Something happened

You know, the one that I have mentioned about the time when I saw one of my friend using a bag from NSO, and then I told one of my other my friend that I'm going to get one of those next year and I really did? That's one case. For one thing, I didn't mean anything when I said that, but it happened anyways.

Similar case happened a few days ago.

But I didn't say anything this time.

You see, now that I go to college, I usually go there by train since my house is nearby and I'm too lazy to find a kostan (or somesort). And I usually went to the last wagon (or first, depends) so I can get out of the station faster.

It was Monday (yes, this week's Monday) and I was on my way home inside the train when I saw a guy (look's like the one in charge) went to engine driver's cabin. And there's a thought.

"I wonder what's inside there."

And then there was Tuesday. I was late; when I bought the tickets, the train's already there and when I run for it, the door closed just in front of my face. I'm in despair!

But just for a second.

Because it seems that one of the guy in engine driver's cabin saw my failed attempt and felt kind of pity, so he opened the cabin's door; and let me in.

So I was inside an unused engine driver's cabin all the way to college.

I was inside the engine driver's cabin.

I was inside the--

--Holy kitty that was--

--I dunno. Beyond unexpected? Something like that.

I feel like, I'm the luckiest person in the world or something. Because it's just crazy! The moment I wonder about what's inside the engine driver's cabin on Monday, I know that would be sort-of-impossible! Because, it's not like I want to work there or some sort; the thought of I would be there is nonexistent in my mind. I just shrugged the thought off seconds after I thought about that.

And then the next day, I was there, all the way to college. True story.

...

HOW COULD SUCH THING HAPPENED????!!!

Sigh. I don't know.

But seriously.

If a mere thought like that could happen; even when you don't expect anything, even when you don't believe in it; why can't people believe in a great, strong and promised force such as,

a prayer?

Just saying.

Of Formality and Reality

Weird title. I know. Sorry. Please excuse my uncreative mind.

When I was in high school (it sounds like I'm old or something) in the tenth grade, if I'm not mistaken, my sociology teacher told the class about uh. I forgot what it's called, but long story short, it's about how there are two behaviors that people choose to.. use? do? whatever the verb is; and that depended on the relation of the person you interact with.

One I like to refer as 'formal' (since I forgot what it's called), it's the kind of behavior you usually offer to people for the sake of courtesy and such; usually to people older, to stranger, to your boss, to people you just met, and so on. But I think in a way, this behavior is one that you want 'people to know you as' kind of behavior. It can be anything; polite, warm, chirpy, or maybe cold, annoying and inconsiderate if you want to. So by formal.. I don't mean 'formal' literally.

And another one is.. one that like to refer as 'real' (since like I've mentioned, I forgot what it's called) and obviously, since this is the real one, this behavior reflects you as who you really are. The one you'll use/do/whatever to the person close to you, like family and friends or boyfriends or girlfriends or pets and etc. And it can be anything too.

You can say that "I'm not like that! I always stay true with myself; I treat people the same, their relation with me doesn't matter."

Well.

No, you can't. If you do, I don't think you'll survive in the society.

This act of.. treating people differently comes naturally I guess. It comes naturally when you're a part of society; it comes naturally when you have people who're close to you, and people who're not-that-close to you. A lot of things mattered as of why and it's late and I'm lazy of explaining them (maybe later) but yeah. It's just different!

It's not always differs a lot, of course. It's just, there are things that only people you trust a lot know about one or two qualities your soul has, and there are things that you only do to people mattered to you and people who actually don't mind receiving that behavior.

And there are things that you don't really like doing; like maybe smiling or greeting or bowing or standing straight, but you have to, because that's how society works. There are unwritten rules too, and you can't just pay no heed just because it's not 'you'. And not just society, in a very small scope like meeting people or helping a stranger; there are things that you suppose to do in order to make it work. And more often than not, you don't like doing that. And it works when it's subverted as well. One can act ferocious and cold and scary; sometimes they suppose to do that; maybe that's their job, or maybe they have their own motives (gaining respect, making a point, or something)

And for people who do that; who separate how they treat people based on their relationship or something like that; it's not that they're 'fake'.

It just comes naturally. A demand from society.

And personally, a demand from an insecure mind.

So no. I don't think 'formal' behaviors are fake. And no. I don't think that 'real' behaviors have to be shown to every single people and at any time you want to just because it's real.

And I don't make that theory up! I actually learnt that from high school. I don't know who the heck came up with this idea, but whoever they are, they nailed it.

Today, I met an interesting person.

Well, I meet interesting people everyday, but let's just say that this particular person is worth mentioning because this person reminds me of that particular info I received in class 3 years ago.

So yeah.

Not that I aced sociology; in fact, I sucked. That's why if anyone out there knows what the heck I'm talking about and doesn't think that I make any sense, feel free to point out the wrongs, thank you very much. Because not just I have this lesson three years ago and I sucked at sociology; I didn't do any research when writing this.

So there.

Lebaran

Halo! Selamat berlibur ya, dan selamat lebaran walaupun lain-lain harinya. Salut deh sama Indonesia, sankingkan multikulturalnya hari lebaran aja beda-beda hehehehe (ini serius) tapi biar beda-beda juga tetep sayang ya, jangan berantem. Mama sama papa saya juga seperti tahun-tahun sebelumnya lebaran di hari yang berbeda lagi lho. Mama sama papa saya itu memang epitom bhinneka tunggal ika. Ikut lebaran yang mana saja tidak masalah, kan yang penting punya dasar yang jelas dan yakin; bukan ikut-ikutan.

Dan seperti tahun sebelumnya, tahun ini saya mudik lho. Mudik kali ini spesial soalnya kakak dan adek sepupu saya yang sempat saya sebut di post-post lama ikutan juga, setelah 5 tahun nggak lebaran bareng. Ngomong-ngomong mudik juga, saya jadi menyadari ternyata kebiasaan saya menggunakan nama dan bukan kata ganti orang ketiga itu memang tidak setidak-wajar yang saya pikir. Hampir semua sepupu saya menggunakan nama atau panggilan (baca: Kakak, Adek, Ayuk) untuk menyebut diri sendiri. Padahal semenjak saya masuk dunia kampus saya berusaha mengubah kebiasaan saya itu karena jarang yang menggunakan lho, yah, memang ada tuntutan lain juga sih. Tapi yah, begitulah. Mungkin itu kebiasaan daerah ato apalah.

Yuk Alin, Kak Sheila, Fauzan, Fajar, Andini, Kak Firli, Rani (Kami bertujuh ini lahir di 6 tahun yang berurutan; Yuk Alin '91, Kak Firli '92, Kak Sheila '93, rani '94, Fajar '95, Dini dan Fauzan '96.)

Fajar, Dini

Yuk Alin, rani

Fajar, Fauzan, Yuk Alin, rani

Dini, Kak Sheila, Kak Firli, Yuk Ani, Caca, Yuk Alin

Fajar, Kak Sheila, Rani, Dini, Kak Firli, Yuk Ani, Yuk Alin

Dini, Kak Sheila

Yuk Ani, Yuk Alin, Caca, Dini, Rani, Firman, Fajar, Kak Firli

Waktu bersama sepupu-sepupu saya merupakan waktu-waktu termenyenangkan di masa kecil saya (sekarang juga masih menyenangkan), karena sewaktu saya kecil memang tidak seru-seru amat, isinya dibully, kerjaannya salah orang, di adu-domba oleh tetangga, kehidupan SD penuh drama; dan selain keluarga saya dan kucing saya yang menghibur cuma sepupu-sepupu saya ini saya punya cerita-cerita menarik.

Sebenarnya saya juga dekat dengan sepupu dari keluarga papa saya, dan yang ini lebih eksklusif, karena yang ini 94liners. Tapi mungkin ceritanya ada untuk lain kali. :) Yang jelas liburan kali ini menyenangkan! Semoga liburan kalian juga!

Tidak menarik.

Halo! Akhir-akhir ini nggak nulis karena bingung mau tulis apa. Kayaknya belum ada yang menarik. Ngomong-ngomong nulis pake kata ganti orang ketiga nggak bisa lagi deh kayaknya semenjak sekarang, soalnya nama panggilan saya berubah karena tuntutan karir. Jadi saya nggak bisa lagi menyebut nama yang saya sukai sering-sering (kasihan). Kali ini juga menulis dengan bahasa Indonesia karena orang malas baca tulisan saya yang berbahasa Inggris. Tapi nggak penting juga dibaca karena saya cuma mau curhat kayak post-post sebelumnya. Hitung-hitung kalo aja ada yang penasaran sama hidup saya sekarang kayak apa ya mereka bisa liat post ini lah walaupun pendapat saya pribadi sih baca ini juga nggak akan membantu. (mungkin sedikit)

Akhir-akhir ini saya jadi aktif menggunakan email sebagai sarana komunikasi lho. Tumben soalnya dari zaman dulu email biasanya cuma saya gunakan untuk kirim-kiriman tugas, atau... yah. Cuma kirim-kiriman tugas. Sisanya antara lain email aktivasi dari web2 lain baru deh email orang. Tapi kali ini benar-benar ber-email2an lho. Agak hardcore juga deh sekali bales saya bisa tulis sampai 3 halaman word, padahal buat esai ospek aja mau satu halaman dengan tulisan besar-besar dan spasi super jauh juga masih menghabiskan setengah kehidupan.

Akhir-akhir ini juga saya kebanyakan asumsi-asumsi padahal saya paling pantang asumsi-asumsi sebelum ngerti masalah/orang/hal atau apapun lah yang saya asumsikan, tapi namanya manusia kali ya emang hidupnya penuh asumsi jadi yaudah deh. Saya paling suka kalo asumsi biasanya asumsi saya salah, jadi setiap kali asumsi saya selalu berusaha asumsi sehancur-hancurnya realita biar yang sesungguhnya terjadi nanti tidak sehancur-hancurnya realita. Sedihnya asumsi-asumsi saya suka bikin galau, walaupun konsentrasi galaunya kecil. Ngomong-ngomong saya jadi pangling deh nulis begini, emang selama ini kalo nulis begini ya bahasanya? Kok aneh. (takdir)

Oh ya, asal tau akhirnya saya menemukan darimana suara saya bisa begini. Setelah bertahun-tahun saya kenal sama tante saya, saya baru sadar pas liburan kemarin kalo suara saya dan suaranya setipe, jadi sebagai pembelaan saya bisa bilang kalo suara saya ini memang keturunan.

Saya juga masih dalam masa adaptasi, adaptasinya macam-macam, saya belum pernah sekalipun makan di kampus saya (namanya bulan puasa) kemudian saya juga masih tidak tahu banyak tempat walaupun sudah lumayan mendengar banyak cerita hantu. Saya juga datang ke kampus pada hari minggu untuk mengerjakan tugas. Singkatnya, saya pun rasanya kembali menjadi anak kelas sepuluh yang baru di kader. Tapi tidak seperti saat kelas sepuluh dulu yang bikin buku wawancara bentuk ipod kali ini bikin nametag bentuk ipad. (no pun intended) oh ya, untuk progres monbu, saya belum berangkat kesana kok, pengumumannya Januari kalo saya tidak salah informasi.

Dan sebentar lagi akan libur. Saya bahagia. InsyaAllah saya akan mudik. Saya suka mudik. Mudik itu seru sekali lho. Karena disana asyik. Biasanya sih.

Yasudah. Mungkin akan update lagi. Tataw. Siapa tau selanjutnya ceritanya akan lebih menarik.

Monbukagakusho Interview

Hi guys! My thoughts are in a jumble these days, but life's good as ever. Ospek aside, I want to share my story of how the interview for Monbukagakuso goes for undergraduate program in Indonesia. I kinda have sworn this in my mind for a past few days because of lack of it in this so-called internet. So yeah.

Here goes.

It was today at 8.30 am (or so it says) and you got to be there by 8.00 am because at 8 the security guard will start calling the interviewee's names. And then at 8.30 am, we (interviewee) were gathered at a place where some people wil start explaining that it would be the last time you compete with your friends from the same country and such. Kinda important but you'll get notes of it so I'll skip it.

Those who applied for social studies goes first because those who applied for science gotta do the Japanese test that they had skipped on the written test before. So, I and a few friends (all girls btw) went to waiting room where we wait (obviously) for our turn. It was in alphabetical order and I was the fourth out of five people. The woman that announce things when we gathered said that the interview was in Bahasa Indonesia, but it turned out that they interviewed us in English.

From what I've heard from my friend, it was in Bahasa Indonesia before (or usually, I don't know) so maybe they just changed it this year. Or maybe they want to see how it'll go if they use English for future reference or something. Anyway, most of us was shocked. I'm not really surprised, because, well, I have no preparation at all, in both languages, so I have nothing to lose. Unlike those who thought about what kind of things they should say if interviewers asked this or that and make notes about it (which one of my friends did, fyi)

So when it was my turn, I made sure to knock and greet them first and sit when they let me sit. And then they asked usual things like: Introduce yourself. | Why Japan? | What do you think about the big difference between our culture? | Did I apply for any scholarship beside this? | What would you do if you got this recommendation? | What would you do if you're done with you're studies? (Work in Japan? Indonesia, something like that) | and personal things like: | describe yourself | what do your parents think about this? | and so on.

Nothing weird.

I don't talk very much at that time, maybe because of the language barrier or maybe I'm just nervous, but in one note, my turn was fast. My friends before me took like, 15 minutes or something and I'm done by 10 minutes or so. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

Well, the interviewers aren't intimidating or scary, they're pretty nice so no need to be nervous I guess. Well, they know you're still a kid. They know you're nervous. So don't worry to much, they don't expect things that high from you (I think) so I maybe, if you answered it confidently and calmly it's pretty much okay. I mean, I don't think they want to find out whether your English's good or not, or whether you're smart or not, they just want to know what kind of person they will recommend to go as Indonesia's representative for this scholarship. Even if you answer it with words that will make Grammar Nazis cry a river. I think.

And the result? Who knows. If I don't get through then it's simply because they don't think I'm the right one, not because I'm not worth it. I think. And in a way, that's a good thing because people don't have too miss me too much (/puke) ahahaha just kidding.

There. That's pretty much it. If you're one of those people who are shock of how'd you get through and have no preparation at all for any interview that is due in a week from now and start searching it in the internet, at least you have some sort of reference. Kinda.

Things are pretty hectic these days (it seemed that way since I spend the last few months being lazy), but things that seem like tragedies are always funny to tell after given sometime. Fact.

I actually hate essays, but I think they'll be hilarious when I found out how wrong it is a few years later. Here I am, writing in this blog, when I got 2 more essays to be done. Yay me.

Oh, and Happy Ramadhan!

Holidays just a few blocks away!

So relax when you prepare to meet us, and when you fill out your essays. Preparing is not for now, you have been preparing for seventeen years. Suggesting that you "be yourself" is not a trick just to lower your guard, uncover your flaws, and deny you admission. But lowering your guard might be a good idea. I've talked to lots of candidates - and the ones who are just themselves, who can laugh at their mistakes and struggles, who seem comfortable in their own skin - inevitably show a bit more maturity, and inevitably make the best impression. Just my two cents.

- John DeTore, an EC. He does the interviews for MIT admissions.

p.s. Thank Romy, I'd be lost without his advices.

p.s.s. I got a call just now, turns out I made it. Somehow. And. Uh. I dunno. I'll end this post now.