Inter-Religion Discussion - Chapter One.

Today, i was just having a dinner with my new international fellow students. Well, i am not really having dinner, since i was still fasting this evening. There are a Bulgarian, two Dutch, a Swedish, two Latvian, and a German sitting on our table.

As usual since the first day of the orientation days, every time they are having meals and drinks, i always not consuming one since i am fasting. And today, again, i say that i am not ordering yet. Then, they start questioning the thing that i do, i mean the fasting thingy. They are wondering why i should control my hunger during the day from the sunrise till the sunset although it is summer, and it is a long day. They also questioning me about the five times prayer a day. Moreover, they also asking me about Indonesia as the biggest Moslem country in the world. And many more.

And here, i should explain it. It feels good to share what you know and understand, and also having people telling their opinion. Although it is not easy since, i am explaining my belief and it may reflects the whole religion. For me, this is my first time to got a chance to involved in such inter-religion conversation and i enjoyed it so much.

Moreover, on this occasion, i am the object of the question. I mean, they are questioning me, and i tried to replied. As one of my friend, Erwin, said : the thing that become our biggest enemy now toward this issue is the stereotyping and prejudice. Therefore, on this occasion i try to deliver the message :

Every person got choices. Every one has their own right to choose about what they want to believe in. The only thing is, no single human in this earth having a right to force what he/she believe to others with any mean. Then, we should respect each other.

And after that, everyone on the table are agreed upon me. Then i come into the conclusion that, it is not that hard to live side by side with people from different culture, religion, race, color, and what so ever it is, as long as we still have a will to learn, understand and respect each other.

Nasih Anak Rantau - Chapter 1

Last night was my first night staying at my dorm room. And this very morning is my first ever sahur being alone. I get used being away from home during my time in Depok, but, at least during Ramadhan, i always have friends to go sahur together. On this point, i miss Zilqi and Budi so much ;D

Moreover, last night, i finally met my flat-mate. He is an Italian, named Daniele. And guess what, he cook. Great right ? He told me that almost Italians can cook. He seems nice, not so messy with things, and tidy enough. Well, i assume that he is as tidy as me ;P

This very morning i just put some pre-cooked rice and semur daging to the microwave. Waiting like five minutes, then i ready to eat. Sitting alone at the dinner table while looking a cruise ship passing by in the front of my window. I enjoyed with to the fullest. Although it would be a lot better if i have my mother, siblings or friends here.. Haha..

It's Summer, and it's Ramadhan.

This is my first Ramadhan ever in Europe. Totally different settings of environment to do fasting here. Since it is summer, the day last for a longer period. We start sahur at around 4.15 in the morning, then the subuh prayer start at 4.25. The fasting itself last for about 16 hours. The maghrib time is at around 21.00, when you finally get sunset. What a period if i compared with my fasting time in Indonesia that only last for at max around 13 hours. That's for the physical side.

Moreover, from the psychological side, it isn't get any better. Again, it is summer, people ! Beaches are packed with people sun bathing under the clear sky. And yes, bikinis. Sometimes topless. That's what i got here. So, this is a brand new experience for have fasting here in Europe. Just enjoy and endure ! Hahaha..

Fortunately, i have relatives here in Amsterdam who closely involved in Indonesian Masjid nearby the area where they lived. Therefore, i could still hear the adzan, somehow. Doing tarawih, if i wanna. And ofcourse, break the fast with free.. ;D

Happy fasting, people !

The Honeymoon before the Homesick

Today I went to den hagg reporting to Indonesian embassy regarding my arrival here. Well, den hagg is just like one hour or one hour from and half by train or car, but today, I went there by motorcycle !

Not like my ride with motorcycle in Jakarta, my ride here is officially a motorcycle ride. Wearing a full package safety jacket including the pant, and full face and locked helmet. I get used to ride for like 80-100 km/hour with my scooter or motor bebek back there in Jakarta. But riding for 80-100 km/h with Honda CBR 600R is another story. With those huge 600 cc of engine, you can really feel the torque and the acceleration and also the wind.

Indeed, the journey to den hagg with motorcycle is almost the same time compared to with car or train. In most of European country, motorcycles are allowed to enter the highway. And then for the first time, I was riding in the back seat but I have to dealt with a very strong wind that made me having neck-ache. ;D

After finished the “lapor diri” thing in the embassy, I prefer to go to the Schaveningen beach to enjoy the view before the Ramadhan start. Come on guys, you know what I mean. ;P Today is a very bright summer day, temperature is nice for sun bathing. And yes, here in Schaveningen, today I got the view. Some bikinis girls and few topless women laying in the beach. Not bad for a honeymoon phrase before Ramadhan. The Honeymoon just before the Homesick.

36,000 feet above.

I am currently writing this from 36,000 feet above sea level during my flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam that will stop over in Hong Kong. I am flying with Cathay Pacific CX667 on Airbus A330-300. Well, for those of you who questioning what the f i've been doing since August 14th, this blog post is the answer.

 

Let me inform you a bit about my background. I was born as a son of a airline staff. My mother has been working for Garuda Indonesia for nearly 19 years. As the consequences, my family, always have several free tickets to travel each year. The most frequent travel of me and my family is to Medan - North Sumatra, since my grandparents still live there. Nevertheless, we also quite often travel internationally. In short, as long as we want to fly to the cities where Garuda Indonesia has flights to those cities, easily say, it wouldn't be any problem.

Unfortunately, for this very moment, i would like move to Amsterdam. As we know, our lovely country has just released from a airline travel ban issued by EU aviation commission. For your info, the ban has already put into effect for about 4 years. In fact, the damn ban already released yet, doesn't mean that suddenly Garuda Indonesia could fly there. There are several technical issues have to be taken care of before the national flag carrier possibly fly there. Therefore, few weeks ago, i already issued a ticket from a corresponding airline of Garuda; KLM.

Since both Garuda and KLM has an cooperation agreement, the staff and its family of Garuda are allow to fly with zero fare, which i only pay the tax and charges for around USD 41,00 for flights from Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur-Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta.

What a price, right ?

Once again, as the consequence of paying only USD 41 to travel that far, i will always be listed as a stand by passenger every time i fly. Then here is, the story began.

At the beginning, I planned to depart on August 14th with KLM. My friends already gathered at the airports, but finally, i disappointingly can't make it that day since the flight to KL and AMS was totally full and even over. So that night, i have to going back home. By the following morning of August 15th, i tried again to make my fortune. But once again, i failed to fly. They said, this is peak season baby.. ;P they even don't give the seat to the paying passenger, what the f with no paying passenger like me.. lol.

I was quite disappointed since I can’t go as I already planned. Although school will commence on August 26^th, I don’t know why I think I need to be there far in advance. That’s what we defined as, sometimes, you want something that you don’t need. ;) I spent the next two days at home, since based on the reservation information I received the KLM flight was overbooked until uncertain time, so there is no chance for me to board. I enjoyed the independence day of August 17^th by watching the state ceremony on TV.

In the afternoon, I tried (again) to go to the airport to try my luck for that day. Well, It worked. Me and my mother were successfully flied to Kuala Lumpur, where I have to re-check in for the flight to Amsterdam. By the time I arrived in KUL, I only got around 45 minutes to get all the things done. We should first go into the arrival hall, which is located separately from the gate where the plane was parked in Terminal C. We got to go by aerotrain. Then we should passing through the immigration, then go to the departure hall in the 5^th floor of the building. But for that day, it was seemed like my luck was just running out. By the time I got to the check in counter, the officer said that the flight was full then I can’t continue my journey to Amsterdam. We were grounded. Therefore, we decided to stay in Pan Pacific Airport Hotel KLIA to easily check the flight to the airport since the hotel is in a walking distance from the terminal.

Unfortunately, the normal rooms were fully book there, then we have unintendedly stay in the pacific club room that cost us MYR 1,300 per night ! In fact, I am sure that God still love me. I showed my mother’s ID to the clerk then he gave us special rate for the airline staff which we only have to pay for MYR 525 per night. More than a half price, right ? ;)

I stay in Kuala Lumpur for two days from August 17^th until august 19^th. We tried every night to depart, but we didn’t make it. Until finally my mother call to Jakarta, and one of our relative told my mother that there is a flight available with Cathay Pacific from Jakarta-Amsterdam via Hong Kong. Suddenly, my mother made a call that I will travel by myself by tomorrow with Cathay to Amsterdam. Indeed, we decided to fly back to Jakarta with the very first flight of Malaysia Airline. Afterward, I arrived in Jakarta at around 10.20, went to Garuda Indonesia local office, repacked my baggage into one lighter luggage, so I can travel more conveniently. Moreover, the rest of the luggage will be brought by my parents by the time they can make it to depart to Amsterdam with the USD 41 ticket. ;P That afternoon, one of my uncle come along to the airport to make sure that I would really depart. After repacking the luggage, we had lunch at the airport lounge, then my boarding time is ahead. I should go. My mother hugged me for around a minute, then saying “Good luck ! Come home with pride..”. I really touched by that phrase, but I am just can’t come out with tears.

Finally I departed to Amsterdam with a very amazing journey. CGK-KUL-CGK-HKG-AMS. What a journey ! Then here I am, finishing this blog post from 34,000 feet above the sea level, sitting in the seat 63A on Boeing 747-400 of Cathay Pacific. Overall, this journey is just unforgettable. A journey that worth to tell by both my mother and I to our next generation. ;D

Amsterdam is two hours away right now. Wish me have a nice landing at Schipol, people. I really contented with the service of Cathay. The meal is reasonably okay and the red wine is good. Hahaha..

D-1

I opened my eyes this morning at around 7.30AM, then i recognized that i only had about five hours of sleep. Last night, i went out with few best friends from high school to a movie to watch Pelham 123 then continued with some late night conversations.

I will depart by tomorrow. And by the time i woke up this morning, i realized how much i love my current life. For sure, my life isn't perfect. Though, i can say that i really enjoy every single pieces of my life recently. Then i realized how lovely it feels to have a loving-although-not-perfect family. A superb mother, really hard working father, unique siblings, great-and-supportive friends, challenging-and-dynamic study environment of FEUI, relatively cheap living expense in Depok, and not necessarily say the decent facilities given. I think it is save for me to say that i feel content with my life and i think it's enough for now. It is my comfort zone.

Then the question raised is that, "why bother to move, brother ?". Sometimes i also rose this basic question to my self. Why bother to leave if you already contented with your current life condition ? sometimes, i had no answer. but most of the time i answered it with "to be better".

Therefore, the definition on "be better" may vary from person to person. We could be better in any aspects of our life. Then, let's scrutinize it to the phrase of "a better future". How do you define "a better future" ? does it means being wealthier, smarter, happier or what ?

With no intentions of being cocky (although it still sounds cocky), Faculty of Economics - University of Indonesia already promised me more than just a decent future of life. And i thought it already offered me more than what does it takes to succeed in the jungle of Indonesian economic and business community. It's like a passport to excel for some reason.

It's a mini Harvard of Indonesia.

Not necessarily saying the magical-and-somehow-collusive connections of the yellow jackets thingy. But yes, it really works, fellas. To be more cocky, let me share you some potential highlights of FEUI. We have both international and national superb caliber of networks. You'll never know who the hell would standing in the front of your class as the lecturer.

He/she could be a minister, businessman, entrepreneur, economist, statistician, mathematician, or even a financial market bastard.

the same thing applies for your fellow friends. You'll never know who they would be in the next five years. So basically, FEUI is a perfect networking field for me.

Then most of you including me will ask, "hey fella, with those good damn things in ur life, aren't you should think that's enough ?". It maybe yes, maybe no. I don't want to stay in my comfort zone for too long. Since i believed that people who never leave their comfort zone would never succeed. So, it's all about leaving your comfort zone. Well, it is also a part of a bigger system malfunction that effect my life. Why ? maybe i can say that if Universitas Indonesia (UI) that almost every indonesian citizens be proud of is ranked among world's top 50 universities, then i don't have to bother to take off my ass abroad. As i cockily elaborated, FEUI already gives me more than what does it takes to succeed. at least, locally.

But most of the times, people are never satisfied. We were born with needs, wants, obsessions. And especially for me, i was born with dreams.

Yes dude, it's dreams that take me to where i've been right now. As Anis Baswedan PhD, said as his life philosophy, "I have a dream, and I share my dream". It perfectly suits me. Men are measures by what he dreams of. For me, dreaming is self-actualizing. There is no boundaries to dream.

To wrap up, i'm moving because of four reasons. First, i have to leave my comfort zone. Second, i am about to chase my dream. Third, i am actualizing my self. And fourth, yes, i am not enough, yet. Being competent locally is not enough for the prudent-and-cocky Arif Nindito. I want to compete globally. And the only way to do so is by going global.

Studying abroad will never promised you a happier life. Although maybe, just maybe, a more rewarding income. Being happy is not necessarily the same as being wealthy. It depends on what values you hold. So many people are damn rich but they are not happy.

Studying abroad, ideally, would gives you more holistic perspectives. It will shape the way you see things that finally leads to more knowledges. And believe it or not, knowledge leads to power. But once again it depends on the person. Only people who willing to learn will learn, otherwise, they will never actually learn although they seem like so.

In the end, as Uncle Ben in the spiderman said,

"With great power must come great responsibility"

Since knowledge leads to power, then come the responsibility. Knowledge demands for application. Having much knowledges without apply it to the society is useless. According to prophet Muhammad SAW, the greatest men ever is the men who could be useful for others. Then it's our call, with knowledge we can be useful for the society or be useless for them. We think, we act.

It's already more than lengthy as a blog post, but i just burst it off from my vigorous mind. I have to finish some immigration matters and more importantly finish to pack my luggage. That's it for this woke up blog post.

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For the people i care and love for the most,

Arif Nindito.