Scenes of a memory

This week a friend, Chandra, went back to Indonesia. Even though we only had 2 classes together, I have some good moments to share with her and other friends. Around a month ago another friend, Atsushi, also left for Indonesia. I guess friends are free people, intriguing individual souls whose paths God has chosen to cross with mine. Indeed I am grateful to have crossed paths with them, to share their stories, their wisdom, or even sharing a simple meal.

I remember Atsushi from the first day I arrived in the Netherlands. He looked at me and said, "Didn’t I meet you in Yogya?" Ah, and from that moment I realized that the world wasn’t as big and scary as I thought it would be. A serious fellow but could also show that people are a mix of emotions and rational thought. From him I learnt that there is something out there called "a social and personal life".

(Atsushi in red with glasses)

Chandra was part of the original StuNed crew I came with. A silent and calm figure, despite her public life back in Indonesia. Well, I was silent as well so we didn’t talk that much despite sharing classes together. What I remember about her was during 1st term exams on a cold rainy winter’s day, when she went to the exams with a fever. After that, Ara, Chrysant, and I went to her place to sort of cheer her up. That moment showed me that the experience of friendship can be very simple yet so touching. Friendship sometimes feels like sharing a hot meal on a cold, rainy, winter’s day: warm, comforting, and fulfilling.

(From left: Chandra, Catha, Endah, Dina, me)

So to these friends I bid good bye, hopefully for the moment. It was a great honor and pleasure to share, among other things, a table at the ISS cafeteria (I don’t want to mention the food) with you. Until we meet again, someday soon.

"It’s nobody’s business but ours." Jack Twist-Brokeback Mountain.

It is almost the start of the recess week. I still have two papers to do and the RP proposal, but tonight I can’t think anymore. Other things are clouding my mind, so I thought I would renew my blog that I have abandoned for a couple of months.

The term ended on a acceptable note, academically. Yesterday’s party seemed to be an opportunity to let go some pressure but I suppose I wasn’t energetic enough to do so. Somehow all other thoughts still cling in my head, thoughts that I chose to think about rather than have all out fun at a party. Maybe I am getting old…

Soon spring will come, which people normally look forward to. It is difficult to describe spring because it is a whole sort of small wonderful things happening and popping up everywhere. So is my own invisible spring, a jumbled up sort of things that look, feel and smell wonderful as any spring should be.

Of course spring develops in its own accord. I suppose something as natural as spring is beyond my powers to determine. That is why it remains invisible, moving and growing silently as the grass and trees do. It is like that flower that only blooms at midnight. Something beautiful that chooses to keep itself out of the light of day.

For now, I will still keep my spring invisible as it grows.