husshhh...

a year with you...

2011-04-17T09:44:00.005+07:00

I was nobody till i treasured this place I called a 'class'. Who would've been anticipated that would be a stranger that wasn't originated from your class, sat on the very first row of seats on the his first day of an extent school year and get his ass kicked out from the chair two days after (that actually made out a history throughout a year)? no one even would take a guess.

placed as the only returnee in the class brings the whole memory back of being the only exchange student in Annapolis High. actually knowing people and putting them into friends list slowly one by one, a lot of awkward moments of upper-lowerclassmen kinda relationship at first, some unexpected recognition from teachers that highlighted 'you returned, you gotta be better than everybody else' type of message, were some of the grueling phases. Thank God, however, I climbed out of the serious crap really quick, quicker than I've ever pictured in mind when I was in my tenure in the USA. 'Tis an exuberance blessing all about. Alhamdulillah.

Here's where the light is...

Best of luck, pals!

¿Qué tal?

2011-04-15T10:20:00.009+07:00

I'm good, waiting for my three days to end and enjoying my three-years-summed-up-in-four-days exam. As Glee casts say, my good wasn't that good enough once the lovely NYU Abu Dhabi sent me a 'I'm sorry' letter back at the beginning of March. Suddenly March has gone darkish grey ever since. I had only few opions left at the moment, let the unlucky one go and start new season of college hunting or hold myself to the restrains of seeing any possibilities there are in front me. Well, then I chose, apparently, what is beneficial which was keeping my feet moving forward.

At this exact moment, I'm aiming for two Japanese colleges and one of the best local colleges where I headed to for study. I'm really into mentioning yet any of those colleges because I do believe that there is something superstitious-related would actually come if I leak it just now. Yet, I hope one of them (or the three of them, perhaps) will work out for their very best.

Final exam is just in upcoming three days. Nothing special obviously, because what I'm really looking forward right now is just being a high school graduate and getting into college. so, I better be off really quick from here before this procrastination's gotten really worse. All in all, what I need right now is little wish for me to some luck for at least a month ahead. I'll guarantee, when I get back here, I'll show you some pleasant news.

Ciao!

before I land on another corner of continent

2011-02-02T13:05:00.014+07:00

Uh, umm...okay. Check!

So today, I took a day off. I slightly am ill for heavy cold. Slowly cured by the way. But, no this is not my malady I intend to scribble here. For all of the mateys, don't be surprised! I am going to Abu Dhabi tomorrow. Family vacation? No. Then...what? Long story yet I'll make short for you to read.

I applied for one college called New York University of Abu Dhabi last month. Hmm... I'd been knowing this college beforehand and I was so pumped to do the admission for this college yet procrastinations subdue myself all the way till the day of deadline. It's all good though. I was officially verified as an applicant.

It was exactly three minutes after my school bell rang that I had an email notification popped out on my berry. I thought it'd be another spam that haunted my mailbox almost every goddamn day. I looked on the email's subject diligently and it said something about 'NYU Abu Dhabi Candidate Weekend'. I shook myself up and tried to read an email that said just the same like below :

Dear Arief,

I am delighted to formally invite you to take part in the NYU Abu Dhabi Candidate Weekend that will be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from February 3 through February 6, 2011.

You have been selected because of your strong academic credentials and your global outlook. Through Candidate Weekend, we hope to learn more about your qualifications and your interest in NYU Abu Dhabi, while you explore all that NYU Abu Dhabi has to offer.

During your visit, you will have the opportunity to spend time with NYU Abu Dhabi Vice Chancellor Alfred H. Bloom, New York University President John Sexton, and current NYU Abu Dhabi students. You will get to know fellow prospective students and be exposed to NYU Abu Dhabi’s signature honors curriculum by participating in sample classes and meeting members of our outstanding faculty. There will also be ample opportunity during the weekend for you to have fun and experience the vibrancy of the local community...

I can't stop putting grin on my face all day. I know that it doesn't mean I'm admitted to this university. Still, who can resist being so happy when you get the chance to 'escape' from the grueling phase as twelfth grader? Lol, that's not my main intention anyway. But, yeah I love that idea.

See you soon, eh?
(taken from : sciencereligionnews.blogspot.com)

I will depart tomorrow. Still have that mixed feeling of nervous, excited, happy and whatnot. Hopefully this feeling drives me to the right place. FYI, I'll be meeting with 80 or so other students from every part of the world. I can't wait to meet each one of them. I promise, I'll be hitting you guys about what it's like in Abu Dhabi and perhaps sharing what I've got during the candidate weekend.

Thus, I kindly request for the prayers from you guys. May this journey would be my great start for me and in the future (nearest one), I'll come back there carrying mightier luggage to spend my next 4 years over there. Wish me the very best luck, k?!

:))
(taken from : nytimes.com)

Jack Byrnes remix

2011-01-09T12:54:00.002+07:00

If you have ever watched Little Focker, you might see this remix just before/at the credit title. I found this pretty snazzy to laugh about. Stare this one out!

You guys shoulda watched the whole movie

*roll my butt off* De Niro and Ben Stiller are the starz!

"Byrnes....Jack byrnes....Jack byrnes.... My father in-law!"

Edge of 2010

2011-01-02T10:11:00.010+07:00

Before I start my post, I'd like to congratulate everybody who made it till today, year 2011 has been officially here since a day ago. Not much different. I've decided not to make any resolutions this year. I'll always make mine everyday, so a year-long resolution wouldn't do any good.

Referring to the title of this current post, Imma tell you what I did on the year end holiday. Words are so boring, pictures are not. So I made some collage (or montage?) of pictures. Why still wait?

AFS Christmas Dinner and 'Nobar' AFF Final League (12/26)

What I did there?

Decorating the place. That's hell lot of work. We finally made a good-looking-Christmas-tree-after-a-tornado-hit.
Exchanging gift. I got a green notebook in return of my Detroit hat. I sensed unworthiness at that moment.
We watched an awful football match between Indonesia-Malaysia. I'm proud, but I can't help when my heart sunk THREE times when Malaysian scored goals. I was hoped at the moment we could catch up the score and secure the cup for the very first time.

XV Karaoke Session

Same question asked. I miss these bithces like for freaking real. Initially, they all made the plans to spend NYE together somewhere downtown, but then I insisted them to make another plan since I couldn't make it for NYE. My wish granted. Ooyeah. As seen on the picture, we spent two hours sang couple songs that reminded us of almost everything we've been through (?) Then , we continued to watch the second leg of AFF Final Match. We lost......with dignity though. Anyway, we also watched couple movies and made it to a sleepover. It was elated after all.

New Years Eve with my International Family

"Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to" ~Bill Vaughn

I spent my NYE with my International fam. We had a karaoke time at the PM and we spent a night at Willy's crib. It wasn't that bad, spending your very last second ofthe year at suburb. We set a bonfire, made s'mores, lit the fireworks (one of them almost killed us, literally) and watched a movie. Too bad, couple friends we expected to come couldn't make it. But 'sall good.

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, let me say it again :

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." ~Edith 'Lovejoy' Pierce

menutup tahun

2010-12-28T13:13:00.002+07:00

Untuk menutup tahun ini, tiba-tiba saya teringat sama blog yang saya dan teman-teman sejawat di AFS buat setahun yang lalu. Isinya kurang lebih sharing pengalaman dari keluarga di sana sampe curhatan. Sayang, maintenance kita kurang banget buat ngerawat blognya jadi postnya berhenti sekitar bulan April.

Awal tujuan kita sih sebenernya pure pengalaman aja, karena kan gak semua yang ikut program punya blog untuk cerita-cerita. Terlebih sih, kita promosi kecil-kecilan biar banyak yang termotivasi untuk ikut program AFS. Link untuk blognya : klik disini

Check them out! Witnessed our written memories.

leave it untitled

2010-12-21T20:07:00.006+07:00

Sesuai judulnya, saya biarkan post kali ini tanpa judul. Titling makes use some energy that I can't afford right now. So leave it just the way it is.

Semester pertama di tahun keempat saya di SMA sudah menemukan ujungnya, tepatnya seminggu yang lalu. Bisa dibilang performa saya di bidang akademis pada semester ini cenderung menurun. Tentu saya lelah beralasan mengenai perjalanan saya di tahun keempat yang sulit karena adanya gap dari tahun sebelumnya. Tapi saya punya determinasi kuat untuk berubah. Yes, I am eager to change, please somebody read this carefully that I solemnly swear to change my way of doing things, a lot of them. Full stop.

Menutup semester ini saya sedikit merenung tentang beberapa hal, terutama masalah tujuan saya di penghujung tahun ajaran. Pertanyaannya sederhana tapi menggelitik, “Saya mau ke mana?”. Opsi sudah bertebaran di mana-mana. Mereka berbaris membuat saf berhadapan dengan saya. Tapi menentukan pilihan tak semudah melempar telunjuk di jendela toko yang menjajakan barang dagangan. Ada yang saya pertaruhkan di sini. Masa depan.

Pernah terlintas di pikiran saya untuk memantapkan langkah menuju bidang kedokteran. Dalam beberapa bulan, saya menimbang lagi lebih jauh keputusan ini dan saya dengan lantang bersuara tidak. Seiring dengan keputusan itu, tentu harus ada pilihan lain. Lagi, saya membuka ruang untuk berpikir dan akhirnya pilihan merujuk kepada satu hal : take a step to go abroad.

Sampai titik ini, saya masih berusaha keras untuk mencapai keinginan ini. Doain aja semoga pilihan-pilihan yang sekiranya tadi dan saat ini berbaris bisa saya pilah dan pada akhirnya, gerbang kampus apapun nanti dapat tersenyum menyambut saya.

definitely miss these days

2010-12-07T15:12:00.002+07:00

it's been awhile yet I know time flew so fast, but let me recall some good memories cause indeed they were good that made me the way who I am now :)

try to make a comeback

2010-12-01T14:27:00.004+07:00

So yeah, again

Saya lalai. Harusnya menjadi wordsmith itu bukan sebagai kewajiban tapi sebagai ketertarikan. Entah kenapa selama berbulan-bulan ini saya cenderung untuk meninggalkan beberapa hal yang saya anggap 'kurang' perlu. Soon, regret ate me alone, alive. Saya menyesal sudah membiarkan ruangan ini jadi berdebu dan dijangkit jaring laba-laba. Saya gak mau sesumbar lagi bakal ini itu, mau posting tiap periode tertentu. Guess I'll be happy with just letting this nifty occasional journal in its flow, ayt?

Kalo ditanya apa kabar saya hari ini, jawabannya masih sama. Jadi siswa SMA lagi. Getting back behind the desk and do so much tasks and subjects all the time, 'till we graduate for sure. Saya gak menyesal kok, cuma kadang-kadang selentingan pikiran kecil suka bikin hati mandek plus kecewa ngeliat used-to-be friend of mine udah jadi mahasiswa, pake baju bebas ke sekolah -kampus, red- etc etc etc. Huh, semuanya emang pahit kalo gak ada yang namanya syukur.

Sekarang saya sedang berjuang buat ujian akhir semester. Berhubung ini ujian semester terakhir sebelum saya perang di ranah pertempuran, jadi ha-rus-nya saya lagi belajar, tapi kenyataannya jari-jari saya gak berhenti loncat-loncat di keyboard dan nerjemahin kode-kode kecil ini ke blog. Nevertheless, welcome here a lovely procrastinator.

Udah ah daripada makin ngelantur, untuk selanjutnya doakan aja supaya blog ini masih bisa keurus dan bisa disapu, dipel dan make-up sesering mungkin.

Peace out, folks!

Reborn Message

2010-09-09T10:39:00.002+07:00

So, this is it. Saya kembali ke Jakarta dan sudah berada disini sekitar ummm... Dua bulan. It's been a long time. Not. Karena saya punya 17 tahun ke belakang yang sebagian saya perjuangkan dan sebagian lagi...saya acuhkan, seperti blog ini.

Saya berjanji untuk rajin nge-blog lagi. Mungkin kelihatannya lucu, baru dua bulan absen dari kegiatan menulis di blog, ujug-ujug dateng dengan semangat berkobar dan yang lebih aneh lagi, saya mencoba menggunakan bahasa Indonesia yang baik dan benar diselingi bumbu bahasa Inggris. Everybody's noticing at all?

Yeah, hardly trying I to make this blog upgraded into the next step. Not to mention what I've already done was just nothing. But hey don't be satisfy enough with what you've got, be like Apple that has never stop making them sophisticated gadgets (damn I'm drooling for their brand new iTouch).

Well anyway....it is what it is :) my new style of writing was born. Then soon I'll be getting some spices to touch my blog up. See you soon with a lot of catch ups.

Sent from my BlackBerry®
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Senior Graduation

2010-06-13T01:51:00.032+07:00

As I already put on the previous post in a little inset about graduation and senior all night party. Here it was, the longest night I've ever had in my high school career.

It was the tenth of this month (June), ten o'clock in the morning when we, the Seniors, had a practice for our graduation. Yeah, that is our final year in our public school career and school as the home for us to gain any knowledge, formulas and also "drama", celebrated our final moment with having such a wonderful graduation. That was pretty much what our principal told us three weeks prior to the Seniors to encourage us to get so much things and works done.

Walking on the stage, rehearse the march in and out, and the ceremony itself were pretty much pictured what we've been doing in the Allen Park Municipal Building to prepare us for the a beginning of a new journey that will start in about seven hours. The rehearsal went for two hours, with the whole practice from the beginning of ceremony until the end of it. Thank God, the video presentation about our four years journey (mine was a year) kept us entertained in the end of the rehearsal.

Five o'clock in the afternoon, my exchangee friends came from Ohio to attend my graduation yet they coming earlier to hang out a little bit at my house and went to the place where the graduation held. Pronto, I was changed in another form of me. Yeah I was covered by white shirt + black tie and black pants, a requirement if you willing to be graduated. Then I was packed my cap and gown in my drawstring bag. All my bag is packed, I'm ready to walk on the stage. Woohoo.

Those blue and gold sets of cap and gown colored every corner of the building when our name be called to fetch our "fake" folder of diplomas. My family and I were split, they were going to the front of the building while I went for my crowd and clique at the back (side actually) of the building. Oh the ceremony went very delicious and way very legit with three speeches from the valedictorian, which is a who get the highest cumulative grades on four years. Then there was salutatorian, which is the second highest GPA holders among other graduates. Those were Justis Cummins and Alicia Sevon. There was another speech also from our class president, Chelsea von Pagels. The rest of the speeches from these guys were hell boring.

Every touching speech always said our greatest-hearted buddy who already left us in this harsh world to face the Owner of this Universe. He is James Bartle, if you wanna know who he was, simply click over here. I always remember him with his great smile in front me every school day on MP2 until the unexpected Sunday night which just used up our days in grief and deep tears afterward. He was supposed to celebrate this breath-taking moment with us, ya he was supposed to.

Speeches done and the time for walking on the stage, it's not a problem if you're not a model, singer, actor, or anything that appertain to act-staging professions. Diploma on right hand, the other pair shook with our principal's and superintendent's. Almost half an hour ended with diploma handing and with little speech from Mr. Scott, our principal, the tassel that hung on our cap could be officially moved to the left side. How relieve!

As we marched out from the building, crowd bursts into laughter, tears, excitements, smiles and even something that you think it never showed until this 'moment'. Flashes showering among us and I don't know for how many yotabytes used up for pictured this event.

John Tamas lifted me up :o

At last, I thanked Annapolis High School for the hospitality for this entire year, or even less. This place witnessed my journey from being a timid lonely student, to be at least stand out among the crowd for little message so-called 'peace' within warm company from teachers, beloved friends and everybody that I couldn't really mention one by one. Though it never crossed my mind at all, I should say. Farewell, we finally made it :)

La Beau Family with the brand new Grad

My exchangee buddies

Justis, I and Chelsea vP lifted me up as well

Annapolis should proud having us this year :p

Duh-rama

2010-06-11T03:42:00.011+07:00

We are the bosses

Hey, I just found myself really obliged to update my drama thingy (I mean, not "drama") goes, so you'll stop thinking that the drama would last forever. Seriously, it was from a month ago approximately, way before my graduation party was held. As I posted here that I was performed the play two days in a row (5/14-15). So umm.. after couple days of another "drama" with our director and set people against the actors, we stayed cool and try to build a better relationship between each other in order to make the play a real success.

I know my part wasn't that long, probably just 15 minutes or so upon stage, but people said I was a good actor actually. I was really flattered and glad because they still appreciate my deeds thought it wasn't that big. Then, after second day performance (5/15) we went Applebees to celebrate our play. It's gonna be sad, because the Seniors actors and crew would be leaving Annapolis HS including me and hopefully they (Seniors) can still help the play in the future. For me, I just wish.

LOL

In regards to the Seniors that would leaving the Annapolis Drama Club, the officer made the cast party to for us, seniors. Actually that was a lot of fun, not to mention in the end we ended up having a little fight between two actors, but actually we had fun with improvisations, ate bunch of foods (Jessica made me and Kortnie tanned sandwiches, because we're the only two colored participants. LOL). I always had a good time with my drama club. I wish I can pack them in my suitcases and bring 'em home so they can still talk and play with me.

Those are need to be packed on my suitcase

*Tonight is my graduation. This is just overwhelmingly awesome because it would be followed by Senior All Night Party, though I know it would be our last event ever. Hey no goodbyes allow whatsoever!*

Graduation Party

2010-06-11T01:29:00.027+07:00

Sebenernya ini udah lebih dari dua minggu yang lalu pengen di update di blog, but seriously PARDON MY LAZY BUTT NOWADAYS! I don't know where do I get this symptom anyway, so keep it shut and don't bring it up unless I said so. So, kronologi graduation party dimulai kira-kira bulan April, perjalanan pulang dari Banana Reeves ke rumah (I'm gonna post about Banana Reeves too, maybe later). Di Amerika, yang namanya graduation itu adalah hal yang sifatnya gede-gedean, dan harus dirayain besar-besaran juga.

Lalu hostparents gue merencanakan graduation party sebelum bulan Juni. Kenapa? Alasan pertama karena udah summer, most of Americans will go at least for couple days to go somewhere to fill their summer break. Yang kedua, habis wisuda (6/10) pasti semua orang bakal ngadain hal yang serupa -graduation party- dan banyak kemungkinan beberapa dari mereka punya hari dan jam party yang sama. Maka dari itu kita buatnya sebelum bulan Juni untuk menghindari hal-hal yang sangat tidak diinginkan.

Sekitar seminggu gue pribadi mikir tanggal berapa yang pas buat grad party, sampai akhirnya gue dan hostdad gue menentukan kalo tanggal 22 Mei, mempertimbangkan kalu seminggu setelahnya 29 Mei bakal ada Memorial Day yaitu libur panjang dari Jum'at-Senin yang kemungkinan bakal sedikit tamu yang dateng. Well yeah, at first I felt uncomfortable with the date because that was still too early to having a graduation party since I'll get out from school two weeks afterward and graduate a week after we get out.

Setelah tanggal dipersiapkan, gue buat maneuver dengan buat invitation di facebook. Tentu aja. gue yang pertama buat di facebook di antara anak-anak lain di AHS. Untuk formal invitationnya gue buat di kelas printing dan ini kebetulan banget. Jadi project kita waktu itu greeting cards, tapi kata Mr. Kvamme gak apa-apa kalo seniors buat grad party invitation. Great project in decent amount of time. gue buat sekitar 100 undangan dan kira-kira disebar ke sekitar 70an orang mulai dari keluarga, temen dan guru-guru.

Snapshot of my Grad Party's page on world's biggest social network

Actual invitation that I made in Printing Class :)

Hari yang ditunggu-tunggu dateng. My graduation party is about to roll, though I don't have my cap and gown yet or even my diploma either. Alhamdulillah tamu yang dateng lumayan banyak dan tergolong sangat banyak mulai dari temen-temen gue, Indonesian friends nya hostmom gue, my wholly hostfamily, tapi sayang gak ada guru yang dateng kemaren, tapi itu gak mengurangi hecticnya party kemaren.

Gue sempet dikerjain DUA KALI, yang pertama pas lagi ngobrol sama temen-temen gue, tiba-tiba hostbro gue sama temennya nyemongin muka gue pake kue. Yang kedua, ini sih udah kerasa banget sama gue, karena awalnya randomly ada temen gue minjem kamera gue, hostmom gue minta iPod gue dan hostbro gue minta hape gue. Gue ada firasat ga enak tuh. Eh terus ketahuan di bawah meja ada dua ember air. Akhirnya gue dengan rela, ngasih barang-barang itu dan byurrrrr....... I was wet like a hippo. But that was really cute slash annoying. haha.

1st Prank

2nd Prank with two buckets of water

Partynya dimulai jam dua siang dan berakhir jam sebelas malem. Semuanya sesuai dengan rencana yang ada. Ada performance dari Joe dan Chris, dua kawan Amerika saya yang piawai bernyanyi. Hehe. Mereka nyanyi Weightless - ATL, Nine in The Afternoon - P!ATD dan Dear Maria Count Me in - ATL. Semua lagunya adalah pesenan dari gue. Alhamdulillah dapet banyak kartu ucapan dan hadiah dan ummm.... dollar. Sebenernya kartu ucapannya mau gue foto, tapi udah masuk koper dan gue gak mau ngerombak koper gue lagi buat nyari kartu-kartu ucapan itu. Haha. I put some pictures so that I hope your gonna enjoy :)

Those were us

My American fam

My drama family :)

Indonesians

Tableful of presents. greeting cards and slide show

Joe and Chris sang for me.

Seconds do matter

2010-06-04T21:26:00.038+07:00

Hey, gue kembali dari panjangnya rutinitas di sini. Can't you see this is the last month that I have left? Well, you may understand my circumstance that I'm in right now. Gue gak bakal ngitung berapa hari lagi gue akan berada disini, karena worthless kalo ngitung hari tanpa seize the sconds you make here. Who knows it would be my last time ever been to USA.

Sekolah gue officially bubar tanggal 3 Juni kemarin dan dilanjutin prom malemnya. Promnya, too good to be poured into words. Tapi intinya sehari semalem kita menari dan bersenang-senang merayakan kebebasan kita dari sekolah. Well, I personally don't celebrate it as I suppose to be, hey dudes I have to redo my senior back home! But anyway, I please for myself and my friends as well. Congratulation to make it through these four years guys, you deserve what you've struggled with. You guys'll be missed ;')) ANYWAY.........

Karena udah lama gak catch up sama blog gue apa aja yang udah gue lakukan dari sekitar 4 minggu yang lalu, approx. sebulan yang lalu. Here's the recap, only for wonderers :

1. Chicago-Indiana Trip

Finally, I went to one of the greatest downtowns in USA, Chicago *wink*. That was alright though the crappy weather was chasing us on the day we explored the city. Downtownnya keren banget, kita explore ke millenium yang terkenal dengan Big Beannya -monumen besar dari besi/kromium/aluminum/apalah yang bentuknya kayak kacang-, terus ke Navy Pier walaupun kita gak masuk dan cuma keliling-keliling aja. Alhamdulillah jadi pas pulang gak bakal ngeces gara-gara gak kesampean ke Chicago.

It reminds me of the magnificent Jakarta. I think that's close. LOL

Tapi tuh yang fatal dari Chicago, PARKIRANNYA, gak nanggung-nanggung $25 setiap kali parkir. Jadi daripada gue sekeluarga ngabisin duit di parking lot, mendingan kita jalan di sekitar Michigan Avenue. Satu hal lagi sih sebenernya yang ngeganjel dalam perjalanan kita ke Chicago yaitu mahluk putih yang suka menggonggong milik hostfam gue, ya, anjing kami, Jose/Jozie/"whatever you call him". Rata-rata taman atau tempat khusus disini gak menerima anjing, apalagi di Millenium Park lagi ada festival waktu itu. Jadinya hostparents gue tuker giliran buat jagain anjing dan sisanya hunting tempat dan foto-foto.

I love Jozie, but he sometimes drives us nuts

@ Millenium Park

The windy city breezes me out!

Besoknya kita pulang dari Chicago setelah menikmati indahnya downtown hari sebelumnya. Terus kita buat rencana mendadak buat ke dunes/pasir putihnya Indiana, masih tetep di pinggir Lake Michigan. Setelah nyasar akhirnya kita sampe di Indiana Dunes.

When I can't stand still, I jump. Common pose.

Little retard tried to explain something for you

2. Grad Party

Well, I will tell you guys later about this event. That was ecstatic, though I’ll describe it in details on next post.

3. Last days at school

Hari hari terakhir di sekolah cukup asik. Rangkaiannya dimulai last pep rally buat Seniors, kita semua gandengan masuk ke gym, sambil lari. Well, gue jadi inget pas masih jadi calon anggota / anggota PK saat haru bayar seri dengan lari gandeng. Both were sweet memories with their own laughs and bruises :)

Beberapa hari setelahnya, Seniors melakukan final exam. Kita (seniors) diberi waktu final exam lebih cepat dari underclassmen, because we’re gonna get out of there earlier obviously. Jujur aja, di final exam gue tidak merasa akan mendapat nilai bagus, kecuali di math class. Untuk kebanyakan mata pelajaran selain math, gue tidak belajar. But I glanced on some papers once at least, though I wasn’t really that focused on it, but hey I try my very best!

Anyway final examnya dibagi jadi tiga hari. Untuk 6^th Hour, finalnya hari Selasa, (6/1). Buat 5^th dan 4^th Hour, finalnya Rabu (6/2) dan 1^st-2^nd Hour Final hari Kamis (6/3). Kenapa gak ada 3^rd? 3^rd gue adalah MP2, alias kelas senang-senang. Hari terakhir MP2 kita potong kue dan merayakan keluarnya kami dari Annapolis High School. Ms. Gratton-Clark, guru MP2 kita, ngasih masing-masing anak 2 GB flashdisk. Simply because she wants everybody to use it for college, saving their files and stuffs. How sweet of her! sama 4 Hour? Iyap, 3

The frosting was good.

Malemnya Ms. Gratton-Clark ngadain dinner di Mongolian Grill. That was a great delicacy for us. Kita membahas banyak hal mulai dari kejadian-kejadian dari 4 tahun yang lalu saat mereka (not me) masih freshman sampe wisuda. Jujur gue akan rindu sama MP2 class. Karena disana kita gak perlu mikir ruwet-ruwet, karena kita emang ga belajar yang serius. Kita lebih banyak sosialisasi di sana dan kadang-kadang di formal day kita belajar table manner, cara mengikat dasi (haha), nulis cek dan segala hal yang gak akan kita dapet di kelas lain. Umm… I already miss it.

Our MP2 Dinner

Ms. Clark's MP2 Class of 2006-2010

3. Prom

Ya…ya…ya… ini mungkin klimaksnya perjalanan murid-murid Annapolis High School selama empat tahun ke belakang, buat gue sih setahun ke belakang. Sharp tuxes, pretty dresses, shutters clicking, flashes blazing, luxury limousine, and dance ‘till drop. Mungkin itu yang bias gue gambarin dari promnya Annpolis High School. At last, I had no date, though it was a blast and a bless at the same time because I had big opportunity to dance with everybody with no exception. Haha. See the picture, tell whadya think!

Yeay, that guy was me!

Mikol, Jessica and I

The guys, oh Mikey (the very right one)!

This is the best one!

Put in Bay Trip

2010-05-06T05:44:00.038+07:00

Hari minggu dua minggu yang lalu (susah amet), semua anak ACES di cluster gue ngadain acara farewell trip di Put in Bay Island, Ohio. Minggu pagi gue ke rumah Val dan kita berangkat dari sana kurang lebih jam 10 pagi. Gue numpang keluarganya Jason buat ke sana karena hostfamily gabisa ikut.

Perjalanan dari rumah Val ke Put in Bay cuma 45 menit. Abis ngitung orang yang dateng, Val beli tiketnya, karena harus pas soalnya kita bakalan naik feri buat ke pulaunya, yeah literally that's Put in Bay Island, ISLAND! Rombongan dibagi jadi dua kloter buat naik feri, karena cluster di bawah Jeff dateng juga, jadinya makin rame. Perjalanan dari feri ke pulaunya gak nyampe 15 menit. Hari itu sebenernya mendung sih, tipikal spring disini. Shower everywhere, water spill there.

view from the deck

Rasanya super sekali turun dari feri, dan untung aja gue lagi gak mabok laut waktu itu. Nah ini bagian yang paling gue gemari, naik golf cart. Jadinya ceritanya, di pulau ini, transportasi yang umum itu : mobil, golf cart dan sepeda. Karena pulaunya kecil banget, jadinya lebih banyak penduduknya naik golf cart dan rata-rata masing-masing rumah punya at least satu golf cart. How sweet! Anyway, kelompok golf cart gue dapet 8 seated cart, yang artinya bisa muat 8 orang. Itu ukuran terbesar yang ada. Yang nyupirin kita namanya Sara, chaperone dari Rossford HS.

Basically, we were just having a round trip, which is literally ROUND! Kenapa? sekali lagi ini pulau kecil dan ke mana-mana pasti ke situ lagi nongolnya. Put in Bay menurut gue convenient sih, ada downtown, walaupun seiprit, terus menaranya yang katanya kalo kita bisa naik ke puncak bisa ngeliat Kanada dari situ. Tapi pas gue kesana lagi gak ada reenactment dan menaranya ditutup. Sebenernya penasaran liat isinya sih karena dibangunnya dari tahun 1912.

in front of the tower

Siangnya kita lunch di Frosty Pizza di downtown Put in Bay. Pizzanya masyaAllah enak!,crustnya tipis banget dan crunchy. Lalu Val ngasih kita sertifikat yang menyatakan bahwa kita lulus sebagai ACES exchange student. Banyak yang berubah sih sebenernya sejak gue ikut pertukaran pelajar ini. Pertama, gue jauh lebih toleran, karena gue tinggal sama keluarga baru, dapet temen baru dan lingkungan yang super brand new. Kedua, try to stand up in a crowd when you have and suppose to, karena gak selamanya orang akan ngerti apa yang kita mau dan kita maksud, jadi intinya sih sebenernya speak up, tapi lebih asertif bukan agresif. Banyak lagi sebenernya hal-hal yang sudah gue dapet, mungkin gak berubah tapi improved.

the Asians after eating pizzas

tower

random old cars we saw

Yup, trip kemarin sebenernya jadi refleksi apa yang udah gue lakukan 10 bulan terakhir ini. Everything turned out in one phrase, endlessly excitement. I will end up with a sentence that called, I love this country as much as I love my homecountry, nothing can compare both of 'em.

Printing Class

2010-05-02T05:14:00.015+07:00

In this remaining trimester, I was engaging printing class as my 4th hour. As you guys noticed, in printing we always made something that obviously can be printed such, photograph, letterhead, memo pad, business card, greeting card, etc. Well currently I'm making greeting card, yet since I don't have something to be greet for somebody else, I'm just making graduation party invitations for myself which is more practical.

For the last four weeks, we already been made three printing products, e.g. letterheads, memo pads and business cards, plus that one I'm currently making. Frankly, I'm freaking excited once I got my products printed, not just because I know how to make it, but it much more because those were originally made by me. Well yeah, I'm so obnoxiously proud of myself for this reason. Pardon me!

So here's my printing products I've been made so far :

Letterheads with fake address and phone #,
so nobody can track me anyway :p

The memo pads, one for school's memo pad,
and another for soon-I-wish my travel agency's memo pad

The business cards that I guess the address and
cell phone # will no longer available by the beginning of July :'(

I send big happiness and congratulations for those my buddies who pass the national exam back home. Though I heard a whisper said some of guys didn't pass it (yet). Well you guys soon to be passed I believe. God never sleep for who doesn't know that. My thoughts and prays always be with you.

Annapolis High School Play

2010-05-01T22:45:00.015+07:00

As I told you in the advance post about my play thingy. Here is what I got!

Bulan lalu, atau mungkin bulan sebelumnya, gue ikutan audisi buat ikutan drama sekolah. Kalo dibilang sih gue gak jelek-jelek amat aktingnya, tapi pas di formulir gue tulis kegiatan apa yang mungkin di antisipasi dan konflik sama latihan drama, karena latihan dramanya bakal setiap hari pas pulang sekolah. Karena waktu itu gue bakal ikut tryout buat baseball jadi gue tulis aja baseball practice. Dua hari setelahnya langsung pengumuman. Ternyata nama gue gak ada di jajaran aktor. Nama gue ditulis di bagian property.

Di minggu yang sama gue ikutan tryout baseball. It wasn't smooth as I guessed in advance. I can't help the endurance built there. Bukan karena alasan itu aja sih sebenernya, karena tyrout baseballnya dua hari, hari keduanya gue gak bisa dateng gara-gara hostbrother gue, Jordan, ulangtahun. Early party sih sebenernya, karena pas dia ulangtahun kita bakal pergi ke Washington. Jadi gue gagal di dua bidang sekaligus. Hari terakhir sebelum gue ke Washington, temen gue, Andrew, bilang kalo tryoutnya extended jadi 3 hari dan gue masih ada harapan buat masuk tim. Well, you know the third day of tryout was my departure to Washington. FML.

Singkat cerita, abis gue pulang dari Washington, temen gue, Joe, bilang kalo salah satu aktor di drama ada yang mengundurkan diri. Sebenernya yang ditawarin untuk ngegantiin aktor ini si Joe, tapi karena dia dapet kerja dan it'd be overwhelming to somebody has two deeds at the same time every single day. Jadi dia nawarin perannya ke gue. Golden egg should be caught and I catch it! Well, perannya sih gak gede-gede, mungkin gue tampil cuma 5 menit. But you know what, having a new network in a new field is worth trying and it's ideal.

Me and Chris, partner in tumults

CJ, Me and Hannah

Lena and Chris

Shayla

Lena and Jessica

Chris, Clare and Joe

Fabulous Crew

Jadi sekarang kesibukan gue bertambah dengan ikut drama ini. Kenalan sama aktor-aktor yang lain, crew, belajar tentang tata panggung dan lain-lain. Dan FYI guys, gue juga bantu-bantu buat publicity dramanya lewat bikin pictures buat showcase sama bikin trailer. Dramanya sih bakal perform 14-15 Mei di sekolah. It should be ecstatic. Anyway, gue baru dapet kabar kalo Local Coordinator gue bakal ngajak anak-anak YES dari cluster gue buat ke Niagara Falls bulan Juni, 2 minggu sebelum kita balik ke negara masing-masing. Dream would be accomplished soon. I'll catch you later :)

Trailer : with other actors within

Nge-receh

2010-05-01T21:31:00.037+07:00

Akhirnya dari beberapa minggu lalu nunda-nunda terus untuk update blog, kesampean juga sekarang. Alhamdulillah, disini semakin ~~panas~~ hangat karena udah masuk Spring. Kehidupan sekolah masih oke dan kehidupan di rumah sini juga selalu oke dengan ups and downs nya.

Sebenernya minggu-minggu ke belakang gue lagi sibuk banget sama latihan buat drama, yang bakal gue tulis di post yang laen in two seconds dan sibuk menghitung receh. Ya, ngitung receh! Jadi, di sekolah gue ada yang namanya Penny Wars untuk ngebantu korban genosida di Darfur, Sudan. Keadannya emang parah banget sih kalo ngeliat disini. Penny Wars sendiri bentuknya hampir sama kayak Koin Prita, cuma yang dikhususin disini penny -1 cent- itu sendiri. Persiapannya seminggu buat ngadain ini, mulai dari nempelin flyer tentang fakta-fakta keji tentang genosida di sana, bikin short film tentang Darfur, bikin poster dan bikin bank account buat masukin receh yang nantinya kumpulin.

Poster #1

Poster #2

Kebetulan yang kebagian bikin short film gue. Akhirnya gue research informasi sana sini, dibantuin sama temen-temen yang lain dan Mrs. Fynan, our sponsor. Ngumpulin gambar-gambar penderitaan korban-korban genosida, miris sih ngeliatnya sama fakta-fakta terkini tentang kegiatan genosida disana. Data udah kekumpul, film akhirnya dibuat. Gak nyampe 3 jam, setelah re-read-through sama hostdad gue buat ngecek misgrammatical sentence and misspell, filmnya jadi. Tanggapan dari anak-anak dan gurupun cukup positif.

This short film what they're talking about

Penny Wars diadain selama satu minggu dari 19-26 April, tapi karena banyak jam sekolah yang dipotong sana sini, Penny Warsnya diperpanjang sampe 30 April. Peraturannya, masing-masing kelas harus ngasih penny ke kelas masing-masing dan dibolehin untuk menyabotase dengan masukin dimes -10 cent-, nickel -5 cent-, quarter -25 cent- and bill -$1, $5, $10, $20 and $100- ke kelas lain. Empat uang pecahan terakhir bisa mengurangi point yang didapet satu kelas. Bingung? Gue juga bingung ngejelasinnya. Gigit gue, gigit!

Ternyata persiapannya jauh jauh jauh lebih mudah dari pelaksanaan sesungguhnya, karena puncak dari Penny Wars ini ya ngitung recehnya itu sendiri. This is just pain in the butt crack. Tiap pulang sekolah kita ke kelas Mrs. Fynan buat ngitung receh yang didapet hari itu. Dan dua minggu full kita harus bolak-balik buat ngitung penny. Yang dibutuhin di sini bukannya yang jago ngitung, tapi yang tahan ngitung setoples krupuk receh dan gak boleh salah, karena bakal masuk ke rekening di bank. Tiap hari ada orang baru yang ngebantuin ngitung receh, jadi beban berkurang dari hari ke hari, walaupun pernah satu hari cuma ada 3 orang yang bantuin dan hari itu lagi banyak-banyak receh yang harus diitung. Mabok receh.

Mabok receh #1

Mabok receh #2

Mabok receh #3

Dan hari terakhir kemaren kita ngitung penny, kita berhasil ngumpulin sampe $1,650 atau sekitar 16 juta. Gak sebanding sih sama yang didapet tahun pertama (dua tahun yang lalu), sekitar $4,000-ish atau 40 jutaan. tapi at least yang kita dapet lebih banyak dari tahun lalu yang sekita $800. Itung sendiri ya kalo di kurs. Gampang kok!

We are penny warriors!

L-R (up) : Mrs. Alexander, Mrs. Fynan, Grace and Okaya

L-R (down) : Jake, Me, Shane, Tyler and Jenna

Yang gue dapet disini adalah gimana cara ngumpulin dengan cara yang mudah dan gak harus ngumpulin duit dengan nominal yang besar. Cukup cemplungin koin dan gak ngerasa kita udah ngeluarin uang buat amal. Itulah poinnya. A humongous tree starts from a tiny seed we plant.

Here's project that comes out....

2010-04-12T04:45:00.004+07:00

Well, this is my project in multimedia class. It's called ABOUT ME. You guys have such a great privilege to watch it in advance rather than my friends and teacher who graded this project. Hope you have such a great time after watch this video! Ciao tutti.

Got the something about me, eh?

Dear Blog Reader

2010-04-12T04:39:00.003+07:00

Well, I'm just gonna announce that I've made a design for a competition in 6dollarshirts.com. It would be something more than a big thanks if you guys can vote me due to a judging score. A vote means a lot for me.

TAKE ME THERE!!

Thanks for the vote, my great buddy!

For those who wondered.

2010-04-10T08:13:00.005+07:00

Hey it's 2010, got a question? You better ask now, don't holding it 'till you're being a rotten corpse. LMAO.
For couple heads who stuck with question marks about myself. Ask meh. There on formspring.

Check me out!

Washington DC day 3 and 4 (finale)

2010-04-05T00:16:00.039+07:00

Hey guys. I found myself in the mood of writing right now. Lets check it!

Well, day 3 in Washington DC. Adventurous hormone went to my veins, so that means we will go for tour. Whoa. Orderly, we left the Hotel approximately 11:00 am if I'm not mistaken. with the tour guide whichone of the hostfamily of the YES kids couple years ago, we rode from the Hotel to our first destination, Washington's Church.

Washington's Church

Then afterwards we were goin' to Chinatown which actually I met my another buddies, Willy and Alfi there. We apparently ate in Chinese restaurant, chit-chat in our mother-language. That was fun though we left by the bus because we're the latest kids who jumped up to the bus. That wasn't good.

Untamed Chinatown. Woohoo

So, then we went to Jefferson memorial. You might not know what the building is from what they called, but you might know when I put the pictures up. I betcha. Then we were going to Lincoln memorial which the only one place we've been to during arrival orientation. The diference between when I went there during the arrival orientation and last time I went there, that was crowder the last time we've been there. I couldn't barely walk in small space between groups of people were lining on the stairs.

Left-right : Myself, Ujang, Willy, Alfi and Syifa @ Jefferson Memorial

@ Jeff Memorial still

We took a short time in both memorials, well actually we did that because we ran out of time as well. So the last destination we went to was the museums area in DC. The tour guide let us choose what museum that we wanted to go to in 90 minutes. Then I chose to go to National Museum and History that you might have seen in two sequels on Night at The Museum (starring by Ben Stiller). I took most of the pictrures in fossil and dinosaurs sections because one of my cousins has a crazy addiction with those dinaosaurs thingy, to fulfill his crazy needs I went to that sections and took some pictures.

@ Lincoln Memorial (I just have half of Lincoln as a background)

With Amelia Earhart

Afterward, Willy, Alfi and myself went to Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum which you might've seen also in the that title I've mentioned above. That was superb though. I may just hit you the pictures in a few. Lol. That afternoon went very great, but Willy and Alfi should come home because it could be so late if they go to our hotel and hangout for a while. All of sudden, I feel very fatigued. So I just laying my body and all of my guts down for couple minutes soon as we got to the hotel.

Blurry dinosaur. Willy needs to take -
an intensive photography class.

I don't know much about Naruto
but it's for my lil' cousin

The evening has come at the moment. My hostfamily and I went to the Gala dinner for hostfamily recognition and announcement for the first winner on the video competition. That event gave a blast literally. Watched talent show from alumnus from YES countries, include Indonesia. Then announcement for the winner came along. My heart was racing to be frank. The announcer which also the president of AFS announce The Johnsons Family as the winner that evening. Cool, Ujang's hostfamily won the contest. I admit their video was the best amongst other contestant. Salute.

The recognition has done. Then all of students and sibs planned to hangout since we didn't curfew there. Woohoo. We just went for a walk in downtown Alexandria, when the nightlife were going wild there. After a long walk we just ended up at Lebanese Restaurant with another bunch of people, from the sponsorships 'till the alumnus. We were hanging out 'till drop. No I'm kidding! Two o'clock we headed up to hotel, lil' conversation with others and row a boat to lalaland.

Last day was sad because we're all leaving. Well it was began well though, Ovita came to hotel and hanging out with my hostmom since they local language similar. Awesome. Then you know what, on the lunch before we checked out we had hostfamily match game, which kinda same with newlywed game sort of speak. We lost on the question "What's your exchange student's favorite food?" (refers to the hostfamily). I should've answered TACO or BURITO or any mexican foods, but foolishly I answered spaghetti and meatballs. Ugghhh!! But the rest of that, we had to leave our states to continue our life (well this is an odd sentence for real). I'm feeling grateful to be a part of this great moment.

I hope we'll see those people around again :)

Intermission

2010-03-29T06:31:00.004+07:00

Hi guys...

Sebenernya lagi males banget buat nulis terusan part kedua di DC. Tapi secepatnya bakal di-postin sekaligus sama foto-fotonya. Walaupun kerjaan malah jadi dua kali karena harus ngupload foto sama nulis. I just want you know that I'm still keep moving, forward. I still breathe like anybody else does. And I hate being mellow. See you guys with another major posts.

Well I change my twitter username with : @arfbdman which makes more sense with my surname.

Hasta Luego!

Washington DC day 1 and 2

2010-03-21T05:51:00.034+07:00

Whoa guys! Dream was dropped to earth. I actually making it right now. Well, if that's kind of make you bewilder, well I'm in Washington DC right now, attending ECA workshop -you're not necessary to know what ECA workshop in which could make this post would like a long story-. But then, I make these little adventure in the two separate parts, Day 1-2 and day 3-4. So I'll be much more focus what I'm trying to share with you since a lot of fun are about to write.

We -my hostparents, Jordan, Joshua and me- were leaving from Michigan on Thursday (3/18) at 10:25 am. Anyway, Jordan's birthday is the same day when we're depart but we celebrate earlier from it used to be. Aunt Dawn (Hostdad's sister) taking us to the airport and start hectic-ing ourselves in airport since 8:00 am. Waiting for half an hour for flight and finally we flew, weww!

Arrive at Ronald Reagan National Airport. God was gratefully kind that day, sunshine was showering us. Nice day for the first day at DC. Then we're going to bagagge claim to take our lugagges and trying to find the volunteer who picked us up / chaperoned us to the hotel at Alexandria, VA. So, that was tough, we found nobody with the red shirt with AFS logo on it around the airport. With a little bit call-making to people who run the event, we found out that those volunteers are waiting in certain spot somewhere. It doesn't take any long time to find 'em. Then we transfered to Alexandria via Metro Subway.

As the subway stopped by at Kings St Station, Hotel's shuttle bus was ready to picked us up. Checked in to the hotel. We were really fatigued so we just chillin out over the couch for little awhile but in advance we had lunch, re-registered and started mingle to anybody. I met Kak Putra, Kak Yurika and Kak Nita, which are the alumnus from YES '06-'07 who come back for volunteering in this workshop/convention/whateva' as well as I met Kak Diar and Kak Asmir.

Nicy weather came down and starting a understandable-chilly weather at night, though I didn't feel it since we just stayed at the hotel for the rest of the night. 'Twas warm though, we made it warm with chit-chat all night long, superb international bazaar which I took part to helped out at Indonesian stall and much more fun we did apparently. Clock ticked to another matter of the day, so super greatest first night over. Had fun was a good phrase.

The Indonesians

Day 2, was very tiring though. Well, our agendas were going to meet Congressman and Senator which represent Michigan in Congress and basically just say thanks and giving a feedback for them as a funding resource for those exchange programs. Sounds boring, eh? But 'twas definitely not, at all. Though the suckest part when we had to WAAALLK in sunny day (thanks God!) in couple miles from the Subway's station to Senator's and Congressman's building which are separated miles miles away, literally.

Stand : Kak Diar, Mom, Dad, Joshua, Jordan and Lindsey
Sit : Mr. Dingell and myself

Those second day agendas actually very great since I've never talked to a government administrator before (I did. I was interviewing Minister for Indonesian Nation's Forest couple years ago. But ugh!), and you know what they were spent their spare time to talked to us which they were really busy on passing the healthcare bill. Salutation sent to you guys!

Joshua and Me @ Union Station

Second day also got my nerves. This how the story goes, my hostfamily and Kak Diar was done eating at Union Station and we were ready to get in to the station, packed in the subway which tok us to the hotel. It didn't go smooth though for me, when we were really in a big confusion which lane we took to go back to the hotel, I began to asked couple old ladies which had a conversation. Politely, I jumped into the conversation and started to ask. in ENGLISH They were completely answering so corteous and there was a guy stood behind me and gave a shot to our conversation, "Hey young man, if you wanna ask somebody a question, don't ask 'em in Chinese neither in Spanish!". I was burnt, I left the crowd and went back to my group. I got offended and lost what I had to say abruptly. But soon I apologized to those old ladies and they said that guy was such a douche. Keep an eye, ignorant people are everywhere, even somebody who stood behind your back!

That was a long trip back and forth from and to hotel from downtown Dictrict of Columbia. I promise to hit you guys up with a lots of picture and continue this part!! Peace out home dawg.

Capitol Hill, baby!

Too much to be spread out

2010-03-15T00:34:00.020+07:00

Well, hola guys! Fed up myself with bunch of stuff lately and coming up with with those tiring days. But hey, no pain no gain, eh? Too much words to be spread in this post. So, hook your eyes up and watch my words typed.

Brand new trimester has come. Yo bull, 3rd trimester! What I'm going with as I got the new trimester? New schedule, apparently. So, in this trimester I'll stumble upon :
- 1st Hour : Short Stories
- 2nd Hour : Communication thru' Multimedia
- 3rd Hour : Multi Purpose
- 4th Hour : Graphic Communication
- 5th Hour : Pre-calculus B
- 6th Hour : Chemistry B

I hope it would be great trimester, since this is my last trimester in my highschool career in Annapolis HS (as you know my whole school career need to be filled with my another senior year back home). And hopefully I will get as good grades as I got on the second trimester. Guess what? I got 4.00 GPA for previous trimester. That was tremendously awesome, because I thought the sceond trimester is the most mess trimester I had on my senior year, but the result sometimes polarized as you thought it could be.

My GPA, baby!

Next thingy is..... I will join the baseball team on my highschool. We'll be having two tryouts on Monday (3/15) and Tuesday (3/16). So guys, cross your finger, another excitement what I'm going to right now seems tough, but who knows?

Umm... then I also joined a cover-designing competition which held by CSIET (or whatsoever?) and hopefully I win the competition as well as I won the video competition and got trip to Washington DC, but on this competition I got cash prize $500, instead. How fun it would be! So I just came up with two ideas of that cover design. Both of 'em are fully-retouched photographis that I captured intentionally. The first design is kinda grunge looking with background of two people making heart sign together (tera-thanks for Heather and Rob). then, the second design I made was a comic-looking design. Hopefully one of my submissions is recognized as winner on May 12th. Help me again guys!

1st Design

2nd Design

And the greatest thing I'm gonna tell you is, my hostfamily and I will be leaving to Washington DC in the matter of days. woohoo. I gotta hit you up with the pictures, might be in my facebook (click little icon on the right of this page that says my facebook, please!) or in here (if I have bunch more time). My kiddos from all over hosted state (PA, MD, DC and VA) will be gathered on my hotel and do some fun. This would be so excited.

I'm alson currently working on Perwakilan Kelas (PK) Page for yearbook on my hi school back home. It's kinda sad, when I working on the their pictures. Well, I miss those morons who filled my days on the last two years before I came here. I'm not emo, but you guys should pick me up when I got back to Indonesia!

I know, there's no such thing as leaving for a friendship. For sure.

From thousands miles away,
Arief Budiman

Surat untuk Bapak

2010-03-10T01:54:00.004+07:00

Assalamu'alaikum

Bapak Ato -panggilan buat kakek, red-, apa kabar di sana? Alhamdulillah, di sini Ade baik-baik aja. Jadi inget, terakhir ngomong sama Bapak pas lagi Idul Fitri di Jakarta tapi di sini malem takbiran dan sebenernya ga ada takbiran juga hehe. Waktu masih di rumah, cuma Bapak yang terus nanyain Ade bakal pergi kemana dan kapan perginya, walaupun kadang-kadang Ade suka males-malesan jawabnya.

Maafin Ade ya, Pak waktu Bapak dipanggil sama Allah, Ade ga ada di samping bapak. Tapi bapak pasti tahu kan kalo disini mata Ade sampe sembab 3 hari. Ade cuma kaget aja, kok Allah manggil Bapak pas ga ada Ade di rumah. Tapi Alhamdulillah kok sekarang Ade udah ikhlas biar Bapak bisa tenang di sana. Sampein salam Ade juga buat papa disana ya pak. Doain aja ya Pak semoga Ade bisa nerusin SMA di Jakarta lancar-lancar aja dan bisa masuk UI atau ITB atau apa aja deh, soalnya Bapak sama Papa pasti doanya didengerin karena deket sama Allah. hehe. Jangan lupa juga minta sama Allah supaya Bapak sama Papa dikasih laptop biar bisa buka blog ini dan baca suratnya, ya!?

Segini dulu ya Pak surat dari Ade. Nanti pasti Ade bakal ngirim surat lagi, kok!

Wassalamu'alaikum

Salam kangen dari cucumu
Arief Budiman

Indonesian Cultural Night 2010

2010-02-28T07:58:00.017+07:00

I think I was mentioned from a stories before about I joined Indonesian Cultural Night at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Well, that was amazing. I was performed Saman dance. We weren't really good on it since we weren't really dancers and been practised just 5 weeks prior to the event (hey you know what? 5 weeks in which practices once a week on thursday). But anyway those 'bules' don't know what we were doing even there were couple mistakes we done.

Alright, that was 2 months ago when one of the Permias (Persatuan Mahasiswa Indonesia-Amerika Serikat) officer in University of Michigan called me and was asking me to taking part of this event. Sure can, I always available for represent my country within bunch of proud. So every Thursday we got to practice at 8-10 pm at University of Michigan (U of M). Meet tons of Indonesia study over there, mostly they're taking bachelor degree here.

Very short, D-day was coming up and we prepared for such a great performance (hopefully). Unexpectedly, my move were messed up during the performance, that was horrible, BUT I don't know why we got the biggest ovation amongst any performances was performed.

That was a golden chance that fortunately I got while I'm here, so I don't have to be bothered with thinking about present my country by myself, because I had bunch companies for present my country collectively.

The Aftershow

With General Consulate and The Whole Crew

Annapolis' Star Student

2010-02-19T06:22:00.014+07:00

Siapa yang nggak suka dikasih penghargaan? Walaupun cuma sekedar ucapan 'terima kasih'. Well, beberapa hari yang lalu, secara nggak sengaja pas MP2, guru gue ngasih dua lembar kertas. Kertas pertama dikasih yang isinya, kalo gue ada Star Student di Chemistry Class-nya Mr. Cole. Okay, that was awesome. Terus, abis gue chit-chat sama temen-temen gue, Ms. Gratton-Clark (guru Mp2 gue), manggil lagi dan ngasih kertas, yang ukurannya lebih GEDE. I mean that was bigger than I got couple minutes prior, though that was just as big as A4 print paper and the remaining paper as big as half of it, then it called bigger, didn't it?

By the way, setelah gue dapet kertas itu, gue bawa dulu ke meja dan sengaja gak gue baca. Pas udah sampe meja, baru gue baca kertas itu bareng temen-temen gue. It said, "STAR STUDENT OF THE TRIMESTER ! The certificate is awarded to Arief Budiman for dedication beyond the classroom at Annapolis High School". I was cheered up, finally my hard-work and dedication was appreciated though just by a piece of paper. Sehari sbeleumnya, temen gue ada yang bialng kalo gue nominated as Star Student of The Tri, tapi gue cuma, "Oh ok, that would be cool!", because fyi, you just can believe certain mouths here. Eh taunya doi bener.

Jadi prosedur netapin siapa yang bakal jadi Annapolis Star Student, tiap guru dikasih satu kesempatan buat milih siapa yang menurut mereka star student di kelas masing-masing. Pas gue tanya ke guru chemistry gue, kenapa dia milih gue sebagai star student, dia bilang karena gue bisa cepet menyesuaikan pelajaran yang diajarin dan gak semua exchange student bisa ngelakuin itu. That's probably the thing I shouldn't ask. I'll hit you the picture of the certificate soon.

John Mayer's Concert

2010-02-16T21:52:00.018+07:00

As I was briefly said on two previous post, I was attending John Mayer's Concert here in Michigan. That was a long story I would to tell you why I was ended up watching his concert and having another company to watch it with me. It begun two months ago, when I was searched something to watch here either in Detroit or another place nearby.

Then I found those creatures, "Lady Gaga?","Meh (though my friend told me her concert's ticket was sold out on two days sale)","Taylor Swift?","Umm, if I don't have any choices","Owl City?","Put on my list, please!","John Mayer?","Oh cool, put it him on as well!".

I was finished my research. After thousands considerations, I pick either John Mayer or Owl City, I think you can figure it out on the last paragraph though. But anyway, since Owl City will have their concert on April or May, I feel that will be too late and I bet I'll be real busy on that remaining months (grief). So, the big checklist scratches on John Mayer's name.

I talked to my host family about this decision. First response said, "Cool!", then continued by, "Whom are you going with?". I was stuck. "I don't know yet, but I can figure out soon, sooner."

I was asking around the school. I figured that just a few people know who is Mr. Mayer. Then some people that I knew he/she knows him, thought they couldn't come because the bad timing and relatively expensive ticket. Oh well, it wasn't meant to be my event.

Then I drove myself to anything else. Yea, something will coming up soon. Indonesian Cultural Night will be held on University of Michigan. I never let any opportunities just passing through on my eyes without taking it. I took a part as saman dancer with another student of U of M from Indonesia and my another exchange friend, Putu which hosted in Dexter, MI.

Mingled to new people, as a part of socialize. Knowing new people from any background was a pleasure. Then I know all of 'em. One of them willingly get me pick-ups and drop-offs on the next practices, his name is Alvin. The on another pick-up, I listening to his music, and dang! He listens to John Mayer's song. I asked him if he will watching his concert, and he said, "Oh, I just bought the ticket on-line last night." Yea I got company. Then our business getting smoothly until the concert came couple days ago.

Here's the video and couple pictures how great that Friday Night :

Despite of his stupid acts, he was a great performer. Salute

That night was flow really fast.

I heart this song

Arief Budiman

Letter from Abroad (for 2010's yearbook)

2010-02-16T04:09:00.005+07:00

This is what I was wrote for exchange student's section on my yearbook on Gema Cinta Smandel 2010 :

"Hola 2010...

It hasn't been a short time for me to think about what I want to write. Experiences and thoughts just threw up so overwhelmed that I can't choose just one of them to share with you guys. Anyway, because this is a letter, I just wanna tell that I'm doing pretty good job here, so does my hostfamily here. At most, I got so much new experiences that sometimes make me think that we're living in very big diversity, even in my home right here in Taylor, Michigan, with mix American-Indonesian family with my Indonesian host mother, which you can figure is a lot easier for me to learn how to adjust with all stuffs that I have to deal with during my exchange year.

After giving a presentation about Indonesia
-Polk Elementary School-

Fun stuffs also come along as my time went by. From coolest homecoming game and dance, first trick and treating during halloween, first unbelievably-big-turkey dinner at Thanksgiving, first snow happened in my lifetime, first christmas eve, extravagant new years eve and so forth. And also I got trip to Washington DC by winning a video competition which held by AFS. Everything seems just happen to me as wind blow in chilly winter, steady addictive. One sheet of paper won't never enough to describe how's my life going on here. Learning differences and similarities are such a challenge which I love live in challenge.

Despite of all, I also thank to my all dear friend in 2010. Your supports and helps generate a big spirit within myself. Nothing much more I could say beside a little prayer that I sent to you guys for getting a best way for your own futures.

Keep breathing and stay bless. Hasta luego

Arief Budiman
Exchange Student to USA"

I compete them in video and I make it!

2010-02-16T00:58:00.015+07:00

Heiya...

Alhamdulillah. That what I want to start. Feeling so great and grateful because Allah always makes anything seems smooth and pull out the corals which sometimes almost broke my steps. Anyway guys, I won the competition of video contest which held by AFS-USA.

At first, probably 3 months ago, I received an email told me that AFS-USA held a competition for host family to making a video about what they got after hosting an or more exchange students on their house. My host mother was got that email too. We all discussed about it and planned to made a video. Three weeks or a month after the conversation, nothing was happened in term of that video. I'm so lazy to make it, so do my host family.

Then on January, I was checked on youtube in host family contest's channel. Nobody was submitted their video yet, so I just thought they were not going to be a competition at all since nobody submitted , whereas the deadline was 2 weeks away. I hesitated as well to made it.

Waiting on couple days afterward, I was going there again and there were three or five (I didn't how many approximately the videos have submitted at the time) uploaded and officially being a competition. Dang it! I have to make it. In the last minute of the deadline, I rushed arrange the time for taking the video, found the pictures that I want to put on, determined the backsound, recorded my sound and any kind of materials I need to make a basic video.

I thought I couldn't make it because the time was up. Then an email pop on my inbox. They said they extended the deadline for the competition, so will be a week after the deadline was supposed to. I grinned. I had a time, not much though. My host family and I then worked, together. I took the video of them, taking pictures and edited it. It took like two-three days until everything completed.

Soon I submitted to AFS-USA then they put it on their youtube channel. We started promoting our video mouth to mouth and by facebook. It worked very well.

The improved deadline was up. I was surprised, 45 videos was already submitted including ours. A big competition, it really was. The video which already submitted before ours, was got couple more hits, which one part of the judging. I was thinking, no chance for me to win. A few hits and less innovative video rather than other competitors, made me feel hopeless. But I believed, we gave our efforts and let God does the rest.

A week later. My local coordinator, Valerie, texted me that somebody from ACES National office called my host father but he didn't answer it. That's true since my host father lost his phone couple days before. She said that people from National Office, further then I knew her name was Lindsey, had a good news for my father. I wasn't surprised yet, because I thought the "good" news will be a new exchange student profile sent to my host father because he is a local coordinator.

I received the text message at school. So, I was just going hoem and told him that Lindsey tried to call him and brought a good news. He was opened his email, and he found out that will be couple exchange students placed there. I exhaled dissapointly. But he told me that's one unread inbox that was received couple hours before. He opened it and said that we are win the competition.

"Congratulations! Your host family video has been chosen
by ACES and the YES consortium as the winning ACES submission.
Your video, with the theme 'How is hosting better than
you thought it would be?', is a heart-warming look into
the benefits of hosting a YES student
and the special bond you have created with each other."

An email in which made my day. And I'm counting for the trip that we won for, a 4 days trip to Washington DC on March 18-21, 2010. I hope it'll turn out so fun. Thank's for everybody who had watched it and reading this post. We can be great for what we want, do effort, let God does His will for us. Success is just complementary. Everybody deserves their success, on their own times.

Arief Budiman and The La Beaus

Ehm..

2010-02-15T05:42:00.002+07:00

Setelah lama gak ngepost, gue jadi feeling awkward mau nulis apa disini. Too much things to be told right now, guys. But anyway, happy valentine's day for couple who celebrate it. For me, that's just another sunday. Tired sunday. Capek? Karena tiga hari ini berlangsung sangat hectic. Kayaknya tiap detik harus gerak dari satu tempat laen. Mulai dari hari Jum'at kemaren, half-day di sekolah dan pulang jam 11 siang (atau pagi? who cares?), terus malemnya nonton konsernya John Mayer di Palace of Auburn Hills. Well, that was awesome though, I wasn't regret it. Konsernya sampe jam 12 dan nyampe rumah jam setengah 2 malem.

Besok paginya gue harus ke Ohio, which is 45 menit dari rumah gue buat coaching kelas jump rope yang dibuat sama local coordinator gue. The class was pretty amazing, we did a very good job. Abis dari Ohio, akhirnya gue pulang dulu ke rumah buat istirahat dua jam dan abis itu langsung ke partynya temen hostmom gue sampe jam 11 malem. Walhasil, sekujur badan gue adalah pegel dan sakit. But that's worth with what I've got prior to right now.

Dan minggu depan nampaknya akan lebih padat lagi jadwalnya karna hari Sabtu gue ada perfrom di University of Michigan pas Indonesia Cultural night, we'll (gue sama mahasiswa Indonesia di U of M) do a saman dance. Hope we'll do pretty excellent dance there. Dan hari Minggunya gue bakal ikut acara appreciation dinner di Ohio buat guru dan kepala sekolah. gue bakalan masak masakan Indo, but at the moment when write this, my idea is equal zero or might be end up cooked by my hostdad since he's really great making any foods, literally any foods.

That's quick update what I was doing couple weeks ago and will do a week ahead. Hope you guys still breathing and stay awake when I fall asleep.

Michigan waving his hand and said "See you on the next post!".

a day after last year

2010-01-02T04:25:00.005+07:00

Happy New Years guys!

Well see, what's new on new year? Nothing. Exactly, today is still a day after 2009. But, I have something new, new places to celebrate in. America. Not in Times Square with an extravagant slash sophisticated party. I'm still where I belong to, Michigan, though actually I spent couple second bridges from one year to another in Ohio, in my hostmom friend's. That was quiet fun, watching couple movies (Four Christmases, The Proposal and Avatar), munching some Indonesia-spices-fish and do another fun stuffs.

In this post, I would probably telling about my resolution. Sort of. At least if I don't where to move, I can review this post and try to skimming about the thing you're about to read in few second. Since I'll to much blabbering, let start it :

1. Be able to jump rope
You must be bewildered about what I write right (homophone) now. My exchange student's cluster nowadays (suppose to be soon) will start a jump rope in order to rise some some for eliminate hunger, either shortly the profit will go to some organisations in our cities (for YES countries) that concerns in world hunger. We were practised for couple days and unfortunately generated, sores but we had fun though, and we've been able to do some great tricks to be taught for the kids on the class by Jan 9th '10.

2. Going to another places in USA
This is my dreams to going around USA. It's just a small dream will come true someday. For sure.

3. Being a great 2010 and good 2011
Since I have to redo my senior year back home then, I want to be just a fair person or at least staying as the same person with additional value of personalities. I would also being a better person (Oh why this word so cliche. Shoot!) in my year here as 2010. Shortly, great in 2010, bright on 2011. Amen.

4. Try to release any concerns
In spite of the fun things happened in 2009, some bad news came up and just let me down. Honestly really down. It's been couple months of people in my life just flew out to heaven without saying goodbye to me. That's why I write this stuff as my resolution. Forget and release are the hard things. But let me try for this year.

Several thoughts about new year. Probably I can put another resolution later or even remove it as time goes by. As long as my mind told me, new year is not a beginning of our life, just keep going from what we left on the past. Being better is good, but stay the same is not as easy as we thought. That's why we need to move, lead our own way to a bright space.

somehow new-eye just said so

2009-12-17T07:06:00.005+07:00

new-eye...
shutter shrieking
lens seizing
simultaneously

new-eye...
blazing flash
shimmering glow
glamorously

new-eye...
i wondered
is it nearby?
you grabbed it miles away

false
right
focus
lost

i need my eye
come back
was it hard?
straight angle

i hold you still
decrease
the fuzziness

-abe-
picture : private property

God, I have question! Do I too pathetic? All went through so rough. Talk to me and make it clear.

2009-11-30T02:51:00.001+07:00

umm, test was not tested me literally

2009-11-24T03:09:00.007+07:00

Hey, pal! I have relieved now. Something happened back in the past, let it through. They grind my heart to be more tough and now that my life must go on. People might lost, but time never stopped and waiting for you. So that I think to be more be able to take it as my lesson I learned.

This week will be ended up the 1st trimester which I have to turn all the assignment in to the teacher, got the final test and so forth. Final test, umm... that's scary enough, isn't that? No more. If you guess test here is just piece of cake, you'll be have an extra credit (lol). You are absolutely right. Instead of back then you have to memorize any formulas prior to the exam, here even the teacher gives you the problem couple days before the exam. "Wow. So people there will be get at least B if the teacher gave you the problem," if you said that, probably I just say it depends, most of them aren't, terribly.

I'm not trying to be critical. In fact, kids here don't care about the test. But, that's unfair to distinguish something different. I think if Indonesia could apply several things done here, maybe the kids will be developed more innovative and greater, instead of memorizing something that you probably won't use it in the future anyway.

I just had 1st and 2nd hour final test actually, last Friday. That wasn't too bad. In 1st and 2nd, I had architecture and drafting, so I've had to make a multi-view of a tool (I didn't know what it was). It didn't take too long, in 30 minutes everything has set. I'm done. I printed it and chill out on my computer then. 3rd hour there is no test, because that's just kinda study hall. Then in 4th hour will be taking test tomorrow :o My teacher, Mr. Cutting gave us the all the questions (It's 125 questions. Insane) and we have to make a notes and write down the answer in incorporate answer. I did my Indonesian way, memorize it. It was tough, so I have to re-read after 25 questions.

In 5th hour, I had English. In particular, English is not pretty hard, but sometimes I just don't get it what the literature meant. But I was flattered with the grades in the previous test (before the finale one). Mmmm... yeah I got A+. Though I have to maintain 'till this term ends. Fortunately, I can use my notes and couple reviews for the final test. So, I would be so easy for me :) My sixth hour do that either, let me takes a note in the 3x5 cm note card that I can use in final test.

So far, it was easy for me to overcome all school stuffs, but luck always come for whom attempt. So we'll see. Then I have to determine what I will take for the next trime. Hope it will be better than the previous one.

Alright. I have to stop blabbering from it's going further and unstructure. I'm still tryin' poke your eyes sometimes folks! Watch out.

hope everything recently would reverse

2009-11-19T03:55:00.016+07:00

Alright. This week isn't a pleasant week I've ever had, ever in my entire life pathetically. In between 4 days, I got some tough news. Well, hard to type this but, I lost 2 great men I've ever known and met. The first one is James Bartle, friend of mine in MP2 class. We've been known each other since I gone to Annapolis highschool. He's a nice person and smiley one. He has passed away on November 15, 2009 by car accident. I don't know what's any account of his accident lately. I was surprised when everyone just cried when I went MP2 and I found out, He's gone. I didn't really close to him, but one thing I know was he want to take a year off right after he graduate. Yeah. 3 months wasn't a long time to know somebody. But I know James was a very good person. Everybody sends their tears for him and that's make me recognize how lovable he is.

Then. It was surprising me either. Another man, who just did a great trigger of my life since my father passed away. He is my grandfather. That's might be a hardest thing I've done this year so far. Being left really behind to know what happen caused a humongous distance I had. November 17, 2009 19:00 pm, then back home was November 18, 2009 7:00am, my uncle text me from facebook, "De, Bapak ato (that's what I used to call him) udah gak ada tadi jam 6 pagi". Then I'm freeze. Something that right acrossed once on my mind and that's just happened. That's awful. I was felt very numb at the time. Then I told my hostparents. They were so surprised as I am. I tried to call home and talked to my grandmother and my aunt. I was just overwhelmed and you know how it feels when you really thousands miles away from your family and.... alright it was that bad.

Sometimes I feel that isn't unfair to let somebody in your life just passed away abruptly before you can at least say, "Goodbye!", "I love you!", or whatsoever. So many good times we've been for a long time. Really, I'm not ready being left of, will never. I just have to deal with my that's my bad side, because bad news never had good timing. Thank you for thy both to make my life more colorful and make me learn how to be loved, how to respect our own time, to do a good things because we just have a scant time.

*Dedicated for my Grandfather and also James Bartle. Rest in Peace, guys. Send my greetings to God and tell Him that you're always in my deep heart.

when i define love unlikely

2009-11-10T05:35:00.006+07:00

Anyway people, I know it is a corny or even cheesy things I've ever written here. It's taken from my essay assignment in English class. I'm just want to share a thought about that corny stuff. Here you go, enjoy my words!

Love is an emotion when you would sacrifice anything you possess for something or somebody. love has no limitation. Whatever it takes, whenever it comes, the feeling is pretty similar. On my own thought, I would sacrifice anything could have for love as I think that make sense to be done. well, if we look what this term refers to be in narrow perspective, which means relationship between man and woman, boys and girls or kind of, then we're about fail to define this term.

For me, God is one thing to be loved and to be sacrificed . God is a greatest origin from whence the love derives and He also determines which something or somebody we love in. Frankly, I would give my most valued treasure for Him, yeah I'm trying. I still am. Have we conceived how much He gives his loves and graces to our as His slaves? We have to do a deep ponder before we answer that question.

If I have something I can give to Him, I do. I will do. How can you doubt to giving it when you recognize your breath and your own life now are His own belonging? Don't even answer it if you are'nt. Because love is not a gift, is about to give.

How was it? Okay maybe I'm an error-grammatical-author-ever, but you I'm here for learn and will never stop. Poke your eyes later guys!

homecoming dance

2009-11-01T01:02:00.015+07:00

after the blast night before, i literally fatigue and yeaahh, i woke up at 11 o'clock, good huh? then i prepared for homecoming dance. take my shirt, my black jacket, my pants and my hostmom gave me my hostdad's black tie. when i'm fitting it up, i looked that was perfect. i'm ready. not yet.

I took a bathe as soon as after I had brunch because at 2 o'clock we had to headed to my hostbro's girlfriend they would go to party bus (limousine actually) after heading to grandma's house. Two o'clock came by, my hostbrother and I dressed up for homecoming dance though I had a long leisure time to staying home because homecoming dance would start at 7 pm. We looked sharp and ready for photoshoot. Ya, we took some pictures over my grandma's. Thanks for the compliment for those pictures. I'm so grateful is hosted by a great photography skill family (because sometimes I got to be an object (harshly) or model (literally)). haha

Alright then, I went to my hostbro's girlfriend (by the time I wrote it they've been separated) and guess what? My hostparents took a lot more picture there, literally a lot more than I had in previous photoshoot. I didn't envy though. Because I kept thinking that night going a blast night as Black Eyed Peas keep blabbering, I gotta the feeling too.

*ashamed*

Owkay. Photoshoot was over and time to get board on Party bus for my hostbro and her gf. That was the first time I saw a limousine or so emerged on my own eyes. Mmm but I don't get there though because some reasons. Story will be different after then.

We ride away to Heritage, about 3 miles away from my hostbro's gf home. Here, I got a new definition of 'Cold'. That was for real. Puncak's breezes nor class' air conditioner wasn't a quite equivalence what I got here. Might be terrible for me. Did I hate it? umm, not yet. People surrounding me keep panicking me away that the weather become lower and lower. I really do recognize it, much instead. But please, don't make it worse. I beg. Anyway, back to this place, we (minus hostbrother) got another photoshoot, at the same time we were waiting for my hostbro and his gf heading to Heritage Park with another Limo's rider, to took photoshoot either.

Their Limo (there's name of that car, but I can't remember - short term memory lost) has come as my photoshoot was over. I got right away to my car, but my hostparents. Then, someone's mother (then I called Lorraine's mom) said I have to get ride in Limo. I commended it right away and eureka.... I'm on the party bus.

Let's talk about it for a real quick. We went to Apple Bees for dinner at 5:00 pm then we heading to Annapolis for dance. yeaay!! Well, we arrived punctually there and got in a very long, hot and big line. Guess people, to got in the gym where we'' dance we took at least 45 minutes just to got in because a ton of people coming and simply two officers led the gate for people to registered. Huh.

Anywayyyssss, I got there and I'm alone, for the first 2 minutes in the gym. Then I hanging with my friends and start dancing. We got a blast. I'm not exaggerating. lol. It was relieving a lot from those worksheets, homework things, bad things I had before. Am I gonna miss it? I totally am.

After those dances. I wasn't about to go home yet. I went to my hostbro's fella home to watching super lame "paranormal activity" movie. Then the night was so fully of glad. If someone asks me for some more? No refuses at all I answer.

homecoming game

2009-10-24T22:53:00.010+07:00

the big thing in the beginning of the year has just started, homecoming is in my way now. on second hour we got calling to go to gym for pep rally/assembly. that was so cool. we cheered and relished our time as a class member. Class of 2010 (senior) was very enthusiastic. then, i had voted for homecoming king and queen. there were 6 candidate king and queen, wearing best suit, dress and waving on the red carpet. All of students have to give a vote for king and queen for homecoming court 2009, right after pep rally done in our third hour.

third-sixth hour went by like common day, worksheet multiple boring. School dismissed, I went home to grandma's house which wasn't far away from my school. looking the clock ticking to 5:30, then I go. without skipped any dinner and those permissions from hostparents, I went to the parade. that was so freaking fun. despite we lost at the end and soaking wet from the sprinkled rain, blast at the night was so awful. Weeeww that was the great game i ever seen. Sniff u later with homecoming dance update.

picture of the day

2009-10-19T08:54:00.003+07:00

-welcome to this jungle of the words-

apa kabar?

2009-10-18T10:34:00.011+07:00

hello, just a couple minutes to the next day. i sit facing my laptop to turn out from my very straight saturday night. i'm not in the mood to share any happy story, and tears neither. well, i just want to say that i'm okay in here and staying cold because the weather coming lower. stuck in the lots lots lots of homework i should done this monday. no wonder i repine because in back home i'm not used to get (so much) worksheet like here. but that's consequences though, sacrifice something to get the better things is not a big deal, isn't it?

by the way, this monday i would have a spirit week. when all pupils at school will dress-up till homecoming dance on satruday night. i hope it will such a blast. i have no idea what i am going to wear next week, even i don't decide to dress-up yet. my school (i think also my state) is the latest who started school if i contrast to my another friend in different state. i started school on the first week on september, whereas another student has begun their school might be two weeks or one week earlier. so, no wonder if all of the events, such as homecoming, prom, etc in my school is starting so last year than another school here.

okay i will drive my steer to the school life here. don't ever think all of the school here is totally such a heaven school like you seen in a bunch of movie back there. its completely different, dude. my school was so strict, even more strict than my school back home, though i don't have to wear any kind of uniform, belt, hat etc here. fortunately, that's not a big odd here, my "value" was worked practically.

then friends. i need a little bit more definition about it. friends who can say "hi!" to you every single morning? friends where you can hangout with? friends when you told them you're foreigner they say "cool!"? or what? frankly, i don't have any close friends. tell me i just trying to figure out my safe-zone (i'm not suppose to), or i'm just expecting about anything here. it's been two months since i came here and it's been a month since begun to school. yaay i am pretty ridiculous to confess any such retarded things here, but at least it could be my motivation. pray for me folks! for the all little confession i just want to say, i'm happy, i'm tough, and i have to show my effort, more...more...more....

at the bottom of this page, i just want to say sorry about my friend Utha, who row in a died two days ago. though i''m just know you for a second, i know you're such a good and lovable person. i send a deeply condolences to what happened about. have a nice flight to heaven, buddy!

best regards,

awesomeness come!

2009-10-11T03:36:00.019+07:00

Saturday Morning

"pumpkin, as big as ball, as orange as fall. "

"pick me some hiding-pineapples, mom!"

"colorish flower, seems smile if better"

"sit in the row, i know you scarecrow"

"just envy the color, don't dare to taste any bites"

"playing for me at least a tune"

"my mini-me comes back and give me any sweets"

"i know, ladybug is the best insect ever"

"a lot of stacks, a lot of bottles, zero drunk"

"give s'more places. downtown"

Place(s) : Eastern Market and Downtown Detroit.
Photographs by : Arief Budiman

cedar point dan idul fitri (part 2)

2009-09-29T07:02:00.017+07:00

gue akan lanjutkan kisah gembira tentang cedar point. ternyata dari raptor sampe millenium force menghabiskan waktu sebanyak 4 jam. ajigilebuset dan ternyata lamanya di ngantri itu. karena waktu saat itu menunjukkan jam 4 sore, kita keluar buat dinner karena dinnernya bakal mulai jam 5, mungkin kalo di indo gue masih main layangan dan tidur siang. kita keluar arena tapi tangan kita dicap dulu. disini kebalik sama dufan, kita masuk baru dicap, disini dicap dulu sebelum keluar, jadi kalo mau masuk lagi tinggal nunjukin cap tanpa haru beli tiket ulang.

akhirnya kita dateng kepagian. tidak ada orang di sekitar meja makan kita. jadi kita nunggu dulu sambil kedinginan. suhu disana sekitar 65 fahrenheit atau 18 derajat celcius gitu, ditambah lagi dengan letaknya di tengah tengah danau membuat angin semilir begitu kencang berhembus dan meniup tubuhku ke kanan dan ke kiri, oh sungguh sial. sekitar setengah 5an, Val dateng disusul rombongan rombongan lain untuk dinner. gak perlu diceritain yah makan apa, yang penting kenyang hidup senang seperti di atas awan menari balet bersama bidadari. setelah selesai makan, kita mutusin balik lagi ke dalem arena permainan sampe jam sepuluh.

tujuan kita setelah makan tentu bukan rides aneh yang menggetarkan perut anda. kita milih haunted house, karena tema Cedar Point kali ini tentang halloween walaupun halloween masih sekitar 200 tahun lagi. antrilah kita di situ, eh tiba2 ada abang2 lari gitu mendekati rombongan kita terutama yang cewek. dengan darah2 menetes dan muka seram ala hantu dia nyolek temen gue dari Thailand, tentu aja dia teriak setengah mati disitu. gue aja syok ngeliat dia. gile baru ngantri aja udah didatengin hantu. i admit it, gue deg2an sumpah, mendingan gue naek raptor 50 kali, gak juga sih, 2 kali deh. entah kenapa gue gak bisa memotivasi diri gue untuk gak takut sama hantu. karena hantu itu ilogical ya gue gabisa dengan logis untuk tidak takut. gitu deh ribet yang penting jiper.

tiba giliran kami. untung ada adeknya kenny, bocah pemberani. jadi gue tagging along di belakang dia. sial gue paling belakang. disini ruangannya gak dibikin gelap tapi asapnya ngepul banget, kayak di panggung2 itu lho, jadi semua yang di depan gak keliatan. ditambah hantu-hantu dengan baju hitam dan dandanan serem. kalo mereka diem gak gerak sih oke oke aja (cuih), ini masalahnya merek gerak sambil ngagetin. sialan. selama 5 menit kita disitu ditakutin luai dari hantu kecelakaan, rumah sakit, bar mesum dan tempat berhantu lain. untung gak nyasar, soalnya operator bilang kalo nyasar ENJOY YOUR LIFE THERE! manisnya.

walau tidak selebay ini tapi gue melakukannya

setelah keluar dari tempat sialan-tujuh-turunan kita naik power tower yang tingginya sampe 300 feet (91 m). jadi kita diangkat gitu ke atas dan sampe atas kita diturunin dengan tidak hormat alias dibiarkan giut aja. sebenernya towernya ada empat, 2 merah dan 2 ijo. kalo merah lebih parah, dibawa ke atas dengan tidak hormat dan diturunkan juga dengan tidak hormat. kalo ijo turunnya doang yang tidak hormat. kita naeknya yang ijo. nah disini kaki gue kayak mau putus gitu. kram banget apalagi kan kaki kita ngeggantung gitu di atas, makin kram jadi gue teriak bukan gara-gara ketakutan, tapi gara gara kesakitan. sama aja sih sebenernya haha.

power tower. tidak ada hubungan saudara sama power ranger

setelah dari power tower kita mencoba naik top thril dragster. ini impian gue dari kelas 1 SMP sejak gue ngeliat foto-fotonya dari email gue. unbelievable im here now to take a bite. fyi, top thrill dragster ini sempat menduduki peringkat pertama roller coaster tertinggi di dunia, dengan tinggi 420 feet. edwwwwaaaann. ini yang jadi landmark Cedar Point. kalo ini gue jabanin deh walaupun jiper seiprit. dengan menunggu selama 1 jam setengah akhirnya kita dapet tempat untuk duduk dan merasakan permainan ini. pre-rides-syndrome gue keluar. gue bener2 gak mau naik. tapi gue harus naik entah mengapa. mengucap dzikir beberapa kali dan akhirnya wes ewes ewes. bayangkan dari keadaan diem, lo dibuat bergerak langsung dengan kecepatan 100 mph. rambut gue yang indah ini langsung terurai, begitu juga mulut gue mirip dengan bibir komeng di salah satu iklan motor.

top thrill dragster was thrillin'

akhirnya gue menemukan teori baru disini. kalo gue mau naek rides, pas udah nyampe puncak, tahan napas, tutup mata dikit sampe ridesnya bener-bener dalam keadaan miring (tapi masih di puncak) baru buka mata. itu cara jitu dari pengecut seperti gue. hiks. dan gue disana teriak "minaaaaal aidiiiiiiiinnn......" dan tentu saja tidak ada yang dengar, pasalnya semua manusai disitu teriak semua. akhirnya permainan yang berdurasi 45 detik ini selesai juga. afdol rasanya hidup gue, seperti sayur dengan garam dan inul dengan goyang ngebor.

yeaaaay... lanjut ke permainan selanjutnya. awalnya kita (gue, jordan, jason, kenny dan wanita.red) mau ke gemini, tapi Val maunya kita bareng-bareng ke sananya dan walhasil kita ke haunted house kedua. sebenernya sih gue rada gak setuju dengan ide ini, gimana ya susah ngejelasinnya. gue takut. kalo ini sebenernya bukan haunted house karena basicly kita ada di jalanan biasa dengan asap tebal yang mengiringi perjalanan. sumpah asepnya tebel banget jadi gak keliatan apa-apa dan in ifully dark dengan lampu kelap kelip. tanpa disadari di sebelah gue ada kuntilanak amerika menyambangi gue dan bilang, "are you okay?". gue teriak dulu baru bilang gini, "i'm good thank you, minal aidin!". ternyata semakin anda takut, hantu-hantu amerika ini semakin senang. jadinya hampir seperempat perjalanan si kunti jalan disebelah gue, sampe gue bilang, "stop, get away from me, please!". eh dia malah nanya dengan posisi muka dia 10 cm dari muka gue, "what? okay, bye!". %#$*&n)* sial.

tak hanya sampai situ. pas kita jalan di jembatan ternyata ada hantu-hantuan (basicly) ngemper kayak pengemis, megangin kaki wisatawan di sana. dari kejauhan, gue langsung ambil ancang-ancang untuk menghindari hantu penegmis ini, eh ternyata di seberangnya ada frankenstein. apes. intinya gue gak bisa menemukan cara untuk menghindari hantu-hantu ini dan gue apes pes pes! kira kira gue ketemu 20 hantu kali. gue lemas seperti mati suri di taman.

setelah itu keinginan kami kesampeyan untuk naik gemini. menurut gue ini ride paling cool karena railnya terbuat dari kayu asli dan punya dua rail sekaligus jadi kita kayak lomba gitu naik ridesnya. ini adalah ride favorit gue di Cedar Point. entahlah gue speechless karena menurut gue ini oke punya. kalo pas curving atau lagi kecepatan rendah, kereta yang kiri sama yang kanan bisa tos-tosan gitu. sseruuuuuu

gemini. the best ride ever

mari kita lanjutkan dengan ride berikutnya. setelah dari gemini kita lanjut ke mean streak. ini paling menjijikkan. emang sih railnya sama sama terbuat dari kayu dan tracknya lebih panjang dari gemini. tapi ini ride terburuk, karena :

1. setiap belok dan drop (turun) dari puncaknya, badan lo kayak digoyang-goyang keras kanan-kiri mirip kayak pontang-panting dengan skala lebih kencang. dan itu bikin pegel.
2. kacamata-ijo-seru-asyik gue jatoh disini gara gara guncangan itu.

mean streak. you're abslolutely mean

setelah dari mean streak akhirnya kita finish karena udah jam sepuluh kurang. if i could paraphrase this day in one word, i would say. coolness. entah kenapa gue merasa banget kalo gue di amerika. yasudahlah. nampaknya episodenya akan gue tambah jadi part 3. semoga tidak bosan. keep an eye! bye fellows.

cedar point dan idul fitri (part 1)

2009-09-26T05:03:00.011+07:00

maafkan gue yang kini telah jauh dari blog. sejujurnya gue gak jauh jauh dari internet ya tapi males aja nulis blog. tapi karena sekarang gue sudah rajin, mari kita lanjutkan. oh ya, arief budiman dan keluarga mengucapkan selamat idul fitri 1430 hijriyah bagi semuenya. semoga kita kembali ke cinta fitri, season lebaran tentunya, bukan season ramadhan.

baiklah. minggu kemaren, tepatnya tanggal 19 september, gue pergi sama anak-anak YES dan exchange student lain dari ACES ke cedar point, ohio. gue pergi bersama local coordinator, Val. pagi-pagi, gue udah berangkat dari michigan ke ohio. gak terlalu lama sih, cuma satu jam. terus hostparents gue ngedrop-off gue sama jordan di McD untuk menemui ibu koordinator lokal. ternyata disana sudah ada Jha dari Thailand dan Santiago dari Meksiko. Kami bercengkrama hingga Val dan satu anak Thailand lagi, Frame datang. Singkat cerita, gue bersama rombongan McD menjemput sekitar 10 lagi yang udah nunggu di rumah Val.

Kita berangkat dari rumah Val yang kira-kira satu setengah jam dari cedar point. Kebetulan gue pindah mobil bareng-bareng anak YES yang lain. Ada Sarah dari Filipina, Arsenio dari Mozambique sama Leah dari Kenya. Setelah perjalanan tak terasa itu akhirnya sampai juga di Cedar Point. Dulunya ini namanya Cedar Bay, club yang isinya orang-orang kaya raya dan biasanya kalo mau dateng kesana harus diundang dulu, seperti kondangan.

Yasudah itu sejarahnya, mari balik lagi. Kita turun dari mobil dan membereskan makanan dulu diluar area amusement park. Jadi makanan kita di beresin dulu tapi gak langsung di makan, pas pulang dimakannya. Jadi Cedar Point atau mungkin amusement park yang lain, nyedain tempat buat kita naro makanan dan itu gak bakal ada yang nyolong karena semua orang yang mau makan di luar area Cedar Point naro semua barang-barangnya disitu.

Cedar Point

Akhirnya kami beli tiket, jangan kaget kalo tiket seharga $22.50 itu udah diskon. karena harga tanpa diskon $49.99. gue aja ampe ngelus-ngelus dada ngeluarin duitnya. haha. akhirnya kita masuk dan mulai berpencar jadi kelompok-kelompok kecil. Gue stick with Jordan, hostbro gue, Jason dari China dan Kenny, hostbronya Jason. Pertama kita naik raptor, roller coaster dengan posisi rail diatas kepala kita. jadi kita naik roller coasternya tidak napak a.k.a terbang.

karena gue norak, gue teriak teriak aja naek atas bawah muter-muter, tidak peduli dengan 3 bapak India di sebelah gue menatap gue penuh rasa amarah sambil goyang-goyang di tengah permainan. setelah selesai permainannya, kita ke booth foto. jadi tiap rides /roller coaster yang kita naikin bakal ada kamera yang foto/ngerekam kejadian apa yang menimpa kita selama permainan. kalo di raptor enggak difoto tapi divideo-in, jadilah keliatan muka aib jahanam itu di layar kaca. tadinya gue mau beli video gue di raptor, eh harganya $30. jangan deh dompet gue langsing nanti. dan gue juga gak bawa kamera jadi ya gimana deh udah sedih aja.

raptor

setelah naik raptor, tentu dengan keadaan mabuk janda, kita berpapasan dengan rombongan kaum hawa dan menyatakan ingin bergabung dengan kaum adam. tentu kami terima dengan tangan terbuka. setelah milih ini-ina-itu akhirnya kita milih naek magnum xl2000. roller coaster ini udah ada sejak tahun 1989, bayangin aja tentunya dia lebih berpengalaman dari gue dan mungkin sekarang dia lagi kuliah kalo dia manusia (ngarang). kita ngantri hampir setengah jam dan tadaaaaaa. naiklah kami. tak lupa sebelum permainan baca dua kalimat syahadat dan dzikir agar semua terjadi sesuai dengan rencana. dan terang saja, selama permainan kata-kata yang gue lantunkan sungguh menyayat hati, "i love you my mom". ironis.

magnum xl2000

kadar kemabukan kali ini tidak seburuk raptor, masih bisa dikontrol. selanjutnya kami mencoba millenium force. ngantrinya lama benjet. bisa ampe 1 jam kalo ini. gila ya, kok ada orang ngantri cuma buat dikocok2 perutnya, gak nyampe 3 menit lagi mainannya. edan. setelah menunggu sekian lama. gue hampir naik. sumpah gue ngerasa hidup gue tidak akan lama lagi. terlintas dalam pikiran gue untuk "aduh gak tahan lagi deh dikocok2! ampun dj". mana abang2 operatornya bilang, "enjoy your 80 degress, 93 miles per hour and 310 feet high!". mereka terkadang suka melawak. gue jadi makin sedih. tapi kan mana ada beginian lagi. maaf ya dufan, halilintar anda sungguh tidak apa-apanya dibanding ini. dengan berbesar hati gue bersama Jordan naik ini. Alhamdulillah gue tidak kehilangan suatu apapun disini dan tidak juga mabuk.

millenium force

karena ini sangat panjang jadi gue potong ya jadi 2 part. keep spying!

namanya annapolis high school

2009-09-13T00:27:00.011+07:00

mulai dari tanggal 9 september yang laloe, gue masuk sekolah menengah atas di negara gue yang baru, namanya Annapolis High School. lambang dari sekolah ini adalah cougars, sejenis macan. maka dari itu segala sesuatu yang berhubungan dengan Annapolis pasti ada macan-macannya seperti buku kuning yang tempo hari gue ceritakan yang bergambar macan bengong.

yasudah. seperti tradisi masyarakat pertukaran pelajar kebanyakan, gue juga akan turut memamerkan apa aja cih pelajaran-pelajaran yang gue ambil. untuk term kali ini gue mengambil CAD drafting and design, Multi Purpose, World History, 12 English dan Psychology. gue milih karena beberapa dari wishlist yang gue ajuin ternyata gak ada di term ini jadi gue harus nunggu term berikutnya untuk ngambil pelajaran yang gue inginkan. ngerti gak?

yasudah. hari pertama berjalan. CAD drafting and design itu kayak buat arsitektur lalala dan printil-printilnya. gurunya mr. gimpel yang amat simpel dan fleksibel. dia freundlich banget dan tertarik sama Indonesia, terutama Jakarta. karena gue adalah newbie jadi kerjaannya adalah ngegambar, nulis a-z dengan mode miring, gambar sketch dan sebagainya.

selanjutnya adalah multi purpose yang fungsinya hampir mirip dengan study hall. kelasnya di perpustakaan. nah kalo pas gak ada pr, ya udah deh mingle sama bule. kebetulan temen pertama-tama gue dapetnya disini nih. pokoknya kelasnya asyik deh, hidup gue jadi ringan seperti kapas kalo masuk kelas ini.

selanjutnya adalah world history. gue milih ini karena us history baru akan ada semester depan. kelas ini sebenernya tidak dipeuntukkan bagi senior seperti gue, kelas ini hanya untuk sophomore dan junior. jadi di kelas ini gue adalah yang paling kolot dan bolot. gurunya bernama mr. taylor. beliau merupakan tipikal guru galak tapi lawak. pertama-tamanya guejiper gara-gara dia teriak, tapi jadi biasa aja karena lawakan srimulatnya begitu menggelitik dan membuat terkekeh.

setelah dari mr. taylor, gue melanjutkan destinasi ke kelas ms. butcko, yaitu kelas 12 English. tempat duduk di kelas ini gak bisa bebas gara-gara di arrange sama ms. butcko, jadilah gue ditaro di paling belakang. eh... tahunya si ibu butcko ini amat senang memberi murid-muridnya catatan, namun tidak ditulis di papan tulis putih berspidol melainkan didikte. AAAPPPPPAAAAAAA ???(di zoom in dengan stacatto pada setiap ekspresi). gini yah ibu, saya aja di sekolah ulangan listening pake cd masih belepotan jawabnya. jadinya gue pasrah. tapi gue menyusun strategi untuk pindah tempat duduk untuk lain kali. dan sekarang sudah pindah tapi sayangnya masalah gue masih sama. bolot disease.

nah yangterkahir psychology. honestly, this course isn't one of my wishlist tapi karena ada satu dan lain hal, gue masuk sini. pelajarannya gak susah tapi vocabnya lumayan nyiksa sih, selevel dibawah english deh. gue gak mau terlalu banyak komentar sih tentang ini. haha walaupun muka gurunya kata temen sebangku gue kayak artis hollywood gue masih kurang sreg jadi kayanya gue bakal pindah dari kelas ini. soon, i have to say goodbye to you psycho!

karena ceritanya tidak happy ending mari kita sudahi saja. karena sebentar lagi gue udah mau buka puasa, gue lagi kena sindrom gila-puasa-lama-abis-di-amerika jadi gue sudahi saja daripada gue esmosi dan membatalkan puasa. okeoke. see you lata'!

hammtramck labor day festival

2009-09-08T03:34:00.010+07:00

hari jum'at lalu, gue pergi ke sebuah kota yang sedang mengadakan festival hari buruh (labor day festival). setelah jemput hostmom, dan memasak keperluan berbuka puasa, kita (gue, hostdad, dan hostmom. tanpa hewan) pergi ke festival itu. nama kotanya unik hammtramck, cara bacanya yaitu hemtremik, hampir mirip pengucapannya dengan ciamik, bulimik, dan keramik. setelah sampai downtown hammtramck. sekedar inpoh, kota ini didiami oleh dominasi dari orang-orang polandia (polish), sehingga nama jalannya berakhiran dengan 'ski', seperti swarovski, helsinki, basuki dsb.

dari kejauhan gue melihat ingar-bingar festival. sama sih kayak festival kebanyakan, ada panggung musik (bukan dangdut erotis, please!), stand-stand makanan, baju, rides seperti, komidi putar, kora-kora, pontang-panting dan tentu saja namanya tidak seperti yang gue katakan barusan. karena gue puasa jadi gue hanya puas ngambil potoh-potoh di pelataran festival. gue liat-liat ridesnya yang menantang dan menguji adrenalin, seperti kora-kora yang hanya ada dupan dan permainan lain yang tentunya menarikhati dan menggoda iman, tapi kan gue puasa yah jadi ditahan aja dulu sampe buka.

komidi putar

dan akhirnya waktu bedugpun tiba. gue lesehan di jalan sambil makan fish curry a la mid-eastern bikinan hostdad gue. setelah cukup makan-makan, hostmom gue nanya gue jadi mo naek apa enggak. karena tubuh gue sudah kuat dan sudah bisa berjalan sendiri, akhirnya gue mengiyakan. pertama-tama, gue memilih dulu apa yang ingin gue naiki, akhirnya terpilihlah dua kandidat yaitu demon loop dan 1001 nights yang akan gue jelaskan kemudian.

setelah membeli tiket gue langsung get in line bersama calon penumpang lain. sambil bengong dan melihat lingkungan sekitar, tiba-tiba ada seorang kuit hitam, mungkin umurnya gak beda jauh dari gue, sekitar 14 tahunan mungkin. trus dia ngomong ke gue. sumpah kayak penyanyi rap. tangannya goyang2 kanan kiri depan belakang atas bawah. tahu apa yang dia omongin dengan gaya itu? "minggir deh, orang belakang lo mau lewat tuh!". daaaaaaang! hampir gue kira dia kesurupan. but it's okay for some intermezzo.

tiba saatnya gue naik. sebenernya sih rada deg-degan naiknya. naik halilintar aja kaki gue lemes pas ngangkang mau masuk ride-nya. tapi gue yakin banget nih gak bakal bikin enek. yasudah gue coba dulu. karena permainan ini gak ada di indonesia, ya rasa sayange aja kalau gak dicoba. udah nih gue siap berangkat diobok ke atas dan ke bawah. pertama-pertamanya asik tapi sesudahnya gue gak bisa menutup mulut gue untuk teriak. sampe ada anak kecil di sebelah gue marah gara-gara gue teriak kekencengan. ya tapi gue gak berhenti teriak. dia nyerah, dia nutup kupingnya selama permainan berlangsung. selesai diobok-obok oleh satu permainan, gue mencoba ke permainan berikutnya. btw, apa yang gue rasakan setelah naik 1001 nights? mabok level 1 atau mabok janda di mana gue masih bisa menggunakan akal sehat untuk jalan dan berkomunikasi.

mabok level 1

ya selanjutnya adalah demon loop. singkatnya, gue ngantri lagi masuk rides diobok2 lagi. tapi kalau ini diobok2nya lebih parah dari 1001 nights, karena tubuh lo di flip 180 derajat di puncak. seperti waktu waktu sebelumnya, gue teriak lagi. sumpah gue merasa kalo hidup gue gak akan lama lagi pas di demon loop. orang depan gue aja bilang stop stop muluk. ya gue sih cuma bisa dzikir yang banyak selama permainan berlangsung. mungkin gue rekomendasiin ini kepada semua orang yang merasa dosanya banyak dan ingin cepat-cepat bertaubat kepada Tuhan. gue yakin lo semua langsung taubat bahkan sebelum naik. pertanyaan yang sama gue ajukan, apa yang gue rasakan setelah naik demon loop? Subhanallah, mabok level 4 atau mabok bae di mana gue hanya sedikit kemampuan berkomunikasi, jalan tidak lurus, pandangan acak, dan jantung pindah ke pantat.

mabok level 4

sebelum pertobatan dimulai

untung gue tidak muntah seperti remaja labil ini

pesan moral : jangan pernah mau diobok-obok sehabis anda buka puasa.

adios komodos

pengangguran mau cerita

2009-09-04T09:23:00.004+07:00

tidak seperti willy dan lily yang ingin menceritakan pengalaman sekolahnya yang seru haha hihi hukhuk hoek lalala, gue justru sebaliknya. GUE BELOM SEKOLAH YA ALLAH TOLONG! tapi walau bagaimanapun juga, gue cukup menikmati indahnya masa pengangguran ini. begini siklus kehidupan gue sebelom sekolah : sahur - tidur - bangun (jam 10-11) - do dishes - nganter anjing pipis - ol - ol - ol - ol - jemput hostmom - ol - buka puasa - ol - tidur - sahur dan begitu lagi seterusnya. rada biadab sih sebagai anak exceng, ya tapi mau bagaimana lagi. mungkin gue akan mulai memodifikasi hidup gue sesaat setelah gue sekolah nanti. LIAT AJA *alis kanan naek2*.

berhubung dengan sekolah, tadi siang gue ke sekolah untuk cek-cek ina-itu tentang sekolah, ketemu konselor, bikin id card dan quick tour di sekitar sekolah. pas gue ketemu konselor gue dikasih buku kuning dengan cover macan bengong dengan tulisan "visitor's guide to cougars country". gue sempet bingung, ini sekolah apa kebon binatang. tapi yasudahlah. ternyata di dalemnya ada banyak pilihan course/subject yang bisa dipilih murid-murid di sekolah gue.

dengan ngomong super duper lambat kayak bajaj mogok, konselor gue menjelaskan tentang apa itu subject dan perintil2nya. gue harus buat keputusan apa aja yang akan gue ambil selama satu tahun dan katanya kalo bisa jangan sama kayak di indonesia, biar dapet tantangan baru. duileh. di buku bercover macan bengong itu terdapat banyak sekali mata pelajaran. awalnya gue sempet keder karena banyak mata pelajaran menarik, contohnya PLKJ (ngarang).

mulai dati automotive, personal finance, career planning, current events, speech, anatomy dan sebagai macamnya. semuanya asik, tapi gue harus milih yang paling asik diantara yang asik. ya tentunya us. history yang rumornya sulit sembelit, english tapi gue gak milih yang AP karena tidak menggiurkan bagi otak gue, personal finance, AP calculus, media production dan speech communication. gue sudah memikirkan itu masak masak sabigi di kurung bari-bari.

sebenernya sih jadwalnya belom fix banget karena gue belom lapor kek konselor dan belom tahu apa kelasnya penuh atau enggak. semoga saja gue dapet busik (bule asik) dan bucan (bule cantik) di kelas- kelas tersebut atau paling enggak, ngerti pelajarannya.

salam macan sekolah (cougars)
raaawwwwrrr

saya bukan malinkundang

2009-09-03T06:19:00.006+07:00

"I love you full, ma!"
-Mbah Surip-

yang serumah dengan gue...

2009-09-03T02:18:00.012+07:00

buenos dias. hari ini gue lagi sendirian di rumah karena hostparents gue lagi kerja dan hostbro gue sedang meningkatkan kegaulan bersama teman-teman bulenya. ya daripada gue bengong sendiri di rumah kan gak cute -lucu, red- mendingan memproduktifkan diri gue dengan tulisan yang kurang bobot seperti tubuh gue yang hanya 92,4 lbs.

selama tinggal di amerika tentu aja'kan gue gak tinggal sendirian luntang-lantung, kayang, roll depan dan roll belakang seperti gelandangan. seperti yang kalian kalian pada tahu, bahwa gue tinggal di sebuah keluarga. nah, gue akan memperkenalkan mereka. seperti yang gue jelaskan di pos greeting from overseas, gue tinggal bersama tiga orang dan tiga hewan. dengan baik hati, gue akan menjelaskannya satu persatu.

Mr. Keith La Beau
beliau adalah bapak angkat gue. dia bule asli, nama belakangnya diambil dari ayahnya yang keturunan quebec, perancis. beliau ini amat humoris, kalo srimulat lagi nyari pelawak bule, mungkin beliau bisa diterima. kalo gue bangun, dia selalu ngomong 'selammat pagee', kalo gue minta tolong dia gak pernah bilang thankyou, dia selalu bilang 'tereemakazzeh'. menurut gue, beliau adalah agen dari wikipedia, karena dia tahu banyak hal. beliau selalu mengajari gue untuk speak-up, kalo gak seneng, ngomong, jangan ditahan, entar kentut (gak sejauh itu sih ngomongnya). yang paling penting, dia jago masak, mau masakan amerika sampe tegal dia jagonya. dia bisa membuat lidahmu kayang dan bergoyang karena sedapnya masakan beliau.

Mrs. Erna La Beau

ya, seperti yang gue omongin beberapa waktu yang lalu, dia adalah orang indonesia, banjarmasin tepatnya. sejujurnya gue seneng karena gue bisa nemu juga orang indonesia di amerika, serumah lagi. dengan hostmom gue yang satu ini gua jadi tahu banyak kalo gimana hitam putihnya kehidupan amerika. azek. beliau udah 9 tahun di amerika jadi dia sudah merasakan pahit hidup, asam garam kehidupan disini. dia jago banget fotografi, lensa kameranya aja kayak belalai gajah. panjang. makanya foto gue selalu indah kalo di facebook, itu karena jepretan beliau.

Jordan La Beau
bobot tubuhnya 3 kali dari gue. jagonya wrestling, tapi gue gak pernah di wrestling ama dia. masa depan gue bisa hancur kalo gue di-smack sama dia (ngelantur). tipikal remaja amerika yang gaul dengan lagu hiphop dan celana-longgar-jatoh-keliatan-boxer. ciri khasnya adalah topi miringnya, tentu tidak membuat mabok. satu gue yang kagumi dari dia, bahasa inggrisnya lancar banget.

Joezy La Beau
ini bukan orang, dia hewan. anjing tepatnya. jenisnya malthis, baru satu tahun sekian bulan, tidak seperti orok manusia yang pada umumnya belom lancar jalan, dia bahkan udah bisa lari, kencing, poop sendiri. salut. tingkahnya begitu aktif. pernah secara tidak sengaja gue menginjak dia karena gue kira dia bantal putih dengan bulu halus, sampe akhirnya dia menjadi anjrit. anjing menjerit.

walau tubuhnya kecil, tapi nyalinya gede luar biasa. pernah suatu masa saat gue bawa dia pas garage sale. kebetulan rumah yang garage sale itu punya anjing apa gatau pokoknya gede, kalo berdiri mungkin gue bisa dihardik. dengan manisnya, anjing cilik gue ini berdiri di depan anjing gede itu sambil nge-gonggong dan mukul-mukul muka si anjing gede itu. merasa dirinya dilecehkan, anjing gede itu marah dan negejer anjing cilik yang gue pegangin talinya. akhirnya gue tarik Joezy keluar dengan langkah gemetar sambil dzikir, gila seumur-umur gue dikejer anjing dua kali dan duaduanya bikin gue jantung gue pindah ke perut. eh udah gue bawa keluar rumah, ternyata anjing di seberang rumah juga ngegonggong, disusul rumah sebelahnya, disusul seberangnya. dzikir makin kencang. jantung gue makin turun ke bawah, sudah ke pantat mungkin. syukur Alhamdulillah anjiing anjing tersebut dikurung di rumah. anjing banget deh!

Princess dan Gabriel
mereka adalah dua kucing yang bertolak belakang kepribadiannya.. Princess merupakan kucing pendiam yang tidak suka dicolek ataupun dicium, seperti soleram. prilakunya mirip seorang putri raja, makanya dinamain princess. kalo item dikit rambutnya panjang, pasti namanya jadi pocahontas. yasudahlah. gue tidak bisa berkomentar banyak mengenai princess karena hubungan gue sama dia tidak begitu harmonis sejak dia menggigit gue beberapa waktu lalu.

kalo gabriel lebih sweetheart kalo kata hostdad gue. gabriel suka nemenin gue kalo lagi buka laptop, mungkin karena dia ingin tahu bagaimana dunia perkucingan saat ini. bedanya princess sama gabriel. kalo princess, gue sering menemukan dia rebahan di lengan sofa, nah kalo gabriel sering gue temukan kalo gue lagi ngeden di kamar mandi. mungkin dia jelmaan penjaga toilet. wallahualam. mau tahu hobinya gabriel? kabur keluar rumah seperti manohara. tapi bedanya dengan manohara, gabriel pasti balik lagi ke rumah.

itulah orang dan hewan yang akan mengisi kehidupan gue setahun ke depan. doakan kami selalu harmonis.

kalo aku maunya jadi dokter, kamu?

2009-09-01T06:57:00.005+07:00

dalam suasana bulan puasa yang penuh hikmah, gue menemukan sesuatu yang bikin gue tidak laper dan haus lagi. gue buka facebook, buka profile orang, dapatlah ini. ya Allah semoga dosa dia dan gue diampuni. amin

(speechless)

semoga dosa gue bener-bener diampunin. fyi, cita-cita gue mau jadi dokter!

sampai jumpa

Biweekly report

2009-08-31T23:06:00.010+07:00

appa kebbar? gue ingin merapel apa yang gue lakukan selama dua mingu belakangan :

The Woodward World Cruise, Ferndale, MI

ACES Orientation, Maumee Bay, OH

Ypsilanti Heritage Festival, Ypsilanti, MI

Belle Isle, Detroit, MI

Cabela's, Dundee, MI

Huron River, MI

Semoga menjawab berbagai pertanyaan yang sering muncul.

wassalam

Greeting from Overseas

2009-08-21T21:41:00.012+07:00

Good mornin'!
How you're doin'?
Have a nice day!

Begitu kira-kira lingkungan baru gue menyapa gue beberapa hari belakangan. Emang lo dimana? di hutan amazon? di pulogebang? oh tentu tidak, karena gue sedang mengalami tahun pertukaran di tanah para bule bersemayam, yang tentu bukan di malaysia ataupun di india. Ya, gue sedang ada di negeri obama, Amerika Serikat.

Memang perjalan untuk sampe disini bisa dibilang gak mudah, atau bisa dibilang susah banget. saingan sama ribuan orang dan akhirnya bisa nyangkut jadi 121 orang yang akan berangkat ke hostcountry masing-masing. well, Alhamdulillah gue sangat beruntung bisa nyangkut di tempat yang (katanya) diidam-idamkan banyak orang.

Gue disini tinggal sama keluarga La Beau. Ada Keith La Beau, bokap angkat gue, Erna La Beau, nyokap angkat gue, dan Jordan La Beau, adek angkat gue yang nyata-nyata bobot tubuhnya 3 kali dari gue. Pasti ada pertanyaan gini, "nama hostmom lo kok Indo abis deych!?". ya, nyokap angkat gue gue adalah seorang Indonesia. Ya jadi gue bisa dibilang beruntung adri yang laen karena gue masih bisa makan nasi dan ikan asin di Amerika sementara manusia indonesia lain hanya makan daun dan roti gandum.

Rumah gue terletak di kota bernama taylor. ya macem-macemnya bekasi gitu deh, pinggiran jakarta. Cuma 15 menit dari downtown detroit dan cuma 15 menit juga ke kanada. Oh iya, gue disini juga tinggal bersama mahluk hidup lain tapi gak berakal. Ada 3 binatang yang menemani gue di kala gue sendiri di rumah. yang pertama Joezy La Beau, anjing malthis yang berumur satu sekian tahun. hiperaktif namun harmless. lalu ada 2 kucing yang berbeda kepribadian, gabriel dan princess. sesuai dengan namanya, princess berprilaku seperti putri yang tidak boleh dicolek2, dan kalo dicolek marahlah dirinya.

Itu mungkin sekelebat mengenai kehidupan gue di amerika serikat. perjalanan ini belum final, karena masih banyak cerita-cerita asyik seru dan menggemaskan dari gue selanjutnya.

adios amigos komedos

Homework is done Kak Taufik!

2009-08-18T03:34:00.003+07:00

Gerak asing menggelepar sudut penjuru belulang
Titanium tambah baja mengepak sayap
Aku hilang dibawa asa, tertiup bersama buih-buih lain

Menantang keras batu pijakan
Meretas tirai hitam ketidaktahuan
Menindih kobar angkuh binasa
Menyeruak sendiri misteri dibalik hamparan luar cakrawala

Hanya takut kubawa, untuk sujud hari ini
Hanya malu kubawa, untuk budaya saban hari
Hanya dendam kubawa, untuk bukti tantangannya

Biarkan aku, buih kecil itu
Berpijak di konon sarang juara

Taylor, Michigan
2009

*a bit homework from the '53 returnee, Kak Taufik Ismail*

Frequently Ask Question(s)

2009-07-22T12:06:00.004+07:00

eh Abe, lo mau ke Amerika ya?
iya

wah, Amerika dimananya tuh?
Detroit, Michigan

oh, emang kapan berangkatnya?
delapanagustusduarebusembilan

salam ya buat Obama!
sip

trus anak AFS siapa lagi dari 8?
Attika sama Mulia

mereka kemana tuh?
sama, Amerika juga

wow, berangkatnya bareng ya?
gak, mereka berangkatnya tigabelasagustus

oh, mereka Amerika dimananya seh?
aduh gatau, belom dapet hostfam mereka

ih asik banget deh, yaudah deh semangat ya AFSnya!
terimakasih banyak. doakeun semua lancar amin ya Allah, Subhanallah, Allahuakbar!

sumpah bukan mau sombong suerr disamber jambret deh!

in a huge boredom

2009-07-07T17:31:00.002+07:00

guys, i think i don't have anything to share with you, just because i've been nowhere in this holiday season. then i fulfilled my day with facebook-ing, blogwalking and packing. yes, that's how i spend this sucks holiday.

nyokap gue selalu menyuruh gue untuk packing as early as possible biar gak berantakan dan keleleran pas mau berangkat, karena waktu gue tinggal 22 hari lagi sodara sodarih! ahhhh atut ih atut mau kentut!

berikut ini adalah pernak-pernik kecil yang sudah gue masukan ke dalam tas besar yang biasa disebut koper :

1. underwear. kenapa ini mesti jadi nomor 1? ini penting tauk. karena tidak mungkin selama di negeri orang gue tidak memakai anderwer apalagi minjem.

2. bebajuan. yang berupa kemeja-kemejah yang bisa gue gunakan untuk ke acara resmi. tolong dicatat hanya berupa kemeja yang gue siapkan sementara yang lain, sudah lupa tuh!

3. suvenir dengan berbagai varian yaitu dompet, kain, dan kantung ponsel yang kesemua-semuanya memiliki motif batheek. harganya murah loh, asyik bisa bawa banyak namun nyokap gue tetap merasa kurang dengan 50 dompet dan 50 kantung ponsel yang dibeli.

4. winter coat. karena kebetulan mamah gue bukan gita gutawa yang membiarkan gue hipotermia di kutup ootara, jadilah dibelinya winterkot berikut sarung tangan dan kaws kakheenya.

5. andug. untuk mengeringkan tubuh gue yang basah setelah mandi di tanah bule.

6. sampo sanslik dan laipboy. mau tau berapa jumlahnya, sepuluh botol. tentunya ini akan digunakan selama stahun karena mamah gue bilang sampo disana mahal. daripada gue gak keramas disana gara2 mahal dan pulang-pulang rambut gue jadi mbach surip mendingan dibawakeun dari huma.

mari kita doakan agar gue dapat mengepak barang2 lain segesit mungkin dan semoga kopernya muwat. terkahir, kalo gak suka tulisan gue jangan protes, gue kutuk pindah agama lho! terimakasih. babay

ehm

2009-06-30T19:08:00.003+07:00

seluruh keluarga besar arief budiman, teman, kerabat, relasi dan segala-galanya yang tidak dapat disebutkan satu persatu dengan hati tulus ikhlas mengucapkan :

selamat hari jadi yang ke tujuh belas kepada
pemilik blog ini

semoga yang ia cita-citakan dapat terwujud dan segalanya
berjalan lancar seperti kuning-kuning di kali.
danke

#picture : deviantart, atas akun MikEZzZZ#

on day monday

2009-06-30T18:50:00.009+07:00

hari minggu lalu, gue, nyokap, om, tante, sepupu naif #1 (7) dan sepupu naif #2 (6) datang ke sebuah perhelatan sakral bertajuk pernikahan. bukan pernikahan yang akan gue kupas tuntas dan lugas melainkan sebuah percakapan jenaka antara ibunda gue dengan kedua sepupu naif.

nyoks (n) : tuh, liat tuh pengantennyah. di depannya ada yang nari tuh.
sepupu naif #2 (s#2) : karena beliau masih berumur 6 tahun, bertubuh kecil dan dalam kondisi ballroom yang sesak sempita, ia bertanya. tari apa emangnya?
n : tuh ke depan aja liat! tuh tari piring....noh liat!
s#2 : piring apa?
n : piring terbang. sana gih...

mendengar percakapan itu sepupu naif #1 (7) yang notabene sedang bercakap2 dengan gue tentang transformers dan amat tertarik dengan kecanggihan dunia teknologi menjadi kalap dan langsung pergi meninggalkan gue, tentu untuk melihat tarian piring terbang.

imaji gue sesaat terbang untuk berkhayal mengenai tetarian piring terbang. diiringi senyum kecut, inilah hasilnyah :

muka uni-nya disensor agar
tidak menimbulkan fitnah yang bukan-bukan

eloknya sebuah tetarian adat yang disajikan dengan teknologi mutakhir jaman manohara ini. no sara ya gan! semoga bangsa alien tidak berniat mengambil budaya kita dengan mengambil tarian piring.......terbang.

p.s : jangan lihat ke belakang!

karena damai itu indah

2009-06-21T12:00:00.002+07:00

"peace rules the day where reason rules the mind"
dalam foto : (astra + chandra) x goldie aulia

p.s : no HOAX, gan!

wassalam

apah?

2009-06-14T18:32:00.004+07:00

ada gosip yang kontroversial, fenomenal, dahsyat, canggih lagi mendebarkan. lebih dari gosip manohara yang penuh kontroversi dan lika-liku. lebih dari berita julia perez yang kandas hubungannya dengan gaston katonyo (katonyo siapo?). in baru sebatas gosip dan tolong jangan dianggap terlalu gimana gituh karena gue aja belum yakin dengan validitas berita ini. ada gosip yang menyatakan saya KEMBAR. ada beberapa momen yang ditangkap pewarta berita secara sembunyi-sembunyi dari rumah saya.

begitu dekatnya hubungan gue dengan kembaran gue ini

dan tahukah anda. ini HOAX abibes mati aje gue punya kembaran. semoga gue tidak dibata dan diberi cendol (kashkush mode :on)

semoga anda lebih selektif memilih berita!

si sari

2009-06-14T07:53:00.004+07:00

minggu ini adalah minggu terberat dalam hidup gue. bukan gara-gara manohara yang kembali dicekal kerajaan kelantan. seminggu terakhir ini adalah minggu dimana gue merasakan penyakit radang di rongga mulut gue, yang biasa orang-orang tua sebut sariawan.

memang ini hal yang sangat sepele apalagi dibandingkan dengan masalah hidup orang lainnya yang melibatkan banyak aspek. tapi jangan sedih, sariawan yang gue alami kali ini membuat gue kehilangan banyak hal.

ini bukanlah gambar bibir siti hajar, tki malaysia yang dihajar majikannya
sesungguhnya ini bibir saya

inilah beberapa fakta yang harus gue beberkan kenapa sariawan kali ini lebih berat dari sariawan yang sudah-sudah :
- tahukah anda? gue kehilangan nafsu makan yang intensitasnya sering dan amat besar
- tahukah anda? akibat fakata nomer 1, gue harus merelakan kehilangan sebagian massa tubuh gue seberat 2kg
- tahukah anda? sariawan ini membuat emosi gue naik turun, mirip seperti wanita yang sedang mengalami masa menstruasi,namun sakitnya bukan di bibir minor atau mayor melainkan di bibir yang sesungguhnya.

beberapa alternatif pengobatan sudah gue coba namun hasilnya nihil, sariawan itu seperti tertawa terbahak-bahak ke gue (ngawur) karena semua yang gue lakukan resultannya selalu sama dengan nol.

inilah salah satu pengobatan alternatif yang gue jalankan
tapi gatot sodara sodara

sariawan ini mengingatkan gue pada lagu nn. gita gutawa - parasit, walau mungkin sariawan gue tidak minta ditraktirin, dibeliin, dijemputin, dianterin atau bahkan di-sms-in.

sampai tulisan ini dibuat, sariawan yang gue alami berangsur-angsur kooperatif (sembuh) walaupun masih harus dalam perawatan.

L.O.V.E

2009-06-13T21:06:00.013+07:00

hampir menjalani dua tahun bersama dengan mereka. senang, sedih, susah, bete, capek bareng-bareng. mungkin in yang biasa disebut second family.

semoga kami menjadi everlasting family. amin

p.s : i love you all

final review

2009-06-09T20:16:00.002+07:00

nenek gue pernah bilang kalau kita niat buat melakukan sesuatu, Allah bakal mengarahkan kita ke jalan tersebut.pepatah itu selalu gue pegang, terutama untuk mengikuti seleksi AFS dari awal sampai sekarang, walaupun niat gue semula hanya iseng dan fiktif belaka. setelah pengisian AFS application kehidupan gue berubah menjadi semula, tanpa gegap gempita apapun sampai handphone gue suatu minggu pagi berdering. gue angkat dan ternyata kakak dari AFS menanyakan apakah gue mau ikut seleksi YES atau tidak. tanpa tedeng aling-aling gue mengiyakan dengan segala konsekuensi dan kewajiban yang nanti akan gue jalankan.

kalo tidak salah 10 desember semua calon kandidat YES berkumpul di wisma handayani. bertemu teman baru dari chapter lain seperti bandung, karawang dan bogor. bertukar cerita pikiran dan lalala selama 3 hari. tentu aja kita ikut seleksi lagi untuk jadi kandidat YES dari indonesia. singkat cerita, 3 hari yang menyenangkan itu berakhir dan kehidupan gue kembali menjadi rakyat jelata yang bersekolah di SMA negeri 8.

sebulan tak ada kabar berita dari siapa-siapa, kehidupan menjadi biasa. tanpa dinyana kawan se-chapter gue willy, yang tentu bukan free willy mengeteks gue yang kira-kira bunyinya seperti ini,"be, udah dapet surat yes belom? gue lulus, be!". alamakjang, saat itu gue sedang di rumah seseorang dan langsung saja menelepon ke rumah. tante menjawab dan mengatakan bahwa tergeletak surat dari bina antrabudaya di sana. gue minta tante gue baca dulu lalu gue telepon lagi.

5 menit dalam kecemasan membuat gue gak berhenti ke kamar mandi, namun bukan buat perilaku ekskresi melainkan menari-nari di dalam kamar mandi rumah seseorang tersebut. setelah waktu 5 menit berakhir gue kembali menelepon tante. lalu tante bilang, "mmm... katanya kamu terpilih menjadi kandidat yes, namun belum ada kepastian sampai kamu duduk di kursi pesawat. selamet ya!". Alhamdulillah, seleksi yang gue idam-idamkan berhasil gue lampaui.

ini mungkin final dari review gue tentang perjalanan gue yang merangkum jawaban dari pertanyaan, "gimono seh kox kamu bisah ikut a-ep-esh?". bukan mau sombong ataupun pamer, gue cuma pengen berbagi cerita yang bisa dibilang cukup indah dan gue rasa cuma bloglah tempat satu-satunya untuk menaruh cerita ini.

p.s : terimakasih buat semua orang dibalik segala kelulusan seleksi gue, semoga kebaikan mereka dibales dengan hal setimpal yang mereka berikan ke gue. thanks all folks!

bagian keempat dari cerita saya

2009-06-08T19:38:00.002+07:00

satu setengah bulan tergantung dalam bulir ketidakpastian. gue hanya bisa guling-guling sambil berdoa semoga mendapat hasil yang terbaik whether pass or not, i have to be happy, rite? dalam perjalanan pulang sekolah gue bertukar cerita dengan teman gue sodari fnabila, kami begitu asyik bertukar cerita mengenai blogwalking gue dan pengetahuan yang kami dapat dari dunia maya.

turun dari mobil sodari fnabila gue masih berharap semoga penantian satu setengah bulan terbayar. sesampainya di rumah, pembantu gue mengatkan ada sepucuk surat tergelatak menanti untuk dibaca. harapan mulai berkembang. serius deh, gue deg2an setengah mampus. well, that's AFS letter, my future might be decided from this tiny letter. dengan penuh hati-hati saya membuka surat ersebut. jreng...jreng... Alhamdulillah saya lulus (lagi) kehehehehe. dengan langkah cepat dan cekat gue menelepon ibunda untuk mengabarkan hal ini.

dalam surat itu dibilang kira-kira begini "keputusan untuk tahap selanjutnya masih harus adik tunggu beberapa bulan lagi untuk mengumpulkan data dari tahap tiap chapter, oleh karena itu bersabarlah karena orang sabar disayang Tuhan (bagian yang tercetak miring bukanlah tulisan yang sebenarnya)". ajigile, lama betul gue harus menunggu, tapi tak apalah hitung-hitung untuk menghilangkan over expecting yang ada dalam diri gue. Alhamdulillahnya lagi, sodari fnabila, attika, mirhady dan vina juga lulus dalam tahap ini.

BEBERAPA BULAN KEMUDIAN

cerita diawali dari keinginan sekelompok pemuda-pemudi yang ingin menyaksikan hiburan berupa film di studio bioskop cukup terkenal di bilangan gatot subroto yang kemudian biasa dipanggil masyarakat awam dengan sebutan planet hollywood. kami berencana untuk menyaksikan film si jago merah yang dikabarkan cukup menggoyang perut. di tengah film, ponsel bergetar hebat tanda panggilan masuk. paha yang cukup geli membuat gue mengangkat telepon itu.

penelepon (p) : ini arief budiman yawh? (didramatisir)
gue (g) : iyawh nehh, kenaposeh? (didramatisir) kembali)
p : selamet ya kamu lolos tahap nasional, tolong kamu dateng besok blablabla jam blablabla. jangan lupa yawh, sekali lagi selamat!
g : (speechless) oh..oh.. iya... kembali kasih! (panggilan ditutup)

tanpa berpanjang lebar saya mengabarkan kepada kawan 2 bangku di samping kiri gue yaitu sodari fnabila. fnabila kaget dan seketika berteriak seantero bioskop, syukurlah tak ada yang gundah dengan teriakan itu. tak hanya sodari fnabila yang gue kabari, sodari attikaAApun tak luput dari pemberitaan. belum selesai merespon berita gue, sodari attikaAA tiba-tiba mendapat panggilan dari nomor yang sama dan menyatakan hal yang sama seperti saya. sodari attikaAA lulus sodara-sodara.

keesokan harinya kami diwajibkan datang untuk mengisi aplikasi yang oh tuhan paling lambat dikumpulkan paling lambat seminggu setelah diberikan. dengan pelbagai isian yang cukup banyak dan dirangkap membuat gue kurang konsentrasi ujian semester saat itu. syukurlah semua selesai tanpa hambatan.

tunggu cerita selanjutnya!

p.s : sodari fnabila harus pupus harapannya karena tidak lolos dalam seleksi tahap nasional, semoga dengan kejadian ini beliau menjadi tegar dandapat masuk fkui jalur apapun yang halal amin

lanjutkan... part 3

2009-06-07T08:55:00.004+07:00

berita kelulusan tahap dua gue dapat saat di taksi menuju planet hollywood. sodari attika, mengabarkan kepada nabila bahwasanya info kelulusan tahap dua telah hadir di dunia maya. tanpa banyak cingcong sodari nabila langsung menanyakan eksistensi nomor ujiannya dalam pengumuman tersebut dan ternyata it does exist. selanjutnya adalah giliran gue, oh terimakasih Tuhan untuk tahap ini gue lulus kembali.

beberapa hari selanjutnya yang gue daftar ulang di kantor bina antar budaya. lancar. akhir minggunya, yang lolos tahap dua kumpul di STBA LIA untuk lagilagi tes tahap 3 : dinamika kelompok. kalo gak salah gue dapet kelompok dua atau tiga atau empat yang syukurnya yang sekelompok dengan saya adalah mulia destini, perempuan lajang (saat itu) yang bersekolah di tempat yang sama dengan saya dan mempunyai kecakapan khusus di bidang kepemimpinan. kelompok gue maju pagi2 dan selesai sekitar 45 menit kemudian.

setelah selesai tes tahap tiga gue menunggu teman-tebeng saya yaitu fnabila. sekeluarnya dari tempat tes, sodari fnabila tampil dengan muka cukup kesal karena teman sekelompoknya bersikap arogan dan amat cari muka di depan tim penilai. setelah selesai dengan umpatan, keluh-kesah, komplain dari sodari nabila, kami pulang.

untuk pengumuman kelulusan tahap ini akan dikirimkan melalui surat ke rumah masing-masing. saat itulah bapak pos menjadi profesi yang diidam-idamkan dan ditunggu dalam tiap detik kehidupan saya. pak pos mampirlah ke rumah saya......

aku cinta matematika

2009-05-03T16:27:00.008+07:00

gurlz#1 : nilai matematika lo berapa?
gurlz#2 : ehmm. cepek. gue mah bisa matematika. apalagi itu tuh, aljabar yang eks pangkat... ah apa ih sih tuh.. gak ngerti deh!

metromini 46 trayek p.gadung-kp.melayu

setengah semester punya cerita

2009-03-26T16:58:00.012+07:00

minggu-minggu buruk yang menuntut gue harus duduk manis membuka lembar-lembar buku kini telah usai. saatnya melihat nilai kacau balau nan tidak memukau untuk dilihat. berikut nukilan dari nilai-nilai yang mungkin membuat mata terbelalak :

ppkn : tujuhdua
khayalanku : lapanpuluh
nyerempet namun tidak kampret, beginilah ppkn. hafalanmu asetmu! atau kebetanmu asetmu!? REMED : OFF

tik (tekn. info. dan komu.) : sembilandua
khayalanku : lapanpuluh
sukurlah, lebih baik dari hayalan gue. aku cinta teknologi -bullshit-. REMED : OFF

bahasa inggris : lapandua
khayalanku : tujuhlima
empat orang budek yang ada dalam soal-soal bahasa inggris membuat gue berhasil. semoga mereka sembuh dan bisa mendengar kembali! REMED : OFF

penjas : limalapan
khayalanku tak terdefinisi
gue terdiam sejenak karena melihat nilai indah ini. merasa tertohok dan terhunus dari belakang awalnya, namun setelah mengingat bahwa pelajaran ini termasuk kategori ke laut aje deh! jadi gue tidak khawatir SAMA SEKALI REMED : OFF with 25000

biologi : lapanpuluh
khayalanku : lapanpuluh
mungkin hanya ini yang sesuai dengan daya khayal gue. paru-paru, trakea, bronkus, bronkiolus, ginjal, tubulus, dengan hormat saya ucapkan terimakasih! REMED : OFF

makasih ya njal!

bahasa jerman : (belum lihat)
khayalanku : lapanlapan
gue udah berusaha mencari tahu nilai bahasa jerman gue kapanpun di manapun. tapi saudara-saudara, ibu-ibu jerman yang memegang nilai saya selalu hilang entah ke mana. apakah ibu-ibu itu pergi ke jerman? hanya Tuhan yang tahu! REMED : idk

kimia : limapuluh
khayalanku : tujuhlima
walopun ibu-ibu kimia telah menurunkan standar nilai jadi enamlima, tetep aja tidak mengangkat derajat orang seperti gue. semoga ibu-ibu kimia mengerti kalo soal kimia itu sukarnya seperti berjalan kaki di atas api neraka. semoga ibu-ibu kimia mengerti. REMED : ON

matematika : enamenam
khayalanku : lapanlima
gue berusaha untuk gak melihat ke kanan kiri atas bawah luar dalem luas sempit kaya miskin sehat sakit dan kawan lainnya. gue berusaha pede menjawab permasalah yang tertera pada soal. mungkin soal gue disabotase, atau ada yang ingin menukar soal gue dengan soal lain. begitulah saat sinetron-mind gue berbicara! REMED : ON

padahal gue gak pernah nengok belakang

fisika : enamenam
khayalanku : tujuhpuluh
sedih. untuk nilai pada pelajaran ini gue meraih peringkat 21 dimana 20 peringkat di atas gue bebas dari jerat remed. sesak rasa di dada, namun mau berbuat apa? REMED : ON

seni : tujuhlima
khayalanku : tujuhlima
karena ilmu gue mengenai perspektif gue sedikit dan ditambah dengan hilangnya buku gambar panyambung ilmu, akhirya gue memilih menggambar 13 bentuk wajah manusia yang berbeda walopun dengan 75 sebagai nilai maksimum. REMED : OFF

bahasa indonesia : (belum tahu)
khayalanku : lapanpuluh
soalnya standar, namun bisa saja nilainya tak se-standar soalnya. semua itu bisa asal kita -guru bahasa RED- mau!
REMED : manakutahu

sejarah : (belum tahu)
khayalanku : tujuhlima
sejarah memang tiak pernah berubah, apalgi soal sejarah, dari jaman inul daratista masih ngebor, sampe dewi perssik nikah siri, selalu aja sama, kata-katanya, option-nya, segalanya. REMED : idem bahasa

jas merah (jangan sekali sekali melupakan sejarah)

agama : enamenam
khayalanku : sembilanpuluh
kaget dan terpukau, karena hanya 3 orang berhasil lolos dari lilitan remedial. malu. sedih. tapi santai. REMED : ON

total remedial yang RESMI dan diketahui : 5 butir
masih menunggu kepastian : 3 butir

semoga butiran-butiran tak pasti dapat memberikan hasil terbaik nantinya.

wakil rakyat?

2009-03-14T10:50:00.013+07:00

sebagai rakyat biasa namun tidak jelata gue hanya ingin menyampaikan keluh kesah yang ada dalam hati masyarakat yang ada. wakil rakyat. well, 9 april itu naga-naganya ada pemilu getoh, katanya sih pemilu legislatip. karena eh karena pemilu legislatip, yaudah deh yang di CONTRENG ya yang calon legislatip itu.

entah karena ingin tampil beda atau ingin mempermalukan diri sendiri, banyak para bapak/ibu/sodara/sodari/abang/none calon legislatip -terbiasa dibilang caleg- memamerkan profil mereka alam bentuk yang tidak biasa.

gue cuma pengen nunjukkin 5 teratas dari sekian puluh profil caleg yang akan masyarakat tanah air pilih, tentunya yang unik dong yah!

peringkat lima :

tema : rocker juga manusia.
salam metal. caleg oh caleg! mungkin kedua caleg ini merubah haluan mereka dari rocker menjadi calon legislatip. semoga genre musik mereka bisa berubah saat menjadi caleg. amin

peringkat empat :

tema : anakku penyanyi loh!
begitulah bangganya seorang ayah yang memiliki anak seorang artis terkenal. namun yang jadi pertanyaan, bapak ini mau jadi penyanyi juga atau memperkenalkan diri sebagai papa artis ybs agar jadi pemes. hanya Allah dan bapak ini yang tau maksudnya.

peringkat tiga :

tema : in change, we believe it
betapa bahagianya dua orang dengan rambut tipis ini bersanding layaknya pinang dibelah dua. mungkin bapak gatot alias bambang ini harus mengikuti motto obama, change. gantii muka biar lebih mirip, ganti nama, jadi ogatot kek, obambang kek, obama wanna be kek. OBAMBANG, YES!

peringkat dua :

tema : kecil-kecil cabe rawit
entah apa yang dipikirkan sang ayah untuk memajang foto anaknya untuk masuk jadi pamflet caleg. mana anaknya gaul bener, kaca item, tangan dikepal duduk dengan garang, ganteng betul anak ini. yang penting "hidupmu jauh lebih berarti tanpa narkoba". narkoba no prestasi yes.

jawaranya :

tema : asli atau palsu
(speechless)

malaikat juga tahu siapa yang jadi juaranya!
-dewi 'dee' lestari-

the next step (review part 2)

2009-03-14T09:34:00.011+07:00

Sekitar dua minggu gak ada kabar apa-apa sejak seleksi tahap I, gue tanya nyokap gue buat ngebrowse ke bina antar budaya buat liat pengumuman.

Percakapan via teleponpun kembali dilaksanakan

Lokasi penelpon : rumah

Lokasi yang ditelepon : kantor

Saya : ma, katanya tanggal ‘segini’ – sejujurnya gue lupa kapan- udah ada pengumuman seleksi di internet

Mama : oh, emang alamatnya apa?

Saya : babjakarta.org

Mama : yaudah nanti deh mama buka!

Tak lama kemudian hape saya bergoyang dan menunjukkan tulisan berupa “MAMA CALLING”

Mama : nih udah mama buka! Nomor kamu berapa?

Saya : duasembilanenam

Tidak sampai hitungan menit kemudian

Mama : yah, gak ada de! Duasembilanenam’kan?

Saya dengan nada sumbang : hah? Iya duasembilanenam. Cek lagi deh, ma. Siapa tau aja keselip!

Mama : iya. Nih dicek lagi!

Dengan harap-harap cemas. Dua puluh detik lebih sedikit kemudian

Mama : gak ada de! Coba kamu cek di rumah

Saya : iya-iya (udah rada males). Nanti di cek lagi.

Mama : kamu tahap berapa sih seleksinya?

Saya : satu

Mama : Lha? Kok ini tahap dua sih! Kamu tahun 08-09’kan tahun seleksinya?

Saya : kayaknya…… enggak deh (sambil menelaah isi kartu ujian) mmmm…. Tahun 09-10 kayaknya!

Mama : ini tahap dua tahun 08-09! Kamu salah website kali.

Saya : beneran websitenya itu. suer tekewer-kewer -tidak ada dalam script saat itu-! Yaudah dede cek sendiri deh!

Tanpa remeh-remeh dan terkekeh-kekeh gue membuka website bersangkutan. Ternyata sudah tercantum PENGUMUMAN SELEKSI TAHAP I. wow! Gue pijit tombolnya dan keluar dengan sekejap pengumumannya. Setelah mata gue berlari kesana kemari melihat begitu banyak digit bertebaran disana, gue menemukan sebuah nomor cantik kebanggaan saya. 296. Alhamdulillah! Oh yes oh no.

yang dilingkarai : nomor keramat

Singkat cerita gue dan keluarga cukup bahagia karena telah lulus satu step. Daftar ulang kembali dilakukan. Ada cerita sedikit tentang daftar ulang ini. Alkisah, gue dan teman gue, nbl alias nabila alias aliban -yang sama-sama lulus tahap satu- meluncur ke limau buat daftar ulang. Sepinya jalan gatot subroto saat itu membuat kita asik mengobrol

Nab : duh, be kartu ujian gue rusak nih, masih bisa diterima gak yah? Look, it’s so really mess!

Saya : masih-masih tenang aja!

Nab : emang kartu lo gak rusak? Liat dong!

Saya : bentar (mengorek-ngorek isi tas)

5 menit kemudian. Setelah mengeluarkan seluruh jeroan di dalam tas

Saya : nab, gue gak bawa kartu!

muka tidak percaya kenapa sampai lupa bawa kartu

Kontan seisi mobil kaget kecuali supir nabila. Akhirnya gue menelepon limau dan dengan tegas mas-masnya bilang gak boleh daftar ulang kalo gak bawa kartu. Sekali lagi gue harus mengatakan “oh yes oh no!”. lalu, gue meminta dengan sangat agar mobil nabila berputar 180 derajat kembali ke rumah gue. Akhirnya nabila yang saat itu sedang bijak mau dan rela lillahita’ala, membiarkan mobilnya puter balik. Danke, nab!

Lalu kartu diambil dan kami melanjjutkan perjalan menuju limau. Saat itu pukul 15.50 di rawamangun. Kami tahu dengan sesadar-sadarnya kalo kantor AFS itu tutupnya jam 5. Which is itu 70 menit lagi, sementar posisi kami saat itu masih di rawamangun. Kuda besi nabilapun dipacu dengan kencang. Pukul 16.50 akhirnya kami sampai dan bisa daftar ulang. Thank GOD und nabila und supir nabila und mobilnya!

SELEKSI TAHAP II

Delapan juni duaribulapan seleksi tahap dua dengan tes wawancara kepribadian dan wawancara bahasa inggris. Gue dan nabila kebetulan sama-sama dapet shift siang sehingga gue kembali nebeng, tentunya gue yakin membawa kartu ujian. Pukul 12.30, sudah siang, shift pagi mungkin tinggal dua puluhan orang. Yang gue inget saat itu shift siang adalah gue, nabila, tika, bibing, marsha, radit, baim, putri dan lain sebagainya.

selanjutnya, shift siang disuruh masuk dan menunggu panggilan satu persatu entah berdasarkan apa. Tiba-tiba seorang kakak AFS memanggil nomor gue. Lalu gue digiring menuju depan sebuah ruangan untuk duduk disitu menunggi giliran untuk dipanggil ke dalam ruangan wawancara kepribadian (pake bahasa pribumi).

Terus terang aje nih, gue deg-degan saat itu, walaupun gue banyak bacot di kehidupan sehari-hari, tapi kalo disuruh ngomong di depan orang2 yang intelek dan lebih tua, urusannya jadi beda. Ngomong pada saat wawancara tak semudah lo meroda saat pelajaran penjaskes, semuanya bakal dinilai. Pake bahasa pribumi aja kadang-kadang masih glagepan apalagi pake bahasa bule –bule inggris tentunya-.

“arief budiman! Yang mana?”. Gue langsung tunjuk tangan dan gak habis pikir, padahal yang lagi nunggu dipanggil cewek semua, apakah ada sejarahnya budiman itu nama cewek? kalo budiwati itu baru mungkin! Masuklah gue dengan senyum maut dan perilaku yang sebaik-baiknya (tepe dong ah!).

Awalnya terasa menegangkan, namun setelah itu mengalir begitu saja seperti kuning-kuning di kali. Gue sangat yakin menjawab semua pertanyan seperti caleg yang sedang hot-hotnya saat ini. Sukurnya interviewer gue gada yang judes dan gak iseng, gak disuruh joget-joget, breakdance atau sodara-sodarinya.

Wawancara kepribadian menggunakan bahasa pribumi akhirnya tuntas bagi gue, tapi belom tentu bagi interviewernya. Saatnya wawancara bahasa bule. Naga-naganya, wawancara ini bakal belepotan karena eh karena bahasa bule gue tidak terlalu sepesial. Akhirnya gue hanya berdoa menanti keajaiban Yang Mahakuasa. Gue kembali menunggu ‘panggilan’.

“duasembilanenam. Arief ya?”. Yaiya dong kak! Gue adalah orang terakhir yang diwawancarain saat itu. Tentu aja nama gue aief budiman dan nomor duasembilanenam, persis yang disebutkan kakak itu.

o-mai-ga. Salah satu interviewer gue adalah bule dalam arti sebenarnya. Badan gede dan namanya Patrick untung bukan Patrick star, nanti jadi humor dong yah! Pertanyaan mengenai keluarga hobi sekolah sampai pelajarn kesukaanpun gue jawab satu demi satu, tentu dengan sok asik dan senyum maut. Gue rasa wawancara ini better than wawancara kepribadian menggunakan bahasa pribumi.

lancar, saya amat senang! haha

Wawancara yang membuat hati ketar-ketir itu selesai juga. Gue senang, hati riang dan berasa seperti telanjang. Tinggal nunggu pengumuman. Selese juga.

Kotelett mit bratkartoffeln

abe