Leahism on Interpals

Since when do I like penpals? Since I sat in elementary school. Penpals or sahabat pena in Indonesian is one of my favorite things to do. Knowing people or having a new friend through writing letters or sending e-mails nowadays.

Lately I know Interpals from one of my Dutch tandem friends. Right after he had mentioned it, I signed up. I thought that it was a good site to refresh my memory about penpals. Hiep hiep hurrah!!!

Few days ago, I chatted with my fiance on FaceTime. The conversation as follows:

F: What are you doing?
L: Uploading some more pictures for my profile on Interpals. TO SEDUCE MEN THERE!
F: Waaaat? Hoezo? (What? Why? What do you mean?)
L: Because none of those girls on Interpals replied my messages. Except a Dutch girl who contacted me for the first time offering a help for my Dutch.

On this site, what I think ridiculous is the comment givers of a pictures. I saw that all of the them are women if the picture's owner is a man, vice versa. The comments are also I think quite standard and too much for just a normal picture.

LaFabulosa, 29 May 16
Awesome!

Ksenia0582, 27 Aug 26, 2013
Awesome pic!

Buttercreme, 40 Aug 19, 2013
Een echt goed beeld !

inspirationbyme, 29 Jun 20, 2013
very beautiful picture

LaLizabelle, 25 Jan 15, 2013
Awesome photo :)

Profile Deleted
wow..the background is awesome..where is this?

emzie2890, 24 Sep 24, 2012
Nice pic.

penpalfriend84, 29 Aug 18, 2012
Beautiful!

lizalapinig, 40 Aug 7, 2012
wow.........nice pix

Ironcookie, 38 Jul 28, 2012
it is Bryce Canyon. even more special i think :)

martinegizmo, 33 Jul 28, 2012
Grand Canyon ???
special there

MilkaMile, 34 Jul 18, 2012
nice pic


Well, just like what one of my penpals said "Niks is waterdicht". Nothing is perfect. There's always a lack. Also on Interpals.

5 Negara dalam 7 Hari?

Lumayan kaget membaca status dari salah satu teman di Facebook yang menyatakan bahwa dia akan jalan-jalan ke 5 negara dalam 7 hari. "Wow!", itulah tanggapan yang pertama kali terucap. Ada juga teman lain yang melakukan jalan-jalan ke 4 negara dalam 10 hari. Memang terlihat prestigious, namun alhasil mereka hanya mengunjungi 1 tempat di 1 negara.

Jika melakukan jalan-jalan seperti itu, menurutku kita tidak akan melihat suatu negara secara kesuluruhan. Kita hanya melihat satu negara berdasarkan hanya satu tempat saja. Padahal tidak semua tempat memiliki karakteristik yang sama meskipun dalam satu negara. Ada satu teman yang hanya mengunjungi Bali. Ujung-ujungnya, dia hanya melihat Indonesia sebagai Bali atau Bali sebagai Indonesia. Sedangkan Bali tidak mencerminkan Indonesia secara kesuluruhan. Hanya sebagian kecil saja.

Sebagai contoh, tahun 2009 lalu aku melakukan perjalanan dari Hanoi ke HCMC. Dari utara ke selatan. Dari perjalanan itu, aku menangkap bahwa Vietnam selatan lebih maju daripada Vietnam utara. Saat itu banyak sekali konstruksi di Vietnam utara daripada di selatan. Tidak hanya siang hari tapi juga malam hari. Dengan mengunjungi beberapa tempat, kita akan memiliki pandangan dan pengalaman yang lebih kaya.

Saranku, jangan berorientasi banyak negara yang kamu kunjungi untuk sekali jalan. Lebih baik banyak tempat yang dikunjungi di satu negara dari pada satu tempat satu negara. 5 negara dalam 7 hari? Oh tidak!!! Benar-benar estafet dan terlalu ambisius! "You won't get anything but pictures and exhausted!" Inti dari jalan-jalan adalah tidak dari banyaknya negara yang telah kamu kunjungi, tapi apa yang bisa kamu dapat dari jalan-jalan itu tadi.

Selamat jalan-jalan!!!

I'm Scared...

I'm scared... And it looks scary but not that horror. Well, that's is my thinking about:

1. So skinny girl.
2. Different act.

One of my friends was very skinny. Thanks God, she's bigger a bit now. Oh, my! I said to her, "You are very skinny." Then she replied, "Ough! I'm still fat, I need more skinny if I want to be a model." So, ya. I couldn't say anything about that. But, I was afraid to hug her. I was afraid, she will be broken like a fragile glass. I was afraid that her bone will be broken into pieces. Last time I saw two girls with that condition. And I just couldn't see them any longer.

I'm also scared with a girl I know. Normally when she came, her face looked grumpy, not friendly. Well, this girl also dislikes me apparently. Once, I asked a question to her, she replied me without looking at me but busy with her computer. Lately, I saw twice that she has a bit smile on her face. I saw, she tried to have a smiley face. It looks fake but hmmmm... Ok. Maybe, she's changed.

But still, I'm scared...

Boring vs Predictable

I just watched a movie titled "Good Deeds" played by Tyler Perry. I've been thinking about one of the conversations between Wesley and her fiancee Natalie on the bed.

Wesley: How can you be so sure?
Natalie: What, baby?
Wesley: That I'm not cheating. You know, a jealousy would be nice.

Natalie: Baby, you always do the same thing.

Wesley: Are you saying that I'm boring?

Natalie: No. I'm saying that you eat the same thing everyday, go to work the same time everyday, when we make love you do it the same way every time. I'm saying, you are predictable.

On that conversation, Natalie doesn't think that Wesley is cheating on her because she knows exactly how her man is. I might say that she's also right about boring and predictable. They are different. Boring is not the same with predictable. But, in my opinion both has a same thing in common: they are dangerous for a relationship. Predictable boyfriend may lead a boring feeling for his girlfriend, vice versa.

At the beginning, he/she can accept it the behavior or the attitude but how long it will be last if actually it's a matter for one partner. Perhaps he/she didn't mention it before, but it keeps annoying him/her. But how long he/she will keep it. I don't believe that human has a huge tolerance. Finally, they are tired to face it and they just can't deal with it anymore.

Then, what should we do? I have no answer. You may tell your feeling about it to your partner or you don't tell your feeling to your partner because you don't wanna change your partner. Then, it's your decision.
Talking about the movie, I think it's a boring movie because I already predicted before that in the end Wesley and Lindsey will be together. Wesley will invite Lindsey and Ariel come to Africa together. Plus, Lindsey and Ariel are already on the plane, even the scene shows that Lindsey doesn't come to the airport when Wesley is waiting for her. But, well, people loves drama. This movie has no dramatic end.

Leah is a drama queen!

My Books

I don't like to read. Usually for a book, traveling genre is my favorite, I need at least 1 month or more as I don't read it everyday in many hours. Today, I finished Menyusuri Lorong Lorong Dunia Jilid 3. The author is Sigit Susanto. An Indonesian but living in Switzerland. If I'm not wrong he lives in Solothurn, a city where my friend also lives there. When I was there, I would like to contact him and wanted for a meeting for small conversation and coffee but I was just too shy to send him email. To be honest, I don't remember everything he wrote.

Well, after that book I continue reading TraveLove written by many authors. I bought it maybe more than 6 months ago together with Menyusuri Lorong Lorong Dunia, but I just start reading it today. What I don't like is the font of the book is too big. I think if they print it with normal font, the book will be smaller and perhaps cheaper. It's good so that people can buy it more.

I have an idea to donate my books I have read to my charity for a school in Raja Ampat. The charity doesn't start yet. Soon. I still need to make a paypal account so that my donators can send their money cheaper and easier.

I read a blog few days ago that the blog owner has some resolutions for 2013. One of them she will work/read at least 5-6 hours per week so that her brain won't be dull and she will not be dumb. Hmmm... I think should have the same resolution like her. I think I need to start reading a book. So that my brain still works. I scrutinize that the seniors who don't work on something and just do nothing but enjoying their old time are disseminated easily.

I Fall in Like

Jika orang-orang sering mendengar dan mengatakan, "Gampang jatuh cinta..." tetapi menurutku pribadi "Aku tuh gampang jatuh suka" dengan cowok lain ehehehe....

Another Side of Euro 2012

Yesterday night, My housemates and I were watching Euro 2012 match but before that we had gone to some shops for buying Swedish uniform. To all shops we visited, We didn't find the uniform. Then I heard he said, "Maybe they are uneducated that's why they don't know Sweden." I said that Sweden is not popular that's why they didn't have it.

Well, in my opinion Sweden is not popular country to become a champion for Euro football games. So, that's why the sellers don't sell any uniform of Sweden. They might think that as nobody or less people will support Sweden then less or even nobody will buy their merchandise over Sweden. If they keep selling it, it can make them incur losses.

My classmates and I have a bet over who will be the champion or at least who will be the highest even our country which we support wouldn't go in the final. Do you know the result? No one choose Sweden. They prefer choosing Germany, Portugal, Spain, Russia, Italy, France, and The Netherlands (that's mine). Then, I can understand if they don't sell any merchandise of Sweden. Not b'coz they are uneducated but it's just all 

about profit and loss.

Well, the most important thing is: We feel the Euro 2012 euphoria no matter who will win.

A Perfectionist (Little)

A friend of mine told me yesterday that I was a perfectionist person. He mentioned it b'coz I always corrected my own saying every time I made a mistake on saying something: to speak good and right Indonesian (even for other languages, as long as I know if I indeed have made a mistake). Well, I can say that I'm satisfied if I have been doing a right thing. Every thing which I think I must to do, The thing which I think it should be as it is.

Do the thing right. Do the right thing. That was what Warren Bennis said in 1989. For me, both are important. Both should be done together.

We can be a manager and leader for ourselves in the same time.

Lesson of My Life - Part 2

Something unexpected makes us laugh.

-Leahism-

Last time in my old posting Lesson of My Life, I mentioned something different. But, both are true. So, which one is you at the moment?

In my own story, I am always happy when I find some money in my pocket of jacket or jeans especially when I have little money left in the end of the month. Hehehe... Too much spending. Then, something unexpected makes me happy. I don't expect that I still have some money left. Then, I just smile, grin, or even laugh. The other example is when I get a surprise from someone we love. You will think that it's sweet moment, won't you?

In other hand, how could something unexpected makes us sad? This which I didn't tell the story in my last posting. Alright, my story is when I couldn't accept the annoyed situation we face suddenly. One of them is when I need to leave my Boyf and back to Indonesia earlier than the date which I have planned before when we were in Istanbul Turkey. It made me cry at the airport.
But, I do have a lesson: Remember, if the unexpected one makes you sad or bad, it means you still can't accept the situation or the condition you get. Remember again, something which doesn't kill you makes you stronger and grow up.

Be Realistic!

"Cleaning the house first is better than having a thinking to clean the whole city. Do the small thing first then do big thing. But just like someone from TV1 said: Once you think, think big. Well, with implementation of course."

-Leahism-

Biasa Saja

When we don't like something or when we are not interested in, then it makes us not objective. Being mediocre is a key.

Bersikap biasa-biasa saja.

-Leahism-

How to Become Great

I just read a statement from Randal Munroe (don't ask me who he is, as I don't know) who said, "You don’t become great by trying to be great. You become great by wanting to do something, and then doing it so hard that you become great in the process." Well, I don't deny his statement. But then it reminds me with one of my friends. She becomes a volunteer of environment effort to clean the road of the city from rubbish. Wow, it's pretty owesome! It's very great iniciative for world. A change for a big world.

But, unfortunately, I just realize that she doesn't clean his own house. So many rubbish especially plastics around her house, the wild grasses start to grow in his garden, but she does nothing. Maybe she's just busy with her activities so that she couldn't pay attention to her own house. A house where she lives. A house which also a small world for her.

To become great, you don't need to do a great thing to change something big. What you can do first is: Do small things around you. When it's done, then you may go to the bigger one. You won't be able to change the big one, if you don't change the small one in the beginning.

Ik Heet het: Een Huis

Ik voel me nu erg moe. Geen lichamelijke moe maar mentale. Het is niet zo makkelijk te leven bij elkaar door het huren van een huis. Vooral leven met andere negen mensen. Ik mis alleen zijn. Het wordt me: heimwee. Voor mij, het betekent: mijn huis in Banyuwangi, mijn familie vooral mijn moeder, en mijn vriend. Zij zijn het huis voor me. Zij geven me alleen maar comfort en warm.

Wel nou, wat is een huis voor je?

A Sun in Winter

The happiest moment for me in winter is: When there's a sun. Why? Not because of me with the sun itself, but I'm happy when people are so enthusiastic talking about it. "Mooi weer.", "Lekker, eh?", "Het is lekker!" Seeing them happy, with smile. Their faces look so innocent. Brighter than before. I just love to see that. That moment is just amazing. Simple!

A diamond in winter is when there's a sun.

A Wise Person Is Educated!

Maybe it's right that being old is a must, being wise is a choice. But I believe in education could open your mind and make you wiser than before.

Deadline

Deadline adalah olahraga pemicu adrenalin yang sangat ampuh!

Destroying is Easy

In Indonesia there's a saying that "To build is easier than to maintain." For me, I think I agree with saying that destroying is easier than building. Jup, it's needed many years to build a good name but just need one second to make a bad name. Here I am now: having a bad name on EU regulation eyes. Staying there more than a valid visa.

Thank you, for making me on this position.

Banyak Masalah

Ketika aku mendapatkan banyak masalah, tak sempatku untuk menulis di blog. Terlalu banyak masalah yang didapat, jadi bingung ingin menulis apa. Terlalu banyak masalah yang didapat, tidak punya waktu luang untuk menulis apa. Waktu berjalan dengan cepat seiring ketika kita menghadapi dan menyelesaikan semua masalah. Konklusiku, menulis blog adalah bagi orang yang tidak punya kerjaan. Dan jika kamu mendapatiku sering menulis blog, itu tandanya aku tidak mempunyai banyak masalah dan pastinya memiliki waktu luang.

Au-pair = Tukang Angkat-angkat

Hari ini adalah hari pertama aku kerja sebagai Au-pair. Kesan pertamaku dari lubuk hati yang paling dalam terucap kata (Stinky band activated) Au-pair sama dengan Tukang angkat-angkat. Mengapa tidak?
1. Mengangkat Yosi dan Barti ke atas dipan tiap kali mengganti pakaian mereka. Dari baju tidur ke baju biasa, dari baju biasa ke baju tidur lagi.
2. Mengangkat Barti ke tempat duduk bayi tiap kali makan pagi, siang, dan malam.
3. Mengangkat peralatan dapur ke tempat mesin cuci piring. Semua serba otomatis, tak perlu susah-susah mencuci. Jadi ini juga berlaku untuk;
4. Mengangkat pakaian kotor dan kemudian memasukkannya ke dalam mesin cuci.
5. Mengangkat cucian ke tempat setrika. Sudah ada pembantu yang datang seminggu sekali untuk bersih-bersih rumah dan menyetrika pakaian seabrek.
6. Mengangkat kayu bakar ke perapian.
7. Mengangkat plastik tempat sampah dan membuangnya ke bak tempat sampah di luar rumah.

Jadi, bener kan Au-pair itu sama dengan Tukang Angkat-angkat hehehe...

Feminitas dan Maskulinitas dalam Diriku

Aku punya banyak teman dekat cowok daripada teman dekat cewek, banyak dekat dengan teman cowok daripada banyak dekat dengan teman cewek. Itu yang menjadi penyeimbang dalam diriku akan hal feminitas (dari diriku sendiri sebagai wanita) dan maskulinitas (dari teman laki-laki).