[Expedition] Finally, Kelud!

Ketika Kelud Menggeliat 

Gunung Kelud, salah satu gunung berapi-aktif di Indonesia yang menghasilkan letusan sangat dahsyat tahun ini. Gunung ini terletak di perbatasan antara Kabupaten Kediri, Kabupaten Blitar, dan Kabupaten Malang. Setelah kenaikan statusnya ke beberapa level, sampai ke level tertinggi, 'Awas', gunung ini akhirnya meletus dahsyat pada tanggal 13 Februari 2014, sekitar pukul 11 malam. Pengalaman  meletusnya gunung Kelud mengiringi perjalanan pulangku ke rumah. Kebutulan tanggal 13 Februari waktu itu aku memutuskan pulang menuju Blitar karena sudah beberapa saat tidak pulang.

Seperti biasanya, setelah dijemput pukul 20.00/21.00 malam, rutinitasku selalu pamit dan minta doa melalui Whatsapp, kemudian merem sepanjang perjalanan Yogya ke Saradan, Madiun. Malam itu kuterbangun di sekitar Madiun dan mendengar percakapan sopir yang terganggu dengan kabut semacam pasir tipis yang menutupi kaca mobil. Lantas, aku melanjutkan tidur lagi. Sesampainya di RM Pagi Sore (Surya) Saradan, aku bangun dan melihat HP-ku ternyata Bapak sudah menelepon berkali-kali. Pak Sopir pun menyindir, "Gimana nih Mbak, gunungnya meletus kok malah tidur aja". Wow, aku baru sadar kalau malam itu Gunung Kelud sudah meletus. Langsung saja kutelpon orang-orang rumah memastikan semua baik-baik saja.

Perjalanan paling parah adalah ketika kami mencapai Kota Kediri. Listrik mati, pasir tebal menutupi badan jalan dan menghalangi laju kendaraan, sementara itu kendaraan berbondong-bondong ingin segera meninggalkan Kediri di tengah gerimis abu yang terus-terusan megguyur Kota. Untungnya di tengah suasana yang mencekam seperti itu semua orang mau bersabar antre di jalan dan tidak anarkis. Aku juge bersyukur sopir travel malam itu handal dan sabar. Walaupun harus berulang kali mengisi air untuk menyeka kaca depan mobil yang terkena abu dan pasir. Serta mengantar beberapa penumpang yang rumahnya sudah tertutup pasir Kelud di Kediri.

Aku mengapresiasi sopir travel yang tepat dalam mengambil keputusan untuk mengikuti sebuah truk di depannya. Ahasil perjalanan mampu dilalui dengan lancar walaupun lajunya tidak kencang, namun menapaki pasti. Surprisingly ketika sampai di Kabupaten Blitar, semua orang melongo, tidak terlihat bekas letusan Gunung Kelud. Terlibah lagi ketika sampai di Kota Blitar, udara bersih dan bahkan seperti hari normal.  Dampak letusan Kelud tidak terlalu signifikan terasa di Kota Blitar. Berdasarkan kesaksian orang rumah, kepanikan terjadi beberapa jam setelah Gunung meletus sekitar pukul 23.00 malam. Beberapa kerikil dan pasir tipis juga berjatuhan di rumah setelah gunung meletus, namun tidak masif dan intensitasnya jarang. Dampak tersebut berhasil di sapu keesokan harinya, 14 Februari 2014. Selebihnya, udara segar dan matahari terang bersinar di hari itu.

Menapaki Kelud

Akhirnya, aku menapaki Kelud. Walaupun dari rumah hanya berjarak lebih dari 20km, namun baru kemarin ketika pulang, tepatnya 7 September 2014 aku berkesempatan menginjakkan kaki di sana. Untuk pertama kalinya. Ditemani lima orang, termasuk  adik dan teman-teman kantornya, kami berangkat dari rumah naik mobil sekitar pukul 06.00 WIB. Perjalanan ke Gunung Kelud memakan waktu sekitar satu jam.

Di bawah ini beberapa rekam foto penampakan Kelud pasca erupsi dahsyat bulan Februari tahun ini.

Kami sampai di sana sekitar pukur tujuh pagi, namun matahari terang sekali. Masih terlihat sepi, karena kami pengunjung kedua yang sampai. Bagi yang membawa mobil, tempat ini adalah pemberhentian terakhir, tempat parkir mobil. Hiruk pikuk lalu lalang orang akan semakin rame menjelang siang. Di sepanjang tempat parkir ini ada warung makan dan kios penjaja makanan. Selanjutnya kami menyarankan agar naik ojek sampai ke jempatan pertama, sebelum penanjakan. Biaya ojek pulang pergi hanya Rp.10.000,-

Landscape di jembatan sebelum pendakian

I feel like hiking somewhere else, abroad. Yes, I am in the US.

Pemandangan nampak dari atas. Terlihat beberapa titik gerombolan orang. Yaitu pos dimana kami turun dari ojek untuk melanjutkan perjalanan ke atas, begitu juga dengan pengunjung yang lain. 

Long way to go, perjalanan total dari turun ojek, sekitar 1,5 km, dengan tanjakan yang mempunyai ketajaman sedang, tidak terlalu curam.

Landscape Gunung Kelud. Dari kejauhan terlihat seperti orang yang tidur berbaring.

Ini adalah akhir perjalanan, karena yellow line yang membatasi kami untuk bergerak maju ke depan. Padahal di depan sana masih banyak objek yang lebih menantang untuk dilihat, seperti bekas kawah, dan lekuk gunung yang menyimpan misteri. Tapi cukup di sini sajalah titik aman sebuah perjalanan.

Jangan membayangkan pendakian ke Kelud seperti halnya pendakian ke gunung-gunung lain di Jawa, seperti Merapi, Lawu, Merbabu. Ini lebih disebut  sebagai perjalanan ke lembah gunung untuk napak tilas sisa erupsi, wisata keluarga dan berfoto-foto. Selain itu, alternatif olahraga yang menyehatkan kaki. Tidak banyak peluh dan nafas yang keluar karena medannya ringan, bahkan untuk anak kecil. Walaupun matahari sangat terang, angin gunung juga sejuk berhembus. 

Menghela nafas sebentar, sambil merefleksikan : melihat gunung dan sisa erupsinya, serta mengingat kembali dahsyatnya efek yang ditimbulkan, betapa Maha Daya-Nya yang menciptakan dan membuat segala kejadian. Tentunya, itu lebih dari sekedar siklus alamiah letusan gunung berapi, bagi orang-orang yang berpikir.

Cheers, Kf

[FUN] 20 Facts About Me

I was tagged and challenged to share #20FactAboutMe by @amaliaeci in Instagram. This is very popular right now and I am happy to finish it,  for fun. Since I failed to upload in IG many times,  I decided to post it in in my blog.

Here there are theFacts about me you should know: ^^

1. My full name is RIZKI NUR FAUZIA.  I love the meaning of my name. When I was a baby, I almost got a different name (Rizka Faza Syahara) yet not approved by my Father. 
2. The oldest kid in my family,  have a younger brother.
3. Both my parents are teacher which I am proud of.
4. Family is everything,  and comes first. Family time is always precious.
5. I grew up in a small peaceful town in East Java, called Blitar.  The town which has no movie theater, shopping malls, KFC,  Dunkin, yet is very peaceful and pleasant to live in.
6. I loved both beach and mountain. So it is difficult to choose one.
7. I belived in the kindness and positivity.  For me,  those virtues are contagious.
8. I enjoyed travelling and going new places for a discovery. Travelling can enrich and nourish my soul. I have experienced solo travel quite often,  the longest route is from Norway to Denmark,  and France.  It was very priceless.  However, I considered that travel with the loving one(s) would be more challenging,  fun,  and memorable. Longing for that moments.
9. I really wanted to go to Baitullah for Umrah, sooner.
10. Jogging is my favorite exercise.  I should have more time to do it.
11. Smiley is my middle name. It is just the template of my face I cannot change and complain to.
12. I like listening much better than talking.  I really enjoy listening other's stories and thoughts.
13. I do blogging in:  dotkikifauzia.blogspot. com since 2010 to share my personal point of views,  experiences,  and photos. Writing does really help when others seems not care.
14. I am NOT a sentimental and sensitive person.  Forgive me for that.  Just recenty,  I was easily 'touched' and cried for reasonable factors.
15. I had difficulty to be decisive and assertive.  And am on the process of improving.
16. I am very grateful for people and things I have in life. They have just filled and completed me,  whether in good or bad.  Their presence in life must be for reason.
17. My favorite foods are many. Gudeg, ducks, seafood, mash potatoes and  Italian foods are among my favorite ones. I have been craving for 'Eggplant Parmesan' for loong time and not accomplished yet.
18. I am Aquarius,  born in February.  100% Javanese.
19. I was used to be a big soccer fan since middle school. Not anymore now.  I am a Juventini and my first crush is Filippo Inzaghi. Kinda regret why him, hahaha :D
20. Doing my thesis.  Hopefully it ll be over sooooon.  Wish me luck!

Cheers, Kf

Other Doors will Open, Welcoming You !

Parting, ending, and breaking are never easy, especially when those things are very special and memorable. Fortunately, through life, people and precedent has taught us to face and pass those part, whether successfully or unsuccessfully.  Since we are a child, we are nurtured to stand up and move on to continue life, to any direction, to upgrade our setup. However, each people will respond to the process differently, depends on their circumstances, framings, and perspectives.

For me and my surroundings, we experienced this phase quite often during these last months. It might be hard, sad, heart-breaking for some people, especially in the beginning. But the are always two-sided coins in life. There must be a lesson-learned, reshuffle, and a 'blessing in disguise' afterward. I always believe that 'time will heal and refill', and we can always remember that as memory and lesson in life.

I have witnessed many crying friends who felt the loss of loosing the loved one(s). It broke my heart, really. However, I believe that this feeling is very natural and needs to be appreciated. They might have sensible hearts to express their true feelings. Let them cry, let us cry. It is like liberating our souls and cleansing the wounded hearts. It feels hurt and sore for sure, but the wound will be dry and recovered. The recovery indeed needs time.

After all, the experience of this process will enrich your soul and soft-skills in life. The sadness and emptiness feelings will last only temporary.  Keep in mind that life is a collecting pieces of goodbye and halo, parting and meeting, breaking and joining, ending and starting. That is how life cycles. That is how important that: (1) We need to see the bright and brighter sides, (2) Look back wisely and move forward optimistically, (3) Acknowledge people at the first place. People who have been part of our life stories come crossed to us for reasons.

All in all, I cannot thank enough for those people who have experienced the process. I am very blessed and thankful to the people who have filled my days and my heart, with many memories and lesson learned. I am sorry for every mistakes, my lack of understanding, and my foolish actions. Remember, if for some reasons we are apart, it is only for artificial reasons. You are, and will be in my heart. Distance is not the matter of physical space, but a connecting of willingness heart.

Please smile and be happy!
Sincerely,

Kf

[Family Getaway] Short Reunion in Jogja, Desember 2013

Beberapa hari ini keinginan untuk mengunggah foto-foto bersama keluarga terasa menggebu. Alasannya, pertama, mengabadikan momen bersama keluarga di blog terasa bermakna, terutama jika kita ingin flash back ke beberapa masa yang lalu. Blog ini nampaknya sudah seperti album yang tersimpan rapi, siap dibuka kapanpun. Memori dan rasa terekam di situ. Kedua, mengunggah foto di media sosial, seperti Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, terasa sangat mainstream  dan kurang bisa menjabarkan makna yang lebih dalam melalui eksplanasi yang terbatas wording-nya. Ketiga, apresiasi terhadap karya seni yang diekspresikan lewat narsisme, perlu dilestarikan dan diabadikan dalam postingan :P

Desember 2013, waktu yang sibuk di antara saya dan adik sehingga kami tidak mempunyai kesempatan pulang selama beberapa bulan. Oleh karenanya, kami memutuskan untuk bertemu di Jogja, sebagai tempat yang berada di tengah-tengah antara Blitar dan Jakarta. Kmai memanfaatkan kesempatan tersebut untuk mengunjungi beberapa tempat wisata di Jogja.

Sesampainya adik di Jogja, kami langsung menuju jasa penyewaan sepeda motor. Alhamdulillah, hanya dengan mengisi formulir peminjalam dan beberapa syarat administrasi, seperti foto copy KTP, foto copy KTM dan lain-lain (saya agak lupa, tetapi tidak ribet kok) kami sudah mendapat pinjaman motor yang performanya oke beserta satu helm dan jas hujan. Berbekal dua motor, kami  menjadi pelancong domestik di berbagai obyek wisata di Jogja, seperti halnya Museum Ullen Sentalu dan Pantai Parang Tritis.

MUSEUM ULLEN SENTALU

PANTAI PARANG TRITIS

We had a brief yet great weekend together. Sayangnya Bapak harus piket menjaga rumah. Terima kasih tak terkira kepada TRIPOD yang selalu bisa diandalkan dimana pun kami ingin berpose bersama :D

[Family Getaway] Pantai Pasir Putih, Trenggalek

Kenangan apa yang tak lekang waktu? Di antaranya, berbagi kasih bersama orang yang kita sayangi, menikmati kebersamaan ketika menjadi diri sendiri dan diterima apa adanya, serta menikmati indahnya ciptaan Tuhan seraya mensyukuri indahnya ikatan persaudaran dan kekeluargaan. Alhamdulillah, saya bersyukur bisa mengurai beberapa memori kebersamaan dengan keluarga yang akan selalu dikenang. 

Liburan adalah cara ampuh untuk menikmati dan mensyukuri kehidupan. Liburan bisa menjadi pengobat bagi kepenatan jiwa dan kebosanan akan rutinitas. Selain itu, liburan mampu memberi jeda terhadap ritme yang seringkali membuat lupa, bahwa keseimbangan ragawi dan spiritualitas, perlu ditempatkan pada porsinya. Sebenarnya, jika bisa diringkas dalam beberapa kata, liburan adalah mekanisme untuk rejuvinating, recharging, and reflecting.

Liburan tidak harus jauh dan mahal. Yang terpenting adalah esensi liburan tersebut, manfaat yang ingin diperoleh dan seberapa berharga waktu yang kita investasikan, untuk sebuah kebersamaan dan kenangan. Bersyukur di keluarga selalu ada inisiator yang bersemangat untuk menyusun agenda liburan kapanpun kami pulang, terutama ketika formasi keluarga sedang lengkap. Waktu yang kami dedikasikan untuk liburan selalu selalu memberikan arti lebih akan makna keluarga, kesyukuran, dan kebersamaan.

Pantai Pasir Putih, Trenggalek - Mei 2014

Hari itu kami berangkat ketika menjelang siang, sekitar pukul setengah 10 pagi. Perjalanan dari Blitar ke Trenggalek menghabiskan waktu sekitar dua jam. Awalnya kami ingin mengunjungi pantai Prigi, tapi karena pantai terlihat ramai dan sudah pernah ke sana, om saya mengarahkan perjalanan ke pantai sebelahnya, yaitu Pantai Pasir Putih. Sesuai dengan namanya, pantai itu berpasir putih, landai, dan tidak berombak sehingga banyak pengunjung yang menikmati berbagai pilihan permainan air, mulai dari bermain air, naik perahu, atau bermain ban.

Karena tiba di pantai sudah terlanjur siang hari, kami lebih banyak mengabadikan momen kebersamaan. Ditemani adik dan mama, saya berjalan menyusuri pantai dari ujung ke ujung. Afterall, I had a happy refreshing time.

Iftar Dinner with OIA Family

The idea was two. First, we missed Bu Rio and wanted to arrange a fast-breaking with her. Second, I did not want to make a burden for one person only for preparing the meals and drink. Therefore, the idea of POTLUCK was highly appreciated.

Finally, here some picture of foods that we brought:

Amel even spent her time specially for making her lumpia. We really appreciated that and it taste really good btw.

With two 'brothers' of mine in OIA which are really annoying sometimes yet very kind, supportive and reliable.

Our pose in the lovely gazebo on OIA backyard. Unfortunately, it was not a full team. Some already left earlier.

After all, we had a really nice time, happy tummy and a left-over food for Sahoor. The potluck idea is always a good idea. We were glad that we made it that day.

A Piece of PISA and Fruitful Dinner

Dr. Alexander Wiseman, from College of Education- Lehigh University USA, is an expert in Comparative and International Education, Series Editor in International Perspective on Education and Society, and also Co-chair of International Symposium of Comparative Science. He came to Indonesia for the first time, and I arranged his activity during his stay here. His main purpose for visiting Yogyakarta is making sure that the pilot project of Community Service (KKN) in which his University sent five students to UGM this year would run smoothly as expected. 

This Lehigh internship project is the pilot project of UGM and Lehigh University, and a follow-up project after the successful program of USIPP Summer Program and USIPP Faculty Workshop. Lehigh University is not a well-known university among other American university for us. It is located in Pennsylvania, and private collage with an excellence reputation on its quality. Moreover, the tuition fee is much higher compared to other public university in the US. Lehigh has been a closest partner of UGM in the region of America.

The preparation for this project had been discussed for a year. The massive e-mail and SKYPE meeting had been conducted several times. I never involved in the meeting since it always take place at night. I just help with the communication and prepared the SKYPE meeting. Then, finally the five students came to Yogyakarta. They stayed in UGM dormitory which we considered the best one compared to other dormitories. It is located quite far to the Campus, in Baciro area. The students came a week earlier before KKN starts so my office arranged orientation, language course, and cultural visit. The rest was just free-time.

In brief, the first problem occurred when there was a complaint from student's parent who said that they were disappoint with the arrangement. Then, I identify that there were essential root of problem such as: miss-communication perceived during SKYPE meeting, for example different perception about the cost of the program, condition and activity in the village, extra-cost for extracurricular activities and days-off program. Not to mention also: the various characteristic of the students, some are not mature and not ready for their main reason why they are coming: Community Service.

Those are the reason Mr. Alex was coming, he was appointed as supervisor of this joint-pilot project of Community Service UGM-Lehigh. 

"Test is a test and you can teach people how to a take test"

That was a shot and the best quote I got yesterday. It was on a lecture about "How PISA Inform the Global 'Crisis' in Education"  co-organized by Office of International Affairs and Faculty of Psychology. Before Dr. Wiseman's lecture, I had no idea at all about what is PISA. I just knew that it stands for 'Program for International Student Assessment'. During the lecture I just remembered reading a newspaper a while ago that said about the performance of Indonesian student in the PISA test is on the second lowest rank among all of countries being tested.

Dr. Wiseman sees PISA in a cynical way which I can not agree more on his argument. PISA itself was founded and constructed by OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ). So, I knew who are behind the gun and what the reason behind. Moreover, he said that PISA is just a test and not educational. From his research, despite a real good quality on education, the countries that ranked highly in PISA test are countries which has excellent testing system. Therefore, he underlined that 'test is a test (nothing educational), and you can teach how to take test'.  Moreover, he also explained factors that contributed to the high score in PISA.  The lecture was a great success. It was thought-provoking and insightful. The discussion went really well and fruitful. Most attendees also asked about the education system in Indonesia, how to improve, what is wrong, and etc.

It was raining at the evening when I picked Alex. We walked together from Indraloka Heritage Guest House to Gendhis Resto when we had dinner. The dinner was really important since we would meet the key persons in OIA and LPPM to solve the problem. It was a casual dinner to discuss all issues raised before KKN and during KKN. A night before, I was called by key persons in LPPM that made sure we had the same perception. I was glad that I already shared and discuss with the newly appointed executive director at my office. The dinner went really fruitful, a lot of laugh, win-win solution, saving-face exit strategy, and shared visionary for the future project. It was attended by six people, five male and I was the only female. At the end, I was much relieved that we could compromise and agreed on the solution.

I could sleep really well now, since I was the main communicator on the project. After all, I think having a reliable and trustworthy male boss made life a lot easier. They just do not have any hormone female bosses have, they just think and act rationally and avoid emotional bias. That was only my personal thought.