Melasthi

If there had not been so many words came out of Gus Tu’s mouth-the guide who was provided by the hotel, the meal on my plate would not be as much as trash heap of TPS Gebang Surabaya. I was not interested with his saying because it was just the same for all years. His jokes were out of date since they had already been in humor sites for several years.

I just sat down on the terrace of the hotel which was located near Denpasar’s town square because sitting down silently and enjoying wet after rain morning could be enjoyed once a year only, that was when I had odd semester’s holiday like that day, after wrestling with books for weeks, and also test papers, report notes, and administration stuff, forcing eyes opened until two o’clock in the early morning so that my research could be finished, or even staying awake whole night if there was demand from the publishers to finish handout writing, and holding breath up for a while in the morning and in the evening when I was caught in traffic jams in four crossings to the school where I had been teaching for eight years.

The hotel where I stayed was not different with others. Not more than coconut tree high building-as it was stated in local government regulation, many rooms, hall, swimming pool, lobby, and of course a small simple chair-like praying stair with flowers and food and burnt incense that spread bad smell but I was used to it. Well taken care of garden along the corridor to the guest rooms and the sound of flowing rainfall to the ditch-I wish I could have such a clean ditch at my hometown-aggravated my muse on something which always took me in to this biggest three living cost cities in Indonesia.

It was not obvious to me, or actually, I knew it but I was too embarrassed to confess it. I had it in the past, ten years ago, every day every second, in the tidy line melasthi to the holy water, in the young coconut leaves arrangement for food and flowers offered to God, and in every thread of silk which cover the bodies. It was there in the prayers of pedandas that was heard over miles. It was there in every step of the tourists all around the world, but could not be picked off. Yes, it was, something like the one in my heart, but I would find a way to keep it secret.

“We’re leaving for Benoa in a few seconds, Sir,” said Gus Tu, “It’s your favorite place, isn’t it?”

I gave him sign to leave me alone.

He was not false. Selling words had been his job. He had also been a good friend to me for these five years. It was just, that time, I wanted to be alone for a while and enjoyed my missing to something.

***

 photo by Ovie

“I. G. A. A. Made Prina Dewi...What a difficult name,” said I smiling, ”What do I-G-A-A stand for?”

“I Gusti Agung Ayu...”answered she while grabbing the book with her name on.

“We should meet again one day,” said I to myself.

That was my first meeting with a Balinese girl whose name as long as train and whose dimples and thick-bent-end eyebrows. That time, ten years ago, I was the leader of Field Practice group in which the girl was the member. The members were from various faculties so that it was acceptable when a leader did not know the members well.

She was tender, not chitty-chatty, patient, and loving to her surrounding. Even though she was not beautiful, for me she was marvelous. It was true, although physically she was nothing compared to the ladies living around me-for I was a freelance photographer in a fashion magazine.

It was not her, her heart it was, and her tenderness, which had made me falling in love.

I never let go my moments with her, like the wind which hunt the clouds from mountains, take them around the country, dance for a while above the sky, and then made her fall like rain drops to the meadow and then woke up as misty fog in the early dawn, like waiting for the sun to take it away to the sky for many times. My moments with her were as warm as the air of Sanur beach which made the birds rush to build their nests on the old coconut tree along the beach. It was as tender as the caress of the waves to the beach, which never refuses it. It was as beautiful as the rainbow, which decorates the west morning sky.

“Watch out, Sir...”screamed Gus Tu waking me up from my fantasy. I almost stepped in a hole on the sideway. Such an international tourism place still had a hole on the sideway.

“Sir, where are we going?” asked him eagerly. He was still following me.

“Dalung...”answered me shortly while walking in a rush.

I know he must be confused to see me walking instead of getting on a cab.

I suddenly stopped. The Badung’s jewel which I had been looking for was only ten steps away from me. She was still beautiful, marvelous, and remarkable. She was holding two little rascals in her hands.

“Gek...” called me with almost held-in-throat voice.

She did not hear it. I needed time to collect the courage, but she would enter her car.

“Gek Prina!” loudly called I.

She looked at me. Surprised.

We stared each other for a moment. There was a deep missing feeling projected from her eyes.

Gus Tu’s wide eyes in front of me ruined the romantic moment.

“Gus Tu, I finally found what I’ve been searching for...”said I confidently, holding his upper arms, “Gus Tu, this is the woman I’ve been looking for. I....”

I had not finished speaking when suddenly my jaw felt hurt, my cheeks felt hot, and my eyes felt dizzy for hundreds of punches from Gus Tu. It was surprising. The man whom I considered my own brother would hit me until I was almost dying.

A few moments after I gained my consciousness, Gek Prina told me that Gus Tu had married her three years ago and the two little rascals were his sons.

I went home, -actually, I was forced to leave- with a smile along the way. The two rascals were exactly looked exactly alike me.

Denpasar, 21 February 2009

 This short story is written by Jazilatur Rizqiyah.

 

Apa Gunanya Sekolah Tinggi?

 Apa gunanya sekolah tinggi-tinggi kalau hanya menambah-nambah angka statistik pengangguran di Indonesia? Aku bertanya tidak kepadamu, melainkan aku bertanya pada diriku sendiri. Apa yang telah kulakukan pada bangsaku sehingga semakin tahun semakin bertambah saja jumlah pengangguran di negeri yang konon gemah ripah loh jinawi ini. Aku bertanya tidak kepadamu, melainkan aku bertanya kepada diriku sendiri. Apa yang telah kulakukan pada bangsaku sehingga semakin banyak saja orang malas dan bodoh, yang hanya mengandalkan kekuatan baik fisik maupun mental orang lain, dan bukannya memanfaatkan kekuatan diri sendiri…

Lihatlah betapa pelajar sekarang ini begitu mudahnya berbuat curang. Seperti tiada percaya pada kekuatan sendiri. Kekuatan yang sesungguhnya sangat besar namun tiada pernah mendapat kepercayaan sehingga tiada pula kesempatan untuk tampil menjadi penyelamat masa depan. Pusingkah kepala kalian membaca kalimat-kalimat ini? Ya, pusing kepala kalian karena kepala kalian selama ini tiada sedikit pun mendapat kepercayaan dari si empunya kepala.

Mengapa semua ini terjadi? Mengapa begitu mudahnya pelajar Indonesia mencontek? Aku tidak sedang bertanya kepadamu, melainkan kepada mereka yang berpikir bagi masa depan bangsa. Tidaklah kiamat akan datang pada mereka yang tidak berpikir akibat pertanyaanku ini, hanya saja bolehlah aku berdoa yang bagus bagi mereka yang berpikir. Mengapa pula harus ada kata mencontek dan praktek mencontek? Aku tidak sedang bertanya kepadamu, melainkan kepada mereka yang masih punya hati nurani. Hati nurani yang sama sekali tiada berkaitan dengan Deret Aritmatika atau Aljabar, melainkan hati nurani yang akan berkembang bila mendapat reaksi kimia.

Saat petani sedang bergembira menyongsong masa panen tiba, mereka disodok dengan berita menyakitkan nan menyayat hati, bahwa tahun ini pun senyum mereka terpaksa ditunda untuk tahun depan atau kapan-kapan, sebab kebijakan impor beras telah disetujui ‘yang di atas’, setelah sekian lama mereka menahan perih akibat kebijakan impor kedelai, jagung, daging sapi, dan daging ayam.

Kapankah kami punya kesempatan mereguk kebahagiaan? Aku tidak sedang bertanya kepadamu, melainkan kepada mereka yang peduli saja. Harga-harga pupuk dan obat-obatan melambung tinggi, kalaupun bersubsidi, menghilanglah mereka bersama angin. Kapankah kami punya kesempatan untuk sedikit saja tersenyum menyaksikan sarjana-sarjana kita tertarik terjun ke sawah-sawah karena hasilnya yang menggoda? Tidak. Aku tidak sedang bertanya kepadamu, melainkan kepada mereka yang mondar-mandir membawa ijasah, keluar masuk gedung-gedung yang belumlah menjadi ruang kerja mereka. Aku ingin mereka menjawab pertanyaanku dengan kata-kata mereka sendiri, bukan kata-kata hasil copy paste dari orang lain, sebab aku percaya bahwa di lubuk hati mereka yang terdalam, mereka sebenarnya memiliki jawaban. (Pandaan, 10 November 2009)

Aku di Mata Siswa

Aku selalu meminta feed back dari murid-muridku untuk perbaikan pembelajaran atau sekedar memotivasi diriku untuk tetap bersemangat mendidik anak-anak bangsa. Berikut ini beberapa pendapat dan kritikan dalam feed back itu:

Bu Riris itu…

Baik, pinter, gaul, kadang pelit (kadang gak), kalau marah bikin orang trauma, nyebelin, ngangenin, sabar, lucu. (Agustia Niril)

Sosok bu Riris menurut aku…

Tegar, baik, sopan, tapi kalo lagi marah kayak singa ganas. Di mataku bu Riris adalah guru paling tegas dan tanggung jawab. Bu Riris juga orangnya lucu. Kalo bu Riris lagi cerita-cerita sewaktu dia masih kecil dulu pasti ada yang lucu, pasti bikin yang dengerin ketawa.jadi aku pengen lebih jauh kenal sama bu Riris. (Nuke Anita)

Bagaimana nanti kalau bu Riris gak ada?

Aku sangat menyesal karena aku pernah menyakiti hatinya. Ya Allah, hukumlah hamba-Mu yang sering menyakiti orang. Aku sekarang sadar aku telah bersalah. Maafin, ya, Bu. (Eva Eriana)

Bu Riris…

Terima kasih atas ilmu dan bimbingan yang bu Riris berikan. Bu Riris itu baik, sopan, tegas, dan cantik. Nasehat bu Riris akan Yola ingat selamanya. Yola gak boleh sembarangan bergaul. (Yolanda Maurencia Regita Sondang, SMA 10 November)

Bu Riris itu…

Orangnya cantik dan baik hati, Bu Riris lebih mentingin murid daripada dirinya sendiri nggak seperti guru-guru lain yang bilangnya gini: “Anak-anak, nggak papa nyontek asal nggak boleh rame, ya…” tapi bu Riris nggak. Bu Riris itu tegas. Jarang lho nemuin guru seperti bu Riris itu. Tapi kalau bu Riris marah aku/kita semua nggak suka karna menakutkan. Aku suka kalau diajar bu Riris karna bu Riris guru paliiiing baik. Tapi kalau ngasih post test jangan sulit-sulit, ya…da, da, da… (Endah Noviarthasari, SMAN 1 Gedangan)

Causative Have

There was a university student asked me about causative have yesterday. She's taking English class and she is supposed to present the topic. Here is my answer:

Causative Have is used for three reasons: that is to state that (1) someone does/did something to us, (2) we order someone to do something, and (3) someone does/did something for us (common American).

Someone does/did something to us
e.g. :

1. I have my purse taken.
2. Nyna has her handphone broken.
3. Risna has the left leg operated.
4. Father had his money stolen.
5. Merry had her nose pierced.

Summary 
                                               Subject    +     have/had     +    object   +   Verb 3




We order someone to do something
e.g. :

1. I have my bike repaired.
2. Rani has her email typed.
3. Vidia had her file copied.
4. The OSIS president had his instruction done. 
5. Mom had the beef roasted before she came home.

Summary 
                                               Subject    +     have/had     +    object   +   Verb 3



 Someone does/did something for us

 e.g. :

1. I had my secretary type the project report.
2. He has had his treasurer rank the tender participants.
3. Julia Gillard will have the Secretary General sign the agreement.
4. My aunt should have her gardener cut the bushes.
5. The head of marketing division must have the salespersons show better performance.

 
Summary 
                                               Subject    +     have/had     +    object of person   +   Infinitive

Note: 
Have/had can be in other forms such as : will have, must have, have had, has had, should have, ought to have, may have, could have, and so on.
have/had can be replaced by get. For example: I get my hair dyed last night.


For more explanation send email to : Reese_jc7@yahoo.com








 

How to Use Gerund and Infinitive

Gerund is noun made of verb plus 'ing'. Whenever we put 'ing' after an infinitive, it will be a gerund automatically. For example: see + ing (seeing) in "I avoid seeing Vanya because I owe her fifty thousand rupiahs."

There are some verbs that can only be added by gerund. They are: 

avoid, miss, practise, (don't) mind, keep, stand, feel like, enjoy, go, and so on.

Examples:

1. Setya can't stand sitting down near the door for it's too windy.
2. We keep visiting FT once a week.
3. I don't mind being hated by my friends as long as you are still with me.
4. Eva feels like flying every time he says that he loves her.
5. Dina enjoyed reading 'Siti Nurbaya' and 'Roro Mendut'.

Meanwhile, infinitive is a pure verb, verbs that come in original form. Read, walk, find, stay, dig, etc. are examples of infinitive. There are also some verbs that can only followed by infinitive. These verbs are:

 hope, want, promise, expect, afford, offer, decide, etc.

Examples:

1. They hope to find the treasure before the dawn.
2. I want to tell you the truth about the reason why I move to Porong.
3. He promised to take me to the dentist this evening.
4. We didn't expect to win the Robotic competition.
5. I can't afford to buy you I-Phone 5 this week. Let's save money for it.

You can look for other verbs and try to apply it in sentences to help you understand it. Mail me at Reese_jc7@yahoo.com whenever you want to ask questions. (Sidoarjo, 21 March 2013)