Been Missing... to USA!

Hello again, people!

Wow, was that really the date when I last wrote in here? Too long ago! I’m so sorry for that. Last semester was out-of-your-mind crazy and I just got back from… yep, the United States of America!



I still almost can’t believe it myself. I have always dreamt to go to the Land of Dream but supposed I wouldn’t be able to go there anytime soon. At least, not until I get a scholarship for Master Degree or after I have worked and can afford the cost myself. But… the universe begged to differ.

Early in this year, a lecturer of mine emailed me and a number of other students. She told us that we were the selected few that had the chance to run for an opportunity to get a full-scholarship for a summer programme in the States. Study of US Institute (SUSI), to be exact. It is an intensive five-week course fully funded by the US Department of State. The programme consists of a number of focus areas, such as Religious Pluralism, Global Environment and New Media in Journalism. The one I applied for was the New Media in Journalism.

I didn’t dare to have too high a hope. I knew how competitive it would be. The embassy would only pick about 6-9 students from ALL OVER INDONESIA. And I just knew that the selection process did not stop at the US Embassy for Indonesia in Jakarta. It went across the ocean: to the home base – the officials of US Department of State in charge of the programme.

But then, one day in March, as I was just finishing up my mid-term exam, I got a text message from US Embassy for Indonesia in Jakarta asking me if they could call me right then. I was still clueless; I thought it would be about the US Embassy library membership that I signed up for a couple of weeks before.

Nope.

In that phenomenal call, they casually told me that I had been chosen as a grantee for the SUSI New Media in Journalism 2013 in Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana.

(insert frantic screaming here)

So, yeah! Thanks be to God, I was among the selected Indonesian participants that went to the US with Malaysian delegation last June-July.

On that note, I will take my leave for now. But, I’ll be back! Yep, you got that right. With more stories of my journey living the American dream.

I hope you had a great summer!

Reunion!

And because of the reunion I think we've got more energy and enthusiasm than we've ever had.

Glenn Tipton

One day in mid June, I had a reunion with some of my junior high and high school close friends. It was fun! There's nothing like a good reunion, is there? It really recharged me with energy and enthusiasm!

I happened to have two small reunions on that same day. The first one was with my homegirl Amanda, Adel, Nana, and Ita. We had a bite at Pancious Pancake House in Summarecon Mall Serpong - which is a very fancy restaurant with pancake and pasta as their specialty. But, being all cheapskates, we refused to pay the ridiculous prices, and thus shared only one portion of their cheapest pancake among the four of us (Nana didn't like pancake), and shared one glass of milkshake per two people. On a side note, their Cookies-and-Cream Milkshake is to die for! A definite must-try (;


It was fun nonetheless! hhas We shared a good laugh and caught up with what's goin' on with each other. And then we moved to one of my favorite spots, Ojiya Serenity Pond (still in Summarecon Mall Serpong). It is a wood-plank-floored terrace, stuffed with a few poolside tables surrounded by cozy woven sofas, with a koi pond in the middle and plants around the terrace. It's so relaxing and cozy! And the good news is, you don't need to buy any food to enjoy the place. However, if you'd like some bites to accompany you relaxing, there are a number of restaurants and coffee shops surrounding the spot, such as Kenny Roger's and Excelso. (:

Then, it's time for another group meeting! My brother (not in blood, but in hearts :p), Gavin, picked me up, accompanied with Komang, Jessi, and Caesa. Then we all went to Living World Alam Sutera. We watched Madagascar 3 - which was so funny! And had another bite in Bakmie Gajah Mada - if you've never tried, you need to, I tell you! Their Special Bakmie GM (special noodle with chicken, mushroom, meatballs) and Pangsit Goreng (fried dumpling) are really yummy and so famous. (;

With them, I could never stop laughing! We kept making jokes, we both laughed at and with each other :p It was fun!


How about you? When was the last time you had reunion with your old friends?? :D

Pizza e Birra

A while back ago, I celebrated my 2nd anniversary with my boyfriend. We had a great lunch date in this pretty place, called Pizza e Birra, which means "pizza and beer". I had been meaning to visit this restaurant since my pretty friend, Lydia recommended it to me.

And... I fell in love instantly! I love how well-concepted this restaurant is. The interior is gorgeous; I especially love the beautiful-patterned floor, the brick wall, the wall hangings... wait, it's pretty much everything, right? :p Anyhoo, here are some glimpse of the interior of Pizza e Birra. You can choose to eat inside or outside.



Furthermore, I really love how they pay attention to minor details! Yes, even small things such as wrappers and tissues! They've got this cute tissue with sayings printed on it, and a lovely retro-feeling wrapper for each set of cutlery.

In terms of menu, they offer quite a wide range of options. They have many different kinds of starters, salads, pizzas (they even have sweet pizza!), pasta, desserts, beverages, and even more fancy food such as Sea Bass served with Mediteranian Sauce!

For myself, I had Mama's Lasagna, which is a traditional style lasagna served with meat sauce, salami, boiled egg, and bechamel sauce. It was really, really great! Made me feel so full! For my beverage, I had French Earl Grey, which is black tea flavored with bergamot oil and flower. My boyfriend, on the other hand, picked Carbonara Dreams Calzone, with turkey bacon and egg creamy sauce for its stuffings. He said it was a real yum and he was pretty full, but it only lasted not for very long. (It was big in portion, but he said maybe it was because the calzone was pretty thin. I figure, for guys or even girls who prefer hearty portion, you might wanna choose something more solid than this one.)


Honestly, it was pretty pricey for both of us. But, since it was an anniversary after all, we managed to save some money to have something special to eat on that special day! (; So, all in all, I really recommend you guys to pay Pizza e Birra a visit, especially if you're looking to spend some quality time and have some good food in a pretty place. (; Now, let's dig in!

Pizza e Birra ♥ Paris van Java, Sukajadi, Bandung
All pictures taken by Marsha

My Cinderella Story!

On March 29th, 2012, me and my friends attended a table manner and slow dance course held by the IR Students Association in the GH Universal Hotel, Setiabudhi, Bandung. Since the very first time I saw that hotel, like a few months ago, I had fallen in love with it right away. It was a castle-like hotel, with a very Renaissance feeling on it. Gorgeous, a lot of pretty and grand details, very luxurious, very me in every manner! HAHA :p


taken from GH Universal website

It was so exciting getting ready for the event. Michello and I even had an unexpected sudden girls noon, shopping for accessories (her), and pampering ourselves getting our nails done. :p I had this pretty soft-pink/nude O.P.I. nail polish for myself. Super love! After that, it was salon time. I had a little curls on the end of my hair and everyone said that I looked just like a cute porcelain doll. Even more than before! HAHA I mean, how much more doll-like can I get, right? O.o For my dress I had this short creme dress, with flowery-lacey detail on the chest. In short, the dress is just so me. :p
At around six, we met in the hotel: me, my partner - Adit (since I can't bring my boyfriend who's not an IR student), Lydia and her partner Victor, Inggrid and her partner Vinsen, Adela and her partner Arnaz, Trissia and her boyfriend Jason, Melin and her partner Alvin, and Marcella and her partner Indy. When we first got into the lobby, it was.... different. hhas Everyone was dressed up to the nines, the guys acted so gallant (Adit even pulled my chair for me and brought my bag!)... So dreamy. hhas Especially with such a luxurious venue; it made everything even more special. :D

with Adit at the photobooth

After everyone was gathered, we were escorted to the second story where the ballroom was. Several tables were already set up, and we divided ourselves into two groups to sit on two different tables (one wasn't enough for all of us). The short course started, with several demonstration on how to sit properly, how to use your fork and knife, yada yada yada, and.... the banquet finally began. :D *all were very hungry because the event started late!* :p

Bon Appétit!
the fancy menu
appetizer - fruit salad
soup - mushroom soup
main course - GH Universal Beef Steak
dessert - tiramisu
with my partner, Adit

The formal dinner was followed directly with a short slow dance course - yaay, we made it! - and now we are all masters of slow dance! *not quite so, but we'd like to think so! :p*

the dance floor
Melin, Lydia, me, Inggrid, Trissia, Adela
IR Students, batch 2010

As the night concluded, we were all full from food and laughter, and joy and excitement, and that nice feeling of having accomplished something or learnt something new. :D It made us all a lil bit more excited, I guess, about becoming the real diplomats later in the future, and experience again that kind of luxurious, exclusive, important feeling. :p I would looove to think that someday in the future, we would meet each other again, in another formal dinner, with each of us have already been holding important positions in our own career. :D

And we will. Fingers crossed!



PS. This would also be a great time to introduce, Lydia, my soon-to-be blogging partner for several (some will be new) special features. You can visit this gorgeous lady here and look how beautiful her blog is! :D

World Icons I'd Love to See for Myself #1

Welcome to the first edition of World Icons I'd Love to See for Myself, part of Pretty Places feature! :D

In this first edition, I'd love to share two world icons that I'd really, reaaaally love to see for myself.

Red Telephone Box - London, UKActually, I had travelled to London. Once. When I was 4-yrs-old. HAHA So basically I don't remember anything, not even these beautiful red telephone boxes.

Yellow Cab - Times Square, New York, USI'll ride one myself one day. I will. I will. (:

Hello Again, Young Wizards & Witches!

Hello again, fellows! :D
Wooow. Long time no see, no? I've been missing for like two weeks and more! Bad blogger! :p Well, in my defense, I have very good and valid reasons as to why I've been missing. Yes! I was in Singapore and Jakarta! :p So... sorry everyone, my bad!

I promised you that I'll post something about my birthday and my singapore trip. AND I WILL. However I am still waiting for all the pictures. So in the meantime, let me share a lil about my obsession this morning... (not only this morning actually, but it is randomly multiplied this morning! :p)

HARRY POTTER, AND THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER! :D

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a Harry-Potter-themed amusement park, which is also a part of the Islands of Adventures area of Orlando Universal Studio. Currently, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter consists of three main rides which are: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which exists within a re-creation of Hogwarts; Dragon Challenge, which is a pair of inverted roller-coasters; and Flight of the Hippogriff, which is a family roller coaster.
It also has a re-creation of Hogsmeade which includes a model of Hogwarts Express, Dervish and Banges, Honey Dukes, Ollivanders, Zonko's, The Three Broomsticks, and the Hog's Head.

Okay! Enough talkin! Let's see for ourselves! Let the magic.... begin. (:



Did you know that I literally had tears welling up in my eyes when I first arrived at Universal Studios Singapore, and a few times inside it? It's because I was so overwhelmed that I finally had my feet on it. I wonder what'd happen if I arrive here..




cute fluffy Hedwig!




And... the casts were also there as well! Hermione, erm, I mean, Emma, looks gorgeous, doesn't she?? (x




Ooh, she's got her wand! Can't wait to get mine! :D

Hhas yeaah. So that is it.. I really wish I could go there sometime in the future :D It would be like magic come true.. Or maybe, if Universal Studios Singapore decides to also open the site as well... AAAAAAA I'LL FIND A WAY TO COME BACK THERE!

Nox!