tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24893032255569410162024-03-15T11:02:01.683+07:00imzpression.comNur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.comBlogger526125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-82979164961777621022024-03-11T16:02:00.033+07:002024-03-15T11:01:29.083+07:00 Even Simply Brushing Clothes with Someone Is Fate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF7zT5IoQWxZ7Va2vpd8kfeJHr_R6LVBt8wgg7JJenMyIu8a1gZtDAEmRpcUmI6poBBF49ksnWmWnhXzUnsQvE1erR1mYn45mxs2NYLKsYCMYvdce9IOfCrgrE6EGB79YP07wtz09t1tCtRHw_VCUIGc1VRmLNbrlUt6hvKoaefrMN_cyX7MY9DdHBeA/s2250/pexels-photo-3073037a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2250" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF7zT5IoQWxZ7Va2vpd8kfeJHr_R6LVBt8wgg7JJenMyIu8a1gZtDAEmRpcUmI6poBBF49ksnWmWnhXzUnsQvE1erR1mYn45mxs2NYLKsYCMYvdce9IOfCrgrE6EGB79YP07wtz09t1tCtRHw_VCUIGc1VRmLNbrlUt6hvKoaefrMN_cyX7MY9DdHBeA/w640-h426/pexels-photo-3073037a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“<i>There is a word in Korean,
‘<b>in-yeon</b>’. It means providence or fate… It’s an ‘<b>in-yeon</b>’ even if two strangers
walk by each other in the street and their clothes accidentally brush,</i>” – Past
Lives (2023)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Recently, there were
moments when my mind occasionally wondered about where fate would bring me.
Then <i>fatefully</i>, I stumbled upon a movie that eloquently talks about fate namely “<a href="https://a24films.com/films/past-lives"><span style="color: blue;">Past Lives</span></a>”, written and directed by the talented <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celine_Song" target="_blank">Celine Song</a>.
In Korean, there exists an expression for providence particularly regarding human connection: “<i>in-yeon</i>”. The narration of the Korean proverb </span><span style="font-family: Batang, serif; font-size: 12pt;">옷깃만</span><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Batang, serif; font-size: 12pt;">스쳐도</span><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Batang, serif; font-size: 12pt;">인연</span><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> (“even
simply brushing clothes with someone is fate") made me pause the movie and think deeper. It suggests that a seemingly insignificant encounter with someone on the street,
when the edges of our clothes brush, is fate. That the presumably minuscule scenes in our lives carry within them the destiny. </span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> And for 2 individuals to eventually marry each other, they have 8.000 layers of <i>in-yeon</i> between them.</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">In Islam, we're taught of <i>qadar</i> (divine decree), where even the fall of every single leaf is governed by Allah’s will.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I can write a long essay on
how beautiful the movie is—the storyline, cinematography, dialogues, performances,
and everything. However, I am here today to specifically talk about my thoughts
about fate after watching the award-winning movie. This isn't the first time
the concept of “fate” in Korean culture has been discussed and caught my attention. In <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2489303225556941016/8297916496177762102"><span style="color: blue;">Reply 1997</span></a>, the series also delves into its role in human relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“<i>Some people believe
they are born with an invisible red string tied around their little finger… The
string is tied to a person they’re destined to be with. However, it’s hard to
find out who is the person at the other end.</i>” – Reply 1997</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">In Islam, too, we find the notion of predestined connections between individuals. It is said that who we will end up with was inscribed 50.000 years before the earth was created. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">So, my heart should be at ease, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Despite the comforting
embrace of destiny, an unsettling unease grips my heart. Even within this
framework of destiny, where I should find solace, there remains an element of
uncertainty I couldn’t help but be worried about. Sometimes I sensed that my
paths are not predetermined in their entirety, but rather shaped by the choices
I make and the people I encounter along the way. It whispers to me that while
fate may guide us, we are, to some degree, the authors of our own
stories. </span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Hence, I fear I may have
avoided a fate that will eventually bring goodness.</span></i><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What if, in my haste, I've overlooked the subtle signs that guide me toward him? What if that someone
has crossed paths with me but I barely register?</span></i><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>What
if he slipped by, unnoticed? </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What if, in my hesitation,
I forfeit the chance for a love?</span></i><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What if my destined other
half is forever beyond my reach?</span></i><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I am haunted by the
possibility of missed connections, of souls meant to intertwine and then
destined to remain forever apart instead. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">But also I am afraid
that I will give up too early.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Thus, I couldn’t help but
think about it over and over while grappling with my own destinies. </span><i style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If there
is someone on this earth who is destined for me, why does it feel so impossible
to find him? Should I just give up on the idea that somewhere someone is also looking for me?</i><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Borrowing Past Lives' analogy: <b>Is there someone out there who shares</b></span><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b> 8.000 layers of <i>in-yeon</i> with me? </b></span><i style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Truly, as mused in Reply 1997: </i><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“</span><b style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If the red string of
fate really exists, where will mine end?</b><span face="Lato, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">”.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">---------</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">image source: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-standing-on-road-close-up-photography-3073037/" target="_blank">Henry & Co. via Pexels</a></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-34107629444374099452024-02-17T10:44:00.004+07:002024-03-02T22:37:20.540+07:00 Jannabi and Lessons of Storytelling (Part 1): The “Landmark”<p><i style="text-align: justify;"></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2sr9rWzjhJD3ixhHcGtOhzXoDUu-bC8b09wn1m2hUVjkElmddJQLZLnrKiyCW0JB2mNFTa8aX-lhxRDegt84kFhJcBClDH0bYQpwMs2mY7UJXCR949s7hAORuBXS3RsMxLIafiu6mDpvMUg0ihniOtcJgDBX50tMRCkZDzNi1IGURYFdexAVcMLYvkU/s1200/fgtyfd.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2sr9rWzjhJD3ixhHcGtOhzXoDUu-bC8b09wn1m2hUVjkElmddJQLZLnrKiyCW0JB2mNFTa8aX-lhxRDegt84kFhJcBClDH0bYQpwMs2mY7UJXCR949s7hAORuBXS3RsMxLIafiu6mDpvMUg0ihniOtcJgDBX50tMRCkZDzNi1IGURYFdexAVcMLYvkU/w640-h426/fgtyfd.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: <a href="https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/brand-journal/heritage/hyundai-heritage-jannabi" target="_blank">Hyundai</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><i style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></i></p><blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 150%;">Journalist: “Everyone’s talking about the driveway to the past.
To when do you want to go back to if you could visit?”</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></span> </p></blockquote><blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><i style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Choi Jung Hoon: “Hmmm. The moment I decided to become a singer? My mom always had her compilation album in her
car and listening to it…”</span></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Recently, I stumbled upon a captivating collaboration project
between <a href="https://www.hyundai.com" target="_blank">Hyundai</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jannabi_(band)" target="_blank">Jannabi</a> titled “Pony”. It's not often that an advertisement
captures my attention so thoroughly. This particular ad isn't just something to
skip through—it's one I find myself happily watching again and again. Among the
many factors contributing to its standout appeal, storytelling undoubtedly
takes the spotlight.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rm5E5paKGLo" width="320" youtube-src-id="rm5E5paKGLo"></iframe></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i><b>Have you heard that storytelling is the future of advertising?</b> </i>In
this instance, </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hyundai borrowed Jannabi’s
profound storytelling skills in a package with the story itself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Jannabi, a South Korean indie
band, </span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">has gained widespread acclaim for their </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">exceptional
lyricism</span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, nostalgic melodies, and musical finesse</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">.
</span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Their raw authenticity has endeared them to audiences across
generations, propelling them to commercial success that surpasses typical indie
boundaries.</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> They became a prominent name, headlined big festivals, topped music charts, won awards, and
appeared on major TV programs --all while keeping full control over their artistry.
Becoming an independent artist while gaining mainstream recognition, don't you think it is too good to be true?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">No wonder, people were curious
about the secret behind Jannabi’s triumph in getting the best of both worlds. </span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Frontman <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choi_Jung-hoon" target="_blank">Choi Jung Hoon</a> credited his mother's influence for
inspiring his career path as a singer-songwriter. Her enthusiasm for music shared through car rides with him, introduced him to influential musicians and
shaped his artistic ideals.</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> This piece of story clicked with
the fact that Jannabi’s songs sound like “the music you heard in your parents’
car”. It makes all sense that the band’s tunes always feel warm, nostalgic,
and unique yet somehow familiar (and humans love familiarity). Walking on top
of Jannabi’s noteworthy popularity, it instantly became a well-known story among South
Koreans.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hyundai, recognizing the potency of this narrative, seized the
opportunity to advertise in a unique way. They collaborated with Jung Hoon to
create a song inspired by his memories of listening to his mom’s favorite tunes
in her Hyundai car. The video beautifully depicted him being transported to 1975 in a classic Hyundai retracing her
youthful passion for music, closing it with a seamless transition to the
present-day Hyundai model he drives. It's a subtle yet powerful message highlighting Hyundai's enduring presence across generations. They implied that the manufacturer has served South Koreans for generations</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> without even saying anything about it in the video.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Through
Jannabi's vivid storytelling and heartfelt expressions, listeners find
themselves drawn into narratives that resonate on a deeply personal level. </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The
song tapped into shared experiences and emotions of sitting as a passenger in
their parents’ cars. The lyrics allowed listeners to empathize with the joy of
youth, passion for something, and the dear memories of their
parents. This is why storytelling will always win against any advertising
methods. It evokes emotions that resonate with audiences, encouraging
the listeners to reflect on their own experiences and relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">****</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Heath and Starr in their book “<a href="https://www.imzpression.com/2022/03/make-numbers-count-art-and-science-of.html" target="_blank">Making Numbers Count</a>” called it a “landmark”--where we leverage existing well-known
information to create our narratives. As people already knew this “landmark”,
it would be easier to take people on the journey. In this case, as the story of how Jung Hoon’s
mom shaped her son's career was popular among the people, it
served as the landmark that brought people into the narratives Hyundai wanted to
create. This is a powerful move that I, as a storytelling enthusiast, must
applaud.</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In a world packed with advertisements competing for our attention, only the ones that touch our hearts and souls endure. </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Hyundai has leveraged </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Jung Hoon's stories about his passion for music and his bond with his mom which are potentially the collective stories of many people. The story belonged to many people and as an implication, it created an "unconscious" sense of belonging to Hyundai.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">To conclude, the shift from product-centric
advertising to narrative-driven storytelling has fundamentally changed the way
brands connect with consumers. </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Because at the end of the day,</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;"> stories are the things we remember, cherish, and share the most. They will stay forever with us. I meant, you still remember the fable or fairytale you heard as a kid, right? Those stories will forever etched in our minds, even without us trying. Those are the "landmarks" we all dearly keep in our hearts.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">The "I Want to Touch People's Souls Like Jannabi's Songs", </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">iim</span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-71083001441051609722024-02-05T07:50:00.008+07:002024-02-28T20:49:43.833+07:00Woman My Age Shouldn’t Have Cried Because of SQL<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihf9fTCDP5zTmTnTY8dCPg73jgMQcswj-_Y-WAlxbEK7iDBjyxAUyqMsN_mFhLLr_8PNVsmpxh4n-xgJ6npg6VboCb8Xcct92IrI-uowDV1TQQwqBo2VU5yPAH8zm-kJC1ljWq2rBipmX8knDnInKtKt11kfLrBNJx69Uw7FiENZ5_EgTldcDHhJ593M/s2730/pexels-photo-5417109a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1776" data-original-width="2730" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihf9fTCDP5zTmTnTY8dCPg73jgMQcswj-_Y-WAlxbEK7iDBjyxAUyqMsN_mFhLLr_8PNVsmpxh4n-xgJ6npg6VboCb8Xcct92IrI-uowDV1TQQwqBo2VU5yPAH8zm-kJC1ljWq2rBipmX8knDnInKtKt11kfLrBNJx69Uw7FiENZ5_EgTldcDHhJ593M/w640-h416/pexels-photo-5417109a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div> <span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If a woman my age cries, one can predict several possible reasons
behind it but structured query language (SQL) is probably unthinkable.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dear my teenage self, we hit a roadblock again. Our current job
demanded proficiency in SQL, a language founded on the principles of logic. Don’t
you remember how much you struggled with logic? During high school, you were
so afraid of attending classes in logical subjects. You were so fixated on the
thought that you weren’t built for logic, proven by your low marks on almost
every assignment and test. Mathematics and physics seemed to dance just beyond your
reach, leaving you feeling inadequate and frustrated. I can still taste the
bitterness of embarrassment from those days when your math teacher distributed the
results and said “Take the remedial test next week” to you. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Fast forward, the present you should learn SQL’s lines of
code. I hid my confusion and fear as I confronted the daunting task. Try as I
might, there were moments I couldn't wrap my head around the SQL queries. I felt
so out of place again—feeling small as a familiar ache in my chest resurfacing. I once
again realized that this journey would be far from easy as every function felt
like a tangled web. Witnessing my friends study much faster than me, one even jokingly teased my turtle pace, I couldn’t stop tears from streaming down. It gave me
all the years of “smart people are the ones proficient in math” where I don’t
belong there. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As tears flowed down, I realized that the emotions weren't just
abo</span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">ut SQL anymore. It was about the years of feeling inadequate--the years of constant
embarrassment coming from red marks in logical subjects. It was about the countless times I'd struggled
to prove myself in a world that seemingly revolves around numbers and logic. </span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It was about the weight of expectations and the fear of failure
that threatened to consume me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And guess what? Just like you back then, I allowed myself to feel
the frustration and embarrassment again. I will face everything with my shaken
bravery. I may not have been born with an innate understanding of logic, but I
refuse to let that define me. For years, even when I was the weakest
one in the room, I knew that persistence ran through my veins. I will walk
slower than anyone, fail, be frustrated, and cry again many times but it’s
okay. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Until then, let's keep pushing forward, one query at a time.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The “I might be the weakest but I can learn”,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Your present self</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">image credit: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-of-unrecognizable-woman-walking-on-night-street-with-umbrella-5417109/">Zeeshaan Shabbir via pexels.com</a></span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-24902218084978321362024-01-15T08:00:00.035+07:002024-03-12T11:11:07.262+07:00 Sebelum Hujan<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEv598rrURAUb8gnVK4udXEC8pidihVnc2glLsrAskyCEOFUlh1YODXXJ1hfxl0DpBk45YJf8W7cbt4dklOo4uuKq9FPUuusEp2n0SB0BCrXiq6qhG9DuCwvhOi0bAxC5mtCNIJPpkyxTyhlIbp7K6ZuwPEhCLgu4Jp2Sdxx8zbB9EdQZifDMMADQi8g/s4880/pexels-muhammad-rifki-adiyanto-2327766.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4880" data-original-width="3904" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEv598rrURAUb8gnVK4udXEC8pidihVnc2glLsrAskyCEOFUlh1YODXXJ1hfxl0DpBk45YJf8W7cbt4dklOo4uuKq9FPUuusEp2n0SB0BCrXiq6qhG9DuCwvhOi0bAxC5mtCNIJPpkyxTyhlIbp7K6ZuwPEhCLgu4Jp2Sdxx8zbB9EdQZifDMMADQi8g/w512-h640/pexels-muhammad-rifki-adiyanto-2327766.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Tiba masanya periode sebelum hujan berdamai dengan getirnya tidak diinginkan. Bumi seakan tabah menyaksikan langkah tergesa-gesa sebelum
hujan. Udara bersikap tenang saja mendengar keluh kesah yang berlalu lalang.
Langit bersabar disesaki gumpalan pesan di pikiran manusia menjelang rinai.
Kata-kata menggantung di awan hanyalah payung, secangkir teh, rumah, dan tentu
saja rindu. Sementara dalam diriku bukan kaki, melainkan batin, yang
tergesa-gesa. Di langit bergelayut pesan pencarian yang hampir putus asa.<a name="more"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Orang-orang hanya peduli pada hujan dan rumah--menyudutkan sebelum hujan pada sepi yang kumengerti. </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">Aku, seperti sebelum hujan, mengenali betul rasanya tidak diinginkan. Jiwa ini</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">, sama seperti sebelum
hujan, memahami riuh yang mengabaikan kami. Maka kami duduk bersisihan menikmati
hening yang dikurung agar tidak gaduh mengaduh.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Meski demikian, sebelum hujan dan aku tak
yakin apakah kami baik-baik saja dipeluk sunyi. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Pada aroma hujan yang bersiap mendekap bumi aku
bertanya, seperti inikah perasaan rindu</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: super;">1</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">? Aku telah melewati puluhan ribu hari
sibuk mempertanyakan datangnya perjumpaan yang memporandakan raga dalam duga.<b> </b>Jika belum akan dipertemukan, mengapa aku harus memikul perasaan semacam
itu? Jika takdir persuaan masih jauh dari harap</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">, tidak bolehkah nanti saja kutanggung beban rasa sebesar ini? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Maka sebelum hujan aku berdoa agar seseorang
melintas begitu saja. Saat hujan nanti, aku ingin mengenali wajah yang
bersembunyi atas nama rindu. Namun, sejauh mana pun aku bertanya, dia tak kunjung
menjelma di hadapku. Hujan telah mempertemukan bumi dan langit sore ini. Sejauh apa dia
saat ini untuk bertemu denganku? Apakah ia tidak berdiri di bawah hujan yang
sama denganku? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Kenyataan bahwa aku tidak mengetahui apa-apa tentang perkara ini sungguh mengoyak batin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Aku pulang bersama senyap yang telah nyenyak
tertidur di tas punggung. Lengang adalah satu-satunya yang tersisa membersamaiku. Jika
aku berkawan baik dengan sunyi, lalu berapa lama lagi topeng bahagia ini bisa kuperankan dengan baik?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Sejujurnya, telah sejak lama aku tak ingin menyeberangi hujan seorang
diri.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">----------------------------------------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: super;">1 </span>Terinspirasi dari puisi Hujan Bulan Juni karya Sapardi Djoko Damono bahwa hujan begitu tabah merahasiakan rindunya kepada bumi.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">"<i>Tak ada yang lebih tabah dari hujan bulan juni</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><i>dirahasiakan rintik rindunya kepada pohon berbunga itu</i>"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">---------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">image source: </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-an-umbrella-2327766/">Muhammad Rifki Adiyanto via Pexels</a></span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-54464250565502482362023-11-27T09:00:00.002+07:002024-03-12T11:11:12.358+07:00LIRIH<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMsthlGZLvdnxRtZJcB5GVbLNMKXRuKYlVc_GYSyukzDASa7AZjvst2pxcef7QLXFH7Zl6zfszMRwMIWBSmy__CTPt-kgsZ5z8HbcnKn0YSdBsB_THlpsRWi2OLb8h8kze93ITWxV7ByDHodkJRFRu9yxx6P1QoEEJ9MPSUsfVto5awNVC2VeQhhdNHg/s3283/pexels-photo-247899.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2188" data-original-width="3283" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMsthlGZLvdnxRtZJcB5GVbLNMKXRuKYlVc_GYSyukzDASa7AZjvst2pxcef7QLXFH7Zl6zfszMRwMIWBSmy__CTPt-kgsZ5z8HbcnKn0YSdBsB_THlpsRWi2OLb8h8kze93ITWxV7ByDHodkJRFRu9yxx6P1QoEEJ9MPSUsfVto5awNVC2VeQhhdNHg/w640-h426/pexels-photo-247899.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay/" target="_blank">pixabay</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aku senang mendengar suara-suara lirih yang nyaris tidak terdengar
di perpustakaan. Di antara bunyi-bunyi itu, aku bisa memisahkan alunan jemarimu
membalik halaman buku. Aku bisa mengenali ayun matamu yang berdansa dengan aksara. Aku bisa mendengar tulang-tulang rusukmu terangkat ketika menghela udara.
Di tengah riuh rendah itu, aku bisa membedakan suaramu ketika kau
berbisik menceritakan sesuatu kepada kawan-kawan. Aku juga tak luput menyadari gelak
tawa yang dirahasiakan agar petugas perpustakaan tidak menoleh ke arah kalian. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aku jua mampu mengidentifikasi nada jarimu melangkah di atas
papan ketik. Begitulah kau, membaca buku seolah waktu bisa dihentikan lalu
menulis selama dua kali lipatnya. Aku berhasrat mengintip puisi yang tengah kau pijarkan melalui sepuluh jari-jarimu. Jadi sajak apa yang tengah berdenyut
bersama jantungmu kini?</span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a name="more"></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Irama lirihmu dalam melakukan segala sesuatu di perpustakaan
begitu lain. Di tengah kegaduhan yang hampir terdengar hening itu, aku
menemukanmu dengan mudahnya. Sementara udara yang dingin tak mampu meredam deru
senyummu. Sementara wangi buku seolah memasung sepasang lingkaran matamu dalam
dunia yang lain. Sementara larik-larik puisimu tampak tak ingin berbagi
pujangganya dengan siapa pun.</span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Akankah kau datang tepat waktu ke perpustakaan hari ini? Apakah
kau masih akan duduk di tempat yang sama seperti biasa? Akankah teman-temanmu
akan menyusulmu tigapuluh menit kemudian seperti yang sudah-sudah? Akankah
matamu bergerak dengan kelambatan yang sama ketika menelusuri satu per satu
kalimat? Apakah jemarimu masih akan sesekali mengambil jeda di atas papan ketik
ketika kau tengah berburu kata? Akankah kau melepas kacamata dan mengusap mata
dengan cara yang sama? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aku menemukanmu di sela-sela narasi yang kaukumpulkan. Aku
menyelami bersama keingintahuan tentang sajakmu selanjutnya. Sementara
sepuluh huruf namamu adalah puisi yang paling ingin aku lantunkan. Kau adalah
buku yang ingin aku baca berkali-kali tanpa penghujung. Seperti kau menulis
untuk orang lain, aku juga ingin menulis untukmu. Maka bolehkah aku meminjam
sedikit senyummu untuk kuselipkan di antara kata-kata yang tengah tersedu itu?</span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Lalu mengutip Helvy Tiana Rosa, "Bolehkah sekedar kupinjam punggungmu untuk menulis puisi-puisi yang tak henti menangis?"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">----------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">(latar: saya rindu menulis cerita fiksi)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-4306887409549358122023-11-16T21:09:00.016+07:002024-02-08T19:05:02.058+07:00EXPECTATION<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyG_Y2wvCudHJJWygi1FlzDauD5ExFgz5-LMWzd2mAAAHHYUfE32PSTtZj4WKZst7xXux_EARvh-gTqgIp3hCz6dh2440deGMmiK-O5cFknzAVz5fWpxmpiloiLV10TSNyJXj5LE2FtATppYZ-hKOkfhiaHbExlH-iB1DsPwKaPLITkXpQw4ijyry9q0/s4963/pexels-photo-4394073.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4963" data-original-width="3309" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyG_Y2wvCudHJJWygi1FlzDauD5ExFgz5-LMWzd2mAAAHHYUfE32PSTtZj4WKZst7xXux_EARvh-gTqgIp3hCz6dh2440deGMmiK-O5cFknzAVz5fWpxmpiloiLV10TSNyJXj5LE2FtATppYZ-hKOkfhiaHbExlH-iB1DsPwKaPLITkXpQw4ijyry9q0/w426-h640/pexels-photo-4394073.jpeg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It's been a while, hasn't it?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I found myself amidst an intense introspection--contemplating life and expectations. Navigating the labyrinth
of human relationships has recently brought me face-to-face with poignant
experiences--each a miniature heartbreak from those I hold dear. At this
juncture, the weight of expectations and disappointments seems putting dark clouds above me. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I've always believed in giving my utmost
to those around me, investing my heart into every interaction, every
relationship, and every connection. </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">I know I have so many shortcomings but I have always tried my best. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I put in great effort to be there for others,
to support them, and to show them love. It's the way I've always lived my life,
and I don't regret it for a second. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Yet, along the way, in some settings, I can't help
but discern a lack of reciprocity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There have been moments when I couldn't
help but wonder if I was receiving the same treatment I gave. Often, I was being left behind questioning if
the consideration I extended was returned in kind. It's a bitter pill to swallow,
which made me ponder whether I even deserve the care I long for. Again and again, it made me feel that I didn't deserve kind treatment in the first place. (T_T). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">D</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">isappointments have become frequent in
this chapter of my life. They often trace back to my expectations of
people. I've learned that expecting too much can lead to heartache. </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Expectations, like delicate glass
ornaments on the tree of relationships, are placed with care, hoping they'll
enhance the beauty of the bonds I share. Yet, I've noticed that most of the time, I'm
the one caring more and putting in more effort. Facing this, I couldn't help
but feel down and, at times, even resentful.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Actually, throughout my journey, there
have been times when I felt strong and resilient. I've faced life's challenges
head-on, and I've overcome many of them. But there have also been those tiny,
fragile moments when I yearned for a little extra kindness, understanding, or
love and what happened made me think that sometimes I should even beg for people to treat me decently.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Truth is, there were tiny, tiny times when I hoped that I would be treated better.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The reality is that even the strongest among us are
only human. We all have vulnerable moments.</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Truly, I am just an ordinary human. My heart breaks, and I yearn for
genuine treatment. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">To whoever reading this, if I may say something to you: <b>please, please, I beg you, treat people kindly. </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">---------------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">P.S.: While I recognized the aforementioned heart-breaking moments, it didn't necessarily mean that I failed to notice the kindness people did to me. I truly appreciate the people who treat others carefully and kindly. And I am happy to say that most of the people around me are thoughtful and kind people.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">(I've learned to gradually diminish my expectations
of people and shift them more towards Allah. I feel so much better.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">-------------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">image credit: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/@matreding/" target="_blank">Mat Reding via pexel.com</a></span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-46791147947218767992023-08-10T09:36:00.006+07:002023-08-12T22:10:55.990+07:00#bicaraaudit: The Beginning<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwt9Q362U5BU86pzFPcDfNzJlp5oztsffG7bxv90lUj1VVZ9RQnAZlPUUDBex6f05UPQgEdayzdKo3r1W4okKbGnGuNodceUzURR_v6XGCl2V0e2aBF5wsCYAd9kHOCy5GbjNUDSJ1RzSmNQRFa1yC1dkZnEZl3RqUu7gIunZKZIRP6TytFC4vvgS8Y54/s2992/pexels-gelgas-airlangga-401213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1683" data-original-width="2992" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwt9Q362U5BU86pzFPcDfNzJlp5oztsffG7bxv90lUj1VVZ9RQnAZlPUUDBex6f05UPQgEdayzdKo3r1W4okKbGnGuNodceUzURR_v6XGCl2V0e2aBF5wsCYAd9kHOCy5GbjNUDSJ1RzSmNQRFa1yC1dkZnEZl3RqUu7gIunZKZIRP6TytFC4vvgS8Y54/w640-h360/pexels-gelgas-airlangga-401213.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There is a conversation that remains etched in my mind, forever altering
my perspectives and reshaping the way I perceive contributions to
society. That one dialogue shifted the lens through which I viewed my role as a
civil servant, transforming my understanding of how I can make an impact beyond my office work. This conversation rekindled a sense of
responsibility and ignited an aspiration to create something that potentially holds meaning--at least from my perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As a civil servant, it's almost natural to limit my perception of
contribution to the tasks I perform within the walls of my workplace. However,
a conversation with a close friend unveiled a new dimension of it that resonated deeply with me. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">"But rarely did we realize, we are
essentially being paid by the citizens, not merely the government," my
friend shared. "Hence, our contributions shouldn't be confined to our
office tasks alone. If there's more we can do – like creating informative
content or sharing our knowledge – those actions too are valuable
contributions."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">That conversation was a revelation, prompting me to reconsider doing more
than I’ve done. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">With newfound realization, I embarked on a journey to create a program
that would serve as a (hopefully) educational platform focused on internal auditing and IT
auditing. Yet, the path was far from straightforward. Doubts loomed over me
like dark clouds: Was I skilled enough? Could I consistently present in front
of a camera? Did my equipment meet the standards? Would anyone find my content
useful, let alone watch it?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Yet, I recognized a pattern. Many of my steps began amidst the shadow of
doubts. And I understood that the key was not to eliminate doubt entirely but
to persist despite its presence. As long as my actions aligned with a perceived
value and usefulness, I was determined to push forward.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So, today, I present #bicaraaudit – the realization of my long-nurtured
aspiration. Through this program, I hope to become a companion in your journey
of learning about internal auditing and IT auditing. The dream, once limited to
thoughts, now breathes life through this initiative.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T5tmI5WXASY" width="320" youtube-src-id="T5tmI5WXASY"></iframe></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The first episode kicks off with an exploration of the Certified
Internal Auditor (CIA) certification. I delve into its benefits and ponder
whether the effort invested in obtaining it truly pays off. But this is only
the beginning. Starting this week, please anticipate new episodes every
Thursday at 09.00 WIB. Your feedback, thoughts, and inquiries are invaluable to
me. I wholeheartedly invite you to engage by sharing your insights in the
comments section.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I am looking forward to having more discussions with you all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Love,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">iim<o:p></o:p></span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-16131290007305420252023-07-24T09:08:00.004+07:002023-07-25T19:15:08.439+07:00Kenal Digital: The Beginning<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSReoWF3VkLWs0SBejTQ_YB5FCU6JVd0XDLh8H29oqoccwVH3G7-PzolJDiMsPtaT1KglcqLAWfYQkfw6UgX7WVu4tGy4ljazk4AI58fo_9WZcatG_qYQ7wvheey-EtgA0pmvwegd2wmNokT-eqdYsBA52sGHCXEWe0ySKvb7PUCyBYKSsPAK2nLrPxg/s3000/caricature-5266197.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSReoWF3VkLWs0SBejTQ_YB5FCU6JVd0XDLh8H29oqoccwVH3G7-PzolJDiMsPtaT1KglcqLAWfYQkfw6UgX7WVu4tGy4ljazk4AI58fo_9WZcatG_qYQ7wvheey-EtgA0pmvwegd2wmNokT-eqdYsBA52sGHCXEWe0ySKvb7PUCyBYKSsPAK2nLrPxg/s320/caricature-5266197.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Life's journey often takes unexpected turns, and for me,
restlessness has been a driving force behind several decisions. Recently, one specific restlessness led me to embark on a new endeavor - creating a program called
"Kenal Digital," (loosely translated as "Know Digital").<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For some time now, I've been deeply conscious of the impact of
digital transformation in today's world. In an era where it is hailed as the
key to organizational success, I have witnessed some organizations getting lost
and confused on this transformative journey. Often, digital transformation
is misinterpreted as merely implementing the latest tools and technologies. It
could end up looking like a race not to be left behind, a haphazard move to showcase innovation, or an
imprudent change to incorporate technology without considering the bigger
picture.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The consequence of this "technology-first" mindset is a
misalignment between the technology and the organization's overall vision. This
can lead to wasteful investments, subpar user experiences, and ultimately, a
failure to realize the true potential of digital transformation and derive the true value of the efforts.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Feeling concerned about this trend, I decided to address the issue
in my blog through a dedicated column called <a href="https://www.imzpression.com/search/label/%23sensibletech" target="_blank">#sensibletech</a>. In these blog
posts, I shared my perspective on the thoughtful implementation
of technology, particularly within organizations. It felt like a good starting
point until a friend made a thought-provoking suggestion:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">"If you really care about it,"
she said, "as </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">I believe that people don't read that much anymore, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">you should consider disseminating your thoughts through a
medium that is widely consumed nowadays - video."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I stared at the wall in front of me as her words struck me deeply. As someone who finds comfort in
writing, I had been hesitant to step into the world of audio-visual content
creation. While I have occasionally spoken at seminars and videos, expressing
my thoughts through written text has always been my go-to option. But my friend
was right; to expand my reach and educate more people on this crucial topic, I
needed to embrace a new medium.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Yet, doubts and questions flooded my mind. Was I technically and
non-technically capable enough to host a podcast? Who is willing to be the guests? Did I enjoy being on camera
enough to do it regularly? Could I handle the challenges that might arise in
the future? Could I manage the entire process, from recording to editing, with
my current capacity? Ultimately, will people watch it?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Fortunately, during my time at university, I encountered two kind
souls who offered unwavering encouragement. Their advice was simple yet
profound: "Start small," "Use the gear you have now and upgrade
later," "I'll be your first guest if you need one," "Even
if you don't have access to guests, you can do a monologue,", "Don't worry that much about whether the program will have viewers or not", and so on.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I realized that sometimes, all you need to find the courage is the
support and push from people who believe in you and offer their unwavering
support.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And so, here I am, presenting "Kenal
Digital". With this program, my goal is to introduce a more thoughtful and
strategic approach to digital transformation. I hope that the insights shared
in this podcast lay the foundation for a careful and mindful digital
transformation journey, where technology aligns harmoniously with the broader business
strategy and even the broader system necessity. I believe that digital transformation is not a one-size-fits-all
solution, but rather a tailored and customized expedition that enables
companies to harness the true power of technology while staying true to their
core values.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">With gratitude and excitement, I present to you the first episode
of "Kenal Digital." I hope you enjoy it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/88LX3jg_nes" width="320" youtube-src-id="88LX3jg_nes"></iframe></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">---- </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">image source: <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/cdd20-1193381/" target="_blank">CDD20 @ Pixabay</a></span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-38220307870723222032023-06-29T21:46:00.021+07:002024-02-08T19:10:21.607+07:00Amor Fati<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWugV2FPrwVsTJUgaZRhOq_lyME6qlFZ8pfMXGGtYrqnc9iIHFnsTFJ5EENOonHyBqkFHwjYmHdP_W_aNLeq8XIXgXWVQacUVSOPp6s6o_1qHkYRIzGd71GQWKg2TtNyYXkk9UBbK_G_p5eYH5gq0VeOJDeuiTJ95u8RXi98BTEc2yQgX9bBpJX6ho7f4/s1280/sad-4209944_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1280" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWugV2FPrwVsTJUgaZRhOq_lyME6qlFZ8pfMXGGtYrqnc9iIHFnsTFJ5EENOonHyBqkFHwjYmHdP_W_aNLeq8XIXgXWVQacUVSOPp6s6o_1qHkYRIzGd71GQWKg2TtNyYXkk9UBbK_G_p5eYH5gq0VeOJDeuiTJ95u8RXi98BTEc2yQgX9bBpJX6ho7f4/w640-h422/sad-4209944_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“</span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Di saat rentan hati, ingin
rasanya saya pergi mengasingkan diri. Pergi jauh ke sebuah pelukan dan berlabuh
di bahu seseorang, tetapi pelukan siapa, bahu siapa?”</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> (“When I was
vulnerable, I want to go into exile. Go deep into an embrace and land on someone's
shoulder, but whose embrace, whose shoulder?”) - Srimenanti, Joko Pinurbo</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Several days ago, a close friend and I visited a place together
with my motorcycle. As our outing came to an end, we made our way back to the parking
area, only to discover it was packed with vehicles, making it challenging
to retrieve mine. Determined, we both exerted considerable effort to navigate
our way out while sharing jokes about how “independent” we are. I later uttered,
“I remember a quite similar moment where I still get emotional when I think about
it,”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“What happened?” She inquired<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">"One morning, while riding this exact motorcycle to work, I noticed
smoke emanating from its front. Later, when it was time to head home, I
approached a male colleague from my team, seeking reassurance about the safety
of bringing the motorcycle to the repair shop in its current condition--hoping to convince myself
that I would be alright," I narrated, the scene replaying vividly in my
mind. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There was a brief pause as I took a deep breath, "Instead of
offering me the assurance I sought, he said, 'Just ask a man for help. What's
so impossible about it? You don't have to handle everything on your own.'"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The floodgates of mixed emotions surged within me. “I ended up seeking
assistance while battling to hold back tears. Truthfully, I don’t want to be
this ‘independent’, I just don’t have the luxury to rely on someone,” I noticed
that the smile I offered was broken. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Same as today. It’s not that we are inherently strong, just we
don’t have options. That’s what you meant?” She tried to read the direction of
my story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I nodded. Truth is, there are times when I wish to rely on someone, putting down the burden of making difficult decisions or performing strenuous tasks. There have been days in my life when I
yearned for a break from the constant need to engage my mind fully. There have
been instances where I wanted to </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">mindlessly </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">follow someone else, trusting that he would lead me to the right path. I secretly longed for moments when I could surrender
to a sense of ease, knowing that someone would take care of things for me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As someone who always thought that nobody was willing to be her
place to lean on, sometimes, I desired the freedom to be weak and
vulnerable. There were also tiny moments when I hoped I could let go of the worries and
responsibilities. Therefore, I would highly appreciate the moments when I am
allowed to not have all the answers as someone else would be there to figure
things out alongside me. Therefore, I just smiled when people said that I was a strong independent woman who didn't need help. Sorry to burst your bubble but that's not necessarily true.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Life has taught me resilience, nurturing independence born out
of necessity. From time to time, I consoled myself with the knowledge that,
despite the difficulties, I possessed the strength to navigate life. And perhaps,
in an unexpected encounter, I may stumble upon someone’s shoulder. Until that, I
will remain steadfast, honoring both my fragility and strength. Because, just as
Joko Pinurbo also mentioned in Srimenanti: <i>Namun,
bagaimanapun saya mencintai hidup ini</i>. (However, no matter how it is, I
love this life). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I will try to always love this fate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Love,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">iim</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">----------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">(Amor Fati is translated as a love of fate.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-ID" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">image source: <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/john_nature_photos-11966122/" target="_blank">John Nature Photos at Pixabay</a></span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-71556532188129449022023-06-14T16:42:00.018+07:002023-06-19T07:37:28.123+07:00 I Am Too Soft for This City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLecpO6Rj9nRFQwuNDLMq9lHcSIcc7kpyUAfjiNTHwxJVU5FdsOqmTBHv3fv78HJLpOFw0sj-xpyC6QNFwLl-255MOHcNbTKmiTNrJFWEP8KTB0dlRZoaqpizY1OKKzrh0x1mg-RfASji_tXuSGKSbNhFqR8apeEvIVixkuQ6J6FjQhmOtBWJV64nR/s1280/street-5734527_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLecpO6Rj9nRFQwuNDLMq9lHcSIcc7kpyUAfjiNTHwxJVU5FdsOqmTBHv3fv78HJLpOFw0sj-xpyC6QNFwLl-255MOHcNbTKmiTNrJFWEP8KTB0dlRZoaqpizY1OKKzrh0x1mg-RfASji_tXuSGKSbNhFqR8apeEvIVixkuQ6J6FjQhmOtBWJV64nR/w360-h640/street-5734527_1280.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Have I mentioned that one of my secret
favorite things to do is blog walking? There’s something captivating about
strolling through the depths of someone’s (even stranger’s) mind. A personal
blog, in my opinion, offers a window into the </span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">intricate complexities of an individual’s train of thought. What a great thing it is to have access to someone’s mind by reading their posts. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Recently,
I revisited one blog that stuck in my mind even after years of reading
it. I decided to delve into the posts that I hadn’t explored yet. After
wandering around, one particular entry gripped me in its emotional embrace. I
didn’t close the tab after I finished it as I was captivated by the poetic
expressions that totally describe my feelings: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“As I
willed myself not to cry, I realized I was probably too soft for this city. And
that I should probably drink more water…. And, yet, I’m too hard for other
cities. I can’t seem to find the right fit.” (<a href="https://generationmeh.com/2013/11/20/i-am-too-soft-for-this-city/" target="_blank">I Am Too Soft for This City, Generation Meh</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For
years, I found it difficult to express my confusion about the fit living space
for me and then the author squeezed my struggle in just 4 sentences. It was as if the post had eloquently captured my
perplexity regarding finding a suitable place to call home. These sentiments
mirrored the conversations I had with my friends, where I expressed the struggle
in discovering a sense of comfort in my current residence, Jakarta.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Navigating the capital city, in my opinion, demand a high-level resilience and a strong-as-stone
heart. Someone with delicate feelings like me often can only cry for what I and
other people in this full-of-inequalities-and-unfairness city have to go
through. I am aware of how overwhelmingly tiring it is to breathe in this
bustling, fast-paced urban environment while being sensitive like me. It’s a metropolis with relentless demand and perpetual
motion that will leave anyone behind unless they run. Yet, here is the land that
offers the most opportunities and growth--stuff that I recognize as necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“And that I should probably drink more water.”,
</span></i><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">the author wittily continued expressing their feeling towards
the city. It’s a beautiful metaphor that in this kind of city, we need to take care of our
well-being more. Indeed, I need to stop ignoring the importance of physical and mental well-being, even when I live in a stressful city.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">On
the other hand, some cities exude a gentler aura, embracing me with warmth. I find
comfort in slow peaceful living but after months, I would find myself feeling
out of place. I seemed can’t fully integrate my aspiration of having a meaningful impact with
this softer lifestyle. There is a reluctant nod from me because turned out “Yet, <i>I’m too hard for other cities” </i>also fits my situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Then
I remember an old piece of advice my dad said to my mom: “No matter where we go,
there is always a neighbor we can’t genuinely get along well with or something that we couldn’t
completely accept. The Prophet in the hadith had discussed this as well so let’s
be grateful for where we live.”. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">While
I acknowledged the truth in that advice, I still wish I can find the environment that
fits me the most. I know this constant search for the right place leaves me
disheartened at times. However, I hope that someday, I will stumble upon a city
that balances growth and tenderness. I pray that one day I can find my rightful
place in this vast world--the perfect equilibrium between my inner world and
the external environment. Though the path may be uncertain, I believe that
there is a city out there, a home out there, that provides me with the harmony
I seek. I believe someday I will find it. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Oh wait, perhaps I had found it...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">---------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">(For now, I will try to enjoy Jakarta.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">image source: <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/ahmad_basyar26-19081245/" target="_blank">Ahmad Basyar on Pixabay</a></span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-21671332189134837102023-06-03T03:57:00.017+07:002023-06-28T10:25:54.224+07:00 Selesai<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.wsimag.com/attachments/39ec209a47f2502e2067dd31274096c194f69da6/store/fill/1090/613/fe08446e3e06099bef398cb0fbe2f5ea8c36906bc77a527621cc9e13213f/The-view-from-the-window-seat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="450" src="https://media.wsimag.com/attachments/39ec209a47f2502e2067dd31274096c194f69da6/store/fill/1090/613/fe08446e3e06099bef398cb0fbe2f5ea8c36906bc77a527621cc9e13213f/The-view-from-the-window-seat.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Aku kehilangan hitungan tentang
berapa banyak tali yang kulepaskan bersama perpindahan raksasa baja ini antara
dua bandar udara. Meminjam narasi Sapardi dalam Hujan Bulan Juni: “Bagaimana
mungkin seseorang memiliki keinginan untuk mengurai kembali benang yang tak
terkirakan jumlahnya dalam selembar sapu tangan yang telah ditenunnya sendiri.”.
Bagaimana aku mesti mengurai paksa benang-benang yang telah terkait dengan selaksa
degup jantung di kota yang kutinggalkan--aku tidak mengerti. Serat-serat rapuh
ini barangkali hanya akan patah bersama terlepasnya genggaman jari-jemari jiwa-jiwa di kota ini.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Terima kasih untuk menjadi tahun penyembuhan
yang kubutuhkan. Terima kasih atas kehangatan yang bahkan tidak mampu menjadikan suhu 6 derajat membuatku menggigil dan ingin pergi. Terima kasih atas 4 musim yang begitu
indah. Aku begitu beruntung sempat menjalani 365 hari di belahan bumi yang ini.
Terima kasih khususnya untuk orang-orang terhangat yang pernah kutemui--yang
melihat segala tangis dan tawa--lalu berkata bahwa kita bersama-sama dalam langkah.
Terima kasih untuk membuat pergi menjadi terdengar bodoh dan tidak masuk akal. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Setiap kata perpisahan--baik
bersama riang tawa maupun derai tangis--meninggalkan jejak yang serupa di
rongga batinku. Aku datang saat musim gugur dan kini musim gugur lainnya sudah selesai.
Aku harus menyelesaikan ini semua dan pulang. Akan tetapi, meminjam lirik
Selesai milik Glenn Fredly, “Rasa ini tak pernah selesai.”. Aku tahu bersama
kepulanganku ini, rasa ini tidak akan pernah selesai. Meski akan ada bagian dari
hatiku yang tersesaki oleh kenangan dan tidak akan pernah selesai, aku tidak
akan melawan.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jika hanya boleh ada satu kata
yang mewakili perasaan saya pada setahun belakangan, itu adalah kesyukuran. Aku
mencintai kota yang jembatan dan rumahnya begitu ikonik. Di masa depan, jika aku bertemu dengan seseorang yang membuatku jatuh hati, barangkali
ketimbang berkata aku mencintaimu, aku akan mengatakan: Engkau seperti Sydney
bagiku. Sampai bertemu lagi. Sampai dengan waktu itu, aku akan banyak
merindukanmu. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sekarang, izinkan aku berdamai dengan rindu yang menusuk-nusuk hati. Besok mungkin aku akan berhenti menangis tetapi hari ini biarkan air mata membanjiri sisi-sisi batin ini.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Alhamdulillah atas segalanya--termasuk perasaan begitu sulit meninggalkan.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Love,</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><o:p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">iim</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">--------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Image source: <a href="http://meer.com">meer.com</a></span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-68193969989720567312023-05-30T08:49:00.024+07:002023-07-03T20:58:50.699+07:00 Why Didn’t I Defend Myself (Part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignv6Rn9IQN80uHL97weHSdaY4TdeJKk_wj1EXOLQ_RupuyvvTHnSPFkIn2EYng8utMZFsrNKX8g5Wv8u2zwQFRwfHCbrAwx8upXf__xCHFtqnF3iIPBTY5A1g-pfpKSQhZLCTGI56GgZm4-GAtXVXKRW4GwTw3MDDcttqeAtxUALcHvmQlCLJuQ6-/s639/water-lily-ga256406c2_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="639" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignv6Rn9IQN80uHL97weHSdaY4TdeJKk_wj1EXOLQ_RupuyvvTHnSPFkIn2EYng8utMZFsrNKX8g5Wv8u2zwQFRwfHCbrAwx8upXf__xCHFtqnF3iIPBTY5A1g-pfpKSQhZLCTGI56GgZm4-GAtXVXKRW4GwTw3MDDcttqeAtxUALcHvmQlCLJuQ6-/w640-h426/water-lily-ga256406c2_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In my previous blog post titled
"<a href="https://www.imzpression.com/2023/01/why-didnt-i-defend-myself.html" target="_blank">Why Didn't I Defend Myself</a>", I shared the painful experience of
being unjustly accused by a colleague's wife of attempting to steal her
husband. I kept silent all the time until that blog post--an effort to document
my healing journey from such a heartless act. I thought I had finally done with
the horrible treatments until recently I once again received a message telling
me to stay away. I had blocked her husband’s number, and never ever interacted
again since that accusation was being thrown at me, and I was not even physically in
the same country with him so it was perplexing why I was being bothered again.
And what made me go back to the disappointment loop is the knowledge that she had
reached out to my friends and colleagues--accusing me while shedding tears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If
someone’s wife tearfully tells you that a woman is trying to steal her husband,
I believe it is difficult for us to not sympathize and incline to take sides
with her, isn’t it? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This kind of question reminds me
of a story that sticks in my memory--a great reminder to never judge solely based
on someone’s silence or speech. I have a good friend who was accused of pestering
someone even when that someone already rejected him. Naturally, everyone
believed these claims and viewed my friend in a negative light. In the middle of
unpleasant words about him, after long thoughts, I told him, <i>“I know you are a good person and I want to
give you the benefit of the doubt. It would be useful if you can tell me your
side of the story but even if you are never ready for that, know that I am
always your friend,”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He thanked me but chose not to
explain further, simply saying, “I will let you know someday,”. It indeed took
him months to finally be able to open up about his experience. One day, he sat
across me, exhaustion evident on his face, telling me that he quietly struggled
of finding a way to cope with a rumor that was being spread by the other party.
He revealed that he had been visiting a psychologist every week until he
arrived at a point where telling the story didn’t shatter him anymore. (As evidence, he also showed me the letter from the psychologist).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Instead, it was me who was being harassed,”
his voice soft and trembling. “I was a victim of sexual harassment. It wasn't me pestering, just demanding an explanation. I know it is
hard to process this information and believe it--especially when it comes from a man.
But, that is my side of the story. It is okay if you don’t believe me,”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">His voice shook me to the core,
and I vividly remember his reddened eyes that simultaneously conveyed strength
and vulnerability. His shoulders rose and fell visibly, as though all his
efforts were insufficient to articulate his thoughts, as though he could
crumble at any moment. I can see that even breathing wasn’t easy for him while brokenly
smiling. Seeing that kind of smile, everyone, broke my heart every time without fail.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Holding back my tears, a profound
realization washed over me. In this world, we easily empathize with those who
openly display their pain and tears. But what about those who silently weep,
bearing their burdens in private? What about those who seek healing in silence while
the accusers are loud and relentless? What about the hearts that quietly suffer
as if they will die from the pains but still act calm and collected?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">That day, once again I learned
that sometimes, <i>truth could be quiet and
lies could be loud</i>. That very moment, I made a solemn promise to myself
that, even in times when my mind is clouded and judgment is easy, I would do my
utmost to seek understanding from all parties involved. That is because I
understood firsthand how it feels when people do not try to find my side of the
story. Because I know how it feels when I’ve explained and nobody doesn’t
really consider my perspective. Because I know how frustrating it can be when
the people that I consider friends and colleagues stay quiet about what
happened to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I took any steps further--even
when the distance was already far. I backed off from the place where that someone's husband and I
worked together because I am so done with all the dramas. Enough is enough. You
can try to bring me down but know that Allah is watching. You can accuse me of
anything but know that His angels record anything. And for the people that didn’t
try to seek understanding from both sides or didn’t try to help when they have the opportunity to clarify, I am so sorry. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I am sorry that you could do
better but decided not to. I am sorry that you could help someone who is being abused but decided to act like the pain she feel was nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">---------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span face=""calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Image by: </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/water-lily-flower-black-and-white-1015215/" style="background-color: white; color: #48aaad; font-family: "calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Thanh Nguyen via Pixabay</a></span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-60456684151619159162023-05-24T05:11:00.023+07:002023-05-29T04:31:48.132+07:00 Thank You for Saving Me After The Seemingly Endless Heartbreaks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyrFvs3TGjiPEy86cGkJjTaS54rugXyWdPTAn_OuiEEZlPla8o0sFKnVS86Mw5e2RUpr8Jb8qcAQA3YlJz6bIgMD3v6H7JYLYRQz3ptCyNx4Q8KH-5B0oh1vGHEG6H_Oi0Z6_LXQr7yxP0AmcvMcbEOFGPpQq7fAL5-3D5yploA5FhDwk8gzbeQqy/s5472/DSC00221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyrFvs3TGjiPEy86cGkJjTaS54rugXyWdPTAn_OuiEEZlPla8o0sFKnVS86Mw5e2RUpr8Jb8qcAQA3YlJz6bIgMD3v6H7JYLYRQz3ptCyNx4Q8KH-5B0oh1vGHEG6H_Oi0Z6_LXQr7yxP0AmcvMcbEOFGPpQq7fAL5-3D5yploA5FhDwk8gzbeQqy/w640-h426/DSC00221.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For all my life, I went through a lot of heartbreaks. As a daughter, my
mom seemed to have favoritism towards her son. If the son couldn’t academically
perform well, she would say “It’s okay you don’t necessarily have to be a great
student,”. But if the case happened to me, she would say I didn’t study hard
enough. That I was not diligent enough.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">That I was not enough.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">That I probably will never be enough.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In my elementary school, a teacher also exhibited a clear bias towards
boys to the point he decided to give a male classmate of mine the top rank although many people’s views suggested that I performed better. I vividly
remember the tears streaming down my face as I walked home, burdened by the
exhaustion of striving so hard only to face the perception that I would
never be sufficient. These experiences served as bitter reminders that life is
inherently unfair and while I know that indeed reality plays that way, I wished that I hadn't
learned this harsh truth as early as that. I was an innocent young girl who
believed that as long as I gave my all, good things will eventually happen to me.
However, reality kept slapping my face with hardship after hardship, heartbreak
after heartbreak telling me that I will never measure up. I experienced too
many heartbreaks that I thought for a long time probably I simply doesn’t
deserve love and happiness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Guess what lyrics I picked as the representation of my life where love
and acceptance were perpetually out of my reach?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hyukoh’s “<i><b>For me, even love occurs
just between other groups of people.</b>”. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Consequently, I grew into a person of contrasting elements: I smile and
laugh a lot even when I feel sad and upset. I appeared cheerful and bright even
when fear and insecurity consumed me. I wore a bubbly façade while carrying the
weight of heartbreaks and feelings of inadequacy, believing that I wouldn't be
accepted unless I take the extra mile in everything</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. For me, I didn’t dare hope to be loved or cherished, my heart just quietly
requested “</span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Please just accept my
existence</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">”. I just couldn’t afford to feel rejected while I was struggling
to accept myself and the fate I had.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">After years of heartbreaks, Sydney which was in my prayers for the last 8
years appeared as a ray of hope into my life. The woman who thought she wouldn’t
be chosen for great opportunities was picked among thousands of applicants. I finally know what it feels like to feel wanted after witnessing what happened here and crossing paths with some of the most beautiful souls I've ever met. That there are people who genuinely appreciated and wanted me to have this beautiful life. That I also deserve
to wear genuine smiles and be happy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oaUiTA7lgcSvd-OhNwOixoBQz7ICpOA9MGsoVtTpyQDcCRHVDElqGAtH3TogvfSCz89tf-357cexFWj8VbQgQ-0LqpsYPLG0WxhLVuGOL9tqH48rRES0F3rF-S9cP6JBWWglEcZdH7DJ8ikvCiNtVxHNw7nm2gwV-Nki35yfndeFDzA_isPFy9DD/s5472/DSC00482.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oaUiTA7lgcSvd-OhNwOixoBQz7ICpOA9MGsoVtTpyQDcCRHVDElqGAtH3TogvfSCz89tf-357cexFWj8VbQgQ-0LqpsYPLG0WxhLVuGOL9tqH48rRES0F3rF-S9cP6JBWWglEcZdH7DJ8ikvCiNtVxHNw7nm2gwV-Nki35yfndeFDzA_isPFy9DD/w640-h426/DSC00482.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So thank you Sydney for illuminating my once-dim heart. Thank you for
gracing my monotonous dull days with your presence. This time around, thank you
for being the beacon of light in my life after enduring the seemingly never-ending
cycle of heartbreaks. I rewrote my narrative here as I learned to
accept the lasting scars on my soul and moved on. I cherished the strength, resilience, and
authenticity I learned throughout the journey. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I finally learned that I am also worthy of acceptance and happiness. I am no longer feeling unwanted, unchosen, and undeserving. I am saying goodbye to an endless sadness. It took me two decades but I can finally say this: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">I am healed.</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">-------</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">P.S.: Thank you, Allah.</span></i></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-29805270290635306822023-05-10T07:18:00.029+07:002023-05-11T04:33:51.039+07:00 My Thoughts on The Recent Artificial Intelligence Development<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNQomyWKb7zHn6LP49hpyt2qivccaCEeYPLSAPdcWEUiBZFslLms8prELJ4bWokuR-zpufOSqEti5rrs4BADapDHzQwfRHRhoUWczi4vftzzOAOvc1jaNF85DjOOz5PSnMAphnozI99kASxliojsG38wPy3oM5JYl_ck_SsfZHnyumAhOkTu84USu/s996/man-looking-through-glass-business-vision-blockchain-technology-digital-remix_53876-124707.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="996" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNQomyWKb7zHn6LP49hpyt2qivccaCEeYPLSAPdcWEUiBZFslLms8prELJ4bWokuR-zpufOSqEti5rrs4BADapDHzQwfRHRhoUWczi4vftzzOAOvc1jaNF85DjOOz5PSnMAphnozI99kASxliojsG38wPy3oM5JYl_ck_SsfZHnyumAhOkTu84USu/w640-h426/man-looking-through-glass-business-vision-blockchain-technology-digital-remix_53876-124707.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“AI is going to be one of the defining
technologies of our time, and it's really important that we get it right."
(Altman, 2023)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Although artificial intelligence (AI) had been
around for more than half a century, I noticed that only recently, triggered by
ChatGPT’s massive success, the general public started to pay close attention to
it. AI has intercepted our daily life long before that (consider
recommender systems in online marketplaces or social media platforms) but only in recent years that public conversations do not shy away from it. On
my part, I have been very cautious to not give opinions regarding AI until I
have enough knowledge. Now I think the conversation around this topic is
necessary and timely and I am relatively ready. Therefore, I mustered up my
courage to finally write about it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">(Disclaimer: While I have educated myself on the
topic, I recognized the possibility that I am unconsciously biased or take
less-than-necessary learning. After all, I am just an ordinary tech enthusiast
with very limited knowledge so take this post with a grain of salt. I am ready to admit my mistakes on these thoughts if in the future they are
proven wrong. I used ChatGPT as an example here not to undervalue thousands
of awesome AI products, just as a representative of them.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">These days, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Guz73e6fw&t=4258s" target="_blank">Lex Fridman’s interview with Sam Altman</a> (OpenAI CEO) occupied a large chunk of my brain. It is living in my mind
rent-free and I have no problem with that. Unless Lex decided to ask me about
the rent price, I would not dare to charge him. (LoL my unfunny joke is back!).
On a serious note, the interview made me torn apart between wanting AI
development to get full support (which sometimes means allowing the development to be highly experimental) and that it should be strictly regulated. I hope AI researchers/practitioners and regulators out there can find the perfect balance of leveraging the
maximum possible benefits humanity can generate from AI while upholding the
highest ethical principles and the responsibility of creating a better world
without disadvantages that outweigh the advantages--including from the most
vulnerable people’s perspectives. In a utopian society, I will end my post
here because I have done my part of providing a recommendation as mentioned
above. But we all know that this complex world of ours does not work that
simply. So let me continue. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In recent years, <span style="color: #0f0f0f;">the
world is changing so fast right in front of our eyes and AI is one advancement the
masses could not take lightly. AI systems have become much more powerful and relatively
more reliable, which Sam narrated as “</span>we don’t get mocked that
much anymore”. AI used to be severely underestimated but now with recent advancements including GPT, many
people even found it potentially “disturbs” mankind. Yes, while AI has created optimism
and enthusiasm for many people, the other side of the population is scared and
pessimistic about it. Sam himself is both excited and frightened--something that I appreciate
because acknowledging both extremes of the benefits and risks is essential especially when
the stake is this huge. He furthermore acknowledged that there will never be a
completely unbiased version of GPT. What they can do is aim to make it as neutral
as possible through RLHF (reinforcement learning from human feedback) and give
more control to the people. For that reason, ChatGPT was deployed early to generate human
feedback and also give the public more control so that it can be iteratively fine-tuned
based on the collective inputs. Another
thing I noticed is that</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> GPT4 Technical Report (OpenAI, 2023)</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"> listed the possible
risks like generating harmful advice or inaccurate information, and what the
organization has done to mitigate them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">While definitely, the current AI has not yet “upheld
the highest ethical principles and aligned with the best interests of humanity”,
we should be a bit relieved that in this critical turning point of human
history, people that (seemingly) strive to be balanced and cautious like Sam is
in the driving seat. At least, OpenAI people are trying their best to get it
right. I want to believe them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Explainable AI (XAI)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To realize the full potential of AI, it’s
important to prioritize alignment with ethical considerations and human values.
The concept that I believe is useful to start this journey is explainability or
interpretability: the concept that a machine
learning model and its output can be explained in a way that “makes sense” to a
human being at an acceptable level (c3, n.d). Salierno (2023) described them as the
ability to see inside what’s described as the “black box” of algorithmic
decision-making while Miller (2019) defined them as how easily a human being
can interpret and understand how the model arrived at a decision or prediction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In simple words, XAI allows us to see the works
between input and output. This is crucial because only through this transparency
we can examine and evaluate AI models to ascertain what is influencing their
decisions and identify any potential biases or ethics violations. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">What is Next<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">After that, we shall evaluate the AI processes and models including their privacy
and security aspects. The data collection and everything in the data life cycle should be transparently communicated to the
data owner. The data behind the models should be governed properly mainly to
ensure the quality of decisions made and the security aspects of the data. We should also consider how intellectual property would be negatively impacted by AI. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Additionally,
potential misuse of AI technologies such as deepfake should be mitigated by for
example providing a mechanism to confirm the originality of a file (audio/video).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Other concerns that arose are regarding the accountability
and regulatory aspects. A decision, even though generated by AI should be able
to be held accountable. Therefore, who is accountable should be defined. In
addition, regulatory development will probably always be outpaced by AI development. As a consequence, it is important to determine how can we ensure
that AI is aligned with regulatory principles. We shall continuously monitor and evaluate AI processes and models, prioritizing the ones that have huge impacts on mankind. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Closing<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="background: white;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">While I definitely cheer upon AI development, I
also want it to be heavily regulated. At the minimum, I hope that AI models
should uphold ethical principles and consider the best interests of humans and
the broader systems. I know this balance is kind of difficult to achieve and I recognized
all the hard work the AI people have done to achieve it. I am looking forward
to a more robust, ethical, and reliable AI. I am optimistic about it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="background: white;">--------</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="background: white;">Image by <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/man-looking-through-glass-business-vision-blockchain-technology-digital-remix_17123057.htm#page=4&query=artificial%20intelligence&position=4&from_view=search&track=ais" target="_blank">rawpixel.com on Freepik</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">--------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">References:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Altman, S. 2023. "Sam Altman: OpenAI CEO on GPT-4, ChatGPT, and the Future of AI" in Lex Fridman Podcast #367, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Guz73e6fw&t=6324s></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">c3.ai. n.d. Glossary. accessed at 10 May 2023,
<https://c3.ai/glossary/machine-learning/explainability/#:~:text=Explainability%20(also%20referred%20to%20as,being%20at%20an%20acceptable%20level.><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Miller, T.
2017. Explanation in artificial intelligence: Insights from the social sciences.
Artificial Intelligence, Vol. 267, page 1038, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artint.2018.07.007.">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artint.2018.07.007.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">OpenAI. 2023. GPT-4 Technical Report. accessed on
10 May 2023, <<a href="https://cdn.openai.com/papers/gpt-4.pdf">https://cdn.openai.com/papers/gpt-4.pdf</a>><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Salierno, D. 2023. Explainable AI pulls back
the curtain on machine-made decisions. Internal Auditor Magazine February 2023,
a publication of The Institute of Internal Auditors</span><o:p></o:p></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-29819440245396687302023-05-07T20:01:00.013+07:002023-05-08T16:17:29.673+07:00 I Want You to Have A Warm Meal, Even When I’m Not Here with You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoo4SavGl0sCy8hISfl4OXStOzSYJpEvVKUs82tOH8pQAXCw4Axbz7u4PajS_Vij8yyrkkt2MwuZFPP5MYPZO_vHCG-jV1Q-0jNID-oRDDoHIVMg_o_IMYr2hcnP_mpaVAbakjXnJvvNxIqCyOLs9CBKAs02Oc2WICb7zgnupZK0IuOTx8NOEx-BhS/s740/japanese-streamed-rice-bowl-vector_53876-168937.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="740" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoo4SavGl0sCy8hISfl4OXStOzSYJpEvVKUs82tOH8pQAXCw4Axbz7u4PajS_Vij8yyrkkt2MwuZFPP5MYPZO_vHCG-jV1Q-0jNID-oRDDoHIVMg_o_IMYr2hcnP_mpaVAbakjXnJvvNxIqCyOLs9CBKAs02Oc2WICb7zgnupZK0IuOTx8NOEx-BhS/w400-h400/japanese-streamed-rice-bowl-vector_53876-168937.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hi, everyone. How have you been? I wish
everyone is doing well and enjoying the season whatever it is, wherever you might
be. </span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Recently, I got a message slash *cough*
reminder saying, “The month has changed and you haven’t posted something new,”. Alright. Here is this lazy blogger's comeback post </span><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Speaking
of seasons, t</span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">he colder-than-average Australian autumn just started in full-blown --no
no I didn’t mean his autumn-like eyes' icy stares, just the season, okay? Please refrain from taking this assumption because I am still trying to find
someone who will even stare at me *ugly cry. huhu. *my self-deprecating humor
needed to make a comeback as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I remember last autumn wasn’t this chill but
recently I shivered whenever I stepped outside. A recent morning, I saw my screen display
a bone-chilling 5°C while I was waiting for the train. The temperature dropped
significantly and I recalled a conversation with a close friend from the previous
autumn about how colder temperatures affect our food.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I
used to think this Reply 1988 quote is deep but after I knew how frosty a
food can be, the words are Mariana Trench. I mean, I don’t mind eating cold
rice in Indonesia but here I feel pitiful of myself when I eat it because it is
really <i>that</i> cold. Therefore, ‘</span><i><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I want you to have a warm meal.’ </span></i><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">is such
an underrated love expression,” I uttered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">At first
glance, it might seem like a simple statement, but once I've experienced the
biting cold of a meal, it takes on a whole new level of meaning. And the words
are even deeper in meaning when you know the story.</span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Let me walk you
through it. One of the main characters in Reply 1988 is a young baduk
(traditional Korean board game) athlete who traveled frequently for matches. As a
consequence, he couldn’t accompany his single dad to have his meals from time to
time. One day, when the father cautiously asked for the son’s permission to
remarry, he answered his father with a tear-jerking statement, </span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>“</b><i><b>Dad…
I want you to have a warm meal, even when I’m not here with you. It’s your life, Dad. I want you to be happy.” </b><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20boqUeBKufSe4F0n1Ne_YgX-8rW_uXmigwkW4JA0OMDH1_cK_tefeAFnv18NKl9G26LyGridsjPrWpiCK_NP81tQT50R4SFwoAIacS3JQpqg-Wdj62KIXuRIUEmdwgrfRv2ET0JnHK8Pnn4xLrgN0BLgEAYP4pA4cYD1Cj7UIWQgP7PJMh80Q_lG/s960/122134278_1759402644226568_6620780628022332037_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20boqUeBKufSe4F0n1Ne_YgX-8rW_uXmigwkW4JA0OMDH1_cK_tefeAFnv18NKl9G26LyGridsjPrWpiCK_NP81tQT50R4SFwoAIacS3JQpqg-Wdj62KIXuRIUEmdwgrfRv2ET0JnHK8Pnn4xLrgN0BLgEAYP4pA4cYD1Cj7UIWQgP7PJMh80Q_lG/w400-h400/122134278_1759402644226568_6620780628022332037_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1759402640893235&set=pcb.1759407120892787" target="_blank">Reply 1988 PH</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">(He just wanted someone to take care of his dad. These
words pierced my soul. Who cuts onion? Where is my tissue?)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I then
remembered my father who "liked" to eat cold rice. My family used to have tough
times when I was a child so we couldn’t afford a rice cooker. As a result, he would often eat cold rice, saying that he liked it that way (at that time,
I didn’t know that there is a great possibility that it was just an act). Those particular vivid scenes taught me to
appreciate what I have and not to complain about food or anything else in life.
Even now, I never complained about food because my dad gave me an example to be
patient and not complain. However, putting the lessons aside, that memory truly broke my heart. Hence,
I worked hard so his life could be a bit easier. I don’t have any option but to
put in my entire effort. Struggling is hard but watching my family has a difficult
life is even harder. That is how I walked this far. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I grew
up with cold rice to be able to deeply appreciate the warmth. I am aware that warm food is not a luxury everyone can have so I am consciously thankful. I also like when people
have warm personalities, warm smiles, and warm words. People who radiate gentle
acceptance and understanding can easily touch the inner part of my soul. I am just thankful when people resemble
warm blankets in the peak winter--comforting and reassuring.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dear everyone
reading this, I sincerely want you to have a warm meal every day. And what I meant is not
just warm meals but also emotional warmth that embraces your hearts. And also, if
by any chance you have eased my day, know that this “I found it hard to express
my feeling except by writing” woman is deeply grateful.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Lastly, dear my dad, I want you to have a warm meal, even when I'm not there with you.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Love, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Iim</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">----------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 150%;"><span face="Calibri Light, sans-serif">Image by <a href="https://www.freepik.com/author/rawpixel-com" target="_blank">rawpixel.com on Freepik</a></span></span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-71166942162435029992023-04-03T09:54:00.030+07:002023-05-19T13:35:16.607+07:00So I Am A Top Scorer?<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="149" data-original-width="338" height="176" src="https://intellectualpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/CRISC.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11.2px;">image source: </span><a href="http://intellectualpoint.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #48aaad; font-family: "calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.2px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">intellectualpoint.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So I am a top scorer? Of course not in football or any sports
games. Don’t expect me to be that good in sports because I even still need to
find the constant motivation to exercise. Maybe I need an attractive athletic
man to be my trainer? *kidding *runnnnn </span><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When this “I don’t know about IT but I want to learn” girl first
started working in the said field, she put getting some certifications as her
dream. Don’t ask her how can she achieve those goals because for sure she had
no clue. She who at that time wasn’t even able to perform operating system
installation only know that as long as she put in her earnest effort and
attitude, she will eventually end up somewhere better. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Fast forward to a few days ago, that girl received a certificate
of appreciation as the top scorer of the <a href="https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/crisc" target="_blank">CRISC (Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control) Certification</a> period of
July-December 2022 by the ISACA Indonesia Chapter. She remembers taking the
exam feeling rather nervous, so far from even imagining that she will achieve
the highest mark out of all the Indonesian CRISC aspirants that took the exam
in the second half of 2022. She is just grateful.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Through this moment, she reminds herself again an advice given by
someone when she started her career in IT.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“You know what’s the most important part of a certification? Not
the certificate, not the title, but the knowledge we gained along the way.”.
That person also reminded her to pursue certification with righteous intention and an earnest attitude. She should take it seriously by proving that she deserves the
acknowledgment of competency. She must truly understand the knowledge and
perform her job with qualities accordingly. The certification is merely a
recognition of the hard work and dedication a candidate put into the learning process. Instead of focusing
solely on passing the exam, she began to approach her studies to truly
understand the material. Now, she realized that perhaps this mentality helped her accomplish this achievement.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_ggftyswgsaWcR67pr2C6Bekc59zerVpMrWU850Dd9ShMYNzD84PEGDlGmjFRBHU_vFgKCOAugoJ6elmIiwgqzYpg5QAQMduKomp59UIPdnHw5YmO2aOQsjHV4y55ydrMHYmKTjWOMOE9DN-noXRIzf9WVq5pj0XIqrMs-kwZtRlYpXoqazRoizc/s1280/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-01%20at%205.20.33%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_ggftyswgsaWcR67pr2C6Bekc59zerVpMrWU850Dd9ShMYNzD84PEGDlGmjFRBHU_vFgKCOAugoJ6elmIiwgqzYpg5QAQMduKomp59UIPdnHw5YmO2aOQsjHV4y55ydrMHYmKTjWOMOE9DN-noXRIzf9WVq5pj0XIqrMs-kwZtRlYpXoqazRoizc/w640-h360/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-04-01%20at%205.20.33%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">She was lucky to receive such beautiful advice that shaped the way
she approached certifications. Since that day, she knew that exam preparation
isn’t about trying to conquer the passing threshold but trying to get as much
knowledge as she can. Therefore, she spent countless hours poring over
textbooks, discussing with people with the relevant expertise, and reflecting
on how the knowledge could enhance her performance--even when passing the exam
might not need her to go to that extent.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If she can only share one piece of advice with certification aspirants, she would say “I hope you are obsessed more with getting the knowledge, not the certificate”. Your true value is in the competency, not the certificates. </span><span>The best part of the journey isn’t the certificate itself but the newfound knowledge and understanding you gained. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Therefore, she suggests you approach the exams as an opportunity to better yourself instead of to obtain a new title. </span><span>Seeing yourself grow and improve as a better person and professional is the real prize.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> The title, my friends, is just a byproduct. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Love,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">iim</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-34185200822650995752023-03-22T12:21:00.011+07:002023-03-24T17:47:07.896+07:00 #OzDiaries Part 7: Practice Kindness<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrDI1-bOfCPYsBamATwTD1nftg8fh913xhgZxG7p9FX5zHKF14dkvTbLEmRKIyzWi9jZhi5wvdfFvXGiRc4t1WU0lhylR6mDdwqe4J2Z0QH1HVa8zB2TQ_wRvuxE0mQULOHY_mooExCsaD5bHHYs7bCUGt0g06G4teugq-tW49GMGBNd29br6g144/s1920/city-4490237_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrDI1-bOfCPYsBamATwTD1nftg8fh913xhgZxG7p9FX5zHKF14dkvTbLEmRKIyzWi9jZhi5wvdfFvXGiRc4t1WU0lhylR6mDdwqe4J2Z0QH1HVa8zB2TQ_wRvuxE0mQULOHY_mooExCsaD5bHHYs7bCUGt0g06G4teugq-tW49GMGBNd29br6g144/w640-h426/city-4490237_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></b><i style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">No matter how
harsh the world is, there are people who do not allow it to ruin their gentle compassionate
hearts. Tonight, I just witnessed one of them.</span></i></span></blockquote><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">(Found this diary entry and think that the realization might be
useful to someone else too. I decided to post it with minor editing to keep the
people in the story unrevealed.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I just finished one of my classes this evening when a friend asked
for my approval to let another classmate be our teammate. That day the
lecturer asked us to form a group and we’ve promised each other to be teammates
since the beginning of the term. He directly turned to me when the class ended and dropped the name of someone who wanted to be on the same team as us. Among the
students we could pick from, he argued that we needed to get this person into the team.
I wondered why he decided to take someone who I considered didn't academically
perform well in the class to be a groupmate. However, I respect his decision thus I nodded. Of course, I still had the curiosity while saying
“bye and I’ll see you next week” to him when we were almost separated. He was
supposed to go to the car park while I’d go to the light rail station when he
stopped and said:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Nur, you know he struggled with English and I don't think his
individual assignment mark would be good. Therefore, it's an opportunity for us
to raise his mark. I hope you don't mind that we help him," as if could
read my mind, he explained something I’d already let go unanswered. "I meant, we can do that while teaching him a bit so that he could understand the material better."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There was a brief silence I can even hear the sound of the wind blowing. The realization hit me. While we weren't necessarily excellent students, we could be a small help to him. </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">After hearing
the reason,</i><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">I don't really mind that</i><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">However, I do really mind about something else. It is about me and
how I see the world recently. For the longest time I can remember, my approach to life was to never see it as a competition. If there is someone I need to compete with, it is myself in the previous time. Hence, I don't necessarily mind the mark
that much. Even so, I wasn't at the level of "intentionally" working with
someone that possibly bring my performance down. I am happy to help people
but not at that point if something rather important (like my grade because I
have a big responsibility as a scholarship student) is at stake. On top of that,
recently I feel that the constant run to catch up with the pace of the hectic world </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">unconsciously </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">made
me slightly less considerate and thoughtful. Therefore, hearing that
explanation felt like being hit in the head with a hammer.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I nodded once again while uttering, “I appreciate your thoughtful
act. Let's help him as much as we can.” and then continued my steps. My brain can’t help but reprocess the conversation with this
“government buddy” (how we call each other since we both work for the
governments of our respective countries) when I arrived at the station. First and foremost, we are humans. </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">As humans, it would be beautiful if we could be generous in doing virtuous actions by offering genuine support and comfort to other people.</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Rather than other indicators, being kind is the ultimate "performance". </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">It
matters more than the high marks on a university transcript.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In the hurried competitive world we live in, it's easy to forget
to exercise kindness so this moment is a reminder to put a great amount of thought
and effort into performing kind gestures. I am glad in the way of practicing
kindness that always becomes my annual goal, along the line, I witnessed this
piece of example from a friend that is so willing to do kind actions. I am
grateful that I am once again reminded to get out of my own little world and
start committing on make kindness a priority over any achievement in the world.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The train has arrived so it is enough for today. Let's close the diary
with a promise to consciously choose to go the extra mile in practicing kindness. Let’s
be someone who makes conscious efforts to be soft-hearted and put kindness as the
top value above any worldly accomplishment. Also, please be more compassionate,
my little heart. I beg you, please be more more more compassionate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-----------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Finding this diary entry right before the Ramadhan is indeed timely. Ramadhan Mubarak for my Muslim friends. I wish you all a blessed Ramadhan. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">----------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/city-transit-streetcar-toronto-4490237/" target="_blank">Bohdan Chreptak from pixabay.com</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
</div>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-20803150019080387092023-02-28T10:35:00.024+07:002023-03-02T06:54:36.786+07:00 #OzDiaries Part 6: Does It Make Sense to You?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2MqgNXw_hdjJd1OOEoF-ztWPUcrDXWgGtHqitfDpQmMf62EThagF9BiZmzzj8PwzdL_djvNCSs0nkw530x3OUA1f9YpmHyej-HYqiN4W-YDh7-KsDtQMzWelGy03_rUd2Pj7dJP4I-BHjPvRuNSJVqMMVANkseVsOF7YwhJ-O9qsd96fffbEQmY8/s1280/pixel-cells-3976296_1280.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1280" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2MqgNXw_hdjJd1OOEoF-ztWPUcrDXWgGtHqitfDpQmMf62EThagF9BiZmzzj8PwzdL_djvNCSs0nkw530x3OUA1f9YpmHyej-HYqiN4W-YDh7-KsDtQMzWelGy03_rUd2Pj7dJP4I-BHjPvRuNSJVqMMVANkseVsOF7YwhJ-O9qsd96fffbEQmY8/w640-h514/pixel-cells-3976296_1280.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">One particular thing I couldn’t fail to notice with the way people in my
university communicate is when they explain something, they are likely to conclude
it with “Does it make sense to you?” instead of “Do you understand?”. Now
imagine a good-looking young lecturer teaching you to do data visualization and
he ends the lecture with, “Does it make sense to you?” while smiling. Nah, I
don’t find the visuals on the PowerBI more interesting than the visual of
the one explaining it. And yes, it does make sense. Oh pardon, what I meant, it
doesn’t make sense. Could you <i>please </i>explain
it again to me? I am not a diligent student but I don’t mind listening to your
explanation for hours.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">LoL. I am kidding. That’s just a random imagination of what could've happened if
it is in a K-drama setting. Let’s go back to the topic before you start asking
me how to join that “My Lecturer is Handsome” class. Certainly, I wouldn’t let
you know :p<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There were a lot of moments when people asked me this question to
confirm whether what they convey is delivered to me. However, what made me have full consciousness about it was that recently I have had a quite technical course
and the lecturer seemed to catch the confusion in the students’ faces. We all literally had blank expressions, clearly displaying our unhidden bewilderment. He</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> being a patient lecturer himself smiled while saying, “does it make sense to you? I can repeat if it doesn’t,” with no signs of judgment in his eyes. YES
PLEASE! This dumb student right here lost her sense because of </span><s style="font-size: 12pt;">your sweet
smile</s><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> the difficult material *I am back with that “my lecturer is handsome”
joke *if any production house wants to adapt this story as a movie, please get
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Saputra" target="_blank">Nicholas Saputra</a> as the lecturer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">That question, while touching on the same thing, made me feel so
different from “do you understand?” which I usually heard. Whilst “do you
understand?” puts the emphasis on the ability of the listener to comprehend,
“does it make sense to you?” emphasizes the communicator’s effectiveness in
delivering the message. I found it as a more respectful
approach to verify, which I appreciate highly. This subtle (yes, I told
you <a href="https://www.imzpression.com/2023/02/the-moon-is-beautiful-isnt-it.html" target="_blank">I love subtlety</a>) shift in wording is beautiful, isn’t it? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR9AHBCIutV-rdB5eCLGwVrlZoDFkFjMJvwG7rjR2l1gJgir7ojM94SZp6BBzh393Lry1uWMvp4ql006Kc6A_JdlP8VWinPAwqZa62sYBTBv8HXWPG47AlOwvQZdjJDBk7hh3NF7EBUie_V_kH-aBaY477XpAu1v7UuptsnqSDd56Ivb6csCB5UUh/s1280/idea-3976295_1280.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1280" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR9AHBCIutV-rdB5eCLGwVrlZoDFkFjMJvwG7rjR2l1gJgir7ojM94SZp6BBzh393Lry1uWMvp4ql006Kc6A_JdlP8VWinPAwqZa62sYBTBv8HXWPG47AlOwvQZdjJDBk7hh3NF7EBUie_V_kH-aBaY477XpAu1v7UuptsnqSDd56Ivb6csCB5UUh/w400-h309/idea-3976295_1280.webp" width="400" /></a></div><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The phrase "Do you understand?" can sometimes come across as condescending--putting
the explainer in a slightly higher position than the one receiving the
explanation. It could also imply that the person speaking tests the interlocutor’s
ability to grasp the message. Not that I dislike that phrase but now that I
found a better way to express it, I think I will try to adopt the new one. “Does
it make sense to you?” shows a desire to take responsibility for the
effectiveness of the communication and indicates a willingness to ensure that
the message has been received correctly. The small shift from “can you
understand my message?” to “Can my message be understood?” has impacted me on how
I should be more intentional with my choice of words. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I am (once again) surprised with how small attention to our wording
might create a big difference. Choosing the right words can help us convey the
message effectively and elicit the desired emotional impact. The choice of words
also set the tone of our message which significantly affect how our message is
received by others. For instance, those two phrases have similar meanings but evoke
divergent emotions. I tend to be more open about my lack of understanding when “Does
it make sense to you?” is asked of me. </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">After attending that class, I realized that it is essential to be mindful of my wording because effective communication is not just about what we say, but how we say it. </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Therefore, I would love to be more intentional with my choice of words from now on so that I can be more effective in
communicating. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now, the question is, should I be intentional about the gorgeous lecturer too? Okay, just ignore my crazy self. Hihi. I know this random imagination doesn't make sense. Does it make sense to you? :)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Images credit: <a href="https://pixabay.com/vectors/pixel-cells-lecture-lecture-hall-3976296/" target="_blank">manfredsteger at Pixabay</a></span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-1886617992146814602023-02-20T19:59:00.015+07:002023-03-06T06:48:19.931+07:00 #OzDiaries Part 5: Bookstore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://citymonitor.ai/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/02/sergiu-valena-698563-unsplash-658x370.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="658" height="370" src="https://citymonitor.ai/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/02/sergiu-valena-698563-unsplash-658x370.jpg" width="658" /></a></div><br />“<i>Little girl, don’t become weak. Don’t live bearing all the
sadness alone</i>,” - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzDO6tAB6ng" target="_blank">Hopefully Sky, Jung Eunji</a><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">“Do you like it?” a friend asked, referring to visiting a
bookstore that I mentioned as one of my wish list items in Sydney. It was a
summer day in December when people flocked together in one of the biggest
bookstores in the city. </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">There was a slight pause before I nodded. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">The emotions overwhelmed me at that moment I saw a vast array of books and somebody's question brought all of my attention to my feelings toward them. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Unknowingly tears
dropped behind my mask. Immediately I turned away so nobody could see my
reddened eyes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">In my university life, I witnessed first-hand how much
privilege people could have. I noticed how easy things could be when you have a
comfortable life and many options to pick from. Indeed, most of my fellow
students come from affluent backgrounds. While this fact didn’t necessarily
make me feel bad about my life, unconsciously my grateful level slightly
decreased. It wasn’t at the level where it should be: I should be highly
grateful for where I was at that time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background: white;">Until a day I visited a bookstore with my
friends and my hands trembled while picked a book from the shelf. I instantly
recalled my childhood memory of borrowing children’s magazines from my neighbor
because my parents couldn’t afford the subscription fees. That little girl in
my past wouldn’t believe it if I go back and tell her, “<i>You would be able to
buy the expensive books you like somewhere very far away, without having to put
them back after seeing the price labels. Therefore, don’t feel disheartened that you
can’t buy ones now,”</i>. She definitely would think I was lying just to
console her heart. Growing up, that little girl's options were always limited because she was
aware of her family’s financial situation. Things that might be ordinary for
other people were luxuries for her. Until the moment she earned money by herself, she always held back her desire to buy books, especially the expensive ones. Therefore, there is no way those comforting words seem close to reality. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="background: white;">Now, far away from her hometown, she was
unafraid to see the books’ prices anymore. She can touch a book without having
to worry whether she can have it or not. At that exact moment, it was a
crystal-clear realization of how far she had come. As she knew she can’t undermine the
significant progress she had made, tears unstoppably rolled down. In the
middle of a crowded bookstore, she really wanted to pat her shoulder and say, “you
did well”. She did a big leap in life considering her starting point. If she measures her progress by her personal yardstick, she should never let her grateful level
decrease. She should understand how much progress she had made when she uses her personal
measure stick.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2O90TJQeq9j7_XTDGLST7EFSIa48RMZx-R2YuYIoestGKa1Yk3gM46oaNKYXpKXJGagf6P_0xpR69UitR5v7nPUbuoFplrH_t_AY3ltjuiVtqGJB_lt5iFasvJ11fi13SsdtQF9RSKrVokFvOYMEQGjHb3CCM2z6oGs4qDHMJfLQKk9uyOP5c-U27/s4096/IMG_20221208_154111.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="2304" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2O90TJQeq9j7_XTDGLST7EFSIa48RMZx-R2YuYIoestGKa1Yk3gM46oaNKYXpKXJGagf6P_0xpR69UitR5v7nPUbuoFplrH_t_AY3ltjuiVtqGJB_lt5iFasvJ11fi13SsdtQF9RSKrVokFvOYMEQGjHb3CCM2z6oGs4qDHMJfLQKk9uyOP5c-U27/w225-h400/IMG_20221208_154111.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wish I had a proper photo but there is only this selfie of me in that bookstore</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="background: white;">In the middle of a packed</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"> bookstore, she felt
sorry for herself for the moment when she was less grateful than she should be. In between bookshelves, a song that always made her both smile and
weep suddenly rang in her ears:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“A <i>life
of no regrets--memories when being poor, I was happy</i>,” <o:p></o:p></span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: super;">1</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">Hey little girl, I must say I'm not lying. I would like to also thank you for living
your day happily even when you were poor. I would definitely not take your
beautiful patience and attitude toward the difficulties for granted. I would cherish all the memories of you loving books dearly although you can't have them. It was a humbling reminder of how much I should be thankful for this life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Look at you here and now. Don’t you think you would be even
happier knowing that in the future, you can be in the middle of a busy bookstore in the heart of your dream city? </i></span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: super;">1</span>Lyrics of Hopefully Sky by Jung Eunji</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Image credit: <a href="https://citymonitor.ai/community/bookstores-should-be-an-essential-part-of-the-15-minute-city" target="_blank">Sabrina
Bertazzo via citymonitor.ai</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></p><blockquote><blockquote><br /></blockquote></blockquote>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-80591613738289240462023-02-06T03:00:00.060+07:002024-03-12T11:28:23.761+07:00 The Moon Is Beautiful, Isn’t It?<p><i style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://marketplace.canva.com/EAE4NJ-O_cQ/1/0/1600w/canva-blue-grey-simple-minimalist-elegant-sky-quotes-background-desktop-wallpaper-IWbcb5PPNhc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://marketplace.canva.com/EAE4NJ-O_cQ/1/0/1600w/canva-blue-grey-simple-minimalist-elegant-sky-quotes-background-desktop-wallpaper-IWbcb5PPNhc.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: justify;"><br /></i></div><i style="text-align: justify;"><br /></i><i style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“I wish you a flight to the vast and bright sky.” - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGIb6VwS0UQ&t=94s" target="_blank">Missing You in The Wind, Hu Xia</a> (Flight to You OST)</span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I know some of you might furrow your brows while thinking,
“seriously she hasn’t moved on from ‘Flight to You’ yet?”. Hihihi. Please don’t
judge me, bear with me, and don’t give up on me yet *I can hear you say: sis, you asked for too
much :) *can you hear my dumb giggle? hihi. Recently, I found out the translation of the
song I mentioned at the beginning of this post and realized that my heart felt warm when I figured out the track’s last lyrics, which are quoted above.
I held my breath when the lyrics said, “I <i>want
to ask you whether your dream is within your reach now</i>” but what made me
lose it was the subsequent words, “<i>I wish
you a flight to the vast and bright sky”. </i>I meant the level of subtlety it
has got me thinking that any direct love confession for an aviation person couldn’t top this one.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Let me get you the background story. The “you” in this song is a
passionate ‘flying-is-my-life’ female pilot he trained. Therefore, ‘I wish you
a flight to the vast and bright sky’, both literally and figuratively, had the
depth of the Pacific Ocean. He wished her ease in doing the thing she likes (for
a pilot, flying to a bright sky indicates an easy-breezy supposed-to-be-safer trip) and also
signified his hope about her sunshiny future (as a bright sky connotates peacefulness and happiness). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">That brought me
to a revelation:<i> subtle expressions, both in words and acts, hold a dear place
in my heart. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I know it sounds unconventional as straightforward expressions
are considered more effective in communication. However, for me, finding an expression’s
hidden meaning, sometimes wandering around extensive interpretation, is alluring.
In several instances, I like when emotions, thoughts, and ideas are conveyed in
a nuanced way even when denotative speaking is more understandable. Now when I think
about it, my inclination toward subtlety might stem from 2 circumstances: my
cultural background and my special liking for literature.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I grew up in a culture where people likely deliver their purpose
in a vague way, closely accompanied by a grandfather who was enthusiastic about
vague expressions in literature. At an early age, I learned <i>wayang</i> (puppet theatre play) and many classical
Javanese dramas. In my teenage days, I meandered classical Indonesian
literature pieces and continued with modern ones as I grew older. I was enchanted
with the beauty of indirect expressions, both spoken and acted, approved by my
cultural upbringing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">On the topic of the influence of culture on someone’s way of communication,
I couldn’t help mentioning renowned Natsume Soseki’s poetic phrase “<i>The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?</i>”. Based
on the explanation I found several years ago (<a href="https://www.tsuki.world/world/the-moon-is-beautiful-isnt-it#:~:text=This%20phrase%20is%20a%20more,%E2%80%9CWare%20Kimi%20wo%20Aisu.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank">read it here</a>), at that time Soseki
as an English teacher overheard his student translating “I love you” literally, which he believed rejected Japanese sensibility and was unfit for Japanese cultural context. Therefore, he pointed out that the expression should
be translated to a more subtle, nuanced wording,</span> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">月が綺麗ですね</span></b><b><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></b><b><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">(“<i>The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?”).<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For years, I couldn’t forget that phrase after uncovering its
hidden meaning. Sometimes when I looked above and see the full moon (like tonight when I write this post), I nodded
in agreement on why confirming whether the moon is beautiful implies that your
heart belongs to someone you share the moon-viewing experience with. Not
only that it is a more beautiful lexicon but also it allows deeper, more
diverse, and more layered interpretations. Therefore, it offers the readers</span>
<span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">their own connections to and conclusions about the text. This
creates a more immersive emotional experience, as the one hearing the expression
more actively engages and participates in the process of understanding it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The phrase above, for example, could be interpreted as, "actually the moon isn't that beautiful, you are,", “the moon
is even prettier because a beautiful soul is by my side looking at the same sky
object,”, “What I meant is you’re beautiful”, “What a pleasing night to be in
love with someone,”, and so on. The readers can personally interpret it which enriches the meaning. The late Sapardi Djoko Damono, my favorite
Indonesian poet, touched on this topic in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsxERF3zasw" target="_blank">his ASEAN Literary Festival 2016 interview</a>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“<i>Poetry is alive because there
are various interpretations. If there is only one (interpretation), one-time
reading then it's over</i>,” (Sapardi Djoko Damono)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Based on my observation, I agreed with Sapardi’s argument that roundabout expression in poetry makes it more memorable and impactful. The reader needs to
pay closer attention to every word and nuance, and is encouraged to have further thoughts and
discussions, which lead to a long-lasting impact. After days of
understanding the lyrics “<i>I wish you a
flight to the vast and bright sky”</i>, the words lingered on my mind and
probably will stay there for a long time just like “<i>The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?</i>”. Both made me hold my breath as
my heart fluttered. I mean, you can sincerely pray for someone, you can generously praise the
moon--but that person needs to figure out that what you mean is “I love you with all my
heart”. That kind of expression is beautiful, isn't it?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">-------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: medium;">*I must applaud the people behind "Flight to You" OSTs as they crafted the lyrics to suit the character's personality. The indirect ways Gu Nanting shows his adoration for Cheng Xiao are even captured in the lyrics. He is definitely the kind of man who stares at you with deep endearment, saying "I wish you a safe flight" and "Your perfect flight is my biggest comfort" while hiding his feelings.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">--------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">image source: <a href="https://marketplace.canva.com/EAE4NJ-O_cQ/1/0/1600w/canva-blue-grey-simple-minimalist-elegant-sky-quotes-background-desktop-wallpaper-IWbcb5PPNhc.jpg">canva.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-41763576538739567732023-01-21T11:11:00.036+07:002023-02-23T10:46:36.896+07:00Why Didn't I Defend Myself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignv6Rn9IQN80uHL97weHSdaY4TdeJKk_wj1EXOLQ_RupuyvvTHnSPFkIn2EYng8utMZFsrNKX8g5Wv8u2zwQFRwfHCbrAwx8upXf__xCHFtqnF3iIPBTY5A1g-pfpKSQhZLCTGI56GgZm4-GAtXVXKRW4GwTw3MDDcttqeAtxUALcHvmQlCLJuQ6-/s1920/water-lily-ga256406c2_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignv6Rn9IQN80uHL97weHSdaY4TdeJKk_wj1EXOLQ_RupuyvvTHnSPFkIn2EYng8utMZFsrNKX8g5Wv8u2zwQFRwfHCbrAwx8upXf__xCHFtqnF3iIPBTY5A1g-pfpKSQhZLCTGI56GgZm4-GAtXVXKRW4GwTw3MDDcttqeAtxUALcHvmQlCLJuQ6-/w640-h426/water-lily-ga256406c2_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My phone rang at late night when I almost went to bed. A close friend’s
name appeared on the screen. When I picked up the call, I noticed how cautious
and stammered she was with her words, contrasted with how cheerful she was
whenever we talked. Therefore, I prepared myself for the bad news. There must
be something unpleasing she wanted to deliver to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Is there something you might find it
difficult to tell me?” after quite a chit-chat, I braced myself to find out the
reason for the sudden late at-night, unplanned conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“After I tell you, I hope you don’t feel
sad. Just ignore it. I just wanted you to know so you are better informed when
you need to make a decision.” Her cautiousness was still there. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">She heard my quiet affirmation, then
proceed,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“So today a friend just asked me about you
because she knew we’re close friends. She forwarded a question she had received
from another person about you. That friend said that she was asked about
whether you are such a woman….. the type of woman who will snatch somebody’s husband." she paused, "I thought after a year ago his wife harshly accused you and you backed down although
you were innocent, everything was finished. Turned out it is still an issue till
today and even involved more people.” I can hear her voice shaking, “It hurts me to see you receive such cruelty
and you kept quiet. It pains me a lot to witness someone with good intentions
like you be treated horribly like this. You should defend yourself and fight
back.” This time I found a burning anger in her tone.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There was silence as we both wandered
around our minds, trying to understand the situation better. My mind recalled a painful
memory of me quietly struggling to face a harrowing accusation from a colleague’s
wife. Isn't it funny that this time the accusation was made when I am more than three thousand miles away from my home country and no single communication was made with the man in question? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I inhaled a deep breath. </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">In this world,</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">there are occasions when you know you are right and you don’t feel like
explaining. Also, I am the type of person who tried my best to protect other people’s
hearts. As much as I can, I don’t want other people to experience pain. </i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">However,
after a year battled with how deeply I felt wronged, the false claim didn’t
stop. I can feel my hands tremble as this unfair blame even recently made me
want to visit a psychologist. I was still intensely wounded by what happened a year
ago and hearing that his party escalated this issue, even after such a
calm response from me when I totally deserved to be angry, got me teary. However,
collecting my composure, I answered,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I swear by the name of Allah, I never had
any intention but communicating about the businesses I found necessary. It also hurts
me that this is the payback I got from someone for whom my hard work
contributed to his name. You know who got the credit for the work I did,” As if
resonated with the pain in my heart, I found my voice trembling.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I hardly swear in the name of Allah
because I know how significant a thing is if I decided to do it but this time I swore that
I never ever had any hidden intention when I texted him but for the matters I found
appropriate. And even after the heartless words I received from his wife and he
decided not to step up to clear the air (which means he deliberately slaughtered me), I decided to resign from the
organization where we worked together. I gave up on a cause I truly care about
just because I needed to cut all the ties and walk away. I sacrificed myself
because I wanted to protect other people’s hearts and now this is what I got,
even after a year of not communicating at all. (In the end, my resignation wasn’t
approved but we never ever communicated again so what’s behind the second round of
accusations I received this time?).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“But you know, this allegation might damage
your reputation. Some people might hear this but never get a chance to clarify it
to you or the people around you.” She was back at urged me to speak up.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I know where your suggestion came from. I
am afraid too that people might give me the wrongful tag. Don’t worry. Allah
knows. I know you might find my silence annoyed you. However, let’s face this
calmly. While indeed I had many shortcomings and mistakes, I know in this case I am in the right position and Allah knows and that’s enough.
May Allah elevate my status due to my patience and silence,” I commented, “Remember
that you faced things calmly back then even when you were in despair
from the accusation someone threw at you? I grew up watching people around
me--my family members, my friends, my co-workers being patient--so this is my turn to
be patient too,” When I said those words, I realized how strenuous patience is. Tears fell down.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So why didn’t I defend myself? Of course,
when the accusation was first made, I felt a range of emotions--anger,
frustration, hurt, and confusion. Not to mention how hurtful it is the second
time you heard it from the same person. It is definitely tempting to
immediately defend myself and try to prove my innocence but I believed that <i>accusations do not necessarily equal guilt</i>. I
stayed silent and was patient because I had nothing to hide. I also believed
that time would reveal the truth. I knew that if I were innocent, the facts
would speak for themselves, and by remaining silent, I was allowing the truth
to come to light. It is definitely not an easy decision. It required a lot of self-control
and a lot of trust in the process. However, I know that as long as I did
nothing wrong, no matter what accusation was being pointed at me, I still have confidence in myself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It took me a lot of courage to write this
since the memory itself gave me enormous trauma. Even typing this post created
pools of tears in my eyes. I eventually decided to write this down because, after a year
of acceptance, the issue got escalated by that party. I need to write
this to help me to heal from the pain I haven’t even healed yet and now is being worsened. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My friends said he owe me a massive apology
but I don’t wait for an apology anymore. I want to find a massive courage to
forgive anyone that hurt me instead. I want to find inner peace without
depending on anyone. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">After all, I know Allah knows. For me, it
is enough. It is always enough.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">--------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Image by: <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/water-lily-flower-black-and-white-1015215/">Thanh Nguyen via Pixabay</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-42327395475139062932023-01-14T03:00:00.036+07:002024-03-12T11:28:44.958+07:00 Dear Cheng Xiao of Flight to You (Part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1A7Chqj3RWI64_ukazsEQPGq-f8pj9K4HcXPhT0rAq1rS5lEO4GTxW-0PO6VHCO1lYkMLquXeOfjTdb6_5PvPQw9qv-AIYDZvGESNli3qOTSsA8Jx990aP4OFsNF3JzMeG8T2NtwNXAsIGPqDTRg7dPZxEfV9btXb7UH5cAjp6Ub2oIeWBhTGvDW/s900/eXkZp_3f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1A7Chqj3RWI64_ukazsEQPGq-f8pj9K4HcXPhT0rAq1rS5lEO4GTxW-0PO6VHCO1lYkMLquXeOfjTdb6_5PvPQw9qv-AIYDZvGESNli3qOTSsA8Jx990aP4OFsNF3JzMeG8T2NtwNXAsIGPqDTRg7dPZxEfV9btXb7UH5cAjp6Ub2oIeWBhTGvDW/w640-h360/eXkZp_3f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span face=""calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">(Alert: contained spoilers of “Flight to You”.)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Heyyy, I am back. You should be glad that
this “you’ll hear from me again when I am in the mood of writing” blogger was on fire, coming back only 2 days </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">after</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> posting something. Hihi. I swear, </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">at first</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> I didn’t
have any intention to make the sequel to my previous post. I was quite
satisfied that it contained my major thoughts about the drama I am currently having
withdrawal syndrome over. However, after finishing the last episode, I couldn’t
help wanting to write the second part of my thoughts regarding Cheng Xiao of “Flight
to You”. No, I wouldn’t talk about the romance side, as the drama itself didn't put the romance in the center, even though I will still
mention her love interest, Gu Nanting. Through this post, I would love to give the spotlight on her journey
and struggle as a female pilot.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As a woman who is also navigating a male-dominated
field, I think the attachment I have for Cheng went stronger as the story
progressed. She faced doubt and underestimation from the senior pilots, was persuaded
to quit by her instructor (who was Gu Nanting himself -__-), received sexist hatred from an influential pilot, needed
to start over, was transferred to the ground handling department, was treated roughly
by some passengers, was slandered, even faced a legal issue: she basically was in a
hamster wheel of misfortunes. Of course, I didn’t even feel 1% of her struggle intensity
however it still resonated well with me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Contrary to giving up, she bravely faced everything because
she believed flying is her life. She fought back the pointing fingers because she
knew it is a dream she put her soul into. I found myself admiring her for
fighting for the things that matter to her. So, when the last three episodes showed
that the table was turned, I can’t help feeling what she felt as if she shared
it with me. Unknowingly I smiled proudly at the scene where she pulled her suitcase
to the plane with four bars in her suit (four bars epaulet/suit stripes indicate
someone is a captain). On top of that, someone who initially she addressed as “the
biggest enemy” because he had discouraged her from becoming a passenger pilot became
the one who promoted her and called her “Captain Cheng” for the first time. Such a dramatic, well-executed emotional scene that made
me once again say, “Cheng Xiao, you’re awesome.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">However, the utmost goosebumps I got from
the drama was when the company assigned her as the captain for the maiden flight of the
first Chinese-made aircraft--a historical moment in Chinese aviation. Initially, Gu Nanting was prepared to take the driving seat but he suffered a vision problem so he passed it on to Cheng Xiao, his chosen-over-selection co-pilot. Cheng Xiao immediately rejected the idea of taking over his position
and instead wanted to accompany him doing the eye operation. However, he
convinced her by saying:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“<i>Domestic
planes are what generations of Chinese aviation professionals have hoped for.
They have devoted their whole lives to this one thing. All their efforts on
those 80 tons of metal. At first, I thought I could turn this blueprint into
reality as soon as possible. But I don’t have the chance anymore. So, I’m
passing it on to you. You are doing this not only for me, for Luzhou Airlines,
but also to fulfill the wishes of several generations of Chinese aviation
professionals</i>,”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeE28SvZ5CteZVEBb6l86RWn17MSqF5k_KBATIln5IQA4Rbiv-zkMtWTUxWsd-P5NajQLoibOWwUqrwEcETwIVs5yzmihMf4oLyQ601gZkycmIB9jngtsG6_Y7iunDXi_PDQRmgcyZ-jHg-toCGLUOcUwKGvmutkLT6NN3uO7j6FdlwnICmADVvHPj/s1286/jO7ZB_3f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeE28SvZ5CteZVEBb6l86RWn17MSqF5k_KBATIln5IQA4Rbiv-zkMtWTUxWsd-P5NajQLoibOWwUqrwEcETwIVs5yzmihMf4oLyQ601gZkycmIB9jngtsG6_Y7iunDXi_PDQRmgcyZ-jHg-toCGLUOcUwKGvmutkLT6NN3uO7j6FdlwnICmADVvHPj/w448-h640/jO7ZB_3f.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Cheng Xiao was teary hearing such encouragement from Gu Nanting who hoped that she could be strong in
shouldering the huge responsibility. Both Tan Songyun and Wang Kai executed that scene greatly as we can see how Cheng Xiao, no matter how tough she looked was still a woman who had doubt and fear while Gu Nanting, no matter how fearful he was of the situation tried to always be her rock. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Those words were beautifully said but
what made me lost it was when he, a prideful man himself, concluded his heartfelt
message by uttering:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><b>“<i>Cheng
Xiao, you have always been my pride. Promise me. Fly well tomorrow.</i>”</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Guess who was crying? I was not *grabbed my tissue. The reversal from hearing “Don't be proud of yourself” when she showed Gu Nanting her rapid learning progress to “You
have always been my pride” when she became the captain of a historical high altitude journey caught me off guard. As if I copied Gu Nanting’s
feelings, I can feel how proud I was of her as well. After going through an emotional rollercoaster with her during the show, I can say: Gu Nanting, she is also my
pride. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Several hours after I finished the drama,
those words still lingered in my mind. <i>You have always been my pride</i>. How
beautiful it is to hear someone direct that confession to us. It holds a deeper
meaning compared to “I am proud of you”. It is someone acknowledging you as
their source of any great feelings. It is someone recognizing you as their hope and wish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Looking up at the blue sky from my window, I found
myself praying that someday I can hear someone says: “iim, you have always been
my pride” or something similar to it. Until then, I will work my hardest to be someone who can make myself
proud. Until later, I will continuously improve myself to be my better version. I will definitely give my all to be someone who deserves that confession. <i>When the time comes, will you say
that I am your pride?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dear Cheng Xiao, I hope I can be a brave
and strong-willed woman like you. On top of that, if Allah permits, I wish that
I can hear a similar declaration you heard from Gu Nanting be expressed to me. Even
if eventually I couldn’t hear it from someone, I would still wish it as if one
day it will come true. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I will pray often. I will also work my
hardest.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span face=""calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">--------------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">All photos belong to iQIYI. All right reserved.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">---------------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">P.S.:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1. A special mention: Ni Zhan's quote cheering up Cheng Xiao who was demoted to the ground handling department: "<i>I used to think that life is unfair. All roads lead to Rome, but some people are born in Rome.</i>". I am glad that this story had such a beautiful soul who was there for Cheng in her ups and downs.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2. Now after finishing the entire episodes and taking time to process the story, I can eventually understand why my heart, just like Cheng Xiao's, was attached to Gu Nanting. I tried to be rational and said that I would choose Ni Zhan but then I remember my own words to a close friend, "<i>You know, even if I haven't loved someone, probably would accept him if I admire and respect him</i>,". Cheng Xiao's feelings stemmed from the admiration and respect she had for Gu Nanting. I must say that a man we respect and admire is totally in a different league. Also, what a relationship goal it is to be each other's pride.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3. Shout out to Liu Yuning who lent his voice to this drama's soundtrack "Gravity". I knew he is the singer behind many dramas that I like but this time, I fell for his voice even more. (please turn the CC on to see the subtitles.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri light", georgia, helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/731rZYI99_g" width="320" youtube-src-id="731rZYI99_g"></iframe></span></div><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-11016945851497455722023-01-12T05:29:00.047+07:002024-03-12T11:28:58.968+07:00 Dear Cheng Xiao of Flight to You<p><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCz1J11ZC4TghEVfTINZQh84q_Y87aa4-nlm7nKqSwu3rgYKsKLLHOn_K0a-WYyD0OU1-Ou0rs8SXKiv-6tXhlR6u9_H_AFF3pKL_kRbX-eX_Th3Yi4PfdUkXOYlWwI2qzSVyxILVY2IT5Cs8Cv5gCopCG-v82WSdKU6-aQ0g87F_d86D5Ft4AUKhx/s900/eXkZp_3f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCz1J11ZC4TghEVfTINZQh84q_Y87aa4-nlm7nKqSwu3rgYKsKLLHOn_K0a-WYyD0OU1-Ou0rs8SXKiv-6tXhlR6u9_H_AFF3pKL_kRbX-eX_Th3Yi4PfdUkXOYlWwI2qzSVyxILVY2IT5Cs8Cv5gCopCG-v82WSdKU6-aQ0g87F_d86D5Ft4AUKhx/w640-h360/eXkZp_3f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">(Alert: contained spoilers of “Flight to You”.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If you’ve read my <a href="https://www.imzpression.com/2023/01/my-certified-in-cybersecurity-cc-exam.html" target="_blank">Certified in Cybersecurity Exam Experience post</a>, you might've noticed that during the study sessions, I watched a Chinese drama in between. So what kind of drama had made me
couldn’t wait until I took the exam to watch? *insert dramatic drumroll *hihi.
I shall blame iQIYI for dropping an enticing summary of a drama with a poster of Wang Kai in pilot uniforms! (the
caption: “Nick Wang (Wang Kai’s international name), please always wear your
uniform”. YES please!).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rmlnTWgznLTuWVmEBESHnNXncd3FOZt1P3hp7nN29bUzN5Y1Mgf-x5hDjHfSBQW7kbSMj8uv6NiCG1UuB9ZQRwHbdd9ZPC6yYW1gXS38Y5rYhO_GJ44OGNnRWrz_RD_RTNfD-7v1qyKO3q6JtR6iBfhJnYHxyAKXIzBdB_RHzkJRTu40oX2WvlJL/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-01-12%20at%207.59.33%20AMa.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1600" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rmlnTWgznLTuWVmEBESHnNXncd3FOZt1P3hp7nN29bUzN5Y1Mgf-x5hDjHfSBQW7kbSMj8uv6NiCG1UuB9ZQRwHbdd9ZPC6yYW1gXS38Y5rYhO_GJ44OGNnRWrz_RD_RTNfD-7v1qyKO3q6JtR6iBfhJnYHxyAKXIzBdB_RHzkJRTu40oX2WvlJL/w640-h442/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-01-12%20at%207.59.33%20AMa.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Previously watched a drama where he
transformed into a stern team leader of the Violent Crime Unit, I can totally portray him being a strict flight instructor. In my biased opinion (yes, here I am unapologetically
biased), I couldn’t imagine any Chinese actor can exceed his performance in portraying
a calm and charismatic super-strict-almost-annoying yet soft-hearted man. He is
built for this kind of role. Also, his beautiful translation of “how a man’s
icy heart gradually melts” was just mesmerizing. In addition, the talented Tan Songyun will showcase how a female pilot navigates the male-dominated
profession. Those two actors are synonymous with good dramas so there I was couldn’t put my priority right. Argh, I just studied then watched it then studied for a bit then watched it again as if I was so ready to risk the exam *can you hear my dumb sobs?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBwSwly7nf0ZNkG09r6orCN84JY0LAma3_Jh15a64ZLEJC8vuuMGs325AtmwlE3vVEbEkhBrRE53aaTKswrrlX9Whsy5FJLVG8_ESTbMBNC15gtY6jPhb4bXygx4QxS6MJVgEmxAGUzUIWyqm9E9UcTAmQJHvHAqS34MJlGw16u-TUgWGfz4Lw4AZ/s900/Rxyl6_3f.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBwSwly7nf0ZNkG09r6orCN84JY0LAma3_Jh15a64ZLEJC8vuuMGs325AtmwlE3vVEbEkhBrRE53aaTKswrrlX9Whsy5FJLVG8_ESTbMBNC15gtY6jPhb4bXygx4QxS6MJVgEmxAGUzUIWyqm9E9UcTAmQJHvHAqS34MJlGw16u-TUgWGfz4Lw4AZ/w640-h360/Rxyl6_3f.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love her character. Cheng Xiao, you are awesome!</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now, I am gonna talk about the drama because so many thoughts flooded me while watching it. <a href="https://www.iq.com/album/flight-to-you-2022-1x0w9k9lo9l?lang=en_us" target="_blank">“Flight to You”(</a></span><a href="https://www.iq.com/album/flight-to-you-2022-1x0w9k9lo9l?lang=en_us" target="_blank"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span color="windowtext" lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-decoration-line: none;">向</span><span color="windowtext" face=""Microsoft JhengHei", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-decoration-line: none;">风而行</span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">)</span></a><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <span lang="EN-US">revolved around the lives of the flight crew of Luzhou Airlines,
largely inspired by 12 real-life aviation cases. Cheng Xiao (Tan Songyun), a
pilot in the cargo flight department had to move to the passenger flight department
due to the company's restructuring. After 8 good years of serving, becoming a captain should be just a matter
of time for her until Gu Nanting (Wang Kai), the Deputy Director of the
Passenger Flight Department became her direct supervisor and instructor. He mentioned several times that
what she lacked as a passenger pilot couldn’t be overcome by hard work and she
should just quit (even wrote a resignation letter on behalf of her. LoL). As if
her journey as a woman in the piloting field wasn’t nerve-racking enough, she had to
go through a hamster wheel of mistreatments from several parties including the devil instructor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">(Before moving forward with the romance
side of the drama, I would like to applaud the show for spotlighting the obstacles
that women go through in the workplace. For example, there were episodes where
she was involved in a rumor and it did bigger damage to her compared to her male
counterparts. The fact that a woman can be talented, hardworking, and have credentials
yet be easily knocked down by a false accusation while the men involved weren’t
affected as much showed the double standard society has against women).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Let's go back to the track of romance. As someone who closely saw her
determination and persistence, eventually, Gu Nanting's opinions about her slowly shifted.
We can find him in the later part of the drama defending, supporting, and
protecting her behind her back. Therefore, it was understandable that Cheng Xiao
developed a special feeling for him as he was there assisting her growth. A
straightforward and fearless woman she was, she openly admitted her secret to him--in
hope that the feeling would reciprocate. She pursued him with the attitude of “even
if I have to take 99 steps to close the 100 steps between us, it doesn’t matter as
long as he is the one taking the final step”. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The problem is, it became frustrating that
she already threw herself at him yet he was battling with his own demons: denials
(for 34 episodes like seriously the man being a turtle in front of his feeling),
avoidances, trauma, “you’re just a student to me” (a.k.a <i>the C-drama's most heartbreaking statement of early 2023</i>) reason, “not with you,
not without you” attitude, and “one hand holding the past, one hand holding her”
manner. He did everything but</span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">be honest with his feeling.</span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <span lang="EN-US">Yet at the same time, he’d
drop everything just for her, in rescue mode whenever she was in danger, and
was the most panicked one when it comes to her. Imagine the confusion you get
from a man whose acts and words were perfect contradictions. Should you give up?
What if his actions were truer than his words? Should you stay? But isn’t it
disheartening to see him keep pushing you away?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Should be an interesting watch, the drama became draggy and plain infuriating because of several things including his inability to have an honest conversation with himself. </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I skipped the middle part of it to the part where Gu Nanting started to realize
that he was wrong in putting the walls against Cheng Xiao. I'll be honest: I must say Gu Nanting
is one gorgeous man I can’t deny. He is ridiculously attractive and his soft
calming smile cured the hard days of a stressful job.</span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">On top of that, his actions signaled that he saw her as more than just a
colleague, so as a woman who has initially developed a special liking toward
him, it’s hard for Cheng Xiao to ignore and get past her feeling.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AOy0d9vJwqbGtjq8puKn4EaYU4CD78KcHhG0LR4c1OxV8U6PasYqmRO6WB0hZECp_s5v113OLMJddEttQPNUObPaWuZCQ1QEWEXKKJvIr8McvH9zUNWWRsHB6y97aELDqIHFQ6SvCoXj8cyqq1HQ0ea57WnBA9wBBTfY60VFDL9oO7VNQCq5q5Wa/s900/28ZY2_3f.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AOy0d9vJwqbGtjq8puKn4EaYU4CD78KcHhG0LR4c1OxV8U6PasYqmRO6WB0hZECp_s5v113OLMJddEttQPNUObPaWuZCQ1QEWEXKKJvIr8McvH9zUNWWRsHB6y97aELDqIHFQ6SvCoXj8cyqq1HQ0ea57WnBA9wBBTfY60VFDL9oO7VNQCq5q5Wa/w640-h360/28ZY2_3f.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ni Zhan, a man you are.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">However, there was a point where I, as a
viewer, stopped wishing her to be with him. if I were Cheng Xiao, I would just give
up on Gu Nanting when he decided to coldly reject me many times yet continued
to play with my heart. I would not go after him after a series of hot and cold immature
treatments and multiple avoidances from him. If he needed me and everyone else
around him to take that much effort to make him realize his true feeling, I don’t
want it. </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">Nobody crushed yourself way too harshly like that deserving your heart. No man, no matter how gorgeous he is, is allowed to make you feel humiliated and rejected for a long time only to finally realize he was wrong. Please, he’s not the only man in the world. Instead, </span><span face=""Calibri Light", sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I would just settle with Ni
Zhan who was brave enough to pursue and escort me (considering that Ni Zhan isn't even among my favorite second male leads yet I would prefer him over Gu Nanting showed how flawed Nanting's attitude toward love is). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I mean, if two men with
relatively equal qualities come to me, I would just go with which one feels
easy for my heart--the one wouldn’t put me in pain, wouldn’t hurt, wouldn’t
deny, wouldn’t torture. </span><div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgv4jlm2VpRlhi0MkIqGYkMdKd03RFNDqFCJPVQkxspcfFaeJsJHndyix_9rNB-ZrjcztIQMK6vcS4jY54u9Wo3UC2JTwpYcXGNEFocv1GAWIh1Tt9WbWNn-c3zxgBEfnn_dU7EATlP0FpcW9sv6GBe0B5ERc4s3akbfZRPBc8Ij8--MJk432cRGQ/s2048/Web_Photo_Editor-_4_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgv4jlm2VpRlhi0MkIqGYkMdKd03RFNDqFCJPVQkxspcfFaeJsJHndyix_9rNB-ZrjcztIQMK6vcS4jY54u9Wo3UC2JTwpYcXGNEFocv1GAWIh1Tt9WbWNn-c3zxgBEfnn_dU7EATlP0FpcW9sv6GBe0B5ERc4s3akbfZRPBc8Ij8--MJk432cRGQ/w640-h480/Web_Photo_Editor-_4_.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dear iQIYI, shouldn't you also say: "Liu Chang, please always wear your uniform"? :)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I know the writer tried to convince the
viewers that Gu Nanting is worth all the pain but still for me, Ni Zhan is the
man. I’m sold at how he was selflessly there for Cheng Xiao, helped her, cheered upon her, treasured
her, and thoroughly thought about her happiness above anything. Ni Zhan simply
won my heart with his firm decision and sure steps toward Cheng Xiao. But then I realized that choice stemmed from my cowardice while in reality, my heart would probably belong to Gu Nanting for all my life. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_9FtcpNToCjBtLvwPbKos_Gavq2LUsuTegu4jZjqk0ybcLnOB1kE7Hyip9J1PTp2kuyzT-JkwehyfF51ZGK0DqFOIi6qNQexsyZV1UtfTYN9q1mIYJc3PdqvogXbCbnYBOaI1WXIV5w16aH4C1hxGx92UH72jTbGMEscbtoXq9F-0lhE6vngKFlt/s900/07n1O_3f.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_9FtcpNToCjBtLvwPbKos_Gavq2LUsuTegu4jZjqk0ybcLnOB1kE7Hyip9J1PTp2kuyzT-JkwehyfF51ZGK0DqFOIi6qNQexsyZV1UtfTYN9q1mIYJc3PdqvogXbCbnYBOaI1WXIV5w16aH4C1hxGx92UH72jTbGMEscbtoXq9F-0lhE6vngKFlt/w640-h360/07n1O_3f.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So under what circumstance can someone be trapped in the middle of this beautiful friendship? *cough *only Cheng Xiao's circumstance</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As I progressed towards the end of the
drama, I can sense my heart little by little changed as Gu Nanting became more
humane. On top of that, I must admit that Nanting's small detail of softness all over the episode is what makes him worth the long wait.</span><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am also glad that the writer gave him chance to redeem himself which made the decision to choose him well-justified. Then I understood that maybe if I was Cheng Xiao, I wouldn’t be able to turn
my head away from him as well. In this world, there is a magical feeling which makes
someone’s smile greatly powerful for us. Perhaps if I was Cheng Xiao, I don’t
care how long shall I wait or whether I would end up with him or not, but seeing
him standing there, all the hardships the world throws at me would be less excruciating. Maybe if someone like Gu Nanting himself appears in my life, I would
do exactly the same. I would also work my best to be the woman he’d run to
every day. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Therefore, who I am to give her advice? Because when the heart says seeing someone even from faraway calms the stormy day, then perhaps it's enough. :)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">--------------------<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When Cheng Xiao finally got promoted and Gu Nanting said, “Captain Cheng, please have a safe flight”, I smiled widely. Some
people just couldn’t express their thoughts well. For them, “I hope you’re
okay” translates as “You mean the world to me”. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">--------------------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">All photos belong to iQIYI. All right reserved.</span></p></div>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-8691327656929557282023-01-08T05:40:00.014+07:002023-01-10T06:53:23.299+07:00 Pengalaman Mengikuti Ujian Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPkEt3vudFH4nRdoOaYgzjHwJm8L_AKMThjpBrDJ1Kptyae-wumB8y7c5DDYTXU9F7pfBcFv16qunIUYGFVpnevjnYUQpwmrvQohpMJCulRpvw4j8F1PMcvr3ghvvJ4kCiSlrlanK-dvMzAunS4H_S-AAAxhzh6gUJ_upMQKx5FVEEVW4kVV6YQyn/s600/6a00e54f109b67883402a308d79fff200c-600wi.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPkEt3vudFH4nRdoOaYgzjHwJm8L_AKMThjpBrDJ1Kptyae-wumB8y7c5DDYTXU9F7pfBcFv16qunIUYGFVpnevjnYUQpwmrvQohpMJCulRpvw4j8F1PMcvr3ghvvJ4kCiSlrlanK-dvMzAunS4H_S-AAAxhzh6gUJ_upMQKx5FVEEVW4kVV6YQyn/w640-h304/6a00e54f109b67883402a308d79fff200c-600wi.png" width="640" /></a></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-7e23c08c-7fff-9646-b1db-36d144b22538"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Halo, teman-teman. Bagaimana kabarnya? Saya berharap teman-teman memulai tahun 2023 dengan baik. Oh ya, pernahkah teman-teman mendengar bahwa (ISC)2 memberikan pelatihan dan ujian keamanan siber (<i>cybersecurity</i>) gratis untuk 1 juta orang? Jika belum, silakan kunjungi: </span><a href="https://www.isc2.org/1MCC" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One Million FREE (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity Courses and Exams</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saya baru-baru ini mendapat kesempatan untuk mengikuti pelatihan dan ujiannya dan setelah mengalaminya secara langsung, saya ingin mendorong teman-teman untuk mengambilnya. Saya tahu teman-teman mungkin atau mungkin tidak melihat diri kalian di salah satu bidang yang paling banyak dibicarakan di bidang TI itu. Namun, terlepas teman-teman ingin berkarier di bidang keamanan siber atau tidak, saya sarankan untuk mempelajarinya (terutama jika ia datang tanpa label harga) karena melindungi informasi adalah bagian penting dari kehidupan kita di era digital. Mempelajari dasar-dasarnya tidak akan merugikan dan saya yakin kita akan berterima kasih kepada diri sendiri nanti karena memilih untuk melakukannya. Oke--cukup bagi saya mempromosikan keamanan siber atau saya bisa menghabiskan waktu berjam-jam membicarakannya--maafkan saya, saya tidak dapat menahannya. Sekarang mari kita langsung ke intinya. Hihi. Saya membagi cerita ini menjadi tiga bagian: sebelum, selama, dan setelah ujian.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sebelum Ujian</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Setelah mendengar tentang pelatihan <i>online</i> dan ujian gratis itu, saya langsung membuka situs web (ISC)2 untuk mendapatkan informasi lebih lanjut tentangnya. Setelah membaca semua informasi yang diberikan, saya memutuskan untuk mencobanya. Saya membuat akun dan mengisi formulir aplikasi kandidat (ISC)2 dengan certified in cybersecurity sebagai sertifikasi pilihan saya. Tak lama setelah itu, saya mendapatkan akses ke pelatihan dan pendaftaran ujian. Saya memilih <i>test center</i> di dekat UNSW karena saya cukup familiar dengan lokasinya dan untuk waktunya, saya memilih setelah tahun baru karena saya ingin istirahat penuh selama liburan akhir tahun.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ketika hampir menyelesaikan pelatihan, saya penasaran dengan apa yang dikatakan orang lain tentang ujian tersebut. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apakah itu sulit? Apakah materi yang diberikan dalam pelatihan sudah cukup?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Saya beruntung karena mencoba mencari informasi lebih lanjut atau saya akan berpikir bahwa persiapan sederhana saja sudah cukup. Kecuali teman-teman memiliki pengalaman yang cukup intensif di bidang itu, silakan untuk mempelajari lebih dari materi pelatihan yang disediakan. Berdasar pengalaman, saya membaca <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Eleventh-Hour-CISSP%C2%AE-Study-Guide-ebook/dp/B01LNFMIU0" target="_blank">Eleventh Hour CISSP®: Study Guide</a> (Conrad dkk, 2016--saya menemukan bahwa ada edisi yang lebih baru tetapi karena saya hanya memiliki versi ini, saya menggunakannya). Secara total, persiapan saya memakan waktu 5 hari selama libur universitas ketika saya tidak memiliki agenda lain selain belajar (tapi tentu saja, saya tidak belajar selama 10 jam sehari--saya menonton drama Cina dan melakukan hal-hal lain di sela-selanya).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Di hari terakhir persiapan, saya memastikan bahwa saya memahami semua yang perlu diketahui (termasuk membawa 2 kartu identitas dan cara menuju tempat ujian) lalu tidur lebih awal.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Selama Ujian</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">saya tiba di tempat ujian sangat awal (saya menyukai cara ini untuk setiap ujian yang saya ikuti) kemudian mengabari administrator ujian bahwa saya ingin mengikuti ujian. Beliau meminta kartu identitas, men-</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">scan</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> telapak tangan, dan mengambil foto saya. Beliau kemudian menunjukkan saya ruang tunggu dan mengatakan bahwa saya dapat mengikuti ujian ketika saya siap. Setelah membaca cepat ringkasan tentang hal-hal yang menurut saya penting (seperti </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">port numbers</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> sebab selama saya bekerja sebagai auditor TI, saya tidak menghafal semuanya), saya memasuki ruang ujian dan menghadapi 100 pertanyaan.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jika teman-teman pernah membaca tulisan pengalaman ujian saya sebelumnya, teman-teman akan menyadari bahwa saya adalah penggemar gaya mengerjakan ujian </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">do-it-quickly-then-review-it</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Namun, ternyata untuk ujian kali ini, hal tersebut tidak berlaku. Saya keras kepala bahkan setelah melihat ketiadaan tombol "kembali" (<i>back</i>) di halaman ujian untuk menuju ke pertanyaan sebelumnya. Saya terus mengerjakan dengan cepat sambil berpikir mungkin ada opsi "tinjau semua" (</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">review all</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) setelah saya menyelesaikan semua pertanyaan. Di luar dugaan, setelah saya menyelesaikan soal ke-100,</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">,</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> satu-satunya tombol yang tersisa adalah “akhiri ujian” (<i>end exam</i>). Haha. Saya diam-diam tertawa panik karena bagaimana mungkin saya bisa begitu keras kepala dengan mengabaikan kecurigaan bahwa saya tidak akan bisa meninjau jawabannya. Saya menyelesaikan ujian dalam waktu 64 menit dari 120 menit yang disediakan karena sikap keras kepala saya terhadap pertanda yang ada. Ketika teman-teman mengikuti ujian nanti, tolong belajar dari kesalahan saya dan gunakan waktu dengan bijak.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saya meninggalkan ruang ujian mendengar administrator ujian bertanya tentang pengalaman ujian saya. Saya menyampaikan ketidaktahuan bahwa ujian ini tidak mengizinkan saya meninjau jawaban. Beliau menuturkan bahwa lazimnya ujian memiliki fitur itu, mencoba menghibur saya. Saya pikir saya gagal sehingga tidak memiliki keberanian untuk bertanya tentang hasil ujian. Meskipun ujiannya gratis, setelah semua upaya yang saya lakukan selama liburan musim panas ketika mahasiswa umumnya sama sekali tidak belajar, saya merasa sedikit kecewa.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Tidak apa. Saya mendapat pelajaran bahwa saya tidak boleh memperlakukan semuan hal hanya berdasarkan pengalaman saya. Setiap situasi bisa berbeda.” Saya tersenyum padanya setelah mendapatkan kembali ketenangan batin.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Tapi kamu lulus," Beliau menyodorkan secarik kertas. Itu adalah hasil ujian sementara dengan kata pembuka '</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">congratulations'</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Serius?" Saya tidak bisa menyembunyikan ekspresi kaget.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Ya. Selamat,” Beliau melempar senyum meyakinkan seolah-olah dia tahu saya tidak akan mempercayai kertas itu bahkan ketika saya membacanya sendiri.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Terima kasih banyak. Saya sangat menghargai bantuan Bapak hari ini,” saya membalas senyumnya.</span></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrsUnuRjHjP2q51U2nZ3gLRRh9_8Snck6K8kY3geUgswqmg_qDBcMIFvG-6X4YV3Sf1amCKrhfJFbCAM6AGw3NstO2GF1nR54Zhw09vEqX6DbGpsNqNs7u00Z8X1XfvRL8SDNL742l6Lk7E21TzKrpJQEbLCBg2Qgbj5PXwOW6_jAUfjVYyi2EGWt/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-01-08%20at%208.40.04%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1538" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrsUnuRjHjP2q51U2nZ3gLRRh9_8Snck6K8kY3geUgswqmg_qDBcMIFvG-6X4YV3Sf1amCKrhfJFbCAM6AGw3NstO2GF1nR54Zhw09vEqX6DbGpsNqNs7u00Z8X1XfvRL8SDNL742l6Lk7E21TzKrpJQEbLCBg2Qgbj5PXwOW6_jAUfjVYyi2EGWt/w385-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-01-08%20at%208.40.04%20AM.jpeg" width="385" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wajah bingung itu secara kebetulan mencerminkan ekspresi saya saat menerima kertas ini :)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Setelah Ujian</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sehari setelah ujian, saya menerima email yang menyatakan bahwa saya secara resmi lulus ujian. Langkah selanjutnya adalah melengkapi aplikasi </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">online</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, yang harus dilakukan kandidat dalam waktu sembilan bulan sejak tanggal ujian. Dalam waktu 24 jam setelah aplikasi selesai, kandidat dapat melakukan langkah terakhir dalam prosesnya yaitu membayar </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Annual Maintenance Fee</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (AMF). Setelah pembayaran AMF dilakukan, kandidat akan mendapatkan sertifikasi.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teman-teman mungkin bertanya, “jadi sebenarnya tidak gratis ya?”. Jawabannya: gratis jika yang teman-teman inginkan adalah pengetahuan yang diberikan dalam pelatihan dan ujian. Adalah sepenuhnya keputusan teman-teman apakah ingin mendapatkan sertifikasi atau tidak. Dalam kasus saya, sebagai hadiah kecil untuk diri saya sendiri, saya bersedia membayar $50 untuk mendapatkan sertifikasi ini. Namun, adalah sepenuhnya pilihan teman-teman untuk membayarnya atau tidak, jadi jangan khawatir. Mendapat ilmu dan pengalaman ujian saja sebenarnya sangat berharga meski tanpa sertifikasi.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw94qCB9WcSZmkhE1mS4XLfHJciAlyoGFt4vg2IQSzH-24yU-vuGJMvvB8zFM34EnpB_mvAciTc_tcU1CZPy9I0Azy9H7etcksRjL9GIPnn-nAxvSd_Y9l895r2Ru1zgE2KTpvIIHw2xgVwiUTkh7pQgyiHZowmXbF7M61yL2GIizSuq1mHfUjw8-O/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-01-06%20at%207.32.23%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="1600" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw94qCB9WcSZmkhE1mS4XLfHJciAlyoGFt4vg2IQSzH-24yU-vuGJMvvB8zFM34EnpB_mvAciTc_tcU1CZPy9I0Azy9H7etcksRjL9GIPnn-nAxvSd_Y9l895r2Ru1zgE2KTpvIIHw2xgVwiUTkh7pQgyiHZowmXbF7M61yL2GIizSuq1mHfUjw8-O/w640-h494/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-01-06%20at%207.32.23%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tips</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saya ingin menutup <i>post</i> ini dengan membagikan beberapa tips berdasarkan pengalaman saya. Pertama dan terpenting, pahami mengapa teman-teman membutuhkannya. Hanya ketika mengetahui alasannya, kita akan memiliki tekad yang kuat untuk menjalani perjalanan tersebut. Kemudian, pastikan untuk menyisihkan waktu yang cukup untuk belajar. Tip penting lainnya adalah memanfaatkan semua sumber daya yang tersedia. Jangan takut untuk meminta bantuan jika teman-teman kesulitan dan bertanyalah kepada seseorang saat teman-teman ragu. Pastikan untuk istirahat yang cukup dan menjaga kesehatan di hari-hari menjelang ujian. Pikiran yang jernih dan tubuh yang sehat akan membantu teman-teman melakukan yang terbaik pada hari ujian. Terakhir, karena teman-teman tidak dapat kembali ke pertanyaan sebelumnya, luangkan waktu untuk benar-benar memahami pertanyaan dan jawabannya.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oke. Sebelum <i>post</i> ini terlalu panjang, saya akan mengakhirinya di sini. Saya akan senang menjawab pertanyaan teman-teman dan jika teman-teman memerlukan bantuan, jangan ragu untuk menghubungi saya. Saya berharap yang terbaik untuk teman-teman semua.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-----------</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.96364; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">English Version: <a href="https://www.imzpression.com/2023/01/my-certified-in-cybersecurity-cc-exam.html" target="_blank">My Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) Exam Experience</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br />Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489303225556941016.post-91656418761527498582023-01-08T04:42:00.026+07:002023-01-10T06:51:43.875+07:00 My Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) Exam Experience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPkEt3vudFH4nRdoOaYgzjHwJm8L_AKMThjpBrDJ1Kptyae-wumB8y7c5DDYTXU9F7pfBcFv16qunIUYGFVpnevjnYUQpwmrvQohpMJCulRpvw4j8F1PMcvr3ghvvJ4kCiSlrlanK-dvMzAunS4H_S-AAAxhzh6gUJ_upMQKx5FVEEVW4kVV6YQyn/s600/6a00e54f109b67883402a308d79fff200c-600wi.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPkEt3vudFH4nRdoOaYgzjHwJm8L_AKMThjpBrDJ1Kptyae-wumB8y7c5DDYTXU9F7pfBcFv16qunIUYGFVpnevjnYUQpwmrvQohpMJCulRpvw4j8F1PMcvr3ghvvJ4kCiSlrlanK-dvMzAunS4H_S-AAAxhzh6gUJ_upMQKx5FVEEVW4kVV6YQyn/w640-h304/6a00e54f109b67883402a308d79fff200c-600wi.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hello, friends. How have you been?
I wish you all a great start to 2023. Anyway, have you by any chance heard that
(ISC)2 provided free cybersecurity training and exam for 1 million people? If
you haven’t then please check it out: <a href="https://www.isc2.org/1MCC" target="_blank">One Million FREE (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity Courses and Exams</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I recently had the opportunity to take
the training and exam and after experiencing it first-hand, I encourage you to
do so. I know you may or may not see yourself in that one of the most talked-about fields in IT. However, whether you want to have a career in cybersecurity or
not, I suggest that you learn it (especially when it comes with no price tag) since
protecting information is a significant part of our life in the digital
era. Learning the fundamental of it wouldn’t hurt you and I believe that you’ll
thank yourself later for doing that. Okay--enough for me promoting cybersecurity
or I could spend hours talking about it--pardon me I can’t help it. Now let’s
get to the point. Hihi. I divided the story into three parts: before, during,
and after the exam.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Before
the Exam<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">After I heard about the free
online self-paced training and exam, I directly visited the website to get more
information about it. After going through all the provided information, I
decided to give it a go. I created an account and then completed the (ISC)2
candidate application form with certified in cybersecurity as my certification
of interest. Shortly after that, I gained access to the training and exam registration.
I picked the test center near UNSW as I am quite familiar with the location and
for the date, I choose to have it after the new year since I wanted to have a
full break during the year-end holiday. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When I almost finished the
training, I was curious about what other people said regarding the exam. <i>Was it difficult? Were the materials
provided in the training enough?</i> I was lucky that I tried to find the
information or I would think that my simple preparation was enough. Unless you
have quite intensive experience in the field, please go beyond the training
materials. In my case, I read the <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Eleventh-Hour-CISSP%C2%AE-Study-Guide-ebook/dp/B01LNFMIU0" target="_blank">Eleventh Hour CISSP®: Study Guide</a> (Conrad et
al, 2016--I found out that there is a newer edition of it but since I only had
the third version, I used it). In total, the preparation took me 5 days during
my university term break when I have no other agenda but studying (but of course,
I didn’t study for 10 hours a day--I watched Chinese drama and did random things in between). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">On the last day of preparation, I ensured that I understood everything I need to know (including bringing 2 personal IDs
and how to get to the test center) then sleep early.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">During
the Exam<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I arrived at the test center very early
(I liked it this way for every exam I took) and then told the test
administrator (TA) that I wanted to take an exam. He asked for my ID, had me submit
my palm vein scan, and took my exam candidate's photo. He then guided me to
the waiting room and said that I can take the exam whenever I am ready. After a
quick review of the summary I wrote about the things I found challenging (such as
the port numbers as during my time as an IT auditor, I didn't memorize them all), I entered the exam room and faced the 100 questions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If you have read my previous exam
experience posts, you would notice that I am a big fan of do-it-quickly-then-review-it.
However, turned out that for this exam, this doesn’t apply. I was stubborn even after I saw there was no "back" button on the exam page to go to the previous question. I kept doing
it quickly thinking that it might have a “review all” option after I finished
all the questions. To my surprise, after I completed the 100<sup>th</sup>
questions, the only button left is “end exam”. Haha. I quietly had my panicky laugh because how can
I be that stubborn to ignore the suspicion that I wouldn’t be able to review
the answers. I finished the exam in 64 minutes out of the 120 minutes provided
due to my obstinate attitude toward the sign. When you take the exam later,
please learn from my mistake and use your time wisely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I left the exam room hearing the
TA ask me how was my exam experience. I told him that I was clueless that this
exam didn’t let me go back to review my answers. He then told me usually exams have
that feature, tried to console me. I thought I failed so I didn't have the courage to ask him about my results paper. While the exam
was free, after all the effort I took during the supposed summer break when students
usually don’t study at all, I found myself a bit disappointed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“It’s okay. I learned my lesson that
I shouldn’t treat everything solely based on my experience. Every case could be
different.” I smiled at him eventually after regaining my balance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“But you passed,” he handed me a
piece of paper. It was the exam provisional results with the opening word 'congratulations'.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Are you serious?” I couldn’t hide
my shocked expression.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Yes. Congratulations,” he threw me
a reassuring smile as if he knew I wouldn’t believe the paper even when I read
it by myself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Thank you so much. I really appreciate
your help today,” I smiled at him back.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrsUnuRjHjP2q51U2nZ3gLRRh9_8Snck6K8kY3geUgswqmg_qDBcMIFvG-6X4YV3Sf1amCKrhfJFbCAM6AGw3NstO2GF1nR54Zhw09vEqX6DbGpsNqNs7u00Z8X1XfvRL8SDNL742l6Lk7E21TzKrpJQEbLCBg2Qgbj5PXwOW6_jAUfjVYyi2EGWt/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-01-08%20at%208.40.04%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1538" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrsUnuRjHjP2q51U2nZ3gLRRh9_8Snck6K8kY3geUgswqmg_qDBcMIFvG-6X4YV3Sf1amCKrhfJFbCAM6AGw3NstO2GF1nR54Zhw09vEqX6DbGpsNqNs7u00Z8X1XfvRL8SDNL742l6Lk7E21TzKrpJQEbLCBg2Qgbj5PXwOW6_jAUfjVYyi2EGWt/w385-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-01-08%20at%208.40.04%20AM.jpeg" width="385" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That confused face coincidentally reflected my actual expression upon receiving this paper :)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">After
the Exam<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The day after the exam, I received
an email stating that I officially passed the exam. The next step is to complete the
online application, which the candidate must do within nine months of the exam
date. Within 24 hours after the application
is completed, the candidate can perform the final step in the process which is paying
the first Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF). Once the AMF payment is made, we will
earn the certification. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw94qCB9WcSZmkhE1mS4XLfHJciAlyoGFt4vg2IQSzH-24yU-vuGJMvvB8zFM34EnpB_mvAciTc_tcU1CZPy9I0Azy9H7etcksRjL9GIPnn-nAxvSd_Y9l895r2Ru1zgE2KTpvIIHw2xgVwiUTkh7pQgyiHZowmXbF7M61yL2GIizSuq1mHfUjw8-O/s1600/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-01-06%20at%207.32.23%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="1600" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw94qCB9WcSZmkhE1mS4XLfHJciAlyoGFt4vg2IQSzH-24yU-vuGJMvvB8zFM34EnpB_mvAciTc_tcU1CZPy9I0Azy9H7etcksRjL9GIPnn-nAxvSd_Y9l895r2Ru1zgE2KTpvIIHw2xgVwiUTkh7pQgyiHZowmXbF7M61yL2GIizSuq1mHfUjw8-O/w640-h493/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-01-06%20at%207.32.23%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You might ask, “so it is not actually
free?”. It is free if all you want is knowledge provided in the training and
the exam. It is still up to you whether you want to get the certification or
not. In my case, as a little treat to myself, I don't mind spending $50 to get the
certification. However, it is totally your choice to pay for it or not so don’t
worry. Gaining knowledge and exam experience is valuable for us even without
the certification.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
Tips<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I wanted to close this post by
sharing some tips based on my experience. First and foremost, understand why
you need it. Only when you know the reason, do you have a strong determination
to embrace the journey. Then, be sure to set aside enough time to study. Another
important tip is to take advantage of all of the resources that are available
to you. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you're struggling and ask someone
when you are confused. Be sure to get plenty of rest and stay healthy
in the days leading up to the exam. A clear mind and a healthy body will help
you perform your best on exam day. Lastly, as you can't go back to the previous question, take your time to choose the answer before moving to the next question.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Okay. Before this post goes too
long, I will end it here. I am happy to take your questions if you have any and
if you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out. I wish you all the best.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">--------</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Calibri Light",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Indonesian Version: <a href="https://www.imzpression.com/2023/01/pengalaman-mengikuti-ujian-certified-in.html" target="_blank">Pengalaman Mengikuti Ujian Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)</a></span></p>Nur Imroatun Sholihathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04495905977473780438noreply@blogger.com0