Jumat, 27 Mei 2016

A Love Letter

When I am thinking about you, I am staring at my window pane, trying to look for something in a distance that I can’t really reach. Suddenly, I want to keep in touch with you by sending some messages or greetings that may overcome the yearning. But when I am thinking that you will ask me a question "what are you doing now?”, it’s not cool when I just give an answer “doing nothing, just only thinking about you” because I know you have great expectation in me, you push myself to be great, not just an ordinary one although I don’t know how great or small I am right now. Then I will just think about you at the moment without trying to know what you are up to there. I have different thought that it’s fascinating to realize we are not in a common condition to be in love with each other. I cannot say I miss you when I am missing you, nor I can say I love you when I am loving you because of our totally different business in life. The feelings just stop in my mind, but I think it’s an extraordinary story of us. I can comprehend because I like you the way you are, you always be a great man for me. I believe that the path you are taking is the path where you will definitely meet me somewhere, even though we are in separate ways right now. We have met and tied our bond since long time ago, but I am still waiting for you. I am not going to be exhausted, I am not going to get a rush, and I am not going to feel impatient. I will be right in the place where you can easily find me. Now, let me just look at the wide blue sky outside my window, enjoy your existence in my mind. Someday, let’s go on a date like other couples do. Let’s dream of a love life like other couples have.

I am sending my greetings for you
through the summer breeze after the rain
Although this love is like the dry autumn leaves
It’s colorful and beautiful
If the snowflakes in winter always melt away
I won’t be too sad
Look at the embroidered flower petal
When the spring wind has blown away
I know you will come.

Kamis, 12 Mei 2016

The Joongki's DoTS

Hello, I've been annoyed by my device, it doesn't support to run a program that I really need to finish my thesis. Currently, I've got enough stress to analyze and write down my research progress. So, instead of whining around, I'd just do something that makes me calm and relaxed. What is it? I choose to watch drama! Haha.. you already know that the best drama nowadays comes from Korea, right? Korean drama is number one to dramatize everything, especially when it comes to the common topic like everyday love story. It's been almost 3 years I did not watch any korean-drama. If I'm not wrong, the last drama I watched was The King2hearts, casted by Hajiwon and Seunggi. I was a bit disappointed that it was not as good as Hwang Ji Ni or Secret Garden. Yeah, I told Jung that I like Hajiwon more than any other actresses in the world. But I stopped to watch her drama because I cannot find a special nor good story portrayed by her recently. Oh yeah, have I told you that I got a new friend from Korea last year? He is a namja, older than me, and quiet gentle man I guess. He likes to accompany me attending some western parties held by the western people. Since, we are eastern people, it is very awkward to join the western party alone. So, he set himself to be my partner. When everybody gets drunk, he prefer drinking some juices with me.. he often asked for my help to do many things regarding some little things in daily life, and many other stories. We often share many stories about our countries and the travel experience we have ever been. He said that he was Han Hyo Joo classmate during school-age. Yeah, everybody can always have that opportunity, to be a great star close friend in a certain period of age. Last year, he wanted me to watch My Love from the Stars, but I felt lazy to see Jun Ji Hyun on screen. Last month, I sent him a message that I watched Joong Ki and Hye Kyo in one frame. Guess what? Yup, Descendants of The Sun (DoTS). Haha! That's the latest and newest drama in KBS. Thanks to my landlord who provides highly speed wi fi network, so I can always load the drama on line whenever I want. Jung said that he also really enjoyed the drama, that I pick a good option to kill my boredom. Then, why in the world did I start to watch DoTS? Here are some reasons, also the things I found while watching the drama:

1. I found Kim Eun Suk involved as the screenwriter. I have told you that I love how she finished Secret Garden script, right? She is still the best until now. Above, I also said that I stop watching Hajiwon's drama because her recent drama story is not that awesome for me. DoTS narrated by Kim Eun Suk is quiet stunning, just like secret garden! Every single dialogue is monumental.

2. DoTS illustrates the story of doctors and soldiers in a remote area and overseas. Since I am familiar with a health-professional life story, I want to know how they narrate it into a drama. For me, it is not bad. I was touched by means of the soldiers and the doctors declaring their oaths to become a professional and to willingly serve others. It just reminds me of the same thing few years ago, of the days I prepared some medical aids for the sick people outside. Although, I have no idea about a soldier life story. By watching this, now I know a bit about it. Not so that different from what Jung spoke about his experience in the military service where he was deployed in the demilitarized zone (DMZ), border of Korean peninsula, near the North Korea. Only once he shot guns to create a warning. Woah.. impressive! About a Special Force life story.. I think it's just cool to become UN peace-keeper.

3. DoTS production is something that makes me say.. WOW! If the news said that it's a high-budget drama.. No offense, I guess. Because it took place in Zakynthos, Novagio, and other towns I did not know to create an imaginary remote place named Urk. The casts.. say Hyekyo and Joongki, both are the highest paid korean stars with such great acting talent that's well known worldwide, especially in Southeast Asia. The film properties to depict the life stories of soldiers and doctors dispatched in a disaster area and sometimes in a war zone, it must be sooo expensive. What kind of 16-episodes drama is that? How successful does the director wrap the scenes? It's just interesting for me and in the end.. I am satisfied. Good job. DoTS was very well-produced!

4. Funny dialogues are spotted in either romance or bromance. I regret not watching it with some of my friends who enjoy joking around because I was laughing a lot while glaring at episode to episode. It was really entertaining me. You know, I already guessed that Hyekyo is not good enough acting in melodrama, but she is good enough in rom-com because of her very chick face. For me, DoTS is a rom-com, just like Hyekyo's previous drama, Full House. See, a very high rating per episode was produced in her rom-com, not in her melodrama. Hyekyo is not as outstanding as Hajiwon by means of acting in various genres. Hajiwon is capable to bring herself in melodrama, rom-com, horror, and action.

5. I love action scenes where the charming hero is unbeatable, where the hero is shooting guns to kill the the bad guy, where the hero is drawing a sword to protect somebody, like a gentleman! Haha.. still, gentleman is a hot topic for me. The world cannot stand out without some charming gentlemen, right? That is why I agree with Kim Eun Suk that somebody must block the bullet to create a peaceful world.

6. Song Joong Ki is indeed special. He is brainy. Just like how he was in his previous drama, he is an actor who always brings his magic on screen. How come a very cute guy with flawless face brought himself to be a very manly-charming-witty-romantic soldier like captain Yoo Si jin? I have no idea, but Joongki is perfect. My testimonial about Joongki is as follow: He spends his life-time efficiently. After dimming his ambition to be a talented skater because of an accident, he broke a record to be a genius during his school-age, he could successfully finish his education in a prestigious college in Korea, even prestigious in Asia. He was a famous student with top performance among his colleagues (well, only a few actors/actresses care about having high degree of education or being enrolled in Ivy college, Joongki proved himself exceptional). After graduation, he appeared as a leading role in the box-office film and the hit drama that brought him a fame throughout Asia. He did work very hard to be on that top. Once he ever said that an actor talks to the audience through the portrayal in his projects. It seems that his acting skill is very admirable from here, knowing him pull out impressively the great-yet-complicated character of a compact nice-bad guy as Kang Maru. He is really expert in showing the character's thoughts and emotions, even in showing and controlling the twisted and contrast emotion in a few seconds, through a glimpse of many gestures or facial expressions that stir the audience's emotion for long stretches of time. After all his earlier fame, he listed himself to serve in the military. After two years hiatus, he continued to swing his acting talent with a hallyu star like Hyekyo in a blockbuster drama, DoTS. DoTS is now predicted to be another hallyu after years. It means that Joongki is possibly a new hallyu star nowadays. And.. I remembered that in an occasion, both Joongki and Hajiwon wanted to be paired with each other in one project together. Hajiwon as a senior said that Joongki is a superb actor, yeah I think she has a very good sense and taste to pick who's a really talented actor. Not only professional in acting, skating, or studying in a college, but Joongki also has a well-mannered, considerate, and a humble personality that inspires other people who knows him well. For me who's already known him such that, I find no reason to not fall for this cool guy. That is why, I think it is not a waste to enjoy his appearance in DoTS. At least, I got some things to learn.
 

So, this is a piece of my story, written in the middle of stuck to render some analysis of my research. I will look forward to the other blockbuster drama if there is any, but I think I should finish all these messed works first before doing that. I have a very little time left. You know, I would be like captain Yoo, who is good in his job to not get killed by the enemy. Copy that, Big Boss!

Minggu, 08 Mei 2016

Be a Gentleman!


--- Obrolan kami bertiga sambil sarapan noodle dan pancake di suatu kamar berdinding tebal nan dingin di Muntweg ---

S : Gimana rasanya jadi wanita mandiri? Kita merasa tidak butuh laki-laki lagikah di dunia ini?
N : Tidak juga, kita butuh tentu saja. Bagaimana pun juga ada banyak hal yang bisa dilakukan laki-laki yang perempuan tidak bisa melakukannya, dan sebaliknya. Ada juga banyak hal yang perempuan tidak bisa melakukannya tanpa bantuan laki-laki, dan sebaliknya.
S : Lalu menurutmu, menjadi mandiri itu bagaimana maksudnya?
N : Emm.. susah juga dijawab. Karena tidak sepenuhnya manusia benar-benar bisa mandiri.
F : Jadi, menurutmu sebenarnya tidak ada orang yang mandiri?
N : Menjadi mandiri adalah karena tuntutan keadaan, bisa buatan bisa juga alami. Buatan karena kita ingin belajar survive, alami karena tidak ada jalan lain selain harus mandiri. Memiliki banyak kawan, pasangan hidup, dan saudara adalah anugerah. Karena bagaimana pun sesuatu bila dikerjakan bersama-sama lebih memberi berkah daripada dikerjakan sendirian secara mandiri oleh diri kita sendiri.
F : ...couldn't agree more.

S : ngomong-ngomong, gimana menurutmu laki-laki di Indonesia? Apakah mereka cukup bisa diandalkan dan bisa disebut laki-laki sejati?
N : Tidak terlalu, menurutku.
F : setuju. Bila dibandingkan dengan laki-laki di negara lain. Ketika aku berkunjung ke sebuah negara di Asia yang bukan di Indonesia, aku dapati tipe laki-laki yang berbeda dari di Indonesia.
N : gimana bedanya?
F : laki-laki di belahan dunia sana lebih gentle daripada kebanyakan laki-laki di Indonesia. Mereka tipe yang melindungi dan memberikan rasa aman kepada para perempuan di sekitarnya. Kebanyakan, laki-laki di Indonesia, sejauh aku memiliki teman laki-laki, mereka tidak gentle.
N : Gimana contohnya gentle itu?
F : Mereka tidak merendahkan dan tidak melecehkan kehormatan perempuan di sekitarnya. Contoh, kalau kau memakai pakaian yang “kurang terhormat” mareka akan mengingatkan dan menutupi aibmu, tidak memberikan pandangan wajah yang seolah kau memang patut dinikmati dan dilecehkan. Mereka paham norma, dan berbuat sesuai norma dan adab yang berlaku. Sebagus apa tubuhmu, secantik apa parasmu, bahkan bila tubuhmu tidak indah atau parasmu tidak cantik pun, mereka tahu bahwa kamu adalah wanita yang patut dijaga dan dilindungi. Mereka tidak menjadikan bentuk fisikmu sebagai bahan obrolan dan mainan bersama kawan-kawan mereka. Mereka adalah tipe laki-laki gentle yang aku jumpai di sana, tidak di Indonesia.

N : berbeda juga ya dengan laki-laki di Eropa. Di sini, karena kesetaraan gender sudah begitu tinggi levelnya, jadi laki-laki dan perempuan begitu independen. Perempuan tidak dianggap sebagai makhluk yang perlu dilindungi karena tidak ada lagi yang perlu dikhawatirkan perihal keamanan mereka. Di sisi lain di sini, tidak ada tingkatan pakaian terhormat atau tidak terhormat. Perempuan dengan pakaian minim pun tidak dianggap sedang memakai pakaian “kurang terhormat” dan sebaliknya. Beda budaya sih. Mereka juga menghormati perempuan yang menutup seluruh tubuhnya. Intinya cara pandang antara Timur dan Barat memang berbeda. Jadi gentle di Eropa menurutmu bagaimana?
F : Entahlah, aku tidak begitu tertarik dengan laki-laki di Eropa. Karena kita berbeda cara pandang.
S : Ah iya, perempuan Asia menurutku adalah tipe perempuan yang ingin dilindungi oleh laki-laki di sekitarnya. Mereka tidak se-independen perempuan di Barat. Mereka menikah di usia muda, membutuhkan perlindungan laki-laki sedari kecil, baik dari ayahnya maupun kelak dari suaminya. Perempuan di Barat sama sekali tidak seperti itu pola pikirnya. Tidak ada yang bisa disalahkan dalam hal ini, yang ada manusia di dalamnya harus meyesuaikan keadaan dan budaya sekitar. Kalau berada di lingkungan Timur, ya menjaga sopan santun. Memakai pakaian yang terhormat, karena normanya demikian. Ketika berada di lingkungan Barat, kita mungkin bebas memakai apa saja, namun tentunya kita memiliki prinsip dan idealisme sebagai orang Timur bukan sih? Tetaplah seharusnya kita menjadi orang Timur meskipun sedang hidup di Barat.
F : Satu hal yang aku sukai dari orang-orang di Eropa, mereka menghormati segala pilihan manusia-manusia di sekitarnya. Meskipun kadang sangat keterlaluan pembiarannya. Bahkan bila ada perempuan yang telanjang di muka umum pun, mereka tidak pernah ambil pusing. Seharusnya ada batas yang bisa ditoleransi dan tidak menurutku. Itu juga yang membuatku tidak cocok hidup dengan orang-orang di sini.

N : sewaktu aku ke Turki beda lagi tipe laki-lakinya meskipun agak sedikit mirip di Timur. Mereka tipe laki-laki yang melindungi perempuan, bahkan menurutku kelewat melindungi, cenderung patrialkal. Ketika aku ke grand-bazar tidak satu pun kujumpai penjualnya seorang wanita. Semua isinya laki-laki yang menjualkan barang dagangannya. Suatu kali iseng aku tanya, “Why do I never see woman selling something in the outlet. All I see are men everywhere. Where are the women?”. Si penjual bilang “They stay at home with the kids, they do not go to work especially in the market like this”. Mereka memperlakukan wanita sebagai “sisters” yang musti dijaga dan dilindungi kehormatannya, namun agak berlebihan karena tidak mau membiarkan wanitanya keluar rumah. Kalaupun ke luar rumah harus bersama laki-lakinya, naik mobil pribadi yang aman, sebisa mungkin tidak memakai sepeda atau angkutan umum. Sehingga bila ada wacana bahwa wanita di Timur Tengah kurang bebas, menurutku itu benar-benar terjadi. Hmm.. susah juga ya jadi wanita di sana. Namun aku agak kagum pada laki-lakinya, karena suatu hari ada laki-laki yang berkata “Mohon jangan berteriak-teriak di sini, saya menghormati anda sebagai wanita muslim. Anda berjilbab dan saya berprasangka bahwa anda memiliki sopan-santun.” sembari membungkuk dan menelungkupkan kedua tangan ke dadanya.
S : jadi kesimpulannya, laki-laki di Indonesia itu gimana?
F : mereka tidak gentle, kebanyakan masih menjadikan fisik perempuan sebagai bahan mainan dan obrolan, sungguh tidak beradab. Mereka tidak berusaha melindungi dan menjaga kehormatan wanitanya. Sulit mencari laki-laki yang gentle di Indonesia. Kita sebagai perempuan dan calon ibu, harus bisa mendidik anak laki-laki kita bagaimana pun caranya, supaya mereka berperadaban tinggi sebagai laki-laki yang menjaga dan melindungi perempuan di sekitarnya.
N : I got it.