Nobody should know how old we are

I must say that this little party was awesome and cute! Despite its simple and modest style, we were excited to celebrate it in the canteen. The secret was the togetherness of our class. Too bad Christian and Alket were absent. Christian doesn't continue his course due to his new job, and Alket was somehow away in Aceh with his duty.

I enjoy being with my classmates. We are vary in our ages but nobody cares about it! The 17 years old girl Meme can get along with us. She's even the spark of the class! She always comes with a stunning-to-death fashion statement that stops our breath!

Our teacher is younger than me and the other birthday-ers. But she proves her ability in French and pedagogy very well.

Age has never been something important for me. Unlike the others, I always feel that I still have rooms enough to do this and that. Peter Pan syndrome? Hmm... not really. I just believe that the horizon can always be spread wider when you believe it can.

That is why I have friends from various background! I can get along with teenagers, mid 20's, the 30's, even senior people. And most of them admit the same thing: They are always being inspired and motivated by me.

This confession is an honor for me, despite my own hard and juggling life.

I am happy that my life history, my achievements, my failures, and my ideas about facing the obstacles have inspired those whose life are better than mine.

As I blow out the candles, I wish for a more colorful life ahead, as colorful as the candles, and that my life be more bling-bling! - as stunning as those strawberries:)

It's my Birthday!!!

When the clock strikes 00:00, then I've passed my 20s over. Ha! Let's see what I've done during my late 20s?

I started 2009 with a resolution that covers the achievement in language proficiency, got a scholarship, being able to do internship in a cultural institution, work in UN agency, and sleep with Gerard Butler (woohoo!) :)

Let see what happened during 2009:

I was accepted as an intern in Goethe-Institut Jakarta, I did the regional Dance Summit Project, I met new people who work with the foreign cultural centers and international affairs, I got new network as well, I GOT THE TURKISH LANGUAGE SUMMER SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP although I rejected it (Coz I was still under a contract with Goethe-Institut), I meet people who works for the UN (Alket in UNDP and Mr Martin Aleida, an ex senior journalist of Tempo who used to work for the UN too), and I met Abi- my Afghan-German classmate in Perth- through xing.com and found him looks like Gerry so much!

And I learn German!

Ja, Ich lerne Deutsche.

Not giving up with my dream, I spend my concurrent activity with learning European language. I've taken French and Italian, now I take German.

I was going to learn German in Goethe-Institut but the registration has not open yet. Otherwise, I asked Somba to teach me by private. Somba is my classmate in our French class four years ago. He was a German teacher in a foreign language school. He's in the same age with me, but always pretends as if he was twenty two! This year, he gets a job in the Language Center of Universitas Indonesia as a German teacher.

Together with Endah, my other ex-class mate in CCF, we do the course anywhere we find it convenience. Sometimes in my house, sometimes in Endah's house, or sometimes in the nearest donut cafe.

I must admit that Somba is a good teacher. He knows how to lead the class, lead our mind, and the most important thing is: he knows how to transfer the knowledge. The class is very enjoyable, since we are in the similar age, but we still respect the lesson as it should be.

German is simpler than French. But the logic is a little bit different.

After being failed with the Master Scholarship from the Turkish government, I immediately did my plan B. I met people who help me in psychology and career counseling, then I decided to take the appropriate subject. I study Public Relations in Interstudi School of Communication and Journalism in Antara News Agent. And I found them sexy! Psst.. I'am also preparing myself for the entry test of graduate program in Universitas Indonesia! Guess what's the subject will be? International Relations! Ha ha!

I got new friends... that's the most exciting part in 2009. New friends means new network, doesn't it? ! And I love being loved by them. They are the most inspiring supporter in my life, ever :)

Happy Birthday, Dewi. May your wish comes true as you blow your candle...

Unpublished Draft

The anxiety inside me has been really disturbing. Within a week, I'll be leaving my 20's age. For women in Indonesia, leaving their 20s is like being caught by an SS soldier and never be able to come back.

I don't mind of being 30, really. But the facts that people are judging me for my status is very annoying. "What do you do?" I can simply answer, "I am a student". Yes, I am a student of Interstudi School of Communication, taking a 6 months course of Public Relations. Where do you work? "I used to be an intern in Goethe-Institut Jakarta". "Ah, you're a German teacher?". "No, I am an amateur in German". "Ah zo.."

The most annoying comments come from Indonesian friends. "Are you married?". "No." "But you are 30!" I said, "I'm looking for another internship in international non governmental organization." "Internship? In your age? I think you should have looked for a money-oriented activity!"

If only I could turn back time, I would have changed my major from Visual Communication Design to International Relations, Anthropology, or whatever.
***
That was my un-published post last year :D
Anyway, time has flown away and change things out!