Seri Seni: Pentas Hari Ibu

 

Almost New Year!

Yaiii~
It's almost new yearrr~
I'm excited yet not satisfied enough with my life in 2016

You have everything in your hand but still, you seems awkward to handle the steer in your hand.
That's what I felt.
I have several wishes that I make in 2012 about my life in 2017
First thing that I want is, I could make it to travel to another continent.
My wish has granted in 2015, when I have my design product to be exhibited in Glasgow, UK.

The second thing is, I have my own business. Whatever it is. Eventough its running so slow, but I believe that I already accomplish this one. Seri Seni is one of my activity to support cultural diversity in Indonesia to be grow. With community near my home, we could gather the kids and teach them some of traditional dances. I joined Enam Sisi Studio with my best friends and make some interior and graphic design as freelancer. Then, Akaruma as my source of spirits, is a pre-start up that we created with design product approach. All of them need time and more hardwork to make it succeed. Still, I have another dream to make my own design product based on my illustrations and children needs.

Thirdly, I wish to have a plus one in my 25th but I'm still far away from mature. I make this plan on 2012 but it still hard to make. Sometimes people asking this and that but you know, its still mystery until you find those magical event happened in your life. I never been in relationship yet but honestly I'm afraid to have one. Not my experiences but it affecting my life so much. Waiting or not waiting, but I hope everything happened to my life is the best scenario from God. If it is the time, then it will work. If I have to work on it, then God will give me courage. So please let me do something better than pitying myself to not having company like others. Asking only if you concerned hahaaa lol.

Lastly, I really, really, want to study abroad. It's my long life wish. Since I graduate from senior high school, I always want to study overseas. Every year, I always attend International Education Exhibition, hope to study in Europe or Japan, expand my experiences in foreign country. This year I already accomplish my IELTS standard, then applying for several scholarships and universities. The result haven't out yet. So I really hope to pass.There are no other opportunity better than this time. Wish me luck then~

This year, I really grateful to have a lot of new friends, to meet a lot of new people. Everything seems really unexpected, yet I'm struggling with my own mind. Sometimes I compared my life with others, just to realized everyone has their own battle. I just need to win my own war.

 Which memory you cheer the most in 2016?

Cheers to 2017, where every unexpected moments are waiting.
See you next year, in 25 year old of me!
Working hard, Play hard, Pray harder!

"Longgar" Lorong Garden Makassar

When I was attending ISVS 8 (International Seminar of Vernacular Settlement) at Makassar, I went to a kampong, which formerly of slump area, that get recondition by the inhabitants. Their streets are neatly design with a lot of vegetable plants and flowers. Dominated by green and orange color, this area gives strong lively vibe of eco-friendly neighbourhood

Scariest Place of All: Cyberspace and Socmed

Seeing all of posts in social media makes me tired and sad. There are alot of good things happened but still, you can't close your eyes of what our friends going through on the other part of the world. Aleppo still being burn by unresponsible people and mostly killed woman and children. Meanwhile Moslems in Rohingya are devastated because of intolerant people who can't accept them as their own citizen. American moslem are afraid their right will lost because their racist new president. Still, people in my country, which have Islam as majority, parting in several ways because of  different political views.

I've been scrolling my facebook page these days, there are a lot of hate comments and nonsense articles circulating in my feeds. Last time I encountered this kind of situation is when we have our last presidential election. Since that time, I just realized that social media is a scary place. It can be used in a good way to share useful informations. On the other hand, there are people who use this opportunity to brainwash netizen and share provoking comments everywhere. People will easily share anykind of news that they are believe, despite the truth about it still questionable.

Still, it just a cyberspace, right? No one will really hurt you because of one share or one comment. Yep, I tought like that at first. But NO, nowadays it will have major impact in real life. People have their right to say anything, but without responsibility it means nothing. Do you remember when a woman posting about how she really annoyed by pregnant woman who took her chair in public train? Well, people will judge your personality, even in virtual world. I become really careful if I wanted to give my opinion, so mostly I just become a silent reader. But sometimes I can't take it when there are persons who didn't try to have some research or don't have wide perspective give their hateful comments. Even when he/she is really kind and have a good personality in real life.

I just remember when I was scrolling through my instagram feeds, and I found a picture of mouse. There are a lot of cats picture in my instagram so it make me curious. Then I click and enlarge their photo. It was a picture of mouse which it arms and legs being tied on something so it can't move. I didn't understand at first so I read the description. It turn out that they tried to make fun of that mouse by gave it punishment because behind the mouse there is a dead bird. I don't understand at all why they are posting that. What makes me really angry, it was shared by comedy account which have funny contents in it. If torturing an animal, even it just a small one, consider as funny, I don't understand where our common sense is. I'm not usually active but I posted two comments in that picture, after that I reported the account because it contained violence and animal abuse. Not long after I reporting it, they have it deleted. It just small matter, but this account have 150.000 followers. Imagine if a lot of people agree with this post, imagine the impact. Some of them gave comment "that it just a mouse, chill". But hey, even the serial killer only killing kitten in their young age.

Well, using social media is really tiring. Sometimes I prefer to shut it down, but I can't avoid the truth that they have great impact in these era. Then I remember, if we gave up using it and let the dark world dominating it, we will be doomed, really. So instead of close my eyes and logging out my account, we have opportunity to share good things, inspirational and motivational quotes, stories about humanity, and cuteness of our pet to the world againts all of those fake news that will make us apart.

All of my friends, whom I knew in real life or in cyberspace, I really really ask all of you, please be wise using your social media. Be a smart user, only share positive and useful content, avoid cyberwar if you can, and stop making any provoking statement. You have no idea how it will have impact, even slightest one. It is alright if you have your own perspective, but always using kind and polite words~

Well I'm praying for our country, and for my brothers and sisters in the other part of the world, may peace always above us.

Menari: Merawat Perbedaan

"Gerakan apa yang paling kamu suka?"
Pertanyaan itu selalu ada di setiap akhir sesi latihan tari.
Biasanya anak-anak cuma jawab gerakan tertentu yang mereka bisa, atau yang mudah untuk dilakukan.

Tapi ketika materi gerakan sudah semuanya dihapal, jawaban mereka berubah.

"Kalau aku suka semuanya"
Itupun harus berebutan jawabnya 😁😂




Kegiatan ini bermula dari usulan Ibu RT sebelah. Ketika sudah mulai grasak-grusuk menyambut 17an, rasanya kok lingkungan adem ayem saja. Biasanya ada acara besar entah panggung atau syukuran di RW. Yang sibuk juga hanya orang tua. Anak mudanya tidak ada yang riweh. Apalagi anak-anak. Sepi. Dibanding dulu jaman saya, masih ada sepeda hias yang mewajibkan anak-anak untuk beli kertas crepe dan ngumpul untuk hias bareng. Selain itu, dulu saya juga mondar-mandir naik panggung untuk nari di acara-acara kampung (kecil-kecil gini udah pinter minta saweran :P).

Ibu Aisyah bilang, "Mbak Lia, ajarin anak-anak RT 5 nari ya buat tampil 17an"
Sebenernya waktunya sudah mepet. menjelang 1-2 minggu dan anak-anak bisanya kumpul weekend. Tapi sempet saya ajarin nari juga meskipun belum tahu bakal ditampilkan atau engga.
`
Selesai 17an, Ibu Aisyah minta untuk kegiatan ini dilanjutkan.
"Mbak Lia, kita bikin sanggar kecil-kecilan aja, nanti saya yang koordinir..."
Sejujurnya pernah kepikiran, tapi kadang masih ada egois untuk tidak terikat di satu kegiatan karena masih ada utang belajar IELTS. Akhirnya tetep jadi juga meskipun kepotong 2-3 minggu karena saya tinggal ke Kampung Inggris.

Anak-anak yang hadir awalnya cuma 5 orang. Itu pun tinggalnya bukan di RT saya jadi saya baru tahu wajah-wajahnya. Mereka selalu datang jam 7.45. Kewalahan karena belom beres-beres rumah dan siapin sarapan buat ayah. Mereka udah manggil-manggil dari gerbang yang ternyata belum saya bukain. Semakin lama, mereka ternyata ajak temen sekelas, temen satu pengajian, temen sepermainan, dan garasi belakang yang awalnya lapang jadi keliatan sempit. Ngajarnya awalnya asik karena perkembangannya mirip-mirip. Tapi setiap kali latihan pasti ada anak baru dan bingung mau ngajar dari awal atau ngelancarin gerakan.

Untungnya ada Mega, mahasiswa kampus orens jurusan IT yang lulusan sanggar Setu Babakan. Rumahnya ternyata deket meskipun beda RT. Dikenalin Mega juga gara-gara Bu Aisyah. Mega ini orangnya kocak pinter bercanda tapi malah jadi sasaran dibully bocah-bocah. Mega sendiri ikhlas ngejalanin ini (?) dan mau direpotin kalau ada anak baru yang minta ajarin dari awal.

Bu Aisyah sendiri sebenarnya suka menari. Dia bisa ngajarin nari kreasi yang gampang dicerna bocah-bocah.
Bu Aisyah bilang, "Mbak Lia, kita mulai memang begini, sama-sama belajar. Banyak memang kesulitannya, atau komplain orangtua, atau anak-anak yang kadang rewel karena capek atau bosen. Tapi kalau saya sih, biar mereka ada kenangan yang bagus nanti kalau sudah besar. Mereka pernah belajar nari daerah, pernah pentas, pernah latihan sambil main sama temen-temennya. "





Buat saya, menari adalah cara saya merawat perbedaan. Mengenal budaya dari ragam daerah dengan prinsip tari: wiraga, wirasa, wirama. Mengenal itu melalui raga, merasakan dengan hati, lalu mendengar untuk menyamakan iramanya.

Semangat latihan untuk pentas di hari ibu nanti 😆

Kelas Inspirasi Depok 3

Will never ever ever get bored with children and Kelas Inspirasi~

World Culture Forum

World Culture Forum 2016 is an event held by Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Education which gather scholars and activists from world representative to make concrete action towards inclusive and sustainable planet. Fully supported by UNESCO, as an Indonesian I'm so proud that our country took the initiative to make the world aware about the importance of culture as the key to the better world. It's such an honour for me to attend the second WCF as the follow up for Bali Promise in WCF 2013. The symposiums was really great, consist of the experiences from various local initiatives shared by inspiring speakers~

Well, at first I'm not really hope that my paper would be choosen among others, but I prepared for the application carefully. I read the instructions, what the aim of the theme that I want to apply. I make some points that somehow, helped me alot to bring the paper and my motivational essay to their target.

I was really excited to go to Bali again since ARCASIA student Jamboree in 2012. The venue took place in Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center. This event was fully funded, and I really grateful they covered accommodation, transportation and our lunch to dinner. There are several problems found at first. I almost couldn't get my hotel room because of the committee's fault. But later the event was really great so it doesn't really matter.

Meet Satoko Kishimoto, one of speaker from symposium: Water for Life, Reconciling Socio-Economic Growth and Environmental Ethics. She shared her experience with her community to make water profitable for all, without even selling the water itself. Her presentation makes me aware about our rights about water. All of people should get water for free, as our basic needs. She give the example from Jakarta's issue about water. Maybe we already used to buy fresh water from company, but it will bring a lot of bad impacts to our society. We should make some initiative to increase awareness about water justice. Click on this link to see her profile https://www.tni.org/en/bio/satoko-kishimoto

Meet Shadia Marhaban, Harvard graduates from Aceh. I was awe by her speech in symposium: "Reconciling State, Community, and Cultural Divides" about world peace. Aceh gave a lot of valuable experience in her life, the two of them are Aceh tsunami and GAM conflict. She was the only woman to actively participate in the GAM negotiating team at the 2005 peace negotiations in Finland, which ended the conflict in Aceh. She said that Aceh is a big laboratory of world peace. After all of the uncomfortable moments, Aceh was really grateful for accepting helps from a lot of people in this world. Now she is working as international mediator, national consultant for UN women in Indonesia, and consultant of female involvement for NGO in southeast Asia region. Inspired by her story, I wish I could be like her, a woman who can give strong influence not only in her hometown, but also across the regions. She is really pretty in real life, you will immediately awestruck by her awesomeness.

 My favorite Major everrrrr~

Salutee to Mr Ridwan Kamil as architect and as the community leader.

He explained about happiness factor of citizen. He is simply want to make his community as happy as always by making them involved in almost all of the city projects. He also rebuild public facilities and knowing the importance of parks as oase in the middle of city. Once he was asked about the meaning of a leader and how a leader should position himself. He answered: " A great leader is a person who can see the best potential in their team. Remember, team not a worker, so we have to put ourself as a leader in the middle of system and strongly push the society to be their best and give their best work."

Meet Shahbaz Khan, a director and representative of UNESCO in Indonesia who have a really humble personality~
"You should say that you take photo with Shakrukh Khan, because I'm as handsome as him" and yes, he is really funny~
His speech as discussant of Symposium 3 : Interweaving History, Urban Space and Cultural Movement was outstanding as well~

So overall, this forum talked about how important to keep our culture and to be implemented in our life. Culture will bring us to many form of sustainable living. By preserving our culture, we could keep our environment, keeping world peace, rule our economy, empowering our human resources, and to bring diversity to the next level of understanding.

In the end, this forum  urge UNESCO member states and wider civil society to commit themselves to protect culture as our biggest investation for the next generation. This will produce wide variety of activities that involve society participation as well as young generation to imply tradition and ingenious value to bring our world to inclusive and sustainable environment

You can see the Bali Declaration HERE


Here it is~ the photos I got from the event~ 
Most of them capture from culture carnival~ 

Meet Janisha, chekoslavia dancer who have the brightest smile~ I took a lot of her photos because everything looks great with her in my frame. Even Jakarta Post Newspaper featuring her photo as headline. I'm fangirling everytime she smile.

Greatly thankss to Aruuum~ the former of Pengajar Muda (I always being pengajar muda's great fan and sometimes can't believe to find them as my friend) because she approached me first when I was in Kampung Inggris Pare. And of courseee Piak, my company in any condition~ Lets make another adventure in the future. Its rare to find bestfriend and best travel friend at the same time~ 

Meet Pak Wardiman Djojonegoro, former Minister of Education and Culture from 3 different era. It is such an honour to accidentally bump on him, thanks to Mbak Fia Cwethyy hhee~ He is really humble and the way he talks remind me of my grandfather~ He wrote his own biography book and now still in the process of roadshow selling his masterpiece.

  

Try Your Best, but Give Yourself a Space

Adopted the article from BrightSide, I found several suggestion that really helpful and fit in with my recent condition~

 Think positively, yet realistically
Yeah, there are a lot of things running in my head yet I couldn't measure it myself how to get ride of that. I always said that I want to do this and that but in reality, it wouldn't happen like I always imagine. I think I have to slowing my pace and observing the condition carefuly until I find out the steps.

Pamper yourself, but don't give in to temptations
Uurgghh, this kind of hard lol XD but I will try to surpress all of those tempation~

Spend your days with people that can make you laugh, but don't forget to allow yourself time to feel sad
I definitely need this advice. Being sad its not a sin. I always let myself cry sometimes, even it just for silly reasons. Being sad, crying, and feel the symphaty is one of the way to soften your heart. luckily I am a girl and God give us that privileged every month via PMS lol X)


Try to help others, but be careful not to exhaust yourself
Yep yepp.. Its wonderful feeling when you can help people, but remember, you have something to be done so considering it first. Help yourself is always your priority, then do it for other people behave

Analyze yourself, but in a benevolent and loving manner
Don't love yourself the way you are~ always improving, but do it without pressure~ Sometimes I have mental breakdown, feeling that I am not good enough, not pretty enough. But it is okaay to feel that way, so I could looking for the solution in proper way~ 

Remember, you can't force yourself to be happy and well motivated around the clock
 I couldn't agree moreee~ Sometimes I feel that I have heavy burden to be a good role for people around me. Feeling sad, anxious, and other negative feeling is prohibited. But then, all of us have our weakness and we should overcoming it. Those weaknesses are part of ourself, so try to befriend with them and knowing yourself better~

Well, then..

Hellooo from the other side~~

It's been a long time since I'm writing something serious about my life. Well, not particularly serious but I feel like to thinking all of it at once. Is it a curse for all of young adult who never wanted to be a grown-up like me? I'm thinking about what should I'm doing next, since there are a lot of choices actually, and I just need to choose. Nah, writing will be the best therapy for me, so please bear with my words~

I already commited to business project that I cherises the most (yaii to Akaruma and 6sisistudio). In addition, I opened a dance course in my house, for kids who wanted to learn some traditional dances. Those activity somehow keeping me stay in my track and idealism, eventhough we just started and actually it is hard to maintain your work pace. But people did not seeing it tough, they were only care about a job, somewhere in an high rise building office, with monthly salary that going in to your pocket. I know people will always ask, connecting it to your previous education. Some of them giving me the best advices (thanksss, really thanks to your concern) but the rest are just curious, or just want to compare. I will be apply for job, trust meee~ I'm preparing for some activity that will be included in my CV first~

I'm thinking about going to study abroad. It's been my dream since I was graduated from high school. I will definitey pursue higher education, in the major that I love the most. Maybe I will be going to art department (my long lost dream) or architecture interior or mixed of those both. Living in a life full of new ideas and challenges makes me less bored. Actually I'm a person who is easily fall into boredom. Hopefuly I will maintain my focus on my master application. I'm praying hard that I will be thereee~~ and then I will use my skill to work in international NGO, maybe for UN, in UNESCO or UNICEF~

Aaaand the last thing that I recently have concern about is: where I could get my life partner??? or how did you find your husband/wife??? I know it's been in my head after all this time, but I never tought about it seriously, until I almost in the state where I hope to be someone's wife in my 25. Aaaand it will be less than 2 month from now (almost, huh? I'm still 24 anyway~) I rarely falling in love, but If I have one, it seems that he is never have any interest in me. I never have anyone to ask me out, or even just have a long, interesting chat. People said that I'm just choosey and selective, but in fact, I don't even have anyone to be choosen... (pity mee.. this time I'm just shamelessly telling my loveless life *sobsob*). But I never want to be someone's ex anyway, that is why I don't really care about having boyfriend~ So, thinking from this prespective, I should be grateful..

Well, to conclude all of my babblings, I shall reminding my self, over and over again, to not compare with anyone else. I need to finish what I'm started, I need to focus on my aims, and then, I should be preparing my self to be the best of me~ Yes, yes, I would not be worrying about life partner or what. If it is the right time, we should be meet. My job is I have to endure all of those tricky questions heheee..

andd to close this night mumbling, I should posting my photos~
I'm not a narcisstic ( I rarely posting my photos in instagram or other socmed)
but lately I'm feeling good about myself~ *dothebuttdance*

Black or white version?

The Little Prince

"What is essential is invisible to the eye..."

"To be sure, an ordinary passer-by would believe that my very own rose looked just like you, but she is far more important than all of you because she is the one I have watered. And it is she that I have placed under a glass dome. And it is she that I have sheltered behind a screen. And it is for her that I have killed caterpillars (except for the two or three saved to become butterflies). And It is she I have listened to complaining or boasting or sometimes remaining silent. Because she is my rose."

-Le Petite Prince-

My Last 1/3 of 2016

My September feels like roller coaster
Oh October, please don't leave me faster
Well November... This time I will try harder
December, please make it my best moment of the year!

Thank You~

Even just one tiny act from you can makes me happy!

No, no, I mean,
I'm over the moon!

Thank youuuu~

Meaning of the Sea: From the Perspective of Bajaunese Children’s Drawing

All of us experiencing environment before we even can talk or write. Our understanding of space and architecture lies in our experience of our room, our home, our street, our homeland, our village, our landscape. We try to understand the surrounding since early life. Unconsciously, we learn about them and become one of the most important memory in our life. 

"The roots of our understanding of architecture lie in our childhood, in our youth: they lie in our biography" (Zumthor, Thinking Architecture)

That would be interesting if we tried to remember what kind of environment we live in when we were a child. Our understanding of landscape at that time reflecting our hopes, our stories, our daily life.

I’m so immersed when I have a chance visiting a sea tribe in Wakatobi, South East Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bajau or Sama, is name of sea people who lives in the middle of the sea. Sea become the most important thing in their life. Since their early life, they were taught that sea is reflection of their twins. If one of them were sick, then the other sibling would feel the pain. Sea becomes their guardian, their twins and their mother who keep them safe and sound.

I’m curious about what Bajau’s children thinking about their surroundings. The children are the future of Bajau’s tribe. I want to know what perspective the children have? How close their daily life with the sea? What kind of the future they are expecting?

Trying to understand from children’s perspective, I use drawing as a tool for them to communicate. For young children, drawing is the best means of conveying their fondest hopes and feelings. Before they was introduced to the words, they already processing images to their expressions. Even after they mastering language, they use doodle or painting to expressing something they can’t put into the words.

“Children's drawings have often been used to diagnose the developing personalities of their authors. But perhaps they may also serve one day as instruments for assessing the environment and help us to improve the quality of environmental planning both for children and adults.” (Krampen, 1991)

Everyday Life and Surrounding

From the day they were born, Bajaunese children are inseparable with water. They are mastering swimming even before they can walk. When I was playing with them, one of their favourite activities other than swimming is drawing. Their age varies from 5 to 13 years old.

Every time we drew, we always ended our session with presentation about their drawings. They shared some of things that makes me interested. Here is some of their drawing and their explanation:

Figure 1. Fish Drawing by Iwan and Boyo

 

Things that always they draws are fishes, boat and house. They can identified sea creatures precisely complete with coral reef, sea grass, sand, and lagoon. The size of fish they draw may varies, but they always draw fish bigger than other creatures, sometimes bigger than people. They explained that everytime they draw big fish it makes them excited and happy. They hope they could catch it when they grow up.

Figure 2. Marni’s Drawing: House

Besides fish and sea creatures, their scribbles about house is really interesting. Their house’ signature is a ladder which help them climb from boat to their house (Figure 2, no 3) and the columns which erected on the sand (Figure 2, no 5). In this picture, Marni (10 years old) draw her house complete with her self portrait, flowers, butterflies, and sea waves. Under her house (Figure 2, no 2) is how she describe sea waves with dots, represent of large anchovy school which always following her everytime she walks on the bridge. She drew flower and butterfly too. It turns out some part of their settlements stacked by dead coral and becoming a land where they could grew some plants and flowers.

Culture and Religion

Andi's drawing

Andi’s drawing containing more objects compared to his friend’s. He always draw landscape of hill and the sea with bigger proportion of under water views. When he explained his drawing, I caught some things more deeper about the culture and religion of Bajau’s people.

In Figure 3 no.2 and 9, he draw about how Bajau’s people diving. There are a people figure with stick on the circle part (head) and dots which potrays traditional breathing equipment. Somehow it help Bajau’s people to stay longer while diving. Meanwhile, in figure 3 no. 3 and 9 he draw sea creature called ‘Kuta’ in shape of octopus. Kuta was symbolized as a sacred animal because Bajau people believe that Kuta is incarnation of their god who protected sea and Bajau tribe. Being close with big Kuta is one of his dream. He also drew sea snake (figure 3 no 4) as an animal whom he avoided the most because of the dangerous poison.

While I ask about a thing in figure 3 no 6, he referred to a ‘pocong’. Pocong is  a term or shape when people died and being ready to bury. In tradition of Bajau, when people dead, their body will be convoyed to be buried in the closest land. Andi drew it completed with the gravestone in figure 3 no 5.

Andi said people figure in no 7 and 8 which have similar form of wings, is an athlete or tourist who did skydiving from the hill of Kaledupa. Andi draw this part as the most interesting thing he ever encountered.

Dream and Hope of Bajaunese Children

After seeing Bajaunese children's drawing, we can see that water and sea has the deep meaning in their life. They are seeing water as a connector which have unlimited potential. All of the children seeing their future as Bajau people who interact with the sea and living as great fisherman. That is why their ancestors put great efforts to keep stay on the water even though they are forced to stay on the land to obey strict authority. Currently, Bajau tribe encounters difficult times related to their main living as fisherman. They have limited resources since they are living in the area of Wakatobi National Park which make them obey the rules. Meanwhile, they lost to people who fishing with bombs or big trawl. Such a relieve to know these children still have hopes to mantain their culture and environment.

If we interpreted this children drawing further, we will see how close them with environment and it can be source ideas of future development. This could be one of approach to know their culture with much deeper understanding. If we concern about development of their settlement, we have to see from their perspective, not from our knowledge about big city. We can use the understanding of cultural diversity to enhance their potential and mantain sustainable environment.