My Brain in the Train (1)

Her long dark hair is tight up in a ponytail style with a pink elastic hair band. The pink color matches the color of her T-shirt.

I like pink. I like it a lot so that the image of that little girl sticks on my mind. If I have to guess, I would say that she’s around 9 years old, hopefully studying in elementary school at daytime. But, who am I to hope for her, on which is best for her? I’m not her. Though it seems like that we fancy the same color. But again, how do I know that she likes pink too. Maybe it was not even her choice.


It is 5.45 pm, the train where I’m in is waiting for departure time. I am sitting with my heavy black backpack on my lap, heavy of carrying a laptop.

She is walking around the aisle of the train, approaching people with a used candy bag as a pouch to ask for money. No, not directly begging, but she is also carrying a heavy black box. It’s a mini-speaker. She sings. Then ask for money.

The train is about to depart. She steps out from the door. As the train doors close, I look down at my heavy backpack. Maybe as heavy as the weight of the black box for the little girl. Maybe it is nothing compares to the heavy weight of having to get some money in the train by singing songs and asking for money.

But again, what do I know about her? Maybe she enjoys it, because she meets friends, laughs, and sees it all like playing a game before sleeping in her family huts.

That late afternoon, what I know is what I saw. Her long dark hair is tight up in a ponytail style with a pink elastic hair band. The pink color matches the color of her T-shirt.


Picture of the Commuter Line train in Indonesia (a non-crowded situation) is taken from here

The Weather Expert

Being in the Thesis phase of my social science study, I am in the mood of advancing and proposing social theories and concepts. Here in the Netherlands, we had a “moody” spring-to-summer transition times. I am proposing: when it comes down to the weather, consult the Dutch!

The Dutch weather is complex. The idea of spring and/or summer is messy between warm-dry in one week and cold-wet in the next week. Sometimes, it is windy and grey in the afternoon and yet, it can still be great barbecue time in the evening.

In order to cope with this complex weather, my Dutch friends consult www.buienradar.nl. This site gives satellite images of the weather and help them to make informed decisions—when is a good time to cycle to the supermarket, when is preferable to stay home and play board games.






















Satellite image of clouds hanging on top of the Netherlands, prediction for a Wednesday afternoon (15:35 hrs) in a summerless summer of August 2011.


One evening, on a birthday celebration, after a second plate of delicious and creamy pasta, we gathered in the kitchen. It was an international group of students. We were thinking about some things to do this weekend in Wageningen.

At once, a Colombian friend asked the only Dutch in the group: “How’s the weather tomorrow afternoon?” And of course, being the weather expert in the group, he appreciated the question and gave a thorough answer: “Well to be precise, we have to check again tomorrow. I remember the forecast says that it would be windy with some chances of shower, but there’s also a chance of sun for several hours in early afternoon if we want to go to the Rhine.”

My Colombian friend did not ask myself (Indonesian), the other friend (Bolivian), the other friend (German), nor himself--obviously... but, our lovely and reliable Dutch Weather Expert!

Cycling-Basketball

We all know that the Netherlands is well known for its overflowing support for cyclists—spacious bicycle paths and traffic priority in roundabout to name a few.

However, I am quite amazed with the fact that the country went so far as to inventing a basketball exercise for cyclists! This invention is called ‘blikvanger.’

Blikvanger is a trash bin for cyclists on the move. With google translate, it literally means ‘eye-catcher’ or ‘tin-can-catcher.’ Indeed, its shape—like a giant bug-net or a big metal cone—would catch the eye of a passerby. Moreover, the wide diameter of its opening make it a comfortable aim for throwing soda-can or other ‘throw-able’ trash while cycling.














A lady on her bicycle throwing an empty bottle to the blikvanger (picture is taken from here)


My Dutch friends told me that blikvanger is a creative approach to prevent littering. For example, Dutch students like to drink something as they cycle to or from school. Approaching the school, they can throw the packaging into the blikvanger. Throwing trash becomes an easy and fun activity. Of course, sometimes they missed, but at least now the trash are concentrated on one area.

As for me, I used it to improve my basketball and cycling skills. Every now and then, I throw things (cans, used bottles, or last part of an apple) into the blikvanger in front of the Pantarijn High School, which is close to my student house in Asserpark. By doing this, I polish my basketball shooting skill and my ability to cycle with one hand--“Two points!”

Tanzania Volunteer Workcamp 2010: Food for Thoughts

During the workcamp, not only there were lots of “food for thoughts”, but also lots of thoughts were put for (preparing) food.

We organized ourselves by asking all of us, the volunteers, to sign up on which day we would like to be in the daily cooking team. The tasks of the team were preparing breakfast, tea/coffee break, lunch, and dinner, delivering water for people in the construction sites, and cleaning up all the cooking utensils. Every day we had to prepare food for approximately 50 people, except on “Children Day” where we cooked for 300 people. Everyone got his or her turn to be involved in the cooking team, at least two times during the entire workcamp.

Nevertheless, Aunt Teddy and Aunt Kristina (the cooking team from ELU Children Care ‘ECC’ School) were helping us every day, happily and skillfully! Uncle Erasto himself led the shopping for vegetables, fruits, fresh milk, and doughnut (mandazi) in the traditional market. This was mainly because Uncle Erasto knows the sellers who offer the best price. Some of us went with Uncle Erasto to help carry the big amount of vegetables and fruits; and to experience the bustling traditional market in Morogoro. We were always amused with the charming way of Uncle Erasto in bargaining the price!

On normal days, we had bread, mandazi, and fruits (oranges, watermelon, and banana) for breakfast. The cooking team had to wake up earlier to prepare hot water and cut the fruits, at around 7 am or even 6 am when we had excursions in the weekend. Then, between 10-11 am, the sound of “Karibu Chai” called everyone to put down their shovels or to stop their plastering and to come for tea/coffee breaks with mandazi. Chai is a delicious mix of fresh milk, black tea, and sugar. In ECC School, it is a custom for the kids to have chai and mandazi during their break time. “Karibu Chakula” at around 1-2 pm called us to take longer breaks and to enjoy the warm food. Chakula is the Swahili word for food/meal.

The menu for lunch and dinner were traditional Tanzanian: tasty rice (wali); red bean cooked with carrot, tomato, onions, and paprika (maharage); and a variation between eggplants cooked with the same sauce as maharage or “Tanzanian spinach” (to some known as mustard greens). On special evenings, when we had birthdays to celebrate (four birthday celebrations in total), we made special menu such as: Tanzanian pancake (chapati), cooked banana (ndizi), green peas cooked with coconut milk, or pasta.

Of course there were some challenges around the food preparation, things like: salty coffee on the first two days before we decided to buy gallon-water, bread shortage because some mysterious animals decided to crawl on our bread at night time, late dinner time because it took time for us to get used with cooking/warming up with fire, stone, and huge pans; and also some people had stomach problems for a couple of days. But, all in all we managed to go through all those challenges and everyone still remember how much fun they had when they were in the daily cooking team.

We cut buckets of vegetables while sharing stories, learning Kiswahili, and taking pictures. We washed the kitchen utensils and cleaned up the dining area while asking all sorts of questions about different cultures, different life in Tanzania, Kenya, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Brazil, and Indonesia. For example, rituals like: in Europe it is not common to eat rice every day and in Tanzania it is not common to eat warm food only once a day. Aunt Kristina speaks more English than Aunt Teddy, but most of the times, our Swahili speaking friends were there to help with translation.

Most of us agreed that one of the happiest moments while serving in the daily cooking team was when people were sitting on the table; eating the food with their spoon, and saying: Asante for cooking! (Thank you for cooking!)
















A typical 'delicious' lunch time during the construction work

Asante Ianthe for the Picture!


*The workcamp was in August 2010, in ELU Children Care School, Morogoro, Tanzania. It was organized jointly by IDEM and Steinschleuder e.V.

Sisterhood Space

Dear my dear Sister,

Promise me when we meet again, we'll have our sisterhood space--you, me, the spoken and the unspoken...

Till then... seize the day sis! LIFE has SO much to offer :)
























Big Hugs,
Steisi.

A Speech to Pawan Patil

I delivered this speech one hour ago in Bonn International Toastmasters Club. At the end of the speech, together with the round of applause from the-always-supporting people in Toastmasters, I felt so nostalgic of my FUNtastic time with my previous boss, Pawan Patil, in the World Bank Office Jakarta. I would like to share the speech with you--readers.

Back then in July 2009, we never had the chance to throw Pawan a farewell party. But, I've always wanted to have the honor to convey this speech to him!

In the beginning, I asked the Host of the evening to inform the following to the audience:

"For Steisi's speech, I would like to briefly introduce the context. We are all Steisi's colleagues at work, in World Bank Office Jakarta. This afternoon is a farewell party to Steisi's Boss and our colleague, Pawan Patil, a senior economist and a committed advocate of Youth Issues in the office. Pawan finished his term after 5 fantastic years in Indonesia. He will start a new journey in Doha, Qatar, Middle East Region."

So, here’s the text of my prepared speech (I was delivering the speech without notes):

Wonderful colleagues and friends,

This is not an easy afternoon. I say I prefer one of those busy working days, staying up late in the office, finalizing PowerPoint presentations or policy papers for early meeting with government people//

Why is this not an easy afternoon? Because I have to stand here and address 3 people: My boss, my life mentor, and my good friend. All with the same name: Pawan Patil//

Pawan, when people ask me why I am working in the field of youth development and why I’m so passionate about it, I will tell them it’s your fault!//

It’s because two years ago, there was someone named Pawan Patil, a huge believer in Youth issues, who welcomed me in his team in this office. Back then, I was just finishing my studies in Food Technology, but you spotted that flickering fire in my eyes, that youth energy in me, and my longing to work in the field of development//

You set the bar high in my expectation for future bosses. You are very articulate and your enthusiasm is contagious. I have never remembered leaving your office without feeling excited and motivated to ‘get-going’, to do some action, to get the work done. You brought me to various meetings, even to those high-level meetings, and you introduce me to people. You successfully brought President Martti Ahtisaari on board for our Youth Employment project. You invited me to join meeting wih him! As a young person who is starting my career in the field of development, that means a lot! You welcome critical feedback and you gave me this wonderful advice that I will never forget:

“Steisi, at any time, in those meetings, projects, or events, always think: “How can I do this differently? How can I do this better?”

You are my life mentor. You are a big champion of work-life balance and life-long learning. You put family first! In any stressful situation, I witnessed you picking up those phone calls from your kids, with a cheerful tone. Whenever appropriate, you shared that you are a big fan of your wife and that she is the engine that keep you moving! You were a great supporter of my dream to go to grad school. I still remember that one evening after I got admitted to a grad school, we were sitting in front of the computer screen sending emails to scholarship foundations… and one month later we were talking over the phone literally screaming in joy because they accepted my application! At that time you said:

“Steisi, continue doing that in your future life: do your homework, think strategically, and ask people specifically what they can do to help you. People would love to be part of your endeavor.“

You are a good friend. You are fun to hang out with! We always had fun discussions and creative ideas over lunches or coffee times… One time we submitted this creative idea for an IT competition and we got third prize!! You invited me for a Christmas dinner with your family and we had nice-flowing conversations//

Pawan, all of us here are excited with your new journey in the Middle East region. The region has a huge challenge of Youth Unemployment and you have decided to take that challenge! It is a big loss on our side, but, I would like to see it in the way that the other part of the world needs you… Your energy, enthusiasm, and expertise in the field of youth development//

I can never thank you enough for the most inspiring 2 years of my life. All I can do is paying it forward. In my dictionary the word Goodbye does not exist, only ‘see you later’. So, see you later Pawan, my boss, my life mentor, and my friend//

End of speech

(Some of) MDR Student Life

Yipppeee... the video of pictures compilation is officially in the Study Program's webpage in Wageningen University! Hope you all enjoy it. Feedback/critics are most welcome!

http://www.mdr.wur.nl/UK/Student+life/

*PS. Thanks Abs for the idea of the song and for being on the other side of the monitor during the creative process :)

HUGS,

Sentences

Some of you may know that I've been juggling Thesis Topic(s) in my head for quite some time now. Recently, Conny Almekinders, one of my lectures here in Wageningen shared her tips in relation to Thesis/Proposal writing. Actually, it's nothing new, but it coincided nicely with my state of emotion (entangled with confusions) at that time. Well, 'good timing' does able to turn ordinary into extraordinary and even sometimes disapproval into approval.

She said

"try to make sentences... making sentences will help in documenting those numerous questions and ideas in your head and in connecting or even structuring them."

I second that! Miguel and Leo, my friends in the MDR program were also in agreement. However, it is always easier said than done. Making sentences challenge us to connect ideas and to find words that represent our thinking.

One way to get ideas/inspirations for making sentences is by reading someone else's sentences. I always feel very excited when I encounter sentences that represent my unwritten thoughts. I often find them in Paulo Coelho's novels. Yesterday, I found them in John Mayer's blog! I noticed that the 2 examples are so NOT related to academic Thesis!

Anyhow, John's writing about "Going to Bed" precisely represents my unwritten points about it. I said to some friends, "I don't like going to bed when I'm not totally feeling sleepy, I don't like lying on my bed and trying to fall asleep, I prefer to fall asleep on my desk while working or on a couch while reading." Back home, my Mom was the champion in waking me up from all 'awkward' places to sleep (laptop's keyboard, studying chair, dining table, and even church's chair).

Here I copied John's writing. I ultimately fancy his sentence that I put in bold:

My whole life I've hated going to bed. I like falling asleep instead. Falling asleep is so much better than going to bed because you don't get tangled up in the logistics. Falling asleep happens for you, even if it means waking up at eight to the sun assaulting your eyes while a block of metal videos are playing on VH1 Classic. Then all you have to do is scamper over to your bed where you can capitalize on how fresh the memory of how to sleep is and instantly dip back into slumber. Going to bed invites performance anxiety. Going to bed means you have to confront a final moment of consciousness. I'm not a fan. I hope you all fall asleep well tonight.


Well, I better get some sleep too :)

Life = Choices

This afternoon I was very lucky to get some nice and right-on-time inspirations via skype call from my version of 'Indonesian-next-best-thing', Daniel Chrisendo. Indonesia needs more energetic and inspiring YOUTH like him, no doubt!!

We were discussing about my fear of reverse-culture-shock when I come back to Indonesia. He shared 2 brilliant 'food-for-thoughts':

1. I fear to be drowned in some 'stereotypes' or 'old habits'. He said: You can CHOOSE which settings (people, discussion topics, places, events, organizations, etc.) you want to be. Life is about making choices and realizing that you CAN make those choices.

2. I fear the peer-pressure on marriage. He said: Marriage is indeed a SERIOUS thing, thus it is REASONABLE to say that one needs more time and process than others to make such decision or even to start thinking about it. It is about committing oneself to be LOYAL or in a simplistic word, to STICK, with one person. Digest that... with ONE person, one out of countless number of people you MAY MEET in your life. Of course, one may argue that life can be short, but one can also use the average life expectation of .. say 60 years old, which make the calculation as follows: even if one gets marry at the age of 30, then he/she (still) needs to STICK with one person (the DEAR husband/wife) for 30 years (that's MORE than 11,000 days!!)... calculate it if you start in your younger years!!

After our talk, I spent some (worthwhile) times reflecting on our discussion and I came across my own writing about "Life = Choices". It was written in year 2006. I wrote that life is about making choices, that who we are today is the accumulation of the choices that we made in the past. I remember even one of my childhood story books is a practice of making choices. In one of the pages, it asks: "If you think Tina should wait for the school bus, go to page 8. If you think Tina should walk home by herself, go to page 12."

Here I copied what I wrote about Life = Choices (only in Indonesian language). I am now back in the process of searching myself and 'what-where-how' in this universe I want to function/take part. A confusing stage of life. This writing reminds me of a 'giant' inside me that I once have... it's a wonderful encounter, it slightly recharge my energy and self-confidence.















Mahasiswa Berprestasi IPB 2006

Mahasiswa berprestasi adalah suatu kompetisi yang berjenjang dari tingkat departemen sampai nasional. Kompetisi ini diselenggarakan untuk memberikan penghargaan kepada mahasiswa yang mampu menyeimbangkan kemampuan intrakurikuler (akademis) dan ekstrakurikuler. Seleksi di tingkat IPB biasanya dimulai di bulan April setiap tahunnya. Saya berhasil menjadi mahasiswa berprestasi IPB 2006 dan meraih posisi ke-6 dari 15 finalis tingkat nasional. Saya adalah mahasiswa angkatan 39 di Departemen Ilmu dan Teknologi Pangan, Fakultas Teknologi Pertanian.

Siapa kita sekarang adalah akumulasi dari pilihan-pilihan kita di masa lampau. Sejak awal, saya memilih untuk memperkaya diri dengan pengalaman-pengalaman ekstrakurikuler dan tidak ingin menjadi study oriented. Sejak SMA saya sudah menyukai kegiatan organisasi, kepemimpinan, dan Bahasa Inggris. Ketertarikan ini saya lanjutkan di perkuliahan. Saya yakin bahwa banyak hal yang unik dan bermanfaat di luar ruang kuliah dan laboratorium.

Saya ingin membuat hidup ini lebih berbumbu. Sama seperti makanan, perpaduan bahan utama dan bumbu-bumbu harus tepat agar nikmat. Kelebihan bumbu juga tidak enak, bahkan dapat jadi beracun. Teman-teman yang juga aktif berorganisasi harus pintar-pintar mengatur waktu supaya "bumbu"-nya tidak berlebihan sehingga mengalahkan "makanan utama." Saya juga menerapkan belajar Sistem Kebut Semalan (SKS) untuk ujian. Namun, saat di ruang kuliah saya berusaha menyerap pelajaran semaksimal mungkin. Salah satu caranya adalah dengan duduk di depan, sehingga lebih terhindar dari niat untuk ngobrol dan ngantuk.

Menurut saya, banyak mahasiswa lain yang juga berprestasi, tetapi tidak semuanya mau repot-repot mengurus segala keperluan untuk mengikuti kompetisi mahasiswa berprestasi. Sebenarnya tidak banyak banget, hal-hal yang perlu dipersiapkan sejak dini adalah:

1. Karya tulis. Dari tahun ke tahun topiknya sputar peningkatan kualitas sumber daya Indonesia menuju peningkatan daya saing bangsa. Boleh ditinjau dari bidang IPA atau IPS. Sebaiknya, sedari sekarang kita merenungkan apa yang bisa kita kontribusikan untuk Indonesia. Bagaimana ilmu yang kita pelajari atau sukai dapat memperbaiki masalah-masalah bangsa ini.
Indeks Prestasi yang lumayan (untuk membuktikan kemampuan akademis).
2. Kemampuan Bahasa Inggris lisan dan tulisan karena seleksinya meliputi tes IELTS dan wawancara.
3. Data kegiatan ekstrakurikuler (organisasi, kepanitiaan, sosial) dan prestasi yang telah diraih. Dari sekarang mulai dikumpulkan sertifikat2, surat keterangan, surat tugas, dari kegiatan2 yang kalian ikuti mulai dari tingkat lokal sampai internasioanl, karena semua itu menyumbangkan poin dalam penilaian hanya jika ada bukti tertulis (lagipula kan sekalian mendata untuk melamar pekerjaan atau membuat sejarah hidup perkuliahan kita).

Kehidupan ini sangat menarik. Menarik karena kemisteriusannya. Banyak kesempatan lewat di depan kita, asalkan kita mau peka terhadap perkembangan informasi. Sejak kita bangun tidur, kita mulai dihadapkan pada pilihan2. Bahkan untuk bangun dari tempat tidur juga merupakan pilihan. Pikirkan baik-baik sebelum kalian memilih, sebelum kalian memilih untuk tidak mencoba mengikuti pemilihan mahasiswa berprestasi IPB 2007. Siapa tahu kalian akan menulis topik ini tahun depan. Selamat Memilih!

"He who has a why believe for can live with any how."

Steisi (mileivas@yahoo.com)

BEST Sister on Planet Earth!

After one year of studying social science here in Wageningen, I have better understanding on the fact that every individual is unique. The fact that everyone of us has our own reality and that reality is (socially) constructed. That said, it is indeed SPECIAL to have one other individual in this Planet Earth who can UNDERSTAND you! It is SPECIAL to have someone who can understand the construction of your constructed reality. Hahaha.. I'm making things complicated (again) now...







I'm blessed to have that SPECIAL someone, and she is my lovely SISTER! She is my version of the 'BEST Sister on Planet Earth!'









So, here I want to share you a 'document' that she beautifully recorded. I'm pretty sure you'll agree with me on that BEST SISTER title!! Unfortunately, only for my Indonesian-speaking friends... until my lovely sister decided to translate them I guess... :) I hope I make you all jealous, coz she's MY sister! Hahahaa.. *wink*

http://stevania.blogspot.com/2008/05/percakapan-mega-penting-di-abad-ini.html


... and Sis, nope, I haven't found the answer. I AM in the same questions and struggles! But, I guess that's just the way I AM! HUGS.

Home in Wageningen

My homey home, here in Wageningen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofhnl_PzWqc#

Thanks to PPI Wageningen team (for nominating my student room in Asserpark) and Bang Drias (producer and reporter)!

Power and Success

Another food for thoughts from Paulo Coelho's book: The Winner Stands Alone

"... total power means total slavery. when you get that far, you don't ever want to give it up... there's always a new mountain to climb. ... success is both an addiction and an enslavement ..."

sounds familiar...

Remembering my chat with my Bolivian best friend, Mariana. we can chat about everything and nothing; the spoken and unspoken. Mariana, all the best for your Thesis and Internship in Bolivia!! Yup, with special friends, there's no goodbye, only "see you later" :)

If the world is ...

From a friend here in Wageningen, as we discussed about his passion for music:

Steisi: Mr.pelangi, I wrote down a couple of random thoughts and remarks I recently saw or heard from the people around me here in my Wageningen life... the temporary life I'm living in.

Steisi: Yours got number 2: "A musical friend was greeting me from behind the bar. He was tired, I was tired. He's keeping the Jam Session running because he loves music. He said *it (music) cleanses my soul!*"

Pascal: That's a good quote. But you know it's not just about music by itself. It's about making music with other people and learning to put the ego aside to create something as a whole that can not be created by yourself.

Pascal: I hope the jam session has the same positive effect on you as it has on me. As long as people keep coming and enjoy the music I'll put in my best effort to keep the Jam session going. See you soon *hugs*. Matahari!


Beautiful! If the world is a Jam Session in the way we believe in... It is a beautiful place for you and for me!

Rambling-2: Here in Wageningen

Just want to write down a couple of random thoughts and remarks I recently saw or heard from friends... from the people around me here in my Wageningen life... yup, the temporary life I'm living in :)

1. A corridor mate was cooking. A delicious smell filled the corridor! He told me he is cooking for a dinner with his girlfriend. *Ahh.. it was not only the smell of the food, but also the smell of love*

2. A musical friend was greeting me from behind the bar. He was tired, I was tired. He's keeping the Jam Session running because he loves music. He said *it (music) cleanses my soul!*

3. A scared stranger I suppose, with an alcohol smell. *It's Friday, I don't want to be alone, I need people around me* Well... as they say, alcohol adds honesty in your statement.

4. A very unpredictable friend... *I don't know what I'll do next week, I don't even know what I'll do the day after tomorrow or this weekend* Apparently for some people planning is aching...

5. A confused friend, very rich of love and care; enough to be shared here in Wageningen. *I can, but I don't want to say stop because I see that you're truly happy!*

6. A basketball friend, in love with another place in the other part of the globe. *Wageningen is just a 'stopover', make the best of it and have fun!!*

7. *This is Wageningen, there's no such thing as love...*

8. A messy mind; negotiating with her ego, with her way of how things should operate. What to do? What to do? What to do? *It will end... yeah, but what won't?*


Wageningen life will end, sooner or later...


















MAKS-24 Dinner in Period 4, 12 March 2010, @ Droef 41!
Lovely People!! Will really really miss those moments...

March Arch

March is the start of the color and smell of spring (and yes, it will be my first experience of spring's beauty!). March is the start of Period 4 in my MAKS study (the new name of my MSc program is Master of Development and Rural Innovation, as per September 2010).

March is living my decision to focus my study in Rural Development Sociology and to dwell with intensive Anthropological and Governance readings and discussions. A failure to fulfill a workshop assignment in my 'Anthropology and Rural Development' class, ended up with being fortunate to receive the following thought from a wise classmate:

"Don't compare... and you will be able to fully express yourself. The universe is a massive puzzle and each one of us is a unique piece of that puzzle"

March is about being a bit frustrated on thinking about what to do for my Thesis instead of making time to start reading, reading, and reading... (favorite student paradox!).




But, March is also about re-thinking life, re-thinking my existence in life, re-thinking my thinking of life... March is also about the 'Arch' -- my undefined term of a character that introduced me to a good heart, a peaceful mind, and a sincere act.

Papa

Miss you Pa!

Jakarta is like sugar; the ants just keep on coming!

Finally found this piece again! Thanks to Pak Agung from Omah Sendok Restaurant!
The Jakarta Globe Newspaper


April 16, 2009

My Jakarta: Steisi Mileiva

Steisi Mileiva, 24, is a research assistant at the World Bank who recently made the move to Jakarta from the outlying city of Bogor. But the Bogor Agricultural University graduate could easily have taken an entirely different career path. After graduating with a degree in food science technology she was offered two jobs: the one she didn’t take as a television news reporter and the one she ultimately chose, which she says has given her a glimpse into the art of achieving progress in Jakarta.

So what do you do at the World Bank?

I work in coordination with the Ministry of National Education to help young drop-outs find pathways to employment. We work with the director general of nonformal and informal education to put high school and college-aged kids in short education programs: beauty, automotive, tailoring, computing and other vocational courses. The training providers are required to place the students in jobs after graduation.

When you’re not busy at the World Bank how do you like to spend your time?

I play basketball and I’m a member of the Metropolitan Toastmasters Club in Kuningan. I used to be involved in more activities when I lived in Bogor, but it was time to make the move and live on my own.

How did you decide to move to Jakarta?

I know it’s not far, only 2 hours, but I wanted to challenge myself and push my comfort level.

What do you miss in Bogor?

I was really active in my church and I was involved in all kinds of activities. I was in a choir — I miss that. We had some great moments. When you sing at a wedding you have the chance to make it beautiful for the couple. And during Christmas we would go to retirement homes and when we sang it would bring people to tears. I guess they miss the warm Christmas celebrations they used to enjoy with their families. I am looking for a choir like that here in Jakarta.

So you have a really good singing voice?

Not really. That’s why I sing with a choir.

Do people in Bogor have a certain perception of Jakarta?

Well, I think people know that if it’s greenery and trees they’re looking for they should come to Bogor, but if they want malls and museums, Jakarta is the place to be. Here is where the excitement is. You’re close to the decision makers. There are more job opportunities here. Jakarta is like sugar; the ants just keep on coming.

So whether Jakarta is the right city for you depends on where you are in your life?

People who are thinking about settling down and having a family usually say it’s more affordable to do it in Bogor or outside of Jakarta. School fees are cheaper and the quality of air is better because it’s less polluted.

When you’re not at the office is there a cafe or restaurant in Jakarta that you come back to again and again?

It’s not the place, it’s the people. You can be at a lousy cafe but have a great time as long as you surround yourself with the right people. I know this cafe near my boarding house, Omah Sendok in Jalan Taman Empu Sendok — it’s a cozy place with traditional food in a cafe-like setting. There’s nasi liwet [rice boiled in coconut milk] and bir pletok , a nonalcoholic drink made from different spices. You rarely see it in other cafes. It’s a traditional Betawi drink.

Working in education, is there anything you think should get more attention in the school system?

I personally like public speaking. I think that the Indonesian school system should place more emphasis on it. When you talk to kids who don’t attend international schools they are timid and afraid to say what’s on their mind. I have family members from all over the greater Jakarta area and when everyone gets together I am always the one who acts as emcee. For example, if it’s the birthday of one of my cousins , I want to give them a chance to have their say, but when I invite them up to talk into the microphone they’re shy. However, they are practicing. I keep encouraging my little cousins not to be scared when they are talking in front of groups of people.

How did you choose between a job at the World Bank and a job as a reporter?

I had an offer from Trans TV and an offer from the World Bank. I sought advice from family and friends and then sat down and thought about it myself. That was one of the biggest decisions in my life. I am happy with my job, but I will always be curious about the world of the TV reporter.

You seem happy with your decision. What have you gained from working at the World Bank?

I understand the government and how my country works. I’ve seen it from the inside because I work side by side with members of a ministry. I know why things take time and why programs aren’t easy to put into action. In preparing a project you can hire the most advanced technical expertise money can buy, but if the people don’t fit — like pieces of the Jakarta puzzle — it doesn’t work. Its an art.



Steisi Mileiva was talking to Zack Petersen.

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!

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!!

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!