Do I Love Being An Academic Lecturer?

What??? Me? Becoming a Lecturer?? X))

Trust me... It sounds weird for me too.. :D

When I decided to take a master degree program, I did not give much thought about the possibility of becoming a lecturer or academician. Yeah...being a lecturer was my unplanned career. Teaching was not part of my long-term plan at that stage. But I think it only took two months of teaching for me to re-structure my thinking. I immediately enjoyed teaching and felt quite passionate about it :D.

I started to realize that teaching is one of those rare professions that keep my brain young, allowing me to continue my "own journey" as a student and a lifelong learner :). Teaching a subject helps us learning a subject. We will never learn a topic better than when we start teaching it. Psstt...and I think being around young people almost every day will help me staying younger too... hahaha XD.

My greatest challenges are getting students to listen, keeping their attention, making them study hard, and improving their curiosity. And my greatest joy is the look on my student's face when (I think) he/she gets it :D. Well..there's no doubt teaching is a stressful job, but it's an incredibly rewarding one.

Currently, It is my second semester now... but I think I've already got a reputation of being a not "Easy A" lecturer XD. Yeah.. I have to admit that not every student will succeed in my class. It is hard to say..but I think some students are having "this" helpless character >,<. 

However, this fact should not keep me from believing that every student has the potential for success, right? :)

So...Do I love being an academic lecturer?? Yup...I think so... ^0^

But...Do I love being "that" academic lecturer? Errrrrr..... X))

My Heroes...

My heroes are my parents. I know this sounds cliche, but I can't see having anyone else as my heroes.. :)

a mother's love

a father's love

Love Your Parents. We are so busy growing up,  we often forget they are also growing old....

What is the Point of Arisan Ibu-Ibu?

What is arisan?

Wiki says that an arisan is a form of Rotating Savings and Credit Association in Indonesian culture, a form of Microfinance.

Arisan have been known in Indonesia since the early 1960s. Through the regular social gatherings, members contribute and take turns to win a sum of money. For members of high-society, an arisan is a good way to promote their business.  

Some people say that the main purpose of arisan is not the arisan activity, but the social gathering. It's about keeping good silaturrahim (familial relationship) and also maintaining relationship with other group members.

Well...I know that maintaining silaturrahim is important. But...is it true that arisan, especially arisan ibu-ibu is giving added values to our life? :D

That men and women are on different frequencies when it comes to communicating is probably not news to us. A sociolinguists, Deborah Tannen, who has written a book called You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation observed that:

"For males, conversation is the way you negotiate your status in the group and keep people from pushing you around; you use talk to preserve your independence. Females, on the other hand, use conversation to negotiate closeness and intimacy; talk is the essence of intimacy, so being best friends means sitting and talking. For boys, activities, doing things together, are central. Just sitting and talking is not an essential part of friendship. They're friends with the boys they do things with."

Let's back to reality...Is it possible to find a group of women sitting together, drinking tea, eating cake, but not talking? Errrr..... =)).

It is an unfortunate fact when any group of women get together, there tends to be a fair bit of gossip about mutual friends, colleagues, or even celebrities. It might be a comment about someone’s appearance, a joke at someone’s personal life, or an opinion about their circumstances. Whether you like to admit it or not, every woman gossips and it's not always nice.

But why do women gossip? Boredom, jealousy, or is it some deep-seated anthropological need? John L. Locke, author of Duels and Duets certainly believes the latter. Locke said: 

When women are trading in intimate disclosures about themselves and their friends, they’re fortifying a relationship. 

 

So.. what is the point of arisan ibu-ibu? :D

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Green Tea Desserts that Make Me Drool..!

People have been talking about green tea benefits for many years now. From it’s potential as a cancer cure, to fighting off heart disease, to lowering cholesterol, to preventing diabetes and strokes, and also to burning fat. 

And dessert? Dessert is the usually sweet course that concludes a meal. This usually means high content of sugar or fats. That's why some people say that consuming dessert means a minute on your lips, forever on your hips. 

So...what about green tea dessert? Is eating green tea dessert good or bad for us? 

Mmm...I think it is a great compromise between green tea and dessert. So I can categorize it as one of health conscious desserts. I just have to consider green tea dessert as a special part of my life. It is not something that should be eaten every day. Taraaa..!! Problem solved! :D 

--Disclaimer: that conclusion is purely myself opinion, because I am a green tea dessert lover :P--

 green tea frozen

green tea ice cream

green tea cupcake

green tea macarons

m*flurry green tea

Yum!!! ::drooling::

My Favourite Movie & TV Series Characters

1. Sherlock Holmes.

I love this fictional detective because his abilities border on the fantastic. He is brilliant. Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to adopt almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve difficult cases. I think I couldn't love a re-imagining of Sherlock Holmes more than Robert Downey Jr.'s.

 

2. John Dillinger.

John Dillinger was the most notorious of the Depression-era outlaws, standing out even among more violent criminals such as Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Bonnie and Clyde. Despite his real criminal life, I love watching this "Dillinger" character in Public Enemies movie. The touch of Johnny Depp's star quality made this "Dillinger" become a smart, charming, and an efficient entrepreneur whose career would've lasted much longer if he hadn't been surrounded by klutzes, sharks and a betrayer from a brothel.
 

3. Dexter Morgan

Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is a fictional character of TV Series Dexter. He is a forensic blood spatter analyst who works for the fictitious Miami-Metro Police Department. In his spare time, he is a serial killer who preys on other murderers who have escaped the justice system. He follows "The Code of Harry" which hinges on two principles: he can only kill people after finding evidence that they are guilty of murder, and he must dispose of all evidence so he never gets caught. I love this character because he is so unique. Dexter loves children, loyal to his family, brilliant, loves routine, and an antihero :D.

4. Guido Orefice

Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni) is a a Jewish Italian book keeper character of Life is Beautiful, an Italian tragicomedy drama film. Guido portrays a loving father who hides the atrocities and horrors of the Nazi regime effectively to his son, Joshua. Even during the horrific scenes inside the camp, Guido is full of life and optimism. It is clear that Guido is very dear to Joshua and that because Joshua is only a child, Guido is trying to retain Joshua's innocence.

 

Being Smart or Being Stupid

There are no smart people or stupid people, just people being smart or being stupid. 

Being smart means thinking things through - trying to find the real answer, not the first answer. 

Being smart means continually seeking knowledge until death. True knowledge does not mean obtaining a degree that will let one earn an income and guarantee a good standard of living. Learning is the elixir that makes the human brain the most powerful organic decision-making and problem-solving tool on the planet.

"So long as you are seeking knowledge you are knowledgeable, but as soon as you abandon this pursuit you become ignorant."- Ibn Abi Ghassan

Imam Sufyan Bin 'Uyaynah gave an excellent answer when he was asked, "Who is most in need of seeking knowledge?" He said: "Those who have the most knowledge." He was asked, "Why?" and he replied, "Because if they make a mistake, it is worse."

That's why we can conclude that being stupid means stop seeking knowledge.

Being stupid means avoiding thinking by jumping to conclusions. Jumping to a conclusion is like quitting a game : you lose by default. 

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” ― Albert Einstein

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Chocolate: A Not-So-Guilty Pleasure.. ^__^

  

Interesting Chocolate Facts You May Not Know:

1. Research suggests that chocolate was originally used more than 2,500 years ago, beginning in Central America. The Mayan civilization considered Cacao to be a divine gift and so, it was held in high regard. It was used ceremoniously and sometimes as a form of currency. The name 'Cacao' is a Maya word meaning 'god food' which after being introduced to Europe in the 16th century, formed the basis of the Latin name for the Cacao tree 'Theobrama Cacao' meaning 'food for the gods'. It is thought that the word 'cocoa' has come about through a miss-spelling of 'cacao.'
2. The word “chocolate” comes from the Aztec word, “Xocolatl”, which ironically means “bitter water”. Not surprising, considering they made a drink, by mixing cacao beans with chillies, achiote, cornmeal, and some reports suggest the inclusion hallucinogenic Mushrooms (probably helped to get over the taste).
3. More than twice as many women than men eat and crave chocolate.
4. It is observed that chocolate cravings cannot be satisfied by any sweet/candy other than chocolate itself.
5. Chocolate produces the effects of a mild anti-depressant by increasing serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain.
6. Chocolate contains a small quantity of caffeine emulates a mild amphetamine.
7. Although not scientifically proven, chocolate is believed by many, to be an aphrodisiac. The theory is supported by the fact that chocolate does contain among many chemicals the stimulants: caffeine, theobromine, and phenyethylamine.
8. Despite being high in fat content, chocolate doesn't appear to raise blood cholesterol levels.
9. Chocolate makers use 40% of the world's almonds and 20% of the world's peanuts.

Flowers wilt, jewelry tarnishes, and candles burn out...but chocolate doesn't hang around long enough to get old..

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Great Quotes on Passion

I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious. – Albert Einstein,

Renew your passions daily. – Terri Guillemets,
 
Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

You are what you do. If you do boring, stupid, monotonous work, chances 
are you’ll end up boring, stupid, and monotonous.
 – Bob Black

You never achieve success unless you like what you are doing. - Dale Carnegie

There is no greatness without a passion to be great. - Anthony Robbins

BJ Habibie, ein großer Genius Aller zeiten

Si jenius BJ Habibie... Beliau lah tokoh idola saya semenjak kecil. Dari dulu cita-cita saya selalu ingin jadi seperti Pak Habibie. Harus kuliah di teknik biar jadi insinyur, lalu jadi menristek XD hahaha. Itu sebabnya selama jaman sekolah dulu saya selalu memasang target yang cukup tinggi untuk nilai-nilai pelajaran eksak. Pokoknya harus bisa jadi pintar kaya pak Habibie.

Meskipun pada akhirnya saya harus dihadapkan pada realita bahwa di antara kami terdapat gap kecerdasan yang saaangatt jauh =)) wqwqwq. Tapi... hingga detik ini, beliau masih tetap jadi idola saya. Perjalanan saya dalam meraih cita belum usai. Saya masih punya semangat untuk bisa napak tilas perjalanan beliau ke Aachen. Yes, someday I will..Wish me luck!! ;)

So...who is your role model?

A role model is hard to define, because it can be different for everyone. Who your role model is depends as much on you as it does on the person you admire. Often, it is someone you would like to be like when you get older, or someone who does something you find hard to do.

To me, a role model is someone in my life that has influenced me in a positive way. Actually, I'm having multiple role models. Each of them represents a different piece of my life. They help shaping the way I am in the present and what I will be in the future. My role models are my idols. They are the people who are in the place I would like to be in 10 years. Having several role models means that I have more than one source for inspiration and positive influence. That's the reason why I keep looking for my new ones :).

"True role models are those who possess the qualities that we would like to have and those who have affected us in a way that makes us want to be better people..."