MY RESPOND TO STUDENT BRAWLS

As an Indonesian student myself, I would like to express my deepest condolences to victims of student brawls last week. I sincerely hope that education institution can help by taking actions to prevent this from happening again in the future, and to create a safe and nurturing educational atmosphere among all students in our beautiful country. 

First of all, I am writing this in english so that others from outside of my country can learn from what has happened in here, and I am writing this in education point of view only. I do not mean to make my country looks bad, but I do want my country to be a better place. 

In my opinion, the student brawls tragedy is a sign of the country's educational failure. This can be seen by how most of us are being pushed so hard to reach academical success whilst forgetting to take notice of our characteristics development. 

There is Ujian Nasional (UAN, or National Examinations), an event for all 6th, 9th, and 12th graders that will determine their academical ability. The ones who aren't able to reach the passing grades will lose their access to continue their education on the higher grade, not to mention labeled as 'failures', in a smooth way that is. But still, in most cases failures from reaching the standards cause many psychological breakdowns that may lead victims to violence and even suicidal actions. 

From an experience of a friend who went to Japan for student exchange program, he was surprised to see that he was the smartest student in his class. We all know that Japan is a well-developed country, so he thought curriculum in Japan is harder than in Indonesia. This made him questioned his country's educational system, which uses curriculum that is considered hard for most, but our country's development is still stagnant while Japan has already moved on far from us. In fact, some intelligent people in here, sadly, fell to corruption and terrorism cases. 

He also noticed how polite everyone is in Japan, and how discipline they are. Everybody is busy, but they know that they have responsibilities to carry with. So what do you guys think?

Our educational system uses high standard that has been proven to create intelligent people our country can rely with, but in fact, some of them are lacking of character, which lead these people into crimes that eventually make our country remains stagnant. 

Also, I came from a private school that is, luckily, very supportive to their plural students that carry different gifts such as science, arts, sports and all. Teachers in my school are very passionate to teach, so besides giving us lessons they are also very firm in case of their students' behaviors. This can be a bit annoying sometimes to be honest (hehe), but I know that the reason why they are doing it is for our own good, and I am very grateful to be there, because my school has shaped my present character. 

However, sadly, some students out there aren't as lucky as I am. In some other schools, there are teachers (who aren't so passionate in teaching and being misplaced due to the economy, perhaps?) use violence to teach their students. I've witnessed this myself when I was at elementary school. A friend of mine couldn't play any musical instruments, and at the music class he was joking around by playing random notes on the keys. Unfortunately, out music teacher was really angry when he heard that. He came to my friend and kicked him in front of other students. I regret that I didn't do anything that time, because I was also scared. 

My point from the past memory is, teachers are meant to teach, either in academical and characteristic aspects. Teacher is a 'role model' for students, because students will carry their teachings for the rest of their life. If teacher used violent in his/her teaching methods in the first place, what would the students be? 

Besides violence, there are also teachers that focus only on their students' academical achievements, so they do not care if their students fight or mock each other outside of their class. Yes, this leads to violence among students too and that is obvious, I think. 

So how can our citizen helps us to prevent the student brawls from happening again? There are TONS of ways, I believe. We can create educative programs that are fun for all and beneficial for students involved in them. I have some ideas of my own and I would like to share them in here, either.

1. JOURNALISM FOR YOUTHS. I heard from some of my social student friends that they are interested in journalism, so I think, why not create a special media for students? Those top local television channels or newspapers can create at least weekly program that involves students, chosen or volunteered from different schools, as they can experience being in journalism world by being cameramen, presenter, journalists, editors and so on. The topics they have to present should be educative, too, like local cultures (since we have tons of them), local travel sites, and so on.

2. TEENAGE MILITARY. Those who are involved in student brawls must have so many energies yet they use them in a wrong way. And through teenage military, they can use their energies in a good way, as long as the military practices themselves are nurturing for the students. This has been applied on other countries, and perhaps if the government decided to open dorms for students who wanted to join the youth military, that can help them protect our country too. Benefits to all!

3. TEENS REACT, INDONESIAN STYLE. I enjoy that youtube channel! Teens React choses teenagers and give them a particular video for them to respond to. Now, perhaps our top local channel can create similar programs, using volunteering students and airing their respond to particular videos that can help them think critically, such as corruption cases, bullying cases, the beauty of our country's nature being destroyed, and so on. Using positive topics like our rich cultures or different and unique traditional children games from all over the country may work too, of course.

4. SCIENCE RESEARCH FOR STUDENTS. We all know that Indonesia is rich in natural sources and all, so why not develop them into something that is beneficial for our folks as well as our nature itself? There are tons of students that are especially interested in science (I'm one of them) and our local top universities, such as Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) or Universitas Indonesia (UI) can create a big event by choosing participants from different schools (both public schools and private schools to make it fair). The program can create groups of students that will make different research as they must present their result after the deadline.

5. INDONESIAN (YOUNG) LAWYERS CLUB. I've talked about a program for science students, so now let's take this from social student's side. Indonesian Lawyers Club is one of the most favorite programs in here, so why not give it a chance for youths? Since social students are very critical in case of politics, economics and so on, this should help them develop their ability to think critically and to communicate properly in public event.


Hope this helps. Good day to all of you! Selamat malam :)

BIG BROTHER

Life gets interesting when you meet people and you eventually realize there is no such thing as coincidence in the relationship you build with them. This happens to me many times, and now I'm going to share one of my experiences related to this :)

I was an active member of a group in a social network that consists of crystalline folks like myself. One day, someone gave a comment on a post I also responded to. While reading his comment, my intuition rang a bell inside my mind as I came to a conclusion that this guy may be related to me at some ways, so I followed my instinct and added him. 

As he approved, I messaged him to say how familiar he seemed to me, although at that time I was not so certain since we met through the internet and it wasn't possible to see him in person because we lived in different sides of the planet. As we continued our conversations I figured out later that he is familiar with Ancient Egypt while I also came from there in one of my past lives. I couldn't see a clear image of our relation at that moment (because past-life readings work best for me if I can have direct eye, or palm contact with the subject), but we kept chatting and chatting about tons of things (mostly about philosophy, our thoughts on the government and systems and not to mention our strange experiences) and we eventually got to know each other very well, and day by day the feeling that a connection exists was getting stronger.

Later when we began to know each other, I recalled my past memories, pulling the time back to the ancient time. And in that vision I saw a man summoning something I assumed as one of the gods (although I couldn't see a clear image my assumption came from the vivid appearance of the wings; they were gold-like). The man, I thought, was this guy I've been talking to, because he is still a natural exorcist, as this must be related to what I saw. 

After weeks of our endless conversations I received another vivid dream of being in a room full of books and scripts while listening to a man with white shirt who was talking about humanity and stuffs. His voice was so clear but I can't remember anything he said by the time I woke up. I messaged my friend to informed him about my dream, only to find out that the man was himself, because he kept lots of books and scripts and he tend to rant when talking (that can be a reason why he sounded so clear but I forgot everything he said). In the plane of reality he wasn't conscious of my astral presence, though, but that marks his first appearance in my dreams. 

It didn't take that much of time until he also informed something that excited me since it sounded really awesome. This is what he said:

To my surprise the classroom dream was similar to a quick vision I had the night before I received this message, and since it was a vision I was rather conscious about it, and perhaps that is why I was excited to see him there.

As the dreams happened to both of us and we began to be aware of the strong connection, we figured that we must be more than just cousins or so. He must be my past life brother, regarding the fact that he has a different character but still share similarities with me. He took a role as a shape-shifter while I have what he called as mild spirit, perhaps expressing female energy while he is expressing male in our family relationship.

It was also through him that I searched deeper information about my past lives, especially to a past life that is very significant to me; a role as a princess in an ancient kingdom that was once standing so marvelously on my current country.  Through that past life, I gained my ability to heal naturally, to connect with spirits and to 'travel' with my astral body. I also learned deeper about spiritual developments in Bali, which is one of the most sacred place on earth. Without our conversations both of us wouldn't have known. We learn so much from each other.

What's even funnier is that we both decided to take some break from spiritual developments for a while (focusing on the plane of reality before getting ready for the big shift) whilst not telling each other about it before I eventually messaged him to inform that I'll be busy so I won't be available for some time. It's funny because somehow our minds are still connected because we have so many similar thoughts at the same time yet we are still unaware about that sometimes.

We both concluded later that this phenomenon of reuniting with members of past life family is now happening worldwide, as we slowly begin to raise our consciousness for the past as a part of the present and the future, and consciousness for connections to everyone we meet. Thus, all of us will be aware that we are actually one and we can never get separated from one and another. We must help each other, we must love each other, and the most important thing of all, love ourselves.

Namaste!

NATURE IS ALIVE IN ALL ASPECTS; CRYSTALS

I think I haven't post anything in English for a while, so as discussing about spirituality because I was too home sick, so most of my posts were about my far-away hometown. So I decided to write one of my amazing experience this month. 

Some part of nature doesn't have thinking capacity or living cells or breath, but nature is alive. Everything existed in nature has some purposes, including some things we least expect, such as crystals!

Crystals are commonly used for jewelries and other beauty products or decorations, but some of us have no idea what can they do to these crystals  other than beauty, yet. 

My dad worked at a mining company for approximately 20 years, so he received many crystals and stones as gifts even tho mining was not his department during the work. I am always fascinated for whatever he brought home; I recognized later that most of the crystals he carried are pyrites (also known as "fool's gold" because it has a gold-like sparkling color), some others are these glass-like crystals (which I guess later as clear quartz), coral-like white crystal (perhaps an aragonite) and a medium-sized beautiful silver-like stone that is still mysterious. I never knew these stones could be used for spiritual purpose, but I kept some at my room to enjoy their beauty. 

This year, I finally came to a realization about what can I do for these crystal gifts, thanks to this video:

And I eventually felt the urge to buy some gemstones, which purposes is to protect spiritually (because I got attacked few times and it kept me from having a good night sleep) and to 'fix' my heart chakra that was kinda 'injured', causing my empath to work improperly. I started to do some savings (I wouldn't dare to ask my parents for it). 

I looked for some informations about gemstones and their metaphysical powers as I came to a decision to pick lapis lazuli because it suits me best. I came to the only metaphysical store I know in town, seeing so many colorful crystals in all forms, including pyrites and medium-sized clear quartz (and they were really expensive whilst all of the pyrites my dad could get were all free. I'm so thankful :p). Unfortunately, metaphysical stores in my country aren't like those in the US, that provides crystals from all types and forms including the pocket ones that are considered more cheaper. The store only provided crystals in forms of medium-sized and large stones, kilograms, bracelets and necklace. And lapis lazuli was also pretty expensive!

My eyes stopped at a bracelet that which consisted of different gemstones: clear quartz, aventurine, amethyst, agate, rose quartz, tiger eye, and blue chalcedony. I remembered that these stones provide everything I needed in the first place even tho there is no lapis lazuli in there: balancing and clearing heart chakra, healing, protection, and some more. It was sold in a considerable price too, so the stone became mine.

One thing that I didn't know, and I learned from the store is that when you buy a crystal you have to dedicate it by 'cleaning' it with a singing bowl (a bowl that provides beautiful voice if you put a crystal in it and rub it with a special wand) and take the crystal out of the bowl by yourself. Pretty interesting to know, eh?

Of course I wouldn't stop here if I don't mention anything about spirituality. I've been wearing the bracelet for the entire week (including bed time) to see if it does make some change. And my answer is, it actually does! How?

In the first night when I got these gemstones, I was sleeping peacefully whist having a great dream (without any attack), seeing a huge loving eye in the sky as I could feel a serene atmosphere surrounding me. During the days with this bracelet, my sensitivity to people grew back, and I feel the pain from my swelling heart chakra was decreasing. I feel the care of others came back to me again, and I can concentrate better in class (I had an ADD that sometimes keeps me from focusing on a certain amount of time). I also did what the Spirit Science told me to do: putting my crystals under the sun, including the ones from my dad. When I wore my bracelet back the energy is running through my body and soul; it became more powerful! I also put the bracelet into a glass of water (another thing that Spirit Science told me), leave it there for a couple of hours before I drank it and feel the positive difference making my day. 

I also did an experiment by putting my med-sized clear quartz and aragonite under my pillow when I was about to sleep, not yet discovered further information about these crystals. Before I fell into a deep sleep I saw very vivid images of the grown-up me in mid 20s, my far-away friends, and some others, as I eventually came to a lesson I get that clear quartz helps you tune in with other frequencies (I suppose the past and the future are frequencies too) while aragonite gives you the feeling of comfort. Last night when I still did this, and before I completely fell asleep, I also feel a vivid presence of my guardian standing on the right side of the bed (I can tell because the pressure in my right ear was increasing as I saw a blurry pink light). It's been a while since I talked to him last, so we drifted into a very clear telepathic conversation (no usual disconnection and distraction).

So those are some of my experiences with crystals. If you have different experiences, I would love to hear them out! If you wanna buy some crystals and feel the difference on your own, please, go ahead! They are worth to keep! :)

Namaste!

DI BALIK KOTA TEMBAGA

Maaf ya kalo udah pada bosen karena belakangan aku cerita tentang masa-masa SMP mulu hehe, maklum belakangan home sick parah.Tapi kayaknya aku belom pernah cerita tentang apa saja yang ada di Tembagapura, what makes it so special. Memang belakangan kita sering dengar tentang kerusuhan yang kerap terjadi disitu, tapi apa salahnya sih bercerita tentang sisi positif sesuatu? :)

Sporthall Tembagapura

Suatu sore di tikungan jalan menuju Hidden Valley.  

Pemandangan depan rumahku yang tercintah

PANORAMA

Tempat lalu-lalang bus yang mistik, dan juga tempat yang sering dilewati para pejalan kaki di pagi hari. Sebenarnya Panorama itu hanya jalanan, yang sunyi dan dikelilingi oleh bukit-bukit berhutan. Di salah satu bukitnya, ada jalan petak yang hanya bisa dilewati orang asli, karena jalan itu menghubungkan Tembagapura dengan pedalaman. Tempat ini juga rawan longsor, makanya bahaya kalo lewat situ selama musim hujan.  

Persis di bawah panorama ada sungai yang sering dijadikan tempat main anak-anak Agute (sayang sekali aku nggak punya fotonya karena lokasinya lumayan ekstrim untuk membawa alat elektronik). Setiap kali ke sana sama teman-teman, kura-kuraku pun, yang sangat terkenal di Tembagapura karena sering aku bawa-bawa, dibawa serta, dan biasanya kami membuat bedungan kecil buat ngelepasin dia sejenak dari kandang yang kekecilan. 

Nostalgia: Waktu kelas 9, guru Biology kami memilih Panorama untuk praktek 'stem', karena Panorama memang 'kaya pepohonan'. Akhirnya kita sana ramai-ramai, tapi praktek hanya dilakukan selama kurang lebih 5 menitan hahaha. Sisanya kami malah foto-foto dan main-main :p Seusai praktek, bus kota yang waktu itu hanya berisi 3 orang kebetulan lewat tempat itu, dan akhirnya kami memutuskan untuk kembali ke sekolah dengan bus, mumpung rutenya memang melewati sekolah kami.

Setibanya di halte sekolah, Manfred (temen sekelas terajaib yang pernah aku punya), tiba-tiba teriak "Oi! Semuanya pencet bel, ok??" Dan akhirnya semua bel yang ada dalam bis itu kami pencet bersama-sama (entah bagaimana nasib bel itu sekarang). Yang penting kami tiba dengan selamat di sekolah, dan yang terpenting, akhirnya lulus 100%.

Ini foto-fotonya. Foto jalanan Panoramanya masih di hp lama, belum dipindahin. Nanti kalo udah pasti diupload ulang kok :)

Pas praktek biology. Anak-anak cowoknya malah pada kabur -_-

Rex, si artis mungil di Tembagapura, menikmati kebebasan sejenak di kalinya Panorama yang sedang tenang.

AIR TERJUN

Kalo mau kesini, siap-siap capek, apalagi bagi yang nggak biasa sama jalan tanjakan, soalnya Air Terjun hanya bisa diakses lewat jalan kecil yang bener-bener menanjak. Pas di belokan menuju Air Terjun, ada Flying Fox yang jaraknya cuma 5 meteran (dan akhirnya menjadi bahan lelucon buat teman-teman di angkatan), juga 'jalan'. kenapa kata jalan itu aku kutip? soalnya sebenarnya nggak ada jalan disitu, hanya ada gundukan tanah licin berlumut dan sejenis rawa. Kalau beruntung, sebenarnya jalan ini bisa dilewati mobil, tapi dalam waktu-waktu tertentu saja. Kadang untuk alasan yang aku tidak ketahui tempat ini juga sering ditutup. 

Kalau tidak longsor, air terjun adalah tempat yang sangat teramat indah; airnya yang bersih dan alami mengucur dengan deras dan membentuk danau yang dalam di bawahnya. Dulu pas aku kecil, ada kapal-kapalan dari gabus disini, bisa dipakai untuk mengarungi danau air terjun yang dalam. 

Di bagian atas dari air terjun itu sendiri, ada tempat yang sering dijadikan markas rahasia buat anak-anak cowok. Biasanya kalo mau kesana, mereka bawa ikan/ayam mentah buat dibakar di markas dan disantap bersama-sama. Waktu itu cewe-cewe di angkatan diajak ikut, tapi sayang nggak ada yang bisa. Walau begitu kami sudah melihat tempat misterius itu seperti apa; disana ada pondok kecil yang disusun dari ranting-ranting dan tempat buat api yang barangkali dipakai untuk bakar daging. 

Sebenarnya susah mendapatkan restu dari orangtua kalo mau kesana hahahaha. Nggak bisa disalahkan karena tempatnya juga esktrim, banyak batu-batuan besar disana. Sekalinya longsor gawat juga, kan. Untung selama kunjungan aku kesana, nggak pernah ada yang kenapa-kenapa. 

Denger-denger sekarang sudah ada tangga buat para 'wisatawan' yang ingin menikmati keindahan Air Terjun. Tapi aku belum pernah lihat, berhubung tangganya masih baru dan aku udah nggak bisa kembali kesana. Sejujurnya sih, buat aku, yang menaiki tangga itu nggak akan merasakan serunya berciprat-cipratan di air yang sangat teramat dingin dan jernih itu, dan memanjat bebatuannya yang raksasa dan licin penuh tantangan. 

Saran umum bagi para 'pemula' di Tembagapura yang mau ke Air Terjun adalah, jangan pake baju yang bagus! (Sebenernya sih, selama di Tembagapura emang nggak usah pake baju yang bagus-bagus amat hehe. No one cares, dan ujung-ujungnya anda akan terkena cipratan lumpur atau air hujan yang turun tiap sore atau debu dan lain sebagainya :P)

Ini ada beberapa foto Air Terjun dari kunjungan aku yang terakhir kalinya. Sayang waktu itu Air Terjun habis kelongsoran, jadi danaunya tertutup oleh batu-batu. 

Disini, aku memang kaya dan bahagia. 

Waktu itu habis longsor, jadi danaunya dangkal.

BATU BESAR (BATBES)

Siapa sih anak Tembagapura yang nggak tau BatBes? Anak Agute dan para anak expat pun suka memanjati batu raksasa ini. Tempat piknik, tempat nangkring pas libur, dan juga (yang menyedihkannya) tempat buat ngerokok -_- BatBes juga selalu dipenuhi sampah di salah satu sisinya. Semoga orang-orang tolol yang nggak bertanggung jawab itu sekarang sadar mengapa orang-orang di seluruh dunia sedang menyuarakan pentingnya gerakan 'go green'. 

Sebenarnya banyak yang melarang anak-anak untuk memanjati BatBes, tapi tetap saja banyak yang berkunjung kesana. Memang nggak bisa disalahin, di atas batu itu kita bisa melihat seluruh pesona kota sambil menikmati santapan dari Shopping Center bersama kawan-kawan. 

Aku inget betapa asyiknya main umpet-umpetan sama security, mobil, bus, dan ibu-ibu yang suka lewat hahaha! Karena kalo ketangkap basah pasti disuruh turun. Untung batu itu lumayan gede untuk menampung banyak anak yang ingin bersembunyi sejenak. 

Gampang sebenarnya memanjati batu ini, karena ada beberapa bagian datar yang enak dijadiin pijakan kaki. Turunnya pun lebih asik lagi, tinggal merosot sampai ke bawah. 

Curhat sedikit. Waktu terakhir kali ke BatBes, aku sendirian karena temen-temen seangkatan nggak  ada yang lagi berkunjung kesitu. Sedih banget deh pokoknya, karena waktu kesana sama anak-anak Agute seangkatan berasa banget serunya. Lebih sedih lagi pas lihat beberapa batang rokok di sisi kanan batu itu. 

BatBes punya adek, yaitu BatSed (Batu Sedang). Letaknya nggak jauh-jauh amet dari BatBes. Tapi, walaupun ukurannya lebih kecil dari BatBes, BatSed justru lebih susah dipanjati karena permukaannya datar, nggak kayak BatBes yang punya pijakan-pijakan.

Surga kecil yang terlalu malu untuk menampakkan dirinya.

"Ketika kamu sedang berada di atas, jangan lupa menengok ke bawah."

Raymond, temen berantem dan becandaan pas SMP, di atas batbes pas kunjungan terakhir kami disana..

Aku, di atas sebongkah batu, yang besar bagiku dan kecil bagi dunia.

TANGGA SERIBU

Ada banyak cerita misterius tentang tempat ini. Ada yang bilang tempat ini dikerumuni hantu lah, tuyul lah, etc. Tangga Seribu merupakan tempat 'uji nyali'nya anak-anak setempat. Lokasinya berada di Hidden Valley, kompleks besar yang letaknya persis di atas gunung, lain dengan Tembagapura yang ada di lembah. Maka dari itu, disana udaranya lebih dingin. 

Kembali ke Tangga Seribu. Sekarang sih tempat itu sudah di-banned karena tangganya yang mulai lapuk dan dikerumuni lumut tebal. Sebenarnya sih nggak pernah ada yang tahu kenapa tempat itu didirikan. Dan kayaknya pas kecil aku pernah melewati tempat itu sampai ke ujungnya, tapi lupa-lupa inget gitu. Yang aku inget adalah, di ujung sana ada jembatan kayu yang sangat sempit, dan aura sekitar Tangga Seribu memang terasa mencekam, bikin merinding. Barangkali karena tempat itu sangat teramat sepi dan jauh dari kerumunan orang, juga lingkungannya dipenuhi dengan lumut dan pohon-pohon kurus tinggi. 

Persis di depan Tangga Seribu, ada playground yang anehnya, jarang banget dipakai untuk main. Jadi emang berasa banget suasanya creepy-nya. Menurut rumor penduduk sekitar, dan juga cerita seorang teman sekelas yang dulu apartmentnya berhadap-hadapan dengan Tangga Seribu dan Play Ground aneh tadi, kakaknya pernah melihat sosok anak perempuan duduk di salah satu ayunan yang ada disana sambil bergumam nggak jelas. Benar atau tidak, aku tidak tahu. Tapi kalaupun benar, suasanya tempat itu memang sangat mendukung. 

Hidden Valley - Serpihan berlian di penghujung hari. 

AYUNAN TERAS

Kompleks Teras letaknya dekat dengan Shopping Center Tembagapura dan juga Lupa Lelah Club (LLC), tempat bar, dining dan brunch high class. Sebenarnya tempat ini nggak semenarik play ground di sekolah, bahkan sesungguhnya nggak semenarik play ground sepi di Hidden Valley. Tapi entah kenapa ayunan itu jadi tempat favoritnya anak-anak sekolahan. Barangkali karena lokasinya strategis, dan mudah dikunjungi. Dulu pas SMP tempat ini dijadikan ajang 'swing fight' sama temen-temen se-gengku; Amy, Imel, Pricil. Kadang suka ada yang ikut serta dengan kami. Oya, ini foto gila mereka:

Harap maklum, waktu itu kami barusan UAN.

Persis di atas ayunan dan di depan shopping, ada tempat nangkring favoritnya anak-anak lagi, yaitu lokasi parkiran mobil shopping, hehe. Tapi wajar jadi lokasi favorit, karena disitu kita bisa menikmati seluruh pemandangan Tembagapura yang terpapar di bawah kaki-kaki gunung.

GENTENG YPJ

Anak-anak pada demen manjatin genteng ini. Kurang kerjaan emang, tapi nggak bisa disalahkan juga karena somehow tempat itu mengasikkan hahaha. Mau junior kek, senior kek, pasti pernah berpijak di genteng itu (dan ditegur Pak Lazarus atau guru-guru lain yang lewat). Ajaibnya, genteng itu nggak pernah rubuh, walaupun udah diinjekin angkatan demi angkatan.

Sebenernya genteng itu merupakan bagian dari sekolah expat yang kecil (karena mereka emang cuma sedikit) dan terbukti sangat kuat untuk menampung beberapa orang datasnya, bahkan yang penuh lemak kayak diriku dulu (puji Tuhan sekarang langsingan :p).

Selama nggak diinjek pas hujan sih, nggak masalah. Kalo ngga ya sama aja cari mati wkwkwk. Tapi ad saatnya juga genteng itu bisa berumur, syukur aku masih sempat berpijak di atas situ.

Break kegiatan Eco Painting di genteng, mumpung cerah. 

KALI PALAPA

Hmm, nggak banyak yang tau tentang tempat ini sih, barangkali malah cuma aku dan beberapa anak sekompleks yang tahu. Lokasinya tersembunyi soalnya; persis di belakang rumah kecil yang terletak di sebuah jalan buntu. Sayangnya, aku nggak punya foto tempat itu, tapi Kali Palapa adalah bagian dari masa kecil anak-anak Palapa lama. 

Kenapa demikian? Dulu kali itu jernih airnya, meskipun kecil. Jadi sering dipakai buat (sekali lagi), melepaskan si kura-kura fenomenal Tembagapura kepunyaan aku, ciprat-cipratan dikit, atau sekedar main kapal-kapalan kertas. Dulu rumah kecil itu dihuni guru sempoa aku, jadi kalo udah selesai tinggal nangkring ke kali sama anak-anak les lainnya untuk menikmati senja. (oya, sebenernya kura-kura fenomenal itu pun adalah pemberian guru sempoa aku :D)

Kalaupun nggak les, rumah aku berdekatan sekali dengan kali, dan sahabat aku, Amy, tinggal di satu jalan dimana kali itu berada. Jadi kali itu merupakan tempat kami mengekspresikan diri sebagai bocah-bocah SD. 

Sekarang tempat itu sudah berlumut. Terus denger-denger, ada beberapa ular disitu, jadi harus hati-hati. 

Demikian untuk saat ini, selamat menikmati hidup.

(note: beberapa foto di atas adalah milik orang lain; beberapa di antaranya adalah hasil potretan Claudia Astrid Mahler, fotografernya angkatan TA (2009/2010). Maaf ya clau nggak minta izin dulu!)

BULAN BAHASA

Di sa pu tempat dulu, sa pu sekolah punya acara tiap taun, de pu nama Bulan Bahasa. Di acara itu pace-mace di sa pu sekolah ikut lomba-lomba macam bikin puisi, bikin cerpen, bikin goyang panggung, dan seterusnya. 

Satu kali begini, waktu itu sa su kelas 9 toh, baru guru-guru suruh sa ikut. Sa macam malas ale, tapi guru-guru dong macam paksa sa begitu.

"Kamu ikutan aja! Lumayanlah dapet pengalaman."

"Ah males ah bu, paling hadiahnya buku tulis lagi kan." (buku tulis itu tipikal hadiah kalo ko menang lomba di sa pu sekolah)

"Jangan mikirin hadiahnya dong! Buat seru-seruan aja."

Sa mengalah jadi sa ikut, hajar sudah. Akhirnya sa ikut lomba menulis surat dalam Bahasa Inggris dengan lomba puisi. 

Bulan Bahasa dibuka dengan Marching Band seperti biasa. Sa dulu anggota toh, sa pegang alat paling canggih ini de pu nama multitom. Baru setelah main satu lagu, seperti biasa kita main percussion (performancenya percussions, terdiri dari multitom, senar, symbal dengan bass drum). Karena sa masuk di percussion sa ikut main baru sa solo. 

Baru pas sa su solo dong lanjut toh, tapi entah mengapa pas su mo selesai sa dengar macam ada yang salah ini. Bah kenapa senar main lama sampe, sa pikir begitu, sementara yang bukan percussions seperti bendera, marching bell deng mayoret nari-nari toh macam biasa. Dong juga bingung baru tiba-tiba semua berhenti ini, baru karena kita semua diam semua penonton juga diam baru liat kita. 

Kita semua su malu toh jadi kita diam saja di lapangan Sport Hall, baru satu kali ada satu anak ni dia teriak keras-keras "YAY!" Jadi yang lain ikut. Mayoret tiga ketawa-ketawa baru seperti biasa dong maju buat pose baru hormat, tapi muka semua su merah ini. Aih, malu se. 

Baru karena sa deng mace-pace di sa pu angkatan su kelas 9, kita butuh dana buat senior party toh, baru kita cari dana dengan cara jualan-jualan di sekolah tiap istirahat, tapi mumpung ada Bulan Bahasa kita jualan besar-besaran di sana. Waktu itu dong bikin acara di Sport Hall jadi, kita punya banyak kesempatan buat dapat dana. 

Awalnya kita su bikin rencana mau jualan crepes, pop corn, batagor, soda, chiki, tapi tong kabualan sampe tara ada yang bisa masak crepes malah jadi macam kue serabi begitu. Sa lagi yang bikin. Tapi ade-ade deng guru-guru dong semua suka jadi habis ini. Mungkin karena di sa pu sekolah kantin kekurangan dana kah, jadi dong pu jualan sedikit sekali baru orang-orang di sekolah su bosan. Kasian, ale.

Baru pas sa masak ini, ada ade-ade kecil lewat toh, sa langsung bicara deng mereka:

"E ade, ko mau kue kah? Enak ini."

Mereka liat sa lama baru lari macam baru liat setan begitu. Bah, sa pu salah dimana lagi. Akhirnya guru musik sa yang bantu. (Beliau wali kelas 9 yang satunya, su kerja di sa pu sekolah lama sekali)

Acara su mau selesai toh, jadi panitia langsung beri tahu pengumuman pemenang-pemenang lomba. Pas su pengumuman lomba menulis surat, sa pu nama dipanggil, ternyata juara satu. Sa su bayangkan toh 'ah paling kadonya buku tulis baru dong bungkus dengan kertas coklat.' Tapi yang sa dapat selain sertifikat bentuknya macam kotak, jadi jelas bukan buku tulis. Tapi dong tetap bungkus sa pu hadiah dengan kertas coklat. 

Awalnya sa su senang toh, sa su harap dapat hadiah yang bisa bikin sa teriak 'ungkanga!', jadi sa buka langsung disaksikan sa pu teman-teman...

...baru...

...ternyata...

...hadiahnya...

...tempat minum. warna biru. dengan tali. dengan gambar singa deng sapi. 

DENGAN DOT.

Pokoknya begitulah, pace deng mace. Sa pu nasib kasian sekali selama Bulan Bahasa. Tapi sa rindu sekali dengan sekolah pu acara ini. Sa rindu semuanya, apalagi teman-teman TA.

Kangen banget!!!

A BREAKTHROUGH

Forget about the previous post but I'm going to keep it there as a prove of my progress in the future. 

Well, it IS hard to be different, isn't it? I mean, everyone is different, but some of us just feel too different to be a part of the society sometimes.

I have to say this is not one of the toughest years I had, but instead, one of the most challenging years for me. I think 2012 is actually a big 'exercise', as I have to think so many things at once: school, future career, self spiritual development, physical health (that seems to be getting worse) but I eventually found answers.

I have decided to take Biotech or Foodtech as my major in college and that's final (I know I've mentioned taking engineering but turns out that I have more interest in biology/chemistry lab works instead of physics) If I'm lucky enough to have the opportunity to get 'Undangan' (some kind of a 'way' to be accepted at a great public college without tests), I'll probably consider putting med school too as a first choice and foodtech as a second choice, but I'm still not sure. As for now, I'm one of the school's candidates for scholarship opportunity at a global campus that has the best facilities among all colleges in my country. I'm glad to hear from the admin that my chance to get the scholarship is still huge because I was in an early admission. But we still don't know whether I can get it or not, though, so I don't hope much for now. I have this dream of traveling around the world, participating in Switzerland to do researches, working at huge companies such as Unilever or Nestle, and best of all, 'living' in laboratories! So my to-do list for now is: study hard. 

Self spiritual development? I really don't know how I work at it. Sometimes I have some downs and some ups along my spiritual journey. The downs are mostly loneliness and struggles through nightmares and the lack of opportunity to develop but I somehow 'heard' a stranger in one of my vision saying "if I can repel curses, other cases are small enough for me to handle." (as for the curse I might discuss about it later. I just remember I haven't talk anything about it here) As for the ups, I honestly have no idea what makes me so happy sometimes. Sometimes instead of nightmares, I have great dreams that I hardly remember. But I know that the dreams involve my loved ones; those who have passed away like my dog Robin and my ex-US vet grandpa, and those who are still here but are mostly separated from me due to distance. And regarding to this I've decided to keep using my abilities. I know the world is 'shifting' and I want to be a part of the new age evolution. And anyway, "Maktub".

Health issues, health issues, health issues. I understand why I'm pretty weak in the city which is a contrast to my health condition in Papua. I'm allergic to dust and I can't stand heat. I'm also sensitive to others' feelings and I understand most people here are stressed out so I kinda feel what they feel, and it affects my current health condition too. For this reason and some others, I think I have the urge to buy some metaphysical gemstones.

Namaste!~