Archive for February, 2008

Debate over Smoking in Public Sphere

Thea February 29th, 2008

Last night I caught my friend smoking in dining room by surprise. She looked clumsy while apologizing to me for smoking in the dining room.

Some friends in my office are also smokers. Of course, in the office room, employees are not allowed to smoke. But they often do it in the pantry which is definetely a public sphere. Sometimes, I also smell scent left from somebody smoking in the restroom. For latter, our service cleaning officer prepares a airspray to get rid of the odour.

Smoking in the public room is a classic problem. There is still an on-going debate over right or not one smokes in the public sphere. The separation of smoking room from public sphere is still not effective. The regulation issued by DKI Jakarta on smoking prohibition doesn’t effect well. In Sukarno-Hatta, a place providing special room for smokers, often I see visitors show carelessness with smoking in the inappropriate place, to be precise not in the special room.

When I was in college, some friends conducted a survey about the smoking prohibition in campus area. One of the questions was : Do you think it’s appropriate to put the smoking prohibition annoouncement in the ampus area. The majority answer showed that such announcement wasn’t appropriate as it wasn’t democratic. They thought that banning people to smoke was as equal as violating their rights. But how about others’ right to get clean air? Or our right to be healthy if we talk in sense of right and equality?

What do you think? It’s democratic or not?

It was 10 PM and still Jammed

Thea February 27th, 2008

It was almost 10 PM and I still saw traffic jam in Jakarta.

Last night, Ogi and I passed on Senopati street, then Pierre Tendean after having great dinner at Dapoer Ciragil. Cars, Buses, and motorcycles were trapped in heavy trafiic jam along those streets. As a motorist, it was pretty much easier for Ogi to find a way going through the traffic. But of course not for car riders or bus drivers.

Ogi and I imagined that within two years ahead, there would be a heavier traffic in Jakarta. People live in sub urb, work in business district. They go very early in the morning, and go home late at night. Can they lull their children? Can they accompany their children playing or studying at night?

I have another resolution in my life, Quitting living in this city in the next five years at the latest.

How about you? Do you still want to live in this city???

Everlasting Power

Thea February 18th, 2008

There’s something I want to share with you, about a moral story I found when watching Stardust yesterday.

The movie is about the struggle of a young man, Tristan, to obtain a stardust and bring it in front of Victoria, her lover. He wishes he can find her heart by bringing the stardust, which turns to be a beautiful-spirited woman, Yvaine. Then, in his journey, Tristan finds many obstacles as it turns out that Yvaine is also sought by a witch, called Lamia.

Lamia is looking for the heart of Yvaine, which is believed will give an eternal beauty for her and her other sisters. Then, Tristan forges his task to save Yvaine from the malignant Lamia.

Once Yvaine asks Tristan if he’s tempted. What Yvaine means tempted is if Tristan is also lured to kill her and eat her heart to get the everlasting life.

Then, I remember how a temptation to be everlasting can trigger humankind to do anything to get it. Let’s see the story of dictators we know. Hitler, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Kim Jong-il and many others who were very dare to do crimes against humanity to be the number one. Only them who could be the one.

Let’s hope we won’t have like one of them.

The Power of Love

Thea February 14th, 2008

People of Okinawa and Sarnidia are known to have a healthy long life-span. It’s not only because they apply healthy habits such as consuming more fish and soybean than the average, exercising regularly and sufficient rest. Based on the article I read on kompas.co.id this morning, those group of people also have a very lovely culture, accordingly respecting elders. The feeling of having sufficient love, warm spirit, as well as a close friendship do have great impact over our healthy quality and wealthy.

The proofs of touching impact have been revealed by experts. Not to mention the benefit of laughter and social involvement toward the one’s healthy. All of them shows that the good interaction and relation with others are decisive in our healthy.

A research reveals that husband and wife, who receive enough hold and touch within their relation, have a stronger emotional binding than those who receive less. It’s also said that a child who rarely gets hug from parents feels less secure compared to children who get the sufficient affection expression from parents. Meanwhile, feeling secure is very important to the children personality development.

If one often has headache, migraine, insomnia and likes to see other disappointed and failed, maybe he/she doesn’t have enough love, rarely loves him/herself, and rarely get attention from her/his couple.

So, do you love yourself? Have you said that you love your friends? Have you given the warmth to your couple??? Better to start it right away because the power of love is exceptional.

Perspective; Refresh Our Appreciation of Friends

Thea February 12th, 2008

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, ‘How was the trip?’

‘It was great, Dad.’

‘Did you see how poor people live?’ the father asked.

‘Oh yeah,’ said the son.

‘So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?’ asked the father.

The son answered:

‘I saw that we have one dog and they have four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.’

The boy’s father was speechless.

Then his son added, ‘Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.’

Isn’t this perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all give thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

‘Life is too short and friends are too few.’

Afternoon at Boulevard

Thea February 11th, 2008

Last Friday, I went the UGM boulevard, stopping by at a teh botol vendor. Then, I ordered two bottles of tea which then accompanied by fried Tempura as friends of mine who was spending nice afternoon at my ex-college, Gadjah Mada University.

The atmosphere was nice. The weather was friendly as well. Not too hot. I saw several students who were exercising Capoera. They were very active, I thought. Afterward, I remembered the time when I was used to visit that place, the neighborhood of boulevard. A place which reminds me of many memories:). I really love it.

It’s almost four years I have left it. It was four years ago when I officially left my campus. Though, the distance couldn’t pull the memory in my mind out. Next month if I am at Jogja, I will be there to feel all of them again:). Afternoon at Boulevard

I Know How It Feels

Thea February 5th, 2008

I couldn’t belive what I saw at that time. All I expected ruined at once. Suddenly, I bursted into tears. I was failed. The things I endeavored seemed nothing. Useless. The question was” Should I apply again three years later?” When my age would be 25 years old.

I know how it feels when it’s failed, Sist. But as you know, there will be many things we’ll get in return. Maybe it’s obscured now by our reluctant feeling about the saddening result we get. I will support you and pray for you. Why? Because I know a talented with exceptional skills like you deserve great things. Why not trying again later? I am sure you can!!! Rin, you must be proud of quality you have. Don’t let this failure discourage you. Instead, use this to empower yourself!

Don’t loose hope and faith. I wish the best for you.

ps: for Nora, my sister. I just can’t believe that you’ll leave me this fast, leaving me alone in this city. Hiks..you’re one of the reason why I feel comfortable living here. And pretty soon, Australia will be next country to stay. And one more, you’ll get the master degree faster than me:). I am more than happy for you.

Nice Matter Award

Thea February 3rd, 2008

Upppp..checking my blog this morning and found out from my friend, Utami, that She passed an award from me. The award’s entitled Nice Matter Award.

Intrigued by the award, then I clicked her blog and read it, trying to find out why I deserve the award. This what she wrote in her blog:

Karena isi blog Thea is always nice and positive. Hal-hal yang mungkin keliatannya kecil, tapi menyenangkan. From her writing, it seems that she really understand that life is built of nice little things. Even big things made of little things. So, Thea, keep your positive attitude, and keep shining yaa……

Uuugghh…I feel as If I were flying to the seventh sky..hahaha. Thank you anyway Kak Ami:)

Then another task for me is passing this award to another friend. Hhhmmm a little bit difficult I admit. From my point of view, the blogs by friends of mine all are good. Each of them has uniqueness. They write the blog in different style of writing. The topic discussed vary and I like them all. However, coz I can pass this award only to one friend, the i decide this award should go to Okky.

Nice Matter Award

Why Okky??? Because her blog is very interesting where she peels the humanity wittily. I love her writing about polygamy where she links the matter of polygamy and a piece of fried chicken. Curious??? Just check her blog.

Okay Ky…your turn to pass the award and I always look forward to your other writings.