Archive for December, 2008

Building Dream

Thea December 30th, 2008

The first time I set my eyes to the house, I knew exactly that it was the same house I saw at the photo. In several chattings, the owner invited me to visit her home sweet home.  However, due to time limitation , I couldn’t go there until last Sunday, finally I touched down at that sweet castle. rumahsenyumpagi, that’s the call.

I should admit that the location is quite far from my home, approximately 1.5 hours to get there. Ika said that we’re great as we could find the house without making a phone call to her.

The look of the house? Extraordinary one, with the a pretty tall wall in the left side. Entering the home, the black tiles decorate the floor. My fave one is the large windows surrounding the house, allowing sun shining in to the house. Perfect!

What amazes us isn’t only the appearance of the house, but the story that the house was built before they married. Never did we dream to build a house before we tied a knot last August, but Kelik and Ika made it. Reading the story in the blog, I find the spirit they gathered in house building process. I know there’s a bunch a love in the house, in the frames on the wall, and in their littleluckyfrangipani.

Looking up to them makes me dare to dream. A dream I have been long chasing, but so shame putting little courage in it. On our way home from rumahsenyumpagi, I discussed a lot with my hubby in the car and we knew that the time has come, to build our dream.

Happy new year all. Seize your dream and make it real in 2009:)

Ruined Holiday Plan

Thea December 23rd, 2008

Holiday mood is already in the air but definitely I won’t spend the new year eve anywhere, probably at home, this time.

So sad that I have to cancel my plan to Bidadari Isand with my hubby and Wipi along with Camat as well. The notification that I can’t get my leave is so near to the edge, even when Wippie already paid the down payment. Aaaghhh!!!

Okay, my plan to Bangka Belitung is failed, then to Padang Bukittingi is also same and when I try to find some luck at Bidadari Island, it turns out ending sadly too! Sorry my lovely huckelberry. Next year we are going to destinations we are dreaming(with a note:asal blom hamil lho ya…)

Roasted Chicken van Gandu

Thea December 8th, 2008

Once you have a chance to visit Magetan, there’s another spot that you may visit aside Sarangan lake which is located at the feet of Lawu mountain. In the Desa Gandu, Rejosari, Magetan, the people are actively involved in culinary business, which has empowered local economy impulse.

My visit to Sentra Ayam Panggang Gandu was solicit, unplanned. Starting from a plan of attending a best friend’s wedding at Ngawi, my friend, Citra and her hubby treated us to have a lunch at Gandu. Entering the village, on the left and right side, I saw houses with tag ” Ayam Bakar”. Almost every house there sells ayam panggang (roasted chicken). The appearance of the home doesn’t look like a restaurant as it’s not set like that. Instead, guests will be served in each house’s living room. No chair but all sit on the floor.

We arrived in a house which is said serves one of the most delicious ayam panggang. Mas Eddy, Citra’s hubby, ordered for us. Not so long after that, the menus came. There were two plates of ayam panggang, one was onion flavor and another one was bumbu rujak flavor. Hmm it looked delicious. The ayam panggang wasn’t served alone as there were other companions such as lalapan, botok, trancam, pelas, and of course sambel. All of them really awoke our appetite.

I tried the ayam panggang bumbu rujak. Though it was a little bit tough, the flavor was so nice. Maknyusss. It’s combination of sweet, salty and spicy at once. Then, I moved the botok into my mouth…hmmmm delicious. Just like the one my mum’s cook. The trancam wasn’t less delicious. They were good combined with the warm white rice. Yummyyy:)

I am so sorry that I can’t give a detail information on the price as I was there because I was treated:D. But once talking with Mas Eddy, He implied that the price of a whole chicken is around 44-45 thousands rupiah. Worth it as it can be eaten by 4-5 people.

Glossary:
Botok: mix vegetable which steamed in a banana leaf
Trancam: mix fresh vegetable with coconut sauce
Pelas: dish made of black soya bean

Tips Writing the Recommendation Letter

Thea December 4th, 2008

Recommendation letter is an effective tool to promote or endorse a person to fit a position. It’s widely used by an employer before they hire a staff or universities for approving new students. As it can be a decisive mean, recommendation letter should be written in an impressive way.  Frankly, writing this letter is not easy for me. That’s why I read a lot of recommendation letters my lectures wrote to me. And based on my experience writing recommendation letter for my colleague Fenny, I would be more than happy to share following tips for you.

1. For recommending a person, please pay to attention to the wording! Avoid “weak and blunt” words. Instead of using nice and diligent, you can apply words such as determined.

2. To begin with, state what kind of relationship you have with the person you recommend. Write down how long and how do you know him/her.
Example: I have known Ms. Chandra since we went to Gadjah Mada University in 2000. While we were at college, we took the same concentration accordingly Political Economy International. Therefore, Ms. Chandra and I were involved intensely in class rooms, discussions, and paper work.

3. Then you can continue to your impression to the person. You can convey your experience with him/her and reveal prominent experience that may be effective such as tell how independent or determined she/he is. Academic award needs to be shared here.
Example: My first impression of her was she was a smart and clever student. And I found out that my impression was correct. Not only smart and clever, Ms. Chandra was also a determined student. She mastered all subjects she took and obtained excellent grades. She showed her strong passion in learning something new. Obviously she was a fast-learner and I am highly convinced that she stays the same now.

Make sure that you have covered up teh exceptional quality in every paragraph. Recommendation letter isn’t necessary the long one but brief, clear and giving correct description on the person.

4. When you finished conveying the quality of the person, you can sum up with a sentence reaffirming his/her quality so he/she is qualified for the position/scholarship.
Example: With the above-stated considerations, I highly recommend Ms. Chandra for the scholarship.

5. Don’t forget stating that you can be contacted for further discussion and state the most convenient time to call you.

Any other tips???