Day 10: Sophia University & Kabuki

Yep, I’m still here, sitting in a hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Still doing some program by the JENESYS, and it’s already Day 10 of the program. Precisely 33 days to go before I leave this country. Today was my second day in Sophia University. Yes we had another day of classes in Japanese introduction there. Today’s classes were Political Science and History. The first one was thaught by a German whom I thought looks like a vampire because he’s so pale and look like the guy from Twilight. We made fun a little bit about it, especially when the staff hurried on closing all the curtains. We thought he would dissapear if being exposed too much to the sun. So that was fun. The second lecture was okay, but I don’t really like history so, yeah. Not much to talk about it.

But after the class, we got to the Ginza area, and went to watch Kabuki. It’s basically a traditional play of Japanese. With an exaggeration on the make up and also on the way of talking. Usually with white faces and fancy kimonos and traditional clothes. Well, you can google some more about Kabuki if you’re interested on that particular topic. But, to be perfectly honest, I didn’t really enjoy the play, and there are 2 reasons: first, it was in Japanese, even if they give us some receiver with an earphone so we can listen to some kind of translation of the play, but it was still not the same because you don’t really know what the actors are saying; and second, it was five-hour long. Yes. FIVE HOURS. It consisted of 3 acts, and there are 2 breaks between the acts, each was 30 minutes. But it’s just not enough. No, it isn’t. I fell asleep in the last 30 minutes of the play (I just couldn’t stand it anymore) and one of the participants actually said that I was asleep with mouth open. Yeah, it was kinda embarassing, but since we’re not allowed to take pictures in the room anyway, so I’m safe.

I tried to take some pictures, but in kabuki they prohibited you to take any, so I just took the picture of the stage. So here you go.

the lecturer that we thought looks like a vampire.

the intersection near the Ginza street, on our way to the Kabuki theater.

the Seiko watch. No particular explanation, I just love looking at it.

The Kabuki stage. The ticket is quite expensive, actually. Good thing we got it for free.

So there we are. Tomorrow I’m going to have a free day, and I really need to catch up on my classes back home in UGM. I’ll try to write something more interesting, maybe about my impression on the Japanese people, although I doubt it that people really read what I wrote. Ah well, I write therefore I am. So maybe now not really worried about how many people actually read my blog. In the mean time, I hope everyone enjoys the weekend!

Nocturnal

Literally, after I checked in the dictionary, nocturnal means “in the night”. This term is also used to describe creatures (animals) which do activities at night, such as bat or owl… Well, enough scientific explanation. Because I’m not gonna do more research to write more about the real definition about nocturnal. The reason why it becomes my title of post today is because I had sleepless nights these past 3 days. I was still awake when it’s dawn and saw how the sky became brighter from my window. Since I live in level 6, I pretty much can see the clear sky without building to cover my view. But, wait… Why am I nocturnal?

It’s not that I like to do that. But it’s more because I HAVE TO. I have two essays due this week. At first, I thought one of the essay is due on Tuesday, and the other will be due on Thursday. But I was being stupid by not double checking the date of the essay deadline, so it turned out that the essay (the one that I thought was due on Thursday) was due earlier than I thought, which is on MONDAY. It’s even worse because I just found out about it at 3 PM on Monday, while the deadline is on 5 PM, and I haven’t done anything about the essay. NOT A SINGLE WORD. Since I thought I still have plenty of time to do that, so I was concentrating on the other essay instead.

So, yeah, I went crazy. Because the two of them hadn’t finished. I already stayed up until 6 AM to finish my Tuesday’s essay on Sunday night. Then I also stayed up on Monday night to finish both of the essays. I went to sleep the next day (which was Tuesday) at 10 AM in the morning, after I handed in my essays. I woke up at 7 PM in the evening, and missed 25 calls from Sita, Josef, Alvin and Yushi who were trying to wake me up, because we planned to go to Singapore Flyer that afternoon. I managed to catch them up though after their dinner and we had some photos in the merlion. At that time, I felt relieved because I had done all my essays.

After our night walk, we went back to PGP and I had my dinner. But I didn’t sleepy at all. It’s because I just had a nine-hour sleeping from 10 AM to 7 PM. So I didn’t do anything on Tuesday night but I still couldn’t sleep. I turned off my laptop and all my lights. I closed my curtain so I couldn’t see if it’s sunrise already. But it’s still didn’t work. I feel asleep at around 6 AM but then I woke up again at 6.30 AM to had my morning prayer, and I couldn’t sleep until now. Yeah. I’ve been awake for almost 30 hours (with 30 minutes sleep in between) and it’s because I stayed up too long to get my essay done. But I was still awake all night although all my essays are done. And I even also woke up in the daylight. So I’m not even nocturnal! Maybe I’m a non-sleeping creature? Haha. They said ants never sleep. Oh well…

I know it’s so not healthy to keep staying up late every night. Because even before Sunday I stayed up late already to play pingpong, cards, and chatting in the weekend. So I should go sleep early now. Roy said people who don’t get sleep in a week will get a sleeping coma. And I have not been sleeping for…… Wait, let me count.

Friday : played pingpong, patin tero, and cards —-> slept at 6 AM in the next day (Saturday)
Saturday : played pingpong again —-> slept at 3.30 AM in the next day (Sunday)
Sunday : wrote my essay (the one that was due on Tuesday) —> slept at 6 AM in the next day (Monday)
Monday : finished all essays (I handed in late for the Monday’s essay) —> slept at 10 AM in the next day (Tuesday)
Tuesday : tried to sleep, but couldn’t make it. Fell asleep for 30 mins at 6 AM in Wednesday —-> haven’t slept until now

Whoa, it’s already 5 days! I only have 2 days left and if I still stay up all night I’ll get a coma!! I don’t wanna get a coma!

I guess I’d better go to sleep right now. I wasn’t born as a nocturnal, so I shouldn’t be one. Morten said I should get my beauty sleep anyway. Haha.

So, goodnight!

it’s nearly over

Miss Mandy said I have to write more English in my blog. Oh, btw, she is one of officer in International Relations Office in NUS and she’s taking care of the TF-NUS scholars. I guess I wrote in English a lot. But sometimes I just want to write in Bahasa Indonesia since it’s easier for me and makes me write faster. But this is good for me — writing in English — because I still have trouble on writing in English. That’s why I also have trouble with my essay here. *sigh*

Anyway, this past 3 weeks was crazy. I went to Bintan on 21-22 March with 15 people. All are exchange students. We were having fun, though all of us have so many assignment to do. And we ended up not doing the assignment well because we were so tired. The next weekend after Bintan (28 March) I went to Pulau Ubin also with some exchange students. We went for cycling and it was really fun. But it was also exhausting. Just like Bintan trip. The next weekend after Pulau Ubin trip — which is yesterday — also a busy weekend for almost all exchange students. The International Relations Office of NUS held a farewell tea for exchange students who went to NUS this semester on Friday. Ironically, I haven’t seen some of them. Since I didn’t come for the welcoming tea — because I was still in Indonesia at that time — and I also didn’t come for the orientation.

Just yesterday, a BBQ party held for TF-NUS students. Too bad not all of them were coming. Some of them are still doing their voluntary work. Well, good thing I have done my 10 hours community service, so I could make it to the BBQ. Before that, I went to Asian Civilization Museum with Josef, Morten, and Jess. That’s how I managed to get Josef walked me to the BBQ place. Because the place is so far and I have never been there before. The BBQ itself was so fun. Though deep down I’m still worrying about my essay (aaarrghh). But I’m really glad that I had a chance to get together with all fellow exchange students, at least once before we all go back to our countries.

Yeah, my journey in Singapore is nearly over. Just one month and then I have to go back and continue my real school (hehe) in UGM. I kinda feel sad about it, since it took a while for me to finally get settled and get used to everything here in Singapore. With all nice people I’ve met, and all the activities I’ve done. Though I miss all people back home, but I don’t feel like leaving so soon. I guess that’s why lately some people held so many events. And all of them involve “farewell” in it. I even stayed up so late these past 3 days just to play ping pong and fool around with some friends. It is exhausting, but maybe because we don’t have much time left, we want to use these remaining days to be together.

It feels like just yesterday when I first arrived in PGP steps and confused with all the new atmosphere that I have to live with for this semester. But now, I have to leave all these familiar steps, residence, rooms, food stalls, faces, and everything… I hope I don’t get too sad when it comes to the day for me to go home.

I can’t believe all of these are nearly over…

study vs. have fun

After two months struggling with all the lecture materials, assignments, and readings, I managed to enjoy all my classes here at NUS. Finally the excitement came and now I always walked out the class with smile. I still found some difficulties though, on understanding the lecturer’s explanation. Especially when it comes to “big” words that I never heard before, or when the lecturer starts speaking soooo fast. But anyway, the assignments are driving me crazy now. There are so many readings that I can’t catch up with. So I only read what I can read (a.k.a the not-so-long and not-boring readings).

Last Monday I had a presentation in one of my tutorials. It was “Politic and Visual Culture” class. It’s only 2 minutes presentation though, but I was so nervous since it’s a really small class (less than 20 people I guess) and everyone seemed very critical to each other’s presentation. I presented a picture from Vietnam War. Luckily, it wasn’t as bad as I thought before. Still, people delivered their opinion, but none of them said negative things toward my presentation.

Last Wednesday, in another class, we had screening of Blood Diamonds. The class is “International Security”, and we were talking about civil war. Too bad, we didn’t watch the movie till the end. But the discussion were running really well. But, since it was a make up class, so not all students were there, some of them were having clashes with the timetable. Still, the class was really interesting.

Oh well, I still have to struggle with my essays. One of my essay proposal for class “Cities and Urban Life in South East Asia” was rejected previously. But then I found another topic and I managed to send the proposal to the tutor, who said that my proposal is good! Yey! But then I still need to start writing the essay itself. I haven’t even really thought about them. Lots of distractions!!!

Last whole week, instead of starting my essay (or at least, think about it), I did things and spent my time for other things. I went to Orchard Road and Chinatown on Sunday with Morten, accompanied him buying presents for his brother and I also got my watched fixed. On Wednesday, after class, instead of doing my readings, I went to Potluck held by some local students who are affiliated into some group that facilitate international students. We were having fun, chatting, and even singing our national anthems! In the weekend, I played ping pong with Jess, Josef, Roy, and Jesse. Saturday night, I went to UCC, watching orchestra because Jess was playing violin in it. It was a really long weekend but I ended up doing nothing (except having fun).

This week I tried to do better. I finished some readings already, and I feel relieved. Because I will not do much in this weekend since I’m going to Bintan with some friends. Haha, I know, I’m going back home. But, hey, I think I have a logical explanation toward this. If I go to Bintan from Jogja or Bengkulu, it will cost me more. Bintan is so close to Singapore, so I think, why not go there now? Since I might not find friends in Indonesia who are excited enough to spend money to Bintan. So yeah, before wasting more time in the weekend, I better start doing all the readings now. I know I can do it. Yeah, I CAN DO IT!!!

Miss Procrastinator

NUS is such a competitive university. Everybody is studying, day and night. They’re doing their assignments, homeworks, readings, etc. It really drives me crazy. I don’t get used to study so hard. To be honest, I never study that much. Here, actually the midterm week is approaching, it will be coming in less than two weeks. But I don’t have any midterm exam. The only assignment I have is to hand in two essay proposals before february 20. Each proposal not more than 1 page. The essays and papers will be handed in around April. So I said to myself : “why bother?”. I still have plenty of time to do it. So I keep doing things, browsing all over the internet, sleeping and chatting, and so many other unimportant things.

But, the thing is, I’m supposed to be bothered. The deadline is like in… two days!!! I haven’t done anything!!! Yess it’s only 1 page essay proposal but still, I should stop procrastinating and start doing what I have to do. Everybody is, again, studying here! I feel psychologically disturbed by that. Because everybody’s studying, and they’re wondered, how come I never did any work? Some said, I don’t need to study. I am an exchange student, plus my grade won’t be transferred. So, again, “why should bother?”. But, I feel stupid and so not dilligent compare to everybody else. Because I never studied. I always doing things. Actually, I skipped some readings and only read some of them. I know I shouldn’t do that. I should’ve started studying now, but again, I keep procrastinating by writing about my problem in my blog. So, yes I am a big fat procrastinator!

AAAAH… better start studying now!

jogja menggila

Aku menulis ini di tengah-tengah pengerjaan review mata kuliah Hukum Humaniter Internasional yang jadi mandeg karena aku sudah penat, sementara baru jadi 1 halaman dari 3-4 halaman review yang diperintahkan. Dan besok sudah harus dikumpulkan. Yah, sambil menunggu inspirasi yang datang, jadilah aku menulis-nulis ini.

Huah, Jogja menggila. Kenapa? Sudah seminggu lebih aku di sini. Yang aku notice ya Jogja tambah rame, khususnya kampus Fisipol yang aku datangi setiap hari. Aku sudah ga pernah lagi makan di kantinnya karena sekarang ramenya kayak orang lagi hajatan. Mejanya penuh terisi dimana-mana, mau ngemper di lantainya pun malas, karena di situ juga sudah rame. Akhirnya sekarang kalo makan di kampus lebih milih ke kantin yang dekat perpustakaan, dulu dijulukin kantin Mbok Galak. Tapi sejak yang jualan di sana sudah ganti orang, kantin itu udah jarang disebut kantin Mbok Galak.

Tapi Jogja menggila bukan cuma karena keramaiannya. Yang sekarang setiap hari dikeluhkan orang-orang, yaitu: Jogja panassss!!!! Yah, yang panas bukan Jogja doang sih, di kota-kota lain juga kayanya mengalami kepanasan yang sama. Dikarenakan pergantian dari musim kemarau menjadi musim hujan, atau yang bahasa kerennya, pancaroba. Di musim ini biasanya orang-orang akan menderita karena rawan banget kena penyakit (misalnya flu, diare, *ehm* muntaber) dan rawan terjadi bencana juga. Yah amit-amit jangan sampe deh, meskipun puting beliung sekarang tampaknya berpotensi di berbagai daerah, tapi janganlah jangan terjadi lagi… Well I won’t discuss it scientifically, but more on sharing my feelings. Ngeri juga ngeliat perubahan cuaca yang menggila ini, kalo lagi panas ya puanaas banget, ga ada angin semilir sedikit pun. Kadang-kadang udah di kelas yang ber-AC sekalipun tetep aja panas (pas dicek ternyata AC-nya mati. Pantes aja… Fisipol nih ga modal!), kalo lagi hujan deraaaas banget pake angin-angin segala, tapi setelah reda langsung deh rasanya panas. Tadi siang malah lebih parah, di tengah terik matahari yang begitu menyiksa, tiba-tiba turun hujan rintik-rintik. Ironis!! Mana sekarang Jogja juga sering banget mati lampu (atau bahasa inteleknya pemadaman listrik), sebel banget kalo lagi gerah terus listriknya padam. Tapi lebih ngeri lagi kalo listriknya padam pas lagi hujan deras-derasnya, dan di kos lagi ga ada orang pula. Siang ini pas lagi ngobrol-ngobrol di kosnya Tiara bareng sama seorang teman, namanya Anggia, dia ngomel-ngomel heboh gitu.

Anggia : “Kurang ajar emang itu PLN, tar ya kalo gue kelebihan duit gue beli itu PLN, trus gue jual semua asetnya biar jadi bangkrut!”

Tiara : (sambil mengangkat sebelah tangan dan keteknya kemana-mana) “SETUJUUU!!!”

Aku : (diam seribu bahasa)

Ya ga sedramatis itu juga sih, tapi intinya gitu deh, kita semua merasa terpojok dengan situasi dunia yang semakin tidak menentu ini. Krisis ekonomi, Pilpres Amerika, Global Warming, ditambah dengan Jogja yang menggila dengan segala macam derita yang disimpannya. Sebagai mahasiswi yang hidup jauh dari orang tua, terpaksa mandiri, dan BU (Butuh Uang), tentunya tidak mengharapkan lebih banyak kejadian buruk terjadi.

Eh, speaking of kejadian buruk, aku baru ingat sebentar lagi mau ujian tengah semester! Hwoaaa… Tambah ketar-ketir aja hati rasanya. Oke, oke, sebaiknya aku hentikan tulisan ini, semakin lama aku semakin ngawur. Mungkin harusnya tulisan ini judulnya Karin Menggila…

Oia, agak melenceng dari topik nih. Minggu kemaren aku sudah nonton Laskar Pelangi. Satu kata: BAGUS. Ya untuk ukuran film Indonesia lumayan memberikan penyegaran di antara kebanyakan film Indonesia yang horor atau komedi ‘menjurus’. Tapi aku belum baca bukunya, jadi ini aku sedang dalam tahap penyelesaian pembacaan novel Laskar Pelangi.

Nah nah makin ga fokus ini tulisannya, ah sudahlah, mau ngelanjutin bikin review aja… Datanglah wahai inspirasi…