No Vacation :(

Recently, I was so stressed with so many things. Mostly because of wondering the birth of my son in this early January. So sad when I realize that I can't be a companion physically to my wife while she gives a birth to our son. It was just a month before I departed to Aussie when I married...But here, I learn new things specially on how keeping up the spirit even when I were far away. I feel glad and so happy that my wife always supports me since I realize that I'm weak physicologially actually.  Lord will make a way.
Last three weeks, I was imagining that I will have a great vacation this summer. relax... enjoy the holiday, Christmas at Sydney, etc..... Yeah, I still enjoy my activity, but not holiday actually :(. Now, I work as a full time programmer in a Sydney based company. And also, I develope a shopping site which will be launched soon (different company). Hem, but thanks I still have time for myself, my family, friends and God.

Weird dream

Two days ago, I got stuck on my assignment. I couldn't solve two last questions from fourteen questions provided. Actually it was OK if I just left it since it'll give me less than 20% of overall assignment mark. I got the other 12 totally correct, I do believe it. So I just left it and having a great weekend, some beers and (unfortunately) a cigarette (believe me, it was just social smoking.. I'm not a smoker now,he2...).

Sunday night I still had a chat with my beloved Ling till 2pm (thanks for a communication company which provided her with free of charge GPRS connection, hi2... ssst). Then, I felt a sleep and I started to dream about anything, hi2.... last time, I dream about my project, bwahaha in my dream, I tried hard to solve my project (It's a usual dream if you get stressed with something), but I enjoyed it.. I didn't get stressed because of anything, I tried to enjoy my life here, no time to be busy..... Finally, I just said 'horray' because I can solve my problems. I wake up and directly go to my laptop, connect to campus's server and write what I've done in my dream and compile it.... ha2.... it works, totally correct. Great and weird dream. I wonder I could have this kind of dream for my projects, ha2....

So, here, what're the recipes?
1. Keep relax when you do something, don't let it burdening you
2. Keep focus to all what you want to do (sometimes if we can't solve a problem, it's because we aren't focus to the problem)
3. Reward yourself if you can do something... Just make a time management for a week and if you can reach the target, you should reward yourself... Anything.. (last week I reward myself because I can finish all the projects before my own due by buying an electrical violin (ha2... don't do this, will lead you to bankrupt if you do this all the time....), I plan to go to the beach if I finish this assignment... and it's my time to do it, he2....
4. Make your own due date (should have enough spare time to check it twice or more before submit)
5. Spell my name three times if you have problems, hi2.....


-- My messy heaven taken this morning

Letter from my friend

Ji (Sorry mate, I change it since it will be read by many people, he2...) , it's really nice to hear from you.
your stories and your experiences make me start to dream again....and again...
i really want to go abroad...learning many things there...visiting beautiful places...
then going home with abundant knowledge to share...hmmm. ...sounds nice...
what you have done is an inspiration for me...
making me never stop dreaming...and wake me up to face the life....
good luck mate....
no worries...

life will lead you to places that you've never known...
but love will lead you home....


if you have any information about any scholarship. ....please let us know....
best of luck for you....
take your time....

====

Many thanks mate, I'm trembling to read your letter, he2... I know that you can... If you have any problem, just let me know... Sorry to post your letter here, but I will keep it anonymous, no worries... Let your spirit be a spirit to others. This is my third months I have been here, and I really want to go home (homesick fever) he2.... So many challenge here, specially when I really miss my wife, family, friend, environment, pollution (bwahaha).... Before, I never dreamt to study to Australia, he2... Germany was the best for me, so I learnt "Mine name ist Aji, Ich komme aus Klaten, Ich wohnen in Semarang, ..." he2... Now I realize that Australia is closer to Indonesia and I'm suffering from homesick fever (but it's still 1100$ for the return ticket, he2), How if I live in Germany, ha2.... However, I found many interesting things here, many friends, interesting culture, beautiful landscape, interesting objects, great study methods, many things that you can adopt for a better life, he2....
I learn that faithful friendship, travelling, rapid communication with your family will help you to face this problem, he2... How long will I stand.. I don't know ha2...

I always remember my community (Pak Mul, ex Seminarist community) words "Amo et Facio Quod Volo" which means I love and do what I have chosen

So, stop your dream now, realize it, he2... do your best. About scholarship, ADS program will be closed at September 7, 2007. Just go to http://www.adsjakarta.or.id for more information. I'll help you if you have any problem.

Cheers,

Long time no see

Hi mates, long time no see. Sorry, I was struggling with so many activities (including travelling, he2...) Hem, Few days ago, my wife sent me a picture of my baby in her womb. So,let me introduce my kid (I don't know what's the gender and let me don't know till he/she born). He/she (people usually address an infant with "it" but I don't want... he/she is not something, but someone) still 3 months and hopefully will born at January next year. Unfortunately, I can't accompany my wife when she will give a birth to my kid. I can't take the reunion airfare (A facilities for Ausaid student to go home if he/she don't bring her/his family). I must wait for 12 months to get it. It is not worth if I fund the trip by myself, he2... It's better for me to work here at summer and save the money for my baby (and my wife surely... don't be angry babe, he2...)
I have so many plan including having some researches with some colleges. I will tell you later about this.

Courses have started

Session two has started. Now, I'm fully a student. My first course is Human Computer Interaction. HCI is a course that learning about how should we design something for end user. He2.. this is something that I like, because this course has a strong relation with psychology and arts, not only computer science.
I spent my weekend in Canberra and Snowy Mountain. I realized that I'll be busy with my courses after the session start, so I decided to spend my time travelling to other state and finding new experiences.
Together with Ppia Canberra, I went to Snowy Mountain (3hours from Canberra). Something weird was Sydney much colder than snowy mountain, hem...
The weather was very good, sunny and the snow was very tick. I played toboggan and learnt to play sky. He2... it was very interesting.
I slept at Dian's apartment in Australian National University (ANU) Unilodge together with Jati and Ichsan. I found that Canberra is a quiet city. I went to Questacon (Museum of Science and Technology) and it was really interesting. I tried the zero gravity simulation (free fall) and I swear I'll not try it again, hem... Visiting museum in Australia is a great way to relax and learn something new. It is a popular activities here. Hopefully students in Indonesia love the same.

Don’t Sleep Away The Night

Daniel Sahuleka
(my favourite song, I always listen to it when I drive my car with my wife)


Tomorrow’s near, never I felt this way
Tomorrow, how empty it’ll be that day
It tastes a bitter, obvious to tears to dried
To know that you’re my only light
I love you, oh I need you
Oh, yes I do

Don’t sleep away this night my baby
Please stay with me at least ’till dawn
It hurts to know another hour has gone by
And every minute is worthwhile
Oh, I love you

How many lonely days are there waiting for me
How many seasons will flow over me
’till the motions make my tears run dry
at the moments I should cry
for I love you, oh I need you
Oh, yes I do

Don’t sleep away this night my baby
Please stay with me at least ’till dawn
It hurts to know another hour has gone by
And every minute is worthwhile
It makes me so afraid

Don’t sleep away this night my baby
Please stay with me at least ’till dawn
It hurts to know another hour has gone by
The reason is still I love you




Ling with "si Hitam"

APP oh APP

Academic Preparation Program at UNSW has ended. Many new things I got from these activities. Thanks to Brownie (Sorry, I always forget how to spell your name), Maria, Pam, Ian, etc.... who have supervised us in this APP. Although I've got an English for Academic Purpose Program in Indonesia, still I got another new things... That's why life is so interesting if we can get new things in our activities.
Finally... we closed this program with a barbecue party.... he2... Every student brought their own special food.... Me and Richie bring tempe which was the most favourite food there.....



Yesterday, we have a Harbour Cruise activity. Wow.... Thanks to UNSW, thanks to ISS, thanks to Anna Rees who led us in this activity.... It was so cold but we were happy... Although it was only 1.5 hour cruise... It was still so wonderful... An unforgettable moment.


Wista (Phd student), Anna (ISS UNSW Senior Advisor), Me






Other pictures... visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/adsstudents/

Kuringgai, The Great Walker

Saturday, July 14, 2007... I woke up early and caught the bus to Central Station. There, I met Dian, Ichsan and Jati. We bought 4 train tickets to Mount Kuringgai.
Mount Kuringgai is located 60km north of Sydney. It has a great view and it is one of a national park in NSW.

The great North Walk sign.... jati and me (right)



We decided to take the Great North Walk route from Mt. Kuringgai Station to Berowa Station. It was 10km (5 hours walk)
I can say that it was a fantastic journey. We walked along the river and finally found a lake (unfortunately we didn't go to the lake because it was 5pm and we must catch the train)

The Leader... A-ehm




Dian and Ichsan..




I do believe Indonesia's bush walking or national park is better than here. The different is that in here, everything is well maintained: safety, clean, etc... If our park is maintained well... I think I'll not spend my weekend to go to the mall, he2.....

First Time to Get Loss

Preparation course in UNSW not make me feel busy. I prefer to use my spare time and get loss around Sydney and enjoy this city. As I told you, this is an easy city... I mean, just buy the travel weekly ticket and you can go anywhere in Sydney by bus. Hem...

Okay, these are some of interesting things that I got from a few days ago.


me and a famous family... but I'm not part of them, he2...


UNSW library building captured from Randwick



Bicycle and pedestrian road....



If you come from European country or US, this sign will really help you


Vandalism not only happen in my country


In Indonesia, it's called "kereta kelinci"


memorial for bali bombing victims... Cogee beach


Cogee beach...

Sydney first week

I came to Sydney three days ago, picked up by senior UNSW student. It was a long flight from Jakarta to Sydney (6.5 hours).
14 celcius...... on the average.... sometimes 5 degree, hem... it's winter here. I live in Doncaster Avenue, 15 minutes walk to University of New South Wales.

Today, I spend my time to have a site seeing in Sydney CBD, Darling Harbour, Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, and enjoy the easy life in Sydney by using bus and train....

Here are some of my pictures.

My wedding

May 5, 2007 became an important day for me... I was married.....

Robertus Setiawan Aji Nugroho., ST & Bernadia Linggar Yekti Nugraheni., SE., MCOM., Akt




I played violin and my wife sang "The Prayer", together with "D'Angelis Chamber Orchestra"

Sorry for being lazy

It has been more than one month since the last time I wrote something here.... To many activities and lack of internet connection just made me easily forgot this blog.....

"In Finem Omnia" Football Club

From left to right
Up : Setyo "plenthi" Hari (keeper), Prima "kocan" Damar (defence), Setiawan Aji (me, striker), Danang "jinguk" Pamungkas (defence), Joko "Jiwo" (playmaker), Andreas "Kristin" Ari (striker)

Down : Andon "Kothak" (right wing), Hari "Kace" Sigit (Left Wing), Dimas "Celeng" Ariyanto (defence), Budi "Cakil" Gunawan (playmaker)

Yesterday I surfed the Internet. I want to write a blog, but there were no ideas at all. I looked for a picture and found an old picture of me and my football team. Since high school, I joint the Seminari Mertoyudan football club. Every year we have an league and in 1999, my team won as the first. Unfortunally, I already stopped to play football. To many other bussines in my life. Sometimes I really miss to wear a footbal shoes, team's shirt, kick the ball, play as striker and make a goal. He2....

Terrible day, I broke my glass

I didn't know what happen, suddenly the glass losed from it's frame. Hem, now I must buy the new one. It hurt my eyes.

Christopher Abimanyu and B Linggar Yekti Nugraheni Performance in a Charity Concert

“I pray you'll be all right
and watch us where we go...”



A day before having a conference in Bali and Padang, My fiance Linggar performed a duet with Christopher Abimanyu, an Indonesian famous tenorist. “The prayer” song beautifully performed by them in a charity concert held by “Gratia”, Soegijapranata Catholic University Student Choir.

hey Ling, I'm proud of you....

Email from Linggar..

Today I get an email from my fiance, it's better if I share it to you....

dear my Aji

life have sharpen our mind, thought and sense.... furthermore we'll never know what life would bring us to... every road should be traveled, every home must be stayed, and that's it how relationship would happen to us on the way we live our live.

Life is too short.. and what i believe is : "the more you give to life the more you'll receive..." You have so much dreams, and it would be enough to enrich your life in so many ways that you never imagine before. Keep moving, keep doing things you want, seize your dreams no matter what life take you to.. and don't let anyone take your dreams away from you.

You are very bright person, with your brain you can change the whole life itself, with your hand you could also change somebody's else life, you have beauty inside that makes people respect to your life... you have so many wonderful life that you must thank for.. such bless.!!

I am a woman that comes to your life when you're traveling around the world... we met on the cross road, with so much hope to travel our live in our own way and getting closer in every crossroad. No matter what road we choose, they will never lie to us.. and it's worth traveling.

take good care in your road, and i thank GOD to have you in the road i am traveling in right now.

lots of love
yours...

Another two days vacations....

It's not because a national holidays, it's caused by flood in Jakarta. I have another two days vacation because the electricity in "Wisma Budi" didn't work. It just bored for me. I prefer to have a class than stay in my boarding house. Why? because I already have a weekend for take a rest and doing something other than in the resource center. I just watched some movies and Linggar and Cristopher Abimanyu concert. Hem, they sang "the prayer" together, that's way I'm proud of my fiance. She has a high quality of sound, smart and mature..... (he2...). I'll give some pictures of them as soon as possible.
It's more than two weeks since I met my fiance, also my family. Hem, I miss u all.... see you

A journey to Taman Anggrek Mall.....

I wake up late that morning. I have a date with Elis and Wulan (my pre-departure program classmate at IALF) to go to Taman Anggrek Mall. But unfortunately Wulan must look for a boarding house for her sister. I went to Sarinah Plaza by busway and met Elis there. That was the first time I use busway. It was a first good impression about Jakarta's transportation. Maybe this was a good decision made by "Bang Yos" to develop a mass transportation.
Finally, we met at Sarinah Plaza and continued our travel to Taman Anggrek Mall. Firstly we go to Ratu Plaza by taxi and then we use the "kopaja 66" bus to Komdak (it's a place near the Metropolitan Police Department). We change our first bus with other bus to go to Taman Anggrek Mall. It was an interesting place because it was a big Mall and I have never seen it before in Semarang. (hem, so poor I am)... Just walking around and we not found any laptop store there cause Elis need to buy a new laptop. We just share about anything and it made me comfortable to this city.
We went home at 3pm but I decided to go to Ratu Plaza and walk around to look for a card reader and buy my daily needs.
Hem it was a good journey for me. That was my first experience take a walk in Jakarta. It was my first experience to go by bus in Jakarta (or maybe in other city because I usually drive my own car).
At least I have a good impression about Jakarta in terms of friendship and transportation....

see you in my next journey....

Rainy day in Jakarta

It was two days ago since Jakarta cooled by the water from rain. Everyday always rain here, morning, noon, or afternoon. A lot of effects caused by this situation. Flood in same places, "kaki lima" food seller become more dirty, etc. It's not comfortable to take a walk in some lane specially arround my boarding house. The positive effect is the wether is cooler now compared with the average wether.

I really want to give you some picture of the condition, but unfortunatelly I don't have usb cable for my camera. Anyone have it?

Mandala Airlines, what happens?

I have reserved ticket to go to Jakarta long before the day I want to go. I reserved one ticket for me, and one return ticket for my viansee. The flight was delayed at 18 January 2007 from 18.25 to 21.00. It's so long even there were an announcement about this problem early in the morning before I went to airport.
I enjoy the flight at night, and I arrived to Jakarta almost at 10pm. But unfortunatelly, a day before my viansee flight at Sunday, 21 January 2007, Mandala call us and said that all flights at 21 to 25 January was cancelled beacuse the planes not suitable to fly. Hem, I'm dissaponted but it's Ok because it's better that they cancelled the flights then there would be another risk.
This announcement is too late. We were confused because there's no airplane ticket alvailable for the next day because it's a holiday, there's no agent that give a service (or we don't know).
My viansee's brother helpe us to fine the ticket via online service, and finally we got the Garuda ticket....

Hem, a nice experience. this night, my viansee must be in the midlle of her profession examination. I hope that you successfuly past the test.