Spring is Coming

Helloooooo...
Oh, my dear friends, how I miss you!
Feeling great today? Good! Coz I am too. The spring is coming and the sun is shinning... (but, actually when I write this down, it's still early in the morning, 4.43 a.m). Flowers are not yet fully blooming, but some spots have already been colorful. Pretty!
Hey, you know why I haven't posted for a month? As you know, I went back to Indonesia and stayed mostly in my hometown. Internet access in my brother's notebook was like Royal Javanese Princess (slow motion), so it got me headache everytime I logged in. I was not even on line during that time. Going to internet cafe was just wasting money, so I was outside the internet world and just busy...eating.
Anyway, during the semester break at home was so much fun. I didn't use my brain a lot and the result was, the meal I had straight went to the stomach. So I gained 2 kilos...hehehe. Chubbier and darker, indeed. Moving directly from winter season to always summer in Blora created Zebra marks on my feet due to the sandals, just in a week. Man, the sun was so hot.
I had a long list of planned productive activities for the holiday (writing, visiting some places, going to the gym), but in reality, I was just eating, sleeping, playing with my niece, eating (again).
There were so much delicious food available at home, and it's cheap, even free (eating mom's cooking..haha). And you know, I got to eat "sand krupuk" as much as I wanted! For some people who don't know "sand krupuk", I'll tell you. It's krupuk which is fried using sand, not oil. It's said non colesterol, but of course, you'll find some sand sticks to it (hopefully not along with "other thing" that usually found on the sand...something related with cat...). My mom was a bit worried seeing me eating that stuff everyday. She said "How much sand do you think you have in your stomach for eating it all this time?" And I answered while eating it, "Much." Then she continued, "At least get rid of the sand before you eat it."
No way, that would not be fun...!
Intermezzo..
I went to GagasMedia before going to Blora, and met some nice people there. Then suddenly I was engaged to an appointment of "talk show", or something like that, for my second book.
It was in Rembang on 6th March 2010 in book bazaar in Balai Kartini. Hahaha..that was my first time and it was so....weird. I was weird, coz I was just bubbling...and just very few audience, people preferred going around looking for cheap books than seeing this stranger...hahaha. I was ashamed actually, the interviewer was Sundanese, and suddenly my speech tone was becoming a little bit sundanese too..huekekekekek... I was thinking "What did I do, why I sounded like that?"
At least some people asked question during the show...or they were forced to...haha.
Oh, what an experience.
Okay, to sum up, I enjoyed my staying in Blora, though I unexpectedly had to go to Jogja (my ATM card was missing, so I had to renew in the bank where I registered the first time). But it was nice, coz I got to see Nyonyo and stayed in her house for two days. Thank you, Nyonyo and family for having me. I also had a chance to see "Jati Denok", a 350 years teak tree in Randublatung (long bumpy journey for one fat tree) and of course, my favorite, being singing and dancing mentor for my 1.5 years old niece, Jibrut. Her favorite songs were Kupu Kupu Yang Lucu and Tik Tik Tik Bunyi Hujan (is it really the title?). We, I, would sing all day coz everytime I finished, she said "Again" all over again, plus the dancing.
I miss it now...
I went back to Goettingen on 7th April 2010. It was shorter flight, only 17 hours something, but the journey was okay. I saw Avatar in the plane, and some other new movies.
One thing that had me confused was the arrival place, which was different with the one I had the first time I came here. Good thing I met some nice people who showed me the way, so I could reach Goettingen right on time. Thank you.
Being here again, my mind was not yet set for the study, not for sleeping time too. I am still in my Indonesian hour. Hope I adapt soon. Lectures will be in two campus, central and north, so fast biking will be a requirement. Good, then I can lose some weight again, to fit into my pants.
Hm, second semester begin, I'd better fight hard again. Ganbatte ne!

By the way, d i a might be reprinted soon, hope it all goes well.
Ciao..!

Wind Wind Solution

Do you hear that?
That's the sound of the wind.
It's been hours and it's not stopping. Whistling so hard.
The trees outside my apartment are beaten up by it.
Mommy...!
It is said that beginning and ending of winter season marked by that crazy wind.
So, I guess spring will be coming soon, which is great.
But, the better the weather is, the more dogs are coming out, which is not great. Definitely not great.
Anyway, tomorrow I'll be going back to Indonesia for semester break...yipeeee..! I've been in Goettingen for 7 months already. Time really flies, right?
Wish me luck and safe journey, man.
See you soon.

Ice Age

This winter is ridiculous.
Seriously.
I am starting to feel bored with all this snow, cold temperature and no sunlight. The magic of the wonderland has gone..haha. People say that this is the "most snowy" winter in Goettingen in the past decade. Last winter at this time of month, the temperature was already plus, but now it's still minus. In some days of these couple months, the snow was already melting that we can see the green grass, but later on it's coming again. Just like today. Oh, when will it last?
Not many friendly faces during winter, man. How can you smile with the cold stabbing your face?
I can now understand why people who live in the pole are more depressed than people in any other places. They have all the snow and no sunshine for a half year or more. Man, that must be hard! I experience this snow thing for like what, 3 months, and I am really missing the hot sun which I hated back in my country..haha. People never get satisfied, huh?
Oh, March, please come soon so I can go back home for happy holiday... Getting lots and lots of vitamin D from the sun, snacking doubtfully hygienic food (such as sate penthol - ten balls for one thousand rupiahs and krupuk pasir), eating from natural plate - teak leaves, touring from village to village....oh happy day...
But, I have to finish this winter semester first with hard work. Examination! Oh God, help me!
Wish me luck..

Go! Go! Go!

After two weeks of holiday (which didn't feel like one), I will "fight" back to school.
Facing with lectures, long hours, assignments, questions... and exams later on.
So, I need a little bit more spirit to go.

I ate snow yesterday.
Out of curiousity.
It tasted good...

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...