Greetings From South Sulawesi :)

Courtesy of Aneen

This panorama was taken in Selayar Island, South Sulawesi. I will try to compose a proper post about the trip as soon as possible.

Pencak Silat

Practice makes perfect: A teacher (right) and student of Silat Kumanggo Training Camp practice silat martial art at Istano Basa Pagaruyung, Batusangkar, Tanah Datar regency, West Sumatra, on Sunday. The local administration has started to support the martial art at schools as part of efforts to conserve the Minangkabau West Sumatra culture. (Antara/Maril Gafur, link)

On Dealing With Broken Air Conditioner

My office, which is situated on the highest floor, tops the rank in terms of the coldest floor in the building. For some people, it's so cold that they bring the overcoat. So when two weeks ago we didn't feel any trace of  the arctic climate, we knew something had gone terribly wrong. 

It turned out that the two-ton chiller in the building had broken down.

The funny thing was people on the other floors were not aware of the AC problem. Once I met a guy from the sixth floor complaining about the temperature outside (well, it had been quite hot too outside). He was shocked when I told him about the AC.

I think it's not just the lack of cool blowing air that makes it very hot, but also the piling up of carbon monoxide due to the non-existent AC.

The building maintenance team had been slow at responding to our complaints. It took one week to lower the chiller from the roof top to the ground level. The day they moved the chiller, we could hear squeaking sounds as the workers loaded the machine onto the crane. It was an intense moment.

We asked the building maintenance team on how long we should endure this torture. And they said it took two weeks to repair the chiller (and probably another week to place it on the roof top). 

Last week, the building maintenance team lent us one standing air-con for free. ONE for the whole office, which has seven rooms. It is now standing gloriously in the corridor. Because, hello, if we put it in one of the rooms, there will be blood.

When we could no longer bear the heat, we alternately would leave our work space and stand in front of the AC for a few minutes. We look stupid, but we don't care.

Sometimes, we would leave office, find solace in the cool air-conditioned Setiabudi One and come back to office carrying a glass of milk tea (ahh, the joy of strolling at a mall in Jakarta). 

To cope with the non-existent AC, we have been wearing very relaxed outfit. For example, I have been wearing long flowing skirt because it's definitely much cooler than trousers/jeans. I'm pretty sure we will soon see Hawaiian-print shirt and knee-length shorts in the building if this AC problem continues.

At the time of this writing, I am sitting peacefully in the comfortable air-conditioned Bappenas office in Taman Suropati. Fortunately, I was assigned here today so I could escape the scorching hot office.  

Have A Very European Weekend :)

Photo found here

With the Europe Day celebration, which will fall on May 9, there are many Europe-themed events across the capital. It is with great joy that I inform you about Europe On Screen, a film festival focusing on European movies. For more information on the movies and the venues, click here.

Scholarship hunters (talking to myself, really) may find something that captivate them in European Union-Indonesia Scholarship Info Day, May 3, Sasono Mulyo 1 &2, Le Meridien Hotel (Free Entry).

Fancy running with the Europeans? Join EU On The Move 5 K on May 4. Location: Car Free Day Area – Jalan Sudirman, Jakarta. Run/walk starts at 7 am. Recommended arrival time: 6 am. For more info, click here. I may be cheering on the sidewalk, thank you very much.

April was a busy month for me. I really hope I can lean back every once in a while this May. 

Have a good one, my lovelies:).

Ohh, The Curiosity

After eight months of working in the new office (Yeah, I still call it new office haha. How long should it take to drop the word 'new'?), there is one specific thing that makes this office unique: the curious level is extremely high here.

Here are some examples:

1. Failed Date During Lunch Time
Background situation: my colleagues and I often have lunch together and since there are only 16 of us, we'd go in one large group.
AA: Let's go have lunch.
Me: You guys go ahead. I'm meeting up with my university friend in Setiabudi One.
AA: A friend? A man or a woman?
Me: Err...
AA: We want to meet your friend.
Me: -_-"

2. Where Are You Going For The Vacation?
Situation: This is the kind of conversation I'd have with my boss whenever I'm submitting a leave form.
Boss NPM: What is this?
Me: It says Leave Form.
Boss NPM: How long are you leaving the office? When are you coming back to office? Have you made the handover form?
Me: The information is all there on the form. I've completed my work and the handover too.
Boss NPM: Where are you going for the vacation? With whom are you going?
Me: Why do you want to know?
Boss NPM: Well, I will only let you go on vacation if you are going to meet future husband.
Me: -_-"

I know they meant well, but still...

[Movie] The Teacher's Diary - A Thailand Movie

Thailand | 2014 | 110 minutes | Director: Nithiwat Tharatorn

I saw the trailer of this movie when I was queuing for another movie. Needless to say, I was hooked and set an agenda to watch it for the next weekend.

The movie follows the story of two teachers who are alternately assigned on a floating school in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In 2012, former wrestler-turn-teacher Song (Sukrit Wisetkaew) arrives at the school and finds a diary of Ann (Chermarn Boonyasak), the teacher who was assigned at the school the year before. Her diary helps him to better understand his students, get through his broken heart and overcome his loneliness. 

In 2013, Ann returns to the floating school and finds her diary with new notes from Song. While Ann and Song have never met, the diary brings them close and create a kind of longing to meet the other.

The movie successfully bridges two time periods with the scenes going back and forth on the time that Ann and Song spend on the floating school. Will they finally be able to meet each other? Well, it's not a Thailand horror movie, so just relax and chew the popcorn.

Apart from the romantic scenes, this movie still manages to keep the central theme on what being a teacher really means and why you should always stay true to your heart. This movie also makes me miss writing on my paper journal :).

Photos found here.

Just Do It

By Dan Cassaro