And yeah, they have the same birthdate!

The Innocent Promise

I wanna live next to your house, and my wife will befriend your wife!

Wow, sound so nice, eh? It was a promise that I pledged together with my best friend (the one I mentioned in the previous post) during our elementary school time. A very naive and innocent promise. Now that we recalled the promise, we realized that fulfilling that would almost be one in a million. Yes, nothing impossible with my wife befriend his wife, but living next to his house? Well, that was very foolish of us to make that up.

This posting came out after conversation with Cing regarding our reminisce of past. A time when we still saw the world through the child's eyes. Black and white, with no gray area seen. And as adult, we tend to position ourselves within that gray area. According to Cing, though foolish, a childhood promise is the purest one. We made the promise under no influence from other people, under no interference of strict norms and values.

Cing herself made a promise with Git, her best friend then. They vowed to live together, remain unmarried, and take care one another. Wow! She told me that she had no idea of lesbianism then, know nothing that the action might lead people around them accusing them as a lesbian rather than as best friends. Now that she recalled the promise, she laughed out loud. Things have changed, and it is almost impossible to do that. Git remains as a favourite girl among boys.

However, it was the trace of our innocence. The era when we were spontaneous and short-thinking. The product of our over affection and naivette, but at the same time, it is also the reflection of our purity and pristinity.

I believe, that many other people out there might also make such promises with their best friend. And it is not a wrongdoing to revisit our past, returning to innocence. So, I would like to hear some of your "innocent promises" you made with your best friend from childhood. If you care to write them as a comment, I would gladly appreciate it.

The Innocent Friendship

I went to the Christmas Eve mass last night. Yeah, it's already Christmas again. I decided to celebrate my 22nd Christmas in Kidul Loji, the memorable parish, a place where I was christened, a place where I received my first holy communion, and also a place where I received my Chrisma sacrament.

Unfortunately, I couldn't focus my mind completely to the mass. At a time like that, my mind was occupied on something else. I tried my best to place my focus, but still I couldn't get the essence on attending the mass. It was until the eucharist prayer, I had this blank state of mind.

When they reach eucharist prayer, I noticed that it was the Eucharist Prayer 1. A prayer rarely used, but quite a memory for me. It mentioned several names of saints, and my patron saint is mentioned there. Quite a surprise, eh, since many people know not of the saint. But that's not the most important thing. The most intriguing part is the mentioning of St. Laurentius and St. Chrysogonus. Yep, two names as one.

I have this best friend of mine since kindergarten (and yea, we still try to maintain our friendship). His name is Laurentius Dian Ardiyanto.

Now you know why the prayer is so memorable. Because it mentions our name together! Laurentius and Chrysogonus. As we were still elementary level students, we often thought that it might be the sign from above, that our friendship will last forever. That our friendship might be started from our patron saints. That they might be friends (a completely wrong thing, now that we found out that St. Chrysogonus and St. Laurentius didn't live in the same era).

At the moment, my mind flew back to the past, revisiting some events involving us. Participated together in the radio broadcasting as a choir member, sleeping over at one another's home, being in the same group of boy scout, camped together, even his father being the godfather of my little brother. He was the one introducing me to the complexity and beauty of video game =)) (But I still play till now, while he gave up). He lent me books that I couldn't afford then, opening my horizon to the Dragon Ball Z Universe (very useless, eh???). But then, small things like that are what make up greatest memories. Our innocence..............

And at that time, I realized the essence of this year's Christmas. Friendship! This value of friendship.

You were just checked out!

Last monday (15/12), I got an assignment to supervise a final test. Introduction to Literature. Well, I like the subject. And the testers were mostly third semester students. Ah, the perfect chance to keep existing! LOL.

When I entered the class, I saw Rud. He was a "notorious" third semester student. Well, not that he's bad. He's notorious because he is the agent of Oriflame, and was well known for promoting Oriflame during speaking class. And he's also famous with his tight and gayish outfit. He rang my gaydar anyway.

As usual, in supervising a test, I put my strictest expression, scary one. I stared at everyone in the room, trying to catch even the smallest suspicious act. But then, I just realized that Rud checked me out. He stared at me. DAMN! I got to avoid staring at that area, because he might think that I was replying his "message". That meant, I lost my supervision to the area. DAMN! Really a good way to distract a supervisor!

Is This Even A Debate???

This is a story from a debating world. Yes, a world I've been attached to for more than 7 years. Ever since I decided to resign from being a debater in 2006, I still can't avoid this world. Coaching and sometimes adjudicating debate. It has become part of my life, I think.

Interestingly, this story didn't come from English Debate, but Indonesian debate held last month in Sanata Dharma University. (But things will be automatically translated. Hehehe!)

I was watching a debate match while waiting for my adjudication turn. The motion was THBT Euthanasia is not justifiable (Actually it was Sidang Percaya Bahwa Euthanasia Tidak Dapat Dibenarkan). The 1st speaker of the affirmative side gave the foundation, blah blah blah.

When the turn of 1st speaker from the negative side came, he said that Euthanasia is justifiable, because it can help us in controlling the population growth. They propose to kill every single useless man, the old man who is not productive anymore, not being able to reproduce, and who can do nothing. They will also do the poison injection to the people having death penalty, since it is more humane rather than get shot. They will not experience pain.

The 2nd speaker from the affirmative side attacked with the statement that euthanasia could only be used to the patient, and doing that to the unproductive people is a cruel act.

The respond from the 2nd speaker of the negative team was funnier. He contradicted his 1st speaker by saying that they will use that for death penalty, because the person will experience longer pain. And they deserve to get it. Wha???

The 3rd speaker again attacked by saying that doing euthanasia to control population growth is a cruel act.

And this was the funniest part. The 3rd speaker seemed so desperate, and she said. "We are not cruel. We don't actually support euthanasia, but the motion for this debate is THBT Euthanasia is not justifiable. And we are assigned as the negative side, so that we have to agree that it is justifiable. We are forced to be cruel!"

Guess what? The whole room cannot bear this any longer. Laugh could be heard everywhere. What a funny debate!

There Is Life................

I had an interesting comment for my last post, Jakarta Ranting #3.

"Point! I lose my salary basically for that reason, Chrys. Sometimes, I hang out in J-Co after work to do some gossiping under the simple reason "Rejuvination for tomorrow's work". If I couldn't come, I'll be alienated by my colleagues. Fyuh, what a bad relationship..."
(Courtesy of sinting_maut, automatically translated into English. Hehehehe!)

Jah! Reading this comment, I suddenly slipped into a dimensional wormhole and revisiting some moments in my life. This is what is happening in my office. A high demand of social gathering over professional advance. Damn, I am expected to come to the office doing nothing only for the sake of avoiding alienation. Meanwhile, my translation project is left behind. (Darn, haven't had the chance even to read the accursed Killing Freud!).

The thing is, some office culture demand us to spend more time with them than enjoying ourselves. This is something that I don't quite understand. After being absorbed with work for a long time, how could people choose not to have time for themselves.

Well, hanging out together with friends for work is also one of the ways. But then, it should not be obligatory. Once in a while, we should have the right to reject the offer.

Hanging out together with some friends for the office is not bad. What I hate is the concept of singular world. Yep, just like the principle of "There is no life outside debate" in which I never agree with. So guys, please avoid the sentence, "There is no life outside the office" (or to be more precise, There is no life outside the institution? Hehehehe!)

Under the snow
Beneth the frozen streams
There is life

You'll have to know
When nature sleeps she dreams
There is life

And the colder the winter
The warmer the spring
The deeper the sorrow
The more our hearts sing

Even when you can't see it
Inside everything
There is Life...
(There Is Life - Allison Krauss - OST Bambi 2)

See, even Bambi thought so.

Jakarta Ranting #3: Finance and Food Shock!

This is the third part of my ranting on Jakarta. Yes, as you could see from the title, that this time is about economic aspect. As a person who was born and lives in Yogya for more than 22 years, I am accustomed to the condition in Yogya. Yet, when I went to Jakarta to look for something to eat, I was shocked.

Yes, people there spend more than fifteen thousand rupiah for a plate of gado-gado. Damn! I could get three portions in Yogya with that much money. While I thought I am the only one having the culture shock, I found out that Maya, my newly found friend from Surabaya, was falling into the same state with me. Yikes! Did that mean that Jakarta is more expensive than Surabaya in the living cost? One complaint that I remember exactly from her was that she should gave up 8000 for a bottle of aqua. Geee, thank God I am stingy and decided to refill my mineral bottle in the dorm and campus. Kekekekeke! (PS : This is my chinesse side talking!)

On our shopping trip to Plaza Senayan, I had a discussion with Bu Tere (a lecturer from Atma Jakarta who accompanied us) on the Starbucks. Yep, the famous coffee shop. The successful one in Jakarta, but is very quiet in Yogyakarta. The one which sell a cup of coffee for 50 grand rupiah. She told me that the price is quite normal in Jakarta. She even emphasized that normally a cup of coffee in a decent coffee shop would cost around 30 grand. From W to O and ended up in W. WOW!!! Big Wow! In Yogya, I would think twice to pay more than 10 grand only for a cup of coffee. I even got upset when I had to pay 13 grand for a cup of cappuccino at Own Cafe. DAMN! I could get a glassful of Frapuccino for less than 10 grand at Djendelo or the late Deket Rumah.

On the second morning of the seminar, I had a talk with Fin and Fat. They were astonished to find out that we could satisfy our hunger with only 5 grand in Yogya. For them, it is an impossible thing to do in Jakarta. Gee, they should pay Mie Tante a visit. A bowl of chicken noodle would cost only 5500. Plus a grand for a glass of ice tea.

Ah, Jakarta. I'm glad to live in Yogya...............................

Jakarta Ranting #2: My Beloved Torturing Jacket

I have a habit of wearing jacket whenever I’m travelling. So, when I went to Jakarta, I took my brown jacket with a pocket inside. Thing that I really like from a jacket is the additional pocket, so that I could place things. To be precise, I could put my cellphone in the pocket, with the headset. It will look like I’m listening to the MP3 without putting my cellphone out of public exposure, thus avoiding robbery.

This habit has been formed since long time ago. It will even be awkward for me to go to school or campus or anywhere else without wearing my jacket. Well, since I always go by motorbike, so forgetting my jacket is a suicidal movement. And this habit finally upset me in Jakarta.

Yes, I brought my jacket with me to Jakarta. And in the morning, when I had to walk to Sarinah from Menteng, my first reflex was to put my jacket on. Imbecilely thinking that the situation is similar to Yogya, breezy morning, fresh air, and temperate weather. Damn, I completely forgot that it was Jakarta! Hotter than hell! And to think that I walked quite a distance, I was all sweaty by the time I reached Transjakarta. Damn!

After the end of the first day seminar, I realized that I was fool enough to bring my jacket. I could not leave it in the seminar venue, so that I had to bring it anywhere. Putting the jacket within my bag was not an option, since I only brought a sling bag to the seminar. Putting it off and carried it by my hand was way too risky, considering that I save my train ticket in the pocket.

Thus, I went shopping to the Plaza Senayan (accompanied by my newly found friend and one lecturer! Gyahahahaha!) with my jacket on. Another long walk, another queue at the busway stop, another hot weather. Eeew! And you think that was all over?

From Plaza Senayan, we went back to our place. And for me, that means stopping at Halte Sarinah and took another decent walk to Menteng. Sweaty, exhausted, and cursing at my jacket.

Damn, shouldn’t have brought the jacket with me that day!

Jakarta Ranting #1 : Bajaj oh Bajaj.......

I got an opportunity to present my paper in the Intercollegiate Seminar 2008. A nationwide seminar of varsities. Quite prestigious, eh? But then, it was held in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. A city I really hate. Huh, imagining living there has been hard enough, and now, being given the chance to stay there alone...........

So I went to Jakarta alone. Totally alone with no advisor accompanied me. Yet, I managed to reach Gambir station successfully without losing anything. Thus, came my first obstacle. I was blind of transportation mode there, and know nothing of the direction. Darn. I had not even the foggiest idea of which way to Menteng Raya.

One of my acquaintance told me that the place is relatively near Gambir. You could even just walk there. But he suggested me taking the bajaj or taxi. I know that I am stingy, but then, the comfort came first. My first thought ever since I was still in Yogyakarta was taking taxi. But my parents objected by saying that using taxi was dangerous. So, following their advice, I searched for bajaj around the railway station.

The first bajaj. I asked him with a very short sentence, trying my best to lose my strong Javanese accent. And he offered me twenty five thousand rupiah. Damn! I already got the info that the normal rate from Gambir to Kanisius Menteng is ten thousand. Thus, I tried haggling. And, it was still unsuccessful.

Moved to the second bajaj, The same thing happened again. Twenty five thousand, with unsuccessful haggle.

The third bajaj. Nothing's changed. I looked at my cellphone, and it was almost 7. Good God, I got panicked, since I realized that coming to the dorm late gave no good impression. So, I paid twenty five thousand rupiah to the third bajaj. He gave me a reasoning, that there was a very great traffic jam, so they need to move around.

What was the reality? It was so damn near, and it took me only five minutes. No traffic jam that I saw. Grrrrhhh! They might notice my Javanese accent and decided to trick me.

There goes my twenty five thousand.................

Jakarta, oh Jakarta.