I am just relocated to my new office today. It is above the Gas Turbine Laboratory so there are funny smell and heat around it. Location wise, this new office is worse than my previous one as it's detached from the main buildings, which are interconnected by the infinite corridor. This means that you have to put on your complete winter gear whenever you want to go to another place, including when you want to buy lunch/dinner/coffee/cakes. However, some of the good things are: it's not directly opposite your professor's office, as before; and it has windows, i.e., daylight.
In that building (or at least among my project mates), offices with windows are given to those with more seniority: research fellows/engineers, and PhD candidates. Master students have no windows in their rooms. Funny, huh?
Sharing the office with me are two female students. When the project coordinator passed me the key and showed me around, she made an interesting remarks: "There are more and more female students in this project." Well, ALL new incoming students are female (at least in our project). According to her and one ex-student who has become a research engineer, this is the first time it happens. At least now I am no longer the minority, as was the case in my undergraduate and my first job.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Superbowl
My leggy friend Sonja managed to drag some of us to watch Superbowl in Student Center. The interesting part is, she just read about it yesterday but has now given the impression that she was born with it and breathing it. She has fallen deeply in love with Randall (Randy) Moss from New England Patriots and have planned that if they EVER get married (yeah, you go girl) she'll name their daughter Kate.
So, the game became really interesting to us thanks to her. I believe she stole the attention and all limelight. It's obvious that some people just went there to get free dinner (pizza, chips, and brownies), as they just left afterwards. We stayed, of course. It was hilarious and entertaining to watch her, and she is not even American let alone real Bostonian. She screamed, shouted, jumped up and down, and everybody in the room knew if she wanted to pee =).
I've never known about American football before, but I picked it up as I watched the game. Sonja didn't really help though, as she also just learned about it and she got too emotional sometimes =). Our other friend, Jesus-lookalike who unfortunately has cut his hair short, explained to us. He's lived in the US for almost 6 years, so he is in the better position.
It was really fun, though we've lost =(. The after match was another drama. My leggy friend literally ranted and ran and kicked stones on our way back. Let just put it this way, Tom Brady should run for his life everytime Sonja gets anywhere close to him =).
Anyway... a pleasant day today. Sonja, Rachelle, and I went for and Indian buffet lunch in Harvard Square. Embarassingly, I was the one who has the weakest tongue. I poured so much yoghurt on the aloo gobhi (to make it less spicy) and they just laughed at me, this Indonesian-girl-who-can't-take-spicy-foods-at-all. The dessert was a sugar overload; it was a curly dough with just too much sugar coats. Nonetheless, I love the dosai, tandoori and naan (too bad garlic naan is not part of the buffet). So now my leggy friend has officially tried Indian food.
Go Mossie!!!!!!!!
(the two touchdown for Patriots are thanks to Moss)
So, the game became really interesting to us thanks to her. I believe she stole the attention and all limelight. It's obvious that some people just went there to get free dinner (pizza, chips, and brownies), as they just left afterwards. We stayed, of course. It was hilarious and entertaining to watch her, and she is not even American let alone real Bostonian. She screamed, shouted, jumped up and down, and everybody in the room knew if she wanted to pee =).
I've never known about American football before, but I picked it up as I watched the game. Sonja didn't really help though, as she also just learned about it and she got too emotional sometimes =). Our other friend, Jesus-lookalike who unfortunately has cut his hair short, explained to us. He's lived in the US for almost 6 years, so he is in the better position.
It was really fun, though we've lost =(. The after match was another drama. My leggy friend literally ranted and ran and kicked stones on our way back. Let just put it this way, Tom Brady should run for his life everytime Sonja gets anywhere close to him =).
Anyway... a pleasant day today. Sonja, Rachelle, and I went for and Indian buffet lunch in Harvard Square. Embarassingly, I was the one who has the weakest tongue. I poured so much yoghurt on the aloo gobhi (to make it less spicy) and they just laughed at me, this Indonesian-girl-who-can't-take-spicy-foods-at-all. The dessert was a sugar overload; it was a curly dough with just too much sugar coats. Nonetheless, I love the dosai, tandoori and naan (too bad garlic naan is not part of the buffet). So now my leggy friend has officially tried Indian food.
Go Mossie!!!!!!!!
(the two touchdown for Patriots are thanks to Moss)
A not so ugly part of the school
Everybody who has stayed at or visited MIT agrees that it is an ugly school. Don't imagine pretty buildings and vast green lawns like what you see in TV when you're trying to picture MIT. It's prudent that they actually ban all filming within MIT buildings, though the actual story setting is in this world-famous school, e.g., Good Will Hunting and 21 (adapted from the book Bringing Down the House, about the MIT's Blackjack team's success---real---story in Vegas). I saw the filming of 21 in Harvard bridge last year. They use BU (Boston University) campus for the on-campus scene.
If you notice, people visiting to MIT take picture mainly with the Great Dome (building 10), main lobby (building 7), and Stata building (building 32). There is, actually, another small building that I like: the MIT Chapel (see pic below). The interior is very nice too, especially during candle-lit masses (in Easter vigil, for example). The building is small, and looks like a giant chimney. It is surrounded by water that will reflect sunrays beautifully to inside the building. On a sunny day you'll see the reflection dancing (due to the rippling of water) on the inside wall. During winter, however, there's no water or else it will freeze.
If you notice, people visiting to MIT take picture mainly with the Great Dome (building 10), main lobby (building 7), and Stata building (building 32). There is, actually, another small building that I like: the MIT Chapel (see pic below). The interior is very nice too, especially during candle-lit masses (in Easter vigil, for example). The building is small, and looks like a giant chimney. It is surrounded by water that will reflect sunrays beautifully to inside the building. On a sunny day you'll see the reflection dancing (due to the rippling of water) on the inside wall. During winter, however, there's no water or else it will freeze.
flu updates
My flu came back two days ago and it wasn't pretty at all. My immunity collapsed whenever I stepped outside, and yesterday's nonstop pouring rain didn't do any good at all. I needed to walk quite a long distance under the rain (+ wind!!) and I forgot my gloves. Needless to say, my flu worsened.... I tried to do some paper review but to no avail, decided to sleep at midnight but couldn't. So I woke up again and read another paper, which is, luckily, much easier to read than the previous one. I guess I fell asleep after 1.
This morning I woke up at 8, as I've promised to bring a new girl in my dorm (a very nice Indian girl from UIUC, Illinois) to the Star Market at 9. So we did grocery shopping and came back at around 10.30 am. I somehow felt exhausted (again) and my attempt to do paper review again failed. I slept from noon 'til 1 pm, and had lunch at around 2.15 pm. I napped for another 10 minutes at around 4 pm. Only afterwards that I felt much better and could function again =).
So finally, I finished reading three papers and also did the short review, i.e., recording what did I learn/understand from them. One of them is very mathematical and I got stuck at around 11 pm =(. Anyway, I was done at 00:40 am and blogged =).
I am going to sleep now as I don't want to be late for mass. Hope tomorrow's weather is nicer and my flu is gone!!
This morning I woke up at 8, as I've promised to bring a new girl in my dorm (a very nice Indian girl from UIUC, Illinois) to the Star Market at 9. So we did grocery shopping and came back at around 10.30 am. I somehow felt exhausted (again) and my attempt to do paper review again failed. I slept from noon 'til 1 pm, and had lunch at around 2.15 pm. I napped for another 10 minutes at around 4 pm. Only afterwards that I felt much better and could function again =).
So finally, I finished reading three papers and also did the short review, i.e., recording what did I learn/understand from them. One of them is very mathematical and I got stuck at around 11 pm =(. Anyway, I was done at 00:40 am and blogged =).
I am going to sleep now as I don't want to be late for mass. Hope tomorrow's weather is nicer and my flu is gone!!
not for hungry stomachs...
I made these two goodies before I flew off, for no ocassions. They are much simpler than I thought. I used the ready-made pineapple paste though, so yes I cheated. However, it wasn't that bad for the second attempt. I mixed shredded cheese into the pastry dough and I also used them to garnish. They rather look like floss, don't they? =) I guess the added cheese made the pastry crispier, which I loooove. I made half heart-shaped and the other half normal-shaped. How difficult it is to make the heart-shaped ones? I found a shortcut so it wasn't difficult at all. Try it!!
These cookies are full of surprises. Despite their rocky looks, there will be oozing chocolate melt (!!) at almost every bite. They, to the last bite, can fly you to the moon and back. Hmm, come to think about it, you may like it ONLY if you have the same tastebuds as me =D. All modifications are made to suit my and only my tastebuds. Luckily, all my loved ones (or at least whoever lucky enough to try this) love it!!
This is the double dark chocolate cookies that I modified from the normal chocolate chunk cookies. I don't normally bake cookies I am not usually in the kitchen so modifying a recipe is a trully a brave move. The appearance may look 'demoralizing' but wait until you have a bite. The secret lies on the dark chocolate chunk that I use instead of normal chocolate chips (they're too sweet and not as flavorful). I throw extra chocolate powder and sometimes I add two tablespoons of Baileys (or any coffee liquors). Forget the Baileys if you want them extra dark (bittersweet). The right proportion of Baileys, in addition to the vanilla extract, can somehow make the cookie texture softer and more fragrant. Add chopped walnuts if you have them in store... heaven.
These cookies are full of surprises. Despite their rocky looks, there will be oozing chocolate melt (!!) at almost every bite. They, to the last bite, can fly you to the moon and back. Hmm, come to think about it, you may like it ONLY if you have the same tastebuds as me =D. All modifications are made to suit my and only my tastebuds. Luckily, all my loved ones (or at least whoever lucky enough to try this) love it!!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
recovered
My jet lag has finally recovered. It feels so good to be able to talk to people and have a meeting with (almost) full concentration, instead of struggling really hard to stay awake.
Now I only have a slight fever, I guess it's because the sudden drop in temperature when I walked back this evening (and the wind chill!!).
Work wise, I've already been given plenty works to do and LOTS of reading materials. I really have to catch up with things, and tomorrow I'll have a three-hour meeting. Hopefully everything will be fine eventually.
I still feel partially excited and partially SCARED about this PhD thingy. Some MIT students are TOO smart, it's so scary. I begged him NOT to enroll to PhD track hahaha (he's currently finishing his master thesis); or else he'll spoil the market =P.
My biggest worry now is the qualifying exam that I have to take next year. My second biggest worry is my lack of depth in advanced mathematics. It seems to me that MIT students breathe and eat Math's equations and proofs. This lack of depth is also acknowledged by my former professors in School of MAE. "Mechanical engineering students should get more advanced Mathematics," they argued---despite the fact that Mathematics 1 to 4 are compulsory.
Anyway, pray for me. I still have one year to prepare and I really have to start reading the notes and textbooks now! (I'll explain more about the qualifying exam later as I still have 4 papers to read).
Now I only have a slight fever, I guess it's because the sudden drop in temperature when I walked back this evening (and the wind chill!!).
Work wise, I've already been given plenty works to do and LOTS of reading materials. I really have to catch up with things, and tomorrow I'll have a three-hour meeting. Hopefully everything will be fine eventually.
I still feel partially excited and partially SCARED about this PhD thingy. Some MIT students are TOO smart, it's so scary. I begged him NOT to enroll to PhD track hahaha (he's currently finishing his master thesis); or else he'll spoil the market =P.
My biggest worry now is the qualifying exam that I have to take next year. My second biggest worry is my lack of depth in advanced mathematics. It seems to me that MIT students breathe and eat Math's equations and proofs. This lack of depth is also acknowledged by my former professors in School of MAE. "Mechanical engineering students should get more advanced Mathematics," they argued---despite the fact that Mathematics 1 to 4 are compulsory.
Anyway, pray for me. I still have one year to prepare and I really have to start reading the notes and textbooks now! (I'll explain more about the qualifying exam later as I still have 4 papers to read).
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
jetlagged JETLAGGED!!
Huh. I chose the pricey SQ's Singapore-New York flight for my Singapore-Boston trip to minimize jet lag (as it is the most comfy and convenient) but I still suffer from it nonetheless.
The last time I took the same flight, I couldn't really sleep well so I always grabbed the drinks that the crew brought along corridors... and I didn't suffer from jet lag as much as this time around. May be that's why.. the water. Apparently my 4 bottles of mineral waters and few cups of other things were not sufficient for my recent trip. Huh.
My body feels very strange lately. I feel so lethargic in the afternoon but it slowly ebbs away in the evening. Yesterday I gave up at 6 pm and had an hour nap but it didn't do me any good in the end. I couldn't sleep until 2 plus (though my body has given away at 10 pm); so I overslept until almost 8 am. Tonight cough starts coming in, in addition to the flu and cold that I've already suffered from.
They are not so bad though, I've experienced much worse jet lags before but still...
Today, I almost gave up in the afternoon (around 3 pm) but I staggered on... At around 10 pm, I went out, braving against the winter cold, to buy cough syrup =P. I was wide awake after that, though my body is still tired. I actually wanted to exhaust myself so I can sleep soundly and my cycle will then be back to normal. *fingers crossed*
Weirdest of all, my appetite and digestion system are in jeopardy (I now have a very low appetite). I feel hungry at strange hours. What with no supplies in my dorm room and the weather is still not so friendly to go out at night, I sometimes have to put up with my late night hunger and wake up feeling even more strange.
Seems like I'd have a pile of jobs to do so hopefully I'll be back on track really really soon!! OK, I'll write more later... want to catch a good night sleep. Ciao!!
Grumpy fact: the mattress in Green Hall single room is extra long!! (so, in US terms: twin size extra long) that means my bed sheet can't fit though it was perfectly fine when I stayed in Green Hall double room last year. grrrbblllll... Apart from that, I have a nice, warm and big (with too many compartments to handle) room.
PS: Can't wait for next week's winter retreat!!
The last time I took the same flight, I couldn't really sleep well so I always grabbed the drinks that the crew brought along corridors... and I didn't suffer from jet lag as much as this time around. May be that's why.. the water. Apparently my 4 bottles of mineral waters and few cups of other things were not sufficient for my recent trip. Huh.
My body feels very strange lately. I feel so lethargic in the afternoon but it slowly ebbs away in the evening. Yesterday I gave up at 6 pm and had an hour nap but it didn't do me any good in the end. I couldn't sleep until 2 plus (though my body has given away at 10 pm); so I overslept until almost 8 am. Tonight cough starts coming in, in addition to the flu and cold that I've already suffered from.
They are not so bad though, I've experienced much worse jet lags before but still...
Today, I almost gave up in the afternoon (around 3 pm) but I staggered on... At around 10 pm, I went out, braving against the winter cold, to buy cough syrup =P. I was wide awake after that, though my body is still tired. I actually wanted to exhaust myself so I can sleep soundly and my cycle will then be back to normal. *fingers crossed*
Weirdest of all, my appetite and digestion system are in jeopardy (I now have a very low appetite). I feel hungry at strange hours. What with no supplies in my dorm room and the weather is still not so friendly to go out at night, I sometimes have to put up with my late night hunger and wake up feeling even more strange.
Seems like I'd have a pile of jobs to do so hopefully I'll be back on track really really soon!! OK, I'll write more later... want to catch a good night sleep. Ciao!!
Grumpy fact: the mattress in Green Hall single room is extra long!! (so, in US terms: twin size extra long) that means my bed sheet can't fit though it was perfectly fine when I stayed in Green Hall double room last year. grrrbblllll... Apart from that, I have a nice, warm and big (with too many compartments to handle) room.
PS: Can't wait for next week's winter retreat!!
back to square one
Back to school brings a mixed feeling to me. Part of me thinks "yeah, so this is it," but another part says "Oh Gosh, I am waaaay behind my friends."
In each gathering I feel so small to hear my other friends who have started a family, or ventured a new business, hopped on to another lucrative job, etc. Me? I am back to a low-income and struggling student. Square one.
I often asked myself "will I ever reach the stage that they have comfortably been at at this moment?" or, better still, "will my effort be paid off one day and I can surpass them?"
All in all, I think it is all back to what we want in life. Life is a choice and I've made this decision of what kind of career and life that I want to have one day, and getting a PhD degree is the only way to get it. In addition, getting a PhD from a well-known university is critical to secure the job I want. It's all about reputation and... prestige?
Anyway, I know that life will be extremely difficult in the years that follow. I really hope that we will reap the fruits one day...
In each gathering I feel so small to hear my other friends who have started a family, or ventured a new business, hopped on to another lucrative job, etc. Me? I am back to a low-income and struggling student. Square one.
I often asked myself "will I ever reach the stage that they have comfortably been at at this moment?" or, better still, "will my effort be paid off one day and I can surpass them?"
All in all, I think it is all back to what we want in life. Life is a choice and I've made this decision of what kind of career and life that I want to have one day, and getting a PhD degree is the only way to get it. In addition, getting a PhD from a well-known university is critical to secure the job I want. It's all about reputation and... prestige?
Anyway, I know that life will be extremely difficult in the years that follow. I really hope that we will reap the fruits one day...
Sunday, December 23, 2007
cheat food
Why do call it 'cheat food'?
Because it's so simple to make, it looks nice and it tastes delicious!! Best of all, it is healthy (vegetarian) and does not take a lot of your time in the making.
So the dish consists of three things: portobello steak, vegetable stoof, and chasoba.
Prepare chasoba:
Cook chasoba according to its packet instruction. Serve on a plate, mix with a dash of olive oil and sesame oil (let your taste but be your guide...). Garnish with seaweed.
Prepare vegetable stoof:
Mix cut carrots and french beans with salt, sugar, pepper, nutmeg (I did also throw the portobello stems). Boil water, throw everything in and close the pan for approximately 10 minutes.
For portobello steak (it's so simple you won't believe it):
Splash a tablespoon of olive oil into the pan. Throw a whole portobello mushroom (scrubbed with oregano and salt) to the heated oil. Fry the mushroom approximately 1-2 minute(s) per side. Splash sherry cooking wine, it will boil immediately and you don't want to let all the wine evaporates... so, after 1 minute, take out the portobello from the pan and serve (with the remaining sherry sauce if there is).
By this time, you're getting very hungry already from the nice smell (sherry wine does the job) and your vegetables are already well cooked and soft. Drain the water, put the vegies in a bowl, toss the hot vegies with a teaspoonful of butter (or more, depending on how much vegies you cook), a dash of salt and pepper, and serve.
Voila!! Your simple, delicious and healthy meal is ready!!
Because it's so simple to make, it looks nice and it tastes delicious!! Best of all, it is healthy (vegetarian) and does not take a lot of your time in the making.
So the dish consists of three things: portobello steak, vegetable stoof, and chasoba.
Prepare chasoba:
Cook chasoba according to its packet instruction. Serve on a plate, mix with a dash of olive oil and sesame oil (let your taste but be your guide...). Garnish with seaweed.
Prepare vegetable stoof:
Mix cut carrots and french beans with salt, sugar, pepper, nutmeg (I did also throw the portobello stems). Boil water, throw everything in and close the pan for approximately 10 minutes.
For portobello steak (it's so simple you won't believe it):
Splash a tablespoon of olive oil into the pan. Throw a whole portobello mushroom (scrubbed with oregano and salt) to the heated oil. Fry the mushroom approximately 1-2 minute(s) per side. Splash sherry cooking wine, it will boil immediately and you don't want to let all the wine evaporates... so, after 1 minute, take out the portobello from the pan and serve (with the remaining sherry sauce if there is).
By this time, you're getting very hungry already from the nice smell (sherry wine does the job) and your vegetables are already well cooked and soft. Drain the water, put the vegies in a bowl, toss the hot vegies with a teaspoonful of butter (or more, depending on how much vegies you cook), a dash of salt and pepper, and serve.
Voila!! Your simple, delicious and healthy meal is ready!!
Friday, December 21, 2007
art school
There's an article in the paper today featuring the newly opened art school in Singapore. It's a six-year program leading to a baccalaureate degree. I then started wondering (again), would I consider enrolling to an art school should such an option be available at the time I finished my primary school?
I guess I might, but it conservatively depends on my parents. When I was younger, art was perceived as 'the only way' for me. It's rather mind boggling to think that I end up in a very non-arty path, and digging in very deeply at that.
I got all supports I needed to pursue a career in arts from my family. I did pretty well in Maths, but had never put my best efforts in Physics. Only for my ego that I still managed to obtain good grades in Physics. So my most favorite subjects were: first, arts and second, mathematics. Chemistry came into pictures in my high school. My ultimate goal was the School of Fine Arts--IKJ or ITB. An engineering or science degree had never crossed my mind.
So. I got the supports and the right interest to go to an art school (for secondary school - college level). However, I don't think my parents would let me go to such schools. First, mathematics is a module perceived by my parents (esp dad) to be the ultimate priority. Their reason is simple: it helps sharpening your logic, analytical and quick-thinking that will, definitely, be important in battling through your life no matter what career choice you're pursuing. Second, they said that art is something that you can learn by moonlighting, i.e., as a sideline. For the record, they allowed me to go through all possible alleys to fulfil my arty interest. I remember when I started picking up oil painting, I asked my dad's help to buy me the paints. Realizing that one tube costed quite significantly, I requested an 'essential color list' from my then painting coach. Nonetheless, my dad bought me all colors he could rest his eyes on in the shop.
So that's where they stand. An arty career is fine, but your study is still important (as a backup). Which reads: no art school for you upon primary school.
Things changed, however, when riots broke in Indonesia (especially Jakarta) in May 1998. To add insult to injury, economic crises hit some Asian countries and it didn't spare my country. My mom then changed her mind, and asked me to pursue a 'more practical' career that will allow me to have a more steady source of income in the future. My mom has an artistic spot herself, so she knows perfectly well how frustrating it is when you are short of inspiration especially when the deadline is looming. On top of all this, my parents wanted to pack up their daughters' bags and plonk us somewhere outside the country during such riotous and uncertain moments, where our safety might not be in its prime.
So there how it went. I flew to Singapore for an engineering school. Fell in love with it, and finally decided to stick with it after a long battle between me and myself upon the attainment of my B.Eng degree. There were confusing periods, where I just did not know what to do. Sometimes one option seems so right, and the other time it seems so wrong. I guess it is just a quarter life crisis that you have to go through. I may talk about this complicated bifurcation point of my life sometimes later....
I guess I might, but it conservatively depends on my parents. When I was younger, art was perceived as 'the only way' for me. It's rather mind boggling to think that I end up in a very non-arty path, and digging in very deeply at that.
I got all supports I needed to pursue a career in arts from my family. I did pretty well in Maths, but had never put my best efforts in Physics. Only for my ego that I still managed to obtain good grades in Physics. So my most favorite subjects were: first, arts and second, mathematics. Chemistry came into pictures in my high school. My ultimate goal was the School of Fine Arts--IKJ or ITB. An engineering or science degree had never crossed my mind.
So. I got the supports and the right interest to go to an art school (for secondary school - college level). However, I don't think my parents would let me go to such schools. First, mathematics is a module perceived by my parents (esp dad) to be the ultimate priority. Their reason is simple: it helps sharpening your logic, analytical and quick-thinking that will, definitely, be important in battling through your life no matter what career choice you're pursuing. Second, they said that art is something that you can learn by moonlighting, i.e., as a sideline. For the record, they allowed me to go through all possible alleys to fulfil my arty interest. I remember when I started picking up oil painting, I asked my dad's help to buy me the paints. Realizing that one tube costed quite significantly, I requested an 'essential color list' from my then painting coach. Nonetheless, my dad bought me all colors he could rest his eyes on in the shop.
So that's where they stand. An arty career is fine, but your study is still important (as a backup). Which reads: no art school for you upon primary school.
Things changed, however, when riots broke in Indonesia (especially Jakarta) in May 1998. To add insult to injury, economic crises hit some Asian countries and it didn't spare my country. My mom then changed her mind, and asked me to pursue a 'more practical' career that will allow me to have a more steady source of income in the future. My mom has an artistic spot herself, so she knows perfectly well how frustrating it is when you are short of inspiration especially when the deadline is looming. On top of all this, my parents wanted to pack up their daughters' bags and plonk us somewhere outside the country during such riotous and uncertain moments, where our safety might not be in its prime.
So there how it went. I flew to Singapore for an engineering school. Fell in love with it, and finally decided to stick with it after a long battle between me and myself upon the attainment of my B.Eng degree. There were confusing periods, where I just did not know what to do. Sometimes one option seems so right, and the other time it seems so wrong. I guess it is just a quarter life crisis that you have to go through. I may talk about this complicated bifurcation point of my life sometimes later....
Thursday, December 20, 2007
being domesticated
I decided that I have to start to learn cooking in order to "survive" well in the US. I love eating and I love the food in Boston BUT they are oh-so-expensive. Hopefully by cooking my own meal I'll be able to save more money *fingers crossed*---so I can do more travelling!! =D
In case you're wondering, yes I am currently still in Singapore. It's part of my dual degree program (long story). I'll be back in Boston early next year to begin my PhD in Spring 2008. I got so ecstatic when receving a piece of paper with MIT letterhead saying that I am admitted to their doctorate program and that I am entitled for a full funding, which I really need =). Now as the time is getting nearer, I am getting more and more nervous and my confidence ebbs away *help me*.
Anyway, I still have to go (and I won't let this chance go for the world) and I still have to learn how to cook.
I spent my afternoon doing grocery shopping in Carrefour and Phoon Huat, which provides you all your baking needs. Spent the following hours making: Beef Smoor, Vegetable stoof, and chocolate chunk cookies. We ate the beef and vegies with baguette. Somehow I still avoid cooking rice. I know it's simple, but I am so unsure about the proportion (strange?). Anyway, rice is not my favourite carbs so I gladly exchange it with bread, pasta, noodle (try my mie ayam!!!), kwetiaw (flat noodle). I like them all but may be it's subjective hahahahaha =D
The cookie smell really lures me to have some bites, alas, I have a sore throat now. So I stashed them in the freezer and tried so very hard not to go near the fridge =).
Come to think about it, may be one day I should share recipes for people who are not usually in the kitchen (just like me!!).
In case you're wondering, yes I am currently still in Singapore. It's part of my dual degree program (long story). I'll be back in Boston early next year to begin my PhD in Spring 2008. I got so ecstatic when receving a piece of paper with MIT letterhead saying that I am admitted to their doctorate program and that I am entitled for a full funding, which I really need =). Now as the time is getting nearer, I am getting more and more nervous and my confidence ebbs away *help me*.
Anyway, I still have to go (and I won't let this chance go for the world) and I still have to learn how to cook.
I spent my afternoon doing grocery shopping in Carrefour and Phoon Huat, which provides you all your baking needs. Spent the following hours making: Beef Smoor, Vegetable stoof, and chocolate chunk cookies. We ate the beef and vegies with baguette. Somehow I still avoid cooking rice. I know it's simple, but I am so unsure about the proportion (strange?). Anyway, rice is not my favourite carbs so I gladly exchange it with bread, pasta, noodle (try my mie ayam!!!), kwetiaw (flat noodle). I like them all but may be it's subjective hahahahaha =D
The cookie smell really lures me to have some bites, alas, I have a sore throat now. So I stashed them in the freezer and tried so very hard not to go near the fridge =).
Come to think about it, may be one day I should share recipes for people who are not usually in the kitchen (just like me!!).
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
what do I do now
My latest post is dated on Aug, 4th 2007. It was more than four months. During that period, I have battled through projects, presentations, and my second master thesis. My final exam finished on Nov 28, and my thesis is ready for submission tomorrow *fingers crossed*. With a lot learned in writing my first thesis a few months ago, this second one is rather a breeze. It is currently being hard bound and ready for collection tomorrow. Yeah!
So what do I do now?
I read A LOT. Man, I literally go to NLB everytime I finish reading a book. I watched some movies from internet, too *oops*. However, as I never like watching movies, I got damn bored only after a few days of movie marathon. Well, three hours a day is already a marathon to me =).
I read SO much that my eyes hurt. Well, my eyes have never been the strongest in my anatomy anyway. I read novels (after exams, I couldn't afford---brain wise---to read anything more serious than that). My choices have been Jill Mansell (most hilarious!!), Catherine Alliott (not that impressed, honestly), Kate Thompson (giving me a glimpse of the beautiful landscape in Ireland). Honestly? I am tired and bored: too much kissing in them =). So I also borrow my all time favorites, none other than The Famous Five (currently reading "Five Go to Billycock Hill"). What a change: cycling, camping, tea time, milk, ice cream, napping on heather to replace kissing, flirting, broken hearts and what nots.
As I can multi-read (but somehow not multi-task), I also read Hillary Clinton's autobiography "Living History" concurrently. Sprawling on my other side of bed, you can also find: cook books (laugh if you want to, I know you will), another Jill Mansell's (haven't started reading yet) and "FIKIR - Catatan Seorang Pendidik" (Sr. Francesco Marianti's biography) that my friend just returned this afternoon.
My eyes still hurt. My mom asked me to stop reading. "You've read a lot when you study, why do you still want to read now?" My mom paid us a visit a few weeks ago and she was appalled to see me reading inside MRT, buses, car, while waiting for food in restaurants, while reserving a table in food courts, when she tried on shoes (that's a cue for me and my brother to find a seat and read our books), when she went shopping, in the room, while waiting for my turn to shower, etc.
How can I stop doing something that I really enjoy? So today I decide to do something that have actually been in my agenda for months (or years): varnish my paintings.
My paintings, completed or partially done, and my blank canvases are stashed in few places. I think I am not the most organized person, and the fact that I still haven't had my own house and space does not help either. Add to that the fact that I've moved places quite a number of times. They are not varnished yet, which means they are still prone to damage etc.
Here are some of my paintings that I varnished today:
Most of them are still-life paintings, mainly because that's the curriculum that I took in NAFA (our teacher would take some of his hidden treasures and arrange them for us---thus it's a challenge to get the same arrangement week after week). Honestly I don't really enjoy doing still-life painting as it's too meticulous. See, for example, the batik table cloth from the one in the middle. I'll talk about some of them...
Among my still-life pieces, I think I like this one best. Better still, it's not the most difficult among others (or may be that's why...). During my course in NAFA, my first non-still-life painting is The Seagulls, which, sadly, was a bit damaged when I checked today (the fruit of my procrastination to varnish it). I'll need to do a bit touch up, hopefully I still have a knack with oils.
I found a nice picture of three Buddha statues from here, so I decided to paint a part of it. So, ta daaaa, you see the outcome. Somehow this painting managed to impress my teacher, ha!
Somebody says this "Lonely Woman" picture is my best. The picture is from a painting book by Helen Van Wyk. Different from others, this is my only painting done during my holiday in Jakarta in June 2006. In other words, it was done under the scrutiny of my parents =).
My late dad was sitting behind me and my mom was (as usual) running around the house doing anything she decided to have her hands on. While my dad calmly gave me feedbacks along the way, my mom could shout "That's ugly! Lighten the color!" while dashing to the kitchen. As it is a woman picture, I trusted my dad's judgment more, ha! I forgot how long did I take to finish this, but I am pretty sure most of the time was spent dealing with my mom's harsh comments and scrutiny.
PS: If you think my paintings look rather nice on this page, don't be deceived too soon! They may look different when you zoom in =)
PS2: All paintings are copyrighted, please do not use them for any purposes without permission.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
A Saturday Afternoon Muse
I finally managed to sleep for more than 6 hours, despite the heat. During the entire period of me sharing a room with WQ, only twice that I woke up later than her, regardless of the time I (and she) go to bed:
First, when I only slept at 6.30 am after debugging for a missing line in my mesh generator code.
Second, today when I woke up at 9 am, decidedly switched off the alarm, to wake up again later at 9.38 am when she entered the room from a shower. I slept at 3 am, so yeah it is more than 6 hours.
Cambridge has been solid hot these last few days. I can't even have a breakfast in my room. It is excruciatingly wind-less. The air just does not move. Does. Not. Move. While temperature has dropped to 26C at night, with 3 windows opened, there are still NO WIND. You feel suffocated, stuffy, and raging with emotions. I didn't buy an aircon, since I am leaving soon. My friend slept in his office last night with his barren sleeping bag. It's that bad.
Yesterday afternoon it was 37C, according to WQ. Lucky I was in the library. I spent too much time in the library now, thanks for the aircon and the fact that this is summer holiday -- I always get the private room.
Last night it was slightly OK, at least compared to previous nights. Further, at 2 am I received the following e-mail (only an excerpt):
"...I read chapters 1 to 5 on the plane. Everything looks quite good. I am pleased with the thesis and you should be too...."
That comes from my ever hard-to-please-cum-perfectionist professor, making it more meaningful. Finally, my dream is free from thesis+revision+thesis+revision. But still, last night I dreamt that she gave me a B+ for my thesis. I honestly won't be satisfied with that, this is my final lap to conclude my GPA and I don't want to mess with it. So yeah, fingers-crossed.
I am in library now, avoiding another hot day in my aircon-less room. I feel like an animal in the zoo. MIT is one of favorite tourism hot-spots in New England. Especially in summer, the swarms of people taking pictures and wander around the campus are increasingly countless. Add to that the fact that I am in a private room -- glass door and windows.
I am so tempted to put a sign outside: "Please throw nuts and chocolates and ice cream to the pretty ape inside. She almost suffers from a mental breakdown from thesis-ing too much."
First, when I only slept at 6.30 am after debugging for a missing line in my mesh generator code.
Second, today when I woke up at 9 am, decidedly switched off the alarm, to wake up again later at 9.38 am when she entered the room from a shower. I slept at 3 am, so yeah it is more than 6 hours.
Cambridge has been solid hot these last few days. I can't even have a breakfast in my room. It is excruciatingly wind-less. The air just does not move. Does. Not. Move. While temperature has dropped to 26C at night, with 3 windows opened, there are still NO WIND. You feel suffocated, stuffy, and raging with emotions. I didn't buy an aircon, since I am leaving soon. My friend slept in his office last night with his barren sleeping bag. It's that bad.
Yesterday afternoon it was 37C, according to WQ. Lucky I was in the library. I spent too much time in the library now, thanks for the aircon and the fact that this is summer holiday -- I always get the private room.
Last night it was slightly OK, at least compared to previous nights. Further, at 2 am I received the following e-mail (only an excerpt):
"...I read chapters 1 to 5 on the plane. Everything looks quite good. I am pleased with the thesis and you should be too...."
That comes from my ever hard-to-please-cum-perfectionist professor, making it more meaningful. Finally, my dream is free from thesis+revision+thesis+revision. But still, last night I dreamt that she gave me a B+ for my thesis. I honestly won't be satisfied with that, this is my final lap to conclude my GPA and I don't want to mess with it. So yeah, fingers-crossed.
I am in library now, avoiding another hot day in my aircon-less room. I feel like an animal in the zoo. MIT is one of favorite tourism hot-spots in New England. Especially in summer, the swarms of people taking pictures and wander around the campus are increasingly countless. Add to that the fact that I am in a private room -- glass door and windows.
I am so tempted to put a sign outside: "Please throw nuts and chocolates and ice cream to the pretty ape inside. She almost suffers from a mental breakdown from thesis-ing too much."
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
apa sih ya?
aphasia
kalo di-cek di sini, ini artinya:
the loss of a previously held ability to speak or understand spoken or written language, due to disease or injury of the brain.
Ini adalah cuplikan sangat singkat dari percakapan saya dengan seseorang beberapa hari yang lalu.
itu istrinya emang yang pedoman
??
dia yang suka atur-atur
oh maksudlu dominan?
lho, yang tadi gua ngomong salah ya?
ya terserah lu sih...
ternyata ada yang otaknya lebih rusak dari otak gua... *hihihi*
kalo di-cek di sini, ini artinya:
the loss of a previously held ability to speak or understand spoken or written language, due to disease or injury of the brain.
Ini adalah cuplikan sangat singkat dari percakapan saya dengan seseorang beberapa hari yang lalu.
itu istrinya emang yang pedoman
??
dia yang suka atur-atur
oh maksudlu dominan?
lho, yang tadi gua ngomong salah ya?
ya terserah lu sih...
ternyata ada yang otaknya lebih rusak dari otak gua... *hihihi*
Monday, July 30, 2007
Surat untuk Sahabat
Cambridge, 31 Juli 2007
Hi Ite! Hi Cathe! Hi Aan! Hi Cempi! Hi Kwee!! Hi CHARIC!!
Apa khabar?
Kangen banget, lho. Coba diinget-inget kapan terakhir kita ketemu? Reuni terakhir kita tanggal 27 April 2007, udah lama juga ya? Dan sejak saat itu, kita udah ketambahan 1 anggota honorer dan 1 ponakan (hi there, Viyo!!). Pokoknya nanti kalo aku balik (bentar lagi!!) kita berbondong-bondong ke Batam, OK??
Khabar aku? Baik-baik aja. Well, lagi nyelesaiin thesis. Ah sudahlah kalau thesis jangan dibahas. Aku ini bukan penulis thesis sejati, penuh perjuangan banget. Sampe ada kalanya udah jenuh pol-polan dan rasanya gak bisa lanjut lagi =( Bayangin dong, kalo mesti nulis nonstop. Nulis, revisi, nulis, revisi. Lama-lama eneg juga liatnya. Parahnya, di sini udah rada sepi... temen-temenku sekarang udah di kampung halaman masing-masing yang tersebar di seluruh penjuru dunia. CHARIC, I miss you guys!! Walau kita jaraaaaang banget ketemuan, but we're only a dial away, aren't we? BTW milis kita rame lagi gak? Udah ntah berapa abad aku ga buka yahoo lagi.
Anyway.... tadi aku denger lagu kebangsaan kita (liat ada bonus liriknya di bawah). Terus jadi keinget saat-saat awal CHARIC terbentuk. Kok bisa ya? Maksudku, kok bisa tiba-tiba kita langsung klop aja gitu. Dan SOLID banget, man.. sampe sekarang tiada goyah.
Inget gak yang soal secret pal itu? Haha, Cathe dulu kamu dapet sesuatu kan ya? Dan terus si Ite bete-bete dan misuh-misuh secara ribut (dan, harap dicatat... kalo Ite ribut itu beneran ribut!!) di kamar pas sebelum dinner. Tu anak merepet aja gak berhenti-berhenti dan tiba-tiba si Cempi dengan polos dan tenangnya bilang "Ite, kenapa sih gitu aja pusing amat? Tenang aja, gua juga gak dapet apa-apa kok dari secret pal gua!!"
Dan...... muka Ite yang merah kuning ijo di langit yang biru itu segera membuat Cempi sadar, kalau Ite-lah secret pal yang sudah menelantarkannya secara biadab!
Hahaha Cathe inget gak kita sampe ketawa ngejeblak ke tempat tidur. Entah gimana caranya ketawa sampe ngejeblak? Kita berdua ketawa sampe semua orang nengok ke kamar kita. Dan Cathe.. pastinya kamu inget, kalo kita ketawa suaranya aujubillah kerasnya, mata kita berdua ilang, dan ga bisa berhenti.. Dan kerennya lagi, kita sering ketawa bareng (di La Verna, di GTD) dan kalo aku ketawa bareng kamu, makin ga bisa berhenti... buseeeeettt. Haha jadi inget teka-teki favorit kita? "Kentang apa yang disukai anak-anak?" Walau pada akhirnya udah basiiii banget, kita tetep selalu ketawa kalo ngasi teka-teki itu (apa yang salah dengan gen ketawa kita ya Cathe?)
Malemnya kita semua ngedeprok di kamar kita sampe pagi... berjuang mati-matian bikin sesuatu untuk secret pal masing-masing. Kayaknya si Kwee sibuk gitaran sambil ngantuk-ngantuk. Entah lagi mikirin siapa tuh si Kwee? Dan apakah Kwee membuat sesuatu untuk secret pal-nya?
Pujangga kita si Ite bikin puisi di kertas panjang yang dilipet kecil-kecil dan diselipin ke coklat, inget? Dan lucunya, dia bikin dan minta editan dari si Mbah Aan dan dibacain keras-keras padahal si Cempi lagi duduk di depannya dia? (iya, si Cempi mah pinter.. dia udah tau pas itu) Dan puisi itu diselipin di coklat yang Ite terima dari secret pal-nya (cuma beberapa biji dari sekotak) -- dasar ga mau rugi lu Te!! Padahal sore-sorenya si Aan lari-lari keluar membeli sekotak coklat tersebut? Ah cinta segitiga memang membingungkan!! Eh, beneran cuma di per-secret pal-an kok... Udah jadi rahasia umum kalau di antara CHARIC-ers tidak akan ada kisah cinta-cintaan ataupun cinta beneran.
Kayaknya gara-gara terinspirasi dari Ite kita semua berusaha bikin puisi untuk secret pal masing-masing deh. Eh Cathe secret pal mu siapa yah? Owalaaaahh.. si F4 baju kuning itu bukan? Haha entah si Ite masi bisa ikutin gaya dia nangis apa nggak. Kayaknya aku udah lupa deh nama si F4 baju kuning itu siapa hahaha =D Waktu itu aku nyuruh Imel (kan panitia) nyolong kertas warna kuning dari stationery panitia.. dan digambarin dan ditulisin puisi susah payah (soalnya baris-baris puisinya berawalan A -- L -- F -- R -- E -- D dan aku bukan Ite yang jago berpuisi) dan udah dikasi hint kalo itu aku, dan suruh Aan (atau Kwee yah?) untuk menyelundupkan kartu kuning tersebut di bawah bantalnya (ya iyalah kalo aku yang nyelipin sendiri kan bisa heboh itu seluruh Fransiscan hehehe)... dan dia pun salah menebak *ggrrbbblll* "Ini pasti dari Imel!! Soalnya kertas kayak gini yang megang si Imel!!" Ugh rugi rugi rugi!! Dan si Cempi bikin puisi juga kayaknya. Pokoknya kita bertiga bikin puisi sampe keringet dingin (ya kami memang bukan Ite!!).
Abis berpuisi (atau sok berpuisi), kita pun menghabiskan waktu (padahal udah subuh) dengan melakukan sesuatu yang terus menjadi favorit kita dalam menghabiskan waktu: menyanyi dan bergitar!
Mungkin karena subuh, pilihan kita rada-rada mellow ya (apa karena kebetulan si Kwee yang megang gitar ya?). Hmm apa aja coba inget gak? Ada Negeri di Awan-nya Katon Bagaskara, ada Arti Kehidupan-nya Doel Sumbang:
Rintangan pasti datang menghadang
Cobaan pasti datang menghujam
Namun yakinlah bahwa cinta itu 'kan membuatmu
Mengerti akan arti kehidupan
Ada Cinta Putih (KLa?), ada Bukan Untukku (Rio Febrian):
Aku takkan bertahan bila tak teryakinkan
Sesungguhnya cintaku memang hanya untukmu
Sungguh ku tak menahan bila jalan suratan
Menuliskan dirimu memang bukan untukku... selamanya
ada beberapa lagu Chrisye, KLa, dan yang paling keren adalah lagu kebangsaan kita (lirik lengkap di bawah). Siapa yang memulai ya? Kok itu bisa jadi lagu kebangsaan kita? Dan anehnya, segelo-gelonya kita sebelumnya, tiap denting gitar sudah memberi petunjuk kalo lagu itu lah yang dimainkan, kita selalu hening... dan menyanyi dengan syahdu.
And we know that we really mean it when we sing it.
Strange, as we were just united by then (though some of us have known each other way before)
... and I know I can always rely on you guys!!
and after all these years, we'll still here... yeah
I really really really miss that singing and guitar-ing moment =)
Di sini gak ada yang ngumpul-ngumpul main gitar dan nyanyi, beda banget sama di NTU dulu haha.
Dan hebatnya, anak-anak CHARIC tau lagu-lagu lama... jadi mau nyanyi lagu nya Julius Sitanggang ayo, Willie Nelson ayo, Chrisye ayo... asoy kan?
OK, so... CHARIC, KAPAN KITA NGUMPUL LAGI?
Ini dia bonus lagu kebangsaan kita yang sudah dijanji-janjikan
--------
You Needed Me
I cried a tear
You wiped it dry
I was confused
You cleared my mind
I sold my soul
You bought it back for me
And held me up and gave me dignity
Somehow you needed me.
Chorus
You gave me strength
To stand alone again
To face the world
Out on my own again
You put me high upon a pedestal
So high that I could almost see eternity
You needed me
You needed me
And I can't believe it's you
I can't believe it's true
I needed you and you were there
And I'll never leave, why should I leave
I'd be a fool
Cause I've finally found someone who really cares
You held my hand
When it was cold
When I was lost
You took me home
You gave me hope
When I was at the end
And turned my lies
Back into truth again
You even called me friend
Repeat Chorus
You needed me
You needed me
--------
Listening to this song again really makes me miss you guys.
IS OUR FLAME STILL ALIVE?
Empat kali empat enam belas
Sempat tak sempat harus dibalas
S a l a m
---------a
---------n
---------i
---------s e l a l u
-------------------n
-------------------t
-------------------u
-------------------k a w a n k u
Kata Mutiara: *ah sudahlah...*
xoxo,
Rhea
Hi Ite! Hi Cathe! Hi Aan! Hi Cempi! Hi Kwee!! Hi CHARIC!!
Apa khabar?
Kangen banget, lho. Coba diinget-inget kapan terakhir kita ketemu? Reuni terakhir kita tanggal 27 April 2007, udah lama juga ya? Dan sejak saat itu, kita udah ketambahan 1 anggota honorer dan 1 ponakan (hi there, Viyo!!). Pokoknya nanti kalo aku balik (bentar lagi!!) kita berbondong-bondong ke Batam, OK??
Khabar aku? Baik-baik aja. Well, lagi nyelesaiin thesis. Ah sudahlah kalau thesis jangan dibahas. Aku ini bukan penulis thesis sejati, penuh perjuangan banget. Sampe ada kalanya udah jenuh pol-polan dan rasanya gak bisa lanjut lagi =( Bayangin dong, kalo mesti nulis nonstop. Nulis, revisi, nulis, revisi. Lama-lama eneg juga liatnya. Parahnya, di sini udah rada sepi... temen-temenku sekarang udah di kampung halaman masing-masing yang tersebar di seluruh penjuru dunia. CHARIC, I miss you guys!! Walau kita jaraaaaang banget ketemuan, but we're only a dial away, aren't we? BTW milis kita rame lagi gak? Udah ntah berapa abad aku ga buka yahoo lagi.
Anyway.... tadi aku denger lagu kebangsaan kita (liat ada bonus liriknya di bawah). Terus jadi keinget saat-saat awal CHARIC terbentuk. Kok bisa ya? Maksudku, kok bisa tiba-tiba kita langsung klop aja gitu. Dan SOLID banget, man.. sampe sekarang tiada goyah.
Inget gak yang soal secret pal itu? Haha, Cathe dulu kamu dapet sesuatu kan ya? Dan terus si Ite bete-bete dan misuh-misuh secara ribut (dan, harap dicatat... kalo Ite ribut itu beneran ribut!!) di kamar pas sebelum dinner. Tu anak merepet aja gak berhenti-berhenti dan tiba-tiba si Cempi dengan polos dan tenangnya bilang "Ite, kenapa sih gitu aja pusing amat? Tenang aja, gua juga gak dapet apa-apa kok dari secret pal gua!!"
Dan...... muka Ite yang merah kuning ijo di langit yang biru itu segera membuat Cempi sadar, kalau Ite-lah secret pal yang sudah menelantarkannya secara biadab!
Hahaha Cathe inget gak kita sampe ketawa ngejeblak ke tempat tidur. Entah gimana caranya ketawa sampe ngejeblak? Kita berdua ketawa sampe semua orang nengok ke kamar kita. Dan Cathe.. pastinya kamu inget, kalo kita ketawa suaranya aujubillah kerasnya, mata kita berdua ilang, dan ga bisa berhenti.. Dan kerennya lagi, kita sering ketawa bareng (di La Verna, di GTD) dan kalo aku ketawa bareng kamu, makin ga bisa berhenti... buseeeeettt. Haha jadi inget teka-teki favorit kita? "Kentang apa yang disukai anak-anak?" Walau pada akhirnya udah basiiii banget, kita tetep selalu ketawa kalo ngasi teka-teki itu (apa yang salah dengan gen ketawa kita ya Cathe?)
Malemnya kita semua ngedeprok di kamar kita sampe pagi... berjuang mati-matian bikin sesuatu untuk secret pal masing-masing. Kayaknya si Kwee sibuk gitaran sambil ngantuk-ngantuk. Entah lagi mikirin siapa tuh si Kwee? Dan apakah Kwee membuat sesuatu untuk secret pal-nya?
Pujangga kita si Ite bikin puisi di kertas panjang yang dilipet kecil-kecil dan diselipin ke coklat, inget? Dan lucunya, dia bikin dan minta editan dari si Mbah Aan dan dibacain keras-keras padahal si Cempi lagi duduk di depannya dia? (iya, si Cempi mah pinter.. dia udah tau pas itu) Dan puisi itu diselipin di coklat yang Ite terima dari secret pal-nya (cuma beberapa biji dari sekotak) -- dasar ga mau rugi lu Te!! Padahal sore-sorenya si Aan lari-lari keluar membeli sekotak coklat tersebut? Ah cinta segitiga memang membingungkan!! Eh, beneran cuma di per-secret pal-an kok... Udah jadi rahasia umum kalau di antara CHARIC-ers tidak akan ada kisah cinta-cintaan ataupun cinta beneran.
Kayaknya gara-gara terinspirasi dari Ite kita semua berusaha bikin puisi untuk secret pal masing-masing deh. Eh Cathe secret pal mu siapa yah? Owalaaaahh.. si F4 baju kuning itu bukan? Haha entah si Ite masi bisa ikutin gaya dia nangis apa nggak. Kayaknya aku udah lupa deh nama si F4 baju kuning itu siapa hahaha =D Waktu itu aku nyuruh Imel (kan panitia) nyolong kertas warna kuning dari stationery panitia.. dan digambarin dan ditulisin puisi susah payah (soalnya baris-baris puisinya berawalan A -- L -- F -- R -- E -- D dan aku bukan Ite yang jago berpuisi) dan udah dikasi hint kalo itu aku, dan suruh Aan (atau Kwee yah?) untuk menyelundupkan kartu kuning tersebut di bawah bantalnya (ya iyalah kalo aku yang nyelipin sendiri kan bisa heboh itu seluruh Fransiscan hehehe)... dan dia pun salah menebak *ggrrbbblll* "Ini pasti dari Imel!! Soalnya kertas kayak gini yang megang si Imel!!" Ugh rugi rugi rugi!! Dan si Cempi bikin puisi juga kayaknya. Pokoknya kita bertiga bikin puisi sampe keringet dingin (ya kami memang bukan Ite!!).
Abis berpuisi (atau sok berpuisi), kita pun menghabiskan waktu (padahal udah subuh) dengan melakukan sesuatu yang terus menjadi favorit kita dalam menghabiskan waktu: menyanyi dan bergitar!
Mungkin karena subuh, pilihan kita rada-rada mellow ya (apa karena kebetulan si Kwee yang megang gitar ya?). Hmm apa aja coba inget gak? Ada Negeri di Awan-nya Katon Bagaskara, ada Arti Kehidupan-nya Doel Sumbang:
Rintangan pasti datang menghadang
Cobaan pasti datang menghujam
Namun yakinlah bahwa cinta itu 'kan membuatmu
Mengerti akan arti kehidupan
Ada Cinta Putih (KLa?), ada Bukan Untukku (Rio Febrian):
Aku takkan bertahan bila tak teryakinkan
Sesungguhnya cintaku memang hanya untukmu
Sungguh ku tak menahan bila jalan suratan
Menuliskan dirimu memang bukan untukku... selamanya
ada beberapa lagu Chrisye, KLa, dan yang paling keren adalah lagu kebangsaan kita (lirik lengkap di bawah). Siapa yang memulai ya? Kok itu bisa jadi lagu kebangsaan kita? Dan anehnya, segelo-gelonya kita sebelumnya, tiap denting gitar sudah memberi petunjuk kalo lagu itu lah yang dimainkan, kita selalu hening... dan menyanyi dengan syahdu.
And we know that we really mean it when we sing it.
Strange, as we were just united by then (though some of us have known each other way before)
... and I know I can always rely on you guys!!
and after all these years, we'll still here... yeah
I really really really miss that singing and guitar-ing moment =)
Di sini gak ada yang ngumpul-ngumpul main gitar dan nyanyi, beda banget sama di NTU dulu haha.
Dan hebatnya, anak-anak CHARIC tau lagu-lagu lama... jadi mau nyanyi lagu nya Julius Sitanggang ayo, Willie Nelson ayo, Chrisye ayo... asoy kan?
OK, so... CHARIC, KAPAN KITA NGUMPUL LAGI?
Ini dia bonus lagu kebangsaan kita yang sudah dijanji-janjikan
--------
You Needed Me
I cried a tear
You wiped it dry
I was confused
You cleared my mind
I sold my soul
You bought it back for me
And held me up and gave me dignity
Somehow you needed me.
Chorus
You gave me strength
To stand alone again
To face the world
Out on my own again
You put me high upon a pedestal
So high that I could almost see eternity
You needed me
You needed me
And I can't believe it's you
I can't believe it's true
I needed you and you were there
And I'll never leave, why should I leave
I'd be a fool
Cause I've finally found someone who really cares
You held my hand
When it was cold
When I was lost
You took me home
You gave me hope
When I was at the end
And turned my lies
Back into truth again
You even called me friend
Repeat Chorus
You needed me
You needed me
--------
Listening to this song again really makes me miss you guys.
IS OUR FLAME STILL ALIVE?
Empat kali empat enam belas
Sempat tak sempat harus dibalas
S a l a m
---------a
---------n
---------i
---------s e l a l u
-------------------n
-------------------t
-------------------u
-------------------k a w a n k u
Kata Mutiara: *ah sudahlah...*
xoxo,
Rhea
Premi XIII, si Belang, dan si Bengal
*kresek kresek*Dua orang pemuda harapan bangsa beringsut-ingsut di balik semak-semak. Mereka diutus petinggi negara Rockiporti untuk menginspeksi negara sebelah, Halibut. Akhir-akhir ini warga Rockiporti resah dan cemas, setelah terdengar kabar burung kalau negara Halibut baru saja dihancurkan!! Entah oleh siapa. Premanvaganza, kelompok perompak yang sudah beratus-ratus tahun menimbulkan keributan di kalangan warga, digossipkan beraksi kembali setelah sekian lama vakum. Beratus-ratus tahun? Ya, entah sudah berapa generasi kelompok tersebut merambah lautan dan merebut teritori bangsa-bangsa yang biasanya mempunyai kekayaan alam dan pemandangan yang memang layak untuk di-iri-i. Endas (ya, beginilah kaum perompak Premanvaganza menyebut 'kepala suku') Premanvaganza selalu disebut Prema, jika cowok, dan Premi, jika cewek. Tanda ke-BESAR-an para endas ini adalah sebuah kalung BESAR dengan bandul yang BESAR pula. Konon, kalung BESAR dengan bandul BESAR ini pertama dipakai oleh Premayangpertama, disingkat Prema I, dan kemudian dihibahkan turun-temurun pada endas-endas berikutnya. Konon lagi, endas yang sekarang adalah seorang perempuan -- Premi XIII -- yang terkenal beringas. Ambisinya adalah menghancurkan negara-negara yang makmur. Halibut sudah menjadi korban, warga Rockiporti pun yaking mereka akan menjadi yang berikut.
"Hai Belang, apa yang kau lihat?"
"Air," jawab Belang.
"Dudung!! Kalau air doang aku juga lihat!" Bengal pun berseru kesal.
"Lha, kan tadi nanya..."
Tiba-tiba Bengal memegang kedua pipi Belang, seperti hendak mencium (Belang pun bergidik), dan memutar kepala Belang ke kiri. "Lihat itu!!"
Setelah Belang berhasil menenangkan degup jantungnya yang sempat salto karena takut dicium Bengal, dia pun berkata "Batu-batu? Memang kenapa? Kau butuh batu untuk ketapelmu? Batu itu terlalu besar, bodoh!"
"Kamu yang dudung!!" Bengal berseru sambil menoyor kepala Belang "Itu bukan sekedar batu... dan ya, batu-batu itu terlalu besar untuk ketapelku. Itu puing-puing!! Tidakkah kau sadar, kita berdiri di tempat di mana Halibut dulu berdiri?"
"Lho kok bisa" rupanya si Belang ini memang dudung beneran.
"Ini pasti pekerjaan si Premi XIII brengsek itu!!" terdengar dengusan geram si Bengal. "Ia menghancurkan Halibut yang indah. Lihat itu!! Mereka pun menenggelamkan hutan-hutan!! Sungguh keterlaluan!!" terlihat asap mengepul dari kedua telinga Bengal.
"Keren juga kali, bo, punya hutan bawah aer. Adem." Dan kepala Belang pun sukses tertoyor lagi...
Mereka pun berjalan pulang ke pusat kota Rockiporti. Ya, kota Rockiporti memang indah. Penduduknya pun ramah, saling menghargai, tolong menolong dan memegang teguh azas musyawarah mufakat. Toko-toko kerajinan tangan memenuhi pusat kota Rockiporti. Lokasinya yang dekat pantai membuat Rockiporti cukup populer di kalangan turis. Jelas negara ini tidak bisa dihancurkan begitu saja oleh Premanvaganza!! Di perjalanan itu, Bengal termenung, guram. Ia memikirkan strategi untuk menyelamatkan Rockiporti. Sementara Belang sibuk mengagumi warna kulitnya yang bertambah seksi kecoklatan setelah inspeksi di Halibut tadi.
"Aha!!" tiba-tiba si Bengal pun berseru dengan senyum penuh kemenangan dan jari telunjuk kanan mengacung di udara. "Da 'pa?" Belang terpaksa berhenti mengagumi warna kulitnya yang bertambah seksi kecoklatan itu. "Aku ada ide bagus!!". Gantian Belang yang mendengus "Ya iya lah, kalau kamu punya ide jelek ngapain bilang-bilang." Kali ini Belang cukup pintar, dia sempat menghindar sebelum kepalanya kena toyor lagi.
"Jadi bagaimana idenya?"
"Kita timbun kota ini!!"
"Dengan?"
"Batu!! Seperti yang Premanvaganza lakukan pada Halibut!!"
"Lha, kalo gitu apa bedanya dong kamu dengan Premi XIII yang beringas itu?"
"Pura-pura, dudung!! Kita pura-pura menimbun Rockiporti dengan batu, dengan harapan Premi XIII akan cukup bodoh untuk menyangka kalau dia pernah menyerang Rockiporti sebelumnya dan... kita lolos!!"
"Pura-pura, dudung!! Kita pura-pura menimbun Rockiporti dengan batu, dengan harapan Premi XIII akan cukup bodoh untuk menyangka kalau dia pernah menyerang Rockiporti sebelumnya dan... kita lolos!!"
"Wah ide bagus!! Kamu memang keren, Bengal!!"
Bengal pun tersenyum sumringah penuh rasa bangga.
"Ayo kamu mulai bekerja sekarang, Belang!!"
"Lho?!?"
"Ayo!!"
"Terus kamu ngapain, Bengal?"
"Aku telah lelah berpikir, ayo cepat laksanakan perintahku! Bayangkan, nasib warga Rockiporti ada di pundakmu! Kamu harus menyelamatkan mereka! Atau kau rela melihat kota ini hancur seperti Halibut tadi?" kata Bengal berapi-api.
"Oke, boss!! Ya, aku akan bekerja keras demi nusa dan bangsa!!" Belang pun menyingsingkan lengan baju dan bekerja sambil mendendangkan lagu kebangsaan Rockiporti. Dia paling suka bagian refrain-nya "We will, we will rockiporti you."
Ah... selesai sudah tugas ini, pikir Belang sambil mengusap peluh. Negara Rockiporti sudah tampak seperti puing-puing yang merupakan sisa-sisa negara Halibut. Tetapi, di bawah batu-batu tersebut, warga Rockiporti masih menjalani hidup mereka secara normal, walau tanpa sinar matahari.
"Sudah beres, Belang?"
"Sudah!!"
"Sudah!!"
"Nah, sekarang kamu berjaga! Laporkan kalau Premanvaganza sudah menunjukkan batang hidungnya"
"Lha kok aku kerjo'ne dhewean terus, yo? Piye tho iki?"
Dengan rasa nasionalisme dan patriotisme nya yang sangat tinggi, Belang pun berdiri di atas puing-puing yang telah bersusah payah di bangunnya (nah, sekarang kalian sudah tahu mengapa dia dipanggil si Belang -- BEtis LANGsing).
"Bengal!!"
Bengal merasa terganggu karena tidurnya terganggu. Ia sedang bermimpi tentang... ah sudahlah, jangan dibahas. Bengal tersipu malu.
"Aku melihat sesuatu!! Ada beberapa kapal mendekati ujung pulau!! Mungkinkah mereka kapal-kapal perompak Premanvaganza?"
Belang pun melayangkan pandang ke arah lain, sedikit ke arah barat. Dan benar saja!! Dia melihat perahu-perahu berduyung-duyun menuju arah Rockiporti. Semakin lama semakin banyak. Dan dia pun segera bersembunyi di belakang batu-batu bersama si Bengal, yang terpaksa melupakan mimpi indahnya sejenak, dua jenak, tiga jenak, dan jenak-jenak merpati.
Belang pun melayangkan pandang ke arah lain, sedikit ke arah barat. Dan benar saja!! Dia melihat perahu-perahu berduyung-duyun menuju arah Rockiporti. Semakin lama semakin banyak. Dan dia pun segera bersembunyi di belakang batu-batu bersama si Bengal, yang terpaksa melupakan mimpi indahnya sejenak, dua jenak, tiga jenak, dan jenak-jenak merpati.
Tiba-tiba sesosok perempuan yang bertampang beringas turun dari perahu terbesar yang berwarna merah. Dia segera menyusuri batu-batu dan berjalan ke tengah 'pulau.'
"Aku melihatnya! Ya aku yakin sekali itu pasti Premi XIII" kata Bengal dengan sok tau-nya yang membuncah bagai busa soda di botol yang habis dimasukkin ke mesin cuci dan hendak dibuka tutupnya.
"Aku melihatnya! Ya aku yakin sekali itu pasti Premi XIII" kata Bengal dengan sok tau-nya yang membuncah bagai busa soda di botol yang habis dimasukkin ke mesin cuci dan hendak dibuka tutupnya.
"Tidak salah lagi!! Dia memakai kalung BESAR dengan bandul BESAR!!"
"Hlha, itu ketua perompak atau TURIS? Gaya bener....."
"Hlha, itu ketua perompak atau TURIS? Gaya bener....."
"Tapi, lihat kalung BESAR-nya! Dengan bandul BESAR-nya!!"
"Itu bukan kalung, dudung kuadrat!!!" dan Belang pun menoyor kepala Bengal dengan penuh kemenangan.
Bonus track:
"We will, we will, rockiporti you..."
Bonus picture:
Premi XIII
--- T A M A T ---
Maap... kalo garing-nya ga ketahan. Sengaja sih. Hihi..
Tiga foto pertama diambil di Halibut Point State Park, dan foto-foto berikutnya di Rockport. Masi banyaaaak foto-fotonya. Ini pertama kali saya ke rocky beach. Biasanya sandy beaches. Phwoaaaaarrr... saya suka sekali!! Walau kadang licin banget, atau batunya suka goyang-goyang sendiri.
Berjalan-jalan di Rockport, tercium bau pasir, garam, dan ikan. Toko-toko mungil menjual pernak-pernik, baju, souvenir, perhiasan -- kristal, plastik, perak, batu-batu unik, cafe-cafe mungil, toko-toko ice cream mungil (tokonya yang mungil bukan ice cream nya)... Selama ini saya pikir tempat seperti itu hanya ada di buku cerita!!
Dan, yah... semoga tidak ada yang percaya kalau itu hutan bawah aer. Hutan bawah aer dari Hongkong? Rumput laut doank kok.
PS: Si belang itu, hanyalah seorang pria kurang beruntung yang tiba-tiba datang ke jangkauan jepretan kamera saya. Tadinya dia melihat ke depan, fotonya bakal bagus banget! Tapi tiba-tiba dia nengok aja. Huh! Dasar Belang! Tapi untung juga, kalo mukanya keliatan kan kurang pantas untuk dipajang di sini (publik gitu loh). Belang, kalo kamu liat ini, saya minta ijin ya!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
from my bedroom window...
The photos were taken on two consecutive days, at approximately the same time, from the same window...
oh, they also show how good my digital zoom is hahaha (Canon A640) -- see the lamp post.
oh, they also show how good my digital zoom is hahaha (Canon A640) -- see the lamp post.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
kue keberuntungan
Kamu percaya dengan kue keberuntungan? Itu, kue yang berbentuk... ah susah menjelaskannya. Seperti pastel, tetapi terlipat di tengahnya. Ya, itu... benar. Kue yang diisi secarik kertas. Kamu tidak percaya? Sudah kuduga.
Saya? Hmm saya juga tidak percaya. Bagiku kue itu hanyalah adukan gula dan tepung dan... apa lagi? Maaf saya jarang buat kue, jadi tidak mengerti. Sampai di mana tadi? Oh iya, gula dan tepung dengan bahaya kertas tertelan =). Tetapi, kamu tahu tidak? Tadi siang saya merogoh-rogoh isi dompet ketika bosan mengetik di perpustakaan. Tahu apa yang kutemukan? Surat hutang? Wah, bukan. Saya anti berhutang. Saya menemukan tiga carik kertas kecil, yang melempar saya ke dua setengah tahun lalu...
.........
Saat itu hari Jumat, 28 January 2005. Kami sedang berada di dalam sebuah ruangan. Tidak terlalu besar, tetapi tidak kecil juga. Cukup lah untuk 50 an orang bergerak leluasa. Air conditioner? Wah, iya jelas. Ruangannya ber-AC. Mana tahan kalau di Singapore tidak ber-AC? Saat itu cukup ramai. Orang bernyanyi-nyanyi, berdansa dan ada musik. Pemusiknya sangat berbakat. Orang-orang memakai kostum. Saya? Wah saya jelas tidak bermain musik, bernyanyi ataupun berdansa. Haha jangan coba-coba membayangkan!! Saat itu saya duduk di lantai, sedang mencatat-catat sesuatu, tiba-tiba...
"AAAAAARGHHH.... musiknya salah!!"
Seisi ruangan tercekam. Para penyanyi dan penari mematung. Para pemusik diam, menggelegak dalam hati. Musik mereka tidak salah!! Penyanyinya yang salah!! Saya? Saya melongo. Saya sedang mencatat, ingat? Saya tidak tahu apa yang terjadi. Telinga saya tidak jago mendengar musik. Tiba-tiba dari sudut mata terlihat, beberapa pemusik mulai merapikan alat-alat musiknya, dan kemudian meninggalkan ruangan dengan wajah sangat mendung. Oh, tidak! Jangan! Mengapa mereka berhenti bermain? Mengapa mereka keluar?
Saya melayangkan pandang ke sekeliling ruangan, menangkap pijar mata rekan-rekan seperjuangan. Bagaimana ini? Saya yakin saya pucat seperti kertas saat itu. Tiba-tiba, orang mulai bergerak. Panik. Ada yang berlari mengejar para pemusik tersebut. Salah. Maksud saya, bukan 'ada.' Tetapi 'banyak.' Ada yang menangis. Ada yang merubungi yang menangis. Ada yang pucat (saya). Malu rasanya. Setelah berbincang-bincang dengan beberapa pihak, latihan pun dihentikan. Becky Tumewu pulang bersama sahabatnya yang merangkap sebagai managernya, Petty. Atau Patty? Ya pokoknya seperti itu lah.
Beberapa orang kembali ke ruangan dengan lunglai. Ada yang mulai menangis. Ada yang terlihat sangat hampir menangis. Saya? Masih pucat. Tetapi apakah saya mungkin menangis? Tidak, cari solusi!! Tetapi bagaimana? Saya bisa apa? Saya tidak mengerti musik.
Akhirnya, pukul 10 malam saya dan rekan-rekan seperjuangan saya pun berangkat ke tempat rapat favorit kami, Marriott hotel di kawasan Orchard. Kami duduk di lobby, memesan kopi dan teh dan pernak-perniknya. Ada kue keberuntungan, pikirku ketika melihat ke atas meja. Ah siapa peduli? Yang saya pikirkan hanyalah, bagaimana kami bisa menggelar drama musikal yang sudah dipersiapkan selama setengah tahun, dan dijadwalkan untuk pentas kurang dari 48 jam dari saat itu, ratusan tiket sudah terjual, TANPA PEMUSIK? Anda punya jawabannya?
Kami sibuk berpikir, mencari solusi, walau jalan rasanya buntu. 2 hari lagi! Tanpa pemusik! Mungkinkah? Kalau kalian tanya apa saja yang terjadi saat itu, jujur saja saya lupa. Perasaan saya? Entah. Yang jelas guram. Ingin menangis tapi saya benar-benar tidak bisa menangis. Dan lagi, apa yang bisa dihasilkan dengan menangis?
Tiba-tiba terasa getaran di kantung jeans saya. Ada SMS masuk. Saya cek nama pengirim, Dom. Dom adalah sahabat saya. Sahabat kami. Dia adalah ketua pemusik, dan dia lah yang meninggalkan ruangan pertama kali, diikuti istri dan rekan-rekan pemusiknya. Saat itu, sudah pukul 2 pagi mungkin.
Dom [D]: Rhea, are you OK?
Rhea [R]: Yes, I am fine.
D: I am worried about you all. I am so sorry about what happened, but it was too much. We had to leave. Are you really OK? How about the rest?
[memang, sebelumnya sudah ada friksi antara pemusik dan paduan suara. Tetapi kami kira, itu normal]
R: Don't worry, I'm fine. Whatever happens, the show must go on anyway.
[jujur, saya tidak tahu dari mana saya dapat keberanian dan optimisme seperti itu].
Diskusi pun berlanjut. Kesimpulannya? Entah. Kami masih menghadapi jalan buntu. Saya cuma bisa pasrah. Herannya, saya tidak bisa menangis. Ketika kami terdiam, tiba-tiba terdengar sebuah monolog singkat. Suara siapa? Ya ampun, itu suara saya sendiri!
"Ini naskah pertama saya yang akan dipentaskan oleh puluhan orang dan ditonton ratusan orang. Uskup Singapura, Duta Besar Indonesia untuk Singapura, dan tamu-tamu penting lain sudah menyanggupi untuk datang. Lagu-lagu dengan lirik yang saya tulis akan dimainkan dalam teater. Adik saya sudah spesial datang dari Jakarta semalam hanya untuk menontonnya."
.....
"Ini pengalaman pertama buat kita semua. Pertama kali jadi sutradara, pertama kali menjadi penulis naskah, pertama kali menjadi pemeran utama, pertama kali menyanyi untuk drama musikal, pertama kali menari untuk drama musikal, pertama kali melatih sekelompok paduan suara, pertama kali mengarang dan mengaransemen lagu, pertama kali berkeliling Singapura mencari bahan untuk kostum dan perangkat pentas, pertama kali ini dan pertama kali itu. Kalau ada yang bisa menghentikan kita sekarang, itu cuma Tuhan! Manusia tidak akan bisa. Kita sudah berjalan sejauh ini."
Mereka semua mengangguk tanda setuju. Tetapi sebenarnya apa saya seyakin kedengarannya? Sebenarnya tidak. Sebenarnya saya gemetar di dalam. Takut. Dan jujur saja terus bertanya dalam hati "Mengapa saya masih belum bisa menangis?" Dengan harapan, kalau saya menangis saya bisa merasa lebih enak.
Saat itu sudah jam 4 pagi. Kita harus beranjak pulang. Salah satu dari kami harus siaran keesokkan harinya, di Radio Singapore International (RSI). Ya, dia memang penyiar radio.
Dan mata kami pun tertumbuk pada kue keberuntungan yang sudah menjadi dingin. Karena lapar, kami semua mengambil seorang satu.
*Krek*
Saya belah kuenya. Lho, kok kertasnya banyak amat? Percaya atau tidak, ada tiga helai kertas kecil di dalamnya!! Tiga!! Beneran. Apa yang tertera di sana?
"Courage is the master of fear."
"You will win success in whatever you adopt."
"You are a practical person with your feet on the ground."
Dalam hati saya berpikir "Yeah, right. Look what I've got. World's greatest irony."
.....
Tanggal 30 Januari 2005, hari Minggu. Pukul 8 malam. Hiruk pikuk terdengar dari belakang layar. Bukan kepanikan, bukan tangis. Eh, maaf. Ada yang menangis. Tetapi menangis bahagia. Kami semua berlari kesana kemari, tertawa-tawa dan berfoto-foto. Entah berapa foto yang diambil. Rekan-rekan seperjuangan, para pemain, para penari, dan juga Dom, istrinya, semua pemusik berpelukan, bahagia dan puas. Dom pun melihat saya dan tersenyum, "Rhea, the show indeed must go on." Saya tersenyum membalas.
Apa yang terjadi selama 36 jam itu (sejak kami meninggalkan Marriott sampai jam 5 sore, ketika layar mulai dinaikkan)? Kami tahu. Tetapi mengapa itu semua bisa terjadi? Oh, kalo itu.... sepertinya hanya Tuhan yang tahu, dan yang akan tahu. Bagi kami sampai sekarang itu masih misteri.
Saya? Hmm saya juga tidak percaya. Bagiku kue itu hanyalah adukan gula dan tepung dan... apa lagi? Maaf saya jarang buat kue, jadi tidak mengerti. Sampai di mana tadi? Oh iya, gula dan tepung dengan bahaya kertas tertelan =). Tetapi, kamu tahu tidak? Tadi siang saya merogoh-rogoh isi dompet ketika bosan mengetik di perpustakaan. Tahu apa yang kutemukan? Surat hutang? Wah, bukan. Saya anti berhutang. Saya menemukan tiga carik kertas kecil, yang melempar saya ke dua setengah tahun lalu...
.........
Saat itu hari Jumat, 28 January 2005. Kami sedang berada di dalam sebuah ruangan. Tidak terlalu besar, tetapi tidak kecil juga. Cukup lah untuk 50 an orang bergerak leluasa. Air conditioner? Wah, iya jelas. Ruangannya ber-AC. Mana tahan kalau di Singapore tidak ber-AC? Saat itu cukup ramai. Orang bernyanyi-nyanyi, berdansa dan ada musik. Pemusiknya sangat berbakat. Orang-orang memakai kostum. Saya? Wah saya jelas tidak bermain musik, bernyanyi ataupun berdansa. Haha jangan coba-coba membayangkan!! Saat itu saya duduk di lantai, sedang mencatat-catat sesuatu, tiba-tiba...
"AAAAAARGHHH.... musiknya salah!!"
Seisi ruangan tercekam. Para penyanyi dan penari mematung. Para pemusik diam, menggelegak dalam hati. Musik mereka tidak salah!! Penyanyinya yang salah!! Saya? Saya melongo. Saya sedang mencatat, ingat? Saya tidak tahu apa yang terjadi. Telinga saya tidak jago mendengar musik. Tiba-tiba dari sudut mata terlihat, beberapa pemusik mulai merapikan alat-alat musiknya, dan kemudian meninggalkan ruangan dengan wajah sangat mendung. Oh, tidak! Jangan! Mengapa mereka berhenti bermain? Mengapa mereka keluar?
Saya melayangkan pandang ke sekeliling ruangan, menangkap pijar mata rekan-rekan seperjuangan. Bagaimana ini? Saya yakin saya pucat seperti kertas saat itu. Tiba-tiba, orang mulai bergerak. Panik. Ada yang berlari mengejar para pemusik tersebut. Salah. Maksud saya, bukan 'ada.' Tetapi 'banyak.' Ada yang menangis. Ada yang merubungi yang menangis. Ada yang pucat (saya). Malu rasanya. Setelah berbincang-bincang dengan beberapa pihak, latihan pun dihentikan. Becky Tumewu pulang bersama sahabatnya yang merangkap sebagai managernya, Petty. Atau Patty? Ya pokoknya seperti itu lah.
Beberapa orang kembali ke ruangan dengan lunglai. Ada yang mulai menangis. Ada yang terlihat sangat hampir menangis. Saya? Masih pucat. Tetapi apakah saya mungkin menangis? Tidak, cari solusi!! Tetapi bagaimana? Saya bisa apa? Saya tidak mengerti musik.
Akhirnya, pukul 10 malam saya dan rekan-rekan seperjuangan saya pun berangkat ke tempat rapat favorit kami, Marriott hotel di kawasan Orchard. Kami duduk di lobby, memesan kopi dan teh dan pernak-perniknya. Ada kue keberuntungan, pikirku ketika melihat ke atas meja. Ah siapa peduli? Yang saya pikirkan hanyalah, bagaimana kami bisa menggelar drama musikal yang sudah dipersiapkan selama setengah tahun, dan dijadwalkan untuk pentas kurang dari 48 jam dari saat itu, ratusan tiket sudah terjual, TANPA PEMUSIK? Anda punya jawabannya?
Kami sibuk berpikir, mencari solusi, walau jalan rasanya buntu. 2 hari lagi! Tanpa pemusik! Mungkinkah? Kalau kalian tanya apa saja yang terjadi saat itu, jujur saja saya lupa. Perasaan saya? Entah. Yang jelas guram. Ingin menangis tapi saya benar-benar tidak bisa menangis. Dan lagi, apa yang bisa dihasilkan dengan menangis?
Tiba-tiba terasa getaran di kantung jeans saya. Ada SMS masuk. Saya cek nama pengirim, Dom. Dom adalah sahabat saya. Sahabat kami. Dia adalah ketua pemusik, dan dia lah yang meninggalkan ruangan pertama kali, diikuti istri dan rekan-rekan pemusiknya. Saat itu, sudah pukul 2 pagi mungkin.
Dom [D]: Rhea, are you OK?
Rhea [R]: Yes, I am fine.
D: I am worried about you all. I am so sorry about what happened, but it was too much. We had to leave. Are you really OK? How about the rest?
[memang, sebelumnya sudah ada friksi antara pemusik dan paduan suara. Tetapi kami kira, itu normal]
R: Don't worry, I'm fine. Whatever happens, the show must go on anyway.
[jujur, saya tidak tahu dari mana saya dapat keberanian dan optimisme seperti itu].
Diskusi pun berlanjut. Kesimpulannya? Entah. Kami masih menghadapi jalan buntu. Saya cuma bisa pasrah. Herannya, saya tidak bisa menangis. Ketika kami terdiam, tiba-tiba terdengar sebuah monolog singkat. Suara siapa? Ya ampun, itu suara saya sendiri!
"Ini naskah pertama saya yang akan dipentaskan oleh puluhan orang dan ditonton ratusan orang. Uskup Singapura, Duta Besar Indonesia untuk Singapura, dan tamu-tamu penting lain sudah menyanggupi untuk datang. Lagu-lagu dengan lirik yang saya tulis akan dimainkan dalam teater. Adik saya sudah spesial datang dari Jakarta semalam hanya untuk menontonnya."
.....
"Ini pengalaman pertama buat kita semua. Pertama kali jadi sutradara, pertama kali menjadi penulis naskah, pertama kali menjadi pemeran utama, pertama kali menyanyi untuk drama musikal, pertama kali menari untuk drama musikal, pertama kali melatih sekelompok paduan suara, pertama kali mengarang dan mengaransemen lagu, pertama kali berkeliling Singapura mencari bahan untuk kostum dan perangkat pentas, pertama kali ini dan pertama kali itu. Kalau ada yang bisa menghentikan kita sekarang, itu cuma Tuhan! Manusia tidak akan bisa. Kita sudah berjalan sejauh ini."
Mereka semua mengangguk tanda setuju. Tetapi sebenarnya apa saya seyakin kedengarannya? Sebenarnya tidak. Sebenarnya saya gemetar di dalam. Takut. Dan jujur saja terus bertanya dalam hati "Mengapa saya masih belum bisa menangis?" Dengan harapan, kalau saya menangis saya bisa merasa lebih enak.
Saat itu sudah jam 4 pagi. Kita harus beranjak pulang. Salah satu dari kami harus siaran keesokkan harinya, di Radio Singapore International (RSI). Ya, dia memang penyiar radio.
Dan mata kami pun tertumbuk pada kue keberuntungan yang sudah menjadi dingin. Karena lapar, kami semua mengambil seorang satu.
*Krek*
Saya belah kuenya. Lho, kok kertasnya banyak amat? Percaya atau tidak, ada tiga helai kertas kecil di dalamnya!! Tiga!! Beneran. Apa yang tertera di sana?
"Courage is the master of fear."
"You will win success in whatever you adopt."
"You are a practical person with your feet on the ground."
Dalam hati saya berpikir "Yeah, right. Look what I've got. World's greatest irony."
.....
Tanggal 30 Januari 2005, hari Minggu. Pukul 8 malam. Hiruk pikuk terdengar dari belakang layar. Bukan kepanikan, bukan tangis. Eh, maaf. Ada yang menangis. Tetapi menangis bahagia. Kami semua berlari kesana kemari, tertawa-tawa dan berfoto-foto. Entah berapa foto yang diambil. Rekan-rekan seperjuangan, para pemain, para penari, dan juga Dom, istrinya, semua pemusik berpelukan, bahagia dan puas. Dom pun melihat saya dan tersenyum, "Rhea, the show indeed must go on." Saya tersenyum membalas.
Apa yang terjadi selama 36 jam itu (sejak kami meninggalkan Marriott sampai jam 5 sore, ketika layar mulai dinaikkan)? Kami tahu. Tetapi mengapa itu semua bisa terjadi? Oh, kalo itu.... sepertinya hanya Tuhan yang tahu, dan yang akan tahu. Bagi kami sampai sekarang itu masih misteri.
Rhe, jadi kamu percaya gak sama kue keberuntungan?
Hmm, kalau bagus mengapa tidak? Kalau jelek ya lupakan saja...
Thursday, July 26, 2007
udah ah
udah ah copy paste nya segini dulu.
semoga besok saya disegarkan dan ada progress di thesis (amin).
semoga besok saya disegarkan dan ada progress di thesis (amin).
Usia Adalah...
ini juga hasil SKS (kali ini Sistem Kebut Sejem-an) gara-gara disuruh sumbang sesuatu untuk ulang taun kepala sekolah SMA saya yang ke 70. Taun berapa tuh ya? Lupa =P Mungkin 2004 deh. Saya gak tau sama sekali kalo: puisi (apakah ini puisi?) ini dibacain di depan ratusan atau bahkan ribuan orang... Semoga nama pengarang gak disebut. Soalnya, sekarang pas saya baca lagi.... gak ngerti tuh (beneran!! dudung banget sih). Kalo diinget-inget, kayaknya saya tulis ini karena melihat si Suster yang udah makin tua, tapi karya-karyanya aujubillah numpuknya. Makin tua makin berkarya. Jadi (kayaknya) makna yang ingin disampaikan adalah, hidup itu bisa jadi gersang... usia nambah terus tapi hidup ya gitu-gitu aja. Atau hidup jadi penuh makna, ketika kita berkarya. Iya emang, kayaknya ga keliatan di puisinya. Huhu, gapapa, cela cela aja!
Usia adalah
Sebait angka tanpa makna
Secarik surat tanpa cerita
Senandung dendang tanpa riang
Selayang pandang tanpa binar
Manusia adalah
Raga dengan cinta, jiwa dengan akal sehat
Yang dari lubuknya tercurah kuasa,
Untuk mengubah ‘tanpa’ menjadi ‘sarat’
Usia adalah
Sebait angka sarat makna
Ketika setiap usia bertambah kita menumpuk karya
Bukan mahakarya
Bukan pula sebuncah harta
Tetapi karya CINTA
Usia adalah
Secarik surat sarat cerita
Ketika tangan yang terulur ringankan beban
Ketika cinta tanpa batas sentuh ribuan jiwa
Usia adalah
Senandung dendang sarat riang
Ketika tutur yang terucap deraikan tawa
Ketika senyum yang teruntai redakan nestapa
Usia adalah
Selayang pandang sarat binar
Ketika ribuan jiwa ditempa oleh sepenggal pendidikan
Ketika ribuan pribadi dibentuk menjadi manusia yang utuh
… atas nama keluarga, sesama dan gereja
Hidup adalah
Hanya sepenggal kisah…
Atau sepenggal kisah sarat makna…
Usia adalah
Sebait angka tanpa makna
Secarik surat tanpa cerita
Senandung dendang tanpa riang
Selayang pandang tanpa binar
Manusia adalah
Raga dengan cinta, jiwa dengan akal sehat
Yang dari lubuknya tercurah kuasa,
Untuk mengubah ‘tanpa’ menjadi ‘sarat’
Usia adalah
Sebait angka sarat makna
Ketika setiap usia bertambah kita menumpuk karya
Bukan mahakarya
Bukan pula sebuncah harta
Tetapi karya CINTA
Usia adalah
Secarik surat sarat cerita
Ketika tangan yang terulur ringankan beban
Ketika cinta tanpa batas sentuh ribuan jiwa
Usia adalah
Senandung dendang sarat riang
Ketika tutur yang terucap deraikan tawa
Ketika senyum yang teruntai redakan nestapa
Usia adalah
Selayang pandang sarat binar
Ketika ribuan jiwa ditempa oleh sepenggal pendidikan
Ketika ribuan pribadi dibentuk menjadi manusia yang utuh
… atas nama keluarga, sesama dan gereja
Hidup adalah
Hanya sepenggal kisah…
Atau sepenggal kisah sarat makna…
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