Freak City Soundtrack

I woke up very late this morning, it’s almost 12 o’clock (it’s noon already hehe).  I took a rush shower and ran to the bus stop in front of my school’s gate. Today is friday, and I only have less than 40 minutes before my friday prayers started in Itaewon. Luckily, I was not alone, I met my Pakistanis and Uzbek’s friends there waited for the bus too. The bus was a bit late today, we waited for 10 minutes and it will took us to the nearest subway station.

The weather was just perfect for me, I have my green hawaiian polo combined with jeans and sneakers. It’s sunny day but quite windy, so when we get off and walked from Itaewon station to the mosque, it doesnt make me sweat like it used to be.

We came just as the preach (Khutbah) started. I try to find an empty space to sit on, yup, I found one near the window and not too far away from the fan. Cool, it’s very convenient for me, so I don’t have to fanned myself.

Since most of the moslems who came were from many countries, so normally the Khutbah was conducted in 2 languages, first part is Korean and second part is English. But sometimes it happens all khutbah was conducted only in Korean, English or Arabic language. And today’s khutbah was brought in Arabic language. I heard the preacher was from Libya. Actually it doesnt matter if the khutbah is conducted in any language coz we still can read the khutbah notes handout after finishing our pray.

After finishing our prayer, you may see many moslems get together, chat and hang-out with their friends from each countries. In my case, I used to say hi and have some chit-chat with my Indonesian friends as well, not only students but also friends from workers (TKI) and the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI).

Let me shortly brief a story about our Indonesian Student Community (PERPIKA : Persatuan Pelajar Indonesia-Korea) is a non-profit organization deals with Indonesian students who study in Korea. PERPIKA has a very close and good relations with Indonesian Workers in Korea (TKI) and Indonesian Embassy(KBRI). I’ll spend some time to write about PERPIKA; the people in charge and the organization body.

Back to the mosque, since its Ramadhan, I couldnt see any people queueing for Turkish Kebab. That is the best kebab I ever had in my life. I often bought it every week for my lunch and so other moslems too. If you try once, then I guarantee you will get yourself addicted to his kebab. It so damn delicious and yummy.

Before I left the mosque heading my way back to school again, a guy from KBRI reminds me that tomorrow (every saturday during Ramadhan) they will organize a fasting remitance (buka puasa bersama) with magrib-taraweh prayers and invite all students/workers to join. It’s great and a very good opportunity to meet all students-workers-KBRI in one package. I should put this on my schedule tomorrow though.

I went home with my school mates from Maldives, he told a funny story that keeps me laughing all the time in subway. As soon as I get off from bus, I directly went to library, as always, my ritual life from this past 7 months started from library. So I just started my day. And here I am, again, drowned in bunch of books, lecture materials, case study and problem sets. For some people they start their weekend seeing a movie or hang arround in coffee shop, but it wouldnt happened to me. Not in this very short time.

Well, I love my life, and hope you had a good time too. Have a great weekend guys !!

Everyone has they’re favorite place to visit right? well so am I. It’s my dormitory roof. I spent quite sometimes in my roof (which I like to called most). I love to see a beautiful scenery of Seoul city. You can see the landmark of Seoul, a Seoul Tower (some people called Namsan Tower). For me dormitory roof is not the only place to enjoy the highlands of Korea or their amazing scenery, but also a place to put myself relax. I used to take a chair and sit and spend time doing nothing. Sometimes I kept thinking of someone miss so much, something or someplace. Though, it’s really an enjoyable moment for me.

My roof belongs to every students in our dormitory as well. Therefore, also a place to held a party. Usually if one of us has a birthday, we organized some small surprise party. We collect money to buy some birthday cake, soda or beer and then we invite our birthday student. Normally the birthday student was so shock but soon he/she became a very happy person alive.

In the summer, it has became our favorite dining room. Our snack bar and my roof is located in the same floor, 5th floor. So it is very convenient for students having their meals directly from the kitchen. For some couples, they organized some candle light dinner as well, such a romantic ass for me though..

My roof has turned into a sports centre as well, when our Taekwondo Coordinator, Martina Sipkova (MBA student) from Czech Republic held the morning training class every saturday. And our Class of 2006 President, Mr.Kim, brought his mini golf-set. He invite the students and gave a short lecture of how to play golf. Normally the golf lecture was held in the evening. It was very interesting and fun coz many students have no idea how to play golf.

During Ramadhan, my roof has developed it function not just as dining room and sport centre, but became a Musholla for moslem students. After we had a dinner, we used to have a magrib prayer together. At 11pm, we organized isya, taraweh and subuh prayers too. As always, I put myself too emotional when we had our prayers, but I felt good afterwards.

At the end, should you have a chance to come to my roof, spend sometime watch a sunset of Seoul city, and grasp a cup of tea, I guarantee will satisfy your happiness. Would you regret my offer?

A friend of mine once told me that human being were so called "a never satisfied creature". We always want more and more, even though we fed up already.

And so am I, it is happened to me now. I thought that, I did something really good. I just want to showed that I gave them a fully attention, none the less. I never ask for them to reply what I did. Or to say thank you, I dont want that. For me to see them smile is the greatest happiness ever.

But people think that I’m over-react. A very close friend of mine said that I should think wether I act emotionally nor logically. As a man, we usually act logically right? but sometimes your emotion is much more controling and made such kind a decision. She’s absolutely right. I kept thinking of her words. Maybe I should look up on my self before I act something. Hence, should I think twice before? I usually did that, I’m kind a person who always think positive and negative before I made some decision.

Moral of this story? Human being will never become a perfect man or woman. We thought that we’re so damn good, but we always make the same erroneous to our self. And we’re never realize until someone critize us.

Gumapsepnida [korean words for thank you].

You’re not only fill a space in my heart though..

Welcome on board, this is Chef Bayu ready to serve with the greatest meal that you can’t resist !!

Today’s sahur menu is Instant Noodle (indomie) mix together with corned beef, sprawl eggs, dry beef (abon), dendeng and chicken nugget. Thats right, I had an early sahur at 2.30 am and watched Manchester United struggling from Reading. Final score were 1-1, and I had my stomach fully charge for one whole day hehe..

At 5am we (moslem brothers from Pakistan, Maldives, Iran and Uzbekistan) took a Subuh Prayer on the roof of our dormitory. I put my self so emotionally again. I felt so sad and miss my home so much. I think at that time, we all felt the same, it was a great moment though to realize how important people surrounding you. Ramadhan always brought us love and peace in our heart, I can feel it now, I can feel that Allah gave his love to each creatures.

After finishing prayer, I stood and feel the air whispering my skins, I can see a great scenery of Seoul city in the dawn from a distance, but I couldnt resist my heart is in other places. Allah SWT, the Great Almighty, may He know and understand how I feel now.. Amin.

Ramadhan; a holy month for moslems has come to wipe out our sins. I couldnt express my self how I miss Ramadhan for whole 11 months. This is the time for moslems to get more reward for moral conduct from Allah SWT. This is the time for us to forgive our friends nor enemies. This is the time for us to collect our good deeds. Because may next year, we wouldn’t see any Ramadhan, we never know what happen to us in the future right?

This is my second Ramadhan away from home. Back to 2004, I was in Taichung (Taiwan) for a training held by Taiwan government. Now, I’m in a nowhere land, where religion has been covered by hedonism and pleasure things. Yet, in Itaewon (located in centre of Seoul), we may see moslems get together walking to the mosque. A few Koreans were moslems, but if you go to Central Mosque (the only Mosque in Seoul), you’ll get used to see foreigners rather than koreans.

Tonight, I decided to go to Itaewon (where Central Mosque is located) to start my Taraweh Pray. As always, I get used to go to any places by myself. When I arrived in Itaewon, you can’t feel any Ramadhan atmosphere, since Itaewon is famous for foreigners, so you will not feel like in Korea but if you stood and look arround, you may feel like in the corner of Los Angeles. Maybe the only Korean where you can meet is a shopkeeper. From the subway station to the Mosque it takes 10 minutes walk. I walked slowly seeing people hang-out in the coffeshop or make a line for a Jordan’s Kebab. As I enjoyed my self, I heard some noises from a music performance, then few minutes later, I saw a huge stage crossover the road, and so many people watching the live music. Ah, off course, this is weekend, and normally they attract foreigners by showed some live performances. The situation is so contrast, you can see a party held on and people enjoy their night live but in other side you may see moslems people on their way to the mosque.

I entered the Mosque when they almost finished the Isya Prayer. Few moments later, we had a Taraweh Prayer. 75% of the Mosque capacity were full, I guessed since today is our first Taraweh Prayer and weekend though.

I made my self so emotionally, when I finished my Taraweh prayer. I kept remember all the people that I loved left at home. I kept think my parents were alone there, preparing Sahur by themself. I think that I am the great sinner in this world coz left them alone in our home. I really miss my home now, I became so sentimentalist these days, and Ramadhan had me realized how important lived with the people that you loved, people that you can talked everyday, people that you can share your love with, people that always support on you. You never know how lucky you are right now and I hope you dont feel what I’ve just felt now. 

Afterwards, I would like to  ask (dear friends) for forgiveness from you all, since I made sins regularly to all of you. Marhaban ya Ramadhan, I hope Allah SWT bless our good deeds during this holy month. Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin..

I started this week with some resolutions that before weekend at least I should have a topic and a professor to decide for my thesis. It has become a depressed week for me, since I search material / idea by browsing and sit for hours in library.

In midweek, with some doubtness and worry in my head, I decided a very busy professor which many students wants him as a thesis supervisor either. Luckily, after I finished his class, he came to me to say hi and asking my condition. He’s a kind person though, soon I made an appointment with him in the afternoon.

I came to his office and explained about my broad thesis topic, and it doesn’t take too much time, he finally agreed and signed my application. Haha, I was quite shock honestly, then he told me that I should prepare the proposal and send to him through e-mail. It’s done ! I’m so happy at that time, I screamed and all my pressure seems flew away…

Yet I dont have any plan this weekend, at least next week I can concentrate to other courses. I have a presentation, 2 group projects and a quiz waiting for me in advance.

Dont you know that sometimes we need a pressure to be able finishing our tasks and projects. Pending a job is a natural human being habit’s. But as soon as you meet the deadline, everything may works properly at the end.

What a day, it’s almost dawn and still I couldnt close my eyes. If I get my self too exhausted, I couldnt put my head off to bed easily. But at least all my ‘to-do-list’ is 90% finished. I started my day writing a ‘to-do-list’, so I can manage and organize my self. Sometimes I can spent one whole day doing nothing. I might able to do that either, but it’s too risky if you are in the last term of your school.

I can feel pain in my back now, ouch, 12 hours sit in front of computer is not wise  for your health. This school deadline kills me. Thank God this cup of tea kept my metabolism works properly.

Oh..listen.. did you hear it? I have an unforgettable memories with this song.. do you mind if I sing a while? I remember how we used to sang together..

She knows when I’m lonesome.
She cried when I’m sad.
She’s up in the good times.
She’ s down in the bad.
Whenever I’m discouraged.
She knows just what to do.
But girl, she doesn’t know about you.

How can I tell her I don’t miss her whenever I’m away.
How can I say it’s you and I think of every single night and day.
But when is it easy telling someone we’re through.
Ah girl, help me tell her about you

I think, I’ve made my self quite embarassed now haha, some of you doesnt like my voice right? well this song reminds me of someone that I missed so much. It feels good when you had someone filled in your heart right? I kept thinking of her all time. Love is such a wonderful thing, doesn’t it ?

Haha.. I’m in the Dorm list again..

Our school have their special respect to students who get achieved academic excellence for each term. At the end of each term, KDI School awards certificates to those students who have achieved a scholastic average 3.80 to 4.0. So called Dean List with Distinction for those achieved 3.90 to 4.0 and Dean List for those achieved 3.80 to 3.90.

A friend of mine told me that the shool has put this ’smart student list’ in the school website. When I read it, I just laugh at my self, because I know that, I’m not a kind a person who can achieve good grades. Ya, it’s fair though, my friends who were in a list are very smart students. They study very hard all the time.

My chamber mates was laughing, when I screamed that I was on the Dorm List (Dorm = Dormitory). Dorm list is like a bunch of losers that couldnt achieved to the Dean List. And I’m one of those since spring term hahaha…

But at least, I still have one more chance to be in Dean List or Dorm List by the end of this term. Ya, I should study harder now.. !!!!

I have an Uzbekistan friend which also my classmate. This afternoon during the class he gave me a good story which inspire myself to share with you guys..

His story started when he went home during summer vacation (I went home too remember? I’ll write some story later about my home later ok..), he enjoyed with his friends and parents. Time goes by he said, few days before he left Uzbek to Korea, he met so called his first love from secondary school. And they tracking back their love story together until the time that he has to go back to Korea. It was difficult for him to leave the girl, bcoz she’s the girl that he really loved so much. At the end, he said to the girl that he’ll be back as soon as possible after finishing his thesis.

Afterwards, he told me that he kept thinking of his first love. He said that he is in Korea but his mind is in Uzbek. And he plan to go back home when we had a one week holiday of korean’s thanksgiving in first week of October. Really? I reply, and he said, nothing is impossible if you had love in your heart…

The moral of this story? Well, his story reminds me of mine though, if you love someone, no matter where you are, who you are, what you did, you always want to be with her. She’s like universe for you, she’s everything and everything on your mind is her. Have you ever suffer because of love? I believe noone’s ever right? You feel happy and excited every time. Love is all arround, Love is that God gave you to share with someone you care..

When I’m in love, I dont want to loose her even any single moment. Not a blink of my eyes either.

[speechless..]

What will you do if you miss your home so much?

Not particular "home", but everything that you had in your home; parents, friends, foods and someone that you love so much.

This afternoon after finishing my ‘brunch’, I stood up holding my cup of tea in my dormitory roof for quite sometime, I took a deep breath and feels the air circulated in my lung. It was great for a while, but as soon as you see a beautiful scenery of Seoul city, you’ve find yourself that you’re all alone. I realize that even you stay in a modern city of a developed country, yet you may found all that you had was nothing. But if you have someone to share with, then its a paradise.

Envy? Off course. I always remember a friend of mine said that everytime you started to have a negative thought, please ignore coz it will waste your energy off. It’s easy to be said, yet difficult to be done right?

Then give me one reason, why I felt so affraid to loose someone I love?

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