The Flash of 'Mocha Coffee-Milk' Tale

credit picture here

Before Getting Involved, Know Yourself First and then, Break Your Limits!

I committed to jump in ‘Candradimuka crater’ once again, in a different place with a different motivation and circumstances. But it really recalled my old memory, three years ago when I heated up on this kind of battlefield. The differences, I was almost three years older now and there were some technical yet unessential distinctions to note. Instead of all I experienced and learned, I felt overwhelm, blank and rich at the same time. Blank and weightless were just like ‘de ja vu’, an exact feeling as I finished the last personal-interview section three years ago. Rich was due to all insights, mind-recharging, inspirations, and friendship I got during the two days quarantine. But then, these two feelings exhausted me for a while until I consciously opened my eyes on the next day. Then, I felt grateful and decided to give a huge smile because the sun still intently warmed my skin and my heart. I still smiled because I had nothing to hide; nothing to complain, and wouldn’t grumble on the back. And they were wrong if think so.

I heard quite often a wise word, ‘experience is the best teacher’. On this case, not for me, I really had no idea what ‘the teacher’ already taught me. Yeah, that’s a fool of me. The worst part is I couldn’t mention at least one of benefits I gained from my previous experience. In fact, it’s plenty after I reflected again lately. And I think it’s really pathetic that I couldn’t come up with such a sincere yet solemn answer. I didn’t know why, but I knew the problem is on me, and attached on my limits need to be founded, my self-identity, and my persona. After all, I still question myself, “DO I NEED TO CHANGE? In what extent?” And I actually got some answers. Therefore, the decision needs to be made. Just like what Mba’ Atri said to me “it’s all up to you whether you want to apply the other colors or not, whether you want to use what you have already absorbed or not,”

Processing the Metamorphose

I started the struggle with a high hope to win the battle and strengthen my wings. I began a day before D-day with such a disappointed and bad feeling. First, it’s out of our control when the weather turned dark and ‘angry’. Second, we already did our best and anticipated the lateness by saving a couple hours on ‘our pocket’, but then man only made a plan, and the rest depended on X factors, including others and stuffs. Finally, God is the only One who disposed. Third, I couldn’t accept any unrealistic reasons and consequences to teach others about the meaning of punctuality. Then, I concluded that it would be such kind of militaristic way to discipline people. What I agreed then is that we couldn’t blame and scapegoat-ing others from our own-mistake. So, a mature people would be fully responsible of what they have done. And at the end, I appreciated the win-win solution offered by the committee.

At first, I felt calm and excited to experience what is like to be on the quarantine. There were three things that made me glad and never regret: First, I invented new friendship and new family in my home-province. It’s always delightful to made new friends who can enrich our horizon and life itself. I felt very affluent when looked upon them, both the participants and the committee. It’s like seeing mirror and rainbow. I liked mirror-ing myself when I saw the reflections of me from their role and character. And, I was surprised yet proud when they showed me the beauty of ‘rainbow’. And once again, it enriched me and effortlessly opened my eyes to the power of process itself.

Second, it’s a worth-chance to know my beloved province, East Java, better. Since I am almost four years studying in Yogyakarya, below my self-consciousness, I have often admitted that my knowledge and understanding about Jogja is much better than my own-province, including the people and the place. But, don’t ever doubt on my pride and my sense of belonging to East-Java. No need to question on those. East Java is very unique and distinctive. Despite the geographical and cultural mixture, it ranges widely from west to east, from north coastal to south coastal, from the land to the sea, and others. The dialect and daily conversation is also different from one region to another.

My small-observation met the answer when I saw, listened, and interacted with the 24 youth potential. I enjoyed a lot when we talked and joke around with Boso Jowo. In my daily basis, either in Blitar or Jogja, I used to speak kromo with my parents, and also elder people. But in my peer environment, I accustomed to speaking Bahasa Indonesia to make other friends who mostly came from another background and culture understands the idea of or conversation. In Surabaya on the last three days, I really enjoyed the privilege of speaking with my mother-tongue language, Boso Jowo. And it’s interesting to identify the use of different particles in conversation, such as …ta? Rek,

After all, some committee judged me that I am more Jogjanese than East Javanese or Blitarnese? What a surprised! I myself hadn’t asked the reasons yet. I assumed one of their pre-assumptions was on the matter of straightforwardness, and also in line with my nature. But it happened quite a lot thou when many friends often thought that I am originally from Jogja or Solo or Central Java. And only a few believed that I am from East Java. Is this a part of people justification and stereotype towards others? So, please mind your thought!

Before I started mumbling around, I would conclude the last thing that made me glad during the process. It is the breeze of competition. Lately, I have been hectic inside my own-shell which is my environment and my activities, such as my undergraduate –thesis and heap of works in the office. These two things grabbed most my attention and time until I forgot to update the news and upgrade myself. It’s my comfort zone that satisfies my recent-priority and future target. So, what wrong? I guess, the reason is when we feel enough and satisfied, we easily forget that we need to perpetually improve ourselves, and look beyond our shell to find out what’s more than ‘meet on the eyes.’

The competition made me aware that my I had to keep progressing and processing my self. It’s not only about my accomplishment and satisfaction I reached, but what we have given and what we have contributed, for the sake of betterment not only for me, but also my surrounding. Creating a small step to generate the massive awareness is also essential to advance the nation.

‘Diaspora is only an ice-berg’

From the moment on, I won’t forget the relation between DIASPORA and DISPORA. It made me realize that I really need a brain supplement and an outrageous therapy. That’s really true^^. And too bad, I just realized it. On my turn of sudden speech, I had twice chances to pick the topic. My first pick is Joko Tingkir. Oh Gosh, I was not really sure what the legend is about. My brain kept telling me about Rara Anteng and Joko Seger which I knew was the absolute wrong. So, with Bismillah I picked another one. And tarrraaa, I got DIASPORA. Ohhhh damn! It sounded very familiar, but I totally blank, forgot, and ‘messed up’ as if my brain cells ruined my memory and logical thinking. So the result, I stiffed powerlessly and spoke in a silent voice. At that time, I felt like flying after consuming drugs until I finished answering series questions related to the topic.

I disappointed myself, because two things. First I lost my voice on the sudden speech matters. I am late to realize that it's not only about the topic but how we should formulate a speech in certain time with our creativity, spontaneous yet fast-thinking and just be confident to keep talking. Second, I embarrassed many labels tagged in me, especially the department and university I belong to. I should have become an expert of this topic but the fact is the contrary. So, the outrageous therapy needs to be made at the earliest convenience. The DIASPORA precedent is only an ice-berg phenomenon about finding my limitations. And I couldn't agree more with Mas Yesaya who said that we should have in-depth understanding towards the knowledge or issues, as a whole, not only from its skin.

The continuous lesson learned filled in each session. For me, it's not only about liberating myself from my comfort zone, but also about honestly finding and admitting my limits. Hence, I should learn as follows: to think and learn fast, focus on what in front of us, rehearse to memorizing the others name properly, learn history and culture of Indonesia and East Java, and be brave and confident of our capacity. Because after we have discovered the limits, we would be able to take a small step to cross our boundaries. It's indeed not comfortable at first. But then, we would realize how an exceptional experience we passed through.

New Family Made

These two days in quarantine meant a lot to me. The time went slowly but turned out productively and unforgettably. We shared many moments together, from ‘yell-yell’, talent show, city exploration, group dynamic, and many other moments to remember. From the cheerful encouragement until the heart-sport of high tense session, that bonded us as one family, in the name of hope and dream. I was so proud and glad to be one of them. They are mostly younger than me, but who knows that they are more passionate, enthusiastic, braver, and have potential inner-self and talent that will grow and glow brightly in the future.

After all, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and big 'standing-applause' to the whole committee who succeed to spread a positive spirit to us. Each of them has inspired me in various possible ways that at the end, will lead me to follow my dreams. And for all the readers, please keep in mind that before getting involved, know yourself first, then, break your limits to discover a brand-new you who are awesome and unbeatable!

Keep positive and keep smiling :)

Best regards,

Kiki Fauzia

Bagi-bagi "My 1st Award"

Maisya Farhati. Nama yang indah. Dalam keseharian sering dipanggil Icha. Karena saya lebih muda (ehmm), jadi saya menambahi atribut, Mbak (padahal harusnya Teh, kan Mbak?). Pertama kali mengenal Mbak Icha adalah di kantor. Kesan pertama begitu menggoda, selanjutnya jangan terpedaya. Haha.. Sejak awal, saya merasa Mbak Icha merupakan sosok yang nyaman untuk bersama, dewasa, dan pandai menempatkan diri. Kemudian, semakin mengenalnya, saya semakin terpukau dengan intelegensi dan 'kreativitas'-nya dalam berkata-kata. Komentarnya seringkali sangat tajam, bahkan terasa 'bengis' (not in the real meaning). Haha, walaupun begitu, itulah sense of humor tingkat tinggi yang dia miliki. Karena komen-komen spontannya itu, kadang kita menjuluki dia sebagai "Hostility Officer" (plesetan dari "Hospitality Officer", salah satu jabatan di kantor)

Mbak Icha sangat gemar menulis. Konon dia mulai menulis sejak usia sangat dini, di buku diarinya. How cute. Tulisan di blognya sangat renyah, ringan, mengalir, dan menginspirasi. Selain menulis dan membaca, mbak Icha adalah tergolong orang yang sangat menikmati hidup. Hobi travelling (luar dan dalam negeri), wisata alam, dan kuliner. Teman yang care dan bisa diandalkan. Untuk mengenalnya lebih jauh, dan agar bisa menikmati tulisannya, please feel free to visit her blog at : http://nulisaja.multiply.com/

Suatu malam, saya mendapat message di Facebook dari Mbak Icha berisi pemberitahuan bahwa saya mendapat award, dan disuruh menjemput di blognya. Namanya: "Stylish Award". No matter what it does mean, for me, it was such a big surprise. Inilah award pertama yang saya dapatkan. Sebelumnya, saya seringkali membaca blog orang yang saling memberi award. Sebagai blogger pemula, saya kurang paham dan merasa belum pantas. Hehe. Jadi untuk award pertama ini, saya ingin mengucapkan hatur nuhun sangat buat mbak Icha. Terlebih lagi, she described me with such kind words. I was blushed.

Terimakasih utukMbak Icha telah mengapresiasi blog saya. Award ini akan saya jadikan sebagai motivator untuk menulis yang lebih bermanfaat dan bermutu. Saya punya peer setelah mendapat award ini diantaranya :

1. Thank and link to the person who awarded me this award.
2. Share 8 things about myself
3. Pay it forward to 8 bloggers that i have recently discovered.

Okay, I did the first one, then I will continue to the next one :
Delapan hal mengenai diri saya :

1. Nama lengkap saya Rizki Nur Fauzia. Kurang lebih artinya, Rezeki Cahaya Kebahagiaan. Amieen. Doa itulah yang diharapkan orang tua saya waktu saya lahir. Sejak kecil saya dipanggil Kiki, baik di rumah maupun di lingkungan pergaulan. Jadi saya lebih populer dengan nama Kiki Fauzia. Tahukah saudara-saudara : Saya nyaris punya nama lain, bukan Rizki Nur Fauzia, tapi Rizka Faza Syahara. Does it sounds more cool and sophisticated? I loved the second one. Haha. Saya tahu itu ketika membaca jurnal dan klipping milik mama. Kemudian beliau bercerita kalo itu nama kreasi Mama, dan bapak saya tidak setuju dengan nama yang agak neko-neko. Bapak juga berfikir kalo nama Rizki Nur Fauzia lebih punya makna^^
2. Waktu kecil, saya sangat aktif. Sekitar usia lima tahun-an, saya pernah mencukur rambut saya sendiri dengan gunting, sampai hampir habis dan petal. Saya juga sangat sering jatuh dari kasur (nggelinding) ketika tidur. Bahkan orang tua saya sering kesulitan mencari saya ketika bangun tidur, dan ternyata sudah terkapar di kolong ataupun bawah kasur. Selain itu, pelipis alis kanan saya pernah dijahit karena jatuh dari jendela. Sampai sekarang bekas itu masih ada, walaupun sangat kecil.
   
3. Sejak SMP, saya tergolong gadis yang gila bola. Saya adalah seorang Juventini sejati. Pemain bola idola saya yang pertama adalah: Filippo Inzaghi. Waktu itu dia bermain untuk Juventus. Sampai sekarang saya shocked sendiri dan ga tahu kenapa waktu itu saya ngefans dengan striker peyot dan suka diving itu. (Upps, sorry Man). Saya (dan adik) berlangganan Tabloid 'Bola'. Hapal seluk beluk bola dan begadang malam demi melihat pertandingan bola, terutama ketika Juventus tanding. Sementara untuk negara, saya cinta mati dengan Perancis. Kesukaan bola tersebut lambat laun berkurang, dan sekarang saya biasa saja dengan bola, kecuali ketika Piala Dunia, atau ketika timnas tanding. Mungkin, karena ikut-ikutan euforia.
4. Saya suka berpetualang di alam, jalan kaki, naik turun gunung. Sehingga pada dasarnya, saya cewek yang kuat. ^^ Saya suka dan lihai panjat memanjat. Bahkan, memanjat genting, gunung, dan lainnya yang melibatkan otot kaki. Saya terlatih dengan hal tersebut karena waktu exchange di Amerika, saya dilatih untuk kuat di pelajaran olahraga. Setiap lari, diharuskan sebanyak 8 kali putaran mengelilingi lapagan football Amerika. Saya juga mengambil pelajaran Rock Climbing, dan sangat menikmatinya. Saya mendapat nilai A dan dikenal jago dibanding teman2 cewek lain di kelas. Hobi saya jalan juga dikarena Bapak angkat saya di Amerika yang sangat bijak, suka mengajak saya jalan di taman dan hutan setiap akhir pekan. Juga, sejak kecil saya adalah gadis pramuka yang aktif berkemah dan berpetualang.
   
5. Saya adalah juara baca puisi kawakan di tingkat Kota Blitar. Haha. (Ga sombong loh). Sejak SD sampai SMA saya sering ikut lomba puisi di tingkat kota dan provinsi. Prestasi terbaik saya adalah Penyaji Terbaik Pertama Tingkat Jawa Timur pada Pekan Seni Pelajar Jawa Timur di Banyuwangi. Mama adalah pelatih terbaik saya selama ini. Berkat puisi, saya gratis jalan-jalan ke luar kota, karena ikut Porseni di kota-kota di Jawa Timur, seperti Sidoarjo, Gresik, Madiun, dan Banyuwangi. Adik saya juga sama. Kami sama-sama juara puisi. Ketika Pekan Seni di Banyuwangi, adik saya juga juara tapi tingkat SD. Adik saya bahkan pernah ke Kalimantan Timur untuk Pospenas, puitisasi Al-Quran tingkat nasional.
6. Saya dibesarkan di keluarga yang religius, moderat, dan demokratis. Keluarga besar kami berasal dari kalangan agamis. Hal tersebut mempunyai pengaruh besar pada penampilan dan kepribadian saya. Ibu saya adalah guru Agama Islam di SMP. Sedangkan Bapak adalah guru Bahasa Indonesia di SMA. Tapi dalam kehidupan sehari-hari, peran di rumah tangga sebagian besar berkebalikan. Bapak, imam di surau yang juga imam rumah tangga yang sederhana dan tidak neko-neko. Sedangkan Mama, adalah ibu yang gaul, asyik, problem-solving, bisa menempatkan diri, dan tahu porsi. Mereka berdua saling melengkapi. Sementara, kadang saya merasa adik saya jauh lebih dewasa, pengetahuan agamanya lebih luas, dan sering mengingatkan saya.
7. Waktu saya SMA, saya punya cita-cita nikah usia muda. Tapi seiring berjalannya waktu, saya merasa belum siap, dan perlu mempelajari ilmunya dulu. Sehingga saat ini prefer untuk nikah di saat usia yang tepat. Kapan tepat itu? Hehe, tentunya ketika mendapat pendamping yang tepat, dan lebih cepat lebih baik. Lohh (hehe). Saya berdoa supaya calon suami saya nantinya bisa menjadi Imam saya dalam segala hal. Oleh karenanya, semoga agamanya kuat dan takut Tuhan. Selanjutnya, semoga orangnya supportive terhadap pilihan dan aktivitas saya. Selebihnya, tentunya kita harus bisa menyelaraskan visi keluarga ke depannya. Nanti (insyaAllah) saya pengen punya anak sekitar 3-5. Supaya di rumah nanti tidak terlalu sepi. Hehe.
8. Yang terakhir, saya ingin sekali menjadi orang yang lebih efektif dan asertif. Alasannya apa? Mungkin saya merasa kurang dalam hal tersebut. Doakna ya bloggers semoga saya lebih terlatih untuk menjadi lebih baik lagi, efektif dan asertif.

Selanjutnya, saya ingin mempersembahkan awards ini untuk kedelapan teman blogger saya. Mereka luar biasa and unique on their own. Blog mereka mempunyai cerita bervariasi yang selalu menginspirasi dan menyegarkan hari saya. Here they are :

1. Wiwien Apriliani
2. Moh. Rosyid Jazuli
3. Retno Widyastuti
4. Wiwit Prasetyono
5. Bernando J Sujibto
6. M. Nurul Ikhsan
7. Cindy Yoliva
8. Primahasmi Dalulia

Selamat buat kedelapan teman saya. Semoga Allah menjaga ikatan persaudaraan kita. Selamat berjuang di jalan masing-masing.

Salam manis,

Post K.K.N. Reflection

Too much to count, too many to tell.
I will start from my community service stories. Well, I have just officially finished my community service duty, today, after completing the responsibility to the school. Unlike the other days of our trip to Wonosari, today we rode my friend's car. The trip seemed more enjoyable and faster, especially in the hot temperature day. OMG. I still cant believe that I stayed the same. My innocent behavior should be responsible of what I have done. So, this what happened : I switched off my mobile phone due to empty battery since the night before. After praying subuh in Masjid, I felt a sleep and just woke up around 9 a.m. Then, I remembered to switch on my mobile phone. There were several messages coming, one of them was from my KKN team. Then, I was ruined in a big hurry to get ready to the campus. Oh, God, I hate myself to being that way.

I once said that too much control would make no sense. On this context, I was strongly irritated by the mechanism created by institution that has the authority to control the whole system of community service. Simply, why they bother to complicate stuff. It's maybe a typical of Indonesia procedural system. Ok, then enough to complain, and wouldn't change anything, except if they are sensible enough to reflect on what many students may have articulated in the sense of inefficiency.

They called it ‘sosiogram’. What a shit of sheet I can say. I don’t know whether it’s part of grading system or not. Frankly, I don’t like judge (rank) others by putting them unequal to what they have contributed. Maybe some friends support this kind of consideration, but I powerfully argue that this will create worst and unfair results. First reasons, as a team we are built to work together, support, and complete each others. So we mayn’t compare one to each just by concluding that one has a better contribution to others. Each one has their own portion and contribution. One may give a small but urgent yet significant input to the team. Second reasons, I believe that regardless objectivity principle we hold, we tend to act subjectively. Therefore, I vote for 'floating mass' on this situation, with such thoughtful considerations, such as a betterment for all and for the sake of long term relationship.

KKN is quite experience that thought me a lot. It was a another life phase sample that made me think, feel, react, reflect, then realize that I am a perfect human blessed with imperfect traits. When we struggled in a team, we mostly deal with frictions within our own consciousness, interpersonal relations and conflicting motion of thoughts with others. Then, after all, I knew myself better and the way others think and react. Too many to count, and, too many times we missed the moment to be touched, to be heard, to be hold on. We may easily forgot that basically we are just the same. If we can listen more, do more, involve more, and share more, we may miscalculate the days we spent compared with satisfaction and preciousness others may feel. When I realized that way, I want to rotate the time and change the scenario so that I won't 'amoeba-ing' quite often.

UNIT 95 -my KKN team- in front of Lobi HI, Fisipol UGM, 2010

It's ashamed if we just know the name, never asked how they feel, even seldom thank to their deeds. We also couldn't blame the system we committed, if that really happened. It was just too pity for me if this togetherness didn't reach out deep down inside our heart. I mean, I wouldn't exaggerate things, but we really need to value that we are not a robotic creature. Every act has tendency, motivations, and intentions. Then, we have to build our sense of sympathy and empathy. Maybe it's too easy to say, but hardly to understand and practice. Simply I wanna say : don't hurt others, don't backstabbing others, and don't underestimate others. It's better to appreciate others, and give a positive support to their deeds.

I'm glad to have shared and experienced this two months of community service together with my teammate. I really appreciated that we have tried to contribute our best. When I looked upon them, there were many memories drawn inside my brain-disk, and locked tidily in my heart. Because every jokes created happiness. Every smiles cured bad days. Every success generated optimism. Every appreciation invented confidence. Every shared-stories established trust. Every togetherness built understanding. And loving will grow through bad and good days. And time will show who true friend are.

On the other hands, I strongly oppose any forms of humiliation. In whatever intentions it may take, I rather withdrawing myself and choose 'mute' mode. Maybe, it's not the best way to react. But I will not worsen the situation by adding some opinion and random info. Because every humiliation will cause wound and big hole in other heart. Because we never know yet beyond their appearance, actions and reactions, what their real conditions, motivations, and intentions are. Haha. It's getting more absurd and I started mumbling randomly.

Afterward, I just wanted to sincere thank and sorry to all my friends during this two months. It's very delighted to work with you. I was very honored to spend minutes, hours, days, and months with you who are indeed very good people, very good students. Thank you.

Cheers, for all the best,

Kiki Fauzia

"Seorang terpelajar harus berlaku adil sudah sejak dalam pikiran, apalagi dalam perbuatan," - Pramoedya Ananta Toer

Swa7A Updated

I just want to say :
I can't thank enough for your presence. Our sisterhood on SWA7A. Thanks for always sharing and loving. It's been awesome to be fool and silly with you, dear. Always LOL (Laugh Out Loud):)

Much Love, Kiki :)

PS. Cindy and Dedeks, sorry for the photo in the middle, it's not blurry, just artsy!

hari yang lengkap

(Sebelum menulis posting ini, doaku kupanjatkan teruntuk mamaku tersayang yang saat ini sedang tergolek lemah di kotaku tercinta. Sakit magh membuat tubuhnya tak berdaya untuk melakukan aktivitas harian. Semoga mamaku yang selalu gesit, penuh spirit, dan ceria segera diberikan kesembuhan oleh Allah SWT. Diberikan kekuatan dan kesehatan yang selalu bersemayam dalam jiwa dan raganya. Amiieen. )

Hari Jumat, hari yang penuh berkah. Begitu kata kebanyakakan orang. Seperti itu pula yang kurasakan kemarin. Aku bersyukur masih diberi kesempatan untuk introspeksi diri dan dianugerahi teman-teman hebat yang bisa memotivasi. Menurutku itu berkah yang tak terhitung harganya.

Pagi hari dimulai dengan aktivitas berkejaran dengan waktu dalam menyelesaikan 'take home exam' Militer dan Politik. Ya Tuhanku, anugerahilah kepadaku kemampuan otak yang 'encer' dan kenikmatan yang luar biasa dalam belajar. Seharusnya, aku mulai memberikan porsi yang lebih besar kepada kuliah, apalagi semenjak ada telepon pemberi peringatan (baca:perhatian) dari Karya Salemba Empat, pemberi beasiswaku selama ini. Yups, AKU HARUS RAJIN BELAJAR! Tidak ada pilihan lain bagiku. Tidak ada alasan dan alibi kuat yang bisa menyelamatkanku pada pembenaran-pembenaran lain. Waktuku cukup dan fasilitas sudah tersedia dengan baik. Semua kembali ke diri. Dan itu yang menjadi masalahku selama ini: Manajemen Diri. Ya Allah, dengarlah pintaku yang terdalam. Diri ini tidak mau menjadi hamba-Mu yang merugi!

Setelah satu urusan selesai, bersegaralah mengerjakan urusan yang lain. Satu demi satu, hingga selesai semuanya. Itu hukum alam (sunatullah). Sekembali ke kamar kos yang melenakan, aku ingat janjiku kepada temanku yang seang butuh pertolongan. Saat itu aku merasa sangat 'hectic' dan tak berdaya untuk membagi waktu. Tetapi kemudian aku sadar, kepuasan setelah menolong orang lain, menyempatkan waktu untuk meringankan beban orang lain, akan memberikan kemenangan hati yang luar biasa. Dan, alhamdulillah selesai jualah urusan men'translete'-kan artikel temanku ke dalam bahasa Inggris.

Siangnya, aku ke KUI. Selalu ada 'spirit' baru, walaupun kadang produktivitas diri menjadi permasalahan lain. Kalau itu, tergantung situasi dan kinerja diri. Tidak terasa, badan ini lemas dan perutku melapar dengan sangat karena belum makan seharian. Akhirnya aku mengajak teman-teman untuk melakukan ritual 'nge-ttack' yang sangat sakral bagi KUI-ers. Namun apa yang terjadi di luar sana? Di luar Kantor Urusan Internasional? Rupanya, hujan deras mengguyur kawasan Bulaksumur, dan sekitarnya. Langit menangis sekencang-kencangnya seakan hendak memrotes sesuatu. Kami tidak mengompromikan keadaan. Walau badai menghadang, urusan perut tetap menjadi pilihan, tidak bisa dinegosiasikan. Kami pun nekat menerjang segala rintangan alam, hujan, petir, badai. (Ehmm, agak lebay ini)

Hujan yang kami lihat, bukan hanya kamuflase. Hujan yang kami rasakan sungguh dahsyat. Banjir bahkan menggenangi hampir sebagian besar kawasan UGM, mulai dari jalan depan FEB-FIB, sampai depan GSP. Tapi tak apalah toh baju dan sepatuku sudah lumayan basah semua. Pikirku, aku bisa dengan segera mempercepat laju motorku. Dengan gas yang agak aku paksakan, tak kuduga motorku seakan tertahan. Tak ada daya untuk melaju lagi. Dan STOP. Berhenti. Tepat di tengah bunderan UGM, ketika aku hendak berbelok ke arah GMC dan KOPMA. Wow. That's GREAT. I just realized that I run out my fuel. ( Kiki, oh Kiki. Kiki memang tetaplah Kiki. Kapan kamu dewasa, Nak? Bahkan untuk mengisi bensin pun kamu tidak awas. Lebih telitilah kepada kehidupan di sekitarmu!)

Aku sering prihatin kepada diri sendiri. Mulai hal sekecil ini seharusnya aku bisa peduli. Sebagai latihan untuk mendisiplinkan diri. Namun yang selalu terjadi, peristiwa hanya menjadi celah, bukan menjadi jendela-yang bisa membukan mata hati dan otak, sebagai pembelajaran. Terlebih lagi, agar tidak terjatuh dalam lobang yang sama. Itulah orang yang paham, yang bisa mengambil hikmah dari kesalahan yang pernah dilakukan.

Okelah kalau begitu, aku harus mendorong motor. Dalam kondisi basah kuyup. Hujan-hujanan. Masih bersyukur aku ditemani seorang teman. Masih bersyukur aku memakai jas hujan. Dan kembali lagi, ada teman yang bisa diandalkan untuk menolong. Teman yang sama dengan kasus yang sama. Sebelumnya temanku ini juga menolongku ketika waktu itu motorku macet, karena diantaranya bensinnya habis (selain harus diganti aki, oli, dan pemantik mesinnya). Oh memang waktu itu motorku sedang agak 'cerewet' dan membutuhkan 'treatment' di salon motor.

Baiklah, aku bersyukur tidak sendirian sore itu. Berbasahan dalam hujan adalah hal yang selalu kurindukan. Dan sore itu, aku bertemu yang aku rindukan. Sampai akhirnya, Alhamdulillah, aku bisa makan dengan lahap di KFC walaupun dengan badan yang menggigil kedinginan.

Malamnya..

Hari itu aku berjanji untuk memberikan lembaran wasiat (baca: daftar perusahaan2 yang potensial untuk kerjasama sponsorship). Karena sore itu hujan ternyata sebegitu derasnya, temanku memberitahukan bahwa malam ini saja dia akan mampir ke kosku. Baiklah, akhirnya jam 7 malam dia di sudah di depan kos. Aku mempersilahkannya masuk dan duduk di depan kosku yang sempit. Di teras kosku yang lebih tepat disebut sebagai tempat parkir atau mungkin toko motor. Kami mengobrol, terutama tentang persiapannya menuju Eropa, Belanda, tepatnya.

Banyak kejutan yang aku dapatkan. Terutama, cerita tentang akhirnya dia akan mengajak Ibunya ke Belanda. Wah, ibu mana yang tidak akan bahagia dan bangga anaknya menawarkan perjalanan ke Eropa bersama, terlebih di hari-hari bertepatan dengan ulang tahun sang Ibu. Wah, sungguh terharu bahagia mendengar berita terbaru itu. Dia juga bercerita banyak hal, dan tak bosan aku mendengarkan, sekaligus belajar banyak hal. Dia mengatakan bahwa sebelumnya sudah akan mem-booking Qatar Airlines, namun suatu kebetulan ketika itu ada pameran tiket pesawat, dan Garuda sedang promo untuk penerbangan perdana ke Eropa dengan strategi 'beli 1 tiket, bonus 1" Dan akhirnya, karena itulah dia memutuskan untuk membeli tiket Garuda, dengan bonus trip Eropa bersama Ibu tercinta.

Wah, ceritanya selalu menginspirasi. Kapan yaa, aku mengajak orang tuaku melancong ke luar negeri. Ya Allah, Engkaulah Sang Pemberi Keajaiban! Engkau Jualah Sang Pembuka Jawaban! dan Juga Pemberi Harapan Terbesar dalam hidup. Semoga tiba saatnya nanti aku juga membahagiakan orangtuaku dengan cara demikian. Akhirnya pembicaraan terus berlanjur ke 'Food Fest' karena memang kami berdua belum makan. Banyak hal yang di-sharing kan, pembicaraan tentang aktvitas dan pergaulan di kampus, cerita masa kecil, pengalaman AFS, beberapa kasus pribadi yang berjanji akan kujaga kerahasiaannya, sampai urusan bisnis dan kiat-kiat suksesnya. Wah, kadang aku sempat berpikir. Oh God! Temanku ini masih mahasiswa, seumuranku. Namun pengalamannya bergaul, beinteraksi, berkoneksi dan bersilaturahmi dengan berbagai kalangan sungguh sangat langka.

Kemudian, setelah kami kenyang, dia terlihat lelah dan mengantuk. Rupanya lima hari ini dia tidur cuma 3 sampai 4 jam, karena harus membagi waktu antara ujian di kuliah dan urusan dengan 'klien'. Better to go home soon, I think. Apalagi pagi hari keesokan, dia harus mengejar rizki dan menyambung tali silaturahmi di Sragen. Sungguh non-stop productivity.

Ketika aku merefleksikan ke diri. Ini memotivasiku untuk lebih berusaha lagi, bekerja keras, dan ulet dalam berjuang. Ya Allah, kapan aku memiliki kualitas diri seperti itu. Terimakasih sobat telah mau membagi waktumu yang mahal harganya. Kapanpun butuh teman bercerita, aku akan dengan seksama mendengar, untuk belajar dan agar bisa 'berpijar', lebih terang lagi.

Sungguh Jumat hari yang lengkap. Melengkapiku dengan berbagai cerita yang kubingkai dengan semangat motivasi diri untuk berjuang lebih baik lagi. Terimakasih kepada teman-temanku yang mengisi salah satu Jumatku di bulan April ini. Mari kita terus berjuaaaaang!

Salam penuh pengharapan, -KF-

ISFiT 2009 Anniversary

It's almost been a year since February 2009. We want to celebrate our togetherness. Chill out our yearning while remembering what happen on the previous year, especially on the month of February. International Student Festival in Trondheim 2009 united us together. On a lovely city, near the north pole called Trondheim we valued every single activity and experienced everyday's excitement in two weeks festival. Great lecturers, amazing workshop, new friendship, alternative peace-building, unforgettable festival would stand foremost in our life-mosaic.

We designed this rendezvous on the exact month when ISFiT was held a year ago. ISFiTers Go to Plaza Senayan, on Saturday 14 February 2o10. I myself get so excited to see my new friends, my ISFiT 2009 family, and my fellow Indonesian students (though some of them already graduated). I will come along way from Yogyakarta to Jakarta. I hope it will be a great anniversary celebration :)

DOs and DONTs

I started today with such a lost, disappointed feeling. But I tried to wake up and make the best effort to create a better day. I woke up, breathed deeply, and released my worrisome about my previouse bad. I often missed the moment of morning surrender recently. There is such a deep hollowness afterwards. But it's a worthed lesson learned.

All of sudden, I looked to my white board that used to be a weekly planner hang on the wall. I never used it since I had my cuty notebook planner. After a few moment of silent, I caught a brilliant idea. I grabbed my black boardmarker, then drawed a thin line to divide that board to be two parts. On the right side, I wrote a big DOs and the left one said DON'Ts. After that, I listed what I should DOs and what I should avoid (DONTs). It was just surprissing knowing that I am on trouble recently, especially due to time mismanagement that caused a long cycle of life mismanagement.

Morning 'til afternoon. I struggled with my fundrising proposal. Printing, copying, editing are not really special task since I always had done with them. After all finished, I headed to campus. First, I went to my IR department office. From a distance, I saw a crowd of people gathered in the lobby. They are IR student class 2006 fighting for their undergraduate thesis. After saying hello, smiling, and having a little conversation with them, I straight came inside the office. Fortunately, I met Mrs. RTN whom I had been searching for since the previous week. Thanks God, she already understood my intention to meet her. Without need to explain more, she answered my big question mark in my head.

In the beginning she asked forgiving for not grading yet my termpaper (as my 'susulan' exam). That is not a real big deal for me. I am still quite optimistic that I will get a good grade thou. My main intention actually is about asking for my department financial contribution due to my upcoming-2 weeks-program in Thailand which is just around the corner. Hell, yeah, I got dissapointed that my department rejected my proposal. Based on Mrs. RTN answer, my department just made a policy about 'financial contribution' to the international events. It's kind of pathetic that my department cut out the funding because I have already experienced international event. So, IR department only let the fresh students having no international experience to use their money. Huff. If that's the criteria, I must be eliminated since the first round:(

My mission is not accomplished. But somehow I am still optimistic. My next destination is Mandiri Bank. I had to pay my school tuition today. If not doing it soon, there would be various consequences. Let say, I might have no money left on my pocket in the end and I was threatened not able to fill my KRS. So, better to do it sooner.

Another meeting was setted up after finishing a bank transer to Rector account. I had to meet my Vice Dean of Student Affairs in my faculty. I had to wait for her about a quarter hour. I felt a little bit relieved since she promised me to give a financial support. She didn't decide yet since she have to review my proposal. She said almost the same things with my previous meeting in my department, about the lack of faculty budget, a massive MUN conference, and the idea of internazionalization.

Today, I dealed with the negotiation as part of the art of begging. Let's see whether it succeed or not. After done with my fundrising mission I had to go to my office, Office of International Affairs. There, we had done a half of selection process of recruiting new PCs who will be our new partners soon. Today like usual I chatted and laughed in the same time I worked in the office. This is a pleasure, and I enjoyed. Thanks to Pupu who gave me a nice 'gantungan kunci' of Singapore where she just visited this weekend.

Minutes by minutes passed slowly because I had nothing to do. So, when mbak Icha asked for outing to have a lunch, I undoubtfully agreed. Mas Timur then wanted to join with us. We decided to go to Pizza Hut. It was great pick bacause I really wanted to go that place since last night.

Always being so special and recharging moment to spend with good friends. We ordered 'sensasi delight 4' and a very sweet ice cream. We eated alot. We talked alot. We laugh loud. We are happy to be in today. We are happy to be together, in laughter, overcoming our hunger.

Thanks God for everything. You are still The Greatest. Thanks for this breathing, this disapointment, this friendship, and the day you blessed me with a smile of the sun. What a beautiful today is!

I promised to be better tomorrow. Doing those DOs and avoiding those DONT's!!