Christmas is coming (2016)

This is not a sequel from the previous post with a same title. http://lostnightingale.blogspot.co.id/2015/11/christmas-is-coming.html

Looking back to the previous post, I haven't really accomplished the things that I have planned last year (or even many years back).

In a more positive note, I travel a lot this year. A total of 8 flights, 4 countries, and 7 cities. The most number of destinations that I have visited in such a short time (for my time frame). For many people, those destinations are not many. But for me, it's really a lot. I have made my shoes damaged in less than a year. Ok, it was actually a cheap and low quality shoes.

I have recently watched a clip, "Pursuit of a memorable life - Dustin Garis". I have yet to make the remaining days of my life to be positive and memorable.

I have recently received a letter from the children in an English centre. I was surprised as I (or other teachers) have never taught them to write a letter. It's memorable.

My Director of studies at EF once said to me that students could teach you too. I have experienced it a lot. I am really grateful to know and meet so many students/participants that have taught me a lot too. There's a quote, "Every person you meet in this world has something to teach you."

As a lecturer/teacher/instructor, I have always hoped and prayed that my students/participants could use their English abilities to improve their quality of life. And in the end, they could have a positive and memorable life too.

The Amazing Race

I just have the chance to watch the series of The Amazing Race season 24. By far this is the best TV program that I have ever watched. Until now, I still think this is the best TV show ever created.

I notice that the race is similar to real life. It's unpredictable. Some teams who were left behind initially and seemed to be hopeless (by physical/chances), could be the winner in certain phase.

In my life, I'm left behind compared to my peers now. If this life was also a "race" (and maybe it is), I would be eliminated long time ago. But since I haven't been eliminated yet by God, there may be some hopes to at least move forward.

And as in a marathon, we may not aim to win the race. The satisfaction received by completing the race is more than everything. We don't have to win over everyone else. We are winning over ourselves. To be a better version of ourselves.

The assignment

Inspired by Prof. Rhenald Khasali, I assigned my students last semester to write a post in their own blogs about their holiday.

Because of that, I feel obliged to write my own post too.  As usual, I had this plan for quite a while, but never really take any action to do it. So I would write this post as a draft and complete it from time to time.

I had the chance recently to go to Taiwan with my father to attend my brother's graduation ceremony. If there hadn't been any graduation ceremony, I wouldn't have traveled there too. I have always thought that if I have to travel to some country far away, it should be for a more permanent immigration purposes. That I would find a job there, not just a temporary holiday.

Taiwan was the furthest country from Jakarta that I have ever visited in my life. For me, I knew that it would be a new and exciting experience. And it was.

 The biggest canteen that I have ever seen. Possibly the biggest monastery canteen in the world.  

Supposedly the most beautiful MRT station in Taiwan.  But the locals are quite skeptic about it. 

Besides Taiwan, we had the chance to visit Hongkong too. It was a great country too. Lots of tourists. And great landscape. And similar with Taipei, they have a really great subway system.  All of my life I have thought that subway system in KL/S'pore was really good. And now I get to experience something even better. Maybe one day if I get to visit the Tokyo subway, I would say different thing again.

We visited the Big Buddha, the biggest Buddha statue (sitting position) in the world. Although I am not a Buddhist, I have always wanted to visit this statue. Saw it from a scene in the Amazing Race TV series. It's amazing. The stairs are like those in the temple in Kungfu Panda movie.  It's really great.

Next statue should be the Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, or the Garuda Wisnu Kencana in Bali, once it is completed, it will be the biggest statue in the world. Just search in Google that there is a Spring Temple in China with the current biggest statue in the world.

If there is no wind, row.