Yogyakarta 1-6 May 2012

The last time when I went to Yogyakarta was when I was secondary school. This time I went to Yogyakarta with Legion of Mary friends, some from NUS, and some from other praesidia (Robin's friends).

On the first day we went to Taman Sari. It was a bathing compound for the king's family, but it was not really interesting now. It's just a complex. I think if I went there with Prof John Miksic, he would explain to us lots of interesting things about the complex. Hehehe.

I haven't taken shower now, so to make the story short, I'll talk about the most memorable places in Yogyakarta.

1. Gua Maria Tritis (one of the shrine of Our Lady), Gunung Kidul
It was my first time going there and I was amazed by the beauty of the shrine. It is a huge cave with stalactites. Unfortunately, I do not know the story about this shrine, but Robin said that Our Lady appeared to a little boy here.

2. Candi Borobodur
I've just realized that the carvings there were so beautiful. Observing how many pictures I took in this ancient temple (thanks to the guide who recommended various good spots), I think this monument is still number one tourist attraction for me in Yogyakarta.

3. Gua Maria Sendangsono (Sendang = lake, Sono = a name of tree, water coming from a tree)
Unlike my previous pilgrimage with my family, this time we walked the long way for station of cross. The route in Cisantana was actually more difficult, but the weather was hotter in Sendangsono.

More stories to come....

The Drama of Packing

packing my stuff reminds me that I'm a FOREIGNER..and this is life as foreigner..Packing the whole room every year. I hate it!!!! How many more times I have to pack and shift my stuff here and there?

Packing my stuff reminds me that I don't have a HOME.
I guess that's why I hate packing. It's not about the 'art' of squeezing all stuff to one (?) suitcase. It's about realizing how I have to let go lots of things (a.k.a throwing rubbish), it's about being aware that I'll keep moving, keep moving, and keep moving.

Sometimes it's just so tiring not-to-have-a-home.

What's next??

Today was my last exam as an undergraduate. I left exam hall at 10.15am (45 minutes earlier). Many people left early too. The format was MCQ, either you can remember or not. -.- I was not sure for most of the questions :(, but it's over!! O.V.E.R. - nomoreexamstillatleast1.5yearsfromnow :P

It's kinda a good feeling. I started to look back on the past years. I went out with roommate to JCube, the new mall in Jurong East, then we recalled our first few days in Eusoff. I remember how I was staring at the unending stairs in Eusoff with my HUGE suitcase and asked Jit Vern, my senior, "No lift?" No...  I remember how I walked around Eusoff for the first time and tried to use the transponder to open my door, but I couldn't! It turned out to be the wrong room, it wasn't my room. Hahaha.

So fast!
I keep repeating this over and over again. Time flies. The question is "What's next??"

One problem that is quite persistent is my "over-worry". Among this "over-worry" lists, some that I really want to get rid of are:
1. Stop thinking about what-other-people-think-about-your-decision
2. Stop worrying that it-will-be-a-waste-of-time-if-I-make-wrong-decision

I just called my dad, telling him that I'll start work on 15 May, but I told him, "I don't know the salary yet!" But my dad 'scolded' me, not a harsh scolding, but firmly say, "Don't think about the salary! Get experience first!" This made me fly back to my conversation on phone with my mom last semester. She always says, "Nothing is wasted. You might turn and turn around so many times till you reach your destination, but nothing will be wasted."

What's next?

After many long posts on my 'BIG' dreams, I've decided to work.
After many long posts about my AMBITIONS, now if people ask me, "Do you really want to do clinical psychology?" I answer, "I don't know."
Do you know that hourly fee for tutoring JC student is higher than giving behavioral therapy?
But life is not only about money. I know I will really need to learn to survive after graduation. It's a shame to keep asking my parents for money. I also see and experience myself the ethical dilemma about some issues, "Is it appropriate for me to do this? Do I have the capacity to do this? Is it the best interest of the child/ client/ whoever the person's involved in my work?" I'll need to make 'BIG' decision myself, but yeah...Thank God I have people around me that can be asked for advice. I need to learn how to always improve my spiritual life too. At the end of the day, after circle, or meditation, or spiritual direction, they always remind me, "Remember. We are called to be holy and to glorify God." That's the most important thing.

Welcome new life :):)
for now,
PACKING MY STUFF AND BE PREPARED TO SHIFT TO VACATION STAY ROOM. aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...such a nightmare :(

to let someone help you

This was what my mom told me. She realized that sometimes I have high ego. In Indo, we call this "gengsi". I don't have any English word in mind that can replace this word. It's not the high ego that you have when someone say that you are "selfish", but it's the kind of shame feeling when someone help you, or like the pride when you don't want to admit that you make mistake.

It's okay to say that "I'm not okay"
It's okay to say that "I need help"
It's okay to say that "I can't do it alone"

We know that when we help someone, we feel happy for that person, so ya..let someone help you because the person will also feel happy when you feel happy. Let someone help you because the person will also feel happy because you trust the person to listen to you.

Maybe one act of kindness that you can do today is to let someone help you :)

True Friends

I'm so grateful that God has given me friends that always support me. Not only in terms of "typical-friendship-song" like they cheer me up when I am sad, or they laugh when I laugh and cry when I cry, but they also correct me when I am wrong. They challenge my ideas when they see something wrong with it and I'm so thankful for this. 

It's amazing how some friends can really make me think after I have some conversation with them. Our conversation is not just a "talk-cock" session. I didn't realize it till recently another new friend saw this characteristics in our conversation. 

It's very hard to find this kind of friend. Some people will just agree with you, but I guess true friends dare to say that "You're wrong" or at least..."Why don't you consider this?" or minimum "Why do you think that way? Perhaps..." It's just one sentence that can make you re-think your ideas. 

For me, the reason why I have written this post is this is what I feel about my Legion of Mary friends. Thanks for being true friends :) I don't know whether they realize or not, but our conversation after last meeting have made think and reflect a lot. Thank you, Lord, for this blessing through my friends.

the last 3 exams as an undergraduate

How do you feel when you are facing your last three exams?

Happy? cos you are graduating soon..
Sad? cos you are going to leave your friends
or...?
Lazy? cos anyway your CAP is stuck there.

I've just finished my first exam. There are two more exams next week: Tuesday and Friday. Then, it's over!! Bye, NUS! I do not dare to say that it's my last exams in NUS because I'm still hoping to study again (and who knows it'll be in NUS). Still, these are my last three exams as an undergraduate. Fr Mario said, "It's your last 3 laps!!"

So yeah...although I feel superlazy now, I'll do my best!! To cherish these exam moments :) hahahahaha..

What Skype Cannot Do

Hello. It's been a looooooooooooooonnnnnnnggggggg time since my last post.

Let's talk about technology now. Once I read my friend's post on how technology is "disconnecting people" rather than "connecting people". It's so normal to see two girls sit opposite each other with iPhone in their hands. In Indo, my friend said that her parish block phone signals (so only some providers with strong signals can get through) because the people are busy with their Blackberries during Mass!!! Since then, she said some of her friends prefer sitting outside the Church during Mass.

People might argue that technology helps connecting people. I agree! I can't imagine how I'm going to survive without yahoo messenger or facebook! I don't think that I will call my best friends frequently because it's quite expensive.

Despite all the technology advancement, I still do "old days" style. I still call my mom using my phone because I enjoy walking around while I talk to her :P Two weeks ago, she used skype for the first time. I was sooooooo happy!! :D I could show some things that I cannot describe with words to her and we can see each other.

However, I realize there's something skype still cannot do.

We cannot look at each other's eyes. If I look at the camera, she sees me as if I'm looking at her, but I can't look at her eyes.

So yeah..I'm glad and thankful of this technology advancement,
but there's always something that skype cannot do.