It says that the power of etnography is its openness. It enables the readers to capture and to question the complexity of the realities the writer pretend to know.
Reality is constructed, so writing an etnography piece is about constructing the constructed reality. In another book about etnography, it says this triple layers: to understand the understood understanding!
04 February 2010
17 December 2009
WHITE
and that moment finally came
opening your window
in a December morning
and see that beautiful WHITE!
and that moment finally came
wearing layers of clothing
warm socks and closed ear
and cycle through the WHITE!
and that moment finally came
my pair of eyes indulged
my heart leaped
and mesmerized with the WHITE!
and that moment adds up
to live life to the fullest
and to be 100% happy
life has so much to offer!
09 December 2009
Senyap pagi ini...
Dalam senyap pagi ini...
Merenda hidup di tempat baru sungguh petualangan yang menarik! Tempat baru, teman baru, problematika baru, kesempatan baru.
Tidak mudah merengek dan mengeluh untuk setiap permasalahan. Tidak mudah mengekspresikan 100% beban di hati dengan bahasa asing, maka sekian persen sesak itu masih tersisa... Seringkali kubicara dengan diriku sendiri, berpijak dengan dua kaki ini.
Namun, inilah saat 'suara hati' sungguh berperan.
Suara hati, dimana Dia bersabda.
Saat kukatupkan tangan, dan kepala merunduk
Saat kupejamkan mata, dan mulai berkata
Kudengar suara hati,
...dalam senyap pagi ini.
Merenda hidup di tempat baru sungguh petualangan yang menarik! Tempat baru, teman baru, problematika baru, kesempatan baru.
Tidak mudah merengek dan mengeluh untuk setiap permasalahan. Tidak mudah mengekspresikan 100% beban di hati dengan bahasa asing, maka sekian persen sesak itu masih tersisa... Seringkali kubicara dengan diriku sendiri, berpijak dengan dua kaki ini.
Namun, inilah saat 'suara hati' sungguh berperan.
Suara hati, dimana Dia bersabda.
Saat kukatupkan tangan, dan kepala merunduk
Saat kupejamkan mata, dan mulai berkata
Kudengar suara hati,
...dalam senyap pagi ini.
29 November 2009
Warm
Words are powerful. Sometimes they are indeed a manifestation of life's abstraction. Pictures are powerful. Most of the times we take pictures to freeze moments or feelings. We want to treasure them and we would like to be able to re-visit those moments and feelings in the future.
As it's getting colder (and windier) here in the Netherlands, the word WARM has become one of my favorites! Here are my (recent) three manifestations of WARM:
One. I've always loved a WARM shower. It really helps me to feel more relax and stimulates creative ideas and perspectives of life.
Two. This weekend I heard a beautiful statement from a senior man*: "We, men, are actually simple; we are looking for WARM women to share our life." It was an eye-opening statement for me; reminded me of my father's tireless persuasion to make me learn cooking. I infer somehow there's a correlation between the frequencies of being exposed to the heat of a burning stove/oven with a person's WARMth level.
Three. It's cold that afternoon, but as I looked up and saw this lovely red-ish color of sunset in the sky ... suddenly I felt WARM. It's an abstract WARMth, but it manifested in me and I would like to freeze that WARM feeling in this picture.
*Thanks to Yunita, Om Ben, and Tante Ely for their WARM welcome and inspiration this weekend in Amsterdam!!
As it's getting colder (and windier) here in the Netherlands, the word WARM has become one of my favorites! Here are my (recent) three manifestations of WARM:
One. I've always loved a WARM shower. It really helps me to feel more relax and stimulates creative ideas and perspectives of life.
Two. This weekend I heard a beautiful statement from a senior man*: "We, men, are actually simple; we are looking for WARM women to share our life." It was an eye-opening statement for me; reminded me of my father's tireless persuasion to make me learn cooking. I infer somehow there's a correlation between the frequencies of being exposed to the heat of a burning stove/oven with a person's WARMth level.
Three. It's cold that afternoon, but as I looked up and saw this lovely red-ish color of sunset in the sky ... suddenly I felt WARM. It's an abstract WARMth, but it manifested in me and I would like to freeze that WARM feeling in this picture.
*Thanks to Yunita, Om Ben, and Tante Ely for their WARM welcome and inspiration this weekend in Amsterdam!!
22 November 2009
The ‘S-es’ of Silver Steisi
It was November 8, one of the most beautiful Sunny days in Wageningen.
Morning
There was a Sweet Surprise on my door from Lieneke. A colorful writing of happy birthday with colorful balloons hanging on its side. It was another Serene Sunday mass at Aula Dei. It was a Spontaneous decision to cycle to de Bongerd and Sit facing the Sun reading Jared Diamond’s Science-novel.
Afternoon
It was another Spontaneous decision to take some pictures of the Stunning colors of autumn around Forum building. It was quite an effort to Stop those tiny drops of water from my eyes after hearing my father’s voice from the other side of the globe. It was a fun trip to the Supermarket to do food Shopping with Fenni. It was a Surprising encounter with Mariana and Miguel at the Supermarket which Somehow re-Structure their Surprise plan.
Evening
The Simple and Small dinner celebration was really Special; with Spaghetti, home-made Stampot, Slagroom, and my best friend: Fenni. Then came my other Special friends—Mariana and Miguel; with a Speculaas birthday cake and an S-shaped chocolate.
It was November 8, one of the most beautiful Sunny days in Wageningen; and it was Superb!
Morning
There was a Sweet Surprise on my door from Lieneke. A colorful writing of happy birthday with colorful balloons hanging on its side. It was another Serene Sunday mass at Aula Dei. It was a Spontaneous decision to cycle to de Bongerd and Sit facing the Sun reading Jared Diamond’s Science-novel.
Afternoon
It was another Spontaneous decision to take some pictures of the Stunning colors of autumn around Forum building. It was quite an effort to Stop those tiny drops of water from my eyes after hearing my father’s voice from the other side of the globe. It was a fun trip to the Supermarket to do food Shopping with Fenni. It was a Surprising encounter with Mariana and Miguel at the Supermarket which Somehow re-Structure their Surprise plan.
Evening
The Simple and Small dinner celebration was really Special; with Spaghetti, home-made Stampot, Slagroom, and my best friend: Fenni. Then came my other Special friends—Mariana and Miguel; with a Speculaas birthday cake and an S-shaped chocolate.
It was November 8, one of the most beautiful Sunny days in Wageningen; and it was Superb!
08 November 2009
Ulang Tahun
In Bahasa Indonesia, Happy Birthday is "Selamat Ulang Tahun." If literally translated, Selamat Ulang Tahun is more or less "Happy Repeating the Year".
Reaching quarter century, I was wondering why "Ulang Tahun?" why "Repeating the Year?" I haven't done substantial research on it, so here's my own interpretation and a support from here.
I would say "Selamat Ulang Tahun" is not about repeating the previous year. It is a shorter way of saying "Selamat Ulang Tahun Lahir." In English, "Lahir" is "Birth". What is interesting is that, in Bahasa Indonesia, we are explicitly using the word "Ulang." In my opinion this is asking us to psychologically repeat the year of our birth. Repeat in our mind that years ago, there was a woman struggling emotionally and physically to give us to the world and the world to us. That years ago, there was or was not a man and some relatives struggling emotionally upon the moment of our existence or non-existence in this planet.
So this year, I again psychologically repeat the moment of my birth. This time, being (a bit) far away from them, I would like to repeat it and write it down.
Quarter century ago was a tough struggle for my mother, father, and some relatives. Of course I won't be able to thank them enough for such struggle. Such struggle that allows me to taste the world and countless things that life has to offer. But, I can and do LOVE them. And it is an irreversible LOVE!
Picture is taken from here.
01 November 2009
Sedikit
(English version below)
Sama seperti sedikit garam dan gula diperlukan saat memasak,
Sedikit galau
Sedikit rindu
Sedikit pedih
Sedikit air mata
diperlukan dalam hidup.
Berapa banyak?
Secukupnya.
Bagaimana tahu kalau sudah cukup?
Cicipi.
Cicipilah hidup, apa sudah terasa galau, rindu, pedih, dan air mata? Jika sudah, hidup tidak hambar. Hidup siap disantap.
*mengenang masak perdana di Wageningen, 26 Oktober 2009
**gambar dari sini
-----
Just like you need a little bit of salt and sugar when cooking,
A little bit of anxiety
A little bit of longing
A little bit of grieve
A little bit of tears
Is needed in life.
How much?
As needed.
How do I know that it’s enough?
Taste it.
Taste the anxiety, longing, grieve, and tears. If you feel it, life is not tasteless. Then, enjoy your meal! (eet smakelijk!)
Sama seperti sedikit garam dan gula diperlukan saat memasak,Sedikit galau
Sedikit rindu
Sedikit pedih
Sedikit air mata
diperlukan dalam hidup.
Berapa banyak?
Secukupnya.
Bagaimana tahu kalau sudah cukup?
Cicipi.
Cicipilah hidup, apa sudah terasa galau, rindu, pedih, dan air mata? Jika sudah, hidup tidak hambar. Hidup siap disantap.
*mengenang masak perdana di Wageningen, 26 Oktober 2009
**gambar dari sini
-----
Just like you need a little bit of salt and sugar when cooking,
A little bit of anxiety
A little bit of longing
A little bit of grieve
A little bit of tears
Is needed in life.
How much?
As needed.
How do I know that it’s enough?
Taste it.
Taste the anxiety, longing, grieve, and tears. If you feel it, life is not tasteless. Then, enjoy your meal! (eet smakelijk!)
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