Happy (?) Birthday, You!

I have a song that never fails to make me cry.
Winter Child by Suzy



I always wanted to give this song to someone special like you. I can always feel your existence. You taught me many things. You've shown me how precious life is.
Since yesterday, January 23rd is the day when you were born, please consider this as a birthday present from your me.
It has been 9 years, time flies. No one talked about yesterday, I'm sure it's not that easy to forget so I think everyone was just trying to have the feeling of "moving on".
Many things have changed. I hope you're watching us there. Don't worry about things here, I've been in many bad situation but in fact I survive until now. Just hang on there until we meet again.
Well, you're now 9 years old, I wonder how big you are (although I'm not sure people grow up there). I don't know how you might think about me, but I'm doing my best right now, I'm going to protect things that I know you wish you could protect too.
Dear, I'm still wondering, should I give you a happy birthday?
I didn't know was that a happy birthday or not, but I feel happy because at least I have you. Whatever happened 9 years ago, I'm happy you were born, I'm happy that you're my brother.

About Ella

When I first taught last year, I did an observation to a class for 6-7yo kids, there were 4 students, 2 girls and 2 boys. One of the girl was Ella, the principal and the teacher there said that she was 'different', she almost never spoke anything in class. That time when I came to that class, she was even making weird acts. She kept sitting on the floor under her desk. Her room's teacher had already asked her to sit properly but it was useless, she had no response. When other students played game, she was silent persistently in her position. She didn't make messy face, she smiled, but she just didn't care about those things. Later during the observation evaluation with the principal, I was explained that students like Ella did exist. She's eager to learn but she had her own way. Well, if that's the case, I felt relief.
Some days of observation had passed. One day, I was given a chance to give Ella a make up lesson, a lesson for student that miss a class. We were sitting quietly in Bristol (name of the room) when I started my presentation about material that she missed. She was good that time. She paid attention to me. When I asked her to do the practices, she just nodded her head and did it. That lesson went well, but I just had a feeling "this is not right". A kid should talk much at her age. I asked her some question like things she like, but as expected, no response. I tried other questions but they didn't work either. I almost gave up until I saw her bag, it was tinker bell patterned. I pointed at it and said "I know that pretty fairy, it is tink", she smiled brightly and nodded her head then she mumbled something. I asked, "do you watch the cartoon? it is good", I could see that she became interested as she said "yes" directly.
I was having butterfly in my stomach, I wanted to scream, "I got youu kid!", but then I laughed realizing that I didn't even play any games with her from the start. During the practice, she needed her eraser, she didn't have it in her pencil case, "my eraser is in my x (mentioned name of another english course) bag downstairs", she explained. I was a bit confused, but I told her to stay there, then I went downstairs to the receptionist table, she said, "miss, ini tas x-nya ella miss, dia ambil les bahasa inggris dua, di sini satu sama di x satu, tadi dia dari jam 1 sampe jam 3 di x, langsung nyambung di sini". I was shocked. Ella? a 6yo kid took 2 english courses, I thought it was too much. I pitied kids these days.
After finishing workbook, I asked her about plan for the upcoming weekend (saturday is the next day after that day), she whispered telling me, "I can not go tomorrow, I have clay course from morning to afternoon", I responded spontaneously, "hey! tomorrow's saturday", she whispered quieter, "yes, but I have class, I can not go there from sunday to friday, I have other courses too". I was surprised, she was just 6yo and she looked busier than 23yo someone like me, I knew that after she mentioned many courses she took. "is that fun, your clay class?", I asked her. "yes, I already make two, I have mouse and duck, I want to bring here but can not...". She mumbled more, I was touched, not only because of her story but also because it was the first time I saw her speaking like other kid, although it was more like mumbling and whispering, I would like to scream, "I hear you", but I knew it would scare her so I decided to put my best smile and tried to give my best responses. She told me many things, "I am moving school next month", I became curious, "why? are you moving home too?", she didn't answer me, she took her book, write a school name next to another school name, then she wrote some explanation. I could hardly understood that it was like"no, mommy says my school now is not good, it is international school but still not good, my new school is better..." She continued telling things by writing things that turned out to be hard to understand by my old school mind, I did think that kids, they needed time to play too, why didn't we just let them develop in easy way. I fell in love with her that day, no matter how different she was.
After some days, I had a chance to teach her class, that time, while preparing the warmer session, I prayed to God that she would join. I hold her little hand and invite her. She stood with her friends full of doubt. I looked at her, wished that she could read my mind "you'll be okay kid!". I was fully happy when she could say the game password, "bingo!", although it was with a very low voice, I could hear her it was really satisfying.
Well, I could say that Ella was the first student that impressed me there. It could be true that there are many Ellas around, but what I think, maybe, if she could, she would like to say this (I thought of this at that time):
"I know I'm quiet student, I know I'm different than others, I know I don't talk much and sometimes I act weird, but instead of leaving me in my own world, PLEASE PUT MORE EFFORT IN ME..."
Since then I promise myself, I won't ignore any Ella, I'm going to do my best try for silent students like Ella, no matter how long it takes.

Being Lucky

(End of year event 2011 and new year event 2012)

"Someone who could figure out his/her passion is lucky"
(A quote from teh saphy)

I've been putting a lot of interest in English even since I first learned it in Elementary School. Then when I grew up, I found out that I really like the way one of my english teacher taught me. Later I was obsessed to be a teacher. It took a long way. I couldnt imagine that I still had chance to be someone I've always wanted.

When I graduated from university, I applied to some companies, the place where I should be. To be honest, I was afraid. I felt no confidence. I thought that I didnt have anything to give to a company, I couldnt even give my passion there. I didnt think that I was capable enough and most important, I didnt wanna end up there, a place where I didnt think I belong to.

Talking about passion, I thought I found where mine is. When I was in high school, I taught english for an english course, it was fun, I felt that as my passion when I felt that coming there then teaching was so much more important than the payment that I got that time.

When I was in University, I had another chances, teaching in a remote area and also teaching in my university. There was much sensation. I loved it, being in front of the class, sharing things I know earlier than the other.

A lmost a year ago, I finished my study in university when I was still wondering what should I do. I did applied to several international school (since I wasnt graduated from educational major, formal school would definitely refuse me) but I got dumped during the pedagogic test, it's like a test whether I'm mentally ready to be a teacher or not, but in fact, the test was all about teaching theory that I didnt know. In the end I couldnt join any school.

At the end of May 2011, a place where I can teach called me, and I've been being hired by them since then. Its International Language Program (ILP) Pluit. Simply said its an english course. I wasnt sure at the first time because english course that I knew is a place where teacher teaches grammar, and kind of boring, but since that's the opportunity to teach, I accepted that. First month, I did some observations in senior teachers' classes. I was trained alone, could you imagine, one day sitting alone in a room, watching teaching procedures CDs of ILP, then reading thick handouts about steps and stages of teaching in ILP, I was like, "WOW! this is serious!". I also did tandem teaching with my friend that was also newly hired there. I was a bit shocked, The students there were not the same like other students I've ever taught. They're special, the're demanding, mostly selfish, and not easy to handle (but it's in a good way). I was challenged. I couldnt wait for my own classes. During July 2011, I had been being trained in ILP center, yes, that was new knowledge for me, although it's franchise, but it's centered and all the material are controlled by one center, all teachers should first get fully training for 1 month because it has got own material and different teaching procedures, I cant just teach with my shabby methods, I have to follow the procedures and even steps and stages from the center. Well, that was great, they trained me not only to be a good english teacher but also a good teacher. I was also taught to teach not only material but also attitude for students.

Now here I am, Im a teacher of an english course, I can make my own living, and I'm happy. Everyday I create a lesson plan based on our material. For a teacher, lesson plan is crucial thing, its our masterpiece, teaching without it is like walking without any direction (thats what my trainer said). After finishing my lesson plan, I do a 'guardian angeling', a process where I consult my lesson plan to the principal that will check the steps and stages, correct my mistake and add some ideas to make it better. After that I will prepare all teaching aids for visual presentation in the class, then I'm ready to teach. Day after day, I've got many surprises, to tell you the truth, I've got desperate moments too, but the more it occurs, the more it makes me stronger to hang on, I've met many kinds of students, I've learned a lot from them, I can say that I'm getting better. I'm happy for finally standing in my own choice and fully supported by my father, mother, and sisters.

Back to my quote on the first part of this post, thanks God, I am lucky.

Hi!

hi...
It's weird to be here again after long time. It's like you've forgotten a home you've left.
Well, I've been trying to tell many stories, but everytime I started, I've never had an end.
So I'm here just to check whether I still remember my id and password or not, and yes I still do :)
Hm. what else? I don't know, just let me share something I like here, THE KOOKS, quoting a fan "whenever I'm having a down day, the Kooks are there to make me happy :)"
Junk of The Heart (Happy)

Shine On

Peluk

Being stiff on you is suffering but acting pitiful doesn't make things better either. So, let's try our best :)

Us and Our Belgian Friends (some impressing stories)

Deloitte, they call me ms.cherry on my 1st day :D

Setelah pulang dari Pertamina, kami menuju Deloitte, kantor yang memfasilitasi mahasiswa-mahasiswa belgia itu selama di Indonesia. Kantor Deloitte ini ada di lantai 12 Wisma Nusantara. Saya bisa masuk dengan leluasa karena bersama Kevin.sampai di lantai 12, seorang mbak yang sangat ramah menyambut di meja resepsionis, kami berdua balas senyum dan menuju ruangan. Jujur saya degdegan lagi karena saya akan bekerja satu ruangan dengan teman-teman saya dan hampir semua mahasiswa belgia itu. Saya mengambil posisi duduk pas di sebelah kiri Kevin dan di sebelah kiri saya ada Pierre-Olivier (PO), partner dina. Saya melontarkan senyum membalas senyum PO. Sementara Kevin menyiapkan laptop, saya melirik ke sebelah kanan Kevin, ada anthony, partner Ajay, memakai kemeja berwarna ungu manis sekali, saya ampe inget ampe sekarang warnanya, hehe.. dan sama seperti ritual dengan yang lain saya melontarkan senyum membalas senyum anthony. Kemudian saya memandang ke depan, dan si Yasir sudah tersenyum, lagi-lagi saya balas dengan kikuk, di sebelah Yasir, ada Laia yang juga senyum ke saya, sementara Debo, partnernya sedang sibuk menelepon.

Laptop Kevin sudah siap.

Kevin: well, today I need you to help me making some phonecalls to some company, since not all the operator could speak english properly. You may tell them that you’re calling representing me, Kevin Missoorten, and I’m from hydrogenics, a company in Belgium that basically produce hydrogen instalation. I’m here to collect all the information related to hydrogen use in some industries in Indonesia, how do they get it, where do they buy the instalation, how’s the pressure and purity, blablabla... Do you understand?

Me: (Takjub) Ohk..okay I understand, I’m wida calling representing Kevin em..emm.. miss.. (saya nyengir lupa nama lengkap Kevin)

Kevin: That’s okay, my name is not a usual name for you so a bit hard to remember, this, you can have my namecard so you can easily call everyone. Well, you can start, but if you need to wite something first, that’s okay, thankyou so much

Setelah itu saya mulai mengingat instruksi kevin, mencatat di kertas dan menatap lists perusahaan-perusahaan yang harus ditelepon, dan mulai menelepon. Setelah itu ternyata ada beberapa perusahaan yang meminta fax resmi dari Kevin, jadilah kami membuat draft, mengeprint dan kemudian menuju ke resepsionis, karena di ruangan kami tidak ada mesih fax. Kevin yang pertama berbicara, tetapi si mbak panik dan bilang kurang mengerti, jadilah saya jelaskan maksud kami.

Saya: Mbak ini, namanya Kevin, dia mau numpang kirim fax mbak, bisa dibantu?

Mbak: Oh, gituu, oke deh, bentar ya saya telpon bagian yang lagi kosong dulu yaa, duduk aja dulu di situ ya..

Si mbak menelepon dan kemudian meminta kami mengikutinya. Di jalan, si mbak tanya-tanya soal Kevin.

Mbak: mbak si kevin umurnya berapa sih?

Saya: 22 masuk 23 mbak, kenapa? Naksir ya? Hehehe

Mbak: Wah brondong bok, ganteng ya bule-bule Belgia ini, hehehe..

Saya: SI mbak bisaan ya liat yang bening-bening, hahaha

Setelah itu saya dan si mbak ketawa bareng dan kevin dengan pandangan penuh tanya Cuma senyum. Kami tiba di ruangan yang isinya mesin fax dengan bapak-bapak gendut sebagai operatornya.

Mbak: Pak X (saya lupa namanya), ini ada brondong sama mbak cherry mau numpang nge-fax boleh ya pak? (saya melotot, dalam hati menggumam, nama saya wida, buka cherry)

Bapak: (menatap ke arah Kevin) she said you are ‘brondong’ mister, what can I do?

Kevin: be..brrrondong.. er.. (menatap saya dengan bingung), what is that wida?

Saya: eng.. it’s an idiom, er.. it means that you’re young man (nyengir)

Kevin: (muka masih bingung) oh.. okay

Setelah selesai ritual kirim fax, kami kembali ke ruangan, sebelum itu si mbak sempet-sempetnya

Mbak: Mbak cherry nanti kalo butuh bantuan bilang aja ya *nyengir

Saya Cuma mengangguk dan menutup pintu ruangan. Sejak itu sampai beberapa hari berikutnya si mbak tetap memanggil saya cherry dan saya Cuma bisa menghela nafas. Saya akhirnya menyadari kenapa si mbak kekeuh manggil saya mbak cherry, karena di hari pertama saya di Deloitte, saya make kemeja dan jilbab berwarna peach terang, ealaahh... saya pun tahu si mbak itu bernama mbak endang saat di hari ke dua atau ke tiga, ketika itu saya sedang bekerja untuk Kevin, kami lagi-lagi merepotkan si mbak minta bantuan mengirim fax.

Kevin: Wida, do you know who is she? I mean what’s her name? That woman in the receptionist desk?

Saya: Mbak endang, why? Do you need anything?

Kevin: er.. embagh endhang.. I’ll try to remember her, she always helps me

Saya: Yes, you should be really thankful to her, she’s been helping us much

Kevin: Okay, em..embagh endhang (mengeja dengan susah payah).

Setelah itu, ketika kami lagi-lagi dibantu mbak endang, kevin dengan lancar bilang “tcherimakasih embagh endhang”, dan mbak endang yang kaget karena Kevin tau namanya Cuma nyengir dengan wajah bersemu merah, wow! western guys are really sweet :)

Cerita di Suatu Hari

Pagi yang cerah, saya naik kereta dari stasiun mangga besar dan berhenti di Gondangdia. Masih banyak waktu untuk memutuskan berjalan kaki menyusuri jalan wahid hasyim. Saya tetap datang lebih awal ke Akmani, menyusuri jalanan sabang mengikuti Kevin yang seperti biasa masih membenahi lengan kemejanya. Di depan Holland Bakery, Kevin berhenti melangkah, seperti mengingat sesuatu.

Kevin: I forgot my ID card, do you think they’ll let me in?

Saya: Mm.. not so sure but since we’re just a few steps closer, we might try first

Dan kami pun tetap menuju Deloitte. Saya yakin seyakinnya Kevin boleh masuk wisma nusantara,er.. karena dia bule. Dan benar saja, kami bebas melenggang. Coba kalo saya yang sendirian ga punya ID, interogasinya bisa panjang, hehe..

Di lantai 12 wisma nusantara, saya mulai membuka laptop, memeriksa agenda untuk hari itu, dan mereview pekerjaan terakhir sementara Kevin seperti biasa membuat teh panas sambil berteriak kecil menawarkan saya teh, awalnya saya menolak, masa iya dibuatin teh sama bos, lagian saya bisa bikin sendiri, tetapi kevin terus bilang “I saw you made your tea, if you want some tea too, let me make it, thats really okay” dan suatu hari Laia yang kebetulan ada si satu shift dengan kami bilang sambil ketawa “hey wida, if you want some tea, let him make it, its a good service”, pada akhirnya saya nyerah, dan seterusnya Kevin bertugas membuatkan teh, lalu nanya “do you want sugar? No?” dan saya sambil nyiapin kerjaan hari itu akan teriak “yes, two blocks of sugar please, thankyou kev”, yaa, kedengeran seperti interpreter yang gatau diri kan, hahaha :D

Hari itu mood kami sedang bagus, kami baru saja mendapatkan kontak-kontak perusahaan flat glass manufacturers, yang berarti bisa kami hubungi. Saya mulai menelepon satu persatu dari pagi, dan... dan..... hingga jam makan siang pun, nggak ada satu kontak yang sesuai dengan harapan, ternyata itu adalah perusahaan dari industri glass manufacturer, bukan flat glass manufacturers. Saya setenganya kesal juga sama asosiasi perusahaan-perusahaan itu, masa ngasih data yang nggak relevan. Kevin udah kesel, pas kontak terakhir, dia nanya ke saya dan saya jawab dengan pasrah bahwa kontak terakhir pun nggak relevan. Saya meminta maaf ke Kevin dan menyampaikan rasa prihatin saya nggak bisa menghasilkan apa-apa hari itu. Kevin menggigit-gigit kuku, kemudian tersenyum, “no, its not your fault, you’ve done the best, we’ll continue after lunch, ok”, saya pun menjawab, “but I do feel uneasy about nothing resulted from our first shift work”, Kevin kemudian duduk tenang sambil membereskan laptopnya, “well, I have another dutch proverb for you. You’ve called many companies, yet you got nothing, but you know you have to try again, if you give up, you already have a NO answer, and do you still remember the last proverb I’ve given to you? The last man standing wins, it’s simple rule like when you’re in a marathon competition, you have to keep running til the end, when everyone starts to tirely stopped, you have to keep going, wherever the last man standing always wins, so, semanghaat!”. Kevin tersenyum mengakhiri dengan semangat (semangat adalah kata-kata favorit kevin setelah saya kasih tau “it’s the word to give someone spirits”, dan Kevin selalu mengulang kata itu), menutup tasnya, mengambil handphone, menelepon seseorang namun tampak tidak ada jawaban, Kevin keluar, kemudian masuk lagi, “Hey wida, lets have lunch then we’ll have new energy to find another strategy”. Saya Cuma jawab ok dan senyum.

Kevin ke luar ruangan duluan, sebelum saya menyusul, dityo, teman saya yang juga ada shift bareng kami, menghampiri saya, “wid, lo tau nggak barusan si kevin abis nelpon ke luar, gigit kuku dan mengumpat ‘FAK!’, hahaha, abis itu masuk dan baru ngomongin strategi baru itu ke elo”. Saya pun nggak bisa menahan tawa, tetapi dalam hati saya bersyukur, Kevin nggak pernah mengumpat di depan saya sekesel apa pu dia sama birokrasi indonesia. Dia menghargai saya, menghargai budaya Indonesia yang (seharusnya) nggak biasa mengumpat kasar dan saat itu saya berjanji, for the sake of peaceful world, I’ll always respect everyone’s culture.

Us and Our Belgian Friends (What is actually a big issue?)

What is actually a big issue?
One day I had to accompany Jerina having a meeting with a big publishing company. The meeting took place at the office of that company. It’s not so far from Deloitte Office but still, unpredictable traffic jam made us stucked in the taxi for more than an half hour. I felt really tired of traffic jam, espesially since I had to worked for 7 to 7 almost everyday, but in other side, I loved it for giving me more time to talk personally with my partner. Like what happened that time. Me and Jerina, we were talking about many different situations of our each country. Our conversation started with Jerina that told me that she sent her picture with me to her boyfriend. She said that she talked about me much to his boyfriend so his boyfriend said that it would be really nice if I could come to Belgium or France and spend sometime there with them.

Jerina: You know, you really have to come to europe.. I’ll show you good place in Belgium, or we can even go to paris, where my boyfriend is now..

Me: I’d really love to Jerina, someday I’ll come... but please tell me, is it okay for someone like me, who wears hijab, to be there? I just want to make sure since here’s a belgian with me

Jerina: Of course it’s totally okay, nothing’s wrong with your er..jihab.. (its hard for her to mention hijab, hehe). You know, even in my university, there are many, yea, not much, but there’re people who wear er.. hibab.. (I’m laughing because she didnt mention it right), ah again I already forgot how it spell (I tell her the right spell), yea, hijab.. some moslem students from different country wore that in university in brussel and it’s not a big issue for us, we’re all adult, right?

Me: you know, I’m so glad hearing that news from you, because for some people, hijab’s still a matter.

Jerina: For adult in our country, I don’t think it’s an issue, but for children, we have a regulation. You can’t wear that er.. hibab..hijab.. We have a complicated experience with hijab in school. There was a moslem kid who wore hijab to public school. For most children, it’s really uncommon. And because they’re kids, they thought it was a trend. Every kid started to pursue their parents to let them wearing hijab too.. it was a hard time, yea.. you know.. it’s complicated, it’s not that kid wearing that for religion understanding because other kids that are not moslem started thinking that it was a trend.. yea, um.. it’s so much complicated but trust me its not an issue for adult..

Me: Oh, I see.. I can understand that complicated matter, Jerina, thankyou for telling me, I’m doing my best for my europe resolution

Jerina: Great! I will also show you our beach, it’s nothing compared to beaches here wida..

Me: Wow! Really? I’ll be glad to.. but is it okay to not wearing bikini to the beach there? Yea, I mean, will I look weird?

Jerina: Um.. no, you won’t look weird. You still can go to the beach with a full covered beach cloth, it’s okay, but, yea.. there’ll be just someone who will stare at you for some seconds and then it’s not a matter at all.

Me: Okay then, I do hope I could visit your country..

Then we continued talking until we reached the place we were aiming for. Since it’s one of the biggest publishing company in Indonesia, the office looks really nice. Everyone there was proffesional. I loved being there. While waiting for them preparing the meeting, I even talked to Jerina that if there’s any chance, I wanted to work there.

Well, finally we’re on our meeting with a promotion staff, young nice smart lady was serving us. Jerina presented her company profile and told her company’s offer. That young lady seriously listened to her. In some part they couldn’t understand each other, I would be very happy to connect them. After about an hour, we’re finally done. Each of us was given a cup of nice tea. While enjoying our cup, we talked about everything. That young lady also asked about my education background. I told her about my latest tittle, my 1 month interpreter work, and also my goal to get a fix job soon. Suddenly, Jerina promoted me to the lady from the company. I was a bit shocked.

Jerina: Well, miss, you know, this girl, wida, she’s actually not my interpreter. She’s more like teammate for me, she’s done really well with every job. She’s a good person. Is there any possibilities for someone like her working here?

Young Lady: Um.. of course everyone can work here. But you know, here, we have a policy too..

Jerina: but what? I mean what policy?

Young Lady: It’s actually not my right to say this but since we’re all here talking together, and I know you both are nice, I tell you.. for someone like her, who wears hijab, it will be useless to apply for some position here. Here’s a policy that someone like wida can not join our company.

Jerina: (surprised) What??? Why??? Isn’t it weird??? You also wear er..hijab.. and yet you still work here, so what’s the matter with her? (aiming at me)

Young Lady: Yea, as I told you before, this will be hard to explain, miss. When I first worked here, I didn’t wear hijab, and if now I’m wearing it, it’s not a problem. And it’s absolutely different situation for her.

Jerina: wh.. why... I still don’t understand...

Young Lady: I don’t know. If I’m the one who make the decision, I’d be glad to work with someone like her but, yea, I’m just a staff here.. I’m not frightening her, if she wants to try, please, we’re welcoming every applicant but it will be just useless.. I’m sorry to say..

Jerina: hm.. I’m now confuse..

Me: Jerina, I think I’m quite understanding. You have to know that some company have a different policies and it is really okay with me.

Jerina: I thought.. but.. oh okay.. great...

After that meeting, Jerina still talked to me about the things we talked before with the young lady from the company.

Jerina: I really don’t understand, wida.. I’ve read in many sources that your country is the biggest moslems country in this world. You know, I thought that little thing shouldn’t be a matter here. While we’re in belgium were feeling okay, why a hijab should be an issue here? I don’t get it. You know, you might not work there, but trust me, you’ll gonna find a job that suit you well and has no matter with your er..hijab.

Well, Jerina, I do hope so...

Ps: I didn’t record our conversation and it might not be exactly the same with that but so far I could remember that was how we talk.

Us and Our Belgian Friends (First Day Working)

Walking Along Akmani Hotel to Pertamina

Sambungan dari serial bersama teman-teman Belgia :D
Ini adalah cerita di hari pertama kerja. Waktu itu saya masih berangkat dari Bogor, dari rumah sepupu saya. Pagi pertama itu, kami nggak naik kereta, mastom bawa mobil ke kantor, karena harus nganterin mba pipit (istrinya) ke jatiwaringin terlebih dahulu. Kami berangkat hampir jam setengah enam, berharap dijauhkan dari macet. Tetapi ternyata tetap saja macet dimana-mana. Keluar dari Jatiwaringin, saya mulai panik karena bahkan jarum jam saya bergerak lebih cepat dari mobil mastom. Ditambah lagi saya nervous karena memikirkan apa yang akan saya hadapi nanti dengan bule-bule Belgia itu. Saya menghitung dalam hati, mulai gelisah, sebentar lagi 09.30 yang itu berarti kalo saya dateng lewat jam segitu, saya telat. Telat di hari pertama, dan bekerja dengan orang asing, tentu bukanlah ide gemilang. Saya mulai berisik tanya-tanya mastom kapan nyampenya. Mastom tetep tenang menjanjikan nggak bakal telat. Ketika temen-temen interpreter saya ngabarin kalo mereka udah stand by di Akmani, saya makin panik tu de meks.
Dan seperti di film-film, saya sampai di 5 menit menuju waktunyaa. Setelah makasih sama mastom saya ngibrit naik ke lobby akmani. Temen-temen saya udah di sana. Semua mukanya ada tulisan “DEGDEGAN”, hehe.. saya ke toilet bentar, pas balik lagi, dheg! Udah banyak aja mahasiswa belgia yang turun, dan mereka udah menuju interpreternya masing-masing (ya kami pertama mengenal satu sama lain lewat photo :D). Saya haha hihi sama mereka semua, beberapa udah kenal di pertemuan awal, beberapa lagi muka baru. Saya lirik-lirik sana sini, berharap menemukan muka yang mirip photo hitam putih (udah fotokopian soalnya) bernama Kevin Missoorten. Dan sejauh mata memandang si Kevin ini nggak ada, gimana ini, padahal saya shift pertama kerja sama dia. Kemudian satu persatu temen saya mulai meninggalkan lobby akmani bersama partner mereka. Masih tersisa Jan bareng bamby, dan debora yang partnernya, laia, belum juga turun. Dan tiba-tiba lift terbuka, keluarlah sesosok manusia tinggi dengan rambut blonde acak-acakan dan tangan memegang dasi, dia terburu-buru. Pas liat mukanya, saya percaya dan besar kemungkinan itu adalah kevin, partner saya sebulan ke depan. Dari sofa lobby saya udah nyengir seramah mungkin ketika dia mulai berjalan ke arah saya. Hampir saya berdiri sampai kemudian si kevin ini berbelok 15 derajat menuju Jan, dan mereka mengobrol lama, sambil kevin masang dasi. Saya makin deg-degan, that time I thought that I might be invisible so he couldnt see me properly. Tapi itu terlalu nggak mungkin, saya segede ini nggak keliatan. Mulailah saya berpikiran, jangan-jangan si kevin ini nggak mau diinterpreterin sama saya, jangan-jangan si kevin ini nolak saya, jangan-jangan dan terlalu berjangan-jangan membuat saya nggak ngeh pas Jan udah pergi sama bamby. Laia juga udah mau jalan, dan saya nggak punya pilihan lain selain nyengir sama Kevin.

Kevin: Hi, so you’re wida, right? I’m Kevin, nice to meet you

Saya: Uh, Hi, yes I am, I am wida, nice to meet you too

Tiba-tiba banyak jangkrik muncul di lobby akmani, krik krik krik... jangkrik-jangkrik baru pergi setelah Kevin mengangkat tas.

Kevin: Uhm, what do you think? Should we go now? (menunjuk ke luar hotel)

Saya: Yes, of course, let’s go!

Kami berjalan ke luar hotel menuju wisma nusantara melewati Jalan Sabang. Masih sama-sama kikuk. Kevin sambil jalan sambil ngelipet lengan bajunya sampe ke siku, dan saya deg-degannya minta ampun. Sampai keheningan dipecahkan oleh Kevin.

Kevin: Well, so we’ll work together this whole mission. I’m glad I have you, but I hope this is okay with you, I mean my mission.

Saya: Ya, I’ll do my best and yes, everything is okay with me.

Kevin: have you read about my mission in our profile? As you see, I came from a hydrogen instalation company. My mission is not easy, so we have to work hard, will you help me?

Saya: Ya, I’ve even browsed about your company and I will fully help you.

Kevin: woa, great! Thankyou then. You know my company is bla bla bla...

Dan sepanjang sabang si Kevin menjelaskan mengenai perusahaan yang direpresentasikannya. Nggak tau karena gugup atau apa, kami berjalan sangat cepat, bahkan kami berhasil melewati teman-teman yang sudah duluan berangkat. Sampai di depan wisma nusantara, Kevin tetap jalan. Saya bingung dan ketinggalan. Keringat mengucur deras sebadan-badan saya (yaiyalah jalan sepanjang jalan sabang kayak robot dengan keramahan panas Jakarta jam 9 pagi bukan pilihan ibu bijak).

Saya: Kevin, wait, dont we stop here? Deloitte’s in this building, right? (menunjuk wisma nusantara).

Kevin: Oh, I forgot to tell you. This morning, will you accompany me to Pertamina? Yesterday I’ve made an appointment with someone there.

Saya: Oh, I see, okay, how do we get there?

Kevin: Yesterday I went there by my foot. Look! That’s pertamina, its not far from here (menunjuk tulisan ‘pertamina’ di atas gedung yang tinggi dan Cuma keliatan atepnya)

Saya: Okay, It must not be that far since we could see it from here.

Kami pun berjalan meninggalkan rombongan yang berbelok ke Wisma Nusantara. Saya mulai ngos-ngosan. Si kevin ini ya udah mah kakinya panjang, jalannya cepet pula. Saya mati-matian mengimbangi, efeknya, sepatu yang saya pakai menjadi tidak nyaman (sepatu baru pula). Kaki mulai perih, tapi saya nggak bilang. Saya nggak mau merusak hari pertama kami bekerja-sama. Ketika sampai di kompleks Monas, kami harus menyebrang. Di jalan itu mobil dan motor melaju kencang, saya berpikir untuk menunggu lampu merah baru menyeberang, sampai kemudian saya paniik karena tiba tiba si Kevin melenggang ke tengah jalan.

Saya: Hey! Kevin! Wait! You can not cross this road that way! It’s dangerous! (lari-lari ngejer sambil teriak-teriak panik)

Kevin: C’mon widaa, follow me! This is okay! I saw some Indonesian did this yesterday, c’mon, we’ll be okay (tetep nekat nyebrang)

Saya udah mau pingsan rasanya pas pada akhirnya ngikutin kevin nyebrang. Entah mungkin ada keajaiban, bahkan mobil-mobil yang kenceng pun ngasih jalan buat si Kevin, dan saya, ekornya.

Di terik siang yang membakar, kami berjalan melintasi Monas. Karena kompleks Monas yang ternyata sangat bueeesar, kami lama berjalan. Kevin juga mulai memperlambat jalannya. Kami mengobrol banyak, bukan soal pekerjaan, mulai mengenal satu sama lain. Kevin menanyakan mengenai background pendidikan saya, orang tua, dan cita-cita saya.

Kevin: if you’re majoring International Relation, then you want to be a diplomat, huh?

Saya: No, I’d never think that I could be a diplomat. I want to be a teacher

Kevin: wow, that’s great, someone like you wants to be a teacher

Saya: Thanks, but since I wasnt majoring educational background, I have less opportunity to be a teacher.

Kevin: If you want to be a teacher, then why did you take International relation major?

Pertanyaan yang bisa dengan mudah di jawab ke teman-teman sebangsa dan setanah air saya. Tapi gimana cara ngejelasin sama si Kevin ini tanpa membuat dia mispersepsi tentang budaya Indonesia?

Saya: Uhm.. I’d really love to.. but you know, to choose it, I have to consider manythings, and the most crucial things is my parents agreement. No, its not like my parents forced me to choose something I didn’t want to, but I have to consider everything for my own good

Kevin: I do understand it, I know and you should know too that your parents wants the best for you

Saya pun bisa bernapas legaa..

Saya: Yes, I believe that, Kev... I know I can do something so I could be a teacher. And you know what, my parents are now fully supporting me to be a teacher.

Kevin: Great! I know you can make it. You know, for me, you can be a better teacher since you’re not from educational background

Saya: Ha! How come? I know less about education.

Kevin: But you know more than a teacher knows, you learn different things from a teacher, an educational teacher, just don’t give up...

Kalimat terakhir Kevin benar-benar mencerahkan. Saya menjadi sangat bersemangat. Saya nggak peduli kaki yang mulai perih ampun-ampunan karena melangkah cepat di paving blocks Kompleks monas yang udah nggak rata.

Tepat di depan monumen, kami melihat anggota TNI yang sedang berlatih simulasi-something dengan perahu-perahu karet dan Kevin memandang dengan takjub *atau aneh.

Kevin: Isn’t it weird, they train something in this public place, should this be a state secret? And whats with that boat? Here’s even no water..

Saya Cuma jawab dengan senyum dan menggumam dalam hati, “selamat datang di Indonesia, bung!”

Dari monumen ke Pertamina, Kevin menceritakan sejarah negaranya, tentang awal mula kenapa mereka bisa terpecah menjadi dua kelompok, yang berbahasa Belanda, dan yang berbahasa Perancis. Saya mendengarkan sambil meringis, kaki saya pastilah sudah lecet-lecet. Satu kalimat menarik yang saya ingat,

Kevin: In Belgium, people who speak france will hate people who speak dutch, people who speak dutch will hate people who speak france, and me, I speak both, and people who speak both will hate each other

Saya: What? (kaget)

Kevin: Haha, no, I’m kidding (sambil ngedip)

Sampe sekarang aku nggak tau itu kalimat serius atau enggak.

Keluar dari Monas, kami harus berjalan lagi dan menyebrang. Sepanjang jalan, Kevin banyak diteriakin orang-orang, dari yang bagus-bagus macam “hello mister”, “mister you hensem”, sampe yang brutal macam “hey krezi”, kevin noleh, dan neriakin malah senyum manis. Kevin Cuma bales senyum.

Saya: How do you feel about that? Is that bothering? That people who shout at you everytime you walk here?

Kevin: No, not at all, I’m kinda feel like celebrities, hehe..

Saya: Oh, I see, so you enjoyed it, right?

Kevin: that’s not it, it’s juts I’m relieved they’re nice to me, and I’m glad in Indonesia I can see a lot of people around the street everyday. You can’t find it in Belgium. Everyday people are always busy bees, working indoor. And you know, I’ve been in a weirder situation. When I visited my Godmother’s family in Thailand, everyone was not only shouting at me, they were touching my skin, almost all of them, they kept touching my hair also, they thought that I’m really different with them, but that’s totally okay, I wasn’t irritated, they’re warm.

Dan setelah selesai cerita itu, kami tiba di Pertamina. Semua menyambut ramah saya.. err Kevin dan saya. Mbak-mbak di meja resepsionis menyambut dengan senyum sangat manis manis sekali. Saya terkesan. Kevin si empunya janji kemudian diberi ID visitor. Kami melenggang naik ke lantai si bapak yang memberi janji. Meeting berjalan, hyah.. nggak perlu saya ceritakan di sini, bukan hal yang menyenangkan untuk di kenang. Yah, cukup saya dan Kevin saja yang tau ya..

Yang saya ingat dari meeting itu adalah ketika si perwakilan pertamina itu sedang menerima telepon, Kevin menanyakan sesuatu pada saya, yang katanya anak perusahaan pertamina (saya lupa nama pastinya). Karena saya nggak tahu, saya bilang sama Kevin kalo saya mau coba googling dari hp saya. Kevin juga kemudian ngeluarin hp-nya. Dan jengjeeeng, kami sama-sama kaget. Hp kita sama bok! Persis! Nokia 3110C!

Kevin: is that you cellphone? Wow! It’s exactly the same type with mine!

Saya: Yes, this is mine, and what a surprise, we have the same cellphone, one used in Belgium, and one used here, wow!

Kevin: you know, my father gave this to me.

Saya: What a coincidence! Mine’s also from my father, kev!

Dan kami ketawa, kok isoo gitu ya. Hp saya itu hp jadul, tapi mau diganti sayangnya minta ampun. Itu dulu dikasih sama bapak, pas jamannya hp itu lagi in. Ceritanya waktu itu hp saya rusak, jadinya saya Cuma bisa beli hp yang monokrom kuning. Bapak yang sayang sama saya akhirnya ngasihin hp beliau ke saya, dan beliau pake hp kuning saya. Hp yang memorable dan ternyata sama kayak punya bule dari Belgia yang jadi partner kerja saya.

Selesai meeting, kami menuruni gedung, dan saya masih inget satu komentar kevin, yang membuat saya agak tercengang.

Kevin: Yesterday, I went here by myself. I didn’t know who I should met and where I should go, the receptionist send me to the right, to the left, then I got lost in a basement, and it’s full of mercy cars. I was surprised. Then I’ve visited some room and I realized that here, some people handling the same job, for example like in the receptionist desk before, there are 3 people included the security, but it’s a bit wasted since actually a person can handle it. In belgium, one person should handle more than one job for eficiency. It’s on the contrary of situation here.

Saya: (deep breath) Kev, you know, Indonesia is not Belgium. You see people on the street before? They’re jobless. Here we have a problem of people who hardly find a place to work. Too many people here, especially in Jakarta, so I’m glad that there’re a lot of vacancy for them, although it’s a waste, at least they have some works to do and someone will pay them everymonth. Dan si Kevin manggut-manggut.

Saya udah takut aja kalo pulangnya mesti jalan kaki lagi, sepatu saya bahkan udah terlihat menyedihkan, kaki saya sangat sakit. Akhirnya Kevin nyetop taksi karena ngeliat saya keringetan dan saya bilang saya haus, dia juga haus, nggak minum dari pas di Akmani. Di taksi kami kembali mengobrol, bertukar cerita. Tiba-tiba ada satu hewan, serangga kecil terbang-terbang di muka si Kevin yang langsung panik dan nepok si serangga dengan sadis sampai mati. RIP serangga apa pun itu.

Kevin: What was that? Is that dengue mosquito? (panik)

Saya: Ha?? No, it’s just a small-nothing insect, dengue mosquitos are bigger than it. Why are you so panic?

Kevin: You know, before coming here, we’re all got some treatment related to viruses that might attack while we’re here. And we’re also told that dengue mosquitos are one of the most dangerous here.

Saya pun menjelaskan tentang nyamuk demam berdarah, dan dilanjutkan dengan cerita lain yang sebenernya masih saya ingat, namun, terlalu panjang kalo ditulis di sini (hey! Ini juga sudah panjang wiit!).

masih bersambung loh, ada banyaak cerita :D

tons of unspoken words make you feel dizzy

tons of action you think of but you never did make you sick

you stay on a dream then you failed

you have your passion then you got blind

everybody rises, everybody falls

situation changes in a blink of an eye

do you always need any reasons to be sad?

do you always have any problems to be mad?

you see 'giving up' as a choice, seems like its the last option..

you remember everyone you love

it really hurts watching people making fun of them

and then you stand as a glass

you spend your day talking to the night

fake smiling to the sun

sometimes everything's just too way complicated

you wish you just had to run then reached the 'finish' line

but then you wake up in a lost place

should you believe in a miracle?

sorry for keeping a 'thorn'

i know how hard she's struggling

i listen to every sad story she told

and i'm amazed by everything she's still relieved of

for the unspoken words, for the things you wish you've done, for your lost passion, and for everyone you love, be strong...

for the greatest woman on earth, i know how you feel, yet you're still giving her best support and effort, someday i'll make them 'see' you again, i'll get the time erased your pain

god, i know you're there, i know you know what i want you to know

lend me your hand to walk through these all :)

Us and Our Belgian Friends (Pre-Part)

Dear all fellas..
akhirnya aku mampir ke blogspooooot!
ceritanya selama bulan maret kemaren aku main kantor-kantoran di jakarta, sebuuk jadi saya nggak sempet post apa-apa di sini.
Semua bermula dari pesan dari brussels yang aku terima Desember tahun lalu. Suaminya sepupuku, biasa aku panggil mastom, menawarkan kerjaan jadi interpreter buat bulan maret 2011. Ah masih lamaa, pikirku waktu itu. Lagian kan bisa aja batal, lagian emang aku bisa gitu dikasi tanggung jawab segede itu? *kebanyakan lagian.
Jadi waktu itu mastom ngabarin kalo akan ada 30an mahasiswa S2 dari belgia yang datang ke Indonesia dalam rangka Trade Mission, semacam mereka punya tugas akhir praktikum, riset ke negara berkembang, tahun ini Indonesia lah tujuannya. Mereka butuh 10 interpreter dan minta tolong mastom yang nyariin, dan kemudian mastom minta aku yang nyariin.
Seneng sih, waktu itu aku sampe loncat-loncat baca messagenya, tapii lebih ke deg-degan dan antara percaya nggak percaya, jadinya yauwis nggak terlalu mikirin.
Pas Janusari mastom pulang ke Indonesia, hal pertama yang ditanya adalah "gimana wit, udah dapet 10 orangnya?", aku sampe keselek rasanya ngunyah belgian chocolate oleh-oleh. Lalu panik, siapakah 9 orang sisanyaaa?. Clue dari mastom: "siapa aja yang bahasa inggrisnya bagus dan pembawaannya bagus" -_-'' nggak memudahkan sih.
Malemnya saya mantengin komputer berharap dapet ilham siapakah 9 orang ini. Anak HI mah bahasa inggrisnya insyaAllah bagus, soalnya pengaruh buku bacaan yang banyakan berbahasa inggris, tapi yaa, kalo ngomong kan nggak semuanya pernah kedengeran ngomong bahasa inggris, terus kalo yang pembawaannya bagus itu relatif. Makinlah saya fokus di depan monitor. Akhirnya setelah online YM, Facebook, stalking sana sini, ngandelin ingatan jaman ospek, seminar-seminar berbahasa inggris dan pergaulan selama 4 tahun, dan beberapa ada juga yang pas kebetulan nemu lagi online, terpilihlah 9 orang yang beruntung, Icca, Dina, Didi, Dityo, Amjad, Ajay, Aji, Bamby, sam Debo.

Ini photo dengan personel hampir lengkap, minus didi sayangnya..

Tanggal 5 maret adalah tanggal penting dalam proyek ini, aku sama mastom pertama kalinya bertemu langsung dengan mahasiswa-mahasiswa belgia itu. Mereka stay sebulan di hotel akmani, di belakang sarinah. Di parkiran saya udah pucet, lemes, keringet dingin, pokoknya udah lengkap nervousnya. Aku takutnya malu-maluin mastom, takut nggak ngerti mereka ngomong apa.
Dengan kaki agak goyah aku ngikutin mastom jalan ke lobby hotel akmani.
"Hello, nugroho, nice to meet you..."
"Hi, Jerina, nice to meet you too... how's indonesia, bla bla bla..."
tiba-tiba kami bertemu dengan sekitar 6 bule, mereka menyapa mastom, tanya-tanya kabar, dan selanjutnya semua macam dengungan buat saya, saya terlalu guguuup sampai ada tangan menjulur di depan perut saya, itu pastinya bukan tangan monster, soalnya abis itu ada yang ngomong, "Hi, so you're wida rite? its really nice to finally meet you here, I heard about you from nugroho (sweetsmile)", saya gelagapan nyambut tangan yang ternyata punya Jerina, "em.. em.. me too, its.......", belum selesai saya ngejawab jerina ada tangan-tangan lain, dan ada suara-suara "Hi, wida, I'm cedric, nice to meet you..", "Hello wida, I'm Jan, nice to meet you.." dan banyak suara-suara lain macam mendengung. PLAK! saya tepok jidat (tapi cm dalam bayangan), itu bukan dengungan wiiwiiit, itu bule-bulenya ngomong pake logat belanda sama perancis! begitu otak sadar, langsunglah semua sistem beradaptasi, bekerjasama menangkap setiap omongan mereka. Awalnya seperti main tennis dengan banyak bola yang nggak berhenti dilemparin ke kita, tapi alhamdulilah kebegoan saya hanya bertahan sekitar 15 menit awal pas haha hihi kenalan dan basa basi. Setelah itu saya bisa lebih rileks dan mulai bisa ngobrol normal sama mereka, kami ngomongin masalah tugas-tugas dan pembagian interpreter yang 10 orang dengan mahasiswa yang jumlahnya 19 orang. Nggak sampe sejam meeting itu beres. Kami janjian sorenya kumpul dengan semua interpreter di KFC Cikini, terus bule-bule ini ditawarin sama mastom, kali aja mau ikut.
mastom: "well, if you have time, please join us, all the interpreter will come"
Jerina: "Wow! thats good idea, some of us have nothing to do this afternoon, we might come. Please write the address here (ngasih kertas sama pulpen)
Mastom kemudian nulisin alamatnya KFC Cikini
Jerina: "er.. what is KFC actually?"
Mastom: "its kentucky fried chicken, a fastfood restaurant"
Tiba-tiba mereka langsung pasang muka kaget.
Jerina: "So, you'll have a meeting in a fastfood restaurant? you sure?"
Mastom: "Yes, its common here, besides the place is cozy too"
Bule-bule itu ngangguk-ngangguk tapi masih muka bingung.
Saya keluar akmani dengan wajah cerah ngerasa lebih PD. Sepanjang jalan ke KFC, mastom menjelaskan kenapa mereka bingung. Di Brussels, yang namanya restoran fastfood itu pintunya banyak, yang makan di sana juga orang yang emang buru-buru, mau kerja atau apalah yang butuh cepet-cepet, nggak kayak di indonesia, KFC buat rapat, buat nongkrong, hehe..
Akhirnya kami kumpul di KFC, mahasiswa belgia yang dateng bertambah beberapa orang. Kami mengobrol kenalan haha hihi. Hari pertama itu, mereka masih kaku, bgitu pun kami.
Setelah melalui proses panjang, maka diputuskanlah saya akan bekerja dengan Kevin dan Jerina.
Bersambung...

ps: pas saya baca ulang, saya agak keselek karena saya nggak konsisten pake saya pake aku, tapi udah males ngganti, saya lebih suka pake aku sebenernya, tapi yasudahlah...