Domi’s Diary – Apr & May 2016

Hi fellows,

I guess this is the last entry so far. I wanted to wait for some days before writing again so all the tiredness, jet lag sleep and thoughts after the trip are settle. (I brought half on Indonesia on my luggage)

Well, first of all I would like to tell you that I miss you so much, that I am bloody gloomy everytime I look at the pictures or remember of you and, that I wish I could be there taking part into the Open House day in Pakuwon City, East Coast. I saw some pictures and videos, you are doing it great.

Coming back…life is good in Spain, everything is the same, now the Spring is finishing and the hot is starting to come. However in the nights and morning is quite chilly so you need the jacket also when you are in the shade during the daylight. In one month from now on we have national elections and the Eurocup. And I think that currently people is pretty much more excited due to the second one kwkw

My family is happy to have me here and everyone is asking me about Indonesia, to tell them stories, anecdotes, things I saw, I did, I ate, about the culture, customs, food, weather, economy, politics, education, work, Widya Mandala, the English department, people…and so on (It is quite annoying sometimes so I try to slip past at some points ��)

My family and friends were very happy with all things I showed and told them. They cannot believe to many of the things I tell them, and for me, doing it in a proactive way, that is the beauty of life: To understand the same thing, differently, so you are able to see things you could not before.

Now I am having some “heavy” days immersed between the books and interviews, wish me luck.

If my country we say that when you hear a beep in your ear is because someone is speaking or remembering of you, so when you feel it probably It is me telling about you to the others around, as well in Spain, as well people from all over the world.

Take care all, May I see you again and God bless you.

¡Hasta la vista!

Terima Kasih,
Domingo

Halo all,

This is the first entry of May. And what an entry, in the middle of the holidays J

During the first three days of May in the Campus you could easily feel the atmosphere where everyone were looking for the Wednesday to enjoy the long weekend kwkw

On Monday evening I joined the Secretary Department of Widya Mandala, invited by the Director, Ester. We were having a class with the students and also a brief speech. They hardly try to improve their English day by day and that is easy to see. I enjoyed my time there and hope they did too with me. Wish you the best of lucks my friends and thank you very much for the batik!!

On Tuesday I went to WIdya Mandala in Pakuwon city into the Faculty of Psychology invited by B.Erlyn, she is so nice… We were looking at the facilities; chatting with the lectures and delivering a talk about study or work abroad and the benefits of broaden our horizons. I really appreciate that I have this opportunities to visit new places, interact with inspiring people and learn more from it.

On Thursday to start the long weekend I went with P.Hady and a friend of us, Franky, to visit Gresik. I have never been there, it was interesting to see to old Dutch architecture in the city, streets and houses. However I could not understand that much as I am not that good, yet, on Bahasa Indonesian…
We also were the guess of one old Widya Mandala Student, Ronnie, his father owns the Hotel Sapta Nawa there so, in the meantime when we were around the city we also visited it and had lunch there. Thank you for your indescribable Indonesian hospitality. Long day and pretty tired at the end

Well, as the day before I did NOTHING but shirk, on Friday I took the day for my own business, I love to spend time on my own. I was suppose to give a seminar on Sastra Inggris Universitas nevertheless It was moved to another date.
Perfect, I use the day to do some work, research, send some reports, go around, buy food, do some sport, think, listen to music, write, and between gaps: enjoy my time. Great day indeed

And now…Looking forward to go to Bali this weekend!! You will see the pics…that If I come back 😉

Hope you enjoyed your time in the long weekend

Halo semua,

How you doing? I am really looking forward to have my lunch today, you know I am growing and that is normal…

This past weekend, as I was kindly invited, we had the Widya Mandala Graduation Day at Shangri-La Hotel. I was so enthusiastic to see a traditional Graduation display here, everyone told me It was going to be different, and indeed was. For me It is a big change comparing it with the University Graduations I am use to. This one was so ceremonial, deferential, long..and imposing. I really enjoyed listening to the traditional Javanise music, with the spectacular chorus and chit chatting with friend and colleagues around, as B.Retno, B.Erlyn, B Ester and so on.
Hopefully you will be there in a few years guys 🙂

Later on on sunday and after slepping like a log, I went to Taekwondo as usual and was having lunch with the guys before to come home. As I was in the mood of having a relaxing time I looked for a place where to have a feet massage. I found out that the have it on Kaza City Mall, so I headed there and after had dinner.

Quiet and good weekend ?

We arrived there by train early on the Saturday afternoon (yes, five hours train). You can feel the culture once you step your feet there. Going to the hotel by angkong was new for me, quite little buf useful way of transportation. Anyway, shower in the hotel, some food, and heading Prambanan by bus: just 3.000 rupiah!

For me, Prambana was amazing, such a fantastic a sample of ancient architecture and old tradition. It is amazing to see how they carved the rock, place them and see that in the middle of the forest, AMAZING. Even better when you know about the history. To get energy we got some delicious Indonesian food, I think I had Mie goreng and if that was not enough we booked the ticked to watch the Ramayana Ballet in Jogyakarta, sincerously, one of the best things I have seem on Indonesia, the movements, the dance, the history, the music, the performance, all together create a delicious atmosphere where your senses just enjoy, wonderful.

Going back to the hotel, street food, again yes ha ha, feet massage, shower and good sleep. Everything was ready in the morning to reach Borobudur.

Borobudur was so expensive (bule’s price…) so crowded, so hot, so high and so far hence so amazing. A Buddhist construction older than 1.500 years, in the middle of nowhere, full of delictate curvings all around telling the history of Buddishm, I see now why the gave to It the UNESCO Human Heritage, good for the Indonesian Goverment taking care of this representations of the rooting and traditional Indonesian culture. Speechless

Back on the train to Surabaya for 7 and half hours was not that good experience ha ha, still we used the time to chit chat, sleep, eat and so on.

Ayo!

This last Saturday morning I used the time to clean at home, get some work done, and buy food (very important). Later on that day I went for an interview as I was kindly requested by the AIESEC member to do so, happily I joined.

After lunch I spent some time with the 4th semester’s student, Niga. We went to play football together in real grass (in my country is so difficult to find real grass due to the cost of the maintenance also since It does not rain that much we lack water so many times. So they wisely decided that It is better to use it for drinking than for watering the lawn). After a short but good match we went for a cold coconut drink, I did not like it when I came to Indonesia, now I love it. We were also visiting some friends and enjoying the hospitality of the Indonesian people, It was indeed great. Thank you for share those precious moments with me

Early in the morning on Sunday I headed the Surabaya Taekwondo competition held on Unair Surabaya. We had fun and it was great, such a wonderful group and Sabonims, Scorpion Taekwondo Surabaya.

Thanks to the useful Gojek I rrived at home around 17:00, and was quite occupied doing some work until 21:00. However had a perfect end, shower, Nasi Goreng and movie 🙂

Today I was a bit sad I guess, I realized that, so far, is the the beginning of my last month here. I try to do not feel melancholic, but gosh It is difficult sometimes hehe

It was a great week, as usual,at work, assisting to some classes (debate with P.Luluk, speaking with B. Iche, etc) meanwhile I enjoyed watching the freshmen and freshwomen preparing themselves for a “lovely” weekend due to the training kader. As well I was preparing a cultural presentation/seminar about Spanish culture, academics and life for the students of the engineering faculty. It was idea of B.Anning also with the help of P.Edy and the Dean of our neighbours’s faculty downstair. I have to say that I enjoyed a lot, the public was great and the people from the engineering faculty made their best. Thanks for your support and commitment.

That was the day on which it rained a lot…during the week on the evening I was doing my routine and some stuffs as usual (some researches, work out, go out with someone for dinner, take some time for myself, etc). However, I would like to remark Wednesday evening; I went with P.Hady to train with him martial arts, as you know I practice Taekwondo, and He does Jujitsu. I have to say that the training was great, intense, hard and swety, a good proper training. Also Taekwondo is my favourite martial art I sometimes enjoye training different things (some of them are similar also), in new places, with people, living new experiences and sharing. The master was geat, and also his father was there who is the master over him. P.Hady was good too, strong, experienced and focus. We had a good time, thank you.

Live and learn

It seemed like a quiet weekend for me and I wanted after this las hectic week…However It was not. Welcome to Indonesia, where you can expect the unexpected

After cleaning my fabulous house and read a bit I met P.Hady in the morning to take back some of the Hakka stuffs used in the International Celebration last 8th of April. In the way to the old Hakka house a a fierce and unexpected cloud wanted to get us wet, and very nearly succeeded. Luckily we found a good roof close to a shop and waited there. After the forces of the nature calm down we carried on whit our trip, not before stopping into the Confucius Temple In Chinatown Surabaya, I have always liked to see old temples from different religions, It helps me to at least a bit, better understand the world. Such a great and wise guy this Confucius:

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop

Confucius

Right after that we headed THe Old Hakka house in Surabaya where we had a delicious typical chinese lunch with the members who were around. With A full belly, our next stop was the old Surabaya Stadium, where I got a Persebaya Surabaya jumper. Does someone want to come with me to Malang wearing it? It will be fun…

On the evening I was happily invited to have dinner by the owner of my boarding house in Mojoarum, Ai Dina. We went to Food Junction in West Surabaya, and yes, It was crowded, as It was very difficult to find a table and we were quite hungry, as least I was, after a nice walk over there and get wet again because of the rain twe moved to a restaurant zone in west Surabaya, G-Walk in Citraland. Nice food, nice place, nice people, great dinner. Thank you all for making it that unforgettable.

Good sleep with full tummy, Sunday I woke up to study a bit and later on went to train Taekwondo on Dinoyo, great day, push yourself and give your best! As I was shattered I decided to eat street bakso, and as I was tasty, I ordered another one. As a happy baby, tired and full of food I took time for myself after it, I went home, rest, did some shopping, read, speak with some people, good some news…and just relax and face things as a normal human being to keep on the path.

Someone is always watching us guys

Dear all,

It was such a busy week preparing the First International Multicultural festival held by the English Department of Widya Mandala Catholic University in Surabaya.

As usual, I would like to start thanking (you have to forgive but I wont say names, otherwise I would never end, and also I would probably forget someone…) all the teachers, staff, EDSA, students and people from the English Department as well to the others from the faculty who helped and joined the vent as the Surabaya Hakka association, media, audience,other countries representatives, the Surabaya Salsa Community, of course Shiva and Pancho, and so on . Great collaboration and coordination between all the members into a brilliant performance.

I had Indra working next to me, who was very helpful and willing to work. I admire his spirit to try new things, speak and collaborate. We worked together to settle our Spanish booth, also on the D-day we counted with the help of the EDSA for the organization of the place.
I really enjoyed the event, saw, learnt and try new things (tastifull pecel). The MC did so well, as the dancers (professional and not professional hehe). So glad for having the chance assist.

I hope next year It will be bigger, better and with the same atmosphere of sharing, understanding and learning. Keep the path, this is just for you guys.

Wow what start of April…dingin, dingin…yes in Bromo! We departed last friday first of April, my Kezia (the counselor) and some friends.

Although I was on Ijen last weekend, Bromo was much more colder for me (maybe because we did not hike and we did not warm up ourselves…) Anyway It was so great, we shared a nice car trip, later we changed into a Jeep and finally walked up the mountain for a while to reach the highest point where to enjoy the sun set. That was the coldest part…standing up for at least one hour waiting for the sun to come up. However, we where chatting, making jokes, enjoying with the people there and sharing experiences.

After the sunrise we went down get some delicious and spice Indonesian breakfast (rice, meat and some vegetables) and went all around the crater with the jeep. It was pretty amazing! Actually this is one of those experiences that you will remember all your life, climb a volcano and walk around the mountainside.
Thank you Kezia and friends for managing the trip and come along with me, you are brilliant 🙂

Next day I was sleeping for quite a long time heh

Lets get ready for our International event on Friday 8th ya?!