Random Ramblings

Capitalization

Have you ever irritated with someone's writings/typings? There are always some period of times when we feel it, i guess. Not only with the "chosen words", "sentence structures" or "grammars". "Appropriateness" can be an issue. I always interpret people's writings/typings seriously. That's why i always try my best to write/type as polite as possible to avoid multiple interpretations. For example, i barely use "exclamation mark" because it can be interpreted as "shouts" or "anger". This past two years, i've been refraining myself from getting offended because my advisor is almost-always send me full-capitalized e-mail contents. This guy surely doesn't understand a writing manner. Ck ck ck....

The First Meeting

Ha--ha--ha. Bittersweet. That's what i felt after i met Albert, my tutor in movie making project. I deemed my decision to work on that project as "my-fast-track-to-get-into-my-own-grave". From the beginning, he struck me hard with his "what kind of software you usually use to edit the movie" question. I felt even more stupid after heard his explanations about what he called as "professional movie making". "There are three steps that we have to do in movie making; filming, editing and sound recording", he mentioned. I was at loss listening to his further explanations. Honestly, one part of me jolted with joys knowing the facts that i will have a chance to taste this kind of project. But another part of me shriveled to tiny-itsy-bitsy particles after realized that i need to learn a bunch of never-knew-before things. Nonetheless, there is no way back. Full steam ahead !!! [*"exclamation marks here intended to boost my spirit =p]

Lock and Key

[Source : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22431/]

For me, best friend is analogue to lock-and-key model in enzyme [*recalling the super-hard Enzymology chapter in one of my favorite classes in college :D]. The "lock" points to the "enzyme" while the "key" refers to the "substrate". When the "active site" of enzyme doesn't match with the substrate, there will be no reaction occurs. Thus, there is no way in the world that we can force someone to be our best friend. Both party needs to feel that they can fill each others in, more than simply a friend. Ability to read the mayday-signals is a must. Don't be a KY person [*KY = Kuuki Yomenai = insensitive]. If there is oddity or unmatched signals, means that person is not "the one". 

For a little cash and a lot of glory [part 2]

Question : What are you going to do if you're no longer receive a scholarship?

1st answer : Immediately submit an application to FAM (Father And Mother) Foundation ("Hi Mom and Dad, dig deeper in your pockets, please. I need extra money")
2nd answer : Find a part-time job


Don't be shy if you could only depend on FAM Foundation. But for me, i really couldn't do that. I mean, i couldn't do that without any effort. Feels not right. Seems shameless. Family financial problem? Nope. RESPONSIBILITY and DIGNITY. That would be my answers. At first, i found it very hard to get a part-time job in Taiwan. Teaching English has always came to my mind, considering English course is abundant and being extremely commercialized here. But for this job, my limited period of residence becomes a major issue. We need at least a year left to be able to take this kind of teaching job. Hence, i figured out another way to get a part-time job opportunity.


Recently, i'm doing two part-time jobs. One of them can be categorized as "weird" for me. The first one is online part-time job as a writer, copywriter, proofreader, and such in this website. Read here to find the details of this what so-called "outsourcing marketplace" provider. It's not really that easy to find "the customer" on Freelance.com. Patience surely counts. In the end of this post, you can see my very first writing job. I got 1.25 bucks  [*Ooops...my mistake. I just checked on my invoice and apparently i got US$5 for this writing job. Ayeee^^V!] for that, btw. Earning money is not an easy thing, is it? My second "weird" part-time job is a reporter and video editor at NCYU's Language Center. I didn't see any interesting part of this job before. Me? Bunga Primasari? A REPORTER??? Heck, what would the world say? Hahaha. Suddenly i remember my father used to tell me this : "Papa rasa kemampuan berbahasamu yang cukup baik turunan dari Datukmu. Beliau dulu reporter di jaman perang". Whew, i don't think i'm as good as Datuk. I'm fine doing "behind the scene" job such as writing, proofreading or editing. But i always hate to be on the stage or to be clearly seen by others (*Yet, this past few years, i've been doing a lot of "public appearances" -it's not like i wanted that, anyway-). A reporter must have a direct "contact" with camera, right? *Sigh. Well, Father, let's see whether your daughter can wrap up this "weird" part-time job smoothly. 

Whitewalling and Super-logoff-ing on The Social Media

Whitewalling - Super-logoff-ing

For me, it's always interesting to discuss about people's behaviors and habits. Moreover, if the behaviors or habits being talked about are "so us". Danah Boyd, an internet researcher, found this behavioral-habitual facts. Don't be surprised that i'm doing things exactly the same as Mikalah and Shamika. Not only whitewalling, i'm recently super-loggoff-ing myself from Facebook. The difference is i'm super-logoff-ing because i don't want to be distracted with the posts or comments sent by my Facebook friends. I need to get focused on my thesis, that's why i'm doing it temporarily.

"The super-logoff and whitewalling are ways to designate what some teens have been doing in order to have total control over who posts what (and when) on their Facebook page", wrote Mr. Hathaway here. On his blog, Anthony Mayfield, Vice President of iCrossing, a search and social media-led digital company, agreed that the whitewalling phenomenon looks like evidence for the notion that people want to retain some control over their privacy and what the world sees and hears about them.

[Source : http://www.urlesque.com/2010/11/11/facebook-super-logoff/]

Well, i don't see the whitewalling and super-loggoff-ing as a mere teenagers issues. I think it's related to the personalities and environment, as well. For example, you are a perfectionist who hate to see even "a like button" or "comments traces" on your Facebook's wall. You'll simply do the whitewalling; deleting those eye-soring stuff. Another example is you are working for Indonesia's government -Facebooking is prohibited-, whereas you are a Facebook maniac. You can do the super-logoff as if you are not an avid Facebooker; untraceable. See?

The Media Leverage

"A day without media" was a research conducted by ICMPA and students at University of Maryland around April 2010. 200 respondents were asked whether they were able to give up their media tools, thus they couldn't texting, IM-ing nor Facebook-ing. I ain't no surprised with the results came up. The cut off access to the media channels made them feel "dying". They called the media tools needs as "addictive", just exactly as enslaving as drugs. Scary, isn't it? 

In my opinion, although the research was merely conducted in The States and involved American college students, but it is clearly a wide-ranging phenomenon. To be honest, it might be hard for me if i couldn't do my media-related activities. Maybe i won't be as "dying" as those teenager fellows, but still, it won't be easy. As pointed out by US's First Lady on The Huffington Post, this is a "generational issue". For Facebook phenomenon, she even told her daughters that it's only a piece of "gossip mill" which is worth nothing. Thus, she suggested them not drown into it. In this case, i couldn't agree more with Mrs. Obama that we must limit -not entirely restrict- the vulnerable teenagers' "cyber surfing" time. Moreover, as human being, we need to communicate face-to-face instead of cyber-to-cyber in the society. Too many things missed out during the cyber communication. 

Errrrr...i think i also need to "get back down to earth" and become "Bunga the sociable one"; the old me. No worry, as long as i'm at home, i will be able to do the intensive communication with my family. Long distance relationship, surely matters.

Wowed

Stupidly heroic actions of mine

It happened, again. "It" refers to the orangish title above. Without even reconsidering my own health issues, i went out to join a fund raising event at Chiayi Performing Arts Center in Minsyong. This week, i was crazily slaving myself at lab until i forgot to eat regularly. Thanks to my carelessness, my acute gastroenteritis tormented me this past few days. Yet, i kept forcing myself to go to PAC. Moreover, yesterday was raining heavily in Chiayi. Rain is always be my eternal enemy. I can't be under the down pouring rain. Unlike the regular flowers that will spring up beautifully when poured by an appropriate amount of water/rain, i will completely wilt with it. Such a peculiar "flower" i am.

On yesterday's event, we were planning to perform Saman Dance and sing Indonesian songs in order to raise some donations for the recent disasters in Indonesia. But, Allah never consented that kind of brainless act i've shown. Only 10 minutes before the show, my body couldn't handle anymore. I was powerless until i felt like almost fainted at that very moment, thing that never happened to me before. In the end, i was unable to do the Saman Dance and only messed up our Saman formation. Good job, Bunga...very nicely done. *sarcastic*

P.S : The good thing about being a valetudinarian is, i can clearly see the ones who really care about my condition. Thank you very much for DTT and Nidya who were patiently took care of me with their loving care :). May Allah blesses your kindness....

Banzaiiii!!!

I called my father just a few minutes ago and got this electrifying news. "Nak...sudah diberi tahu adikmu?", my father asked. "About what, Pa?", i replied. "Adik iparmu sudah isi, lho...insya Allah bulan Juni atau Juli tahun depan kamu akan punya keponakan baru", he added thrillingly. WOWWWW...TOKCER :)) :)) :)). I was THRILLED as much as my father and expressing my happiness enthusiastically until i coughed up phlegm all the time. Xixixi. Alhamdulillah...alhamdulillah...thank you, Allah^^....

The Samsung Wave Family

Finally the Wave family hits Indonesia, today. Thanks to my unstoppable gadgets curiosity, now i know that Samsung is getting even more confident in releasing its Bada OS-based handsets. Despite this platform's novice status compare to its fast-growing competitors namely iPhone's iOS and Google's Android, Samsung is dare to stand out for the sake of providing the sufficient development of its rich apps (Samsung Bada OS Presentation, 2009). Unlike a year ago, when 80% of Samsung's smartphones are Windows Mobile-based and only 20% of them are operated by Symbian OS, now this Korean mobile company is ready for its new-and-personal mobile platform and software market, basically the same as RIM, Apple and Palm. A tough path, for sure.

[Source : http://b4tea.com/information/gadgets/3-samsung-wave-phones-wave525-533-and-575-with-bada-os-launched]

For me, i'm not ready yet for this "ocean" -Bada (바다) is the Korean word for "ocean"-. That's why i'm still stick to my Android-driven Samsung's handset. I think most smartphone users think as stupidly simple as i did. Why choose the obscure newbie if the well-thriving one is abide?  Altogether, will Bada really bring in competition for Android and iPhone? Just like OnlyGizmos stated, "unlikely". Will Bada be able to steal the smartphone lovers' hearts? My answer would be "possibly". Aside from its futuristic concept in terms of its multitouch support, which i'm sure will be loved by the gadget freaks, the assistance from the developers to enrich the OS's apps still can be expected to grab the triumph. Let's wait and see.

Dropping Random Notes

Family news update
Bunga : Mama di mana sekarang? 
Mama : Di Bandung, di acara lamarannya Wilman. Sekalian tasyakuran kelulusan Icha.
Bunga : Ohhh....
Mama : Setelah Wilman, giliranmu ya, Nak?
Bunga : *^%%#@!

Ha--ha--ha *bitter laughter. I always call her in such an erroneous occasion. So, despite the fact that my family were flee to Jakarta because of the volcano eruption, they were still happy go luckily traveling here and there. And by the way, i just received a text message from my father that they are coming back to Jogja by today. He told me that the situation is a lot better. Alright then.

'Ammah (عمه) vs Amah (أماه)

OK, i must join the tatsqif class diligently. I mixed it up. 'Ammah defines as Tante in Bahasa Indonesia, whereas Amah means pembokat or bedinde. Speaking about 'ammah, suddenly i remember my cute niece, Atqiya. She spent her childhood in Tokyo and has been keenly learning English from her favorite show on TV cable aside from the school. I never realized she's very good at speaking English until i accidentally spoke to her in English as well. "See, Q-chan...look at her. She's 8 years old but has a slim body. Unlike you. You're only four but you're way bigger", i was trying to tease her while pointing at my sister-in-law's niece at the wedding hall. "Who said that i'm four? I'm five, Tante. Remember that, OK?", she replied, sounded very offensive. Ooops, sorry, Q-chan. Tante is surely getting old ^^". Oh yeah...i never forgot that she's aiming for the bride's tiara at that moment since she loves princessy thingy. "Mama, I WANT THAT TIARA, RIGHT NOW!!", she ran to her mother once she took a glance at my sister-in-law's tiara. Mwahahhaaa...Kikot was completely at loss because of her kid. "Haihai, Q-chan. Matte ne. Tiara-nya sedang dipakai Tante Ivo. Antri ya". Haghaghag...

I can hardly wait vs i can't hardly wait
Uh-oh. I've been mistakenly using the wrong expression this whole time. Thanks to this video (min 2:20) thus i can learn the correct one. Hmmm...thinking it over and over again, if we use the second expression, it means we are doubling the negative, can not and hardly, which is wrong. Tee-hee-hee. That's why we must use the first one. Nice.

Lab accident

My noisy advisor suddenly called me over to his office. "Just so you know, accident has happened today. A graduate student was unintentionally got her hands ran through the noodle maker machine, the one that you used to flatten your bread dough", he said. "The situation is a lot worse than we expected. The safety auditor has been checking up the whole food factory and it can be partially closed down by any moment", he added. Wow, sounds great to me. I don't have to go to the lab if the plant really is closed down. Xixixi...you wish, Bung!

Disastrous

I still remember i was in the middle of translating FORSEL's donation proposals when i read the heartbreaking news about Mount Merapi's huge deposits eruption. My heart swirled as i kept updating the news through MetroTV. Ya Allah...the situation was exceedingly spine-chilling. I'm not planning to review the horrific situation reported by the media all over the world here. Solely watching or reading the news, then we can sense the whole fear the disaster caused. 

[Source : somewhere at social networking site]

I spent almost half day panicking because i was unable to contact my family. Everyone seems completely forgot to charge their cellphones' battery or just left them elsewhere; not my father, my mother, nor my brother-sisters, including my sister-in-law. *Sigh. Finally around midday, i was able to get in touch with my sister. She told me about the whole horrors happened there and how horrible the situation in the neighborhood was. "Ini parah banget, Mbak. Sampai sekarang masih hujan abu. Mana tadi malam hujan deras, jadi abu bercampur dengan air dan semuanya berlumpur", she sounded very anxious. At 4pm, i can finally speak to my father. He said, all family members were heading to Jakarta. "Mamamu sudah di Jakarta sejak beberapa hari yang lalu. She always has a good hunch. Tante Pitmu bahkan sudah di Pontianak", he mentioned. "Mbah Kung dan Bulikmu itu lho yang susah sekali diajak mengungsi. Papa sudah ingatkan terus. Tapi tetap saja mereka belum mau bergerak", he added in such an uneasy utterance. WHATTT??? My aunt's house is in SAWANGAN which is only 15 km away from Mount Merapi. While my grandfather's house is located 18 km away, only 3 km from aunt's house. My father has done his best to pick them up this very early morning, headed to their places, but came back empty-handed. He wanted to wait for them but my other aunt who lives in Jakarta kept telling him to move to the west as soon as possible. "Kau usah nak macam-macam, Jal. Cepatlah ke sitok. Kau tak ingat ke iye bencana di Danau Toba, lengis semue. Tak ade manusie agik", my father tried to express his older sister's concerns to me. That's why he decided to do as she said. I'm guessing they are still on the way until now. Ya Allah, please protect everyone....

Then, when i was also checking up my-hard-to-explain-blood-unrelated other uncle, Pakdhe Fahmi, whether he has evacuated, he replied my text like this "Pakdhe dan Budhe sedang di Banjarnegara. Bapak dan adik ipar Budhe wafat. Do'akan husnul khatimah. Pakdhe tidak ingin hijrah ke tempat lain kecuali sidratul muntaha liqaullah". Hauuuu....i was failed to stop my tears running down from my eyes after read his text messages. Ya Allah....Ya Allah...lindungilah saudara-saudara hamba dari mara bahaya....

The Precious One

I love being organized, in everything. At home, i always be the one who responsible for the spick-and-span thingy. When i went home, i'm glad after found my sister, Citra, already replaced me for that home duty (*errr...kind of =p). Related to preserving memories, i always documenting everything as well, mostly doing scrap booking and picture taking. When the era changed, i realized that i'm no longer an avid scrapper. Pictures are the only visual representation of objects i've photographed in order to stop a moment from running away.

Addressing about picture taking, it can't be separated from the device to take it, the camera. My very first personal camera was Pentax ESPIO AF Zoom. I remember my cousin bought it for me from Bundesrepublik Deutschland as a birthday present (Hmmm...i guess she found it at the flohmarkt in Berlin or Frankfurt). The Espio is still somewhere at home. 

[Source : http://www.flickr.com/photos/93694546@N00/4380199683/]

Honestly, i'm not really that into technical photography stuff, considering i merely taking pictures as records. But of course, i have my own taste in the objects i'm targeting. Well, since i got The Espio, i'm getting more devoted in archiving my life's milestone through my camera lens. 

In connection with this post, the precious one that i implied is this picture :

I'm completely in love with this old days picture of mine. I hang this picture in my room and always giggles every time i look at it. The picture was taken when my brother was still 6 months old and i was three years old back then. It was in Jakarta, at Tante's house. My face looked very tense because we were sat on the wall. It was very high, i recalled. I was holding my blue balloon on my left hand while my father was tightly holding my brother on his stomach. The funny thing is, even though in the picture my brother's face seemed fine, he was scared to death. Thus, he was grabbing my skirt until my pants was disclosed [censored-unseen]. Haghaghag...such a scaredy-cat.

Sadly, after i'm leaving for Taiwan, this picture's frame glass was broken and the fungus was successfully invaded in. Hence, it became moldy. I was devastated after found it severely damaged :((. Moreover, I never have its negative film. I've tried to bring it to the photo studio to get it fixed, but after came to 5 different places, all of them said it couldn't be fixed. *Sigh. Luckily, my father took a snapshot of this picture before it was damaged. Well, despite the fact that he only took it with his cellphone's camera, at least i can still see it. This occurrence made me even more cautious in preserving my treasure.

Saman Dance

It's over, at last. Glad and relieved, that's what i feel. Two weeks practicing for the sake of performing in the International Festival at campus, has paid. Despite the mess on one of the Saman dancer's costume and the mistakes we've made during the performance, i can proudly say that we've SUCCEEDED. Alhamdulillah...alhamdulillah :).

Recalling last year's International Festival which also presented this what so-called dance of a thousand hands, i can crystal clearly compare the differences; extra dancers, extra energy, more tricky moves, more complicated to set the practice time and extra bruises caused by fatal mistakes of dancers' moves. Xixixi. But all in all, this year's Saman was AWESOME \m/!!! This is from us to you, Indonesia....

Check out this video to see our performance and sing along with us ;)) :

P.S : Thank you very much to Laskar Tainan for lending us the Saman costumes^^.