Bhinneka di Mata Joana

 I see life as wonderfully great; it has presented me and my family with its ups and downs, hardship and happiness. I was taught to never back down and to rebound higher, after any misfortunes. My upbringing and those life's little instructions my father and mother and my extended family have given me paid off well, especially in cases like the one I had a while ago.

Back in May, I pictured myself wearing UB's jacket, but two national university selection tests failed me. The partly-subsidized road to graduation turned to a cul-de-sac. I had to go the full-tuition path at another state college, Unpad. This time, I was fortunate to pass the three tests, but some financial constraint prevented me from completing the final registration.

I was crushed, but not for long. It would not do me any good, and would also mean precious time wasted. So, I decided to take a sabbatical year ... I mean a gap year (a prep-year, actually), and keep myself busy preparing for next year.

Itulah kenapa aku bikin rekaman ini. Aku ingin coba jadi pengisi suara karena orang-orang di sekeliling aku bilang suaraku bagus. Sepertinya mereka betul. Semasa SMA dulu, pernah pengurus sekolahku di Pontianak, membawa aku mengisi acara promosi pendidikan di RRI. Aku yang diminta bicara atau mengisi siaran di sana. Dan orang yang pertama kali guru atau teman sekolah cari untuk menjadi pembawa acara biasanya juga aku. Mungkin aku diberkati suara yang bagus karena, sekali lagi, gen keluarga besarku.

I have a distant uncle who works for a national news TV station. My father studied to be a journalist (although he ended up serving in the aviation security division of the state airport management company -- it was perhaps because of his deep and authoritative voice). A grandmother from my mother's side was a former news broadcaster at Radio Australia in Melbourne. She still loves the world of radio, by the way. My mom herself was a Catholic church lectress. I guess, public-speaking blood runs from both sides of my family.

Here's a side note: aku belajar biola dan organ elektronik (electric keyboard) semasa sekolah dulu. Talenta yang ini belum pernah aku ujikan dalam lomba. Yang sudah teruji itu kemampuan aku berpidato dan berdebat kelompok. Lomba semacam ini pernah aku ikuti tanpa, atau bersama, tim sekolahku beberapa kali. Mungkin aku menang lantaran darah Batak aku. Atau karena suara aku yang katanya bagus.

Speaking of voice (again), an uncle of mine repeatedly --and annoyingly! -- tells me I have a pretty voice. He would very much like to hear me humming the full tune of 'I loved her first'*, but I won't let him. Not yet.

I will, someday, softly in the background, at the church, alongside him, when my mom says at the altar, 'I do', for the second time. Or me, for the first time.

Until that day, my uncle will need to spend the next seven or so years to catch up with me in the singing department.

*please check this out, if you haven't -- such a lovely song!