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Study Tour

          At the mid of my second semester, I had the opportunity to participate in study tour with HIMA Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni to the University of Padjajaran – Bandung. Approximately two days we had study tour to an Indonesian Literature Faculty, English Literature Faculty and Japanese Literature Faculty. We felt the reception of the three faculties were less friendly and there are some agendas that cannot be implemented. But I still got the knowledge much of those activities.



Due to our dissapointment, we shorten our visit to that university then we visited Tangkuban Perahu and Cihampelas Walk for refreshing.


          One month later when my faculty held an event, Padjajaran University Faculty of Sunda Literature come to introduce cabaret (theater of Sunda). Because of our disappointment against to three faculty at the University of Padjajaran, we were initially reluctant to give a friendly reception. But we still tried to keep our manner and keep our politeness. First met with the students of Sunda literature, we had familiar chit chat they also give the sciences of Sundanese culture. It turned out that our assessment is wrong, they were friendly and polite. So our disappointment was forgotten. Up to now we still maintain the relationship with the Faculty of Padjajaran University.





Vocabulary

- Opportunity    : A time when a particular situation makes it possible to do or achieve something.
- Approximately : Used to show that something is almost, but not completely, accurate or correct.
- Implemented  : To make something that has been officially decided start to happen or be used.
- Due               : Because of somebody or something.
- Reluctant       : Hesitating before doing something because you do not want to do it or because you
                                     are not sure that it is the right thing to do.
- Assessment   : A opinion or a judgement about a somebody or something that has been thought
                                    about very carefully.
- Maintain        : To make something continue at the same level, standar, etc.

Mr. Barack Obama "Pulang Kampung"


         Tuesday, November 9th the president of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama visited Indonesia. Actually,  I was less interested in that news, after twice he canceled the schedule to visit Indonesia, I thought Obama came when not at the right time, because these day Indonesia just had been hit by many natural disasters. Safeguards have also been done at the day before the arrival of Obama. but I thought the guard slightly not too tight, because in the morning before Obama came to Jakarta I crossed Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport there are no many polices on guard there.
         I didn't attend the whole of the arrival of Barack Obama news, even on television or radio, I just read it on the Internet, at twitter timeline on the news site. I also didn't know the contents of Obama's speech when  he was treated to a dinner at the palace. I was watching on youtube the day after Obama left Indonesia. It turned out that Barrack Obama is a very low profile. He even said "pulang kampung nih" interrupted his speech. He still likes the foods of Indonesia and he
still remember the call of the vendors, he said “satay” “baso”. His Indonesian language also still fluent. When he began and ended his speech he said: "Assalaamualaikum" and "wassalaamualaikum". He is a person who really appreciate the diversity of tribes and religions in Indonesia. But, There are also many Jakarta residents who felt disturbed over the coming Barrack Obama to Indonesia because many of main streets of Jakarta are closed and caused the traffic jam. Obama's arrival also makes aired on televisions news about developments of
refugees in the Merapi and Mentawai were less exposed. But Obama said that our thoughts and prayers are with all of those Indonesian people who are affected by the recent Tsunamis and the Volcanic Eruptions, particularly those who've lost loved ones, and those who've been displaced. After giving his speech to the students at the University of Indonesia, Obama directly went to Halim Perdanakusuma Airport and left for Seoul, South Korea. Obama canceled his plan to visit Kalibata Heroes Cemetery with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono because of the ongoing eruption of Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta forced US President Barack Obama to cut short his whirlwind Indonesian visit on Wednesday and depart several hours ahead of schedule. It is also a joke for some people, because if he wants to visit Jakarta for more than 24 hours, he must report to Rukun Tetangga officers. After obama coming to Indonesia, many people said "many presidents win a vote but Obama wins a heart" and I adore mr. Barack Obama a lot. I hope that after the arrival of Barack Obama to Indonesia, not only "satay' and "meat ball" are being favorite Indonesian dishes of Obama worldwide, but also the Indonesian tourism, and the religious harmony in Indonesia will getting better.
Vocabulary :
 * Safeguards : Something that is designed to protect people from harm, risk or danger
 * Treated : To pay for something that somebody or you will enjoy and that you do not usually have or do
 * Vendors : Person who sells things ex: food or newspaper
 * Fluent : Able to speak or write a language, especially a foreign language, easily and well
 * Diversity : A range of many people or things that are very different from each other
 * Tribes : A group of people of the same race, and with the same costums, language, religion, etc.
 * Refugees : A person who has been forced to leave their country or home, because there is a war or for 
                       political, religious or social reasons
 * Affected : A person or their behavior
 * Ongoing : Continuing to exist or develop
 * Whirldwind : Happening very fast
 * Worldwide : Affecting all parts of the world

My Difficulty in Learning English

         When I just knew English, I feel confused and I thought English is an odd language, isn't it?. There is no egg in the eggplant, no ham in a hamburger and neither pine nor apple in the pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England, French fries were not invented in France. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery? Why is the man who invests all his / your money called a broker?. Then my parents gave me an understanding and enrolling in Laboratorium Bahasa Asing Halim Perdana Kusuma. At that time, step by step I tried to use English in my daily life. And I felt English language is not a strange language.
         When I was at the elementary school, I began to learn about grammar and I started to find difficulty in learning English. Until now, I think grammar is the hardest part in learning English language.
         Honestly, I feel That grammar has changed from so "flexible" that I Sometimes have a hard time telling Pls something is right, wrong, or right but just not how I would say it. Even though I am far from immune to the occasional grammatical slip,it's just annoying to see people consistently use WHO, spell and speak Bahasa incorrectly without caring at all about how stupid it makes them sound. These are usually the WHO Same people wonder why no one ever takes Them Seriously.
         And now I must learn and understand grammar, to complement my English language skills.

Vocabulary :
*Odd                : Strange or unusual
*Invented       : To produce or design something that has not existed before
*Infants          : A baby or very young child
*Enrolling       : to arrange for yourself or for somebody else to officially join a course,school, etc
*Complement : To add to something in a way to improves it or makes it more attractive

My Activities In My Leisure Time

  In my leisure time, I usually take that time to take a rest or meet my old friends. We like to visit cinema or music store. Sometimes I stay at my home and watching DVD or listening music because that activities indirectly increase my English listening. And then, I surfed the internet to find the new article or to update a news. Beside that, I spend time together and to share each other. But if I have an assignment, I do it in my leisure time.

Humor's Healing Power

It is a joke that humor can ease pain and help healing. More and more doctors, nurses, and helath care workers believe in the healing power of humor. Medical research has shown that laughter can improve physical and mental health as well as cure various diseases. Don't worry if you think you are not into humor because both spontaneous and stimulated laughter have equal healing powers. Read on to find out more about what the therapeutic benefits of humor are and how it can heal illness.

A lot of medical studies have shown the healing power of humor. Lee Berk, M.D.'s years of study has proven that laughter has a significant role in figthing viruses, bacteria, cancer, and heart diseases. In his book, Health, Healing and the Amuse System, Dr. Paul E. McGhee wrote that laughter lowers blood pressure and tress hormones in the blood. "It also reduces pain and strengthens  the immune system. the natural killer cells in the body increase in number and become active. They seek and destroy tumor cells, "added McGhee, Lisa T. Wessan, a certified social worker, stated that laughter increases oxygen supply to the brain and improves memory and cognition. in addition, it relaxes muscles, releases toxins and stress, and helps people to cope. laughter can also provide cardiovascular benefits. William Fry Jr, M.D., a psychiatrist from Standford University, found that 15 minutes of laughter equals 10 minutes on a rowing machine and 15 minutes on a stationary bike in reaching the same heart pulse rate. laughter is as good as exercise.

Considering the benefits of laughter to our health, we need to learn to laugh at ourselves or at least to see humor in difficult situations. Unfortunately, our daily life does not always give us enough reasons to laugh. Continuous stress also seems to make some people forget how to laugh. Some others just do not have a sense others just do not have a sense of humor.

Most of us do not know that the healing power of humor originates not only from spotaneous but also from stimulated laughter. Both kind of laughter are always effective. This is exactly the reason why some people join laughter or comedy clubs. There are about 1,300 of them all over the world. These clubs aim at helping people learn how to stimulate laughter anytime they need to. "Laughing together without reason for a healthy life" is a concept promoted by the followers of laughter therapy, A typical laughter session does not even involve jokes. It requires people simply to laugh, stretch their no body, and do various breathing exercises. In this session the participants do not have to laugh their heads off, a simple giggle or chuckle will do. Even more anticipation of laughing could help. In one of this researches, Berk tested 16 healthy men. Only half of the men were told that in three days time they would see a comedy video. The members of this group experienced a drop in stress hormones and an increase in chemicals taht benefit in immune system. These changes became even more noticeable as it got closer to show time.

So, are you in need of a spirit and health boost without a prescription? Then laugh more because laughter is as important to your well-being as frequent exercise, good nutrition, and enough rest. And remember what William James, a spiritual psychologist, once said, "We don't laugh because we're happy, but we're happy because we laugh."

Vocabulary :
  • Ease             : Lack of difficulty
  • Cognition     : The process by which knowledge or understanding of something
  • Requires      : To depend on somebody or something
  • Giggle         :  To laugh in a silly way because you are amused, embarrassed or nervous
  • Prescription : An official piece of paper on which a doctor writes the type of medicine



                                                                                                               

My Experience

  Eid Mubarak always be a special moment for every Muslims. They fast in the whole month of Ramadhan. For more citizens of Indonesia, it’s time for family gathering.

  This year, Eid Mubarak was very special moment for me, because I met my big family and I got
new experiences. At the first and second day of eid I visited my family to forgive each other.
When I visited my father’s cousin at Solo, in his house there are the fossils of primordial man,
he told me that he found them several years ago at Bengawan solo. Then he was interviewed by
local newspaper there. Some foreigners have ever come to his house to see the fossils. Someone
tried to steal a skul, but he returned it soon because he was afraid at that time.

   At the fourth day, when me and my cousins were having some conversations, we felt a small
earthquake, but my grandparents said: it usually Happen in Jogjakarta since a big earthquake a few
years ago. In the afternoon, after we took my uncle to the airport, my family went to the top of
Merapi's mountain. We look around Merbabu and Merapi mountain and we took many pictures
there.
 



 
At the next day, we were shopping at the market of Malioboro and Beringharjo, then we go
back to Jakarta.
 
                
Vocabulary :
                *Citizens        : Person who has full right as a member of a country
                *Gathering    :  A meeting of people for a particular pupose
                *Primordial    : Existing at or from the beginning of the world
                *Foreigners   : A person who comes from a different country
                *Earthquake  : Violent shaking of the earth’s surface
 

Reading for pleasure

Reading for pleasure is not the same as studying. You do not have to remember everything. There are no tests on book you read for pleasure. It is more interesting because you can choose your own book.
Reading for pleasure very impotant to learning English. It will help you to :

  • Read faster in English
  • Find examples of good writing in English
  • Learn how English speakers use English
  • Learn about the culture of English speakers
The first step to find a good book. Look for a book that is interesting to you. Find one that seems easy. Read some stories and novels. Read some books with facts and information. If you read both kinds of books you will learn English faster and better.