gw, kalo gak bakal habis gw dikata2in…!

Oh iya…. Gw juga punya satu masalah unik di sini. Gw punya tendensi untuk terus menerus ketiduran. Saking enaknya kamar dorm gw, gw sering banget ketiduran kala mau belajar. Baru baca 2 halaman dah terlelap! He he. So… akhirnya sekarang kalo belajar gw di taman kampus, menikmati nyamannya panas terik matahari. Unfortunately sekarang udah masuk fall, meski matahari bersinar terang, udaranya dah mulai chilly. So, gw mencari strategi baru… belajar di study room. Di kampus gw, ada beberapa study room yang keren2 banget. Tempatnya klasik banget deh, kaya ruang2 baca tahun 1900an awal, yang ada fireplace, dan kursi2 dari kulit yang suka ada di film2 kuno. Nah, disitu anak2 kampus suka belajar dan juga tergeletak tidur di sofa2nya yang besar. Alkisah, setelah gw melahap beberapa belas halaman…ternyata gw ketiduran juga di kursi kulit itu!!! Duuuuh….Gimana ya biar gak ketiduran mulu???

Oh well guys... sekarang dah jam setengah satu lewat... dah ngantuk ah.

Demikian sekilas info dari gw… Nantikan kisah-kisah selanjutnya dari Urbanaland.

Miss you all….

Hugs & kisses,
Ajeng

written: September 12, 2004

My first days in Champaign

2006-03-14T01:07:00.000-06:00

I was looking through my files and found the first letter I sent to my friends from Champaign-Urbana. So, here it is...

Halo semua……!!!!

Greetings from boring Urbana-Champaign. He he he…. Dah nyampe nih… di kampus yang tenang & damai dan luar biasa gedenya….. Gedungnya ada puluhan, dan untuk berbagai urusan harus jalan dari satu gedung ke gedung lainnya yang jaraknya berblok-blok jauhnya…. Hiks hiks…. Gw yang terbilang terbiasa jalan kaki aja sekarang lagi tersiksa setengah mati. Dengkul gw biru-biru saking banyaknya jalan… dan sekarang alhasil gw harus mengitari kampus dengan kaki pincang-pincang karena otot ketarik semua dan sakitnya luar biasa! Gak tau, salah pake sepatu kali… tapi apa daya gak ada cara lain selain harus jalan kaki…. Ada sih bis, tapi belum ngafalin rute & jadwalnya.

Oh iya…. Gw utang cerita ke banyak orang ya…. So langsung aja ya… gw mulai kisah gw. Alkisah… tibalah saya di Urbana-Champaign di sore hari tanggal 13 Agustus. Dari Detroit ke Champaign naik pesawat kecil yang isinya cuma 33 orang, asli kecil banget dan jelek banget. Gw gak nyangka di negeri Paman Sam ini masih ada pesawat macam gitu. Yang bunyi baling2nya keras banget, dan semuanya bergetar saat ada di udara. Saking pendeknya tuh pesawat, bule2 pada “kejeduk” kalo jalannya gak hati2. Untungnya buat gw, itu satu2nya pesawat di mana akhirnya gw bias naro tas di atas kursi tanpa harus jinjit atau minta tolong orang… he he

Dua hari pertama di sini gw habiskan untuk tidur sepuasnya. Hari pertama, gw bangun jam 12 siang… he he Untungnya gw nebeng di apartment (apt) temen gw, Lala, yang kosong, jadi tidur kaya kebo pun gak ada yang tahu… Keesokan harinya, petualangan gw di mulai. Di sore hari itu, anak2 Indo di sini menjemput gw untuk pindahan ke apt gw di Armory St. Sampai di sana, kita menyaksikan sebuah break-in, alias ada orang lagi mencuri.

Seorang bule lagi nangkring, mau manjat ke dalam salah satu ruangan di kompleks apt gw. Anak2 yang mengantar gw memutuskan untuk telpon 911. Dalam 2 menit polisi tiba di lokasi (cepet ya…?). Kita bikin laporan pandangan mata, dan anak2 memutuskan sebaiknya gw tidak move-in hari itu dengan alas an keamanan. Belum2 juga disambut dengan pengumuman di pintu masuk apt, yang intinya bilang harus berhati2 karena banyak mahasiswa Asia (cewek) yang jadi korban kejahatan. Mereka ada yang ditodong dengan pistol, dipalak, bahkan ada yang diperkosa. Hiiiii… ngeri. Masuk ke dalam apartemen, gw semakin depresi….. tempatnya kecil banget..... bau apek dan pengap, kulkasnya pun berbau amat sangat tak sedap.....perabotannya juga udah kuno banget, bahkan lemari bajunya terbuka menganga karena kuncinya dah rusak. Pokoknya langsung bikin stress deh, rasanya mau nangis.... Dan yang bikin hati tersayat-sayat gw sudah terlanjur tanda tangan kontrak senilai $3,300 yang gak mungkin gw batalin.... Hiks hiks hiks....!

Apapun yang terjadi gw bertekad ke luar dari apt itu. Bukannya apa2, pulang malam gw merasa gak secure, di dalam apartemen pun gw ngerasa gak aman maupun nyaman. Gila gak... gimana juga caranya gw mau belajar dengan tenang..????

So, gw bertekad untuk meng-sublease apartment itu. Artinya gw harus mencari orang yang mau nyewa apartemen itu dari gw, tapi biasanya dengan harga diskon. Gw langsung telpon manajemen gedung lapor kalo mau sublease, terus gw pasang iklan online, yang satu gratis, yang satu bayar sedolar sehari selama 5 hari. Tapi, hari gini, siapa juga yang mau apt kaya gitu, kalo dia gak desperate banget. Tugas besar berikutnya adalah mencari apartemen baru, yang aman, nyaman, dan affordable. Itu pun bukan tugas yang mudah karena biasanya semua apt yang bagus sudah fully booked dari bulan Juli. Sekolah bentar lagi mulai, semua orang biasanya dah settled in.

Gw searching beberapa apartemen yang tersisa dan nemu 2 apt yang lumayan bagus. Asik sih tempatnya, 2 bedroom apt dengan dapur, oven, microwave, bahkan mesin cuci & dryer di dalam apt. Harganya pun lumayan murah, karena sublease-an. Masalahnya, keduanya lokasinya agak jauh dari kampus. Harus naik bis yang lewatnya ½ jam sekali. Bisa gak pernah kuliah gw, kalo bangun kesiangan…he he.

Dengan pasrah gw kirim email ke university housing, tanya2 siapa tahu ada tempat, padahal di website mereka bilang sudah penuh semua dan harus mencoba tahun depan….Di univ ini ada 2 dorm, namanya Sherman Hall, dan Daniels Hall. Sherman tempatnya tuh kecil banget. Lebih kecil dari apt gw yang di Armory dan kamar mandinya harus sharing dengan beberapa orang. Kelebihannya, lokasinya strategis dan sangat aman (24 hour security). Daniels lebih keren tempatnya, dan baru direnovasi, jadi semua peralatannya masih brand new. Nah… yang ini mah, tempatnya udah abis di booking orang dari kapan tahu. Pokoknya gak mungkin lah dapet tempat ini…. Hanya dalam mimpi.

Gw hanya berdoa supaya ada keajaiban. Pokoknya gw pasrah sepasrah2nya. Untungnya gw gak panik. Yang panik mah orang-orang di rumah gw, terutama nyokap of course. Gw hanya berpikir, kalau gw memang ditakdirkan harus di Armory (apt gw yang jelek) berarti gak ada orang yang akan mau sewa tempat gw, dan gw gak akan dapet apt baru. Tapi kalo gw memang diijinkan untuk pindah apt, pasti gw diberi jalan. Gw sudah melakukan segala sesuatu yang harus gw lakukan.

Amazingnya, di hari pertama iklan gw muncul di koran on-line, ada orang Korea yang nelp nanyain apt gw yang mau dipake kakaknya. Dia mau lihat saat itu juga. Langsung gw balik ke apt yang belum pernah gw huni itu (gw nginep di temen2 indo gw), tapi sebelumnya beli pewangi ruangan dan karpet, supaya aptnya rada wangian dikit. Seluruh ruangan gw semprot pewangi… bahkan kulkas yang bau busuk itu…. Dan seluruh karpet gw sebarin bubuk pewangi. Begitu si orang Korea yang bernama Paul datang dengan kakaknya, tempatnya dah lumayan wangi lah…. Ajaibnya lagi, malam itu si Paul, orang Korea yang tyt ganteng itu telp gw, bilang kalo kakaknya jadi ambil apartemennya….., bahkan minta kalo bisa pindah keesokan harinya! Whuuuuuaaaaaa!!!!! Senang luar biasa gw! Besoknya, kita langsung nego harga dan hari ini kita sign kontrak. (Btw, dia bayar harga penuh, jadi gw gak rugi sepeserpun, cuma dia sewa hanya u/ 10 bulan bukan 12 bulan. So…gw masih ada 2 bulan sewa yang harus ditanggung. Moga2 summer depan ada yang mau sewa lagi).

Jadilah gw homeless!!! Apt gw dah di sewa orang dan gw gak punya tempat tingal. Pilihan gw Sherman Hall atau sharing apt dengan roommate yang gw temukan di roommates.com. Sebenernya gw sempet janjian sama si calon roommate dr Cina, tapi sayangnya waktu dia gw telp lagi, dia lagi gak ada, so gw menghubungi Sherman Hall instead. Di saat gw mau sign kontrak Sherman, sebuah keajaiban terjadi lagi. Tiba2 petugas administrasinya bilang kalau ada SATU kamar di Daniels Hall, yang baru saja batal diambil orang. Dia nanya, gw mau atau gak….. Gila aja!!!! Gak perlu ditanya pun gw mau!!! So, akhirnya di sinilah gw berada…. Menikmati fasilitas lab computer yang letaknya persis di sebelah kamar gw (ada 11 komputer Pentium 4, Windows XP, Office 2003). Di ruangan gw pun tersedia kabel TV (Cuma belum punya tv), internet tanpa batas (Cuma entah kenapa laptop gw belum bisa nyambung), AC, microwave, kulkas, dan sambungan telpon lokal gratis (Cuma belum punya telpon juga…) he he he…. Cuma ada satu kendala, yang mungkin bikin nyokap gw sedih….. di ruangan gak boleh masak… Jadi, pupuslah harapan nyokap anaknya ini akan terampil memasak setelah pulang ke Indo, he he… Sia sia deh gw bawa semua bumbu instan Indofood. But all in all, pokoknya, happy ending deh…. Intinya... BELIEVE IN MIRACLES, they do happen sometimes!

Plus, gw dah ditawarin kerjaan di kampus pula…. Jadi asisten lab semester depan, bantuin ngajar anak undergrad matakuliah ADVERTISING RESEARCH, terutama untuk hal-hal STATISTIK…. Hue hue hue….. Halo…..???? Apa gak salah? Gw kan paling BENCI dan gak bisa Stat, dulu aja nyaris gak lulus! Stat 1 dapet C… he he he. Dan…. Sangat mengingatkan gw akan tabel-tabel SUMSIG…. Yang gw bikin di kantor dan bikin gw gak bisa tidur itu lho……. Lagipula, bukannya di sini gw mau belajar Adv Research ya…? Kok malah disuruh ngajar? Tapi, namanya dapet tambahan dolar…. Siapa yang nolak sih….?

Ya sud, wish me luck ya guys…. Sekarang gw bisa tidur dengan nyenyak, meski tanpa bantal (Bantal ketinggalan di apt temen gw).

Btw, di sini international studentnya banyak banget…. Kebanyakan orang Korea, Cina, dan India…. Wahai orang Indonesia….. di manakah kalian….? Yang banyak orang Indonya sih anak undergrad. Pas pertama gw dateng , gw dikira anak undergrad. He he, gaul sama mereka masih pantes siiiih…. Karena di sini banyak orang Asia, makanya makanan lumayan gampang. Di kampus ada Chinese resto yang jual nasi, tadi beli Rice Bowl isi Chicken MUSHROOM, wuah jamurnya besar2! He he (tahu dong gw pecinta jamur!). Kalo di resto Cina atau Korea, porsinya guede banget, bisa buat 2-3 kali makan.

Ntar, gw kirimin foto2 deh… sekarang ceritanya dulu… Kok panjang ya….? Sori kalo cape bacanya. Abis doyan ngetiknya… Ok guys, bye bye… Miss u all

Luv,
Ajeng

written: August 2004

More Pics in Champana

2006-03-13T21:44:00.000-06:00

This time we have some new people in our pics. Introducing the PhD candidate at the Department of Economics, Georgia State University at Atlanta, Paksi's friend for 11 years. Name witheld as this was how she was introduced to Paksi's Korean friends at Murphy's.
The second person is Michelle aka Lele, a potential MBA student at UIUC, whose presence allowed us to uncover Yudi's perverted tendencies.

This is the main Quad. Behind is Davenport Hall and Follinger Auditorium.
This is Green Street, where all the food is. Are we being too obvious in avoiding the camera?
This is 6th street, right in front of TIS book store, oh and across from Woori Jib (where Paksi & I used to have our late nite dinners, they close early now though)
This is one of the gateways to the U of I. Note "UNIVERSITY" is on the other wall.
Welcome to the U of I Live Jazz at Zorba's

just a tired thougt

2006-03-05T18:52:00.000-06:00

just when you thought things would go uphill, they go in the opposite direction.

Ijo...ijo...

2006-03-05T02:05:00.000-06:00

Sebenarnya perayaan tidak resmi hari Santo Patrick di UIUC bermula di pagi hari. Quad diramaikan oleh oknum-oknum berbaju hijau yang sejak mentari terbit sudah menenggak berbagai minuman bernuansa alkohol. Mengingat di antara anggota champaign beyatch (dan beberapa anggota tidak resmi) masih banyak yang sibuk beraktifitas di pagi hari, pertemuan dilakukan di sore hari. Berkumpulah kami di teras belakang Union, dan seperti biasa, dimulailah sesi foto kita.

Bosan di Union beralihlah kami ke Folinger Auditorium yang berada di ujung (selatan/utara) Quad (red-maaf gak ngerti arah mata angin)

Sebenarnya hari semakin dingin tetapi kami dengan penuh gaya tetap melepas jacket. Karena badan mulai terasa beku kami mencari 'shelter' di gedung saya biasa kuliah, aka Gregory Hall

Setelah suhu badan sedikit meningkat, perjalanan dilanjutkan ke perpustakaan pusat UIUC, dan sebuah perhentian di gerbang "business quad" yang notabene adalah milik anak arsitektur (red-kata Lia). Nah karena mulai kedinginan lagi...jadilah kami mencari sedikit kehangatan di Wohlers Hall, sekalian kami bergaya-gaya diskusi & ngajar di sebuah kelas yang terbuka dan pastinya foto-foto di depan "dunia business" (dipaksain foto pas Indonesia lagi lewat...)

Sesi pemotretan berakhir di Wohlers.

Malam harinya kembali kami berkumpul untuk beramai-ramai pergi ke bar. Mulanya kami berniat mencoba Louie (maap lupa spellingnya), sebuah tempat tongkrongan baru yang di dirikan di mana dahulu Panera berdiri. Karena antrian panjang, pindahlah kami ke Downtown Champaign. Tujuan pertama ke Tiga Babi Buta (Three Blind Pigs), namun ternyata mereka overcapacity, seperti halnya Esquire & Mike & Molly's. Nyaris saja kami menyerah dan berjalan menuju Kafe Kopi, ketika salah satu diantara kami ada yang mengusulkan untuk menengok Cowboy Monkey. Beruntung di sana sedang agak2 sepi krn ada "live band" yg sedang manggung. Mungkin krn dikenakan cover charge sebesar $5 tempat itu agak2 lengang. Tak apalah, yang penting ada tempat duduk. Malam itu Etta dan Dion juga bergabung. Etta berulang tahun dan Dion dalam bahasa sederhana "knows how to party." Hal ini tentu membuat Paksi kelewat girang, dan jarang2-membuat Yudi dan Ardi bungkam. Acara dilanjutkan dengan makan pagi di Perkins yang tidak disertai oleh dua orang yang bungkam tadi.

All in all, it was a fun night, meskipun saya harus membayarnya dengan menghindari mandi air hangat selama satu minggu penuh. Naseeb..naseeb...!

Your Birthdate: July 10

2006-03-03T07:31:00.000-06:00

Independent and dominant, you tend to be the alpha dog in most situations.
You're very confident, and hardly anything ever shakes you.
Mundane tasks tend to drain you - you prefer to be making great plans.
You are quite original. When people don't "get" you, it bothers you a lot.

Your strength: Your ability to gain respect

Your weakness: Caring too much what others think

Your power color: Orange-red

Your power symbol: Letter X

Your power month: October

Aaaarrrghh!

2006-03-03T06:59:00.000-06:00

Ok, it was 06:48 am when the first call came. Rule #1, never answer a number you don't recognize. Then the second call came. It was 06:50, still from the same number. Then I think. Could it be something urgent? Why doesn't this person leave a message? Then I guess, curiosity got to the better of me. I decide to call back at 06:55 am. It was Days Inn Champaign! Now, why in the world could they be calling me? At that hour also?? Could it be one of those automated telemarketing schemes? Or could it be that somebody is already that drunk enough to be waking me up from my very sound sleep???!! Mau marah gak sih??

So now I'm up, and deciding to stay up-making the best of my day. I guess it does help to be waking up early ;;) (wink wink)

Start the day with a smile :D (grin)

just rambling

2006-03-02T01:15:00.000-06:00

Ok..so today was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The day you're supposed to begin repention. But how in the world is that possible when Friday will be unofficial St. Patrick's day???
Anyhow, I guess I'm supposed to set some goals in order to make myself a better person. How about starting with sleeping early and having a productive schedule, so I'm not overwhelmed with all the projects I have ahead of me. Reasonable enough. If that's the case, it's off to bed I go-even if I'm 100% wide awake right now.

*Sigh ...

Shio anda di tahun Anjing

2006-03-02T00:42:00.000-06:00

KUDA
Bumi adalah elemen Anda yang lahir dalam kurun waktu ini, sehingga Anda cenderung praktis, stabil, dan ambisius. Hanya saja Anda perlu mengatasi masalah keras kepala dan pembosan itu.
Anda pintar, senang bersosialisasi, dan sangat populer. Sebenernya, kepercayaan diri Anda yang tampak kuat itu untuk menutupi perasaan tidak nyaman yang tersembunyi. Biar bagaimanapun Anda adalah tipe manusaia yang berpikiran bebas dan sangat mandiri.

Karir: Begitu Anda punya ambisi terhadap sesuatu, maka tidak ada seorangpun yang bisa menahan. Anda akan bergerak dan menyepak dengan rasa percaya diri di atas rata-rata. Di tahun Anjing ini, Anda hanya perlu belajar bersabar dan lebih taktis menghadapi tahun tricky ini.

Cinta: Mulailah belajar mendengarkan pendapat orang lain mengenai orang yang sedang Anda taksir sekarang ini. Beberapa kali Anda “terperangkap” orang yang salah karena enggan mendengarkan omongan sahabat

Cocok dengan shio tikus, anjing, naga.

My Apology

2006-03-01T23:16:00.000-06:00

ange @ 1:34 022506
ok...
i guess i owe u guys an apology krn semlm gw ngambek kaya anak kecil.tapi gw emang kesel banget gara2 gak ada yg dengerin gw. gw berasa kaya tentengan yang bisa & harus mau di bawa ke mana2. and u leave me no choice. abis... jauh banget gitu loh...dari ko-fusion ke tommy g's.
gw kan maunya menyesuaikan diri dgn tempat - tahu gitu gw gak usahrepot2 ganti baju, tinggal pake jeans & a sweatshirt. but i guess small things like that aren't important to u guys. so eniwei.... sori diambekin kemarin.

yudi @ 5:55 022506
huahahahahahaha gpp lagi di ajeng... lagian gw sdh sering diambekin sama intan dulu, and believe me her face was not far from what you showed last night... sebenarnya semalam pgn gw ketawain tapi tdk enak juga... beruntung ada bule yg tiba2 'interested', jadilah ini mungkin ada yg dikenang dari semua pengalaman ini hehehehehehe... krn memang selama kita pergi2 bareng, either ke bar atau ke lounge, ini baru pertama kali loe disamperin sama co huahahahaha... (ange: gimana juga ada yang mo nyamperin kalo pengawalnya aja lapis tiga?? kemarin kan gara-gara si bodyguard paling gahar lagi menghilang ajah :P ) jadi apa itu berarti loe mesti sering ngambek2 ya supaya bisa dapat co huahahahahaha... peace yo sis...

paksi @ 6:28 022506
Shut up, just shut up, you had me at hello, you had me at hello...*from Jerry Maguire
p.

ardi @ 10:35 030106
a blank email with the attachment: Assignment+One+Parts+ABC.doc
maksudnya minta dibantuin bikin PR advertising gituuuh. Huahahhaahaa!

Love is...

2006-03-01T23:11:00.000-06:00

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 yrs

2006-02-28T07:58:00.000-06:00

irene-angela-dian-ange-lia-etta

one of them should be 8 years older than several of the others :D

UIUC

2006-02-26T15:47:00.000-06:00

Take a tour of moi beloved campus UIUC: University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign

gregory hall: tempat i sehari2 menuntut ilmu

quad in the winter

patung almamater

daniels hall; my lifesaver-beloved dorm for 2 semesters

grainger library (deket apt, pernah sih sekali dua kali belajar di sana, abis itu udah...huehehe)

the union (was: tempat numpang tidur siang)

disappointed

2006-02-25T01:45:00.000-06:00

what do u get when the people u think are closest to u-your so called friends-the people u assume would at least listen to what u want or dont't want-don't give a damn to anything u say??? disappontment. no explanations needed.

quote of the day

2006-02-25T01:42:00.000-06:00

We love whom we love not so much because of the future we hope to build but because of the past we hope to reclaim-Lauren Slater

my oh my metamorphosis

2006-02-21T01:39:00.000-06:00

early 2004: @ kota bunga
june 2004: disgustingly thin
sep 2004: starting the semester
feb 05: an incredibly warm day @ d quad aug 05: @ chicago
feb 06: look @ me now...no wonder my clothes don't fit!

I know... but thanks anyway ;)

2006-02-21T01:03:00.000-06:00

You're Beautiful-James Blunt

My life is brilliant

My life is brilliant
My love is pure
I saw an angel
Of that I'm sure
She smiled at me on the subway
She was with another man
But I won't lose no sleep on that,
'Cause I've got a plan.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful
You're beautiful, it's true
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you

Yeah, she caught my eye,
As we walked on by
She could see from my face that I was,
Flying high (Fu***in' high)
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last till the end

You're beautiful. You're beautiful
You're beautiful, it's true
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you

You're beautiful. You're beautiful
You're beautiful, it's true
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you
But it's time to face the truth,
I will never be with you

Happy Anniversary

2006-02-19T00:44:00.000-06:00

February 19th was mom & dad's 29th anniversary, which means that I'll be turning *** (censor!!!) this year. Hahaha.. Yes mom... to your dismay, I'll actually be that certain age in July. But anyway, I just wanted to wish dad & bunda a happy anniv. Muah..muah..

question of the day

2006-02-18T15:26:00.000-06:00

why is it that things don't seem to be falling into place?

Meet me in St. Louis

2006-02-16T20:32:00.000-06:00

Ok... sebenernya kita jalan-jalan ke St. Louisnya pas awal Januari. Tapi berhubung dapet fotonya baru sekarang dan karena for some reason icon2 buat ngeset tanggal2an di bawah menghilang, terpakasalah foto2 ini muncul pas tanggal segini.

The Arch

Eh...berhasil fotonya

At the top of the Arch with 'za

Oknum-oknum di Landry's

A taste of heaven

Finally...

2006-02-16T20:19:00.000-06:00

susie (my roommate)-ange-mihyun

Sukwoo, Claire, Ange, Soca, and Bunda
Summer 2004, Kelapa Gading Mall
Photo by: Heather

After several failed attempts to meet up, we finally managed to have dinner together: me, Susie, Mihyun, Sukwoo, Heather & li'l Claire. Sukwoo gave me this picture (see above) of when we got together at Kelapa Gading Mal over summer. There's another picture actually, but I look like a pregnant woman in that pic, so I decided to keep it for myself ;)

Palentinan

2006-02-15T20:28:00.000-06:00

I've never really been a big fan of Valentine's Day. I'm simply not into the mushy gushy kinda things. Since grade school, I feel sick to the stomach, everytime I have to read a love letter. By 7th grade, I learned not to open the letters at all and let them be in their orginal condition. In a sealed envelope. And, I can never decipher any abstract poems ever sent to me. I know, I'm pathetic. I'm not much for flowers either, since I'm allergic to pollen. But flowers-at least-I've learned to handle pretty well by now.

Anyway... a while ago there was a request for me to set aside last Tuesday nite for a V-day dinner. In the name of friendship, of course I made myself available. If I'm making one person extra happy, I'll be extra happy too...huahaha.

So here are our pics @ Ko-Fusion. Nice sushi. The steak was so-so. The people @ the table, insane, as usual.

makasih buat orang mabok yang semangat 45 ngambilin foto ini buat kita, meski agak2 gelap gitu

paksi-ange-ardi

lia-paksi

lia-yudi

ange-yudi (i'm not thinking what u're thinking)

semuanya semeja @ Ko Fusion

NOW take a look at these cute pics:

ardi

lia

hmmm... are you thinking what i'm thinking.....? deadline: april 14, 2006

The Tuscola Mishap

2006-02-14T10:36:00.000-06:00

In our car (wait Yudi's car-to be exact), on our way back to Champaign. There was an air of silence. Only the sound of some classic rock, and some occasional snoring of an exhausted person in the back seat of the car. I too was dead tired, but I tried to stay awake for the sake of being a proper navigator. I was too tired to think or to speak. I relaxed my eyes, and took in the falling snow outside. This is one thing I love to do. Watch the snow in a traveling car. It feels as if you’re running into the flakes of snow without ever getting hit. You feel like you’re traveling through time – or at least that’s the way I imagine it would feel.

Anyhow…that’s not the story. The story begins when the sleeping person in the back seat wakes up with a sudden burst of energy. Disturbed by the piercing silence, he gets jumpy, and ideas start rolling in his heads. Words, words, words, scrambling in his mind. Crazy he (always) was, and crazy it was – the chosen word of the hour, for he decided to pounce on that brilliant question: “What drives you crazy?” “You guys!” I easily answer. No… no… , lets make some slight changes: “Who drives you crazy?” Well that’s a different story.

Now, for some reason these people started to get overly excited in the discussion. Maybe because, buried stories from the past rose to the surface. At least several things got to be straightened out, so that those assumptions that eventually became unverified conclusions were cleared away. Hopefully.

Approaching Champaign we were at the epitome of our happy chit-chat. So then someone decides to drive all the way to Tuscola just to keep moment. Oh well, there’ll only be a few more chances for ‘on-the-spot’ moments like this (pheeww…) since the Champaign Beyatch original member edition will disseminate soon. But on that day something was sealed among us – the fact that when we eventually sit down together at KAFE, perhaps several years from now, we’ll have this moment to embarrass ourselves with (red- one member will use this moment to embarrass the other members about).

Anyway….nice productive trip guys!

A Tribute to the Beyatch of Chicago

2006-02-13T22:45:00.000-06:00

at Herry's place I agree, it is one of our best poses, considering my eyes are wide open-huahaha

So the queen beyatch turned 2* (fill in the number yourself) last week, and we spent our weekend in Chicago in her honor. Our trip started with heavy shopping at Chicago Premium Outlet in Aurora for me, Yudi, and Ardi. Well, maybe I should rephrase --> heavy shopping for me. Paksi still had things to do on campus so he went to Chicago by LEX. We told him we'd be there when he got to Chicago, but of course that was all a lie. What do you expect?? We managed to get to Star of Siam at around 9-ish and then headed to Air's apartment. Wait let me think... my mind is going blank. Where did we go? It's impossible we would head straight home. ... (thinking) ...(thinking harder) ... (still blank) ... Aaaah!! I remember now!

OK, so because Chi-bi had a craving to do some Indonesian karaoke that night, we headed for some karaoke (name of place witheld). Our playlist went from A to Z, from "norak" to "norak banget"
Includend in the extremely long playlist was...
-Ada Band, Chrisye, Peter Pan, sampe Panbers...huehehe
-Our regular: I'm a Barbie Girl (buat ancur2an)
-Paksi's striking solo performance: My Sharona
-Jeritan hati terdalam Ardi: Kisah Kasih di Sekolah (ciyeeh ...ciyeh...)
-Yudistira melompat-lompat (gak tahu lagi mikirin siapa...blink blink): Bon Jovi's You Give Love a Bad Name
-My all time fave: Careless Whisper (daleem)
-Ungkapan Airin untuk seseorang di sana (gak tahu yang mana juga sih..huahaha):Aku Cinta Padamunya Sheila Madjid
tapi yang gak bisa dikalahin mah suaranya Danny...nyanyi apa aja bikin merinding, abis suaranya bagus banget.

Eniwei...keesokan harinya pastinya bangun siang. And then we headed to Herry's for a surprise bday lunch for Air. He made a terrific roast chicken with ready to die for sides-dishes.

bikin ngiler gak siiih...jadi pengen lagi

Enihuuu, after that extremely delicious lunch, we were so stuffed that the most logical thing to do was fall asleep in front of the TV. Huahaha. After our nap, we headed for Virgin on Michigan Ave, continued on for dinner at New Tokyo on Broadway for some great sushi, and then some jazz at Back Room on Rush St where in alphabetical order Andre, Andreas, Eric, and Ivan joined us. We headed back with a short stop at McD. And still managed to cook up some miso soup before heading back to bed.

Sunday afternoon, we continue our dumpling ritual, this time not at Phoenix but Furama. Great time...great fun... Miss you guys chi-bi-es already?!! Kapan ke Champaign???? Happy Birthday Chi-Bi!!!!

The Indiana Incident

2006-02-09T03:34:00.000-06:00

ok...
look carefully at the pictures below
they are the devilish angels
or maybe the angelic devils
in my current phase of life

this was the day they kidnapped me
for a 9 hour trip to indianapolis
(6 pm to 3 am)

for the full details of the agenda
and especially as to the reason of the crazy trip
please consult cattra.blogspot.com

at bucadibeppo

at rock bottom afterwards

Dedicated to My Champaign Beyatches

2006-02-09T00:01:00.000-06:00

As the people around you start to come and go, you can’t help but wish that sometimes things could stay the same. You’ll wish that time could just stop and rewind-to a time where there were just us. Wandering in the Quad, grocery hunting at Meijer (or Walmart), trying out restos and bars in the neighborhood, chilling in the coffee shops, our ‘cultural’ visits to Borders, and our midnite bites at Evo. Taking turns to fall asleep at the movies or just cruising in that car we’d like to call our own-is all that we do.

So, what is it about us? We are people, stranded in a land of nothing, enjoying nothingness together. But it’s the comfort of having people who care about the non-essential things about you, that makes it all worthwhile. And no matter how annoying or over the top they may be, unfortunately they don’t come with a 30 day full-refund guarantee. It’s a take it or leave it deal. And that’s what you call friendship.

We’ll soon be scattered, leaving this (not-so)comfort zone of ours, but in the back of our heads we’ll always have us... and Champaign. Ciyeeeeh…. uhuk…uhuk … suuiitt… suiiit…@*$&)@$*^&!!!

at barfly on chinese new years

paksi's bday in chicago: champaign beyatches with the queen beyatch

A li'l bout luv

2006-02-08T23:55:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine recently cut his love story short and said it was all because of their different culture and religion. Another friend asked me why I never write anything about love in my blog. Ist das richtig so? If that's the case, I guess I'll write a little about love today.

I’ll start with this one question: Is there such thing as a forbidden love? If all men and women were created equal, should there be anything wrong with an African American male pairing up with an Asian American female, a Muslim girl dating a Christian guy, or a Roman Catholic Latino marrying an Indian Hindi?

Why is it so difficult to envision these images? It’s as if a virus has suddenly invaded our processing system, and our minds have been automatically shut down or put in hibernating mode. Our minds refuse to reboot until that image has passed beyond us.

What is wrong with us? Blame it on the values and the morals and the belief system that has been bestowed upon us. Blame it on our culture, on the way were brought up, and the way we were trained to perceive. Blame it on all the “good” we have been taught to uphold.

But when you have a failed love story at hand, never blame it on religion. Never blame it on culture. The only subject to blame is you. It’s your stubborn mind at fault. Your inability to break through the imaginary walls built in your head at guilt. Your lack of love held responsible.

Don’t claim a great never-ending love, if you dare not fight for it. The simple underlying statement here is that you plainly do not have enough love, enough courage, enough gut, to defy yourself, your mind, and your society. In short: you’re just not that into him/her. For the way I see it, true love transcends all. It goes well beyond race, culture, religion, distance and boundaries .......

soca's graduation

2006-02-08T23:27:00.000-06:00

ok.. so it was my sister's graduation a while ago. just got her pics, so i thought i'd upload them here. congrats kiddo... u did it-all on ur own. good thing i wasn't around. imagine how often u'd bug me with questions and how often we'd want to jump at each other's throat. so, i'm glad that we skipped that whole ordeal for once. u should be really proud of urself now. what's next?

the best things...

2006-02-08T23:24:00.000-06:00

A: the best things come to those who wait
B: even patience has its limits though ;)

ehm... a hint to cattra's blog

2006-02-07T19:46:00.000-06:00

san francisco

2005-12-31T02:45:00.000-06:00

seattle

2005-11-06T03:07:00.000-06:00

capeeeeekkk

2005-08-17T03:35:00.000-05:00

day 1
pindahan dari nevada. subjek-subjek yang berkepentingan: ajeng & etta. sewa u-haul. sopir truk yang bertanggung jawab: yudi(stira), navigator: me-jep, seksi transportasi: wina, seksi perangkutan: sinan, seksi konsumsi: mya.

ternyata barang gw banyak banget ya..? beruntung banget gw ada pasukan sebanyak itu yang membantu gw memindahkan barang2 gw yang super banyak dan super berat (maaf ya guys) ke lantai 3 apartemen baruku. tanpa lift pula. uhuk2. pokoknya i luv u all so much deh...thx 4 all ur help banget banget. buat mya dan kel yang menjamu kita di tengah malam buta dengan opornya yang super duper lezaat, thx soooo much.

midnite. start to unpack my junk. pasang shower curtain. tyt susah pula pasang ring-nya. harap maklum 1 dollaran.

2.00 am. off to bed

day 2
hop out of bed, look for the time. 7.22 am. siap-siap ke chicago. seperti biasa naik LEX. di mobil gak bisa tidur. untung gak terlalu panas di luar. adem. enak.

perjalanan ke chicago kali ini berbeda dari biasanya. secara dadakan gw dinobatkan jadi tourguide...huuuuuhuuuuu. kawanan gw lumayan banyak, etta, ika, rita, wina, aldi. turun di water tower, menyusuri michigan ave ke mall apa ya...pokoknya yang ada saks fifth ave di bawah. pokoknya yang ada panda expressnya di lt. 8 itu lho..

abis lunch jalan ke konjen, sambil nunggu foto2 di tengah jalan gak jelas, terus masuk ke anti-cruelty center, liat gugug2 dan kucing2 yang diadopsikan...so cute. so...kasihan. balik ke konjen terus balik ke watertower. naik trolley gratis ke lincoln park zoo...huahahha...niatnya sih ke navy pier, kok nyasar ke sana ya. tapi gak papa lah...foto2 diantara bunga2 lucu juga. lanjut naik bis ke millenium park. anak2 pada main air di pancurannya...hihihi jadi inget jaman dulu suka main sprinkler di bleecker st. playground on hudson.

eniwei. dari sana ke loop. mau liat city dari atas. naik purple line. baru sebentar liat krispy kreme. u know lah..my obsession w krispie kreme. so turunlah kita. unfortunately original glazednya abis. huuuaaaa sedih. untung masih bisa titip lala though.

lanjut. naik red line ke watertower lagi buat ketemuan pasukan fulbright baru plus tri plus lala. makan thai di dao on ohio & fairbanks. enak deh. murah meriah pula. abis makan, jalan ke borders lagi, sambil tunggu jemputan. what a loooong day.

tunggu belum selesai. sampai di kampung around midnite. jalan dulu anter rita ke clark st. terus ke locust. nginep di etta. akhirnya tidur juga.

12 hours in chicago. seru, rame, different.

day 3
7.30 am. bangun lagi. jalan balik ke apt. mulailah unpacking & beres2. males jelasinnya. tapi kebayang kan capenya? sambil sakit peyut pula. berdiri aja rasanya udah sakit & lemes. masak lhoo tadi saya. hot & sour soup. tapi kok banyakan sour-nya ya? akhirny tambahin kecap manis aja deh tuuu. ya udah. segitu dulu deh. sore makan di za's bareng sopir sejati.

day 4
besok ke walmart kali ya? musti beli rak buku nih. kemarin ada yang murah di sana. hehe. oiya..kok kayanya kacamata gw ilang yah? hiks hiks

capeeeeekkk

Day After the Storm

2005-08-06T11:45:00.000-05:00

My first days in Champaign, after my short trip back to Jakarta, were unbearably hot. I couldn’t believe that summer in the States was crazier than the hot humid weather in Jakarta. The sun was really strong, and as Jamie Cullum or Radiohead would say, it was really ‘High & Dry.’ To make things worse, the apartment I’m temporarily staying in (just for this month) has no air conditioning! So you can imagine how that felt. I tried not to complain, and made the best out of the worst situation. I bought a box fan to make things a little cooler (although it didn't help much). Nevertheless, for me, staying at Nevada is still a much better alternative than staying at my air-conditioned apartment at Armory!

Then came the day of the thunderstorm. That day, I was working on my research project at the Union. By 7.00 pm I was ready to head out, grab some dinner, then walk back home. After packing my laptop, books, and other belongings I walked to the door. Suddenly, heavy rain swept the area. The rain was soooo heavy that you barely could see anything. I was like thick fog. Then the building alarm system went off and the main doors of the Union were guarded. Nobody was allowed to leave the building, and everyone was advised to seek shelter in the basement. Although it didn’t seem like a big deal, crazy ideas swept through my head. What if the storm lasted for some time, and we were left starved in the basement? What if the building was hit by a tornado, and things became a wreck? How was I supposed to get home? It’s wet, raining, cold, and I don’t even have an umbrella with me! I tried to stay calm, but so many “what ifs” were racing across my mind. Fortunately the storm didn’t last long, and within less than an hour the building administrators informed us it was safe to leave the building.

Amazingly, the days after the storm became much much cooler. It was great. I even slept soundlessly without turning on my box fan. It’s a miracle! Now all I have to worry about is the minimal lighting in this room. But ‘temperature’wise, I’m not complaining anymore.

The moral of the story? Sometimes it does take a storm to make things better. You need to be hit by a tornado, struck by lightning, fall to the ground, and shatter into shambles before you to learn to pick up the pieces, mend yourself, stand straight, and walk with dignity again. This time you walk a stronger wiser and better person. Hopefully :)