Died For His Dedication - Feature Writing

Sleman, Yogyakarta - "I am still in Mbah Maridjan's house. There are many guests here. Mbah Maridjan said he would have Ashar praying first", Wawan said to his friend from Yogyakarta's today newspaper, on the phone, few hours before the eruption occurred. 

Yuniawan Nugroho, often called Wawan, appeared in the victim list of mount Merapi eruption, on October, 26th 2010. Work as a journalist, he was dedicated to do his job for documenting the updated information about mount Merapi. 

For making it good, he directly went to theKinahrejo, Umbulharjo, Cangkringan village, Sleman, Yogyakarta, in which Mbah Maridjan lives. Unfortunatelly, he got trapped there, when the eruption of mount Merapi was occurring. 

This 32 years old man might not be died if he didn't come back to Mbah Maridjan's house, soon after the warning sirine heard, for picking him up to go down to the more safe are. "He is a caring and loveable person. Helping other people is not the unusual thing to do , for he also contributed in the program of charity and welfare for improvised  person", Yudi, his work partner, also work as a journalist explained to us. 

Yet, what I want to say is that even though someone possessing intention, to help others, but still God who does creates decision. Wawan was killed, there, when the Pyroclastic flow was approaching the land - the current location where he was in Mbah Maridjan's house. That huge clouds of ash stoppedr, his life and his career as a journalist. 

Being found died, Wawan along with Mbah Maridjan and the rest 8 ones were evacuated soon after the location was nearly safe because of the great eruption of Mount Merapi. Yes, the eruption  which didn't need much time not only to cover the whole nearest village in Kaliurang including Canfkringan, which is considered as the worst area being destroyed, but also the people surrounded grief and mourning of this tearful thing. 

A Letter for Dina Oktaviani

Dear Dina Oktaviani ,

Firstly, I was really amazed by your words by words written in your letter. You have given us strength and certain kind of power- to believe ourselves potential, talent, and capability to reach our goals. Well, I might be different from you- for not experiencing such life that could be hard for everyone to face, including me. You really struggled for that to keep strong and explored yourself to be the one who you really are, a great writer. This certainly make me impressed to see that you survived well- even though there were much miseries, troubles, and difficulties in your childhood life back then. But now, you stand, you write, to make the world see you as strong woman, agreeable, brilliant and talented writer throughout your works. Besides, there will be many hearts and minds being touched and moved by your life story since people will learn that life could not be always easy and happy. There will not only mirth without feeling any misery first. There will not any relief, without keeping a big burden. The most important one is that there will always be a way to be good and respect who we really are by spending much efforts and exploring ourselves as best as we can. No matter what the result will be, that is the best for us.

For your impressing writing, you said that there must be a practice. I am totally agreed with you. If I am not mistaken, I have ever heard that man’s talent is only 3 to 4 % and the rest ones are determined by practice. The talent could not be even improved if we don’t develop that. By learning and practicing, we can make our own world. Dear, Dina Oktaviani , I once again state that you really impress me to keep running this life with the struggle and the positive mind- of believing myself. Thank you.

Regards, Yogyakarta

Dewi Sagita

The Ring- 11.45 p.m

            That was a Saturday night, 11.45 p.m, in such a crowded place where people gathered, talked, biked, took photographs, or simply sat on the grass, a man suddenly talked to a woman, who has just passed two big trees with the eyes covered with a couple of rings , in his hand. There was a wide, blooming smile and the eyes glistened with tears – seen in the woman’s face for hearing what just had been said by the man, to propose her a marriage. The woman was me, myself, who couldn’t be any happier to find that he was proposing me. “thousand times yes” , the only simple word to begin a wonderful world was revealed , for I couldn’t deny the senses.

            I didn’t know what to do and I didn’t know what to say, at that 11.45 p.m. It was awkward moment for finding myself blushed as if I was about to be died. It was just too pleased to have, I thought.  

            After having the gorgeous thing in my finger, I thought that my day, after that night was far away better than ever. I liked to see it dazzling under the sun, had it shown  and make every faces reveal their surprising smiles or I simply looked at it as the most enchanting one I had. I didn’t know if I was insane or not for talking to my ring- when I’ve just arrived at my room, since I couldn’t sleep at all.

“What a gorgeous ring you are – most beautiful one I’ve ever had”, I said.

“Sure, I’m very pretty to be used in our finger”, a voice came from the ring. I got really shocked to hear ‘it voices’ suddenly heard. Yes, the ring he had given to me at 11.45 p.m now I was talking to, soon after he took me home.

“Oh my God, am I dreaming now? Ring! You can talk! Did I really hear you talking to me? Or simply because I was too happy?”, I wonder.

“Why can’t I speak? To the woman being loved by such a favorable man who has taken me from he shop. He simply took me as a simple ring, but then he chose me as the nicest one than the rests to be given to you”, it said sparklingly.

“Sure, ring his decision to pick you is right. I like you; well I am really happy to have you. I couldn’t be any more pleased for your companion for my whole life. Ring; did he really want me to be his partner life? Mean, a wife?” , I rubbed it softly.

“Of course he did. You couldn’t believe for what I have seen several hours before I was about to be given to you. He held me tightly- with a box. I could feel that he was terribly nervous, as it might be the important one to do in his life, to propose you. He talked a lot to his mother and his best friends on the phone, asking for suggestion or to simply to make him more relax.  A mother talking such a comforting words ever, that her son would do the proposal well and thought that everything would be okay- no need to be worried at all. A female friend of him totally supported him by trying to find a good place for the proposal. And the rest one was a man, most agreeable one to be your lover’s best friend, was happy to see his good fellow would be getting married soon. He might not a romantic man and couldn’t easily speak the romantic words- but he sincerely told you the truth, that he loved you.  Simple words to say ‘Will you marry me?’ and ‘I love you’  were most relieved to be.”, explained it.

“How kind are they. They are really good friend, to make the man I love find his mirth. You know Ring, I was really freezing that I could feel as if my heart stop beating and my blood stop flowing. I had no reason to say no. I think he would be good for me, more favorable than any other men. Thank you for coming to my life, ring.”

The ring didn’t speak anymore. It was simply just silent with its dazzling light, the light for us to face the following day- the wedding.

From the Old Malioboro into the New One

Dewi Sagita

10/296703/SA/15132

Creative Writing

            Indonesian people must know about Yogyakarta or commonly called Jogja, since it is a big city which is still in line with its traditional touch involving cultures and civilization. By seeing from the tourism sector, there are many beautiful and eye catching places to visit from beaches, buildings, mountain, and so on. One of the most commonly heard is Malioboro. Malioboro has become the icon in Yogyakarta as the place that has to be visit. As seen in its development, the old and new Malioboro is definitely different in every aspects. People nowadays might find the new Malioboro more attractive and modern that can be seen from the building that has been upgraded and public facilities that has been provided such as bench, pretty small trees planted along the road side completed with the lamp decoration placed surrounded, atm centre, public transportation and so on. Compared to the old one by Looking through old pictures of Malioboro, Jogja is considered has developed. We can say that the old Malioboro was more spacey, as we can see that lots of people walk rather than using any possible transportation. Nowadays, the new one is obviously more crowded. It might happen because of the increasing of population.

            Jogja also can be seen from different perspective towards the function possessed by the old and the new one. The old Malioboro could be usual for the daily activities among Sultan in the Palace and its people as well as celebration related to Sultan’s power and authority. Nowadays, Malioboro, turns into a tourism destination. When people or visitors see it as a place where they can spend time for vacation or taking pleasure, this makes the place grows rapidly and becomes a business area. It looked spacey and cleaner back then where we didn’t see many billboards or banners. Right now, we can see many and various billboards placed in front of the shops or along the road. There are lots of sellers selling their stuffs, like clothes, accessories, bags, food, tattoo, and so on that can be seen a long the road side when we as we walk in Malioboro. This might make the visitors or pedestrians feel a bit uncomfortable since the space for them to walk well is less provided because of many people coming there. The whole development affect more and more people to come, visit, and enjoy Jogja, especially Malioboro for shopping, visiting historical places, or even just for a little walk and sightseeing. Thus, since human beings experience evolution and so does the place—it develops naturally. Throughout times, people tend to change depending on its social and economic demands (might be from other aspects such as cultural, education, etc) which can be seen from this development of Malioboro from the old into the new one in this recent time. 

Why Did I Get Here ? - Creative Writing Task 2

Dewi sagita

10/296703/SA/15132

            English. I don’t know where from that word comes to my life. Thing that I only know is that the memory of my childhood when my mother used to tell me the list of animals name in English when I was around five years old. Cat, elephant, dog, chicken, duck, butterfly, fish, cow, and many more were often said by her. She tried to make me understand that name in English from the Indonesian one. That might be the reason why until now, in my twenty years old, I like English. When I was at school, from elementary until junior and senior high school, I seemed only like English subject. That was the subject i mostly take serious, fun, and easy one to learn since I have a passion in that. I once ever said when I was a little girl; I wanted to take them to go to many countries around the world that can be fulfilled by speaking english. Interested in that, I started to explore my own selves potential by joining the English courses, participating in the English Club, and involving my self into some competition like English Speech contest, Newsreader, and English Drama competition in my hometown, Karawang, West Java. I enjoyed those things for enriching knowledge and improving my abilities in English.

            As the time goes by, since I like English, I want to continue my study to university by taking this subject. I firstly interested in teaching English, so that I tried to send the application to UPI (Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia), a kind of university concerning in teaching major, but I got failed. Other choice I was interested in at that time was UI , University of Indonesia, since I think it has good reputation and lies in Depok, which is a bit affordable and easily reachable enough. I wanted to have English Literature so that I tried to fill the document application through online. At the same time, I heard from my classmates about test in UGM (Universitas Gadjah Mada) and then I took some considerations. After knowing that university was in the first rank in within University in Indonesia, I tried to follow the test in Jakarta. I chose English Literature for my first choice, since I like to read novels and want to know this deeper, and the second choice is International Relation. Several weeks later, if I’m not mistaken, I was totally surprised to see the announcement of my selection to be new student in English Literature major in UGM. I couldn’t believe that since I thought I did badly in mathematic part in the test so that I guessed I would be failed, but thank God has the other plan for me.

            This announcement couldn’t be the end of the relief, when I suddenly saw the response of my parents. Both of them were completely surprised, relief, proud and couldn’t be any happier for finding their daughter was accepted in favorite university. But then they considered Yogyakarta was very far away from our hometown, Karawang, and since I am their only daughter, they were a bit worry to let me stay in Yogyakarta. It was worse added by the news of earthquake that often happens there. But by thinking and thinking it several times, they then permitted me to study there. So, then I am here, now in the faculty of English Department, taking the major of English Literature, Universitas Gadjah Mada. I will not stand here, studying literary works, writing blogs for my Creative Writing subject, if I didn’t take challenge and opportunity even though I felt doubt about myself at the first time. What I’m going to say is that you don’t need to be worried, in reaching your goals, no matter hard they will be and try to be as good as possible through effort and pray. Life hopefully will be nice then by finding unexpected things in the end, whether the sadness or happiness are should be taken wisely.