A Day Out

We, being 4 friends from college and I, went to Parc Asterix yesterday. It's an amusement park decorated with pirate ships, wooden huts and barrels, vibrating more of the Gaulois spirit wrapped in the original comic book. I was never a fan of this particular French cartoon, but its comics accompanied me parallel to my growing up. These comics have been around me for years due to my brother's attachment to it, so I am pretty familiar with the weak Romans, Panoramix's magic potion and how Obelix fell into the potion when he was small. Recently, I went and saw a movie entitled Asterix & Obelix et les Vikings. Although the period of Vikings never collided with when the duo were created to exist (when precisely, I ignore), the cartoon movie went upscreen. I still liked the live action movie that was released few years ago with Cleopatra, though.

After the park, we went back to Paris after taking an hour's worth of time (train & bus). We finally dined at a sushi house (all of us love sushi). We also took a walk at the Quartier Latin, when we finally arrived at the Hotel de Ville's (not a hotel, but the maire) bridge. 10pm. The air, sky, and Seine were velvety blue. Lights shining dimly from the distant, bringing the gospel aura of Notredame. City lights nurturing passers-by, boats swiftly traversing the calm Seine waters... There was a cold melancholic silence in the echo of the diesel engines, yet such romantic warmth in couples' eyes and touch. My last weekend in Paris for the next months, yet this scene will certainly be the one bringing me back.

It's Over

My exams are oOver! My God that first step outside of the amphitheater felt light & liberating. I could just feel the wonderful atmosphere around me, people with big smiles wishing others "happy holidays!" with their light jackets before turning around a corner only to turn the same corner in October. Five months of summer vacation. That, should be decent.

Next week I'll be flying above the Mediterranean Sea to reside somewhere on the border of the Atlantic Ocean in the African continent. I can't wait!! Yeah, I'll be able to see my parents again after last summer. Despite the fact that it's not Indonesia and that I won't get the chance to see how my cousins & friends are doing down there; despite the fact that it's not 'home' home; despite the fact that I wish I could fastforward time and see what it'll bring me... Despite all other deep affections I have towards my home country: I miss my parents. And this place is where they are. For me, that is what most counts.

Besides, I have a feeling I'll be home soon enough anyway. Scared to face that, actually.

Not Who They Seem

I remember envying cheerfully talkative people as a child. Used to see them as fabricated blessed beings that couldn't see anything but fluorescent colours in life. Well... you know what I'm talking about: those that always see the glass half-full.

Yet I'm not talking about the 8 year old, who, rather than saying, "mhvorninghf misf fuhler" with half a vegemite sandwich stuffed down their throats, would enter with the "I wear shorts shorts" Homer attitude, 180 degrees turned Lakers' cap, and a soccer ball. I wouldn't even dare comment on bitchattitudes, rumours flying, as well as competition of the smartly georgeous (not georgeously smart, mind you).

Nope, not them.

I'm speaking of normal down-to-earth people who seem to just have that active button to, when with them, stun you in awe. Whether it'd be something they say, something they do, or for any other reason made so they could curve a smile on your lips. A person, who, when you're with, makes you feel ashamed of taking the smallest things in life for granted. Little are the words of grief spurt and cursing words are used well for the sole purpose of expressing oneself. They seem so opened and talkative about anything that you feel you really know them, until you find out otherwise.

Above depicts an image I had on socially-active people over the years I've lived. Time has again taught me something of utmost value, changing and bringing me to that very world; to teach and experience things that I've long observed. I'm still not a socially-active person, nor do I think I'll ever be. However, if I were to rule a general clause over this, I would dare say closing in your circle allows you to be more trusting of people, and expanding it rewards you the opposite. But hey, it's worth it-- at least you get to show them the fluorecent colours ;)

I always knew you hid yourself behind that cool asian image,
but I was never fooled. Man, I always knew.

Err... he knows what, already? ^^;

Wish me luck, guys!

--BEEP BEEP--

hey mia sorry to disturb but i need a favor. i lost a chapter in finance and production. i wanna know if i can copy them from u?

Sender: +336219*****
15/04/06
16.50

--BEEP BEEP--

pls check ur phone lol

Sender: +336219*****
15/04/06
17.05

--BEEP BEEP--

I tried to find the accounting information system in the book so i can understand but i couldn't find it do you know which chapter?

Sender: +336797*****
15/04/06
20.02

--BEEP BEEP--

Found it, its in page 5

Sender: +336797*****
15/04/06
20.24

These SMS came in today as I was everywhere else except being in front of any sort of lecture materials. With my final examinations starting on Tuesday, I thought I wasn't being extremely lazy given the fact that I still have 2 days before going berserk and pray for decent passing grades (okay, I have high standards but God is generous). Turns out I wasn't so quite right.

Just now I peeked into my MSN messenger and found that there's only one person online from my list of buddies from college. Leaving him aside (he's a carefree chap not a care in the world + he's graduating this year), I wonder where everybody else is? They can't seriously be studying... or can they? I freaked out at the thought that I too, must hit the books. And fast.

This semester has turmoiled being a mess compared to my last. In my defence, I can say that my thoughts drained on one of my major courses (E-commerce) to the extent that I let my 6 core courses flow with minimum effort. I'm thankful that I've been supported by A-students in those core courses though ;) See, God does work in strange ways. Thanks, you guys.

On a last note, I'd just like to say that this year literally zapped-by me. It seems like yesterday that I went back to this city with the grieve of a child and heart as light as the clouds. This summer, I'll be flying into the "real world" with my very first labour-related activity. It's just a step, but it's heading towards my dream. Let me see if Lorie depicts it right:

A 20 ans, on est invincible
A 20 ans, rien n'est impossible
On traverse les jours, en chantant
Et l'amour, c'est le plus important
A 20 ans

W i s h M e L u c k Fo r M y F i n a l s , G u y s ! ! !

Missing Chronic

to miss (v. tr): 1 : to fail to hit, reach, or contact2 : to discover or feel the absence of 3 : to fail to obtain

...
hows ur girlfriend (if i can call her that?)

she's not that yet, maybe soon, but she is at home resting, while in NY her appendix burst so she's been in the hospital for a little bit of time

oh no.. sorry to hear that [...]

it's ok, she's doing good, I'm glad she followed her first mind and went to the Hospital when she did

they said if she waited any longer she'd have not made it

wow. yeah, i'm glad too

She gave me a call Friday lettin me know she's ok that's after a month of no contact

which is cool she's doin her thing and I'm doin mine

i guess its a way of seeing it

well I can't be in contact with everyone I care about all the time, but I know I'll see or hear from them again so I don't worry at all

[...] i wish i can see it the way you do!

hehe, seriously.. dunno, lately i've been, well, missing people

Well even with you, someone I consider a little sister, I'm not always around to hit you up on the internet, but I know and pray that all is well and I know that if I care for someone and they for me I'll hear from them sooner or later.

I miss tons of things. My discman (ipod just doesnt replace it), my teenage ease, my Saturday night movies, my brother's car, and the lousy service of Indonesian cables company. I miss going to malls and look how people beg-to-differ styles. I miss the eyes-crossing and exactly knowing what the other person's thinking. I miss being reminded of big national events, upcoming holidays, and examinations. But on top of it all, I miss people. Well, some of them anyway.

Receiving e/mails never fails to make my day. Ask me this when I'm famous and I'll think twice before answering. At first, I didn't like the idea that cold screens should/can replace warm oral speeches. Words typed are so flat, and sometimes I'd rather wait for a chance to meet them again. Even if that meeting can take years before re-taking place. But I try. I try to put words on screen and blow in as much life to it as I can, but even the icons don't always convey it right. Thank goodness for voice messages nowadays. Though I don't use much of that either.

So, yes, I'm missing people. And the problem is, those I miss aren't always in the same city; not in the same country, nor continent. Now that sure makes life a lot easier. Blah, I'm in such a sentimental mood. This is the package of being on a borderline age I guess. So anyway, yesterday I got an email from a close friend in primary school, and as I was replying I got in such a vulnerable state (read: quadraple that of today's sentimental sway) and basically pour my heart out. Poor her, reading all that. She must be puzzled.

The golden question kicks in: do they, who I miss, suffer these missing chronics too?
Yes, people's lives do move on, we meet new people, we learn new things, and start to see things differently. We laugh at all the "stupid things" we did, yes, but never has it happened that I laugh at who I did those "stupid things" with. I remember the people I've met through different walks of life for who they were before, what they represent in my life, no matter how much progress they've made at present. I just want to make sure that eventhough our coffees turn cold during our rigid business meetings in 10 years time, we can talk about the times when we were jumping together on trampolins in the backyard. That way we can warm things up again =)

"i told you so's"

don't know what you call it, but everything seems to jerk down on me like i'm some kind of irresponsible person. it's like the "i told you so's" have been repeated so much that i'm starting to sink and believe that i did so. i don't believe i've ever let them have a reason to believe i could be the person i'm not. it's just tiring when everytime you do something, you have to constantly remind someone that "it's okay" and this and that. why not just believe me, period?

i'm quite a sensitive person. i guess that's the most stereotypical girl atout you'll find in me. hence eventhough you back up your "i told you so" with "but no, do it anyway.. i just want you to think of it twice before blablabla"-- i get confused. On one hand, i know that deep down inside you hope & pray i don't; on the other, i feel like i'm being dictated and mistrust. it's like being on a two-way street while knowing neither is right.

i guess everything comes back to myself. they say if you keep having issues then take a look at yourself first. true, from the religious aspect, i haven't spoken to god since... well, a long time. usually when all else goes wrong, i can still close my eyes in peace at night. curse the world to sleep and pray that a brand new day awaits the following sunrise. this hasn't been the case for some time now.

CPE (continued)

I take it you've all heard about the mess happening in France? Well, ever since the President of the Republic, Jacques Chirac, promulgated the CPE law (i.e. last night), things have gotten a tid bit worse. These people are everywhere now, although it hasn't particularly nailled terror on me to something as extreme as not leaving my appartment.

Chirac's modification of the law by reducing the "probation period" from 2 to 1 year; and the chance for the young to be given reasons upon dismissal; seem to be undermined completely by the fact that it has been promulgated. Apparently last night we had "une nuit de colere" after the President's long-awaited course of action speech. Wow, Tuesday's gonna be fun.

A few days back when French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, wanted to have an open discussion with the unions, the student unions refused, saying they can't have real talks when the Prime Minister already has it craned in his brain that the CPE must apply before actual discussion. Now with the President's intervention of modifying the law, and the protests that are due to be nation-wide this Tuesday (4th April); now who has what already craned in the brain?

What bothers me is the fact they compare what's happening now with what happened in May 1968. During this period, the French government was close to collapse, with general De Gaulle in charge. It started with series of innocent student strikes followed by confrontations with the national police. Okay, that might look similar to today's case. But the reason for protests is just different. Quoting from a debate I saw on TV, "En mai 1968, les etudiants voulaient que le monde change" (in May 1968, the students wanted the world to change). Whereas today, French students are afraid of changes. Afraid of competition in jobs. One term that they repeat over and over again in the media is the treatment of people like "kleenex" (i.e. tissue).
But honestly, which bosses in their right minds would sack anyone if he/she is doing the job well??

May 1968 wasn't uniquely France's event, but students' protests vibrated throughout the world. What did they want? Better methods of education and along the lines of sexual freedom. Today's protests are not even half worth 68's.