Dinner with Speed Dating

Speed dating in NESO office ???

(Kenapa Mbak Asih manyun ya, hehehehe ...)

Andrew introduce us to make speed-dating activity in class, 3 minutes to meet a lifetime partner !? Hmmmm... sound quite not make sense ya? But, we did that. It is quite heavy to decide someone fit with you through that express chat.

And then, "the best" part is writing an imagine follow up from that speed-dating. Again, my problems with writing are as follow:
1. Miss spelling: partner, a bouquet, gorgeous.
2. Preposition: Not in, but "at" the JW Marriot, at my apartment, at that dinner, by one's personality
3. Subject-Verb Agreement: was/were
4. Tenses: Say instead of Said,

Anway, have a read !! Andrew mark it as a very romantic story, well done. Hmmmm...?

Sweet Dinners with

My Speed-Dating

Last week was one of the best dinners I ever had !!What a big surprise ! Barry called me to attend a prestigious dinner with his business partners at the JW Marriot. Why should I said NO ? Somehow, I had no beautiful dress for this opening new company's dinner. Barry, my hero, called me for a little shopping in Kelapa Gading. He said that he needed my advice on clothes. So ..., that's why.., finally I stood in a very wonderful dress, a royal blue with silver strip dress, from a very well-known boutique. I thought we were a king and queen of that dinner. Everybody congratulated Barry for his's new office while I smiled all the time standing beside him.

It was a very wonderful night. Barry came to pick me up at my apartement. When I opended the door, he was standing with a smile and holding a bouquet of roses. He looked gorgeous, gentle and cool. He gave me a slight kiss on my forehead when handing me the flowers and whispering that I looked amazing. I felt safe when he just touch my eyes. I knew that he was a noble man. "Thank you. You look great !" I told him with a smile.

Then, we walked down stairs. He held my hand gently and carefully. How I wish it was forever. Opening the car's door politely, he asked me get in as a lady. I felt like I was in heaven when he drive slowly with nice musics and sofly talked about his business. He looked mature and quite serious for me. However, he had a good sense of humour and low profile.

Everything was perfect at that night, many food and popular people come around. I spoke with one personnel of previous "KLA Project", Katon Bagaskara. Apparently, he was one of Barry's best friends. I was so amazed by Barry's personality, network and business. I felt lucky came to speed-dating and met him. We returned home, and I woke up. ...... It was a dream only, hehehe ...

My life goes along My study

A proud tall-tree in Jelai's camp

My Life goes along

with My Study

There are many special moments in my life. I guess, I should write my own book as they were all so special. Times flies, I heard people say so. It was difficult for me to understand, but now I get the point. When I look back, I realize how fast my times has flown. I 've had many special moments far before I went junior high school in Buntok, my original-beloved hometown. But, let me start from that point, junior high school.

I remember that day very well, a morning in early June. I woke up far earlier than usual. It was an exciting day, I wore blue-white uniform !! This was my dream uniform. I wanted to gain more freedom like my elder sister. I wanted to go out and hang out with friends more often without much complaints from my mum. I thought she gained that since she used that uniform. Yes, I couldn't wait for my freedom to walked around with friends like my sister. On the third grade, the end of my study, I was chosen to represent my school with two others students, Bilivson and Nita, an ideology competition, called P4. I never considered my self special, smart or diligent. I had a simple world with three or four best friends. I questioned why I was chosen as there were many far more diligent, richer, and more beautiful students. To my surprise, we were the best team in Central Kalimantan. We won and went to Jakarta to represent our province. I was not a confident girl, but that competition helped me to realize my potential.

I went to continue my study in senior agricultural school of Kuala Kapuas I was still searching for freedom. It was a challenging and I was very happy. I stayed in a dormitory with many friends. We shared everything, good and bad times, happy and cheerful moments, developed strong and meaningful relationship with each other. I studied agronomy and enjoyed a lot of planting practices, -paddy, chili, tomato, fruits, etc- both in green house, laboratory and in the field. Somehow, at the end of my study, I realized that I was not patient enough to wait all my plants grew. So, I decided to change my major in university.

I studied about socio economics agricultural in Palangka Raya University. By this times, I know that I have chosen the right program. It suits my personalities and hobbies. I like meeting people better than seed and soil. I like to talk about marketing rather than production of agriculture products. I prefer to understand why certain people act differently than different growth of plants. I continue on this path, working with and for people, yet I have no significant contribution to over come any agricultural problems in my province.


I think, choosing a major is quite an important decision. It could affect our future work and life, quite significantly. I am glad that I am on the right track. Now, I am pursuing my dreams to study in Holland. I hope I can learn a lot more, and when I come back, I could be more useful for others. This year, 2009, will be a big and new path of my life.



Jakarta, 27 February 2009

By. Mayang Meilantina

Pasaraya Manggarai & Alfamart

Pasaraya Manggarai & Alfamart


There are two big departements store close to where I stay; Pasaraya Manggarai and Alfamart. I feel very lucky as I can easily find many things that I need in this two places. However, I think they both provide different satisfaction and facility for me.

Pasaraya Manggarai is bigger but further than Alfamart. It provides more shopping options than the latter. I used to go to Pasaraya Manggarai whenever I need to reload my monthly's supply. They sells almost complete things of what I need such as stationery, food, cosmetiques, fresh vegetables, fruits, and others. Many kinds of fast food also available, for instance KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, oriental and local food. Other facility that available is ATM Center which is very helpful to me. Whenever I need cash, I just run to this machine. All of this make me think that Pasaraya is a very good place for big shopping and to try different type of cuisines. Unfortunately, they are mostly more expensive and it is quite a distance. Sometimes, after too tired of long shopping, me and my friends take a Bajaj, a local transport, to bring us back home.

Alfamart is smaller but closer to my house. I surprice as they also provided many product that I used to bought in Pasaraya. They use AC cooling system and self-services method that makes it is also a comfortable places for shopping. To my observation, this store sells as good as like in Pasaraya for fresh fruits, vegetables, and a range of food, snack and soft drink. It is a walk distance. In fact, it is much easier as I do not have to cross a scary and busy street as if I went to Pasaraya. I find it is much comfortable and easy for me to do shopping in Alfamart.

Considering this two places, I think that I will go to Pasaraya only for big shopping and withdraw money, moreover for daily shopping I prefer go to Alfamart as it is close and safe.

By. Mayang Meilantina
Jakarta, 19 March 2009

Going back home !!! La la

My beloved family n Mum in P.Raya

(Sweet gathering on my way back to Jkt, again ...)

Going Back Home

Never cross in mind, I will see Kahayan bridges again, ... this soon.
4,5 months is compulsory, and I take it for granted.

Yet, I am coming home, tomorrow !!!
Wowwww.... what a nice surprise.

Can't wait to see blue sky, sun shining, green forest, and muddy river of my land
Can't wait to eat without pay every single meat, every single days
Can't wait to jump on my motor-bike and walk around in my town,
free as a bird, move as fast the wind, take control of my direction

Can't wait to hanging around in street boulevard for grill corn, juice and ginger drinks.
And talk, and chat, and share, and laugh with my best friends and family !!
Can't wait to see my house, my room, my bed, my pillow, my lazy n easy times
Can't wait to lay down in front of TV and watch movies till very late of the night

Can't wait to check around; my mothers small chicken's farms,- it was annoying, but now I miss it-, my cousin mini orchid garden, my sister new puppy, my messy garden,
Can't wait asking my sister to make cake, and I will make my favorite fruits cocktail
Yes, I can't wait for Es teller Lapangan Tembak too... hehehehe.

Can't wait to hug and kiss my beloved, niece
Listen to her story and comments, walking around with her, and on

Can't wait for tomorrow !!

Jakarta, I love you !?

In Contrast

Yellow, Green, Blue and White

(I getcha you, yellow bus !! My shot from Ratu Plaza: )

Jakarta, I love you !?

"I would never be love to stay in Jakarta !". I kept telling this to everyone after visit Jakarta for works. It always took me hours return home to Fatmawati. I didn't understand how people could bear sitting hours in taxis, crowed busses, and motorcycle; stucked in traffic jam on hot and polluted air, expennsive food, no sun shining, no fresh air, salty water, uhhhh ... Why people could stand for it ??

I am not comfortable to see huge gap between, all most of everything; beggars and people in fancy cars and excellent mall, mighty tall building and under bridges hut, crazy expensive lunch and daily maid foods. Ohhh ...., Jakarta will be my last options to stay; I had decide so. I am sure, there will be nothing could change my mind.

Welll..., thinks changes. One months in Jakarta has bring me into different ideas and experience. Its change my mind of Jakarta. This is fun city, indeed !! Easy and cheap access to everywhere, -thanks to TransJakarta projects-, cheap food around the places, and ... of course many hang out places, -shopping mall and cinema-, and I can keep walk easily and in short time from my house to English course.

Taking English course in Jakarta has changes my opinion about this big tomato. Despite huge gap on wealthy and individualistic, there is many humanity side on this business city. I still can find friendship that cost nothing, I can share laughter and sad things at the same times. Jakarta is just like another human places to live for family and friendship.

I am not fans of this president's city, somehow, I sure that I am getting along more and more into this crowded and polluted environment. I enjoyed this city, I have to say so.

Thanks to this wonderfull opportunity to experience others side of this big bubble

Child-Labor and Sweatshop

Andrew is asking class to make a writing on Child-labor and Sweatshop for 250 words in 40 minutes. This is very useful and interesting tasks. He corrected and give comment on our paper, so that we could learn our mistakes and encourage to write more. I have problems with words form (noun, verb, and adjectives), articles, plural and singular form, and tenses. Overal, he commented my writing has a logical argument and clear structure. I get 7,5 for this writing.

The Benefit of Child-Labor

and Sweatshops

Outweigh the Drawbacks

Childhood is supposed to be a happy, playful, learning and enjoyable times for children whoever and wherever they are; boy or girl, rich or poor. However, it is not always the cases, especially for children who grow and live in poverty. We can see them in many big cities like in Jakarta, Surabaya, Semarang, Makasar, etc. They are not just in Indonesia, a developing country; but also in many others countries, developed and developing countries, like in America, Canada; and China, India, Honduras, etc.

Children who live in poverty should help their family to earn money. We can see them work on the streets as beggars, shoes-poolishers, selling newspapers or food, etc. Somehow, these kinds of work provide no certainity and low income on a daily basis. Sweatshops would be a better options for them. They provide a stable income that would be more useful to help their family for example to pay rent, buy food, or even to send their brother or sister to school.

However, as they work in a sweatshop or in the streets, those children will lose their opportunity to study and to develop both physically and mentally. Children who work in bad and dangerous environments will more likely suffer health problems especially if they should work long hours, carry or lift heavy equipment, bad air circulation, hot or dirty and dusty environment, etc. Work pressure will also contribute to their mental and characters.

If children have no opportunity to go to school, this will became an unbreakable chain of poverty. Without good education, it will be more difficult for them to change their lives and move away from poverty. I think governments should make regulations to provide education for the poor both child-labors in sweatshops and on the street. These regulations has also avoid under age or child-labor to work in sweatshops before age 15 and has graduated from junior high school. By providing free education, governments will help poor children prepare and gain better future to avoid them keep living in poverty.

Finally, considering benefit and drawback of child-labor, I will not stand to support child-labor. I rather put burden on government to pay serious attention on this problems and provide free education for them.