Minus 2 Degree of Celcius, Oh My Goodness..

12 June 2009

Winter comes… winter down under in Australia runs from June 1 through August 31. For me, it is something new and frightened me for particular awful story. For this reason, I have prepared well supporting stuff during winter season. I have bought some warm long john, i.e. thermal underwear, some sweaters, jackets, electronic blanket, wool quilt, and heater. Hopefully, all of those stuff will reduce my paranoid..

For the first week, the weather was still mostly fine but arrives at the second week it becomes dreadful. From the weather forecast, the range of weather is from negative 2 to around 8⁰c. Oh my goodness, how can I go to my work place in this sort of situation? Whilst, I have to walk away around 15 minutes in the morning at 5.40 am. Fortunately, I have bought some stuff, so I just wore 4 pieces of clothes, seasonal underwear, long john, t shirt, and double jacket. To protect my head, I wore double winter hats. I also wear gloves and socks. Is it too much?? Maybe, because I saw some Australian only wore jacket, short and thongs…but I don’t really care. In my point of view, each person needs particular treatment. I don’t want to take risk..only me who knows my body..

Based on the forecast, today the minimum weather is negative 2⁰c and I expected it would increase to be 0 when I went out from my accommodation. When I opened the door, the cold wind blew over my face but it was considerable fine, maybe because of thick clothes I wore. Intently, I walked in hurry in order to make my body warmer. In the mid of my way, I felt rainy nose even though I didn’t have flu. I wished it didn’t worsen to be nosebleed (the suffer that usually comes as an effect of unresistance toward cold weather). If it happens to me, I can’t imagine working in pain. Luckily, my anxiety didn’t come true. Praise for Allah ta’ala, I could be able through this extreme weather. Hopefully, I will be always healthy…I hope so..

Australian Students: Always Keep on Speaking Up

4 March 2009

Today I enforced myself to attend the Organizational Behaviour class even though I didn’t little bit feel up to going to. I felt the subject boring; actually I have finished that subject in my bachelor degree. On the other hand, I needed to attend the class due to in this subject, many Australian students enrolled. I ‘d like to learn the way they gave response and feedback during the class.

The name of the lecturer is mr. Doug, he is very attractive and always encourage all international student to participate actively. He also seems to be appreciate to all of student’ opinions. As Australia’s style, the knowledge is delivered in direct two way communication. In this unit, I was able to see Australian students such enjoyed in absorbing the knowledge. Always and always they rose their hand while the lecturer was talking. Sometimes, it was just silly thing, shared, for instance, their job environment, the personality of their bosses, etc. Mostly more than 3 or 5 minutes they talked. They looked like so interested in this sort of unit. While Asian students, including me, seem to just highlight the textbook or just listen what the lecturer said.

After the class finished, some curiosity came in my mind regarding the different style of Australian and Indonesian students. Why the Australian tends to be more active and criticize anything. I think because since in elementary school they were encouraged to speak up their mind and stimulate the way they responded to something. It may be different to that of Indonesian in which from beginning we were encouraged to memorize anything. Secondly, it may be the culture; here it is absolutely forbidden to make others as object of ridicule. They always appreciate other people’s opinion. It is different to Indonesian, at least based on my experience that students often laugh at another when he or she makes ‘a mistake statement’. I also notice the Australian education system be created to not burden the students. Therefore, they don’t look stressed or under pressured. In the childhood age, most of the time is for playing whereas in Indonesia, in the kindergarten, the children are encouraged to write and calculate. I don’t know whether there is a correlation between the curriculum and the level of criticize or not.

However, I also saw that from several Australian I met, they weak in math while some Indonesian are strong in math even though sometimes they don’t know the philosophy of those numeric or just to explain in some sentences the use of the result of calculation. It may back again to the problem of criticizing something. So that, which one is more important? It might become the Indonesian National Education Ministry’ task to overcome this problem. Is it good to adopt or mix up the Australian or western system??

Rabbit-Proof Fence: A Black History of Australia

03 February 2009

Rabbit Proof Fence is a movie that I had watched at IAP. At least, from this movie, I have learnt much about honesty, fairness, and sincerity. I can see that Australia has learnt from its history and come along to the bright future together. The teacher emphatically admitted that it became a black history of Australia. The movie is about the stolen generation in Australia toward indigenous people, aborigine people.

It is a true story adapted from ‘Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence” by Doris Polkington Garimara. The story was happened during the 1930s which set in Jigalong where three children Molly, Gracie and Daisy lived. The children are referred to by Neville as “half-castes”, having one white and one black parent. The children are forcibly captured from Jigalong taken to the camp at Moore, around several thousand miles away. The purpose of kidnapping those children is to breed out of the black colour on aborigines by introducing the policy to forcibly be married with white people so that the next generation will birth in white colour. It was an ambition to create Australia as a white nation, a western culture.

The movie showed the struggle of three children to escape from the camp by walking back home following the rabbit proof fence. After several more weeks Molly and Daisy were successful to arrive at heir home, while Daisy was recaptured.

In the last movie, Molly explained that she had her own daughters who were taken from her and how she was able to rescue one, but not the other. Her successful rescue was done in the same way when she run away in her childhood; she walked the length of the fence back home.

As I wrote before, it became a black history of Australia where there was an era of attempting to vanish aborigine identity. fortunately, Australia has learnt from that. Officially, the Prime Minister apologized for unaccepted action in the past. I think every country has a problem with regard to face the diversity, the gap between one to other regions or ethnic group. Australia now is trying to develop some policies to help the welfare of Aborigines without vanishing their culture even though like the teacher said it’s very difficult; but at least sincerily the government is attempting to live together harmonically with the same right in this country. It is absolutely true a slogan that a develop country is a country in which learnt from its history…How about Indonesia??

3 Days Without Rice

16 January 2009

It’s my third day arriving in Canberra and it still became shocked for me facing a different situation here compared to that in Indonesia. No mini shop, no refectory that open during all day and night… Here, don’t ever imagine to hear a range of vary the sound of instant food sellers in the night that customarily we heard…don’t imagine to buy tiny stuff in the shop close to our home like in Indonesia..no ..no.. Here, there is a restricted regulation to where area permitted as trading area and living area. Therefore, if you want something to buy, you need to walk along way or ride your car.

I admit really unprepared well for food. There are no stuff for cooking, no materials..ouwghh..so then how can I survive living here? Oh my god..please help me… Actually there is a refectory on campus area but it is quickly gone in the midday. So in the first and second day I just ate large chips and some breads..for me it is extremely not enough. For me, the definition of ‘eat’ is eating rice. Chips and breads are only snacks. Should I need to change this paradigm? I’m not sure…

Therefore, in the third day I enforced myself to buy rice cooker in K-Mart in the Westfield Belconnen mall. At least with rice cooker I was able to easily cook rice. I also bought some vegetables and noodles. Then I went to the kitchen, I was looking after the kitchen stuff in my accommodation, oh my god it’s new experience for me I don’t know exactly how to operate it, it is embarrassing. There are so many knobs and stoves but I don’t know which one particular knob for particular stove. I was really desperate. I wanted to try but I was worried about something bad happened. It is not funny, in the headline news ‘an international student from Indonesia was interrogated by police for derailing a fire in UC accomodation’.

While I was mixed up, my neighbour came. He is from Australia. He is only one of my neighbour in my block. I don’t know exactly what his name. In the first time I met him, he just said ‘welcome’ after that he just smile at me when we mate. I have ever tried to break the ice by saying hello and asking some questions (of course I still remember what Barbara said to not asking taboo questions)and he replied with Australian accent, I don’t really hear what his name, Jim, John, because he spoke quickly and unopened mouth.. He stared at me realizing I was looked confused with the stuff ‘May I use stuff here for cooking? I asked to him..’sure, as long as you clean up the stuff after using it’ he replied quickly. I just caught up some words. ‘how to operate this stove?’ then he demonstrated to use the stove, microwave and oven. I didn’t concern to what he said, I just looked the way his hand operated the stuff. ‘oh..thank you’..finally, I can survive here…thank god but I promise to buy my own cooking stuff on Sunday in the Sunday Market…it’s very cheap…

Notes Before Departure

11 January 2009

Often people pray for something that it doesn’t come to be true, and react to this in different way..
As it just happened to me when I had already prepared for anything, including made a deal for temporary accommodation in Brisbane but in the last minute, all changed…

How to react? Of course, commonly for the first time, shocked and worried, all negative view came in my mind. Honestly, not the change of university preference or the cancellation of my program, no, but the most scary came to me is cut of my remuneration whereas I haven’t received my stipend yet…I calculated all my expenditure, and deficit, my son’s face came….oh…god…

Fortunately all run well, thank you Mr riza..even though you had made me under pressured and at the time I blamed you for your silly mistake (so sorry for that..) but finally there was a certainty after University of Canberra accepted my application. However, one problem came again..it’s about Visa. Actually, my visa has been ready but since there was a change in my uni preference, it led the change in my visa too.

My estimated departure is on Sunday 11 January 09, until Friday morning, however, I phoned to ADS officer and she said that there had not been available yet. Worried?? Yup, little bit worried but the most feeling in my mind was ashamed if it would be postponed since I had permitted to all staff in my office and of course all my family as well in my village…

Finally, in the afternoon, mba Lia said that all had been already, visa and my ticket, but there was a change in my departure date, it postponed one day, so I departed on 12 January 2009, with whom??

Nini Rohmat

Sunday, 14 Desember 2009

My little son came with scared face, he talked to me…”nini omat…nini omat”, his little finger pointed to out of house, I was still confused what he said before his uncle said clearly, “Nini Rohmat”…hastely, I came to my mother-in law talking the situation hang by a thread..

Then my mother-in law locked the back door where Nini Rohmat usually went into and after that she went out to meet Nini Rohmat outside of house..

Nini Rohmat is an insane woman who usually come to meet my mother-in law in order to ask something (money, clothes, etc). Actually, her home is quite far, around 3-4 km.

Why we close her access to our house? It doesn’t mean that we don’t appreciate and respect to guests even though she is an insane woman but another ‘illness’ of her is uncontrolled urinate that leads to stench of urine. Her dress is also get wet of urine.

I remember around a year ago, we were all shock when unexpectedly she appeared and came into our house and then sat down on the sofa, after that we had to swab floor and clean up the sofa but the bad smell was not vanish despite we spraid ‘bayfresh’..

I don’t know excatly the name of her illness in science term..

My mother-in law said that she has became insane and has not been able to control her urine since she bore a baby. But surprisingly, she still remember our relatives, despite living in other village and once she went to there…

When my mother-in law talked to Nini Rohmat, I and my son took a peep behind space of the window. I wonder why my son became scared, did he catch the fear from the circumtance?…

At that time, I talked to my son that Nini Rohmat is a human like us, she is also kind so we didn’t need to fear. After that I carried for my son going out close to Nini Rohmat who looked enjoy picking cassava leaves. Then I whispered to my son that everything is okay, she was not dangerous. I looked my son cover his nose with his fingers saying ‘bau’…and I took him keeping away from Nini Rohmat, I just wanted to recovery his trauma..

PKB will become a memory

After several times giving bottom line about PKS, I think it’s not fair to not highlight a litte about PKB….but sorry ..it’s not about Gus Dur or Cak Imin’s party….(ehm..just kidding) …it’s about my occupation, PKB is abbreviation of Pengurangan Keberatan dan Banding, in which handles the proposal of objection, reduce and cancel administrative penalty and incorrect tax assessment, in this area I devote almost all my day from Monday to Friday…

Honestly this highlight of my workplace, including my friends, of course, comes from deep inside of my heart as I feel I have ever been part of teamwork there…and I feel still remain homework to just write little before departure to Brisbane (Insya Allah) (this is serious!!!)

first of all, lets start to highlight my big boss, mr wanda. In my opinion, he is a very strick leader but he is able to distinguish the domain of task and personal area. He also loves to sing and you know what the most favourite song is?..yup, Broery’s song…’let’s the moon talks…’ or biar bulan bicara..

Bulan sabit yang jatuh dipelataran
(curved moon that fell in the quad)
Bintang redup tanpa cahaya gemintang
(the stars are getting overcast without bright light)
Langkah tanpa arah
(the steps without direction)
Sesat di jalan yang terang
(loosing in the bright road)
Aku yang terlena dibuai pelukan dosa
(I fell asleep in the sin hold)
..he he…

I think he’s supposed to become the raw model of the next top leader in the DGT..I hope so…thank a lot for leading and supporting me, you give me much inspiration…

Next…to all my friends who look like ‘autist people’ as feeling like home staying in the front of computers… other people from different division often satirize that we are so serious, so silent in the room…but wait…yesss we are silent but it doesn’t mean that we are so seriuos…look at them…they smile even sometimes once I heard they laugh…oh I know they chat by the internet (skype) among us…queena, nitnots, gus dur, wong madiun, masyes, etc…….
Citing in my friend (the lifestyle observer) pointed that recently, human beings tend to be less socialable as gadget tools provide more convenience and by this trends reduction, the business practitioners catch this opportunities by serving hang-out places..of course with ‘hang-out charge’… are my friends less socialable?..I don’t know..

to all of my friends, in this unimportant notes I just wanna apologize to not organize a farewell big meals, then I don’t give souvenirs (except to mr jockpit, you get lucky to accept my pending objection file he he…) In this occasion I also wanna say thank for being my friends. In this working period is the hardest time for me to face the temptation from Allah ta’ala..fortunately, you all support me..thank for coming to my home in Purbalingga (mr wanda, mr eka, mr yudhi, mr widhi, mr agus, mr jokpit, mr koko, mr yulis, mba trie and mr masno), I never forgot that ( I know you all sacrifice your good time with your families, such as mr wanda, mba trie and mr eka and I know that the trip is not enjoyable ..once again, I’ m affected..thank you)..

Furthermore, I’d like to give the testimony to all of you..

Mr Eka: you look younger than your age..in March to July, I bet you are the most wanted ..actually for your students who want to consult about their thesis…

Trio Macan Merchant (mba hesty, mba yanti & mba lies)

mba lies: thank for lending me kompas daily..sorry for teasing and always giving unimportant comment about your costumes..undoubtedly, you are a good mother, arvin & kenzie must be proud of you..

mba Hesty & mba Yanthie: both you must be fight first to acquire my strategic-desk..to mba Hesty, I agree with mr wanda said that you are so ‘bejo’ (lucky) got married with mr soleh…he he…

Duo Untouched Body (Mr ali & Mr Tigor): you both are misterious and serious guys..

Indonesia’s Todd Woodbridge/Mark Woodforde: Mr Agus & Mr Awe: you are hard workers…to mr Agus, thank u for valuable experience visiting taxpayers until cengkareng that make me really throwing up and getting dizzy after that..

the charlie’s angels(mba Toby, mba Yulti & mba Wahyu): I don’t know excatly what you all did with your computers…but the fact is that you all are very productive, of course, compare to me he he…I think you all have the same hobbies: culinary tours..

mba Trie: thank for always paying attention to my personal consultation, I have been custom listening your soft voice persuading and advicing your kids..Qonita, Tsabita, Faqih and Alya must be lucky having an extraordinary mom like you…

Mr Masyes: Salute for your spirit following modernization test in which is rarely for tax officers from ‘old era’ coming to be agents of change…you are also look younger than your age precisely, I think you are 35 years old, don’t u??

Mr Jock Pit who is very proud named himself as ‘wong madiun’: you are so charismatic, I believe that now you are very fit to be a head of section, I pray for your recovery from suffer stomach disorder..and good luck waiting for a new baby born..

Mr Yudhi: thank for beautiful desaign of PKBers T’shirt..& congratz for your wedding in February..I’m so sorry I might not come to your happiest day event..anyway, do you still like eating ‘jengkol’???

The durian kingsMr Widhi : & mr Yulis: when you invite me to eat durians together?..
to mr Yulis: thank for answering my question about taxes..

Mr Pasti: the naughty boy, this guy is the youngest among us..maybe I will miss to tickle you he he…

The host, Mba Nitnots: she is a regular presenter in our office, she is not only a presenter but also a singer, a dancer….he he (just a joke)
but the first impression of mba nitnots is when she organized an event collecting her friends welcoming us (the new comers in this office) even though I know that their status as objection reviewers was still tentative…

Mr Koko: I must remember your big serve he he…but honestly you have warm personality…

mba Gerda: thank for giving me a chance to be a free raider even though I’m really ashame driven by a pregnant woman..but I don’t have any choice, I couldn’t drive a car, really…

Mr Anto, Mr Dany, Mr Wahyu, Ibu Ati: wish you all be success in your career

Would you mind sharing ‘your plate’?

Habitually after recitation of the confession of the faith (such as tahlilan and mauludan) in the Majlis, the host serves several big plates contained ‘kebuli’ rice, roasted goat meat, ‘kerupuk’ , ‘acar’ and fruits that is divided into several groups. One group consisted of 3 or 4 people and ate together in one big plate.

For the first time, I felt repugnant looking at people taking rice with their fingers (without spoon and fork) from the same plate and I prefered to just take a fruit rather than eating rice together..

Unrealizingly, my spiritual teacher (ustadz) noticed me and one day asked me why i didn’t join eat together with other people..at that time I said that I had eaten just before going to the majlis..(oh..I ‘m sorry for lie)..but I was not able to keep lie after several times I always didn’t join..

Finally I admitted that I didn’t have a habit eating together in one plate and wisely my teacher replied that it was okay if I didn’t mind eating together and I could take a plate separately..

Furthermore, even the contains of discourse didn’t straight forward to me but I perceived it was for me..He said that sometimes human being felt more valuable or higher than others in many aspects of life, such as income, position, group ethnic, etc. that restricted to feel togetherness. It should be gazed and to be understood from your conscience that we are all the same in Allah valuation except for faithfull degree to Allah ta’ala..The feeling of disgusting showed that we need to extra effort to clean our heart by dzikrullah to make more pure our heart…

In the later week, I tried to control my heart by dzikrullah and joined together with other people eating together in one big plate looking at the rice grains fell down from the fingers interspace..

It is true that we are all the same..How about you??

Source of picture: www.biggestmenu.com

My passport has been already available…

Alhamdulillah, this morning I met Mr. Chorry and he said that our passports (mine and my friends’) were already available and please to take them by ourselves with extra money ( I don’t know it is legal or illegal cost he he…)….thankfully, I don’t need to re-take X-Ray as one of the requirements to obtain Visa cause the latest I took X-ray was September 11, 2008 and it is valid within 3 months so the expired date will be December 11, 2008….

Recently, I’m keeping amused on preparaing things to bring…oh, my god, so many lists…make me dizzy…..look at my lists I obtain from searching on the internet and also recommendation from my friends…

Documents, money & important things
1 Passport and visa, copy 3 pieces (leave one at home);
2 photo (2×3 3×4 4×6);
3 money (taking in AU$ in case of AU$ 5,000 allowance will be obtain in the tree or four days later);
4 Identity card;
5 Temporary accomodation address (give to parent);
6 ALO n’ friends phones in Ausie;
7 Certified Certificate and transcript DIII n’ DIV (at least 3 pieces);
8 Address book, e-mail, office phone number, friends, etc;

Clothes, etc.
1 T- Shirt (6 pieces);
2 Blouse (3 pieces) ;
3 Jacket & sweater (1 piece) ..wearing on the plane to reduce the weight in the baggage..
4 Coast n’ tie (1 piece);
5 Batik clothe (1 piece in case of attending Indonesian ceremony);
6 Undershirt (8 pieces);
7 Underwear (10 pieces);
8 Trunk (3 pieces);
9 jeans (2 pieces);
10 Sport trousers (1 piece);
11 Trousers (3 pieces);
12 Long john;
13 Sock (4 pairs);
14 Sport shoes (2 pairs);
15 Leather shoes (1 pair);
16 Thong (1 pair);
17 Mountain thong ( 1 pair);
18 hat (1 piece)
19 Gloves
20 Bed cover;
21 Belt;
22 Sewing thread n’ needle

Stationaries n material
1 Writing book;
2 Ballpoint (2 pieces);
3 Mecanical pencil;
4 Eraser;
5 stabillo;
6 Small scisors;
7 Nail clipper;
8 Stapler no.10;
9 Calculator;
10 Compass;
11 Tipe ex;
12 Pencil Box;
13 Hole punch;
14 Holder (file);
15 Souvenir;
16 Tecnical dictionary (accounting and tax);
17 English-Bahasa, Bahasa-english (softcopy);
18 Tax Regulation (softcopy);
Praying Stuff
1 Sarong;
2 Sajadah;
3 Kopyah;
4 Al-Qur’an;
5 Koko Shirt;

Toiletries
1 Tissue passeo 260 sheet (1 box);
2 Lifebuoy liquid soap (1 botle);
3 Selsun Shampoo (2 botles)
4 Liquid face soap (4 botles)
5 Teeth brush;
6 Antiplaque (3 pieces);
7 Deodorant (2 pieces);
8 Gillette (4 pieces);
9 Towel;
10 Comb;

Electronic equipment
1 Laptop;
2 Digital camera;
3 Voice recorder / IPOD;
4 HP;
5 HP charger;
6 Flash disk;
7 CD RW;
8 Magic Jar;
9 Iron;

Medicine
1 Panadol;
2 Mylanta;
3 Diapet;
4 Antangin;
5 Vitamin C
6 antibiotic (Amoxycillin)
10 Jajuput Oil;

Sport accessories
1 Tennis Racket;

Food
1 Indomie;
2 Abon
3 Instant ingredients;
4 Nopia n Jipang;

Bag
1 Travel Bag (2 pieces)
2 Backpack (1 piece)
3 Waist small bag.

I think those will be eliminated at the time just before departure in order to meet 40 kg the minimum baggage requirement of Qantas…

Please, Put Your Taxpayer Identification Number on Donator Identity

Talking about the regulation of campaign fund that nowadays it becomes hot news reminding me to my previous-worth experience four years ago when I was involved in arranging book on behalf of General Election Commission (KPU) cooperating with Public Sector Accountants Compartment of The Indonesian Institute of Accountants (IAI-KASP), “Accounting System: a Guidance for Political Parties in Indonesia” in which also regulates about campaign fund (sources and expenditure).

Approximately a month ago, IAI-KASP staff, called me asking whether I could join again or not to revise the regulation of General Election Commission about campaign fund recording and reporting guidance. Honestly, with the limitation of my time I have that make me worry about the limitation of my contribution so I denied to join. Furthermore, I have forgotten much about detail of that regulation he he…

Something make me surprise is about the plan of KPU to oblige donators to put Taxpayer Identification Number (NPWP) on Donator Identity as requested by the Director General of Tax, Mr. Darmin Nasution, for donation over Rp 20 million as the minimum of personal exemption (PTKP) is Rp 15.84 million a year. In my opinion, it is the advance of other sight of democration in which direct toward good governance, transparency and accountability.

I absolutely agree to put NPWP on donator identity in order to make it easy for Directorate General of Tax observing tax administration and also observing the compliance of taxpayers to fulfill their obligation. On the other hand, for KPU or Auditor who audit the reporting of Campaign Fund get easy to trace the adress of donators since in the tax administration just by clicking the number of NPWP, we can obtain much data including of the address.

Don’t talk about the effectiveness of that regulation nowadays cause we have to admit that based on the experience in 4 years ago, there were so many violation, such as fictive donators, unrecorded donation, etc, that no penalty for that. This happened as the election law didn’t strictly regulate the penalty for breaking the regulation, especially for campaign fund.

However, as many people said that we just learn to be a democratic nation so we need long time to be a real democratic nation. Once again, put NPWP on donators identity is one step forward toward good governance. In the future, we can stipulate the house representatives to create the election law that guarantee the strick penalty. On other side, we also encourage other institution, such as the police, attorney, to do the law enforcement. Hence, the contenders will grab the donation accountably.