Thea March 29th, 2008
Last time going home, I tried a unique food from Jogja, a hot culinary heritage named Oseng Mercon. My favorite seller is located in Kridosono stadium, Kotabaru area.
On Thursday night I went there with Ogi. We ordered two portions of Oseng Mercon, with white rice. Fifteen minutes later, the oseng mercon was served in front of us. Its appearance was brownish, with a lot of chilli seeds everywhere. Can u imagine how hot it was???
I picked a spoon of oseng and put it on the top of the rice. Then I ate just a little bit with the rice. Whuuuhhhh…it’s defenitely hot. Just like a “mercon” goes bombing in your mouth.
Ups.. I forget expalining what’s oseng mercon made of. The main ingridients are kikil (from joint part of cow) and of course chilis. Some people say, the comparison between kikil and chilii is 1:1. For cooking 1 kg of kikil, you need 1 kg of chili. However, other says that it’s 1:2, meaning you have to put 2 kg of chili for 1 kg of kikil. When my mom cooked oseng mercon, she used 1:1 comparison.
Okay, let’s back to my previous story. Once trying to finish the oseng, I didn’t realize that my eyes watered. And so did my nose. However, it’s really fascinating. Ogi and I never stopped moaning how hot it was. But, we continued eating anyway:D. Then, we rewarded ourselves with hot tea. Sluuurppp… our tongue went hotter:)). Lucky us in that night, the wind breezed cool, so it helped “wiping” the sweat in our head.
For you who can’t stand hot flavor, better never try this food. But if you insist, just try a little bit because you may have unbearable stomachache just like my friend. The capsaicin (the chemical contained in chilli) will make your tongue fiery as well as your stomach.
Thea March 25th, 2008
Within two weeks ahead, my best friend, Wipi, is going to marry with Arief. Arief is also my friend at college. I just don’t realize that the marriage is getting closer and closer. One of my best friend will soon say good bye to the single life.
Last year I had Yanti and Titi left us alone in single-happy-woman world. One year before Yanti and Titi, Mira got marry at Denpasar, which unfortunately I couldn’t be there witnessing their long-life promise.
Last week, I met several friends at Mayang and Janu’s wedding in Solo. Unexpectedly, many friends were there. Even Ester Dina, who’s currently working at Banda Aceh, was there. Life is changing. Post-college life gives another color to us. It’s really prominent. Some of them gain weight and others remain same or even slimmer. The conversation was around job and working life. No more conversation about cold war, diplomacy, economy and politic in Japan, and many more. We left those topics and now are facing job-related issues.
It has been two or three years ago, we had a lovely life at college. Now, we are working, though some of us are still strugling with thesis. Sometimes, I missed to be around them, to be in environment used to be near with me. Last occasion really brought me many memories. Next month, on the early week of April, I will take my friends walking through the aisle to reach their future life. I wish you all happiness, Sista:)
Thea March 17th, 2008
Yesterday, as usual, I prepared my own meal at the weekend. Besides, Ogi was visiting me so I wanted to cook for him as well. In Sunday morning, I went to vegetable seller in the neighborhood. Once coming, there were several women talking with the vendor. One of them asked how much she owed to the vendor. After calculating, the vendor told the forty-something mother the amount she owed. Then, the conversation was converted to the fresh fishes the vendor sold. I wasn’t listening in purpose when I heard that women said.
My family only has fish at most one or two in a month. In the other days, we only have tahu and tempe. Sometimes, I feel guilty and pitty for my children.
Then it shocked me, feeling sad to what happened with her family. Many families face the similar difficulties like her in Indonesia. But what shocking me is it really happens near me. I don’t know how it feels when we are badly starving. However, I hope I can give more empathy for them who are in those troubles.
Maybe, we have to open our eyes as wide as can be to such problem which really really prevails around us so we never stop thanking God how lucky we are. For the food we eat, for salary we earn, for mother who prepares food for us, milks that our father buys, for the job that we work on, for the shelter that we live in and gives us protection.
Once again, Thank God:)
Thea March 14th, 2008
On Wednesyday evening, I had an opportunity to watch my favorite TV show directly. My ex-college friend who is working as communication officer in state-owned enterprise invited me to attend the second anniversary of Kick Andy at Metro TV. Of course, I was more than happy to go with her.
The show was special because Andy invited several guest stars who’d ever performed in his show. The theme of the show was Kick Andy’s Effect. Why? Because in that night, Andy and his creative team wanna show us how the guest stars’ life could alter better once they appeared in the show. For example, Kang Ayik, a curtain vendor who owned small library in his house. Once showing in one of Kick Andy’s episode, viewers can see his deep passion on books and keeness to assist children in his village to be knowledgable. Afterward, He received many books donations and an foundation helped him to build a new-two-storey library. And many other happy experiences that better you watch in the show broadcasted on March 20th, 2008.
I am grateful that I could be a part of this show’s second anniversary because Kick Andy is more than a show to me. It’s very inspiring and touching. The story revealed in the show is often related with humanity. The guest stars were from celebrities, politicians, a recently-popular but hated-most band, to oridanary peoples. All of them looked special in the show. And in that night, I met Andrea Hirta, the author of Laskar Pelangi, and took a picture with him.
Thea March 5th, 2008
Lately, I have been discussing with Ogi about my goals, my ideas, and my wishes. To be honest, it started from seeing several friends who successfully obtain scholarship abroad. One thing that I am dreaming for. Two years ago, before joining with Telkomsel, I was about to go to a university in Australia. However, I decided to work first and left the chance to further my study there.
After graduating from college, I worked voluntarily as a Communication Officer in an NGO in Jogja whose director was very kind to me. He has wide experience in NGO world and as a doctor he’s totally dedicated to his profession. I remember when he said to me that I had to further my study as soon as possible. He said if I chose to work first and if I knew how easy I earned money, then furthering study would seem grim for me. He’s right.
When a chance of studying came to me, I neglected it and preferred joining with a leading telecommunication company which promises a satisfying salary and benefit. A company which gives me chances to travel a lot and go abroad. And then I arrive to a certain point where I feel I couldn’t escape from this company. I never have gut to quit this nicely paid job.
Then I discussed a lot with Ogi who gave me a visionary enlightenment. Many wishes that I want to realize. Many dreams that I am keen to chase.
Make a list and prioritize your goal!!
That’s what he said.
A friend tried to open my eyes. She asserted the importance of a dream. When we successfully set our dream, then we couldn’t be confined by any barrier. Even things that seem hampering our efforts to get success, will be great challenges that would be fascinating to tame.
Now, I have set my next goal. The nearest one is about to come and I will be ready to catch others.