Inside Nastilicious

Love Wisdom from A Bestfriend

2011-12-14T05:38:00.007+01:00

You might have realised that lately I was feeling so so sad about someone that I used to really liked. Last week was the worse. The first days of the week I was still liking him, not until the weekend came. I told the story to my bestfriend from my previous school. She studies in Florida while I am in Iowa. We met each other in Italy. She was my roomate. When it comes to thing like this, she always be the one who can give the wisest words of wisdom to me. She just understand me so well, even though we come from a very different culture. She is like a big sister to me. Her letter made me want to cry in happiness. The way she looks at the problem is really different. She also see the positive side of myself that I never realized about. I am sharing the letter for anyone out there who thinks that love is not on their side, anyone who enjoy the feeling of being in love but at the same time was turned upside-down because of love, anyone who believes that soul mate does exist and true love is not a cliche. I hope this will help anybody out there to answer the mysterious riddle of love.

Dearest Rut,

I am so touched by your kind words, but please know that nothing makes me happier than helping my friends. So being there for you when you need me makes me feel better as well :)

When it comes to love, I feel like I can really relate to you and your situation. For me, I always end up having feelings for someone and then it never works out, OR I end up with the wrong person. You're not fucked, you're not unlucky, you are perfectly normal. If anything I'm jealous of you. Sometimes I give up on love completely, and a think that a part of me has. I haven't had too many good relationships that have worked out... I think that's because I never had true feelings for those guys. The kind of feelings that you have when you find someone you like. I'm really proud of you for making the effort to talk to him. You may not believe it, but you have come a LONG way. You have gone from not talking to the guy you like AT ALL, to sending anonymous letters, to inviting the guy you like to a party. Those are very courageous and brave things that you have done. We all go through life at our own pace, we all tackle our hurdles in our own way. You shouldn't give up, this is simply another hurdle that you must overcome. Sometimes I wish that I had the same feelings for someone that you have for (censored). But I think that I have reached a point in my life where I just don't care anymore. I enjoy being single and happy and free, and the great thing is... I'm okay with that. I think what I'm trying to say is, everyone is different, and I know that this message is one long cliche, but its true. You are one of the rare human beings left on Earth that is a true hopeless romantic. That is a beautiful thing. I've never been in love... who knows maybe someday I will be. But you see... for me I'm not certain. I could go on living my life completely independent of a relationship and be totally happy. But for you, I am certain. I know that you will find the love of your life eventually. Maybe you will be one of those lucky girls who finds their soul mate and is only with them. So, don't give up on love, it doesn't stink, it doesn't suck... its just hard and frustrating, but when you find it... I'm certain that it will be something so wonderful that all of your heartbreaks thus far, will be totally worth it.

Message me any time you need to! Love you!

xoxo
Your bestfriend

Most Random Thought

2011-12-06T06:31:00.006+01:00

I believe I was born to lead. This believe started to grow when I studied in SMA Santa Urusla and grew even stronger when I got the scholarship to United World College of the Adriatic and lived in a model of world peace, with people 88 different countries.

"UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future"

Until now, I believe I am in the right path to prepare my self to be a future leader. I wonder, it must feel incredibly fantastic to be world's leader, just like those people in the photos below.

Because you know what: Great people talk about ideas. Small people talk about other people. Tobias S. Gibson

Hey look, our president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is there. Right to Sarkozy (above) and right to Obama with red tie (below)

Fragrance of Christmas

2011-11-27T06:30:00.008+01:00

I can smell Christmas already. Firstly, It is positive, that me and my friends from high school are going to spend our Christmas in Boolingbrook, Illinois, a suburb 30 minutes from downtown Chicago. We are staying in my-far-away grandparents, this must not make sense for Americans how anyone who is in the same level with my grandparents are called grandparents instead of great uncle or great aunt. So, there will be a high school reunion in the United States. Two are from San Fransisco and one is from Iowa.

Secondly, I added my wardrobe collection from our shopping spree last Black Friday. I just got five new pair of clothes and a pair of shoes, and a speaker. We did not really have enough time to shop, since we went in a big group. But, it does not matter, I know that Christmas sale is coming and I will be in Chicago for that, so more options, more stores, more stylish city! Excellent.

In 5 days we are entering December, while I already listed 7 big tasks to accomplish before winter break. I hope my first Christmas in the United States would be amazing!

I put the pictures of the clothes I bought, but I did not show the details until Christmas!! Be curious!

I am not yet familiar with American brand. But, I definitely heart Ronson! by Charlotte Ronson

BISOUS BISOUS by Michelle Bohbot. The designs are pretty exclusive too.

Another pair of Bisous Bisous. Something furry for Winter.

Found this cute top at TjMaxx

And this patent Union Bay shoes.

Little fragrances from The Body Works.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T04:14:00.017+01:00

This is my first Thanksgiving post out of four ( I still have three other years to be here at Wartburg College, the plan of going to a grad school and working here are not yet included). I woke up today at 11.30, it was pretty late for a Thanksgiving lunch at 12. But I made it tho.

The weather was really nice too. It was breezy but sunny. Heidi and Lee picked us up to the Peace United Church, somewhere in Waverly, ten minutes from the campus. When everybody had arrived, Heidi's husband, Jonathan, said a grace and his father said prayer. Jonathan said he is thankful of getting to know us, the international students and having us here. I can't remember the last time when I prayed communally before eating with my family, probably my last farewell before heading to the America.

Lee said Thanksgiving is an American culture when family always gets together. His son who is in marine in North Carolina wished that he could be home, but he is on duty.

As an Indonesian, I know Thanksgiving from American movies or TV series. Everybody wants to be home for Thanksgiving, just like Christmas and New Year's Eve. I watched in Eat, Pray and Love that before the dinner, they usually say what they are thankful for. from the Gossip Girl, it is a moment when the busiest New Yorkers get together, even just to eat french fries together around the table.

After the lunch, we headed by to the campus. It was already 3pm, still sunny. I decided to enjoy the sun and had a bike-riding around Waverly. At the back of the Nestle factory, there is a long bike rail. Something that I always wished we had a kind of one in Jakarta. To the right and to the left, there are trees, empty green field. Once, I saw a beautiful small red bird. The rail's length is 7 miles. I touched down until Prairie Run, I had to go back because it started to get dark. I took a lot of picture of myself. Since it's Thanksgiving, my first Thanksgiving, I want to make it memorable.

So, let me saying grace what I have been thankful for.
I am thankful for my my beautiful famliy, my mother, my father, my brother and my grandparents.
I am thankful for making it this year to the United States, my parents were really worried I would just be in the waiting list of all the colleges that I applied to.
I am thankful for getting B+ in Math class, what an improvement!
I am thankful for today when I called my relative in Chicago, she offered us a place to stay for the rest of the three weeks and Sherika's uncle would drive us to Chicago!
I am thankful for my first article in In My Opinion Blog The Jakarta post received really good responses from many people. Thirteen people liked and share it on Facebook.
I am thankful for my new life I am twenty now, and my birthday party was a blast.
I am thankful for every breathe I take, for all friends I have, for Mother Earth.

No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is fighting to survive. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

The first tunnel of Waverly Rail Trail

Those bikes were hanging

Catching up with the self-timer

My body hurts since I laid on an asphalt.

I was so glad that I saw a deer very close to me. Something I wont see in Jakarta

I am thankful for the beautiful view that I see that afternoon

I am thankful for the lunch-box from the Thanksgiving Feast

Knight Smile: Happy Thanksgiving again!!!

Friend of America and Freeport?

2011-11-24T04:48:00.010+01:00

Today was probably my first time asking question in my Inquiry Study class: The Governing Crisis. The reason why most of the time I kept silent because it has been usually somehow more interesting to me to listen to what my fellow American classmates think about their own country, and I would rather to observe their discussion as a “foreigner”. I don’t like making unnecessary thoughtless comments just for the sake of getting participation points. It is always an interesting class; there is one student in my class who always brings up discussion about America as a bully. We call it as the “bully-analogy”. America is a bully because many countries hate America, so in order for America to keep them as a leader they have to scare the people – but from what I learned today, it is not the case, you have to be friend of America, so they won’t scare you.

I might not be the most knowledgeable person to write about this “friend of America”, America as bully, and many other topics that I bring up. But, I can assure you I know a little-bit-more about everything, not just a little bit, but more. Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, the classes were shortened. When the classes started, our professor asked us about the last book that we read, “Washington Rules” by Andrew J Bacevich. One guy in my class was asking about one of the topics that were discussed by Bacevich with relation to the Vietnamese war. It is about trinity. America is the internationally-responsible country to ensure the world peace.

The world wants the United State to lead (p. 21). We went for a long discussion. One of them is how important for America to maintain their interest in other country’s territories. My professor brought example about the how the Cuban knew about the assassination of Kennedy, and this is why America has to keep its eyes towards the Cuban. Another example was the nationalization of United Fruits; why the Guatemalan government did it because they saw it as a capitalist trick that won’t benefit their country. Until at one particular point my professor stated, if I can still re-phrase it would be, “The reason behind the Washington Rules and why our country keep their defense amenities throughout the world could be capital, money,” We only had around ten minutes left and he continued saying, “You should make me feel useful, do you have any question or concern about this?”.

I have been thinking before that about the money that America borrowed and spent for war and to build their military base all over the world. They have 761 “sites” in 39 foreign countries; no other country comes even remotely close to replicating this “empire of bases” (p. 25).

“If the reason of the thing that the Washington does is money, do you think all the money that the USA has spent worth it? Does America actually get more money by doing this? Because the US in a big debt right now”

My Professor said that’s a great question and there is not an easy answer to this. He brought the illustration of why Sadam Hussein was arrested and some other examples. At the end the, thing that I can remember that my professor said was, “I think, it is not worth it,”.

I kept thinking about what he said. How I actually I adored Guetamalan government’s action toward the United Fruits, since I think a government is very responsible for the welfare of its citizen, and they have to fight for their rights.

I have reason to say this. If I compare this to what happened in my country with the Freeport Company who has been operating on mining gold for the fourty-two years. The fact that after the second exploitation in 1988, Freeport gained around 7,3 million tons of copper and 724, 7 million ton of GOLD. In contrary, the people in Papua can be considered as the poorest people in Indonesia, they cannot enjoy the enormous valuable resources of their own land. No wonder if at some point they asked for separation.

So, I talked with my professor after the class finished. The first thing I said was, “Have you ever heard about Freeport? It’s an American gold mining company in West Papua, a province in East Indonesia”. He said no.

“I think it is one of the examples of an American capitalist company. It’s not oil, but it’s gold,” and I told him the facts why I think it is a capitalist company. About the exploitation they did.

“When you were talking about Guetamalan leaders, I actually at certain level adore them. They at least have the guts to do something for their people, unlike the Indonesian government,”

Then I also explained him how complicated it was because there was a thirty-two years contract sign by Soeharto and the representative of the USA about Freeport. Stupid is the government. Everybody knows Soeharto was a dictator anyway.

My professor said, “I know about Soeharto. I heard he was a prick,”

“That’s true. But you know what; he is a friend of America. We learned in history how Soeharto got some help from American most powerful Intel to take over Soekarno’s presidency, because in 1955 Soekarno shown some ideology that is related to Marxist. While this might be not the case about what happened with Sadam Hussein, Castro, and other considered as dictator or communist leaders of the world,”

Reading Washington Rules is always enjoyable with a cup of Indonesian tea.

The whole Soeharto issues happened around fourty years ago. And we are already thirteen years forward after the New Regime had ended. But nothing has really changed about the Freeport situation. The people around the mining are still always be poor and the company is getting richer by transporting the natural resources outside Papua, Indonesia.

Go back to the “friends of America” topic. I totally support how our government tries to maintain such a really good relationship with the USA. Especially, lately, when Barrack Obama was elected as the President of United State and he has a close relation with Indonesia, since he spent part of his childhood in my hometown, Jakarta. I think this situation has to be used wisely by Indonesian politicians, diplomats, and lobbyists in the US to re-evaluate the policies that affected the three million of Papua people. It is time for Indonesian politicians to re-think about this. And we should be confident enough of doing this, if we believe that relationship is something mutual.

I do not ask my government to be as radical as some others leader, since we are famous as a very friendly, diplomatic, neutral and democratic country with the most Muslim population in the world. During the revolution in Libya, a famous person mentioned Indonesia as a new Switzerland in Asia. If this is true, we should apply this to first fix the issues in our country, rather than thinking too much on building images in front of the world. This is not what we need right now.

By fixing this, the world will see us as a country who takes the most care of its own citizen, a country who tries to combat poverty, a country that is fair to its citizen, and a country who tries to protect its people. True, it is important for our government to maintain good relationship between another countries and becoming friends with them, but what is most importantly after all is to built a trust, a comforting relationship between Indonesia and its people, without any exception. All we need are politicians who are aware and care enough about what has happened not just what happening. Because, what has happened is still happening until now, and we want to stop it.

A Letter to My Future Husband

2011-11-15T03:38:00.006+01:00

I bumped into someone from my past who once I fell for. We were both in love. But as he said distance, time and communication just made the feeling gone. He is an Indonesian-German. All of the sudden I felt like sharing my current feeling for someone who I am having a crush on, here in the college, because this one guy make me assume that we do have the same feeling for each other - but really I don't want to expect. He wrote me his honest words on why that time our relationship did not work. Found out, I am the mean girl here. He tried so hard, I was not senstive and mostly cyncial. And as a fruit of Santa Ursula education, I have too high expectation for a boyfriend and how I value myself. So that's the end of the story. But you know what, I think we are friends now - and this usually does not happen when relationship does not work - you won't be friends with your ex or your lover.

He is still a very nice guy and now happy with his life since he finally has a girlfriend. I am happy for him! He in the message give me a link to his blog post about a letter that he got from his friend. I feel like I want to share this letter to anybody out there who feels like in the age of 20s or 30s still alone and scared of not having a boyfriends or life partners. The letter can also be adressed for the men not only for the girls. Here is the letter.

“You were made to be loved… and sincerely I have loved you, the thought of you, my life long.” Elizabeth Barrett Brown

If you are reading this letter, it is because you may become my husband one day. Lately, my mind and my heart have been filled with thoughts of you and the family that we will one day share.
I wonder where you are and what you are doing. Are you dating someone? Relationships have become so pressure filled, haven’t they? I mean, guys and girls alike treat dating as if they were married, expecting an instant commitment and sometimes sleeping together. I’ve heard that it’s easier to share your body than it is your soul. How sad that we are taught even in grade school how to share our bodies with the opposite sex, but not our hearts or our souls. Seems totally backwards, doesn’t it?

The temptations we face are real and I know how hard it can be to stay chaste. I’ve been tempted too, but then I think of you and how I want our wedding night to be perfect. Maybe that’s why I wanted to write to you, to tell you that I am real. At some point in our future, our paths will cross, and we will eventually spend our lives together in marriage. It would seem a shame to go into our marriage with the baggage that past sexual relationships bring.

That quote I put at the top of the page – I mean it. Think about it. You were made to be loved – unconditionally loved, and that’s how I promise to love you. Where you have been before today, well… that’s all in the past, and that’s where it should stay. Maybe you had no idea that I was here. But now you know, and how you live your life from today forward matters to me a great deal. I know that the media, Planned Parenthood, MTV, your friends, and maybe others are telling you that sex before marriage is okay as long as it’s “safe.” Don’t buy it. The truth is that the only safe sex is inside of marriage. There are STDs, abortions, emotional scars, and teens becoming parents before they are ready. Sex before marriage leaves scars that are hard to heal, sometimes impossible.

To a lot of people it may seem totally crazy that I’m asking you to think of our future. They’d tell you to live for the moment. I’m all for living in the present, but thinking about the future can help you avoid decisions that may alter your future – our future. I want you to experience life, travel, figure out who you are, go to the moon if you want. Take advantage of this time in your life to learn everything that you can. That will only make our marriage stronger. Just don’t jeopardize us.

Becoming a man can be difficult. Some guys try to earn their manhood by compromising their values. Sex before marriage won’t make you a man. It will only serve to keep you a little boy who can’t control himself. That’s not the kind of guy that I want or deserve. I need a man who won’t compromise his family but will put me first – even before he meets me; a man whose strength lies in his virtue, his character, and his ability to be an example at work, at play, and most importantly in our home. A real man knows how to love completely – with his mind, heart, body, and soul. This may sound like a lot to ask of you, but it will all be worth it. I will love you completely – I can promise you that!

You need to know that I’m waiting for you. If there is one thing that I have learned through my dating experiences, it’s that you are worth waiting for. My heart, mind, soul, and body were made for you. We will complete each other in the most profoundly beautiful way imaginable.

From today forward, are you going to wait for me? Like I said, where you have been is in the past, but where you are going will affect our marriage. I need to know that you have learned self control. I need to know that you think I am worth waiting for. I need to know that you are a man who respects and cherishes women – all women. The girl you are dating right now, or are going to date soon, may be someone else’s future wife, and I need to know that you understand and respect that.

Real love is not a temporary feeling or emotion. Emotions and feeling change, sometimes daily. But true, unconditional love is constant. I met a coupled the other day who have been married for 50 years, have seven children, 23 grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. They looked like high school sweethearts. I asked them how they did it, how they made it work when so many marriages are falling apart. You know what he said? He said, “She knows I’m not perfect and she still loves me. She’s my best friend.” How cool is that? That’s what I want. I want us to be best friends. I want you to feel totally free to be you when you’re with me.

Please read this often. Think of me often. I’m thinking of you. I can’t wait to meet you. I can’t wait to spend my life loving you. Thanks for waiting for me. I promise it will be worth the wait!

With Love,
Your Future Wife

I was still nineteen when I took this picture. Some weeks before my 20th birthday.

I just realised by the end of posting this I am not a teenager anymore. This is also what makes me ask my mom - if that'd be ok if I am dating a white guy, a non Indonesian, not even Asian. And you know what my mother told me, "You know what Rut, I believed that your destiny is somewhere out there. It is already meant for you - it's a matter of time,". I was arguing what's destiny without effort? But, I believe what my mom told me, how he met my father and how until now they are still happily together and stronger and grow day to day in love.

This is just a liitle glimpse of so many reflection that I want to share entering an adult life.

I hope this would be useful for you guys!

With love,

Rut Nastiti

Cephalexin

2011-10-07T06:42:00.005+02:00

I know at some point it is going to happen again, however I was not expecting it happened that fast - two days ago. I was coming back to my room and I was not feeling so well. I knew that it was just a headache. Thirty minutes passed, it was still there. I finally took medicine. I tried to sleep, got a cup of hot tea to drink - it was nihil. I tried to sleep for an hour, then I woke up, it was still there. I struggled for another hour. I called the school clinic, but there was no one working and the mail voice said I had to call 911, I thought it was just way too serious if it has something to do with 911.

Until I called my parents and I told them, I could not bare it anymore. I called my friend too. my parents told me to call my adviser, then my adviser called me back and said he had called the security to bring me to the hospital. And there I was, for the very first time, in a foreign country, stuck in an emergency room without my parents.

That was the most miserable feeling I ever had.

Here I Go Again

2011-09-29T20:26:00.015+02:00

I finally really find a free time when I feel that'd be enough time for me to post a story about my first one month in the USA. I have been pretty busy with exam this week. It's official, I have been here at Wartburg for one month and four days! College has been busy, as usual. I have had one quiz, one essay and two exams until today. I got an article to submit for the school newspaper, but the good news is I finished it last night, and I already wrote all the questions for the guest speaker that we have tomorrow for the CA 100 class. I just need to go to work tonight from 9-10.

Today is really windy, compare to the first days when I arrived here, it was sunny. It was raining two days ago and has been pretty cold in the morning, sometimes it gets warmer at noon.

I have funny stories about my identity. Yesterday night, I told one of my roomates, Amber that I am jonning ASA.
" I am joinning ASA"
"What is that?"
"It's Asian Student Association,"
"Really? Are you Asian?"
"What do you think I am?"
"Indonesian!?"
We were laughing. I told her that Indonesian is also Asian, since we belong to the same continent and share similar culture. My roomate is really sweet and kind, but she might not be really good at Geography (sorry, Amber!). Once she thought Indonesia is somewhere near France. It was just hilarious.

Today at Mensa, one of the international students that I know really well, Patience, from Nigeria thought I was from South Korea. At the beginning of my arrival, some students from African countries thought I were Asian-American or European-like. It's nice to hear about that.

This week has been so fast. I can't believe tomorrow is Friday (again). Weekends here is really simple, not so many things to do; going to Goat on Fridays, watching football game or to Goat on Saturdays or you can just stay at your room watching movies, or napping. That has been my favorite activity so far. Oh, we are planning to go for pizza this Sunday with all the girls on our floor, it is arranged by the RA.

Life here at Wartburg has been going alright. The campus is really beautiful, it is in good-sized. And it's so green and pretty.

The cheeleaders and dancing team during football match. Keep in mind football is football and soccer is umm, football? The building on the left side is my resident.

The required book for all freshmen for IS 101 Class: Asking Question, Making Decision

My first Graphic Novel book, it is not comic.

Hello, It's a freshmen love!

2011-09-11T20:13:00.003+02:00

Hello, it's me
I've thought about us for a long, long time
Maybe I think too much but something's wrong
There's something here that doesn't last too long
Maybe I shouldn't think of you as mine

Seeing you
Or seeing anything as much as I do you
I take for granted that you're always there
I take for granted that you just don't care
Sometimes I can't help seeing all the way through

It's important to me that you know you are free
'Cause I never want to make you change for me

Think of me
You know that I'd be with you if I could
I'll come around to see you once in a while
Or if I ever need a reason to smile
And spend the night if you think I should

ps: It's my first freshmen love, and yeah it's really important for me to know that you're free.

Song and lyrics: Todd Rundgren

Pinky Sunday

2011-07-31T16:24:00.002+02:00

Happy Sunday again! I colored my nails this morning. Love it, was so pretty. Last night we went out to Eastern Promise, a British Pub with some kids from AISEC. There was Emanuelle, from Italy, well a nice 20 minutes practice for my Italian. Haha. Look, how do you like my nails?

Merapi After Eruption

2011-07-26T17:15:00.003+02:00

These are the pictures that I took two weeks ago during our vacation to Jogjakarta. Kali Adem is one of the village that is the closest to the peak. Last October it was completely burnt and devastated. Now it's becoming a "touristic place" if you want to see the peak and the pain.

Next Destination: Blue Indonesia

2011-07-06T13:02:00.016+02:00

It seems quite funny for an Indonesian to say my next destination for traveling is Indonesia (her own country) , I mean most of the people rather to list another country than his/hers. But this actually tickles me that I haven't really been around anywhere here, only some of places like North Sumatera, some parts of Java Island (not even Karimunjawa Island!), North Sulawesi (Manado), and Nusa Tenggara: Bali only. You see, it's nothing compare to the places I have been to in Europe: Italy (Venice, Padova, Mantova, Bologna, Verona, Naples, Sardegna, Rome), Croatia, Barcelona, Germany (Frankfurt, Heidelberg), Switzerland (Zurich, Luzern), The Netherlands (Utrecht, Rotterdam, Amsterdam), Brussels, Paris, ok stop, basta..

Not to blame the geographical structure of Indonesia, an archipelago country and to praise Europe that it's such a very close continent that each country is connected, in the same land, it's just like one Kalimantan (Borneo) Island!

Another thing is that, I list traveling as my hobby when I started to live in Europe, which is two years ago. However, the kind of traveling you''ll enjoy in Europe is a complete different with what they offer in Indonesia. In Indonesia traveling is about nature, sea, tropical forest, gastronomy and the surrounding. Going to a super crowded traditional market, a bit smelly, things you can't find in Europe, but that's the part of your vacation, you can eat from a fine dinning restaurant or savor some snack from food seller who uses a kind of cart to stash all the food. Things like that, you can only find it in Indonesia!

Yesterday, my family has mentioned that we're going to do a road trip, while I am in Indonesia. As usual, my parents just simply put Pacitan a village in East Java as one of the places that we will visit. It a very innocent place, it's not as crowded as Bali, but they have two beaches that is as wonderful as Padang-Padang Beach or Tanah Lot. However, it's not so accessible that you need a car to reach those two beautiful blue lagoon.

I suggested my parents to try new places for a road trip such as Karimunjawa Island in Jepara, but you know most parents just don't want to step out from their comfort zone and they adventurous sense is not even closed to high anymore. Especially my mom, she is just not into taking a 5 hours trip to cross another island. She (and most Indonesian/Jakartan moms) says the weather is not always good, the wave is always high. This was also happened when my friends and I went to Tidung Island last month, our parents were actually worried that somehow we will sink.

You see now, this could be the problem for a young Indonesian to travel, parents. Most young adults 17-24 are still dependent to their family, it is nice to travel with them, but since they are the money maker, you should not complain, some things can be negotiated but not all of them. This is what happens to me sometime, lately I'd rather to go and taste new exotic places with a group of friends. I desperately need to find travelmate who share the same passion. Young people just match each other. For example, once we went to Srau Beach, one of the three most beautiful white sands beach in Pacitan, it was an hour drive, we arrived, and took a look, got some pictures for only 45 minutes and went back to the hotel, I mean if I were with my friends we would have definitely dipped our body into the water. You can't call it a holiday if you haven't dipped your body into water!

I was really fall in love with my own country when I went to Manado, North Sulewesi in 2008. Early in the morning, we sailed to Bunaken National Marine Park, we went (just) snorkeling not so far away from the shore and I was just amazed with the sea animals that they have, colorful starfish, corals, splendid! Bali always makes me fall in love, but everybody just love that island for so many reasons, so magical. But there are way just too many beautiful beaches, sunsets, sunrises, white sands you can find in Indonesia. And this is why, Indonesia is my next destination. Either I will travel Indonesia, when I have traveled the world or after I have graduated from the university, but I absolutely will explore its archipelago, above and under the sea!

Here are some places that I've "missed" out instead traveling Europe...

Klayar Beach, Pacitan, East Java
We are prolly dropping by next week during our road trip

Ocean View Residence is the best place to stay I've browsed so far...

You can swim with the sharks in a semi-natural pool

Karimunjawa Island, Jepara, West Java
I should definitely go there, not this summer tho.

Gili Trawangan
And the the other Gili Islands!! Must must must!

Pink Beach at Komodo Island
Heaven only knows!

Raja Ampat, Papua
Those old tourist just spoiled the beauty, eew!

ps: none of the pictures are mine, credit to photgraphers

Happy Sunday

2011-07-03T07:56:00.003+02:00

We just came back from the church, the family, father, mother and I (yes without my brother, since he is in Singapore having himself a vacation, dang!). Since my brother was not with us (otherwise he will have always asked to go eating after the mass), ask my mom and dad to just go to Gramedia Matraman, the biggest and most complete bookstore in Jakarta, not even Gramedia Grand Indonesia. I was looking for two books that I couldn't find in Gramedia GI, and yes to buy Andien's CD, thought it was just relesead last month but last year, well - since I was in Italy I did not know about that, but the songs are beautiful and very easy-listening but not kind of cheap songs, you know. My favourite songs are Pulang (Come Home) and Keraguan (ummm, Doubts -maybe) here is the lyrics in Indonesian tho..

oh indahnya suasana bila ku tahu siapa namanya
tertunduk malu dia tersenyum simpul
lirik kehadiranku di sana hmmm

ku berharap dia menyapa mengajakku tertawa bersama
menyibak duka di dalam hati ini
menyambut pertemuan dengannya
bilakah terjadi semua angan ini

reff:
ku harapkan ada bayangan diriku mengisi hari-hari
di dalam gerak dan langkahnya walau jarak memisahkan
diriku dengan dirinya ku tak akan peduli
semoga waktu kan berpihak kepadaku

fantasiku kian menjua membawaku melayang ke awan
semesta ada kelelahan menerpa
pas ribut candaku dengannya
biarkan semua seperti adanya

repeat reff

di saat ku ragu akan perhatianmu uuuh

ku harapkan ada bayangan diriku mengisi hari-hari
di dalam gerak dan langkahnya walau jarak memisahkan
diriku dengan dirinya ku tak akan peduli
semoga waktu kan berpihak

di saat ku ragukan adakah bayangan diriku
mengisi hari (di dalam gerak dan langkahnya)
(memisahkan diriku dengan dirinya) ku tak akan peduli
(semoga waktu kan berpihak) huu

(adakah bayangan diriku di dalam gerak dan langkahnya)
walau jarak memisahkan (diriku dengan dirinya) diriku dirinya
(semoga waktu kan berpihak) kepadaku

(adakah bayangan diriku) mengisi hari-hariku
(di dalam gerak dan langkahnya) walau jarak memisahkan
(diriku dengan dirinya) ku tak akan peduli
(semoga waktu kan berpihak) kepadaku

(adakah bayangan diriku)

Behind Pramono Pramoedjo's Exhibition

2011-07-02T11:16:00.012+02:00

Last Thursday (30/06/2011), I was offered by my father to see how an exhibition is prepared (to keep him company in the car and when he is helping his colleague organizing his exhibition). Pramono R Pramodjo is a great cartoonist mostly draws about politics, his name is so much related with Sinar Harapan Afternoon Daily Newspaper.

That was my first time to be involved in a real exhibition in one of the hippest malls in Jakarta, Grand Indonesia. His paintings criticize the immoral behaviors of the government and its auxiliaries. His works, I believe really represent the people's opinions about the country (Indonesia), it can be seen that Pramono uses point of view of the people on his drawings.

I was helping him sorting the paintings into 8 groups, as I remember there are international, corruption (geez, corruption is a title not a sub-title and it has the most drawing overall), domestic,povert and some others. We left the mall at 3 am in the morning, 8 hours before people are coming to the mall again.

The exhibition is held until July 8 2011 at Alun-Alun Grand Indonesia next to Palada Restaurant.

So drop by when you are around Grand Indonesia, take a look and see what is actually happening in our motherland, Indonesia.

The Sea and The Stars

2011-07-01T17:15:00.010+02:00

Sometimes I wish that I were such a great creator to make a real version of my ideas, but I am not that knowledgeable and powerful and omnipotent to make everything I want happens. I lately have a big obsession for nebula and starry skies. It is not something new, I am not a big fan of Physics and astrology (apart from horoscope), but I always love to see the skies at night mostly when we were on vacations (usually somewhere 600 km away from Jakarta, for example: West Java, East Java or Nusa Tenggara) the skies are usually clearer, so we can easily see the stars with the wide eyes. The stars are even more beautiful when we are in the seaside or nearby the beach. I always have a wish-list to sleep on a water-bed mattress (inflatable pool) at night on a beautiful calm beach/sea, well unfortunately beach/sea at night are usually not calm around that time and I don't drive boats. I wish I could swim within the stars...

Pronto

2011-06-27T17:05:00.006+02:00

I took my American Visa today at the RPX office. Since it is written your visa would be ready in 2-7 days, today's the seventh day after I had my interview. I called a friend of mine who had the same interview date and she told me she already had it since five days ago (so it was ready in two days), she got an email from the US Embassy Jakarta while I did not. Another friend of mine also took it in two days.

"I wanna get my visa, but actuallyI haven't got any email saying that it's ready..."
"Yes, it has been here since last Tuesday (5 days ago),"
Apparently it has been issued since June 21. But it's alright as long as I already have my visa with me.

I made this artwork of the visas I have on my Indonesian passport. I didn't have it that many, but only four. My favourite one is definitely the Visto one. I applied for free (while for example the US one costs around 300 bucks), the coolest thing about that Italian visa was I could enter all the Schengen States,

I had the greatest time so far for two years in Europe. All the countries that I visited are just wonderful. It is not the same kind of beauty that we have in Indonesia. Comparing the palaces that Indonesia and the European countries have, I'd say the palaces in Europe are way prettier, the grand architecture and maintenance, I mean one is so European/Renaisaance style while the other is a typical Indonesian architecture. The palaces in Indonesia are more humble, low-key and close to the nature, we don't have so-high-celling palaces and castle is not that common, but we do have forts, during the Dutch colony.

Visto, Visa and Visa (American-English xP) I got my Visa ready, now I just need to get some immunizations shoots. My departure in on August 24, 2009 first to Singapore and will arrive at Waterloo on 25th. Will spend some days earlier before orientation starts on 29th, need some time to adjust with time difference. I still have around 8 weeks at home!

p.s: I have been home for almost three weeks and haven't bought local sim card, people are complaining about that. Yeah, yeah, pals, soon I will ...

Merge and edit using Photoshop CS2

Five Years Time

2011-06-25T19:48:00.005+02:00

We were planning to make "Five Years Time" video by Noah and the Whale, but it didn't quite work. I've introduced the song to my friends few weeks before holiday started. I think the song matches our summer energy, cheerful, fun and intense. Also the five years words describe that our friendship is not a temporary but lifetime. In five years, we will have such a big vacation after I will have graduated - was mentioned to go to Europe (since I will be the last who will graduate in 2015 while the others are in 2014). However at some points Thailand, Lombok, Bangka Island, and Bali (yes this is always mentioned) would be nice too. Hope it will all go well and we can make it work. Five years time..

Oh well,
In 5 years time we could be walking around a zoo
With the sun shining down over me and you
and there’ll be love in the bodies of the elephants turning up
Put my hands over your eyes, but you peek through

And there’ll be,
Sun Sun Sun,
All over our bodies,
and Sun Sun Sun,
All down our necks,
and there’ll be,
Sun Sun Sun,
All over our faces,
and Sun Sun Sun.

So what the heck,
Cuz’ I’ll be laughing at all your silly little jokes,
And we’ll be laughing about how we used to smoke (none of us smokes tho).
All those stupid little cigarettes and drink stupid wine,
Cuz’ it was what we needed to have a good time.

And it was,
Fun Fun Fun
When we were drinking
It was,
Fun Fun Fun
When we were drunk
And it was,
Fun Fun Fun
When we were laughing,
It was,
Fun Fun Fun,
Oh it was fun.

Oh well I look at you and say it’s the happiest I have ever been
and I’ll say I feel I no longer have to be James Dean,
and She’ll say,
Oh yeah, Well I feel pretty happy too,
And I’m always pretty happy when I’m just kicking back with you.

and it will be
Love Love Love
All through our bodies
Love Love Love
All through our minds
and it’d be
Love love Love
All over her face
and Love Love Love
All over mine.

And in the oddest moments and just scratching my head
I’ll be thinking about families n’ lying in bed
Even though I believe it may not even come true
But in my mind I’m having a pretty good time with you.

Oh, Five years time
I might not know you,
In Five Years Time
We might not speak at all and
In Five Years Time
We might not get along
In Five Years Time
You might just prove me wrong.

Oh there’ll be,
Love Love Love
Where ever you go, There’ll be
Love Love Love
Where ever you go, There’ll be
Love Love Love
Where ever you go, There’ll be
Love Love Love
Where ever you go, There’ll be
Love Love Love
Where ever you go, There’ll be
Love Love Love
Where ever you go, There’ll be
Love Love Love
Where ever you go, There’ll be
Love Love Love
Where ever you go, There’ll be
Love

Summer Updates 2011: Welcome to Tidung Island

2011-06-19T16:30:00.010+02:00

My hoilday so far has been so good, despite the fact that I have been just staying at home these two days, I haven't really had a big going out after my last quite big vacation to Tidung Island, part of Jakarta's Thousand Islands.

From Thursday to Friday, this early weekend was packed.

Lucerne and Harem Pants

2011-06-19T16:13:00.004+02:00

The pants is one of my favorites. I got the photos from Jesse, a friend whom I got a chance to meet when I was in Switzerland, she visited me once too in Duino. The harem pants is so overused, you must have seen that pants for several times in this blog, un petit dinner and Paris. It's my favorite anyhow!

Un Petit Dinner

2011-06-17T23:47:00.004+02:00

June 15, after waiting for the last arrivals from Bandung which are Lola and Githa's, a city 2 hours from Jakarta, we finally had a meet up - a dinner. We planned to eat at Loewe, apparently we were 12 lines waitlisted. Without thinking any longer, we moved to Penang Bistro, Singaporean/Malaysian foods, while Loewe is more like European.

As usual, we spent the hours talking, laughing, taking picture, flashbacking to highschool and yes, eating. High shcool is always my be my favorite time of life, and what makes it more special is having the best friends of your life!

Pretty complete (from left to right) Githa, Andri, Lola, Tia, Me, Audrey, Lintang was taking the picture.

Lintang is now in the picture. The drescode was high heels by the way. Tia was not wearing heels because she had a small surgery several days ago, she's tall anyway.

Polaroids!

Seven oh Seven

J'adore Paris

2011-06-13T20:33:00.011+02:00

Paris was beautiful. The museums are great. I went to d'Orsay, l'Orangerie and Petit Palais. The collections are such eye-spenders!

It was a long journey to be in Paris. Train from Zurich to Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg airport to Amsterdam Schipol, another train to Utrecht and an 8 hours bus the next day to Paris. Paris supposed to be the city that I should take photography picture the most, but it didn't. The city is very beautiful indeed, but it;s a kind of beauty that one has to enjoy not capture it with feeling and true eyes not a camera lens. Seriously. Compare to Rome, Parisian beauty and architecture is more chic and classy, while Rome is more extravagant and bold. Eiffel tower is the main tourism or spot of the city for sure. I jus got a picture, a proper picture at the Eiffel Tower at the third day when I was hanging out with Esther from France and Ushma from Nepal, friends from the college.

Switzerland, What a Wonderful World!

2011-06-13T17:10:00.014+02:00

This is an assortment of photos from the first country that I visited after my graduation, Switzerland. I just edited them last night, as the result of jet lag - I barely couldn't sleep, ended up editing them. I stayed with my great aunt, Oma Lydia, she is the my gran's youngest sister. She has lived in Zurich for 35 years, bankers, workaholic. She is a Swiss by the way (I wish I were)

The area of her house is so called Gold Coast, it has a German or Swiss German name of it, but I can't remember, something like... Let me google it.. I couldn't find it but nearby Kusnacht and Meilan, Zurich. I had the greatest time of my time in Zurich. Very relaxing.

The view from her balcony was just daring, illusive. Just to sit there talking with her, drinking a glass of red wine was a great pleasure. We did that almost every night.

I spent 6 days 5 night Zurich from May 25-30 . First had dinner with Oma and Om Marlon (his son, my uncle), second day went to the Zurich City, third day day met my friend Jesse in Luzern (it's a fairytail-like city, so beautiful), eventhough it was raining, fourth day hang out Augustin a first year from Switzerland who lives in Winterthour (apparently he had a birthday on 27th, he did invite me to celebrate his birthday because they were having a small concert, but I was out of reach) and we had lunch with her granny, delicious food, chicken mushroom, the fifth day I was having quality time with my gran, we went to a lakeside restaurant - I finally swam in the very clean Zurich lake and the next day in the morning I left Zurich.

I had the greatest time in Switzerland. Spending time with my gran, my friends, and the cities. The fact that the country is very tidy, organized, and its beauty is so picturesque and charming. The people are friendly too - they are polite, they speak really good English. Everywhere is so swanky and elegant.

You know that before I was driven crazy by Italy, I have been neutralized. I would still love to live in Italy kind of, however I am thinking about the Italian/French part of Switzerland, since I would take French(again) in the university, it's however Switzerland! Switzerland, I am all yours!!

Waiting for the grill to be ready - first day dinner

The view from the balcony

Some boats on the Zurich Lake, Zurich city

Luzern, the fairytale-like city

It was raining, oh

The Luzern lake

A feris wheel in Zurich in the afternoon

Augustin and his mummuPhotobooth

What an afternoon

Zurich lake swimming time!!

The so called romantic view at night

Unforgettably beautiful view

High School Accomplished!

2011-06-12T20:16:00.003+02:00

Hello I am posting this from home! I am back since two days ago. The trip went well with one huge and two medium suitcases. The suitcases have been accumulated, supposedly only carried two but the other one was a bonus from my Europe Vacation - if you know what I meant.

So after the gradution which was on May 24, the day I flew to Zurich, Switzerland, visiting my great aunt, Oma Lydia - continued to Paris and Amsterdam (it took me to many places to visit them).

The trip was a graduation gift kind of from my parents. After all, 4 years in high school, two years in SMA Santa Ursula and another two years in United World College of Adriatic - I graduated!

I can't wait to be in university! Wartburg College in Iowa!
Here are some pictures from graduation!

The Madrigal Choir opened the Closing Ceremony. Last time to sing all together with also Stefano, il maestro.

Our super patient and lovely and funny Mathematics teacher, Julius Krajnak (read: Yulius)

Chicas! Some of my favorite people in the college!

Me and my bestfriend. We finally spoke up (instead of made up, we never really broke up we just didn't talk for a while hahaha)

Mike Price's tutorial group, all second years: Marko, Rafaela, me and Alex Mair.

Crush

2011-05-17T15:03:00.005+02:00

This photo was taken by Vladimir. I used it for so long as my BlackBerry's display picture -I just like the expression of "what so ever" over there, and it was candid.

Call me a little kid
I have so man crushes
This year even more, life just brought me to another direction
Loving someone ain't fun
"We'll see each other" ain't enough
It was not a yes, obviously not
Neither a no - hold

Today,
Ceteris paribus moment, I got a chance to look back
Just to see my crush
Turned m head to the back, left side
I won't tell, I love to play a secret
Keep it a mystery

Crush
It's not an intense love
Butterflies. Giggles.
Those are enough.

Rut Nastiti

Like A Bird

2011-05-17T00:11:00.008+02:00

Group of birds flying in Duino.

Rome, Villa Borghesse, I won't erase its beauty but you.

I hate to wait you in anxiety and hopefulness. When you understand and realise, it's too little too late. I don't wait, I fly. I am free.

There are still so many free birds out there whose feathers are better than yours
Whose wings are strongers than yours, who can fly higher than you, whose heart are more humble than yours.

I am like a bird, you have to catch me, put me in a cage - or you would not have me, forever.

This is a goodbye. I will let the few memories of you fly. I would never go down to
the land, and to you. I hope you wont regret, because I don't. See you in the other sky.

Rut Nastiti

Keep Calm

2011-04-20T13:50:00.004+02:00

This poster is the output of my creativity last night which is equally a distraction of my studying program, KEEP CALM! It is only 12 days to my first subject of IB exam which is Philosophy. I am looking forward to do the philosophical papers than any subjects I have here, Math scares the "hello" out of me, Biology is a lot of memorizing and Economics; will have an intense relationship with diagrams.

But there is no reason to panic. Panicking will just make things worse. It is always going to be fine - at the very end. For me, I have no better options since I haven't really started a serios revision, need to catch up over the long weekend and study week tho.

If I compare to the National Exam that all my friends had last year, they were prepared and guided with intense exercises for three months, but here specifically a week, or plus some weeks after Project Week. But my philosophy is the process is also considerably important, it's better to learn that to study. You see the different?

So, everybody ready for IB exam? KEEP CALM!

Mi Mancherà

2011-04-20T00:37:00.008+02:00

Sono stato selezionato le foto che stanno per essere inviati per il concorso fotografico che si svolgedal collegio per tutti gli studenti di fotografia. Succede a inviare tutte le foto che ho fatto in questopaese, l'Italia, di recente da gennaio ad aprile di quest'anno.

Quando stavo passando tutti i miei file, ho avuto questa sensazione improvvisa che ho intenzione di perdere questo paese così tanto, più di quanto mi manca la scuola, il fatto che la scuola stessala sua speciale a causa della sua posizione, come ho detto in particolare, la scuola è la porta per godere di questo paese. La sensazione e la sensazione di essere uno studente di IB è in gran partela stessa in tutte le scuole IB, ma come il risultato del movimento UWC che è stato posto in Italiarende tutto completamente diverso.

E 'tutto volge al termine. Domani è il secondo anno la cena con gli insegnanti. Giovedi è l'ultimo giorno di scuola - io sono così fortunati, una giornata intera come jackpot, vorrei godere di tutte le mie classi scorso: l'ultima classe di filosofia, l'ultima classe di italiano, l'ultima della classe Math (l'esame è già spaventato l'inferno da me), ultimo Classe di inglese e l'ultimo della classeeconomica. Dovrei essere felice? Oppure dovrei essere triste? Boh.

Oh, bene, Italia!
Lei mi ha scosso tutti gli anni!
Thanks to Google Traduttore xo

I was selecting photos that are going to be sent for the photo competition that is held by the college for all the photography students. Happens to send all photos I took in this country, Italy, recently from January to April this year.

When I was going through all my files, I got this sudden feeling that I am going to miss this country so much, more than I miss the school, the fact the school itself its special because of its location as I mainly said, the school is the gate to enjoy this country. The feeling and sensation of being an IB student is mostly the same in all IB schools, but as the result of the UWC Movement that was placed in Italy makes everything completely different.

It is all coming to an end. Tomorrow is second years dinner with the teachers. Thursday is the last day of school - I am so lucky, full day as jackpot, I should enjoy all my last classes: last Philosophy class, last Italian class, last Math class (the exam is already scared the hell out me), last English class and last Economic class. Should I be happy? Or should I be sad? Boh.

Oh, well, Italy!
You have shook me all the years!

The beauty of the Nord, the region where I live, Friuli Venezia Giulia.

The amusement from the south, Colosseo. This picture was taken by an American teenage tourist who didn't really get it when I told her my auto focus was broken.

Pretty in White

2011-04-18T18:10:00.006+02:00

I just did a quick photo-id which ended up as a quick photo-shoot. Basically I was helping my friend in the college to make her ID. She is a wonderful girl, got into Yale. I worked with her too last year, with my other friend, Anya, to be the models for my portfolio, that I sent for my Art Supplement. The setting was in Porto.

I was trying to direct her in so many ways. It is actually one of the cool thing of being a photographer you style your model and communicate with them, on poses you want them to do.

This photo session was super simple. We didn't even use the studio-light since it is not working, we also found it difficult to avoid the shadow cause by the sun, but with a little bit touch of Photoshop it was managed.

This photo above was inspired by MaxMara or Max&Co ads that I saw in Bologna. The photographer tries to impose a technique that he takes the picture from above, therefore the face is exposed.

This is my favorite pose of all the idea is to make her put her hands up, however I asked her to make a curve and therefore it looks extremely girly.

I am planning to make one more planned photosession with a super stylish clothes after the IB exam, something really Italian, something really shows this location, Duino. Let's first deal with the IB exam, shall I? Yes.

Let's Get it Started! UWCAD LIPDUB!

2011-04-11T17:22:00.002+02:00

This is a super awesome video that involved (mostly) all members of UWCAD community. We lip-dubbed Let's Get it Started's Black Eyed Peas! It was vibrant how in a sunny 2pm day, people gathered in fore lawn to make this lip-dub happened. And none of them really complained even tho we had to repeat it three times! The setting was all in our lovey-dovey Italian village, Duino; from Porto up to Fore Lawn nearby Rilke Path! Way to go all UWCAD-ers!!

(Not) Another Friday

2011-04-08T15:52:00.008+02:00

I am planning of having an afternoon tea session while reading this newspaper, thing that I used to do at home

The printed version of my first profesional article in The Jakarta Post just arrived - ten days ago I remember my father posted a photo in our family group written "Two copies of JPs have been sent to UWCAd, will arrive in 10 days". And it arrived. It arrived actually on 6th, two days ago, but since I have been ill I didn't go out anywhere but staying in my room.

Dad sent me two copies of the posts. Right after I got it I texted him back basically asking how many copies my parents have back home, because I just gave a copy to my Photography teacher, Max, in case they don't have any left - I will keep the other one, because I really want to frame it. And know what my father said "Papa sudah frame, baru tadi ada tukang frame lewat di kantor (Dad has framed it, apparently there was just a frame-maker passing in front of my office." What a coincidence, no matter how far we are, as father and daughter we always have this kind of connection.

I have seen the online version, the PDF version but not the printed one. Indeed, there is this natural satisfaction of seeing the first professional writing that I produced. And it's huge, 2/3 of the first front Page of the Section 3 is my article and the photos I took. I am so happy for myself. This is just the beginning!

p.s: Gotta prepare for my Indonesian oral!

yours,
Rut

I Miss Home

2011-04-04T22:23:00.005+02:00

One of the consequences that I have to risk when I decided to come to UWC is to be away from home. Home does not only mean family, which is the most important part of its definition.

The city, Jakarta itself, everything in it: my friends, the entertainment facilities that it has, its environment: skyscrapers, cars, highway, houses - the people. It is chaotic yes, ask everybody who lives in a Megapolitan city they feel the same. But the city always knows how to win your heart, with the good and the bad it has. The bad even can make you laugh.

Traffic jam is just like having breakfast or lunch, it's a part of your life, you have to face it. Just like complaining when you eat something that doesn't taste so salty, at the end you have no options, just put the salt and continue eating.

I feel like posting this, because even-tough my ticket to Zurich has been booked (well basically my parents asked me to enjoy my own time and travel Europe) to visit my great-grandma - in the same time I would really love to be back home as soon as possible, knowing that I would love to share all the disappointments that I experienced here for the last 3 months from the college life, the happiness of finishing the IB course and the joy that I survive UWC. I would like to hug my mom, sleeping next to her telling stories, play around with my dad and my brother.

And in August I have to start a new life in the USA, more and more hundred-thousands miles away from Jakarta, from home, from mommy, daddy and Steve.

Jakarta, I hate to have this on-off relationship with you.

See you on 10th of June, unless I didn't shorten my Euro trip!

I will enjoy your night-light! And sunny-day!

April Fool's Day

2011-04-02T00:47:00.009+02:00

Annemarie tested the secret recipe of Prashant Coke

Colors

Cheers for Prashant Coke (left-right: Prashant, Pabel, Ravuth, Timmah, Emma and Zsolt)

The Young Economists and the teacher, Annemarie

The Jackpots!

Nobody's really being fooled, beside the article that I found that Vatican insists: Vatican Insists: David Must Wear Fig Leaf! Today has been full of fun. Opened with Mathematics class, waking up 10 minutes from class, arrived in class pretty early, thanks for my super-forward clock. And the fun begun. Second block was Economics, we had the class in Annemarie's house, our teacher. We made Prahsant Cola, and tested the recipe from our Chemists: Milos and Angus. Very interesting, feels like we are the real Economist. And Italian was very interesting, we learnt imperativo and how to write letters. Just found out that amore mio is always maschile, there is no such amore mia!

We had residence photo during the break - PLES Girl! The idea was cute, all of in our bathing clothes, holding shampoo, soaps and tooth pastes and brushes. Then I had free block, managed to send email to my great grandma who lives in Zurich, she invited me to visit her there right after closing ceremony. I also plan to visit Amsterdam, and Paris! Oui, oui..

Last block was Philosophy - we watched the King's Speech! Still related to the syllabus tho - the linguistic of philosophy. Right after the class finished, I rushed to the bus stop - I had planned to buy some clothes that were one sale. I was lucky tho, found out it was the last day. The shopkeeper said"Bene per andare oggi, perche domani tutto prendano via". You see, this is what I believe, I think I have this radar sixth-sense on sales and shopping.

I slept for like 3 hours after madrigal choir and photograpy - Friday is the fullest day for me. In the afternoon we practiced for the Saman Dance.

Today has been wonderful!
Nobody's fooled!

Abbracio grande,
Rut

First of April

2011-03-31T23:51:00.009+02:00

23:51 - nine minutes to April
Is it a yes?
April will move forward, it won't tolerate procrastination!
Thirty days, four days, the two years in a lifetime exam!
Be ready!

March is over. One of the most heart beating month, getting notifications from university. All of my university decisions are completed today. The result is: one acceptance, three waiting list and three rejections. Let's not talk about it. Whatever happens to me is the best decision, I believe everything happens for a reason, and there is always a lesson to learn. I'm still hoping for the best, through all the process and this fall: university life decision.

I am really happy today, I got an email that my article that was published in The Jakarta Post two weeks ago is going to be paid. The staff sent me a message asking my bank's account. This is the third salary in my life for the nineteen years. I remember the first one was from playing as a figuran in a movie Janji Joni, the second was the honor of working in The Central Bank of Indonesia and this one the third one is the highest of all - from writing. I really enjoyed writing and taking pictures.

I remember my first salary was only enough to buy a portion of noodle in Crystal Jade and the second one is two portions, very low. But this one, I think I can buy a new simple lense for my camera that has a better quality of noise removal and ISO. Woo-hoo!

Daddy told me "So keep on writing to earn your own money". I don't actually expect to be paid, the fact that I am a "newbie", and not even certificated from a journalism course or anything. But it is indeed a pleasure to be paid, obviously it will encourage me to write more and improve the quality of my writing.

The making of our photography page for yearbook.

My new lovely tiny cutey corner

Wardrobe

Studying corner. I finally managed to pet the birds flying all around my desk.

Palazzo Te

2011-03-28T22:33:00.007+02:00

Does anyone of you remember that this blog at some point was meant as a fashion blog, lately its fashion label has not functioned properly far I mostly post stories about me and my camera, call it more a Photography blog. And here people are not that into camera, unlike back home, me and my friends just now whatever occasions we have, dressing up is really important and if one brings camera we should take picture like crazy in a day - usually must be more than 200 photos. Call us crazy. In Duino, it just feels award to ask someone taking a picture of myself moreover if the person does not really know what kind of picture that I want and afterward I am going to put it to my blog - in the same time using tripod is way too narcissist.

These are the pictures from Mantova taken by my prima from Latvia, Ludmila. I assume she knows that I love to be in the picture where I can pose like whatever I want to. And voila, here are the photos.

p.s: I remember one of my boyfriend criteria is "takes candid pictures of me or
good at photography".

what I wear: Terranova coat, checked scarf, SATCAS asymmetric top, black tights, Pink Batik bag, Black flower ring and Salamander Oxford Shoes.

Officially A Ples Girl

2011-03-25T21:06:00.012+01:00

Hello, this is my first post from my new residence. PLES!
It is great to be here, I have a privilege on having wi-fi access to my room.
It's Friday night yes - could have been enjoying wine in Osmizza right now, ever since we are having a Third Year Reunion, many of my second years are here. Unfortunately, I just woke up at 8pm today, skipped Mensa (woops, Mensa is not two minutes away from my room anymore) - at the end ended up decorating my wardrobe. Since it's a new room - I am always excited to decorate it.

My new room ain't that big it's half of my previous room, I don't care. The most important thing is I escaped from the un-mutual respects in the room. It took me less than thirty minutes to talk to the Headmaster and it was approved. He also thought it was the best solution for me. The fact that I was the only person who tried to put effort respecting the members of the room and the agreement was not enough for the other parties to change the improper behavior and acts.

But, I am here. I am happy - after almost 4 months struggling with people who are just too ignorant! Geez, it took the most attention and focus of my life here in the college - thanks God it's over now. I love my new room. I think my roomate is lovely too. Her name is Piyari, from Pakistan. We already knew each other from Sailing. She is lovely, has so many friends. The fact that she has so many friends is enough for me to know that she is a good person, and she is. She is a really caring and empathy person.

I can schedule my life properly from now on. The other cool thing about this residence is; two of my HL subjects are down by my room - two minutes away!! I just need to sacrifice Mensa, but it's good tho, who knows I am going to loose weight, since summer is coming!

I will give more details about the new room. I would like to say that through all this terrible situation that is put on me, I have wonderful people around me. My parents (I am so grateful I was meant to be their daughter), they always morally support me with wise words, courageous advices, teaching to forgive people, moving forward, they are just awesome. My friends from High School - they also mean a lot to me. In the down-est part of my life, I could still laugh, the conversation that we had in our BlackBerry group, their jokes. I love them too!

And I think life just loves me. After getting a publication for my Venice article, this afternoon, after waking up I found out there were balls of egg chocolate underneath my feet with a letter from my IB friend. The person also noticed that I have been moving to Ples. Gotta answer the letter soon! I love my IB friend.

Enough for me. I am happy, happy now. I am just really tired after moving back and forth to carry all my stuffs. Thanks for the help of Christian, Ravuth and Shanon, in less than 2 hours all my belongings had been moved away and it only took me 5 hours to settle in.

Today was so bright too. After classes with Biology Extension on Heart Dissection (very interesting - I touched ventricles, pulmonary, dense blood), Madrigal Choir, Photography class, I went out for Gelato with Ilana. She is my roommate last year, now she is my neighbor.

Well, after this either continue decorating my room or just go to bed, because I am not feeling fit.
After all!! I had a nice day!!

xoxo,
Rut

My previous horrible nightmare room

Current room, small but lovely and warm

I managed placing everything in order last night

The heart dissection experiment that we did today

The sweet little surprise from my IB friend.

My dinner, oh doddly noodles, it made my day!

Mom's current BBM status. I am missing them too. Much. Two months away!

Mens Sana in Corpore Sano 2011

2011-03-20T22:08:00.008+01:00

Shama and Prashant, Shama's Team won.

Prashant in action

In dodge ball, you have to start like this.

Victor fell for several time during dodge ball.

Grab the ball, grab the ball!

Rope jumping!

Volley ball players

At the end, they are the champion

Italians in action

Life in the college has been really colorful this period, the spring spirit festivise everything. After trial exam, Project Week, Amnesty Open Mike, Prom with the Blues Brothers and just today we had a Sport Festival. Thao from Vietnam is the concept-maker or quipper.I remember her first mass email regarding this mentioned how in Asian Schools we have this kind of sport festival usually after exam ends.

Started at 9.30 with Duino run – followed with so many activities until 5pm. There were badminton, ping-pong, soccer, dodgeball, American football, tug-of-war,rope-jumpimg, three-legged run (so typical Asian games), volleyball and basketball – closing by Award Ceremony in Auditorium.

The festival had brought the togetherness feeling of the college again. Many students participated, only few caught in day room or library – I heard there would be a HL Biology test on Monday? In general it is true that IB is demanding, however tho this kind of activity is I think the part of our UWCness, which also intersect with the CAS requirement.

I should have played badminton, but I woke up late – since I only had a little bit energy after Mantova Cultural Visit. Also supposed to play Basketball (a sport that I have been vacuumed for two years – because again, I fell asleep), also the fact we were missing members of team.

Congratulations for all the champions! And also my Vietnamese prima, Thao and her organiser members! Some suggestion, I think next time there would be a good sound system that’ll play cool music to boost up the crowd and doing it by class or block will be better organized!

Mantova

2011-03-20T00:25:00.016+01:00

Mantova is a city in Lombardia, three hours by bus from Duino. We went this morning, leaving from Piazza at 6.45. Arriving at 10am, we first headed to the main Piazza delle Erbe, the Piazza was really big, It is surrounded by the Palazzo Ducale, a white church (that I have no idea what's called), some old buildings and cafes.

Then we headed to Chiesa di Sant'Andrea, it is a really sophisticated church that has a Dome. Believed that the blood from the Christ crucifixion buried on the ground and ritually each Good Friday it always comes up to the surface. The church is grand, the painting are so impressive, Henry Thomas said "It's an intensive labour-skill". Those great paintings were drawn by hands, covering all the walls and ceilings of the church. Great God!

After being there for about 45 minutes, we visited the Palazzo Ducale. It is a place where the Gonzaga family used to live. It has 500 rooms, could contain forty-five hundred people. I asked Henry he said it was a 200 years reconstrcution since the 12AD. Somehow, the Palazzo has been a bit transformed modern, and was by chance there was a contemporary arts showcase, so the urban and classical atmosphere were blended.

There was a room that has painting of the Gonzaga's horses on the wall. Gonzaga horses were famous! The pictures don't show complete parts of their body, because it was covered by curtain, everything was so flirtatious, sexy. There is also a room whose ceiling has a picture of the Gonzaga family having a direct communication to God. Very impressive! Henry said the Palazzo is the Mantova's Colosseum. For sure all the paintings are the most expensive possession in the world. Oh, I (the daughter), Roberto (the father) and Jeanne-Marie (the wife) pretended that we were one of the Gonzagas, walking down the stairs graciously, waving our hands elegantly. I mean, the Gonzaga used to step onto those floors.

Palazzo Te is a Frederico II gateway from his horrible life in Palazzo Ducale, and it was also a place where he tried to runaway with a girl Isabele Bosso (a beauty symbol that time). That girl apparently had the same name with his mother's Isabelle Deste, and therefore there was this mother-son conflict about future wife. Isabelle Deste was one of the most inteligent woman on her period.

Inside it was just so beautiful. There was a room that has a complete story of Venus and her love story. Nudity was all around, but Henry really explained it in a very instinctive, desirable and rational way of thinking - we really understood the meaning of everything.

Then we had a free time, I and Djana, my friend from Bosnia went out for pizzas and sat around Piazza Le Donne. Afterward, we headed to Palazzo Te. It was huge, it has this beautiful garden. That day there was a Lunar Park taken place on the east part of the castle, there was also a little football stadium. I went take a look, it was a blast, the Lunar Park I mean.

Mantova was beautiful. The more beautiful part is actually having Henry Thomas to elaborate every single details of it. I am going to miss it a lot next year!

Henry's famous fingers and the curious UWC Student

The white church that I mentioned before

Ludmila, my Latvian prima

Me, taken by Ludmila

Pabel (Peru) and Blanca (Spain)Victor (Catalonia)

The Great dome of Sant'Andrea

Frenchy brand and Mantovan bikes

Me in front of Palazzo Te

Lovebirds, Clara (Belgium) and Pablo (Mexico), garden of Palazzo te

Hot Fritelle is my favourite

The Lunar Park, and a couple ;/

Italia : Campioni del Mondo, e gusto?

UWC students.

Venice Carnival 2011 is Published!

2011-03-19T04:20:00.022+01:00

THE JAKARTA POST
Venice Carnival: A tribute to women
Ruth Setio Nastiti, Contributor, Venice, Italy
(click here to see online version)

This weekend has been really fabulous. After a great prom last night, finally at around 2 in the morning my mother post a photo into Mama&Papa group written "Congratulation My Daughter as a Jakarta Post Contributor from Venice/Italy" - which officialy marked that my article has been published in the Jakarta Post, Sunday's edition, here is the link of the online version. I am really happy. Ever since the first time I wrote it and getting some messages on how the article is going to be proceeed and the feeling of waiting whether the article is going to be published ot not give me this kind of sensation. I really took it as a big deal, it has something to do with my future career, a journalist, or writer. Most importantly this is my first English article and immediately qualified to be put in the nation's largest English-language newspaper in Indonesia!! The targets are expatriates and Indonesians who work in English environment working place in general.

Two years ago, before coming to the college, we subscribed to the Jakarta Post, because my father thinks it is really important for me to read English newspaper to get used with English reading, and it was also useful to support my activity in English debating - when I was in high school. I always want to write an article about Italy (this country is very beautiful - you know beautiful things need to be shared), ever since I have been to so many cities here for example Naples, Sardegna, Padova, Rome, Mantova Venice and some European countries (Germany, Spain, Croatia - should really go to Slovenia tho) in general regarding my whole experience as scholar, however tho I never really managed and had time to do so. My father always encourages me, once after coming back from Project Week in Naples, or any places I have been to.

This time was just so right, Venice Carnival was a real celebration of the Italian beauty, also the fact that this year Italy celebrates the 150 years of unification, which also talked in the article (and I did not go last year). Moreover since I was given a camera by my parents as Birthday and Christmas gift and started using it properly or seriously last year after the Naples Project Week. Oh, the Chief Editor of the Jakarta Post once texted my father basically said, it was not a waste to give me the camera, because the pictures were just great, the editors love them. He also said "Well done to your daughter, she deserved it." Nothing can make me happier than hearing a press-elite in country said such things. This kind of details give me confidence and the willingness to take on more challenges for my future.

I was also offered to write a story, still in the same newspaper but different section, in Youthspeak - about my journey and experience here as a scholar, and also next Fall in the United States, however it is still discussed by the editors! It is a really good grip - a way to express my hobby and train my journalistic skill.

These weeks I have been so happy. A Sardinian Project week, a Roman vacation, a new crush, a prom, a publication, a cultural visit to Mantova and tomorrow a Sport Festival! I am so grateful and thankful. My life is beautiful and it is always good!

Yours sincerly,
Nastiti

This how it looks like in the paper. This was posted by my mother in our family Blackberry's group :) You see the article on the right-side? It is an article about the Unification of Italy in Rome from a Reuters journalist, somehow feel proud that my article is put next to it, I mean he is a professional!

Posted by daddy. I sent 4 photos to them ( I have 36 great pictures from 600 something). They put the four of them finally!

This is how the online version look. I prefer the printed one tho. It's classy.

One Day

2011-03-18T13:21:00.008+01:00

"After spending the night together on the night of their college graduation Dexter and Em are revisited each year on the same date to see where they are in their lives. They are sometimes together, sometimes not, on that day..." IMDB

I found out this movie from my friend's blog, Andri Putri: she put it there. The cover was really interesting but what attracted me the most is the actors; Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess - they are one of my favourites. The plot also sounds really romantic, two school-buddies meet each other after being separated. I can guess at the end they realize they have feeling for each others. Easily guessed, just like fairytale - call me fairytale-believer! It is going to be published on July 8th, which means around the summer holiday, good - I would watch it with my bestfriends or hoping this summer there would be a new (summer) fling. Lately, I haven't watched many movies, too many works to do, deadlines to catch. I think March is the fullest month, in April I would have less work, just revision and get ready for IB Exam in May. I cannot hardly wait for IB Exam - afterward I will be home, preparing for a new beginning, freshmen year! But absolutely, this movie is already on my Summer List 2011!!

xoxo,
Rut Nastiti

The cover

A kiss on one's back, my preference ♥

Cocktails

We stayed up till night talked about nonsense

Ayo Dance, You Are in Sardegna!

2011-03-17T19:12:00.015+01:00

I should have been doing my Biology Lab Report right now - since the deadline is tomorrow. It's important indeed, but sometimes there are less important things that will make you happier - I decided to post an article about our Project Week in Sardegna.

I can consider myself lucky when it comes to Project Week. Last year I went to Naples, it was my first choice. We worked a lot yet visited so many cultural places. This year I was almost unlucky. Not getting any of my four preferences, at the end chose a PW that was canceled because of an external problem and got in Sardegna - I think it was my 6th choice at the end.

Project Week is not always about the place where you go, but the content - the activities of the Project. Personally, I am always attracted to a Project that is going to do something with arts and kids. Sardinian Project Week with Carla Monni (because there was another one with Roberto), really made my week.

Friday, March 5
We left the college at 11.30 catched a train to Treviso, it was three hours train. The flight was at 15.00. We arrived in Alghero around 16.00. Picked up by Carla's father and aunts. The trip from Alghero to Carla's village was long. About two hours. But the view was beautiful. It was so green; mountains and they have lots of sheep everywhere. Arrived in Carla's house, we chilled out from some hour, had lunch and practicing. We practiced our dances; Bolywood, Polka, Blues Brother also Italian Drama and Siyahamba. The coolest thing is that we got to learn Sardinian dance, taught by Carla's family, her aunt, mother, father, uncles. The living room turned out to be a place to dance.

Saturday, March 6
Eventough it was Saturday, we had to get up early at 7, since we are visiting two different school location. One location was for Elementary School and Middle school the other location was a kindergarten. We taught English, played English game with them - for sure introduced who we were, where we came from. Many students thought I was Japanese! With the kindergarten kids we played the jungle games. They had fun with us. They are so cute, around 1-4 years old. We also perfomed a show that consisted of all the dances that we have in the college. Cup dance attracted many audiences, they asked us to teach them how to do it. In the night, we went to La Sala - a party before the Carnival, held in a common building. It was great, people danced in masks, even somehow it turned to be really random since they just did what they wanted to do. But we had fun.

Sunday, March 7
It was the only day when we could really had a good sleep. Waking up at 12am and had lunch, practicing and going out to join the Carnival! It was a blast. The fact that Orune is such a small village with 5.000 people that makes everybody knows each other really well. The people that we met in the Carnival are the people we met in Sala. Everybody knows each other basically. The Carnival was a blast, it went around the village. There were 4 major booths carried by trucks. There were Simpsons, Mickey, car ganks and I forgot the other one. But it was just amazing. People were very welcomed to us as visitors. They offered free salami, wine. We danced. There was many songs and musics: our favorite was Il Capitano. For so many times the Sardinian dance was done. The Carnival finished around 7pm. We went back to Carla's house, had dinner and practicing!

Monday, March 8
We had to wake up at 6 because we had to catch the bus that will bring us to Oliena, Maria Salis' village - since there are only three orario everyday. We reached Oliena early in the morning, looked around the city. We visited MAN (Museo dell'Arte Nuova), apparently since it was Monday it was close, but after talking with the keeper, magically we were allowed to enter without a need to pay however weren't allowed to take picture. The museum was amazing. That time they were showing Aborigin arts. It was wonderful. One of the prettiest artworks I have ever seen in my life. Around lunch time, we headed to the village part of Oliena and worked helping a Caritas to move out tons of foods from a container. We had lunch with them. After lunch we went back Nuoro, this time to Carla's grandmother's house, because we were having another show somewhere near there. Once managed to visit a church, saw a choir practicing. And went back to Carla's grandma's place had dinner and did some other new Sardinian dances.

Tuesday, March 9
We woke up at 6.45 to catch the first bus to Nuoro, not that we missed it but unfortunately there was no bus that really went there somehow. So we waited in Piazza until Carla's family members picked us and brought us to first Carla's grandma's place then we walked to a Casa Famiglia house. It was such a deep experience to do activities with people with disabilities. One cannot see, one cannot see and hear, one is just too old and out of his mind, one cannot see and you can only communicated through his palms. We did a lot. We first played the jungle games, then we made a stories togehter. It was funny, about a prince who was looking for love and somehow realized his princess was a guy or something. We also perfomed Bolywood dance and asked them to dance with us. They were really happy. They smiled a lot, they laughed. It made us happy too. We also performed for the last time. We went back to Carla's house had pizza together, had a talk till late night knowing that it was our last night in Sardegna. I felt sad, because I had been having a great time. Precious.

Wednesday, March 10
Sayonara, Orune. We took the earliest bus at 5.30 that will bring us to Oliena. We waited for an hour for the bus that will bring us to Sassari. Arrived in Sassari we still had one and half hours before catching the bus that brought us back to Alghero. We kind of walked around and had breakfast. Visited a church, apparently has two Sardi fathers who had lived in Sumatera and speak Indonesians, man it was random. However, I didn't manage to meet them since we had a bus to catch. So, we took the bus to Alghero, around 1pm I flew to Rome, some other students went back to Treviso. And Rome has another batti cuore story to tell! Which I am going to share latter.

For me Sardinian Project Week was memorable. We learned, we gained yet we gave. It was just so cool, I think we danced the Sardinian dance for like ten times in a week, wherever we were with people they just did this dance. At the end we knew it by our heart. It was a wonderful experience. Thanks a lot for our super Sardinian organiser: Carla Monni and the co-organizer Maria Salis. Ballu Sardo!! AYO!!!

ps: Ayo is a way to say let's go in Sardinian. Apparently back home in Indonesia we also say Ayo to ask someone to get out to do something like Let's go eat (Ayo, makan!).

The kids were just too cute

The beginning of the carnival, it was just the beginning you know

Typical Sardinian houses

A man in donkey, I guess it is kind of a pride to be able to ride it

Sardinian old lady and the kind of clothes they wear

Carla's youngest sister (left) who dressed up as a man

Some Minnies, made the crowd!

Ballu Sardu is just every-freaking-where!

Mother and Son. Native American costumes.

Another Minnie
Some of the girls from our group; Luisa, me and Allisha

Typical Oliena houses. They have this famous painting

Our second perfomance in Nuoro

Franco, the guy who will always dance and ask girls out.

Still Franco.

Happy 150 Years Birthday Italy!

2011-03-17T15:39:00.008+01:00

March 17, 2011 (17032011)

I believe it is not just an ordinary sequence of numbers for the Italians since they are celebrating the 150 years of the resurgence or Il Risorgimento - or the unification of the Italian Peninsula. It reminds me of the Venice Carnival's theme from Sissi to Senso - the unification is drawn from the ex-Austrian territory (for example our city: Trieste) to southern Italy such as Sardinia, Sicily and Naples.

We had classes today, as I know that all the Italian students are having a national holiday, unlike us. But it was really nice to have such a special assembly or INA kind of given by our History teacher, Eunice Price (who is also the author of one of the History IB Diploma Course Companion) about the Italian-ness of Italy since 117 AD.

The President of the college was also there to answer some questions, many Italian students critically asked about the recent political situation and some kind of distinction of the North part and the South Part of the Italy. But the President believes that there won't be any kind of separation between the South and the North - they are all one - Italians.

At the end, all the Italians: students, teachers and staff sang the national anthem. I was surprised some of my teachers who as I know aren't Italians joined too, apparently they also have Italian passports eversince they have been living in this country for such a long period and blend themselves into the culture.

I was actually thinking I would love to have one too - I love this country. And again passport does not define your nationality, instead it gives you more accessibility and opportunity. I was also thinking it would be nice if one has a chance to choose their nationality based on the country that they feel suit them the most, or draws them. If I got a chance to have an Italian passport - I would NOT deny! This country is beautiful moreover some of the cultures are a little bit similar with home: the family values, togetherness, the food, the cell-phones some of the bureaucracy problems too. Also the fact that Indonesia is divided into 31 regions and each region has their own languanges (dialects) but we are all united with one language Indonesian.

There was also a video that closed the celebration, it was about how the UWCAD students think about Italy. They basically said so many beautiful words, descriptions and they are just grateful to be here. I could not imagine if I were in the other UWC college, I suppose the cultural experience I get would be really different maybe none. And I think that what makes this college special, the location - in Italy.

Italian students who were dressing up: Rosalba, Marta, Francessco

Italian shoes I assume - or at least worn by the Italians

Italian faces

Our Historian, Eunice Price

The President, Mr. Facco Bonetti

p.s: On the unification day found out that my article about Venice Carnival will be published as feature in The Jakarta Post either tomorrow Saturday or Monday!! Will be soon post articles about our Project Week in Sardegna and the Long Weekend in the capital city of Italy - what's that? ROME!!

Blue Skies are Calling

2011-03-02T16:33:00.006+01:00

The photo was blur because the focus was put on manual not that its resolution is small. This is what a wore today; a stripes t-shirt, mini-denim skirt, black tights and my favey purpey boots.

I am happy. Since I think, I could do well on my Economics and Biology test, eventho before I thought I would not do it well ever-since I was so mentally tired last night after catching up with an article and materials that I have to send for an English local newspaper in Jakarta. I know which pictures that I would send and therefore will share the other pictures here really soon.

Things morning when I woke up, I felt like dressing up. In fact that I thought "To success or to fail in my trials today, I will be in my best clothes!" also tomorrow is the last day of Trial, and Sardinia is so up for Friday.

I also felt happy that since I put an album on Facebook about spring, many of my friends in Facebook started to utter "Spring is here", "the blossom of Spring and many more," in their statuses or photos. I felt watched which is really nice.

However, Duino is a place that is blast by Bora. The wind has been blowing up intensely strong in three days. It sometimes creates voices that are similar with someone who is listening to a eclectic music. So, cold - like ever. The temperature is actually nice, but the wind.

Can't wait for tomorrow - the last day of trial. Then we are flying tu Nuoro, Sardegna for Project Week then Rome. I will have the best consecutive weekends in my life, after the Venice Carnival last Saturday. I am grateful.

xx
Nastiti

Venice Carnival 2011

2011-02-27T17:43:00.004+01:00

Renate and his costumes

Kids and the fairytale

Face painters

Venetian Masks

Venice was becoming the fullest city in a world for a day. Yes, it was the Carnival 2011. Will soon upload the good quality pictures and stories (didn't know that my photo resolution was too small). See you soon, since I need to study, am having Italian trial tomorrow!

xx
Rut

Le Fleurs de Rut

2011-02-17T15:24:00.006+01:00

The Valentine Cards selling succeed, we raised about 200 euros. Thanks to Maria! I really love making cards, and I am easily attracted to pictures from magazines. Especially fashion magazines, I can't resist not to buy them here in Italy. The fact that the price of magazines here relatively cheaper than if I buy it home and they are just simply amazing, the give extra catalog sometimes and the ads are great. For me, spending money on fashion magazines is never a waste. It gives me a pleasure, I'd rather spend my money on magazines than snacks, it makes me happy to see all the pages all over again.

Fashion magazines here inspire me a lot, I usually buy Elle, since Vogue Italian is somehow too eccentric I can say, it is not that world taste, but it is bold indeed, very Italian. I also like an Italian fashion magazine called AMICA. Simple and chick. But Elle is my favorite. Once they gave a note book as a bonus for the December edition. The notebook is so beautiful. Its color is white, you can see the picture below. Then I thought I had to do something with that, yet I already have my own Parisian diary from my high school best-friends. Then one night, I was just reading my old Elle magazines and an idea popped out, I gotta make my own art slash scrap book. And now that Le Fleur de Chloe note book has became my artwork/scrapbook of my dreams, passions, ideals and anything, about my life. I give you some hints below how it looks inside.

Making those pages makes me so happy. I enjoy it a lot. My best-friend says I should be an artist. I told her, I would do something has to do with art in the college, and therefore I am applying to colleges that emphasize art too, however my dream is to work in an office, in a big city, meeting new people, a job that I can write, I can talk, an outdoor job, full of challenges, not that becoming artist is not enjoyable, but I want to have a career, career-woman. So, let us see how the next four years of my life will really drive me to my dreams, and it also depends on which colleges who accept me - and I am still waiting for most of them. Also, I just put up three posters of colleges that I apply to, I am still sitting, waiting and wishing. Most colleges will announce the acceptances on April. I can only hope for the best now, even I already got one, and I would love also to go there, since it has a good media an communication program. Let's take a look of my new artwork/scrapbook diary, I present you; LE FLEURS DE RUT!

This is the book, it is so classy

The first page, woman on top here means kind of "influential woman", you know.

J'adore diamonds, e toi?

The second page. It was just by chance that the front and the back page make such a good picture of female face with male body.

My favorite of all. It's so meaningful. Principle.

These quotes really move me to be a great giornalista, come pappa.

My best-friend/rooma, I caught here staring when I was making the arts.

Never throw away your fashion magazines. Someone's trash can be others' treasure.

p.s: I am still working and making on it, but not going to show anymore, since it would go personal, so you are lucky that you could see some!

San Valentino

2011-02-10T21:23:00.004+01:00

I NEED NO BOYFRIEND BUT ROMANCE

The fact that I still need time for my self, explore and discover the true self in me, without having any influences from other. And, I can't just force my feeling to someone that I don't like simply for fun. There is always time for everything.

p.s: I got them from tumblr, sadly forgot the link, no intention not to appreciate.

Love is in the Air, this time Cupid will be fair!

2011-02-10T09:26:00.006+01:00

This is what I did after I finished a task every night.
Front and back

The two of my favorites

Valentine is coming! What's about that? This is the February's hitting point. A day for love, wish it could be everyday in in every month. Let's call it occasion! Romance, romance - one needs no boyfriend but romance. Valentine is here.

One of the best week so far. Yesterday, when I was just waking up from a nap, I took a look on my phone, got an email that I am accepted in a college in the United States, Wartburg College, Iowa, mid-west. Made me feel good. This is what people say "Every little happiness counts'. But this one is a big happiness, I am glad I finally have a positive school to go next fall. Thanks, God!

Just like in Valentine. Eventough this week has been busy (tell me about it, two internals, a presentation, a self design and homeworks), I still managed to make some cards for Valentine's day. One of a friend in the college, Maria, from the Netherlands, came up with this idea to sell cards then a "Cupid" will deliver it to the one, just like last year. This year the money will go for the Merapi Victims in Indonesia. Thanks Maria!

We see cupid is fair. Cupid is everywhere. Is cupid a male or female? Anyway, cupid is there for you, for me and for everybody. Love is more than just words, action is love. So people, grab the cards and send it to your special ones!

p.s: Happy Valentine in advance (in case I won't be able to post a "Valentine saying" post on 14th)!

XOXO,
RUT

Duino Skies

2011-02-05T13:16:00.012+01:00

Remember once I posted an article about the Offenbach Skies, last summer. Now, I would like to share another beauty of the skies, this time is Duino Skies. Duino is a small village in - this what makes it hard, I don't know how to explain this. Duino-Aurisina is a small village in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, under a city name Trieste. Duino itself is very beautiful. The fact that this village is surrounded by Adiratic Sea and Cernizza, a kind of rocky Forrest - makes Duino one of the most harmonic area in the world. You want the proof? Let me show you some.

Yesterday, we had a very intense photography classes leaded by Angelo Friolo, he used to teach photography in the college for 25 years. He taught many incredible features in Photoshop, it was in Italian - the good news is I understood every single word. One of the techniques that he taught us was how to change "un po interesante cielo" to "un interesante cielo". Cielo means sky. Also how to make our own "nuvola" which means "cloud". The class ended at 5.15, everybody clapped, we were amused how Photoshop would make one's image different.

That afternoon, I had my camera with me, when I went out from Ples B, I could see Porto at the north sight. I was just so impressed how beautiful the sky above Porto was. It was a mix of orange, red, yellow, blue, purple, gold and grey. Without no doubts, instead of going back to my resident I turned left, headed to Porto. When I arrived there I was amazed. The sky was immensely beautiful, it feels like an afternoon version of Van Gough's painting about that Starry Night. And I can't stop wondering how great God is and how everything has just been placed and put in order, and how the whole universe works. Call me crazy, but the sky that time had that power over me to dropped my jaw just to keep saying "Oh my God, this is beautiful".

These are the pictures I took from my camera. I did not edit them at all in order to be accurate, I need no Photoshop this time to make it wonderful. Duino Skies - I am gonna miss you next year when after I graduated.

In 3 minutes, the sun went down.

The trees and the sky from a higher level.

In thirty minutes

In maybe 45 minutes

In an hour

I met some of prime (first years, female, plural) asked them to take pictures of me.

.
Silhouette of Reina and Yiran

p.s: will be very soon share the pictures and story from my visit to the one and only Illy Coffee Factory in the world!xoxo

February in Duino

2011-02-03T20:10:00.009+01:00

That foggy part is Trieste

My room is, especially my "corner" my nest, I just want to feel secure, comfortable, secure safe when I am there and put my belongings there. I miss it tough, haven't slept there for two days.

My outfit that day

In detail

My buddy

February is here. Whenever I hear word February words such as valentine, love, pink, always pop our from my mind. And February means, January had passed, the very first month in a year. These are pictures from February 1st, it was such a sunny day, perfect - even the existence of Bora was pretty intense.

Since it was windy yet sunny, I just felt like wearing a flowery pieces of clothes. As usual, colorful, even life in the college had been pretty tough this week, the fact that I was expecting people respect me in a way I respect them - but it did not work, it was disappointing, but it was just a particular person tough. However, I forgive this person, I forgive what she had done to me, just like her former president of her country, Nelson Mandela did, with regard to apartheid. Forgiving does not mean you are weak, but instead strong, because you yourself have to deal with all the pain, worries and wound that were caused by someone. Forgiving is one of the way to avoid conflict really. Even to forget is not an easy process. But, thanks to the support of my loveliest parents in the world, bestfriends, teachers and anybody out there. Just like these phrase, "I'll see you on Thursday & promise me to smile & laugh because that's the Rut I've known" (Urska Kosir), at the end we should count every little things that make us happy.

But, I am grateful with all the experiences I have learned in the college, they teach me lessons; the disappointment, the feeling of being disrespected and all the sacrifices, they prepare me to be more mature and build me as a young lady who is ready to face the very bright future. I just want to fill my day with all positive thoughts - and confidence and focus, in order to reach my goals in life.

" It is time to photoshop my life. Touch up the edges, adjust the tones. Blur out the background, focus on me and crop people out." Don't look back, forgive and forget, because as my parents told me, "I have a broader goals in my life, my future". I love you, Mom and Dad!

She and He

2011-01-23T12:04:00.010+01:00

I created new album in my Facebook "She and He" two days ago on Friday, right after I finished my photography class. The purpose is to upload any kind of planned photos session that I had or will have with people. It was one of the most interesting class ever, first time to use the light studio. Before heading to the light studio, our teacher Max, gave us a basic information about how the light works. For example we had to make sure that the angle of the light and the object is 45 degree steep. And if we play with the low light, a good composition would show a little triangle below the eye. With three lights, it will give such a sparking white background at the back. Here I uploaded the selected photos that I took - however Photoshop is needed to make the pictures even stunning (self reality check!). The models in these pictures are Vladimir and Rosalba.

This is a mix of low light composition and Adobe Photoshop to give such a shinning effect at the back of the object

Forget to tell you, she is Rosalba, comes from Basilicata, Southern Italy. A friend of mine from the college. She just did her haircut. She looks so sexy with it.

This is my favorite photo of her over all. Her expression is so playful plus there is this little triangle under her right eye. The picture looks deep.

He is Vladimir (Vouva) from Russia. I asked him to do this pose, and the result was spectacular.

He smiles with his eyes. And see that light in the left side, it makes it even lively.

I think this photo is too bright. However I liked his transparent eyes that he gave here.

Italians are generous in their words

2011-01-22T09:54:00.006+01:00

I want to share it with you all, my favorite Italian song. The title is Per te by Lorenzo Jovanotti. The melody sounds simple but the lyrics are extraordinary. I gave the translation in English, however it does not sound as sweet as it is in Italian. Well for me, all the English words have been ameliorated since I often hear them. Also the word in itself is so powerful, for example orange is aranciata (aranci-ahta) and fresh is fresca (freska) - it has a really good ending sound. In reality they are also generous, whoever the people are, no matter how they look like it is just so easy for them to say "Ciao Cara, Bella, Caro, Bello" which is similar to sweetheart, beutiful, handsome. This is what make people feel very welcomed and surounded by its lively culture, the people their language, words, passion - I love this country!

È per te che sono verdi gli alberi/It's for you that the trees are green
e rosa i fiocchi in maternità/and the pink ribbons on maternity leave
è per te che il sole brucia a luglio/is for you that the sun burns in July
è per te tutta questa città/is for you the whole city
è per te che sono bianchi i muri/is for you that the walls are white
e la colomba vola/and the dove flies
è per te il 13 dicembre/December 13 is for you
è per te la campanella a scuola/is for you the bell at school
è per te ogni cosa che c'è ninna na ninna e.../is for you everything you need ninna ninna na e. ..

è per te che a volte piove a giugno/is for you that sometimes it rains in June
è per te il sorriso degli umani/is for you the smile of human
è per te un'aranciata fresca/fresh orange drink is for you
è per te lo scodinzolo dei cani/is for you wags the dog
è per te il colore delle foglie/for you is the color of the leaves
la forma strana della nuvole/the strange shape of the clouds
è per te il succo delle mele/is for you the juice of apples
è per te il rosso delle fragole/is for you the red of strawberries
è per te ogni cosa che c'è ninna na ninna e.../is for you everything you need ninna ninna na e. ..

è per te il profumo delle stelle/is the perfume of the stars for you
è per te il miele e la farina/is for you honey and flour
è per te il sabato nel centro/is for you on Saturday in the center
le otto di mattina/eight in the morning
è per te la voce dei cantanti/is for you the voice of the singers
la penna dei poeti/the pen of the poets
è per te una maglietta a righe/is for you a striped T-shirt
è per te la chiave dei segreti/is the key to the secrets for you
è per te ogni cosa che c'è ninna na ninna e.../is for you everything you need ninna ninna na e. .

è per te il dubbio e la certezza /is for you doubt and certainty
la forza e la dolcezza/the strength and sweetness
è per te che il mare sa di sale/is for you to know that the sea salt
è per te la notte di natale /is for you the night of Christmas
è per te ogni cosa che c'è ninna ninna na e. .. /is for you everything you need

Day 1: Cilacap

2011-01-06T19:00:00.005+01:00

The village is famous for its stones.

This is how it looks, when the fishermen's boats anchored

Nusa Kambangan Island lays there

Anticipated the boats of being sailed away by the wind

A fisherman that wanted me to take his picture

These are the pictures from our trip, first day. All located in Cilacap, Center Java. Nothing much, because the beach is typical kind of fishermen port, so it was not really touristic, the wave was calm rather than interesting. We thought it was a inclusive beach from google . From the beach side, you could see Nusa Kambangan Island, an Island where "The Alcatraz" belongs to, Indonesia's Alcatraz. In the colonial time, the island was used by the Dutch to prison the locals. And now, the GOI uses it to jail crime doers. Some Indonesia's number one crimes are there, and also the son of the former Indonesian's President, Soeharto. After Cilacap we went to a village Magelang and celebrated new year's s eve there. I just knew that every new years they hold a wayng performenace in Borobudur Temple. It was beautiful.

Inside Nastilicious

Love Wisdom from A Bestfriend

Most Random Thought

"UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future"

Fragrance of Christmas

Happy Thanksgiving

No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is fighting to survive. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

Friend of America and Freeport?

A Letter to My Future Husband

Cephalexin

Here I Go Again

Hello, It's a freshmen love!

Pinky Sunday

Merapi After Eruption

Next Destination: Blue Indonesia

Happy Sunday

Behind Pramono Pramoedjo's Exhibition

The Sea and The Stars

Pronto

Five Years Time

Summer Updates 2011: Welcome to Tidung Island

Lucerne and Harem Pants

Un Petit Dinner

J'adore Paris

Switzerland, What a Wonderful World!

High School Accomplished!

Crush

Like A Bird

Keep Calm

Mi Mancherà

Traduzione da inglese verso italiano

Pretty in White

Let's Get it Started! UWCAD LIPDUB!

(Not) Another Friday

I Miss Home

April Fool's Day

First of April

Palazzo Te

Officially A Ples Girl

Mens Sana in Corpore Sano 2011

Mantova

Venice Carnival 2011 is Published!

One Day

Ayo Dance, You Are in Sardegna!

Happy 150 Years Birthday Italy!

Blue Skies are Calling

Venice Carnival 2011

Le Fleurs de Rut

San Valentino

Love is in the Air, this time Cupid will be fair!

Duino Skies

February in Duino

She and He

Italians are generous in their words

Day 1: Cilacap