"525,600 minutes, 525,600 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - How do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee? In inches, in miles, in laughters, in strife? In 525,600 minutes -- How do you measure a year in the life?"
I adopted the nickname Cup'oCofi from a phrase in the theme song "Seasons of Love" from the popular musical "The Rent" which I saw back in 1999. I guess I like the phrase because it keeps reminding me to ask "how have you been measuring a year in your life?" As Mel Gibson's William Wallace puts it: "Every man dies. But not every man really lives."
So I started this Blog to log all the ways to measure a year in my life. I hope it can be a source of inspirations and motivations for me, and for all who care enough to read my postings.
(Please continue reading this month's archive for some catch-up blog in chronological order.)
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Cup'oCofi?
Pre-1997: Home Sweet Home Jakarta
Honestly, it was difficult to make the decision to leave home. Especially when "home" provided me with everything I needed.
Food? OK, at about 2 dollars per meal, McDonald's was probably a luxury, but Indonesia was home to some of the best cookings in the world, available from the street vendors for about 20 cents per meal. And I'm not talking fast food. Real cooked meals.
Laundry? If I put my clothes in the laundry basket--instead of on the bathroom floor--my mom would be happy.
Parents? They lived some 3 hours drive away. No, I did not live in boarding school. I had a townhouse all for myself.
Well, almost everything.
When, in 1997, I received offers of admissions to reputable universities in the US but was denied admissions to Indonesia's public universities, the decision was made for me. If I had to go half-way around the world to get better, so be it.
Which, in retrospect, was a blessing in disguise.
1997 - 2001: Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University was my school of choice because of both its location and reputation.
Location?
Yes. Most Indonesians would have gone to either the West coast or East coast school where they could form their own "little Indonesia" community. At the conclusion of their studies, they still spoke broken English.
I chose St. Louis so I would not get that option.
What I did get was the luxury of knowing some of the brightest--and friendliest--minds in America who just enjoyed of having me around. My roommates Ralph and Chris, my RA Saskia, and my entire "Shepley 5" floormates helped me to integrate into American culture and college life. They helped me break the language and cultural barriers.
In my second year I became close friend with Laura, a Wisconsin girl who invited me to Wisconsin to celebrate the traditional American holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas, and to see the 6 foot of snow in Wisconsin's December landscape. With her help, by the third year I had mostly American and international friends, and English began to take over as my first language.
In retrospect, I really don't think I could've done any better (though the credit really goes to Shepley 5, Laura, and many others--including my acting teacher Andrea).
Wisconsin snow, December 2000
Take me out to the baaallgame ... graduation ceremony
Suitemates (J, Kev, Tim) - graduation ceremony
Graduation gala with the special friendsPost-Graduation Road Trip!
St. Louis --> Chicago --> Wisconsin --> South Dakota --> Montana --> Yellowstone National Park --> Idaho --> Seattle --> Portland --> San Francisco --> California SR-1 --> Los Angeles --> San Diego (Surf Camp) --> Santa Cruz --> Berkeley, California
Summer Destination: University of California, Berkeley (Chinese Class)
Mt. Rushmore - May 2001
Dangerous Road Lies Ahead!!!
For my first job in Memphis, my return trip (Berkeley, Calif. --> Reno --> Utah --> Colorado --> Kansas (unfortunately) --> St. Louis --> Memphis) was yet another adventure ...
... it involved dealing with rattlesnakes ...
... and Big Foots ...
... dangerous reptiles ...
... through the magical archway ...
... up the steep cliffs ...
... but somehow my little blue car made it on top of Pikes Peak!!!
... and the view ... was simply breathtaking ...
2001: New Job, New City, New Friends, New Apartment
Well, I thought the fun was over. Actually, no. It was just beginning. Memphis might not sound that much fun ... but it is fun.
Sunset from My Apartment's Window
August 2002: A New House!
Funny. Just a week before I bought my house I told a colleague: why would I want to have a house? Then I have to cut the grass, etc, etc. But then I was ticked by the low interest rates: it was actually cheaper to own a house twice the size than to rent an apartment!
My House
