How to be human 101

Firstly, please give me an award for writing a post early this year. I tracked my post archives and found out that the only time I wrote in January was back in 2010, lol. Anyway, my intention to write this post is actually changed in the span of three days only. I was initially planned to show off my last vacation to Romania where Bianca, Sara, Irene, and I rolled on the snow between Cavnic in Maramures to Timisoara in Banat. Yes, my second winter break in Europe also turned out to be a White Christmas, after Tromso-Bergen craziness last year.

There are at least a thousand files (pictures, videos, and boomerangs) of this magical trip on my harddisk. How can I resist to share only 0,001% of them?

However, as I told you before, the purpose of this post is not to share all those beautiful things I witness in Romania. The aim is actually to share this article I found on Facebook the other day. I wholeheartedly agree with the content written there (except #23) but instead of calling it as '25 habits that psychologists have linked with happiness', I would simply name the list as 'how to be human.' Let me share some of my favorite points below:

• Write down 3 things you're grateful for: It does work. One of my stress coping mechanism is actually looked below. Be grateful of your current state. You can't live by always looking ahead or above; these ambitions, those pressures, sometimes can drain all the happiness in your life, no?
• Get outside: Relates to my previous post, going out definitely ease your day in their unique way. An extrovert goes out to talk to someone, an introvert can also go out to enjoy the nature tranquility. Or as an ambivert, I dress up and visit such public places to observe human interactions.
• Listen to sad songs: Before, I never understand why one could feel a comfort or serenity by listening to those mellow songs (for me, it can be defined as Spotify's Deep Dark Indie kind of tracks). After reading this article, it somehow makes sense that sad music actually allows us to regulate the negative emotions and find a consolation in their melody. It is kind of healing process. And speaking of deep-dark-indie, London Grammar just released a new single a week ago.

let me drowned in the beauty of Hannah Reid's haunting vocal

• Write down your feelings: I haven't keep a diary since at least 10 years ago. However, there is a habit of mine to write what I feel in my agenda. Not a real writing though, sometimes it is just random doodle, or two short sentences, or emojis. Also, as millennials, of course, we can just thinking out loud in any social media platforms (but then, we have to deal with the so-called society).
• Spend money on others, not yourself: Maybe you want to call me out for this humble-bragging, but buying things for others indeed make you happy. I mean, I do feel happier buying a new BTS album for Zia's birthday gift (and behold her joyous/denial face when she opened the gift wrap) than buying myself a rack of clothes (sure, I am being exaggerated, but you know, we have insane winter sale here). Also, other activities I love the most: getting flowers for my friends. Living in the Netherland has its perks :) 

At last, the most essential and important mantra: smile and optimism. This may sound like that advice you get from Mario Teguh or those annoying Tumblr quotes, but yes, those two simple (but sometimes hard-to-do) things are basically a happiness spell. It doesn't mean you are forbidden to feel cynical, sad, or depressed, a human has feelings, not a feeling, a mixed of everything. But it won't hurt anybody to keep a speck of optimism and share a smile as your weapon. Especially when you can't cope with the negative energy no more omg, am I really writing this. As Dumbledore said, Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.

So, happy new year, I guess. Let's hope this year will be a great one for everybody.

XOXO *flying kiss*,
Noya

Sweet dream are made of this

Yesterday, I watched four movies in a row as addition of wake up lazily (i.e. very late) in the morning and basically laid all day long on my bed. As usual, I regretted my decision to be such a couch potato on a quite sunny (and supposed to be productive) day thus I went to sleep with a determination to do better. But then.. here I am writing a post about how useless was my life yesterday instead of working on a stack of assignments that waiting for me gracefully. But really - in all of seriousness, these two courses I have for this block are not to be played with. June - particularly after the 2nd week - might be the death of me because there are at least 5 reports, 2 presentations, and 2 exams. Ok, let have anxiety attack again, writing about this. Both of the course are actually very interesting, one is about the legal framework (what, who, and how) that govern one's water resource. Thanks to this course, I figure out that Indonesian Law of UU No. 7/2004 about Water Resource is revoked, in the name of avoiding further privatization of water management. As I dwell more into the case of water allocation in Indonesia, now I realize that my insight about many issues are actually only on par with Jon Snow get the reference? eh-eh-eh? not funny? no? The other course is a bit technical on how you can treat water to get potable grade quality yet there are several points of chemistry are involved which made it more challenging to understand -- as it is my first time to learn (basic) chemistry with English ;) There are a lot of things I can complain about but hey, it never made anything better though. In addition of all those new knowledge I got from the courses, I learned another state-of-the-art perspective last week, about circular economy where you won't talk about cradle to grave cycle of life but it should be from cradle to cradle. Sounds like sustainability? It is!

On another report, last week, Irene, Ahma, and I had the chance to join pm2am trip to Switzerland where we visited Rhine Waterfall (ahey I went to the upstream part of the most talked river on my class), Lucerne, and Zurich. Those places were magical with majestic eternal snow in Alpen range as background and both Lucerne and Zurich lake up front as far as your eyes can observe. The trip was overall worth the price, since I only had to pay 65e for transportation (back and forth), yet the long duration you have to sit in the bus without any plug nor wifi was a bit torturing ahah.

well, Switzerland is beautiful and all but sure I won't make it to live there unless I inherit enough from a Sultan

Back to the movies I watched last Friday; I was actually needed an escape from reality for a moment thus four old school movies (80s-90s) were somehow succeeded to transform the ambiance around. The thing is, I watched those four movies with a very different plot and genre, in a row which of course caused one of the drawback as I couldn't absorb all those meaning and lingering feel after. The first movie is Fast Time in Ridgemont High (1982) with its usual conflict happened in 80s high school: normal girl that never have sex wants a boyfriend-finally have sex but not a proper boyfriend-having fun anyway-get pregnant-realize she did wrong-one decent guy helps her. Young Sean Penn is looked stoned as ever ahah, he is the highlight of the show. Second, I watched Beetlejuice (1988) where you fell in love with Alec Baldwin-Geena Davis-Winona Ryder as the protagonist and loath Michael Keaton as this naughty evil bio-exorcist (guess again? yes, it is human removal service who live in a haunted house). Anyway, I never know that Baldwin was such a gentleman during that days, in addition to his hot glasses nerd character which make it perfect. You're gonna love this if you want to reminisce Tim Burton style of art. Next, Groundhog Day (1993) is (maybe) one of the pioneer movie with its lead character stuck to relive one day over and over again. It may sounds so-so nowadays but it was fresh in 90s plus Bill Murray acting was on point both as a jerk and sincere person. Lastly, I decided to try Being John Malkovich (1999) which is directed by Spike Jonze.. which made me acknowledge of the amount weird/quirky/disturbing ideas here. The title explains everything, so lets just give credits on how genius John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, and Catherine Keener (she's such a babe, bad one) here. As I already stated before, the movie is disturbing (at least for me) but hey, I dont say it was not worth to watch.

The fact that less than 24hrs will be again a monday sure bugs me for the rest of the day. But anyway, Ramadlan is coming next week and I have to fast from 3am to 10pm (fighting!). May we all have the blessing of this holy month and become a better moslem in the process *spread the love in the air*

And I would like to give a shout out to Quicksilver (X-Men version): thanks for your scene in all the latest movie, it gives me life! *eurythmics on repeat

XOXO,

Noya 

What's the common between water, antonio gaudi, and detectives?

Ola amigos!

Yesterday I stumbled upon a personal blog of Dieni Fitriani (the chronology started from me cleaned up my gmail inbox, includes google+ folder, when it contained some new email about recommendation on 'what you missed from Dieni' thus I lurk into hers and spent almost 2-hours there). Afterward, it feels compulsory to write here (as usual ahah), well, after a period of my academic progress. What have I done so far? The third block of my master program just finished. I just received my final grade on one course titled Quantitative Water Management where I am Alhmadulillah passed with not so bad (but not so good either) grade. Moreover if you compare it to one of my classmate who achieved 9.5/10 for a final grade. Holycow! I have to keep reminding myself that I should be more thankful to at least meet the requirement for this course. My exam grade is free-falling but thank Lord I did okay on assignments, thus I passed! For the other course, Managing Future Delta, there was no exam, but we had to submit a 50-pages group paper and an abstract abstract (literal meaning of abstract, if you dont get it maybe bcs it is more like a inside joke of my class). We havent received any news about grade, but I am quite confident in this as my group consisted of silly but great people and we already spent so much time to work on the paper (long live Sunderbans!!!). On a side note, I actually love this course with broad scope in delta management but somehow focus on many things involved per-lecture. We also had excursions, twice; to southwest delta where krammersluice-brouwerdams-neeltjejans-maasvlakte is located and to zandmotor where the magic happens the Dutch again succeed to implement such out of the the box approach on their ecology friendly water defense. It was nice and all but dont get me to start complaining about how the weather always betray us. Oh the perks of living in the Netherlands. 

As in currently, I have again two courses which in more social side (Water Policy, Governance, and Law & Drinking Water and Sanitation). I started this period in a lighthearted mood after 10 days of day offs (that was too much holiday, actually) followed by a symposium about water management in TU Delft. The later one was so interesting eventhough it felt like a very long day full of lectures (there was 6 spokesperson) but I got so many new insights about water related challenges, some subject stroke me the most are the water and sanitation problem in disaster area (by Biserka, MSF consultant), urban design for city protection (by Kees Christiaanse, ps: when we had discussion with him, he thought that garuda plan in Jakarta Bay is a stupid idea), also a lecture about how to resolve water problem in conflicted area (remind me of Banglandesh-India dispute, Mr. Rens de Man). Lisanne and I had a great time there as well as motivational reflection on how to search suitable internship for me (dank je wel, Lisanne!). Anyway for the next part, please envyjoy the sightseeing from Madrid and Spain where I explored only in 4 days (not enouuuuugh!)

Madrid is fine but Barcelona steals our heart, thanks Mr. Gaudi to make this city sooo beautiful 

Since I had too many day off recently, I watched all new movies in the cinema, as well as, streaming some old movies online so.. one more rambling for this post, why is action/superhero movies (almost) always let me down recently? London Has Fallen, Huntsman: The Witch's War, Batman vs Superman, Capt. America: Civil War.. all of them failed me (in different aspect). Instead, movies like Zootropolis and The Jungle Book blown my mind (well, this is mainstream opinion). Also, I finished a fairly new k-drama titled 'Signal' where this time I finished it until the last episode, unlike the last time I, and million other people, lost interest in 'Cheese in The Trap'. It is one of the best drama I ever watched! Minimum cheesy romance, superb acting, and brilliant plot, who could say no to an amazing cold case-solving-detective storyline, eh? I really recommend this one :)

It seems I already write above my average word counts here, so.. lets part ways for now. And dont forget to be happy!

Ciao,

A. Noyara Rahmasary 

You in the trap

Hello 2016!

For some days recently, a sudden urge to write a post in this blog just appeared. Not sure why, but I guess it has something to do with my inward state (one of my besties has just married and another one was engaged yesterday), a gift I received from Hanna, and lastly the lingering feeling of my recent trip to Eastern Europe. It is not that I excessively adore the Budapest-Wien-Prague-Warszaw days yet that trip was somehow left a certain mixed feeling until now (or.. I am just being drama queen again).

Well, some of pictures above may seem like a distraction to balance what will be writen in the following. It will be a heavy too-much-feeling type of post with all the things centered around me. As usual. So what my life been up to? College? Yes ofcourse. Actually, the previous period was not that scary with all the assignment and everything. Eventhough my friend and I got 5.5 for Sustainability Science final paper but generally it went well. I am now going to start a new period, the third period which means entering 3/4 of my first year college life where up to this point I still had no idea what to do for my thesis, so classic right?  Last night, when I was actually prepared to read some material for the new course, I ended up in an online streaming website, watching Cheese in The Trap, yes that korean drama people recently hyped for. It was unintentional but it is interesting enough to make me stay awake until 5.00 AM and sleep like dead person until noon. That drama was not that special but some of the scenes are truly relatable, well because it depicts the life of Hong Seol, a 'normal' college student with her deadweight assignment. This is the first time I watched such drama that describes such rather right ambiance of a university daily struggle (compared to other makjang with focus only on the love-life). As a result, you might guess it already, I will dwell in this vibe of drama plot for a while.. imagining my days ahead with 'what if' condition. Anyway, the next course will demand such group cooperativeness (like one of Hong Seol case which ended with D as final grade *sigh) and quite big workload to investigate and analyse things, definitely make me shudder. But in the other side, I was wondering why I already complained about this kind of 'small' task when anyone else accomplished much bigger 'real' achievement as what I call 'pemuda harapan bangsa Indonesia', and here it is again, life is flowing okay but then I start searching for ripples lol. I should stop think only, need to take action instead, right?

Ok then, let me embrace the new period lightheartedly *hwaiting*

XOXO,
Noya

P.S. Today's hot topic is apparently the halftime show of 50th Super Bowl with Coldplay, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars. Hence, my blanket will be full of tears again tonight (ehm, maybe not tears but more like troubled feelings). Also, WINNER's Baby Baby will always be the death of me. 
P.P.S. I reread what I write above, it seems this post actually has no objectives dont you think? Hah, like I ever had one.

Weekend at Sofy's

Holla!
It's October already! Seems several last month just went too fast and I know there is no use of regretting it, eh? At least I had tried to lived my days happily and striving for the best in most of it. I hope you guys whom I loved very much did the same. Amen. So, what bring me back to this platform after I abandoned it for months? The answer will be my long-last partner in crime, RAP (whoa man, just realize your initial is similar with that rap monster from BTS lol). A week ago, we went to our neighborhood country, Malaysia (and yes please congrats me for achieving two resolutions in a row, first time boarding in a plane and first time going to foreign place). She told me to write our story here because we were so cool hahaha. No seriously, we are cool, can you imagine clumsy and messy girl like us manage to go there? We did'nt prepare much though. Even our conversation in whatsapp that sparks this plan was kinda impulsive:

Me: .. just two of us, we havent travel somewhere far, dont you think? | Her: far like.. far? | lets go somewhere by plane, when will you have your day off? | man I only have days off next year | really? :( well then lets just start save money to go to NZ together | uhm or maybe we can go to Singapore or KL next week, you can always go online right? just check if there any affordable weekend flights next thursday. I will have my days off from thursday, we can go thursday night. how about that?| wow are you serious?

Everything went fast with her having group presentation delayed and me having sudden big task order from my team leader but somehow we made it, friday predawn and we already lying in hard couch on KLIA 2. Actually our goal is only to step our feet in Kuala Lumpur so you wont get any answer asking what was our schedule for two days two nights there. Sofy, the girl whom we going to stay at was having her class until friday afternoon and that left us free time until 4 p.m that day. FYI, Putri was being herself and said, "My job is done here, I had encourage you to made it go travel here and now we arrived, it is up to you, I'll just tag you along," followed by somehow insane smirk in her face. Well, it mean I am the ship captain (ship with only one passenger, Putri) and with zero 9% knowledge about KL public transportation, we decided to take off to KL-Sentral. Why? Because my friend told me before that KL-Sentral is literally the center of Kuala Lumpur so you can go anywhere from there. My story from here will be full of KL-Sentral word, in fact what I love the most from this trip is, the mighty KL-Sentral (oh and UKM, we'll get to that later). Maybe this is for personal reasoning, but as someone who love Jakarta's commuter line much, giving me the beauty of KL-Sentral is heavenly! In Bogor-Jakarta line, boarding in spacious, clean, empty (or merely not-crowded) coach and being able to get a seat there is already a big yes for me. So my heart was just burst with joy when trying KTM coach or Rapid KL coach back in Malaysia. Not to mention, Rapid KL's self assisted ticketing, it is looks like that ticket vending machine I only get to see in West/Korean movie. There are some numbers of tunnel and subway line we were tried also, man I cant be more hyped than that! Maybe that convenient feel I got from riding in KL line network comes from 50% better management and 50% better public attitude. I mean, the greater thing in KTM/Rapid KL service are neat managing of KL-Sentral and various choices of ticketing (numbers of vending/locket). Other stations in that network were physically not so different with Juanda/Sudirman/Pondok Cina standard. If you live everyday in your life using KRL in Jabodetabek line then you definitely see the problem of (very) high number of people who use that service and their lesser good attitude. Just few days ago, I was in the middle of riot on woman-only KRL coach, all caused only by panic but in result several injuries were made. I cannot blame all the fault to the passenger because come to think of it, the largest group of KRL user is commuter people who depart rushly in morning, struggle not to come late to office and when they come home in the evening, they are all tired and drained and wasted.. more negative thing than positive one. It is the same if we talked about other public transportation service in Jakarta; kopaja, angkot, metromini, etc. Come to think of it, Jakarta indeed so full of human, it seem unable to sustain anymore life *sigh*

long live commuter people!

Uh, so I babbling much about public transportation above so it left me less spaces to talk about the trip lol. But anyway, we only went to Batu Caves, Little India, Central Market, China Town, and KLCC. People said  I can get more attraction than that but heck, Putri and I attached too much to UKM (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) dorm. See, after day one roaming around with not-so-light backpack as our burden, bed is really one thing we appreciate big times! Sofy's ancient room (she describe it that way, mostly because her dormitory building was built on 1950ish) was so comfy and accessible to nearest student hangout spot (library/canteen). We basically spent our time in Malaysia with laying and rolling around in her room, chatting. Oh and anyway, UKM is a lovely campuss. It is twice (or more, I guess) larger and wider than my campus. I feel live in IPB dormitory all over again, with forest right in the backyard and bus at service to go everywhere in campus area. The differencies will be better management (again), UKM building and landscape is slightly more eye-friendly than IPB, lol.

yoo-hoo

 I linked some random photos above to give you imagination starter of our trip a week ago. Oh and if you wonder why the hell that car park too near to a river, well it wasnt. That brownish water is flood, haha, yes I even experienced flood on this trip. Now you can imagine how absurd we were. Many of good photos are not available due to Putri's misfortune. Her phone was lost in KLIA 2 and until now I wishing it back. But dont pity us guys, we are definitely not regretting that weekend HAH! Still missing you, Putri & Sofy :''

XOXO,
Icha

Another monday in a week

Not even half a day and it is raining outside. My monday is likely the same like others in these past few months (read: unemployed) but my mind unconsciously keep a list of things which plan to make my days ahead quite different. Last weekend is a very hectic one, not that hectic with all important-ness of a businessman but indeed a chaos. Happy chaos. I met at least 3 person which I feel like had not seen them in ages (one of them literally disappears in my time continuum for five years straight). So here goes a mess report of what my weekends looked like:

Saturday: Bogor- Tokyo - Mecca - Netherland

The pain of glory for visiting foreign cultures only on Jakarta region surprisingly healed fast. I mean, usually your legs gave up and body ache struck everywhere after walking all day long but it didnt happen. There were Ennichisai Fetival 2014 at Little Tokyo (Blok M) and Movie-Day at Erasmus Huis on this saturday. Driven by thirst of adventure with free admission, Della and I were casually depart from Bogor at 9.00 AM. None of us are a big fan of Japanese wave but surely we had this great time strolling a round corridors in front of Blok M Square which dazzled into an exciting path with food and store stalls in each sideline. There are a lot of youngsters did a cosplay from hype anime/manga (which we suck at). Two medium stage filled with traditional and contemporary performances from this Rising Sun country always have crowds in the front and there was also street parade of mikoshi with children playing traditional instrument. Eventhough Della and I felt like a bit lost in translation but we had a lot of joy for sure. Our trip continued to Erasmus Huis, dutch culture center in Netherland Embassy (Kuningan). Earlier on thursday I found out that there would be a movie called 'Briefgeheim' show there, and after watch the movie inside Erasmus theater (arrived late for app. 10-15mins so we joined the show in the dark) we figured out that a lot of expat families came with children age of 7-11. No wonder the movie had this feel of spy kids with less tech and simpler plot. We took a note of several free events for next months and promised to go back. Bogor was still lively (thanks to satnite traffic in almost every spot) at 8.00 PM when we arrived at commuter station. Oh, if you wonder why I write Mecca above, Blok M Square have this Kaba miniature with great mosque architecture on their rooftop.

    

Sunday: Everyday Girls Day Moment

No, I didnt go to Girl's Day concert or fanmeet whatever (but I am smooth at Expectation karaoke). Depok became a full of reunion feel yesterday after I met Farida Nuzulia, my high school friend whom I never met for these 5 years. Dede Nisa (my SHS friend too) and me just struck in awe when we know Farida already stayed in Depok for a year in her sister house which surprisingly very near of Nisa's rented house. She admitted feel like cut out from high school peers stories from the moment we graduated last 2009, so we filled our precious three hours meet to catch up of what happen within our friend circles (you know, graduate-marriage-work stuffs lol). I cant join them for more chit-chat since I already had appointment to meet my college friends in Depok too, but we promised to hang out together often. When I finally meet seven other girls at Margonda, they already finished their lunch so we raid up Gramedia and had book shopping spree (exclude me and Ima). Eight of us then spent our afteernoon together by doing activities like other normal girls would do when they meet up: gossiping in a cafe. It sound glamorous but please view it in a modest way hahaha, we basically laugh at each other life at a moderate food stall in roadside. So yes, last sunday definitely girl's day!

Hope another weekend will be amazing as well. Like I've said to someone I (used to) know this week: Never thought you are all alone in this life.

Cheers!