I Guess Starting Is Everything

I really like this video because it does motivate me a lot. Meltzer did deliver his words perfectly. I really adore his speech. You should watch it! :)

We Should Marry Ourselves First :)

Sometimes what we need is not looking for someone perfect. Sometimes what we need is not looking for the best one. Sometimes what we need is looking for our own selves. What we need is to be the right person. What we actually need is marrying ourselves first, receive our plus and minus side. :)

I Got This Video, I Saw It, You Gotta See It Too

You have to see this video! And look up from your phone. Live this life more lively. Don't be like some dumb robots. :)

That Essence

We  live in modern era, as the generations of technology. We are surrounded by smartphones. We cannot avoid this technology development. Also, we cannot avoid admitting that this technology, all these machines have been a part of our life. It seems like we cannot live without them. We should admit that we are now being controlled by all these machines we create and we master.

Every second, every single minute, every breath we take, we are always surrounded and connected to these machines, especially our smartphones. But, is this the essence of using all these machines? Is this the essence of using smartphones and being some dumb robots? Sometimes it makes me sick to realize that this new age has changed our behavior. All these machines makes us often act like some anti-social persons. We all are just spoiled by all these technologies. We just accept all the things without filtering them first.

It annoys me when I have to see that I'm surrounding by the people who always look down at their smartphones whenever, wherever they go, and whoever they are with. In class, for example, it really annoys me to see that some of my friends are giving more attention to their smartphones than to the lecture. I'm not saying that I'm that perfect and never do that, no! I admit that I sometimes do that too, but now I realize how to manage my time, to realize and be aware which one is more important and place it in my first priority. I try to respect my lecturers when they give the lecture and stay away from my smartphone for awhile. It's okay. I'm still alive even though I stay away from that little thing for awhile. What in my mind is that I believe I should be respectful when somebody is talking. It will be hurt for them if they are talking or explaining something and no one is listening. It happens to us, too, doesn't it? Just try to imagine if you are in their shoes, what will you feel? Also, you have payed the fee of each lecture, so don't waste it away. I understand that sometimes it is very very and so damn boring, but, dude! Please, just stay at that moment for only at least two hours. It won't kill you. If I were you and just play with my gadgets, don't listen in the class, I'd rather not to attend the class.

It happens not only in class. It happens when we say we want to meet our God at church. It does annoy me cause, hey, dude! It's at church now and could you please just stay away from your parasite for awhile? You won't die, I tell you! Sometimes it's harder to separate a person from their smartphone than from their girlfriend/boyfriend. I can say this because I often experience it. It often sucks me, you know! LOL. I'm rather confused how can God say something to you when all you do during the sermon is just looking down at your smartphone? How can you listen what God wants from you? Or are you not listening during the sermon at all? It could be because you keep looking down and keep yourself busy with it. :p

People are now losing the essence of being presence. They forget or maybe pretend to forget the essence of going to church. It's not to listen to God anymore, but it's to sit beautifully in the chair and keep looking down at their stuff which they call as smartphone. They who have lost the essence of being presence is just come and go home without getting something.

In class. They are losing the essence of being there. They who have lost it just do the same as they who are at church always look down. They just sit beautifully in class, sign in the presence list, and listen to nothing.

I think we should be more aware to this condition. Be a smart user, don't be a stupid user. Listen when you have to, and just leave that thing we call as smartphone for awhile.

I Know There Are Stalkers

Before I write this story, I knew there would be many spies or we now like to call 'em as stalkers who would read my writings. I have known there will be many stalkers read this. But, who cares? Do I? No, I don't!
This time, I would like to share about my random feelings (such an anger in some ways). I would try to share what I feel by explaining a song from Paramore, titled Misery Business. I would elaborate what this song says to me.

"Misery Business"

(hit that, hit that snare)

I'm in the business of misery,
Let's take it from the top.
She's got a body like an hourglass, it's ticking like a clock.
It's a matter of time before we all run out,
When I thought he was mine she caught him by the mouth.

Line 1 and 2 suits in my feelings. For me, these lines try to say that the author is in a problem and she's gonna take it from her point of view. Line 4 and 5 also suits in me. In line 4, she wants to say that every matter has its own timing. We all have our time; starting time, and finishing time. In line 5, she wants to say at first, she thought the guy was hers, but unfortunately there was another girl who stole him only by the mouth! Maybe, that girl was trying to speak ill of her to the guy, in order to get his attention or to make him stay away from her slowly but sure.

I waited eight long months,
She finally set him free.
I told him I couldn't lie he was the only one for me.
Two weeks we caught on fire,
She's got it out for me,
But I wear the biggest smile.

Line 9-11 speak something to me. These girls are in quarrel but in silent quarrel. Both of them just try to hide each of their feeling. The causing-problem girl just makes the trouble and she is also somehow a hypocrite. She points at the girl that she is the one who is the trouble maker. However, she only gives smile to the causing-problem girl! Who cares? I do not start the fire, why should I extinguish it?

Whoa, I never meant to brag.
But I got him where I want him now.
Whoa, it was never my intention to brag
To steal it all away from you now.
But God does it feel so good,
'Cause I got him where I want him now.
And if you could then you know you would.
'Cause God it just feels so...
It just feels so good.

Second chances they don't ever matter, people never change.
Once a whore you're nothing more, I'm sorry, that'll never change.
And about forgiveness, we're both supposed to have exchanged.
I'm sorry honey, but I passed it up, now look this way.
Well there's a million other girls who do it just like you.
Looking as innocent as possible to get to who,
They want and what they like, it's easy if you do it right.
Well I refuse, I refuse, I refuse!

I watched his wildest dreams come true
Not one of them involving you
Just watch my wildest dreams come true
Not one of them involving...

Priority

Acknowledging that I'm already 19 is easy, but acknowledging my maturity is difficult. Moreover if I link the maturity with life priority. I'm of course 19 and single still. Sometimes some people ask why I am still single, why I do not get a boyfriend, etc. Sometimes some people advice me to place my study first (as my priority) and I should not think about having boyfriend first (not to think about it too much) because they say that your soul mate will come in the right place and in the right time. So, do not worry too much. Do not make yourself in hurry. And I do think that this is right!

I am very thankful that God has opened my mind and my eyes widely. Now, I realize that my study is much more important rather than to think about having boyfriend and to keep my mind busy searching or looking for a boy (I say this because I was always busy thinking of a boy). When I am thinking of this, I remember one thing. I even have not given my best yet in my study (in the condition-I'm single now). What will it be if I am not single? Maybe I cannot concentrate in my study. Maybe I cannot focus well. Moreover if I and my boy have quarrel. It sucks. It kills me and my study well. LOL.

I am very grateful to have a very-very educated family. They are all educated and surely think of the future. I'm glad that my family, especially my mother never rushes me to have a boyfriend (I say this because some parents does, and some others are normative. This is the fact in our society). Instead of rushing me, she encourages me a lot to finish my study in time first, do and give my best, reach my dreams, and gain many achievements as much as you can. She always encourages her children that we are smart, beautiful, and good girls. God has given the best for each of us. So, she said, why are you being so worried about this or that? The thing is not as difficult as you think. You don't need to worry about a little thing, just like having a boyfriend or not or are you beautiful enough or not. Every matter has its time. Don't be rush! :)

A Panic Woman

Yesterday, I was asked by my close friend to write a little story (description perhaps) about herself in my blog. So, I just write down here. Lol. I hope you can enjoy the story of herself.

Let's begin with a little introduction. I'm confused whether I should mention her name or not, but I think it is more appropriate if I do not mention her real name since it is her privacy, Lol. So I will change her name here with an initial, D. So, I know D because she is my classmate and we were in the same group of Letters Faculty Initiation of 2013. D is from Kebumen, Central Java. It is quite near to my hometown, Purwokerto. She has Ngapak accent, same with me. Maybe this is the reason why we are close enough. Hahaha.. My friends and I often call her "Boss Ngapak" since she has very very Ngapak accent. You should know that her accent is more dangerous than my accent. Lol. She has a thin and tall body. Her hair is wave and not short. She has shrill voice. Her voice is very very useful to drive us crazy and mad when she starts to be rempong (worrying, complaining about something over and over again).

She is a very helpful friend, honestly. She never minds helping us when we need her help. Once, when I was sick, I asked her to accompany me to see the doctor and she did accompany me (thanks a lot, D, anyway! XD). She is funny, silly, crazy, ridiculous, smart and absolutely a panic woman!

First, she is funny, silly, crazy, and ridiculous. Why do I say this? 'Cause, she sometimes do something that never comes up in our minds. We never think of it, but she does! Let me take some examples. She often feels that her boarding room is small and full of stuff, but she keeps bringing unimportant stuff to her room and buying something that will fill the space in her room, makes it more narrower. Another example is what she wants are so many. She wants this stuff, that stuff, those, these, and eveything. Hahhaa... She also often wants something (usually food, specific food) like a pregnant woman (in Indonesia, we call it ngidam), she must follow that desire, and she must get what she wants no matter what. Hehehe. This was quite silly when she wanted to move to another room in her boarding house and she was really really confused how to say it to her boarding house owner. She felt like she was worried to be so annoying for the owner. My friends and I encouraged her to just say it, say what you want, and it is alright to say. But she kept confusing herself. Hahaha...

Second, she is a smart girl, of course! I can say this because she has ever told me when she was still in High School, she had a bad experience. It happened in the evening (if I am not wrong, XD). She was riding her motorcycle, and she realized that she was being followed by some motorcycles riding by bad boys. She was actually panic, but she was smart enough because she had a strategic to deceive them. She turned right without giving directional signals. This deceived them because the boys thought she would not go ahead and not turn right. In our daily life, she often gives us a brilliant idea (although sometimes it is a silly idea, but it’s okay) to solve a problem.

The last, she is absolutely a panic woman. I have a little story about her. Once, she was alone in her boarding house, she was afraid of something she had seen. She did not know whether it was a cat, a person, or ghost, but she was totally panic. I still remember it was around 10 p.m. when she chatted me on facebook, asking for my help. She wanted to stay for a night in my boarding house because she was totally mad. You know, she kept talking about it over and over again. Another one is quite secret. It is a matter related to a friend (fellas, you know what I mean). Every time D meets that girl, D will be panic and warn us to be careful because it is like "she is everywhere, she is looking for you-you-and-you, you all will be her victims, etc., etc". The other one is she is often worried about her appearance, her fashion, her make-up, everything that fits on her. Once she was very rempong. She complained about something wrong with her lips since the day before she ate unripe mango, and she felt it’s sap made her lips dry, not moist. But in fact, there was nothing wrong with her lips. It was just her worry. Hahaha...

I will just close this story with this one. Instead of calling her freak, my friends and I call her unique. She is the one and only. I have never met people that so rempong like her. Hahaha.. Thank you for our friendship :)

Kisah Seorang Tukang Becak Tua

                Pagi ini aku teringat akan sebuah pengalaman yang cukup menyentuh hatiku. Nggak tau kenapa, aku jadi pingin nge-share pengalamanku di blog. Kejadian ini aku alamin beberapa bulan yang lalu, waktu aku masih liburan di kampung halamanku, Purwkerto. Waktu itu, aku sekeluarga baru selesai ibadah di sebuah gereja Kristen di Purwokerto. Kami sekeluarga nggak langsung pulang. Kami menunggu agak lama di dalam gereja karena ada keperluan. Sementara kami sekeluarga masih berada di dalam gereja, orang2 yang lain sudah berhambur keluar gereja dan bergegas pulang. Beberapa masih keliatan asyik ngobrol di dalam gereja, ada juga yang asyik ngobrol di luar. Setelah keperluan kami selesai, kami bergegas keluar gereja menuju parkiran mobil di depan gereja. Suasana di halaman gereja dan parkiran sudah sepi, tidak ada satu jemaat pun yang masih tinggal. Ketika kami sekeluarga berjalan menuju mobil, datanglah dua orang pria menghampiri kami. Yang satu masih agak muda, dia adalah tukang parkir. Yang satunya sudah tua dan dia adalah tukang becak.

                Si tukang becak tersebut segera menawari kami tumpangan. Katanya, “becak, mbak?” Lalu aku cuma tersenyum sambil menggeleng. Setelah aku berlalu, papaku lah yang ditawarinya tumpangan. Katanya, “becak, boss?” Papaku menolak, “mboten, pak.” Aku merasa iba dan kasihan melihat si tukang becak yang sudah tua itu tidak mendapat penumpang. Dia terlihat sudah tua dan berbaju alakadarnya. Becaknya pun sudah tua sama seperti orangnya dan penampilan fisik dari becaknya sudah jelek, sudah penuh tambal-tambalan, sudah tidak menarik seperti becak-becak lainnya. Secara manusiawi, aku bisa ‘ngerasain’ gimana rasanya jadi tukang becak yang nawarin jasanya sama orang terakhir yang keluar dari gereja, tapi akhirnya ditolak. Aku lihat ada kekecewaan di wajah bapak itu dan itu pasti. Aku bisa ngerasain hopelessnya dia gimana. Sekeliling gereja sudah sepi, sudah tidak ada lagi jemaat yang masih tinggal di gereja. Sekeliling gereja pun sudah tidak ada lagi tukang becak yang ‘berburu’ penumpang. Hanya dialah satu-satunya tukang becak yang masih ‘berburu’ penumpang di gereja. Dan ketika dia menghampiri kami, kami pun menolak menggunakan jasa becaknya karena kami sudah membawa kendaraan pribadi.

                Aku sempat bergumul dengan hati kecilku, apakah sebaiknya aku memberikan uang di kantongku, yang memang tidak banyak, hanya 20ribu rupiah kepada tukang becak tersebut secara cuma-cuma atau tidak. Ketika sudah di dalam mobilpun aku masih bergumul. Aku bingung. Ternyata yang merasakan pergumulan itu bukan hanya aku, tapi mama dan papaku juga. Mamaku mengambil inisiatif untuk memberi uang kepada tukang becak tersebut uang secara Cuma-Cuma. Mama meminta papa memberikan 20ribu rupiah ke tukang becak tersebut.  Tukang becak itu terlihat sangat gembira ketika diberi uang oleh papa secara Cuma-Cuma.

                Setelah aku merenungkan pengalaman pribadiku ini, ada banyak hal yang aku dapat. Pertama, menolong orang lain, membuat dan melihat orang lain bahagia karena bantuan atau kehadiran kita ternyata sungguh2 touching.So, jangan ragu untuk membantu atau menolong orang yang benar-benar membutuhkan, apalagi jika orang tersebut ada di depan kita. Jujur, aku menyesal karena aku nggak langsung ambil inisiatif pada saat itu juga untuk memberikan tukang becak tersebut uang sakuku. Yang kedua, kalau kita pingin menolong orang, nggak usah yang memikirkan yang jauh-jauh dulu. Karena apa? Karena justru banyak sekali orang di sekitar kita yang membutuhkan pertolongan dari kita, tetapi kehadiran mereka yang ada di dekat kita, justru sering membuat mereka terlupakan. Kita terlalu sering memikirkan yang jauh-jauh. Padahal kita lupa, kalau di sekitar kita justru banyak sekali orang-orang yang membutuhkan pertolongan kita supaya berkat dan Kabar Gembira itu tidak hanya berhenti di diri kita, melainkan mereka pun dapat merasakan berkat dan Kabar Gembira dari Tuhan melalui diri kita.

                HAPPY WEEKEND!! GOD BLESS YOU ALL.              

Ant

Some days ago, I observed some ants in my bedroom. This was actually for Introduction of General Linguistic assignment but I was interested in it.

How I observed them was actually simple. I just put some crumb in the floor just after I woke up. LOL. I stayed in my bed, waiting for them patiently.

Not so long, the first ant came. It observed the crumb. It seemed to (maybe) bite the crumb. After a moment, it left the crumb and went away. When it went away, I saw it walked by making pola. I supposed it called its friends, made a pola to make it easier come back and I was right! Another ant came and observed the crumb. The second ant did not come by following the pola the first ant had left. It came from another side. I supposed it caught the signal that first ant gave. A few minutes later, the first ant came back (I saw it came back to the food source by following the 'trace' that it had left before. The 'trace' itself had a pola, like zigzag). Some ants came closer afterwards, but they could not reach the food. Honestly, I was rather confused about this matter, but I thought it happened because they had lost the signal from the first ant or failed to follow their instinct.

Finally, only two ants which reached the food. The first ant gave instruction to the other to bring the food. It seemed to have a body contact to the other. I guessed the first ant was a little bit "bossy" because it acted like a leader. It led the other, gave instruction, and put the other in order. Ants, even though animal, are in fact like human-beings. They have their own characters. LOL.

What I learn from this observation is how an ant communicates with others. They have a body contact with their friends (they touch the other's head). I suppose it is the way to tell friends something. To call friends or help, it gives a signal and usually it wanders for awhile to spread the signal around its surrounding and I believe it also leaves 'trace' to be followed by others. So, ants communicate using body contact, giving signal to others, and living its 'trace' to be followed by others. :) 

POSSESSIVE

What comes first into your mind when you hear this word? I bet you immediately think of a person who always forbids her/his boyfriend/girlfriend to do something, go with someone/friends, etc. This type of person usually wanna know (very2 curious and sometimes their action annoys very much) of what she/he doing or where she/he going and with who. Why do a lot of people do this? My answer (based on my opinion and experience) is because they think they have rights to know in order to control her/his action, so she/he cannot act against them, do something their bf/gf doesn't like or do something they are not supposed to do. People in this situation is totally, absolutely, exactly under someone else control. Some of them will not protest but some will.

I have been in there situation honestly :p Do you ever think that it happens not only between two person who are falling in love or in a relationship but it often happens between parents and children. As parents, they absolutely have rights to control and keep their children even to direct them to something good. It's not only their privilege but also their duty and responsibility as parents even though sometimes they too much 'care' and make too much intervention to the children's private life. This is what I often see in the real life. Let's say, children wanna do something and parents do not agree with their choice of act. Parents are being authoritative. If they say "no", then the children MUST obey them no matter how or whether they like it/not. This is good only for a while. I bet this will not last for a long time because children will try to find a way to manipulate. They will find a way to deceive their parents. And I'm so sorry to say this... parents are often fooled by their children not because they are stupid or fool literally but because of their authority, the wrong authority. Let's make a good example that happens very very often in our daily life. There's a girl who is forbidden to have a boyfriend by her parents. Her parents want her to study first, to be the best in her talent, to be succeed, not to waste the time or to think too much of a boy. This is a good purpose, of course.. Who doesn't want the children to be succeed? But the way her parents give the rule is false. Parents are too much authoritative, stiff and make too much intervention that annoys her very much. Seeing there are a lot of her friends have boyfriend, she becomes envy (oh c'mon, this is normal, huh? XD).

Negotiation with parents will not make the deal. It will be all useless. She knows it! What will she do? Backstreet relationship will be the answer. She won't tell her parents, only tell her friends and we should have known and think ahead that the effects of the wrong authority is parallel. Parallel here means that her first action to deceive or escape from her parents' grip will cause something that's not good for herself. And that something will again cause another thing in the future. One thing causes another thing.

I think as parents, they should give more freedom to their children, allow them to decide something they think good for them but do not forget to advise them too. By giving children more freedom and not trammel them, they will know what should they do with their freedom. By giving this, children will know that freedom they have has limit. However, children themselves must be down to earth, they must conceive that they are under their parents' control still, and they must respect their parents. Having more freedom does not mean that they are totally free, free to do anything they want even though their action will harm someone else and themselves. No, freedom is not like that. Why I dare enough to write and give the suggestion like this, because it's based on my own experience. My parents, especially my mother gives me so much freedom. She lets me do anything I want. Why does she do this? Because she believes by giving me more freedom, I will be more responsible since I will understand the limit of freedom and I can learn how to keep someone's trusty. Have I misapplied her trusty? No, I haven't :)

I Have Learned

There's something that comes to my mind lately. I've been a college student for a year and I've met so many people. So many with so many kind of characters. At first, I thought it was alright and normal because I have been told I would meet so many people from different background, ethnic, social class, etc but I never thought that I would feel discomfort. For a year, I did not meet any obstacle making friend with 'em. But now, I must say to myself, I must admit that I'm in a challenging situation.

I am faced with so many people that I definitely do not like. I don't like their behavior, attitude and habit. When I talked to my mom that I don't like them, she taught me to understand this life, what this life is going to be and what life wants to teach you. She said to me (again) I will meet those kind of people in the future and I have to face them! I have to control myself to go through the challenging situation like this. I have learned that life is not going to be alright always. There a time you will meet and face the people you definitely do not like. But it's the time to challenge yourself, to prove yourself that you can go through this situation well. Sometimes, you need to see what beautiful from this life from the situation like this. You need to see from another point of view. I'm sure if you and I can do this, we will get the point (what should we do, how should we act or re-act). :) I think it's enough for today reflection. Lol. :)

How Important The First Impression Is

Last few days, I went to a food stall with my two friends. They were Yo and Na (Initial names. XD). When we arrived at the food stall, the seller looked unfriendly. She did not smile sweetly to us and her face looked in bad mood. Then, after we finished eating our breakfast, Yo said to me that she did not like the seller because of her behavior. Yo complained to me that the seller really really unfriendly. I replied to Yo, telling her that the seller was actually a moody woman. When she feels happy, she smiles all the way, she even sings beautifully and happily while serving the customers. But when she doesn't, do not expect her to smile or behave to you. LOL.

Nah, from this occurrence, I learned that the first impression is really important. This determines how others will appreciate us, how others will judge our behavior/attitude, and how others will think of us. So, be as good as you are, especially for the first time meeting someone because they will not forget that first impression you give. Whether it is good or bad, it's up to you. Good night, guys! :)

I Do Need God

Today, I'm gonna share what I have been feeling lately. I admit that I have lost my intimacy time with God for a quite long time. That happened because of a life problem which disappointed me very much and I thought I was right enough to turn away from God and made my own way. But this definitely wrong! I was wrong. This action made me getting worse because I wasn't connected to God, I did not feel His mercy anymore. My life was flat and empty. I was losing my hope and I often thought there was no way to solve my problems. I was alone, in fact. Then, today, that worst feeling came to me. I felt alone, lonely, lonesome, hopeless, I saw everything only in their bad sides. It sucks! But, once again (I repeat what people say) God is good. He knocked my heart, He resuscitated me that I need Him. So, I set up my intimacy time again with Him and He makes me feel good. So, whoever read my words, wherever you are, if you feel lonely, alone and no one can help you, just remember that God is always with you. All you need to do is come to Him, pray, and set up your intimacy time with Him. God bless you. Thank God :)

Why To Be Different?

This is what I have concerned lately.. Firstly, I want to ask, could you choose any people that you will love? I beg, if they could control their feeling well, they would choose any people who are rich, famous, smart, even perfect to be loved to. But, the matter is, people could not control their feeling. There is a saying, "you can choose whom you will marry but you can't choose whom you will love." I completely agree with the saying. Nah, now, how if you love someone who has different culture with you? how if he/she is not from the same ethnic? how if he/she has religion that is different with you or he/she does not have religion? will you still defend him/her??

I often ask... (absolutely my mind always ask me this question) is the matter of differences that important? so many people marry but both of two actually have different religion or come from different culture but they can live happily. I just want to share my thoughts, what I have been feeling and thinking lately. How is your feeling if you love someone and his/her parents do not accept yourself because of the matter of differences? HURTS! Yes, of course! As a human being, all will feel hurt. If you were hurt, would you stand still and defend your love although there would be soooo many barriers? I felt this way, and I had been in a situation that forced me to give it away. If at first they have refused you, how will they accept you in a future? Yes, you love someone but it does not mean that you gotta make he/she yours. You love, indeed, but still use your logic!

-xoxo-

Family Language as Indonesian born Chinese

My name is Amadea Mouskouri Da Leo and I am usually called Dea or Amadea. What comes first into your mind when you hear my name? I bet you will assume that I am a half-blood girl. I bet you will assume that I am French or Portuguesse or Spanish descent. Many people have that kind of assumption. That is absolutely wrong anyway. I am an Indonesian born Chinese. My father and my mother are Chinese descent. My father is Hakka-Hokkien descent and my mother is Hokkien descent. Both of them were born in Indonesia. Only my grand-grandfather who was born in China.

I would like to explain a little about my family. I will explain from my father descent because as a Chinese family, the line descent is from my father since. My father’s Indonesian name is Leo Yuda Fattah and he has Chinese name Lioe Ye Fat. His clan or family name is Lioe, so are his two daughters.

My grand-grandfather from my father was born in China. He was Hokkienese and his hometown was Fujian, South China. He went to Indonesia following his uncle to do the trade. He could not write nor read. He had lack education. He spoke Chinese and Hokkienese but ever since he came to Indonesia, he had spoken both Chinese-Hokkienese and Indonesian. He was not Indonesian citizen at the time, he only went to Indonesia for trade business. As the time flew, his arrival to Indonesia became often and often until one day he met an Indonesian born Chinese woman in Jakarta. He married that woman although he had married to a woman in China. I do not know whether I should say luckily or unluckily, but the fact is his first wife had not given birth any children.

My grand-grandfather lived in Jakarta and finally became Indonesian citizen until he died. In the rest of his life he spoke Indonesian quite fluently. He has 4 children. His only daughter is my grandmother. Because she was born in Indonesia, she speaks Indonesian and a little Hokkienese only. She was raised up in Jakarta but moved to Purwokerto when she married to my grandfather. My grandfather was not from Jakarta, he was from Cilacap and he has passed away. My grandfather owned many ships and did the trade. Besides Hokkienese, my grandfather had Hakka descent but in all his life, he was just same as my grandmother; he spoke Indonesian, a little Hokkienese and Hakkanese (khek/kelang).

They have 4 children; 1 daughter and 3 sons. My father is the second child. And as Chinese, they all have been given their Chinese names. But do you know what happened with the 4 children’s spoken language? Since the children all were born and grew up in Java, they did not speak Chinese or Hokkienese as their daily language anymore. Instead, they spoke Indonesian and sometimes they put Hokkienese in their conversation. Even though their spoken language and written language is Indonesian, they still call and teach their children (my father also teaches me) to call the relatives in Chinese like Apho (phopho) for grandmother, Akung (kung-kung) for grandfather, Khukhu for aunt, Shushu for uncle, Kujong for aunt’s husband, Cici and Koko for the older cousins, brother and sister. In addition, my father’s family still hold the Chinese culture quite tight.  That’s all a little information about my father’s family.

It’s quite different from my mother’s family. In this case, I will not explain about my grandfather because he had died before I was born, so I can only explain about my grandmother. My mother, even though comes from Chinese family and also a Hokkienese, she and her family do not hold the Chinese culture tightly anymore. She cannot speak Chinese or Hokkienese, but my grandmother can. She speaks both Indonesian and Chinese fluently. Not only in speaking Chinese, in written language, she is expert. Besides those languages, she also speaks Javanese quite often in the daily conversation. But unfortunately, my mother and grandmother never teach me to call our relatives in Chinese, like calling my uncle Shushu or Qiuqiu, calling grandmother Apho or Emak, because they have forgotten the rule of calling the relatives. Instead, I call my uncle Om, call my aunt Tante and call my grandmother Oma. But I still call my aunt’s daughter and son Cici and Ooh. I am also called Cici by my sister, my cousin, nephew and niece.

Growing up in an Indonesian born Chinese family, my family and I cannot confute there are so many life values and Chinese culture which have been faded in our family generation. We cannot speak Hokkienese as fluent as Hakka (Khek/Kelang) people speak their own language until now even though they do not live in China anymore. We have to learn Chinese in order to be able to speak Chinese. We do celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year but in our own version, not in the real one. We do not believe in Fengshui but we still accept that we have shio (like zodiak and horoscop but it is based on the year of birth and the symbol is animal). We do not do chengbeng, cap go meh, etc.

Another thing, we are living in Java and that’s why I do believe that Chinese in Java (including my family, of course) are more integrated with Javanese culture that makes them different from Borneo’s Chinese or Sumatera’s Chinese. Although we are integrated with Javanese, we still keep one thing; Chinese should marry Chinese, especially for the women. Not to be racist, but in Chinese tradition, Chinese women should marry Chinese men to defend the purity of our descent and the clan. But for the men, they can marry non-chinese women since the men is the ones who hand on the clan to the children (patrilineal).

Living in Java for a long time and has not spoken our own language from generation to generation does not mean that my family and I can speak Javanese fluently. My family and I speak Indonesian as our daily language. Of course, we can speak Javanese but only ngoko. If people asks us in krama alus, both of us cannot reply in krama alus. Then, the Javanese that we know is Ngapak Javanese or Banyumasan which has some differences from Jogjakarta Javanese.

In my generation, my sister and I speak Indonesian in our daily conversation. My parents teach us to speak Indonesian since we were kids, whether for formal situation or not. They do not teach us to speak Hokkienese anymore but I do learn some Hokkienese vocabularies by myself by listening and paying attention when mother, father, grandmother are talking. My grandmother does the same thing. She is expert in Chinese but does not teach my sister and I to speak Chinese since we were kids. Parents never teach my sister and I how to speak Javanese but we learn this from our neighborhood, school and friends. Now, we used to speak Indonesian mixed with Javanese and mixed with Hokkienese.

The differences in using spoken language in my family can happen because of some factors. First, the grown-ups who came from China and lived in Java never taught the Hokkienese to their children. Instead, they switch off their language, and switch on the Indonesian even Javanese in order to be easy to integrate with the indigenous. Second, there has been no curiosity and effort of the children (including me) to learn or ask to be taught. Third, the different era. This means that every generation lives in one level which is more modern than their grown-ups and this makes the difference of society, attitude, the way of thinking, education, entertainment, etc. What I feel in my society now is that they require the Chinese to learn and speak Indonesian in order to be able to integrate, socialize, etc. In education system now, I hardly find a Chinese School like in the past, in my grandmother era. Fourth, the number of Chinese in Java are not as much as in Borneo or Sumatera, we do not dominate here and we do not keep our culture or tradition as tight as they do. That’s why, we as Chinese in Java have forgotten our own language.

Sometimes and somehow, I’m sad because I am a Chinese but I cannot speak Chinese nor Hokkienese. I’m sad because there are some even many life values and traditions that have been forgotten by my family. But I want to learn what I do not know, keep and hand on some of those that I hold still to my generations.

Such a Wonderful Land

These pictures were taken in a city park in my hometown :)

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Celebratin' my 19th birthday and Chinese New Year together with exchanged students from China :)

A Visit to Keraton Jogjakarta :)

This is when I visited Keraton Jogja with my friends in the day of Chinese New Year! *wohoo* How cool, right? LOL. Honestly, that was my first time visiting Keraton and I felt like I was a real tourist. :P lol. I was so happy because I could visit that great place finally *phew*. Big thanks to Ajeng and Sari who were willing to accompany and be the tour guides for Chindy and I in visiting Keraton. *yeay* :DD

Last December I celebrated Christmas with my friends. Here are the pictures. LOL. I think we were so cool, awesome, and full of happiness. #latepost :P

Rasa Yang Tak Terungkap

Masa-masa SMA adalah masa yang dianggap sebagai masa paling indah dan berkesan. Di masa inilah, seorang remaja dianggap sudah mulai beranjak lebih dewasa. Tak heran, banyak orang sering mengaitkan masa-masa SMA dengan kisah kasih atau masa-masa yang penuh kisah percintaan. Banyak orang pun berharap dapat menemukan cinta sejatinya di masa SMA ini, seperti yang sering dikisahkan dalam cerita-cerita roman atau film.

            Pendapat khalayak tersebut nampaknya sudah nancep di pikiran Jude, yang baru saja mengenakan baju putih abu-abu. Dia mulai meraba-raba apa yang akan terjadi pada masa-masa SMA-nya nanti. Mungkin akan ada banyak kisah cinlok alias cinta lokasi, atau malah sebaliknya? Who knows? Just let it flow saja.

            Kehidupan SMA yang baru, akan segera dia rasakan sesaat setelah bunyi bel masuk berbunyi. Setelah melewati MOS dan segala tetek-bengek-nya, akhirnya dia dapat bernafas lega karena kehidupan SMA yang sesungguhnya akan segera dimulai. Namun, saat menjalani hari pertama di sekolah, rasanya sangat flat dan waktu jadi terasa berjalan sangat lambat.

            “Di sini ada banyak organisasi dan kita bisa aktif di salah satu atau beberapa organisasi. Hmm... tapi kenapa aku jadi galau begini ya? Apa karena terlalu banyak pilihan?” ujar Devi yang duduk di sebelah Jude. Wajahnya tampak bosan dan bingung. Entah apa yang ada dalam pikirannya saat itu.

            “Jadi, sedari tadi kamu nggak mendengarkan materi pembelajaran?” Judea balik bertanya.

            “Dengar sih dengar, tapi nggak terlalu konsentrasi juga karena semuanya membosankan. Aku bingung mau ikut organisasi yang mana. Kamu sudah ada gambaran belum?”

            “Kalau aku sih, mau aktif di organisasi kerohanian saja. Hehehe.”

            Itulah pilihan yang telah dibuat oleh Jude. Si gadis berambut panjang tersebut memilih untuk aktif di sebuah organisasi kerohanian. Organisasi itulah yang mengakrabkan dirinya dengan kakak-kakak kelas. Tidak ada perasaan spesial dari dirinya kepada senior cowok di organisasi tersebut. Tetapi ada seorang senior yang sepertinya mempunyai perasaan spesial kepadanya. Nama senior itu adalah James. Semenjak mereka terlibat obrolan yang cukup hangat di acara ulang tahun sekolah, nampaknya ada sebuah ‘rasa’ yang menusuk hati James.

            Semenjak kejadian tersebut, kehidupan Jude berjalan seperti biasanya. Namun, ada yang sedikit berbeda. James mulai melakukan PDKT. Tetapi, nampaknya Jude tidak terlalu merespon hal tersebut. Dia hanya menganggap James sebagai kakak kelas yang teladan. Sampai pada akhirnya, ada seorang senior lain yang lebih berhasil meraih hati Jude dan mereka pun jadian. Karena James tahu Jude sudah jadian, dia mulai mundur perlahan, menjaga jarak dan tidak menghubunginya lagi.

            Beberapa bulan berlalu, kehidupan Jude berubah. Dia dan cowoknya break up. Namun, yang membuat heran adalah James datang dan kembali masuk dalam kehidupan Jude. James memang tidak pernah secara frontal berusaha untuk mengambil hatinya atau menunjukkan rasa yang dipendamnya terang-terangan. Dia pun terkadang terkesan jaim. Tetapi, bentuk perhatian dan rasa yang diberikan kepadanya sungguh dirasakan berbeda. Cewek itu peka. Sebagai cewek, Jude tahu apa yang sebenarnya terjadi.

            Setahun hampir berlalu dan James akan segera pergi ke luar kota untuk melanjutkan studinya. Selama itu pula, tidak pernah ada kepastian dari James akan perasaannya kepada Jude. Jude pun tidak pernah menuntut penjelasan atau kepastian apapun meskipun akhirnya, dia mulai membuka hati untuk James.

            Aku tahu ini bukan rasa kepedean atau ke-GR-an. Aku tahu sebenarnya dia menyukai aku. Untuk apa dia mau repot-repot pinjam buku ke rumahku yang jauh? Untuk apa dia mau repot-repot jemput aku ke pesta ulang tahun? Untuk apa juga dia mau repot-repot mbeliin oleh-oleh dari luar kota dan mengantarkan ke rumahku? Tapi, kenapa dia nggak pernah mengatakan perasaannya kepadaku? Apakah dia sudah berkomitmen untuk nggak berpacaran dulu? Hati Jude terus bertanya-tanya, bahkan sampai saat ini. Yang membuatnya bingung sampai sekarang adalah mengapa James tidak pernah mengatakan perasaannya kepada Jude.

            “Jujur saja, sekarang aku sudah punya perasaan sama dia. Tapi sebagai cewek, aku nggak mungkin mengungkapkan hal ini kepadanya,” curhat Jude kepada Sinta, sahabatnya.

            “Hmm... Sulit juga ya, kalau ada di posisimu. Kamu sabar saja. Mungkin dia memang menyukaimu, tapi dia nggak ingin kehilanganmu. Makanya, dia nggak pernah ngungkapin perasaannya ke kamu,” kata Sinta.

            Jude merasa kata-kata sahabatnya cukup masuk akal dan benar.

            Hari itu pun tiba. James sudah pergi ke Jakarta. Kepergiannya hanya menyisakan sebuah rasa yang tak pernah terungkap dan bisa jadi tidak akan pernah terungkap. Meskipun dia sudah berjauhan dengan Jude, dia tetap berusaha menghubungi Jude dan mereka tidak pernah lost-contact sampai detik ini. Jadi, inikah yang dinamakan True Love?

Starting from Donald Duck

Tahun 1999

            Di suatu pagi yang cerah, seorang ibu muda memboncengkan anak sulungnya yang bernama Dea naik sepeda menuju ke perpustakaan tua. Perpustakaan tersebut terletak di dalam gang dan tidak terlalu populer. Pengelolanya adalah yayasan Kristiani. Perpustakaan tersebut agaknya sudah tua, buku-buku yang disewakan sudah terlihat lapuk, pengunjungnya tidak terlalu banyak dan penjaganya pun sudah kakek-kakek. Sekilas jika melihat perpustakaan tersebut, tersirat rasa iba karena memang terlihat memprihatinkan. Sang ibu bukanlah seorang yang berada, namun ingin memberikan yang terbaik untuk anaknya. Ia pun memilih perpustakaan tersebut karena biaya peminjaman bukunya yang terbilang murah.

            “Ssstt.. Jangan berisik ya,” kata Ibu kepada Dea ketika mereka memasuki perpustakaan.

            Dea hanya mengangguk. Dalam hatinya, dia bertanya-tanya mengapa harus diam.
            “Orang-orang di sini lagi konsentrasi membaca buku, jadi nggak boleh berisik, nanti mereka terganggu,” lanjut Ibu seolah tahu apa yang sedang menjadi pertanyaan dalam pikiran anaknya.

            Dea mengedarkan pandangan ke arah meja-meja yang ada di hadapannya. Terlihat beberapa orang sedang membaca buku. Dia pun mengangguk mengerti setelahnya.

Ibu segera mengajaknya menuju rak yang berisi buku-buku dongeng untuk anak-anak. Ada buku dongeng dari Indonesia, ada pula buku dongeng yang berasal dari cerita-cerita luar negeri. Setelah melihat-lihat koleksi yang berjajar rapi di rak buku, Dea terlihat tertarik dengan majalah Donald Bebek dari Disney. Majalah tersebut seperti komik, ada gambar dan dilengkapi dengan dialog, sehingga cocok untuk anak-anak seusianya. Dari tatapan matanya, Ibu dapat melihat bahwa anaknya ingin sekali membaca cerita tersebut. Ibu pun mengambil majalah Donald Bebek seri pertama, kedua dan yang ketiga.

“Kamu mau baca yang ini?” tanya Ibu.

“Mau,” jawab Dea sambil mengangguk-angguk.

Setelah proses administrasi selesai, mereka bergegas pulang ke rumah. Wajah Dea terlihat senang dan berbinar-binar. Mungkin dalam hatinya, “asyik! Akhirnya bisa baca buku yang itu. Hihihi.” Sampai di rumah, Ibu membacakan cerita Donald Bebek untuk Dea karena dia belum bisa membaca. Dengan cepat, buku pertama selesai, buku kedua selesai, begitu juga buku ketiga.

Dea kecil begitu menyukai cerita Donald Bebek. Hampir setiap hari, Ibu membacakan cerita itu untuknya. Biasanya Ibu membacakannya saat sudah malam, sebagai cerita pengantar tidur. Hampir setiap hari pula mereka pergi ke perpustakaan untuk mengembalikan dan meminjam buku cerita Donald Bebek. Lama-kelamaan, membacakan cerita dongeng Donald Bebek sudah menjadi kebiasaan. Karena sudah sering mendengarkan cerita Donald Bebek dan sudah meminjam sampai berseri-seri, Dea pun hafal di luar kepala dengan alur ceritanya.

Suatu hari, Dea jatuh sakit dan harus menjalani rawat inap di rumah sakit. Beberapa hari setelah mendapat pengobatan dari dokter, keadaannya sudah lebih baik, namun masih harus tetap berada di rumah sakit. Rumah sakit tersebut memiliki fasilitas yang cukup lengkap. Di sana disediakan mainan untuk para pasien balita dan anak kecil agar mereka dapat bermain dan tidak bosan. Selain memanfaatkan fasilitas rumah sakit, Ibu membawakan beberapa majalah Donald Bebek untuknya.

Seperti kebiasaan di rumah, Ibu pun membacakan majalah untuknya. Tetapi, suatu pagi dengan sangat lantang...

“Donald Bebek segera pergi ke rumah Paman Gober untuk menuntut masalah tersebut. Dia tidak terima dengan perlakuan Paman Gober kepadanya yang terkesan tidak adil dan pelit banget...”

“Kemudian, Donald Bebek diam-diam masuk ke dalam ruang bawah tanah milik Paman Gober. Dia ingin mengambil uang Paman Gober yang sangat banyak...”

Dan seterusnya, dan seterusnya. Dea terus mengoceh sembari melihat gambar-gambar alur cerita Donald Bebek dan membolak-balik halaman dengan cepatnya. Dia tidak sedang membaca, melainkan mengarang cerita sesuai dengan gambar yang ia lihat. Dia hanya mengoceh! Namun, kemampuannya dalam menyampaikan cerita sudah sangat bagus bagi anak seusia dia. Tata bahasa dan alur ceritanya pun logis dan jelas. Hal ini tentu mengundang perhatian dari para ibu yang sedang menunggui anak-anak mereka.

“Bu, anaknya sudah bisa membaca ya?” tanya seorang ibu yang berkerudung.

“Oh, belum, bu. Dia belum bisa membaca. Dia lagi menceritakan cerita sesuai gambar-gambar yang dia lihat.”

“Tapi, kok, bisa sebagus dan selancar itu sih? Sampai-sampai saya kira dia sedang membaca. Hehehe.”

“Iya, bu. Kebetulan juga, setiap hari saya membacakan cerita Donald Bebek tersebut untuk dia. Jadi, dia sudah hafal di luar kepala tentang cerita-cerita Donald Bebek. Dia rangkai sendiri alur cerita dan dikreasi sendiri bahasanya sesuai dengan gambar-gambar yang dilihatnya. Hehehe.”

“Pintar banget ya. Masih kecil saja sudah lancar banget ceritanya.”

“Hehehe, ah biasa saja, kok, bu.”

“Eehh... anak saya aja belum lancar membaca, bu. Boro-boro bisa membaca, bicara juga jarang sekali. Dia itu terlalu pendiam.”

“Yaa... Masing-masing anak punya bakat dan kemampuannya sendiri-sendiri, bu. Hehe.”

            Setelah dokter memastikan bahwa Dea telah benar-benar sembuh dan sehat, dia diperbolehkan pulang ke rumah. Seperti biasa, hari-harinya diisi kembali dengan keceriaannya bersama si Donald Bebek. Hari demi hari pun berlalu. Berseri-seri majalah Donald Bebek telah dipinjam dan dibacanya. Akhirnya, tidak ada lagi seri majalah yang tersisa. Seluruh seri majalah Donald Bebek telah dipinjam olehnya. Si Dea tidak mau membaca majalah atau buku cerita yang lain. Dia hanya mau yang judulnya Donald Bebek! Ibu pun memutuskan untuk keluar dari keanggotaan perpustakaan karena sudah tidak ada buku Donald Bebek yang dapat dipinjam.

            “Pak, saya mau keluar dari keanggotaan perpustakaan ini karena sudah tidak ada lagi buku cerita favorit anak saya. Jadi, berdasarkan aturan yang ada, saya minta uang keanggotaan saya dikembalikan,” kata Ibu dengan sopan.

            Kakek tua penjaga perpustakaan itu terlihat agak bingung. “Bu, tolong jangan keluar dari keanggotaan. Ibu nggak perlu bayar uang bulanannya, deh. Tapi, tolong jangan keluar, bu.”

            Keadaan menjadi hening. Ibu agaknya mengetahui maksud kakek tersebut yang tersirat dalam kata-katanya. Perpustakaan itu sudah terlalu tua dan sepertinya tidak mampu untuk mengembalikkan uang yang diminta. Keadaan kas perpustakaan pastilah sangat memprihatinkan, sehingga si kakek dengan terpaksa berkata begitu.

            “Hmm... Yasudah, kalau begitu. Saya nggak jadi keluar. Tapi, benar kan, nggak perlu membayar uang bulanannya?” tanya Ibu memastikan.

            “Iya, bu. Ibu nggak perlu membayar. Terima kasih atas pengertiannya ya, bu,” kakek tersenyum lega.

“Sama-sama, pak. Mari....” Ibu berpamitan dan Dea tersenyum kecil. Itulah hari terakhir Dea dan Ibunya menginjakkan kaki di perpustakaan.

            Hari berganti hari, bulan berganti bulan, dan tahun berganti tahun. Perpustakaan tua tersebut akhirnya pun ditutup karena sudah tidak adanya pengunjung yang datang dan keadaannya yang terbengkalai. Seluruh buku yang ada juga telah out of date. Segala memori tentang perpustakaan dan buku-buku yang ada di dalamnya seolah hilang tak berbekas bersamaan dengan ditutupnya perpustakaan.

            Empat tahun kemudian...

            Tahun berlalu begitu cepat dan tidak terasa Dea telah duduk di kelas tiga SD. Di usianya yang masih kecil, dia telah mempunyai hobi menulis. Dia biasanya menulis cerita-cerita dongeng dan legenda/mitos. Hal tersebut terjadi karena dia masih teringat akan cerita Donald Bebek kesayangannya dan juga mendapat inspirasi setelah membaca buku cerita rakyat. Awalnya, dia hanya mencoba iseng-iseng menghabiskan waktu luang dengan menulis, namun lama-lama hal tersebut pun menjadi hobi.

            Tiga tahun kemudian, dia duduk di kelas enam sekolah dasar. Hobi menulis itu tetap melekat pada dirinya. Akan tetapi, dia tidak lagi menulis tentang dongeng maupun mitos. Cerita yang ditulisnya lebih bertemakan adventure. Satu hal yang unik adalah lagi-lagi cerita yang tulisnya terinspirasi oleh penulis terkenal, Enid Blyton, yang salah satu karya terkenalnya adalah Lima Sekawan. Dan... kebiasaan menulisnya lebih sering dilakukan di sekolah, saat jam istirahat tiba.

            “De, kamu lagi ngapain?” tanya seorang teman.

            “Lagi nulis cerita, Tan,” jawabnya singkat dan padat.

            “Cerita apa, Dea?”

            “Cerita tentang adventure. Judulnya The Adventure.”

            “Wooo... pasti bagus nih! Nanti kalau sudah selesai, aku pinjam ya.”

            “Ahh.. biasa aja, kok. Hehehe. Oke, oke. Nanti kalau sudah selesai, aku kasih ke kamu, Tan.”

            “Thanks, ya.”

            Cerita yang bertemakan adventure tersebut dibuat dalam bentuk seri, yang tiap serinya menceritakan kejadian dan masalah yang tidak saling berkaitan. Sama halnya seperti novel Lima Sekawan. Kegemarannya dalam menulis juga menginspirasi teman dekatnya, Vinda, untuk menulis cerita yang serupa.

            Waktu berlalu dan Dea sudah menulis cerita adventure-nya sampai beberapa seri. Setiap seri ditulis dalam satu buku tulis. Tidak ada kesulitan yang dirasa berarti baginya. Semua mengalir dengan baik dan dia menikmatinya. Namun, setelah beberapa seri diselesaikannya, dia tidak melanjutkan menulis cerita tersebut. Dia sepertinya merasa bosan. Lalu, dia menulis cerita dengan genre yang berbeda, yaitu cerita tentang kerajaan yang juga tidak diselesaikannya. Dia vakum.

***

            “Hah?! Pengumuman apa itu?” kata Dea terkejut setelah mendengar pengumuman yang tidak dihiraukannya. “Namaku disebut?”

            “Iya, ada namamu. Nanti pas istirahat pertama, kita dengan beberapa teman yang tadi disebutkan di pengumuman harus ke kantor guru buat ketemu Suster Wine,” kata Sisi.

            “Ada apa emangnya?” Dea masih terheran-heran.

            “Nggak tau, deh. Tadi nggak dikasih tahu perihal apaan. Udahlah, manut wae.”

            Teng.... Teng.... Teng.... Bunyi bel istirahat “membangunkan” seluruh siswa di SMP Susteran Purwokerto. Semua berhamburan keluar kelas untuk bercengkerama dengan teman-teman atau pacar di kantin, ada yang bermain sepak bola di lapangan, dan sebagian tetap di kelas untuk belajar atau sekadar menghabiskan waktu karena malas keluar. Dea, Sisi, dan beberapa anak yang disebutkan dalam pengumuman segera menuju kantor Suster Wine.

            Di kantor, suster menjelaskan bahwa akan diadakan lomba menulis essay yang bertemakan “Gereja Berkolaburasi dengan Internet”. Dalam kata lain, essay harus membahas tentang kehadiran sosok Tuhan Yesus dalam jejaring-jejaring sosial untuk membantu orang-orang yang mempunyai masalah. Dengan adanya hal tersebut, diharapkan orang-orang dapat membagikan masalah yang tidak bisa mereka ceritakan dengan teman atau konseling, sehingga solusi dapat dicari. Kehadiran sosok Tuhan Yesus ini lebih ke arah membimbing, membantu, dan menolong masalah orang-orang. Banyak orang yang membagikan masalah pribadi mereka di jejaring sosial tapi hal itu tetap tidak membantu menyelesaikan masalah.

            “Buset, susah juga, ya,” bisik Sisi kepada Dea.

            Dea mengangguk, “ho oh.” Otaknya sedang berpikir keras mencari topik dan ide.

            “Deadline lombanya satu minggu lagi, persyaratan lomba ada di kertas yang sudah suster bagikan kepada kalian. Suster harap kalian dapat memberikan yang terbaik agar sekolah kita bisa mendapat juara. Suster yakin sekali kalau sekolah kita bisa menang. Sekarang kalian boleh kembali. Terima kasih atas waktunya,” Suster Wine menutup pengumuman itu dengan tersenyum bangga.

            Anak-anak berhamburan keluar. Dea menyusul teman-teman yang sedang makan di kantin, sedangkan Sisi memilih kembali ke kelas.

            “Eh, Dea! Kamu udah selesai?” tanya Fanny sambil mengurai senyum lebarnya saat melihat sahabatnya datang. Namun dia sedikit heran dan bertanya lagi, “lho, mana Sisi?”
            “Iya, nih udah selesai. Hehehe. Si Sisi nggak mau ikut ke kantin, katanya, pingin di kelas aja. Eh, by the way, kalian sadar nggak sih, waktu ternyata berjalan cepaaattt banget, ya? Aku tuh ngerasa kalau waktu bakalan cepat banget setelah lihat deadline lomba,” ujar Dea yang sudah duduk di sebelah Nunik yang sedang asyik menikmati mie basonya.

            “Iya, kamu bener banget, De! Aku aja masih nggak percaya lho, kalau kita sudah kelas delapan. Ckckck. Sebentar lagi kita dah mau ujian negara, lulus, terus SMA deh. Hahaha,” timpal Nunik sambil masih berusaha menghabiskan mie dalam mulutnya. “Eh, omong-omong, kamu jadi ikut lomba essay itu, kan?”

            “Iya, jadi. Tapi, aku bingung mau bikin tulisan yang kayak apa. Soalnya, temanya agak ribet, sih,” kata Dea. “Aku juga lagi galau nih, soalnya kakak rohani Kesan meminta aku untuk mbikin cerpen tentang cerita perjalanan sekelompok anak muda yang mendaki gunung. Duuuhh, pusing!” 

            “Hmm... Coba kamu pikirin dulu, De. Jangan terburu-buru supaya karyamu nanti bagus dan kamu bisa juara,” Nunik memberi nasehat. “Oya, Sisi juga ikut, kan? Terus, tema essaynya tentang apa? Oya, cerpen yang diminta kakak Kesan itu untuk apa?”

            “Iya, dia ikut, kok. Dia juga dipilih Suster Wine. Tema essay “Gereja Berkolaburasi dengan Internet”. Menantang,” Dea tersenyum. Dia diam sesaat sebelum menjawab pertanyaan Nunik yang nyerocos tiada henti. “Cerpen yang diminta kakak Kesan itu untuk drama di gereja, Nun.”

            “Oh, gitu... Aku doain kalian berdua bisa menang, biar nama sekolah kita yang udah terkenal ini jadi lebih terkenal. Hahaha,” celoteh Nunik lagi. “Dan, semoga cerpen kamu yang buat drama gereja bisa kamu tulis dengan baguuuuusss pakai banget!”

            “Hahaha... Ah, kamu bisa-bisa aja. Hahaha. Amin, amin.”

            Teng.... Teng.... Teng.... Bel tanda waktu istirahat telah usai berbunyi, mengharuskan seluruh siswa-siswi menghentikan aktivitas di kantin maupun di lapangan. Semua bergegas menuju kelas. Hari itu terasa berjalan dengan sangat cepat, sehingga tidak terasa, bel pulang telah berbunyi.

            “Bu, kira-kira apa ya yang harus aku tulis untuk lomba essay?” tanya Dea dengan bingung kepada Ibunya setelah sampai di rumah.

            “Apa tema essaynya?” Mama balik bertanya.

            “Gereja Berkolaburasi dengan Internet,” jawab Dea. “Tapi, aku bingung gimana nulis essay yang temanya seperti itu. Aku belum begitu paham tentang jejaring sosial yang terbaru, Facebook. Yang aku paham baru satu, Friendster.”

            “Nah, pakai Friendster saja, De!” sahut Mama memberi ide.

            “Oh, iya!” seru Dea dengan mata berbinar-binar.

            Dea pun mulai menulis essaynya. Dia menekankan akan kehadiran sosok Tuhan Yesus dalam jejaring sosial, Friendster yang bisa membantu penginjilan secara online, konseling, sharing, dll. Tidak menang tidak apa-apa dalam pikirannya saat itu. Baginya, yang terpenting dari semuanya adalah telah mencoba dan melakukan yang terbaik sebisa mungkin. Dia hanya tidak mau mengecewakan Suster Wine yang telah memilihnya.

            Suster pasti memilih karena punya alasan dan tujuan.

***

            “Pengumuman pemenang lomba essay bakalan diumumkan hari ini lewat internet. Tapi, kayaknya Suster Wine juga bakal ngumumin ke kita, deh,” kata Sisi.

            “Aku jadi deg-degan,” timpal Dea.

            “Aku bikin essaynya acak-acakan, lho,” ujar Sisi.

            “Sama, aku juga. Soalnya, aku nggak ada ide sama sekali. Bingung. Lagipula, dikejar deadline,” Dea menambahkan. “Menang atau kalah nggak penting lah. Yang penting udah berusaha.”

            Hari itu, pelajaran Bahasa Indonesia adalah pelajaran penutup. Dea harap-harap cemas. Apakah Suster Wine akan mengumumkan pemenang lomba essay? Kalau dia tidak menang, bagaimana? Pasti malu. Kalau menang, sudah pasti senang. Tapi, dia terlihat sedikit psimis karena lomba essay itu ditujukan untuk umum, sehingga saingan pun semakin berat. Salah satu dewan jurinya juga orang yang sudah berpengalaman di bidang tulis-menulis dan journalism, yaitu Arswendo. Kemungkinannya untuk menang memang kecil, tapi, berkat kerja keras dan kemauman usahanya, Dea berhasil meraih juara 4. Sedangkan Sisi meraih juara 3. Kedua sahabat meraih juara.

            Pemberian penghargaan untuk keenam pemenang akan diadakan di aula SMP Susteran Purwokerto dua hari setelah pengumuman dan dihadiri oleh para dewan juri, panitia, romo, dan perwakilan guru pembimbing serta peserta dari beberapa sekolah. Acara tersebut diadakan siang hari, setelah kegiatan belajar mengajar berakhir. Sebuah kebanggaan tersendiri bagi Dea karena dapat memenangkan kompetisi tersebut meskipun tidak meraih juara satu.

            “Ibu bangga pada dirimu, nak,” kata Ibu ketika penyerahan penghargaan selesai.

            “Terima kasih, ya, sudah mau ikut lomba. Terima kasih juga karena sudah mengharumkan nama sekolah,” kata Suster Wine dengan wajah yang terlihat bangga.

            “Iya, suster, sama-sama. Saya juga sangat bersyukur dan berterima kasih karena suster sudah memilih saya dan memberikan kesempatan,” ujar Dea dengan senyum lebar.

***

            Empat tahun sudah berlalu dan kini Dea sudah memasuki jenjang perguruan tinggi. Dia memilih untuk menekuni bidang Sastra Inggris di Universitas Sanata Dharma. Selain karena dia sangat suka Bahasa Inggris, dia memilih sastra karena kecintaannya dalam bidang menulis. Cita-citanya ingin menjadi seorang penulis akan sangat terbantu dengan latar belakang pendidikan sastra, menurutnya. Saat ini, Dea sedang terus berusaha melanjutkan dan menekuni kembali aktivitas menulisnya setelah sempat vakum selama duduk di bangku SMA. Dia hendak mengejar cita-citanya dan mewujudkannya.