It seems….
The whites for the blacks
The lights for the darks
The sun for the nights
The water for the stones
And the cheers for the
pains
That was PARENTS
Minggu, 08 April 2012
Robinson Crusoe
Robinson
Crusoe
Author
: Daniel Defoe
Retold
by : Britt-Katrin Keson
Illustrations
: Peter Bay Alexandersen
Series
editor : Paulette Møller
Published
by : Arrangement with Aschehoug Dansk
Forlag, Denmark
Dian Rakyat, Jakarta, Indonesia
Have
you ever imagined that you are drifting ashore into an unknown island which is
nothing anyone on that? Seriously hope that will not be happened to you and me
too. But it actually happened to someone which is his experience was adopted
then written by Daniel Defoe in the novel titled Robinson Crusoe. This novel
has inspired many people in the world of literature for over 250 years. The
story is simple, the exciting experience of Robinson Crusoe while he was
drifting ashore in the island. But many lesson that we can pick up from this
novel. The story is teach us how we have to always grateful to God whatever our
situation and condition and also remember, how bad our condition, there is more
unlucky person who his or her condition is more bad than us. It is really
recommended when you were down and feel so stressful of your life.
The
story of this novel is about a man, Robinson Crusoe, who is drift ashore into
an unknown island which is nothing anyone there for thousands days and how he
has to survive. With great realistic and natural detail, Daniel Defoe describes
the life and thought of Robinson Crusoe during he was in the island, waiting
for someone who will be rescued him back to his home, England. During his
waiting, Robinson is not only sit and do nothing for spend their time. Despite
illness, bad weather and loneliness, he worked very hard, building a fortress
and also looking for a menu to eat with very simple tools from forest and the
shipwreck to be survived. For those many days, many incidents were happened to
him while he was waiting. From he found a footprint on the shore, until a
battle fights the pirates. The adventure was so great and excited.
First lesson that we can get from the story
is we have to always grateful to God whatever our situation and condition. It
is show by Crusoe when one day he was feeling so upset and give up about his
life in the island. He was sick and dying. In the rest of his expectation, he
realized that he still very lucky because God saved him from the sea in order to
he is alive and it is better than all of his friends who was dead.
Secondly,
the story is also shows us if there is nothing is nothing. Crusoe said, “There
was nothing in the world so bad you could not find some good in it” (Chapter 8,
paragraph 7). It shows when Crusoe also realized that although his ship is
wrecked, but there ware some tools and equipments which is still can be used.
It was gift. He cannot imagine if there is no tool or equipment which is intact
in the ship.
Daniel
Defoe was very good describes the set of place, situations, Crusoe’s thought
and feeling during the story. How he was so shocked when he found the footprint
on the shore until his deepest feeling of frustrated and almost give up when he
was sick and dying. I think there is nothing that I will change. It is good and
touches enough.
In
conclusion, I gave four from five stars and recommended this book. This can be
a reminder for us to always grateful and appreciate our life, no matter what
happen. How bad the situation and condition.
Facebook vs Twitter
Facebook vs Twitter
Nowadays,
internet is being one of the most requirements people in the world. Today, it
is not only used to looking for information or checking email anymore, but also
being a lifestyle by a thing, called social networking. People are in an
addicted condition to this thing, which can make them fall into a new habit;
sign in to their social networking accounts periodically. Moreover, it has been
their daily activities. They cannot spend their days without sign in to their
accounts for just a day even an hour for some of them. Fantastic! Two kinds of
the most popular social networking in the world are facebook and twitter. There
are some similarities and differences between facebook and twitter, as follows.
Both
of facebook and twitter are created to be one of the ways for people to
communicate each other’s effectively. Especially for people who separated in
other town or country. This can be a cheap and effective way to communicate. Facebook
is created by a young, fresh and genius under 25 years’ old guy, Mark
Zuckerberg as well as twitter, Jack Dorsey. They had been one of the most
famous and influential person in the world. However facebook and twitter have a
same function, they have their own system which is different one to another.
Facebook is created with feature complexity system which produced much features
and programs. One of the most favorites feature on facebook is chat. Most of
all people in the world love chat, so maybe that’s why facebook is more
interesting and popular than twitter. On the other hand, twitter is created
with “microblogging” system which more simple and individual than facebook.
Because of this is a “microblogging” system, people just can post their tweets (status) not over than 140
characters. Twitter also does not have many features like chat, group, tag
photos, note and anything else on facebook. In contrast to twitter, facebook
provides more space for their user’s written by more than 140 characters in
every post. The other difference between facebook and twitter is about their
friendship system. In facebook, people can automatically being friends with
just one of them “add” another to be his/her friends. Differs from facebook,
twitter has a unique system called “follow”. People does not automatically
being friends if they do not following each other.
Those
are the similarities and differences between facebook and twitter. Even they
have their own system and features; they have been one of the greatest
inventions in the world, especially for cyber world development. Which is
better? It is up to you as a user. J
The Psychosocial Chinese American According to a short story by Amy Tan, “Fish Cheeks”
The Psychosocial Chinese American
According to a short story by Amy Tan, “Fish Cheeks”
United States of America is one of the multi ethnic
country which is consist of multiple culture and people who is coming from many
other countries in the world. One of the most immigrants in the US is Chinese
people which is called Chinese American. According to the US Government
records, the first Chinese immigrants arrived in 1820 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_American, History, line 1). There are three points program for
the individual Chinese people to follow.
Toward the self, the moral goal of a person is to be a chun-tzu or gentleman.
Toward the family, to be a well fitting member working
for its prosperity and happiness.
Toward the humanity, at large, to be an active
participant in the world.
(American Multiculturalism class, March 15th 2011)
According to these points, many Chinese people try to
survive in America. They do not want to back to their own country if they did
not do these points yet. It is not easy to reached. The phychosocial condition
of Chinese American, as a “model minority” in United States is very oppressed
and distressed. The truth of Asian Americans, especially Chinese is different
from what is portrayed in mass media. They often being the victim of racial
harassment. It is particularly happened to them who live in urban cities. In school settings, Chinese American students,
compared to other students of other ethnic backgrounds, are found have show
lower sense coherence and overall competense, and also have difficullty to
being friends with their peers from other ethnic groups. In work settings, they
also being a subject of discrimination of various form by the employees. These
may be an affect for many children, their families also their communities. The
impacts of this situation can be potentially harmful to individuals as well.
The model minority fallacy creates social isolatin for Chinese American because
it leads to misunderstand and alienate the Chinese American. (http://www.caerda.org/journal/index.php/newwaves/article/viewFile/11/9, Reality of Asian Americans Psycolosocial State,
Psycological Impacts). This situation of the affects of those discrimination is
described by Amy Tan in her short story, Fish Cheeks. Actually, this is her
real experience.
The short story “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan is about a
fourteen-year-old girl, Amy, a Chinese American who lives in one of the state
of US. The problem of her is that she ashamed of her self, her family and her
cultural live as a chinese people. She thinks that being a chinese american is
the most shameful thing which is happened in her life. She always whish that
she and her family were more American so that she could fit in. People with
slim body, sharp nose and so on like what other people has as “white” people in
order to she can go out with the other people in America, especially her
favourite boy, Robert. One
of the difficulties of being a people who lives in other country is when we
have to adapt with the differences between the culture of our old home to the
new one. This is which Amy felt when she is caught in a dillema between to be
proud of her difference or try to be as American as she possibly can. She
cannot fully understand the culture of her parents because she grow up with the
American culture of her peers.
She felt in love with a “white” boy called Robert. She
really likes him. But she believes that Robert won’t like her because of she is
a Chinese American. Her Chinese heritage makes her different. The top of her
frustrated is when she found her parents had invited Robert and his family to
her traditional Chinese Christmas Eve Dinner.
“ I fell in love with the
minister's son the winter I turned fourteen. He was not Chinese, but as
white as Mary in the manger.” (Paragraph
1, line 1)
She worried about Robert in many things. About her
“shabby Chinese Christmas”, “Noisy Chinese relatives” and also “Chinese Food”
which is made from a fleshy prawns, slimy rock cod, tofu, which looked like
stacked wedges of rubbery white sponges, soaking dried fungus and also a plate
of squid. Not the roasted turkey and sweet potatoes.
“When
I found out that my parents had invited the minister's family over for
Christmas Eve dinner, I cried. What would Robert think of our shabby
Chinese Christmas? What would he think of our noisy Chinese relatives who
lacked proper American manners? What terrible disappointment would he
feel upon seeing not a roasted turkey and sweet potatoes but Chinese food?” (Paragraph 2)
According to the
worried of Amy we can assumed that Amy has been influenced by the culture of
her “new” country, America. She taught that the cool one as a culture is being
a blond-hair with sharp nose, being patient and the roasted turkey and sweet
potatoes than her own culture as a Chinese.
“For Christmas I prayed
for this blond-haired boy, Robert, and a slim new American nose.” (Paragraph 1, line 2).
In my oppinion, beautiful is relatives. It cannot be seen by personal appearance
only. The real beauty of someone is lay on his or her moral and characters.
What the utility of being a beautiful person in appearance aspect but in moral
aspect she or he is nothing. One more, sharp nose is not always beautiful. Your
face is created by God, and He always will be choose the best one. So, believe
that people is beautiful with his or her own way. When people know someone as a
beautiful person in appearance, it will be gone or forgotten when he or she
were died. But if people know someone as a beautiful person because of his or
her moral and characters, it will be immortal and always be remembered even
though he or she already dead. For example, many people know Princess Diana
from England. She is one of the most famous and inspiring people in the world
not because of her beautiful appearence, but people know her because of her
nice and great moral and characters. Being a princess did not make her attitude
be an arrogant. But conversaly, she activated in many social event as long as
she live until she dead.
Amy also feels really depressed and stressful during the
Christmas Dinner Eve. She many times over feel so embarrased and desponent
because of what her family did. She prayed that she suddenly dissapear because
of her embarrasement. Especially when her father took her favourite food and
put it into her plate, fish cheeks and did his loudly belched for showing he
was satisfied and gratefull to her mother’s cooking.
“Dinner threw me deeper
into despair” (Paragraph 5, line 1)
“I wanted to disappear” (Paragraph 5, line 6)
“I was stunned into
silence for the rest of the night”
(Paragraph 6, line 4)
This may be happened because of the discrimination of her
peers in school about her difference. So that she feel so uncomfortable if
other people know and see her live culture as a Chinese with her family. Her peers
taught that being a Chinese people including all her culture and heritages is
ashamed and not cool, whereas in fact a culture of anywhere, any country or
region definitely has its own beauty, goodness and unique. In example, China is
one of the main birth places of Eastern Martial Arts which is called Kung Fu or Wushu. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_China, Martial Arts, line 1).
“Kung Fu/ Wushu adalah ilmu beladiri dari Tiongkok. Akan
tetapi, arti kata Kung Fu yang sebenarnya memiliki arti luas, yakni sesuatu
yang didapat dalam waktu yang lama dan ketekunan yang sunggunh-sungguh.
Sehingga, seorang ahli memasak yang hebat pun dapat dikatakan memiliki Kung Fu
yang tinggi.” (http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_fu, Paragraph 1)
Kung Fu is considered to be one of sports branch for now and be
one of the most famous in the world. Until today, there were more than hundred
varieties of Kung Fu existed. It is
proper to Amy to be proud of being a Chinese because she has a thing which is part
of her culture, famous in the world right now.
The question is why her mother did not serve the menu
like what the most American people eat ? Like “roasted turkey and sweet
potatoes” ? Why she served the traditional menu of China ?
“What terrible disappointment
would he feel upon seeing not a roasted turkey and sweet potatoes but Chinese
food ?” (Paragraph 2, line 4)
Also her father, why he did not refrain him self from his
“belched chinese polite custom” to honor Robert and his family ? Who really do
not accustomed to that way.
“At the end of the meal
my father leaned back and belched loudly, thanking my mother for her fine
cooking. "It's a polite Chinese custom to show you are
satisfied," explained my father to our astonished guests.” (Paragraph 6, line 1)
According to the story, I assumed that Amy’s parents want
to help her to introduce their culture to Robert and his family. There is no
something which is bad or “shabby”. Every culture has their own way and
tradition. So, what Amy pretend for ? Being a Chinese American is not a
disaster or something embarrasing like what she thinks. It is fine to be
different with other people. Because the difference does not make a sepatarion,
but it makes a beautiful pattern to be seen. It is also can be an
identification for her from other people by their uniquely. Even she wants to
be same like American girls outside, her heart and soul must be pround of being
a Chinese.
“After
everyone had gone, my mother said to me, "You want to be same like
American girls on the outside." She handed me an early gift.
It was a miniskirt in beige tweed. "But inside, you must always be
Chinese. You must be proud you are different. You only shame is be
ashame." (Paragraph 7)
Even though in the beginning Amy were ashamed about being
Chinese, in the end of the story it is mentioned by the time she in adult, she
learns to appreciate her heritage. She also learn even her family as Chinese
American full of strange points this one and that one, they still deserve to
get her full respect. Although Amy never goes out with Robert, she realized
that changing who you are or pretending to be someone else just to impress
others is not really worth it. She finally understands that everyone unique,
different and has their own beautiful side. Amy may have wanted to look like
Californian girls, but she will always stay true to her Chinese heritage.
In conclusion, being different is not a bad thing or
ashamed, it is gift. Who is people who embarrased because of got a gift ?
According to the story, Amy is a normal young girl who is influenced by the
environment of live so that felt ashamed and embarrased of her own self. It is
usually happened to a teenagers who is trying to find their soul of live. But
as time goes by, when she were adult, she finally realized that everyone is
different and unique by their own way. This is describe that being grow up is
proccess. The characters of people depend on their experience and problems in
their own life.
References :
·
Psycological
Effects on Being Perceived as a “Model Minority” for Asian Americans, Mei Tang, University of Cincinnati
Last updated :
March, 2007
Access :
April, 19th 2011
·
Chinese American,
Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia
Last updated :
April, 17th 2011
Access :
April, 19th 2011
·
Kung Fu, Wikipedia,
a free encyclopedia
Last updated :
April, 20th 2011
Access :
April, 23th 2011
·
Culture of China,
Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia
Last updated :
April, 21th 2011
Access :
April, 23th 2011
·
American
Multiculturalism Class’s material, Mr. Arido Laksono
Last updated :
March, 15th 2011
Access :
April, 23th 2011
Minggu, 01 April 2012
THE SCENE
PLAYERS
Bella : 20 years old, an only child of her parents, best friend of Alice. Student in Airlangga University
Alice : 20 years old, best friend of Bella. Student in Diponegoro University
Claire : 47 years old, mother of Bella.
Kate : 48 years old, mother of Alice.
Scene 1, Act 1
July, 2009
The graduation party of Kanaya High School. Alice and Bella were graduated. They enter from the stage-left, walking to the long chair at the park.
Bella (sitting on the chair) : “So, you are going to back to your hometown in Surabaya right?”
Alice (sitting besides Bella) : “Yap, and you are going to back to your hometown too and continue your study in English Department Diponegoro University. Right?”
Bella : “Yap. Hey, promise me we are going to call each other every day Al ? I’ll miss you so much.”
Alice : “Swear on the life! But you have to pray a long for my test in Airlangga Unoversity. Okay?” (Smiling to Bella)
Bella : “I wish you are not in and will continue your study in Diponegoro University Al. Hhhhhh…. ” (grumbling)
Alice : “Bells come on! I love you. You are my best friend. We still being like this even we are not studying and living in the same place again. Please.”
Bella : “Okay Al that was joke. Hope you are accepted by that University and being one of the greatest doctor in Indonesia. No, in the world. Hahahaha.”
Alice : “Amen. And you will be the greatest ambassador ever in the world.”
Bella : “Swear on the life, it will not change anything.” (looking at Alice and takes her hand.”
Alice : “It will never change anything.” (Shake her hand with Bella)
Scene 2, Act 1
Semarang, now
The stage is set as a dining room. Bella enters the stage for breakfast. Her mother, Claire is preparing her bread.
Bella (coming and kiss her mother) : “Good morning Mom! Is that my menu?”
Mom : “Yes honey. Ready for surprise?”
Bella (shocking, take her coffee off) : “What surprise?”
Mom (smiling, give Bella’s bread to her): “Are you ready?”
Bella (put her bread off) : “Mom come on!”
Mom : “Alright, alright. Close your eyes.”
Bella : “Mom this is not funny.”
Mom : “You will never get it until you close your eyes first.”
Bella (closing her eyes) : “Okay, okay.”
Someone’s coming to the stage, sitting near Bella.
Mom : “Now open your eyes.”
Bella open her eyes and see someone next to her.
Bella : “ALICE! Oh my GOD I can’t believe it you are here.” (Hug Alice tight)
Alice : “I also can’t believe that you ate getting fat. Hahaha…”
Mom (talking to Bella) : “Okay, I am going to the market for today’s special guest I hope you are okay for stay home in an hour.”
Alice : “Mrs. Claire you are too kind.”
Mom : “Oh come on I didn’t. Okay Bells? Is that okay for staying home?”
Bella : “Okay Mom! Have a nice day!”
Mom (leaving) : “Okay see you later honey.”
Bella (standing) : “Let’s go to my room.”
Alice (walking after Bella, they quit from the stage)
Scene 2, Act 2
Stage is set as a bedroom which there is bed, cupboard and so on. Bella’s room
Bella (lie down on the bed) : “Why you didn’t call me first?”
Alice : “Alice this is surprise.”
Bella : “Okay I am very surprised! You never reply my message, my mention on twitter since 2 days ago. I wrote on your wall on facebook, send a lot of emails to your inbox. But you’re gone. I think you forget about me.”
Alice : “No. definitely not. I will never forget about you. You are my best friend.”
Bella : “So, what happened yesterday? So that you never called me again.”
Alice : “Everything’s fine.”
Bella : “Al, are you sick?”
Alice : “No. I am very nice here, to be with you.”
Bella : “You just looks so different. Hey, tell me. Is anything bad happened to you last 2 days?”
Alice : “No Bells. Everything’s fine. I just miss you so much. Maybe this is the last time I see you. That’s it.”
Bella (sitting seriously) : “What? What do you mean by the last time?”
Alice (smiling) : “No Bells that was joke. You are so easy to play.”
Bella (kicking Alice with her pillow) : “I don’t like it.”
Scene 3, Act 1
In the cashier at the market. The phone of Mrs. Claire is ringing.
Mrs. Kate, mother of Alice is calling.
Mrs. Claire : “Hello Mrs. Kate.”
Mrs. Kate (crying) : “Hello Mrs. Claire. I am so sorry for calling to your handphone. I was trying to reach your house but it can’t.”
Mrs. Claire (asking seriously) : “No, no it’s fine. What happened Mrs. Kate? You looks so mess.”
Mrs. Kate : “I am so sorry for telling you that Alice is not going to visit Bella today. I am so sorry”
Mrs. Claire : “But….”
Mrs. Kate (crying over) : “I know this will be so much hurt Bella. But I am so sorry. The plan she ride got an accident last night. She’s gone Mrs.”
Mrs. Claire (very shock)
Mrs. Kate : “I hope you can help me to tell Bella about this Mrs.”
Mrs. Claire : “Okay Mrs. I’ll try. Believe me it is the best for Alice and everyone. You can pass it strongly.”
Mrs. Kate : “Thank you Mrs. Claire.” (Then off the phone)
Mrs. Claire : “So who is that? The person who’s coming last night and now stay at my house?”
She is going home in a hurry.
Scene 4, Act 1
The stage is set by Bella’s room again. Bella is sleeping on the bed, alone.
Mrs. Claire (walking to Bella) : “Bella, honey..”
Bella (wake up) : “Hey Mom, you’re home. Where’s Alice? We were talking too much and I must be overslept.”
Mrs. Claire : “You’re talking to Alice? In this room?”
Bella : “Yes of course. You saw her in the dining room right? Since last night actually, but you hide her from me.”
Mrs. Claire : “Honey, is she okay?”
Bella : “Yes. But I think she is quite different. She didn’t talk too much. She just answered my questions. What happened Mom? Is she okay? Where is she?”
Mrs. Claire : “Honey calm down. I need to talk to you.”
Bella : “Okay. But where is Alice Mom?”
Mrs. Claire : “Listen. I am going to tell you about Alice okay?”
Bella : “What happened to her Mom? Why you looks so pail. Are you sick?”
Mrs. Claire : “No its ok. Honey, when I was in cashier, Mrs. Kate called me.”
Bella : “She came and took Alice back? Without any words to me? I can’t believe it Mom! She always pushes Alice like she is twelve. I think its ok for Alice went here alone. She is 20 years old. You__”
Mrs. Claire : “Honey look. She didn’t like that. She didn’t come here and take Alice. No she didn’t.”
Bella : “So what Mom? What happened?”
Mrs. Claire : “She told me that__that Alice got a plane accident. She is died.”
Bella (laughing) : “Emm.. Mom, you are kidding me right? That’s crazy! That’s impossible! You saw her in the dining room right? She must be here right now. I can’t believe it. Mom, that was the stupidest joke I have ever heard. That’s crazy!”
Mrs. Claire (Hug Bella) : “Honey, I know this is really stupid. But this is the fact. You have to accept this.”
Bella (crying over) : “I can’t believe it Mom… It’s crazy. It’s just_____”
Suddenly there are some people are coming to the stage and surprised Bella and her mother.
Mrs. Kate and ALICE! : “SURPRIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSEEEE !!!!!! Happy birthday Bella !!”
Bella : “What????”
Alice : “Oh my God look! She is crying! I can’t believe it all done perfectly Mom!”
Mrs. Kate : “Honey you have to asking an apologize to her.”
Mrs. Claire : “I don’t understand, Mrs. Kate.”
Mrs. Kate : “I am so sorry Mrs. Claire. That was all a scene. Alice asked me to call you and said that she was unable to visit Bella because she was died in an accident. But actually she is fine. She picked me up in the airport and took the cake that she ordered before when Bella was overslept. I am so sorry Mrs.”
Bella : “That’s such a great performance!!!!!!” (Throwing a pillow to Alice. Everyone is laughing.
THE END
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