GIRL’S SURVIVAL GUIDE #1

(to happiness)

Went to watch The Pursuit of Happyness last night with two colleagues. It’s been a while that the three of us could finally spend time together outside the office hour for a good time and laugh. Aside from the fact that I’ve been thinking to write something about girl’s survival guide, the experience from going and watching the movie has in a way inspired me bout the following dos and don’ts for girls:

# NO MORE DRAMA, GURL!
On the way to the theater, as usual we started the topic with some gossips on the latest sinetron (TV drama), and the thing that kinda bothered me was bout TV stations (media) with their typical stereotyping of romance, those stuff really could mess up your mind, seriously!

One of my friends explained this scene she’d watched about a girl whose boyfriend had been in the comma for two years with no hope of waking up yet she waited faithfully for they had engaged just before the guy had had the accident. And then there were this other guy who also foolish enough to drive every time she went visiting the comma guy in the hospital. This silly guy told the girl that she shouldn’t wait for the comma guy since it’s been two years and yet there still no sign if he ever waking up and that she should be with him, the man who could be her future. My friend said she was really touched when the stupid guy declared that since the girl had willingly wasted her time waiting for her comma boyfriend, then there’s no reason why the fool couldn’t waste his time waiting in vain for the girl to finally fall for him as well >.<

At one hand, dramas intended for entertainment purpose only, however, just think of how it will affect one who watches too many? Could she still differentiate which is real from the scenario that could only happen in movies? *yes, I can see you nodding over there, Ina* :)

To all of you my dear girlfriends out there, you need to wake up! Do you really think the ‘prince charming who will come to rescue you’ tale is fucking real? I’m telling you now, I’m screaming at you now, IT’S NOT!

So unless you’re the type of shallow girls who think that having a rocking body, a rich father, and some proper education abroad are enough, and you’re willing to become domestic slut whose rich husband’s screwing around with his secretary without a fight; better stop thinking that you’re a princess, coz you’re not.

You are in fact, a very much alive human being that shouldn’t ever be judged only by your boobies or behind, you have the mind and feminine soul which when it is trained the right way, will be very powerful – enough to stop you from playing the so-called ‘drama’, both in the real life, one that you often played as a princess everyday, and from the one you’ve been watching or the chick lit you currently reading.

Therefore, I strongly urge every girl who has not yet fully understood and experienced REAL relationship – by this I’m referring to the kind of relationship where one no longer playing any ‘game’ or has a specific agenda towards the partner, and already equipped with clearer views of love – please… just watch anything other than sinetron, Korean/Japanese drama series!

There’s no easy solution I could offer though to Indonesian who don’t have any cable, this somehow makes you kinda stuck with the situation in which there aren’t, in fact, anything left to watch other than those sappy sinetrons.

Lemme give you some hints: how about trying something absolutely new, in return, like instead of going straight home from the office to watch the latest Korean series, try hanging out for coffee or tea with some co-workers or closest friends. Or join a community or found one for people having the same interest as you. Or my personal favorites: go watch CSI series or the Amazing Race *yes, your favorite, Sof* :)

# MEN ARE ASSHOLES AND WE ARE BITCHES
To be continued…

I know, I know, I'm supposed to put on some movie poster of Music and Lyrics instead, but since this is my blog... so I've every right to be a lil' narcissistic, dong? Pete, being such a good fans, said he likes this picture hehe. He thinks I look like a loveable and huggable girl who you'd love to have a long chat with. Anyway, I'm not sure what to talk bout yet but I've been listening to Way Back Into Love over and over again these past few days and it kinda inspired me, I guess, to write about how, ugh just read the lyrics for awhile:

Way Back Into Love by Hugh Grant and Haley Bennett
Soundtrack of Music and Lyrics Movie by Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore

I’ve been living with a shadow overhead
I’ve been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I’ve been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can’t seem to move on

I’ve been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need them again someday
I’ve been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind
All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can’t make it through without a way back into love
Oh oh oh

I’ve been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I’ve been searching but I just don’t see the signs
I know that it’s out there
There’s got to be something for my soul somewhere
I’ve been looking for someone to shed some light
Not somebody just to get me through the night
I could use some direction
And I’m open to your suggestions

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can’t make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart again
I guess I’m hoping you’ll be there for me in the end
There are moments when I don’t know if it’s real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration Not just another negotiation

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can’t make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I’m hoping you’ll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I’ll be there for you in the end

Yes, yes, I definitely think that every one of us need to kind of find our way back into love, the case is of course specific to each individual, just that, don't you agree, that sometimes we each have our own issues, be it our past or insecurities or trust issues, you name it, those that could actually restrain us from moving forward and reaching for whatever opportunities or even happiness. We need to just let go, make peace to whatever our issues is to be able to blast away to reach anything we’ve been wishing for which awaits us just right in the corner.

*yes, talk is cheap, eh?*

akhirnya selesai....

Oh lord, please bear my soul...
So I've been working my ass out for publishing Gibb's event next Saturday uhuk all fingers crossed for the success. No luck in finding the speakers and so everyone's gonna have to put up to once again seeing me MC-ing another Periplus' event *sigh*
But do please come, as this is such a very rare event where a well-acknowledged author could visit Indonesia and sign your book, you can even directly ask any questions you have regarding the book or Camilla herself.

SEE YA THERE!

Here are the details:
Periplus in collaboration with the Canadian Embassy will be hosting Ms. Camilla Gibb's visit to Jakarta for her recent book – Sweetness in the Belly. We cordially invite you to join this meet & greet along with a book signing event which will be taking place on:

Day & date : Saturday, March 24, 2007

Time : 2 pm – onwards

Venue : Periplus Bookshop – Kemang

Jl. Kemang Selatan 1 (Kompleks Hero Kemang)

On her latest work, Camilla presents such an enchanting story of Lilly’s personal journey conflicting between two worlds; a book closely related to women and culture issues.

Please find the synopsis as follows:

“When Lilly is eight years old, her pot-smoking hippie British parents leave her at a Sufi shrine in Morocco and inform her they will be back to collect her in three days. Three weeks later, she learns they've been murdered. Lilly fills that haunted hollow in her life with the intense study of the Qur'an under the watchful eye of the saint's disciple she was entrusted to. Years later, her journey from Morocco to Harar, Ethiopia, is half pilgrimage, half flight. In Harar, even her traditional Muslim head scarves cannot hide her white skin in her strange new surroundings; the word farenji - foreigner - is hissed at her at every turn. She eventually builds a life for herself falling in love with an idealistic young doctor. But the two are wrenched apart when Lilly is again forced to flee, this time to London. Despite her British roots, Lilly discovers she is as much of an outsider in London as she was in Harar.
This is an unforgettable journey between two distinct worlds: the ancient walled city of Harar and the racially charged atmosphere of 1980's London. Camilla Gibb's elegant narrative evokes the stinging disconnect between Lilly's attempt to start anew and her inability to let go of the past. Lilly's story is laced with longing and regret, but above all hope - hope that time and love can heal the wounds of a life left behind. Gibb has pulled off an astounding feat with this stunning novel. Never has the distinct and troubled story of this corner of Ethiopia been told with such clarity, warmth, humanity, and grace.”

Product details
Title: Sweetness in the Belly
ISBN: 9780143038726
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (March 2007)
Paperback: 368 pages
Price: IDR 149,000

Available at Periplus Bookshop nationwide

Camilla Gibb was born in London, England, but grew up and currently lives in Toronto. She has a Ph.D in social anthropology from Oxford University for which she conducted fieldwork in Ethiopia. Her two previous novels, Mouthings the Words and The Petty Details of So-and-So's Life, have been published in eighteen countries, receiving rare reviews all around the world. She is one of twenty-one young writers to watch on the Orange Futures List compiled by the jury of the prestigious Orange Prize. Sweetness in the Belly was recently short-listed for the Giller Prize, Canada's most prestigious literary award.

Reviews

“A novel that will take you to a place so far from yourself that you may wonder, from time to time, whether you are ever coming back." San Francisco Chronicle (March 26, 2006)

"A sophisticated, ambitious and deeply affecting novel which is devastatingly relevant to our contemporary world." Giller Prize jury

"Sweetness in the Belly is remarkable for its geographic, thematic and historic amplitude and breadth, depicting the multi-cultural and modern world. Gibb, singled out as one of the Orange Futures writers, is certainly one to watch." The Birmingham Post

"Sweetness in the Belly...reflect(s) the pain, cultural relocation and uncertainty of tribal, political and religious refugees the world over. Gibb's territory is urgently modern and controversial but she enters it softly, with grace, integrity and a lovely compassionate story. A poem to belief and to the displaced--humane, resonant, original, impressive." Kirkus (starred review)

"With sure-handed, urgent prose...the novel fluently speaks the "languages of religion and exile," depicting both the multifaceted heartbreak of those lucky enough to escape violent regime changes and the beauty of unlikely bonds created by the modern multicultural world." Publishers Weekly

~ Periplus - Kemang ~
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Oh Yeah... Chris Daughtry is definitely my man of the month!
Beside the fact that his has such a rocking voice, the band 'Daughtry' has reached Billboard top single, he's indeed such a hot and I seriously mean HOTTEST bloke ever! *oh yes* hehe but really he also sings his heart out, now that's how I like it, rock on Chris! Check this 'Home' lyric out

Home
Chris Daughtry

I'm staring out into the night,
Trying to hide the pain.
I'm going to the place where love
And feeling good don't ever cost a thing.
And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain.

I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old
So I'm going home.
Well I'm going home.

The miles are getting longer, it seems,
The closer I get to you.
I've not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love, remains true.
And I don't know why.
You always seem to give me another try.

So I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
[ Lyrics found on http://www.metrolyrics.com ]

And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old.

Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all,
And then some you don't want.
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all, yeah.

Oh, well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old.
I said these places and these faces are getting old.
So I'm going home.
I'm going home.