The Teacher, Driver and Brother

The Bahasa Indonesia teacher said that according to the newspaper, Indonesia is the shining star for democracy in Asia.

The driver said that he and his kampong mates are being paid IDR 20,000 per person to vote this electant.

The 13-yr old brother said that every electants are corrupt anyway. The important thing is we get the money.

How weird.

Blogger Comment Sucks

John is right. Totally right. How terrible and grotesque the situation is now for those girls, trafficked into the hands of unknown pricks in vain. I wish we could help (if anyone know how we can help, please feel free to let me know).

Changing Direction

Yesterday I was excused from the school to go to the Ministry of Education in order to legalize my current report card. The reason, of course, is to follow up the administration for my application on the University of Ind for the academic year of 2007-08. Everything went smooth at first, we had lunch with my Dad's friend, and waited while he do the talking to the officers.

But just before the rightful minister signed my report card, to be legally legalized as equivalent to Ind's curriculum, he saw my school's name.

"IPEKA? I dont think that school is registered as an International school here."

Then he made a few inquiry into their database system, and it turns out that my school is registered only as a National Plus school, and furthermore it has no operational license from the Ministry of Education.

With that, I bade goodbye to any chance of my report card being legalized, let alone enterin Univ. of Ind.

Right now Im really really dissapointed with my school. Not angry, no, we've gone through that time. Previously, the vice principal of the school told us that no International school can be set up by Indonesian, hence my school stays under the name of National Plus.

So why is it that in front of the new building, they wrote in capital letters, IPEKA INTERNATIONAL Christian School?

If it is true, that international schools arent supposed to be built by Indonesians, then how come there's another international school, set up by Indonesian, who already has their operational license, and classified by the Indonesian government as an international school?

Getting really confused.

Now Im stuck here to do my UAN until April next year, by then only I can pursue my univ education in Amsterdam. Should I be cheering or jeering?

Language Contrast

Geez this is really weird. How can I achieve better scores and feedback from my Second Language whilst failed to excel in my Background Language?

The funny thing is that I was once such a good student and writer and answerer and reader in my Background Language whilst striving at my Second Language. That was before, in the days of blue junior-high skirts and blissful ignorance of any marks and scores.

I wish I can be a better student and writer and answerer and reader in my own Background Language. Would be a shame if I failed :(

First Week in New School

I've successfully submitted my Business and Economics Assessment Tasks this morning, as both are due on the same day, but different hours. And should I by any means consider this first weekend without having to think about both report and essay a real weekend?

Apparently not.

I have to start composing my speech for my Bahasa Indonesia Assessment, due this Monday. 2 days, free at last, to research and write a speech. To submit it, and read it aloud infront of the class on Tuesday.

And the worst part is, my new building does not even look like a school. Most importantly, I felt like Im in a mall somewhere having lunch at the colorful cafeteria (overpriced and tasted awful). Sitting in some kind of a seminar in the white, freezing classrooms. Opening colorful lockers with the latest technology in locker keys provided by the school.

I feel like doing anything but doing something productive with my brain.

Weird, I do miss my old school, despite our constant mockery to the boring canteen and rotten building, it was a school. Funny Im not all that excited about having a renewed, humongous, modern, shiny and minimalist school building.

Maybe its because I would have to wake up earlier to ensure that I will be able to park my car in the school's basement, and also because our arrivals are being recorded through our smart cards we scanned to enter the building.

As written by Chrispian here, also some of my other school mates' blogs, I'm not alone in this preferance of the old building thing.

But hey, every changes take time. I have to adapt, like it or not. And Im sure it'll all get better once we get along :)

Would I?

They said that your actions justify who you are. "Who said?" they asked. "Them," I said.

Often I found myself wandering in the middle of the night, of my present life. Of who I am now, as shaped through the choices that I have made in my previous experience and occurances. Events that acts as a light house in my life, mapping my life into several different areas.

And often I wondered: "Will I still be me if I didnt do it?"

Will I still be who I am at this moment, writing this word on my laptop, listening to Kings of Convinience in the middle of the night, if I hadnt chose what I chosen before?

And if I shall be given a choice; a choice to repeat and redo, but most importantly change what I've chosen before, will I have the courage to take it?

Or, will I be willing to take it?

Words have came out. Things have been said, and done. Letters have been written. Choices have been made.

I dont know.

Nice First

What would you feel if one day your mom told you good things about something that belongs to you. And tomorrow told you that that thing that she told you was good before, was good now, and only now. And she said that before she didnt have the guts to tell you that it wasnt good, but now it's very good.

Shit man.

School Scam

Today I went to my new school to attend the parent-teacher meeting for the sole reason of taking my Smart Card and Parking Sticker to get in when school start. And despite the new building, they're all still the same: full of crap.

For 1 and half hour, they discussed nothing virtualy useful for any of us in that room. The raise of school fee. The new payment system. The oh-so-great HSC. The oh-so-awesome achievement of the former graduates from there. The 1 student who continually joined world olimpics for Biology. Everything good is lamented once and for all.

But never did they explained how their precious HSC happens to be unacceptable in Indonesian/European universities.

I guess the main reason of this parent-teacher meeting is to retain, and attract potential applicants to the school, which means : more income. Woohoo. Also it may act as a free marketing strategy, considering how moms in this country loves to gossip for as much as they can, boasting about the greatness of their children's schools, and hopefully one of the fooled mommy will enroll their kids into this school.

And not to speak of the new building. The new gymnasium is crap. It's very rough and... ugly. How in the hell must we work to cover it up so it'll at least be presentable for our prom night??

Drivers License From Hell

I took (finally) my drivers license's tests this morning. I was late for my 11 AM test as I arrived at 11:15 prior to jammed traffic. 15 fcking minutes. And I had to wait for 2 hours for the next test.

First I had the theory test. It was utter bulshit. My eyes spinned when I read the questions. They are, well, plain unimportant. I remembered 1 question asking: what quality must you posses to obtain your driver's license?

A. Ability and knowledge to drive without putting other's lives at stake.
B. Healthy body and mind to prevent any danger to others around you.
C. Both A and B.

Of course I answered C. It's a basic fact that you have to choose whatever that seems to be the best answer without even reading the whole sentence. Let alone making it the foundation of your driving life.

After that we were told to sit and wait. And wait. And wait. Tick tick tick. My vision was blurred, I was clearly starting to hallucinate. I saw animals, cartoon animals walking infront of me, smiling and wagging their tails and saying hello to me. Tick tick tick. Hey, that rabbit is stealing the elephant's food!

When I thought that I was covered in mould from too much sitting, I had the practice test. Driving a manual car. Shoot, I havent touched a manual car in a year! And eventhough I missed the gas as the brake, I passed. And after 6 hours in that god forsaken office, I acquired (finally) my drivers license.

And made a promise never again to return to that place.

Holiday Pig

When I reviewed what I did yesterday, everything became crystal clear: I have successfully became a pig during this holiday.

Woke up at 11. Ate a piece of blueberry cheesecake from the fridge. Watched TV with my sister. Went to the gym for a body balance class. Had my lunch. Drove back home. Watched Babel in my brother's laptop. Watched TV. Had my dinner at 9 PM. Watched TV. Receive phonecalls. Watched Music and Lyrics in my brother's laptop. Made a phonecall. Went out to the living room, watched HBO with my brothers. Took a slice of blueberry cheesecake from the fridge, accompanied with a glass of hot chocolate. Watched Hide and Seek in HBO. Went into the room, read A Hundred Years of Solitude. Went to bed at 2 in the morning.

Woke up this morning at 1 in the afternoon. Ate another slice of blueberry cheesecake. Watched TV, play internet.

See?

Postponed- Drivers License

My dad has been lecturing me about how I shouldnt procastinate on taking my drivers license's exam. I have officially postponing it for 3 months now, and he thought I must take it this holiday, full stop. Actually, Im all set for it yesterday. But something unexpected took place, I overslept. Woke up at 12 noon, while my test's organized on 11 AM.

Yet again, I dont know what makes me so damn lazy to take it anyway. Except to the fact that I've been driving here and there without license for more than a year and never once got caught. Perhaps my body system has adapted to the fact that driving licenseless is OK?

Or maybe, it's because the thought of going to the slimy gross how and humid test center in your formal suit (jeans and a hemmed shirt with shoes), and meeting up with corrupted officer who doesnt give a shit about how well you can drive but how much 'cigarette money' you're giving me afterward just delayed my will to go there and have a shot.

Either way, I have assigned another test for this Tuesday. Hopefully this will go fine :)

Witchy Photoshoot

For our yearbook, we grade 12s are being photographed by a hired photographer last month. And just 2 weeks before, I finally saw the result (all design comitee get to see it first :p), and my picture sucks. I looked retard.

After begging and bargaining later, the head of the yearbook comittee agreed to allow me reshoot my profile picture. I organized everything for this morning. Called the museum manager (where we had our first photoshoot), asked my design teacher to shoot my pictures, and other petty little details.

At first everything went smooth. Click click click. I thought to get more picture this time so I'l have more choice later on. An hour later, I decided to switch my dress. Thought it would be nice to compare both dresses later on. Im not risking anything, not a flaw anymore, after all that trouble going there.

All of the sudden, right after I came back from the bathroom to change, this lady, the museum manager, started to scream at me, telling me that I had lied to her regarding the purpose of my photoshoot. She wont believe that Im using the pictures only and only for my yearbook profile, and accused me of lying to her to take pictures there for my portfolio or something commercial.

In her own words: "I know exactly what kind of pictures that students need. They dont take an hour to complete, they dont change poses, and they dont change dresses! You're lying to me, you're not even a student!"

I tried to defend myself politely, saying over and over again that I am not a fcking model and I am by any means not using these pictures for my fcking imaginary portfolio or for any other commercial use. And I am definitely not lying to her. Plus I am a student. Unfortunately.

Then she asked for my student ID. I gave it to her, and she took it to the other room, perhaps taking notes of my class, student number and fullname to be framed infront of the door as a souvenir. When she got back, she started telling me this story (loudly) about a girl who lied to her before, saying that she was a student and secretly took pictures in her bikini.

At this moment I was thinking silently, what the hell?

Again she accused me of being a liar and screamed of how I should've been honest and open to her in the first time. Then I lost my temper. I raised my voice, told her that I swear I am not fcking lying to her for christ sake. Then every word that came out from my mouth were tackled viciously by her, saying that I shouldnt lie again.

Then she said that we shouldnt have this debate as it is useless. She looked at me in disgust. I stared back at her. "Just finish whatever you're doing, take any picture and go". She stomped out and left. I yelled back, "Whatever, I am not lying to you (almost cursed her of a word that I shouldnt said. fortunately I held it back) !"

I was left with rage. No longer in the mood for taking any picture, I went back to the bathroom and changed. Washed my face and wore my Starbucks Tshirt and boxer back, then tried as hard as I could to look gallant and triumphant. Im not letting her have the pride of succeeding in 'kicking me out'.

On my way out, I swore under my breath not to step my foot in that ugly museum ever again. Let alone seeing that witch.

Arrivals

I've been home now for 4 days. Not only me, but my older sister and brother are here as well :)

My flight was delayed for half an hour that day. And as I was travelling all by myself, I took the time to rest my eyes whilst forgetting to inform my dad who was picking me up later. So, as soon as the airplane reaches the ground an hour later, quickly I called my father to ask where he was. And you know what? He was still on the way. Apparently he wasnt all fussy about my delayed flight. Calmly he said for me to wait for my sister's arrival on 16:00. 5 minutes to wait, what a coincidence!

But my brother's arrival was far more dramatic. Maybe it's because my sister's been home twice this year while we havent seen my brother since last year, but mom and dad and my little brother were all very eager and anxious to see him a.s.a.p. Alas, his baggage took forever. Tired, I moved away from the crowd to sit down, and when I glanced at the crowd again, I saw a tall man in his white shirt and brown jacket talking to a smaller older guy.

It was my brother.

Shocked at how much he has changed, I paced myself towards him. He was tall! Taller, whiter, blondier, fatter, and what I gathered from everyone, more handsome with more muscles from working at the restaurant. We hugged real tight, and then I saw mom and dad's faces.

Smile smile smile. Twinkling eyes and smile smile smile.

Their eldest son is home.