1.31.2014

#30tulisan: Epilogue

I want to show my gratitude to friends of mine who created this challenge of #30tulisan. Everyday, step by step through the process of completing the task I realize how small I am. I live in abundance of blessing. This challenge has open my eyes that I won't make it to list blessings that I have been receiving. So many things I wanted to spill into words and fulfill the challenge, but I could not. Most of them were indescribable event though in the same time very simple and I have been receiving them every day.

Once I heard the challenge, I prepared myself a week before it started. I produced eight writings on the last eight days of December last year. And eventually I managed to completing the challenge by this writing by today.

It was difficult at the beginning to start writing. But, by time, I liked it. I would felt there was something missing in my day without writing. This was a kind of feeling on 19 January, when I could not make it to seize the day. I went to London and came back when the day is over. Actually, what happened that day was a reprimand of what I wrote a day before about skipping a day. In that writing I said that I wanted to skip a day for fatigue I felt, and I also said that the writing was mere information and my attempt to save my promise about the challenge. I was reminded at once, when I could not make it the day after whereas I was highly eager. The day of 19 January was the day I underestimated opportunity I had, and used my exhaustion as an excuse. I learned a good thing that day.

I was praised very much for this writing and then this writing, which were re-posting of my writing a couple years ago. Statistically, up now the pages with the writings has been read for 121 and 116 times. The writings made me realized that I was not confidence enough with myself as they waited too long to be shared. The praises on those actually helped me to extent my spirit to keep writing and fulfil this challenge of #30tulisan.

When I wrote about situation in my campus and also about keeping faith there, they was my way to show my grateful to have the opportunity to enjoy education abroad in very supporting environment. I realized how rare the opportunity like this could be received in the same time. And when I was writing this part in this epilogue, again my feeling of abundance occurred in my heart.

Sometimes I put emotion in my writing, like this writing. I kept that writing to be a reminder that however the turbulence in my heart it is an action that make differences. After wrote it down, I spent several days to settled the matter that upsetting me. I also realized, that several part of the writing was weighed with my judgement. I was embarrassed to read it again, but I again I kept it to remind me that being impulsive is not what I need when I am facing a problem.

In this paragraph, I wanted to talk about my favorite writing I produce in this challenge. The one I liked most was a poem I published on 24 January. I had to think deeply to produce eight rows. This was my reflection that I was very small and it was a good thing. Being small means I feel content with all I have. Nothingness I said in that writing showed my reflecting thought that I was a mere human being that very lucky live in abundance. Abundance of love. Abundance of opportunity. Abundance of choice.

The tense of the game was even higher when the upcoming challenge came: Writing by Request. I managed the challenge in this writing and  also this writing. It was even more difficult, because I did not know what the expectation from that challenge. I felt that my writings did not meet the expectation. I realized that questioning what the essentials of the challenge, which I did not do it, would help me to measure to what extent I should expand my idea into my writing.

Every single writing was weighed by my thought, my feeling, and my hope. Regarding to hope, this challenge of #30tulisan has opened my eyes that I could inspire people with words. Maybe writing is my way to contribute to other people as contributing is always the dream of my life.

Once again, I thank you, my friends, for creating this opportunity. I grow and develop here.

Emotional Resilience

"Success represents the 1% of your work which results from the 99% that is called failure."
Soichiro Honda

Yesterday, I attended a lecture held by School of Engineering on Selling and Negotiating for Technical Types. The presenter was Prof. Lynette Ryals, a professor of strategic sales in School of Management, Cranfield University. She was one of the only two professor on sales in the UK.

She started her presentation by stating that selling was a skill that everybody should have. She added that  researchers needed the skill to sell themselves and research ideas. She also stated that recent tendency showed more sales people were coming from technical position. So, it was important to have salable character.

She said that one of the most important character we should have was emotional resilience. The sign of the character was a gut of "I can do it! I will do it!". Someone with emotional resilience would bound very quickly from state of failure. From statistic, she tried to convey that people in top positions in many organizations reached the positions not because they were cleverer than others but simply because they had that character of resilience.

Listening to the presentation, I measured myself, "do I have this kind of character?"

Well, I am still pondering about it.

1.30.2014

Wisdom from Al-Hasan al-Basri: Do good with your wealth



قرأت في تسعين موضعا من القرآن أن الله قدر الأرزاق وضمنها لخلقه وقرأت في موضع واحد: الشيطان يعدكم الفقر... فشككنا في قول الصادق في تسعين
موضعاً و صدقنا قول الكاذب في موضع واحد.
*الحسن البصري
 

I read at ninety places in the Qur'an that explains that God has set sustenance and have guaranteed it for His creatures. While there is only one place in the Qur'an, where Allah confirms the words of a liar:
"Satan promises you poverty (if you do good with your wealth)."

So we even doubted the promise of Allah The most true (who is impossible broken His promise) at ninety places in the Qur'an, while we believe it is the only promise of the liar (devil). "

*Al-Hasan al-Basri

Reading this wisdom, I just feel free. No need to feel some attachments to possessions. Alhamdulillah....

1.29.2014

Fortune cookies' wisdom

The remoteness of Cranfield University (as I described in a previous writing) is sometimes very daunting. In the beginning, excitement that pervades the activity, but through time the feeling of homesick emerges. Fortunately, at least once in a week, scholars from Indonesia gathers to have dinner together. We share stories, jokes, experiences, plans, etc.

The place we usually use for dinner is a Chinese restaurant at the campus. The owner is a flamboyant old man came from Penang, Malaysia. We call him Uncle Lim, that also become the name of the restaurant. Even though the taste of the foods do not resemble completely Indonesian's flavors, it is enough to cure homesickness.

One of the uniqueness of having dinner there, when we finish our meal, Uncle Lim always presents us fortune cookies. Fortune cookies is a crackers in a form of shell that is wrapped in red metallic packing. Inside the shell there is a piece of paper with wisdom words on it. While sometimes my friends got silly wisdom, I in contrary keep getting words that spot on the situation I face. that is the reason I am collecting those piece of paper. Here I share several wisdom I got from the cookies.

"Keep your feet on the ground, even though your friends flatter you."
I got that just several days after I was praised for this writing. I was lucky to be reminded that the acknowledgements I got was the challenge to keep learning. I knew that one good appreciation in the beginning was not the evidence of my quality on this. I still have a long journey to the stage where my writing come into maturity.

"Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."
These words of wisdom came when I felt very bored. I decided to spent Christmas holiday at my campus to work on my tasks. However, instead of completing the task, boredom brought me to inexcusable laziness. When I got the piece of paper with those words, I realized that the laziness was my downfall. Then I decided to quit from it.

"Snowflakes one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together."
For this one, it came when I read so many discouraging news about Indonesia. I felt very weak as I barely could do nothing. But the words reminded me that I could not bring changes if I was alone. But how to make changes together? Perhaps, what I could do was to keep writing and sharing my thougt.

"Knowing other is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment."
I like this very much. This is a wisdom that I think can perfectly depict my opinion about myself.

"Kindness and honesty can only be expected from the strong."
Again, this is just exactly I need. These series of words remind me to keep strong. Because when I am strong the best quality of mine will occurs. Kindness and honesty, they are two things that I believe if I keep preserving it, God will preserve me.

"Victory belongs to the most persevering."
I was  reminded to keep my rhythm on completing my PhD program. Small continuing progress is better than trying to catch up everything in the end. I understand, there are consequences for this choice as in most cases I am a sprinter. However, I realize that a three-year program is not suitable for this method. In the case of my PhD, it seem I need to be a marathon runner instead. To be persevering in small pace, I am really not into it, but as I have decided to pursue the degree I will do it. In-sha Allah, I am ready to face any consequences accompanying this decision.

In the latter part of this writing, I want to express my gratefulness to Allah The Almighty for keep communicating with me by the words on those small pieces of paper. Every time, He remembers me even though often I do not notice or even sometime show my indifference. Astaghfirullah walhamdulillah....

Your fortune cookie?

1.28.2014

A conversation this afternoon

This afternoon, I met my supervisor. We talked about my research progress. I presented an initial draft for a conference paper that he asked me to prepare several times ago. The discussion was liquid and I was happy for that situation.

Then, before completing the session, I asked him, "may I ask you one more question?"

"That's fine."

"As you may notice, I keep addressing you with Dr. *****, especially in my emails. Is that okay with you? I mean, this is a common habit from my country to address with certain salutations to other people. Or it would be convenience I call you just by your first name?"

"That's okay. I understand (that) students from several countries, they are more convenience to use salutations."

"Hmm... actually, that is indeed what common in my country. However, I came from different culture. We address people just by saying the names. So...?"

"What makes you convenience, it would be convenience for me."

"Then, now on I'll call you with your first name, ********."

And, I feel something liberated within.

1.27.2014

[OPINION] Indonesia: What have to be settled to go international.

I have been challenged to write about how Indonesia can go international. The topic is not easy. Instead of talking about go international, Indonesia still has many issues to be solved. Complexity of problems that are faced by the country is beyond imagination. The problems are like tangled yarn. Many of solutions have been proposed, covering many aspects and approaches starting from education, culture, law, politics, economics, and so on and so fort.

What I think about all those approaches? All of them are necessary.

However, why they do not work?

Maybe the answer is about goodwill. Every attempt is nothing without this. This is what mostly missing from all those approaches.

But how to measure an intention? That is a question that is very difficult to answer. The same actions could have different values and objectives. I think the only clue to show a goodwill is consistency. The phenomenon happens these days is how easily people change when he or she manages different states. This is not only about the leaders, but also the people of the country. There are many examples for this situation. Among the leaders of this country, how many are slipped because their position. Meanwhile, in the grass root, how many demonstrations and boycotting occur to show their distastes but in the same time leave behind their responsibilities.

Consistency as reflection of goodwill is one the first challenges to be recognized globally, aside the awareness as a nation. The combination of two is what Indonesia need to pour in any approaches. That approaches should move in parallel (not in serial) because all of them are important.

Concerning the awareness, this is related to the character of the country, the nation, and the people. What is our best character? What is our value? What makes Indonesia different with other countries and will stand out with it? Redefining value of a country with more than 200 million people is surely uneasy task. Can we imagine to unite many ideas, uncounted interests, and various culture involved  into one common value? Maybe, it is beyond our imagination, but that price should be paid to change.

In my humble opinion, Indonesia will be recognized internationally when they (read: the country, the nation and the people) show the uniqueness. Because we are different, so we are special. Trying to mimic other countries is eventually make Indonesia is in the middle of nowhere in global competition, although we have unlimited potency from natural resources to human resources.

So, the questions are:
Do we have a goodwill for better Indonesia?
Do we have willingness to change the face of Indonesia?
Will that goodwill and willingness be proved with our actions?
Will that actions be done continuously whatever they take?
Do we have courage to spread the spirit of change?
Do we have intention to spread out the questions aforementioned?

1.26.2014

Souvenir of the trip to Natural History Museum

This morning, I went to London with two friends of mine. We went to several tourist attractions, but the place I like most was Natural History Museum. The very reason for feeling that excitement was because it brought me fly to my childhood interests: history, biology, astronomy, etc.

Natural History Museum

Interior architecture of the museum

I had different impression of the museum. I was different with museums in Indonesia. Instead of a pale building with mere ancient artifacts, the museum has very detailed architecture; congenial with the objects being displayed there. It also furnished with very well managed of sound system, multimedia, and layout. It was not surprised, so many people came to the place. They were willing to queue just for museum. I was amazed.

Encouraging words to learn

Fossils: A trail of ancient earth

Gem collection

The museum really became a place to gain knowledge. Alongside the display it has, the museum was equipped with simulations to show several things that might be difficult to capture only by a display. The museum also run talks on many aspects related to the knowledge. I thought that the management had to be having a deep devotion to share knowledge to people.

Metal: advantageous treasure of the world

Fossil of an extinct mammal

A simulation to show how water curves the face of our earth

Multimedia: Collaborating history, science, and technology

I dream that someday museums in Indonesia can be run professionally like Natural History Museum. I wish in the near future, the museums won't longer be forgotten ghostlike buildings. I wish they will be crowded by people coming to learn. Learn about universe. Learn about earth. Learn about nature. Learn about history. And learn about ourselves.

1.25.2014

Self Awareness and The Beatles' Song

Last night, I had the conversation with several friends of mine. We talked many things, but there was a topic that capture my concern most. It was about self awareness. The talk brought me fly to several years ago when I participated to a training: SIAWARE - Self Insight Awareness.

The training was beneficial. I gained friends, stories, and experiences. And the most important is to know about self awareness itself. Here, in the UK, I just realize that self awareness is an issue that apply for most of people. Globally. It does not relate to the ages, origins, faith, etc.

Once, I watched an ad about the government encouraging youngsters in the UK to pursue their life. The ad underlined that many of young people felt that themselves like garbage and had no idea where they headed to. Another time, I walked with a friend of mine from another country. He was about to finish his PhD, but when I asked what he wanted to do after the study he answered that he did not know. He did not know what he wanted to be.

The situation like that is depicted perfectly by a song of the Beatles, Nowhere Man. The first part of the song resembles how the struggled of someone with his life.
He's a real nowhere man
Sitting in his nowhere land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Doesn't have a point of view
Knows not where he's going to
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
In my opinion, that state is related to the lack of self awareness. Often, when someone being in the state, it is somehow created by himself. He is being ignorant of his surrounding, keep tightly what he believes without opening up to different perspectives. Unfortunately, this choice of action --being stubborn-- eventually will obscures his true self. This is described in the next part of the song.
Nowhere Man, please listen
You don't know what you're missing
Nowhere Man, the world is at your command


He's as blind as he can be
Just sees what he wants to see
Nowhere Man can you see me at all?
However, the situation is not something that cannot be overcame. Being optimistic, willingness to open up and also willingness to accept or asking help from others are the keys to change. Concerning of accepting or asking help, it does not make someone being weak. Instead, it is a sign of strength. Accepting our own weaknesses is one of the hardest things that people can do, isn't it?
And now let sing the latter part of the song...
Nowhere Man, don't worry
Take your time, don't hurry
Leave it all till somebody else lends you a hand

1.24.2014

Place of peacefulness

In the stream of stars
floating, he wants
 
In the darkest nights
freedom, he feels
 
By the flickering lights
to home, he leads
 
To the nothingness
peacefulness, he discovers

1.23.2014

A small note about chocolate

Chocolate is the first luxury. It has so many things wrapped up in it: Deliciousness in the moment, childhood memories, and that grin-inducing feeling of getting a reward for being good.
-Mariska Hargitay-

Who doesn't like chocolate?

Maybe there are just a little number of people who do not like it. The expression of the quote above, in my opinion, depicts perfectly how extensive the range of sensation it brings; pass through the edge of time. As for me, I remember how was I rewarded by my parents if I made them happy: a stick of chocolate ice cream was more that enough. Now, every time I taste a chocolate ice cream, that childhood experience also appears together with the melted of chocolate coating on my tongue.

Chocolates are also often associated with a love expression. The taste of chocolates, from sweet to bitter, can match most feelings related to love. Chocolates are the symbol of the turmoil of young love. The evidence is easy. Every year, chocolates are one of the first choices of young couples to expressing their feelings on Valentine's Day. In another hand, they also match for a feeling of broken heart as some people believe that eating a bar of chocolate can mend the hurt within a broken heart.

The association between love and chocolate may be explained scientifically. It is phenylethylamine (PEA) in chocolate that is responsible for this.  This chemical substance acts as a releasing agent of norepinephrine and dopamine.  Norepinephrine is a chemical that stimulates the production of adrenaline, which makes our heart race, and the palms sweat. Meanwhile, dopamine is a neurochemical that is getting released by the brain when we feel good and it affects brain processes that control emotional response, movement, ability to express pleasure, but also pain. PEA results dizzying feelings associated with romantic love. Large quantities of PEA would increase both physical and emotional energy and at the same time release more dopamine [1].

Based on several studies, despite the pros and cons, chocolates can be beneficial for health. Eating high-cacao percentage chocolate (read: dark chocolate) considerately offers a protection to type 2 diabetes. The flavonoids it contains are associated with lower insulin resistance and better blood glucose regulation. In this matter, composition is really important. If the composition of sugar is dominant, the effect may be otherwise [2].  Other research also show that chocolate may be advantageous for lowering cholesterol level, preventing memory decline, reducing the risk of heart disease and preventing stroke [5, 6]. However, in another hand, chocolate can also be risky as it causes tooth decay, poor bone structure and osteoporosis [2]. In addition, the caffeine within the chocolate is largely to blame for headaches and ADHD in children [3].

All the benefit and the sensation that chocolates bring is accompanying by a sad fact about children trafficking. In 2010, a research conducted by Tulane University under a grant of the US Government showed that a staggering 1.8 million children aged 5 to 17 years work in cocoa farms of Ivory Coast and Ghana at the cost of their physical, emotional, cognitive and moral well being. Further UNICEF predicted that approximately 35,000 Ivorian children working on cocoa farms as victims of trafficking [4].

This fact, somehow gives a chill. The luxurious we taste of a bar of chocolates probably is part of pain that someone tastes. A good sensation on sipping a cup of hot chocolate maybe a part of emotional torture of a child somewhere. How peculiar it is how the happiness of someone was a cost of the sorrow of someone else. In this rate, chocolates are somehow the token of inequality.

Now, every time we taste chocolates, can we tuck a pray? Pray that someday, chocolates being a complete symbol of love and equality. The day when we can enjoy them without the cost of others' pain.


Bibliography
  1. ASDN, Chemistry of love, available at: http://www.asdn.net/asdn/chemistry/chemistry_of_love.shtml (accessed 22 January 2014)
  2. Express.co.uk, How dark chocolate could ward off diabetes risk, available at: http://www.express.co.uk/news/health/454889/How-dark-chocolate-could-help-ward-off-diabetes-risk (accessed 22 January 2014)
  3. Ezinet,  The danger in chocolate, available at: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Dangers-In-Chocolate&id=487068 (accessed 22 January 2014)
  4. Global march, Child Labour in the Cocoa Farms of Ivory Coast and Ghana, available at: http://www.globalmarch.org/content/child-labour-cocoa-farms-ivory-coast-and-ghana (accessed 22 January 2014)
  5. Medical News Today, What are the health benefits of chocolate?, available at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270272.php (accessed 22 January 2014)
  6. USA Today, Chocolate lowers heart - stroke risk, available at: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/healthcare/health/healthcare/studies/story/2011-08-29/Chocolate-lowers-heart-stroke-risk/50174422/1 (accessed 22 January 2014)
  7. Wikipedia, Chocolate, available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate (accessed 22 January 2014)

1.22.2014

Competition on energy usage

I got an email this morning. The email was about the current result on competition between halls (read: on-campus student accommodations) to reduce energy usage. By Easter this year, they would announce which hall that contribute most to the reduction of energy usage.

Up now, the use of energy can be lowered until 7% compared to the baseline. What does this mean of 7%? It equals to more than 12 tonnes of CO2 has been kept out of the atmosphere.

Receiving this email, I think it is amazing how something extraordinary can be brought in a simple and fun way. A competition to contribute to the nature, it is a really, really good idea. It is not a competition for showing off skills, talents, or knowledge because they won't bring significant result. The competition is actually communicating about the habit or at least the choice of actions of someone.

In my opinion, one won't care about attempts of other people how they reduce or, in contrary, waste the energy. It is a private choice. However, this may bring the awareness to someone on his or her actions if he or she really care about the energy need. The competition like this brings the awareness that single action can be significantly influence the effect of that action.

The present for the winner may be not really interesting --a BBQ party at the winner hall--. The interesting part is actually the spirit of competition itself, and how the competitiveness affect not for single person but to the community and even to the earth. Actually, it is a competition for someone against himself, but every attempt he does will radiate a difference to his surrounding.

Interesting... Very interesting!

1.21.2014

An intermezzo about the session with the Minister of Education: Generalization is (sometimes) irrelevant

This is an intermezzo of the session held last Sunday with the Minister of Education. He said that we should have courtesy to other people. He added that we should give proper addressing to others especially for Indonesian leaders, for instance, he continued, we could simply put "Pak", "Bu" or "Bung" before the name of presidents of Indonesia. He said, it should be like that as that was also how we address our parents. He stated that (for Indonesians) it was impossible to call our parents just by his name.

Hmm.... there are two things I want to underline. The first one, I agree that we should give appropriate tribute to other people and especially our leaders. And the example he gave was true in term of Indonesian (language). However, this is the second thing, he generalized the culture of Indonesia already. It was a rush conclusion of him to negate the possibility that there are other ways to pay respect for others. Actually, it is possible to address parents just by name in Indonesia, depends on the culture where it belongs. It does not mean they who have the culture are offensive to their parents.

The example I want to give is how people in Bima address their elders. If we look back to the root of its culture, someone would address their parents, their aunts, their uncles, or whosoever older people just by their name. For example my mother's name is Sumarni, so it is possible for me to call her simply by saying "Nau", which is taken from "Ni", the last syllable of "Sumarni". For her children, to call her "Nau" is more than enough for paying a respect to her. It is true there are other ways to address elders in Bima, for instance to put "Dae", "Aji", "Ummi", or "Guru" in the front of one's name. However other additional salutations are actually very casuistic, depend on the situation. "Dae" is actually the salutation for royal family which later also adopted by common people to address their elders. "Aji" and "Ummi" are given to them who already perform pilgrimage to Mecca. This tradition is a form of culture acculturation when Islam spread in Bima. "Guru" is the salutation for a teacher or a lecturer. The same situation also happen in Lombok. Once, people used to address their elders simply by call their names. That what I saw in my village back then when I was childhood.

However, filtration of other culture from television and newcomers somehow has been scraping the root of the tradition. Nowadays, it is hardly to hear youngsters use the old way to salute the elders. They may think, it is inappropriate. Everybody, now is in uniform way to talk. This is unfortunate matter for the wealth of culture, I think.

Anyway, it is wise to consider considerately what we conclude about. Generalization is (sometimes) irrelevant!

1.20.2014

An opinion after a session with the Ministry of Education

Yesterday, I could not make a writing as I went to London. I just came back when the day was change.

There was a session between the Ministry of Education and Indonesian community in the UK. The community comprised of students, media, NGO, etc. The session was held in the Embassy of the Republic Indonesia in London at 6:30 pm.

The discussion held was related to education system in Indonesia. For me, it was an insight, especially about the controversial curriculum of 2013. I said controversial because the questions were raised mostly about how the new proposed curriculum could answer the challenge of education complexities in Indonesia and how it could sustain even though the government would change in 2014.

I was happy to see that the Minister had a vision of ten to twenty years ahead about improving human quality of Indonesian. It was a progress, in my opinion, compare to the tendency of political will that stands only in a cycle of government or even less.

The discussion was alive. The participants raised questions sharply. They showed what was said as critical thinking. Education system in Indonesia surely is a barn of questions. Every aspect of it. Last night was the evidence.

However the 'critical thinking' of us may become a backsword for us. I read the tendency that most of Indonesian people tried to questioned the new system, make attempts to find the weaknesses. So, instead of trying to find the benefit of the proposed new system and seeing the gap as challenge to solve, people saw the lack of it and blame the government. It was ashamed that I have not heard any solutions from them who questioned the lack of the new system, and unfortunately their reasons based on prejudice. Many of them raise question as what they read from media or discussion forums, but never once read the regulation completely. They weighed the system based on assumption what they received from the third party. For a moment, I questioned our intellectuality.

I believe that the substance of the curriculum he proposed may be not perfect. Perhaps, so many gaps that could not be answered by the new regulation. However, it what should be. To have a good education system, it would take time. What we need is a clear vision, and then the attempts to deliver it. That imperfection of the system also becomes a good chance to contribute something, doesn't it? It gives us space to continuously growing and improving the system, because through time the needs to be fulfilled in education would improve no matter what. It is an endless cycle.

When I writing this, it does not mean I am a Minister's supporter. I also believe the Ministry is not a perfect person as he is a human being, after all. However, I want to weigh with a clear mind. And what I saw last night, he had the point. He had a vision for future springs of us.

I think to have vision not only for his time but for others in the future, while he may not taste the benefit of it in his time, that is a form of heroism. To hear what the Minister said last night, I really appreciate his attempts. I hope what he said last night was out of his sincerity about Indonesia.


An Endnote

 
When I went to London yesterday to attend the session, I read an ad about London tube. The interesting thing about the ad was the words on it:
Helping London grow for the future; we've been serving London since 1863 and our continuing improvements will help you get around for the next 150 years.

I was amazed, because the words contained a far-ahead vision as well as a promise to keep doing improvements. I believe that nobody of today's people will be using the tube at 150 years from now, but what they promised was to made people of the future would enjoy the same luxurious as what they had now and even better.
 
Back then to my writing above, I think this can be a good example for education system in Indonesia. About a vision. About acts to make it real. About services we can share to the people of the future. Would it be considered?

1.18.2014

Skip a day

I want to skip a day of writing. Maybe I need to. The challenge of 30 writings in a month more or less like doing continuous exercise. It strain my 'brain muscles'. Again and again. And it is exhausting.

Actually I have prepared two writings which stay in draft since last two weeks. But I want to save it later because the writings may develop further.

I also have another challenge: writing by request. It is not easy, because it means there is an expectation how far I can bring it. Meanwhile, I also have the standard how deep I can dig within myself and deliver it well. With the new constraint, it become even more challenging.

Okay, then, today is a day off for writing.

This writing?
This is just information which I do not have to pull my thought to produce it.
(And, it also a trick that I keep my word to deliver one writing a day).

1.17.2014

Friday's contemplation: Who knows, it was my fault!

I read news about how severe was the winter in the north America. While in Indonesia, flooding occurred in many places.

Although here in the UK the winter was surprisingly warmer than usual, the country unfortunately had to deal with similar disaster. There was flooding in several regions here as a brutal combination of tides, rains, and winds.

Dwelling about what happened regarding the weather situation around the globe leads me to the verses of the Qur'an. Perhaps this daunting situation was also due to my faults (sins), either consciously or unconsciously. O... my Lord, I seek thy forgiveness for my wrongdoings.

وَمَا أَصَابَكُمْ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَنْ كَثِيرٍ
 
And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much. (QS. 42:30) 

مَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَأَرْسَلْنَاكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولاً وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيداً

What comes to you of good is from Allah , but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself. (QS. 4:79)
 

ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness]. (QS. 30:41)


Note:
Al-Quran transliteration by Sahih International from http://quran.com/ (accessed: 17 January 2014)

1.16.2014

Documentation: Proving the wealth

The wealth of Indonesia is surely not only about its natural resources, but also its culture. However, it hardly can be proved. Why is that so?

What Indonesian people mostly would say how about the culture of their country is that the people have good courtesy and always show the hospitality to each other. The statement may be biased because the parameter are not measurable. How can we weigh courtesy? How to decide one act is a part of hospitality or not? So the statement will undeniably subjective, and that would not be the prove that Indonesia is indeed rich for its culture.

Smarter answers can be given are by showing the relics of ancient times. Temples. Traditional houses. Old palaces. Clothing. etc. The great culture of Indonesia also may be proved by so many languages with dialects variety as mother tongues of many tribes in Indonesia. Moreover, life customs of the people are vary amongst one place to another.

However, the things that may be the evidence of the wealth still can be questioned and the questions may lead to doubts. When we are asked about the relics, the languages, the custom most of us cannot answer righteously, but just with the phrase 'as far as I know' in the beginning of our answer. We do not have a strong (scientific) ground when we talk about ours and instead put doubt on our explanation.

That is the reason of my statement aforementioned of our culture wealth hardly can be proved. The problem is the culture of our country is not documented very well. Only a small part of our culture enjoying good documentation. Regarding this situation, the main issue is we do not have that habit to documented what we have. Thoughts. Ideas. Choices. Discoveries.

What type of stones to support temples?
What the meaning of motives on our traditional clothing: batik, songket, sarung?
Why there are tribes have to address every member of their families with different salutations, while there are tribes that simply address their family members by their names, even for parents or grandparents?
Why in Lombok, the material of the floor of traditional house is a mixture of clay and cow dung?
Why the colour black represent Baduy people?
How to know which pandanus leaves that can be used as food ingredient, raw material for art cane work or material for musical instrument?
How people in Borneo preserve their food? Will it different with the way of Papuan preserve theirs?
How many endangered languages in a province?
How our ancestor measure the weather?
How people attest a plant is poisonous and employed it for making drug instead?
What.... what.... what....?
Why.... why... why....?
How.... how.... how...?

This is an illustration of possibility of lost that we have experienced about extinct language if we do not start documenting what we have.
There was a tribe in Sumbawa island, Tambora people. As the catastrophic eruption occurred in 1815, the tribe was extinct along with the culture and the language. Based on linguistic research, even though further study still needs to be conducted, Tambora language may be addressed as the westernmost Papuan language, separated from region where Papuan language family is spoken now. Sometimes, this extinct language put under unclassified language by language experts. The language was completely from different family compared to its neighbour language of Sumbawa and Bima. The calamities has removed the chance to gain knowledge on their culture, language, way of life. Now, the thing people can do furthest is to examine archaeological relics years after the event occurred.

The same situation may occurred not by natural disaster, but simply our ignorance. How many of us aware that there are 146 endangered languages exist in Indonesia (Source: UNESCO)? And the list, I believe, does not show the real situation. Once. I have been told by my aunt that there is a village in Bima had different language apart from Bima language. People out of the village completely had no idea about the language, so it probably could not be categorized as dialect or even subset of Bima language. The language is not in the list of UNESCO.

So many things can be a material for a great deal of knowledge. The wisdom of the past are waiting to be revealed. We may think the heritage of other parts of the world are that great, but I believe we just do not know what treasure we have.

The grass is NOT always greener in the other fellow’s yard.


An Endnote

I am pondering about this matter these days. I discussed with a fried of mine about his intention to make a good documentation on Temples in Indonesia (Candi). However, it is not an easy attempts. The project must require no small amount of financial support. Another time, I watched a talk on TED.com about a project to preserve Arabic language. In another talk, again on TED.com, I watched how intention of the presenter on behalf his institution to digitize information of the city of Venice and then simulate it to get broader picture of the city from time yo time. The idea was simple, to make "Information Time Machine" of ancient Venice. The project needed to cover 80 km of archive with every (yes, every!) detail of Venetian history over a thousand years and 10 billions of events. So, in the future people can access information where the best path for a ship to avoid pirates in 12 century just like using 'Get directions' of today's Google Map. Or just simply to know how much did it cost a sea bream in the Rialto market in the year 1434. The term of time machine he said was just rightfully. It  might connect nowadays people with their ancestors, to gain information even for a petty one. Imagine, how cool it be if Indonesia can do something like that. Maybe we do not need to so turgid in the beginning, but we can start by writing down, taking pictures, taking perspective from historians, archeologist, farmers, fishermen or anyone else who maybe being marginalized all this time but somehow they are the vessel of wisdom of ours.

1.15.2014

To feel the spirit of an Olympian, to redeem a sin

One of the things I did when I arrived in the UK was to register for a General Practitioner. I was asked to fill forms about my medical history. I was asked to bring urine sample to check my blood sugar content as my late father got diabetes. Fortunately, I was clean. I also was questioned several questions. The most memorable question was about doing exercise.

"Do you exercise?" The nurse me asked me as she was examining me.

"Hmm... no," doubtfully I answered her.

"Sinful! It's sinful." She shook her head. She continued, "Are you planning to do some?"

"Hmm... maybe," smiling I responded uncomfortably. She did not ask me further.

It has been three month, and I never did any exercise but twice. At the first time I went swimming with several new friends. It was fun, but because the swimming pool was too far from my campus and no direct public transportation to get there, up now it has been the last time for me went swimming in the UK.

The second time, I did jogging to a village near the campus just two days after I bought a pair of training shoes. But it was uncomfortable as there was limited or no space for pedestrians I could use during my jogging. I said that in my previous writing that my campus was remote, so road infrastructure was not prepared for supporting such objective. Moreover the temperature started getting colder because it was the end of autumn. My breath wheezed and my hand stiffed. I never experienced that situation before back then in Indonesia. So it also became the last time I did jogging. I thought to do it sometimes after the weather little bit warmer.

Last night another chance to do exercise came. I was invited to participate in a game. Badminton.

It was cool. Guess what? I used the racket that was once used by an athlete. Not an ordinary athlete but an Olympic gold medalist. It was Rexy Mainaki's racket.

Some times ago, Rexy Mainaky was the national coach for England's badminton athletes. The national training centre was in the closest city of my campus, Milton Keynes. Before he went back to Indonesia, he gave his badminton rackets to a friend of his who was a lecture at Cranfield University as keepsakes. Last night, I was lent one of the rackets to play.

As I played the game a funny thought occurred, "This is a sign to start a good habit in sport, eh... I have the chance to do an exercise using a racket of Olympic gold medalist!"

So, I thought to sign up for a membership in Sport Hall then. It is the time to feel a little bit of the spirit of Olympians: Citius, Altius, Fortius. And maybe.... it is the time to redeem my sin (for skipping exercise all this time)!
 
By the way, I won my game last night!

1.14.2014

What I learn from the character of Scrooge McDuck

If I was asked who is my favorite of animation characters, no-brainer I certainly would answer that question with Disney's Scrooge McDuck. That is why, once I put the picture of this character as my profile picture on my Facebook.

Scrooge McDuck
 (Source: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Scrooge_McDuck, accessed: 12 January 2014)

The character that created by Carl Barks and then developed by Don Rosa often misunderstood as stingy and materialistic character. However I always see the character in different way. He, Scrooge McDuck, was a figure of adventurer and risk taker. He was loner for most of the time. His journey of life brough him into the state where he hardly could show his intention in understandable responses. Every image that he built was to cover his softness within.

The good points of the character can be summarized from Don Rosa's masterpiece "The life and time of Scrooge McDuck". This masterpiece depicted the struggling life of Scrooge. In his childhood he started working to earn money for his family. When he was thirteen years old, he decided to pursue his fortune leaving behind his family in Scotland. The journey to be 'the richest duck in the world' was nos easy. There were many obstacles but he managed to overcome all of those obstacles. He stood on his faith, on what he believed. Maybe most people, as they do not pay attention to the detailed of his life, think that what his aim just money. However deep inside his heart what he valued most was the adventure and the experience of pursuing the wealthy. The wealthy was not his aim at all, but he tried to make people think so.

Aside of the adventure, it can be seen that the wealth he pursued was actually for his family. Back then to his decision going to America when he was only thirteen, the aim was only to help his poor family. During his journey, there were two times he went back home in Scotland which the aim of his homecoming was related to deal with the economic of his family.

Once, he indeed forgot his ultimate objective about his family. In Don Rosa's "The Empire-Builder from Calisota", Scrooge wanted to show that he was reliable to his family by accumulating wealth more and more. However, as he left his heart behind, he turned to be a stiff person and instead squandered his family. He realized that he was wrong when his family had gone. He could manage to fix it that time, but at that time his pride avoided him doing so. In his old age, he felt sorry for his life until the appearance his nephew, Donald Duck,  and grand nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, brought his spirit back. And he managed to pursue new adventures of his live. He realized that to pursue adventures, his objective of his live, did not depend on the age or anything, but the imagination and the actions to make it real.
"You empty-headed youngsters should be ashamed of yourselves! The quality of your lives depends on what you make of them! The only limits to adventure are the limits of your imagination" -- spoken by Scrooge McDuck to his nephews in "The Richest Duck in the World"

1.13.2014

Unimportant afternoon blabbing of mine... (You can skip it!)

Actually, I am not in the mood for posting anything, but I need to keep my commitment, right?
This afternoon I read an email from financial office of my university. It made me upset successfully as I realized that I still in debt for my tuition fee. After reading the email, I forwarded it to my financial sponsor at once with some notes to be read.
What I learnt from this event today, communication is still an issue of Indonesian bureaucracy. As I had the initiate to contact my sponsor since December last year I wished that everything was going well as they did not give any responses. I also asked about format of report study they should provide, they id not give the answer. What I did back then was actually to help them with their responsibilities. It would be bothersome for them in the end if they keep the delaying attitude and it would be bothersome for me as well.
If somehow they could do nothing with the situation that made them did not perform well, just communicate it. I would be understand that to deal about the matter was not easy if there were reasonable reasons. Isn't it too hard to communicate what was going on? To understand their situation would help me to convey an argument here and perhaps there was also I could do for them from here.
Sometimes, I feel it was pointless to have initiative to help other when they keep their bad habits. But, never mind! What can I do now is praying that the year 2014, which is the year of politics, will bring new constructive spirit to Indonesia. To its government, to its people.

1.12.2014

What I learn from the character of Atticus Finch

"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." - spoken by Atticus Finch in "To kill a mockingbird".

Last night, before went to bed I decided to watch an old movie. The movie, released in 1962, was adapted from a Pulitzer winning novel with the same title, "To kill a mockingbird", which also I have read once. The novel itself was written by Harper Lee and launched first in 1960. I like both the novel and the movie. Maybe some people feel the plot was slow, but it was, for me, the best way to dwell how the line reflecting everyday life of human being.

I love the character of Atticus Finch in the story. He was a lawyer who defended for a black man being accused for raping a white woman. It was extraordinary to defend someone who was part of social outcasts at that time. He had indeed a remarkable rhetoric skill, however he measured justice not merely by it. It was his heart to weigh right or wrong.

He also let his children to address him simply by his first name, which I thought it was cool. I cannot agree more with the list of American Film Institute that proclaimed the character as No. 1 hero of 100 Heroes & Villains.

In many cases, it is uneasy to do something like Atticus did. He stood strong on what he believed in a very gentle way. He taught his children to respect each other as well as not to use violence to settled a problem. He managed to be firm without being harsh.

Maybe the description of mine tried to convey the character was perfect. Actually, he was not. He also showed his humanity side. He showed that he can be anxious, frustrating and angry. However, whatever feeling he had, his belief was a strong ground to make him choose adequate responses for every problem.

In my interpretation when first time I read the novel, actually most of people had the same assuredness as Atticus had on the raping case that Tom, the black man who was accused, was innocence. However, doubts covered their judgement. Or maybe it was not doubt but fear. Fear to be different with common opinion of most people.

From this story, I learn that majority is not always the truth. Harper Lee clearly conveyed that majority opinion may be built on prejudice. Their heart might feel the weight, but they chose to deny it.

I think current situation may not change significantly from that time. Denying the heart on weighing something whether it is right or wrong, that is still an issue of humanity. However, the worst of all, when the heart is dead. At that state the mind is corrupted and it would be appear in destructive responses (just like the antagonist behaved in the story).

The spirit that Atticus showed a good example how everything should be done. To free the heart on valuing things is simple, although by doing so the consequences may be unexpected. However, I think, those consequences are the price to be paid to make the world a decent place to live in.

1.11.2014

Internet awareness? It saves your money.

Living abroad is definitely challenging. As for me, I need to adapt with many things. Different language. Different culture. Different food. Different currency. And other differences that can sum up this list, just name it! Regarding to public service, it is also one aspect that I found it different with Indonesia. Everything is online, and definitely it avoid complexities of bureaucracy. Most information can be obtained easily from computers or smartphones as long as they connect to the internet. I found it beneficial when I want to check bus or train schedule, to apply NHS HC1 scheme, to apply provisional license, to apply national insurance number, and so fort. This is one of the advantages of living in a developed country where everything is managed very well. However, information in the internet can be misleading even in the developed country like the UK. There is no advise better than being aware with the information you get from the internet.

Three months in the UK, I have been experienced several things. Here, where everything is believed to be expensive, that paradigm leads to several derivative situations. At least, I can recognized two situations.

The first situation is people, especially foreigner --not native--, tend to measure everything with money. My statement just now is nothing related to the materialistic nature. This is something simply related to the awareness of spending money. Here in the UK, several services for people are free. Not completely free as someone who wants to get the services, for example may have to make a phone call which is charged or to sent documents in the mail. All information about the services can be obtained from the internet. However, as I said before, not all the information can be helpful and sometimes detrimental. Newcomers from other countries prone to fall into such misleading information. Often, they pay something that should be free. Or even worst, they pay for something does not exist.

The second situation is the existence of people who exploit the ignorance of people to get some money. What they do is offering to help people on their needs. They create convincing websites or send email to people on behalf the government to pursue their aim.

Once, there was a phishing email targeting foreign students from India or North Africa. The email stated that there was a problem with their visa and they need to settled it immediately by paying some money or they would be deported. The email was very convincing. The word of 'deportation' was scary led some students acted hastily. Fortunately, then there was confirmation from UKBA (UK Border Agency) confirmed that information was fake.

Another time, a friend of mine applied for his provisional (driving) license. To get the form, it should be free. However, as he did not pay much attention to the website he browsed, he managed to pay 50 pounds for the form only, not the license. The website looks convincing and professional. Actually, they who run the website did not lie as the application was sent rightly, but paying such amount of money for something that could be free was just overrated. Moreover the website hid the information about minimum time of residence for foreigner to apply. A foreigner supposed to be living at least 185 days in the UK before he or she could apply for provisional license. Then, he --my friend-- inevitably should wait for some times even though the application has already on hand.

I also have faced more or less the same situation, but I managed it well. I wanted to apply a national insurance number (NINO). As I checked the internet two days ago, I found that to get the application form I would have to make a phone call to Jobcentre Plus application Line. That was genuine information, but unfortunately I could not be found as soon as possible as I browsed. Why was that so? The website was not placed at the top of searching list. Again, what I found first was agents' website offering to hand a NINO form application. Just for a form and the price was vary from 20 to 100 pounds. What a shame! When I made a phone call to apply my NINO, it takes 10 to 15 minutes of conversation and it was charged just for 15 pence per minute by my provider (note that 1 pound = 100 pence). And now, I am just waiting to receive my form several days ahead, just exactly the same time those agents stated on their websites.

Based on those experiences, someone who wants to stay in the UK or other countries should be aware to the things like this. So how can one weighs the information is genuine or misleading or even fake? Look at the domain! For public service in the UK, it is mostly associated with government domain (gov.uk). It can be ascertained that information within this domain is valid.

However, not all services related to government domain, for example NHS (National Health Service) that has its own domain (nhs.uk). It also may differ from other countries what services that are maintain by the government or by private parties due to massive privatization in the UK. In this case, someone needs pay more attention. But certainly, genuine website, even it is not from the government, will provide genuine information as well.

At last, I want to convey that  the internet is undeniably helpful but being aware of using it is far more helpful, especially when in a new environment. It can save many aspects of life. Time. Energy. Emotion. And money.