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??

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??

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

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…

Syukur, alhamdulillah..

Tadi pagi dikirimin file ‘placement status’ yang baru sama pak Danny P2, katanya statusku dah award offer…alhamdulillah…semoga ini yang terbaik buatku, tadinya sempet kepikiran untuk menunda keberangkatan karena masih ada beberapa hal yang ingin aku selesaikan terlebih dahulu..

Yang utama adalah support dari keluarga..kemarin pas aku pulang kampung sempat bergurau bahwa saya gak jadi berangkat ke Australia, aku lihat muka ‘eyang uti’ (panggilan anakku untuk ibu dari alm. istriku) terlihat sumringah, demikian juga dengan ‘eyang picung’ (ibuku) yang sepertinya juga kurasakan kurang mensupport, dengan nada berat beliau pernah bertanya “kamu jadi berangkat ke Australia?”…sekilas kutatap wajahnya yang makin renta, “Insya Allah, jadi bu..” sahutku lirih..

Dalam kondisi seperti aku sekarang ini menjadi dilematis, disatu sisi dapet beasiswa ADS adalah kesempatan besar belajar ke luar negeri secara gratis dan aku pikir ini adalah salah satu wujud fighting aku buat anakku..tapi disisi lain aku harus mengorbankan “golden time” bersama anakku selama 1.5 tahun..apa aku kuat ya….

Pada akhirnya harus aku sadari aku tidak boleh mundur, begitu banyak orang menginginkan kesempatan ini dan aku dedikasikan kesempatan ini buat anakku, keputusan telah aku ambil, bismillaahirrohmaanirrohiim, semoga ini yang terbaik, diberi kelancaran, ilmu yang aku peroleh dapat bermanfaat, amien…

the University of Queensland semakin dekat…

Ada Lobo di Bus PAC 76

Dari kejauhan aku melihat bus patas AC 76 jurusan Senen Ciputat mendekat kearah halte Komdak tempat ku menunggu, harapanku semoga masih ada tempat duduk kosong sehingga tidak cape berdiri di tengah2 bus..

Alhamdulillah, ternyata bus tidak penuh dan masih ada beberapa kursi yang masih kosong di tengah..uppsss ada pengamen yang lagi nyanyi, dan ketika aku melwatinya badan ini menyenggol gitar yang lagi dimainkannya, sehingga terhenti sebentar bunyi gitarnya, namun demikian suara nyanyiannya tetap mengalun, aku kurang ngeh lagu yang dibawakannya, tapi yang kutangkap adalah irama reggae yang indah…ada dua orang, yang satu seperti terlihat orang ambon, dia membawa kecrekan sambil nyanyi, tubuhnya tinggi, perawakannya ceking, dikepalanya memakai “kethu” (kalau dijawa biasa dipakai ibu2), sedang yang satunya lagi badannya tidak terlalu tinggi dan dari paras mukanya lebih terlihat sebagai orang jawa..

Ketika aku sudah duduk, lagu reggae yang dimainkannyapun selesai, layaknya penyanyi professional, si “muka ambon” berinteraksi dengan audience di bus, dengan ramahnya dia membuat jeda lagu ke lagu berikutnya…

Dan gitarpun berdenting lembut..kali ini irama country coba didendangkannya, dan “si muka jawa” kali ini menyanyikan lagunya Lobo “How Can I Tell Her”, suaranya pas, walaupun tidak powerful tapi dalam mengena sesuai dengan ruh lagu2 country..

She knows when I’m lonesome, she cries when I’m sad
She’s up in the good times, she’s down in the bad
Whenever I’m discouraged, she knows just what to do
But girl she doesn’t know about you.

I can tell her my troubles, she makes them all seem right
I can make up excuses not to hold her at night
We can talk of tomorrow, I’ll tell her things that I want to do
But girl how can I tell her about you.

How can I tell her about you
Girl please tell me what to do
Everything seems right whenever I’m with you
So girl won’t you tell me how to tell her about you.

How can I tell her I don’t miss her whenever I’m away
How can I say it’s you I think of every single night and day
But when is it easy telling someone we’re through
Ah girl help me tell her about you.

lumayan juga lagunya..seperti melihat penyanyi aslinya menyanyi “Lobo”, sayang dengan berakhirnya lagu tersebut, berakhir juga acara ngamennya, merekapun harus turun panggung tepat di jembatan kearah Ratu Plaza…

Kenaifan Sang Peminta-minta

7 November 2008
Kereta Sawunggalih baru sampai di stasiun Bekasi, ketika dari jendela kulihat beberapa orang berebut masuk, ada yang memang penumpang, ada yang mau menjajakan jualannya dan ada juga para peminta-minta..

Sekarang ini banyak modus operandi para peminta-minta, dari cara yang konvensional, sekedar menengadahkan tangan, sampai menggunakan cara tertentu yang ujung2nya juga meminta-minta…

Seperti anak kecil yang terlihat dekil, menyapu lantai kereta, dan menengadahkan plastik ke tiap orang yang duduk disitu, walaupun kadang rada bikin jengkel juga, karena bukannya jadi bersih, malah jadi berdebu karena sampah terus disapu dari ujung gerbong ke ujung gerbong lainnya…

Dan ini ada modus operandi baru yang baru pertama kulihat, seorang ABG nanggung, dengan dandanan ketat bak penyanyi dangdut, menyemprotkan pengharum ruangan ke tiap bangku.. dengan gaya genit dan kenesnya dia juga menengadahkan plastik. Menyadari tak ada yang memberikan uang, diujung gerbong dia berteriak…”pada pelit semuaa…..”..entahlah, perasaanku bercampur aduk, antara geli dan juga miris…sangat naif, meminta2 seperti itu, pikirku..

Ketika kereta mulai jalan kembali, aku menyandarkan kepalaku mencoba memejamkan mata, dan benar saja tak lama setelah itu, aku tak ingat apa2 lagi. Sampai di stasiun Cirebon terjaga sebentar karena banyaknya para penjual yang berteriak2 menawarkan barang dagangannya, namun kemudian pulas kembali seiring derak kereta yang melaju, sampai pada suatu stasiun (kayaknya stasiun bumiayu), ketika terdengar teriakan anak2 sahut bersahutan diluar sana, “minta uangnya om, tante, bapak, ibu” “lempar saja kesini” “ayo cepat, kereta mau jalan neh”…entahlah siapa yang mengajari mereka meminta2 dengan cara seperti itu, jauh dari kata sopan..

Tapi, itulah potret bangsa ini, dari kenaifan para peminta2, terselip kenaifan pemerintah yang seharusnya bertanggung jawab atas nasib mereka…

Dan Keretapun Berlalu

8 Oktober 2008, 08.00.
Suasana stasiun Purwokerto sudah ramai, padat dengan orang, ketika aku sampai disana, maklum saat itu adalah saatnya para pemudik balik lagi ke Jakarta setelah melewatkan liburan Idul Fitri bersama sanak keluarganya di kampung halaman. Beberapa gerombolan ibu2 berjilbab nampak sedang mengerumuni seorang anak perempuan kecil yang keliatan tampak riang. Mungkin mereka nenek dan bu’de serta bu’lik anak tersebut yang mengantar kepulangan sang cucu atau keponakan tercinta. Beberapa diantara mereka bersaut-sautan menasihati anak tersebut, supaya tidak nakal, supaya telpon setelah sampai, supaya rajin sekolahnya, bla..bla..bla..menjelang keberangkatan beberapa diantara mereka mengeluarkan lembaran uang sekedar sangu untuk anak tersebut..

Aku duduk termangu dibangku, melihat pemandangan tersebut..

Di sudut lain, nampak keluarga kecil mengakhirkan pertemuan mereka dengan mengobrol, seorang ibu muda dan anaknya melepas sang suami yang akan menunaikan tugas sebagai kepala keluarga, kembali merantau ke Jakarta. Tampak pula guratan sedih di raut muka mereka, berulangkali sang ayah menciumi pipi anaknya, sambil sesekali terucap “jangan nakal di rumah ya..”..

Aku masih termangu memegang tas yang terasa semakin berat ini…

Dari pengeras suara, terdengar suara berat seorang pria yang mengatakan kereta Purwojaya akan segera tiba. Kebetulan aku naik kereta Sawunggalih yang berangkat setelah kereta Purwojaya, sehingga aku masih saja belum beranjak dari tempat duduku. Hilir mudik orang didepanku, menempatkan posisinya sesuai dengan gerbang kereta yang akan dinaikinya. Teriakan2 dan derap langkah mereka semakin jelas terdengar, entah memanggil nama anggota keluarganya atau ada yang tertinggal…pemandangan berikutnya, mereka mulai berebut masuk ke kereta..

Aku melihat seseorang dari balik jendela kereta api, wajahnya menahan rasa kesedihan menatap sosok buah hatinya yang telihat berbinar-binar matanya dibalik jaket tebalnya, seakan mengagumi dunia baru yang pertama kali ia lihat. Sementara seorang wanita muda nampak membopongnya, sambil menunjuk-nunjukkan tangannya, mengarahkan pandangan anaknya, ke arah sang suami, wajahnya terlihat tersenyum, namun tak dipungkiri ada rona kesedihan. Sang nenek yang berdiri disamping anak dan cucunya hanya berteriak, “hati2 ya..”, suaranya nyaris hilang tertelan keramaian suasana dan bunyi kereta yang siap melaju…

Suara dari pengeras suara memberi aba2 akan keberangkatan sang kereta, dan juluran tangan melambai-lambai serta tatapan perpisahan berakhir seiring laju sang kereta menjauhi stasiun..Dan satu buah tangan masih melambai, melihat sang sosok mungil dan wajah istri tercinta yang tertinggal di stasiun, sampai akhirnya tak kuasa untuk melihatnya tersapu kerumunan orang dan kemudian gelapnya malam…

Sosok laki-laki itu adalah aku, sekitar 10 bulan yang lalu..entah mengapa saat itu istriku memaksa ingin mengantarku ke stasiun Purwokerto bersama ibu dan kakaku..

Butiran hangat mengalir di pipiku, seperti episode itu berulang dalam hidupku. Lambaian tangan itu, sosok mungil itu adalah seperti kisahku. Kereta Purwojaya mulai melaju meninggalkan bermacam-macam kisah…

Aku masih duduk termangu, menunggu pemberangkatan kereta selanjutnya…