Met A New Friend from Lombok

If you check my posts last year, or maybe last two years, you would find my story about Lombok, but this time was different. This journey to Lombok brought a different meaning for me. I met a new friend of mine. Amazing friend. Talks, laugh, experience and cry, all were so exciting until I forgot to take a picture of us together.


I believe everything in my life does not happen for no reasons. You may get boring but I am surely bringing this universe thingy this time :p �again-. Universe provides all we need and just come at the right time. God never plays dice. Yeah, Einstein, thanks Sir! At least your idea about universe keeps me to not give up on my will. Anyway, my meeting with this new friend from Lombok happened in very unique way. I knew her from a senior researcher in office. The way I met this senior researcher was very unique as well. You know, my first year in this office was a bit disaster, misused administrative stuffs,  unclear research basics, lack of participation, and many people think me as abnormal geek. They stared weirldy and said �O my God, what the hell are you reading? You remind me of someone who used to be here and she will surely come soon,� Some people in office told me that the way and topics I talk and my face were almost similar with this senior officer who is Mbak Kris. I never met her before, because she was finishing her master degree in Japan. When I met her for first time, we were just connected easily. We both like traveling abroad alone and some nerd books. She gave me a book at my last birthday. She said; �Happy birthday! This is a good book, surely you would like it, and I want you to have it,� As someone who deeply understands what 'a good book' means, I know what an honor it is to receive end of such kindness. She gave me �The Power of Habit�, a book from Charles Duhigg. You can read my review about that book here.


So, kids, thats how I met Mbak Kris, my senior officer. Lol! Yes, I was intending to explain about someone else. Sorry, when my blog gives me spaces to write freely, it drives me crazy and I got the cells in my brain mixed just because each story is connected. Go back again to my story meeting this new friend from Lombok. She met Mbak Kris accidentally when Mba Kris was on duty in Lombok. Her name is Mbak Nursyida. In Indonesia, especially ini Javanese culture, you add �Mbak� before the name to call sister or woman older than you.

Mbak Nursyida has graduated from education development subject. She is worrying about Indonesian education system thats why she started to develop Sekolah Alam Anak Negeri (Anak Negeri Natural School) with Mbak Kris. It is happening in Indonesia. According to some practices in US, natural school recognizes the benefits of providing a complete educational experience. It is like deconstructing the meaning of education that should empower, rise humanity and environmental justice. It has been not easy though to build that small community, there are obstacles even from lack of government support. But now she is still consistent promoting how important reading and knowledge to build the community is. She accepted many aids from media and friends that are coming from different groups. While, providing good education is government main task. Government main task! Thats kinda ironic for me because I know the fact that local government there blamed her because they think she is trying to commit to a political movement and she is trying to make the community move to christianity than muslims.


What the hell is that? She is a good muslim though, and yeah we are Indonesia. Why are muslims too insecure that people will change them if they feel they have strong faith? Converting to christiant or chatholic or Hindhu is not that easy as saying two shahadat. Even my dad was a christiant he never forced me and my family never forced anything. In fact, she has built the community and make many women there empowered, they got job, I mean they have strong enterpreneurship and they are growing to be financially independent, and kids are all above average in formal school. Finally I realized that change needs movement, movement means friction, and she knows very well how to deal and get used to it. You can contact her on facebook here.

In that day, we shared many stories, I listened to her for hours and I didn�t feel boring. She is just amazing and I am touched because she treated me like family though we never met before. She asked me to spent the nights in her home and kids, she introduced me to her big family, they shared private stories to me and they shared stories about how they collect for livelihood in traditional community there including conflicts of the society in coastal area.


In another chance, I have the opportunity to teach and inspire the kids there. Many of them are kids of Indonesian migrant workers and I am impressed by their eagerness to learn something new and curiousity. I know it is hard to grow without parents who has been leaving you for many years with no means of communication at all. So, I shared my dreams, how is it to be Junior Researcher, I introduced them to Einstein, Curie, Habibie and Sosrobahu through movies to raise their dreams. For me, creating own imagination of future is important as Einstein said, God never plays dice, our thoughts are part of the universe formula in the future.

I the end of the moment, I am impressed by their drawing and works of their future dreams. :�)

So.. thats my story of meeting two good and sincere people who always inspire me to always do good things, no matter how others refuse you. They are true gold. Just like Lao Tzu said; when pure sincerity forms within, it is outwardly realized in other people�s hearts. Mbak Nursyida, thanks for the beautiful sunsets, best food and sincere hospitality! :�)