Teplok dan Sentir

Teringat obrolan semalam sehabis acara pengajian Uc-kum (pengajian komunitas mahasiswa Indonesia di University of Canberra), salah seorang kawan bercerita tentang kondisi kampung halamannya di belahan pulau Sumatera yang konon sampai tahun 90an belum juga disaluri listrik oleh PLN. Ketika kemudian saya juga bercerita bahwa kampung saya di daerah Purbalingga sampai tahun 1995 juga belum ada listrik, kawan saya seolah tak percaya, tapi ya begitulah kenyataannya, sampai saya hijrah merantau ke Jakarta untuk melanjutkan studi di STAN, tepatnya semester 2 pada tahun 1995, baru listrik masuk ke kampung halaman kami..

Saya pribadi tak malu mengakui kenyataan ini, justru saya bisa berbagi plus minusnya hidup di dua zaman, zaman teplok dan sentir serta zaman listrik. Saya mengalami zaman teplok dan sentir sampai saya tamat SMA, jadi bisa dibayangkan ketiadaan sinar yang cukup menjadi hal yang biasa, bahkan karena terbiasanya itu saya bisa merasakan terangnya dalam kegelapan, bukankah Allah itu maha adil dan kuasa, Dia menciptakan dua pasang mata manusia dengan sangat sempurnanya, sehingga retina kita dapat beradaptasi dengan lingkungan sekitarnya, coba saja matikan lampu anda di malam gelap gulita, untuk pertama kali anda akan susah melihat sekitarnya, tapi setelah beberapa lama, anda akan dapat menguasai daerah sekitar anda.
Ada beberapa nilai positif yang dapat saya bagi dari kehidupan di zaman teplok dan sentir, pertama, kita benar2 mentadaburi kuasa Allah lewat pergantian siang dan malamnya, selalu memaknai, menghargai dan mensyukuri hadirnya sang bulan purnama. Ketika sang bulan purnama muncul, maka anak2 akan berhamburan keluar rumah untuk main bersama menikmati mandinya sinar bulan purnama, baik main petak umpet, ular2an dan permainan tradisional lainnya. Tak jarang juga orang2 tua ikut keluar rumah untuk sekedar ngobrol2 dengan tetangga sebelah. Sekarang mungkin susah kita temukan anak2 bermain seperti itu bukan?? Kedua, melatih rasa tanggung jawab. Saya teringat dulu tugas mengambil teplok dan sentir, mengisinya dengan minyak tanah, dan menyalakan apinya serta mendistribusikan ke setiap ruangan adalah tugas saya, sementara anggota keluarga yang lainnya dapat tugas lainnya seperti menimba air dari sumur, dsb. Dengan keberadaan listrik mungkin tugas2 seperti itu sudah tereliminasi. Ketiga, eratnya rasa kekeluargaan. Kebetulan di rumah saya memang tidak ada televisi, almarhum ayah saya memang termasuk keras dalam hal ini, beliau tidak ingin anak2nya banyak meluangkan waktu di depan televisi, beliau lebih mendorong anak2nya bercengkerama bersama di ruang keluarga dan selebihnya adalah waktu untuk belajar. Sehingga, praktis ketiadaan listrik dan televisi mengakibatkan kami banyak meluangkan waktu bersama, bersenda gurau, bersama anggota keluarga lainnya. Tapi terkadang saya sempat curi2 waktu juga ke rumah tetangga untuk sekedar menonton acara TV favouritku, Selekta Pop ataupun Aneka Ria Safari he he.

Dengan hadirnya listrik memang telah merubah segalanya di kampung saya, tak ada lagi suara sahut2an anak2 di malam bulan purnama, tak ada lagi derap langkah lari anak2 di pinggir rumah, semuanya telah tergantikan dengan dunia kotak, televisi dan computer. Sekarang orang begitu banyak bergantung dari listrik, setiap aspek dan denyut kehidupan seolah2 berasal dari listrik. Hal yang menakutkan sekarang bagi orang adalah padamnya listrik. Padahal kalau dilalui tidak akan seseram yang dibayangkan kok, selalu ada nilai2 lainnya yang menggantikan nilai yang terbuang. Saya pernah membaca artikel tentang suatu komunitas kaum hedonis yang telah jenuh dengan gaya hidup cosmopolitan yang mencoba kembali ke alam sebenarnya, tanpa listrik, tanpa computer, telepon, dsb. Mungkin suatu saat ini akan menjadi trend. Anda mau mencobanya?? Gak ada listrik, masih ada teplok dan sentir kok…

Gambar, source : flickr.com/photos/96575756@N00/2602371061/

Kamal..

Malam ini dalam lamunanku, tiba2 muncul sesosok wajah, wajah yang pernah sangat akrab dalam kehidupan masa kecilku, masa dimana kepolosan dan keceriaan tanpa beban hidup selalu hadir mewarnai. Sosok itu adalah Kamal. Kamal dalam bahasa arab berarti sempurna, mungkin ini adalah sebentuk doa dari orang tuanya semoga sang kamal kecil tumbuh sempurna jiwa dan raganya. Namun apa dikata, takdir hidup juga menentukan ia tumbuh ‘berbeda’ dengan kebanyakan orang lainnya.

Kamal hidup dilereng pegunungan ditengah2 alas didesa kami tercinta, rumahnya yang terpisah jauh dari perkampungan menyebarkan cerita tentang sosoknya yang keras yang terbiasa hidup dengan alam liar. Namun bagiku, Kamal dalam masa kecilku adalah kawan yang sangat baik, dia sangat mengayomiku, kita sering main bersama, permainan anak2 kampung yang mungkin sekarang ini sudah sangat susah ditemui tergantikan era video game dan internet..

Dalam pencarian hakikat hidup yang aku jalani, sosok Kamal menyeruak hadir, dia hadir bukan karena kelebihannya, dia hadir bukan karena keistimewaannya, seperti banyak tokoh2 sejarah yang sering dijadikan rujukan dalam biografinya. Kamal hadir sebagai seorang Kamal, dengan kesederhanaannya, dengan kepapaannya, dengan segala kelemahannya, Kamal hadir sebagai seorang teman kecilku, Kamal hadir mwnawarkan cerita hakikatnya persahabatan dan cerita kamal setidaknya memberikan i’tibar bagiku agar lebih dewasa dan bijaksana memandang hidup. Dan entah mengapa malam ini aku merindukannya, merindukan Kamal dan masa kanak2ku..

10 hari Ramadhan hamper terlewati, dan Idul Fitri sebenarnyalah saat2 yang aku nantikan, karena saat itulah aku berharap dapat menjabat tangan dan memandang wajah2 orang yang pernah mengisi masa kanak2ku dulu. Dan selalu aku berharap dapat menjabat tanganmu, teman kecilku, Kamal. Namun Idul fitri ini rasanya aku harus menahan diri untuk tidak merasakan tangan2 kasar dan hangat dari semua teman2 kecilku, termasuk kau Kamal, karena perjalanan hidupku sepertinya mengharuskanku untuk berlebaran di negara orang..
20 tahunan masa itu telah berlalu, ketika kita sama2 tamat dari madrasah ibtidaiyah dan tak lagi kulihat wajahmu. Kau dan juga senasib dengan kawan2 kecilku yang lain sudah langsung bergelut dengan kerasnya hidup saat itu, entahlah apakah kau bertani atau merantau, hanya sekelumit cerita tentangmu aku dapatkan, sementara aku masih melanjutkan sekolah. Namun kawan, jujur saja aku tidak pernah melupakanmu karena kau dan kawan2 kecilku yang lain adalah mutiara2 putih dalam hidupku. Perjalanan jauh ke Canberra pun tidak sanggup melunturkan namamu dalam kalbuku. Akupun juga tahu perasaanmu bahwa kaupun tidak melupakanku. Aku masih ingat cerita ibuku, katanya pernah diketahui kau duduk termangu didepan rumahku, diajak masuk kedalam rumah kau tak mau, katanya kau menungguku, selalu menanyakan ke penjual es buah depan rumah mengapa diriku tidak pernah pulang ke kampung halaman, katanya kamu kangen sudah lama sekali tidak bertemu..

kawan, pastinya kau akan bercerita tentang hidupmu dengan bahasa sederhanamu, tentang kerasnya hidupmu, tentang arti kebahagiaanmu, sungguh aku ingin sekali mendengarnya, namun kesempatan itu tak pernah kudapatkan. Dan cerita2 sederhanamu bagiku sama nilainya dengan cerita2 sukses tokoh2 terkenal, karena kita hakikatnya adalah pelakon2 hidup itu.

Setahun berikutnya aku dapatkan kabar bahwa kau merantau ke Jakarta berjualan bakso keliling, namun keluguan dan kepolosanmu agaknya tak sanggup menaklukkan kerasnya kehidupan ibu kota. Ada cerita kau selalu dipalak dan dipukul preman2. Ah kamal, aku ingin selalu mengikuti alur cerita hidupmu seperti kemudian aku dapatkan cerita kau diborgol di rumahmu yang terletak di lereng pegunungan, entahlah apa yang terjadi denganmu Kamal, kata orang kau menjadi gila, mengamuk dan selalu membawa2 pisau dan mengancam nyawa orang lain. Sempat kau terlepas dan mondar mandir didepan rumahku, mungkinkah kau ingin membagi beban hidupmu? Seandainya saat itu aku ada, aku tak peduli, akan ku rengkuh dirimu, mutiara kecilku..

Ah kawan, seandainya kaupun tahu, cerita hidupkupun tak juga kalah tragisnya dengan dirimu, drama kehidupan yang memang harus dijalani dan dihadapi. Dan sejujurnya disaat2 sulit akupun butuh kawan2 sepertimu, kawan sebenarnya, kawan yang tulus dan jujur, kawan yang berbahasa sederhana. Ingin sekali kita bisa bangkit kawan. Kawan, semoga kita masih dapat berjumpa, dan kita sama2 bisa tertawa renyah melepaskan beban hidup kita, seperti tawa kita waktu kecil dulu saat main kelereng..

Welcome Ramadhan

Time passes away swiftly. As if yesterday we said ‘goodbye’ to Ramadan, now the holy month is about to reach us again. Especially for this year, I commit the fasting in overseas, Australia, far away from my family. It may be little bit need to struggle facing a temptation during the Ramadan. Here there is no atmosphere of welcoming Ramadan like in Indonesia. Everything goes in normal way like other common days.

From the deepest of my heart, of course, there is a hope to increase the level of my worship. In this mercy, benevolence and blessing month, everything is valuable, even just sleeping. Regarding to achieve it, some notes I ‘ve made as a guidance. Hopefully, it can be implemented well. Firstly, I want to clean my heart up by invoking Him for the forgiveness often and often. Secondly, obeying what He obliges to His creatures. Thirdly, keeping my tongues against unworthy words, and my eyes from such unworthy scenes and my ears from such sounds that should not be heard. Fourthly, Reciting the holy Qur’an as best I can. Then, I want to love and make my family, my relatives, my friends, and all people around me happy.

By commencing Ramadan, Insya Allah on Saturday this week, let me say..please forgive me for all my mistakes..and let us come up with the new life….

Indonesian Festival, Representing only Small Part of the Rich Indonesian Cultures

Yesterday was the special occasion for Indonesian community who live in Canberra since it was held a ‘big’ event, ‘Indonesian Festival’ in order to celebrate the 64th anniversary of Indonesian independence. Overall, the event was success, supported by the weather that was very friendly, as not as usual in the winter, yesterday was quite warm. Moreover, it was quite surprising because the visitors, not only Indonesian community but also foreign people, from Australian residents, Arabian, Chinese, etc. flocked to the Indonesian embassy.

What was it offered for Indonesian Festival? There we enjoyed some entertainment from Indonesian cultures, such as Rantak dance, Manukrowo, Trunojoyo, Batakese song, keroncong songs, batik fashion show, angklung performance, etc. in which began at around 10 am food and finished around 5 pm. It was also offered some Indonesian food in lot stalls, such as satay, tahu, bubur ayam, candil, etc. For people who missed the real Indonesian food, that event may become the right place to overcome the longing.

Looking at the enthusiastic Australian and other foreign people, I believe that this event could be the one good way to promote Indonesian tourism particularly by introducing the rich of Indonesian cultures in terms of traditional dance, folk songs, handicraft, etc. I did admit that Indonesia has rich beautiful cultures more than that was presented yesterday. Each region or ethnic group has it cultures and heritage. Maybe for some Indonesian cultures, we are as Indonesian sometimes do not recognize them. So that’s why by bringing those cultures in such kind of event like Indonesian Festival will help us and international community to more understand the rich of Indonesian cultures. It might be better if the big event like Indonesian Festival be prepared and organized well, such as building the excellent stage, dividing the stalls by some Indonesian ethnic group in which sold not only the food but also the handicrafts, etc.

The performance on the stage may also be better if it shows more vary. Indonesia still has many other good performance, such as ketoprak, wayang golek, kuda lumping, sendratari, etc. Indonesia has also many handicrafts. Unfortunately, yesterday, I was difficult to find it. Maybe it’s better if Indonesian embassy cooperates with some Indonesian traditional entrepreneurs to bring their handicrafts here. It becomes mutualism cooperation. The event is more extravaganza, on the other hand the entrepreneurs come up with benefit of networking. I little bit surprised looking at Sarah (Australian resident) who looks more ‘Indonesian’ by wearing a good model of batik and also the accessory of handbag made of coconut shell. It is really beautiful. Should be we ashamed to her??

Gloomy n’ Cheerful: Two Sides of Coin

Getting together with some friends sometimes becomes the best way to just release distress, such as this evening we came altogether to give condolence on the loss of our best friends’ baby. I know it’s hard situation for them loosing someone whom they are waiting for. Insya Allah your baby occupies in raudlatul jannah as refer to Hadits of Bukhori, the man who lives in that raudhah (park) is Ibrahim a.s. whereas the children stay around him are those baby who birth in fitrah (purity).

Even though you tried to be cheerful but I know from your eyes were not able to hide the gloomy. Believe me the time will erase your sadness. However, I believe you both are able to recover from this hard situation. In order to reduce your gloomy feeling now, you need friends to talk to. Don’t let you are alone cause it will provoke your deep sadness.

I know Losing someone we love can be the most difficult thing to go through in life. Personally I have had experience about that. But maybe I can’t be a good raw model for this case because until now to be honest I am still trying to struggle managing my heart to not feel loosing someone even or something even though it’s just the little thing. Like this evening when someone told me to off or maybe quit from the job (in which we have the same work place), to be honest there was something loose in my heart. It will become the second friend quit from this job. I don’ know the reason why I have to be sad. It always happened to me. Maybe I become too melancholic for this, I am sorry my friend, it’s really your choice n your life…

Overview the Australian Tax System Dealing with Processing the Tax Refund

Around 3 weeks ago I lodged my first tax return and surprisingly this week when I checked my bank account, the ATO had already transferred my tax refund. It doesn’t take a long time, does it? interestingly, I don’t need to come to the tax office and attach many documents as I thought before. It just go to the ATO website and download a particular program, e-tax, and follow the instructions there until finish and then submit, that’s all. In order to complete filling up the form, obviously we don’t need deeply tax knowledge since the questions and forms to fill up created in a simple way. Just answer the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions, and input some data required for ‘yes questions’. Based on that of my experience has triggered me to just share my point of view regarding the Australian Tax System in particular processing the claim of tax refund with little bit compared to that of Indonesia.

I have been registered as Australian Resident for tax purpose since February 2009 at the same time when I got Tax File Number. My status here is a personal taxpayer. Personal taxpayer has the significant role in terms of contributing toward total tax revenue. It is common for develop countries. Not surprisingly, the highest contribution is from personal income tax, which is made up of gross income tax withholding, gross other individuals’ income tax and individuals’ refunds, accounts for 45.8 per cent of total taxation revenue. Whereas company income tax accounts for only 21.2 per cent of total taxation revenue. It is different to Indonesia in which the highest contribution is still from company income tax. It should be the big job for DGT to increase the tax ratio so that in the future the personal taxpayers have the significant role in contributing tax revenue.

Financial year in Australia is from I July to 30 June, so then in June, if we work we should accept a PAYG (Pay As You Go) payment summary from our employer. In Indonesia, it may be the same as 1721 A2. It contains some information dealing with our identities, gross payment, total tax withheld, etc. Here it is the example of PAYG payment summary.

Based on the data from PAYG payment summary, we can directly go to start to answer and fill up the forms in the e-tax. At the beginning we are just required to fill up the verification form in which contains of proof of identity, such as name, TFN and date of birth. The, we go to the shared secret information in which we need to declare our bank account. Shared secret information basically is the data and payment history of each taxpayer. Due to it was the first time I lodged the tax return so then there was no information available. When I rang the Australian Account Representative, it was explained that in the next year it will be available of my data. Providing that it utilizes an integrated system so the data from the employers can be traced. I don’t know exactly whether the ATO has the access toward taxpayer’s bank account or not but seemingly, it may have the access since when we open the bank account we are also requested to fill up the TFN. From the statement in the e-tax, it also shows that the ATO can access the taxpayer’s bank account.
Basically, the structure of Australian tax return may have no significant differences to Indonesian’s. It contains the information of income, deduction, tax offset, etc. However, the way those forms presented may be quite different. Here, it seems no complicated forms compared to Indonesia’s. For instance, in terms of filling up the number of income, we are guided to answer the ‘yes or no’ questions, such as, did you receive payment of salary etc from which tax was withheld or any lump sum payment from employer for unused annual leave? Y/N, Did you receive any income whether or not shown on PAYG payment summary? Y/N. In deduction section, the type of questions is the same, Yes or No questions, such as did you have any car expense, travel, uniform (specific clothing), self education expense, relating to your work as an employee? Y/N. It is quite simple, right?? If we want to claim the tax refund, we need to state the bank account in order to the ATO to transfer. A final assessment of the income tax liabilities of individual taxpayers is normally made on the basis of returns lodged after the end of each financial year. Refunds from the ATO are made where tax credits to an individual exceed their final liability on assessment. Again, there are no need physical documents required, except for some circumstances. So then, why the ATO dare to apply this system? Is it not afraid of such kind of frauds?? The answer may be they have already developed a strong system where all elements of government office and business entity become an integrated system to encourage this system implemented correctly. The second one, it may be back again to the culture, it means the national and society culture to support this system.

How about Indonesia?? I think Indonesia now has a significant advance in developing tax system. In my opinion, the weakness is no enough strong political will from the president and parliament to support. How come the DGT has a self confidence to copy the system from the develop countries whilst to get some information from other government ministry need a long time even no reply at all. How come the DGT is able to intensify the potential tax revenue whilst to access the bank account need a lot procedures and bureaucracy?. The DGT also has utilized information technology to support its performance. However, still it needs physical documents to be submitted. Again, there is lack of trust since it is in the process of transforming to the new system. Hopefully, it will not take a long time to come up with the truly new system so that taxpayers satisfy with the DGT performance. It is enjoy applying the TFN at home, right? It is enjoy claiming the tax refund at home and then check the bank account it has been transferred, right?

Reference:
www.ato.gov.au

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…