This my December

Hellooooooooooooo...
Good afternon, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Such a white day here. I woke up last night coz the dripping sound on my window and it was snow! That was not my first snow though. My first snow was on 11th December 2009 in Goslar when I joined Cross-Culture Seminar. It was so fun. The snow and seminar. But, actually I didn't expect that I would have the snow. I didn't even wear boots or appropriate shoes to deal with the cold. You know what I wore? Crocs.

Yup. Crocs layered with some warm stuff (I don't know to say it). I also wear that crocs in campus. It's pretty tacky, right? I know, but I like wearing sandals! And people here can dress whatever they like and no one will make comment, how cool is that? Haha.
My German friend thought I was a tough girl coz I wore that crocs when it was snowy. It was so wrong! I was just not expecting any snow when I came out of my apartment and I didn't have time to change those sandals to shoes, so I just went to campus...with frozen toes! And God, those crocs were really slippery and I almost fell down when I walked on the snow. Since then I wear my shoes or boots.

Back to the first snow in Goslar. We (four of us - Indonesian, Vietnamese, Indian/Hindi, Philippino) shared taxi to go to that place - it was in the hill and surrounded by forest. When we went out of the taxi, I thought it was drizzling, but it wasn't. It's snowing, light one. I was like, amazed by it. And as usual, photo freak was on. But, dude, it was chilling! The temperature in the mountain area was certainly colder than in Goettingen.

The next morning the snow was not that much but on Monday morning, everything was white and beautiful. The mountain covered with spruce was covered with snow. The grass, garden chair, road, everything was white. I suddenly felt like in fairy tale. I should have thought about Snow White to make it wonderful, but somehow when I saw that mountain and forest I thought about Yeti...hmm...
During the seminar session I even took time to really look at between trees, whether there was snow creature or Big Foot or Gollum there. Weird, huh?

Anyway, Me and my crocs had some pictures outside and the cold was killing me! But unfortunately I forgot to bring syrup to make beverage out of snow like I always planned when I was home...

Okay.

Talking about snow, it is surely pretty when you see it when it's fresh. The snow flake is really like I see in cartoon movies. They have shape like stars - or whatever the name is. It's beautiful. When in sunny day, snow is just so bright, pure white and looks so soft and pillowy (is that a word??). It just wants to make you - I mean me - to run and lay on it. But, it's actually not like that all the time.

Couple weeks ago TIF students went to Harz mountain to have excursion. We went there by bus and some of us took a Harry Potter train (you know, the train with black and white smoke) while other hiked (nice...). It was about minus 14 or minus 15 celcius, so, no thank you for the hiking. The snow was thicker than Goslar and Goettingen, of course, and even with boots I still had trouble walking.

Anyway, the snow was good, but when it was hit to your face...it was not! Some of us had snow fight and luckily I got hit on my face and it burned my cheek, man! Yeah, when I touched my cheeks they felt so smooth due to the cold (I never have smooth cheeks), but it's really painful and red. I was like frozen tomato!

And do you know when the snow is not fresh again it becomes dirty (especially on the road, pavement or where people walk). I rode my bike one day in the snow and I was about to cry. The road was very slippery and it was so difficult to pedal. It's almost impossible to turn! So, I walked with my bike and repeatedly saying "Crazy, crazy, crazy!" until I reached my campus. And when I went back to my apartment (since the road was cleared so I could ride my bike), the snow was falling and hit my face over and over. Then again I said "Ouch, ouch, ouch!!" until I reached my apartment.

Such a lovely time.

Hm... I can't believe it's already the end of year 2009 (suddenly change subject). This year has been a great year for me. First time going abroad, first time fasting for 16 hours, first time using washing machine (yeah..), first time having snow, first time having crocs and boots, first time getting yelled at in Deutsch in the supermarket, first time doing traditional dancing in public since elementary school, first time doing presentation in English and second time getting confirmation that my novel will be published. Oh, almost forget, first time of anniversary. Miss you, Koh Hun Bun.

Hope things are going to get better next year. Thank you, Allah SWT for all the blessings.

Happy New Year 2010, my friends. Luv ya all.

Oh, Happy Day..!

Guten Abend,
How are you? I am getting better. Last few days I was not well. I lost my apetite (that's serious!). I didn't eat right, lack of sleep, feel tired...oh, what gloomy days (like the weather). But, fortunatelly I am okay now.
I have good news. First, I did my first presentation yesterday in Tropical Dendrology lecture. I was presenting about Moraceae family. It took a while to finish things up. I didn't get enough sleep probably because of that too... But, hey, the result turned out to be okay. I think I did fine in the presentation. You know, I was babbling around about this and that...talking about Gudeg, ficus in Alun-Alun Kidul, Trunyan village in Bali ect ect. It was fun.
Second good news is, last Tuesday, I got news that my novel would be published...yeaaaaaaaahhh! So happy......!! This is going to be my second book. Hope the process will be smooth and I could see what it looks like in couple of months. And of course, I hope the readers will like it, specially for those who have waited for my next novel.
Okay, now I will have to work again, preparing another presentation for 30th November. Wish me luck!

The Presenter

Guten Tag,
Last weekend I was planning to start making presentation stuffs. Let's see, I have about 4 lecutres that need presentation for part of the exam. And up to now I was still in the stage of collecting materials (without reading them). Eeuuurrrgghh...! I really don't like "the Lazy Me". My ancient brain still says that weekend is for fun, leisure, relaxation, but if I continue doing that, I would end up as Deadliner...again! I want to change, Man. I have changed from hand-washed laundrying to machine-washed laundrying (that's not because I want to, it's because I have to! Whatever..it's still a change. And I don't create scary creatures anymore...yet...).
Okay, I really need to get things organized. Somehow lately my mind is distracted by "homesick fever". I never thought I could miss my family this much...especially Koh Hun Bun..hehehe.
But I have to fight! Here, in the land of foreigner, I am studying for the future. I have to be strong! (Imagine me holding flag on the top of the mountain, with wind and snow beating my face).
Hmm...

Yep yep yep!

Guten Tag, good afternoon, everybody.
How's your day? Fine? Great. I am now re-adapting of school hours. My lectures begin at 8.15 and end at 18.00..almost everyday. Yep yep yep... Then I am planning to continue my Deutsch course twice a week, from 18.15 to 19.45. Yep yep yep.
Go to the campus on the hill early in the morning...just feels like Ninja Hatori (mendaki gunung, lewati lembah...). This is going to be good for body building. I think my thighs are a little bit loosing weight, but somehow my stomach is still moving forward, not even close to six packs...
Yesterday we had to turn our watch one hour back, so time difference from here to my hometown is now 6 hours. When I wake up, my familiy sleep. Yep yep yep...

Electrified

Guten Abend, good evening...
Today is minus one Celcius degree...
I don't know it is officially winter or not, but, dude...the temperature is killing me! It will get worse - colder, starting on November. Brrrr...!!! My friend said last winter in Goettingen reached minus twenty. Okay, that's something even a bear should beware.
Back then in my sunny country, I hated blanket and socks. Now here, those two things are my everyday menu. I really have to adapt fast here.
People start wearing boots. I don't have ones yet, I am planning to buy. Actually I have visited some stores to try them on...but you know, my big calves make it difficult. They won't zip! They get stucked in the half way because the wide of the upper boots don't fit in my legs. Ahh! At this point somehow I envy the girls with slim legs...
But, I don't give up yet...I believe somewhere someplace, there's special boots for me... (means they're not expensive, best quality, great colour and look, anti slip and have wide and flexible body). Yeah...so happy.
I am also planning to buy jacket. I have already got "it" in my mind, but whenever I am thinking about the price, my stomach starts stirring. It's expensive, man! Especially when you convert the price in Rupiahs. You can buy lots, lots and lots of gorengan with it!
I really need to manage my income...or I will have empty piggy belly. Things are relatively expensive here.

By the way, I notice something new happening to me here. I experience many electric static events. My hair stands up when I comb with my hand, also when I stand close to the door or even when I fold my clothes or wearing ones. And my fingers often got "electric shot" when I touch things. Sometimes it really shocks me. You know, you are walking down the stair and suddenly zzrrrtttt!!!! You want to sit down, you pull the chair, and...zzzrrrttttt!!!! You want to ride and you get your bicycle and zzzrrrrtttt!!! What happened, Man...??? Do I have to many electrons or what?

Come to think of it, maybe this is my inner power... You see, when I was a kid, I ever played "the inner power master" with my friend (I was reading too many martial art comics/books). So we sat face to face and took a long deep breath the pushed our palms towards each other (I kind of shook a little bit of my palms so it was really like having the power...), and my friend shouted that she felt her hands burning because my palms created a hot wave!
I didn't know she was lying or not, I was just happy to hear that. Allright...I am Supergirl!

Well...even I am a Supergirl, I was about to cry this morning in the campus because I met dogs... This one I couldn't handle (yet). Maybe I should practice my hot wave again, so when the dogs come to get me I will point my finger and zzzrrrrtttt!!!

Worst After: 29.09.2009

Morgen.
Dude, I ate expired food yesterday, and I did it on purpose!!!!
I am now still waiting for weird symtomps that might come up. But I am okay until this minute... I guess.
The story was, I went shopping yesterday to Asia Laden in Zentrum (oh, it's an undirect advertisement...she should pay me. She indeed gave me her cards to be given to my Indonesian friends so they will go shopping to her store). It was raining, so I couldn't go around Zentrum. I decided to go back to ATW (Albrecht Thaer Weg) - my apartment. Hm...cold weather and drizzling...it would be really nice to cook something hot. I was thinking of cooking "Oseng kacang panjang, kecambah, wortel" and frying chicken, soya bean cake and krupuk! Drooling just thinking of it.
So, I reached home and started preparing the ingredients. Then I found out that my spiced-chicken is expired! It said on the label the expiration date was 29.09.2009. Man, yesterday was 01.10.2009! Aarrgghhh! Two days late. What should I do, what should I do??
I was thinking to throw it out, but, somehow I felt that maybe it would be okay trying to eat it. Jerry Seinfield got me to this! A few days before, I watched his stand up comedy in the internet talking about "expiration date". How could be the producer really sure that his product would be expired on certain date? The product could last longer than that...
And I thought the same thing. Who knew the chicken was still in good condition. Who knew? I wouldn't know if I didn't try it...
Yeah, yeah, I know I sound stupid. But, consider it as an experiment. One time experiment! Of course, I don't want to do that again.
Anyway, I fried the chicken - a little bit longer than it should be, to kill all the germs or stuffs. I tried the first bite and waited for couple of minutes. I didn't feel anything strange, so I decided that my chicken was okay.
So I had lunch...
After that, I waited...and waited...
Until dinner time. I re-fried my chicken (I was silly, huh?), to really make sure that the bacteria or evil things died twice. I had my dinner with the same menu as lunch.
And again, I waited and waited and waited...
My stomach was okay, my body was normal. I didn't puke, I didn't get icthy or bloating. So, I guess everything was fine.
Hopefully....

T - Break

Good Morning,
everybody feels okay? Great. Oh yeah, eventhough it's a little bit late, Happy Idul Fitri 1430 H. Forgive all the things I did and said that upset you, please.
Here we go, my Deutsch language course ended and still I can't speak properly. There's a new machine in the back of my mind that is still confused how to make a sentence. Where do I put the verb, which subject I should use, what object goes with the Nominativ, Dativ, Akkusativ... Aaaarrrggghhhh! So itchy, you know!
When I really listen to what people say - I mean, really listen - I might have caught one or two words.. I am positive they mention numbers. What numbers are those, that's another thing. So, it's like when my teacher said five sentences, telling about what do you like about the town, she went "Bla bla bla bla......zum biespiel...bla bla bla...gemacht...bla bla bla..gegangen...bla bla bla...Zentrum". Then my conclusion is...oh, she's talking about shopping, coz Zentrum is central of the city where are many shops, restaurants, supermarkets and so on. Of course, my conclusion was not always correct.
The first class was a bit light coz we got 40% English explanation, but second class is 98% Deutsch. Take it or leave it, that's it. When I asked about a meaning of a word, then my teacher would explain it in long definition - to get me understand, but it only confused me more coz the words she used to explained were the words I didn't know either! So, when she looked me in the eye and asked "Verstanden (understood)?", I was starring back, with a painful smile...Not at all.
It's easier to look up in the dictionary than ask. Really.
But, that class was actually good to improve my ability. At least I was used to listen Deutsch. So when I hear people talking, I said to myself "Hey, I know those words.. I don't know the meaning, but I know those words!"
My classmates were from my previous class and new ones. Most of the new ones had already known Deutsch better than us, I mean me. They came from Spain, Italy, Cheko, Korea, Japan and Peru. My "old" classmates come from Philippines, Kenya, Nepal, Vietnam, Guatemala and Chile. It was really a world course..hehe. You know, it is so nice to hear the way they talk in their native tone. Even when we speak Deutsch!
I wonder how I sound when I am speaking Deutsch. I am pretty sure I still have that thick Blora accent..hehe.. Actually I can pronounce like German people - rrrhhrr, khhh, sshhhyysss - but somehow I still want to keep everything clear like the way Indonesians speak (excuse). So, I am still poor in speaking. I have to practice more.
One way of practicing is going to the market or store. Just hit it. And when you reach the rock bottom - means that you don't know what to say anymore or completely lost of what the people say - then use your English. Worse case is when the people you are talking to do not speak English. Then you use your body languange.
Talking about body, I find it quite difficult to find pants on my size. These people really have long legs!! And most of ladies' shirts have wide neckline. Pretty tricky to find the right clothes. The ones available, are not wearable. The ones suitable, are not payable. Hm...so what I do is wear and wash my original clothes from home and wear again the next day. Of course in a row that people won't think I wear the same clothes everyday.
But I did buy some clothes here. Not many, just the functional ones. I want to keep my suitcase enough for going back later (oh, man, it's still two years away!). And I really try not to put many stuffs in my room coz we have to leave the apartment completely empty when we move out. Plus, I learn from my previous lesson that having many cute little things means cluttering in a way, though you don't want to admit. And it gives you more work to pack those things up. Koh Hun Bun doesn't like much of the stuffs, so I will try to adjust (and deep down I do like everything tidy and neat). But it is really hard not to get those little dolls, stuffed animals, and kids toys when you are surrounded by them. Here I find many beautiful children's stuffs and ceramic or cups/mugs/glasses...so tempting! But, then I have to order myself to behave. Come on, Noni, you've already had a lot of those things. What are thinking, becoming Mrs. Magorium??
Yeah...I am.

Okay, since the autumn course is finished, I still have some time before the lectures begin in mid October. I will continue my Deutsch course, of course (it's free anyway), so my goal to, at least, understand and speak Deutsch will be achieved. Amin. My plan during this break is....let's see...hmm... I don't have any plan yet! Oh no!
What should I do?
Going around Europe?
I am in kind of putting my seatbelt on...you know, tight!
Staying in my room?
What, am I a bear?
Writing?
Yeah, that should do it. Problem is... I don't have any idea yet!
I need a plan! Can anyone give me suggestion? Please?

Making a plan?
Yeah. That's it!

Einbisschen Uebung

Halo, Guten Tag.
Jetzt moechte ich in Deutsch schreiben. Ich habe fuer zwei Monate im Kurs gelernt und ich will einbiscchen wiederholen oder uebungen. Zuerst, entschuldigung fuer meine Fehler. Okay? Heute hat der Herbstkurs beendet. Ich habe gut gemacht, aber ich bin nicht zufrieden. Ich kann nicht schoen Deutsch sprechen! Du, am Wintersemester ich will den naeschte Kurs besuchen. Zweite mal pro woche, das ist schoen. In zwei Jahre habe ich als Deutsche gesprochen..haha. Okay, bis bald und viel Spass!

Kalt...Cold...Kaldu??

Guten Tag.

Or should I say sugeng sonten. I am now in North Uni where my campus be, inside computer room, a little bit frozen... The weather is surely cruel. I have been showered by sun shine and hot air all my life and suddenly I have to face this hillarious temperature. Dude, my body really needs adjustment.

The autumn is starting now. We still have blue sky sometimes and another time is drizzling all day. Makes you imagining how warm life is when there's hot steamy sweet potatoes in front of you..(that's why I'm stocking them - doesn't really feel like being abroad, huh? Eating rice, fried soy bean cake, krupuk...heee).

Winter is not yet coming, but I can feel it's not going to be easy for me. My brother advised me to stand near the stove or burn wood or something to get warm..haha. This is challenging. let's see how I manage this later on.

Okay, I haven't written anything for a month, what do you miss?

The Summercourse has ended with some "notes". It was fun and colorful and also created stories for some of the participants. The drama, the fiesta, the surprises. Things happened in their own term and some of them were new to me. It's very nice as ingredients.

I did pretty well in Summercourse - I mean I do start speaking Deutsch a little. A little, okay, don't hope too much. I am going to continue learning while I am here, so in the future I will be able to speak more than just buying groceries talk..

Now in level 2 in Autumncourse, the lesson is getting complicated- for me. Yeah, the grammar thing. It's like going upstairs. Panting...hehehe. Somehow my brain works hard and things got mixed up. I want to speak much but so limited word come out - those even not in order. I got confused and the person I am talking to is more confused...so fun!!

While my brain is working hard, my stomach is roaring loud. We're having fasting month starting on 22 August, so in the course I was struggling not to let the dragon inside my stomach scared everybody..hahaha... The 16 hours of fasting is certainly challenging.

I have to cook everyday - seems my cooking is improving, thanks God (two people ate my cooking and they were not poisoned). Hope when I go back to Indonesia I can serve a better meal for Koh Hun Bun. Yeah.
Okay, see you again, I have to do some "Brain Exercises" in my cellphone to distract my mind from food. Bye.

A Week Goes By Like a Blink of Eye

Good afternoon, Guten Tag to all of you.
How have you been in this week? Mine is great. My Deutsch course began on Tuesday and of course I didn't need to take the placement test. The TIF students went right to the lowest class..hehehe. The teacher is very sweet and kind, Ms. Cindy Schlicke. Very patient with us who were just "blank" everytime she spoke Deutsch. But, hey, after a week, I think we make a very good progress. From zerro to zerro point three...(Hallo, Ich heiBe Noni. Ich komme aus Indonesien. Ich wohne in Jakarta. Ich spreche Indonesisch, English und ein bisschen Deutsch). Beside those introduction, we have already learned numbers, direction, plural singular and a little about music.
Oh yeah, I remember. Next Monday we have to bring CD about music in our country, and you know what? I will bring CD of Bang Haji... "Dangdut is the music of my country". I'll show them how to do "thumb dance"...right...!
"Darah muda, darahnya para remaja...yang selalu menang sendiri, walau salah tak peduli...ii.iii.iii..."
Beside having the language course, we also join the extra activities which we have to sign up first, example: cooking, German folklore dance, speaking, creative writing, sports, movies, and international cultural night. I have joined the folklore dance (they taught us two dances which has polka moves, nice experience). We also have excursion in the weekend. Last weekend we went to Quedlinburg (a UNESCO heritage site) and Castle Falkenstein. It was really fun, especially for Photo Freak like me..hehehe.
Tomorrow night, on the cultural evening, I will perform Gambyong Pareanom dance. I have told my classmates to come to see me (really Stage Star Wannabe, huh?). Hahahaha... Well, I don't care if you think that way. I just want to introduce one of the beauties of my country (me, of course, not the dance...kidding! :)).
Well, I have to rehearse for tomorrow show. Wish me luck, Dude!

Right Riding Hood

Good morning...
I moved to my new room yesterday. See, they put me in the wrong room. I was in ATW (Albercht Thaer Weg) 12 A room 412, when actually I had to be in room 01. My friend from Nepal who was in 01 had to be in 14 B room 003, while the other friend from Philippines moved from 003 to my previous room. Fortunatelly, I only unpacked a little so it wasn't that hard to move down.
After putting my bags in my real room, I went (grocery) shopping with my friend, Ratna. She took me to Real supermarket where things were more complete and cheaper (??). She lent me her bike. That was the first time for me biking again after couple years. Oh, my legs!
One thing for sure that was different, we had to be on the right side of the road. Not familiar for me, but I could manage that.
The trip to the market was not merely trip, coz Ratna asked me to memorize the way to some places. I said "okay", but actually my mind wasn't working at all. So I forgot instantly..hahaha!
The place was big yet very simple. Not like the mals we had in our country. We had to fetch the trolley in a special place and put 1 euro coin to take it, but then after we finished and put it away, we could get out coin back.
So, we shopped and we shopped. Felt like being a new college student (I am, aren't I?). Brushes, bucket, broom, knife, food, bike lock (though I hadn't had the bike), ect. Those things were okay in the trolley, but when they had to be put in the bike's basket...that's another thing. I was like a refugee, man...hehehe. When Ratna took my picture and uploaded it to her Facebook, one of my friend started to comment, "Are you studying or selling siomay there?"
Hahahahaha...of course selling siomay!
Anyway, I was so exhausted that day. But the happiness of having my own kitchen (plus the fridge) brought the light into my life. I could start my experiment in cooking then! Haha!
I did cook in the evening.....and it was disaster!

Day One...sleep lack!

Good morning to you all.
How's your day? Mine is fine.
It's a bit cloudy here. Since yesterday the sky is covered by those white grey blanket. My coming was even welcomed by drizzle in Frankfurt airport. Good sign.
I'll tell you about my journey. It was a long one, longest I've ever had. The flight was at 15.15 from Cengkareng and reached Abu Dhabi at 20.00 local time or at 23.00 Jakarta time. After 5 hours transit, the flight continued. Started at 01.40 Abu Dhabi time and reached Frankfurt at 6.30 local time, or at 11.00 Jakarta time, so it is about 20 hours flight. Hah...
Frankfurt airport is surely a huge airport with thousands of people come and go. First thing I did after claiming my baggage was looking for train schedule. I couldn't find the schedule for Goettingen at first that I even read it three times. I sat down and thought. I had to find the train station to get information.
To get to the train station I had to walk, go up and down, follow the sign. And I had to take skyline to get there. When I got there, another walk, up and down, till I found ticket reservation. After having the ticket, going to the line was another walk, up and down (when was this going to end??). My shoulder was numb! And my arms were really tired (Michael and Geoffrey's performance - ELR). Plus I looked like refugee who hadn't taken a bath for a week. I washed my face in the rest room and put some powder on, then continue my walk to line 5.
The station was clean and cold - not talking about the weather. I really felt being in another country.
There's ICE (fast train) to Goettingen cost 60 euro and plus the reservation 4 euro (if you don't have reservation seat, the other people with reserved one can kick you out). My seat number was 77, in wages 6.
The trip was two hours and it was quite quiet.
Yes, yes. Major difference between ICE and any train in Indonesia is the sound. ICE is very smooth, almost no sound, while Indonesian trains are noisy. But somehow, sitting in a silent train, looking at the view outside, which also seemed silent, brought lonely feeling in me. I saw houses, mostly more than one story building and they were pretty similar. It's kind of...pale and cold (maybe because of the weather too). Suddenly I miss my colorful, warm Indonesia. Yes, yes...
The view was dominated by hills, houses, field, and forest. Horses on the field, tunnels, parked cars, and very little people's activities. I really wondered. Was it because of the academic holiday season? Or it was just quiet place. Ghost town...
It's good thing I had good companion. The woman sat beside me was Ms. Caroline, she's from Melbourne, Australia. She came to Hamburg to stay with her family. We spoke a lot, talking about Germany, study, her family. She's really friendly. She even offered to help me carry my baggage when I got off the train. I only brought one travelling bag, one backpack and paper bag, but they were heavy and it was pretty hard to drag the first one through the alley full of other's bags.
My companion in plane from Abu Dhabi was from Australia too. Her name was Ms. Maria, a very nice lady. She would go to Kroatia, her origin to meet her family. She had longer flight than me. Transit for 7 hours in Frankfurt before taking other one and a half hour flight to Kroatia.
I got up from my seat and took my baggage ten minutes before reaching Goettinge. Waiting near the exit door and trapped with other's baggages. When I got off, Ratna and Antje were already outside, right in front of the door. They welcomed me and helped me carry my traveling bag. Thank you, guys.

Etihad oh Etihad

Dudes...I'm freezing in here!
Transit for 5 hours in Abu Dhabi international airport really numb my cheeks! (the first temperature check available). It's been 4 hours, one hour to go and I really need to get some sleep. Man, so sleepy, but can't close my eyes due this horrible air conditioner (wait for the winter, huh?).
Okay, let me tell you a little about my half journey. My mom and dad, and of course my dear Koh Hun Bun took me to the airport. First timer for this international flight. I had to check in two hours before boarding. I brought one big travelling bag, my back pack and a little bag for important stuffs (passport, purse, cellphone). You know what's inside my travelling bag? Guess!
Yup, rice cooker, frying pan, plates, spoons, forks, mug, shoes, clothes... pretty tight bag indeed. It's a good thing that I don't have to claim baggage when transit or it will dry out my energy.
The half flight was quite fun, actually. Since this is the first time for me in the "international" plane, so I learned the stuffs around me like a first timer. Where did the cable go? What did the screen show?
Well, I had my own screen which contained things that I like such as movies and music. Old and new films, many list of album - from classic to new release...yaaaayyy! The best of all, I got to see Bang U-Khan's new movie! So happy....
And I played Jason Mraz's song, I'm Yours, several time, to remind me of Koh Hun Bun. Miss him already!
To sum up, the entertainment was great!
And about food...well, they kept serving food and drinks that I couldn't take it anymore. Delicious, man.
And they also provide earplug, socks, eye-mask, and blanket...that I hadn't used yet in the plane, but I wear the socks right now coz the temperature in boarding room is really cold.
Oh yeah, one funny thing (I think) happened when we had to pass security check in transit area. We had to take off our shoes, armwatch and belt. I was okay with the first two, but with the last one, I almost got a trouble. I am wearing too wide - waist circle - jeans, so when I took off my belt, it almost fell off! Then I had to keep it up, while my other hand taking care of the bags. I wish there was no camera around...
One more funny thing, well, it's not really funny actually, just not common for me. When I was in the rest room, the cleaning service was quite straight and tight with the people who messed the bathroom. See, if you wet the floor, you had to wipe it by your self! She directly checked the floor and if she found out that you did it, she asked you to clean it. Ha ha.
Dude, I'll be flying again soon, so I have to sign out. Thanks for accompanying me. I'll see you in Germany.

Reporting live from the floor of Abu Dhabi international airport. Noinzilla in the blog.

Goettingen, here I come!

Hey, Dude.
Tomorrow I am leaving Jakarta. Yeah, the time has come for me to have adventure in a new land called, Goettingen - Germany where I will race with other brilliant students from all over the world to study forestry. Dear Good, please help me!
Can't wait to adjust and adapt myself there. I am sure there's going to be cultural shock and jet lag. But, here I am, ready as breakfast (what??).
You see, at least I have prepared myself in presenting javanese dances..hehehe. I even bring the costumes (so obviously stage performer-wannabe hakakakakak...).
Okay, see you there!

Smacking red

She is like a flower in the prairie. Sitting in grace with smacking red lipstick. Her face is cold, like she doesn't care if the earth bangs with the sun. She merely does her moves. Her words are short but straight. Her movement is kept in perfect calculation. She is a queen of a little hut, where people come and go to have a great meal.
An unforgettable taste of her legendary fried Tempe (soy bean cake).
Or so I thought, coz that's how I feel.
My dad calls the place she's running Halte (bus stop) because she once put her hut near the bus stop a long time ago. When she moved to the new place in market area, her loyal customers stuck with her.
My family is one of them.
The cooking is not that special, but somehow the tempe attracts people from in every age. I hear that they even hunt down its crumbs so the plates are clean as have been washed. The tempe is indeed delicious, especially the ones that just come out of the frying. Totally yummy! I don't know how it can be that way. Is there any secret ingredients? Magic potion?
They're crunchy but smooth, salty in perfect portion, and smelling really good. You just can't have enough (I eat 6 tempes when I go there). Everytime her assisstant puts the magical tempe on the plate, people start digging them like maniac. Some even standing near the stove to get the freshest ones and bag them up to go.
Hillarious.
Tempe is one thing, but the lady who run this hut is some thing else. As I told you on the first paragraph, she is one of the kind. You can't look at her without seeing her figure, her red lipstick. A spotlight of the night. Dangerously weird red. Really a mystery.
I wonder what number that colour is in the cosmetic catalogue. As far as I remember, she wears that always. Or maybe...maybe it's one of her secret ingredients to have such loyal customers.
Last night when I ate there, I read the banner behind her. Now I know her name. Mbah Sumirah...lady with smacking red lipstick.
You rock!!!

De

Afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
Last two weeks were quite stressful. Making an ending is as hard as writing a beginning. How should it end? What should I make? If I were the main character, what I had to do to deal with the situation. I was so confused. I couldn't sleep (but still can eat really well and much), I couldn't concentrate doing other work. I felt itchy coz of the longing. This had got to be stopped! So, everytime I have "silent" moment, I used it to think hard. In the bus, in the taxi, in the angkot, in the bathroom...
But, finally on Friday, July 3rd, I finished my latest novel script. Ppffffhhhh... So relieved. I sent it to a publisher right on that day, but I found out that I didn't fulfill its requirements regarding font, spacing, pages and format, so I had to resend it again on Monday. Idi*t!
I don't know how long it will take to get informed about the result, but I only hope for the best..., of course to be published. Hehehehe.
Well, wish me luck, dude. And another luck for my second novel. I haven't heard any news from the editor, she said that second editor read it and no decision yet. I understand that, they must be confused coz the story is weird..heee. But, I still want to know the decision soon, at least this year, so I can send it to other publisher.

Oh yeah, today is Koh Hun Bun's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY...!!!
Hey, I am preparing a surprise party for him...shhhh....

It's a bright June afternoon... (Roxette's lyrics)

Hey hey hey...
I haven't seen you for what? 3 months? Yup. My life was pretty much a roller coaster in that three months. Ups and down. Tears and laughter. Kind of getting you tougher. Yeah. But, as always, I am grateful for what I have been through.
Okay, a little news. Michael Jackson, King of Pop, passed away. Big news, some of my dear friends are married this year and some have babies. Congratulation, guys. Bigger news, ABC Boys and I are going back to school. One in Japan, one in Germany, one hopefully France. So exciting! Alhamdulillah...
I am pretty occupied, especially this month, preparing for my study leaving. Still have to strenghten my mind. You see, a clumsy village girl going abroad... Well, I know that I will be okay. Just have to be smarter to absorb the situation.
Well, we'll see what happens next time I see you. Maybe you'll get great stories from me.
Yaaay....!
See you again and have a great weekend.

I catch cold since yesterday. Runny nose, itchy throat, warm body... Don't forget to mention the heavy sexy voice (someone on the phone just called me "Mister" because of that voice).

Yourassic Park

Just now I read about a 147 million years old fossil sea monster's skull (found in the Artic) being reconstructed by the experts and assumed that this creature had biting power 10 times of modern animals' dan 4 times of T-Rex's. Imagine they have some of those creature in Jurassic Park. T-Rex on the land and Mr. Monster in the water. Thrilling!
I like reading about fossil stuff. Like opening a very old story book where you have those gigantic, strange, fierce, crazy creatures living again. Mystery that tickles you to explore and find answer. What was the life back then? (This is the point where I start to daydream what would I be like if I were there, in the dinosaur time. Of course, I would be extinct the second I got there...hahaha).
Anyway, this archeology thing is very interesting. Frankly, I was going to take archeology major when I went to college, but I also wanted to take English and French literature, though by the end I put forestry on the first list. But, somehow the interest wouldn't go away.
Archeology is cool. Perhaps one day I would have the opportunity to study about it and even have the chance to get involved in the project. May be one day you will read the headline in [imaginary] newspaper/magazine "Sumringah Olweis blog writer found prehistoric dragon in Java island."
Yeah, right.

Oh yeah!

Yaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy! We won the third place for official ceremony contest this morning! God, it has been a long time since my last duty as ceremony personel (high school...). It's great. Practicing every day for three days in a row, getting burned by the sun, sweating for mis-steps or moves, being criticized...that was fun. More important thing is getting to know the other personels from other directorate. Nice. Nice.
Okay, got a little money as the present...let's buy kemplang, man!

Everything (by Michael Buble)

You're a falling star,
you're the get away car.
You're the line in the sand when I go too far.
You're the swimming pool, on an August day.
And You're the perfect thing to see.
And you play your card, but it's kinda cute.
Ah, When you smile at me you know exactly what you do.
Baby don't pretend, that you don't know it's true.
Cause you can see it when I look at you.

[Chorus:]
And in this crazy life,
and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

You're a carousel,
you're a wishing well,
And you light me up, when you ring my bell.
You're a mystery,
you're from outer space,
You're every minute of my everyday.
And I can't believe,
uh that I'm your man,
And I get to kiss you baby just because I can.
Whatever comes our way,
ah we'll see it through,
And you know that's what our love can do.

[Chorus:]
And in this crazy life,
and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you,
you make me sing
You're every line,
you're every word,
you're everything.
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La

[Chorus:]
And in this crazy life,
and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you,
you make me sing.
You're every line,
you're every word,
you're everything.
You're every song,
and I sing along.
Cause you're my everything.
yeah, yeah
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La

Hidden Dragon Coaching Tiger

Before we go to the detail, that title has nothing to do with the things I want to tell you.

Surprise surprise...! I found some money, still sealed by bank ribbon paper, inside my bagpack. That's the good news. The bad news is my bag was soaked in soapy water for a night! Duuuh... So this morning when I brushed the inside part of my bag, my hand bumped into something. I checked it out and there it was. My money...! I completely forgot that I had it. It was there all along since fasting month last year. Yeah...

Hit me in my head coz there were moments when I was broke, that I had to rob my piggy bank of coins just to have some meal, and I didn't know I have my beautiful, straight, smooth five thousands in my bag, waiting to be used. Man..!

But, I always like surprises, so I was really excited finding it out. Hopefully I still keep some other grands in some other places so I could have my own treasure hunt...hehehehe

Snail's Trail

He comes again. Always wearing the same outfit. The grey long-sleeved shirt and black pants. And again, I always smell the smell...

He comes once in a month, usually to one man who becomes his target, with the same expression. Asking for money in certain way. Sometimes he brings cloth for sale, but most of the time merely telling story to create compassion. I'm sorry, I don't mean to underestimate or something. But I highly appreciate people who fight. There must be a way other than "begging". It's not fair judge, but it's not fair either to give up.

Sunset and Sunrise

Hey hey hey...happy new year! Altlhough it's kind of late, but I think it's okay.
2008 is sunset and 2009 is sunrise. Many things had happened before sunset and I might well say that I am really really grateful and thankful for everything I experienced last year. My book was published, had new members in my family, and got a scholarship for my Master degree (after July maybe I'll be writing this blog from a place somewhere in Gottingen) were some of the blessed moments.
In this sunrise, let's pray that things are getting better, souls are getting wiser, bodies are getting healthier and hearts are getting happier.
Have a wonderful life, dear friends.

Lots of Love,
NoniER