An Unforgettable Lesson

Last year I was invited to attend the “International Student Summit 2012” at Bogor, Indonesia. This was a three day seminar starting on Sunday, November 11. The participants were three representatives from each of the 25 invited universities. We met there to share our experiences studying in Indonesia; experiences such as; overcoming culture shock when coming to Indonesia, learning Bahasa Indonesia, the importance of an International Office at the university, and some others. The reason for holding this seminar is to address the growing  number of international students in Indonesia every year. The Indonesian Government is willing to support this growth and facilitate the studies of these international students. The seminar opened with a speech delivered by the Director General of Higher Education in Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Ir Djoko Santoso MSc.

In that seminar I met people from all over the world; people from Mexico, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Kenya, Uganda, and some other countries. I had nice talks with most of them, but I will never forget my conversation with a student from Ivory Coast. He looked very elegant because he was wearing a tucked blue striped white shirt, black pants, black rimmed glasses, and was bringing a black suitcase along with him. We started talking about trifling things such as soccer, then I asked him what was he doing in Indonesia, and he told me that he was taking a PhD in law in a University at Sumatra. I asked him about his studies. He told me that he was doing his best; that he was working very hard. I got curious, so I asked him, “What are your plans for the future?”, and he replied, “Well, I’m not very sure, but what I really want to do is to contribute in building up my country again”. Then I realized that Ivory Coast had just ended a Civil War, so I told him, “I understand—well—I’m so sorry for all that has happened in your country”. Then, he started telling me stories about those months of the Civil War. Despite the topic, the conversation didn’t have a sad tone, but rather it was optimistic, in the sense that my friend now is not looking backwards, but rather, he is looking to the future. He told me that there are a big number of Ivorian university students who are very committed to change the situation of their country. They are willing to work very hard in order to build up their country again. They are ashamed of those people who led Ivory Coast to war and destruction.

For those who are not very familiar with that Civil War, I will summarize it here: The Second Ivorian Civil War, that caused the death of 3,000 people, broke out in March 2011. The reason was that in the 2010 Ivorian presidential elections, the candidate Alassane Ouattara was declared the victor, but the President of the Constitutional Council proclaimed that the results were invalid and that Gbagbo, the former president, was the winner—I must mention here that the President of the Constitutional Council was an ally of Gbagbo. As a consequence, both Gbagbo and Ouattara claimed victory and took the presidential oath of office. But, it was Quattara who was internationally recognized as president of Ivory Coast by the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union, the United States, and former colonial power France. They called for Gbagbo to step down, however, negotiations to resolve the dispute failed and hundreds of people were killed in conflicts between pro-Gbagbo and pro-Ouattara forces. Eventually on April 11, 2011, after much fight Gbagbo was arrested at his residence. During these four months and one week of conflict, a big number of human rights violations took place by both sides, like the Duekoue massacre where 1,000 civilians were killed.

What I have just described is the experience my friend lived every single day for four months and one week. He lived in a country where people were killed every day, including civilians. He used to wake up every day with the fear of thinking that it would be his last; or even worse, thinking that he would lose someone whom he loves very much. As I see it, living in those circumstances requires a great deal of fortitude in order to keep doing everything necessary to survive and protect one’s family. To experience in first hand a Civil War is a traumatic experience; it is a wound difficult to heal. My friend suffered very much, however he has forgiven those who have hurt him and his family. Like Nelson Mandela, his only desire is to build up his country again, especially by bringing justice. To do that, he knows that he must work very hard, but he is willing to do it, and in fact he is already doing it by studying very hard. I haven’t met Nelson Mandela, but it was the closest I have ever got.

I was very impressed with this Ivorian man after my first talk with him, because he taught me the lesson of working not for one’s own benefit, but rather for the others’ happiness. As we finished I thought that unfortunately, most of the university students I have met so far have no high ideals in life; they just study, meet their friends, play sports, and maybe at most they work in a student organization, but that’s it. The people are always thinking of what they themselves need at present, and they don’t think of what the others need. They do not care about what is happening around them. Unable to see the many people suffering around them. At first I thought about the insensitivity of my friends, but eventually I included myself in this group. After meeting this friend I have also decided to have high ideals of doing good to other people, especially to those who need it the most. In  conclusion, I think that to have these ideals and to strive to achieve them is the only way to have a meaningful life, a life worthy to be lived.

The Obliging Indian

I have experienced many events in my life. Most of those events are ordinary ones. However, I have experienced some unforgettable ones.

A few days ago, I  traveled from Manila to Surabaya. As there was no direct flight, I had to make a stop-over in Singapore. Once there, I wanted to visit the Novena Church together with my friend Eddie. We went there directly from the airport taking the state-of-the-art MRT. The MRT is excellent and makes travelling within the city very comfortable. However our trip to Novena was rather tiring because we brought our heavy luggage along with us. I brought a trolley bag, but Eddie brought two ones. That physical effort was especially difficult for me because I had a cold since a couple of days ago. Hence, both of us were very tired during our stay at Novena. That’s why we decided to take a snack at the canteen before leaving. Once we were done I needed to blow my nose because of my cold, but I did not have tissue paper, so Eddie asked me: “Do you need some tissue paper?” and I replied: “I will just take some from the toilet”. Then a few seconds afterwards, an Indian approached Eddie. Until that time I barely noticed his presence at that canteen. It was like he just appeared suddenly from somewhere. Frankly speaking, he looked to be a bit poor because he was very thin. In fact all his bones were clearly noticeable. Also because the clothes he wore was very simple, it was not fashionable at all. Besides, the Indian looked a bit old, because most of his teeth were missing and the skin of his face was sagging. He was bringing along with him a little black plastic bag. When he was in front of Eddie he put his right hand in the plastic bag and then slowly drew out a green "Kleenex" pocket-sized tissue pack. Using body language he moved his hand holding the green "Kleenex" toward Eddie as if offering it to him. Obviously, I thought that he wanted to sell it to Eddie, but then Eddie asked: “Is it for free?”, and the Indian  nodded his head indicating a “yes” and gave it to Eddie. He never spoke, he just used body language. That man was special; I will never forget his keen ear ready to serve others and his silent generosity. No one asked for his help, he just overheard that I needed tissue paper, and he gave it to me without asking anything back, in spite of his poverty. This detail will seem a drop in the bucket to many people, but if everybody acted like this man did, then we would fill up that bucket, and many problems will be solved. Probably my friend you are reading this story of me now, so I give you thanks again. Thank you very much.

Q&A about "The Kiss" By Anton Chekhov

The Kiss starts on an evening when the officers of the Reserve of Artillery Brigade are invited by Lieutenant-General Von Rabbek to take tea at his home. Once in the house the officers meet the family of Von Rabbek and are invited to have a drink and dance. While most of the officers dance, Ryabovich, the protagonist, wanders around the house because he does not know how to dance. Then, when he is alone inside a bedroom, a woman enters, kisses him, and leaves right away. Ryabovich does not know what to do next. He is just confused thinking whether the kiss was intentional or not. On the one hand he becomes glad thinking that it could be the beginning of a love story, but on the other hand he thinks that it was just an accident and that he will never be loved by anybody because he is not an attractive person.

This short story written by Anton Chekhov analyzes the psychology of the protagonist, especially his decision making process after he is kissed by the mysterious woman. The Kiss is a modern short story because its conclusion is an expression of disenchantment.

The protagonist has a very low perception of himself. He considers himself to be somebody not attractive and not capable of accomplishing much. Therefore he lives a dull life in which he does not feel confident enough to undertake high projects. However, after Ryabovich is kissed, he begins to see the world in a new light. He starts thinking that after all he is not that unattractive, and that he is competent and capable of doing great things. Then, what he just hopes is to see again the woman who kissed him and to talk with her, and propose her to get married and live a happy life together until the end of their lives.

Ryabovich tries hard to find again that woman. He even went back to Von Rabbek’s house to ask whether she was back. However, there are no traces anywhere of that woman. Therefore, Ryabovich begins thinking that it was just an illusion; something beautiful to think of and that is. Ryabovich thinks that to be kissed suddenly and be looked for by someone who really loves you is something that only happen in romances, but not in real life. As a consequence that new light enkindled by the kiss just fades away with these new thoughts.

The two above mentioned positions do not succeed each other chronologically, but rather intermingle along the story. It is a fight of two opposite ways of looking at reality; that is a positive one and a negative one. The positive one looks at the future, whereas the negative one looks at the past. The positive one keeps hope, whereas the negative just damns itself to a terrible fate. The positive one enkindles a light of joy in one’s life, whereas the negative one encircles one’s horizons with the darkness of sadness. Between these two opposed forces lies Ryabovich.



Unfortunately, at the end it is the negative way of looking at reality the one that conquers the other. Ryabovich looses hope and decides to forget that kiss and give up his search for the woman. It is disenchantment that conquers the soul of Ryabovich and makes him think that in this life there is no room for joy and hope. It is disenchantment that makes Ryabovich a victim of sadness and despair. This disenchantment is a trait of Modernism, so this short story belongs to Modernism. However this is a very early type of Modernism, which does not contain some of the characteristics of Modernism. Another characteristic of Modernism in Chekhov’s stories is the stream of consciousness that later on authors like Joyce would makes use of.

A noiseless patient spider

A noiseless patient spider

A noiseless patient spider,

I mark'd where on a little promontory it stood isolated,

Mark'd how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,

It launch'd forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,

Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them.

And you O my soul where you stand,

Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space,

Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them,

Till the bridge you will need be form'd, till the ductile anchor hold,

Till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, O my soul.

We really like "A noiseless patient spider" because of the way Whitman expresses the theme; that is, through the comparison of the speaker in the poem and a spider. The theme is: "yearn for companionship". Like the spider, the poem's speaker is patiently waiting  in wonder in the middle of a vast open world for something to fulfill it’s yearns. While the spider yearns for food , the soul of the speaker yearns for a certain someone , maybe a companion  with whom to share thoughts and feelings and to end his loneliness.

Reflections after watching the film "Dead Poet's Society"

What do you think about the ending of the story?

Well, I think the ending of the story is really sad, not just because one of the talent students (Neil) ended his life by committing suicide, but also because a teacher (John Keating), who gave a good influence and succeeded to motivate his students to find their own potential, was treated without respect by the school and was fired from his position, poetry teacher, because of unacceptable reasons.

At the end of the story, if you watched the film. We will remember that the students gave their last respect and farewell by going up on top of the table and standing up in front of the teacher (John Keating), even with the new teacher present in the class. With sadness and calm, John Keating replies  two times: "Thank you". He really appreciates what the students do.   

What's your opinion about poetry before and after watching the movie?

My opinion about poetry before watching the movie, was that poetry is an ou of date subject that is useless to learn. Besides that, nowadays when you speak with  other people and use poetry, people will think that you are flirting. My opinion was like the one of other people; that is, that poetry is not a common lesson.

After I watched "Dead Poet's Society", I realized my thoughts about poetry were too shallow. Poetry actually is very entertaining. But also, very difficult to understand.

Reflections after watching the fim "Dead Poets Society"

What does "seize the day" mean?
Seize the day is the translation of Carpe diem which are the words that begin the last line of a Latin poem written by Quintus Horatius Flaccus (65 BC – 8 BC), more widely known as Horace. The poem is in Horace's Odes Book 1, number 11. It has become an aphorism.

In Horace, the phrase is part of the longer Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero, which can be translated as "Seize the day, put very little trust in tomorrow (the future)". The ode says that the future is unforeseen and that one should not leave to chance future happenings, but rather one should do all one can today to make one's future better. This phrase is usually understood against Horace's Epicurean background. It is important to note that the "Carpe diem" phrase is often misinterpreted and misused in contemporary popular culture, to justify reckless behaviour ("you only live once"). However, the meaning of Carpe diem is not to ignore the future, but rather not to trust that everything is going to fall into place for you and taking action for the future today.

What is the students' attitude to poetry before Mr. Keating teaches them?

Most of the students at Welton, come from well-off families, where the parents work as doctors, engineers, businessmen, etc. Therefore they think that poetry is something not as important as mathematics, physics or chemistry, so that is why they are not very interested in learning poetry.

Theme in “God Sees the Truth, but Waits": Forgiveness

After we read "God Sees the Truth, but Waits" in class, we were asked by our teacher to think whether the message of this short story is Christian or not, and if not, what kind of message it is. At the beginning I was not sure because as everybody knows, Tolstoy developed a radical anarcho-pacifist Christian philosophy which led to his excommunication from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1901. So, I did not think that such a person could write a short story with a Christian message. However, after a thorough analysis I came to the conclusion that this short story actually has a Christian message. I think it is a support for Christianity because the topic is forgiveness, which is one of the characteristics of Jesus Christ and his followers. This short story gives a wonderful example of forgiveness. Aksionov, the main character in the work, is accused of murder and sent to Siberia where he is forced to work in a mine for twenty six years. Therefore he loses everything, absolutely everything, including his family. Worst of all is the fact that the accusation and punishment are false; that is, Aksionov did not kill the merchant who was found dead. This is one of the most painful experiences one can have, the one of being unfairly accused of something. When someone experiences something like Aksionov does, what one wishes is that truth may be known by everybody, particularly the truth about the crime. Besides this desire, there is another desire which is directed towards the person who actually committed the crime. This desire can take many different forms, but only one is the perfect one, the sublime one; that is, forgiveness. It is sublime, but difficult in these circumstances. Nevertheless, Aksionov forgives the person who actually committed the crime, Makar Semenyonich. This is a high level kind of forgiveness because what is forgiven is a lot; that is, the lost of one’s job, family, external freedom, friends, house, city, and so on. How can be possible to forgive something like that? Why on earth should someone forgive a person like Makar Semenyonich? The only answer is found in the teaching of Jesus Christ. That’s why I do believe that this short story has a Christian message.

If you haven’t read the story yet, please click the following link:  http://www.online-literature.com/tolstoy/2061/