Smells like Bean Spirit

It has been more than a week since i came back to Munich, but till now, if i close my eyes, i can still feel the noise in Jakarta, the warmth in Pontianak, the happiness i really experienced in my short (4 weeks) trip to Indonesia. It was like a dream, yes, a very beautiful dream. Very short, but impressing.

This year is my third year in Munich. My fourth summer will arrive shortly. I am still asking myself, what i am doing here? Where do i want to go after this? What would i like to become after this. But there is no much time anymore for thinking. I will write my master thesis in few weeks. The real life will (finally) greet me.

Honestly, my heart still lies somewhere between Indonesia and Germany. Germany gives you a very good opportunity to have a good life quality (the German always say that life quality - Lebensqualität - is everything). But i can’t lie. Despite the broken social life, the racism issues, endless criminality, evil corruption cases, etc, i still love my country. One thing i know, Indonesia (may) need people like me, who study abroad and gain knowledge which can be advantageous for the development of Indonesia. Well, however, sometimes we have to distinguish between heart (emotion) and the real life. The question would be, whether Indonesia could support these people. Unfortunately, this should be one big reason, why a lot of (good) Indonesian around the world don’t want to go back.

Yeah, i am talking too much. It’s time to concentrate to the present, to the current situation. No time anymore for playing. The clock is ticking. This year will be a very important year for my life. A big decision will be there at the end of this year. Wish me luck, friends!

P.S. I would like to thank all of my friends, who took their precise time for just saying hello or even accompanying me in some fun times during my holiday in Indonesia. You guys are really the best! For some best friends, who i couldn’t see in that time, i would like to apologize to all of you. Four weeks were extremely short for me, and i was also in two cities. Take care and keep in touch!

Have you ever thought of Africa? Well, perhaps yes, after you watched news on Television about a disaster,  starvation or some troubles happening in Africa. Upss, i forgot , you are probably thinking of Africa lately, since Barack Obama might appear everyday in your TV-Box. But then you would possibly forget about this continent. However, i will write neither about him, the election in US nor the economic crisis.

Actually, i didn’t really care about Africa until last June 2008. I have a friend, Thomas, who is a priest and responsible for an organization in Tanzania called FOSTER. On that time, he told me about his project, his life, his activity in Africa. Wow, i was really impressed. What am I doing here, whereas his and many other development organizations are struggling to create a better world for all human? (too much expressed? ) But i really want to help him and i had a chance. So, finally, i created a small website fosterafrica.org a couple months ago. I didn’t need to waste too much time for this website, since the features are basically simple. (actually, i needed more time for the design, i am not a designer, OK T_T). But for other people without Computer Science knowledge it would be a great help, and i am so glad to help.I will still add few features to this website (i have been busy since July, have to manage my time). I just added few news to the website and afterward, i decided to introduce this organization in my website. Unfortunately, the news are only available in German right now. It’s a kind of diary of a German-girl who currently works in Foster in Tanzania for a year. I will try to provide the English content as soon as i receive the permission to translate (or translation of) the texts.

In the end of August 2008 i had been living in Germany for one year. I wrote an email and sent it to many of my close friends. I just wanted to keep contact with them and tell a short story about what i had done during my one-year-life in a place located far away from them. Most of them sent me back an email and they wrote about their life as well. They certainly gave me so many supports and feedback. I really appreciate that.

I also noticed that all of them have made significant progress during this time. Few of them are even astonishing. Few others might haven’t found yet their purpose in this life despite their still-in-progress-struggle, but i am sure they will. We are still young, my friends. We still have so many things to do in this life. Don’t give up to your life. We have so many time to draw a beautiful and great picture in our life. If you think that you are already old by 23 or 24 years old, let me tell you what i have seen here. Many people in Europe start to study again after 25 years old. Why? Because they know that the previous study is not their way. They still have another dream and they want to pursue and manifest it. Well, our life is only once, isn’t it?

I am proud of you guys. I am so envious of your achievement. I can’t wait to chase after you. We will meet each other next year. At that time, i hope that we would be in half-way in obtaining our dream. I look forward to seeing you guys.