It's hard to get focus!

Time is running but I could not think straight...
I've got my time packed with activities...
I do need time to slow down and get the puzzles together...
God is looking at me, asking me to be patient to wait for His time...
Duties are more important to be finished...
Kids are more important to help at this very moment...

Wikimu…yang Asyik itu Komentar!

Hari Anak Nasional: Temukan dan Kembangkan Talentanya!

Education for children is not only from formal school system. As parents we are struggling to help our children build a better chance of towmorrow. There are also children without parents (or with poor and marginalized parents). The responsibility to provide a better life should be shared between the government and the citizens. Our responsibility to find the children's talents and help them use and develop their talents to build a better life.

Ngontrak di Tanah Sendiri

While I became more and more Jakartanese, I was not blinded that the native Jakartans feel that they are renting a place in their own land. I used to live among native Betawi before moving to Serpong. Eventhough I should consider myself as a resident of Banten, I still answered "Jakarta" when asked by foreigners where do I live.

Reading the article in Kompas made me think of fellow Papuans who wrote for wikimu.com. I also think of Dayak people, and the whole Indonesian peoples. The globalization is opening a door to outsiders to come in. While I am (sometimes) still considered as outsiders (too) in the eyes of some Indonesians because of my racial back ground, I know that the answer lies in the chance for education. Economic back ground became important when the chance for good education is limited only for those who can pay for it. It is time for the government to think seriously and try even harder to provide free education for Indonesian children without any discrimination.

Bakmi GM yang Khas Jakarta

Noodles...one specific type of noodles that I really like is GM. "Pangsit goreng GM"...yummy! This article in bahasa Indonesia is a part of my overview toward a family business in Jakarta that I happened to know a bit!

Indonesian heritage glitters at Seoul's national museum

After long time of being just a reader of the Jakarta Post (having letters to the editor published), this is my first article published in this English daily in Jakarta. Citizen Journalism does give me self confidence and motivation to keep on writing. If reader's letter is short now I have the chance to write my indepth opinion on something.

Berbagi Ilmu dalam Acara Kopi Darat Wikimu.com

This is an article about wikimu.com's gathering in bahasa Indonesia.

“Kenalkan, Nama Saya Joko…alias Jogja Korea”

This is an article about how I met a South Korean citizen reporter in Seoul who speaks bahasa Indonesia fluently. I was attracted to write about Indonesian migrant workers, but I do need more research on it. It was really a coincidence that I met a group of Indonesian migrant workers in the airport in Jakarta, and then in Seoul I met a person who is running a shelter for Indonesian Migrant Worker (in Yongin, South Korea). This article is in Bahasa Indonesia.

Toward a Better World (part II)

The new title is OK, but to show the continuation of the related article I post this under the old headline.

Borobudur, the forgotten wonder of the world.

I prefer my own title, I also missed the picture of my old post card.

Another change in my blog

From my journey to Seoul, I do think it is important to make a compilation of my articles in my blog. But I do not want to paste in anymore.

I'll link the article into my blog. Those article with bahasa Indonesia could be seen from the title, and those in English could also be seen there. Just click on the title and you'll be linked to the website. I limited myself (for the time being) to contribute only for wikimu.com and english.ohmynews.com. I'd like to write for Panyingkul.com, but may be I should revisit my hometown so that I'll be able to produce one for them.

I do know that I should put financial issues more seriously in my life. I do need to utilize them for good reasons, so I do need to search for it. God gives when we do ask! If I usually asking only for my daily bread, I'll ask more from now on...

Toward a Better World (part I)

Citizen journalism in my opinion

Going to Seoul was really a step to take me further into Citizen Journalism. I’ve got a lot of ideas to write, I’ve got a lot of experiences to analyze.

I’ve noted that I am still in the old habit of using conventional camera. I tried to make only important clicks. I regretted now as I do have a lot pictures badly taken. If only I did take more pictures…

I also acknowledge how I should try to see things in different way of perspective. Friends from the Forum, especially those who love photography, showed me how different they took the angle of photo and it work really nicely. I could see things with different level of enthusiasm through their pictures. I do not even notice the water fountain in front of the hotel if I didn’t look into Nair’s pictures. He caught it so lovely and attractive. We can beautify an object. I know that I should take photography more seriously.

I was interviewed by Hoshi from The Jakarta Shimbun yesterday. Talking with him made me collecting some other thoughts I do have on citizen journalism. I do think citizen journalism should walk hand in hand with mainstream media. We are not going to achieve anything if we are to compete with the mainstream media. We need to value the study and experiences that the professional journalist had endure. I’ve read that more journalists were killed on duty this year. I’ve also notice that the BBC journalist was freed after being kidnapped in his duty. It’s a hard work that citizen might not take the risk, especially with the low remuneration on the work produced. But citizen could be caught into that kind of risk by accident and having the channel to voice it out will make it a hard news.

Finance is also the other problem, to make a deep and thorough investigation a journalist need resources of money. A journalist also needs to be powered with communicative tools to be able to send their news as soon as possible. It would all costs money. Journalist can have himself financed by joining the mainstream media.
But being independent from the mainstream media is also freedom. An independent journalist is free to cover whatever subject he or she likes. We do not have dead lines, all to our own choice. Of course this freedom followed by the risk that your hard work could be rejected by the mainstream media. You do not have the privilege to cover the story they do need, or to discuss the angle of the subject that you’d like to point out. In this base, citizen journalism is giving you a wider chance to voice your thoughts. I’ve noted that they could publish the same topic written by several contributors. Citizen journalism websites are also giving the chance to opponents to view their perspectives. Citizen Journalism gives a contributor more freedom on topic.

Hoshi pointed out that Indonesia do have four citizen journalism websites, it is something incredible. I do hope all of this four could gain their readers and survive. Survival of citizen journalism website is something that I do need to know how. We’ve been talking about it in the Forum, but I do think I need more entrepreneur’s skill to understand how to make it survive and even profitable. I do hope that these websites can survive the cyber world. It is a good way of teaching democracy to Indonesian people. It is also a good source for professional journalist to seek more clues or more perspectives on subjects. It is also better than a standard questionnaire to see what readers like to read.

I think Indonesian mainstream media will still lead on the news, but the citizen journalism websites can give more hues to the mainstream media’s topic. Kompas is building its loyal readers from childhood with pages of Anak and Muda. Media Indonesia is giving a lot more spaces into citizen’s opinions. They even have a TV program in Metro TV titled “Bedah Editorial”. Then they gave more spaces in the printed edition to voice citizen’s ideas.

We are not going to be freed from printed version (even OhmyNews is now having their weekly printed for free). In Indonesia we are now having more and more free printed magazines, they are depending on advertisements. I do think that this kind of media is the future of conventional media. Citizen Journalism and conventional media are going to complement each other in building a better Nation, in watching a better government and voicing people’s voices.

Where are the citizen journalism heading? Where am I going to? Let it flows like the water flows to the oceans!

Komentar : "Jang Baribut Lai"

This article is in bahasa Indonesia published in wikimu.com
The title was change by the editor as they feared the reaction from readers.
I know I should be writing about Seoul, but it is instinctive reaction after reading news in Indonesia.

Dari Wikimu.com Terbang ke Seoul

My First Time in Seoul

Seoul, I'm coming!

Today I'll fly to South Korea on the invitation of OhmyNews International. It's still like a dream come true. I've always been eager to know more about Korea. From a corner of my house a sand picture of a little girl sewing her artwork is calling me to visit her country. It's a gift from an exhibitor when I was still working for an exhibition construction management. I got it more than 15 years ago. Another precious treasures are my Hodori doll and a guide book to see Korea from 1987. Stories will be alive...I'll really see South Korea.

Four days seems so short for exploring the city, while the whole country seems to have a bulk of beautiful art and cultures. I should make the most out of this visit. It could be my lifetime visit. But no...we should keep on dreaming, so I'll dream to come back again!

My eldest son envies me, he also wants to see the country of Taekwondo. He is learning taekwondo in his school. Keep hoping and praying, may be your luck will come in your own time!

I'll departed from my PC, unfortunately Notebook is too expensive for me, so I'll skip writing in the net for four days. Kind of hoping there will be a free internet provided there. All my relatives and friends are very helpfull. Some help me with the extra expenses, some provide me with flashdisc and MP4, and other friend is lending me his 2G memory card for my camera. I'm fortunate enough to have a South Korean member of the Indonesian Heritage Society back in Seoul. She will pick me up and guide me around the museum there. She canceled her trip to Pusan for guiding me, thanks a lot Grace!

So having all the kind and gracious helps, it is now my turn to grab the most out of this experience. Seoul...I'm coming!

A day is only 24 hours

I’ve got a lot in my mind to write down, but all activities as a housewife and as a teacher consumed my day. I’d like to write for Ohmy News about our international labors, about the conference on religion tolerance in Bali, and so on. But the articles in wikimu.com seems so crowded with the article from our fellow Papuans who were screaming for “independence” (I put that in parentheses as I do not know exactly what does it means, a separation or a bigger chance to rule out in their region). For me independence means freedom to gain knowledge and freedom from poverty (may be should be added with freedom of speech, which will be in danger if the government adopt the new regulation about the change of the regulation no. 40/1999 about Press). I do not know why I always attracted to this kind of article. I’ve been trying to step out of political area, but it seems that I always bounce back to another comment (or another article).

Their articles opened a new way of seeing things. But in some sense they are not sharing my point of views. I thought we should concentrate on building this country to face the globalization, not retreat to the era of separation. If we are not together, then we would be easier to be dictated by super power country. Even now, we are “slightly” dictated as we are dependent on foreign loan!

Writing all these posts and articles were not as easy as writing my comment in my diary. I used to write anything in my diary under the secure feeling of privacy. Using blog and even blogging as a community in a citizen journalism website made me aware that my writing could be read by anybody. I should be more careful in providing facts and presenting ideas. Writing in English is making it more difficult to write fast. Sometimes I do need to counter check the words or I’ll have a miscommunication with readers out of the bad presenting words.

A day is only 24 hours, and we do need to learn to manage it! God gives it to us to fit properly with our needs. I know that even if I have 36 hours in a day I’ll still ask for more if I could not manage my time wisely.

On Being a Citizen Journalist

It is not easy to put my views on East Timor in an article published by OhmyNews International. Actually I prayed that somebody else has written the article about Sutiyoso’s hotel incident. As Indonesian, I feel that the treatment is unfair. They do need to invite him politely to come to the court, not by opening his room like he’s a criminal hiding inside his hotel room. I am not supporting Sutiyoso as an individu, nor did I support “whatever” happened in the past. I do not favor some of his policies as the Governor of Jakarta. But I really think he should receive a better treatment as an official guest to a neighboring country.

I have submitted my article when I saw Rudy Sianturi’s article. I do not regret airing mine though! I valued Rudy’s link to a letter sent by Rev. Mangunwijaya SJ to the president then, Habibie. It is really a valuable letter, Romo Mangun gave me more views on democracy. He clearly stated that politically he is the opponent of Habibie, yet friendship goes beyond politic. Personally it touched me, because sometimes I loose my objectivity on Habibie. Although I valued Habibie’s bright and clever mind, I never really respect him. Reading that letter gave me the insight how difficult the situation was for Habibie. Being a successor to Suharto, his great mentor, in such an awkward situation, should really put him into trouble with all the problems on hands.

Actually I’ve noted in my unedited article that Indonesia did provide scholarships to East Timorese. I also noted that military actions usually following order. Our military troops did help under the UN peacekeeper troop (e.g. through UNPROFOR, or through UNTAES, and also recently in South Lebanon).

A comment from a reader made me browsing to a website. I saw a short article about training for journalist in peace building. I realized how important the task of a journalist to provide an objective views. Coincidentally it was also mentioned in Romo Mangun’s letter. I remember reading ”Covering Diversity Starts in the Newsroom” from the Jakarta Post.

I learned a lot being a citizen journalist. First, I learn how to see myself and the inner me. Then I should be able to make myself better and contribute something to my country. Keeping my self frustrated with the situation will not help bring us out of the problem. I should act out and roll the ball. I knew now that my talent is writing. I’ll keep working while keeping my finger crossed. God will help!

Celebrating 200 years of the Catholic Church in Indonesia (2)

I’ve just seen the film “Bethlehem van Java”. It shows the story of F. van Lith SJ. He was not really eager to go on a mission, especially not to the Nederlandsch Indisch. His obedience to God brought him to Java. He faced a lot of obstacles, but in his most desperate time God had sent him 171 peoples to be baptized. God worked in His own time, and in His own way. But as a worker we are not supposed to wait for Him to work alone, we should help Him according to our talents.

Van Lith founded his school because he acknowledged that education is the way to liberate people. Sendang Sono, the place he baptized the 171 Javanese peoples, is now a famous sacred place for devotional visit.

I grew up in the middle of the mixed culture of Jakarta, but in some way I was closer to Javanese culture. I lived in the environment of a Catholic Church with the Javanese as the majority of the laymen. My teachers were also predominantly Javanese. The nuns and teachers were usually educated in Central Java. I should thank Father van Lith for providing me all those good educators.

One of my head master in the elementary school knew I like reading. She, a Catholic nun, lent me books about saints. I also got the chance to read more books from the Church’s library. It was a good activity of Mudika (the Catholic Youth) at that time. They volunteered to manage the library and gave us the youngsters a chance to borrow books. It was a pity it doesn’t run like it anymore (not in several churches I knew). Mudika had fun activities. They provided a place to build the performance talent in theatre, the talent in singing within the choir. Usually their theatre performance could dramatize our Good Friday.

Pope John Paul II did give a very special attention to us the youth. I remember keeping his letter to the youth. (I did not find my diary on this subject yet, but I remember that this letter made him closer to my heart).

Van Lith’s approached the Javanese by taken the native’s culture into account. He was not only learned the Javanese dialects, but he regarded the whole culture as equal as his own culture. Feeling the equality could give us a chance to accept things by heart, not by force.

Acculturation is sometimes important to gain a place into people’s heart. I remember my husband’s comment on Jesus. He was already baptized for three years when he admitted that he was not used to think about having Jesus (with the Caucasian look) as his savior. The Chinese Gods and Goddess seemed closer to him because they share a closer similarity to the Chinese. Having Jesus pictured in Balinese painting as a Balinese does make Him closer to his view. The thought of abandoning the ancestors are also one thing that could frighten Chinese people from Christianity. Experiencing the struggle between being a Catholic and the demand of the tradition I knew that acculturation is a way to settle it. For me, an acculturation is viewing the old tradition as merely a tradition while praying as a Catholic in my heart.

Sometimes people thought that Christians bought people into their religion by providing facilities such as the help for “free funeral” (Ony, please excuse me if I mistakenly translate this phrase). Actually the help for the funeral arrangement was paid by the money invested for that from the Church’s contribution. (Church with the “C” letter is to underline the laymen as the part of contributors). Humanities aids are sometimes took with prejudice as trying to convert others’ beliefs. It might rise from the conventional way of the mission before. I think the mission given from Jesus is very clear: LOVE EACH OTHER, LOVE GOD THE MOST. So humanities are important, no matter what is the religion of others. If
We do believe that God is the One and Only creator we could respect each other. Father van Lith gave the best example that gaining people’s hearts is more important than the statistic need. When humans were still attached to statistic, He gave out His miracle!

I do hope our devotion will not become a deviation. I hope that all the good seeds that were once planted will continue to grow, and the harvest are going to enrich the country.