[Tuesday, August 31, 2004]

Report from Aveiro, Portugal:

So guys, maybe this is my last posting from Aveiro. Because i'll have to do some packing, sending some stuff by post *to avoid excess baggage*, arrange the travelling, and a lot other things to do.

See you in 2 or 3 more weeks ;)



* Posted by 3k4 @ 9:19 PM *

*****

[Wednesday, August 25, 2004]

Growing older and being adult are not the same thing. Growing old merely related with age numbers. It's indicate how long we have been living in this world. So it's something real that measureable. But being adult is definitely something different. It's closely related with maturity. Growing in terms of psycological development and mentally, not merely physically. So it's something abstract and unmeasureable. People sometimes mixed it up and believe both will comes in time that maturity will comes along with age, which i don't bite at all.

I don't want to call myself as an adult person. Because i don't feel like adult already, eventhough my age shows the opposite. Or it would be more precise if i say that i don't want to grow up and being adult yet. Being adult means jumping into the real world, being independent, and take decision of our own with all the consequences. Leaving the comfort zone behind, our safe childhood in the protection of our beloved friends and family. But whether i like it or not, now is the time to be one. Being all by my self in foreign country, has forced me somehow to leave my comfort zone literally. And growing older in ages also drag me to be able to grown up mentally.

So many things had happened and open up my eyes to drop me into reality. I see how people could totally change from the way they used to be. Made me realize how we never really knew anyone else, though it's our own best friends. I find more complex problems. Things that i thought would never exist in my life. I look up my friends, family, and society. And i see how everything changes now. To be different and more complicated. Sometimes it's even turning upside down of what i belief and what i knew before. There is no more such things as black and white, everything seems gray area. There is no more simple right or wrong, everything seems to be seen from relative perspective.

And while some of my friends seems has found and choose their way of life, the way that i would never thought they will take at all, still i don't know which perspective *if any* i should use to judge them *if i have to* and make any decision with my life next.



* Posted by 3k4 @ 7:06 PM *

*****

[Wednesday, August 18, 2004]

Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I just stared out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray (I would pray)
Trying not to reach out
But when I'd try to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I pray (I would pray)
I could breakaway

[Chorus:]
I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes til' I touch the sky
I'll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I loved
I'll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway

Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jet plane, far away (I will)
And breakaway

[Chorus:]
Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging around revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but
Gotta keep moving on, moving on
Fly away, breakaway

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye
I gotta take a risk
Take chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway, breakaway, breakaway

(Breakaway: Kelly Clarkson)


* Posted by 3k4 @ 9:07 PM *

*****

Two days ago, i went to watch King Arthur the movie. That was my first experience to go to the cinema here in Aveiro. And it was really funny because i found the procedure quite different with Holland. Here we only have to buy the ticket, without any chance to pick our seat at all. Then we enter the studio and choose our seat right a way. So if you come late, be ready to sit in the front rows. Because it's hard to tell whether the studio still empty or not when you're buying the ticket. Then come the price, it was sooo cheap *compare to Holland*. It's only cost 3.9 euro!!! *yaayyy*. I can make it as my regular activity here.

Now back to the movie, King Arthur definitely a great warrior according to the movie. He's a great leader that makes him terrific king, yet he's described as totally human with anger to his mother death and desire to have peaceful life as an ordinary man. Then comes the knights who's really loyal to him. Their character were so good, which each and everyone has their own role according to their different personality. They're great warrior, but without Arthur's leadership they would ended up just like a bunch of wolfs. The only thing that annoyed me was the character of Guinevere, which was not clear. She was described as warrior princess, yet she looks more like seductive woman. And Kiera Knightley definitely not a right choice to play it. She's much too young, and her acting not come up in the movie. But I would give credit for the rest of the movie, though in terms of script and editing it still below LOTR. This definitely a movie worth collectible for me next to LOTR trilogy and Troy.


* Posted by 3k4 @ 8:34 PM *

*****

[Monday, August 16, 2004]

Last weekend I traveled to Lisbon again. For the second time after such an impressive stay on my arrival here. But as people always said, first impression always is the best. And so does with Lisbon. During my second visit, many things happened out of expectation. Started with the place to stay that was so hard to find and very pricey. We had to walk quite far around Lisbon to find a room, and when we found it was a room for 4 people (a suite). Then we found Natalie and Suzie, 2 British girls who were looking for a room as well. So we met, introduce ourselves each other, and took the room. What an experience, I would never imagine myself picking up a roommate on the street like that. Thank God they're a nice girl. Very friendly, and having lots of experience about traveling. They're so young *maybe even younger than me and Joice*, yet they had traveled around the world. My two thumbs for them. And another problem that was really annoyed me was the tourist. It was so crowded everywhere, too many tourists. And it made the price rose up so high, much higher compare to our first visit there. So, unpleasant place to stay, uncomfortable environment because of the crowded, and highly price for everything had made me and Joice to shortened our stay there. Instead of 4 night as we planned before, we left the city for just after 2 nights. Paco was right, Lisbon is not a pleasant city to visit during August. But maybe we'll be back there next month.

Funny thing, after such an unpleasant stay in Lisbon I couldn't wait to come back home to Aveiro. Home...finally I could feel Aveiro as my home here. Though still I miss Wageningen and Indonesia. Is it meaning that we have to experience some bad things to be grateful of what we have now? Gee...then how fragile we are as human, or should I say me, in this case.

Speaking about fragility, remind me of the last chatting with one of my friend just now. It's about marriage, in which one part intended to rush in while the others didn't. And he said the party who's rushing in was more fragile. Well...I should say that I am not totally agreed or disagree with his statement. Because if it's properly based, marriage shows strong motivation and courage to step on the next stage in life. But if it's based on afraid of losing someone, then marriage could be used as an indicator of fragility. It shows how fragile we are in the relationship and feeling not confident about our partner. And that's never be a right reason for getting married. Hehehe thank God that friend of mine finally realized about it, and chooses to postpone the marriage. So I'll be there when they're married, and most probably become the organizer as well.


* Posted by 3k4 @ 10:22 PM *

*****

[Tuesday, August 10, 2004]

Just doing some surfing trough the net, and i found this cool gadget. Another dream thing to buy. Bye...bye N6600 and N3660. And welcome to Treo 600. Cool stuff, handphone + PDA + built in camera by Palm. If you're in Indonesia, you can find it here. But don't look at the price. It's hugely more expensive. Almost double! Maybe i should buy this stuff before i leave home next year ^_*;v

New things that happened to me since i've been in Netherlands. I am more concern about technology and electronic stuffs. For instance, i had bought my own digicam, webcam, printer, and USB (plus MP3 player) complete with the ports during my stay here. Things that i'd never imagine to buy by myself while i was in Indonesia. Next i plan to buy some subwoofer speaker for my laptop, and now i really want this new smartphone. Some syndrome of living my life alone and freely from home, do you think? Hehehe....Mom & Dad, look at what your li'l girl shopping around here.


* Posted by 3k4 @ 8:45 PM *

*****

[Monday, August 09, 2004]

I wanna go home! I really miss my family nowadays. No...not just my family, but also my friends, my room, my house, small garden in front of it, the foods, the streets, the noise, and even my former office with all my colleagues. Dunno why, i felt this way for the last couple weeks. Maybe it's about time to feel homesick? If only i have a chance, i'd like to fly home for a moment, then get back here to continue my study. Just to fill my curiosity. Sounds imposibble though *sigh*. Oh well....maybe it's about time for me to learn. That no matter what i do, how far i go, home always bound our soul. Some said "home is when your heart is", but for me home is where our soul tied. And now i'm a little bit lost without it.


* Posted by 3k4 @ 10:36 PM *

*****

[Saturday, August 07, 2004]

Have you ever felt so desperate, helpless, and hopeless at once? But when you reach this stage, then came out the solution. So unpredictable yet very expected. So exciting that you just want to jump around, smiled foolishly, and let everybody knows your happiness. That's exactly what i feel now. You may wondering why. But if you pay attention to my current posting *hehehe, as if*, you can see what was really upset me yesterday. It's about new room! Yes, me and Joice finally can manage a new room for us. Even better, it's an apartment! Own private kitchen, bathroom, living room, dining room, and everything at less cost! Can you tell me what's better than that? We're packing tonight. And then we'll move! Bye bye our rooms, and here we comes our new house ^_^;v


* Posted by 3k4 @ 12:39 AM *

*****

[Thursday, August 05, 2004]

Some people said marriage is a matter of two individuals. But if we look at the past stories, it could be the unification of two kingdoms, villages, clans, etc. So does it happen nowadays. Marriage is not merely the privilege of the subject who's getting married: the bride and the groom to be. It includes other people related to them. That's why the consideration of getting married never simple. When we are young *young enough to believe fairy tale*, we used to think simple. We believe that love would conquer everything. We'll find our prince charming, fall in love, and live happily ever after. But as time goes by and maturity grows, reason of getting married not as simple as it was. Love is still needed of course, but it solely no longer enough. I fell in love and I wanted to married him/her for whatever he/she is. Some people may call it love. But doesn't it illogical? Well...love is not something that can be explained by logic anyway. But still if we're talking about marriage as long term relationship and lifetime commitment, we need both love and logic. Because marriage without love would be impossible and love without logic would be insanity. And in the other cases, what if we fell in love with 'wrong person'? Wrong not in terms of he's a bad guy or whatsoever. But wrong in terms of 'different'. Should love conquer everything still? Shall we face against our family, tradition, and faith in the name of love? We act in the name of love (to the person we want to get married with), but we hurt other people we love (our family and friends) who love us back for sure. Could it still be called love then?

Phew...sounds confusing huh. Does it sounds too serious? *grin*. Well...that was the output of my 'productive' time here. Sitting on my table, in front of my laptop, thinking, boring, surfing, chatting, hehehe. But I've been thinking about that subject quite often recently. Looking at my surroundings, I found many cases about it. Some decided to 'give up' to love and against their logic, family, tradition, and even their faith. But some decide to keep searching for a 'safer' solution. Put the logic forward, and choose not to hurt anyone to love * anyone but themselves*. Both are choices with all their cost. And we can't blame the decision as right or wrong, for it's their life that we cannot interfere. They have their own considerations that we don't know. And they (should be) ready for all the consequences, whatever it is. As a friend, there's a limited area of interference. What we can do just be there for everytime anything needed, we would be there to support.

"In a world full of infinite choices, it's relieving that we only have to choose one"
(Carrie, The Sex and the city)


* Posted by 3k4 @ 9:44 PM *

*****

[Wednesday, August 04, 2004]

Update:

I was having lunch with my collegues at the shopping centre on the other side of the town. I ate Bacalhau (codfish) menu, some specialties from Portuguese. Nice food, very tasty and not too expensive either. But yesterday i also eat Bacalhau in another type of menu. I like fish, but two days in a row is more than enough for me. Tomorrow i'd like to go back to chicken or something else but fish.

By the way, we're asking for another room to move. Because we're not feeling too comfortable with our current rooms. But the international relation of the university just told us that there's only very small possibilities to get a room on August. The soonest, we're going to get in at the beginning of September *what a crap*. One more month to stuck there. Some room that seems too expensive compare to the cost we paid. Gee....hope we could stand for one more month.


* Posted by 3k4 @ 10:15 PM *

*****

Another boring days in Aveiro. Hehehe.....sounds miserable? Well....don't judge too fast, it's boring because i have to stay at the office while none is here. Yes, everybody are in holiday. They're off for about 1 to 3 weeks. So the soonest i'll meet them next week till next month. And since nobody here, i also have not much work to do. My internship seems run slowly, too smooth if i may said. I'm sure i'll begin my hactic days on September when everybody arrived, new academic years started, and of course the real jobs will come. But meanwhile i am going to enjoy my time here. Lets say i'll have my holiday as well. So....lets think, which way to go next? Back to Lisbon again maybe?

By the way, here's the list i've done today so far:

1. Having breakfast at rectorate canteen
- My fave menu: a cup of caffee com leite and cakes *yummy*. One short comment about this menu, Portugal coffee is definitely the best i've ever found so far. Good taste and good price *what a perfect combination*. I'm gonna need tough adaptation when i get back to Holland later *sigh*
- My fave sightseeing: new students, fresh faces, and beautiful good looking guys *grin*

2. Sitting in front of my laptop in the office
- Checking email
- Reading news: just heard about Amanda Devina things *may she R.I.P.*
- Surfing the net to find some information needed for my work here
- Blogwalking to visit some friends
- And last but not least: chattting by messenger

Next thing to do: having lunch and continue any activity to kill some times. Sounds fun? Well like i said, it's another boring day in Aveiro. Can't wait for next week when i'll do some travelling again.


* Posted by 3k4 @ 5:55 PM *

*****

[Monday, August 02, 2004]

Hello everybody, it's been a long time for me to abandon this blog. Sorry about that, many things had happened to my life, especially some changes that made my world quite up-side-down and new things that need big self-adaptation again.

The last time I wrote about my internship to Portugal. And yes, as you can guess here I am in Portugal now. One thing I learn about my leaving here. It is about how human easily getting used to certain condition and attached to that thing. In my case is about living in Holland and Wageningen specifically. I have to admit, I really miss the place where I had spent the last 6 months of my life before I got here. And surprisingly I also miss my home in Indonesia! Truly surprise because this is the first time after such a long time. I don't know, maybe it's about the time I got a little feeling homesick. But also maybe because of this new place and condition that certainly require new adaptation and life learning. Or maybe both.

When I left Holland, I felt some mixed feelings like I experienced when I left Indonesia. I felt I would face some new stages in my life, some new things to learn, and some new experience that raised my excitement. But I also felt some sadness for I must left my friends for quite a long time *thanks to Fitri, Mimi, Kiki, and Indra for the companion*.

After landed at Portugal, Joice and me stayed in Lisbon for the whole weekend. And seems our excitement grew more and left our sadness behind. We had a great time. Being 2 girls in totally strange country made us felt free, independent and proud of our selves. We learned about everything by the book *thanks to Lonely Planet*, we took the Metro to go anywhere, and walked from here to there. Our first impression, we really like Lisbon. We decided that we would like this country more than Holland. Everything cheaper, the foods taste better, people were more friendly, and the weather so nice. Just like Jakarta in a better version, with cleaner air and better rules and regulation.

But wait...seems like we decided too fast. Until we saw the rest of Portugal such as Aveiro, Porto, etc. In brief, let me give you the list of things I like and dislikes about those places.

Lisbon
What I like:
1. Nice views
2. Beautiful architecture
3. Friendly people (read: quite good English speaking)
4. More organized and clean city
5. Lots of shopping centre
6. Tasty foods and easily find
7. Cheaper...cheaper...cheaper (compare to Holland)

What I dislike:
Too far from Aveiro (it tooks 3 hours by train so we cannot go there to often *sigh*)

Aveiro
What I like:
1. Small city, relatively safe
2. Neat and comfortable for a lazy and quite life
3. Cooler and fresher air (not as hot as Lisbon)
4. Free bicycle rent around the town (they called Buga)
5. Tasty foods
6. Cheaper...cheaper...cheaper (compare to Holland)

What I dislike:
1. Only one shopping centre *sigh*
2. Hard to find foods (the nearest are 15 minutes walk from our place)
3. Unfriendly people (read: rarely English speaking)
4. Lots of spooky Timorese

Porto
What I like:
1. Beautiful architecture
2. Friendly people (read: quite good English speaking)
3. Lots of shopping centre (though not as much and big as Lisbon)
4. Many sepatarias (shoe stores)
5. Tasty foods and easily find
6. Cheaper...cheaper...cheaper (compare to Holland)
7. Very close to Aveiro (only 1 hour by train and cost very cheap as well)

What I dislike:
1. Very crowded
2. Lots of beggars and spooky people
3. Many scary slum areas
4. All stores closed on Sunday
5. Not very clean city

Espinho
What I like:
1. Nice beach, very quite
2. Beautiful views
3. Very safe (compare to Algarve, the other beaches on the Southern part Portugal)
4. Many places to eat
5. Located between Aveiro and Porto, so it's accessible and easily visited

What I dislike:
1. All shopping stores are closed when we got there on Saturday
2. Quite boring for two of us, coz everybody were there with their families.

In conclusion, Lisbon is still the best place in Portugal. These lists are not fixed and subject to changes as I experience more. But in short, I would say Portugal is indeed a beautiful country with lots of monument and historical places. It's also nice place to visit for girls, because all the men are so cool, cute, and good-looking *wink...wink*. And don't forget one more thing, it's definitely a heaven for shopaholics because of the cheaper living cost and standard of prices *grin*. But for me itss only nice for a short visit and holiday. Holland still does a better place to live a long-term stay.


* Posted by 3k4 @ 9:56 PM *

*****