Father Daughter One Day Trip

Akhirnya.. jalan-jalan juga bareng papa.

Finally.. going on a trip with papa.

Eh yang namanya jalan sama ortu pasti beda sama jalan sendiri atau jalan sama teman. Nah, bedanya di mana?

Sst, it is definitely different when you go on a trip with your parents and when you are traveling on your own or with your friends. So what is the difference?

💖 Logistiknya segambreng

Saya rada-rada ngeri lihat barang bawaan segambreng gitu. Bukan apa-apa, papa kan sudah 73 tahun, masa mau bawa ransel berat? Bisa ditebak kan siapa yang bakal jadi kuli panggulnya yo? Ok deh, pas pergi dia masih kuat bawa tapi belakangan saya yang manggul ransel.

💖 Lots and lots of Logistic

It gave me the chill seeing lots of stuff we would take. The thing is my papa is 73 years old, would he carry heavy backpack stuffed with those stuff? Guess who would be the one who had to carry it? Ok, so he had energy carrying it when we left Bogor but later it was me who carried it.

💖 Berdoa Dulu

Kalau saya jalan sendiri, boro-boro saya ingat berdoa. Jalan ya jalan aja, yakin percaya Tuhan menyertai dan melindungi.

💖 Pray First

When I travel on my own, I never remembered to pray. Off I went, believing God is be with me and protects me.

💖 Dia Siap Duluan

Mau sama papa, teman atau pacar.. yang namanya cowok, pasti kalau mau jalan dia duluan yang siap. Ya, kan kalau cowok ga perlu dandan. Habis mandi tinggal ganti baju, pake sepatu.. beres dah.

💖 He got ready already

Whether it is papa, friend or boyfriend.. male always get ready first. Well, they don't need to put on makeup. All they need to do after bathing is put on the clothes and shoes.. and they are ready.

💖 Senewen

Tiap kali mau jalan-jalan saya memang jadi sedikit senewen. Tapi jalan bareng papa bikin saya tambah senewen soalnya kalau dulu saya masih anak-anak, saya yang dijagain sama papa mama.. nah, setelah dewasa, posisinya jadi berbalik, saya yang merasa saya harus jagain si papa.

💖 Nervous

I have got nervous everytime I would go on a trip. But going on a trip with papa increased my level of nervousness because when I was a kid, papa and mama looked after me.. well, now I'm grown up things go differently, it is me now who feel I need to look after papa.

💖 Jalannya lambat

Kecepatan jalan si papa pelan. Ya, faktor umurlah. Tapi jadi bikin saya suka jadi susah menyamakan kecepatan langkah kami. Soalnya yang menurut saya sudah lambat ternyata masih juga cepat karena si papa ketinggalan tiga langkah dibelakang saya.

💖 Slow pace

Papa walks slow. It's due to his age. But it is difficult for me to match our pace. What I consider as my slow pace turns out to be still fast as papa can't keep up with me.

💖 Pipis melulu

Repot pas waktu kami dalam perjalanan pulang. Doh, saya kasihan campur bingung dan senewen waktu si papa bilang dia nahan pipis. Masalahnya kita pulang naik mobil colt dan ga lewat jalan tol. Mau pipis gimana coba?

💖 Frequently pee

We were on our way home when he told me he wanted to pee. The problem is we took a car and it didn't take toll road. There was no way for the car to stop so he could pee.

*  *  *  *  *

Hari Senin, 24 April 2017 kami berangkat jam 6.10 pagi ke stasiun Bogor Paledang.

We went to Bogor Paledang train station at 6.10 in the morning of Monday, 24 April 2017.

Kirain saya kita kepagian. Keretanya berangkat jam 7.50 pagi. Wah, masih sepi dong.

I thought we were too early. The train left at 7.50 am. The station would be empty then.

Kenyataannya sudah banyak juga orang di sana. Syukur malah kita kepagian. Kalau ga, bisa ga dapat tempat duduk. Masa mau nunggu sambil berdiri?

The fact is many people were already there. Thank goodness we got there early. Otherwise we wouldn't get any seat. It surely wouldn't be fun to stand while waiting for the train to get at the station.

Kertas print out bookingan tiket tidak otomatis berlaku sebagai tiket lho. Harus ditukar dengan tiket beneran. Ada mesin cetaknya yang disebut CTM (Cetak Tiket Mandiri) yang tersedia di stasiun. Di kertas print out bookingan tiket ada barcode jadi taruh aja di depan barcode scanner nanti langsung data pemesanan muncul di layar monitor. Lalu tinggal tekan tombol print di layar monitor.

After you booked the ticket it will come out in form of print out paper but it does not automatically valid as a ticket. You must print the ticket on the ticket print machine that you can find in the train station. There is a barcode on that ticket booked print out paper, put it infront of the barcode scanner so all the booking data may appear on the monitor screen. After that just click on the print button on the screen.

Gimana perjalanannya? Ah, lihat saja foto-fotonya ya.

So how was the trip? Ah, just look at the photos.

Sukabumi

Rencananya dari Sukabumi mau langsung ke Cianjur. Bingung juga lihat jadwal kereta Sukabumi-Cianjur, Cianjur-Sukabumi dan Sukabumi-Bogor. Bingung ngatur jam berapa harus balik dari Cianjur ke Sukabumi. Masa mau putar-putar Cianjur cuma dua jam (kalau mau balik ke Bogor pake kereta yang berangkat jam 15.45)? Mana puas?

The plan was to go directly to Cianjur once we got at Sukabumi. It gave me a dizzy looking at Sukabumi-Cianjur, Cianjur-Sukabumi and Sukabumi-Bogor train schedule. Arranging the time to get back from Cianjur to Sukabumi. Would it be enough to have just two hours in Cianjur (if we would take the 3.45 pm train from Sukabumi to Bogor). That wouldn't be enough.

Lha, lebih bingung lagi saya waktu pergi ke loket untuk beli tiket Cianjur dan melihat tempelan ini di kaca loket.

The ticket to Cianjur was sold out!

Gosh, it gave me more dizzy when I went to the counter to buy ticket to Cianjur and seeing this notification on the counter's window.

Saran saya, kalau mau ke Cianjur, jangan pilih pas hari libur nasional. Soalnya tiketnya tidak bisa di booking.

My advice is if you want to go to Cianjur, don't go on public holiday. They don't have ticket booking system when it comes to Sukabumi-Cianjur ticket.

Yah, jadi deh kita jalan-jalan di Sukabumi saja.

Well, we just had to have enough with Sukabumi.

Lantas mau kemana di Sukabumi?

So where to go in Sukabumi? 

Kalau pergi sendiri sih saya pasti nyari objek wisata yang tidak terlalu jauh atau pergi wisata kuliner aja tapi papa ogah jadi kami cuma ke Jalan Bhayangkara, Gang Kaswari buat beli mochi.

If I were all by myself I'd find nearby tourism place or find places that sell the town's famous meals but papa didn't want to go anywhere so we just went to Bhayangkara street, Kaswari alley to buy mochi.

Ceritanya bersambung.

To be continued.

Duty is Served

Kalau ngomongin soal tugas.. Ha! Itu terasa bagai surga dunia atau neraka dunia?

When it comes to duty.. Ha! Is it feel like heaven on earth or hell on earth?

Mari kita lihat dari ke dua sisi tersebut.

Let's see from both sides.

*  *  *  *  *

👉 Surga Dunia

👉 Heaven on Earth

"Bu Keke, aku pengen cerita" begitu permintaan murid saya sambil membawa kertas gambarnya.

"Miss Keke, I want to tell a story" requested my student as she brought her drawing paper.

Sejak awal saya kembali mengajar di Taman Kanak-Kanak bulan September 2016 sampai sekarang, saya perhatikan anak-anak TK A dan TK B seakan ingin berlomba-lomba bicara saat saya mengajar di kelas mereka.

From the time of my return to my teaching post in this kindergarten in September 2016 to this present day, I noticed how the kids in A and B class seem talk eagerly when I teach in their class.

Saya tidak pernah menemui kesulitan untuk membuat mereka mau maju ke depan kelas untuk menggambar, menyanyi atau bercerita. Apa pun yang saya minta, yang saya perintahkan atau yang saya tugaskan kepada mereka akan selalu disambut dengan gembira dan penuh antusias.

I have never had any problem to make them willing to come forward to draw, sing or tell stories. Whatever I ask, whatever my order is or whatever task I give to them have always got happy and enthusiast respond.

Yang tadinya bilang tidak bisa, yang awalnya malu dan takut pun akhirnya tanpa ragu mau mencoba dan bahkan jadi ikut semangat, pede serta gembira.

Those who once said they couldn't do anything, they who were shy and afraid have become unhesitantly willing to try and even become excited, confident and happy.

*  *  *  *  *

👉 Neraka Dunia

👉 Hell on Earth

Bukan sekali dua kali saya perhatikan anak-anak les saya tidak menunjukkan semangat ketika saya menanyakan apa ada PR dari sekolah.

I have noticed many times how my tutoring kids do not show any enthusiasm when I ask them if they have school homework.

Mereka akan mengambil buku paket sekolahnya, dengan agak setengah membantingnya ke atas meja, menyebutkan PRnya di halaman berapa dengan gaya acuh tak acuh atau dengan gerakan kasar membuka lembar demi lembar halaman di buku itu.

They would take their school text book, smackingly a bit on the table, said the page ignorantly or harshedly opened and turned the pages.

Bahasa tubuh mereka jelas-jelas menyampaikan pesan 'Saya tidak suka'. PR dari sekolah menjadi tugas yang tidak mereka sukai, tidak mereka lihat sebagai sesuatu yang berguna untuk diri mereka sendiri tapi lebih sebagai beban, kewajiban yang menyebalkan yang diberikan oleh guru (yang seringkali juga adalah tokoh yang nyebelin di mata mereka).

Their body language clearly sent a message 'I dislike it'. School homework became a task they dislike, it is not seen as a benefit for them, it is nothing but a burden, an upsetting obligation given by a teacher (who's unsurprisingly also an upsetting figure in their point of view).

*  *  *  *  *

Jadi kenapa ada tugas yang bikin seseorang bisa menerima dan mengerjakannya dengan semangat dan gembira tapi ada tugas yang bikin orang eneg, sebal dan kesal?

So why is it there is duty that can make one accept and do it excitedly and happily but there's duty that infuriates, sickened and upset somebody?

*  *  *  *  *

👉 Saya tidak berada di bidang yang tepat

👉 I am not in the right field

Dalam pengalaman saya mengajar les, saya tahu mana anak yang memang tidak berbakat di bahasa asing dan mana yang punya bakat tapi butuh bimbingan.

In my experience as tutor, I can tell which kid doesn't have talent in foreign language and which one who has talent but needs guidance.

Yang tidak punya bakat belajar setengah hati, bikin saya frustrasi karena rasanya seperti menyimpan air dalam kantong yang bolong. Semua yang sudah dipelajari dan sudah diulang-ulang tetap saja ga lengket tuh di otaknya.

The ones who are not into foreign language study half heartedly, they frustrate me because it feels like storing water in holed container. Everything that has been learned and repeated still unable to find way to stick on their brains.

*  *  *  *  *

👉 Tokoh di belakang tugas

👉 The figure behind the duty

Yang namanya tata bahasa dulu, sekarang dan selamanya akan tetap sama.

Grammar shall remain same.

Tapi pengajarnya berbeda.

The teacher is different from time to time.

Kepribadian dan sifat seorang pengajar mempengaruhi kemampuan murid menyerap pelajaran dan menentukan suka atau tidak sukanya murid itu pada pelajaran tersebut.

Teacher's personality and characters determine student's ability to absorb a lesson and also plays key in making the student like or dislike it.

Making faces with my tutoring students before they went home.
I never wanna be a stern and distanced teacher. I don't wanna create any gap between myself and my students. They are my students but they are also my friends.

Ini berlaku tidak hanya di sekolah. Di tempat kerja juga.

This does not work only in school. It goes the same in work place.

Atasan yang punya kepribadian dan sifat bijak, adil dan bisa memimpin menentukan keberhasilan bawahannya.

With my former boss. This Japanese man is my favorite boss. He created comfortable, fair & supportive work environment. I have never liked office work but this man has made me loved my job and my work. I have never met any boss that was or is better than him.

A superior who have wise, fair and leader personality and characters is a key that determine the success of his or her men.

Sayangnya banyak yang tidak menyadari hal ini.

Unfortunately many don't realize it.

*  *  *  *  *

Lantas gimana jalan keluarnya?

So what is the solution?

Idealnya sih semua bisa belajar, mengambil jurusan studi dan bekerja yang sesuai dengan bakat, kemampuan serta minatnya.

Ideally everyone should learn, majored and work on the field that match his or her talent, capability and interest.

Tapi kenyataannya tidak demikian. 

Reality shows differently. 

Anak dipaksa untuk belajar semua mata pelajaran di sekolah. Penjuruan baru ada di SMA. Pemilihan studi di perguruan tinggi juga banyak yang harus mengikuti mau orang tua.

I have a degree in banking management.
In my work experience from 1994 to present day, I worked only three months in a bank. 

A child is forced to learn all subject in school. They can choose what they want to major when they are in highschool. After graduating highschool, most have to follow their parents when they choose their major in university or in college.

Not my own chosen major

Lantas apa seseorang bebas memilih pekerjaan yang diinginkannya? Banyak yang melenceng jauh dari bakat, kemampuan serta minatnya. Kenapa begitu? Prinsipnya dari pada menganggur. Dari pada tidak punya duit. 

Is one free to choose a job as he or she pleases? Many choose job that don't match their talent, capability and interest. Why? Well, it's better than to be jobless. Better than to have no income at all.

Akibatnya banyak yang stress karena harus belajar atau mengerjakan sesuatu yang tidak sesuai dengan bakat, kemampuan dan minat.

My adventure began as office worker

The result is many get stress for having to learn or do things that don't match their talent, capability and interest.

I hate office work. I feel trapped. It is not me. I'm doing it just for money.

Terus gimana dong?

So what's it gonna be?

Mau tidak mau, suka tidak suka, terpaksa murid harus mengikuti pelajaran sesuai dengan kurikulum sekolahnya. Nilai jeblok di pelajaran yang tidak sesuai dengan bakat dan minat anak memang tidak bisa dihindarkan. 

Whether a student willing or not, likes it or not, he or she must follow any subjects programmed on his or her school. Flunking in a subject that doesn't match a child's talent and interest is unavoidable.

Memilihkan sekolah yang tidak terlalu tinggi standard penilaiannya bisa meringankan beban anak dan menghindarkan stress pada orang tua serta pada anak.

Choosing school that does not apply high standard on students grade can ease a child's burden and avoid stress both on parents and the child.

Home schooling adalah alternatif lain.

Home schooling is another alternative.

Cita-cita saya adalah mendirikan sekolah seperti sekolahnya Toto-Chan, Tomoe Gakuen.

My dream is to establish a school like Toto-Chan's school, Tomoe Gakuen.

Bagaimana untuk mereka yang harus bekerja di tempat atau di bidang yang tidak sesuai dengan bakat, kemampuan dan minatnya?

How about those who have to work in place or in field that does not match their talent, capability and interest?

Kalau imbalannya bagus dan lingkungan kerja baik.. ya bertahanlah. Tapi kalau tetap berasa tidak sreg di hati.. mulailah job hunting dan bersabar. Cepat atau lambat pekerjaan yang diinginkan pasti akan datang. 

If the payment is good and so does the work environment.. well, stick to it. But if still doesn't bring peace of mind.. start job hunting and be patient. Sooner or later you will get the job you want.

Yang berat kalau imbalannya tidak memuaskan dan suasana kerja bikin hati tidak tentram tapi mau berhenti susah karena ada beban tanggung jawab sebagai pencari nafkah utama untuk keluarga. 

It's hard if the payment sucks and work environment does not make one feel at peace but quitting is out of the question for having responsibility as family's sole provider.

Kalau ini kasusnya, cobalah cari kegiatan yang sesuai dengan bakat, minat dan kemampuanmu yang bisa kamu lakukan di waktu senggang buat melepaskan diri dari stress di tempat kerja, lebih bagus lagi kalau kegiatan itu bisa menghasilkan uang seperti yang saya lakukan dengan mengajar, bahasa Inggris dan menulis.

If this is the case, try finding some activities based on your talent, interest and capability to do in your spare time to become stress reliever from work, it would be great if you could make money out of it like me, making money out of teaching, English and writing.

Sementara itu di sekolah atau di tempat kerja carilah teman-teman yang mengetahui kelemahanmu tapi tetap menyayangi dan mendukungmu. Mereka ini akan membuat kamu merasa diterima, dipercaya dan disukai sebagai dirimu sendiri. Ini juga untuk membuat kamu tidak merasa seorang diri.

Most of these people were my biggest supportive friends in college.
It was by their help that I could be among them, the few first graduated students of our class.

And these are my supportive friends at work. We drive each other crazy with our flaws & weaknesses but we also help & support one another.

In the meantime try finding friends in school or at work who know your weakness but still love and support you. They will make you feel accepted, trusted and liked for being yourself. This is to make you not feeling all alone.

How Does It Feel?

Rangkaian acara Paskah sudah lewat. 

Passover has passed. 

Bagus.

Good.

Ini beberapa kenangan yang tertinggal.

Here are some memories of it. 

*  *  *  *  * 

Jangan Libatkan Saya

Leave Me Out Of It

Dari awal saya sudah wanti-wanti ke rekan dan teman saya untuk tidak melibatkan saya dalam kepanitiaan.

I have asked my colleague and my friend not to involve me in Passover committee.

Ada alasan, pertimbangan dan banyak sakit hati yang bikin saya ogah melibatkan diri.

There are reasons, considerations and many heartache that prevented me from involving myself.

Biar saya jadi penonton aja deh. Tapi kalau ente perlu bantuan dan ane bisa bantu.. ha, lu ngomong aje, ok.

Let me be just a spectator. However if you needed any help and it would be something in my ability.. ha, just ask, ok.

*  *  *  *  *

Cuci Ceker

Feet Washing

“Ci, kaki cici di cuci nanti di acara Kamis Putih” kurang seminggu dari hari H teman saya menyampaikan info itu.

“Sis, your feet will be washed in Convenant Thursday sermon” less than a week of the D-day my friend passed me that information.

Ceker gue?? Lha, kok ceker gue?

My feet?? Why does it have to be my feet?

“Iya ci, sudah diputusin di rapat bulan lalu”.

“Yes sis, it has been decided in last month’s meeting”.

Setan! rutuk saya dalam hati. Asoi geboi amat ya ngambil keputusan kagak pake nanya apa orangnya mau atau ga, bersedia atau ga, keberatan atau ga..

Damn! I cussed quietly. It must be really fun to take decision without asking if the person is willing or not, be okay with it or not..

“Say, titik geli di badan aku bukan di pinggang atau di bahu. Tapi di kaki” kata saya sambil menekan rasa kesal.

"Dear, my tickle point in my body is not in my waist or shoulder. It is in my feet" I told her as I quietly surpressed my upsetness.

“Yah, gimana dong, ci, udah keputusannya begitu.."

"It has been decided, sis.."

Doh, kalau titah para baginda yang mulia sudah keluar, rakyat jelata tidak punya pilihan lain kecuali nunut.

Man, when the honorable sires have set the decree, what else choice the subject have than bow in obedience.

Lucunya nih, kalau saya mau minta orang lain untuk tugas atau menggantikan seseorang.. saya kerap diwanti-wanti oleh mereka "Mintanya yang sopan ya, Ke, pake bahasa yang baik" kayak seakan-akan saya manusia paling tidak tahu adat sopan santun. Bah, ngatur tata bahasa sih perkara kecil, kan ane penulis. Noh, ane pake tata bahasa dengan kesopan santunan tingkat dewa.

Funny thing is when I wanted to ask somebody to do something or to replace someone.. I oftenly being reminded by them "Be polite when you do that, Keke, use good language" as if I were the most impolite person alive. Blah, what is difficult when it comes to grammar, I am a writer, man. There, I use the highest politeness level of grammar.

Orang lain harus dipertimbangkan perasaannya maka itu harus ditanya dulu, oh, pake tata adat kesopan santunan tingkat tinggi pula.

Other people's feelings must be put into consideration and that is why prior notice is a must, oh, plus using high level of mannerism.

Ah, tapi itu kan buat orang lain ya.. *kedip-kedip*.. hihi, jadi malu..

Ah, but that's for other people, right?.. *wink wink*.. haha, it embarrasses me..

Ada banyak hal yang semakin lama semakin menjauhkan hati saya dari tempat ini dan bukan cuma saya yang merasakan demikian.

There are many things that are distancing my heart of this place and I am not the only one who feels this way. 

*  *  *  *  *

Cuma Buat Pertunjukan

Just For The Show

Datanglah hari Kamis itu. 

And so the crucial Thursday came.

Saya dag-dig-dug mikirin 'aduh mak, kalau ceker gue dicuci dan gue kelepasan cekikikan karena geli waktu itu ceker dipegang-pegang.. mampus deh gue'.

I was so damn nervous thinking 'man, if my feet are washed and I accidentally giggling for feeling tickle when those feet are touched.. I am a dead person'.

Kenapa sih mesti gue yang dipilih?, rutuk saya kesal.

Why chosed me anyway?, I grummbled.

Ntar kalau saya protes.. para baginda yang terhormat itu menganggap saya ngebangkang. 

If I protested.. those honorable sires would think me being unobedient.

Kenapa sih bukan yang lain aja? Tuh, saya punya rekan yang kita juluki pemain sinetron saking lebay dan gampang banget nangis. 

Why not appointed the other? There, I have a colleague whom we dubbed drama queen for being so dramatic and easily shed tears.

Kalau dia yang dipilih.. wah, efek dramatisnya pasti dapet banget. Kan pengennya supaya suasana nantinya jadi bikin hadirin bisa meresapi inti pesan yang disampaikan lewat ilustrasi cuci ceker ini.. so pemerannya harus yang bisa menjiwai perannya dong.

If she were chosen.. well, you shall have the dramatic effect. So it should be presented in a way where the audience can grasp the message delivered through this feet washing illustration.. then the cast should be somebody who can get into the role perfectly.

Saya? Saya setengah mati nahan ketawa karena kegelian.

Me? I hardly kept myself from not laughing for feeling tickled.

Saya bisa merasakan muka saya jadi merah-kuning-hijau menahan rasa geli. Bahkan sekali saya sampai harus menunduk karena nyaris terkikik geli. Untung sebagian besar lampu dimatikan dan karena itu sudah malam bikin ruangan sebagian besarnya jadi gelap so  mudah-mudahan tidak ada yang lihat ekspresi muka saya.

I could feel my face turned red-yellow-green for holding this tickled. Once I even had to bow my head down for nearly giggled. Good thing most of the lights were turned off and since it was night already most of the room was dark so hopefully no one saw the expression on my face.

Doh elah.. semua demi pertunjukan..

Darn.. the whole thing was for the sake of the show..

Maaf kalau saya menyebut dan menganggapnya hanya sebuah pertunjukan.

Sorry if I called and thought of it as just a show..

*  *  *  *  *

Kapan Kelarnya?

When Will It End?

Saya duduk di depan sana. Tegang karena konsentrasi menahan rasa geli saat ceker saya dipegang-pegang orang. 

I sat in the front. Intense for concentrated holding the tickled for having my feet touched by somebody.

Kapan selesainya sih??

When will it end??

Boro-boro saya berasa terharu. 

Don't assume I felt moved.

Mendengar MC ber-hiks-hiks-hiks terharu malah bikin saya semakin kepingin ketawa karena membayangkan sementara yang lain sudah bercucuran air mata, saya malah lagi berjuang mati-matian supaya ga ngakak kegelian waktu ceker saya dipegang-pegang. Sumpah, itu gelinya sampe bikin saya merinding disko.

Hearing the MC sobbed tickled me more as I imagined while others shed tears I was struggling to keep myself from not laughing for being tickled when somebody touched my feet. I swear, it was so tickled it raised all the hair on my neck.

*  *  *  *  * 

Gimana Rasanya?

How Does It Feel?

Lega rasanya waktu akhirnya acara cuci ceker itu selesai. Ha.. saya bisa kembali ke tempat duduk saya dong ya..

I was so relieved when that feet washing was done. Ha.. I could return to my seat..

Eh, tapi..

But, wait..

Gimana rasanya tadi setelah kakinya dicuci? MC bertanya..

How does it feel for having your feet washed? MC popped that question..

Gimana rasanya??

How does it feel??

Saya meliriknya sambil mengerutkan kening. Lha, jadi ada wawancara?

I glanced at her, crossing my eyebrow. Well, should there be an interview for this?

Gimana tadi rasanya waktu yang tua mencucikan kaki yang muda?

How does it feel to have older person washed the young's feet?

Perasaan kok jadi seakan-akan saya habis mencicipi menu baru dan sekarang saya diwawancara gimana rasanya?

Why does it feel as if I just tasted new menu and now I was being interviewed to tell how it tasted.

Saya heran sekaligus kesal dan lucu juga.

It amazed yet upset and tickled me at the same time.

Gimana rasanya, bray??

How does it feel, dude??

Ga ada istimewanya. Emang harus terasa istimewa ya? 

Nothing special. Should it be special?

Lha, tiap sore kalau sudah santai di rumah dan saya sama papa lagi ngobrol-ngobrol, saya pasti angkat kaki saya, taruh di atas lutut papa dan papa langsung mijitin kaki saya. Dulu waktu mama masih hidup dia suka mijitin atau elus-elus kaki saya tanpa saya minta. Dan pacar saya, Andre, juga begitu. Mereka bertiga itu semuanya jauh lebih tua dari saya.

Every evening when my papa and I are relaxing at home I put my feet on papa's lap and he massages them. When mama was alive she liked to massage and caressed my feet too. And my boyfriend, Andre, does the same. Those three people are much older than me.

Beda lagi pendapat teman saya yang cekernya juga dicuci.

My friend, whose feet was also washed, had different opinion.

Dia menganggap itu adalah hal yang luar biasa.

He thought it as an extra ordinary thing.

Kenapa demikian? Ah, ini bicara mengenai efek psikologis dan bukan tentang spiritualitas.

Why is that so? Ah, it is about psychological effect and not about spiritual thing.

Teman saya itu yatim piatu dari usia muda. Saya yakin tidak ada orang dewasa yang pernah dengan penuh kasih sayang mengelus-elus atau memijiti kakinya.

My friend had become orphan since young age. I am not sure there were adults who lovingly have ever caressed or massaged his feet.

*  *  *  *  *

Tugas Telah Dilaksanakan

Duty Is Served

"Ci, mestinya tadi ke depan jangan bawa hp".

"Sis, you shouldn't bring your cellphone when you got up there".

Saya yang baru saja lega karena acara sudah selesai jadi mangkel lagi.

I who was just relieved to have the whole thing done 

Bray, alasan satu-satunya gue tadi nongkrong di depan sono dan jadi tontonan sejuta umat kan bukan karena itu pilihan gue, bukan karena gue ngacungin jari dan teriak "woi! gue aja yang cekernya dicuci ye..'

Dude, the only reason I sat infront there and made myself a show for the millions of congragetion is not my choice, it was not like I raised up my hand and exclaimed "yo! let me be the one whose feet being washed ok.."

Jadi jangan gue dikritik atau dicela lagi cuma gara-gara gue bawa hp gue ke depan sana.

So don't criticized or condemned me for bringing my cellphone up there.

Kecuali kali kalo yang gue bawa ke depan tadi itu sapi.

Unless it was a cow that I brought up there.

Yang penting tugas sudah dijalankan.

Most important thing is duty is served.

Anda tidak puas? Ya gampang, jangan tunjuk saya lagi. Kan masih banyak yang semilyar kali lebih baik dari saya.. ya nggak, ya nggak?..

You are not pleased with it? That's easy, don't appoint me again. There are billions of others who are so much better than me.. right, right?..

*  *  *  *  *

Kerendahan Hati

Humbleness

Ribuan tahun yang lalu Tuhan Yesus memberikan ilustrasi tentang kerendahan hati sewaktu Dia mencuci kaki murid-muridNya.

Thousands of years ago Jesus gave illustration about humbleness when He washed His diciples' feet.

Manusia itu susah rendah hati.

It is hard for people to be humble.

Manusia cenderung menyampaikan pesan verbal dan non-verbal yang berbunyi "Ini gue lho, hadirin dan hadirat.. Lah, elu? Elu pikir elu tuh siapa sih" kepada sesamanya.

People tend to pass verbal and non-verbal message of "This is me, people.. And you? Who the hell do you think you are" to another human.

Buat saya pribadi, ritual tahunan pencucian kaki ini sama sekali tidak pernah menyentuh hati saya.

For me personally, this annual ritual of feet washing has never touched my heart.

Tapi ketika orang melakukan seperti yang tertulis ini; itulah kasih, itulah kerendahan hati.

Buluh yang terkulai tidak akan diputuskanNya, dan sumbu yang pudar nyalanya tidak akan dipadamkanNya

But when people do as written above; that is love, that is humbleness.

Kerendahan hati bukanlah suatu pertunjukan. 

Humbleness is not a show.

Bukan pula merupakan sesuatu yang dilakukan mengikuti mood; cuma dilakukan kalau lagi pengen aja.

It is not something done out of mood; it's done when one feels like it.

Kerendahan hati bukan cuma sebatas bibir.

Humbleness is not a lip service.

Bukan juga sesuatu yang dibanggakan.

It is not something to be prided.

Jangan menjadikan diri rendah hati karena takut nanti tidak masuk sorga.

Don't be humble for fearing would be banned from entering heaven.

Kerendahan hati sejati bukanlah sesuatu yang diatur atau direncanakan.

Real humbleness is not something pre-arranged or pre-planned.

Kerendahan hati menjadi suatu tantangan ketika sikon seseorang membuat dirinya merasa lebih dari yang lain.

Humbleness becomes real challange when someone's situation makes him/her feels superior than others.

Kerendahan hati mengatakan 'saya ini bukan apa-apa dan saya juga bukan siapa-siapa'.

Humbleness says 'I am nothing and I am nobody'.

Father Daughter's Travel Plan

Ah, sudah lama ga jalan-jalan. Enaknya kemana ya?

Ah, I haven’t made any traveling for quite a while. Where would I go this time?

Hasil ngobrol-ngobrol saya sama papa menghasilkan keputusan bersama; Sukabumi-Cianjur.

Papa and I talked about it and we made a decision; Sukabumi-Cianjur.

Perbedaannya adalah sementara saya pingin ke sana, ke sini, ke sono, lihat dan nyicipin ini itu ono.. papa pengennya sederhana saja; kepingin traveling naik kereta.

The difference is while I want to go here and there, see and taste this and that.. papa’s wish is simple; wants to go traveling by train.

“Jalur kereta Sukabumi-Cianjur lewatin terowongan buatan dari jaman Belanda” kata papa.

“Sukabumi to Cianjur train’s route passes a tunnel made by the Dutch” said papa.

Apa istimewanya itu terowongan?, pikir saya “Kalau mau ke Jakarta kan juga lewatin terowongan, sebelum stasiun Cawang”.

What is so special about that tunnel?, I wonder “Train to Jakarta pass a tunnel before Cawang station”.

“Itu kan atasnya jalan raya” papa ketawa “Bukan terowongan beneran”.

“That’s a road’s tunnel” papa laughed “Not a real tunnel”.

Ya, gelapnya sih sama aja kali.. hehe..

Well, what different does it make? It’s dark in it.. haha..

Tapi jadi penasaran juga nih jadinya selain karena pengen lagi ke Sukabumi (terakhir kali ke sana itu tgl 9 Desember 2013) dan juga ke Cianjur yang sama sekali belum pernah saya datangi.

It makes me curious though apart from wanting to go back to Sukabumi (the last time I went there was on 9 December 2013) and also to go to Cianjur, the place where I have never been to.

Jadi yang pertama harus kita lakukan adalah pergi ke stasiun Bogor Paledang untuk pesan tiket sekali jalan ke Sukabumi.

So the first thing we must do is go to Bogor Paledang train station to book one way ticket to Sukabumi.

Dari kantor pergilah saya dan papa ke sana hari Minggu lalu.

Took photo first before leaving to train station

Papa and I went there last Sunday from the office.

Bakal jadi seru nih kayaknya jalan-jalan saya tgl 24 nanti. Belum berangkat aja sudah bikin semangat.

Looks like I'm going to have a fun traveling on the 24th. I've already got excited even before the trip starts.

Papa juga semangat. Selama bertahun-tahun dia lebih banyak terkurung di rumah, menjaga dan mengurusi mama yang kesehatannya naik turun.

Papa is excited too. He has spent years at home looking after and taking care mama who had frail health condition.

Mama meninggal 31 Desember 2016.

Photo courtesy to Mr. Boy Weldy

Mama passed away on 31 December 2016.

Di sela-sela kesibukan saya tetap mikir bagaimana supaya papa tidak merasa sepi sewaktu saya tinggal kerja ke kantor.

In between my hectic life I keep thinking how to make papa from not feeling lonely at home while I'm in the office.

Jadi saya tidak lagi nongki berlama-lama di kantor atau keluyuran sepulang kerja. Jadwal mengajar les di rumah juga mengharuskan saya segera pulang setelah jam kantor usai.

So I no longer stay long in the office or hang around after work. My tutoring schedule also makes me have to go straight home after work.

Kalau lagi di rumah kami berdua melakukan kegiatan yang sama-sama kami sukai; masak.

When we are at home we do the thing we both like; cooking.

Jalan-jalan cuma buat belanja bahan masakan.

The time we went out together is just to buy groceries.

Pergi traveling bareng? Wah, itu sudah bertahun-tahun yang lalu.

Went on a traveling? Man, it was years ago.

Karena itu jalan-jalan kali ini pasti bakal jadi istimewa. 

That is why this time it's going to be a special traveling.

* * * * * 

Stasiun kereta api Bogor Paledang posisinya tidak jauh dari stasiun kereta api Bogor. Di seberang stasiun Bogor ada ruko-ruko yang di sisinya ada jalanan. Menyusurlah jalan itu, nanti akan kelihatan stasiun Bogor Paledang.

Far front: Bogor train station 

Bogor Paledang train station is located near Bogor train station. There are stores across Bogor train station and there is pathway that leads to Bogor Paledang train station.

Just follow this pathway & you'll get to Bogor Paledang train station

Hari Minggu siang itu stasiun Bogor Paledang ramai dengan orang yang sebagian besarnya mau pulang ke Sukabumi.

Bogor Paledang train station was crowded on that Sunday afternoon. Most of them were going back to Sukabumi.

Duh, jadi susah deh cari tempat duduk. Kami sampai pas jam istirahat jadi loketnya tutup so kami harus nunggu hampir satu jam sampai loketnya buka lagi.

Man, it was quite hard to find empty seat. We got there at lunch time so the counter was closed and we had to wait for nearly an hour.

Dari pada bengong, kita foto-fotoan deh.

We took photos to pass the time.

Eh, lagi foto-foto gitu keretanya datang.. jakjusjess..

The train arrived when we were taking photos.. chuck chuck chuck..

Aih... tanggal 24 cepatlah datang..

Oh man... 24th please come soon..

Jam satu siang.. ah, akhirnya...

1 pm.. ah, finally..

Yes yes yes!!