Love is Cinto

I am not the type of person who enjoys crowd, party, nor spend money extravagantly. But, watching fireworks display on the US Independence Day was just exceptional. I remember it was summer 2012 when I and my fellow USIPPers walked down to DC for Fourth of July celebration. There is a certain optimism in the air when the giant fireworks sparked and got closer to us. They touched us personally, somehow. I didn’t know if this was even possible (haha!). My eyes widened as my heart filled up with joy. I was there. We were there, people from all races, genders, and faiths. But, we still shared something in common: enjoying the same beauty and peace. Somehow, the display gave us hope amidst whatever difficult situation the people or the country were facing. Aku masih inget banget. Macem orang Indonesia pada umumnya, ketika kita menyaksikan sesuatu yang asik di negara lain , we just can’t help but to compare it with what would had happened if we were in Indonesia. There must have...

April 4th, 2011. The day I set foot in far away land for the very first time, Hiroshima, Japan. This photo might be taken a day or two post-arrival. One of the most influential moment which impacted my life forever. I can never heal my addiction to travel in foreign lands, meet and interact with strangers who soon become friends, or crave for diversity. I can never thank enough to FEB UGM and Hiroshima University of Economics who gave me this lifetime opportunity. The journey that has changed my view, opened up my eyes to the new big playground, and somehow broadened my horizon. In top of that, it’s always been a journey to find my true self. Now, I may go through a series of changes that push me into a total unknown land. Those phase of life in which I cannot run yet. Thus, I haven’t figure out what it’s going to be. I can feel that this may not be a smooth familiar path that I’m taking. It’s a long winding road ahead, but I shall not be afraid. I only need to keep on be...

I made this draft over a year ago to cheering my team, TRIANGEL, in a marketing research competition held by Nielsen. I should tell you the meaning behind our name despite of tiny typo behind it. Hahaha. Our team name supposed to be TRIANGLE meaning that we consisted of 3 angels whose name are Cindhi Cintokowati, Etni Marliana, and Nafis Fairuzka. I proudly say that we are best friends! :) Another way, it meant that marketing research comprised of 3 important actions which taking triangle shape . In one evening just right after finishing my Japanese lesson, the 3 of us met in a cafe nearby Faculty of Engineering UNY. I couldn't recall the name of the cafe though :3 Firstly, we all agreed to join this competition yet not telling anyone including other Gejest members. FYI, Gejest is our (sort of) genk's name. Don't worry, I'm going to write another post to tell you more about it. Then, when the typo incident happened? It was funny actually. My dear friend...

Suatu hari di jaman SMP, seorang guru bertanya "apa cita-cita kalian setelah lulus sekolah?" Semua anak di kelas diminta memberikan jawaban satu per satu. Jawaban yang disuguhkan pun beragam, mulai dari dokter, enjiner, dosen, researcher, de el el. Semuanya begitu tinggi, begitu memukau, seakan begitu hidup dan menyenangkan untuk dikejar. Tipe mimpi yang akan membuat orang berkata "wow" ketika kau berhasil mencapainya. Sampai akhirnya, tiba giliran temanku yang jawabannya agak nyentrik. Dia bilang, "cita-cita saya ingin menjadi ibu rumah tangga". Sontak seluruh kelas menghujamkan tatapan separo menghina, seperempat merendahkan, dan sisanya semacam mengejek. Ketika itu, cita-cita gadis SMP itu seakan sangat konyol dan "ga mutu". Kampungan, begitu versi jahatnya. Dulu, aku adalah salah satu dari orang yang menganggap remeh cita-cita itu. Tatapan kami menertawainya dalam diam. Saat itu, aku berpikir: untuk apa sekolah tinggi-tinggi kalau...

Dulu sebelum ke Jepang, aku pernah berjanji pada seorang teman untuk menjurnal kegiatanku sehari-hari selama di sana. Tapi maaf sekali ya teman, aku baru bisa memenuhi janjiku malam ini. Berhubung aku lagi kangen berat sama negeri matahari terbit, so I guess this is the right time to write the whole story when I was in Japan. Dimulai dari masa pre-departure ya alias sebelum keberangkatan. I don't remember the date exactly, tapi kalian pasti tau kan bencana alam yang dialami Jepang sekitar bulan Maret 2011?? Yap, bencana gempa bumi dan tsunami yang melanda area sekitar Tokyo yang diikuti dengan bocornya nuklir di PLTN Fukushima Daichi sempat "hampir" memusnahkan impianku. Tapi justru di saat itulah aku tau teman mana yang benar-benar mengharapkan aku berangkat ke Jepang dan mana teman  yang "terlihat" antusias atas kemungkinan programku batal. Hmm..anyway, itu lah teman. Macem-macem ya sifatnya. Hehehe Mendengar berita di TV yang tak abis2nya mengabarkan beta...

It was like a dream came true when my mobile phone rang right before Akuntansi Sektor Publik class started. I remembered we were about preparing for the second Quiz test when Mbak Titis (I guessed from her voice) congratulated me for being chosen as STEP HUE candidate. The first thing crossed in my mind was that I could not believe “I am going to Japan!!”. I kept repeating, said it to myself. Entering the class with smiley face that I definitely could not hide, spontaneously I shouted to my friends, “I am going to Japan! Oh My, I just can’t believe it!”. While they were congratulating me, I was still in my effort to convince myself that I would go to study abroad, Japan, for the very first time. ABROAD!! Oh My! Alhamdulillah. Today, April 2 nd , 2012, exactly a year has passed since my departure to Hiroshima, Japan. It was early spring with temperature always below 10 degree for the first couple months. For me, it was like I had been put in a big freezer. OK, that’s exaggerating....

I got a little cute friend today (February 25th, 2011). Thanks to my friend, Ainun, for trusting me to look after her lovely pet. Ups, now she's mine! Hehee. Since this is the first time I have an "unspeakable" mate, I would like to remark this incredible moment through this simple short note. OK, here we go.. About two days ago, I saw my friend updated her facebook status stated that someone was looking for somebody to adopt her hamster. I was attracted because I would like to experience how to take care of other species than human. Ah, but when you are reading this note, Gembul has been taken away from me. Umm, well, technically I gave her to my little sister cause last year, right after a month since I have her, I need to explore a spectacular life in Hiroshima, Japan. She used to be so young, so cute, furry, and flurry! With a small yet beautiful home I bought for her, she was quite happy though. She loved to spin around on her wheel and I loved to watch. ...

I'm lying here tonight Thingking back every single thing we've been through I see a flash Guiding me back to memories we shared Right from the beginning till the last one Not much, really.. It was not always smiley face in a bliss Yet it was sorrow neither That was LoVe Taught us pain, hurt, broken Eventhough it never forgets to bring a joy as a gift Yes, it was LoVe ! ...Lembaran 21 Agustus 2010