ANISSA RATNA PUTRI

Bandung

By Anissa Ratna Putri - Maret 04, 2014

For most people who ever lived here, Bandung is a memorable city. "It's not about the city, it's about the story", they said. Yet, they moved on from this beautiful city to pursue what they call "dream" and "experience" in Jakarta or anywhere else. They will always miss Bandung, as they will miss their dorm room, their campus, their favourite eating place - they will miss everything. But things have to change, people need to move on to gain a better life, no? At least that's what people said and done.

For me, Bandung is not just a memorable city where I spent my college years - it’s always more than that, and I know it even before I start living here.

I met Bandung as a teenager who fell in love with someone who lives here. Thus, I always love to came and visited this city – as it was a rare opportunity for us, the LDR-couple, to met. At that time I saw Bandung as a perfect living place for study. It’s not only because I had my bf here back then, and it’s not only because I wanted to be ITB’s student so bad. I said studying in this city would be the best since Bandung has it’s ‘different’ atmosphere. A comfortable, warm, relaxing atmosphere which makes me feel like this is where I belong. And that’s what I said to encourage myself while preparing for SNMPTN exam back then on my final year of high school: ITB is the place where you belong. Bandung is the city where you belong.

For the last four years, God gaves me the opportunity to live in this city. As the result, I fell more, more, and more in love with Bandung. While my friends prefer to went back home on weekend, I prefer to spent my weekend in my dorm room – watched serial comedy or read books. Sometimes I spent my weekend took a walk around – be it joining Car Free Day, having morning walk around Dago, or spending time at my campus’ event. Sometimes I did things with my friends – sleepover at friends’ house or cooking breakfast together with dorm girls. I rarely went home, and it wasn’t because I didn’t miss my family. I missed them. I just think our house should not be in Bekasi, because I never feel comfortable live in there.

I dare say I know Bandung like it’s a heart beat away. I do not know everything about the city, but there is something in my heart that always feel curious to explore it. I never had enough. When I feel bored, I sometimes decided to went to the park, mall, bookstore, cake shop, cafe, anywhere I could possibly think of. And I never feel exhausted to reach those place (if you know what I mean). It’s only need ‘Angkot’ to get you from one place to another. You can even take a long trip from Setiabudi (North Bandung) to Margahayu (South East Bandung) by only take one single Angkot where you can sit down and wait for your stop. For being able to remember Bandung’s Angkot routes, my friends in college called me “Angkotpedia”. I feel honoured :)

Of course, there were several times when I feel bored living here. There were time when all of sudden I hate people here, I want to be with anyone else and go to somewhere else. And there was a time when I have this “ilfeel” feeling to Bandung after I went to Surabaya. All this time I think Bandung is the one and only city which has facilities nearly as much as Jakarta does, compared to other cities in Indonesia. But when I visited Surabaya, I realized that this city is so much more than Bandung! And suddenly I feel betrayed. Why Bandung is not a green metropolitan city like Surabaya? Why, Surabaya has much more bigger mall than Bandung but still has nice, beautiful, clean parks and river? Why? Why?

And then as I prepared myself to leave Bandung-which-I-don’t-love-anymore, the new mayor in town, Mr.RK, changed everything. He renovated and cleaned up parks, designed it to be a cool place to hangout, put wi-fi on it, and promote it on his instagram. And I must say, it’s not only his work that makes me rethink about hating Bandung. As I spent my jobless time here last month, I realize Bandung gives me something that Bekasi would never give me: independence and privacy.

Though I love spending time with my friends and family, as an introvert, I regularly need time alone for myself. And last month in Bandung becomes special because I manage to balance between me-time and friends-time. I spent time reading comics and books without even care about how many hours I spent and what should I do next. I did painting – if you can call it so – eventhough the result looks like a kindergaten’s doodle. I strolling around city, staring at places I rarely will see for the next two months. Yet I also spent time with friends, talking a lot – from delicious food to quarter life crisis problems.

At the end, Bandung never fails me, and I could never really hate this city. But as I enjoy every moment here, I start questioning – is this really a place where I belong or is it just my comfort-zone?

Because I see so many opportunities out there (which unfortunately mostly in Jakarta) and I feel like something holding me back to grab these opportunities. And yes, it’s Bandung, holding me back.

I do not want to work in a hectic-and-hot Jakarta, I want here in Bandung where I could feel the wind breeze and where I don’t necessarily need to worry about traffic. I do not want to move to my hometown in Bekasi where I could rarely meet my friends, I want here in Bandung where I could meet my friends anytime anywhere. I do not want to go back living permanently in my parents’ house, I want here in Bandung where I could have some privacy and where I could manage my time without have to be monitored all the time.

As much as I want to make the pros and cons of Bandung and Bekasi to prove that living in Bandung is way much better, I realized that opportunity did not come twice. I also realized that taking risk is necessary because unlike the predictable comfort zone, we never know where it will lead us. I then decided to leave Bandung temporarily, for around 2 months, due to working on extended producer responsibility project with Greeneration Indonesia and Waste4Change in Bekasi.

I don’t say leaving temporary is easy. It’s nothing like leaving your dorm room for college summer holiday. I never know will I come back and live here again or will I come back only to pick things up. It’s hard, and I am emotionally exhausted. I am not ready and I would never be ready. Yet, I tell myself I leave Bandung for something worth it. For something I passionate about. For something that would help me pursue my goal and live my dream. And by taking this opportunity I would be able to identify what Bandung really means to me.

To know where you actually belong, the only way is to leave, and then come back. (Dee, on Akar)

Till we meet again, B. I will always love you.
Love,

2 Comments

English

8 Days in Bali

By Anissa Ratna Putri - Februari 15, 2014

1 Comments

Bahasa

The Second Family

By Anissa Ratna Putri - Desember 25, 2013

Saya jarang (atau bahkan nggak pernah?) menulis tentang seseorang khusus di sebuah post di blog saya. Tapi saya merasa keluarga ini worth to write, untuk segala sesuatu yang telah mereka lakukan untuk saya.

Saya mengenal keluarga ini - setidaknya salah satu anggota keluarganya - sejak saya TK. Nama si bungsunya Astri. Teman saya main hantu-hantuan jaman TK B. Eh, ternyata papanya teman papa saya di kantor. Namanya Om Jonky. Waktu SD, I had this stupid accident at camp and I couldn't walk well karena keseleo. Om Jonky mengantar saya pulang sampai ke rumah, padahal rumah saya jauh dan rumah mereka tinggal ngesot dari tempat kemping yang dekat sekolah. Saya pernah main ke rumah mereka satu kali, waktu SD. Bertemu mamanya yang kue bikinannya enak, namanya Tante Mien. Somehow, saya meninggalkan buku saya di rumah mereka. Beberapa hari kemudian waktu saya ambil, yang menyerahkan buku ke saya adalah kakaknya Astri. Namanya Aswin.

Waktu SMP, saya sudah nggak ingat wajah si kakak. Entah bagaimana, I had this crush on him when I met him again. We are still in the same school - saya, Astri, dan Aswin. Saya nggak terlalu dekat sama Astri karena kami jarang satu kelas sejak SD sampai SMP. But since I had that crush, saya jadi dekat lagi sama Astri, and somehow teman-teman Astri yang kenal Aswin seneng banget mensupport saya, padahal waktu itu kondisinya adalah junior bertepuk sebelah tangan ke senior. Sinetron banget. Tapi berkat tim comblang yang semangat 45 itu, entah bagaimana, waktu SMA, saya nggak bertepuk sebelah tangan lagi. Kemudian Om Jonky sekeluarga pindah ke Bandung.

Tiga tahun LDR sama si sulung, saya jarang ketemu papa dan mamanya. Yet they still welcome me kapanpun saya datang ke Bandung. Ketika saya akhirnya kuliah di Bandung, orang tua saya menitipkan saya ke keluarga mereka. And they really took care of me.

Kapanpun saya ingin istirahat dan melepas penat dari kalkulus dan teman-temannya, pintu rumah mereka selalu terbuka untuk saya. Ketika saya harus di Bandung saat semua teman-teman saya pulang ke Jakarta, rumah mereka adalah tempat bernaung. Ketika saya sakit, saya diajak ke rumah Mang Ibing, saudaranya yang juga dokter, dikasih resep, dicarikan obat sampai menelpon ke berbagai apotik karena antibiotik saya yang langka. Saya diizinkan istirahat di rumah mereka, dirawat sampai sembuh, nggak peduli saya sekedar flu atau bahkan waktu tifus saya kumat. Ketika saya begadang nggak tidur demi laporan mekflu, paginya Tante Mien membuatkan roti lengkap dengan 'selai colek' - gaya makan roti ala saya, padahal saya hanya pernah menceritakannya sekali. Ketika saya ingin mencoba naik sepeda di Bandung, Astri dan Om Jonky menemani saya sepedahan 26km pp dari Margahayu sampai Dipatiukur. Ketika hubungan saya dan Aswin tidak ada kontak selama satu tahun lebih, selama itu mereka masih menerima kunjungan saya ke rumahnya dengan tetap welcome, menanyakan kabar saya, mengkhawatirkan saya yang menurut mereka kurusan.

Keluarga mereka menerima semua orang, semua teman Astri dan Aswin (yang kebanyakan 'abnormal'), dengan terbuka. Mereka bukan keluarga angelic banget yang perfect or something, bukan juga keluarga yang angelic di depan tapi nyinyir di belakang. They are simply, a small happy family. They are kind of people that will throw some jokes that will light up your day because it is genuinely funny. They will warm you and cheer you up when everything feels wrong in your life. They will protect you, in every way they can possibly do. They will listen, if you have anything to share - even if you share it in a drama-queen-way.

By writing this post, I want to say thank you. Terima kasih, sudah menjaga saya, sudah menjadi keluarga kedua saya. You guys have no idea how much you mean to me.

Terima kasih, Om Jonky, untuk menjadi seorang kepala keluarga yang begitu terbuka dan memberikan pandangan hidup yang luar biasa untuk anak-anaknya. Saya bahkan nggak bisa mengantar Om 'pulang' dan belum menjenguk sampai sekarang. Maaf ya, Om. I'll bring you the prettiest flower one day. Today is christmas and it's supposed to be your 66th birthday. Selamat ulang tahun ya Om. Hope you rest in peace there :')

Om Jonky, by Winny Astrini

Love,

0 Comments

English

College Years

By Anissa Ratna Putri - November 17, 2013

Looking back 4 years ago, being ITB student is one of my biggest dream. You can tell by reading my older blog post here, here, and here. I was struggling to enter FTSL - Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering. I failed twice, yet finally God gave me another chance, another way, to become a part of "Putra-Putri Terbaik Bangsa". Four years and two months later, I graduated from ITB with title Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering. Time flies.

My first year was fun, I met lots of new friends. My very first acquitance was Achan - Annisa Satwika Lestari. We met at Sabuga when we registered. Then I met Alyssa, Heni, Jessica, and Dini, when we had our campus tour. Meawhile from PROKM I also met some other new friends - I can't remember all of them, but I still keep in touch with Putri and Gunadi, both from FSRD.

Starting my new class, I met my very first home at ITB: Kimdas 24. They are kind of people who can make you laugh anytime anywhere. They copied my notes everytime we face exam. They taught me how to solve calculus when I stuck learning by myself. They brought me to watch movies together. They held a barbeque party and sleepover at Gladys'. They will always gathered when I arranged 'Buka Puasa Bareng', even when they were busy. Thank you, Kimdas 24, for giving my first college year happy time and for always being there and smile at me when we met.

My second home is U-green. I learn a lot from here. I met new friends that will cheer you up when you had a bad day. I met people who have a same vision as I am - to make this earth a better place to live. Or at least, to keep this earth as an appropriate living place. I met Zaid, Ketua Angkatan 2009, someone who you can always count on anytime anywhere. I met Kak Naya and Kak Mahdi, who inspire me to learn more and more about climate change and energy. I met Kak Sano, someone who have a big dream and does not hesitate to pursue it. Thank you, U-green, for being my place to learn and share, for guiding me in every upside down and for always having me as a family.

My second year was not that fun but luckily I had some new family that help me went through. I met Swargalokanata, HMTL ITB, and PSTK. First I want to thank PSTK for giving me chances to dance, eventhough I do know my dance is not that good. And also for always greet me with smile and even give me a graduation present, I was so surprised :')

As for HMTL ITB who always keeps me busy day and night, thank you for giving me a chance to become Editor in Chief of your magazine - ENVIRO. I had never been working on something so passionately before I am working on ENVIRO. Thank you, it was such a great time working as HMTL crew. May you grow better and better each year.

Swargalokanata, I could make a special post only to write about you. I am not an extrovert person and I had a different sense of humor with most people - it's hard to make me laugh. But with all of you, I can laugh for every stupid jokes you made. Even only for a stupid new phrase you use, or even for your stupid expression. Each of you has uniqueness and I am grateful that I met you all. I never regret to become a part of you. I hope we can meet again together one day, telling stories about our new life. Yet whatever will happen in my life, you will always be my home.

My third year is a year where I saw reality, I do travel, and I learn a lot. I want to thank Vico Indonesia and its crew for being my home for a month back then when I had my internship. I miss Badak, Mess Hall, and Bebek Rica! Also thank you to my internship friends - Anggi, Tifany, Sabi, Meska, Yudha, Jones, Adek, Ricky, and his friend - sorry I forget your name :p

And finally, my final year. For helping me survive, I want to thank Prof. Enri Damanhuri, who guides me through my thesis, who patiently taught me every details I needed. Thank you for being so angelic, even until now. Also, thank you Solid and Hazardous Waste Laboratory a.k.a Lab B3 and its crew, you are always fun to be working with, also very helpful and nice, I could not be more grateful for having you as my place to work on my thesis. And thank you, Reta & Baskoro, for being a supportive thesis friends, for being working partner until now. Also for Mbak Titi, Pak Yono, Bu Sri, and all administration crew. I could not make it without you all.

Last but not least, special for people who being my very best friend in college, thank you for your time, your support, your love, your hug and your smile. I love you to the moon and back: Alyssa, Tyagita, Diandra, Meutia, Tiasani, Dito.

Time flies - people are move on. They move from Bandung, back to their hometown while waiting for their next chapter of life. I am getting lonely here - though I think I am in the right track now. So long college memories, I'll miss you :') :')

Love,

0 Comments

Bahasa

FGIM

By Anissa Ratna Putri - November 04, 2013

0 Comments

English

Sajdah (Sujud)

By Anissa Ratna Putri - Agustus 14, 2013

I am not a very religious person - I learned about my religion, but I don't know that much. I simply believe that there is a greater power than human out there, someone who created us and gave us opportunity to live. By learning Islam I know that power is "Allah" and He command us, human, to do prayer 5 times a day which we called "shalat". Sajdah is one of the position in shalat which actually I didn't really pay attention to its benefits until I had a headache.

I've been working on my thesis on this Idul Fitri holiday - which does not feel like one. Working on my thesis at home is actually much more frustrating than working at my dorm house since I had to balance my thesis-working-time with family-time and housework-time. Trust me, it doesn't feel as simple as it might sounds. Despite any other form of happiness my family gaves me, spending a week at home actually has led me to have a cummulative stressful mind. I can feel like there are some blocking parts in my head, which makes my head feels extremely heavy. Moreover, I had my period during this holiday, so my head feels more.and more heavy.

Today, I start praying after off for a week and I feel something different when I do sajdah. It feels so relaxing, like you finally get some air after being locked up in an air-vacuum-room. I can feel blocking parts in my head are slowly gone. Logically, I think it because bloods are flowing to my head while I do sajdah. And then I got the scientific explanation about it.

When people do sajdah, our brain becomes lower than the heart, which makes blood gushes towards the brain with full forces. This phenomenon is actually cannot be happen in any other position except sajdah. Even when lying, our brain is in a higher position than the heart, which is actually a position where the heart has to work against the gravity to pump bloods to our brain.

Based on what I read here, more blood supply to our brain will help us increase our cognitive abilities which related to our memory, vision, hearing, concentration, and psyche. Doing sajdah regularly also will give us less headache and less psychological problems. There are several other benefits of sajdah, should you want to learn more about it do not hesitate to open the link.

My concern here is not to tell people who read this to do shalat or to encourage non-Islam people to learn about my religion. I simply want people to know that there is another way to solve your headache besides taking medicine - maybe it would not give a big or a direct effect, but at least if you try sajdah, your brain will get more blood supply which it might desperately need.

Yet, I only write or recite something I truly believe. And I have no doubt He command us to do sajdah 34 times a day for our own good.

0 Comments

ANISSA RATNA PUTRI

Bandung

8 Days in Bali

The Second Family

College Years

FGIM

Sajdah (Sujud)

About me

Social Media

Translate

Blog Archive

Label

Read My Writings in