By The end of the year

Guys..

This year will be immediately ended, just in the next couple weeks we will enter New Year, it means we will face new episode to arrange new steps in our life, evaluating our previous targets and drawing new ones for the upcoming year.

You know, I’m often disturbed by the changes of the years, coz I think time goes faster then I hope. William James said that the anxiety to face the speed up of time is related to age, the older we are then the worrier we will be. May be it could be right but for me my anxiety and my sadness is because so many targets have been drawn hasn’t been finished or hasn’t been realized yet. Every years I often left kind of ‘bad result’ in the year peak.

This year is not extremely different from the previous year. I didn’t do good work with my targets. Consequently many targets even never been done like recitation of qur’an that I targeted (1) one Juz for a year (no result at all), also improvement of my carrier seems to be stuck in its place. what a sad..:(.

but besides of that bad news, there are some good news. one of my targets [and it’s the greatest one] I can achieve this year is GETTING MARRIED. Alhamdulillah I’m doing well with this target. ;). also some good activities that either I did or I pioneered this year, such as :

- Al Balagh – it’s a great experience to be a mentor in Al Azhar Islamic School for 3 months.
- Britzone English Speaking Club - I just join this group for around 3 months but now I become one of the Committee members.
- Private teacher - this year I became a private teacher for 3rd grade students of elementary school for all lessons, especially Reading Qur’an but just lasted for 4 months and I gave up because I couldn’t even influence him to ‘be with me’ (he is very undisciplined child).
- Volunteer Teacher at La Tansa – still going on and I allocate my time to be more active in attendance.

the bad news is that this year I left some of my activities I was dealing with in the previous year, like Gamada and Team Solid DIKLAT DT, actually it’s not because my will to quit from such activities but because of a vacuum exist of the organization itself.

That’s a brief evaluation by this year-end, I hope I will make good improvement in the coming years by being more commitment to my targets. Hopefully..:(

New Visitor

Last Saturday, BZ was visited by 68 years old Mr. Arief - I forget the complete name – but it doesn’t matter. It has been two weeks he supervised BZ before joined the class.

Who is he you said? Well from the introduction I catch that he was with Ms. Meutia Hatta Found LIA in the seventies. Don’t know much about his previous activities, he just said that he is in retirement but sure that he’s the one who knows well about English from his good Pronunciations, and word orders while speaking but not master it, as he said that no one can master English even the Native coz English is language which has the largest number of vocabularies – more than 2 millions- that impossible to be learned by heart. He also said he will do something to help BZ in improving English especially in Phonetic side but he will need 2 months to observe BZ before doing that ‘project’.

He reminded me actually with some of my lectures, I could say it Dead lectures I really hate - phonetic, semantics, syntax and all deal with linguistics – that he said quite important in English – in Professional context not amateur.

yeah…again and again I should feel guilty to my academic background. This actually is my responsibility to know, to study about such linguistics skill but you know what happen to me today?? I even don’t understand well any single of it??. people say, never say to late to study, but life speeds up so fast that make me getting older and older, limiting my time, absorbing my memory gradually, and make me become hard learner rather than a fast one. Frankly speaking I am regretful of my neglectful time during my university years. Completely regretful..!!

BZ Presidential Election

Last Saturday, 22nd November was special moment for Britzoners, because that day we had Britzone Presidential Election and the result is the elect Britzone president for 2009 – Mr. Kikim.

There are some cases have to be noticed in the election. Firstly, we had 4 presidential Candidates; they were Farhan, Prass, Endah and Kikim. By the day of Election Farhan called Vemmi that he wouldn’t come because he had to work over time. Then, just minutes before voting Prass backed off, so the remain candidates was Kikim and Endah. Finally Kikim wins with 22 Votes over Endah who got 11 Votes.

I am interested in one of Kikim programs to involve Britzoners in Social Activity that is teaching the stray children which actually has been pioneered by Maria - member of Britzone who has involved in such activity in Depok. The program also got good support form Jati, who lately known as the volunteer teacher for the needy children in South Jakarta too.

This really reminds me to my postponed plain, a year ago. And I do hope that the program will be implemented seriously, and give me a chance to take part on that program.

Overall, Congratulation to Mr. Kikim, Hopefully you will bring bright light to Britzone, and make it shine brighter. ;)

Enlightenment

Hi Guys

I've nothing to do this morning, so it's a bit temptation to share with you that I just being so curious on my own background – Faculty of Letter

Literature actually is a rich and very general discussion, it could be a kind of gate to learn many things (do you believe in it?)

Literature almost have the same face as Philosophy, they are complementary each other.

I just want to review my actual 'deep lecture', I am browsing about some literary theories, like Structuralism, post-structuralism, post-colonialism, etc. I just realized that those theories really related to what happen with the world today. Simply I say " some intellectual worldview" today. So it is a must to take part on such ‘glimmering’ discussion.

Today, precisely this morning. I’m tempted to dedicate myself to write what I should write as an English Literature scholar (??), but it's really great and uneasy challenge rather than field of research. coz of my limited understanding on my own (and unloved) background. pity me..!!!

But I will try…InsyaAllah

‘Obama Fever ‘

I have a glance of hope when Obama wins, at least he will be better than McChain or Bush if I refer to his campaign and his last debate. I was so resentful to hear the black campaign of MC Chain, never intended to say that Obama didn’t involve on such unhealthy campaign but he was one step better than Mc Chain. I witnessed the part of their last debate, in the section of National defense where Iran was their Focus of Issue; Obama firmly stated that he will conduct dialogue with Iran amidst Mc Chain’s hard criticism. Those are points I got to support Obama [just in my limited ‘hope’]

And we hope Obama will make great change in US foreign Policy even though it may 'endanger' himself, remember JF Kennedy case? John F Kennedy was the first Catholic president of US and the only US President who tried to step out of American "platform" (he repressed Israel policy at that time and he also stood for black Americans) some proofs said that he was assassinated because of those reasons.

But we can’t hope much from that country, because whosoever become the US president he/she can’t stay out of American “platform” - to be the superpower country in the world that means conquering world in any aspects of life, including Ideology!. and the hardest thing for US President is to stop creating ‘newspeak world’ which has been created by US government since R Reagen regime, will Obama be able to stop it??. I'm not sure

[Newspeak is George Orwell term to describe the world that has been created by US through Media Hegemony, since that US Government built its image and make stigmatization to its political and ideological enemies]

And, I was a bit disturbed by Indonesian over-reacting on Obama’s Victory. Some Indonesian Obama Supporters even gathered together to watch the election on the five stars hotel and some proudly said that Obama is ‘Anak Menteng’ who leads US now. What a naïve thing..!!. Unfortunately, Such ‘Obama Fever’ also struck our political ‘Elite’, even our president humbly said that he hope much on Obama’s contribution to Indonesia. Furthermore, the ‘inferiority’ action in the West-East Connection dialogue broadcasted by Metrotv just a few days after the day of election, acted by Rizal Malarangeng and Syafii Anwar as the representatives of Indonesia. They spoke as if a servant who hopes kind attention from his boss. What a pity we are!!

Why do we have to hope Obama, a President of USA not a President of Indonesia??. It’s a fact that Obama lived in Jakarta for 4 years, so what’s the connection then??. Do we think that Obama will prioritize Indonesia because of such reason?, it’s really a naïve assumption. Obama is chosen by American people, and will hardly pay it back to them.

Why am I become so disturbed on such thing? In my point of view such manners are a reflection of our inferiority complex. Why don’t we believe in our country?, why don’t we start to be more independent? It’s fine if we hope improvement on US foreign Policy through Obama’s Hands, but we shouldn’t hope in such humble fashion. We have to try to stand on our own feet.!!

First Chance at BZ

Last Saturday was my first chance to be a conductor on BZ Discussion. I formatted the discussion in form of group presentations. The theme was Transportation and Education in Indonesia. The presentation had to follow the certain scope that was Introduction, Problem formulations, solutions, and Conclusion. The determined scope was aimed to limit their discussion for the general theme given. Then the appraisal was derived from the compatibility between problem and solutions, the reasonability/applicability of the solutions and the team work.

Firstly, I divided the participants into groups, comprising of 4-5 persons and gave them 15 minutes to discuss. After that they presented the result before other groups, then they had to answer the questions or criticism given by other groups which has the same topic as them and the questions or criticism from our Judges (they were Ridwan and Ali).

We got many enlighment about those two major problems which has been lasting for decades in our country. And from the discussion we got various solutions - in our version ;). For education themes, the major attention was in the rotten government institution that cut off the education budget which gives bad impact to facilities and Teachers’ salary, unstable curriculum, poor management and system, unqualified teachers, and such, and such. So the solutions were there must be clean government to realize 20% or more of State Budget for education, having stable and appropriate curriculum, improving system and management, creating much more qualified teacher through trainings, workshop, etc. In the field of transportation, most was only focus on Roadways especially in Jakarta; where the major problem is traffic gridlock. They also offered various solutions such as the limitation of Private vehicles, lengthen the aging of Vehicles, and the implementation of 10 in 1 regulation for cars, as the substitute to 3 in 1 regulation implemented nowadays. The latter was the most debatable issue from Yosi’s group, but finally got support from one of our Judges – Mr. Ridwan ;)

It was interesting and alive discussion, coz all participants had chances to speak up and exercised their idea. They could question and criticize other groups’ Idea. Besides this we had insightful and ‘charming’ judges to make the discussion running livelier. And we also had an American native speaker - Merry, who gave us one some brainstorming about education system in her ‘American mindset’.

In the end of the discussion the Judges chose the best group base on their field of discussion. In Education theme Ali decided to choose Merry’s Group as the best group, and for transportation theme Ridwan decided to choose Yosi’s Group.

Anyway, it’s really great chance for me and I am thankful for Vemy, Ridwan, Ali and all participants who enthusiastically helped and followed the discussion. ;)


GROUP PRESENTATION
[Britzone Discussion, on 15th Nov’08]

Theme : Transportation and Education in Indonesia (Chose one of them)
Groups : Comprising of 3-4 Person
Scope of Presentation : Introduction, Problem Formulations, Solutions, Conclusions
Appraisal : Compatibility between problems and solutions, reasonability/applicability and team work

BRIEF INFORMATION

Education in Indonesia

Education in Indonesia is the responsibility of the Ministry of National Education of Indonesia (Departemen Pendidikan Nasional Republik Indonesia/Depdiknas). In Indonesia, every citizen has to have nine years of education, six years at elementary level and three in middle school.

Law No. 20/2003
Based on the correct constitution, education is defined as a planned effort to establish a study environment and education process so that the student may actively develop his/her own potential to gain the religious and spiritual level, consciousness, personality, intelligence, behaviour and creativity to him/herself, other citizens and for the nation. The constitution also noted that education in Indonesia is divided into two major parts, formal and non-formal. A formal education is divided again into three levels, primary, secondary and tertiary education.

Current structure: Primary Education (Kindergarten), Elementary School, Middle School (SMP), High School (SMA/SMU/SMK), Tertiary education (College/University) (Source: http://www.wikipedia.com/)

Education in Indonesia faces many problems that make it left behind compared to other country.

Some facts about Educations in Indonesia
1. high number of Illiteracy in Indonesia:
2. high number of unschooled children
3. poor quality of Education
4. Poor quality of Human Resources


Transportation in Indonesia

Indonesia is a fairly large country consisting mainly of islands. The archipelagic nature of the country plays an important role in designing the transportation system of the country.

The major form of Indonesia transportation is roadways with a total length of 370,500 kilometer (in 2003) and growing. Most of the important cities are connected by bus services through roadways. There are direct and regular bus services between major cities like Java, Sumatra and Bali with no stops in-between. The remote areas are served by mini buses or vans. Buses and vans also form the primary transport of cities.

Taxis, auto rickshaws (Bajaj) or cycle rickshaws also serve as alternate transports. The cycle rickshaws called becak by the people act as a convenient and cheap form of Indonesia transportation. Being blamed for causing traffic congestion, the becak is banned in most parts of central Jakarta.

Alongside the paved roadways, Indonesia also has a large part of its roads unpaved. There are various toll roads, most expensive of them being Cipularang Toll road, connecting Jakarta and Bandung.

The railways mainly provide transportation for long distance traffic or bulk commodities. There are 4 unconnected networks of the railway system in Java and Sumatra. Two major rail lines running the entire length of Java constitute the most railways in the country. A commuter rail service also runs in Jakarta metropolitan area.

Sea transports are important for trade and transportation alike. Each Indonesian island has at least one major port city. Boats here range from large maritime vessels to small motorized transports. Long distance ferry services connect to distant Indonesian islands or neighboring nations. Many of the islands lack roads and river or sea transportation. (source: form Website)

Airways provide the fastest transportation among the others. Domestic airlines connect many of the cities having airports.

Some Facts about Indonesian Transportations:

1. The high number of Airplane Accidents have made EU, forbid Indonesian Airplane to fly in the EU Air Territory (plane go missing, crash into the sea or mountains, or burst into flames on landing)
2. Poor management of Railway has caused number of Train accidents (Train Crashes, Trains jump its track, etc )
3. Poor management of road Transportation has made great number of Accidents, severe traffic jam, congestion (especially in the down town Area), the overcrowding.
4. Poor Management in Waterways has caused many Sea Accidents (Ships or Boats sink or burst into flames)

World Financial Crisis

Nowadays, US is struck by severe Financial Crisis which is caused by the paralysis in credit market translated into intense turmoil in the stock markets. But some sources said that the crisis is actually caused by a huge demand of fund to cost the war declared by US leader, Such as war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon.

US President George W Bush invited all countries specially the most influential countries in ruling World dynamics of economy, to do everything possible to halt the biggest market disruption since the great depression.“In an interconnected world, no nation will gain by driving down the fortunes of another," Bush said. "We are in this together. We will come through it together."

Above words seem to be funny when it’s yelled by Bush, if we remember his ‘independent opinion’ to invaded Iraq or other countries that wasn’t in line with his Ideology. Had he listened to the world and not gone alone to Iraq, Afghanistan or Lebanon?

Unfortunately the crisis is spreading out all around the world, including Indonesia. Rupiah has weakened since the last Friday where our president ordered to suspend Indonesia Stock Market and it lasted three days. Today $US 1 is still equal to more than IDR 10.000.

However, our government calmed down us by saying that we shouldn’t be panic because the crisis is still under control and it is definitely different to 1997 severe monetary crisis.We hope that the Crisis will not strike our country any longer. If it happens to Bush’s ‘house’, it may teach Bush to taken down a peg. ;)

Britzone 2

The sun was shining and it was a lovely day when I attended the second meeting of My English Speaking Club. I came to the class when Farhan and Pras were explaining a game before the members. Quite at loss in a second, to get involve in the class activity coz of my lateness, but in another second I had followed the Instructors’ advice to do a simple game given that asked us to choose 5 pictures and discussed them with our partner. Yanti was my partner that day, and it was a kind of ice breaking session which just took a minute.

In the second session we jumped to a psychological test to know our willingness to study English. It was quite interesting however, from my score of the test an interpretation said that I actually love English but haven’t really struggle for it yet, so I need to make a strategy and an intensive study if I want to be a good learner. Hmm…a good advice for such a ‘jumping-bug’ learner like me (hehe)

Then we went to the third session. We were divided into 3 groups comprising of 6-8 persons. We got 5 pieces of pictures that must be arranged into a story. It was a little bit wasting time when dealing with the theme of the story, because each of us in the group had different Ideas about the story going to be created. We also found difficulties coz there was no similar face in the pictures given. Finally we decided that the most important were the theme and the plot, nothing to do with the different faces for each character. Then, our group made a story about Juvenile delinquency - Drug Abuse - and luckily, we could make the story flowing succinct and didn’t raise any criticism.

Then it was a rather alluring session when we heard stories from other groups. Ali’s Group picked “Tukul Presidential Campaign” as their Theme. Even though we could create a story in ‘a dreaming country’, anyway the story stimulated me to criticize the theme. I said that promoting Tukul to be a president didn’t make sense at all related to his background, and experience. They came no surprise on my criticism and finally I could grasp the Idea that it’s a cynical story made to satirizing the political condition today when many actors or actresses turn to be Politicians.

Then the third groups told the story about Brad Pitt’s Advertisement Company which cooperates with the tobacco manufacturing to make odd but beautiful ads for their products. They came to an end by making a curly haired woman with improper-smoked cigarette between her lips to be their fabulous Ads, and this theme also attracted, many criticisms related to the prevailing law regarding Cigarette Ads, locally and internationally. Then we ‘wandered’ in law sphere discussion for a while.

we arrived to the closing part, and quite surprised by an impressive agenda for next Saturday, that we will have an English native speaker – Mr. Brian – as our keynote speaker, for an ‘under confirmation’ theme.

911 Conspiracy

[BritZone Discussion]

a variety of conspiracy theories raised after the tragedy of 9/11. The theories question the accuracy of the official report of the event. The theories also assert that the report made officially by Bush Regime is not sufficiently forthright, or truthful. Up today many scientists opposed what Bush Said about the tragedy according to their understanding and their scientific fact or data. (you can ask uncle google about this issue)

eramuslim digest magazine 2nd Edition have once discussed it in the article entitled “the dark side of 911” they included scientific fact and data too.

but I remember a book I found in my Office Library. The book is translation edition of Naom Chomsky’s entitled “Mengungkap Terorisme International”. I just read several pages (as I have to finish the previous book I borrowed). Naom Chomsky stated in his theory the correlation between Language and mind. I can’t explain in detail but from my short reading I grab the idea that the language can influence one’s pattern of thought. for example when you hear someone says “he is a bad guy”. if you just hear it once or twice you will be so curious and keep asking, “is he a bad guy?” or “what make him be a bad guy?”, and so on. but if the sentence is uttered repeatedly, every day, every time, automatically it will form a belief in your mind that he is a bad guy .

I think that’s what happen today, the term of terrorist was built after the tragedy of 9/11, and up today many events alike happen around the world (like bombings, hijackings, etc) is always correlated with terrorist, and often it’s attached with the word ‘Islam’, before or after the word of terrorist.

Many sources stated that the first term of terrorist which is given to Osama bin Laden is only a political trick, to smoothen the way to take over the Middle East.

I am Back

Dear Fellow,


You know, today I just remember that I’m the owner of this blog? ;). I usually open my Beloved blog (www.zriesphere.blogspot.com) every morning, from there I see who visited me, sometimes I take blog visit back to the visitors. This morning I find this blog from my friend of mine’s blog who posts my multiply (where this blog is listed) on her blog roll.

Since that, I just though to empower this blog to be my English site, where I can learn to write or store ideas in English. I think, it’s a brilliant brainstorming today, but I am not sure if I will hold my commitment to write in English, and post it in this blog. coz I am not only a jumping-bug reader, but also a jumping – bug writer ;). what a habit..huh??

let’s see ;)

Friendship

Dear Fellows…

What the meaning of friendship will be? Among of you, Exactly have different ideas, Right? Some people says Friend is the one who you know even though just at glance, when you meet them, it the bus, in some place or others. Or may be some says the one that ‘click’ with you in talking about something. You can find so many friends everywhere every place or every moment, but not all of them will continue the glance-meeting friend to be friendship.

According to The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy "Friendship, is a distinctively personal relationship that is grounded in a concern on the part of each friend for the welfare of the other, for the other's sake, and that involves some degree of intimacy. While according to Emerson Friendship may be said to require natures so rare and costly, each so well tempered and so happily adapted, and withal so circumstanced, (for even in that particular, a poet says, love demands that the parties be altogether paired,) that its satisfaction can very seldom be assured.

However, according to me Friendship is a natural relationship between two or more people that is grounded by the need of each others. Need of love, need of care and need to welfare. So friendship must be a close relationship to know each other, to receive the strength and weaknesses, to remain, to protect and to share, and the most important is to love.

Fortunately I bound my self in good friendship with my friends. They all cute, kind and create memory in my deep heart. They mean a lot in my life, they have different characters from that I can learn how I have to deals with each persons in different way. Among the friends there must be specialty, some is ordinary friends that just say hello, or rare care to hear me, but some is really concern about what happen in my days, my progress.
However anyone has their own judge for their friend till they find what they call “True friend”, so do I. Wise man says “Friend indeed is A friend in need”. I really agree with this, a true friend is the one who holds your hand when you scare, who reminds you when you forget, helps you to put the past behind you, cheers you up when you sad, helps you to clear your mistakes, raises you up when you down, stays along with you when everyone leave you alone, guides you when you are loss, supports you to be better and most importantly loves you.

It’s not a bunch of flowers or a sum of money that value much for your friends, but your care, and your attention will mostly appreciated. There's never a wrong time to pick up a phone or send a message telling your friends how much you miss them or how much you love them.

For All my friends, thanks for being my friend.. I Love you All

I love Them

One day I got in touch with them, in timid face they smiled at me, kissed my hand than I Stroked their hair. It’s a precious time for me, when I can meet them. Laugh with them and share something with them.

Over my mind, I am dreaming to be the one who cares them, loves them even protects them. And share happiness with them

Allah.. I know…It’s something beyond my ability, but it’s something often flying through my head.

One day I wanna be there May YOU allow me to be their sister May YOU allow me to be their mother May YOU allow me to be their best fellow One day… Coz I love Them

Be Presistence

Sometimes people come into your life, they mean a lot to you, not a joke, they often share joyful, laugh as well as sadness. They create fond memories along your days, they love you as you do.

But things May happen and break a paradise you have build, you Lose them or even they dig grave for you, they create pain, they make you crying through your nights.

You feel that your world has ended. You may never realize that everything happen for a reason. It could be a lesson to teach you, when you feel heartless because someone, it teaches you that you shouldn’t do it to others, and don’t you know that without overcoming such pain you will never be Strong, without feel in grieve you will never know the meant of happiness.

So steady up…for any upcoming troubles Keep FIGHTING…!!!