The Sky

One day, I met a young girl stood by herself. She looked up at the sky as she traced her hand following the clouds above our heads. Her face was flat; I could see no emotion. But somehow, out of nowhere, I could feel as if she is that one cheerful being. Or maybe she was, I thought.

I kinda approached her, made my way next to her hesitantly. She didn't move a little. I sighed, doing the same thing as her, looking at the sky.

"The sky is always blue, isn't it?" I rambled.

"No."

"Okay..."

"It's pitch black."

"What?"

"Pitch black." She looked down, turning her head towards me, "The sky is pitch black. That's why I look at the sky every day."

"I don't get it?"

"I wish I could put all of my thoughts in a jar. I hate the nights where I feel so hollow inside; empty and out of place. Did, it made me happy," she sighed, heavily breathe, "but for some unknown reason, it scares me. That's what crossed my mind the very first second of whatever circumstances lies behind."

"Wow. I don't know. You're very much a talker..."

"Surprised?"

"A little."

"Good then. I rarely do that."

"I know... but why, me, all of sudden?"

"Do you think I never realized that you've stopped by looking at me probably wondering why this girl out of nowhere staring at the sky since forever?"

"I do. Sorry..." I kept fidgeting, feeling as unsure as I may seem, "..if I bother you."

"Not at all." I stared, not sure what she was talking about. "I've been waiting too."

"Waiting?" I asked as she nodded her head, smiling by her heart.

"Yeah.."

"I am all ears." I was trying to convince her.

"It's not the right time for you to know," she smiled, "see you."

I frowned and froze. The time suddenly stopped for a few seconds and I still couldn't get whatever she was saying. That long words she said in the beginning, it shocked me somehow. It was too much for my mind to process. Whatever she might be thinking; whatever intention she had when she said that to me, or perhaps nothing at all. It was good to know, anyway...


Disclaimer: this is a work of fiction.

OPSI 2016 Experience: Unexpected

*Take a deep breath* It has been awhile...I guess. Time flies so fast that it's October already. It has been pretty hectic at school, since I am a last year student already. It means next year I'll have a national exam and college entrance exam and bunch of other language exams I volunteered to take because languages are lyffff. So people how are y'all? Life is interesting indeed! It contains unexpectable ups and downs. Today I'd like to share my personal experiences after I got the chance to experience another research competition with a bunch of amazing people this year! Yes, proud of  being an Indonesian. Well, I just hope that no one scolds me for writing this in English and called me sok inggris or sok apa whatsoever or being a grammar nazi while I was talking about my pride as being Indonesian. Does speaking in English to show the world that you’re proud of being the people of your country considered as a betrayer? un-nationalist?

Thursday, 22nd September 2016, second-last day of mid-term exam.
I threw my body on the couch as soon as I arrived at home. I don’t remember the exact time, but the long needle was pointing to number five when I reached my phone to check the notifications and calls. My friend, a research partner—Dinda, sent me a text message “Feb, gatau harus bersyukur apa gimana. LOLOS OPSI FEB-___- (Feb, I don’t know whether I should be grateful or what. QUALIFIED ON OPSI FEB-___- *terjemahan ngawur hehe*)”. And I was like...what the heck is opsi. There was silence. ...Five minutes later, I found myself running and jumping unconsciously in the living room while I still am holding the phone in my hand, half awake.

“What even? Are you going crazy?” “OPSI mah!!@#!$” In which my mom has zero idea what OPSI is. So do I. Truth is, I’ve never thought about research ever again, honestly, for my focus was on languages these months. I don’t even think that we will make it through it since we thought it was over since last month so probably we just didn’t make it. BUT MIRACLE HAPPENS. I mean...Allah’s will!

There was one more team from my school, so it will be the four of us. So we contacted our school’s counselor, fix this fix that, check documents and that. In Saturday we were told that there will be a counseling/TC as DIY team for four days from Monday to Thursday. Friday will be the only free day, in which in that day we will pack stuff and make sure we didn’t miss any single thing. And at Saturday, we will go to Jakarta by train. We stayed in Jakarta for 5 days. It means...I am off from school for two weeks! I really don't know whether I should be happy or sad.

Monday, 26th September 2016 - Thursday, 29th September 2016 (Intel Galileo Board Project and TC OPSI)
We went to the Department of Education in Yogyakarta at 8 am until 4 pm to participate in Intel Galileo Board Project in which we were explained on how to use the new Intel Galileo Motherboard type Arduino Uno. Honestly, I learned basic C language last year, but I still have no idea about programming. Human language is easier for my slow brain T_T. And I thought it was dope! Though in the end, I can't even try it since it doesn't support Windows 8.1 to run the program. At last, I learned a lot of things and it was a whole new experience for me.

At 4 pm, we continued to Hotel Cailendra to participate in TC which took 4 days in a row to prepare OPSI 2016 as DIY team. We were one of the teams who didn't make it to Klinik Sains (don't know how to explain this), so we felt pretty...left behind as we know no one. It was a really tiring four days. Pretty depressing and worth to remember. It takes a lot of  energy as I felt really drained out that I whined a lot these days.

Me and Dinda always been crazy and starving and sleepy the whole time. We were drained out. As we can't work in the middle of people, so we isolated and locked ourselves in the room while we were doing our work. I remember it was midnight in the third day that we were soooo starving, so we decided to go out with a motorcycle and drove to the nearest supermarket to buy instant noodles and ramen. We knocked the bapak-bapak room a.k.a security to open the pantry's door...because we desperately want to eat ramen. AND WE MADE IT. It was the best feeling ever to eat ramen when you're so depressed of realizing that your expectation contradicts the reality. whoOOa. Hella cool line, ain't it?!

These four days...I was tired. Physically. And mentally. What I learned was that when you're depressed, all you need is ramen. Haha, no. I learned a lot of knowledge about research and other valuable things (though the ramen theory is included). And in those days, we suddenly remember how we really miss our Namche's counselors...as Mas Zak, Mas Rizqi, Mbak Dewi, Mas Afif, Mbak Tika, Mas Bagas, Mbak Fiesha. They told us so much more than that last year. No offense. Please be offended. It has been a long time, hasn't it?

p.s:
- I wrote this in the train on my way to Jogjakarta. I am so gabut alias gaji buta alias don't know what should I do. hehe.

Pondering Over Al Qur'an

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا

“Will they not then ponder the Qur’an or are there locks upon their hearts?”[Muhammad, 47:24]

Astaghfirullahaladzim,

Dear brothers and sisters, how many times do we complain in a day? How many times are we blaming the conditions we have in life? How often are we blaming our condition and being ungrateful of it? 

How many times we dedicated our times for Allah and pondering over Al Quran over 86.400 seconds He gave every day? Perhaps if we are able to see the size of the blessing coming, we will understand the magnitude of the battle we are fighting. But even if He allows us to see it, do you think we are able to deal with it? 

كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ

“It is a Book We have sent down to you, full of blessing, so let people of intelligence ponder (liyaddabbaru) its Signs and take heed.” [Saad, 38:29]

But, Mashallah..have you ever wondered? What if it was us, the ones who were talked about in this verse. Mashallah brother and sister, how ungrateful we had been... (read this...)

Dear brothers and sisters, let's look in ourselves...

are there locks, 

upon our hearts? 

Trust Issues

I have a lot of trust issues. Every time I tried to trust people in the past, I've been let down, and now I thought it is easier and less painful to just rely on myself. I have always tried my best to see the good in others and expecting every single person in the world have a good intention. I've never thought that there is some evil in people (unless they have problems with their psychology or something). I've always believed that most people are good, and the pure evil ones only make up less than 2% in the world. 

I was really sure until I finally in this point where I questioned my own paradigms. Was I wrong? For expecting such thing from people? Do I really worth the trust..or am I just easy to be fooled at? Do people really broke their trust...or was I just disappointed? Was it only me...who assume the worst before it happened? Was it my fault..or was it, theirs? Do I really have trust issues...or was I just trying to avoid the pain? 

Even if I knew the answer, does it really matter? Does it really worth it?

And I've learned the hard way that never rely on anyone,

فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ الْمُبِينِ

"So, rely upon Allah; indeed, you are upon the clear truth." Qur'an 27:79

وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا

"And rely upon Allah, and Sufficient is Allah as Disposer of Affairs." Qur'an 33:3

And I am sorry to you...

And I ask for Allah's forgiveness.

That if I have a lot of mistakes, as I don't have the same pure heart as yours. Dear brothers and sisters, keep me in your prayer and I will keep you in my prayers, and if I did something wrong, please keep the ummah in our prayers...and ask for His guidance to keep us on the right path. To give us a sincere heart to forgive people. Ask Him to lift whatever burden...in our hearts.

Perhaps

It was nothing like sunbeam,

or a thick forest green

Not even a deep crystal clear blue,

in those sparks still glow

It was a pure and innocent all analyst couldn't care less

One thing I know that I was lost

Ought to be carried off by uncertain

Letting it in and being unaware of consequences

Lost in a world of a beautiful scene

Maybe I write too much outlandish poems

or read too many books

Where I find pleasure in string words

Spending hours pairing rhymes

To embrace my fictional world

into sentences that I don't even understand

But one thing that I know too well

In between transparent wave they've told me

That the seas and the forests envied you

For the world reflected inside yours

is not the world we used to know

Nobody ever bothered to tell you

They are hickory against deep mud oak

And when it meets sunlight they beam

Two perfect orbs the same shade as nature after it rains

burning with the light of a thousand suns

Bewitched in between my souls

Persuaded in matrimony,

beholding as I was going away

Don't think it was too much, it was just a metaphor

Just a little to believe in realism, soon be drenched away

What do I know of bone-deep lonely, 

of the beautiful freeze, 

of a running circuit through the stars 

until all landmarks are my own staring eyes

Or maybe I am scientist, 

staring deep through a telescope

Convex lens collects light and focuses it

into a distant galaxy 

that has not had the chance, 

to be named

And perhaps you should know,
in between uncertain lines somehow I wished
that I still do

[17.8.2016]

My 7 Favorite Japanese Youtubers: How I Learned Japanese in a Fun Way!

I've been learning Japanese for almost a year and I still am not fluent yet (anyone could you please tell me how it is done pls?!). My kanji writing, especially, is still soooo poor. Remembering strokes and its onyomi & kunyomi are like the hardest challenge in learning Japanese (well, even though I love kanjis!!). So does my speaking. Self-studying is difficult, I admit. But it's fun and enjoyable as long as you spend your time in a fun way. I've always been a fan of Youtubers and I watched Japanese and Korean youtubers to help me learn those languages, and today I would like to share my 7 favorite Japanese Youtubers!!!! Well, some are non-Japanese but they speak Japanese and live in Japan as well. So, here it is:

MissHanake

Hannah is my first non-Japanese-who-learns-Japanese Youtubers who I discovered loooong time ago before I discover another Japanese Youtubers. And I am grateful that I found her channel! I keeping up with her videos from the very start when she speaks very basic Japanese (in which that time I didn't understand any single word!) and now she speaks veryveryvery fluently! She even got into a newspaper for getting the highest score on Japanese exam. The thing is...she self-studied!! She is a British (I love British accent! wingardium leviosar.................) but she also speaks German, French, Latin and Dutch. Which is amazing. Now she is an Oxford student majoring in Japanese language if I am not mistaken. She inspired me so much!

Mimei

Mimei comes from New Zealand and she went to Japan in 2009 to study, I guess. She is a wife of Duncan (see below) and a mother of two little scottish fold rascals, Cinnamon and Latte! My favorite videos are her collaboration with Mahoto-chan as they are just so adorable!! I recommend you to watch the Interviewing Youtuber series and basically just watch. All. Of. Them. Oh and I really loveeee her hair.

PDRさん

I discovered Duncan a.k.a PDRさん after watching Mimei's channel and it showed up in my recommended videos bar. I was shocked to know that they are married already! His videos are mainly nonsense jokes but so funny (some are pretty rude and harsh and disgusting and contains a lot of dirty jokes but yeah). But he is so creative and actually just weird after all, but his weirdness is goldddddd. And I love it that way! Anyway, Mimei and Duncan have another channel for both of them -> BACOUPLE. (Relationship jokes goal?) lol

はじめしゃちょーHajime

Hajime's videos are basically wasting everything and talking so fast without spaces. He is a real nihonjin a.k.a Japanese. One time he bought tons of coca colas and mentos and poured it all in a bath tub, wanted to know whether it will explode or not (I was hoping I could see that scene though it didn't happen lol). And the other time he bought clays or just doing whatever he likes. I first discovered him from Mimei's channel too, where she interviewed Youtubers and there comes out this creature who makes me laugh even in the very first introduction. 

DoudemoMIRA

DoudemoMIRA a.k.a Kanadajin3 (her English channel), basically also a non-Japanese Youtuber but she lived in Japan. I don't know her much as I am not often watch her videos. But she likes to express her opinions toward issues in Japan and her daily life. I love her accent idk why it sounds so cute and unique and she is so kawaii!

MAHOTO

He is a real Japanese also!! His videos are just as weird as PDRさん, Mimei, and Hajime. Omg their circles. So nonsense and weird, but...I managed to watch the videos till the end (what did I do with my life). At least he is so cute and he got dimples when he smiles #uhwhat. He often showed up in Mimei and Duncan's channel, you should watch him speaking engrishu!!

KemushiChanロレッタ

She is also a non-Japanese Youtubers........I just realized that most of the Youtubers I recommend are basically foreigners?! Hahaha okay. I enjoyed her videos, and she shares a lot of information. I just realized that she hanged out with Mimei lately!

Actually I still have a long list of Japanese Youtubers such as Micaela ミカエラ, くまみき/Kumamiki, バイリンガール英会話 | Bilingirl Chika, HIKAKIN, and many more. But, they are my favorite (and basically just comes out from the same circle xD)

So, what do you guys think about them? ^^

Welcoming August

It had been two weeks since school started on June 18th. Now, I am on my last year in high school, twelfth grade. I really don't have any idea of what should I write now, so I am just gonna tell you some random things like I always did. Hahahahhahahaha. I know, sorry. Anyway, for anyone who asked me about what are my future plans, as I am a twelfth grader now, sorry that I prefer to keep it to myself (and some closest friends) because I feel comfortable that way. And I think it's not really that important for you to know as it won't significant for you. Why and what would you like to know anyway? I wonder.

OH! I didn't post on July...I forgot. Happy Eid Mubarak for everyone!! So sorry that I didn't post anything Islamic related, something that I should've did.... I was so busy having quality time with my family in Jakarta, and I also met my main biatch for the very first time. Errr nah...not gonna tell you anything about this today. I miss you guys soooooo soo much. I forgot what happened in the past weeks. Gotta recall some more. I am so sad that Ramadhan passed quickly that I felt as if I wasted so much time. I prayed that Allah will give me another chance to live in the next next nexttttt Ramadhan with all of you. I love you guys so much.

It's a lie.

HAHAH jk.

I started a new journal lately and I am so happy about it that I felt as if it gives such powers to keep me motivated. I love it so much that its covers are in tiffany blue and maroon. The papers are kraft paper if I am not mistaken, and I can use watercolors as it is pretty thick. I am planning to show you, but I am too lazy to take photographs. Maybe later. I said maybe. I've also been reading quite some books lately, not so many that you still can't consider me as a book nerd yet. I've also been planning to write book reviews to keep me remember what I just read...planning...but ya know. 

*walks away as I sniffing books*

Thoughts on Pride & Prejudice: why is it needed to blame Mr. Darcy's manner

Things shall not perish in a period of time unless we know the reason why. If I ever had a chance to sue anyone in this world, either fictional or real, I thought it would be a pleasure for me to sue our daringly charming Mr. Darcy from Pemberley. For he is responsible for my outlast decision and consideration in high expectations towards men, ever in the universe. Mr. Darcy is a perfect portrait of an ideal man any women would die for, well at least for those who understand this, or just me. Whatever. Unlike the others, he tends to stick in his own mind and personal principles rather than usual men we found in everyday life. Recently. Though.

“I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding— certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of other so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.” 

I am falling in love with the words classic authors had invented, something that I would never find in modern books nowadays. I have always been admiring Jane Austen, as she is one of my favorite classic author along with L.M Montgomery and Hans Christian, for their books and beautiful poetic lines. Not until I had finished the series of beautiful unspoken love for the sake of pride and out willingly to sense each other's attraction in demeanor manner. It was rather difficult to choose something in between keeping the pride or losing it for awhile and left the guilt for years. Sometimes we even caught up in such moment where our prejudice is worth even more than anything we could ever ask. Not even in people's perception, whom I supposed to know nothing but daresay to speak up their unresponsible opinion, or perhaps... nonsense. Unfortunately to say that there is least people who are concerning in this issue. But rather the feeling of astonishing young ladies' deliberated minds in Georgian era still fascinated me the most. Very well-mannered in every aspects. 

I was watching Pride and Prejudice and I came across into a reasoning in which made my head spinning around. Terribly. Well, probably because of my obsession towards Mr. Darcy for his intelligence and gentlemanlike manner. As sophisticated as he is. What praise is more valuable than the praise of an intelligent servant? As a brother, a landlord, a master, she considered how many people's happiness were in his guardianship!—how much of pleasure or pain was it in his power to bestow!—how much of good or evil must be done by him! Every idea that had been brought forward by the housekeeper was favourable to his character. Lucky Lizzie.

For he is, all anyone ever wants. Cold-headed, stubborn, efficient, and calm in crisis. In intellectual competence, in addition to other varying degrees of competence (wealth, humour, beauty, etc), and thus declares his love for you in an incredibly awkward manner. He doesn’t know how to express himself, and that’s endearing. And of course, lovely accent. Ardently. Doesn't he?

Or, again, it was just me who feel that way?

経験について

今日、私の経験についてお話ししたいと思います。８年前から、私は外国の友達を作るのが好きです。その時は、英語だけを話すことができました。英語だけを話したのに、すでに多くの友達と経験を得ました。外国の友達と話すことが楽しかったと思います。私たちは合ったことがありませんので、ほとんど毎日はメールを送りました。ある時はプレゼントを送りました。

正直に言うと。。私は日本について、長い時間前から、大好きです。でも、日本語はとても難しそうと思ったので、日本語学ぶことがありませんでした。私はオタクではないですけど、アニメと日本の歌が好きです。昨年まで、私の学校では日本交換留学生がありました。話したいな、でも話しできない！ぜんぜん日本語できませんでした。ある日、彼女と話しをすることを決めました。

「すみません。日本人ですか？」なぜ私はこのような質問をしたのかと思われます。私は日本語でアメリカ人に言わせれば、愚かなことだろう。

「えーと。。。あなたの名前は何ですか？」グーグルから、いくつかのフレーズを覚えました。

「へえー！日本語できますか？」彼女はびっくりしたように見えました。なぜなら私はそれをした最初の人でした。その後、彼女は複雑な何かを言ったことにびっくりしました。何してるの、何私をしますか。。。と思いました。質問がぜんぜん分からないので、私はすぐに英語で答えました。恥ずかしかったです！その日以来、私は「日本語を学びたいです！日本語に上手になりたい！」と思います。私はずっと独学で日本語を勉強しています。日本のことをもっと知りたいです。日本人の友達をたくさん作りたいという気持ちでした。でも、なかなか話ができないから、日本語でどう言うのか分かりません。

四か月後、私は少し日本語をできます。私はどこでも日本語話せるようにしようしています。私は食べるとき、学校でとき、家でとき、バスでとき、といろいろときは日本語勉強しています。私の友達は「あなたは日本語を話す停止することができませんか？日本語分かりません！」と言いました。家で私が何かを言ったときに、私の両親は　「何ですか？？」と言いました。多分私はたくさんのことを言いました。

お母さんは私が日本語を学んだことを知っているから、私は９日２月に仮面ライダーを合いました！私は「これは私のチャンスです！私は日本語を練習します！」と言いました。行く前に、いっぱい文書を用意しました。私は渡部秀に「新劇の巨人の映画を見ました！」と言いました。これだけです。忘れてた！彼はかっこよかったです。

それから私は日本語がもっと上手になりたいと思いました。日本語を話すできる人ことが友達を作りました。友達は日本人だけでなくて、シンガポール人と韓国人そして台湾人があります。彼らは私にたくさんことを考えてくれました。私はとても幸せを感じています。いつまでも感謝の意を忘れません。

一部の人は外見を判断しますので、時々私は友達を作ることを恐れています。私はスカーフをしています。別の国からでもだれかが私に「イスラムだから。。嫌い！」と言ったがあります。びっくりしました。私は日本の好きな所は彼らの丁寧な文化です。日本人はとても親切と思います。たくさん日本人の友達を作りたいからいつか日本の大学で勉強をして。日本語を上手になりたいと思います。

#NewMyBlueBird: Pesan Taksi Lebih Gampang!

"My Blue Bird,

agar perjalananmu makin aman dan nyaman!"

Dengan semakin berkembangnya era globalisasi dan teknologi, semakin banyak perkembangan yang dilakukan untuk memudahkan kegiatan manusia hanya melalui genggaman tangan. Saat ini, smartphone sudah tidak hanya digunakan sebagai sarana komunikasi untuk telepon, sms, ataupun sosial media. Namun, dengan smartphone kita bisa memesan makanan, grocery-shopping, online shopping, bahkan untuk memesan sarana transportasi! Setiap hari kita tidak bisa lepas dengan yang namanya transportasi, entah untuk pergi ke kantor, sekolah, dan tempat-tempat lain. Transportasi umum kini menjadi salah satu pilihan yang mulai dilirik dan digemari masyarakat Indonesia. Alasannya bermacam-macam, ada yang memilih transportasi umum dengan alasan untuk mengurangi kemacetan, harga yang terjangkau, hingga kenyamanan di transportasi umum.

Semakin populernya transportasi di tengah masyarakat Indonesia, perusahaan-perusahaan transportasi semakin gencar melakukan upgrading untuk meningkatkan kenyamanan pelanggan dalam bertransportasi. Salah satunya adalah Blue Bird Group yang melakukan inovasi dengan meluncurkan sebuah aplikasi pemesanan taksi yang dinamakan My Blue Bird. Armada taksi biru ini terkenal dengan pelayanan yang berkualitas tinggi dalam melakukan mobilitas dari satu tempat ke tempat yang lain. Untuk menjaga kepercayaan pelanggan, Blue Bird selalu mengupgrade pelayanan-pelayanannya untuk meningkatkan kenyamanan dan memanjakan pelanggan. Selama saya menjadi pelanggan Blue Bird, saya belum pernah mengalami kejadian yang tidak mengenakkan, justru saya sangat puas dengan pelayanan yang diberikan. Bahkan beberapa kali naik taksi Blue Bird saya belajar banyak dari percakapan dengan driver.

Blue Bird merilis aplikasi berbasi Taxi Mobile Reservation pada  tahun 2011, kemudian Blue Bird mulai mengembangkan aplikasi My Blue Bird pada bulan Desember 2015. Aplikasi Blue Bird ini sudah dirilis dan saat ini dapat diakses di 6 kota besar di Indonesia, yaitu: Jakarta, Semarang, Medan, Bali, Surabaya, dan Bandung. Dulu, kalau mau pesan taksi harus menelepon customer service Blue Bird ke (0274) 641 1234. Nah, kalau sekarang pemesanan taksi jadi lebih mudah karena adanya aplikasi My Blue Bird! Karena integritasnya yang tinggi, baru-baru ini Blue Bird menambahkan 6 Fitur Baru lho, tentunya agar perjalananmu makin nyaman dan aman!

Apa saja fiturnya? Mari kita simak!