My Scattered Articles

Mahatma Gandhi VS Ralph Waldo Emerson

2008-12-19T02:15:00.000-08:00

Mahatma Gandhi [October, 2, 1869- January 3, 1948] once said, “Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviors. Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.”

What can we learn from these wise remarks? Of course, we have to know that there are some stages in shaping our future. The stages which form the color of destiny we' will get next. These stages can be described as follow; our thoughts will produce the words we express. Then, our words produce the behaviours we act. These behaviors, next, will shape our habits. The habits then lead to our values in life, and finally these values will attract the color of destiny we've got.

What Mahatma Gandhi said above seems to get influence a lot from the ideas of Ralph Waldo Emerson [May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882], similar with Gandhi’s remarks , Emerson adviced us, “Sow a thought and you reap an act; Sow an act and you reap a habit; Sow a habit and you reap a character; Sow a character and you reap a destiny.”

Very similar, aren’t they? No matter how similar their ideas are, what we should ponder here is that the thought should be well managed in order to enable it to work effectively for the sake of our goodness. How to keep it that way? I’m completely sure that everybody has known, or at least should have known how. There’s no other way as to keep a careful track of our all senses in order to absorb only the good and the positive things. Why? Since such things will automatically give positive influences to the way we think. At the end, the way we think eventually navigate the kinds of lives we will live. What kind of destiny are you gonna have in the future, my mate? It’s totally up to how well you use your brain to build up the state of your thoughts. If gold you put in it, then the gold you will take out from it . Any ideas?

Palembang got ESC Award!

2008-10-15T02:14:00.000-07:00

Ten Cities in ASEAN Receive the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City Award

Ha Noi, 8 October 2008

Mr. Nicholas T. Dammen, Deputy Secretary-General at the 11th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment

The ASEAN Ministers responsible for environment presented this evening the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City (ESC) Award to ten cities/townships/districts in ASEAN that have made exemplary efforts towards environmental sustainability. The Ministers hoped that the Award, awarded for the first time, will motivate other cities to share best practices and to make even greater efforts to achieve high standards of environmental sustainability.

The Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan in his message for the event stated that “each city that received the Award tells a compelling story of how it has placed environment and nature at the core of city planning, the challenges it faced, and its resolve to ensure the cities remain environmentally sustainable as it develops and modernizes.” He further added that apart from just recognizing their exemplary efforts, the richness of their experience in varied circumstances tells us that there are different models and paths to urbanization and environmental stewardship.

The Ministers supported the “Cool ASEAN, Green Capitals Initiative” proposed by the Secretary-General of ASEAN to encourage efforts by the ASEAN capital cities and other major cities to mitigate climate change through addressing the everyday urban issues faced such as waste management, transportation, creating more green areas and conservation of energy.

The ASEAN Ministers responsible for environment met on 8 October 2008 on the occasion of the 11th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment, and the 4th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. The ASEAN Ministers will also meet with their counterparts from the People’s Republic of China, Japan and Republic of Korea at the 7th ASEAN Plus Three Environment Ministers Meeting on 9 October 2008, and Australia, India and New Zealand at the Inaugural East Asia Summit Environment Ministers Meeting.

Media Release

List of Cities that Received the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City Award 2008

Brunei Darussalam: Temburong District

Cambodia: Municipality of Phnom Penh

Indonesia: Palembang City

Lao PDR: Luang Prabang District

Malaysia: North Kuching City Hall

Myanmar: Taungyi City

Philippines: Puerto Princesa City

Singapore: South West Community Development Council

Thailand: Bangkok City

Viet Nam: Ha Long City

Ref: http://www.aseansec.org/Bulletin-Oct-08.htm#Article-3

The View of Palembang City from the top of Mayor's Office on Merdeka Street

Palembang, The Land of Sriwijaya Kingdom

2008-07-04T01:26:00.000-07:00

Palembang is the second biggest city in Sumatera after Medan. It is very old, even the oldest city in Indonesia. A few days ago – when this posting written – on June 17, 2008, Palembang celebrated its 1325^th anniversary.

This city was founded by Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa, in 683 AD (605 Saka). He was the first king ruled the Sriwijaya kingdom. The center of this kingdom, according to the history, was located in Palimpong, which is known as Palembang nowadays.

Based on the root of the word “Sriwijaya,” we can imagine how great this kingdom was in its golden time. According to Sanskrit Shri means shining, or radiant, and vijaya means victory or excellent. So Sriwijaya means a kingdom which is shining and emerging the victory.

The center of this kingdom – revealed by the France researcher, Pierre-Yves Manguin - was on the bank of Musi river, between Singguntang hill and Sabokingking. Other resources we can use to trace it were many inscriptions founded in and around Palembang. One of them is the Telaga Batu inscription. The shape of this artifact is pentagon with seven heads of cobra. There is a small bowl with a nozzle in the bottom side.

According to archeologists, this artifact was used to assign persons who held important official positions in the kingdom. They swore to be loyal toward the kingdom by drinking the water which was flown through this nozzle. As a tool to appoint the dignitaries, automatically this artifact should be well taken care and kept in the capital of the kingdom.

Based on these facts, there’s no doubt that Palembang has once been the heart of the great kingdom in Asia, the central of Srivijaya, the outstanding and great kingdom with its very powerful naval armada.

It’s obvious that Palembang has already been 14 centuries old now. What an age! Though it’s been very old, it doesn’t mean that it’s weak and powerless, but on the contrary, along this age, this city become more mature in anticipating any changes that take place globally.

Reading Culture

2008-07-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

Dear readers, today let me share a little bit about reading culture. Why I bring this topic into the material for today’s posting, the reason is because reading is a crucial thing to do if we want to get the better future. Frankly, I sometimes feel despondent to see my fellow teachers so lazy to read. What can we hope from such teachers!

Let’s learn from Japanese people.

We know how amazing Japanese people are in their reading culture. Wherever they are, in the airport, parks, on the bus, subway, or in waiting rooms, etc, they are busy with their reading activities. Their love for knowledge, science, information and education on the whole deserves to be taken as role model.

People say when they were defeated in the World War II, when the only thing left was just heap of rubble because of the bomb struck Hiroshima and Nagasaki, when this cherry country was mourning, the emperor Hirohito immediately asked the center of Nippon information, “How many teachers are still alive?”

Imagine, Hirohito did not ask the number of soldiers they had, the fighters, which could still be flown, the warships, which were still seaworthy, or the ammunitions which could be fired, but again, what came out from the emperor’s mouth at that time was, “How many teachers still alive?” Wow, amazing, right?

This is the measurement how well they are aware about the importance of the education for a nation. No wonder we can see how great Japan is now. Due to their education is more quality than others and also spread evenly throughout their nation. Thus it makes their country very independent. They do not depend themselves too much on other countries. On the contrary, many countries, including ours, ask them to be our “shepherd”, almost in all aspects of life, from the infrastructure, vehicles, to the goods products such as computers, games, cosmetics, cell phones, even comic books for children.

We and many other countries in Asia and Africa are really sincere to be sheep driven here and there. Ah, wake up my nation! Wake up my country! … ♫♪Indonesia Raya!.....♫♪♫ Merdeka!! Merdeka!!...♪♫♫Tanahku, negeriku yang kucinta!!!!...♪♫

Books are the resources of knowledge.

This cherry nation, if we see from the number of books published annually, ranks the first position in Asia, and ranks the third in the world, after United Kingdom and Germany. According to the International Publisher Association Canada, in 2000, United Kingdom published about 110,155 titles of books and placed the first rank. The second was Germany with 80,779 titles. Then, the third rank was Japan with 65,430 titles, and United State held the fourth.

In 1997, Indonesia produced around 5,000 titles of books, but in 2002, noted only around 2,700 titles. Just for a comparison, Malaysia – with a population of 23,522,484 in 2004, and Indonesia with 238,452,952 people in the same year, so only around ten percent of our population – had published 15,000 titles annually. We are still far left behind in book publishing. Why is it so? Any comment?

This big nation should learn from Japan and other modern countries in the reading culture, if we want to catch up with them. Due to the essence of this temporary life is nothing but continuous learning. This is a core of our life journey, never ending improvement so that we can be better from day to day before the death comes.

This is human nature. It is our nature as a human being, the main purpose of our existence in the world. Have you learned and read today? Yes, at least you have read this posting. It is a great thing, my friends! Most people read only 5 or 6 lines, then they give up! Again, congratulations you have read so far!

According to the newest report of some world organization that Indonesia (the 4^th biggest population, After China, India and US) is placed rank 39 in reading interest out of 41 countries researched. It means that there are only two countries behind us. What a shame!

It is the fact, which should be made us stimulated to improve our love toward reading. Since just through the reading quality books, we can bring this country to a better future, a richer and more quality life. I agree with Tantowi Yahya, an Indonesian reading envoy, he advised, “Someone who never read is someone who does not know much, someone who does not know much is so close to the stupidity, and the stupidity is so close to the poverty.” In line with what he said, there is also a Chinese philosophy that runs, “Through reading the poor can become rich, and also through reading, the rich can become elegant”

This is actually a secret. It is not human’s secret, but it is infact the secret of God! Do you know what the first word uttered by Allah S.w.t to our prophet Mohammad SAW? Yes, you are correct. God said “Iqro!” (read!). In your opinion what He ordered to read? What? The holy Qur’an? Sorry, you missed this time. At that time the holy Qur’an did not exist yet, as it was the first verse uttered.

So what? Any other idea? What?? Yes, now you are right. The God commands us to read anything, which is good, not only for ourselves, but also for others. We are asked to read the nature and any sign the God sent. We are ordered to learn through the universe. Learn from everything that God has created, from the world. So simply read any good thing, then our life and the quality of living will turn into the better one.

Okay, my friends, let’s read as many books as possible start from now on. Promise?

Singapore, We, and Thankful

Now, let us fly a moment to Singapore. It is a city country with the small number of people, even smaller than the population of South Sumatran province (in 2004, The population of Singapore was estimated at 4,353,893, meanwhile, South Sumatran population was more than 6, 6 million).

I do not have a special story about this country, but once when I intended to buy a book there, in Kinokuniya bookstore on Orchard Road, (this is a street, which is very important as a shopping tourist area in this small and modern country), I was so amazed to see so many people stand in line to the cashier to pay for the books they would buy. I never see such enthusiastic people in books. Even it can not be compared to the buyers in Gramedia bookstore on Matraman Jakarta (the biggest bookstore in Indonesia).

No need to compare with bookstores in a smaller city. Only two or three people stand in line to buy books, even they do not need to stand in line at all because they can be treated at the same time with two or three cashiers. What can we infer from this tendency?

Why? Is it because we do not have money? Or we still prioritize other things first? A stomach need, for instance? This is a common reason we often hear. Stomach, stomach and stomach! (Ironically, when they come up with this excuse, they just had a meal) Or is it because we do not realize how important the role of knowledge is in our life as intellectual creatures?

Believe it or not, the book should be put as the first priority if we think for a better future, if we want to upgrade our self-quality, if we want to see this nation awakening! If we want to see this republic becomes a great and elegant country! (Apart from whether we buy or borrow them).

Stop thinking only in the physical level, short, superficial, and narrow. It is just as long as physical needs, simply materialism fulfillment. Do you know a wise saying, “Do not give a person a fish, but give him a fishing rod”? This is also applied to our personal life. Provide ourselves with a quality to live a better and meaningful life. Try to switch our mind to a higher level, to intellectual, emotional, or even spiritual level. Any comment?

Perhaps, if we are asked to choose buying pempek (actually, we are not hungry), or buying a book, with the same price, Rp. 25,000, which one do we choose? Or we will not buy either, as we decide to buy bakso (soup with meatballs), pizza or fried chicken; even in doing that, we have to pay some extra ten thousand! Ah, it is definitely for you to decide! Or in other case, if someone is asked to choose reading a ‘nutritious’ book or watching an infotainment which shows a skeleton in the closet of others, which one will he choose? What do you say?

What we choose will determine what we'll get tomorrow! Undoubtedly, the greatness of Japan now (after being completely crushed due the World War II, August 15, 1945), the astounding advancement of Singapore at present (Just get its independence on August 1965), or the amazing progress of the South Korea as we can see nowadays (after dragging their country to awaken due to the crisis they experienced as the impact of civil war from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953), these all are because of the right choices they made in the past, the choices that drove them to the present achievements, to a better condition, to a modern and meaningful life they get now.

The facts above make me ponder and wonder, what on earth happens in my country? Why is it so difficult for us to choose something more constructive? Why is this big nation willing to be overwhelmed by the situation? As if we got high on a moment and false pleasure. Ah, I feel it is so bizarre! Any comment!

Teacher, oh, teacher!

2008-07-03T00:33:00.000-07:00

I have found a very touching story about a teacher who sold her body to build a school. I don't know wheter it is a true story or not. I just let you reflect deeply on it

Following is the article I read. Let's ponder, mfy friends.

殷彩霞 Xia die, she was a hooker, or she was a teacher. She is the most honorable teacher in China. She uses her dirty body, wash through children's heart. A hooker's death, all children cried and attend her funeral; a school drop the national flag for her.

On the funeral of this 21years pretty teacher, headmaster read Xia's diary sadly in front of all the students, she wrote: 'Each prostitution, can help one schooless child; become a mistress once, can rescue a hopeless primary school.'....

Xia lived in a small village of province of Gan Shu 甘肃省. All ladies in this small village, no matter she is pretty or not, went to Southern part of city to earn money. Every spring time, they will come back with money and beautiful cloths. Xia didn't follow after she finished her secondary school. A lot of people don't understand what is she thinking of as she has the pretty face and body. And because of this, her father always scolds her.
When she heard the only primary school in the village needs some teachers, she volunteers herself to become a free teacher. She was a very good student in her secondary school before. Because of this, she passes through all tests easily and became the teacher of the school.

When 1st time Xia walks into classroom, all children were shocked to see a pretty teacher. From then on, the classroom always fills with children's laughter. Classroom -- should call it a hut instead as the wall is made of sticks and cover with leaves as its ceiling. A big stone become their table and the most expensive should be the polished dark-green stone as their blackboard. With this condition, Xia taught thousands of Chinese words and knowledge to her students.

There was wild rain destroyed the classroom of the school and all students become schoolless. The headmaster visits the province's education minister for some money to repair the classroom; he comes back with nothing. Headmaster told Xia that the minister said only will give money if Xia asks for it. Xia never meets any minister before and afraid that she will make the things worst and decided to visit the minister. She walked more than 10km to the province ministry office and sit in a beautiful office in front of the minister. Minister's eyes look hungry and point to a room and said to Xia. Your money is in the room, if you want, follow me. Xia saw a big bed in the room and is the bed that she lost her virgin. Minister raped her.

Her virgin blood drops on the bed sheet and is more reddish than the color of the national flag in the room.

Xia didn't cry, all in her mind are the eyes of all the disappointed students that have no classroom.

She didn't tell anyone about the rape case after she went home.

The next day, with the money that brought back by Xia, all villagers bought some woods and repair the classroom. But whenever there was a heavy rain, the classroom still cannot be used. Xia always tells the students that province ministry department will built a good school for them. In the past half year, headmaster had visited the ministers more than 100 times and never ever gets any money from them. He is the only 1 knows what did Xia did and he can do nothing about it. New semester comes, a lot of student s cannot pay their fees and become schoolless and follow their parents to work. Xia feels sad about that.

When Xia feels that her hope of all students can go to school become hopeless, she drops all her cloths and swears to her naked body that she will use this body to exchange for the children to be able to go to school. She knows that all ladies in the village are working as a prostitute to earn the living and she knows this is a shortcut for her to earn money. She washed herself and say goodbye to headmaster, father, and school. She tights her hair as 2 ponytails and walk to the city. When she leaves, her father smile and headmaster cry....

In the colorful city, Xia is not happy at all, in her mind, there are only broken classroom and sadness and disappointed eyes of students. She walked into a Hair-Saloon, lie down on a dirty bed, and accept her 2nd dirty business. In that night, in her diary, she wrote: 'Minister can't even compare to her 1st customer. At least they pay.'

She sends all her earnings except those for her to live on to headmaster. Headmaster follows her instruction to use the money on the school. People ask about the source of the money and headmaster only answer that it was from some donation of society.
After a while, people knows about the source of money is from the teacher and many reporters would like to interview her and she just refused and the reason is that she is just a prostitute.

With the money, the school changed. First month, there is a new blackboard. Second month, there is wooden table and chair. Third month, all children has their own books. Fourth month, all children has a red tie. Fifth month, no children go to school bare leg.
On the sixth month, Xia comes back. All students welcome her happily and say 'Teacher is so beautiful'... With all student's smiling face, Xia cries... how many tear drops and how many sadness in the past 6 months... she feels worthy when she see all these.
After few days at home, she goes back to city.

Seventh month, they built a ball park. Eighth month, there is basketball. Ninth month, all students has their new pencils. Tenth month, the school has their own national flag; and students raise the national flags daily. At the eleventh month, a land-developer refuses to use condom and Xi pregnant. After abortion, she becomes the developer's mistress. After a few months, the developers dump her because he faced problem on land-value drop in Shenzhen, he didn't pay her any cent.

Xia feels tired, she thinks to go home and go back to the school, but she has yet to fulfill student's dream which are building a concrete classroom and 2 PCs for the students. Because of these, she went back to beg the developer and the developer just refuse to pay anything but only introduce a foreigner to her. Said the foreigner will pay her RMB3000 for 1 night. Think of the wild rain happen few days ago, she tiredly goes to the foreigner's hotel. She swears that she will go back to her home and school after this.

She was killed by the 3 foreigner because of raping. That time she just turned 21years old.

Xia died without fulfill her final wish, which build a concrete classroom and 2 PCs.

A hooker dies, silently, the sky of Shenzhen is still as blue as before, ministers still happily sitting in their office, many expensive cars still running on street, people happily discussing share market, house market value, car value, and movies, music and love story. Youngster try to suicide because of small matters happen between themselves.
At this time, students, teachers and few hundreds of villagers attending the funeral in this small village 'GanShu'

In the funeral, people see a black and white photo of Xia. In the photo, she has 2 pony tails and happily smiles. Headmaster open the diary of Xia and read in front of all students, she wrote: 'Each prostitution can help one schooless child; become a mistress once, can rescue a hopeless primary school...' The national flag drop to its half... Maybe, this is the ONLY national flag drop half because of a GREAT hooker in China’s history.

"Ah, Xia" That is the only remark out from my mouth..

Just Face It!

2008-03-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

My friends, whatever happen just face it!
Just face it!
Since it's the core of our existence as human!
To face anything ruggedly!

Rainbows

2008-03-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

Whatever comes to our life, Toughen your heart!
Never ever give up!
Keep on being enthusiastic to face our ups and downs,
as that's life, my friends!

Life is so colorful
There are dark, and bright colors with various nuances
When the dark ones come to our life,
do not feel blue! Give your sincere smile instead.
Every problem comes with its solution,
What we should do is just to believe!

Do not get stuck on moment cloudy
Do not get trapped!
It will be sunny again in a while.
Stay focus on all the things that encourage us!
We'll have rainbows
Yes, we'll have rainbows shortly!

My Medallion, Where Are You Now?

2008-03-03T00:16:00.000-08:00

Synopsis:

There is a boy that saved the girl’s life from danger. Then she gave a medallion to thank him. But they never meet again after that incident. It was the first and the last meeting for them. Why? Just read the story!

Aurora smiles happily when she stares at the sparkling morning dews through the glass window of her granny’s home. The school holidays have been around now. This beautiful girl will have enough time to enjoy the peacefulness of her granny’s small town.

She opens the window in front of her; exhale deeply to feel the fresh air. She throws her eyes’ sight to see how fresh the trees, green grass and flowers out there due to the long rain last night. “What bliss to walk and play surrounded by the greenery.” She thought.

A few moments afterward, her sight is led to a couple of kids playing in the yard. A little girl is running, and the other, a little boy, is chasing after her. Their cheerful laughs break the morning quietness. They run around the wet trees and colorful flowers. Perhaps, the small boy tries to get the thing in the grip of the small girl’s hand. But the girl tries to keep it. Their acts make Aurora smiles.

Suddenly the small girl screams, “Ouch!!” She gets down on her knees and holds her left foot tightly. Her friend stops chasing her and sees what happened to her left foot. Then he takes out his brown handkerchief from his pocket to clean his friend foot. He cleans it carefully, and he finds it penetrated by a thorn.

“Calm down! Calm down! It’s just a small thorn! Hold on, let me pull it out!” He says while wiping the dirt in her sole of foot. Slowly and carefully he takes the thorn out from her foot.

“You see, it’s been pulled out now.” He says and shows the thorn to the girl, “It doesn’t hurt you any more, does it?” The boy asks to cheer her up.

“Yup, I feel better now.” The girl says still feels a little pain. “Okay, Shall we go home?” the little girl suggests her friend.

“All right, let’s go home. But keep this handkerchief with you for your dirty feet.” The boy says while helping the girl walking home. Then they go home, and gradually disappear from Aurora’s sight.

“Oh!” unconsciously Aurora sighs. Looking at these small kids reminds her about the unforgettable event she experienced ten years ago. It happened in this small town. It was when she was grade five of elementary school. The incident took place as she went to school in one early morning. On the way to school, not far from the school gate, she was stopped by two naughty kids. They asked her money and the beautiful medallion she wore. The medallion was her granny’s gift on her birthday.

They asked Aurora to give all her belongings. They forced her and pulled out her medallion from her neck and took her bag roughly. They opened her bag and throw away the books and things she had in it. She was very afraid to see how cruel these bad boys to her.

At that very moment, suddenly another boy came from nowhere. He asked the bad boys to stop what they were doing with his loud voice. The two bad boys got very furious, and without saying anything they punched straightly to the face of the boy. Then the wild and unfair fight took place in front of Aurora’s eyes, not far from the school gate. One against two!

It was very unbalanced fight. They wrestled like crazy on the ground and finally they all fell into the ditch on the left side of the school gate. Aurora screamed for help to see that very intense fight. Luckily, her scream could be heard by the teachers at her school. The principal, Mr. Tanto and two other teachers, Mr. Satrio and Mr. Rachmat ran quickly to see what happened in front of the gate. They were startled to see the fight inside the ditch. In a sudden those teachers pulled the three boys out and stopped them from the fight.

“Arai! What the hell are you doing fighting here?” Asked Mr. Tanto angrily when he knew one of them is his student.

“These two bad boys robbed and tried to harm one of the students in our school, Sir.” Said the boy named Arai tried to explain the incident. The two naughty boys who still felt painful because of the fight just kept silence. They looked so frightened in front of Mr. Tanto. Their hands were held firmly by Mr. Satrio and Mr. Rachmat.

“Oh, I see. Who was robbed by them?” Asked Mr. Tanto curiously.

“I was, Sir! They tried to rob me!” Aurora answered quickly. “They took my medallion and my bag Sir!” continued Aurora still looked frightened. She stared at Arai’s bruised face with uncertain feelings.

“Oh, you, Aurora. Are you okay, young lady? Where is your medallion?” Asked Mr. Tanto feeling concerned.

“Here it is, Sir. I have it!” Arai handed it to Mr. Tanto. “I could seize it from these two criminals.

“Good, Arai!” praised Mr. Tanto. “Mr. Satrio and Mr. Rachmat, take these two bad boys to the police. Report this incident. Today, you don’t need to teach. Let Miss Yetty and me fill in for you.”

“Okay, we will, Sir.” Answered the two teachers at the same time.

“Arai, you come with me. Clean yourself in the bathroom in my office. Okay?? Young lady, you go to your classroom. Tidy up yourself. Keep your medallion. Don’t wear it to school. It’s expensive, okay?”

“Yes, Sir! Answered Aurora still overwhelmed by the robbery.

Aurora walked slowly, felt very shocked, while Mr. Tanto and Arai walked in a hurry. They headed to the principal’s office. She grabbed her bag, and put her scattered books into it. When she was about to leave the gate, she came across with a light blue bag with a small pocket in the front part. It was an old but nice-looking bag. It must belong to Arai. He must forget it!” She said to herself.

She took the bag immediately, dusted it then tried to give it to Arai, but Arai was not seen anymore. He had been in Mr. Tanto’s office. “Ah, I’ll give this bag to him later. I should go to my classroom and tidy up my uniform and hair. The two scoundrels had made me so messy.” Thought Aurora.

When she reached the classroom, she put Aria’s bag and hers on the table. She combed her hair and made herself tidy. Her medallion was still good as usual, still in perfect shape. “Thank God!” She whispered to herself. Then her eyes led to the blue bag, “Wow, the owner of this bag is so kind, I was so fortunate that he came at the right time, unless I don’t know what would happen to me.” She was still shocked to remember that horrible incident. “What did I dream last night?” She wondered.

Aurora kept on thinking while she tidied up her school uniform. “What can I do to thank him? What? What?” She asked herself. “Ehm, how about if I give this medallion to him? After all I have another one at home. Okay, that’s a good idea! Yes, that’s very good idea indeed!” Aurora smiled, and then she put the medallion to the small pocket of Arai’s bag.

After she tidied up everything, she went out to see Arai to return his bag. “He must be in Mr. Tanto’s office by now.” She thought. When she was out of the classroom, from the distance she could see Arai walking in a hurry to the school gate. Perhaps he wanted to look for his lost bag.

“Arai! Arai! Is it your bag? I found it in the school gate!” Aurora called while running to approach Arai.

“Yes. It is mine. Thanks, you save my bag. I thought it had been stolen by another thief. Thanks a lot.” Said Arai stopped walking.

“No, I should thank to you, Rai. You have helped me from those two bad boys. Anyway, I’m Aurora. You can call me Aur. You are Arai, right?” Aurora introduced herself as she returned Arai’s bag.

“Yes, my name’s Arai. I’m in the sixth grade. How about you?” Asked Arai while checking his bag. He saw something protruded in the small pocket of his bag.

“I’m in the fifth grade. My classroom is at the end of this building on the right side. Hey, I put something in the pocket of your bag. Please accept it as my thank-you gift, Rai.” Said Aurora to answer his confused look when he saw the pocket of his bag.

“Wow, please, Aur, a thank-you gift is not necessary in the form of a medallion. It’s too expensive. Your parents will get angry if they know that you give it to me.” Refused Arai while he took the medallion out from his bag and handed it to Aurora.

“Arai, honestly, I don’t know how to thank to you. You have saved me from the two bad boys.” She stared deeply into Arai’s eyes, and then she said, “Without your help, I don’t even know what might happen to me. Moreover, I still have another one at home. This medallion was a birthday present from my granny. She gave me two medallions. They are unique. We can’t find them here. My granny bought it somewhere abroad. Please just accept it, will you?” Aurora tried to persuade Arai in order not to refuse her gift.

At last, Arai took the gift, with a thrilled voice he said, “Hey, it’s so expensive. I’ve never got a gift as beautiful and as expensive as this one in my life. Are you sure your granny won’t get upset if she knew you give it to me?” Her eyes were sparkling when he saw it.

“Arai, there’s nothing as expensive as our lives. The medallion doesn’t equal to the life you bet to help me. You didn’t care about yourself and your life when you fought with them. Really It’s nothing compare to what you have given to me, Rai. I’m sure my granny will give you more if she knew what you have done to me.” Said Aurora to convince him.

Just then, the school bell rang. Aurora and Arai smiled and said goodbye to each other. They went into their own classroom and promised to meet again soon.

To cut a long story short, as Aurora got home from school, her granny rained her with thousand questions. Apparently, the principal had sent the teacher to report the incident to Aurora’s granny.

“Is everything okay with you, my sweetie? Did they hurt you?” Asked granny while she patted her hair.

“Everything is just fine, Granny. There’s nothing to worry about. I was helped by Arai?”

“Arai? Arai who?” Asked Granny curiously.

“Arai, my schoolmate, Granny. He is very kind”

“Oh, someday, you should invite him to see me. I want to say thank you to him.” Granny said enthusiastically.

“Okay, Granny, I’ll invite him to see you.” Whispered Aurora.

That’s a story that came to Aurora’s mind when she saw the two kids playing in her granny’s yard, an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, at that time she didn’t have a chance to see Arai after the first meeting. The incident was the first and the last meeting for them, because when Aurora’s parents got the news, they came to granny’s home and at the same day brought Aurora with them to another town where they lived. Granny tried to persuade them not to bring Aurora, but they insisted. What granny could do then was just cry on and on.

Since then, no time for Aurora and her friends to meet, even she couldn’t say goodbye to Mr. Tanto, her school principal, not to mention Arai who had saved her life. Aurora disappeared. Aurora had gone! Yes, she had gone with the wind!

Time goes bye. Now, after ten years, Aurora is back. There’s a little hope in her heart to see her long-lost hero, Arai. “Oh, is Arai still here in this town? Is he still so kind like ten years ago? Does he still remember me? Does he still keep a medallion I gave him?” Asked Aurora to herself. She pats the medallion in her neck, and whispers, “My medallion, will you meet your pair? Will you meet your pair? Will you meet your pair?” Said Aurora repeatedly.

A Great Story about True Love

2008-01-17T01:11:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, I found a very great story by chance about a sister and her younger brother. It’s so touching. I read it not once or twice, but many times. I think the values of this story is so important, and someday if my daughter and son can read, I want them to read this story and find something meaningful for their lesson of the meaning of brotherhood. The story run as follow;

I Cried For My Brother Six Times
(Source: www.taimeng.com)

(This is the translation of the Chinese piece, 我为弟弟哭六次 )

My home is in a remote mountain village. Both my parents are peasants who face the yellow soil with their backs to the sky. I have one brother, three years younger than I.

Once, to buy a handkerchief that all the girls had, I stole fifty cents from father’s drawer. Father noticed the missing amount that very day. He made my brother and I kneel before the wall. With a bamboo stick in hand, he ordered us to confess. I was stupefied by the situation, and kept my head down, too afraid to speak. Father heard no confession, so he said, “Well then, you both deserve this beating!” He raised the bamboo stick high. Suddenly, my brother clutched onto his hand and spoke loudly, “Dad, I was the one. It had nothing to do with sister. You can punish me.”

The long stick in father's hand fell ruthlessly on my brother’s back and shoulders. Father was so angry, that he kept on whipping until he ran out of breath. Afterwards, he sat on our brick bed and scolded, “Now that you've learned to steal from home, what disgrace will come of you later? The disappointment that you are! I will beat you to death! ”

That night, mother and I held my brother in our arms. Bruises covered his body, but he did not shed a single tear. Halfway through the night, I suddenly started weeping aloud. My brother covered my mouth with his little hand and said, “Sister, don’t cry now. The beating is already over.”

I’ve always hated myself for not having the courage to come forward. Many years have passed, but the incident remains fresh in my memory. I can never forget the way my brother shielded me from that bamboo stick. That year, my brother was 8 years old. I was 11.

When my brother was in his last year in junior high, he was admitted to a prominent senior high in the county. At the same time, I was accepted by a provincial university. That night, father squatted in the yard, smoking his dry tobacco, bag after bag. I heard him mutter, “Both our kids made such a good showing... such a good showing...” Mother wiped down her tears behind our backs, and sighed, “What use is it? How can we afford the expenses?”

Just then, my brother walked up to my father and said, “Dad, I don’t want to go to school anymore, have read enough books anyway.” Father slapped my brother on the face. “Why are you so short of spirit? Even if I must sell everything that stands in this house, I’ll get you two through your schooling!” Right away, he went to knock on every household in the village to borrow money. I passed a hand as softly as I could across my brother’s swollen face, and said, “A boy has to keep up his studies; otherwise he’ll never leave this poor ravine.” I, on the other hand, had already decided to give up university.

Who knew the next day, before the break of dawn, my brother left home with some ragged clothes and a few dried out buns. He sneaked by my bed and left a slip by my pillow: “Sister, getting into a university isn’t easy. I’ll go find a job and send you money.”

I held on to that slip on my bed, and wept until I lost my voice. That year, my brother was 17. I was 20.

With the money that father borrowed from the entire village, and the money my brother earned by moving cement in construction sites, I finally got to third year. One day, I was studying in my room when a classmate came in to announce, “There’s a villager looking for you outside!”

Why would there be a villager looking for me? I went out, and saw my brother from a distance, his body in a shabby overall covered in cement and sand. I asked him, “Why didn’t you tell my classmates you were my brother?” He replied, smiling, “Look at how I am dressed. If I tell your classmates that I am your brother, wouldn’t they laugh at you then?”

My nose tingled, and tears trickled down. I wiped the dust off my brother’s overall, and choked on my words, “You are my brother to begin with! I don’t care what anyone says or how they laugh! You are my brother no matter how you dress!”

From his pocket, he took out a butterfly-shaped hair clip that was wrapped carefully in a handkerchief. He sized it up against me, and went on to explain, “I saw all the city girls wearing this. So, I thought you too should have one.” I couldn’t hold back any longer. I pulled my brother into my arms and cried and cried. That year, he was 20. I was 23.

The first time I brought my boyfriend home, the window panes which were broken for so many years had been replaced. Inside our home, it was spotless everywhere. After my boyfriend left, I danced like a little girl before my mother. “Mom, you really didn’t have to spend so much time cleaning out our house!” Mother had aged. Her face was like a chrysanthemum when she smiled. She said, “It is your brother who came back early to clean up the place. Did you see the cut on his hand? He got it when he was installing the new window panes.”

I went inside my brother’s little room. Looking at his slender face, my heart ached. He smiled at me and said, "This is the first time you've brought your friend home. He is a university student from the city. Wouldn't want to give him any reasons to think poorly of us."

I applied some medicine to his wound. “Does it hurt?” I asked him. “No. It's nothing. When I work on the construction site, rocks fall onto my feet and swell them up so much that I can no longer wear shoes. Even that doesn’t stop me from work and...” Halfway through, he stopped speaking. I turned my back to him, and tears streamed down my face. That year, my brother was 23. I was 26.

When I got married, I lived in the city. Many times, my husband and I invited my parents to come and live with us, but they never agreed. They said, once leaving their village, they wouldn’t know what to do. My brother disagreed too, saying, “Sister, take care of your parents-in-law instead. I’ll look after mom and dad over here.”

My husband became his factory’s director. We wanted to get my brother a job in the factory as a manager in the repairs department. But my brother declined. He insisted on starting out as a repairs worker.

One day, while on a ladder fixing a wire, my brother got shocked by electricity, and became hospitalized. My husband and I went to visit him. Seeing the white plaster cast on his leg, I grumbled, “Why did you refuse to be a manager? Managers will never have to do anything this dangerous. Look at you now, such a serious injury. Why didn’t you listen to us earlier?”

With a serious look on his face, he defended his decision. “Think for brother-in-law -- he just became a director. I on the other hand, hardly have an education. If I became a manager just like that, think of the problems that he would have to face."

My husbands’ eyes filled with tears, and along came my broken words: “But your lack of education was all because of me!”

My brother pulled my hand into his. "Why mention the past?" That year, my brother was 26. I was 29.

The year my brother turned 30, he married a peasant girl from a village. During his wedding, the host of ceremony asked him, “Who do you respect and love the most?” Without even thinking he responded, “My sister.”

He went on to recount a story that I could not even remember. “When I started going to elementary school, it was in a different village. Every day, my sister and I had to walk an hour to get home. One day, I lost one of my mittens. My sister gave one of hers to me. She had just one mitten on and walked all that distance. When we went home, her hand was so taken by the freezing cold that she could not even pick up her chopsticks. Since that day, I have vowed, that for as long as I live, I will look after my sister and be good to her.”

Applause inundated the room. All the guests turned their eyes to me.

All I could say was, “In my life, the person I am most thankful of is my brother.” And in this happiest of occasions, in front of this celebrating crowd, tears raged down my face like rivers.

(Source: www.taimeng.com)

---
After reading this, so what comes to your mind, my friend?

2007-06-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

Surat Untuk Tuhan,

Tuhanku, tiba-tiba aku merasa ada kesejukan merembesi hatiku,
Seperti kesejukan yang mungkin dirasakan oleh orang-orang yang Engkau kasihi,
Seperti rasa teduh yang dinikmati oleh para sufi,
Biarkan rasa ini terus mengalir di sanubariku, Tuhan..
Tuhanku, aku tak begitu kuat seperti para nabi,
aku tidak setegar para kiyai,
Aku tak setebal iman seperti umat-umatMu yang tekun memujaMu.
Meski aku sungguh pemujaMu, aku pengikut setiaMU, namun, Tuhan, aku masih lemah, masih amat tergantung padaMu!
Tuhanku, bimbing tanganku agar terus berjalan di garisMu,
Arahkan langkahku ketempat yang Engkau redhoi,
Tuhanku, aku sungguh takut pada azabMu,
Cuma itu yang aku tahu..
Tuhanku, apalah aku tanpa bimbinganMu. Apalah aku tanpa uluran rahmatMu, apalah aku tanpa rangkulan cintaMu, apalah aku tanpa belai kasihMu,
Tuhanku, tuhanku..
Jangan ciptakan aku bila hanya menjadi manusia yang tak berguna untuk Mu dan untuk sesama.
Ambil saja aku bila hanya menjadi duri bagi Mu dan bagi yang lain,
Tuhanku, aku sungguh merasakan betapa Engkau
selalu membimbing arahku,
Betapa diriMu selalu membisikkan semua kebenaranMu,
Terimakasih, Tuhan…
Teruslah berada didekatku…
Teruslah bimbing langkahku …
Tak ada apa pun dan siapa pun yang patut menerima syukurku,
Selain Engkau, Ya… Allah SWT, Sang Maha Pecinta!

My Dream

2007-06-30T02:19:00.000-07:00

Keep following your dreams...
whenever they may lead.
Semua orang punya mimpi dalam hidupnya. Anda dan saya pasti punya. Kalau kita tak punya mimpi, maka hidup akan terasa hambar, tanpa gairah.

Hey, buddy, what's your dream? Mau tahu mimpiku?

This is my dream:

Someday, aku akan memiliki sebuah lembaga pendidikan besar yang bereputasi internasional. Gedung lembagaku begitu besar, indah, nyaman dan mewah! Siswa-siswaku ramai berduyun-duyun datang ke lembagaku.Kendaraan (mobil dan motor) siswa dan staffku teratur rapi di lahan parkir yang luas. Mereka bergembira belajar dan bekerja di lembagaku.
Guru-guruku senang mengajar karena mereka merasa terayomi & kesejahteraan mereka terus ku prioritaskan.

Aku tidak hanya memperhatikan kebahagian diriku, tapi juga kebahagiaan siswa, karyawan dan staff pengajarku. Mereka begitu loyal karena mereka merasa terberdaya, bukan hanya secara finansial, namun juga mental dan spiritual! Aku akan kaya luar biasa. Uang akan mengalir tanpa aku perlu bekerja lagi!!!

Inilah mimpiku! Dan bermimpi itu adalah awal dari segala achievement!

What are your dreams, my friend?? So curious to know them.

Izinkan..

2007-06-30T01:30:00.000-07:00

Izinkan aku berlabuh!

Kalau masih mungkin,

Izinkan aku berlabuh lagi disini,

Karena dermagaku mungkin tengah menanti

Mengharap biduk jiwa ini untuk menepi.

Ah, melanglang buana telah melelahkan hati,

Ah, mengembara telah mendera diri,

Kini saatnya,

langkah ini kuhentikan di sini,

Ku ingin berteduh

Kembali ke tempat dimana aku di besarkan!

Namun, dimana mereka?

Dimana mereka?

Dimana teman-temanku dulu?

Tidakkah mereka rindu pada ku?

Tidakkah mereka kehilanganku?

Seperti jiwa ini yang terus merindu!

2007-06-30T00:13:00.000-07:00

The POWER of EMOTIONAL & ADVERSITY QUOTIENT for Teachers,

Buku ini mencoba menghadirkan kekuatan kecerdasan emosi dan adversitas di ruang kelas. Sebagian besar muatan buku ini didasarkan pada pengalaman penulis yang beprofesi sebagai guru. Sehingga tidak heran bila buku ini, tidak saja mencerahkan tapi juga menginspirasi. Tidak banyak buku yang mengaitkan penemuan terbaru dalam bidang kecerdasan manusia dengan profesi guru. Dan, buku ini menjadi satu dari yang sedikit itu.

Untaian Hati

2007-06-29T23:39:00.000-07:00

Teruntuk sahabatku, guru,
di mana pun Engkau berada saat ini,
di hutan,
di gunung,
di pantai,
di lembah,
di desa-desa tandus,
di gubuk-gubuk reot,
di kolong-kolong jembatan,
di gedung-gedung mewah,
mari,
kita bulatkan hati untuk menghadirkan keindahan
pada setiap karya kita.
Setiap hari kita membuat masterpiece
di jiwa-jiwa pembelajar kita.
Sejak langkah pertama kita masuk ke ruang-ruang belajar,
dan diakhiri dengan langkah kaki kita yang lain tatkala
pelajaran usai.
Ah, betapa mulianya pekerjaanmu!

Saudaraku,
kutitip anakku untuk engkau didik,
dan akan kudidik anakmu dengan segala totalitas
dan kemampuan yang aku miliki.
Kucintai anakmu seperti engkau mencintainya,
dan cintai anakku seperti aku mencintainya.
Jangan kecilkan hatinya bila dia salah,
bukankah siapa diantara kita yang tak pernah salah?

Saudaraku,
Sungguh ini sebuah kemuliaan,
mari berjabat tangan,
Eratkan rasa dan satu kan hati
untuk selalu memberi yang terbaik bagi anak negeri!

Saudaraku,
hidup ini tak lama.
Apa yang sudah kita berikan kepada sesama?
Kita, raga ini, boleh musnah, boleh hilang,
kita boleh tiada lagi,
NAMUN,
mari berharap agar kebaikan yang kita tabur,
terus bertumbuhkembang, menyebar dan berbuah kemuliaan.

Saudaraku,
di mana pun Engkau berada saat ini,
di hutan,
di gunung,
di pantai,
di lembah,
di desa-desa tandus,
di gubuk-gubuk reot,
di kolong-kolong jembatan,
di gedung-gedung mewah,
mari, biarkan cinta kita bertebaran
mengharumkan bumi persada tercinta ini.
Mari besarkan hati untuk membesarkan bangsa ini, Sudaraku!

(Dari bukuku: The Power of Emotional & Adversity Quotient for Teachers).

My Chum, Phil 'Aulia' Collin, The Generalist!

2007-06-29T23:37:00.000-07:00

Temanku Aulia, menulis banyak tentang aku di blognya AULIA-BATAVIA. Kami adalah sahabat semasa masih kuliah sampai sat ini. Aku dan teman-teman memanggilnya Phil Collins, karena memang my chum ini agak mirip si Collins, baik suara, mau pun mukanya, (juga sedikit botaknya, hahaha). Sekampus orang mengenalnya dengan nama itu.

Dia, terkaget-kaget setelah aku tamat kuliah, pengangguran, lalu tahun depannya udah bisa cas-cis-cus berbahasa Inggris, malah jadi guru di lembaga-lembaga bahasa, baik yang berskala nasional maupun internasional. Padahal waktu kuliah di Fakultas Hukum, bahasa Inggrisku jelek sekali, malah dia jauh lebih bagus! (Bizarre, isn't it? Want to know? Just read my books: Menyibak Tabir Hidup-Elex Media)

Itulah mengapa Aulia menulis bahwa aku belajar dengan "gila". Aku memang gila, waktu itu. Banyak teman-teman ku berkata, "Hey, Dan, ente cari kerja sono, ngapain belajar lagi! Ayo, masukin lamaran!!" Aku cuma menatapnya dengan mata agak nanar karena seharian baca kamus, bahkan percaya nggak kamus ku, juga jadi bantalku!

Ada juga my pals yang berkata, "Eh, ente sekarang aja bersemangat seperti itu, tunggu aja sebulan lagi, pasti ente udah bosan!" aku tersenyum saja, deep in my heart, I know I won't do that. Saya punya core believe bahwa kita semua, Anda dan saya, bisa menjadi apa pun as long as we have a very clear goal, a burning desire. Hasrat yang menggebu-gebu. Hasrat untuk menjadi insan yang unstoppable! Are you unstoppable?

To cut a long story short, setelah beberapa lama tak berjumpa dengan teman-teman, tiba-tiba mereka terkejut karena aku sudah menjadi manusia lain. Manusia dengan profesi sebagai guru.
My chum, Aulia ini pun sangat terkejut, "Koq, bisa, Dan, ente jadi guru bahasa Inggris di lembaga-lembaga besar seperti itu?" Aku bilang, "Friend, kamu juga bisa kalau kamu mau!"

Dia akhirnya aku ajak belajar di sekolahku ALTI. Aku tahu dia sebenarnya bisa kalau dia betul-betul menginginkannya, tapi unfortunately sohibku ini orang yang sangat besar curiosity-nya. Dia pingin mempelajari segala sesuatu.Semua seperti menarik hatinya, lalu tak berapa lama dia tertarik dengan hal lain, jadi bahasa Inggrisnya terpaksa di stop dulu!

Ah, dia benar-benar generalis! Dia sekarang lagi gila internet, nanti pasti dia akan gila nulis, lalu gila main musik (kayak Phil Collins) dan mudah-mudahan gak gila daun muda, hahahaha!!!! (jadinya doi banyak pengetahuannya) Ah, Aulia! Aulia! You're always something else, man!

Hey, gimana dengan kamu-kamu! Saya percaya bahwa kita semua adalah makhluk terhebat di muka bumi. Tuhan, telah menakdirkan kita sebagai makhluk manusia, yang punya body, mind dan soul! Percayakah Anda bahwa Anda dan saya bisa meraih apa pun asal itu benar-benar terpatrikan di sudut hati Anda yang terdalam? Ada komentar?

2007-06-29T23:30:00.000-07:00

Jika anda membuat sebuah bayangan dalam benak anda tentang ingin jadi apa anda kelak, dan anda mempertahankan bayangan itu dalam benak anda cukup lama, dengan segera anda menjadi seseorang yang anda bayangkan itu!

2007-06-29T23:08:00.000-07:00

Sehebat apa pun kendala,

Sebesar apa pun aral,

Mari teguhkan hati,

Kobarkan semangat!!

Tetaplah melangkah,

Ya, tetaplah melangkah,

Sahabat!