From Pen to Bookshelf: Insight on Getting Published

Monday, November 19
7-8 PM at International Affairs Building 407

A panel of writers and editors took the questions of the audiences, the enthusiast writers, about how to publish their writings. Co-hosted by the Columbia University Muslim Students Association and the Undergraduate Writing Program, the event has been an eye opener on media publication entrance process.
 
Let’s get the ball rolling…

Understanding the media is the first task a writer has to do. Reading the magazines, papers, or latest catalog of publishing companies is a way to understand the “taste” of the editors. 

Ideally, the writers should also check out the submission guidelines on each magazines, papers, or publishing companies. Make sure the writings content and layout feeds their hunger.
 
Pitch! Secondly, a writer should understand on how to sell him/herself before he/she sells his/her writings. Sound like a high class prostitution? Could be! The point is, that the editors are gonna read the writer’s cover letter (in this this era: cover email) before looking for the attached writings. Writer’s pitch should answer basically three editor to-ask-list: (1) why do you write the idea?, (2) why should it be written by you?, and last but not least (3) why should your writing be on their media?
 
Next, don’t sweat the small stuff. A genius and brilliant and cutting-edge writing most probably ends up in a trash if the writer put the wrong name/publisher on the cover letter.
 
A few Q&As came from the audience were:
Q: Do we have to wait for a “moment” to send our writing to the media?
A: NO! The media takes a lot of times (1-6 months) to read our writing. We never know when the “moment” comes. Write a lot, send a lot, (and get rejection letter a lot!).
 
Q: If we got rejected, what should we do?
A: Read the comment from the editor, edit the writings, and send them right away to another media. Ohya, never throw away the rejection letter from the editor. Once you get succeed someday, show the editors who have rejected you that they are wrong. What a sweet revenge huh!
 
Q: What’s the easiest way to enter a media publication?
A: Any, but “book reviews” has been being considered as one of the fast track for new writers to put their name published in the media.

The editors and writers who came:

Charles Berret is a PhD candidate in communications at Columbia University. He researches the cultural and technological history of typographic media, specifically during the invention and development of digital typography. He previously worked as a journalist in Cairo and a book reviewer for several literary journals.

Emily Cooke is a freelance writer and the literary editor of the New Inquiry, an online journal of criticism. Her work has appeared in the New York Times Book Review, the Times Literary Supplement, n+1, and the Millions. She holds an MFA from Columbia University.
 
Glenn M. Gordon is the assistant director at the Undergraduate Writing at Columbia University. He was the editor-in-chief of RedersDigest.com and a senior editor at Self and Child magazines. His writings has appeared in numerous publications, including New York, Time Out New York, Self, Huffington Post, Seventeen, Departures, and Reader’sDigest. He wrote frequently on men’s health and sexuality topics for WebMD and CNN.com. He has appeared as a guest on several TV news programs and cooked live in The Food Network.
 
Alexander Landfair is a former nonfiction editor of Narrative magazine, where he worked with previously unpublished writers as well as celebrated authors. He has also worked in editorial capacities at the Columbia Journal of Arts and Literature and The New Yorker. His own work has appeared in the Boston Review, Publisher Weekly, and the Western Humanities Review, and he has received awards and recognition from the Spoon River Poetry Review and Poetry Magazine.
 
Craig Moreau received his MFA from NYU. His first collection of poetry, Cheslea Boy, was published by Cheslea Station Editions 2011. The collection is currently featured for forthcoming collaborations by Emotive Fruition and Warner Photography. He has been published or worked with Tin House, The Iowa Review, BOXCAR Poetry Review, Lambda Literary, and Electric Literature and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is originally from Iowa.
 
Aaron Ritzenberg is Associate Director of First-Year Writing at Columbia University. His scholarly writing focuses on the relationship between literature and social change in the United States. His book, called The Sentimental Touch, is coming out soon.
 
Tana Wojczuk is a lecturer in the Undergraduate Writing Program at Columbia University, collaborating with other UW faculty to develop a pilot theme-based course in American Studies. She is an essayist and critic whose work has been published in Tin House, The Believer, Lapham’s Quarterly, the New York Times (letters), Guernica, Narrative Magazine, The Rumpus and elsewhere. She is a nonfiction editor at Guernica Magazine and a graduate of Columbia’s MFA program in creative nonfiction writing.

Contributing to the Society: A Wikipedia Experience

Wales says that he is on a mission to “distribute a free encyclopedia to every single person on the planet in their own language,” and to an astonishing degree he is succeeding*.

Wikipedia is a revolution. I still remember when I was in a junior high school, reading “Ensiklopedia”, an Indonesian encyclopedia was really an effort. I had to go to a library, and asked the librarian to borrow the encyclopedia. In my junior high school, as a school in a rural area of West Java, Indonesia, encyclopedia was treated as a high value manuscript and was saved in an exclusive cupboard. Only students with permit from a teacher could read the “holy book” in the library. I was very lucky that I eventually lived in Yogyakarta, a city in Indonesia which famous for its education development. Accessing the encyclopedias was not a big issue anymore (I did not need a permit nor the books was not put on a special cupboard), even though limited supplies made difficulties in reading them. In addition, the Internet café was easily found and affordable for the students in Yogyakarta. 
 
A few years later, Wikipedia comes to the Internet. I did not think that googling (or at that moment, if I am not mistaken, using “Yahoo! Search”) was not popular in my university, as we used the Internet mostly for sending emails or chat with parents or people outside the city. However, when Wikipedia came up, my fellow students and I could easily access information that used to be the exclusive contents of encylopedias. The advantage of Wikipedia is that the Wikipedia compiles many sources and provides general knowledge which newly exists or arises. People do not need to wait for the new revised edition of encyclopedias to know the information. Another advantage of Wikipedia is that people can also contribute to the content. It gives chances to particular people who understand particular knowledge to share their information to the society. Some people might worried to the fact that people might put mislead information, but Wikipedia provide checks-and-balances system on the media. People can edit and look the edit made by themselves or by the others.

Last week, on the Foundations of the Sustainable Development class, the MPA in Development Practice learnt the issue of human rights and gender equality. One of the discourses was the women who become victims during a war. I brought up the issue of Jugun Ianfu, sexual violence victims during Japan colonialization era in Indonesia on 1942-1945, that I made a research on it when I was in senior high. To regain my memory on the dates, I tried the google and was led to Wikipedia.
 
 
I was surprised that in the Bahasa version of Jugun Ianfu, it was explained as “wanita penghibur” (sexual entertaining worker), not “korban pelecehan seksual” (sexual violence victims). I am totally sure about the info as I have ever interviewed two of the survivors. The Jugun Ianfu were mostly young women who was invited to learn sing and dance or to study, but actually were kidnapped and trafficked to the Japan military camp. Thus, on the Wikipedia page on Jugun Ianfu, http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jugun_ianfu, I deleted the words “penghibur” (entertaining worker) and “terlibat” (join) into “menjadi korban” (being a victim). So far, there is no later change of my edit. This is the advantage of the Wikipedia as I have written above, even though I have never thought that I could contribute to the site, or maybe to society. Yet, people still have to be critical to the contents of Wikipedia and involve in checks-and-balances to provide fair and better information to the society. ▪

This writing is a weekly reflection writing on
the New Media and Development Practice class. 

*Schiff, Stacy. 2006. Know It All: Can Wikipedia conquer expertise? Retrieved from http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/07/31/060731fa_fact#ixzz2BYB0OX6G

 

An Island and An Archipelago: Maps and Gaps

Developing countries like Madagascar (smaller blue dot) and Indonesia (bigger red dot) are unique to be looked into further. Especially, both countries have similar characteristics: island(s). Madagascar is a small island country in Indian Ocean, and Indonesia is an archipelago country. The fact that Madagascar’s earliest settlers arrived from southern Borneo, Indonesia, is another unique factor that makes me interested in both countries. I want to look further into these countries’ economy, education, and information and communication technology development. I believe those factors are interconnected in supporting the countries’ development.

Figure 1. Primary School Completion Rate vs Income per Person

In term of economy, Madagascar faced a crisis in 1982 which created its economy moved backward (indicated by diminishing Income percapita). The country is now developing its economy, even though in a quite slow progress. However, Madagascar’s primary school completion rates keep increasing along the time. On the other side, Indonesia’s income per capita and primary school completion rates are both in increment.

Figure 2. Internet User (per 100 people) vs Personal Computers (per 100 people)

The information and communication and technology is growing in both Madagascar and Indonesia. Personal computer ownership in Indonesia is slightly higher than in Indonesia than in Madagascar. Even though the personal computer ownership rate is relative similar, the internet users (per 100 people) in Madagascar do not improve as significant as in Indonesia. In Indonesia, there were a lot of internet cafés, where mostly students were able to access internet in cheaper price, which made people who did not have personal computer could access the internet. Thus the internet users rate have a significant increment. However, the last data shown was in 2006, and according to the World Bank[i], Madagascar has declared the Madagascar Action Plan for 2007-2012, which promotes the expansion of ICT infrastructure and access in the country including the establishment of ICT centers in schools.

Figure 3. Internet User (per 100 people) vs Cell Phones (per 100 people)

Nevertheless, ownership for cell phones in Madagascar and Indonesia hiked with Indonesia has a higher increase. This could be opportunities for both countries to accelerate internet usage for their citizens. Ericsson[ii] predicts that although current mobile data use among prepaid users remains low, smartphones are providing access for internet connectivity. For Indonesia, as an archipelago country, broadband internet would be very efficient in providing access to internet than the connectivity through Digital Subscriber Line. For Madagascar, the broadband internet development also would be beneficial as it is accessible by the citizen through the cell phones. The main thing to consider is how the internet usage will be advantageous for the development of Madagascar itself.

As experiencing little comparison between Madagascar and Indonesia, the interactive maps by Gapminder have provided visual descriptions that make people able to see the development, the growth, and even comparison within criteria and countries.

***

This writing is a weekly reflection writing on 

the New Media and Development Practice class. 

[i] Survey of ICT and Education in Africa : Madagascar Country Report. Retrieved from https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/10706 at 15 October 2012.

[ii] Profitable Prepaid Smartphones: How operators in developing economies can ride the prepaid smartphone growth wave. Ericsson Discussion Paper June 2012

#OnTheNews: Digitally Connected Students, Engaged Community

I have just found a picture my self on the United Nations Foundation website for the "Digitally Connected Students, Engaged Community", an article related to the Social Good Summit 2012 where I was there as a fellowship of the Digitally Connected Student. Sitting in the first row with other students from Columbia, Georgetown, Hunter College, and so on was awesome moment. Especially since we are all social media enthusiast, we were kinda interconnected each other even though we had just met for a first time. Attending the events itself (and got a fellowship, and .... paid!) was an interesting experience, and being in a website was another embarrassing interesting advantage for me.

Well, I might never appear on a magazine cover, but on a UN Foundation website is not bad at all. I guess!

Urasenke Chado Tradition

Today, I joined Japan Student Association at School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University to visit Uransenke NYC at the 69th Street Lexington Avenue. With 23 other students, surprisingly that mostly are NON Japanese, I learned and enjoyed a tea ceremony.

The Tea Master explained to us on the history of the ceremony and also the circumstances of the place. Before we entering the ceremony place, the Tea Master told us that the sliding door in front of us is a "magical door" that would bring all together from NYC to Japan. And it's true!

The wooden floor, the tatami, the ikebana, the calligraphy, and of course the two ladies in their kimono have brought my friends and me to another world. The place of the ceremony also has a small garden, giving a peaceful surrounding.

In this tea ceremony, I met with Masa, my classmate in MPA in Development Practice and also Naoko, a second year student who wore Batik that catch my eyes.

The story of the tea ceremony itself is quite long. But, I happily to share with you all as below. I retype from the Uransenke Chado Tradition brochure to minimize my misinterpretation of the Tea Master explanation.

Tea is known to people worldwide, but nowhere has it contributed as much to the cultural milleu as in Japan Here, the preparation and drinking of tea, in a special form called matcha, became the basis for a profound spiritual and aesthetic discipline that has had a pervasive impact on Japanese civilization.

Matcha is powdered green tea blended with hot water. this form of tea was introduced to Japan in twelfth century by Zen monks returning fro study in China. In Zen temples, it was used as a mild stimulant to clear the mind during meditation, was valued as a medicine, and had symbolic ceremonial use. In time, the enjoyment of matcha spread to the ruling and noble classes, who would hold lavish tea functions that featured the displayed and use of Chinese art objects.

From these two disparate uses of matcha, there evolved the idea of tea gatherings acting as distinct mediums for spiritual and aesthetic fulfillment, and this gave rise to creation of rooms designed especially for such gatherings. Important ti this development was the emergence of a unique Zen-inspired aesthetic concept; the appreciation of the subtle, austere beauty that may be discovered in things that seem humble and unassuming.

In the sixteenth century, Sen Rikyu (1522-1591), a man of great creative insight and a leading figure in the cultural and political arenas of his time, realized the quintessence of these ideas in his austere "thatched hut" style of tea, and his rare artistic sense and ideals based on Zen effectively transformed the activity of preparing, serving, and receiving tea into a comprehensive discipline, establishing in the foundations for Chado, the Way of Tea.

The keystones of Sen Rikyu's Chado ideals are expressed in these four words: wa, kei, sei, and jaku. Wa means harmony; the harmony that should exist in human relations, between humans and nature, in the selection of the tea utensils and the manner in which they are used, and all other facets of Chado. Kei means respect. respect is paid to all things and comes from sincere feelings of gratitude for their being. Sei means purity, and implies both worldly and spiritual cleanliness. Lastly, jaku means tranquility - a state of spiritual peace.

Based on these, people who study the discipline of Chado learn to be caring about every element that it involves: its setting, the articles employed, the etiquette exercised, the foods and even the water used. Through their training and study they aim to refine and cultivate themselves as human beings.

In a quiet old neighborhood in Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan, the estate of the Uransenke line of Sen family has stood on ots present site for three and a half centuries. The oldest tearooms were originally built by the third generation of the family, Sen Sotan, Rikyu's grandson.

The complex of tearooms and gardens has been designated an important Cultural Property by the Japanese Government because of its importance in Japanese cultural history and art. This estate, where the spirit of Sen Rikyu abides, is the home of Uransenke, and is the heart of Chado for the millions of people who study and practice Chado as thought by Uransenke around the world. 

Over four centuries have passed since Rikyu's time, but his descendants through the generations have actively carried forth his legacy. Each successive heir to that legacy has also added yo it, so that Chado has remained vital and meaningful. In our modern age, it continues to offer us an effective path for cultural enrichment and self-cultivation, and a timeless formula for sharing a beautiful moment thanks to the agency of tea.

Social Media and Society: The Vehicles and the Drivers

The universe is now interconnected through social media.  Since the era of mIRC, Friendster, Multiply, Myspaces, Blogspot, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, to the uninvent-next-generation-of-social-media, people have more chances to broaden their network virtually.  Social media creates digitally connected society, and even more initiates unbound conversations.

The Networked Nonprofit by Beth Kanter and Allison H. Fine states that social media is vehicles for conversation. It is the agent of changes, as the drivers, who should drive the vehicles into right directions or the other way. The high way, the engines, and the horn equip the vehicles to run into the final destination, which in this case is social change.
 
Accessibility for social media is widely available. Internet revolution brings people into unified world. Moreover, technology advancements such as notebooks, mobile phones, or iPads provide the infrastructures to utilize the internet. People can share stories or even report events right on the spot. The #EarthHour is happening when people from all over the world shared pictures of their surrounding during the switching-off moments. People not only became viewers, but also actively participated in the cause of protecting the planet.

In addition, social media is echoing information further and for wider range. In my home country, Indonesia, who is the top five of twitter citizen, the social media once made a huge impact on society. It was ‘Coins for Justice’ and #FreePrita in 2009. Prita Mulyasari was prosecuted for writing a complaint email (and unintentionally sent to a mailing list) regarding a bad hospital service. She was found guilty for accusing the hospital by a High Court, and was ordered to pay a fine to the hospital. Then, Indonesian netizens initiated to collect the sum of the fine in form of coins because they are outraged by the court decision and they hope the coins will overwhelm the hospital. The cause attracted national-wide attention and became headlines in both electronic and mass media. This cause has reverberated the issue of freedom of expression and protection of consumer's right on the society at large.

Causes spread viral, when friends of friends are supporting things on the behalf of someone without directly being asked to do so. Social media transforms a ‘voice’ into a parade of passionate supporters for social movement through a simple ‘click’. The idea of connecting (or reconnecting) people on social media also meets the anthropological background of individual, which is a social being. Inevitably, social media is a promising media in influencing people to create social changes. *

This writing is written in order to join The Digitally Connected Students fellowship on 

the Social Good Summit 2012 by The UN Foundation. 

*picture courtesy of http://www.wizmarketings.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Austin-Social-Media-company.jpg

Maintaining the Momentum: Delivering Solutions for Girls and Women.

1:27 - 1:45 PM. Maintaining the Momentum: Delivering Solutions for Girls and Women.

Maintaning the Momentum: Delivering Solutions for Girls and Women. Women engaged in poverty reduction, but women mostly were victims of poverty. While, women play roles in educating children that they have.

There is $2,6 billion, money spends on women health. Not only about the money, but also legitimizing family planning and contraception. Politics is also involved, and sometimes put the issue behind. Leaders should take action on it. For instance, President of Malawi educate young about making choices.

Technology breaks the barriers that politics put. Technology is a powerful tools, but need people behind it. Social media speaks the voice of the voiceless. Connected with the MDG #5, people at large should be recognizing that there are people who are dying due to health issues, esp. women. It's time for technology and human help solving the issues.

The World in 2015: MDGs.

1:07 - 1:25 PM.

It's the second session on the Social Good Summit 2012. Pete Cashmere, Helen Clark, Kathy Calvin.

MDGs are here to improve human's life. - HC
We need everybody to be involved in creating a better world. - KD
Incredible roles of social media and ICTs in supporting development. - KD
Citizen journalism. - PC
Social media brings ideas and problem solving. - KD
UNDP invites citizen of the world to interact through social media and contributing their ideas on what should be after 2015. - HC
More engagements from all of sectors to get involved after 2015. - KD

The Social Good Summit 2012 (Day 1) #SGSGlobal

Morning!

It's an exciting day. I've been selected as a Digitally Connected Student Fellowship for the Social Good Summit 2012 by the United Nation Foundation. So, I am attending three day summit for free and even get paid. Cool! Alhamdulillah.

It is here in the 92Y Lexington Avenue, NYC. Scholars, students, bloggers, journalists, start-ups, and all social media enthusiasts is joining a global conversation on how social media (should)  support human development.  It's a three day events with a cramped schedule!

I met the lecture of New Media and Development Communication class (where I am in this semester), Anne Nelson. We had a little conversation while enjoying a bagel and a cup of coffee, talking on how media should provide people access into a better life. He picked an example on The Years of Living Dangerously where a radio could be a powerful tool to spread information and educate society. However, she said that the Good Summit 2011 was great!

Now, I am typing this post while sitting next to an International Politics student/journalist from Georgetown University, a Healtyreads.com start up founder from Canada, a Women Tech person, and another Georgetown student who originally come from Indonesia, Rio. I still have no idea what I will get from this event though, but it is a nice networking 'site'.

Ohya, based on the schedule, HE Ambassador of Indonesia to the US, Bapak Dino Patti Djalal, is also attending the event speaking on "How Digital is Redefining Diplomacy".  Can't hardly wait!
 

It's cold morning. I guess I need to grab another cup of hot coffee! Blog to you later!

This Friday!

 Today, it was the first time for me to take Jumaah prayer at the Earl Hall as last time, (the jamaah and) I had the prayer at the Interchurch at the 122nd Street. I was waiting in the Muslim Student Association prayer room at the 1st floor, when Omar, a new friend, was coming. Omar, a Palestinian (but recides in Jordan), is a Freshman of Columbia College. While waiting for other jamaah, we chatted about Palestine.

Omar said the situation is more condusive lately, but some problems still exist. Trade barrier and border access count as main problems. The trade barrier makes the economic growth lag behind, and the border access makes people difficult to look for opportunity out there. Omar is lucky as was born in the US and hold a US passport so he easily go back and forth. But his family must wait for 3 months for a visa.

After ten minutes waiting, I initiated to check the MSA's Facebook, in case the post a new announcement about the shalah. However, there is no new announcement. Thankfully, there was a man who were going to take a wudhu (ablution), so we asked him about the place. In fact the Jumaah prayer was in hall at the third floor. Then we went upstairs.

The theme of khutbah for friday prayer this week is Remembering Allah swt after Ramadhan as it's almost one month after Ramadhan ends. The khatib 'asked', "Do you remember how does it feel when you take your ifthar? Do you still thank Allah when you eat your dinner?"

The question shocked me. I realize that recently each time I eat, I never really thankful to Allah anymore. I do pray before I eat, but it is not as khusyu as it was during Ramadhan.

How about you?



photo courtesy of http://www.bookcentre.co.uk/3-7-years/1075-allah-gives-us-food.html

How is The Web 2.0 Using Us?

Spending time with uber-cool people today. A new media enthusiast, a PhD student on climate change, & an MDP senior interning in Rwanda. New Media in Development class by Anne Nelson today is digesting the youtube "Web 2.0 is us/ing us" by Mike Wesch, an anthropologist.

Web 2.0 is not only sharing info, but also linking people. People sharing, collaborating, trading. My classmates are mostly journalist, and I introduced myself as an ex journalist who got his karma and end up as a government agent. Chinese students (who are also journalists) brought up the issues on "made in china" media. Chinese google, chinese facebook.

One of the fun facts on the New Media class: in Kenya and Uganda (CMIIW), people use cell phone for mobile banking rather than calling. So, do you think all African country are underdeveloped?

Lebaran Tanpa Takbiran

Jika pada posting sebelumnya, saya bercerita tentang pengalaman berpuasa di luar Indonesia. Posting kali ini adalah "gong"-nya: berlebaran pertama di luar Indonesia.

Bagaimana rasanya?

Asing, tentunya.

Tidak ada takbiran, tidak ada acara kumpul keluarga yang biasa mudik semua, dan tidak ada teriakan-teriakan keponakan. Pagi di hari terakhir Ramadhan di guyur hujan. Sabtu pagi di Central Park menjadi sepi. Tidak banyak orang yang berolahraga seperti biasa atau sekedar mengajak anjing-anjing mereka berlari pagi. Menambah suana melankoli.

Puasa terakhir yang biasanya saya sambut dengan makanan mewah (maklum puasa terakhir biasanya menjelang lebaran dan menu berbuka 'lebih' dari puasa biasa), kali ini menjadi standar-standar saja. Apa yang bisa diharapkan dari makanan halal di New York (yang mudah dijangkau tentunya) selain Lamb over Rice dari Deli cart di pojok-pojok jalan?

Seusai berbuka, saya menelepon ke rumah. Mengucapkan selamat idul fitri dan memohon maaf. Zona waktu yang berbeda 11 jam membuat keluarga saya sudah 'heboh' dengan lebaran, sementara saya masih bengong menunggu pagi.

Karena masih menginap di KBRI, say amencoba turun ke lantai basement, tempat satpam berjaga. Malam itu Pak Madjid yang sedang mendapat giliran. Namun rupanya, masih ada juga Ibu Entin, bagian dapur di KJRI, yang sedang memasak ketupat untuk acara open house dari Konsulat Jenderal RI untuk New York besok siang.

Saya tertarik dengan ketupat ala New York. Tak seperti ketupat di Indonesia yang dibuat dengan bungkus daun kelapa, di New York, ketupat di masak dalam bungkus plastik zip lock. Bentuknya mirip memang, tapi bukannya plastik nggak boleh dipanaskan ya? Apalagi direbus berjam-jam?

Minggu pagi, saya bangun agak kesiangan. Shubuhan baru pukul setengah enam. Langsung mandi sekalian.

Menurut situs Islamic Cultural Center of New York, mereka akan mengadakan empat kali shalat sunah Idul Fitri, dengan jadwal terpagi pukul 7.30. Baju lebaran dari kakak perempuan saya langsung saya keluarkan dari koper. Amanah dari dia, katanya harus dipakai buat lebaran. Karena masih setengah nyawa dan salah perhitungan, saya memutuskan untuk berjalan kaki dari KJRI ke ICCNY. Saat itu saya berpikir, "kan dari 86th Street ke 96th Street cuma 10 blok ini!"

Dan itu salah! KJRI ada di 68th Street Fifth Avenue, sementara ICCNY ada di 96th Street Third Avenue. Jadilah saya pagi itu berjalan total jenderal 28 blok plus 2 avenue. Lebih kurang 30 menitan saya berjalan. Semoga Allah mencatat setiap langkah sebagai ibadah ya?! Aamiin.

Dari jauh, tampak kubah masjid begitu sangat kecil dibanding bangunan pencakar langit di sekitarnya. Namun kerumunan orang di pintu depan sudah menciptakan nuansa megah tersendiri.

Di area pintu masuk, terdapat beberapa kotak (seperti kotak amal) yang ditujukan untuk pembayaran zakat fitrah. Untuk di ICCNY, zakat fitrah dikenakan minimal setara USD10.00. Alhamdulillah, sebelum terbang ke New York, saya sempat membayar zakat fitrah di booth PKPU di kantor.

Memasuki pintu utama masjid, orang sudah sesak antri. Bagian penitipan sepatu tampaknya kewalahan. Untungnya mereka berinisiatif menyediakan plastik besar untuk tempat sepatu agar bisa dibawa oleh masing-masing jamaah. Saya memilih naik ke lantai dua, dan menyelipkan sepatu di antara tumpukan karpet di belakang.

Di lantai dua, ternyata juga sudah cukup penuh. Muka saya yang aneh sendiri (mayoritas jamaah adalah warga keturunan timur tengah, India, dan kulit hitam. Muslim kulit putih terlihat beberapa terselip.) dan celingak celinguk kebingungan akhirnya menarik perhatian salah seorang jamaah berkulit hitam. Dia berteriak dan melambaikan tangan ke arah saya, "come here brother!". Dia kemudian menggeser duduknya, menyisakan ruang yang pas buat saya.

Alhamdulillah, akhirnya dapat shaf pertama. Shalat juga belum dimulai ternyata. Bagian takmir masih memberikan pengumuman dan mengingatkan untuk membayar zakat fitrah. Pria berkulit hitam tadi langsung memekik, "God, I forgot."

"You can pay it downstairs," respon saya.

Ia lalu meminta saya menjaga tempat dia. Tak lama kemudian, dia kembali dan shalat sunah akan dimulai segera. Saat semua jamaah berdiri, barulah terlihat ternyata saya pendek banget ya, dibanding para pria timur tengah dan kulit hitam ha ha ha...

Memang sangat sedikit ras Melayu seperti saya (atau malah nggak ada lagi) yang shalat sunah di ICCNY pagi itu. Usut punya usut, kebanyakan warga Indonesia memilih berkumpul di Masjid Al Hikmah, Queens untuk sahalat berjamaah di sana.

Selesai shalat, khatib berkhutbah. Isinya adalah perjuangan menjaga iman setelah Ramadhan. Standar mungkin jika didengar di Indonesia. Tapi di Amerika, perjuangan itu memang ada.

Usai khutbah, jmaah berhamburan keluar. Di area taman, sudah cukup banyak orang berjualan. Kaligrafi, peci, sajadah, ukiran, hingga madu. Suasana ini mengingatkan saya pada Masjid Kampus UGM di daerah lembah UGM.

Tidak ada antrian untuk salam-salaman mengular seperti halnya seusai shalat sunah di Indonesia (atau tepatnya di Garut, tempat kelahiran saya). Semua langsung bubar, meski ada beberapa yang kemudian berfoto-foto di taman.

Saya langsung menuju stasiun Metro Subway. Masih sepi di Minggu pagi. Beberapa jamaah shalat sunah tadi masuk dalam satu rangkaian gerbong dengan saya. Saya memperhatikan mereka dengan sembunyi-sembunyi, karena takut menggangu privasi. Namun tampaknya ada yang membuntuti pandangan saya, dan saat kami mata kami beradu, dia melambaikan tangan dan berkata, "assalamualaikum."

"Wa'alaikum salaam."

Buka Puasa Pertama di Luar Indonesia

14 Agustus 2012
24 Ramadhan 1433 H

Hari pertama sampai di New York, saya menginap di KJRI. Perjalanan dari JFK ke Manhattan ternyata tidak terlalu lama. Saya tiba di KJRI sekitar pukul setengah enam sore. Di Indonesia, saat bulan Ramadhan, pukul setengah enam adalah waktu paling dirindukan. Biji salak atau kolak pisang sudah mulai dihidangkan di meja makan di rumah. Atau, teman-teman kantor dan saya sudah mulai turun dari lantai 18 untuk ikut menyantap ifthar bersama di lobby lantai dasar.

Di New York?

Maghrib masih dua setengah jam. Orang juga lalu lalang membawa coffee cup atau hotdog dari deli cart. Tidak ada seremonial jelang buka puasa layaknya di Indonesia. Tapi untunglah saya di KJRI. Masih bareng-bareng dengan orang Indonesia.

Kebetulan juga, hari itu ada acara buka bersama orang-orang Indonesia di Masjid Al-Hikmah. Masjid tersebut adalah masjid perkumpulan orang Indonesia yang didirikan mulai tahun 1995. Info lebih lengkap mengenai Masjid Al-Hikmah ada di http://www.masjidalhikmahnewyork.org/.

Bersama dengan Ibu Rina dan Mas Ari (pegawai KJRI) dan diantar dengan mobil van oleh Kang Acup (saya panggil Kang karena asli Sukabumi), kami pergi dari area Fifth Avenue menuju daerah Long Island City. Di Queens, kami sempat pula mampir ke supermarket untuk membeli kurma dan buah-buahan. Saat membayar, kasir (perempuan berjilbab) bertanya, "Muslim?".

Mas Ari menjawab iya. Lalu perempuan itu bertanya lagi, "where are you from?"

Saat dijawab Indonesia, ternyata si perempuan mengatakan kalau dia juga pernah ke Indonesia. Saya berpikir jangan-jangan dia termasuk golongan orang-orang arab yang sering menginap di Oasis Amir atau Lumire, dekat kantor saya di Senen, Jakarta he he he.

Tak lupa dia mengucapkan salam, "wassalamu'alaikum" saat kami pamit setelah membayar.

Masjid Al-Hikmah ternyata cukup besar juga untuk ukuran New York. Ukuran masjidnya hampir sama dengan Masjid Ath-Thaibin di belakang kantor saya. Hanya saja, Al Himkah memiliki area parkir mobil yang bisa menampung 4-6 mobil. Area parkir ini yang diubah menjadi tenda untuk hidangan ifthar malam ini.

Selain buka bersama, sore itu ada pula pengajian yang diisi dengan ceramah. Karena datang agak telat, saya agak kurang menangkap apa sisi ceramahnya. Yang jelas dan mengagetkan, ternyata ustadz yang mengisi ceramah adalah Ketua Umum Persatuan Islam (Persis) Garut. Ya, Garut! Jauh-jauh saya ke New York, ketemunya orang Garut juga. Beliau ternyata sedang road show di beberapa kota di Amerika: New York, Philadelphia, Boston, dan lain-lain.

Menu berbuka puasa kali ini adalah campur-campur, entahlah ada namanya atau tidak di daftar menu masakan Indonesia. Ayam dibilang opor, tapi bukan opor, tapi mau dibilang ayam goreng juga bukan he he he. Yang paling Indonesia adalah Mie Goreng-nya. Saya yang merasa lapar nggak lapar ternyata menghabiskan cukup banyak Mie Goreng.

Orang Indonesia di New York tidak sesedikit yang saya kira ternyata. Memang mayoritas tinggal di daerah Queens, bukan di Manhattan. Tapi lumayan lah, setidaknya nggak merasa sendirian amat. Walaupun memang tidak semudah menemukan orang China atau Korea di jalanan kota New York.

Begitulah pengalaman saya berbuka puasa pertama di luar Indonesia.

Dubai - India... Oops! I mean Dubai - JFK

"Kita ini terbang ke Amerika, apa ke India ya?"

Itulah pertanyaan pertama yang terlontar dari mulut saya ke Icha, teman perjalanan saya. Peswat Qatar Airways yang menjadi penghubung penerbangan anatara Doha dan New York ini memang dipenuhi orang India. Di sebelah kiri, di belakang, di kursi-kursi kebanyakan teman Inspektur Vijay.

Ica sempat senang sih, karena ada satu perempuan muda (sekali lagi, ras India) yang memakai celana training bertuliskan Cornell University. Berasa dapat teman satu kampus gitu dia!

Dalam penerbangan kali ini, saya bisa duduk bersebelahan dengan Icha. Tapi perjalanan ini justru saya habiskan untuk tidur. Maklum, kami ternyata kebagian duduk di bagian sayap. Bising sekali! Mana bisa ngobrol?!

Untunglah, 13 jam perjalanan ini tidak terasa begitu lama. Karena tidur terus tentunya ha ha ha.

Dalam perjalanan ini, Icha sempat menemukan keajaiban. Salah satu pramugari yang melayani kami adalah warga Thailand, dan bernama: Wannaporn. Do you wanna?

Hingga sampai lah kami di John F. Kennedy airport. Rasanya lega. Bisa kembali menghirup udara di darat. Bisa kembali menggerak-gerakan pinggang dan punggung yang pegal selama perjalanan.

Tahap setelah keluar pesawat adalah pemeriksaan imigrasi. Berbeda dengan di Jakarta, saat paspor biru kami menjadi paspor sakti karena bisa mendapat antrian khusus, di JFK ini, semua pendatang tetap harus antri. Mengular pula.

Oh ya, sebelum turun, kami dibagikan pula kartu I-94 dan Declaration Paper yang harus kami isi dan tunjukan saat pemeriksaan. Pemeriksaan berlangsung lancar dan cepat. Kurang dari 5 menit, saya rasa. Petugas hanya bertanya akan kemana saya sekolah, lalu menanyakan apakah ini kali pertama saya ke Amerika.

Karena berbeda loket, Icha ternyata sudah ada di bagian klaim bagasi lebih cepat dari saya. Bahkan 2 koper saya sudah diturunkan dengan baik oleh Icha. Emang top lah temen yang satu ini!

Keluar dari area bandara, saya mematuhi saran salah satu blogger yang sempat saya baca ceritanya (sayangnya saya lupa nama blognya...). Ia menyarankan saya untuk mengambil peta subway New York di bagian informasi. Jadilah saya mengambil peta, sementara Icha bertanya di bagian informasi mengenai akses ke Itacha.

Kami lalu berusaha mencari cara untuk menukarkan uang recehan. Icha juga mencoba membeli kartu telepon lokal, tapi tidak berhasil. Akhirnya kami mampir ke Dunkin Donut, untuk jajan sebesar $4.35 dan dibayar dengan uang lembaran $100.00. Untunglah pelayan berparas India itu mengerti kalau kami perlu uang recehan, sehingga kami tetap diberi kembalian. Kalau di Indonesia, mungkin disuruh nukar dulu juga kali ya....

Di luar JFK, kami mulai bingung lagi. Banyak orang lalu lalang, dan banyak jenis alternatif kendaraan. Saya sudah fix dengan yellow cab (di JFK juga banyak yang menawarkan taksi hitam, tapi banyak yang menyarankan untuk tidak mengambil taksi jenis itu), walaupun antriannya naudzubillah. Lebih panjang dari antrian taksi di Plaza Indonesia seteah jam makan siang.

Icha ternyata harus naik bis dulu ke Grand Central station, baru kemudian menyambung naik bis ke Itacha. Sementara itu, saya pergi mengantri taksi untuk ke Manhattan. Gosh!

Antara percaya dan tidak percaya. Antara senang tapi juga binggung. Bagaimana nggak, mau stay 2 tahun di New York, tapi apartemen saja belum dapat juga. Untunglah pihak KJRI New York berbaik hati untuk memberikan akses tumpangan selama 1 minggu (kalau bayar di I-house atau airbnb.com bisa lumayan pisan tuh!). Terima kasih untuk Ibu Rina, dari KJRI New York, yang dengan baik hati memberikan tumpangan.

Letak KJRI di Fifth Avenue dan sebelah Central Park membuat lumayan deg-degan. Siap jadi New Yorker?

The Flight I (Cengkareng - Doha)

Perjalanan menuju penerbangan kali ini dipenuhi dengan beberapa drama. Drama terbesar adalah kenyataan bahwa uang stipend saya belum bisa ditransfer karena ada dokumen bermasalah di KPPN. Sponsor meminta scan dokumen dari HSBC, bank tempat rekening saya diajukan, sementara dokumen itu ada di rumah, dan saya sudah dalam perjalanan ke Bandara. Setelah mengusahakan ini-itu, menurut komite sponsor, kemungkinan uang baru bisa diterima 1 minggu kemudian. Jadi, saya pergi ke Amerika tanpa uang?

Dramatis bukan!

Alhamdulillah, sebelumnya saya sudah menukarkan sedikit uang tabungan dengan mata uang Dolar Amerika. Agak tenang, meski nggak bisa tenang-tenang juga. Tapi, saya tetap pura-pura tenang, karena khawatir Ibu dan Kakak saya (yang ikut mengantar ke Bandara) bisa panik kalau tahu anaknya merantau ke negeri orang tanpa uang jajan.

Di Bandara, ternyata 2 orang komite dari Sponsor sudah stand by. Ada tiga orang karyasiswa yang akan berangkat dari Soekarno Hatta. Fitri, calon mahasiswa SUNY Albany, akan berangkat ke Albany via Hongkong-Chicago dengan Garuda Indonesia disambung United Airlines. Sementara Icha, calon mahasiswa Cornell University, dan saya terbang dengan Qatar Airways via Doha.

Ketika check-in, sebenarnya kami dapat petugas yang agak jutek terhadap bule yang dilayaninya sebelum kami. Untung, saat melayani sesama pribumi, sikapnya jadi ramah. Bahkan ikutan tertawa ketika Icha dan saya membayar Airport Tax dengan sisa uang pecahan dua ribuan. Terbayang tiga ratus ribu dibayar dengan recehan?

Tips! Inget bakal bayar airport tax, jadi siapkan uang rupiah secukupnya.

Setelah bagasi masuk, kami pamitan secara singkat dengan keluarga kami. Icha diantar Yuda, suaminya, dan keluarganya. Sementara saya diantar Ibu, Kakak perempuan saya, Keponakan yang baru umur tiga tahun, dan sepupu. Saya beruntung mengalami waktu perpisahan singkat ini. Hasilnya, nggak ada air mata. Padahal beberapa hari sebelumnya, lumayan kepikiran juga bagaimana rasanya meninggalkan orang tua (saat menjelang lebaran). Serasa mendapat karma.

Tahun 2000 lalu, ketika pertama kali mau pindah tinggal sendiri (dan kost) di Yogyakarta, saya sangat excited sementara Ibu saya justru nggak tenang mati-matian. Kali ini, kebalikannya. Ibu saya masih tenang-tenang, bahkan sampai salam perpisahan, tapi saya justru nggak karu-karuan perasaan. Ada rasa guilty feeling ninggalin orang tua lagi.

Dengan paspor biru ditangan, proses imigrasi keluar Indonesia sangatlah mudah. Ada loket sendiri dan nggak perlu antri (karena memang sepi). Alhamdulillah!

Pada penerbangan Cengkareng - Doha, Icha dan saya duduk berurutan depan belakang. Jadinya nggak ada teman ngobrol. Tiga deret kursi lainnya di sebelah saya adalah satu rombongan keluarga. Jadilah saya kambing congek saja. Untung perjalanan dimulai tengah malam. Jadilah saya tidur panjang, dan cuma bangunkalau ada makanan datang.

Pejalanan dengan Qatar Airways lumayan menyenangkan. Pramugari/a-nya lebih ramah dibanding Emirat, dan Qatar Airways memberikan traveling kit berisi kaus kaki, blindfold, dan sikat gigi mini. Semua benda itu bermanfaat dalam perjalanan super panjang ini. Sayang, secara makanan masih kalah dari Emirat. Qatar sering kehabisan menu atau isi dalam paket menu kadang nggak lengkap. Saya sempat nggak kebagian yoghurt, padahal penumpang lain ada yoghurt-nya.

Transit di Doha, Qatar, pukul lima pagi sampai pukul delapan. Icha dan saya langsung mencari tempat shalat. Petugas keamanan di lantai 2 memberi arahan kalau mushala ada di lantai 1. Kami pun turun.

Karena bingung ada di mana, kami bertanya lagi ke petugas keamanan di lantai 1, dan jawabannya adalah mushala ada di lantai 2. Nah lho?!

 "Sir, where is the praying room?"

Si CS kelihatan bingung.

Saya mengangkat tangan gerakan takbir.

Si CS mulai sadar, "ahhh, shalat? Mosque?"

"Yes, masjid. Where?"

Kami pun ditunjukan arahnya. Posisi tempat shalat ini mojok dan tertutupi tempat-tempat makan dan jajanan. Icha sempat berkomentar, "ini negara Islam bukan?! Cari mushala aja susahnya!"

Saya sih mengiyakan. Pengalaman di Dubai dulu juga gitu.

By the way busway, karena kurang kerjaan, saya mengamati kalau petugas CS di bandara Doha ini masih dikuasai warga arab sendiri. Beberapa yang lain adalah warga Phillipines yang sangat helpful. Beda dengan pengalaman di andara King Abdul Aziz, Jedah. Isinya CS orang Sukabumi semua he he he...

Oh ya, mengapa saya berani bilangCS dari Phillipines helpful. Karena dia mau membantu saya mencarikan colokan listrik. Bahkan membantu sampai benar-benar bisa menyambung dengan baik.

Jadilah saya fakir WIFI. Blackberry on! Notebook on!

Maaf... saya chatting dulu ya!

Random Morning!

It's Tuesday, 10 July. Tomorrow, all the Jakartans will have a big day, which is the Governor election day. I haven't had the invitation to vote, but I read on the detik.com that the Jakarta's ID card holder might come to the voting booth.

While browsing the news portal, I am watching my twitter's timeline and finding an interesting tweet from MPA-DP (@ColumbiaMPADP).

MPA-DP student @ChrisPlanicka is completing his summer field experience in Timor-Leste, amidst upcoming elections bit.ly/MCbTYe

Eventually, I blog-walked Chris's blog and then was linked into ICT for Agriculture infos by USAID. I put this info on this post as a #notetomyself to read it later and hopefully will be advantageous for any of you.

Well, it's a random post in a morning. Have a nice Tuesday!

Menjemput Visa Amerika (dan Gado-Gado Boplo)

Rabu, 27 Mei 2012. Pukul 15;45.

Sebuah sms dengan nomor pengirim +44440987*** masuk.

"Document ready for pickup."

Kemudian sebuah email dengan subject: "Document Status (US Travel Docs)" juga masuk.

photo source: http://zonaaneh.blogspot.com/2012/03/cara-membuat-visa-amerika.html

Artinya, paspor dengan tempelan Visa Amerika siap di jemput di kantor RPX. Setelah diselidiki, ternyata opsi paspor dikirim tidak dikenakan biaya, tapi saya terlanjur memilih pilihan untuk mengambil sendiri saat pengisian formulir appointment date untuk wawancara visa.


Tanggal 28 Mei, Manda, Icha, dan saya memutuskan untuk mengambil visa di RPX, Jalan Prof. Dr. Satrio. Saat antri di Kedubes Amerika, terdapat pengumuman bahwa pengambilan paspor dan visa adalah di RPX dengan embel-embel "Ex Gado-Gado Cemara".

Namun, setelah memasuki area Jalan Prof. Dr. Satrio, juling lah mata kami untuk mencari papan bernama RPX dan Gado-Gado Cemara. Sampai akhirnya ke ujung jalan dan kedua clue tersebut belum ditemukan satu pun. Akhirnya kami berputar lagi he he he...

Manda kemudian menghubungi ibunya, yang sudah mengambil visanya beberapa minggu sebelumnya, dan mendapatkan kata kunci sakti. RPX itu ada di kantor Fedex. Fedex pun ditemukan! Ternyata RPX ini ada di lantai dua dari kantor Fedex. Logo RPX pun adanya di dalam ruangan. Lha, kenapa nggak ditulis aja di kantor Fedex ya?

Tips! Patokan tempatnya adalah tepat sebelum Lawson atau 2-3 toko sebelum Gado-Gado Boplo.

Lalu, kata kunci Gado-Gado Cemara tidak dapat kami temukan, karena yang kami temukan adalah Gado-Gado Boplo di selang 2 atau 3 empat toko dari kantor Fedex tersebut. Ada yang tahu jawabannya?

Karena menjelang makan siang, kami pun memutuskan untuk makan di Gado-Gado Boplo. Setelah menclak-menclok memilih menu antara Rujak Juhi dan Gado-Gado, saya memilih kembali ke fitrahnya tempat makan tersebut, yaitu memilih makan Gado-Gado. Sementara minumnya adalah Wortel Napis, yang kepanjangannya adalah Wortel Nanas Jeruk Nipis.

photo source: http://www.jenzcorner.net/weblog/gado-gado-boplo

Porsi Gado-Gado Boplo ini ternyata luar binasa banyaknya. Untunglah rasanya enak. Saus kacangnya cukup kental dan sayurannya juga tidak direbus terlalu matang, jadi masih ada rasa kriuk-kriuk. Empingnya juga gurih. Sayang kerupuk yang disajikan sebagai compliment adalah kerupuk udang, sementara kerupuk aci (yang putih) dijual terpisah. Yang paling menyenangkan, harganya masih rasional.