Sunday II

Another Pics of Today


Me and Jinli


Jinli and Adriana


Emilio, Jinli and Me


Emilio, Adriana and Me


White House


Kitty, Emilio and Quinn


White House


Karin's Mom


Jinli, Adriana, Tashi and Miwa (Karin and Her Mom)


Chamroen


At the Fence of White HOuse


Tamara and Yulia



Another Pics of today

Washington, Sunday, Oct 23, 2005
Second Day


Here I am at the heart of USA


At White House



In the Garden of White House Complex


Chamroen


Me, Vietnam War Memorial


I remembered Forest Gump here


Miyuki


Me and Miyuki


Emilio





Starla (Adriana, Karin and her MOm)

Washington, Sunday, October 23, 2005
Second Day

Today, I was late to wake up. But fortunately, I was not the only. I suddenly grab my key and went down to lobby. In the elevator I found Adriana, Zarina, Tashi, Anne, and Pearl were same with me. And then we went to Alumni Meeting at Tony and Joe Restaurant in George Town. It’s on the river side and it’s awesome. It’s wonderful place to visit. We had gathering and lunch there. I didn’t bring with me camera. So I just depend on the fellow’s and Gene’s camera. I spoke with some Alumni there. Jessie Ross, Stephanie, Black. And the most important is I met Rosida Nababan. After no communication at all since arrival here, I met her finally. She is in Iowa now with her husband. It’s glad to meet her. Some of the Alumni live here in Washington but most of them are from New York and California. The alumni’s meeting is interesting so that we have connection (network) with them.

After the lunch, we went back to hotel. Taking my camcorder and we continued our tour in town. Washington is very interesting. We went to National Cathedral, a huge cathedral then to White House and Memorial Park. The interesting thing I found in memorial park is that it reminded me the Forest Gump movie. It’s clear in my mind in the pond when Forest and her girl friend across the pond and everybody applaud. I watched the Forest Gump in 1994 but still found the place. It’s on the film.

Well, actually, I just wonder why US built this war memorial. In case to avoid the killing of its army in the war, why does it keep creating new war? The died should be enough.

We went back to hotel around 5:45 and then I come here for posting the blogs in Soho. Peter went for an adventure...

********************

Washington, Here We Are

Washington, Here Am I.
First Day

Arriving here in Washington DC this morning at 9:20 after 1 hour transit in Chicago, O’Hare Airport. It was light raining and cold. I really excited and instead of wearing my jacket I only wore the t-shirt. I just wanted to feel the air of Washington and yes I felt fresh. On the way to Hotel, I saw Capital State and White House. In the cold weather people have activity on the field and beach. Slightly, Washington was interesting. Soon after we checked in at DuPont Circle Hotel, I unpacked my clothes and taking shower. Peter checked the TV service and its connection into his camcorder. We soon than headed for lunch while some other were still in lobby waiting for their room’s availability.

We had lunch at a Thai Resto after taking a walk after a while. I found that Washington is far different from the Hawaii. Well, people here don’t not really obey all the traffic rules; nor the walker neither the driver. It’s far different from the Hawaii in which where you wait all the traffic sign before you move. Horns are usual. Here, people just cross the read even though the sign do not allow them yet. Yeah.. The people here are also very diverse. If Hawaii are diverse by Asian and Western, here more Western and international.

Washington is a different one. I went to Soho, a café corner here and I found interesting there. On Saturday and Sunday the let people smoking there. Lesbian are there hanging around and it seems like that’s okay. Man, never found this place in Hawaii. They have café and free wireless internet café. I went there couple times this day. I really like it. And I really feel that I like the life of big city just like here. I don’t go yet to New York but I can imagine that I like that kind of life, a city life. It makes you alive man…

Soon after from Soho, I saw Aleyamma, Monique and Sheena arrived. They left the plane but fortunately they arrived here now.


In the afternoon then I had a sms from my staff. Another problem in my home country. He reported me two couple important things. First it’s about the visiting of Frans the Director of TdH and Philips Man. They will visit Nias in the middle of November to see how the project they funded going on. I think they are satisfied for our works. And I’m thinking of going back to see them there. But again, I need deep thinking about it. I’m not pretty sure if I’m allowed by EWC for this or not. Secondly are my other suck board members. Two of them plus one. Turunan, Eman and Eli. I don’t understand these stupid ones. Eman and Eli get their salaries without doing anything and they still want to disturb us. They don’t even do anything for LPAM. But they pretend that they are the hero.. Man... Bullshit. Fortunately, Yuris, my Program Manger, convinced me that he can solve this problem. That’s good. It’s a kind of relief. I gave him a talk but 5 dollars phone card was ended and then I need to talk to him tomorrow again.

Jamal went by to our room and we had great conversation. I like this guy. He doesn’t talk air. He really proved what we discussed about solidarity among friend how to help Kitty and Basu to come here along as an Ohana (family). He took initiative to make the Promissory Note we signed and sent to EWC so the two of our friends can come along with us here now in Washington. I like this guy. He has idealism.

****************

Mello..

Mello Feeling..
You know what? It suddenly comes up a feeling that I will miss this program. I will miss everything here; the great friends here, the dynamic of class, the beautiful Hawaii, the time I spend alone and together with friends and all the things I experiences here. I don’t know why but perhaps it’s because the pics sent by Gene when we were on the field trip; me, Jinli, Adriana and Gene. Gene will move to head the other dept too. Hmm,,.. I become mello.. Duh,… And I have been here for almost 3 months. And it means that I still have less than 3 months more. Hmm… I will always remember these..

**************************

Starting the hike




Me, Adriana and Jinli


Plus Gene, The Hike Coordinator, :)






On the way with flower


Berry for free..


On the top of the mountain


Honolulu from here



*********************************


Kenny Endo Performance
Last Sunday, I and Adriana went to Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble held at Hawaiian Theater Center. Finally, I saw the Kenny Endo performance. When I was organizing a tour of our folk arts group to Bulgaria (it failed, anyway), I discussed much with Bang Irwansyah, the ethnomusicology professor of North Sumatra University. Then I knew about the Kenny Endo from the brochure he brought from here, US (UCLA). I did search about it in internet and found interesting and wish to see that. And yes, last Sunday, Oct 16,.. wow.. it was just great. They had a great performance for the drumming. They are really professional.

It inspired me a lot. And I can’t stop it. Finally, I took the pics and completed the old brochure of the group. I will carry with me in Washington and I have a plan to visit Smithsonian for possibility of the performance. Or at least, I will make a new network with them so that someday, we can have a performance here in US. There was a performance about Nias here in 1994. Yeah, it was almost 11 years ago. Let’s see how things going on with this plan. But it is this performance provoked me. As I also have a plan to build a business and then things come up in my mind. I think these two things can be mixed or at least, it’s not contradictive. I have a plan to build a business on internet based too.. Hmmm… well… Richdad.com giving me this idea.


**************************

ERASMUS MUNDUS

Starbuck Manoa
I like sitting here and do my work. It’s just beautiful. Just because this week we have a lot free time, I spend this weekend more focusing on the works. The classes were not overload this week. Well, here things go. On last Thursday night, we went to Waikiki Beach. Me, Shahin and Kira. It was my first time here to bike after years I think. Well, I remembered when I was Junior High School, that’s the often time I biked but not after that. It was until I was 15 years. It almost 18 years then.. lol. The great thing is we went there by biking and we enjoyed the night of Honolulu. It’s beautiful. Great night.

Kira. It takes time to understand this buddy. But here what I guess. We went there to sell her art works in form of pictures and other staffs such as Calendar she painted in 1998. It’s the pictures she took when she was away in China, Israel and other parts of the world and some pictures are here in United States. For me, it’s interesting to have courage to display your items on the pedestrian and hope there is a transaction there. Let’s talk about the pictures. Some of them are good and some of them are okay. But on top of that, the courage she has to sell that stuff is great. I don’t think that many people here especially we are here wants to do that. Well, many reasons for that. The end of the night activity, no sell at all. Again, I think that’s not the point. But to have the courage.

Money matter. I’m not pretty sure if selling that stuffs has something to do with money. I mean it’s not easy to live here when deals with money. Well, she told me it’s just for fun anyway but there must be other reasons. If that has something to do with money matter and then I think it’s possible. What I found here is that some of American’s buddies have a little bit probs of that. Well, everybody has prob with money.. But, it has certain different extent. The good thing of course is to have problem how to manage your money rather than to have probs how to earn the money. Just like outside there. Problems with money always two sides like the sides of a coin. First problem is how to earn money and the second thing is the problem how to spend money just because there’re too much. The fact is 95% of people deal with the first prob and the rest of 5% deal with second fact; how to spend that much money.

This buddy concerns about environment. Starting from the childhood, she concerned on it. And it was in her 15 or 17 something she painted for environmental education purpose. Until now, she still does her job on the environmental education while she’s studying here. Well that’s the great thing about it.

The pictures for sale

*****************************
Hawai’i is not the paradise at all
Another finding there in which was interesting is when we were there; there are still there the beggars. Not in Jakarta, not in Beijing but here also in Honolulu. I mean beggars are there. I took video on it. People might think that Hawai’i is the paradise but still there people who really need to be helped. I can’t figure out what the bottom line of these facts.

The beggar in front of the store

*****************************

Talking to Terry and Scott
I had a talking with Terry and Scott on the last Wednesday. Terry, well we talked about how I find Hawaii so far and how things goin on here. Of course, I told him the fact that being here is just great man. Lot things to learn; cross-culture experiences, the diversity and the fact of American life. Yeah, it was interesting talking. He explained me about Native Hawaiian and the Residents of Hawaii when I touched that point. To be honest, I told him that I need to search more about it. I mean there must be two side information about Hawaiian. So far, I heard Hawaiian told about themselves in which they are not satisfied with the federal government. Injustice., that’s the point. But how non-native Hawaiian or government people see Hawaiian is still unclear for me.

Coming to Terry’s room is much more like Indonesian rooms. Yeah, his room is full picture and stuffs about Indonesia. We are Indonesian Student here are very lucky to have him here at EWC. Thank you very much Terry. Because of you, I can come here. I am very glad to know him.

Prior to talking to Terry, I met Scott. Here’s the deal. As I said in my email that I want to be out of the main stream to learn things especially I do not want to involve in the spartly things, and the deal is yupper… Yess.,, I don’t need to join any group. I’m free of that. Anyhow, yeah, I think this is a fair deal. I have to make a kind of publication or you can say a kind of info sheet dealing with that. Well, that’s no problem for me.. I like doing that and that’s it. I will do it. I like it. I just don’t want to do what I don’t like.

*****************************
ERASMUS MUNDUS
No many things to do today. I just cleaned my room and it’s cool nowJ. Last night I was in burns for printing. I met Nilu and Eric there. I was with Shahin. Getting back, my mind could not stop; I was passionate about ERASMUS MUNDUS Master for International Humanitarian Aid. I’m doing the preparation now. At least at the end of November, I will send all the requirements. The sooner the better. So far, there is no any problem to complete all the requirements. What I found yesterday is the year of 2006/2007 is the last chances for student from Indonesia. I’m not pretty sure if they will extend that but I have to apply that as soon as possible as the deadline for the year is December 31, 2005.


Actually, my plan is to go for the degree on the year of 2007/2008. But that’s fine. If I should go there earlier than what I plan, that’s just fine. What I plan actually is going home on the end of January and completing the ongoing project, making LPAM as a better NGO, starting my own business or setting up a new NGO. That will take one and half years. By the August 2007, I complete all that matters and on the September in that year, I go for the degree. But that’s it. I mean I’m just flexible on the time as long as I do all that things as a part of my 10 year plans. There might be a change in terms of time, but that’s just okay as long as the things to do lists are still on the track to do that. At least I have prepared the entire scenario whichever comes first. The good thing is the lists to do, the things to achieve are clear. That’s the point I think.


Last night even, there was a kind of temptation to stay here more for another 1 year. And I think I know how to make it. Just getting the internship or working here for Non profit institutions. The information of the opportunity on the hub was a temptation.

*****************************
Negotiation Class

I like the Robertson’s class on the last Friday. It’s about negotiation skill on business matter. I like that case study except that I should prepare myself prior to that class. But I still found it interesting. I think I need more class about this business staffs.

Barkai’s class on the day before Robertson’s class was interesting too. It was about negotiation skill dealing with conflicts. I like that all class. Oh ya, Barkai’s way to teach was great. He used some of fun tools such as caricature and kid’s toy to attract the class and it’s not bored. I learned that methodology of teaching. I like it.

*****************************
Ready for DC.. and exploring NY…:)

From Starbuck to hopefully Europe

Love sitting here and having coffee..

Starbuck Manoa
6:30. Finally I reached this place. A little bit adventure walking around Manoa. I got up 4:15 p.m. today and checked some emails; replying and trying to catch starbucks at campus center but closed. Then I went down to university stop. But I just wanted to have coffee then I walked up to Manoa starbucks. But that’s there it went. Suddenly I met Fauzi and Rahman from Aceh. I followed them. After miles, I found them want to go for praying after fasting. I joined them until they reached the place. I supposed to join them for praying and having meal for fasting breaking but I’m just reluctant to do that. It’s not the right time to do that I think. Moreover, there’s unfinished matter of getting coffee. Then, I went down finding Manoa. Finally I reached this place. Yeah, hmm.., finally after hours walking. It’s great. I like this coffee here.

Well, now on there is no excuse about time anymore. The staffs canceled some classes and we have a lot time. Starting on last Friday until today. We have 4 and half days free time. No excuse for not having much time now. Yeah… being busy is always the easy way to get excuses to do not much here. I got the much time now and yup I spent a lot my time during these days in burns for completing my 10 years plan. And finally I’ve done of it. Yes, I sent my plan this morning to hub. It’s glad.

There’s one email from Terry. I think this man is just great. As a director of education program here I think he must be busier than me. But that’s it; he arranges time to have a lunch with me. He sent me the email and I suppose to meet him at 1 p.m. tomorrow after class. I really appreciate his personal approach. That’s the way he maintains the good relationship. I have to learn this; personal approach. I’m not pretty sure what’s the talking about tomorrow but the slightest ideas I got is just talking about how far things goin on here with me. That’s great man.. I really appreciate it Pak Terry… The way he wrote the email is great too. He called me Pak Duman :D in which for me that’s too much. But that’s the way Indonesian way to respect someone. He really understands Indonesian culture. He used to work there for years. We Indonesian here are lucky to have him at EWC. That’s why I like him though I think I do not deserve the call “Pak”. It’s too much for me. He always smiles to everybody and is humble. Thanks Pak Terry to know you. And yes, because of you that I can come here to join this valuable experiences in my life.

*************************
Scholarship Searching
Yesterday, I did search on scholarship and I found there’s an interesting scholarship information in Europe funded by EU. Master degree for International Humanitarian Aid. It’s multilingual, inter-displinary, and inter-university. I found this interesting just because first this is what I want dealing with this subject. Actually, I found others such as Non Profit Management at Webster University in Den Haag (or Amsterdam?) but I’m not pretty sure about the quality of this university. I am interested in subject related with NGO management, Sustainable Development in which are varied field too. Secondly, the teaching method moves from one campus to another campus in different countries in Europe that gives wide opportunity to know Europe better. Wow.. That’s cool man. I like this. I need to have deep search on this and hopefully apply as soon as possible. If this is clear then another step is to apply it. I have to know details about this program. I am passionate at this. I think I have good basics for this. First, I worked for Tsunami Relief Program, then another Earthquake Disaster Relief Program and Rehabilitation, my position as the Director of LPAM giving me benefit, My English is okay (I need to do my TOEFL), having cross-culture experiences here in EWC and things. Besides, I have a good network with some big international organizations such as Christian Aid in England and TdH in Netherlands. So far, we have maintained good cooperation with some UN agencies such as WFP, UNICEF, and UNHCR. That’s good credits for me. Hmm.. I have to make it up..man… Europe is next journey…J I will love it…Do I like United States? Yes, for sure.. And if I have another choice that’s must be Europe man.. I love being there.

*************************

Gonna Stopin

After the Show

Aha Mele

I went to Aha Mele show sat. night with So Youn. It was interesting. Hula dance and the combination of other music play and things like that. I enjoyed it much. Hawaiian are pretty smart to modify their traditional dance into an interesting and modern show. I secretly took video on it. :D. Got home 'n setting up things. The link.. http://www.hawaiitheatre.com/

On Sunday, nothing much I do. Except that one big thing. I think I can stop smoke. Yeah, I did. Until I was in burn at 1 a.m i didn't smoke. But, still when I passed the security post, the woman there I saw her couple days ago smoking and damn i asked her the cigarette and well.. that't the end of day of -fighting for not smoking. Anyway, i'll try hard to avoid the cigarettes man. I feel comfortable without it. yeah... It will be the second try and hope the last try to stop smoking. My first try when couple days I arrived here. This time hopefully works.

Oh ya, today I went shopping and cooked the meat. Hm.. seems like good except its salty. I mean I think the salt is too much. Different from the last cook I made, not salt taste at all. :)

But I like it man.. At least I have much things for meal in these days. And by the way, I like this small fridge. I can keep things in it without worrying somebody takes it like there in the public fridge. I lost my food couple times there and others too. But now i have this small fridge and I love it. I dont wanna be skinny forever:) U know what? One of my plan (A part of PAP) is to be >65 kg. Well, one starting point is already implemented. I love doing that PAP.

My little bit problem now is to keep awake until morning. Actuall, I plan to go to bed as early as possible so that I can get up early in the morning. But still. I keep being awake at 3 or 4 a.m. I need to change this habit. Yeah, tomorrow, I think I need to get up early and won't get any nap so that I will be very sleepy at the night and go to bed early.

Hhmm.. Yupper......

D...............

Starting Actively Posting Again

A Week

It's almost a week, i don't post anything. No becuase there is none to post but just because there a lot. That's why I love weekend. I have much time for personal things. It ain't easy to just come on the screen and write things. When you come on the screen and there are lot things to work on it; checking emails, go to the hub, browsing and that's it. Everything are there and it's hard to avoid it then. I actually try not to go the hub at weekend. It always spoils the weekend. :) And actually, we have little bit free time these days. Some classes are canceled. That's good news. In fact, it's not but yeah.. that's it..

L.D. Howell

He talked about Political Risk in one country. He's got the tool to do the political risk assessment. I like it.



This my fave spot in the corner of uni avenue and kings st.

I Enjoy My Life

There a lot fun here. A lot good friends here and few have probs with their lives (actually everybody has its own probs). But I enjoy my life. Some really concern when you're down and share with you when you're in good life or when they are in bad or good life too. I like that. But whatever it might happen, there will be good time, there will be bad time, so what? Yah, so what? I like my life. Who will complain with life here? The weather’s just good, the people are wonderful, the food are cool., the class are ok though little bit overload. On top of that, everything is just perfect. Can't complain man...


Some people when they have probs and the easy way to get out is to complain another people's life. that's funny... Man, I enjoy my life... There are some kids around that think they are the right persons to dictate my life.. LOL. Insane... Hehehehe... They have probs with their whatever there (I don't care) and then they try to blame me because I enjoy my life. For not LOGICAL reason, they want to make me pissed off. They mixed their own probs with the fact that I like my life. Despite my own probs, I enjoy being here man.. The friends here are just good. I never enjoy being with these such friends here.. LOL... Man.. :D
It won't bother me anyway.. That's funny.
I like my life.


Today I enjoyed my class with Barker about Indonesian. What I like is simple. He can put the scattered facts of Indonesia to be one good presentation. He was passionate to talk too. I like it. After the class, I talked with him a little bit and he offered me to have lunch sometimes. I think I like the way he thinks. Actually, I couple time met him there in burns but just passing by.


Then in afternoon, i had a consultation with Nick. I really like this buddy. He's really open-minded and wise. I talked about my future plans with him. He suggested me to complete my assignment left behind as well. Thanks Nick.
I enjoy my life...


I went to Burns for printing and on the way to dorms I met Su Youn. This buddy is really a truly friend. We went walking talking about her plan. She’s passionate to work with UNESCO Youth section. That’s cool man. She said our last conversation in burns couple days ago inspired her. Hmm.. well.., go get ur dream man.. it’s there next door…

Something Missing in Someone’s

Anne and Blaine

Hmm.. That was cool

Friday Potlatch, September 31.
After the afternoon’s class, I and Yulia had a big project of preparing for the Potlatch. I think I can make the Russian or Uzbekistan (?) Salad next time. It was not that difficult I think. She made “Plov” (?).

It was a good social gatherings. But then, we though the party was just started when the potlatch ended. Then we went to Indigo. I like that Long Island Iced Tea there. It was good. I should have another one. But then we went to other Restaurant for coffee. It was closed to Waikiki Beach I think. Eric was the place we complaint for. J Jamal and me were little bit on (no much), and we just said what we said. Well, sorry Eric., but we thought that you were just the right person on the right place… :D We went back at 2:30. It was good. In the morning, Yulia’s call waked me up.

Here's the Potlatch Pics

Potlatch


Miyuki and Prakash
Hey Miyuki, Quinn said that there's somethin in your jokes:)
Prakash was supposed to go along with us today


Alapaki, (in the middle (?) Forgive me I forgot ur name) and Miwa


Pearl, Ginny and Blaine


Charity, Prakash, Me and Pearl


Eric and Starla



See that? Man...

Yesterday, Saturday October 1, 2005.

Ah, Yulia. This buddy is other one. A typical of loyal buddy I think. We went to Ala Moana mall. Actually that day, Saturday, we planned to go to Zoo but because we got up late, she gave me a call lately (she got up late tooJ). And we changed the plan to go to Ala Moana Mall. I want just to buy perfume (cologne?) there. We went there. We had coffee at starbucks first. By the way, I like the starbucks coffee. I bought the perfume in the mall and I think I like it. Then we went down for t-shirt shopping. We went to Wal-Mart’s too to buy couple things and to Rozz.. I found my CD Case there in Rozz. Getting back to the dorms by 5:30

I think she’s a kind of concerning for others. She could be a good time-keeper too :D Hehehe,.. Sorry man., but I just think you are little bit tight with time. Well,. That’s good of course. Yeah, I’m just not accustomed to it and I know I have to. The funny thing was the fact about the time. I told her how a manager like you or a director like me are pushed in the tight timetable like what we have now and they told us what to do or not to do. Again, her “wise-mind” came out automatically. She said, we are here as students not as a manager or whatever and that’s why we should follow the rules :D … That’s a little bit funny.. yeah, little.. And she shared couple things her mind with me. That’s cool. I like it.

Yulia

--------
At the night, after finally I did my “room cleaning”, I, Ashwin and Rahul – Hale Kuahine Friendto- we went to Magoos. It was a lot fun. After we had “Killian” (?) we had Long Island with Iced Tea but that’s the funny things started. We had the Long Island for two bucks and we laughed at each other. It was not Long Island man., it was “Small Island” which it seems like “Long Island”. It didn’t taste like Long Island Iced Tea rather than just like other drinking. Ashwin said his beer was just like water :D. Then we had another very good drink. Damn, I always forgot the names. But it was “double hit-effect” man.. I liked it. Well, finally it works… Yeah, It works… We enjoyed the night..

Getting back to dorms, I didn’t forget to pick my clothes up from the drying machine, doing some blogs and listened to couple of music and then to bed and I remembered the Quinn’s call waked me up.

**********************************

Today, Sunday with Quinn

I really enjoyed my weekend. So far, it’s one of the best of weekends I have here. I’ve just got back. For the whole this day, I spent my day with Quinn. 10:30 he picked me up from Hale Manoa and we headed to Word of Life. It’s church, by the way. We spent around 2 hours there. Here’s what I found about church. Almost two months here and I went to four churches in Hawai’i. This last church we went in this afternoon really changed my perspective on Christianity here. Well, the first two churches I went in week ago were empty in the sense that only few attended. The third church I went with Hye Sung were almost old people and kids. This last one really changed my mind about Christianity here. Thousands attending the church. The point is that I found that American is still Christian majority believers. I even heard from Quinn that the Word of Life was only one of those big churches in Hawai’i.

Again, though I realize that most (?) of young Americans do not attend church and even many of them they are not stronger-faith of Christianity and not few do not believe in God but still there are many around whose strong-faith in Christianity.

Then, we headed to one of the big supermarket we were never introduced by orientation days. It was great. It’s name is … oh man, I can’t even remember it,.. But you can buy things there cheaper than you might expect. We had pizza for the lunch and it was cool. Only for 10 bucks, you got big pizza. You can eat it for two days man..:D

Then, Quinn showed me the “hidden place” of Honolulu. It was awesome. From the hilly housing complex, you can see the beauty of Honolulu. It was just beautiful there man.. It was private but somehow, Quinn can access the place. From the place you can see the real bright blue sky and the blue sea of Honolulu. It was just beautiful. The houses there were great with the every moment view. Hmmm…… I think I like this kind of house with the sea view.
And then we went to White Sandy Beach in which it was great not for swimming anyway but to feel the kicking wave of the Honolulu Sea. We spent hours there.

Going back, we went to Starbuck having some coffee there in the Marina things and went around seeing the “private housings” there again. It was just great. To live outside there, man.. I can tell you it was just like living on the real paradise. I can feel it. Then we headed to his friend apartment in which was great too. This buddy, a Hawaiian works for the state office. He was cool. We went go for dinner in a Thai Resto and it was cool. We planned to go to the movie but I decided just to go back to dorms and they went to Drugs Store and planned to keep going to the movie. Here me now I got back to the real life again, my “beautiful and tiny” dorms. Along the day, Quinn played some Hawaiian songs in which I think I liked it very much.

Here is what I found then. I know that Quinn gets hard times to get along with the folks in APLP. And yes, I rarely found anybody really eager to talk to him. Even if they tried, but all the conclusion was not a good news for Quinn, of course.:D I talked to Quinn too for sure, but it did not bother me to listen to him. Perhaps, it’s just because I always believe there is something in someone’s else. And yes, I actually long time had planned to spend a day with him to know what in his mind is actually and it happened today. Again, just like others, I believe there must be “something” in everybody’s to listen to. What I found in Quinn today was first he was a kind of man whose something big in his mind. I know that it was not easy to dig out what’s fully under his mind but I can say that he is a kind of ambitious man in which I think that’s normal. Well, you need that when you want to achieve the big thing in life too of course. Actually, “ambitious” is his term but I prefer to say “passionate”. He is passionate for his life. The point then is how to link his “passionate” things with others and how to convey that in the way other people want to listen to. No everybody wants to listen what just other people want to say. I mean to listen and to say are two other different skills dealing with people. For me myself, I don’t have problem with listening I think.

Quinn knows some important people in this town. And he knows the corners of this town too. Better than anyone else of other APLP fellows. He lives here for already 10 years man.. Besides, he was just not a looser in this town. He proved me anyway indirectly.

Second thing what makes sense was just the fact how he sees life as not a “theory” rather than as a “real thing”. He’s realistic and he confessed it. I agree with him on this point. Yes for sure, it’s different when you spend your whole life in campus with books and other theoretical things and when you face the real life in which you need to be tough, you need to work hard instead of running away from the hard life. And I can say that spending life with books is more comfortable than to face the real challenges of life. Ah, I found it. I think I can understand then when Quinn has problem how to convey his things in mind just because he’s not accustomed to it. He did not write hundreds or thousands papers of course. Academicians have very good capability of writing and conveying what in their minds are, of course. Yes… I think that’s it… hmm well, I think I found the reason behind the incapability of Quinn to get along with other fellows here.

The next thing what other people missed is the fact that Quinn can find “under cover” fact about APLP and the whole program from economy (“business”) point of view. He explained that well. Yeah, that makes sense man.. I just did not tell him that I had some idea about it. But yes..:D

Other point was the fact that he lived in a real cross-culture life. Real cross-culture life means that you experience the real life. Spending his days in Hong Kong or China (?), Malaysia and Indonesia and here in United States (California ?) and here in Hawai’i. His daddy still lives in Taiwan though. He has closed relation with Mufi, the mayor here. I saw some sticker of Mufi’s campaign in his car.

Thanks Quinn.. At least you let me other side of your life. Though there are some still my questions you hesitate to answer but for today’s session was ok. Many lessons learnt.

By the way, I missed the appointment to go to Miyuki’s apartment for swimming L They must be disappointed.

*************************

illusion

you're stronger than air
filling my soul
even when i want to try to escape from you

stronger than the sun shining
filling my day light and night
even when i try to escape from you
you're magic
can't believe it

you're the fire
inspiring me
and i just want to escape from the fire and the air
i shouldn't know u
because i know it's just an illusion

other wind sea season take me away...
to the ocean and the mountain
to the sky..
to the sun and to the moon
to the nirvana..
where i belong