Ask me

Ask me about certain grammatical rules in Bahasa Indonesia or English, or maybe how to determine when someone’s having mental disorder; i may have quite definitive answer for that. Ask me these things below, and you might just get a formal smile or “nggak pa-pa” since the answers are.. a bit of mix between silly and confusing, sometimes :p

Q: “Why do you wash your own clothes? Why not taking them to laundry service instead?”

Well. Believe it or not, to a pretty great degree, I like washing my own clothes. First reason, I like playing with water and bubbles, it tranquilizes me. Second, washing (and ironing) gives me chance to identify small flaws in my clothes that’ll be easily overlooked with the clothes inside the closet and when I only have few seconds to observe them before finally wearing them. This includes stain, tear, loose button, broken zipper, etc. Third, it stops me from complaining that I haven’t had enough clothes for I have, I surely have. Fourth, it gives me time to think about things –both essential and unessential- without having to look like I’m a lazy non-doer sok-jenius chic who does nothing ‘bout thinking. And last but not least reason is the thing people asking this question rarely consider: I leave home when the laundry service hasn't opened, and only get home when it’s already closed; so i can’t actually find the time to take my clothes to the laundry nor let the laundry’s delivery service come to my house and take them. So unless they’re big things (e.g. bed cover, bags) or I see two gaps in my schedule (to bring and bring back the laundry), well.. I guess I’m washing my own clothes, thank you.

Q: “Kerja apa kuliah?”

Whatever my answer is, rarely that it won’t stimulate a long conversation. The truth is I do both, but if I said both, then I’d have to explain both. Oh. Sometimes plus explaining how I manage to do both, or why I don’t just ask my parents to pay for my school fee instead of working for it myself. So, many times I’d just mention one of them, and trust me, it’s also not easy to explain. Take school for example. Many times I find myself trying to explain the difference of S1 and pendidikan profesi and PPDS, and still people will conclude, “Oh jadi mbaknya ini CALON d*k*er ya?” When the dialogue happens in angkot, another question usually emerges: “kok (calon) d*k*er naik angkot?” and I gotta keep myself from saying, “Ya biarin sih ya, orang di sumpah ma kode etik profesi guweh ga ada larangannya naik angkot..” Well, that’s what happen when I answer “kuliah.” When I say “kerja”, however, I also have trouble explaining what I do, and what should I answer when people suggest me another job that they think is within my capacity –when it’s actually not. I’ve had somebody suggested me to be a guru TK for I seem to have nothing to do in the morning. Just yesterday, another person suggested me to be a guide with a reason, “Kan lebih gampang dapat duit dan lebih sering ketemu bule jadi bisa lebih banyak kenalan.” Well. How should I put these reasons together? First, I get lost a lot I can’t be travel guide. Two, I don’t like that job, I prefer using my skill for what I’m doing now. Three, I’m a freakin’ student in the morning you knoooooooowwww, I can’t just go out there and gathered some bule buat disasarke..

Q: “Why do you walk? Get a motorcycle, will you?

Okay, first reason again that you may not believe, I like it. Being able to walk give me a sense of health: that I can use my two feet properly, that I could manage my circulation to adequately provide energy for my activity, that I can independently do my own ADL/IADL. Consequently, it make me feel grateful. Second, it keeps me in shape. When I’m in shape, I don’t need to worry about spending extra money to buy new clothes, so IMO, walking is economically efficient. Third, and this may be the most standard reason, we all in Indonesia know that fuel price is not too cheap recently, so yes, it adds up to the economic benefit from doing walking. Fourth, when I walk, the speed is relatively low when compared with riding motorcycle. This gives me better look around things I pass by, and hence enhance my observation. And yes, I can actually look around, instead of merely looking forward or right/left like what drivers mostly do. Fifth, again, it gives me a me-time just like laundrying, so it’s somehow tranquilizing as well. Of course walking means suffering from the heat of the sun and sweating much, but those are relatively small lost when compared to benefits I feel, so.. it’s okay, I’ll just walk.

So. Just in case you meet me after reading this writing and you feel like asking me something, please don’t ask those questions above. For me, answering them are just tiring. Ask me about The Real Group’s albums –or their newest one- instead, and I’ll be gladly offering you non-ambiguous answer that may lead you to the unforgettable musical experience for your whole life ;)