Week Prep for COMU 1000

This note is taken from week 1 COMU 1000

Culture and Communication.
- What do these words mean?
- What do they describe?
- Think of a sentence with 'culture' n communication'?
- Who can you imagine saying it? Who can you imagine it beingsaid to?
- Within which social institution or situation would you expect the sentence to be spoken

WEEK 1-Market Day

Week 1 kuliah lagi, tapi sit-in. Week 1 ini ternyata banyak juga yang harus dingapa-ngapain. Dari mulai senen anter Aji n Husna ke airport buat balik for good sampe market day hari rabu gak termasuk hunting baju Lara di Indro. Hari senen ketinggalan sit-in kuliah Morphology abis si Lara gak mau sekolah.

Hari selasa, gak nyangka bakalan sibuk (so sibuk-red) ternyata mata kuliah idaman COMU 1000 - Introduction to Communication and Cultural Studies mulai jam 12 di lecture theatre tempat cleaningnya si Angus. Liat jadwal ternyata salah, ampir aja masuk kelas laen di bld 7. Kayaknya topik-topik yang diurus si Fiona Nicoll seru bgt, mulai dari Semiotic, Rhetoric sampai Celebrity culture n 'The important of being ordinary'. Nah kayaknya yang paling seru yang terakhir ini. Mudah-mudahan kuliah sit-in nya bisa sampai tamat berhubung yang ini masih ilegal belum bilang ma si dosen. Dilanjut kuliah berikutnya asik juga LING 2020 - Linguistic and Literacy with Michael Harrington, orangnya keliatan asik, nerangin cukup jelas but let see what next. Alhamdulillah yang ini udah jadi mahasiswa penyelundup legal, Harrington udah allowed me to join the class. Ternyata kuliah yang mau di sit-in-in hari Selasa semua, course yang Dick juga jam 6 sore, duuh masih bingung euy apa diterusin gak ya .... Padahal si Dick ini baik bgt walopun udah bukan mahasiswa sayah masih dia masukin ke BlackBoard padahal kalo taking course beneran bayarnya AUD$ 2000. Dilemanya adalah Lara harus ama Ayah dan kuliah akan pulang sampe jam 9 jadi cleaning ke Gerry terlambat karena nguantuk tak kepalang. Kumaha nya? Lieur euy ...

Besoknya gening masih Rabu cenah aya Market Day barudak Uqisa.

Neh, foto dimarket day - kalo di shot ma orang lain pasti posisinya gak jelas. Tapi lumayan lah ada fotonya dikit.
Dengan penuh harap dapet gratisan banyak, eeeh ... si mas riweuh cari Payment summary buat Tax Return jadi ke Market Day telat artinya si gratisan kelewat. Tapi dasar rejeki, diliat-liat ngapain orang meriung-riung pegang-pegang Jeans, tanya puna tanya sugan tech murah ternyata GRETOOONG! Udah hepi mau dapet euuh katanya harus puna pension card, gimana mau punya pension card tua juga belom. Aaah, rada nekad yeuh saeutik, ada ceweq SPG-nya nanya what can I help you katanyah, sekalian aja 'is it okay if we just have the OSHC card?' pas dia dikasi tahu itu adalah overseas health insurance, kita langsung disuruh isi nama n alamat, terus milih dech si jeanwest - lumayan khan dari pada beli, kalo gak cocok ya kasi lagi aja ato buang. Udah keliling-keliling bual sana sini, si stall jeans ini masih diriung-riung juga, jadi ada pikiran mau tuker jeans gratisan tadi siapa tahu ada yang lebih oke. setelah dipilih-pilih acak corak si Rina coba-coba tu jeans semua yang dia mau, ada satu yang agak sempit di Rina yang kayaknya cocok buat sayah, dengan size 13. dipikir-pikir dua-duanya mau soalnya yang size 13 ini takut gak cukup jadi dilipat dech ma Rina walhasil dapet 2 jeans gratisannya. Thanks ya Rina buat nyludupin satu jeans lagi - (ini legal berhubung banyak orang yang dapet dua juga dan mewakili anggota keluarga lain seperti ayah n Lara yang juga punya OSHC-red).

Neeh si Rina ini orangnya Bodooor

Graduation Day

This morning when I drove Lara to Campus Kindy, I let her give the flower from the graduation to her teacher. Sue, was just like asking the reason why she brought the flower. Then the unecessary explanation just burst from the mouth that was from my graduation yesterday. But all of sudden that most of the people asked, for what degree, then it came to me all the silly thing. What the hell is my degree? I'm just enjoying the time in Australia, instead of being a desperate house wive who sought for any busy life or just collecting some Aussy dollars. I need some extra experience after having been nearly four years in this country. I reflect to myself what I can bring back to my home country after four years spending my time in Australia. This is one of the choice to bring back some knowledge and experiences that is expected to be very helpful in the future. At least my productive time is not for nothing.

It was funny, silly, wierd but above all the happiness and the chance has never knocked to the second door. At first I was not pretty sure to attend the ceremony, I always think " a semester only need a celebration?" Get real! But it was real everybody supported me to have it. Some other said that this was a good oportunity to celebrate and other some said by pay that big amount - it was too bad to mis the graduation, "why don't you just make it all out?" Considering many things I finally decided to have the graduation.

The graduation ran smoothly starting from the academic dress hire, runninng out of petrol, pick up Ayah n Lara and dressed them up. I didn't even dress up. But, Iwas quite happy that here in Aussy, some of the graduans were just putting jeans and jumper. It was totally diferent to Indonesian customs that everybody puts on the kebaya.

Beyond that, I can see some sincere attention from friends and the loves ones. They are very thoughtful that I never thought before. It was a kind of delightful milestone for me to have this. Thanks Ayah for the flower and everything, Thanks to Melanie -I never had a thought you're so thoughtful and kindly concerned, Thanks Bu Tia for the presents, Thanks to Isnaeni for the pictures and thanks everybody who give me support and congratz me until this afternoon. And the biggest of all Thanks to 'Mah n Bapak who can make all this happened. Alhamdulillah.

Day 4 (Omarama to Queenstown). Trip to South Island - New Zealand

Keputusan malem ini kita akan ke camper site Top Ten Holiday Park Omarama. Seperti hari pertama kalo kita dapet campersite di top ten pasti fasilitas terjamin. Campervan memasuki area campersite, kita cari tempat yang paling deket toilet n kitchen biar bisa masak buat sarapan n lunch n makan sore. Pas cari tempat campervan kita selip di salju, si bos rada be te nich. Tapi esok harinya ternyata banyak bule-bule yang dorongin mobil selip kita - sampe-sampe si boss menyesali kenapa gak shoot ketika selip n didorong ama tu bule-bule. Yang lucu dari si kepala suku ini adalah apapun dia potret, dalam situasi panik pun bisa jadi, semua harus di potret sampe pramigari pun geleng kepala liat pak Sonny. Dasar.
Di udara dingin macam gini perut bawaannya lapeeer terus, dasar perut gak bisa kompromi - pas balik langsung naek 5 kilo dech. Neeeh ... foto kita lagi masak. Ini lagi masak tuna ma telor resepnya Bu Tini Karno. Bu Tia bisa masak lho, dia cuma pura-pura aja gak bisa masak - memang goreng kerupuk sich ahlinya, tapi bikin sop juga jadi pavorit bapak-bapak dan anak-anak.

Sehabis masak, coba lihat ke campervan, Lara udah bangun belom yaaa, ternyata udah bangun, si ayah yang nungguin harus mandi, Pak Sonny baca koran n nonton wolrd cup kayaknya (belakangan tahu setelah cebokin Lara. Bu Tia urus anak-anak n mandi. Di campervan gak ada siapa-siapa, si Lara pengen be-ol. Euuh ... sebel banget pada kemana niy orang-orang. Kasian Lara tapi sebel juga, ya udah suruh tahan ya ee nya tunggu ada yang balik ke mobil. Ternyata emang dia gak tahan dan ... bom meledak di tempat (ee di undies). Sebeeeeeeeeeeel

Kugendong lah Lara ke tolilet n mandi. Sorry ya Lara, bunda cubit, abis ee di undies sich, ya udah bye undies and friend .... Karena merasa bersalah La Ra gak nangis malah ibu nya yang sangat merasa bersalah dan be te. Tapi untung di shower ada baby bath provided jadi lara mandi di baby bath tub, Lara enjoy n happy lagi. Everything has done, fotoooooooo. Keluar dari camper site, fotoooooooo, ini foto ma Merino di Omarama sambil tungguin beli bensin. Perjalanan day 4 menuju Queenstown mampir di Cromwell, makan roti, liat internet n beli souvenir yang udah dijanjiin buat neng Ike n foto di deket buah gede.

Tadinya, liat internet mau tahu result kuliah kemaren tapi untung my-sinet lagi error jadi gak diliat dech, jangan-jangan kalo diliat bisa merusak suasana neh. Ternyata walopun diliat padahal asik-asik aja, alhamdulillah bisa graduation kaleee.

Sorenya kita ke queenstown, ujan lagi. Akhirnya cuma makan di KFC n shopping souvenir. Terus lanjut perjalanan ke Alexandra dan bermalam disana. Alexndra campsite lumayan rada horor soalnya bukan Top Ten, shower nya banyak cob web dan pokoknya gak kayak yang sebelumnya dah. Tapi yang penting kita bisa bermalam disitu.

Day 3 (Ashburton to Tekapo). Trip to South Island - New Zealand

Waiting for the mommy doing all the washing ups, the kids wanted to go out n play but as we registered on for 6 people, one of the kid had to hide or take turn playing in the play ground swings and slides. It was really silly.

After all the seribu tahun washing up, we rushed to have a trip to Lake Tekapo to fix the electricity in the campervan. Along the way the trip we found the snow and the snowy mountain. This was the snow at the first sight. As soon as we found the snow we stopped driving and let the kids play in the snow.

Then we went on our trip to Tekapo with several stops. We dropped in some cute places enjoying the view, seeing the merinos, ice skating (pretending, with some slippery ice), seeing deer and lama all the way long. Going on the trip from the first sight snow the driver changed, Ayah took turn and handled all the way to lake Tekapo.

Arrived at lake Tekapo at aroun 3. 00, Lara was asleep n we foun an amazing scene some covered with snow, some with slippery ice and a beautiful Lake acros the road.
The moment was too goo to be missed, we woke her up and guess what she wanted? TOILET - again? Finally she was enjoying her self in the snow and ice.

The next stop is in the electrician fixing the campervan electricity. While the boys in the electrician, the girls played again in the snow. Lara is making a snow angel. More pics click on http://www.flickr.com/photos/frivolities/

In day 3, our campersite was in Omarama. What the hell is this name? is it si penyanyi dangdut thea kitu?

Day 2. Trip to South Island - New Zealand

Day 1 masih Christchurch. Unexpected troubles easy come easy go. Pokoknya jangan berfikir bisa santai dulu, tiba tiba ... kayak roler coaster ....

Bangun pagi (eh ... maksudnya bangun siang - kesiangan). Jam 7.oo hari masih sangat gelap, kayak jam 4 subuh. Semua siap-siap dan males-malesan bangun (oximoron). Ternyata mengatur anak-anak dan orang tua sama susahnya. Mau bangun lama, mau mandi lama, mau siap-siap luamaaaaaaaaaaaa. Jadinya kita berangkat jam 10 lebih dikit. Rencana hari ini Ke Hamner Spring - Sumber mata air hangat dikelilingi salju WOW ... kayaknya asyiiiik gitu. Tiba tiba ujan gak brenti, gerimis terus menerus akhirnya kita jadi shopping dech di Shopping mall terdekat. Shopping sembako, buah n susu buat tiga hari. Bapak-bapak cari mobile card siapa tahu ada optus, walopun akhirnya ternyata cuma ada Vodaphone. Semua orang cari toilet abis dingin n gerimis terus jadi pengennya toilet terus. In this trip, toilet the the most favorite tourist object, especially for La Ra. Sambil tungguin yang lalin cari toilet, Lara n Disa were with me strolling the mall, eh ... ada Warehouse yang suka diiklanin di Bne, pengen cobain masuk. Ternyata didalem barangna super murah dan lumayan lah. Si La ra pengen Doodle Bear harganya bikin males beli. Ibu-nya nemuin boots yang memang dicariin di Brisbane gak ada, taunya ketemu di Christchurch. Dengan segala pertimbangan dan perizinan sang suami dan ayah akhirnya Doodle Bear menjadi her new best friend, sang ibu dapet boots murah and sang ayah juga ikut-ikutan beli boots - yang penting bukan puss in boots dah .... Selain sang Ayah dan Bunda, keluarga teman kita ini juga terprovokasi jadi beli boots sekeluarga, jadi dua couple boots-nya kembaran. However, untung beli ternyata pas di snow, boots sangat diperlukan, jadi nyesel gak beli buat Lara satu lagi.

Jalan, makan, ngobrol, heureuy dsb, tau tau udah mau jam 2. Akhirnya ke spring gak jadi soalnya campervan mau diganti jadi yang auto meski kilometernya udah agak banyak -emang lebih bagus yang pertama tapi campervan yang kedua bisa di drive Pak Sonny, Ayah n Afi. Kejanggalan mulai datang lagi, kalo campervan mau di tuker berarti Keluarga Sudarsono gak boleh ketahuan bareng with Kel. Sonny, Jadi kita tunggu di mall sambil bawa-bawa 2 koper travel sekitar 4 jam lah. Mana si Lara ngadat dikirainnya kita bakalan ditinggalin pak Sonny. Sewaktu nunggu Be te abis, ngapain ya, waiting is super boring. Akhirnya dari pada meratapi diri aku ajak aja si Lara beli kopi n muffin. Udah bosen lagi, jalan lagi masuk ke Farmer - store kaya Myer atau target lah. Dasar rejeki ada sepatu 5 dolar, genuine leather lagi, kenapa gak disabet aja, akhirnya jadi beli sepatu 2 dalam beberapa jam - SINTING. Abis kesel banget sich nunggu, buat Lara untung ada si Doodle bisa dibikin kerjaan. Jam 6 Pak Sonny muncul dengan campervan Baru. Malem itu kita jalan dari Chch ke Ashburton buat cari campersite. Rasanya aman dan lega. hhhhh .....

Begitu sampai di Ashburton camper site udara sangat dingin, kita seperti biasa cari powersite buat nyalain microwave yang ada di campervan. Eit ... jangan santai dulu kekisruhan lain datang lagi, Astgfirullah ... electricity di campervan rusak, ada kesalahan ketika memasang di power site. Berarti kita akan kedinginan n gak bisa masak-masak. Camper sitenya bukan four star tapi sekelas kiwi lah kalo dibandung melati 3 kalee. Keputusan yang diambil adalah daripada mati kedinginan maka kita rent kabin aja, 1 kabin 7 orang dengan two bdrms. Aman. Kenyang n besoknya bisa nyuci baju. Ada yang aneh ketika cuci baju, dikirain koin-nya gak jalan ternya air yang ada di washing machine cuma netes-netes doang artinya mencuci akan selesai seribu tahun lagi. Terpaksa dech angkkutin air di ember masukin washing machine - masa sich di NZ ada kayak gituan ... maluuu dech.

Day 1. Trip to South Island - New Zealand

Day 1 in Chirstchurch. 2.00 Chirstchurch time, we arrived in the airport with a hopefull trip as Sonny arranged in his itenerary. The itenerary was highly elaborated and detailed. The picture was taken when we were waiting for a shuttle to campervan rental which was relatively close to the airport. We stepped out side the airport lounge just to feel how cold in Chirstchurch and blow the breath out in their to see how foggy it was. One of us said "Liat kaya di luar negri yaa! ..."



Masih day 1. This is the place where we rented the campervan. Some little problem started bugging us that the admin told Sonny that the campervan yang buat 6 oranng gak bisa di pake 7 orang. Oalaaaah ... gimana dong. Bingung n super bingung, ngeras salah juga sich, gara-gara menjawab jujur. Pas ditanyai berapa adult n berapa children? ya jawabannya segitu adanya, 4 dewasa n 3 anak.
Ternyata si bule admin kaget, katanya illegal kalo campervannya di isi 7 orang padahal si Lara kan cuma seperempat dewasa. Gilee bener, pokoknya kalut banget dech. Tapi lagi bingung-bingun pun sempet di foto, neh foto nya. Akhirnya kita ditungguin untuk mencari alternative solusi. Ada dua solusi dengan pertimbangan ikutan aturan atau jalan pintas dengan dalih kita bisa sama-sama n dan berhemat or else.

Liat nich, kacian kan anak-anak pada bergoleran nungguin ortunya berdiskusi mencari siasat yang paling top.

Akhirnya kami sekeluarga dibalikin lagi keairport pake shuttle, pura-puranya mau cari hotel n rental mobil kecil untuk bertiga aja, padahal kita nunggu Sonny's family di airport walopun harus pake tingkat kesabaran yang setinggi-tingginya. Akhirnya mereka dateng juga, kasian juga perut mereka dan kami belum ada yang terisi karena dari tadi sibuk urus campervan. Ketua rombongan hampir colaps karena belum makan, akhirnya kita beristirahat di cafe airport sampai menunggu si beliau pulih.

Having all ready, we jumped up all to the campervan to find the campersite in Chirstchurch. The campervan was the top quality but with manual gear that make us a bit worried to drive. I heard in day 2 he would change it to the auto one for our synergy in taking turns to drive away long the south island. We found the camper site was really cool. It said it was four star campersite, the spa, heated swimming pool n many luxuries provided. We did not feel like camping, it was really enjoyable before another trouble came again in the next day.

Graduation jadi teu?

Di email diumumin kalo result kuliah akan keluar 5 July, tapi sayang euy D date-nya bentrok ama jalan-jalan ke NZ. Siwalan, mana takut lagi liat result, pokoknya mengerikan, abis geningan sekolah di luar nagreg teh meni susah pisan jaba sambil klining deuih. Sebenarnya penasaran pengen liat si result, tapi deg-degan wae, walopun ada kesempatan pas di Cromwell - NZ (trip antara Ashburton to Lake Tekapo) buat liat email UQ, tetep aja gak di liat, excuse-nya si My-si net lagi gangguan. Jadi ya syukur lah teu jadi diliat, soalna jangan-jangan dengan ngeliat result bisa merusak suasana cenah ceuk si Pak Sonny.

Ujung-ujungnya si result Grad Cert di liat tadi pagi, Alhamdulillah, lumayanlah saongkoseun meureun buat mancing AusAid (husnudhan we, sugan jadi Do'a, ku Alloh diijabah). Alasan ngeliat result pun gara-gara bisi academic dress hire gak bisa di refund, kalo ada yg gak lulus kan gimana, masa mau diwisuda ada yg gak lulus. InsyaAlloh, jadi meuruen euy graduation-nya di UQ centre. Kata orang saya curang, soalnya sekolah belakangan, eeeh wisuda barengan. Kumaha tah ^%^ ... mudah-mudahan lancar lah.

Tak lupa, semua hasil dan jerih payah sesungguhnya powered by (didukung sepenuhnya oleh) doa 'Mah jeung Bapa di Bandung. Karena dengan do'a mereka lah saya bisa lulus, abis ... gak kebayang saya bisa dapet segitu, syukur lah segitu juga. Alhamdulillahirobil'alamiin.

Lara Makes a Book

It is not writing a book, it is the making. Lara drow and write her book with the help from Tash in her kindy room. This is not actually her first time making her book but this is accidentally recorded and posted. Kenang-kenganan buat Lara kalo udah di Indo n lupa speaking English.

Lara's Book

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Farewell Party n Seminar Uqisa

Hari ini di Campus kindy ada farewell party Annisa, teacher sang Lara yang mulai ambil masa maternity leave-nya. Liat nich, Annisa lagi hamil enam bulan. Si bule ini baek banget ama siapapun, terutama si Lara, she is her favorite teacher in capus kindy. Namanya kaya orang Indo muslim, katanya nama itu dia ambil ketika ibunya, Barbara-yang jadi teacher juga di Campus Kindy-berada di Philipino and keliling Asia tenggara. Bye Annisa, have a save labour and expecting a very healthy baby.

We left early soalnya Uqisa ngadain Seminar seperti biasa.

Seminar Uqisa kali ini presented by Adjie Pamungkas n Riyanti Djalante.
Sebenarnya seminar UQISA ini udah yang kesekian kali, tapi baru ini yang bisa blog-in and di upload fotonya. Aji presented his thesis for his master degree tentang mitigasi bencana n Yanti prented tips and trik ambil master di UQ. Comment: Aji presented his topic well but too long jadi Yanti keabisan waktu makanya presentati agak gak nyambung ato gimana ya ... cuma nerangin hal-hal biasa yang dihadapi students Indo yang lagi ambil master di UQ.

Niy ... liat fotonya, pas ngambil foto lamanya minta ampun begini salah begitu salah ... eeeh ... pas mau di jepret, gak tau mana yang harus di klik, tapi lucu lah, seuri barudak ....

The way Lara ngambek

The way Lara ngambek

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Kenang-kenangan, buat Lara ntar udah gede.

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The first video yang di upload ke blog. Lara lagi ngambek, awas hati-hati. Tau gara-gara apa? Gara-garanya bunda ikut nyanyi nambahin dua kata yang lupa. Dikasi tahu eeeh ... malah ngambek. Anak mu tah Ayah ...

Lara n Molly

Lara n Molly
Originally uploaded by afiani.

Lately this week, La ra Be Te terus tiap malem, kayaknya sich gara-gara si Ayah pulang tengah malem terus jadi gak bisa kasih bed time stories buat Yaya (La ra) - bunda has only limited bed time stories. Dari pada bed time story bunda boring karena made up ya bunda jadinya lebih memilih La ra untuk belajar baca iqro. Penyakit baca iqro mulai kambuh, males-malesan n pengen ngacak ke halaman depan padahal belum juga dibahas. Karena dia bored, La ra minta bacaain Tweenies, Oke. Tapi ceritanya lain, Bunda bikin tweenies story jadi cerita yang aneh buat La ra karena Tweenies dibilangin suka belajar ngaji, sholat dan bedo'a sama Alloh. Mereka anak-anak yang ta'at perintah Alloh. Terang aja si La ra protes abis-abisan. "Bunda tweenies are white kids, they are not moslem! They are Christian, the whites are christian!" I'm sorry Lara, ini emang salah Bunda di awal kasih batas between moslem and christian in your school.

Cerita bermula ketika Christmas celebration in ABC learning centre dan childcare sebelumnya, Munro. Setiap Christmas, semua anak were invited to the celebration. Sudah bisa dipastikan anak siapapun dan agama apapun pasti tertarik ikutan. Jadi akhirnya dari pada dia ikutan, ya dijelasin aja batas - batas yang serba salah - susah dimengerti anak usia 4,5 tahun. I said, we cannot celebrate other religion, their religion is Christian, we are moslem, we do sholat, read Qur'an and be good to everybody. Gak disangka, lama-lama La ra jadi punya asumsi "the whites are Christian and the colours are moslem". Asumsi dia diperkuat ketika dia diajak ke mesjid Darra mosque untuk belajar ngaji ama si "Master", hampir semua penghuni mesjid waktu itu adalah people with colour, cuma ada satu yang white, bahkan La ra tanya, "why the white come to the mosque?". Pengalaman di Darra cuma berlangsung 2 atau 3 mingguan karena La ra gak comfy with the way they teach, si "Master" oranya sangat strick ama anak-anak termasuk anak kecil. La ra jadi ketakutan, and it's the end of the Darra mosque story. Ternyata, asumsi terus berkembang dan entah apa yang akan terjadi kemudian. Being guilty sepertinya agak menghantui, tapi jalan keluarnya adalah mematahkan asumsi tsb. I said "La ra, you can't think that every white is Christian, but it could happend most of the time. If you don't believe me let me show you my American moslem friend who is white and beautiful." She couldn't help urging me to see her straightaway, but we did it later in the morning. Akhirnya, Jum'at pagi, kita ketemu Molly, the American "white moslem", untuk membuktikan ke La ra kalo her assumption is not true.

InsyaAlloh, this could be a milestone for La ra that she can think of this momentum to be something to think about.