Being Feminist

I know that most of those who read this article, starting from the title – especially man, will be rolling this eyes and probably said: here we go, the trash talk of female emancipation. 

Male and female will be arguing about this topics from time to time, it's an never ending topic. Wise man, will said – I'm agree to disagree.

Today, as usual, when looking for any inspiration for my career, through youtube, my fingers automatically type Anna Wintour. Brief explanation for all of you who didn't know, she is US Vogue's editor in chief since 1988; not only that, she also Creative Director of Conde Nast. And suddenly, I fall to Forbes video about this Powerful Woman

Feminist itself is a new word for me, but it's definitely not a new thing for me. At first, I've heard Beyonce sang Flawless for the first time, googling about Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, watching her Tedx Talk about being feminist. After all of the search, I've realized that I'm a feminist.

I was raised by a smart-devoted mother and wife who juggling her life to raised her children, taking care of her family and also have a great 30 years career as a teacher. I also raised by a great-lovely-intellegent father who never obstruct my mother interest to teach, instead of detering her, my father is support my mother – while having a great career also as a teacher and part-time contributor in the literary magazine. And together, they make a great team to raised three of us, their children.

Raised in such great environment, I always thinking that as a woman, I'm able to having a great family and also amazing career in the same time.

Of course, this thought got challenges when I've started my university life and continue when I've been working back to my hometown. As half Javanese – half Flores – hundred percent Indonesian who raised with controversial though from the community who taught that as woman, I supposed to agreed to everything my spouse said, worshipped them, perform woman's function : as man's sex slave, giving birth and cooking.

Living as a free person who vocals and able to speak my mind makes me an alien in my own community.

But today, watch Anna Wintour, Arianna Huffington, Oprah Winfrey, Christine Lagarde, Ann Curry and many of powerful woman who said that as a woman, we always need support from the family and yes, as a working mother or woman, we still feel guilty if we have to left behind our family and especially our children to do our job; But, as a woman, we also have obligation to stick to what made us being passionate, our curiousity, keep on learning how to balancing everything while we also have to be stay true and comfortable in our own skin.

And for that, I feel blessed that as a woman to raised on a non-communal thought.

Yes, we're need man to complete us and walking side by side to complete both of our goals together. But, as a woman, we also have our own dream to be living on, same as man.

Because, as a woman, we are able to conquer any obstacle that come in our life path.

Cheers,
Amelia

Note : This article is dedicated to all woman: no matter what is your choice in life, you are brave and amazing. And especially, for my mother, you are the perfect example of a woman that a daughter can have. Thank you.  

November Rain In Jakarta

I suddenly remember of Jakarta during November rain.

The smell of rain when hits the sidewalks. The sound of people walking fast in their heels. The colourful blurred lines from street lights and car. The urge of time and the past echoes in my head.

Oh, how I miss Jakarta so bad.

--- 

Malang, November 9th, 2015

In the misted mind

November

Malang, 1 November 2015

Saya baru sadar kurang lebih 10 menit yang lalu kalau sekarang sudah bulan November, ketika melirik jam dan kalender di pojok kanan bawah laptop saya.

November. Buat saya, bulan ini tidak terlalu memiliki kesan mendalam seperti Juli dan Oktober, dua bulan dalam setahun yang paling saya sukai. November tidak atau belum memiliki kesan apapun, kecuali hampir 2 tahun ke belakang ketika saya bersama B. November adalah bulan kelahiran B. Dan berhubung dia adalah mantan saya satu-satunya yang lahir di bulan ini, buat saya, bulan ini akan selalu menjadi bulan miliknya.

Ah, tetapi saya tidak mau menuliskan tentang mantan tersayang, yang entah mengapa beberapa hari ini terlintas dalam pikiran saya.

Saya bahkan sebenarnya, tidak tahu mengapa saya membuat tulisan ini.

Saya cuma tahu, bahwa November tahun ini membutuhkan hujan. Setelah sesiangan ini, program cuaca di handphone saya memberitahu bahwa suhu udara di kota yang memiliki suhu normal 19 – 25 derajat ini, adalah 39 derajat celcius.

Saya hanya mengingat, bahwa November tahun ini, saya harus membuat rencana bulanan dan tahunan untuk karir dan hidup saya.

Saya memikirkan, bahwa November tahun ini, saya mungkin membutuhkan proyek-proyek kecil yang memungkinkan saya untuk terus hidup tanpa menjadi robot. Bangun pagi – berangkat kerja – bekerja di kantor – pulang. Semuanya berjalan dari Senin sampai dengan Sabtu. Dan terbaring seharian kelelahan di hari Minggu.

Dan saya merindukan mantan saya yang berulang tahun bulan November ini, yang nun jauh di sana, yang saya juga tidak tahu kabarnya.

Ah, ya... tentang mantan lagi. Mungkin, mungkin, tulisan ini sebenarnya untuk seseorang di masa lalu yang entah mengapa beberapa hari terakhir ini terlintas di kepala saya.

Cheers,
Amelia

P.s : What is your November plan and / or wish?

Tentang Patah Hati

Malang, 5 Oktober 2015

Sudah lama sekali saya tidak membaca. Apalagi menulis.

Hari ini, di tengah meeting yang cukup membosankan dan deadline tugas yang semakin menumpuk. Saya, iseng membuka blog mbak Windy yang sudah cukup lama tidak saya kunjungi dan saya menemukan tulisannya yang berjudul Menangis (http://windy-ariestanty.tumblr.com/post/121341158075/menangis).

Dan saya terhenyak membaca paragraf tentang mbak Windy yang menangis ketika ditinggal oleh mas Christian.

Saya tidak mengenal mbak Windy maupun mas Christian. Namun, saya beberapa kali menemukan diri saya sendiri, perasaan yang saya alami ketika membaca tulisan-tulisan mereka.

Tak terkecuali siang ini.

Saya memahami, bahwa mbak Windy sedang patah hati.

Karena rekan kerjanya meninggalkannya, pindah ke perusahaan atau tempat yang lain.

Melalui tulisannya, saya belajar.

Bahwa patah hati itu bukan hanya terjadi ketika saya putus dengan pacar atau cinta saya bertepuk sebelah tangan.

Bukan hanya terjadi ketika melihat pohon favorit saya ditebang entah kapan.

Bukan hanya terjadi ketika rumah yang selalu saya sukai tetiba dirobohkan untuk kepentingan bisnis.

Patah hati ternyata bisa terjadi ketika rekan kerja yang cukup dekat dengan saya memutuskan untuk pindah ke kota lain.

Patah hati ternyata bisa terjadi ketika rekan kerja yang cukup dekat dengan saya menuliskan sesuatu yang dengan tidak disadarinya menyakiti saya.

Patah hati ternyata bisa membuat saya menulis melantur kesana kemari karena rasanya terlalu pedih untuk disimpan dalam diam, tanpa ada kata yang bisa dikeluarkan.

-Amel-

Other's Thought

Ah.. the famous Ms. Alice. Well, well.. what an honour for me.

I've heard a lot about you.

Yeah? You do? And how many of this rumours is true? Tell me what you think..
(then the caterpillar smoke the ciggaretes in his hand slowly. Enjoy every second of it, and suddenly open his eyed and straight looking to Alice's eyes deeply.

-----
Malang, 11 April 2015

Imaginary conversation between Alice and caterpillar.
Taken in the middle of boring and dull meeting.

So, how many of what people think of you is true? :)

Life As An Adult

So, Alice, why did you come back here again?

I'm just missing this place.

Yes, but, hey, you can't fit in this living room anymore. I even can't invite you to sip a cup of tea with the Crazy Hat anymore. Seriously, why you were coming back here?

I missing you, guys.. being adult is somewhat boring.

----
Malang, 11 April 2015

Imaginary conversation between White Rabbit and Alice.
Taken in the middle of dull and boring meeting.
Photo courtesy of Vogue 

Observation

Photo courtesy of Ms. Stephanie Fortunata

You said that you often observe people. You can said that they are happy or sad or waiting for someone or simply thinking. Drawn their mind into the world they created themselves. So, I wanna asked you a simple question. Do you even notice that you, your own self, are a sad person too? | How come you said that? | Because you, My Dear, by something you called observation to other's people life, you are drawn yourself to their imagination so you don't have to face all of your - well, I don't know.. a complicated life, maybe..

-----

A sudden pop up conversation in my head. And I don't even know where this conversation coming. Maybe, what most people said is true : There is a lot of people living and talking in your head. Sometimes they just whispering, sometimes they speak it loudly, so you can hear what they are talking about.

Malang, April 7th, 2015
In the gloomy midday