Just Because......

Just because of a rumor spread like a fire among West Sumatera people that a very powerful earthquake and massive swells will hit Padang (the capital city of West Sumatera) very soon, it is suddenly like a Dead City! People who live near beach have started to move to the higher land while some of them take a drastic action by moving to another cities, like Jakarta and Pekan Baru. Leaving all their lives behind and starting a new one.

Every day, if I go to the wet market or taking Attar and Puan to go to the playground, it is their favorite topic ever. It seems all of people in West Sumatera have the same nightmare every time they sleep. They become paranoid of everything and hey... it must influence their daily life for sure.

I know West Sumatera people are trauma of last year's earthquake, I was here when it was occured. My parents's home was just about 500 meters from the sea and it was destroyed my home. Me and my whole family became refugees for three days since there were no electricity and clean water. I was also here when the recent earthquake and tsunami occurred. I have my own reason why I do not like the sea. You can read it Here. 

Should we be afraid of something like this rumor? Should we live in fear forever, worried of something that we absolutely do not have ideas will be happened? Okay... some of geologist have "predicted" it will be happened, but hey... they are human beings like us, too. No human beings but God can predict what will be happened in the future or even in the next second. The only thing we can do is always be ready of anything. Know how to deal with it.

I can feel what they feel and I am traumatic also but I choose to live of my life. The life must go on. It makes me remember the wise words of Mac Taylor, The Head Investigator of Crime Scene Investigation, New York (my new favorite serial movie), "We will be death someday. That's for sure. So I am not afraid of it."

Attar, Puan and I will be back to Jakarta, soon, 24 November 2010, 8.45 AM by Garuda Indonesia. It is definitely not because of the rumor but because it is time for us to back home. I have warn my family to stay alert and learn the evacuation map if it is occurred. We have agreed to meet at a meeting point at the higher land, just in case we are separated. Above anything, we still live as our routine normally. Just more alert of our surrounding.

I really want to know your  opinion about this. Share a though or two. I will be love to know them. Staying strong, my friends... 

- Amelia -

Me and the Sea

Even though I live near sea for years, actually I never enjoy the sea. I feel nervous to hear the wave sound hit on the beach sand or to see the calm sea becomes the wildest one just in seconds. I know this is a childish feeling, but I can not help it. I have tried to overcome my feeling years ago, but still, there is a time my nervous of the sea comes and make me uncomfortable.

My parents told me that I was almost drawn at the sea when I was 5 years old. I was off my parents guard when played with the sea wave. I do not remember the detailed but I remember my struggling in the sea for the air and thanks to God, the wave had taken me back to the beach. Well, lucky me. It was not my time yet. That is why I believe every children in this world guard by angels.

I never blamed my parents of this accident. The accident itself had made them  feeling guilty.  I guess I was too protected as a child and never got a warning  that playing with the wave on my own was very dangerous. They think can supervised all the children all the time feeling and not necessary to warn them of the dangers. So, when they did not pay attention of me playing with the sea wave just seconds, the accident happened.

Anyway, I try my fear of the sea is not affected to my children. If we are in Padang and the weather is good, we will take them to the beach and they can play with the sand and sea waves. We will never let them play by themselves. Once is enough. 

It is very important to teach the children to avoid danger. If you play with  a knife, there is a possibility you will cut yourself. If you play with fire, you may burnt. If you play with the electricity, you may get shocked.  Something like that. So in the future, they will be careful of what their doing. We can not supervise them 24 hours. Be independent.

I have a new friend from Australia, a blogger like me: The Rambling Expat, who love to fish. Someone who love to fish must love the sea also, I guess. I hope someday I will be comfort to enjoy the sea, just like him. But first of course, I have learn to swim. Lol. Is there anyone have the same experience with mine? I would like to know your story then.

- Amelia -

Breaking Dawn

I have lent a book from the library for ME Time!: Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. Actually I am not the big fan of The Twilight Saga (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn), but my sister, Ola, is. I am just curious to see her emotion every time she read it, so I have to read it also.

Unfortunately, I did not get the English version, but in Bahasa Indonesia version. I actually prefer the original one, but this is the best I can get. There are 862 pages. My mother joked that I do not need pillow since the book itself is already like one. Lol.

Just like the other sanguine character, I read it from the last pages to make sure it has a happy ending. I can not bear a sad ending story because I will cry and have bad mood for days. I have to finish it before the end of this month since we will be back to Jakarta soon.

Anyway, I have read to 133 pages. Still long way to go, Amigo, but I know now why Ola likes it. The novel is great. I am in love with Edward Cullen and Bella Swan character. When I read it, I feel like I were there. What a great book it is!

I have watched Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse movies. I prefer the books than the movies, but I can not help myself from Robert Pattinson who has acted as Edward Cullen. Sometime I think Robert Pattinson and Edward Cullen are the same person! Lol. Read the books and watch the movies, you will find out that my words are true. It is an alternative to enjoy your ME Time!.

- Amelia -

Memoir of My Senior High School

My former home was our class official destination.

Through Facebook, I finally have found my long lost friends at the Senior High School in Padang. I have lost my school year book when I moved out to Jakarta, so you can not imagine how happy I am when one by one I can find them all. Whoa, is it true we have passed fourteen years without keeping in touch? It feels like yesterday! You can see how happy we were on the picture above. Time really flies, doesn't it?

I find out that Lia already has two children, Riri has two boys, Eliza is expecting her  second child, Atik is a volunteer in Nias Island, North Sumatera, Iza and Yuli has moved out to Jakarta. Some of them are still in Padang like Doni, Hamda, Dia and Edward. When I chatted with them, I feel like seventeen years old again. Oh, I miss those times!

I really had a great time at the Senior High School. How about you, my friends?

Our Class Members.

- Amelia -

           

Long Distance Relationship: Will It Work?

A friend of mine has asked me whether a long distance relationship will it work. In my case: It works. I have met Abi (my husband) in Y!messenger 10 years ago. I was 22 years old at the time, already had 2 side-jobs, as an English-Indonesian Translator for Oracle Implementation Team in Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia and a Radio Broadcaster, while trying hard to accomplish my study at the university at the same time. I have no time for having a boy friend and hanging out with my friends since anytime I got a spare time, I would use it to study or to sleep.

Abi was 27 years old, has established his job as a consultant in Manila, Philippines. He got my name from "search friend" engine in Y!Messenger. He was quite surprised to find me almost online for 24/7 and sent me  a message, just to say "Hi". By the way, we used Y!Messenger  at the office to keep in touch with the other team member at another floor. More practical.

What I have in my mind, it was just a practical joke of my colleagues. They always had fun of me since I was the only female colleague in the Oracle Implementation Team and I had simply answered the message, just to pay them back. I did not have ideas at all it was a real one.

When Abi had started to ask my address, phone number and permission to visit me in Padang when he got holidays in December, I still had though it was a joke. A plan ticket was expensive because of the new year festive, he had none that he knew in Padang but me, just have a week for holidays before going back to Manila... and he still wanted to visit me? It was impossible. Nonsense. Why would he do that for a girl that he met online? I still had tough it was a big practical joke ever of my colleagues.

Abi really came to Padang! He meant what he had said to me, not a joke. Then we met. We spent some days to know each other (of course with my parents supervision) and decided we gave a chance to develop our relationship furthermore.

Do you think it was so soon? We did not think so. I did not have time to know any men with my full schedule and so did he. Nothing to loose. If we were not match, at least none got hurt. That was we though.

We were in long distance relationship for four years before making a decision to get married and staying in the same city. If we count how many days that we had met face-to-face in four years, maybe only six months more or least. We always tried to inform what we have done a day, sent many e-mails, chatting after the office-hours, made phone calls from Manila to Padang (because it was cheaper than Padang to Manila) and most of things was to find out whether we have the same point of view in this life.

On my marriage day.

Here we are now. We have got married for six years already, have two charming children and life. So, if someone tells you that your long distance relationship will not last forever, just remember this blog of mine. Keep the faith, my friends...

- Amelia -