Yesterday I got email from myself (through milist), entitled "I NEED HELP URGENTLY", saying that I am in London and having trouble...blah..blah..blah...then finally asking for money.
Riiiiiiiiiggghhht.....!
It is such a rubbish, dude. First of all, I don't write in English that well. Second of all, if I were in London... Oh, who am I kidding. It could be a possibility, but not at this moment.
Anyway, this e-jacking is annoying. Like someone breaks in to your house and mess up with your stuffs. Good thing I had cleared things up with some friends who got my "fake e-mail" and renew my password.
Intermezzo.
Last Saturday, August 9, 2008, I took IELTS test in Raffles International Christian School, Pondok Indah. It began at 09.30 a.m and ended at 12.00 p.m for the written test (listening, reading and writing), then continued by speaking test conducted by native speaker. My turn was at 04.00 p.m. Yeah, I waited pretty long for fiveteen minutes of speaking test. I haven't known the result yet. Hopefully I don't get a lousy score coz it cost me $ 150. Yeah, for that amount of money, you don't want to have low score, right? Hehe.
You know, it was my first time taking IELTS and also first to know the kind of questions. Man, it drove me nuts coz it's different with TOEFL, which I was familiar with, so in the first of five minutes each part I was just staring at the question sheets and went like "Okay...what am I doing here?" Then when the timer said "You've got twenty minutes more", I yelled in my heart "What, are you kidding me?! I havent' finished reading the the first text yet!" Waaarrrrggghhh...!"
A little thing I remember about IELTS (I took academic IELTS).
Listening. Usually in TOEFL, for all sections, it's multiple choices, whether you choose A, B, C or D. In IELTS, there are multiple choices and filling the blank with words. So if your ears are off for a while, you'll be lost.
Reading. There are some types: matching main idea to the paragraphs, matching statement to character or items, filling the blank with words. The first two using set alphabet.
Writing. Therea are two sections. First section is analyzing chart/graphic/picture. Second one is giving opinion about something.
Speaking. There are three sections. First one is introducing yourself. Second one, talking about a topic the native speaker gives you. Third one is giving opinion of further questions given by the native speaker.
The IELTS score, if I am not mistaken, range from 1.0 to 9.0. Or does it start from 0? Well... I guess I have to check that out first.
Only talking about it gives me a little headache (I am kidding. I have headache coz I had luch quite late so my brain hurt).
Okay, I have to go now.
Oh, almost forget. In that very day, Si Cantik was born at about 09.00 a.m. Yaaaay!
Now, I'll see you again, dude.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Reunion
Hi, Dude. How's life going?
Yesterday, July 30th 2008, I went to Cafe Pisa, Setia Budi Building, to meet my high school friends. It's my first time to go there. As usual, I took a cab to take me coz I had no idea where the place was. Though I've been living in Jakarta for a couple years...still I am blind as a mole if you ask me the way. So, when you say "You should take the bus number T from Y, then take bus number W until you reach Z, get on to angkot number Q to get into X", then I will say "Can I just take a cab?"
I don't know, maybe my brain is not ready yet for the mapping. Or I'm too lazy to memorize. Or perhaps I'm just slow.
Anyway, we met. When I got there, it was already merry. I was glad seeing them. New looks, new styles, new way of talking. People do grow..hehehe. I was so amazed.
You know what's funny. My junior in college, whom I went there with, was a bit surprised seeing "The Bloranians". She thought that all Bloranians are old-fashioned (ndesit) people like me..hahahaha...then she noticed that it was so wrong. Bloranians in Jakarta have transformed into "shopiscticated" people. That's normal coz big city is, indeed, influencing people to get better (looks, styles, ways). The conclusion is, maybe I am the one who's not normal, coz I'm still trapped in vintage world. Wakakakakak....!
Well, everyone has their own color. I like mine, so I enjoy.
Yesterday's reunion is another open door. New agendas are waiting to be done. And most important thing, old friendship will blossom again. Nice seeing you, guys. Keep in touch!
Yesterday, July 30th 2008, I went to Cafe Pisa, Setia Budi Building, to meet my high school friends. It's my first time to go there. As usual, I took a cab to take me coz I had no idea where the place was. Though I've been living in Jakarta for a couple years...still I am blind as a mole if you ask me the way. So, when you say "You should take the bus number T from Y, then take bus number W until you reach Z, get on to angkot number Q to get into X", then I will say "Can I just take a cab?"
I don't know, maybe my brain is not ready yet for the mapping. Or I'm too lazy to memorize. Or perhaps I'm just slow.
Anyway, we met. When I got there, it was already merry. I was glad seeing them. New looks, new styles, new way of talking. People do grow..hehehe. I was so amazed.
You know what's funny. My junior in college, whom I went there with, was a bit surprised seeing "The Bloranians". She thought that all Bloranians are old-fashioned (ndesit) people like me..hahahaha...then she noticed that it was so wrong. Bloranians in Jakarta have transformed into "shopiscticated" people. That's normal coz big city is, indeed, influencing people to get better (looks, styles, ways). The conclusion is, maybe I am the one who's not normal, coz I'm still trapped in vintage world. Wakakakakak....!
Well, everyone has their own color. I like mine, so I enjoy.
Yesterday's reunion is another open door. New agendas are waiting to be done. And most important thing, old friendship will blossom again. Nice seeing you, guys. Keep in touch!
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Let it out
There are times in work where I meet my enemy, dead end. Actually, there's no dead end as literally said, but the situation that feels like one. You know, two jobs in one bottle where the output comes from the same neck. Which one should be out first while the deadline only knows one line.
I had one just recently and it drove me nuts for a few days. Like you wanted to scream to your heart's content. You raced with yourself. It's hectic, but fun. It's overwhelming, but challenging.
I knew that I would eventually finish them. That's one of small lights that kept me going. I had to make decision, though, to have priority.
Now, I need a vacation (n_n)
I had one just recently and it drove me nuts for a few days. Like you wanted to scream to your heart's content. You raced with yourself. It's hectic, but fun. It's overwhelming, but challenging.
I knew that I would eventually finish them. That's one of small lights that kept me going. I had to make decision, though, to have priority.
Now, I need a vacation (n_n)
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Bluffer Muffler
I dont' get why some boys put that super freaky noisy muffler on their bikes. I really don't. What are they, tone deaf? I have a friend whose bike has that kind of muffler, and everytime he starts the engine it roars like horrible screaming contest. Not to mention the smoke that comes out of it. So, the muffler is basically a chimney with that loud lousy sound. He says it's cool. I say it's stupid. But then again, everyone has their own opinions....and ears.
Every night, on the street - in front of my boarding house - once or twice... or more.. in every hour I hear that sound from the dark world. I wonder if they are in competition coz they speed up. You see that, horrible sound in high speed? Makes me think what a creepy dough if they crash. It's public highway, man, not racing circuit.
Talking about motorbikers in Jakarta is talking about daredevils. Often when we raise our hands - crossing street - they're speeding up instead of slowing down. Like NO means YES. And they're making the sidewalk becomes red carpet where they can ride along in style. Like PEDESTRIAN means third class citizen. Hello......??? Maybe we should build fence along the sidewalk... or hedgerow. Hey, dude, this is my territory and that's yours. Keep it that way!
Every night, on the street - in front of my boarding house - once or twice... or more.. in every hour I hear that sound from the dark world. I wonder if they are in competition coz they speed up. You see that, horrible sound in high speed? Makes me think what a creepy dough if they crash. It's public highway, man, not racing circuit.
Talking about motorbikers in Jakarta is talking about daredevils. Often when we raise our hands - crossing street - they're speeding up instead of slowing down. Like NO means YES. And they're making the sidewalk becomes red carpet where they can ride along in style. Like PEDESTRIAN means third class citizen. Hello......??? Maybe we should build fence along the sidewalk... or hedgerow. Hey, dude, this is my territory and that's yours. Keep it that way!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Dear old friends # 2
"I will love you, baby, always. And I'll be there forever and a day...always. I'll be there till the stars don't shine, till the heavens burst, and the words don't rhyme. And I know when I die, you'll be on my mind and I'll love you...always (Bon Jovi).
Yeah. My friend, Wiwin, is a big fan of Bon Jovi. She has a nickname "Wiwingiovi". She knows all about Bon Jovi's songs and perhaps she memorizes all of them. And her signature even has Bon Jovi element in it. Wow.
We were in the same class in the whole three years of Senior Highschool. In the second and the third class we were deskmate (Is there such word?? Well, you know what I mean). Some people thought we were sisters, even some considered that we were twin. Ha ha ha. Maybe we looked alike. Almost same height, same weight, same long hair, same style, but of course she's prettier and smarter, especially in math, physics and chemistry. I was the dumb one, I admit...hehehe. I remember when our Biology teacher asked us whether we were sisters and we said no, then he asked again "Are you sure?". Once we ever came to the library in different time and the librarian said "Hey, you were just from here". "That's not me."
It's amazing when we find someone who has the same "unique" hobby. I used to write down the films and the casts I saw in a book. I had already got more than a thousand names when I knew that Wiwin did the same thing. So it became a challenging hobby, list as many as films and casts. Whenever I saw films I always brought a note and wrote down really fast when the casts were shown. My parents thought I was nuts. Their faces were wondering with the look "Why are you doing that stupid thing?". I didn't care. I just loved to do it. And funny thing was, my siblings and parents sometimes helped me to remember the names eventually...hehehe (The last number of casts reached more than two thousand names).
Right now I don't write that anymore because most of the actors and actresses have been already in the list. But, I'm still interested remembering the casts of the movies. So whenever I recognize some actors/actresses but couldn't remember the names, I get really itchy. "I know that dude! But where? What's the name?". Then I think hard until I remember coz curiousity might keep me awake all night and I don't like that. I have to find the answer.
Anyway, Wiwin and I had some rituals. Every Monday after school we went to newspaper agency "Bintang" near the school to check the tabloid. If we found interesting films/pictures we bought it. We were at the phase of collecting pictures like any other teenager. It was fun.
I also bought Donald Duck magazine every Monday in that agency. It's one of my dream since I was little. In High School, everyday I got allowance (500 rupiahs). I saved it to buy the magazine and just few for snacks. My mom was angry when she found out that I spent the money for Donald Duck instead of food (I was very skinny in High School, lack of nutrition..hehehe), but when I explained that it was something that I really liked and it developed my knowledge (It really was. I remember things better- places in the world, some histories - when it's on Donald Duck hahahaha), my mom finally understood or at least accepted.
We rode bike to school. In the morning we came in different time, but when we went home we rode together. Before separating in one of junction in the market, we always did the special handshake. The order was hammer hitting, fist punching, gun shooting, nose rubbing and two fingers shaking. It was silly...but again, it was really fun!
What I admired about Wiwin was that she was smart and neat. She had beautiful hand writing. I liked it when she wrote numbers, really sharp and confident. Her hand writing was always good in any situation, even when she wrote fast, so it probably expressed that she had steady personality. On the other hand, my hand writing changed by my mood, so in one book you would see good one and horrible one, most of the the horrible one, especially when I needed to write fast. I still have that until now.
She handled things with grace and had polite languange to say. I didn't recall if she ever got mad. She was just a very nice person and great friend. I'm honoured to be her friend.
Now we are still best friend though we live in the different place. I like to keep it that way for good. Best bud's forever fella. We'll be staying in unity.
Yeah. My friend, Wiwin, is a big fan of Bon Jovi. She has a nickname "Wiwingiovi". She knows all about Bon Jovi's songs and perhaps she memorizes all of them. And her signature even has Bon Jovi element in it. Wow.
We were in the same class in the whole three years of Senior Highschool. In the second and the third class we were deskmate (Is there such word?? Well, you know what I mean). Some people thought we were sisters, even some considered that we were twin. Ha ha ha. Maybe we looked alike. Almost same height, same weight, same long hair, same style, but of course she's prettier and smarter, especially in math, physics and chemistry. I was the dumb one, I admit...hehehe. I remember when our Biology teacher asked us whether we were sisters and we said no, then he asked again "Are you sure?". Once we ever came to the library in different time and the librarian said "Hey, you were just from here". "That's not me."
It's amazing when we find someone who has the same "unique" hobby. I used to write down the films and the casts I saw in a book. I had already got more than a thousand names when I knew that Wiwin did the same thing. So it became a challenging hobby, list as many as films and casts. Whenever I saw films I always brought a note and wrote down really fast when the casts were shown. My parents thought I was nuts. Their faces were wondering with the look "Why are you doing that stupid thing?". I didn't care. I just loved to do it. And funny thing was, my siblings and parents sometimes helped me to remember the names eventually...hehehe (The last number of casts reached more than two thousand names).
Right now I don't write that anymore because most of the actors and actresses have been already in the list. But, I'm still interested remembering the casts of the movies. So whenever I recognize some actors/actresses but couldn't remember the names, I get really itchy. "I know that dude! But where? What's the name?". Then I think hard until I remember coz curiousity might keep me awake all night and I don't like that. I have to find the answer.
Anyway, Wiwin and I had some rituals. Every Monday after school we went to newspaper agency "Bintang" near the school to check the tabloid. If we found interesting films/pictures we bought it. We were at the phase of collecting pictures like any other teenager. It was fun.
I also bought Donald Duck magazine every Monday in that agency. It's one of my dream since I was little. In High School, everyday I got allowance (500 rupiahs). I saved it to buy the magazine and just few for snacks. My mom was angry when she found out that I spent the money for Donald Duck instead of food (I was very skinny in High School, lack of nutrition..hehehe), but when I explained that it was something that I really liked and it developed my knowledge (It really was. I remember things better- places in the world, some histories - when it's on Donald Duck hahahaha), my mom finally understood or at least accepted.
We rode bike to school. In the morning we came in different time, but when we went home we rode together. Before separating in one of junction in the market, we always did the special handshake. The order was hammer hitting, fist punching, gun shooting, nose rubbing and two fingers shaking. It was silly...but again, it was really fun!
What I admired about Wiwin was that she was smart and neat. She had beautiful hand writing. I liked it when she wrote numbers, really sharp and confident. Her hand writing was always good in any situation, even when she wrote fast, so it probably expressed that she had steady personality. On the other hand, my hand writing changed by my mood, so in one book you would see good one and horrible one, most of the the horrible one, especially when I needed to write fast. I still have that until now.
She handled things with grace and had polite languange to say. I didn't recall if she ever got mad. She was just a very nice person and great friend. I'm honoured to be her friend.
Now we are still best friend though we live in the different place. I like to keep it that way for good. Best bud's forever fella. We'll be staying in unity.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Dear old friends # 1
Yesterday, I had contact with my two dearest old friends, Etha and Wiwin, whom I haven't seen for a long time. They perhaps don't really know each other that well since Etha went to School for Nurse after graduated from Junior High (SMP I Blora) and Wiwin went to the same school as I did, SMA I Blora. But they have one thing in common, that they had colored my days and they were the special member of SHLMPJJ, an imaginary squad I made...hehehe...
I knew Etha when I was in the second year of Junior High, we were classmate. We both liked watching films on TV and somehow we bonded. We became closer when we were as one group in a competition in the class, drama/comedy competition.
It was Mrs. Indah (Bahasa Indonesia teacher) who made the competition for all of the classes in that second year. We were free to make script and choose the casts. We would perform in front of the class and she would be the judge. There would be "Best Actor", "Best Actress", and "Best Story" award (the award was just a certificate, but it was such a great recognition).
The group I had was called "Plencing" (we named it in the last second before performing), consisted of Etha, Dewi, Ulfa, Nanang, (late) Mifron and I. We had been already good friends since we mingled and played together, so it was easy to be a group. When most of the groups presented drama, we made comedy. Actually, I had made the script before the competition, so it was an advantage. With the help of the group, we recreated the acts and dialogues, to make it perfect.
I remembered doing the rehearsal in Nanang's house, how we couldn't stop laughing when we tried to record an opening of casts introduction and title, using dangdut song as the intro (I don't know the title of the song, but it said "Dua..dua..duaaa..." later on). We had prepared the wardrobe (I even borrowed my grandma's kebaya - I was the maid...typical hehe) and the properties. We made the fake newspaper and family photos too.
The title of the performance was "Hilang Ketemu Lagi" (Hahahaha... what a weird one) and it had the element of surprise, at least for one of us. We were so ready to perform that day, until something happened. Mrs. Indah wanted to have the competition in one day, but we ran out of time when we were about to perform, so she decided to have us the next day. It was a bit sad since my friends and I were ready to rock the world with acting and costumes. Mifron even put many stickers on his shirt to look more ridiculous (he was indeed). But, actually it was a good day afterall coz we would get full attention.
And the D day came. My friends gathered around the set. People from other classes also joined them to see. The introduction was disaster. Remember the recorded introduction for opening? It stuck. No sound of us (the casts) only dangdut song was heard. Everybody laughed. Finally we introduced ourselves without the tape. Shaking, man.
I didn't know what happened in detail, what I knew our performance made the class full of laughter, applause and interaction. I observed (in the middle of the play) that Mrs. Indah put down our script (she always compared the script and the play for other groups), closed the pages and just enjoyed our silly performance.
We felt the enermous of energy to make the play even hotter. There when we revealed our secret surprise. Mifron was called "Boneng" sometimes, regarding to his teeth though actually they were not that bad. So the sound of "thing" always reminded us of him. When Nanang came up with a riddle "Didemek mblenyek, dithuthuk mak thing! Apakah itu?" The class burst with laughter like a cannon ball was shot. We didn't stop laughing for so long, it dried our body fluid. Mifron was burned like a hot red shrimp! We didn't tell him that we were going to have that riddle in rehearsal. He was really punked. Totally.
I was sorry...but I enjoyed it...hehehehe... The performance was a big success. It gave us the best actor, the best actress and the best story. Yep, we got all the awards. I still keep those certificates by the way.
The girls in Plencing then became closer and we commited to be friends forever. We even made it official by signing commitment papers (my idea - again I was the weird one)...hahaha..
I knew Etha when I was in the second year of Junior High, we were classmate. We both liked watching films on TV and somehow we bonded. We became closer when we were as one group in a competition in the class, drama/comedy competition.
It was Mrs. Indah (Bahasa Indonesia teacher) who made the competition for all of the classes in that second year. We were free to make script and choose the casts. We would perform in front of the class and she would be the judge. There would be "Best Actor", "Best Actress", and "Best Story" award (the award was just a certificate, but it was such a great recognition).
The group I had was called "Plencing" (we named it in the last second before performing), consisted of Etha, Dewi, Ulfa, Nanang, (late) Mifron and I. We had been already good friends since we mingled and played together, so it was easy to be a group. When most of the groups presented drama, we made comedy. Actually, I had made the script before the competition, so it was an advantage. With the help of the group, we recreated the acts and dialogues, to make it perfect.
I remembered doing the rehearsal in Nanang's house, how we couldn't stop laughing when we tried to record an opening of casts introduction and title, using dangdut song as the intro (I don't know the title of the song, but it said "Dua..dua..duaaa..." later on). We had prepared the wardrobe (I even borrowed my grandma's kebaya - I was the maid...typical hehe) and the properties. We made the fake newspaper and family photos too.
The title of the performance was "Hilang Ketemu Lagi" (Hahahaha... what a weird one) and it had the element of surprise, at least for one of us. We were so ready to perform that day, until something happened. Mrs. Indah wanted to have the competition in one day, but we ran out of time when we were about to perform, so she decided to have us the next day. It was a bit sad since my friends and I were ready to rock the world with acting and costumes. Mifron even put many stickers on his shirt to look more ridiculous (he was indeed). But, actually it was a good day afterall coz we would get full attention.
And the D day came. My friends gathered around the set. People from other classes also joined them to see. The introduction was disaster. Remember the recorded introduction for opening? It stuck. No sound of us (the casts) only dangdut song was heard. Everybody laughed. Finally we introduced ourselves without the tape. Shaking, man.
I didn't know what happened in detail, what I knew our performance made the class full of laughter, applause and interaction. I observed (in the middle of the play) that Mrs. Indah put down our script (she always compared the script and the play for other groups), closed the pages and just enjoyed our silly performance.
We felt the enermous of energy to make the play even hotter. There when we revealed our secret surprise. Mifron was called "Boneng" sometimes, regarding to his teeth though actually they were not that bad. So the sound of "thing" always reminded us of him. When Nanang came up with a riddle "Didemek mblenyek, dithuthuk mak thing! Apakah itu?" The class burst with laughter like a cannon ball was shot. We didn't stop laughing for so long, it dried our body fluid. Mifron was burned like a hot red shrimp! We didn't tell him that we were going to have that riddle in rehearsal. He was really punked. Totally.
I was sorry...but I enjoyed it...hehehehe... The performance was a big success. It gave us the best actor, the best actress and the best story. Yep, we got all the awards. I still keep those certificates by the way.
The girls in Plencing then became closer and we commited to be friends forever. We even made it official by signing commitment papers (my idea - again I was the weird one)...hahaha..
Oh yeah, do you want to know the answer of the riddle "didemek mblenyek dithuthuk mak thing?" It's chicken poop on the train rail (gross, huh?).
I'll tell you about Wiwin in the next posting coz the sky is definitely dark now and I have to go. See you later, dude.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Intermusic
It was still drizzling when I entered the parking lot of Railway Station Balapan Solo. I had tried to cover my legs with raincoat, but it didn't work that well.
The sound of music inside the station caught my attention. Was that a live performance that I heard? It was. A kroncong live performance right next to the waiting room. What a warm welcoming party. Marvellous!
The sound of music inside the station caught my attention. Was that a live performance that I heard? It was. A kroncong live performance right next to the waiting room. What a warm welcoming party. Marvellous!
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