The new weekend experience, ever.

Well, very good morning fellas ! it is a gloomy Sunday morning, 10.46 am, GMT +1 time. I just felling like starting my day with write a post on this blog about my new weekend experience ever, this morning. Let me begin with the description of the situation. As i said, it is a gloomy Sunday morning in Amsterdam. According to Accuweather.com, it is believed that now it is 0 degrees Celcius outside. It is snowing intensively with humidity of 93%, wind blowing 38 km/h towards North East, and visibility of 8 km as well as air pressure of 102 KPA. I think that's more than enough for the weather forecast.

For your information, this is my first winter ever. I just moved to a four-seasons country for like just five months. This winter might be the first for me, but according to many newspaper and TV news, it is one of the worst and coldest for Europe in last few decades. I can't agree more agree with that. It caused chaos in transportation system. Airports were shut, trains stops, traffic jam, and so on.

As i promise on my last post, i would like to discuss more about my "study", in order to balance the "beyond" contents of this blog. Then let's start my story of this weekend. As i approaching new year's holiday, i have been packed with exams preparation and many assignments due. Nothing can't be worse than a Finance exam in the end of December, 6 pm, snowing, freezing, even worse, the location of the exam is far from city center. Then come christmas and new year. well, i would say that it was not that special for me, but i had a good time with my friends and family as well.

I started January with a bit of sorrow and homesick feelings. Fortunately it was just last for like two days. After i phoned my mother, everything is back on track. I love you mother. hehe. At first, i have two final essay assignments due at the end of the first week of January and also i started what so called as "business study project 1 : literature review". From its name, i'm sure i gonna deal with a lot of works, reading many journals, as well as writing reviews. And it is too good to be true.

As i also have posted before, to be honest, the intensity, pace and academic rigor of my study here is somehow more difficult compare to my previous university study experience. I believe that no more i can do other than keep up my pace and just simply do my best efforts. Hence, i found that this weekend is one of the manifestations of that. Yesterday was Saturday, i just spending my whole day at home for cooking and eating from the time i woke up in the morning until the late afternoon. For me, eating is the only way to beat the cold, though. At first, i was thinking like to spend my Saturday night with my cousin, beat the cold and have some food and chit chat. But since i still have two essays due at the beginning of next week, i decided to dedicate my Saturday night at my bedroom and doing my stuffs. In fact, it was not a good weather to going out last night. so, i think i have a quite good reason to stay home. hehe.

To be honest, last night was my first time ever to spend a Saturday night to study ! doing my whole life being a student, no matter what in school as well as university, i have never ever spending my Saturday night to study ! it was a taboo thing to do for me. with no exception. no matter how bad the situation is, i always spend my saturday night with friends or family. But last night, i spent my Saturday evening reviewing several articles as well as writing my essay and i finished like around midnight. In fact, it was not as bad as i imagined, though. But somehow i still amazed with myself because finally i did it. Yes, saturday night studying. ;D to be honest, i would say that i'm doing it not because i want to, but it was because i have to.

More excitingly, i have on more experience to tell. Last night, since i only finish my first essay and still have one more essay to do, i checked the website of my university library. it says it is open on Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm. Since i need the access to the academic journal and database, i was thinking like "why not spending my Sunday at the university library by tomorrow ?". at first i was saying "no way, Arif Nindito. Come on, it is Sunday, for God's sake." but then by the time i woke up this morning, i feel like i really have to go there to, again, do my stuffs. So then, here i am, in the front of one of many computer screens at the university library on this such gloomy sunday morning, writing my blog post. hehe.

To wrap up, spending the Saturday night studying, as well as enjoying Sunday on the library are totally new experiences for me. I would never ever do these kind of things during my time in Indonesia. I promise i wouldn't. But somehow, although not with a full heart of mine, i enjoy it. Maybe it is what it takes to study at one of the world's best 50 universities ;P

I always believe that i must live in balance. Of course i know that spending Sunday at the library is not my ideal way of enjoying weekend, though. But, i have to tell you fellas, one of the most distracting as well as relaxing thing about spending a day at the university library of Universiteit van Amsterdam is the chicks ! sometimes i also wondering what the fcuk are these gorgeous ladies doing here in the library. i believe that they must be better to be there on the photograph taking sessions as the fashion models. hehehe. It is a nice fact, as well, that they are young, gorgeous, and intelligent looking. i don't know whether they are really that "intelligent" or not. but, who cares ? this library offers many good features for its students and visitors. but for me, the chicks is one of the most fascinating features of it. hehehe. Enjoy your Sunday !

Warm tea during a pouring rain Sunday afternoon.

Now, i finally understand why Europeans are big fans of tea and coffee. It is Sunday afternoon, at the beginning of December. Rain is pouring down outside, with the temperature of 10 degrees celcius. It is not a really good weather for Sunday. Yes, it is not. But i think i can't expect a better day during early winter in this lowlands of central europe.

Dark clouds and grey sky. Cups of warm early grey english tea, accompanied with a piece of chocolate croissant, with melodies of Saint Germain des Pres Cafe sounded smoothly from my iTunes. A combination that will perfectly warm your body as well as your soul. What a mellow Sunday afternoon.

Between Amsterdam - Den Haag.

This one is extracted from a conversation between two friend on their blackberry messenger.

--

The Boy: You got it
The Boy: Stanford..
The Girl ♣: Skrg rajin2 kuliyahnya
The Girl ♣: Kyk gw2 gini
The Boy: Biar cepet nikah..
The Boy: Hahahah
The Girl ♣: Hahahhaa
The Girl ♣: Hahhahaa
The Girl ♣: Jd pace nya sama deh
The Boy: Hahahah
The Boy: Nice..
The Girl ♣: I'm eating rite nwow
The Girl ♣: So nice
The Girl ♣: Its still raining outside
The Boy: What do u have for dinner ?
The Girl ♣: So happy
The Girl ♣: Porridge phiphiiiiii
The Girl ♣: Oh and strawberry juice
The Boy: Sounds delicious..
The Boy: Its pouring here as well
The Boy: I'm waiting for my train to den haag
The Girl ♣: What do u want to do in den haag
The Boy: Gue udah bilang sama lo belom sih kalo gue jadi perwakilan Presidium PPI Amsterdam
The Girl ♣: Waaah belum

The Boy: Ada debat sama perwakilan bem seluruh indo gitu
The Boy: Mereka lagi studi banding ke belanda
The Girl ♣: Trs
The Girl ♣: Ooooo
The Girl ♣: Waw

--

The Boy: Jadi nanti kalo lo mau masternya di stanford, ya gue nanti bilang sama kantor gue buat ditugasin di kantor cabang san fransisco aja..
The Boy: Hahahahahaha.. =))
The Girl ♣: Asik
Arif Nindito: Haha.. Emang enak ya dreaming..
Arif Nindito: Mumpung masih muda ini gapapa banyak2 mimpi deh gue.. *nerd*
The Girl ♣: Iya
The Girl ♣: Its okay to dream
The Girl ♣: Tp klo wan kenobi
The Girl ♣: "Be careful anakin,dream,they betray you"
The Boy: Hahhaha
The Girl ♣: Hahha cakepbh ya
The Boy: But my dream guide me..
The Boy: That's my dream that made me sitting here on this train right now
The Boy: That made me stay on this bad weather country..
The Boy: Hahaha..
The Girl ♣: Oooh that's sweet hahhaha
The Boy: ;)

--

So, keep your dream alive.

Ticket Lost.

It's been a week. I tried to figured out where is my KLM flight ticket to Jakarta. I end up today with the fact that i miss it somehow. it should be somewhere, but i dont know where it is. i lost it. meaning ? i am not going home that soon ;D

A Perfect Saturday

September 19th. Saturday. 23 degrees, sunny and very warm. Just a perfect weather for Saturday. I woke up at around 10am after fall asleep again since around 6am after sahur this morning. Dishwashing, taking a shower then go to the city center to meet a friend from Den Haag. Today is weird. Since a week ago, Amsterdam got an average temperature of around 15 in the afternoon. and suddenly today, it got 23, which is very warm. i even don't need to put my jacket while riding my bike to the city center.

After i met Laras at Ledseplein, i went to two of my favorite english bookstores at Spui centrum. American Book Center at Spui 12, and Waterstone's at Kalvestraat 152. Those stores are housed in very nice buildings, both of them have 3 floors. Very nice ambience, really cozy, and have tremendous collection. Those store seem like to be my favorite spot for the next following years. ;) Today i bought "High Fidelity" by Nick Hornby. It seems like fun, light, and entertaining. Recently, I prefer that kind of book instead of my typical book of business, economy, and what so ever it is.

By the time i exit the American Book Center at Spui and walked to Kalverstraat, i suddenly attracted by the totally happy music i heard from the street. It was an old man with his big music machine ! The music it produced is really happy, unique and pumped up my mood. It is very cheering, though. I gave him EUR 1, and he replied with very big smile. I am happy. This very city is exciting, lively. Amsterdam got its own vibe in its own way. And i can say, i start to fall into it. i start enjoying Europe.

Moreover, tomorrow is Idul Fitri ! I will miss my mother, siblings and the rest of the family by tomorrow. And of course, i will miss the food also. Although this is my very first time having Idul Fitri away from home, it is still, Idul Fitri.. Let's Celebrate !

Puisi Malam Ini

Malam ini Amsterdam hujan lebat
Suhu langsung berhianat turun tak bersahabat
Menggigil di tepi jalan negeri rantau
Ibu, aku rindu.

14 Ramadhan 1430 H / September 4th 2009.
Damrak, Amsterdam Centrum.

--
Atas nama angin dingin laut utara,

Arif Nindito

When the Sky is Grey

What a shitty weather that Amsterdam has today. It's a catastrophic combination of pouring rain, heavy wind blow, and sun light. What kind of weather they're having here. According to accuweather.com which I always check every morning, the temperature for today is 15 degrees (highest) and 11 degrees (lowest). I guess it would be another particular student life day of mine.

I started my day by woke up late. I just skipped the shower and directly go to class by bus and metro instead of bike. The earliest class here starts at 9.00 a.m, not like in Depok where the morning class usually start at 8.00 a.m (that's better actually). The thing is, the latest class here finish at 8.00 pm, whereas in Depok, the latest class i guess finish on 6.30 or 7 pm, something like that (this one is not good).

After the class, i planned to go to the Student Information Center which is apart from my faculty in Roetersstraat. I tried to take a walk, but it seems to cold for me to continue my journey since it is raining. Then I initiated to take the metro (subway) from Waterlooplein to Neiuwmarkt. It works, basically. But, after i got off the Niuewmarkt station, i have to go to the direction that i thought i knew. Again, i have to stop by in front of a kiosk because the fcuking rain. All i wore today is just a polo shirt and my became-favorite all season jacket. Jeans and a pair of white Converse. I walked through some narrow street and i got a bit lost. Guess where i've been ? Yes, it's redlights. Shit. It is 11.30 in the middle of the day, it is cold outside, and i got lost in redlights ! perfect. There are already some girls trying to market themselves in this very early and rainy afternoon ! Moreover, of course, the smell of marijuana is always around the redlights.

After i changed my appointment with the city's government regarding to my residence permit, i should go to Central Station to take the bus home. I am just too lazy and too miserly to spend an Euro to go by tram to central. In fact, it is not that far, by the way. Therefore, i have to bear the consequence of getting wet because of the rain is came again. WTF ! It is raining, stop, sun light, raining again, heavy wind blow, raining again, sun light again, and raining again. Oh my God, this city is having odd weather as they said on the Cultureshock! book i read. This time is no mercy, i am freezing. My jeans is wet, my shoe and shocks is wet, and of course, my nose it totally wet. I would like to buy an umbrella, and i saw people having problem with theirs, then i thought that in these days, there is no such good enough umbrella to bear the wind.

In spite of the odd weather, i started to fall in love with the city. It is just a perfect combination of urban living and the settings of classical and historical city of Amsterdam. The city is living. Street performance in Dam Square and Museumplein, fresh flower seller in the sidewalks, hot coffee smell in pedestrian, buzzing bicycle in the street, it is totally nice in its own fashion. I went inside two bookstores and two shopping center on my way back home just to avoid the rain. I took the bus, and by the time i get off the bus, yes, it is raining again.

That's the story of my day for today. How's yours ?