Thinking Loudly
Every posting is one piece among thousands pieces in this complicated yet interesting puzzle game called: LIFE
April 26, 2009. Raisa played: Menuet BWV.14 by J.S.Bach at Mihama Bunka Concert Hall. She did it perfectly.
Some fourteen years ago, I was in my defense seminar for my BA thesis. Came the final question from my professor on why I chose the topic and model which she considered I can choose more complex base on my GPA, scorecard & capability. The professor no doubt is one of the youngest(at that time) and smartest in faculty. She came from reputable scholar family well-known in Indonesia, graduated from one of most reputable Economics faculty in the world. She was my thesis adviser and grilled me in the making process, I thought she will not asked me such question on the d-day.
To be honest, I never like school. I like study, but the topic and system of schooling in Indonesia (at my time), I never fond of. The more likely of one-way style. The superiority of the lecturer. The judgement base on your capacity of memorizing some text, etc, etc. More than school, I was interested in student organization. I found one which connects the student to more practical business life. I learned a lot in the organization: team-work, leadership, professionalism and all practically needed in business life rather than theory. Nevertheless, I never tolerate myself to have GPA less than 3, which I consider as a ticket to get a good job in MNC company.
Having 3+ GPA in hand, I aimed for a bold thesis for another A generator, but not a difficult one. I wanted to end my 4 years of study quickly and jump to the real world of business.
Not to bored anyone, just in brief, the thesis was about International Economics. To be precise, I analyzed using a model, if the government applied tariff system (which the existence is for protection) really make the textile industry in Indonesia more efficient and competitive or the opposite.
In my memory, I was not able to give a good answer to the question my professor asked. Though base on all performance the panel of professors gave me an A for my thesis, deep in me, I was not satisfied for not being able to answer that one question to my standard. Many times after the seminar day, I was thinking to myself and imagine many possibility of better answers I could give to my professor that day. I could say, though the topic is not new, it is the fact that the government keep the policy which actually kill our own industry. Therefore, more and more study and sounding to prove, is needed so this can be changed, for the betterment of the country.
Why didn’t I think of them in that room? I feel it like an uncompleted business.
I never meet the professor again after that day. I thought I just need to let it go…
I was wrong.
Last Sunday, over a decade later, I met the professor. She came to Japan for a university business and accompanied by a dear lady whose very closed with us (another professor, who happened to be my good friend’s mother).
I came by to the hotel to brought the dear lady to a dinner, the professor joint us.
She may not remember me (but she said, by name she forgot, but once she saw me she remembered), I’m just one among hundreds if not thousands student which defense seminar she attended.
But I was the one, who is lucky enough to remember, not to let it go, and get the chance to answer the question she threw me fourteen years ago.
Now I’m satisfied.
For the super amateur me, appreciating the mega-work of well-known photographer is one of my big interest. The collections of National Geographic pictures have been no doubt are among the world’s best. So I’ve been eyeing for: Through The Lens, National Geograpic Greatest Photographs for a while. A collection of 250 very best images in a century span of time, taken by the world master photographers. But looking cost over 4000 yen when hit the bookstore in Japan, has put me on hold. Too expensive. Buying in Amazon or book store abroad is not a good option due the super heavy, 500 pages, oversized, thick glossy papers, hard cover that weight so much (I think it’s over 3kgs). International shipping cost will boost the total price.
Yesterday, I was almost fainted for the pleasantly surprise, to see the wondrous book in my neighborhood’s small book store (which usually sell only Japanese titles). It was plastic wrapped and brand new, stood on the shelf with 500 yen price tag. 5-0-0 pretty yen! I made sure twice to the shop keeper that they put the correct pricing. They said, yes, they are on special foreign book campaign for three days. Well, that is like 80% discount!
We went to the shop to let Raisa utilize her book coupon. She got a present of 1000 yen value of book coupon which can be used in any book store all over Japan. So the girl chose her book. When she saw me had my choice on my hand with super happy smile on my face and listened to my story on how much I like the book and the deal was too good to be true, she said that the book will be on her. She chose one pocket book for her that cost 650 yen. She paid her and mine using the coupon with additional 150 yen cash taken from her saving money.
I was the happiest creature in the universe.
A conversation between me and hubby on an afternoon drive:
“Imagine, Hon. I think, one day say 50 years from now, police dept don’t have to put camera to caught the over-speeder. Nowadays, many car using ETC for stop-less toll road payment, that device sends and catches signal from and to the car, right? So with the more and more promotion and discount of the ETC facility nowadays, more and more people install the device in their car. One day it will be an standard feature in every car. And what the police dept need to do is using satellite to track all down the signal movement. They can just type a query to pull the data of movement over 100km/hour for a particular road, and voila! all car move faster than that will be listed. Then, using their computer tech, they will directly apply the fine, and suddenly in the over-speeding car, your ETC machine will said: “You are being charged 70,000 yen for over-speed at X road at Y time.” Paper-less, easier for police, easier for the over-speeder that they don’t have to go to bank to pay the fine.”
“Hm, nice idea. I think it won’t take 50 years. Not even 15 years.”
Perhaps it’s a hibernation, perhaps I was bitten bye Tsetse fly, or perhaps, laziness and losing the mood of writing is nowadays symptom of pollen allergy. What ever it is, I was not up into writing for the couple of months. My family and closed friends started to ask me for the tardiness and now I got to stick to my objective of blogging: journaling the life for family and friends distance away, and life documentation for my kids.
Let’s go with general update of us.
Me.
The pollen allergy somewhat has much decreasing. This year hasn’t been that bad. Though I feel quite fit with my body with the comeback of regular gym visit, I feel disturb with the deterioration of my left ear hearing. I got to go to ENT, seriously. Since my last pregnancy, this hasn’t back to where it was before.
At work, with the pressure of the economy, the effect trickle down until almost everybody’s desk, including mine. Fortunately, not financially. In addition to my current responsibility, I got a big assignment of notorious difficult project which run for the next 12 month. It will be hell of year. But like everyone said, in that tough working condition, feel blessed that you still have one.
At social side, lots of new friends in the last couple of months. Home and office. It’s so refreshing but has been made weekend busier than ever.
Him.
The world has been hitting his business down, crawling at the lower side, he try to survive.
But I’m blessed to married a sober man, who handle the down time wisely. His spirit & energy remain high.Keep on fighting. That is the most important.
His energy high enough that lately he started lots of physical activities too. Last weekend, he did sets of billiard and Ping-Pong games with a friend at our basement. The following day he joined a small tennis competition. Day after that, he was up and down tried his best stand move forward on the skate on the ice ring. This morning, soreness all over muscles and joins.
Raisa.
Today is her first day as third grader at Nishinoya Elementary school. I said many times before but let me say it again, time does fly. My baby is now at the last year of her first half of Elementary years.
Unlike before when she spent after school hours at a places called Kodomo Room belong to the school, this year, due to the number of new first grader and capacity, Raisa as the bigger kid can’t get the admission to the room. That means, she got to be on her own after school hours. She is big and ready really, but as a mommy, I still concern.
Two days ago, she was at the top of the world when we bought her, the first cell phone in her life. Though personally I’m not fond of digital for kids, but this is the need of the situation.
For weeks, our home has been filled with J.S.Bach’s Menuet BWV 14. From broken ones, till much smoother version cause Raisa has been practicing and practicing her number for her piano recital end of this month.
Ken.
After a complete 14 months of perfect health, nor disturbance like cold & fever whatsoever, Ken got his cold the last ten days. We’re so lucky though he was down with fever, cough and stuffy nose, his appetite remain, and most of all, his mood at most of the time was good. Though he became a bit clingy, I kinna enjoy it as at his healthy days, the active boys rarely stay still in my hugs for more than three seconds.
Ken has started his first Quran reading lesson, following his sister who does that every Friday evening.
Being the youngest, Ken is source of affection. I, hubby and Raisa, always there to spoiled him, one after another. We know this is not good as it can make him soft, but we can’t help when seeing his cute face.
