poor mousie

The one thing I hate about ipods and macs, is that usually, when something goes wrong, you can't simply take it back to where you got it.

In November I became the proud new owner of an iMac. Last night, the scroll in the mouse button began to die. I couldn't scroll down. Yeah, a tragedy, I know.

So I take it back to Dick Smith with mousie in hand, and already knew the answer they were going to give me: call Apple. 

After doing some very unnecessary shopping, I came home and proceeded to call apple. Having paid all this extra money on an apple care plan I wasn't too amused by this point. I was on hold for 15 minutes listening to the "best of iTunes".

Finally, someone answered. His name was Chris. 

Usually when I call ANYONE, when they pick up the phone I usually quickly say, "Hi, Chris, HOW ARE YOU TODAY?". But he bet me to it! He asked for my name and gave me that similar greeting! Wow!

When I told him the problem, I was pretty sure I would be directed elsewhere. We have an apple technician place in Bendigo, and I assumed that's where he'd direct me. Instead, he told me to get a blank bit of paper and roll it around on the paper - and guess what - IT WORKED... for about ten seconds. 

But the nice guy is going to send me some lint-free cloth, FOR FREE! And then if that doesn't work they offered to send me a new mouse, but because I don't have a credit card (their security measure so that I don't run away with a mouse!) I would then see the people in Bendigo.

It's beginning to work again and I have something I can do to try and fix it. I guess I'm just blown away at the great customer service, and that while Macs are the more expensive way to go, they can be fixed.

nangisin

Sudah 1 minggu lewat. Sam dan saya udah putus. 

Anda beberapa alasan kenapa ini terjadi. Alasan itu, saya ngak mau nulisin di sini. Siapa2 yg penting udah tau tentang ini. Kalo kalian mau tau, hubungi gue, mungkin saya akan jelaskan. mungkin, dong.

Aku senang banget saya bisa berbahasa Indonesia. Itu seperti "senjata rahasia". Itu tempat yang saya merasa aman. 

Gue punya teman, namanya Telmy. Dia seorang Indonesia yang saya paling suka. Ia curhat saya. Besok, dia akan jauh dari ku, sebelum ke Indonesia untuk pulang tetap. Sedih banget, gw merasa sepi!

Aku masih mau meneruskan hubungi saya ama Sam, tapi gw takut tidak bisa. Banyak hal harus ganti sebelum kami akan berpacaran lagi. 

Banyak orang bilang move on aja. Itu tidak mudah begitu. Nah, gw marah banget. Itu hanya 1 minggu yg lewati. 

dalam hatiku ada banyak perasaan dulu. Kesedihan, kesepian, kecewaan. hatiku hancur. Aku capek orang jahat! Orang plin-plan. Orang .... leave me the heck alone! Ini hidupan saya, dong!

Gue mau balik ke Indonesia aja. Tempat jiwaku bahagia.

Pink church

When I feel scared at church:

I think of some of the words of P!nk's song Sober:

"I'm safe up high, nothing can touch me! ... No pain inside... you're my protection..."

And so then, when people start "singing in the spirit", and I feel ultimately freaked out, I think of this song, am tempted to sing it over the other gibberish (now, wouldn't that be funny), but don't. I recall the words and enter my happy place, my sanctuary of ultimate safety from this fearsome feeling, with God.

Long time no blog

Hi there everybody! I have had a few requests of late wondering what my new blog URL is. The truth is, I don't have one. Things never picked up as I got really busy with my new job, and trying to figure out wordpress and what-not: I couldn't decide what to do blog-wise, so everyone had to keep up on facebook. 

Now I don't have a job, so I don't feel as pressured into the scary thought of being googled by a student or colleague. I don't have a job for a few reasons:

1. It's holidays

2. My contract ended, and due to me being a graduate and there being applicants with more experience than me, it wasn't renewed.

3. I'm 2nd best - which is a compliment, but still doesn't give me a job.

4. I'm going to Darwin next week for a while, which will put everything on hold.

5. I'm not sure what I *really* want to do next year.

What else has been happening? My laptop died so I got an iMac. So far so good. But the Sims 2 wont work unless I buy more software.

For Christmas I went home. Enough said. The highlight about a month beforehand was Tem and I putting up the Christmas tree. I went with a silver theme. It looks awesome as.

Well, today I went to Melbourne. I love Melbourne and I would love to move there. There is an Indonesian supermarket in Glenferrie and it is somewhere I stop EVERY time I go to Melbourne. In fact, this being my 3rd-ish ever visit, the check out chick is starting to remember me. Today she was all like, "pakabar?" and then I was all like. "iya baik... Ingat saya?" and she totally responded "Iyaaaaa dong!" If you can understand that beyond the bizarre Indonesian and female-speak, then well done you!

KimDonesia inspired me into VideoBlogging. I've so far made one video. No, you can't have the URL... yet.

It has been over a year now since I cried as the crazy Garuda flight from hell touched down 2 hours late at Tullamarine airport. Not a day goes by when I don't think of Indonesia and how my heart longs to be back there.

About a week ago I got a letter from uni congratulating me and welcoming me to all things alumni, along with a complimentary copy of my transcript. It kind of made me think how much things are changing. And after returning some books to the uni library it all became so real. I'm not going back there. And even if I DID enrol in some postgraduate study, it would never be the same. The recent news of my closest friend getting engaged, my friends getting jobs for next year, and those of us who didn't, we are now entering the real world, and we can't turn back. It has been an amazing 4 years, with struggles, tears, and great times. But now all I can do is let go, and just remember. My only regret is that I should have spent my 4th year enjoying what I had left with these friends, rather than sticking my head in my studies and spending time with my boyfriend.

And so that brings me to next year, which is merely 4 days away. I don't know what is going to happen. I am waiting to hear from a few employers, otherwise I'll wait for something to turn up, do CRT, move to Melbourne to do CRT, or just go and work in the Indonesian supermarket: I think I'd be quite content there!

guru baru

So something I have been hiding from the world is that I had a job interview today, and I got the job!

Last week I was in tears with the fear I'd never measure up for a job. Then as soon as I get over here I get heaps of offers.

The low down? It's a 0.9 teaching position, teaching "middle school" ages Indonesian.

This all has progressed in a mere 48 hours. I was offered the opportunity when I got off the plane via sms, I got phone call yesterday, interview today, and now all I need to do is quit my job at McDonalds and do the paperwork and I start asap.

And due to google discovering this blog despite it being private, very soon this blog will cease to exist.

Please contact me on sammy.smedley@gmail.com if you are a regular reader of this blog and I will inform you of my new url!

Mahkluk tuhan paling 'Sammy'

That is my little version from the song Mahkluk Tuhan paling Sexy by Mulan Jameela. It means God's creature which is most 'Sammy'.

And I am. I am God's most Sammy-like creation. There is nobody out there quite like me.

And I keep telling myself this in my desperate search for a job next year. I get really afraid because I have found time and time again that there is always someone better than me. I'm not the best, I'm just Sammy. But being just Sammy, does that get me a job? I just hope that there's a Sammy-shaped hole out there somewhere. Confidence, Sammy. C'mon, people, believe with me!

At the moment I'm reading a book called Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk. I'm nearing the end but not anywhere near finished. The book is 406 pages and in Indonesian.

I don't feel like I learn a lot by sitting for hours and hours reading a novel in another language, even a language I particularly love. I want to be out there, with the people, conversing, not stuck with my nose in a book. But I know that the future is bright from me enduring this!

It's oh so grammatical method for me, and I think I'm more of a communicative person. Ooh LOTE teacher language! (I believe the secret to LOTE teaching is balance!) Some people probably can endure this really long crazy study, but I don't have enough patience. It makes me feel like a loser, because I am unable to comprehend anything too quickly. But again, we're all different. And after all, I'm Mahkluk Tuhan paling Sammy.

The thing that is getting me through this is scaffolding. I'm a busy person, I can't fit everything in. And to try and cram a chapter of this in before class on a monday is not my bag baby. So I'll read a page, highlight the important bits, type them up in word, translate the words I don't know. In between pages I do mini tasks, such as: eat lunch, write a paragraph on this blog, clean something. This also depends on whether I dive into procrastinative habits. You see, half the job done is just getting started!

Oh what the heck, you don't want to know about my boring study habits, let me tell you about one of my favorite people on TV:

Ellen DeGeneres

Yeah, Ellen has stolen my heart.

No, no, not in THAT way.

She is the new Oprah. I love switching on the TV and watch Ellen dance like nobody is watching. Man I wish I had her confidence! I know I can have it.

Serious, I see Ellen doing the hot dance moves to a song, and I am quick to download it on iTunes. This includes songs such as Low by Flo' Rida and Closer by Ne-Yo.

And to think I'd ever be into R&B mainstream music!

Man this is commercialism sucking in Sammy big time!

air - part 2

I just had to add this fun little memory of Indonesia: these funny looking things!

It's like a fruit box but different! You just grab a straw and pierce the top. Coolest thing ever. Wish we had them in Australia.

I know you don't care but ah the little things are sometimes the most memorable and make Indonesia what it is!