Stories of Popshie

Naga Kayu

2012-01-03T13:35:00.001+07:00

Hai!

I am in my home rite now. I just got this email from my friend, telling me about our zodiac.This is so funny. Although I hardly believe in that kind of prophecy, but I then figure it out some of it is true. =)

Dimulai	Berakhir	Jenis Unsur
16 Februari 1904	3 Februari 1905	Kayu
3 Februari 1916	22 Januari 1917	Api
23 Januari 1928	9 Februari 1929	Tanah
8 Februari 1940	26 Januari 1941	Besi
27 Januari 1952	13 Februari 1953	Air
13 Februari 1964	1 Februari 1965	Kayu
31 Januari 1976	17 Februari 1977	Api
17 Februari 1988	5 Februari 1989	Tanah
5 Februari 2000	23 Januari 2001	Besi
23 Januari 2012	9 Februari 2013	Air
2024	2025	Kayu
2036	2037	Api

Shio Naga Tanah

Shio Naga Tanah adalah sosok pribadi yang menawan, suka bergaul, dan memiliki dorongan kuat untuk mengontrol keluarga dan masyarakat sekelilingnya. Ia adil dan menghargai pendapat orang, meski dia sendiri tidak sependapat. Ia realistis, mantap dan objektif, meski cenderung menaklukan sesamanya. Ia tegar, kuat bagai batu karang, tenang, tabah, dan perkasa. Kontrol dirinya kuat. Ia tak mau merendahkan martabatnya dengan mendebat orang yang kedudukannya lebih rendah. Namun, bila harga dirinya terusik, ia akn langsung membalas.

Luv,

Olivia

Resep dibalik Kebahagiaan

2011-01-17T11:08:00.002+07:00

Tips menjadi bahagian berdasarkan asam-garam hidup yang telah saya rasakan sendiri (halah). Tulisan ini sengaja saya buat untuk memotivias diri saya sendiri bila kehilangan arah.

1. Berhenti membanding-bandingkan diri sendiri dengan orang lain. Ingat setiap individu itu unik, mereka punya kelebihan dan kekurangannya sendiri. Tuhan telah merencanakan sendiri rezeki mereka masing-masing. Oleh karena itu, bersyukurlah atas apa yang telah kita miliki. Nikmati semua yang ada dalam kita.

2. Berjuang keras untuk mencapai suatu target! Jangan menyerah dan jangan menyerah! Suatu hari nanti yakinlah target tersebut pasti terwujud. Dan bila hal tersebut belum terwujud juga, jangan kecewa karena pasti ada suatu hal yang baik yang datang atas perjuangan kita berusaha mencapai target tersebut.

Sekian!

Olivia

Refleksi 2010

2011-01-13T08:13:00.002+07:00

It’s not my type actually to expose all the things which I got in 2010. Namun karena beberapa alasan tertentu, akhirnya saya menulis juga napaktilas perjalanan hidup saya di tahun 2010. Tulisan ini terutama merupakan ungkapan syukur kepada Tuhan karena telah memberikan banyak hal baik dalam hidup saya.

Berikut adalah napaktilas perjalan hidup saya di tahun 2010 (berdasarkan bulan):

January:
Di awal tahun 2010, saya membuka tahun di Melbourne - Australia bersama pacar. Melihat kemeriahan kembang api di area Dockland yang katanya memakan biaya jutaan dolar Australia tersebut merupakan suatu pengalaman yang sangat luar biasa bagi saya. Saya berterima kasih kepada Tuhan karena telah mengizinkan saya untuk menyicipi kehidupan sebagai seorang pelajar di Melbourne – Australia dari Peace Scholarship IDP program, mulai Agustus 2009 hingga Desember 2009. Karena masa studi saya di Swinburne University of Technology (tempat saya belajar) telah usai, maka saya dengan berat hati harus kembali ke Tanah Air. Tepat pada tanggal 12 Januari 2010, saya akhirnya kembali ke Medan dengan transit di Bali dan Jakarta. Belum sempat lama menikmati kembali atmosfer rumah, saya kembali berangkat ke luar negeri, kali ini ke Phuket – Thailand, bersama rombongan keluarga. Tujuan saya berangkat kali ini murni merupakan liburan sekaligus merayakan 25 tahun pernikahan orang tua saya. Hampir seluruh dana perjalana tersebut berasal dari dana sisa beasiswa saya di Australia. Seluruh itenary perjalanan dan penerbangan juga saya rancang sendiri tentunya.

Perjalanan 5 jam ke Bali dari Melbourne, sungguh menyiksa!

Saya harus membawa setumpuk barang pulang ke rumah.

Asyiknya liburan sekeluarganya. =)

Mom and Dad 25th Wedding Anniversary. =)

I'm still mom and dad lil girl. =)

Februari:
Pada awal Februari saya kembali lagi ke Depok untuk mengurus segala sesuatunya terkait tugas akhir saya sebagai mahasiswa yakni skripsi. Mengingat semester sebelumnya saya mengambil cuti demi program saya di Australia, maka semester ini ada banyak yang harus saya lakukan untuk dapat lulus tepat empat tahun. Pilihan satu-satunya yakni saya harus mengikuti mata kuliah SPM (Seminar Pemilihan Masalah) sebagai pra-syarat Skripsi dan juga skripsi pada semester yang bersamaan. Di bulan yang sama saya juga mulai ikut terlibat sebagai SUP (Supporter Unit Program) di sebuah think thank atau lebih cocok disebut konsultan kebijakan public bernama ‘Propatria Institute’. Tugas utama saya adalah membantu memaksimalkan pekerjaan para Project Officer untuk isu penyusunan draft UU Komponen Cadagangan. Pada prakteknya pekerjaan dari SUP ini sebenarnya adalah Transkrip dokumen dan Media Tracking.

Maret:
Di awal bulan Maret saya mendapat kabar dari US embassy Jakarta bahwa saya diterima sebagai peserta kegiatan Study at The United States Institute (SUSI) yang diadakan oleh Department of State US. Program ini ialah semacam Summer School mengenai isu Global Environmental Issues yang akan diadalah di University of Montana, Missoula. Akan tetapi, persyaratan agar saya dapat dikirim untuk kegiatan ini adalah saya diwajibkan untuk melanjutkan studi saya setidak-tidaknya satu semester setelah saya kembali. Setelah berpikir keras, akhrinya saya memutuskan untuk menunda masa kelulusan saya untuk dapat mengikuti program ini dengan pertimbangan bahwa saya masih disibukan dengan proposal skripsi, dengan pekejaan saya di Propatria dan terutama saya disiibukkan dengan upaya mencari sponsor untuk keberangkatan saya ke Beijing bulan April depan, dalam acara AIMUN (Asian International Model United Nations) yakni semacam simulasi sidang PBB dengan skala Asia.

April:
Tepat pada tanggal 01 April, saya akhirnya berangkat ke Beijing sebagai head delagete mewakili ISAFIS (Indonesia Student Association for International Studies) bersama dengan lima teman lain dari universitas yang berbeda-beda. Ada begitu banyak pengalaman seru tidak terlupakan selama saya berada di Beijing. Pakaian adat khas Indonesia yang kami bawa pada saat cultural performance terutama memancing perhatian hampir sebagian besar peserta. Sepulangnya dari Beijing, saya kembali disibukkan dengan proposal skripsi. Selain itu, di akhir bulan April 2010 saya juga mulai bergabung sebagai editor di Jurnal Global (Jurnal Hub. Internasional dari Departemen Hub. Internasiona FISIP UI) dan juga mulai bekerja sebagai volunteer di Persatuan Filantropi Indonesia (PFI).

Mewakili Australia untuk G-20 forum.

A happy team.

Tembok Cina yang melegenda.

Mei:
Tidak ada yang terlalu istimewa bagi saya di bulan ini. Saya terutama sibuk dengan kegiatan di dunia maya. Selain itu saya juga sibuk dengan kegiatan saya terdahulu seperti persiapan skripsi, kerja sebagai SUP Propatria, kerja volunteer di PFI, mempersiapkan dokumen dan visa untuk perjalana ke US dan aktif di klub Bahasa Inggris bernama Toastmaster.

Juni:
Awal bulan Juni saya berangkat ke Malaysia untuk sebuah acara kegiatan lingkungan yang bernama Miracle Youth Conference yang diadakan oleh AIESEC UPM. mengingat jarak antara Kuala Lumpur dan Medan sangat lah dekat, maka sepulang dari acara tersebut saya menyempatkan diri kembali ke kampung halaman. Pada pertengahan Juni saya kembali lagi ke Depok untuk mengurus skripsi saya. Namun belum lama berada di Depok, saya mendapat panggilan dari staf Kemenlu bahwa atas instruksi presiden saya harus berangkat ke Kanada terkait acara G-20 youth Summit. Sebelumnya saya memang mendaftarkan diri untuk ikut dalam acara ini. Namun karena tidak mendapatkan sponsor keberangkatan, saya dan kedua orang teman saya akhirnya batal berangkat. Sisanya empat orang teman saya yang lain telah dan akan berangkat. Dengan terburu-buru mempersiapkan segala sesuatunya terkait keberangkatan saya yang mendadak tersebut. Pada akhirnya saya jadi juga berangkat ke Kanada dengan rute Jakarta-Jepang (Narita)-Toronto.

Ke Malaysia lagi untuk ke sekian kalinya.

Bersama 'rekan bisnis' saya membuat sebuah ide terobosan lingkungan.

Usai acara saya melanjutkan perjalanan ke Malaka.

Di depan kediaman salah seorang rekan saya di Malaysia.

Official delegate G-20 Youth Summit dari Indonesia.

Di seberang itu sudah Amerika Serikat lho. =D

Saya memandang air terjuan Niagara dari balik jendela.

Pemandangan di Niagara Fall

Transit di hotel 'abal-abal' ala Jepang.

Juli:
Setelah acara di G-20 Youth Summit usai, saya harus langsung kembali ke Tanah Air untuk mengurus persiapan saya sekolah di Amerika Serikat selama 5 minggu. Pada akhir Juni hingga awal Juli 2010 saya kembali ke Tanah Air dengan rute Toronto-Jepang(Narita)-Jakarta. Selama diperjalanan pulang, saya sempat menghabiskan satu hari sendiri di Jepang secara mendadak (ceritanya nanti saja, panjang!). Tidak sempat satu hari menghirup udara di tanah air, saya harus kembali berangkat ke benua Amerika, kali ini ke AS, bersama empat rekan saya lainnya dengan rute Jakarta-Singapore-Narita-Seattle-Denver-Missoula (ternyata menghabiskan hidup di pesawat itu sungguh tidak mengenakkan). Selanjutnya saya menghabiskan sisa Juli 2010 saya dengan kenangan manis di AS (mengenai perjalanan saya di AS akan saya ceritakan secara khusu dan terpisah).

The White House, Washington D.C.

Glacier National Park - Montana

Agustus:

Sekitar pertengahan bulan Agustus saya kembali ke Tanah Air dengan segudang pengalaman dari AS. Namun saya tidak bisa santai, karena saya harus mengurus skripsi saya yang telah saya abaikan beberapa bulan lamanya. Selain itu saya juga harus mempersiapkan dokumen dan keperluan untuk keberangkatan saya ke Melbourne bulan berikutnya (September). Pada akhir Agustus, saya mulai menjalankan pekerjaan saya sebagai asisten dosen mata kuliah Dimensi Normatif dalam Hubungan Internasional (DNHI) yang mana tugas saya adalah membantu dosen pembimbing saya sebagai kordinator mata kuliah tersebut.

September:
Setelah sibuk mengurus visa Australia dan juga mengejar pengerjaan skripsi, saya akhirnya berangkat kembali ke Melbourne tepat pada tanggal 14 September 2010. Tujuan awal saya datang kembali ke Melbourne yakni dalam rangka pengerjaan skripsi pun tidak terlaksana maksimal karena begitu banyak hal yang saya rindukan disana. Hingga September 2010 berakhir saya masih menikmati waktu saya di Melbourne dengan pacar.

Melbourne City Library

Pemandagan dari atas State Library, tempat saya biasa belajar.

Oktober:
Tepat pada tanggal 08 Oktober 2010, saya kembali ke Tanah Air. Karena pesawat saya transit di KL, saya kembali lagi menyempatkan diri berlibur selama seminggu di kampung halaman yakni dua kota antara Medan-Berastagi. Pada tanggal 17 Oktober, saya akhirnya kembali lagi ke Depok. Setelah berada di Depok, saya kembali disibukkan dengan pengerjaan skripsi dan tugas sebagai asisten dosen.

November:
Bulan ini saya berulang tahun yang ke - 22. Namun tidak banyak yang dapat saya lakukan karena saya masih harus berjuang merevisi skripsi akhir saya sebelum disidangkan. Bisa dibilang bulan ini adalah bulan yang paling menyiksa bagi saya. Tapi saya berupaya menyemangati diri saya sendiri sebelum kedatangan pacar awal bulan Desember 2010. Pada bulan yang sama, Obama juga melakukan kunjungan ke Indonesia. Saya mendapat privilege sendiri berada di kursi VVIP (didepan kursi para menteri dan pejabat penting lainnya), sebab saya adalah lulusan dari program Department of State US selain juga sebagai tim kampanye kedatangan Obama.

Tim Kampanye POTUS

Berdiri di depan pidato Mr. Obama

Desember:
Pada awal bulan Desember 2010, saya melarikan diri dari sidang skripsi saya karena pacar saya datang ke Indonesia, jauh jauh dari Melbourne. Dari tanggal 07-14 Desember saya menikmati liburan saya di Bali dan Jakarta dengan pacar. Setelah pacar saya pergi, saya kembali fokus pada sidang skripsi saya. Akhrinya pada tanggal 27 Desember 2010 dengan dukungan teman-teman terdekat saya, akhirnya sidang saya berjalan dengan mulus. Saya mendapatkan A- untuk hasil skripsi saya. Namun saya tetap mensyukuri hal tersebut sebab akhirnya saya bisa mendapat gelar S.sos. Sisa Desember 2010 saya habiskan dengan merevisi skripsi dan mencari pekerjaan.

Liburan dengan Pacar. =)

Demikian perjalanan saya selama tahun 2010. Untuk segala sesuatunya itu saya ucapkan terima kasih kepada:

Tritunggal (Bapa, Anak, Roh Kudus)
Mom dan Dad
Dek Ela dan Bang Donny
my love 'RB'
Peace Scholarship Program People
SUSI Program People
G-20 team and Global Vision Program People
Pembimbing Skripsiku Mbak 'AS' serta penguji skripsi Mas 'ABG'
Teman-teman satu pekerjaan di tempat yang saya telah sebutkan di atas.
Teman-teman dan pengajar selama penulis mengecap pendidikan di Swinburne Univ of Tech, Montana University dan Universitas Indonesia.
Kepada siapapun yang menjadi perpanjangan tangan kasih Tuhan kepada saya, saya ucapkan terima kasih atas apa yang diberikan di tahun 2010.

I love u!

B.I.M.B.A.N.G

2010-09-27T10:37:00.000+07:00

Putus, enggak.

Putus, enggak?

Perbedaan itu Indah Adanya!

2010-09-26T10:57:00.001+07:00

Indonesia, tanah airku, tempat aku dilahirkan, tempat aku dibesarkan.

Negeri ini telah memanjakanku dengan kekayaan alamnya bahkan sejak aku masih di kandung ibuku.

Aku telah berjalan mengelilingi beberapa kota besar di dunia, tetapi tidak ada satu tempat pun yang memuatku rindu selain Indonesia.

Indonesia, sebuah negeri yang unik, terdiri dari 17.000 kepulauan yang terhampar ditengah-tengah zamrud khatulistiwa.

Dengan kondisi alam yang seperti itu, tidak heran bila masyrakat Indonesia juga memiliki keragaman yang khas.

Ada 300 ethnik yang berbicara dengan lebih dari 700 bahasa di Indonesia.

Keragaman yang luar biasa kayanya, sehingga kerap membuat bangsa lain terkagum-kagum.

Dengan slogan Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), Indonesia berusaha mengikat persaudaran diatas segala perbedaan tersebut.

Sayangnya keragaman ini kerap dipakai oleh pihak tertentu untuk memecah belah Indonesia.

Dengan membawa kepentingan politik, ekonomi, atau kepentingan lainnya, mereka berusaha mencerai-beraikan Indonesia dengan membawa isu etnik, agama, ras dan lain-lain.

Kerusuhan tidak dapat dielakkan lagi.

Senjata ditancapkan, darah bertumpahan, mayat bergelimpangan di tengah jalan.

Setelah peperangan usai, hanya tangis dari keluarga yang tinggalkan yang tersisa.

Selebihnya hanya dendam dan amarah yang diarahkan malah pada pemerintah.

Aku katakan kepadamu saudaraku, biarlah perbedaan yang menjadi tali pengikat kita.

Jangan pernah tergoda oleh hasutan kelompok ekstrimis yang menginginkan perpecahan diantara kita. Perbedaan itu indah adanya.

Walaupun kita berbeda-beda jangan sampai terprovokasi dengan segala perbedaaan tersebut.

Walaupun kita berbeda-beda, ingat kita adalah satu, satu bangsa, satu bahasa dan satu tanah air, tanah air Indonesia.

Aku cinta Indonesia dan keragamanya!

Motivation of Today

2010-09-25T14:56:00.000+07:00

Tetap Berusaha, Jangan Menyerah!

Fokus adalah Kunci Keberhasilan!

Jangan pernah tinggi hati, karena selalu ada langit diatas langit!

Semakin berisi padi, semakin merunduk ia.

Believe in your self!

Skripis, I'm fallin luv!

2010-08-30T09:30:00.001+07:00

Udah beberapa hari ini aku disibukkan dengan skripsi, sampai butek. Aku memang sengaja gak mengerjakan hal lain karena ingin fokus dengan skripsi. Padahal sebelumnya aku punya segudang kerjaan tambahan dan berbagai jenis organisasi. Agak susah sih dengan ketidakadaan kerjaan sampingan ini, karena artinya aku harus tergantung sama duit dolar A.S dan dolar Aus sisa beasiswaku (di Amerika dan di Australia) untuk bisa bertahan hidup di Indonesia. Memang gak banyak, tapi kayaknya cukup untuk bisa hidup tanpa bekerja selama setahun atau lebih. Targetnya supaya aku bisa lulus Desember ini supaya bisa jalan bareng pacar ke Himalaya. Dan aku harus fokus dan fokus dan fokus menyelesaikan hingga bab 2 dan bab 3 sebelum berangkat ke Melbourne, Oz, dua minggu lagi. God please help me!

Tadi pagi aku ngobrol ke Mom soal keberangkatanku ke Oz, Mom bilang aku udah cukup dewasa menentukan ke mana aku mau pergi. Pesannya cuma, jaga badanmu, banyak berdoa. I love u mom, so so so much! I’ll be always making u proud, I promise!

Pacarku (seperti biasa) nelpon skitar hampir tengah malam tadi. Dia cerita tentang betapa gak sabarnya dia menunggu aku tiba di Oz. Dia juga cerita kalau sekarang dia makin sering latihan ke gym jadi orang-orang banyak yang bertanya tentang badannya yang makin berbentuk.

Olivia: So you’r proud of it, rite?

Pacar: Yes of course. I’m proud of it but I’m more proud of you.

Olivia: What do you proud on me?”

Pacar: Although you sometimes act strange, but I’m proud of you. I want to make you smile, happy all the time, I want to protect you and I never want someone harm you.

I can’t wait to be in your arms sayang, just don’t do NATO again, I dun like it. =)

Mt. Albert St (my bf fav station) =))

Ps. Will have a short haircut tomorrow with my causin.

Another Story about Ambition and Happiness

2010-08-24T11:16:00.000+07:00

Aku dikelilingi dengan orang-orang yang ambisius. Aku tahu ada banyak orang yang terus mengejar prestasi –prestasi serta kemudian menyebarluaskan prestasi prestasinya itu supaya dikagumi orang. Kebahagiannya berasal dari kekaguman orang terhadapnya. Tapi, you know what? I’m not admiring u at all. Karena jeleknya kompetisi mereka kadang-kadang tidak sehat, mereka bisa jadi tertutup untuk isu tertentu karena security dilemma. Mereka itu kayak dari jauh terlihat bagus tapi ternyata dari dekat enggak.

Aku tahu orang-orang yang gak usah banyak ngomong dan gak bertujuan mengejar prestasi-prestasi itu tapi berusaha berkontribusi nyata untuk membantu dunia, dari hal yang paling kecil saja.
Mike Mansfield adalah tokoh favoritku untuk yang satu ini.

Aku dengar cerita tentang Mrs. Mansfield waktu aku ke Mike dan Maureen Center di D.C. Nama Mike dan Maureen Center juga dinamakan dari nama bapak ini. Singkat cerita dia sebenarnya adalah penambang yang hidup pas-pasan dari Montana. Waktu dia masih remaja dia pernah memalsukan akte hidupnya supaya kelihatan lebih tua dan bisa masuk militer. Suatu hari dia jatuh cinta sama Maureen. Tapi orang tua Maureen gak senang dengan profesi Mike yang hanya seorang penambang. Oleh karenanya dia berusaha mengejar edukasi sampai akhirnya dia menjadi dosen di Motana State University. Setelah dia ikut dalam politik, dia akhirnya ditugaskan menjadi duta besar di Jepang. Dia adalah satu satunya duta besar yang ditugaskan paling lama di Asia. Dia salah satu tokoh yang mengeratkan hubungan A.S dan Asia Timur. Selama hidupnya dia selalu berusaha rendah hati. Dia sebenarnya kurang senang nama institusi tersebut named after his name. Bahkan sewaktu dia meninggal dia hanya ingin dimakamkan dipekuburan tentang sebagai private (prajurit). Aku hampir nangis waktu dengar cerita ini. :’(
Lihat cerite lebih lengkap di sini atau wikipedia tentang beliau.

Live in Montana for a month is unforgetable moment in my life.

Pacarku bilang dia mau berusaha mengumpulkan uang dan jadi kaya baru membantu orang-orang yang miskin. Aku bilang itu bullshit. Aku gak harus jadi orang kaya dulu untuk membantu orang-orang lemah. Aku bisa melakukannya dari hal-hal kecil. Kalau kita tidak bisa melakukan hal yang kecil dari mana hal yang besar itu datang? Perkara besar berasal dari perkara kecil (Jhon 6:1-14)

Aku sendiri sudah cukup bahagia dengan kehidupanku sekarang. Aku mau berusaha bersyukur atas semua yang kucapai sambil terus memanfaatkannya kesempatan yang ada. Aku menikmati waktuku bersenang-senang dengan pacarku, nonton bareng di outdoor cinema, menemaninya makan di taman setiap malam habis gym, bercanda dengannya dan teman-temannya di kampus. Aku menikmati waktuku dengan teman-temanku, cuhat sampai tengah malam, karokean, jalan ke mol (well, this is not my hobby though). Aku mensyukuri cinta orangtuaku kepadaku dan aku ingin tetap membuat Mom n Dad bangga. I love u!

It's been a year, sayang! =D

Aku menikmati waktuku traveling ke beberapa kota di berbagai belahan dunia selama 1 tahun ini (Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Jepang, Amerika Serikat, Kanada). Mengobservasi hidup, menikmati alam, mesyukuri keberdaanku di tempat itu, mengenal orang-orang baru dengan budaya yang beda sekali denganku, semuanya!

Aku belum tahu jelas kerjaan yang paling sesuai setelah wisuda bulan January 2011 nanti (sebelum mengambil master degree). Yang pasti aku mau mengejrakan sesuatu yang berguna untuk masyarakat. Bukan diperusahaan atau bank atau swasta lainnya. By the grace of God, everything will be fine for sure. :)

My newest writing on ISAFIS

2010-08-19T12:52:00.000+07:00

My Writing on ISAFIS Newletter Vol #3 March-June 2010 (p.13)

Theme: Empowering Women on Kartini's Day

Let's work together to empowering women!

Regards,

Olivia D. Purba

No one is ugly!

2010-08-13T01:48:00.000+07:00

Sugababes- Ugly

When I was 7
They said I was strange
I noticed that my eyes and hair weren't the same
I asked my parents if I was OK
They said you're more beautiful
And that's the way they show they wish
They had your smile
So my confidence was up for a while
I got real comfortable with my own style
I knew that they were only jealous cos

People are all the same
And we only get judged by what we do
My personality reflects me
And if I'm ugly then
So are you
So are you

There was a time when I felt like I cared
That I was shorter than everyone there
People made me feel like life was unfair
And I did things that made me ashamed
Cos I didn't know my body would change
I grew taller than them in more ways
But there will always be the one who will say
Something bad to make them feel great

People are all the same
And we only get judged by what we do
My personality reflects me
And if I'm ugly then
So are you
So are you

People are all the same
And we only get judged by what we do
My personality reflects me
And if I'm ugly then
So are you
So are you

Everybody talks bad about somebody
And never realises how it affects somebody
And you bet it won't be forgotten
Envy is the only thing it could be

Cos people are all the same
(The same, the same)
And we only get judged by what we do
(What we do, yeah, yeah)
My personality reflects me
And if I'm ugly then
(Yeah, you)
So are you
So are you

People are all the same
(Oh, oh, oh)
And we only get judged by what we do
(What we do, yeah)
My personality reflects me
And if I'm ugly then
(Yeah, so are you)
So are you
So are you

p.s. one of my favorite songs ever!

Pedoman Hidup Manusia

2010-08-11T19:14:00.002+07:00

Musuh terutama manusia adalah dirinya sendiri

Kegagalan terutama manusia adalah kesombongan

Kebodohan terutama manusia adalah sifat menipu

Kesedihan terutama manusia adalah rasa iri hati

Kesalahan terutama manusia adalah mencampakkan dirinya

Dosa terutama manusia adalah menipu dirinya dan orang lain

Sifat manusia yang sangat disayangkan adalah rasa rendah diri

Sifat manusia yang paling dapat dipuju adalah semangat keuletannya

Kehancuran terbesar manusia adalah rasa keputusasaan

Harta terutama manusia adalah kesehatan

Hutang terbesar manusia adalah hutang budi

Hadiah terutama manusia adalah lapang dada dan mau memaafkan

Kekurangan terbesar manusia adalah sifat berkeluh kesah dan tidak memiliki kebijaksanaan

Ketentraman dan kedamaian terutama manusia adlah suka berdana dan beramal

Insight for Our Soul

2010-08-11T18:20:00.001+07:00

Insights for our soul:

1. Why should I say I can’t when the Bible says I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength? (Philippians 4:13)

2. Why should I lack when I know that God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)

3. Why should I fear when the Bible says God has not given me a spirit of fear, but power, love and sound in mind? (2 Timothy 1:7)

4. Why should I lack faith to fulfill my calling knowing that God has allotted to me a measure of faith? (Romans 12:3)

5. Why should I be weak when The Bible says that the Lord is the strength of my life and that I will display strength and take action because I know God? (Psalm 27:1 and Daniel 11:32)

6. Why should I allow Satan supremacy over my life when He that’s in me is greater than He that in the world? (1 John 4:4)

7. Why should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God always leads me in triumph? (2 Corinthian 2:14)

8. Why should I lack wisdom when Christ become wisdom to me from God; and God gives wisdom to me generously when I ask Him for it? (1 Corinthian 1:30, James 1:5)

9. Why should I depress when I can recall to mind God’s loving kindness, compassion and faithfulness and have hope? (Lamentations 3:21-23)

10. Why should I worry and fret when I can cast all my anxiety on Christ who cares for me? (1 Peter 5:7)

11. Why should I ever be in bondage knowing that there is liberty where the Spirit of the Lord is? (Galatians 5:1)

12. Why should I feel condemned when the Bible says I am not condemned because I am in Christ? (Romans 8:1)

13. Why should I feel alone when Jesus said He is with me always and He will never leave me nor forsake me (Mathew 28:20, Hebrew 13:5)

14. Why should I feel accursed or that I am the victim of bad luck when the Bible says that Christ redeemed me from the curse of the law that I might receive His spirit (Galatians 3:14)

15. Why should I be discontented when I, like Paul can learn to be content in all my circumstances? (Philippians 4:11)

16. Why should I feel worthless when Christ became sin on my behalf that I might become the righteousness of God in Him? (2 Corinthians 5:21)

17. Why should I have a persecution complex knowing that nobody can against me when God is for me (Romans 8:31)

18. Why should I be confused when God is the author of peace and He gives me knowledge through His indwelling Spirit? (1 Corinthians 14:33, 2:12)

19. Why should I feel like a failure when I am a conqueror in all things through Christ? (Romans 8:37)

20. Why should I let pressures of life bother me when I can take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and its tribulations? (John 16:33)

I love u God!

Fallin for Colbie Caillat

2010-07-12T18:21:00.000+07:00

It is a coincidence dat I suddenly fall for this song.
My homestay family played this song all along the way to the Salmon Lake yesterday.
It was my first time heard this song, I like it though!
There is country nuance inside this song, and country things is a really Montana things!
I so much in LOVE with Montana at present.

When I search her song in Youtube, I found that Colbie Caillat also collaborate with Taylor Swift in one of Taylor's song which I like the most, titled 'Breathe'. Both Taylor and Colbie mix d pop and country style in each of their music. So, I think it's a very great collaboration.
Take a look!

Breathe lyrics
Songwriters: Caillat, Colbie; Swift, Taylor Alison;I see your face in my mind as I drive away
'Cause none of us thought it was gonna end that way
People are people and sometimes we change our minds
But it's killing me to see you go after all this time

Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm
Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm

Music starts playin' like the end of a sad movie
It's the kinda ending you don't really wanna see
'Cause it's tragedy and it'll only bring you down
Now I don't know what to be without you around

And we know it's never simple, never easy
Never a clean break, no one here to save me
You're the only thing I know like the back of my hand

And I can't breathe
Without you, but I have to
Breathe
Without you, but I have to

Never wanted this, never want to see you hurt
Every little bump in the road I tried to swerve
People are people and sometimes it doesn't work out
Nothing we say is gonna save us from the fall out

And we know it's never simple, never easy
Never a clean break, no one here to save me
You're the only thing I know like the back of my hand

And I can't breathe
Without you, but I have to
Breathe
Without you, but I have to

It's two a.m., feelin' like I just lost a friend
Hope you know it's not easy, easy for me
It's two a.m., feelin' like I just lost a friend
Hope you know this ain't easy, easy for me

And we know it's never simple, never easy
Never a clean break, no one here to save me, oh

I can't breathe
Without you, but I have to
Breathe
Without you, but I have to
Breathe
Without you, but I have to

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry

It's kindda sad song, like a heart break song.
I feel the emotion whenever I hear this song.
Still, I love it!

My First Blog Writing in Missoula, Montana

2010-07-07T15:53:00.002+07:00

Missoula, Montana, 07 Juli 2010.

Ini tulisan pertamaku untuk bulan Juli. Aku tahu kalau aku gak begitu produktif selama bulan Juni mengingat banyaknya kegiatanku. Mulai dari trip ke Malaysia selama 8 hari untuk konferensi lingkungan, baik ke Medan 6 hari, ke Kanada 6 hari, persiapan perjalanan ke U.S., sampai bolak balik transit di Jepang 3 kali dalam seminggu. Perjalanan yang cukup melelahkan dan aku tidak memprioritaskan menulis blog untuk perjalanan panjangku. Aku punya banyak sekali PR sekarang: skripsi, proyek lingkungan, laporan perjalanan di Malaysia dan Toronto, semua kerjaan-kerjaan magangku. Sementara aku sekarang masih terikat dalam satu program di U.S., aku gak bisa memberi prioritas pada apapun. Dan aku pikir aku harus menulis secepatnya sebelum aku lupa semua anugerah dari orang-orang baik disekelilingku selama perjalananku di luar sebulan belakangan ini.

Sepertinya ambisiku terlalu banyak dan dari semua ambisi ku itu aku harus keluar dari ego dan selfishku lebih dari sekedar pamer atau jago-jagoan. Aku melihat banyak orang seperti itu: prestasi untuk pride. Tapi seharusnya segala pencapaian itu ditujukan untuk kepentingan bersama. Untuk orang-orang yang termarginalisasi diluar sana, untuk orang-orang yang belum bisa merasakan kebahagiaan, untuk orang-orang kurang beruntung.

Disini sudah hampir jam 3 pagi dan aku masih gak bisa tidur, sama seperti malam-malam sebelumnya. Aku, entah mengapa merasa ada yang salah dari diriku. Seperti berlari kencang tapi aku tidak tahu tujuanku. Ada sesuatu yang mendesak diriku yang mengajakku untuk berbuat sesuatu tapi aku selalu terganggu oleh hal lainnya. Fokus! Fokus sayang! Fokus pada apa yang telah digariskan pada telapak tanganku. Jangan tinggi hati, jangan sombong, karena orang sombong dijatuhkan Tuhan. Aku mungkin butuh berdoa, aku butuh tangan Tuhan menggandengku, aku butuh visi yang jelas. Ya, aku butuh itu.

P.s. tulisan ini sebenarnya ditujukan untuk diriku sendiri, seperti yang selalu kulakukan ketika Insomnia menemani malamku.

P.s.s. sebelum ke kamar tadi aku makan Chiken Teriyaki sisa sarapan tadi pagi bareng delagasi Vietnam di loudge kamar.

(I am hearing this song as my lullaby)

Hari ini adalah hari yang aneh!

2010-06-07T22:22:00.001+07:00

Bapak Mahendra & Bapak Presiden

Hari ini adalah hari yang aneh. Hari ini aku ke kantor Menteri Perdagangan untuk ketemu dengan Bapak Mahendra Siregar, wakil menteri perdagangan untuk membicarakan rencana kegiatan G-20 Summit di Toronto, Canada, dengan didampingi beberapa diplomat Indonesia di bagian multilateral. Tentunya aku gak sendiri, sama beberapa temanku dari HI juga. Diskusi tentang kondisi ekonomi dunia yang menarik. Mengingatkanku pengalaman sidang simulasi G-20 ku dulu di Beijing April lalu.

Ringgit oh I need u now!

Pulangnya aku ke BNI UI untuk mengecek apakah ada orang yang mengirimkan duit samaku atau tidak via nomor rekening. Aku adalah orang yang aneh. Ya enggaklah. Untungnya tadi pagi udah sempatkan diri ke kantor Menwa UI ngambil gaji buat kerjaanku di Propatria, think thank konsultan public policy. Ngapain juga ke sana coba? Ia si Andi yang jadi koordinatornya kan komandan Menwa sekarang. Tadi pagi aku juga dengar dia dapat beasiswa ke Singapore setelah melepas beasiswa ke Rusianya. Ah.. ceritaku ngawur.

Pulang dari BNI UI aku langsung menuju FISIP UI untuk ketemu Sri supaya bisa tukar uang ke Ringgit buat perjalananku lusa ke Malaysia. Tapi ternyata money changer nya gak punya stok Ringgit. Jadi mungkin aku tukar besok aja. Hari ini aneh karena sepulangnya dari nukar uang, aku makan di Hoka2 Bento sama Sri. Tapi bukan disitu keanehannya, justru keanehannya waktu aku pulang naik angkot. Aku baru sadar bahwa aku gak punya uang receh. Lah, lalu kemana kembalian duit makan Hokbenku? Kan tadi aku kasih Rp.100.000 (maklum kere). Akhirnya setelah sampai di depan jalan (sekarang udah jalan lho gak gang lago), aku mengemis-ngemis sama Sri untuk kembali ke Hokben untuk nuntut uang kembaliku. Sri kujadikan saksi. Terus pas udah niat mau buka pintu Hokbennya buat nuntut pelayannya, kusempatkan dulu merogoh tasku untuk melihat isinya. Oh mai gad, ternyata semua kembaliannya itu tersusun rapih didalam. What a freaky day (me).

Hari yang aneh karena malam nya salah satu diplomat Indo yang kenal samaku, di tempat duu aku magang (atau hampir magang) a.k.a Deplu mengirim email padaku bilang selamat jadi wakil G-20. Hari yang aneh karena tiba-tiba pacar telepon dan bilang tiket pesawat ke Indo nya melonjak tajam. Aku kesal! Pilih mana, G-20 atau pacar yang possesif? Hari yang aneh, aneh aneh.

Kelulusan 2010 atau 2011?

2010-06-06T11:59:00.005+07:00

Kelulusan!

Suasana kelulusan yang serba kuning, will be there in some months!

Akhirnya aku mundur satu semester dari jadwal yang telah ditentukan. Disaat teman-temanku sibuk kerja dan cari beasiswa S-2, aku malah memperlambat sendiri jalurku. Aku sedih juga, karena dari dulu gak pernah berencana untuk memperlambat kelulusanku. Dari dulu aku berencana untuk lulus 4 tahun pas, terus melakukan hal lain di luar kampus. Tapi kali ini gak bisa karena syarat dari Kedutaan Besar AS untuk programku di Montana adalah aku gak bisa lulus semester ini. Lagian aku juga kemaren hitungannya cuti waktu program ke Australia selama satu semester. Aku sedih sih sebenarnya. Tapi gak apa lah. Memang harus ada yang dikorbankan. Comparative advantage. Lagian aku masih belum tahu apa yang harus ku kerjakan sehabis lulus. Rencanaku sih magang di India sambil keliling Himalaya dan Nepal Desember dan January nanti sebelum acara wisuda (tentunya sama pacal). Tapi setelahnya… blank! Haha.. pengen cari beasiswa sih sebenarnya. Pengen ngelanjut lagi. Belum pengen kerja. Lagian sepulangnya aku dari Amerika udah ada pekerjaan yang menunggu di ICW, mungkin aku jalanin 3 bulan dulu ya masa evaluasinya? Aku pasti bisa! God please guide my way.

Btw, kayaknya aku terlalu sibuk dengan membuat jaringan civil society belakangan ini tanpa kontribusi sesuatu dari otakku. Rencananya sih aku mau menulis beberapa essay kompetisi dan menulis artikelku di Koran supaya orang-orang jurusan percaya kalau aku ber-otak. Ya, aku punya ilmu kok. =)

P.s. kangen Meet Pie yang di Australie. >.<

What a Sad Day!

2010-06-01T00:52:00.002+07:00

I got a bad experience today. Maybe they are rite, instead of going abroad and doing something else, I should have been focus on my study. I was sad the whole day; it makes me down even until now on. Fortunately I could share it with my bf on Skype and was crying in front of him for about an hour.

I got a lot of jobs though! Working in Indonesia Corruption Watch, volunteer in Philanthropy Organization, Supporting Unit Program in Public Policy Consultant, and Editor for an International Politic journal. That’s all exclude my activity in some organizations. And in a few weeks will travel to Kuala Lumpur, Medan, Canada (perhaps), and Montana. Quit! I need a rest. I need my bf to come here so we could have our holiday together. I wanna focus on study and not my job. I promise next semester I’ll be focus! I won’t work and will ask money from parents for my daily expands.

Btw, somehow I suddenly miss Melbourne and remember my experience there with my friends from Campus Christian Movement (CCM). It is because I heard this song from a movie just now. It brought me to the memory of my first and last (but not least) X-mas in Melbourne. I remember that they made an incredibly awesome hand presentation with the glove and light.

Take a look!

You should check out their album!

Who am I by Casting Crowns

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Bridge:
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
I am yours..
I am yours..

Such a great song, hum?

About My Sister's Keeper

2010-05-31T02:09:00.000+07:00

"They look happy outside, but actually they are fragile inside"

I’ll sleep late tonight. Just finish watching “My Sister’s Keeper”. It was a very sad movie. Actually I am a person who is not easily cry for any kind of movie. But I admit that this movie is really sad. I was crying all along the time played. I knew this movie before and I also know about the book. My bro have it. But I haven’t got a chance to read it. And when the movie launched for the first time, I was still in Melbi and didn’t have companion who has the same taste wid me. So last nite, one of room’s neighbor come to my room and unexpectedly I found this movie in his hard disk! Lucky!

A Short Synopsis (taken from Jodi Picoult or the novel writer official website)
Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate - a life and a role that she has never questioned… until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister - and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable… a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life… even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less?

I feel sad after I watch that movie. At the time like this I want to talk to somebody who is close to me. Sometimes I talk to Mom. But this time I wanna talk to my bf. But I know he must be sleeping at this time coz there’s a different zone of time for like 3 hours. Perhaps he is just snoring at this moment. So I will just talk to him tomorrow morning as he promised me to do Skype next morning.

However, I suddenly remember when I was still in Melbourne, I often call him whenever I got night mare and just feeling lonely. I never have a bf before him. But now I know how it feels. It feels so good knowing that somebody out there cares of you. I know that people need a couple because they can’t life alone. Perhaps it is right that two is better than one.

I love u! =)

P.s. Anyway in this movie, they talk a lot about Montana, the place where I will go this July. And they also took some scene there. That’s an awesome picture though! I’m sure I’ll take a lot of pic there in Montana soon.

A Minute of Meeting with Maria Otero

2010-05-30T14:12:00.000+07:00

I got an invitation from U.S embassy a few weeks ago (mid of April 2010). The invitation was through email and it was written like this:

U.S. Embassy Jakarta would like to invite you to a Public Discussion on environment/climate change with the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, Ms. Maria Otero on Thursday, May 20, 2010 from 14:30 – 17:00 at 8^th Floor of Nahdlatul Ulama Headquarter on Jl. Kramat Raya, Jakarta Pusat. This discussion will be attended by youth from various interfaith organizations, Universities, NGOs, in Jakarta. Attached is the bio of Ms. Otero.
We believe that this program will provide useful insights to Indonesian youth including all of you to gain more understanding about what you can do together to create a better world, and will help enhance mutual understanding between the U.S. and Indonesia.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact me. Thank you.

So why am I invited? Because I got a scholarship to study in U.S. for 5 weeks this July, with the topic of Global Environmental Program.

Ok, then who is the speaker anyway. I know she is kind of famous or you can say an important people. But I never heard about her name before (or maybe I am just so ignorant). =P

Here she is Maria Otero, Under Secretary Democracy and Global Affairs: Term of Appointment: 08/10/2009 to present.

María Otero was sworn in as Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs on August 10, 2009. She oversees and coordinates U.S. foreign relations on a variety of global issues, including democracy, human rights, and labor; environment, oceans, health and science; population, refugees, and migration; trafficking in persons and avian and pandemic influenza.
Ms. Otero was formerly the president and CEO of ACCION International, a pioneer and leader in microfinance working in 25 countries in around the globe. Under Ms. Otero’s tenure as CEO, ACCION’s network of microfinance institutions expanded its reach from serving 460,000 people to over 3.7 million, through a combined portfolio that grew from $274 million to nearly $3.6 billion. She is a leading voice on sustainable microfinance, publishing extensively on the subject and speaking throughout the world on microfinance, women’s issues and poverty alleviation.Prior to ACCION, Ms. Otero was the Economist for Latin America for the Women in Development office of USAID. She also served for five years at the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA).

Ms. Otero’s awards and recognition include selection by Newsweek in October 2005 as one of the United States’ 20 most influential women; Hispanic Business Magazine’s ‘Elite Women of 2007’; Notre Dame University’s Distinguished Service in Latin America Award; and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

In June 2006, Ms. Otero was appointed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to the UN Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors. She sits on the board of the U.S. Institute of Peace, a position to which she was originally appointed by President Clinton and now holds as the State Department representative. Ms. Otero has chaired the board of Bread for the World, and also served on the boards of the Calvert Foundation, Public Welfare Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation and BRAC Holding of Bangladesh. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Born in La Paz, Bolivia, Ms. Otero is currently the highest ranking Hispanic official at the State Department, and the first Latina Under Secretary in its history.

Ms. Otero holds an M.A. in literature from the University of Maryland, an M.A. in international relations from Johns Hopkins’ Nitze School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS), in Washington, D.C, and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Dartmouth College. Since 1997, she has also served as an adjunct professor at SAIS.


I'll be in that place soon! =)

I got a chance to ask her about the connection of poverty, democracy and environment.

My question was more likely like this:

"The percentage of poor people is so high in Indonesia. Although we are one of the most democratic countries in the world, it doesn’t mean we could apparently be welfare. It is because so many multilayer problems which is faced by Indonesia government. So, my question is if it is so hard for most of the people in Indonesia to get food for a day life, so how can they think about small things on environment issues? Such as throw your garbage or rubbish in the right place or don’t use plastic bag? Becase I’m gonna go to U.S to study about this. Thus, I need your opinion.”

Unfortunately, I don’t know why, maybe because she didn’t have enough time to answer my question or she just want to deliberate her opinion in a diplomatic way, I found her answer was disappointing. She just said like this ‘I don’t think that those poor people produce so much pollutant on the earth. Their waste is not significantly influence the environment.”

Is it so? I was about to confirm her answer but unluckily didn’t get more chance.

It is very inaccurate answer. Indonesia population is the 4^th largest in the world and most of them live in poverty. If a small amount of waste from each of those poor people combines in one of course it will affect the environment significantly!

Madam, I need your proper answer please!

Regards,

Popshie.

(500) days of Summer

2010-05-28T00:55:00.002+07:00

(500) days of Summer is the 2^nd movie which I watched together with him. We were having fight the day before. But on the next day he begged me not to escape, but pleased me to watch movie with him as he had choose the movie. So then we went together to Chadstone’s theater called Village movie or something. (500) days of Summer is the title of that movie, a funny yet romantic one. I hold his arms during the movie screened. He was doing nothing to me, just sometimes ‘coz he knew that I’ll get angry if he touches me. I miss that moment with you. I miss it, damn much!

About (500) days of Summer: This is a story of boy meets girl. The boy, Tom Hansen of Margate, New Jersey, grew up believing that he'd never truly be happy until the day he met the one. This belief stemmed from early exposure to sad British pop music and a total mis-reading of the movie 'The Graduate'. The girl, Summer Finn of Shinnecock, Michigan, did not share this belief. Since the disintegration of her parent's marriage she'd only love two things. The first was her long dark hair. The second was how easily she could cut it off and not feel a thing. Tom meets Summer on January 8th. He knows almost immediately she is who he has been searching for. This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront, this is not a love story.

There is love in his eyes

Tom: I love her smile. I love her hair. I love her knees. I love how she licks her lips before she talks. I love her heart-shaped birthmark on her neck. I love it when she sleeps.

Tom: What happens when you fall in love?
Summer: You believe in that?
Tom: It's love, it's not Santa Claus.

Tom: You don't want to be named as anybody's girlfriend, and now you're someone's wife?

Tom: [Montage of Summer] I hate her crooked teeth. I hate her 1960s haircut. I hate her knobby knees. I hate her cockroach-shaped splotch on her neck. I hate the way she smacks her lips before she talks. I hate the way she sounds when she laughs.

Ronak: I think his story is a bit similar with me.

Olivia: Really? (Speaking for her own heart)

I can see how deep Tom's love toward Summer.

Summer (Zooey Deschanel) is a woman who doesn’t believe true love exists until Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) fell in love with her.

But after I contemplate for a while here, It’s me now who think that her story is somehow so similar with me. I love you! =)

The Song of Vanessa Carlton

2010-05-23T16:17:00.001+07:00

Vanessa is one of the artists that I admire most!

She wrote a real admirably artful work, and not just another crappy songs from those fake temporary pop artists.

Take a look one of her beautiful songs White Houses:

Crashed on the floor when I moved in
This little bungalow with some strange new friends
Stay up too late, and I'm too thin
We promise each other it's till the end
Now we're spinning empty bottles
It's the five of us
With pretty eyed boys girls die to trust
I can't resist the day
No, I can't resist the day

Jenny screams out and it's no pose
'Cause when she dances she goes and goes
Beer through the nose on an inside joke
I'm so excited, I haven't spoken
And she's so pretty, and she's so sure
Maybe I'm more clever than a girl like her
The summer's all in bloom
The summer is ending soon

It's alright and it's nice not to be so alone
But I hold on to your secrets in white houses

Maybe I'm a little bit over my head
I come undone at the things he said
And he's so funny in his bright red shirt
We were all in love and we all got hurt
I sneak into his car's black leather seat
The smell of gasoline in the summer heat
Boy, we're going way too fast
It's all too sweet to last

It's alright
And I put myself in his hands
But I hold on to your secrets in white houses
Love, or something ignites in my veins
And I pray it never fades, in white houses

My first time, hard to explain
Rush of blood, oh, and a little bit of pain
On a cloudy day, it's more common than you think
He's my first mistake

Maybe you were all faster than me
We gave each other up so easily
These silly little wounds will never mend
I feel so far from where I've been
So I go, and I will not be back here again
I'm gone as the day is fading on white houses
I lie, put my injuries all in the dust
In my heart is the five of us
In white houses

And you, maybe you'll remember me
What I gave is yours to keep
In white houses
In white houses

White Houses:

Can you guess the meaning behind this song?

Tell me!

You know what? I call it Edutravel!

2010-05-17T03:27:00.003+07:00

I admit that It’s hard for a girl like me who dun ask money from parents anymore, but decide to participate in an international event from her own money. That’s what I am experiencing now.

I participated in the international conference for the first time in 2009. It was World Leadership Conference in Singapore that I attended. The conference was about the balancing system between economic and environment from the global perspective. Quite interesting and enjoyable conference. I can say that I had a good time there! From there, I start to hunt for another conference to attend. I like doing this (and also addicted to it) because while traveling, I can also get knowledge and network. So it’s not just traveling for fun. I call it ‘edutravel’, travel with the passion of education! Creative, right? Lol

Here is my preparation for my next edutravel to Malaysia (from 9 June to 16 June 2010)!

I just booked a roundtrip ticket to Malaysia a few hours ago. As I am going to U.S. for environment program, I think I need to add a better perspective on me regarding environment issues in Southeast Asia. The conference is so cheap, only 100 Ringgit Malaysia, or about 30 dollars for 5 days conference (include meals, accommodation, local transportation, materials, and souvenirs). Therefore, I just need to pay for my flight, transportation from the airport and prepare for some pocket money. I’ll fly by Malaysia Airline from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur and from Kuala Lumpur, I’ll go straight away to Medan to visit my family before my departure to Missouri, Montana (The U.S.). The total cost for the flight is only $135. So cheap for a mid-high class of airplane. I paid in rupiah for Rp.1.206.000,-

So the budget is:

Flight: Rp.1.206.000,-

Conference fee: Rp.300.000,-

Airport tax (Soekarno Hatta Airport): Rp.150.000,-

Pocket money: Rp.500.000,-

That’s still a mash calculation. I’ll probably need Rp.2.500.000 for the total expenditure. To complete the budget, I’ve asked money from my Dad, as I haven’t got money from job. I said to him that I need money for coming back home (not for the conference). However, he knows that I’m attempting to attend a conference in Malaysia.

I compare myself with some friends who go for such kind of conference from their parents’ money. That’s certainly easier as they don’t need to think about the budget and stuff. Just choose it and arrange everything. But I don’t mind about this. Actually, I can beg money from parents. But I just wanna do it from my own money. I am 21 now, I can gain money myself. I don’t wanna burdening them. And I’m happy/proud of myself coz I can manage myself well!

In my conclusion, I call myself an edutraveling addict. Wanna join? XD

KL, I'm comin' (again!)

BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE

2010-05-14T03:52:00.001+07:00

Every time I think of you
I feel shot right through with a bow of gloom
It's no problem of mine
But it's a problem I find
Living a life that I can't leave behind
There's no sense in telling me
The wisdom of a fool won't set you free
But that's the way that it goes
And it's what nobody knows
While every day my confusion grows

Every time I see you falling
I get down on my knees and pray
I'm waiting for that final moment
You'll say the words that I can't say

I feel fine and I feel good
I'm feeling like nobody should
Whenever I get this way
I just don't know what to say
Why can't we be ourselves like we were yesterday
I'm not sure what this could mean
I don't think you're what you seem
I do admit to myself
That if I hurt someone else
Then I'll never see just what we're meant to be

Every time I see you falling
I get down on my knees and pray
I'm waiting for that final moment
You'll see the words that I can't say

NOTES:

I can't sleep tonite although I've so much things to do tomorrow.

The sound of a song buzzing in my ears.

I dunno the title of the song but I just remember some phrase of the lyric.

And by the help of Mr. Google I finally can hunt the song.

This song is unrelated to the story of my life, I suppose.

Maybe because I dun really get the meaning of the lyric.

But I just like the acoustic melody from this song which is flow smoothly.

Suddenly I remember of him, wishing that he can hear this song together with me.

I know he is sleeping at present.

So I'll be just dedicating this song for him.

When u read this post, please hear it baby!
Especially for u,

I luv u!

A Tribute to Him!

2010-05-13T17:15:00.003+07:00

Having your love is one of the greatest things in my life which I so much thankful to Dear God.

It's been four months I'm away from him.

All these days, I was wondering how we kept this relation running up until now.
I know that he is the one who struggle a lot to maintain our commitment.
He tries to convince me every time I feel so down and lost.
He did a lot of things for me, ranging from the trivial to the major stuffs.

I know that he is so much in love with me because he calls me everyday remind me that he loves me.
I miss you and I love you are two of the magic sentences which he deliberates to me every time he has a chance.

I know he loves me because he always wants to know everything happens around me.
He is watching my steps although he is far.
When he asks me those small questions, such as:
"What did you do today?", "What did you eat today?"
He really meant it!

He wakes up in the middle of the night just to call me.
Then the next day he gets up while dreaming of my face.
I'm everything for him, a female-side of him (quoting his words).

He proposed me on the phone, not just once.
He said he'll keep doing it until I finally truly marry him.
His words reminded me of his kindness, warmth, and gentle toward me.

He's mad at me just because of my ignorant behavior.
His miserable is when I don't send messages all the day.
From there I can simply summarizing how deep he loves me.
Indeed, he depends on me.

He knows many things about me, he can understand my bad character and in the same time support all of my talents.
I never pretend to be anyone in his eyes,
I am myself when I am with him. Just because he provides me comfort on his shoulders.

However, sometimes he becomes so possessive or even obsessive.
Checking my Facebook account, reading message on my phone, or even googling my name and those keywords which are affiliated with me!
But he did it all because he just doesn’t wanna loose me. He wants to keep me only for him.
He's too dear to me.

I admit he is not a romantic man. A kind of man who doesn't really know how to tackle girl’s fussiness.
But those honest words out of his mouth are the most romantic things I ever heard.

He always says thank you for making him happy.
And this time is my turn to say thank you to him.

Thank you baby, for being with me for all these nine months.

I love you!
I always do!

Thursday, 14 May 2010

THANK YOU LOVE!

PLEASE READ OLIVIA'S FIRST E-BOOK NOVEL!

2010-05-13T00:58:00.001+07:00

HEI, I JUST PUBLISHED MY FIRST E-BOOK NOVEL.

I GOT THE IDEA WHEN I WAS 14 y.o. AND FINISH THE BOOK AT THE AGE OF 18.
HOWEVER I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PUBLISH IT.
I ONLY HAVE A CHANCE TO PUBLISH IT AT THE AGE OF 21 (MY PRESENT AGE)

SO HERE IT COMES NOW !IT'S KINDDA TEEN ROMANCE NOVEL!

BUT JUST SPEND UR TIME TO READ OR AT LEAST A BIT SCREENING MY NOVEL.

AND DUN FORGET CLICK THE LOVE BUTTON ON THE WEBSITE TO

SUPPORT MY WRITING!!

I'LL DEFINITELY NEED UR COMMENT FOR MY

IMPROVEMENT!

THANK YOU!!(^_^)

CLICK HERE TO READ MY NOVEL (HITAM PUTIH CHOCOVANILLA)

P.S. I GOT A BUNCH OF DRAFT TO PUBLISH, SO JUST UPDATE MY WRITING!

A New Misson: Traveling Book Writer

2010-05-12T01:24:00.004+07:00

After I locked myself in my room for many weeks, I finally came out yesterday heading to one of the top shopping center in Jakarta called Pondok Indah Mall. The purpose was to meet one of my friends who just came back from Washington D.C. for her training in Department of Foreign Affairs. I don’t really like to go out after I came back to Indonesia. Even before I went to Australia, I didn’t really like to hang out in/around shopping center. It’s kind of useless I think. But I had to meet her yesterday as I need to discuss about my trip in Washington D.C. next month. So then we were having a really deep conversation about Indonesian economic, about her job, about my activity and stuff. She asked me to have a haircut in one of the best saloon there. But I think it’s worthless for me to pay like 300.000 IDR just for haircut. The prize even more expensive than cutting hair in Melbourne. So I decided to do something else after I met her. Finally (as always) I ended up in a book store just to have a look of the new and interesting books. Somehow when I was passing the book shelf, a familiar name just shown up in front of me. The name was the author of one of (you can say) a best seller books. I sculpted for some nano seconds tried to remember that name. I was a bit surprised that he is the man –whom-I-always-meet-accidentally- in some of my traveling trips.

I met this man for the first time in the airport in Malaysia when I lost my flight to Australia. I was full of tension that time, so I didn’t really aware of his present. And then I accidentally met him again in one of Couchsurifng meeting in Kuala Lumpur. The latest one I met him in Jakarta on one event called Indonesia Couchsurfing Festive.

I grabbed the book just to see what kind of book that he wrote. It was a traveling book which most of the content come from his own blog. So it is like a blog which is published into a book. I bought the book just to analyze the content. Despite his hyperbolic story, It was a quite good book.

His Traveling Book!

After read some of pages of this book, I came online just to give a comment on his facebook page. He quickly replied, talked a bit about the book and he encouraged me to write the same thing as we both love traveling so much, and afterward maybe I can follow him publishing my book about my traveling adventure. Well, I think that’s a great idea. I’ll start to write about my traveling not because I want to be a famous writer or whatsoever but I just don’t want to forget many awesome memories which I got on my trip worldwide.

Ambisi vs Kebahagiaan

2010-05-09T08:51:00.001+07:00

Dari dulu aku udah tahu kalau di dunia ini yang dikejar adalah kebahagiaan. Manusia adalah makluk fana, tidak akan ada habisnya segala pancapaian itu. Tapi ini dilematisnya. Ini kesempatan seumur hidup. Aku sayang dia, pengen ketemu dia secepatnya. Tapi aku juga pengen menghadiri kegiatan skala internasional itu, ingin mewakili negaraku, membanggakan kaum muda negaraku di negara orang. Apakah aku selfish? Aku akan sangat senang bila bisa bertemu dengannya. Lagian dia sudah susah payah menyiapkan segala sesuatunya supaya bisa ketemu aku. Bukan suatu yang mudah untuknya menyiapkan perjalan ber mil-mil jauhnya hanya untuk menjumpaiku setelah 4 bulan berpisah. Tapi apakah ke Kanada itu sesuatu yang esensial? Aku bingung, aku bingung! Sepertinya aku memang harus terus belajar supaya menjadi wanita yang rendah hati, bijak dan memikirkan orang lain.

Toronto-Ontario (where the summit will be held)

Summer Breeze in Montana

2010-04-28T12:38:00.004+07:00

Washington D.C.

It was this time last year when they announced that I got the scholarship for a semester in Australia. It was like a dream come true as I never expect to study in Australia before, especially for free! This time this year another institution is gonna give me the same thing. I got a summer course scholarship to the U.S. for free! I was in Australia when a friend of mine went to D.C. (I mean Washington District of Columbia) a place which I’ll visit soon. I gave a comment on one of her picture in D.C. She replied to me that she likes D.C. so much! She falls in love with D.C. Then she asked me how about Queensland? I didn’t study in Queensland, but in Melbourne. However since I was visiting my friend in Queensland, she was asking me about it. Well, I’m not going to study in D.C. too, but will visit that place for about 3 days when I am in the U.S. in the future.

You know where will I study? Montana! Yeah, I know that you probably merely heart about that state. Me too! Other than Hannah Montana, I hardly hear about this state. After I maintained a research on the internet, I just know that Montana is one of the least populated states all around the U.S. Is that disappointing me? Absolutely no! In contrary it even makes me full of guts.

Montana State University

I like country place better than metropolis place. I spend more than half of of my live time living in Berastagi which is a quite mountainous place in the middle of North Sumatera. So I get used to that peaceful place.

Berastagi, my lovely home town

When I did a research about the Uni where I will study (Montana State University), I figured out that the Uni is not as competence as my previous Uni. Two of my previous Universities (Universitas Indonesia/Jakarta and Swinburne University of Technology/Melbourne) have a better world rank compare with this Uni. But I don’t really care. Who cares when u can get free of everything in a new lovely environment for more than a month? Moreover, I’m just gonna study about environment things there. Thus, I don’t really need to know about the quality of other aspects in their university mode. Well, let just compare between Indonesia-Australia-U.S- ways of education.

I am curious about the summer breeze in The U.S.

Cannot wait to go there! XD

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Mari Bergabung di Toasmaster Club UI!

2010-04-25T08:21:00.002+07:00

Teman-teman, pernah dengar tentang Toastmasters (TM) Club? Bagi yang belum pernah dengar, Toastmaster club adalah sebuah klub dengan afiliasi internasional yang berfungsi memfasilitasi setiap anggotanya untuk belajar seni berbicara, mendengar, berpikir, dan memberikan motivasi untuk semakin berkembang. Telah lebih dari 4 juta orang di seluruh dunia telah membuktikan bahwa Toastmasters International memberikan hasil yang memuaskan bagi pengembangan kemampuan komunikasi dan kepemimpinan pribadi.

Beruntungnya, UI sekarang telah memiliki Toastmasters Club-nya sendiri! UI Toastmasters Club telah berdiri resmi sejak tanggal 20 Juni 2008 sebagai salah satu program dari Direktorat Pembinaan Sumber Daya Manusia UI. Misi UI Toastmasters Club adalah menyediakan lingkungan pembelajaran yang positif dan suportif dimana setiap anggota mempunyai kesempatan untuk mengembangkan komunikasi oral dan berbagai ketrampilan kepemimpinan yang dapat mengangkat kepercayaan diri dan pengembangan pribadi. Kehadiran klub ini sejalan dengan langkah-langkah stratejik UI untuk bergabung dalam global citizenship. Selain itu, keahlian dalam public speaking yang baik merupakan modal utama bagi civitas akademika UI untuk tampil dan memimpin forum-forum internasional.

Program pendidikan UI Toastmasters Club terdiri dari 2 (dua) pengembangan, yaitu pengembangan kemampuan berkomunikasi yang baik dan pengembangan Kepemimpinan di dalam setiap pertemuan. Pada dasarnya, UI Toasmaster Club adalah sarana bebas bagi setiap orang yang ingin mengasah kemampuan public speaking & leadership. We learn by ourselves in fun way. Tidak ada guru. Evaluasi diberikan oleh member lainnya. Kita berusaha membangun lingkungan suportif untuk mendorong perkembangan individu.

Kalau kamu ingin tahu lebih lanjut tentang club ini, maka kamu dapat berkesempatan menjadi guest dalam pertemuan pertama tanpa harus langsung menjadi anggota. Dengan menjadi guest, maka kamu bisa melihat langsung dan mengobservasi bagaimana meeting TM berlangsung. Sebagai guest kamu juga diajak berpartisipasi dalam Table Topic Session dimana kamu akan belajar impromptu speech di depan para anggota dan guest yang lainnya.

Jika seterusnya kamu tertarik menjadi member, maka kamu bisa mengisi form pendaftaran yang dapat diperoleh pada saat meeting. Dengan membayar $27 (per 6 bulan) untuk member fee. Selain itu kamu juga bisa membayar sebesar $20 (1x bayar), untuk mendapatkan member kit yang berisi buku manual belajar public speaking & leadership. Pembayaran nantinya dapat dilakukan dalam rupiah atau pun dolar.

Keuntungan menjadi member? Dengan menjadi member, kamu bisa berpartisipasi di seluruh meeting session. Selain itu, keaktifan kamu dalam melakukan speech di tiap-tiap meeting session akan dihargai dengan sebuah sertifikat yang dikirim langsung dari kantor pusat TM di California, AS. Sertifikat yang diberikan ini pun ada tingkatannya, sehingga makin aktif kamu terlibat, maka semakin tinggi nilai sertifikat yang akan kamu dapatkan!

Tertarik bergabung? Ayo mendaftar bersama-sama!

Siapa saja yang boleh bergabung? UI Toastmasters club merupakan open club, siapa saja boleh join mulai dari mahasiswa, dosen, pegawai dan semua orang yang berada dilingkungan Universitas Indonesia.

Bagaimana cara untuk bergabung? Kamu tinggal datang langsung pada regular meeting UI Toasmaster Club yang diadakan setiap hari Selasa di minggu 1 & 3, dan Rabu di minggu 2 & 4 jam 17.00 WIB di Gd. PPMT lt 2, area rektorat, kampus UI Depok.

Kapankah saya bisa bergabung? Kamu bisa mulai bergabung kapan saja kamu mau!

Untuk informasi lebih lengkap tentang club ini, kamu bisa mengunjungi website

http://uitoastmaster.wordpress.com/ atau www.toastmasters.org.

Kamu juga bisa langsung menghubungi

1)Sdri. Rani (Hp 08561969009, Email: raniramayanti@yahoo.com) dan

2)Sdri. Emriati (Hp 08128828432, Email: emriati@ui.ac.id)

Ayo segera bergabunglah bersama UI Toastmasters Club. Kamu akan mendapatkan manfaat-manfaat yang mampu meningkatkan kualitas hidup!!!

Memori Tentang Australia

2010-04-17T12:20:00.003+07:00

Setelah lebih dari tiga bulan berlalu, aku mulai takut kalau kalau memori yang Indah tentang Melbourne pudar begitu saja tertimpa oleh memori-memori lainnya. Aku senang tinggal di kota itu tapi tidak merasa ingin tinggal kembali di kota tersebut untuk waktu yang lama. Sebagai warga negara yang baik, aku ingin membangun bangsaku tapi tidak juga ingin tinggal di Jakarta yang padat dan sumpek. Kadang-kadang memori tentang Melbourne melintas begitu saja di kepalaku, lalu merasa ingin mengulang kenangan yang lama. Power Street tempat aku dulu tinggal, unit kecil dengan para tetangga yang aneh terutama Grandma yang kesepian yang tinggal tepat didepan unitku. Grace Park tempat aku dan pacar biasa duduk dan mengobrol sehabis dia pulang gym, dimana aku akan tertawa mendengar gurauan konyolnya dan merasa aroma keringatnya yang khas. Grenferrie station tempat aku selalu menunggu train menuju city. Atrium tempat para mahasiswa ngumpul dan nongkrong sambil meminum kopi HQ. Teman-temanku di geraja Indonesia itu. Teman-temanku di beberapa persekutuan mahasiswa Kristen.

Aku ingat pertama kali aku kembali lagi ke Indonesia dan harus beradaptasi lagi dengan keadaan Indonesia, semuanya terasa canggung.

1. Aku tidak perlu menggunakan Bahasa Inggris lagi kalau berbicara dengan teman-teman asing dan para petugas baik di kantor, di kantin, di toko. No bilanguage anymore.

2. Aku tidak akan merasa super kenyang lagi dan tidak lagi merasa perlu membawa sisa makanan ke rumah karena porsi makanan di restaurant di Melbourne dan diseluruh Australia sangat banyak.

3. Aku tidak lagi harus pergi ke toko toko apapun juga secara terburu-buru karena toko pada umumnya tutup pada pukul 04.30-05.00 disana, kecuali supermarket yang biasanya tutup pada pukul 10.00 (hanya seven eleventh 24 jam)

4. Aku tidak bisa lagi memilih jenis makanan apa yang hari ini aku akan santap. Karena Melbourne itu kota multicultural, semua jenis makanan dari seluruh dunia ada di sini dengan harga yang relative sama.

5. Aku tidak lagi harus kesusahan dengan toilet duduk ala western yang tanpa basuhan dan hanya menggunakan tissue. Euy….

6. Aku tidak bisa lagi menggunakan alat transpotasi yang tepat waktu agar aku bisa mengestimasi semua kegiatanku seperti train, tram, bus.

7. Aku tidak bisa lagi menggunakan baju super tebal di musim dingin, dan baju super minim di musim panas. No season anymore! X(

8. Aku tidak akan sering lagi mendengarkan kata Thank you and Sorry karena orang sana senang sekali menghargai mengucapkan kata kata tersebut bahkan untuk hal hal yang paling kecil sekalipun.

9. Baiknya ya cuma satu, sekarang aku bisa guling-guling bersama bantal guling bulu angsaku lagi karena you know what? Orang Australia gak ada yang kenal sama bantal guling. Kata seorang temanku di Australia, bantal guling itu sebenarnya budaya orang Belanda lho! Really?

Aku menuliskan semua ini karena kesan Melbourne masih kental dalam memoriku. Sebelum perlahan lahan semuanya menghilang, aku ingin menuliskannya. Aku akan berusaha menuliskan penggalan-penggalan memori tentang Melbourne lagi dilain waktu (kalau aku dapat inspirasi). I wanna go there again someday for traveling for the fact that I miss that place already.

About My Future in Life

2010-04-16T15:37:00.004+07:00

Hi!

I don’t feel very well these days as I get cough and influenza so I spend most of my time in my room. The room is a bit messy at present so I think I’ve to clean it up. Indeed I enjoy spending time in room, making thesis, writing my mind, watching DVD, reading novel. Well yeah I got some jobs, as an editor in a political journal and as a supporting unit person in an influencing NGO, but those jobs doesn’t eat my time. Hei, you know what? I felt down on my way to my office yesterday so now my foot is swollen. I can’t walk properly. So bad!

Btw, when I was working a publication of my journal yesterday, I met some of my senior. Most of them have been working now. I was surprised knowing that finally they choose to be more pragmatic rather than idealist one. Some of them work in Bank or corporate because those are places where they can get money without any difficulty. I knew some who work in NGOs, media, and government or political institution. However, only a few who is become a diplomat and work in department of foreign affairs. And I just realized that fact.

So what about myself? With each passing day, I become more unsure about my future. I knew what I want to do before. But now I get confuse. The certain thing which I want to do is to continue my master degree. Where? Somewhere out of Indonesia. I’ll apply for some scholarships and just go wherever I am accepted. What next? Work. Where? Department of Foreign Affair. Are you sure? Yes, but before I decide to dedicate the rest of my life there I want to work in an institution such as international organization under UN umbrella or in an international NGO for around two years
.

I am 21 now and where should I bring my future?

Then what about my bf? I talked with him about this last time and I really don’t know where the relations will go as he is far and I don’t think like I want to spend many years in my life by living in Australia. A year or two year is enough, but I couldn’t stand any longer for more than that. I believe that if we are really meant each other, we can be together someday.

That’s it for today. I’ll share you more other things in the future. Have a nice day all!

Random Thoughts Part 2

2010-04-13T07:39:00.001+07:00

I sleep late tonite. Instead of doing a research for my thesis, I’m watching a movie on television. I don’t know what should I do with this thesis, seems like I don’t have encouragement to finish it. Moreover, this internet connection is really disturbing me. I’m thinking to unsubscribe my internet in a few weeks as I don’t see a good effect on it. I get bored again with my live and really want to finish my thesis so that I can travel to another place around the world. I’d luv to travel with my bf somewhere in the world some day in the future. Travel is my biggest passion.

However, I’m so busy these days with all my jobs in an NGO and a journal which push me to think more critical. I’m not complaining this because becoming a smart girl is what I want to be.

Chamomile Flower

By the way, I drink a chamomile tea while watching TV now. I brought the tea from China and now I drink it with a big old-style iron glass which has Mao Zhe Dong head on it. Also, there is a quote which is written in both Chinese and English. I found it’s cute. I was about to send it to Mom n Dad, but after a while I feel like I just wanna have it myself.

Well, the movie has end.

Time to clean my messy room and then go for sleep.

Good nite, have a nice sleep!

"The Vast World Can Develop One's Ability To The Full -Quotation"

Random Though Early in the Morning (Middle of April)

2010-04-10T08:21:00.001+07:00

Taking the Garfield cat picture

I woke up late today, yet some thoughts have been spinning in my mind already. It’s been 3 months since I leave Melbourne, but so many things have change here. I came back from my one week trip in China already and in a few months have to go to The U.S. for a summer course or maybe to India too for an internship. I got some job already in Indonesia which can cover my life expenditure here for a while. I think I’ve to do my whole effort when doing all those jobs as I don’t like to disappoint my bosses. I just so much into self centrist now. I feel bad when I got so much achievement but didn’t know the purpose of it. I want to a useful person who could help the society in a real way. I want to be a nice lady who knows how to act in front of those envious people. I want to keep my smile to everyone because when I smile I’ve already do a kindness to others. The worst thing which could happen to me is when I lost my faith to God. When I’m walking with him, I know He provides me everything and give peaceful atmosphere to my heart. So whether I win or lost, I’m still happy because I see the biggest plan which has been arranged by Him for me behind it. Hence, when I ignore His present I couldn’t be a better woman. I am just an ambitious yet selfish young lady. I’m thinking to start reading a devotional guide book again after leave it for almost a year. My mom ever said to me ‘’It is useless to get all those achievements in the world, if you forget God because He won’t like to open heaven’s door for you.’

Incredible China

2010-04-08T11:22:00.000+07:00

Hi!

Tiananmen Square which always pop up in my writing

The Forbidden City

I finally reach home again after my wonderful journey in Beijing, China. Overall I spend about 7 days or a week there. It was an unforgettable moment. I really feel that I miss something on my flight to Indonesia. Before I landed in Beijing, I wasn’t so excited about it as I saw so many Chinese back home. Especially in my hometown (Medan), there are a lot of Chinese group who speak one of Chinese ethnic languages (Cantonese and Hokien).However, when I arrived in China there are a bunch of incredible things which really surprising me. I just knew that Chinese people are so welcome with the new people. I really love the environment in Beijing. I heard from my local Chinese friend that Beijing is the most polluted city in China. But I found it’s not as dusty as Jakarta or any other city in Indonesia. Maybe because it was still spring when I came there so I felt the weather was so fresh. But I love so many things there. I like those people who keep on smiling and give a good suggestion, accompany me to many places or traveling around city. Moreover, everything is cheap there. I found it is even cheaper than things in Jakarta. For example if I want to travel by bus I only have to pay one Yuan (which is Rp.1335) in any distance. It is even cheaper than the cheapest transportation in Indonesia. Also if I wanna travel by subway train (yes, they have subway), I only have to pay two Yuans and I can go from a corner to another corner around Beijing. OMG so cheap! They even have tram. Uniquely, their tram doesn’t come with the rail but only connected with the cable upstairs. I saw some unique transportation too. It has three wheels and look similar with ‘Bajaj’ in Jakarta. I bought so many souvenirs there because it is so cheap and I couldn’t stand not to buy those cute things. I bought a set of Beijing Olympic Games 2008 doll mascots for 40 Yuans. I bought many snacks and foods. I like their foods so much! They have almost the same taste with Indonesian foods. I think Indonesian foods got some influence from Chinese because in the previous time those kingdoms have a good trade relation. Although I’m not fussy on choosing foods but I think I’d luv to stay in China as it’s so easy for me to find cheap and yummy foods.

Fall in Luv wid Beijing

I really got the real Chinese culture experience there. Those people are so nice with the outsiders. They always try to smile and make me feel comfort. They do it deep from their hearth; likewise they do their best to serve me. I never heard that they speak bad word or swearing others, always try to be honest. It is so different with Western culture which I ever experienced.

Hiking The Great Wall was a bit scary.

Despite there are less people who can speak English, I really love Beijing. I’m planning to stay there for half a year or maybe a year to learn Mandarin as I need to add my language ability. At the moment I can only do three languages: my ethnic language (Batak) which is not really useful worldwide, Bahasa which is almost the same, and English with all the limitation. Well, I ever learn France, Japanese and Mandarin for a while but becoz I never practice it, I am never being advance on that.

There are a lot of things about Beijing which I want to share. In fact, I haven’t say anything about the flow of the conference. I’ll write it on the next post. Just keep updating…

My This Time New Hobby and Poor Trip to China

2010-03-28T14:28:00.005+07:00

Hey bloggers!

Thanks Skype for connecting us!

I just woke up a few hours ago and started to write something as I think I did’t write my though lately. I skip Sunday Morning Church as I woke up late so I’ve to go for the afternoon church. I was talking with my boy friend on Skype since 01.00 in the morning and we finished our conversation until around 06.00. It was the first time again I did a long conversation in the middle of nite (or morning) after I left that ‘Miss Ring Ring’ hobby right after I entered university.

I'm thinking to go to Himalayas very soon.

You know what? My present new hobby is browsing in the internet, looking for a cheap or budget airlines. I dun wanna pay for my travel now (as I dun have money left anymore), but I just like the feeling. I love to imagine that I’ll go here and there with this budget and we’ll do this and that. I dun know why I am so addicted with this thing. However I learn from my past experience that actually I dun wanna travel to the place where everything has already been provided. I was traveling in Australia for many months before and I found it’s boring. Everything is well established, everything is good. People are live in welfare. They just told me story about their glory and the process to be a wealth country in the pass. There was no something which can arouse me and really amaze me. I wanna travel in a place where the people is still struggling and fighting for their live. I wanna see and feel how hard to continue live and how their path of live. I wanna go to places in Middle Asia, Balkans countries, some part of Africa (especially Ethiopia as I conduct a research about it). Traveling to places where everything has not been exploded yet will so much fun! I don’t really wanna go to Europe becoz I know it’d be kind of same with Australia. But I’m pretty sure that I’ll go there soon.

I heard about Great Wall from My Mom When I was a kid

By the way, I am feeling sad lately as my proposal for my Beijing conference trip couldn’t reach the airlines. It means I’ve to pay the flight myself. It also means that I couldn’t buy SLR. I dun mind about going to Beijing as half of the expenditure has been covered by my Uni. But I’ve to pay half of it from my own saving which I’ve saved for some previous months in order to buy a new SLR camera. I’m feeling sad because I really want to have it since two years ago. However, I couldn’t ask my parents to buy that for me becoz I never ask something from my parents again since such a long time and I don’t wanna load them with my own self interest. Moreover, Mom is now having problem with her business ‘coz she trusts people too easily. My dream to shot the Great Wall views from my new SLR has over. And since I’ll have a tight budget in Beijing, I think I won’t able to haunt some new clothes there. Most probably I’ll eat street foods, and no party or beer (but I’m pretty sure that they’ll ask me for this). So sad… X(

Well, at least I can reach the Great Wall.

Proses Pembuatan Visa Kunjungan Cina

2010-03-28T12:26:00.008+07:00

Barusan saya baru pulang dari kantor Kedutaan Besar Cina untuk membuat Visa dalam rencana keberangkatan untuk Asian Internasional Model United Nation (AIMUN) 2010. Awalnya proses pembuatan visa China memang ribet karena informasi yang ada simpang-siur. Saya lihat di brosur travel agent katanya kita harus bawa:

- Pasport asli

- Foto berwarna ukuran 3x4 dengan latar belakang putih sebanyak 2x

- Fotokopi KK

- Fotokopi KTP

- Booking tiket

- Fotokopi rekening tabungan 3 bulan terakhir

Tapi menurut teman saya yang tahun lalu berangkat ke acara yang sama, ia cuma perlu membawa passport asli sama undangan kegiatan dari panitia untuk membuat visa cina. Saya browse ke beberapa situs internet, tapi informasi yang ada berbeda-beda. Maka bingunglah saya. Kemudian saya menanyakan ke beberapa teman yang kiranya tahu tentang ini. Namun informasi yang mereka suguhkan malah membuat saya semakin bingung. Akhirnya tadi pagi, saya nekad saja berangkat ke Kedutaan Besar Cina yang berletak di wilayah Kuningan itu dengan hanya bebekal passport asli, pas foto 3x4 berlatar belakang warna biru dan satu lembar foto kopi surat undangan kegiatan dari pihak panitia di Peking University.

Awalnya saya kira tempat pembuatannya masih di kantor Kedubes Cina yang tidak jauh dari seberang Mal Ambasodor. Saya tidak kesulitan mencari gedung Kedubes ini karena sebelumnya pernah melakukan diskusi internal bersama organisasi saya, ISAFIS (www.isafis.org) dengan si Kedubes Cina . kantor Kedubes Cina ini tidak susah di cari karena design bangunannya berbeda dengan bangunan megah lain di sekitarnya. Kedubes Cina ini hanya memiliki sekitar tiga dan empat lantai, tapi atapnya terbuat dari ubin berwarna kuning ke coklat-coklatan dengan dekorasi naga di ujungnya. Di beberapa sudut ada hiasan lampion dan warna warna merah khas Cina. Bahkan waktu saya lewat pekerja bangunan untuk lahan kecil di dekat bangunan utama yang sedang dikonstruksi juga orang Cina! Benar-benar memberdayakan masyarakat sendiri, saya pikir. Nah ketika saya mencoba masuk dan bertanya sama si satpam, ternyata mulai sekarang proses pembuatan Visa-nya tidak lagi di Kantor Kedubes, tapi mereka punya kantor untuk mengurus visa Cina yang namanya “Chinese Visa Application Service Center- Jakarta”. Lokasi tempat ini untungnya tidak jauh dari kantor Kedubesnya yakni di East Builiding yang masih di kawasan Mega-M itu juga.

Setelah menitipkan SIM di bagian resepsion, saya pun ditunjukkan arah kantornya ada di Lt.2. Begitu naik ke atas saya langsung diberikan nomor antrian dan formulir isian sama bagian resepsionis VASC. Formulirnya hanya berisi kolom isian 1 lembar bolak balik dengan pertanyaan yang relative mendasar dan gak belibet. Saya tidak harus menunggu jeda antrian yang lama ketika telah selesai mengisi formulir karena ada banyak counter yang melayani costumer (walaupun pada saat saya datang hanya sebagian yang buka tapi mungkin karena waktu itu costumer-nya gak banyak). Ketika nomor antrian saya dipanggil, saya jelaskan sama Mbak petugasnya kalo saya mau ke Beijing untuk acara konfernsi dan beliau meminta saya menunggu sebentar. Semenit kemudian beliau datang kembali, mengecek formulir saya, mengisi secarik notes tanda terima yang kemudian diberikan, meminta saya untuk kembali tiga hari kemudian dan Viola! That’s it! So easy!

My Chinese Visa

Empat hari kemudian saya pun datang sambil membawa notes yang kemaren sempat di berikan oleh si resepsionis. Setelah mengambil nomor antrian dan menunggu hanya sekitar 3 menit, saya berhasil mendapatkan passport saya kembali dan telah di sugguhkan stiker Visa China. Saya sangat senang! Total biaya pembuatannya Visa yang harus saya berikan adalah Rp.540.000 (Rp.300.000 untuk biaya asli pembuatan +Rp.240.000 untuk biaya servis VASC). Penambahan biaya VASC ini berlaku semenjak tanggal 03 Maret 2010 lalu. Padahal sebelumnya kita hanya perlu membayar Rp.300.000 saja! Murah banget menurut saya. Tapi kalau anda mau lebih cepat (proses kerja 2 hari) harus bayar biaya tambahan Rp.200.000. Sementara kalau inginnya selesai hari itu juga harus membayar ekstra Rp.400.000. Menurut saya walaupun biaya pembuatan visa China sekarang bertambah mahal dengan adanya VASC ini, tapi saya tidak keberatan mengingat proses pembuatannya yang sangat gampang. Tapi saya jadi bertanya-tanya, apa negara tandingan AS ini tidak takut dimasuki sama imigran gelap, TKP illegal atau bahkan kelompok teroris sangkin gampangnya membuat visa? Saya jadi ingat ketika saya membuat Visa Australia hampir setahun yang lalu. Walaupun saat itu telah di bantu untuk mengurus sama IDP-Indonesia (sponsor beasiswa saya untuk program study abroad) tapi tetap saja ribet. Lagian di Visa China ini nama saya dicantukan hanya Ms. O. Purba, bukan nama lengkap yang benar-benar lengkap seperti di visa Australia. Saya jadi teringat satu-satunya orang yang pernah mengirimkan saya surat dengan nama seperti itu adalah bos saya waktu di Australia yang hendak mengirimkan cek gaji ke alamat rumah saya waktu di sana.

Finally, I’m coming to China this Wednesday (31 March 2010)

Wish me luck for the conference!

The last day of February.

2010-02-28T13:38:00.001+07:00

On the beginning of this month, I went back to Jakarta to continue my life. So many things happen here. People change, environment change, and many other things. I meet some of my old friend. Many of them say that I look thinner now. I think I lost many kg recently. But I always happy to hear that I look prettier now. XD

But I was thinking how boring is the whole February. Nothing to do beside thesis and preparing my conference trip to Beijing. It’s killing me. After I finish my thesis outline, I need to find some other work. Otherwise, I’ll die on boringness.

Anyway, every time I browse on the internet, I always open a new tab for a budget airline site. I dunno why I’m so obsessed with going out somewhere very soon. I really wanna graduate soon and travel somewhere out of Indonesia to refresh my mind. I’m planning to go around Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) with my bestfriend or maybe tracking to Himalaya wid my bf. I haven’t decide what exactly I will do after graduate. Probably work in an International NGO (but not to be placed in Jakarta), while hunting a scholarship abroad. Well, I really wanna go abroad after graduate. I’m sick of Depok and Jakarta.

I lost my spirit lately. I dunno why. I’m getting stress of this thesis. I dun wanna stay longer in uni. It’ll only be happen if I couldn’t finish my thesis this June. Hopefully, it won’t. I think I’ve to pray to God often from now. I know He always open the way when I’m faithfully pray for it. When I’m far with Him, I feel like I’m doing nothing in this earth. But when I’m close I feel the joy, hope and love around me. Yeah, I think He can help me, and only Him.

I still have 4 months to finish my thesis. I know I can. Go girl! You know u can.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

(I won't represent Indonesia there, but Australia) XD

Beijing, I'm coming!

Valentine's Day in 2010

2010-02-14T13:32:00.005+07:00

That’s the title for this post. But the content is actually not about Valentine 'sDay because there is nothing special about this year Valentine's day because my boyfriend is far and we couldn’t celebrate it together. But anyway, I just want to write something on this V-day. My friends ask me to celebrate it with them but somehow I feel so so lazy! I just wanna stay at home and continue writing my thesis (or blog?).

I remember that yesterday I met one of my friends who just went back from Washington D.C. She told me many stories about those handsome Anglo guys. Unfortunately, she didn’t even get one.LOL! Somehow, her stories remind me of Melbourne. It’s been a month since I left that city. I keep on doing this, counting how many days since I left. I’ve already get used to with Jakarta’s condition now. My impression toward this city is still the same with when the first time I came here: dirty, crowded, dusty and selfish. I wanna move to another part of Indonesia, maybe to the beach area or mountainous place. But the good thing about coming back here is I can hear all that lovely pop Indonesian songs all the time (exclude that ‘allay’ version). Music industry is developing very fast in Indonesia these days. And I’m glad about that because I appreciate music as a part of art so much. Music is an universal word which can unite all the people in the earth from all the backgrounds. Oh, my writing is swerving now.

I feel like I am old now and I will lose my uni’s friend soon.. I don’t like to be a last year student. X(

HAPPY V-DAYS DEAR! ^_^

Cinta Banget Sama Indonesia (I luv u Indonesia!)

2010-02-10T11:02:00.002+07:00

Whenever somebody ask me where I come from, I’ll proudly answer them than I am from Indonesia. Although I realize the fact that Bali which is only a part of Indonesia is far more famous than Indonesia it self, but it is my own pleasure to introduce the unique of Indonesia to those who don’t really know or totally blank about it. Actually there’s so much good thing of Indonesia which people don’t really respect about; beautiful lands, unique rare animals, plentiful natural resources, rich forest, beautiful beaches, awesome views, many thousands of wonderful islands, rich of pure cultures, hundreds of languages, friendly people and many else. So many things which you only can get in Indonesia, but not in any other places in the world.

However, I realize that most of the youth in Indonesia always complain about something which they think are wrong in this country. I’m not trying to say that criticizing the government is wrong. When we critic the government, it means that we love our government because we care of them. But the problem is when the youth critic the government, they don’t even try to do effort to make a change for the better Indonesia. So now I’m provoking all the Indonesian youth to act. Stop too much complaining, do your task. Act something to improve Indonesia from the very small thing around us. Study well is one of the best effort you can do to your country because education is the only effective sword to fight poverty. We are still a developing country, but we are moving toward a better condition. Together we can handle all the challenge. I know that this is not very easy because even the media has become a defiance. For example these days most of youth influenced by the pop culture which is brought by the fast pace of world’s wide media. Soon, It makes the youth feel inferior when they compare themselves with those foreign cultures especially western culture. Thus, the youth tend to be a western lover in order to make the society appraise them as a modern person. But I'm telling you, we are not inferior at all! All the culture in the world has the same degree. No culture is better than any other culture. Just like all the people in the world is the same. They are just a human who have their excess and weakness. So, stop copying and worshiping other culture. Be your self! Love your self! Love your culture and your country!

Good or wrong is still my country. I am proud of being an Indonesian. I was born in here, grew up in here, and get most of everything in my life here. This land and this people has provided me almost everything in my life. So, this is my turn to express my thankful. Thank you Indonesia!

Day 6 in Medan, North Sumatera!

2010-01-27T11:19:00.000+07:00

Day 6 after my return to Indonesia. There are miscellaneous things to do; thesis, jobs, next conference, etc etc. I don’t even have time to make up myself. Indeed, I have been so mess up (I ‘m talking about physical appearance here). Neither meeting friends, have a good talk with families, chilling out here and there. My real life is back. No……!

I quit traveling for a while. I’ve traveled too much lately. I love traveling so much, but too much traveling make me feel saturated. I promised myself to make a short report about my travel (especially about Phuket). But somehow, I always get more important things to do than write some notes.

It’s odd and seems like very not me to keep staying at home, enjoying my room nuance, go online, writing thesis and paper, sleep when I get stuck or just tired. Although actually I have time to just go out for coffee or chit chat with friends who keep asking me to meet up but I don’t feel like I wanna go for it.

I strongly believe that my internet and phone bills at home will be bursting because I keep on browsing and calling my bf in Oz. Well, I was planning to install web cam on my sista’s computer so that I can do Skype with him. But then I realized that my Dad won’t really like it if I often use internet just to talk with him.

At last, I’ve to continue my life. I am 21 now and mature enough to decide everything for my future. Sometimes I wish I could stop the time so that I can enjoy those entire goods thing, which happened on me. I really hope that I could stop the time before my departure to Indonesia coz I still wanted to stay close with him at that moment. Indeed, I hate time now. Mom and Dad’s are getting older each second. I hate those wrinkles on mom’s face. I hate those white hairs on Dad’s head. I don’t want them to become old. They are 55 y.o. now and I don’t want to lose them in the future. I hate mortality.

In next few days, I will be heading to Jakarta, start my new live, and struggle for my master degree scholarship. I’m thinking about go overseas right after I finish my thesis (hopefully on this August). Anyway, I wish I would keep the same feeling toward him in my hardest time there in Jakarta. Hope so…. Let’s pray. God is the one who provides.

Tuesday, 1/26/2010 3:20 PM

(My Last BBQ Party on 11 January 2010)

Thanks Flinder's Gang for your Performance... XD

Me Againts Lust!

2009-12-30T22:47:00.004+07:00

12:18 amOlivia

aku dari kemren berkelut sama topik skripsi

aku masih bingung2

terus disini banyak cobaan lagi

12:19amIlham

huahahaha...

12:19amOlivia

banyak hiburan, pacar,teman2

gak konsen aku

12:19amIlham

gak usah rempong ama isun,,,yg penting logika am penulisana...

cieeeeeeeeeeee...

12:20amOlivia

aku mau bahas human right

12:20amIlham

yg uda punya pacar n temen...

masih virgin kan???

GOOD!!!

12:20amOlivia

iya masih kok

12:20amIlham

BAGUS!!!

klo human right kyna banyak teorina deh,,,jd bakal kebantu bgt logikana...

That’s not the very first time my best friend asked me about virginity since I arrived in Melbourne. It’s always been a big question for them all. I know that they wonder about it because they care of me as they know that Australian culture is very different with Indonesian culture.

So I wonder why it’s very important for keeping virginity from my religious n ethnic point of view. What’s the consequence of losing virginity before marriage? Here what I found from many sites and I was surprised by it.

ANSWER 1:

“If I go into a grocery store and want to choose a good apple I can pick it up and look at it but I can't take a bite out of it then put it back. Having sex before marriage is taking a bite out of the apple before committing to it (buying it), leaving it for the next person. If I have sex with someone before marriage, I am likely having sex with someone else's future wife. I've been there.”

Then I wonder: “So what if you are pretty sure that she or he will be your future wife or husband?”

I answer my self : No body can predict their future. Maybe he or she or ur self die tomorrow. The world are big and people can easily change their mind. Even you are often not sure about yourself , so it’s impossible that you are sure about something else outside you. And how if somehow in the future you realize that you are not match each other than you break up but you had already did sex? break ups are much less painful if there has been no sex because there is less to regret and less tattering of the heart.

When you have sex before marriage, you will definitely (at least a bit) feel guilty for yourself. You know what? Because you know that it’s wrong. Because your conscience keep speaking in your deeper heart that that’s wrong. Yeah, that is!

These are the facts:

Teenager girls who have sex are 2x more likely to commit suicide than girls who practice abstinence. ("Point of View" Dec 10, 2004)

Teenage boys who have sex are 7x more likely to commit suicide than boys who are sexually abstinent. (ibid) .

Girls who have abortions are 6x more likely to commit suicide than those who don't.

And ABORTION IS A VERY BIG NO NO!

As a human right activist, I know how precious our live is. Killing someone is fighting the basic things on human right coz no body have a right for separating your body with your soul esc The One who made it (GOD).

Alrite, you wanna know how desperate someone who did sex before marriage and have to kill their baby for their own selfish sake? Read this link http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/abortion.htm

I put some part of his sad story here;

“Many abortions occurs because of failed contraception by people who were not open to life, before they jumped into bed. Before I became Christian and cleaned up my life I had a girlfriend who was a medical doctor. She was on the pill and knew how to use the pill. She got pregnant while using the pill properly. In our secular mind set, abortion looked like the logical solution. It was the worst mistake I've ever made in my life.”

you and me

have killed the seed

that was planted in our souls

now there's only you

and only me

and a memory of our world

we had it all and watched it blow

away, and where it goes

we haven't got a clue

nothing we can do

This is how he answered for all his dramatic troubles:

Yet even with these devastating facts, modern culture thinks everybody has to have sex before marriage. People who don't are viewed with pity or contempt. We wonder what is wrong with them. Psychiatrists have a field day with people who feel called to celibacy. Teenagers who want to wait until marriage are ridiculed by their peers. I don't believe the answer to our problems is more freedom using contraception and "safer sex" with condoms. I believe the solution is a personal relationship with Jesus and his call to chastity.

Sex creates an unbreakable bond for eternity with the sex partner. (1 Cor 6:16) That's why it needs to happen only within the eternal bond of marriage. One reason so few people are capable of intimacy today is because that spiritual centre of union with another person has been scattered in bits and pieces all over their previous partner's lives. They have been hurt and with each hurt they close down a little more.

Sex before marriage means broken hearts and broken bonds. Broken hearts don't trust others as much. People with broken hearts don't trust themselves as much. People think they should take a partner out for a "test drive" before getting married. But this hasn't made it easier to learn if the person is compatible because couples having sex often overlook important differences cause the sex is good. People who live together before marriage have a higher divorce rate.

ANSWER 2:

The Bible speaks clearly against premarital sex. It describes marriage as a union between one man and one woman. When a man and a woman are married, they are no longer two but one. The act of sexual intercourse in and of itself is the joining together of two bodies to make them one. Having sex is more than just a physical act; it is also a spiritual and emotional one as well.

There are those that make for submitting to sex before marriage. These are not only ridiculous notions, but can also lead to participation in risky behaviors. The ideas that you need to know if your partner is "good" in bed or not ahead of time will supposedly save you a lot of displeasure later. The truth of the matter is, if it is your first time, you will have no idea what constitutes "good" sex, and if you partner has waited as well, you will both experience the beauty and intimacy of learning together.

Sexually transmitted diseases are a good example of the consequences of our sexual promiscuity as a society. If you do not engage in risky behaviors, and you are able to give yourself to someone who has also avoided premarital sex, you obviously will not have to worry about exposing yourself to the myriad of STD's, and the potential lifelong consequences you may have to face when you contract one. The possibility of contracting one of these infections is great. If untreated, they can lead to future problems with fertility, and the risk of passing along the infection to your spouse upon marriage. Millions of couples spend thousands of dollars per year on fertility treatments due to problems caused from untreated reproductive infections.

Unwanted pregnancy is also another lifelong consequence that can occur from engaging in premarital sex. There number of abortions and adoptions that occur each year due to unplanned pregnancies is alarming. Although sex is not just about baby-making, the person that you are intimate with should be someone that you wouldn't mind having a child with.

The act of sexual intercourse is best performed in a situation with whom you are emotionally, spiritually, and physically tied to. Who better than your spouse? Despite popular belief, once you engage in this activity with someone, you have become one with them. If you have a child, you are forever bond to that person. If you contract an STD, you are forever haunted by the consequences that occurred with that particular person, especially if it affects your ability to bear children one day with your spouse.

Premarital sex places the act of pleasure before learning the life lessons of self-control and self-respect. There was a reason that God prohibited sex prior to marriage, and if you look around at the disintegration of the family unit you will see why. Teen pregnancies, abortions, HIV/AIDS and other STD's, and the rise in the number of single parent households, have all contributed to the deterioration of the family. When we stray from what God intends for us to do, we always mess ourselves up.

ANSWER 3:

Girls are to guard their hearts, by doing that they won't break-their-leg. Pretty soon the girls are getting their share of interest and many try to stay true to their promise. But they are finding it hard to stay true to their promise and the one they think they love. They are experiencing a real Catch-22: How are you suppose to prove your love to the one you love when momma told you long ago it's wrong to do such a thing if unmarried? It's tough being pulled in two direction. On one side the selfish love of a lustful suitor is in one ear and the loving love of a loving parent ringing loudly in the other. But some are broken by the persistence of the boy and the passion within their very being. So the guard comes down and they break their promise...and their leg. Sex starts here for many and continue on into adulthood long before marriage.

But sex was designed for the husband and his wife. To say that sex is for the pleasure of the married husband and his wife is true, but it's much deeper than that. What this entails is sex is set apart by a holy God. It's consecrated and exalted by divine sanction for the husband and his wife. They become one literally and figuratively. This intimacy is the ultimate loving, giving, caring and sharing, a composite of two becoming one. It's old-fashion and right, for everyone should keep themselves for their spouse or remain celibate according to the scriptures. Many of us failed to honor this command. I am ashamed to say, I'm guilty. I knew sex wasn't for temporary relationships. It's always been for the permanent relationship: marriage. What does sex between a husband and his wife say on the honeymoon night? It says they are both relinquishing control of their bodies (sexually) from this moment forward. Meaning his body belongs to her, her body belongs to him, it's a monogamous, giving, sharing and permanent relationship in every way.

If both the male and the female keep themselves until the honeymoon night, nature takes it's natural course: two virgins experiencing sexual intimacy for the first time as husband and wife. Sex between two virgins complete the most special of relationships. It's sacred, it's the ultimate connection. Marriage and sexual intimacy takes a relationship to a place that no other relationship can go. There isn't another by comparison in the expression of sharing, giving, love and oneness. It's an expression that's unmatched. And if they honor their vows there will never be a comparison.

So when you know that it’s wrong but everybody just do it, then should you do it? No rite?

Only oxymoron people who don’t know how to drive her/his lust did that.

CLAIM 1: LUST (VIRGINITY) IS NO BIG DEAL:

Truth: “For lust is a shameful sin, a crime tat should be punished. It is a devastating fire that destroys to hell. It would wipe out everything I own. (Job 31:11-12)

CLAIM 2: IT’S MY BODY. I CAN DO WHAT I WANT WITH IT.

Truth: “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthinas 6:18-20)

CLAIM 3: TOO MUCH PURITY WILL KEEP ME FROM SEEING AND ENJOYING BEAUTY.

Truth: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

“For the Lord is righteous, he loves righteous deeds, the upright shall behold his face.” (Psalm 11:7)

I’m sure but now become more sure that Christianity and my culture banning me for doing sex before marriage because they have a good reason behind it.

So, These are may last opinion about the important of keeping virginity.

“Condoms are based on lust, chastity is based on love”

“Love can wait. So when she/he couldn’t wait to have sex with you before marriage, she/he doesn’t really love you then. Maybe she/he thinks that he love you, but she/he actually just wants sex from you.”

P.S. I am still and will always be looking for a good Christian man who fully understand my feeling and can lead me through the rite thing which I've ignored these days.

My Run Away Stanza

2009-12-22T14:05:00.000+07:00

There is Nothing To Do With Me.

Part 1.

Trial and Error. I keep on learning by doing mistakes. But it’s very fool when I’ve already know that it’s wrong but I still keep doing it.

I stay away just to save my life.

I come close because I like it.

There is nothing to do with them.

It’s all about me.

God watched it from above. Then He becomes angry as I’m not (and never) listening to Him.

Thus, He let Satan tempts me.

But still He commands His angle to protect me just in case Satan couldn’t keep his promise and goes to far with me.

Part 2.

I lost my faith when I go too far with all those philosophy books.

Nietzsche brought me too far to deepest of his thought.

By standing beside Nietzsche I can escape from the constructed world,

Unfortunately, I actually escape to an empty dimension.

The place where you even can’t lean your notion.

At first the paint started to pinch me. But soon, I was enjoying it.

Now it’s gone. I miss my misery.

Part 3.

Now I even feel sick of myself.

Suicide is the best solution to those who deserve to die.

But losing someone’s soul is the most sinful thing in the universe.

You don’t have even a piece of right to divide a soul from its body.

Think before you act.

There are many important things outside beside your contentment.

Part 4.

This is still a long way to go.

Some other journey.

I stay here just to fulfil my previous vow.

to be continued...

Melbourne, 22 December 2009.

Cerita Kegalauan Jiwa Part 2

2009-12-19T09:20:00.001+07:00

Kali ini aku telah memasuki masa pra depersi. Berdiam di tempat tanpa tahu apa yang harus di lakukannya. Selalu seperti ini tiap enam bulan sekali. Hanya ingin tidur di kamar tanpa berbuat apa-apa. Ada banyak factor kenapa aku mengalami ini. Tapi salah satu cara mengurangi depresi yang bias kulakukan adalah dengan menulis. Karena dengan menulis aku bagai dapat keluar dari bilik-bilik labirin dan sekilas melihat jalan keluarnya dari atas.

Isi kepalaku penuh dengan pikiran-pikiran tentang meninggalkan Melbourne, ingin putus dengan pacar, ingin pulang ke Berastagi, ingin meyelesaikan skripsi tepat waktu, ingin kerja sebelum meninggalkan Melbourne.

What am I supposed to do? I want to be a strong girl. I don’t want to give up. No!

Love doesn’t mean that you have to have ur lover beside you.

I know he loves me so much, but I don’t think that he is the right man. I don't have the reason for saying that, I can just feel it.

(Dockland, 18 December 2009)

(I will miss Hawthorn for sure)

Cerita Kegalauan Jiwa Part 1

2009-12-17T17:35:00.000+07:00

Aku tau itu tidak baik pada awalnya, tapi aku tidak peduli. Aku terjebak dalam kenyamanan dan aku senang. Nuraniku kenal ada yang tidak baik, itu makanya ada kegundahan. Tapi aku tidak peduli hingga pada puncaknya aku tersesat. Tersesat ke alam yang tidak kukenal. Ia pada awalnya mengundangku pada kenyamanan yang fana, tapi kini aku terjatuh. Dalam… dalam sekali ke jurang kekelaman. Aku tidak tahu di mana aku berpinjak sekarang, semuanya gelap, hanya ada terawangan. Gundah gulana tak ada sebabnya. Kini wajahku menjadi sembab, pucat, dan kusut. Aku hilang! Tapi aku tidak menjerit atau menangis. Aku hanya menyesali rongga waktu yang telah ku sia-siakan.

Didalam keramaian aku menemukan kepekatan. Aku tidak tahu apa yang kucari disana. Tapi itu memang bukan tujuanku. Aku hanya terpana pada kemegahannya. Ia menjeratku. Telah dalam sekali aku dibawanya ke dalam kesesatan. Ia sendiri fana dan fantasi. Ia memanipulasi duniaku. Ketika aku tidak kenal lagi arah, nurani ku berbisik dengan kencang. Seketika aku sadar, ingin lepaskan jeratan ini. Dosa yang memikat dan lezat. Adalah cobaan yang dahsyat.

Hidupku bukanlah untukku. Aku diingatkan kembali pada hal itu. Menepiskan keegoisanku dan memandang jauh ke bawah. Aku tidak pernah menggantungkan hidupku pada siapapun. Kalau pun aku sering menyusahkan, itu hanya lah kebiasaan burukku. Karena dengan begitu aku bisa merasakan kehadiran orang-orang disekelilingku.

Berapa lama lagi aku harus menunggu agar dapat keluar dari lingkaran ini? Ini bukan lingkaran setan, tapi aku tahu itu buruk. Dia tidak dapat membuatku bahagia. Cinta saja tidak cukup untuk memilikiku. Dia lebih mencintai dirinya daripada mencintaiku. Hm… paling tidak aku mendapat suatu pelajaran dari sini. Setidaknya aku telah belajar bagaimana cara memahami orang. Egois.. ugh manusia memang mahluk egois. Aku egois. Tapi aku mau belajar bagaimana caranya supaya tidak egois, aku akan dengar bisikan Tuhan. Aku akan berbicara pada Tuhan. Aku akan cerita sama Tuhan. Karena hanya dia yang bisa mengerti.

Melbourne, 17 December 2009

(Si Gadis yang Gundah)

(This is Me)

The Book of Secrets

2009-11-09T16:47:00.002+07:00

* This is my 2nd story written in English. Actually I did this to accomplish my Writing Fiction subject. I am so glad that I've finished this as I put many effort while doing it. So readers, Enjoy! *

The Book of Secrets

By: Olivia D. Purba

I heard that sad news on the train when heading home yesterday afternoon. I thought something bad might have happened because Mom would not call me for an ordinary thing. Well, I was right. It was very sad news, which could stab old wounds straight in my heart. I felt like wanting to cry but I could not. I really did not want to sense that kind of feeling again, since it would also remind me of him. Then it truly happened, the memories of him continued haunting me at night until I could not sleep.

This morning, while listening to Rondo A La Turca - Mozart, I read this book carefully in my narrow room. It had been two days just lying on my bedroom floor. This book is the same book, which was busily read by him three years ago. He likes reading and I would see his expression when he was reading. This book was alluring him. I know his taste. Moreover, in general the book is interesting; written in Japanese, translated into English. Turning each page of the book is also opening my old memories of him.

Three years ago was the first time we met. But a few moments later he suddenly vanished from me. My heart feels hurt every time I recall his heavy voice calling my name.

Two years ago, he was able to fill the void of my heart with all of his messages. After a long time with no eye contact with him, he said he was overseas. Afterwards, he disappeared like being eaten by the earth. I wonder whether he had been only a shadow without a body.

A year ago, I realized that I could not make him out of my mind. I have been searching for him, looking up into the darkest deep, until I found my soul was barren and crazy in vain. However, he kept disappearing. Then the white flag was raised in me.

This book revolves around irony, about a little girl's life in a harsh world. It was set at the end of the World War II, where the situation was still collapsing. I suppose tragedy is the most appropriate genre for representing the contents. The writer just wanted to describe the feeling of torment, slumped and stuck in a dead-end mind of the shadow of death. And I really understand those feelings. Who are the people who most understand a sense of smell than the people who experience it themselves?

I continue turning the page while thinking of all the events I had experienced with him three years ago. My memories replay in me so much of his smile that showed deep dimples, to me symbolizing a sweet sincerity. In his small and sharp eyes, I could see there was an aura of toughness inside. Each time he held out his hand, I could feel the pulse beats as evidence of his hard work. I found comfort and relief that I had been yearned for when I was with him. People always say that he is too old for me, but I never care.

I try to shake off my imagination about him and come back to reading. Little girl drifted in doubt. The story is of an orphan with no pillars, just like my life. She lived in misery until one day someone who is warm, appeared out of nowhere, maybe a messenger of God from heaven.

We lost contact, suddenly so without an obvious reason. I am desperate to shake off the memory of him. I deleted his number on my cell phone book; deleted all the texts, also abandoning all the stuff that might remind me of him. But I really could forget him. I gave up. I go on reading.

The little girl lost her direction. The ruins of war brought her into a bushy and wild forest. The girl was exhausted and then fell asleep under the shade of a tree. When tomorrow came, the sun has been right on top of her head, blinding her. As soon as she squinted and tried to focus, she realized that she had been on the hill outside the forest. But who carried her out of the forest? Is there something supernatural? Probably not, because on the next page, the girl found prints of a left shoe. From then on, she could see the whole world better, as she believes that someone who loved her is at her side and guards her movements.

I also never felt so happy before I finally found someone who was so loved. He was always there for me, and thoughtfully watching each of my movements. After one year together, then he disappeared. I wonder why he could bear to leave me alone. In my case, happiness is gone just leaving a trail of tracks like in the story.

I’ve been waiting for such a long time,
Lover who will always soothe my heart
But he came and went like the wind,
Just leaving the empty cavities

Indeed he was never being my lover, never. I do not even know what he deemed me. He never said that I was special for him. On the contrary, far from the depths of my heart I used to consider him a very special person.

I was and maybe am still a lonely figure. At my previous home, there are Mom, stepbrother and Dad who is not my real Dad. Mom divorced from my real Dad when I was still in the womb. Thus, I had never seen him; I never even knew his name. Mom never wanted to talk about him even once. Still, I never objected to what had happened in my life, because although I have never been loved, nor I have never been hated. I was nothing. That is the reason, three years ago I moved to other city. I rented a room and set my own entire path, away from my family. However, that city later became a silent witness of our first meeting. When he came, my life turned into a rainbow abstract. But when he went, my life turned into a dark gray colored again.

My mind has flown so far into my past, until finally I am startled aware that I am still in the room. And imperceptibly, the crystal grains of tears fall from my cheeks and drip on the last page. This story has touched me much as if I merged with the main character. The climax comes at the saddest part when the little girl realized that she had had a sibling whom she never met before. But destiny betrayed her. Not long afterward, she discovered the shocking news as the tragic end of the story. Her elder brother has just died on the way to meet her. Sadistic! Sometimes the world can be so cruel.

Reading this book seems like watching a long movie of the dark days in my past, ripping the old wounds in my heart. At present, I am feeling so tired with all memories of him. I think I should try to dry the new strokes among the last of my old wounds about him. Thus, I walk out of the room, tracing the steps toward road so I can breathe fresh air and sooth my soul.

Finally, I decide to walk to the closest park, which is my favorite place when I feel saturated. There I can see some families with their children playing around the grass. They are smiling and laughing. I feel so jealous of them. Avoiding them, I walk toward the swings. I try to sit but then I feel a bit odd when I realize that I still have that book on my hand. As I remember of him again, I shake my head trying to get out the thought of him.

I throw the book on the grass so I can hold the swing chains properly. But before I swing it, I accidentally saw a shiny paper sticking out of the book. I am stunned for a moment. Then I step my feet toward the book. What a surprised to find a photograph taped to the back of the book. It is a picture of a man who was standing alone. He didn’t look at the camera, but he was talking with a blurred smiling face. And I noticed that on his wrist coiled bracelet of woven fibers colored wood. My eyes widen. No one else has ever had it, I'm pretty sure. No one, because I myself made specifically for him, I gave it to him on our last meeting.

Now I know, yes I know where the red thread is wrapped around the footage of this story. Suddenly, I feel like my whole body is shaking and then tightened. I really can feel something wrong. My premonition brings me to turn over the photo. There I can see handwritten words of him. I am shocked and gasp; my body feels stiff and my breath roars. I start to look for logic. Why was that book in my room? I never asked to borrow it from anyone. My mind is trying to conclude a common thread between me, him and the book. I spin a long dimension in my memory. Now I feel my chest tightened, something is about to spill out of me.

It seems like I am watching the flashback scenes in my head. Two days ago one of my close friend dropped by my room. Nothing too important that he wanted to talk, he said. He just wanted to convey a message that a middle-aged man left a book for me. I was so curious. When I opened the cover of a newspaper which covered the book, I immediately recoiled. I could not resist the temptation to ask my friend.

"What did he say to you?" The tone of my question was as if to interrogate him.

"Not much. He just wanted to leave this book for you. I did not ask him much because from his expression I knew that this book is a very important thing. "He replied genteelly, but from his eyes, I knew he was hiding something.

"Did he mention his name?" I whisper myself and hope to hear the wrong name.

"Sorry, but no Dear. That man gave a message to say to you that this book is given by someone who really loves you. "

My sobs brake out now, exploded. Dozens of eyes are watching me. I am hysterical and do not care of them! Some of them standing around and trying to accost me. I refuse roughly. They also try to speak to me but it is useless as I cannot hear clearly anymore. I just try to gather all of my energy to remain standing and not collapse.

With trembling hands, I try to reach my mobile phone from my pocket and quickly press speed dial number to call Mom.

“Hallo?” Mom answers. Her voice sounds a bit hoarse, like she has been crying.

“Mom, are you sure that my Dad has died two days back?” Mom doesn’t say anything. Her voice is missing in the air.

“Who is his name, Mom?” I try to get information to make sure he is not the same person. But it may seem impossible now.

Mom swallows a moment before finally answering my question with a shaky voice, “Rick…”

Hearing the answer, my whole body feels so weak which make my mobile phone fall in to the ground. The book and the picture have explained all the things that have happened these days. My Dad went far away to get better treatment for his lung cancer, yet it did not work. He came back here several days before he died. But now, forever I will not be able to see my Dad again.

A book is like a mirror of your life. It allows you to fly through the minds of the new and old in your life. And most importantly, the book may reveal some secrets that you never thought about before. For me a book has been able to express the secrets hidden in my whole life. Perhaps I have just misunderstood affection?

With tears flooding down my face, I read the writing behind the photo again. Daddy said to me that he loves me so much and will always love me, as his lovely daughter.

Fin

2nd Time Stay Late in Swinburne Library (and still wid no progs)

2009-11-02T03:05:00.002+07:00

Hei, you know what? Stay late in library with my short skirt is very uncomfortable. Actually I couldn’t study very well all the nite in this library as I am a morning people, who only can do activities well in the morning. Well, at least I did a progress. Well at first I was not planning to stay in library. But when I walked alone at around 11 p.m. last nite, there were men who tried to bother me and also there were other Ozzie man who staring at me differently in the diffrent space of time. I was so afraid, thus I decided to come back to library. Fortunately I could find friend who be able to accompany me staying late in library. Oh, I luv to have many friends who will be beside me when I need them. Well yes I should admit that in this case, my boyfriend is of no use. He was and is and is up to struggling with his own problems. Well yes again, I was about to leave him. But I cancelled it suddenly as I think that he is so fragile and needs my support so much (as he luvs me so much XD ). However, that’s not a big deal. At least I learn how to face a man like him.

So, here I am. Still in library, and do only a little progress on my assignment. I don’t care! At least I’ve putted effort on this. So I won’t be lamenting it afterwards.

Fu (my friend whom I told u above) is still sitting next beside me while playing on line game as he has getting bored with his assignment and stuff. And the man who were sitting next to other side of my seat has just went out presently. I admire his struggle as he didn’t open fb or yahoo mail at all which is the opposite of me. And how ‘bout me?

Yes, I’m still sitting here do some unimportant things like sleeping, face booking, chatting and include writing this blog (welll, not really waisting, but still). I have to listen all party and clubbing music like ‘Tonite Gonna be A Good Good Nite,’ by Black Eye Peace, or ‘Sexy Bitch’ by David whatever or ‘Paparazi/Love Game’ by Lady Gaga and stuffs like that.

Let’s have some fun this bitch is sick….

Everyone has just woke up and go to library early in the morning. But I’m here, still in here, haven’t slept or even showered.

Woah….. I’m sleepy.

I’ll send you the pics soon!

[ ~this is only one evidence that I actually didn't study hard even though I've tried` ]

Next Target: Continue My Master Degree in U.K.

2009-10-21T11:34:00.001+07:00

It’s been two and half months since my first arrivalin Melbourne and I did not realize that fact at first. So many things hadhappened so far which I could not narrate briefly. I admit I've not learnedvery well as I enjoy this condition so much. I did not realize that I wastrapped in a comfort zone until a few days ago, a friend woke me up.

Uliph: "Ha, Why do u rarely go on fb lately?"

Ha: "Oh Dear, I'm so busy with assignments. I'm sorry. And you know what?I've to do the TOEFL test by the end of this November. The worse thing is Ihave not study yet. I even forget what kind of test it will be.

Uliph: "TOEFL? What for? I though you've got good IELTS score and you donot need other test anymore. "

Ha: "Yeah, I know. But I'm thinking about my master's degree. I'm huntingfor a master's degree scholarship now on. "

Uliph: ~speechless~

OMG, she hit me straight. I know that I've been trapped in a false comfort. I'mstuck in fun but unnecessary things to do without thinking about my future life.
Things were going worse when I saw the status of my friends from my HomeUniversity (the University of Indonesia) in which they were busy working on thesisand stuffs.

I think I should have thought about my future plans before. But it’s not tolate. I’ll think about it now. If I have choices, I would choose to pursue amaster's degree in one of the countries in Europe. Among them the most countrythat I really want is English. The reason is logical:

1. Social sciences in the UK referred to one of themost advanced.

2. Thelanguage used is English (of courseit is, because the country’s name is U.K. anyway XD ) plus.. They have anelegant accent, I supposed.

3. Many tourist attractions in U.K. which areextremely nice and I really wanted to visit. Thus, if somehow I get bored withmy study I can just leave and go travelling around U.K.. (But apparently itwon’t be that easy, LOL).

4. My family and friends will be very proud of mebecause I can continue my study in U.K..

But now the problem is about the cost of living. Everyone just knows that currencyof Pound sterling is high. Therefore, from now on I'm hunting a scholarship to U.K.. I am not lying. The picture that you see below can proof my commitment.

Also, look at the video above and you'll understand why I really want to continue my study in U.K.

A proverb says' Where there is a desire, then there is a way. ". Thereforefrom now on I rounded my willingness tocontinue my master in the UK, doing my best to come true and do not forget topray Because I believe Good things will come on the right time.

Cheers,

Olivia D. Purba