Music of my life

Hi,

Does ANU recruit many new small students? Who are they?


This afternoon all students from year one to three from all primary schools at Canberra, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) had a very good chance to enjoy the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. The performance was held at the Llewellyn Hall, the ANU School of Music. Actually this event was only for students, but Ms. B let my mom sneak and peak the orchestra. All students from the North Ainslie Primary School sat on the back seats. My mom sat next to me!


The orchestra has four families of musical instruments. The musicians with red shirts play percussion, such as drum, bongo, cymbals, marimba and xylophone. The musicians with green shirts play woodwind musical instruments, such as flute, piccolo, oboes and clarinets. The musicians with yellow shirts play brass musical instruments, such as trombone, horn, tuba and bassoons. The musicians with blue shirts play string musical instruments, such as violin and cello. The musicians come to the stage when we shout: "I want percussion, woodwind, brass and string!!!" The orchestra played many children songs, such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Sleeping Beauty and Mambo. They played the music beautifully. Bravo!!! The conductor also asked the musicians to explain about every musical instrument and how to play it. It is really interesting!


At the end, some of my friends had a chance to become "small conductors". They came to the stage. They moved the conductor stick up and down, up to right .... You know, the musicians followed the tempo of the conductor stick! It is funny! After they finished their turn, they bowed to the audiences. Cheers!

I really enjoy the orchestra. Who wants to be a musician? Me!

Gardener

Hello,

This morning my mom, Budhe Iwu and Tante Alfa went to campus and they met with an old and friendly gardener. They greeted him. He told them that he has maintained the ANU garden for about five years.
He said, "Many people said this is only a low job. I know it. But I love my job. I love being outdoor, although it is a bit cold and windy in winter." My mom told him, "Don't ever think this is a low job. Your job is important for us. Many people enjoy the ANU garden because of your work. Well, not only students and staff, but also animals, such as birds, possum, ducks and rabbits enjoy the garden." Budhe Iwu added, "Not many people love their job. It is important that you love your job, so you are happy with it." He smiled and then he explained about many kinds of garden tools and mowers. He is using edger to make the edge of the garden looks nicer.


Well, Mr. gardener, you have to remember that your job is important for us. No job is low, except those that are against His will.


This is a motor mower. My mom took this picture last summer. Don't forget, mom, a child like me also enjoy the garden!

Colors

Hello,
I am learning about colors and color mixing, and apply it in my picture.


This is an "abstract". I made it with watercolor. "Abstract is in your mind when you don't know or you are not sure what you are going to do", said my mom.


These are two beautiful butterflies and a flower. I made it with oil pastels.
I remembered a beautiful friendship story called, "Don't Worry Bear", that was read by my mom before I went to sleep last night. A little bear has a friend, a caterpillar. One day the caterpillar made a cocoon. "I'll stay inside for a while. But I promise you'll see me again", said the caterpillar. Bear got worried. He came to check the cocoon. Every time he checked it, the caterpillar inside the cocoon said, "Don't worry, Bear. I am not afraid of the dark... A little wind doesn't bother me....I am not getting wet... I am very warm and cozy...." Bear stopped worrying. Until one day, Bear found the cocoon empty. The caterpillar was gone. Bear was afraid he would never see him again. Then the silk moth landed on Bear's paw. "Don't worry, Bear. I am right here", he said.


This painting is called "By the lake". I made it with watercolor. I am still learning how to paint pine trees, bushes and lake. It is difficult, but I cannot give up. I have to practice, practice and practice. "Practice makes perfect", said my mom.

Beautiful

Hello,

I thought there isn't any flower blooming in winter, but that isn't true. It is so amazing. All Budhe's ground orchids that are put inside the house are blooming and they are so beautiful!


These are "the beauty". The beauty has a long story. Budhe bought it nine years ago at a flower shop. It was very small and almost dying, but Budhe loved it. She took a good care of it. All of us also love it and take a good care of it. We even talk to it. I think the beauty is an Australian flower. Today, the beauty says, "I am blessed to have a chance to live. Enjoy your day, mate."


Thease are "the special gift" from Om Nugi for Budhe Iwu. What does it say? It says, "Don't forget to take care of me, mate."

There is one ground orchid outside the house. It is stronger and more independent, cause it doesn't need to be put inside the house. It is also very beautiful. The color is whitish pink. We are waiting for it to bloom.

Bon anniversaire

Hello,

I really have fun today. Today is my mom's special day. We watched "the Karate Kid" at Dendy Cinema, Canberra Centre. It was awesome!! The movie setting is in China. You can see the real shaolin temple. It is so amazing!

My mom said that we can learn many things from the movie. Well, she really likes kungfu, especially the Shaolin kungfu.
Mr Han (the master, Jackie Chan): "Kungfu is about to give peace to your enemy, control your anger, give respect and mercy to others". "Being still and calm are the two most important and difficult things to do". You can see how a Shaolin can control a king cobra.
Mr Han asked Dre Parker (Jaden Smith), "Why do you want to learn kungfu?" He answered, "Because I am always scared! I want to fight my scare!".
The last important thing we can learn from the movie that is said by Mr Han is "Life never makes us down. There is always a choice to get back up".

Well, you can see how Dre never gives up. His spirit never dies. Finally, he can beat his scare using the cobra movement: being still and calm. Concentrate! It was really cool when everything turns out to be good at the end.
I like the theme song: Never say never. There is also a beautiful song played with violin: Nocturne Op.9 No.2. in C sharp minor (composed by F. Chopin).

This is my letter for my mom:

Bon anniversaire!
You have that certain
of sweet memories
So here is my song to you from moi
Years filled with all
the fun you can handle
Count the happies
and not the candles
There is no end
to all I wish you
Bon anniversaire
and merci beaucoup!

(From : La birthday song, www.bluemountain.com)

I don't want you to be old, mom. When you'll be a grandma, I'll always visit you and make you a surprise, mom. Keep this letter safely. I always remember you and love you.
Bon anniversaire also for tante Ririn (two days ago) and tante Alfa (tomorrow).


Source of picture: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1155076/

In memoriam: Achdiat Karta Mihardja

Hello,

This is my mom's writing for Aki.

Achdiat Karta Mihardja, one of the great Indonesian writers, has passed away this morning. He left many literature works. The most famous one is “Atheis” a romance, published in 1949. He also wrote drama scripts, short stories, and novel.

I met Achdiat for the first time in last March, to congratulate him on his 99th birthday. He and his wife were in Narrabundah nursing home, Canberra. That meeting inspired me to read his literature works that have been shelved on the third floor of Menzies library, at the Australian National University.

Achdiat is a simple person. His last will is to return to Indonesia before he died, but he didn’t make it. He passed away at Canberra Hospital this morning.

I wrote this poem for him, to remember him, that many people might have forgotten about him.

THE LAST HOPE

The morning sun has embraced
The red sky gave a warm greeting
A weak figure covered with age flake
Lay down frail
That wrinkled face
And a pair of old eyes
Stared at the window

It was the ninety nine times
The green maple leaves
Turned into orange, red and purple
Fell ….. blown away …. scattered on the ground

Almost one hundred years the old figure has sailed
Swayed by the wave, blown by the storm, strived to survive
Created thousand pages of literature work
Brighten up the knowledge, a light that never dies
Yet ….. his glory was at an end
The radiant sun was dimmed
His passion was alive
But his fingers were too weak to write
In Narrabundah, Canberra, Australia, he stopped by
But … he didn’t want to anchor there
A faint voice before his last breath was heard:
“I .. am …..dying …”
“I ...am….. not … a … traitor …”
“I …still .....want … to … contribute ….to … my … country …”
“I …love ... Indonesia …”
“I …want …to … go … back … to … Indonesia …”

Aki, I hope you can hear my poem .... I pray that you will have a good place by His side .... Rest in peace, Aki. You have contributed a lot to your country.

The story of passion and daring

Hello,

This afternoon I visited Chifley library with my mom and then we had a nice lunch picnic at ANU garden, in front of the Melville Hall.


We often sit on this "seating" so many times, but my mom has just discovered "how amazing the place where we sat".


It is not a usual cutting tree. If we look at it more carefully, it pictures a cross section of double tree rings! How amazing! Maybe it was cut under its branch. That's why it has double tree rings. My mom is not a dendrochronologist, of course. Well, we have tried to calculate the age of the tree. It is said that the light ring is formed during spring, when the tree receives enough rain. The dark ring is formed during summer. If one year equals one light ring and one dark ring .... then .... maybe the tree is 23 years old or more. It is much older than I am.

My mom told me that we can learn from the tree rings. She said the tree rings tell us about "the story of passion and daring", how it deals with happy (spring) and difficult time (summer, fall, winter).

Holiday & happy birthday

Today is my last day of school. Yaa ... haa! I will have a two week-holiday! My mom has arranged many secret and surprised activities for me. I can't wait for the fun!


Oh, yesterday is mas Izal (my cousin)'s birthday, and today is Pakdhe's and Om Fajri's birthday. Happy birthday!
I made a snowgirl for you. She has a pretty scarf, flower buttons, pink and purple hearts, and pretty laces.