A Happy Housewife and Her Gadget

It was undeniable that gadget affect my life since I had a  cell phone. I was one of many people who feel greatly helped by the gadget.

When the mobile phone technology could  only provide telephone and SMS, mobile phones had become an important part in my life. 

My husband has a work schedule two weeks in the field, and two weeks off at home. During the two-week separated by  long distances away   from my husband, the phone became  our communication bridge. I could not imagine being   far away from  my soulmate without being able to reach him.

Along with the development of mobile phone technology which  has  entered the era of smartphones, my husband and I had several times changed gadgets. We really enjoyed the benefits of technological developments that make our communication more smooth and comfortable.

How gadget affect my life?  Well... I admit that alot of my activities are highly dependent on my gadget. 

The gadget is not only a medium to communicate , but more than that. Features that exist on the gadget facilitate a lot of things. For example, the ease of accessing information on the Internet, the ease of access to social media, entertainment facilities, a tool to capture the moment with  camera feature, subtitute   of notepad, calculator, alarm and others.

So,  I have to say  that gadget is really help me.  I set up daily activities schedule with the gadget.  I read the Qur'an in the gadget.I contact  friends to coordinate the various events with gadgets. I contact my husband and my children with gadgets. I cook with recipes that are listed in the gadget. I document the events that I face  with the camera in the gadget.

Like a double-edged knife, I do not always find the good things of gadget. Sometimes I  could also upset to see my children busy with their gadgets, so they neglect the obligation to learn or get together and with our  family.

In the end no matter how many benefits offered by the gadget, we must still use it wisely. There must be the rules  for myself, my husband  and children so that the use of gadget does not result in adverse affects.



P.S: This post is submitted as a part of weekly blog challenge in Blog English Club (BEC). It's tthe third week already, but this is the first time I take the challenge since I've just join the club. This week theme is " How gadgets affect our life?" Any of you interested in joining the challenge? Find further details by clicking the club's official site : Blog English Club

Going on Vacation to Garut, West Java (Part III)

WRONG CHOICE

For lunch this time, we tried to choose a restaurant located on the main road in Garut. Actually we wanted to eat at the restaurant which was recommended by a friend, but because it was far, we were so reluctant. Finally the choice fell to a restaurant with the slogan "Eat at gazebos above the water". Actually, it was a pretty place, in the main street, there gazebos above-water with big fish swimming around, there were wooden houses in the background that looked sad, but the atmosphere was quiet. There were no other visitors there.

Then we ordered food. Like other Sundanese restaurants, the menu almost the same. We ordered white rice, karedok (Sundanese vegetables salad), tamarind vegetables, grilled chicken, fried squid with flour, avocado juice, soursop juice and milk tea.

After a long wait, the food came. I tasted them. Unfortunately they did not taste good. Too much salt on karedok and fried squid; plain taste of tamarind vegetable; there was a strange taste, even bitter on avocado juice. Ho ... ho ... no wonder no other visitors stop by here. Because of hunger, we ate them all…. Ha..ha…

When paying at the cashier, I saw the waitress at the restaurant were sitting, dazed awaits visitors. The atmosphere was grim. In my heart I also felt sorry for them, if there’s no visitor came, and it happened on and on, they might lose their jobs because restaurant got bankrupt. Maybe the management should think about a new proficient chef?

DODOL GARUT

The next event was traveling around the city of Garut. We went around the town without any direction, turn right, turn left, and went straight ahead, enjoying a cool little town. Passing by Great Mosque of Garut, schools, offices, and shops, we tried to find something unique. When we saw the stores that sold souvenirs, we stopped. The shop owner greeted us with his big smile. We were invited in, and he said we could taste various kinds of dodol Garut. Dodol was a traditional snack made from brown sugar, glutinous rice flour, fruits, and other ingredient.

When I was little girl, my relatives often gave me dodol Garut. Dodol was inside the box, it brand was “Picnic”. It wrapped in paper. The color of dodol was dark brown, sweet, but I did not like the taste. It happened on and on, always the same dodol.

But this time, there were many kinds of dodol stored in the transparent boxes. There were colorful. There were dodol wrapped in clear plastic, some are wrapped with leather corn "This dodol made from potato, this is made from strawberry, this is made from mango, and then this is made from soursop." The shopkeeper said. "And this is the best choice; this is very good, made from red beans. There are also made from green beans, and there is also the black sticky rice. "

I and children ate many kinds of dodol. The taste were so good, so different with dodol Garut I ate when I was a kid. I like the red beans dodol the most. But potato dodol and green beans dodol were also yummy.

The price were various , start from Rp. 18,000; Rp. 20.000,; Rp. 22,000, -; Rp. 24 000, - to the most expensive Rp. 32 000, - per kilogram.

After buying dodol, leather crackers, nut ting-ting, bajigur and bandrek (beverage made from ginger and brown sugar), we went back to the hotel.

IT IS FUN BEING A HOUSEWIFE

Once, after giving birth the first child, I had become bored housewife whose activities only at home raising child. Because I had worked before marriage, I felt that being a housewife wasn’t really something to be proud of. My life seemed to revolve there only, it was like walking but stand still. I felt just like left behind in the appeal of friends who work outside the home. I became more foolish day by day, that’s what I felt. I tried to find a job, but none that seemed appropriate.

One day I met a friend. She was a doctor who was continuing her education to obtain specialist medical degree. We hugged each other and laugh because it was long time no see. Our chat flowed. When I told her that I was only a housewife, she said, "How lovely, you make me jealous!. I am sad, because now I have to sacrifice my time with my husband and children. My husband works in another area, my son leave with my parents, and I ... I should spend my time in this hospital, even sometimes I have to go to another area doing research for months. Just imagine my family, what kind of family I have? ... "I saw the sorrow on her face. . then I tried to comfort her. "It’s oke, you do this for the better future, don’t you?”

Although the meeting was short in time, but it gave quite an impression in my heart. Humans are always unsatisfied with what they had. They always feel others are more fortunate. Since then I was determined to be the thankful one, so I can enjoy my life more.


Okay, maybe I did not feel comfortable with a routine at all. So I tried to find other activities, beyond the routine as housewife. I love English, so I chose to join an English course in a Language Institute. As a result, I felt my life more passionate. I finished the course until the highest level.


Beside English course, I do the aerobic exercise and body language at least 3 times a week. Then I also need to spend some time taking care of my self with the message, body SPA and cream bath once a week. Normally it takes about 3 hours doing those activities in the beauty salon. But since my husband complained about spending too much time there , I found the “win-win solution” . I decided to do the body care at home. Once in a week, a beautician come to my house to do the message, body SPA and creambath. Although the activities take 3 hours, but I ‘m still at home, with my three kids and also with my two maids which help me taking care of the kids.

Other activity is writing. So I write anything that comes in my mind on my blog. It was my friend the late Hendro Darsono who taught me to create a blog. Thank you so my, my friend. I will always remember you… I hope you live hapily there in paradise.

Now, I live my life as a housewife with sincerity. I no longer feel left behind with friends who work outside the home. With the internet, I can find the latest news, trending and various knowledge.


Like today, I start the day with great excitement. Get up early, do the morning prayer and cook breakfast for the kids. I help the kids to prepare them to go to school. The next activity is take a bath and have my breakfast. After taking my children to school, I go to the gym. Gymnastic and fitness workout are the activities that are very useful for me. In addition to health, exercise also made me feel happy. I am determined to stay fit so I can take care for children and serve my husband properly.

Shopping for daily necessities the next activity. I do that before picking up my children from school.

While waiting for the children in the parking area, I greet my friends on Facebook and Blackberry messanger. It is fun that I could still interact with my friends although we are separated by a far distance.

After praying dzuhur and having lunch, I "fell" into the kitchen. The children made the request of pempek and tekwan. Those are the traditional food from South Sumatra which made from fish and starch flour. So I create their order with joy, even let my youngest boy “help “ me swirl the flour. Actually he is just playing with the admixture. Ha..ha..

The most enjoyable part is when my kids like my cooking. Glad to see them eat pempek enthusiastically.

Shopping in the supermarket can be very exciting. I took my kids there and the they start racing to find stuff and put them on the trolley. Anin is busy looking for egg noodles, while Dea and Rafif seek their own milk. But they also do not miss the opportunity to buy their favorite food: ice cream.


In the evening, I accompanied the kids learning and doing homework. There are two things that I get. First, I can help children learn. Second, I could build a closeness to them. It is very important for mother and child relationship.


All and all, I really feel grateful for everything I have.. Good husband, healthy children , a happy life, Alhamdulillah. No more desire to work outside the home, leaving the children. Now, I really enjoy being a housewife.

Debt Problem

That afternoon my phone rang, there was an incoming sms. Soon I red it, apparently from one of my friends whose her kid was in the same school with my son. Her sms was rather long, explaining that she was in trouble and need the loan money. Finish reading the sms, I felt headache. Was this the symptom of stress?

Have not replied the sms, my phone rang again. This time also from one of my friends, a new friend. "My family was in the hospital, so I need a cash loan of 3 million only. Can you help me? "As soon as she said. After I said that I should ask my husband first, then the phone was turned off. My stomach was queasy.


The total in this week there were 6 people who intended to borrow money from me. And all of them makes my head dizzy. It’s not without reason I felt so.


Starting from the previous years. There were dozens of people from various strata of life with a variety of reasons come to me and my husband. They owed the sum total to 9-digit numbers. And almost all did not or have not returned the money.


Some came with tears, and promised to immediately return the loan money, then disappear swallowed by the earth. There was a close friend like a brother, borrow money, then moved without saying goodbye. There was a childhood friend, borrow money, then there was no news anymore. There was someone apparently very pious, God was always mentioned from his words, the hajj has been many times, but it turned out when it's dealing with money, it was so hard to return the debt. In short, from the rich to the poor, from the pious to the infidel, from old to new friends, there's no debt on our that were successful being returned!
6563+

Because of those bad experiences, each time I hear the word "debt" or "borrow money", I get headache and queasy stomach. I and my husband were no longer able to increase the amount of money we owed. It is a dillema. If I do not give the loan money, the friendship is disrupted. But If I give it and then the loan money do not be returned, the relationship also goes bad . Indeed, debt can damage the relationship.


Finally I take the middle road. If there are friends who want to borrow money for reasons that make sense, then I would offer a certain amount of money that I give with sincerity as a charity, of course not at the amount of money to be borrowed. If he accepts, it could be a field of charity for me and my husband.


Then, I don’t want to save money in excess amount in savings. It's better to pay the money in insurance premiums, property, or deposited. So if one wants to owe, I do not have to lie by saying "no money" because it is in fact there is no money.


One friend suggested, when giving loans, there should be a guarantee in the form of goods (eg car or house) and equipped with the agreement. The proposal was great, I think. But for now, I'm still traumatized to give more loans to others.


Too bad there are still many people who think is not important to pay their debts. Yet debt will be accounted for on the day of eternal life later. The obligation to pay the debts mentioned in the following hadith:

From Abi Hurairah r, a. Said that the Messenger of Allah said, "Whoever wrongdoer to his brother that faith of his property or part of it, he must finish it today (in the world) before the coming day when the dinar and dirham not give any benefit. If he has good deeds, the charity was given to his brother who was treated unfairly. But if he does not have a pious deeds so that his brother’s sin is inflicted upon him. "


(H. R. Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi and Abu Daud)


So remember the words of a friend "No property would be brought by the dead people, but there are people who die carrying someone else's property ..." very ironic.

Euphoria of Independence Day

Indonesia, my beloved country celebrated the 64th anniversary on 17 August 2009. August was the month when the red and white (the color of our flag) coloring everywhere in Indonesia. There were so many accessories dominated with red and white such as flags, balloons, ribbons, sparkling lamps, lampions, origami papers, were hanged along the roads, in the class rooms, on terraces, shopping arcades, and others.

In Indonesia, people celebrate the Independence Day by joining competition such as running with gunny sack, climbing betel palm tree, eating kerupuk (chips made of flour favored with fish or shrimps ), and other funny competitions. These competitions are held to keep the unity of people and also to express the euphoria of Independence Day.

Running with gunny sack

In my neighborhood, Bogor Nirwana Residence, the celebration of Independence Day was held at the Bukit Nirwana club house. There were a lot of people gathering there. Not only children, but also teenagers, and adults came to have fun. I saw a very old man with his rattan stick, sitting near the swimming pool, looked so happy to see the euphoria. Maybe the atmosphere here reminded him to the era when he was young and fighting for the Independence of Indonesia. Or maybe he was happy because he could feel the unity and confraternity as one nation although the people here came from various ethnics such as Javanese, Sundanese, Chinese, Arabic, Malayans, and Sumatrans. I, my husband, Anin and Rafif took a part by joining some competitions. Dea refused to join; she was just interested on eating ice cream and becoming supporter.

Anin joined the eating krupuk competition. She was excited because she wanted to be the winner. Last year, at our neighborhood at Palembang she got the second prize. But, this time, she wasn’t lucky. A bigger girl finished eating krupuk earlier then the others, so Anin lost.

Eating Kerupuk competition

Then, there was catching fish competition. Anin and Rafif took a part. They hold a plastic glass on their hand and were ready to catch the small fishes on the plastic pond. The committee blew the whistle and,” Go!” The children started to catch the fishes enthusiastically. I saw Anin collected many fishes, but Rafif found it’s so hard to catch one. Then, the sound of the whistle signified the time was up. Anin smiled and showed me her glass which was full of small fishes. But Rafif cried, he was disappointed because he couldn’t catch any fish. He cried loud and louder, and then Anin tried to calm him down by giving him one of her fishes. His crying changed into sweetest smile; he showed me the fish he got proudly. When the committee counted the fishes, Anin lost again. She got 12 fishes, and the winner got 13 fishes. She could be the winner if she didn’t give Rafif one fish. Anin was disappointed, but I hugged her, showing her that I was proud that she chose to share with his brother rather than to be the winner.

Catching Fish competition for children

Rafif and the small fish

The next was the competition for Moms. It was catching eel. Some woman refused to join because they were afraid of eel. They said “No, thanks! The eel remind me to snake, it’s terrified!”

Anin, Rafif and the eel

A woman tried to persuade me to join this competition. “You are not a coward, are you? Then join this! “She said, and it worked. Ha…ha… I decided to take a part rather than to be an audience.

So, I was ready. A plastic glass on my hand, and a lot of spirit on my heart, it seemed like a brave warrior ready to fight. The committee said,” Get Ready?? Go!!!” Then I started to collect the greasy eels. It was not easy! The eels were so greasy, that sometimes they could loose from my grasp. My kids supported me. “Come on, Mom! Catch them! Add more! You can do it!”

Here, I was catching eel with high fighting spirit

When the time was up, I saw my glass was full enough with eel and I was wet. The committee counted the eels. A skinny woman got 11 eels, a fat woman got only one eel, and some woman did not get any. I got 12 eels!! Ha..ha… then I became the winner.

Pulling Rope competition, looked at the faciall expressions, wow...

My husband joined pulling rope. Two groups consist of 5 people pulled the long rope towards them. The winner was the group who can pull the opposite towards them. The competition needed more energy because the key to be the winner were the power, the strength and team work. I did not hesitant my husband’s strength. So, the result was the same as I thought, his group became the winner.

Then there were another funny competition. Two people competed face to face walking on bamboo stick on the water, and they should hit the opposite using a pillow. The loser was the one who fell into water earlier. It was fun!


The ending of the celebration was the announcement of the winners. My kids were happy to see their parents got two prizes.I got the first prize of catching eel and my husband got the first prize of pulling rope. There’s one thing that disturbed, the prize for me was a tea set consist of six tea cups, so beautiful. But the prize for my husband was only a tea cup, only one, not a set. Ha..ha..ha… my husband got a little bit jealous of it.

The Happy Winners and their prize

This was the first time we celebrated Independence Day in the new neighborhood. We
I got the first prize of catching eel, we enjoyed it, very much.

Hendro Darsono in Memoriam

Yesterday morning, when I prepared breakfast for my husband, my phone cell rang. ” Hendro Darsono” was showed on my phone screen. I was glad because I thought it was Hendro who called me. But, when I picked the phone, I heard someone crying, it was Hendro’s mother. “ Dewi, Hendro have just passed away just now. Please contact other friends, told them. Can you do that for me?”

Oh my God. Couldn’t stop my tears from falling, I felt my legs supple. I told my husband, and I cried and cried.

Hendro Darsono was one of my best friends. I knew him since we were senior high school student on 1988. He was an outstanding, smart, creative and diligent student. He was stolid, calm, and introvert, but he was willing to help friends anytime.

I remembered, every time we had physical exercise, such as athletic, and gymnastic, he never joined. I wonder why, but some friends told me that he had problem with his spine and bone.

Years passed by, I heard about him once in a while, that he was resigned from University, but then he finished his strata 1 education from The Open University, a distance learning Government University. He never lost his passion of learning.

In the end of 2007, I heard that he had been an author. He wrote 9-10 books. When I got his phone number, I called him. He was still the same, calm and steady. He told me about his daily activities. It was amazing that he could do many things without going out from home. He taught English and Computer for junior high school students, senior high school students, and even University Student strata 1 and 2. When he asked me my daily activity, I was ashamed telling him that I was just a housewife. Then he offered me to learn about blogging. He told me how he could get money from blogging.

In the early 2008, I and two of my friends started to learn blogging from him. It was excited experience. He was willing to answer, even any silly questions we asked, and assisted us at any problems about internet and blogging. I owned him much. Sitting on his wheel chair, he taught me to keep learning and learning. He shared many tips and software and also his experiences on the world of blogging and internet.

After underwent surgical operation, his condition was getting worse not only physically but also mentally. He called me, and told me how sad he was. I could feel what he feel, he was down, so down….

Time passed by, sometimes I visited him. His emotion was up and down. Once in a while, I saw him so excited to undergo physical therapy, but some other time he looked so hopeless.

One day before moving to Bogor, I visited him. He was sitting on his wheel chair, looked so pale and skinny. He said that it had been two weeks he didn’t do blogging. His mother explained that he got fever. Hendro didn’t talk much. That’s the last time I saw him…

Good bye, my dear friend Hendro Darsono... May God give you a lovely palace in Heaven. I will remember you as my dear friend, teacher, and inspiring person.

New Morning Activity

Morning view looked from my balcony

Since 17 June, 2009 I and my family and also my two maids live in Bogor Nirwana Residence, Bogor. This is our first week becoming the citizen of Bogor. What an excited experience!

We enjoy new environment, new house, new atmosphere and also new daily activity. In the morning when the sun rise in the East, we can see the beautiful mounts Salak and Pangrango from our terrace and balconies. I felt just like starting a new life with a new spirit when I see the stunning view.

Today, my husband, Dea and I spent the morning by riding bike around our cluster, while Anin and Rafif still sleeping. After foresight-seeing we went to the club house. Dea and her father couldn’t deny the temptation of the beautiful swimming pool with the “blue” water; they swam happily until they got exhausted.



Dea also played at the children playground near the swimming pool. But then she felt hungry, so we went home to have breakfast. I don’t know why I always feel hungry here, in Bogor. When I was in Palembang, breakfast was not a must, because I didn’t feel hungry. But now, it seems that I don’t want to miss my meal time, I want to eat and eat and eat… wow, any food taste delicious here in Bogor!

Preparing to Move to Bogor

On next Wednesday, I and my family will leave Palembang. I can’t exactly express my feeling, because it is a mixture of sadness, but also excitement.

I’m sad because I have to leave my parents, my parents in law, my sisters, my brothers and sisters-in-law, my nephews, my nieces, and the other kin and also my friends. I’m sad because I have to leave my houses, J-3 and J-7, especially J-3, my lovely home where so many sweet memories happened.

I’m excited because I will have another experience living in the new community in Bogor. I can decorate my new house, I can have new friends and neighbors, and something new makes me feel conscious.

My husband will arrive this evening. On the next day we will check the stuffs that should be brought and also supervise the packing of the stuffs. All the big stuffs such as piano, and motorcycles will be brought by cargo.

My sister –in law, Wati and her family will live at J-3. That’s something makes me relieve because I know Wati will maintain it carefully. But J-7 will be sold, since I have bought a house in Bogor, it’s too hard to maintain 3 houses.

Rafif enjoyed his last meeting with Miss Maria and Noel.

My kids also feel sad because they have to leave their friends and teachers. Rafif said good bye to his lovely teacher, Miss Maria on his English class yesterday. And Dea also enjoyed her last meeting with friends and her caring and kind teacher, Miss Irmah. But I don’t know how Anin feel about her last meeting with her friends and teacher. It seemed that she didn’t feel sad. Even she refused when I wanted to take the photo of her friends.

So, on next Wednesday 17 June 2009, I will say good bye to Palembang, my lovely city. And then, Bogor! I’m coming!

Swimming at Butterfly Swimming Pool

Swimming is really fun. That’s what my kids, Anin and Dea, think. They can’t hold themselves from plunging into swimming pool. This time, I saw on the newspaper that there was a new swimming pool at Grand Garden.

We went there. It’s located on the Grand Garden residence, Palembang. Actually, it’s the sport facility for the people who live at the residence but it’s opened also for public.

The atmosphere there was quite cozy. There were two swimming pools, one for kid and the other one for adult. On the floor of the pool, there was a blue butterfly pattern. It made the pool looked nice.



There were only a few people there. Some kids were being trained to swim on the big pool. Some other just played around the small pool. It’s not crowded just like any other swimming pool on the week end. So, the kids really enjoyed swimming and playing in the pool.



While watching the kids swimming, I and Wati, my sister-in-law, ordered food on the menu list. There were not many options, just fried rice, chicken porridge and noodle. But, we had to wait for almost two hours! (oh my God), to enjoy our meal. I didn’t know why they took so long to prepare our order. It seemed that they were not ready, since the place was newly opened.

I thought the management of this swimming pool should give a better service for the visitors, so they could attract more people to come to this place.

For my Beloved Husband on His Birthday

My dear husband,

When I was a little girl, I imagined someday I would marry a prince who loved me.

In my naïve mind, I imagined he was so handsome, the most handsome man in the world.

Yes, it was my dream. It was only the immature longing of a little girl who loved romance.

But when the reality comes, I find more than just a dream comes true.

Although you are not a prince and you are not the most handsome man in the world, but …

You are the one who makes me happy

You are the one to hold me when I’m afraid

You are the one who made me a Mother

You are a man among men

You are my love, my soul mate, my leader, my hero

Happy birthday, my husband…

Thank you for making my life more beautiful than my dream

With all my love,

Dewi Sutedja

Rafif Got Asthma Relapse

Last Sunday, Rafif got asthma relapse. The day before, he ate a bar of chocolate while he got cough. It was my mistake. I shouldn’t give him chocolate until he is fit. I didn’t have the heart seeing him breathed, seemed so hard. He refused any food I gave him. That was never happen if he’s healthy.

I called Doctor Aditiawati, the pediatrician. She didn’t answer the phone. Then I sent her sms. Several minutes later she replied, she said that she was in Jakarta.

Soon, I took Rafif to the Emergency Unit of Charitas Hospital. Susan, his nanny and Anin accompanied us. The nurse there helped him to get inhalation trough nebulizer. The doctor gave me prescription. Then we went to the drug store to get the medicine.

His condition wasn’t getting better although I had given him the medicine twice. That evening, I took him again to the Emergency Unit. He got inhalation again, and again. “Mama, I want to go home…” H e said. The doctor suggested me to continue to give him the medicine.

“Honey, if only I could substitute, let me bear the illness..” I cried in my heart.

Thank God, now he is getting better. I’m so happy to see him smile and laugh again.