Blessed Easter

Nia, Ester, Me, and Tika. The Batik girls of the night ^^,

I am blessed.
Had Indonesian mass today, for Easter Vigil. I am glad that I could at least attend an Indonesian mass. [Thanks also to Brother John for giving us a lift ^^,]. Father Prasetyo led today's mass.
Yesterday, imagining how I was in the Chinese mass .. Even during the way of the Cross.. It was pretty hard..

But tomorrow I am still going for the Chinese mass, because it's a combined mass for the Chinese, English, and Philippines community. There's gonna be a huge Easter celebration tomorrow, I suppose. =)

Besides, today I finally went for Sacrament of Reconciliation.
I am blessed.
Thank You Lord.
Thank You for the cross.
I am cleansed by Your mercy and love.
Let my hearts rejoice, today and forevermore.
Amen.

Everything happens for a purpose

Today as I said earlier, I went to pay a visit to my relative's house in.. somewhere in Zhong He area. At first I was so lazy to go, especially the weather was cold with a little rain..
Anyways, I still made it. I took the bus from my place to Taipei Main Station, to change the bus since there's [so far I know] no direct bus to go there. At Taipei Main Station, I was confused by the so-many-bus lines and I didn't bother to ask someone since I can't even spell the words correctly and I forgot how the name is written in Chinese. [something to learn-]. Well, I did actually ask a girl and she also didn't know. But that I guess, because of she's not familiar with Taipei area. So then I decided to take MRT to the place where I got down from the bus, last time when I went there. That's at Gongguan station.
Fast forwarded, I managed to take the bus [254] and felt good about it. Finally!

Nevertheless, it didn't end there, I missed the station which I was supposed to get down at. Arghh, I didn't know that the station has 2 names (I guess). So there I was, had to walk from the 2 stations ahead. Well, new experience for me.

No matter what, I did have a good time there. Having family here is somehow a blessing for me.

Anyways, on the way home. aha!
I took the bus [262] which goes directly to Taipei Main Station. Was just told about it. I knew it reached Taipei MS, but I didn't know where it'd stop exactly. Actually I could just get down at the Post Office station and walk about 5 mins to reach the bus station where I can take the bus to go home [513]. However, I chose not to stop, instead, to continue being in the bus and see where is the next stop. But it stopped even further, about 10 mins away from the 513 bus station. -_-" Another exercise.

Reaching the 513 bus station, I (with confidence) simply took the 835 bus since it's also going to Xinzhuang [place where I live] and I just asked the driver if he was going to Xinzhuang [without any details where about at Xinzhuang] and he said YES. Driving until DaZhong temple [just ONE station before my place!] it turned right! Oh, I started to feel not good about it, but I still hoped that it somehow would turn to/near to my place. Was waiting and waiting, til it really far away from Xinzhuang [well, about 15 driving]. So then only I decided to ask the driver. And ta da, I really took the wrong bus, it didn't go to my place, only passing the road behind. So I got down in an area where there's only a few shops and opposite the road is just field, a huge field, and there where I was waiting for the bus to take me home ;(. It was raining + cold + a bit scary with a lil bit dark, plus the empty field behind. What a complete setting.. haha.

Anyways, waited for around 20 mins til I finally got the bus which at least going to the road nearby my place. So I took it and got down at the nearest station to my house. I was walking for about 15 mins til I saw a Sport shop. And you know what? I got myself a brand new running shoes! with price comparately cheaper than my initial budget and plan to get such kinda shoes at the shop nearby my house. And the good thing also, I like this model way more than the one that I first planned to buy. Haha.. I am h.a.p.p.y. Especially after spending more $$ on the bus.. ;(

There's always something good behind everything happens.. ^^,

The extended holidays, they call it.

This week I am having 3 days school off - Wed, Thurs, and Friday. However, since my other course and teaching are not off, I can't go anywhere far from Taipei. -_-".

Wednesday, just felt to spend the day at home. So I didn't join my friends to go out. At night still had to go for French class.

Thursday, I decided to go to the Park behind my house to exercise (a need to burn some calories..). Spent about 2 hours there [running and walking]. The weather was very cold yesterday and days before though. In the afternoon, I went to work, till night. I haven't gotten my salary yet though. Was expecting it last night, but my boss didn't say anything even til I left the place. -_-". Oh well..

Friday [today], at first I thought of taking a friend of mine to Danshui since she hasn't been there before. But this morning she said that she's going to her friend's house. So then, I randomly thought of going to Fulong beach (heard it's a nice beach) and with the sun up there, how beautiful that would be. =) But it didn't happen. Oh well, will ask more people to go with next time, with a proper planning bien sur.
In the end, me, Nia and Rm. Pras decided to go to the Miniature Museum of Taiwan. It was nice. The museum is not big but it took us -+ one and a half hours to finish it.
From there, I straight away went for class.

Tomorrow some of us are going to have lunch with Sr. Valentine [Indonesian]. I told her that we're gonna cook for her (yea, right.. haha). But now I am still thinking about what to cook tomorrow, and HOW we're gonna cook the dishes, and esp. HOW to bring it to the University, since we have no containers at home! ah, God will make a way.. We'll find it out somehow tomorrow ^^, I hope I am not gonna screw it up. :|

This sunday, I am planning to visit my family in Taipei. It's been more than a month since I last visited them. Upps... hehehe...

Retreat [Lent]

Last weekend, Saturday til Sunday (28-29 March) I went for a Retreat [Indonesian]. I could say that it was a last minute decision, cos at first I didn't plan to go for it. But God somehow invited me to go, so I took this opportunity to get closer to him as I spent more time with Him there and with someone guiding me (us).
The retreat was held in Taishan - nearby my university and Fr. Wawan was the one guiding us.
They were [I think] 27 of us in total, 2 Priests, 1 Sister, 1 Brother, and the rest is us, the students and working ones.



The retreat was about our call to follow Jesus. [c.f. Luke 5:1-11].
Here's one of my point: "For Peter who was always not ready to be Jesus' disciple, who even neglected to admit that Jesus is a Messiah; God still chose Him. Why? It is because of his weaknesses..(which he later realized about) God loved him no matter what.

In 1 Corinthians 1:27, it is mentioned: "God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong" 29:"so that no one might boast in the presence of God". So that those who are 'more' will not be overwhelmed by what he has, cos everything in him/her, is all given by God, all is coming back to Him..

Therefore, do not be discouraged to come to Him. Now is the best time to do so, during this Lenten season. God is there waiting for you and me, to come back to Him. and here, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the answer.. It's -+ 2weeks before Easter. Let's be like Peter who turned back to Jesus because of His love and merciful grace, Amen.
Have a blessed Lenten season.

----------------------------

My room, the bed is so comfortable, way much more comfortable than my bed in my own room [in Taiwan].

My roomie [Dessy] during the retreat ^^,
..

EARTH HOUR 2009

EARTH HOUR 2009.

March 28, 2009 at 8.30PM.

Please vote by turning your lights off for an hour.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CRs-7lRlPo

a simple thing can make a BIG difference!

Perkedel ala Moi

I wanted to make Perkedel [re. Indonesian food] today. It's more or less the same as mashed potato, but this is fried.
I've never made one before, so today was my first attempt to do one.
Since I am just a poor student, I just used whatever available at home to make it.
Here goes the ingredients..
- Potato
- Cucumber
- Fillet Fish
- Salt
- Egg

There you go.
But, wait, it wasn't as successful as I wanted it to be. The mashed potato was too soft, til I couldn't make it into shape. I called my mom to get some advice. [hAhA]. But she had no idea what could I do since I don't have flour also. Then another brilliant idea came into my mind. Put something else into it. So I took my instant noodle, broke it, and put it into the mashed potato. And it worked! It got into shape! haha.. Just like what you see on the picture above.. ^^,

I used 5 potatoes and I thought it was a lot. Too much for me and for my housemates to try.
HOWEVER, I offered it to them and told them to try it before they went out [they were about to go out for lunch], and I just put it on the table outside. Who knows, they FINISHED it!! When they gave me the empty plate, I was like .. shocked.. stunned. But of course, I couldn't show how surprise I was.. Luckily, I still had some on the other plate, the ones - not good one. haha.
Just look at the picture above, all the Perkedel just gone.. Oh my..
Couldn't give it to Nia to try (so sorry..).
But the good thing is that, I didn't eat which means that I don't put a lot of calories in my stomach. xoxo..

When I remember about this, just makes me wanna laugh.. One full plate of Perkedel, just gone like that.. But anyway, this is also Lenten season, so I take it as my sharing to others. (",) And in fact, I love it when people like what I cook. lol. I am serious! ^^,

Hosea

Don't you think this is beautiful?
I went for Sunday mass today at my University, and this song was being sung [again]. Last week this was also being sung. I wonder if God wants to tell me something..

Ximending

Today I decided to chill-out, shopping for some clothes for the Spring/Summer time here.. (since I did not bring a lot of clothes to Taiwan cos I thought I was just gonna be here for 1 term, during the Winter).
Besides, it's been some time since I last shopped for clothing. =P

At first, I was supposed to meet up with a friend, but it was cancelled due to timing problem.
Today I didn't have the mood to cook also. =(
But anyways, I decided to go to Ximending with a Korean friend. and we shopped together. I feel good for today's shopping. hehe. Especially because I could share with somebody the price of the clothes by buying more than 1 piece. =) For all the 2 places where we bought the clothes from, we got cheaper than what we'd have to pay if buying only 1 piece.

Then we also went for dinner together. I felt so bad, because I wanted to go for a more reasonable price dinner, yet, I ended up ruining my ... [Lesson to learn: don't try something that will cost you a lot more.] My friend could not (still) take Taiwan food. And I ordered something famous from Taiwan for her to try, but instead, she couldn't take it.. [really sorry..]. Thinking what a waste it'd be, I ended up finishing her meal. [yes, I ruined my.. -not diet, ok-]
Then we went for Cold Stone Ice Cream (Lebay, I finally tried it! hehe). It was nice =)
Overall, I guess today was a pretty relaxing day.. We'll see how it will be tomorrow. Gotta finish up my Reseach Proposal.. Pray for me. ^^,

(This is Ximending.. but the picture was taken a long time ago.. like.. end of last year? =P)