Another trip to the land of dreams

The second trip to the land of dreams took place on January 28th - February 9th, 2013

Good to be back! I love the feeling of coming back to a faraway place.

Something like re-reading a book. I am able to be more relax in absorbing the surrounding, more connected to the people because I don't have to focus that much on getting to the must-see places. Also, this time it is for a structured Learning Week @headquarters and to co-lead three dissemination events.

This time, I managed to strike a professional collaboration with my lovely aunt. Journalists from Voice of America (VoA) came to one of the dissemination event, including my aunt. Here's one of the Radio interviews talking about my trip to DC and one of the output that was disseminated (bantusekolahku web portal).

http://www.voaindonesia.com/audio/audio/256593.html

Until next trip then...

Dear Jakarta,

I love you... I love you not... I love you... I love you not... I love you... I love you not...

My view, Dec 18th, 06:50 am.

Heading East: Sorong Selatan

A solid wish, well said a year ago, "I want to know more of my country, especially East part of Indonesia, eventually Papua/West Papua." I've always been a big believer that dreams do come true, of course with the three must-dos: detailed it, say it, walk toward it.

I reached Ambon, Sorong, Sorong Selatan, Manokwari and Kaimana. I conducted fieldwork in Sorong Selatan and Kaimana for four days each, and a discussion session in Manokwari.

Here's a tiny bit of the trip. Hope to be able to come back here and share more with you.

Approaching Sorong Airport, Oct 28th, 2012

Sorong Selatan used to be a sub-district of Sorong District. Since 2003 it has been a new District. Many parts of the road are surrounded by lush forest/bush on the right and left side of the roads (not with buildings). Each morning there is a long queue in this one gas station in town. From our car, we can see people walking (long distance) from one village to the other.

Roads are not smooth. No regular public transportation, no local newspaper/printed mass media and no phone signal in some parts of the district. Yet, the nature is amazingly green, clear blue sky and such a wide area consisting of valleys, coasts and mountains.

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!”

The 'Queenlessness' of Queen's Day

As published in Resource Magazine (for Wageningen University students and employees), 21 April 2011.

'Participant Observation' is a research strategy of gathering data through participating in the phenomenon to be studied and observing it in its 'natural' environment.
















Last year, I had an assignment to use participant observation on Queen's Day (30 April 2010) in the Netherlands. Interestingly, the main finding was: the 'Queenlessness' of Queen's Day.

Queen's Day is a national holiday to celebrate the birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands.

Before participating in the celebration, my Asiatic background led me to expect to see pictures of the Queen and the Royal Family on the street, on people's T-shirts, or as souvenirs that people sell in the market. For example, it is common to see pictures of the King of Thailand in every corner of the country. One may generalize that in Asian countries there is an overflowing admiration of the king, the royal family, or other leaders.

But as I partied among the orange crowds, I found no pictures of the Queen; I hardly even heard any talk about her. Talking with my Dutch friends over beers and strolling around the market, I found out that the emphasis is not on the Queen herself.

Queen's Day is more about taking a day off with friends and family, checking out the 'free market' (vrijmarkt), and enjoying music performances-both on land and in boats on the canals. The Queen is not present in pictures, but by being thoughtful enough to give the nation a day off on a lovely spring day in April instead of on her real birthday in the horrible winter month of January.

Steisianasari Mileiva (Indonesia), MSc Development and Rural Innovation