HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER –that’s scarier than your step mother-

No no no, I’m not referring to that “mother.” You know an Indonesian saying “Ibu kota lebih kejam dari ibu tiri?” That is the mother I am referring to. Yes, ibu kota literally means “mother of city” or in English “a capital city.” The screwed and over-populated city named Jakarta is where I am living now. Its polluted air is what I am breathing now. Its dirty water is what I am drinking now. Its ignorant citizens are who I am dealing with everyday. The living that I never have imagined before; actually in my first week, I wake up with a strange feeling of “not-believing-the-fact-that-I-wake-up-in-Jakarta.” This fact, however, taught me one thing; that karma does, sometimes, work within quite a short period of time. In my college years, I always told my self that as soon as I graduate, I have no intention of finding a job in Jakarta; I preferred to stay in the city where my Uni lies: Semarang. Jakarta has always been my last choice.

The story began in the fifth month of my first job. After 6 months of the jobless graduated life, I finally found a job in a small bookstore. I didn’t mind being underpaid, as long as I could stay alive, live in Semarang, and being near my girlfriend (she had better job than me at the time). It was a calm five months until a state ministry opened recruitment for the graduated. Actually, I was in Jakarta for a book exhibition at the moment; then my colleague (who was an English Department student – just like me) told me about the recruitment in Ministry of Finance. As a good boy (yes I am indeed :D), I disseminated the information to all my friends, not to mention my girlfriend. She was excited and immediately decided to apply for the recruitment test, and then asked me whether I wanted to join or not. Actually, I was in the state of “I am tired of looking for a job, I have one already and I want to rest for a while,” but considering that the recruitment took place in Jogjakarta, which meant that my gf will have to travel back and forth from Semarang, as a good boyfriend (again, indeed I am a good boy hahahaha), I couldn’t let her travel alone. Thus, I decided to join the recruitment test.

Little did I know that the recruitment consisted of four phases, meaning that I should travel back and forth five times (four times for the tests plus one time for taking the test ID) from Semarang to Jogjakarta. There was no way I skip from work for five times in a month, so I then pretended to be sick or having an urgent matter every time I have to go to Jogjakarta. It was not easy; I need to create several excuses. But thanks to my mischievous colleague that gave me a good idea; he said that if you wanna skip, just tell the boss you have a diarrhea….it is an insignificant illness but can be quite a problem moreover, nobody goes to a hospital for diarrhea and thus the boss won’t ask you a letter from a doctor to prove it (thanks dude, I owe you a lot). But that did not simply work smoothly; one doesn’t simply walk into Mor…oh sorry too much 9gag -_____-. Once, I almost got caught when my boss called me as soon as she found that I am sick; and at the moment, I was in the bus going back to Semarang. She asked me where I was, and asked me about my condition. I said that I was lying in my boarding room. She asked again how did I have a diarrhea, when I was working hard to find a good excuse, then she suddenly came with a good excuse “oh it must be that fruits you ate yesterday with your friends in the warehouse.” (I ate little sour fruits the day before, with my colleague – oh yes, I worked in a warehouse). That was a “fyuuuh” and I immediately answered “yes maam, that’s must be the case.”

So the first trip to Jogjakarta begun, it was taking the test ID card phase. I went by a travel agent with my gf. In Jogjakarta, we planned to stay at my friend’s (her name is Tia) boarding house. The problem was that, the friend is a she, thus it was impossible for me to sleep at her place. Then, she provided me a room (a class room, to be precise) in her work place (she works as a tutor in an –what we call it- uummmm English tutoring agency?) I slept in a classroom with skeleton model staring at me in front of the class -_____- and my gf slept in my friend’s boarding house. Before my second travel (the first phase of the recruitment test), my friend informed me that her boss didn’t allow me to use the classroom again; my friend was confused and she apologized to me for that. I said “it’s okay, is there any mushalla near your boarding house?”; she said “ah yes, there is one”…”okay then, that would work, I can sleep in the mushalla.” So then, I slept at a mushalla, alone…oh…I was not alone, I got mosquitoes around. After the test, I meet someone that would play a great part in the next phases. When I was walking down the street (I was lost, in fact) in a heated day, a person wearing helmet riding a motorcycle stopped by and asked (still wearing his full face helmet) “hey Ru, what did you do here?” and I was like “who the hell are you?” He didn’t answer, instead he opened the helmet. I was surprised knowing that he is Jota, one of my good friends in high school. Then we went to his boarding house, had a bit chit chat, before he dropped me by to my friend’s boarding house where I met my gf.

The announcement came out, I wasn’t aware, to be honest…not until my friend texted and congratulated me. Then I and my gf went to the internet café to just make it sure. I didn’t know how to respond when I found my name in the list but at the same time I could not find my gf’s name. She failed, but I made it; I remember, she cried in sadness and joy. I thought that, things were getting serious; I should tell my parents then. To be frank, I didn’t tell my family that I applied for a job in the Ministry of Finance. It was just I didn’t wanna make them worried, and I couldn’t afford the pressure either. Because onece, I failed in a test in a state ministry, and they keep asking “how could you fail? Why?” oh come on, I failed because I FAILED, shit happens.

 And for the next phases, I went to Jogjakarta by my self and stayed in Jota’s boarding house (thanks a lot bro, thanks a lot). Ah, I remember….that time, he also lend me his shirt for my shirt fell somewhere in the way because I carelessly forgot to zip my bag -_________-. When I met my friends in the test site, I told them the incident and they laughed and said “ah so that what makes you look weird today, it is the shirt” -______-

I made through the last phase, and before the announcement of the final result, my father brought me to someone whom I later learned that he is a paranormal. My father said that I need to meet this man, and told him that I don’t want to be placed outside the java island. Yes, I was quite worried that I will be placed outside the Java Island considering that the Ministry of Finance’s offices are located throughout the nation. But I said “dad, I cannot promise you much, how if I don’t make it through the final test,” then he said “son, I am quit sure you’ll pass,” “how could you be so sure” I asked, “look, I had a vision, a dream that somehow I met a tiger, you know son, tiger is a symbol for nobleness, for “working in the palace, kingdom” and public servant (PNS) serves the nation, the kingdom, that is noble.” That was the time I stopped arguing, there’s no use arguing with an old man about superstition, they will refuse to be beaten, so I preferred to be silent and did what he told me to.

And then yes, I made it through. With two of my friends from my English department, I started to live in this “big durian”; interweave my dream in the city of my last choice. Not long, my gf also got a new job in the Ministry of Tourism and moved to Jakarta. So, that’s how I meet your (city) mother – who is scarier than your step mother.

One doesn’t simply walk into Mordor, but karma will simply walk you to Jakarta! 

Untukmu

Untukmu penghuni pelupuk malam ku

yang mengatupkan kantuk diujung hari

semua sunyi yang tak terperi

hanya untukmu

Kata tak berbunyi

Puji ku larut bersama titik gerimis pagi

Berlari dibelakang pencari matahari

Tapi tak keluar dari hati

Untukmu penyebab resah

Puisiku larut dalam hujan yang tumpah

Tempias angin yang melewati lembah

Maka berhentilah, tagihmu hentikanlah

Untukmu, maaf

Untukmu, aku serakah

Rinduku tak kutumpah di kertas

Maaf, aku serakah

Something among “Aku” “Kamu” and “Gue” “Lu”

My friend once told me that he feels uncomfortable living in Jakarta. He is a college friend of mine, a Javanese and spends most of his time living in Central Java, thus consequently he uses Javanese language almost every time. He complained that he feels uncomfortable with the Indonesian language of the Jakartans. Of course he knows, and uses Indonesian language quite well, but as you know language is commonly prone to the cultural influence, hence the Indonesian language he speaks in Central Java is a bit “different” from that of Jakartans, since the cultural differences occurring between Central Java and Jakarta culture). He said that his friends laughed at him because he uses “aku” to express “I” and “kamu” to express “you.” Yes, those words are Indonesian language; actually “aku” is also the term Javanese uses to express “I,” and those are not the things to laugh at, as my friend thought. The problem is that, Indonesian Language of the Jakartans is heavily influenced by the indigenous cultures on the inhabitant race, Betawi. Betawi doesn’t use “aku” or “kamu,” it uses “gue” and “lu” to express “I” and “you.” Thus, Jakartans often use the words “gue” and “lu.” Apparently those words made my friend felt uncomfortable. Javanese seldom or I can say never, uses those words, and my friend as a Javanese, felt that uncomfortable. In the other hand, the Jakartans feel that the words “aku” and “kamu” rather uummmmm too intimate to be said to a friend, moreover by males. The story would be different when the words “aku” and “kamu” are used by couples, lovers to call each other…it will be considered as normal, but not for “male to male.” 


I do understand what my friend felt, because I had the same feeling when I was still a new kid on the block in Jakarta. Saying “gue” and “lu” seemed awkward and strange for my tongue, but actually it just needs time for my tongue to get use to those words.

The reason why the words “gue” and “lu” (which were, from an article I just read, derived from ancient hokkien – Chinese- language) seem to be uncomfortable for my tongue, in my opinion, relates to cultural or social reason. Jakarta, where the “gue” and “lu” often spoken, is considered to be more “advanced” city than the other, thus the residents as well as the culture, in this case the language, are also considered as more advanced. People from, for example, my village that has been staying for a long time in Jakarta, often uses (Jakarta) Indonesian language to speak with his/her friends or relatives in the village. For me, they show an arrogance saying that “I am living in Jakarta, I speak like Jakartans, hence I am cooler, more advanced, and smarter than you guys villagers.” But yeah, that is my opinion. 


In fact, for me there is no language that is better of more advanced than other language. They have the same level except those dialects intended to show the politeness level, that is a different case.

Ah suddenly I remember what I learned at my college, about code mixing and code switching. Those are linguistics phenomenon about changing or mixing the language you are using. Code mixing means that you mix languages when you speak. Cinta Laura is the most famous practitioner of code mixing. She mixes Indonesian and English, and even she brings code mixing to a higher level by using English accent in Indonesian language LOL. The purpose of this code mixing may vary, showing his or her cleverness or social level, or maybe the speaker couldn’t find the word that explains what he or she means. In the other hand, code switching is a phenomenon of changing languages, using two or more language interchangeably. For example when you are speaking to an Indonesian, you use Indonesian language, but then when a foreigner, say an American, comes joining, then you switch and use English instead. Darn, I should stop here, I am not lecturing linguistics LOL.

The matter is that, yes, each word or language has different “feeling,” but they all are at the same level. Do not be ashamed, inferior (BTW: I just found out that the word “minder” – Indonesian word for “inferior”- is a German word that also means “inferior” :D ) using your own language, or whatever language you know. But the one to be noted is that you must adapt to anything, including in the area of “language.” Use the language spoken in where you are living in (gosh, my sentence is confusing LOL). 


I think I am mumbling too much that I lost my focus in this writing hahahahaha, okay then, about “aku” “kamu” “gue” and “lu” it is that…yeah…those are choices. We can use any of them, never be ashamed, never hesitate…..but one thing for sure, adapt! Use the right word at the right time, at the right place, and to the right person. :D

PS: for those who asked, "why the hell you put SNSD's picture on this post".... it is just because..... I just like.... *period* LOL

MOVE ON

Kemarin sore, waktu saya sedang melakukan salah satu kegiatan utama saya (kegiatan-you-know-lah…main PS), ada seorang teman yang sejenak melintas *cieee bahasanya* sambil berkata “wah Haru nih, main pe-eeeess teruuusss.” Dan…kalimat tersebut terhujam tepat di jantung saya, terngiang-ngiang di kepala saya, tertanam di lubuk hati terdalam, dan terpatri selamanya dalam perasaan *apa sih Ru? STOP!*, oke intinya kata-kata temen saya itu berhasil membuat saya berpikir “iya ya, kok saya begini-begini aja ya” dan segera setelah mendengarnya, saya putuskan untuk tetap melanjutkan main PS #sikap. Saya jadi teringat dengan salah seorang PS-mate saya (maksudnya temen main PS) yang beberapa waktu lalu hampir setiap hari bertanding PS dengan saya selepas pulang kantor. Seringkali saat bermain, dia berkata “kita kok gini-gini aja ya, kerja  - main PS, kerja - main PS,” dan selalu saya tanggapi dengan senyum, ya karena memang saya tak bisa menyangkalnya; dan you know what, sekarang si-teman-main-PS saya itu sudah memegang tiket emas untuk sekolah ke Jepang. DANNGGGG!!! Saya, sekali lagi, ditampar oleh kenyataan. Saya merasa tidak punya teman, terlebih dua teman seangkatan waktu kuliah dulu yang sekarang kebetulan ada di instansi yang sama juga masing-masing sudah mendapatkan tiket emas semacam itu. Luka menganga yang dibalur air garam……periiihhhh jenderal, periiihhhh *note: baca kalimat “perih jederal perih” tidak perlu pake melenguh, nanti dikira salah satu adegan film por…ah sudah lah, imajinasimu terlalu liar Ru.*

Seperti di posting yang sebelum ini, ya memang saya orang yang tidak suka dengan perubahan dan terlalu nyaman di zonanya. Mungkin itu menjelaskan kenapa saya nyaman-nyaman saja saat menjalani pacaran *ehm* selama 5 tahun dengan rutinitas ke kampus-ke kosan pacar-main poker-makan malam-pulang ke kosan dan begitu seterusnya hampir setiap hari, yeah when I say hampir setiap hari, I mean it. Teman saya sering bertanya “apa gak bosen Ru, ketemu setiap hari sama pacar kamu?,” dan saya jawab “enggak tuh,” dan dia tanya lagi “kok bisa ya?” dan saya jawab “ya karena memang saya nggak bosen.” Tapi mungkin jawaban terbaik yang saya punya ya karena saya menikmatinya, segala keajegan itu, kenyamanan itu, dan in the end, yang dicari semua orang adalah “kenikmatan” bukan? baik ragawi maupun spiritual. Ya saya mungkin enggan beranjak dari zona nyaman saya, saya mungkin tidak suka dengan perubahan mendadak, tapi tidak suka bukannya tidak mau……saya akan berubah, tapi I am waiting for the wind to turn; when is it? It is when the wind is turning! *lempar traktor*. Wah saya jadi ingat masalah mengubah status “pacaran” ke “menikah,” salah satu masalah yang nge hits untuk para lajang (yang berpasangan) di usia pertengahan 20an menjelang 30an. Karena saya dan pacar udah berpacaran cukup lama, jadi banyak yang nanya “kapan nikah” tidak terkecuali pacar saya sendiri, iya dia nggak nanya langsung sih, tapi ya intinya dia butuh kepastian “kapan” karena sudah jengah *cieee bahasanya, jengah* mendengar pergunjingan teman dan tetangga, sementara saya belum bisa menjawabnya. Saya belum bisa menjawabnya, karena saya merasa belum ada turning wind nya, I mean, if you are married because of tired hearing what people ask and say, then it is not right. The urge to marry has to come from yourself, from inside of you, because we are married not for other people, but for us. Screw what people say.

Balik lagi nyang leptop *okay okay this line is sooooo last years*. So masalah saya mengenai ke engganan beranjak dari zona nyaman ini memang latent, dan saya sadari itu, namun, saya merasa semua sudah ada waktunya, dan yang terpenting adalah saya menikmatinya *jangan ditiru ya hehhee*. Oh saya ketemu sama teman-teman baru dari komunitas yang baru beberapa bulan ini saya masuki, dan saya lihat mereka sangat aktif dan bersemangat, suka mencoba hal baru, suka bertualang, dan anehnya percikan semangat mereka membuat saya sedikit tersulut *hasyaahhh kaya samapah daun kering ye -____-*, apakah the wind has turned for me? Ah tak tau lah, nikmati saja hehehehhehe 

Ciao, buon giorno....

Hooaaaaahm ternyata udah lama banget saya gak berkunjung ke blog ini, maaf ya *berasa punya banyak pembaca Ru? -_____-*. Bukannya saya gak punya waktu, bukan, tapi saya memang sibuk. Kegiatan utama saya (main PS, nonton video SNSD, pacaran *ehm* dan futsal) sangat menyita waktu, belum lagi buat tidur, twitter-an,.... waktu luang saya, saya manfaatkan buat bekerja di kantor.....jadi ya jarang banget buka blog ini, apalagi update...ckckckckkckc sibuk banget kan saya? *dilempar monas*


Eniwei, Happy New Year ya *iya tau tau...udah telat, eh lagian ngomong sama siapa sih? kaya ada yg baca aja -___-*...... gak kerasa udah tahun baru ke 3 saya di Jakarta ini, dan believe it or not, selama 3 malam tahun baru...saya nggak pernah merayakannya di tempat-tempat yang rame, padahal ke Monas cuman sepelemparan batu, ngesot sambil ngelindur juga nyampe.... Malam tahun baru pertama, dapat piket di kantor buat bikin release penutupan anggaran, tapi seru juga sih...pas jam 12 gitu, saya sama temen-temen naik ke lantai paling atas di kantor, trus liat kembang api dari seluruh penjuru Jakarta. Malam tahun baru ke dua, saya habiskan dengan main PSP dan baca novel di kosan. Malam tahun baru ke tiga, which is yang baru kemaren itu, saya habiskan dengan tidur dari jam 8 malem, capek cyiiinnn karena malem sebelumnya saya dapet piket penutupan anggaran (lagi) *ya walaupun pas jam 12 malem kebangun gara-gara suara kembang api sialan itu -_____-*.


Kalo ngomongin tahun baru, gak afdol ya kalo gak ngomongin resolusi? yakan? yadong! *stop Ru, adlib nya gak lucu tau -______-*. Dan seperti tahun baru yang sebelum sebelumnya, resolusi saya adalah.....uummmmmmm gak punya resolusi..... iya emang saya nggak pernah punya resolusi. Dan saya baru sadar kalau saya itu agak aneh, saya nggak suka perubahan (khususnya yang mendadak) tapi saya juga tidak suka membuat rencana. Ah iya, di tahun kemaren ada beberapa kekecewaan yang saya rasakan, pertama, I failed my scholarship test.....for the second time, itu beneran sebuah pukulan yang cukup bikin sedikit limbung *tsaaaah bahasanya*, terlebih, finding out that several of my good friends made it to the next phase....tambah bikin iri, bagai luka yang dibalur dengan garam *tsaaaah lagi*. Iya saya harusnya ikut seneng dengan keberhasilan mereka, saya seneng juga, tapi saya iri....hhmmm semoga rasa iri ini bisa memacu saya untuk lebih berusaha lagi biar lulus di test yang akan datang, semangattttt!!!!! *kemudian main PS lagi*. Kekecewaan berikutnya adalah, nggak smepet nonton SNSD live in concert di Singapura..., ya  ya ya mungkin agak berlebihan, tapi...tapi tapiiiii.....huwaaaaa jadi sedih lagi deh nih *perasaan lebih sedih gara-gara gak nonton SNSD daripada gak lulus ujuan beasiswa ya Ru? ckckckckc*.


Yaaa wis deh, kayaknya ide nya mampet lagi nih hehehhee, Happy New Year people!!!!


A Presto!! - see you soon, hopefully very soon -

English Haiku (continued)

The night
Under the blanket
Over the flames
                                           
Say no words
For no words, in the world
Could define
                                           
Blue cat
The friends and the magic
It's sunny Sunday
                                           
When you are young
And all you do is nothing
Then it is riot
                                           
The night and the moon
The sheep jump over it
It's number one hundred and one


PS: I will try to update this post every time I have new haiku :D

Kumpulan Haiku Bahasa Indonesia (lanjutan)

Lama
Tidak terjadi apa-apa
Hanya jam pasir
                                           
Di sana
Di antara kita
Samudera
                                           
Sunyi, sepi, khidmat
Gemuruh lutut mengaduh
Sujud


NB: Post ini akan saya perbaharui setiap ada haiku baru yang saya buat :D