Christmas service

For some years, Christmas in Indonesia is 'coloured' by the shadow of terrorism and bomb. This morning, when we arrived in the church, no vehicle was allowed to enter church's premises.

The 'given' reason: there was news that a terrorist entered our town last night. Police has swept the entire premises and after that, no vehicle is allowed in. But why didn't they make us walk through a metal detector?

During the sermon, there was an interference from the police's radio communication into our sound system. For a split second I thought the police were in front of our church, informing that indeed something had 'happened'.

Later I realised, this is a standard operational procedure -- they just want to make sure nothing happens. Perhaps I watched too many movies.:D

Merry Christmas

I'd like to say Merry Christmas in several languages. Not that I'm able to speak all these languages, but for each of the language below, there are people that I remember. So, dear readers,

Merry Christmas
Selamat Hari Natal
Vrolijk Kerstfeest (or Zalig Kerstfeest, see here)
Feliz Navidad
Froehliche Weihnachten
Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
Milad Majid
Feliz Natal
Bon Nadal
Glædelig Jul
Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Kala Christouyenna!
Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Maligayan Pasko!
Vesele Bozicne Praznike Srecno Novo Leto
God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År

and I'd like to include a song I've just learnt (this is 'We Wish you a Merry Christmas in a local language in Indonesia):
Horas ma hita mar Natal (3x)
dohot mar Taon Baru

UT Nieuws

An article about the alumni dinner I mentioned before is published in the University's weekly paper (Dutch version) . Click here to read it.

Study Abroad and LDR

Last weekend I met some friends at alumni dinner. I heard another failed relationship story. It made me think of relationship, how studying abroad effects it.

During my stay in Europe, I heard sooo ... many story about failed relationships. One by one friends lost her/his boy/girlfriend.

Of course many people have theories on it. It ranges from 'how living in another country changes a person' to 'unfaithfulness'. It became a gender related issues (there is a theory on whether a relationship has bigger possibility to survive if the man or the woman studied abroad).

A friend even had a theory that having a long distance relationship is a 'safety net' -- you're not asked about not having a partner, yet you have all the time to enjoy your single life.

I think most students who studied abroad had a 'dream' of getting married and settle down after graduation. Unfortunately many of us were not blessed with fulfillment of that dream. I don't have the statistical data, but I'm a witness on how many relationships have failed because of this.

So friends, for you who have studied abroad and succeeded in your relationship: hats off! For you who have never gone abroad and succeeded in your relationship: don't be disappointed, perhaps that's what it takes for keeping your relationship. For you who are thinking of going abroad: consider this and think of how to keep yours. For you whose relationship failed: it's not the end of the world -- dunia tak selebar daun kelor. :P

Force majeure?

Life in school is getting 'interesting'.

Last week, on the day that US President Bush visited Indonesia, there was a bomb threat in the school -- turned out to be a bluff.

This Monday, the main switch was short circuited -- korsluiting -- fire! Fire extinguisher went off, the smell was awful, classes were dismissed early.

As those two things happened on Mondays, my students were wondering what will happened the following Monday. Flood? Earthquake?

Let's hope no more 'interesting' things happen. :-)