2

“2” is the second novel which has written by Donny Dhirgantoro. This novel is published by Grasindo which is one of the big publishers in Indonesia. This is a new novel that brings out in 2011. Donny created new idea which was different with the first novel, “5 cm”. In “5 cm” is about friendship, but here is about a family.

“2” tells about a girl who fights to live by playing badminton. She has limit of her life because she get a disease, obesities. Her illness couldn’t be cured as there is no medicine that be found to heal it while her weigh increases steadily. The family has informed the illness to her when she is 18 years old and she is very shocked knowing the fact. On the contrary, she wants to fight it. She doesn’t want to see her family crying for her, no more tears. In addition, she has a dream which she becomes the winner of badminton tournament like her sister as she thought that by this way it will make her family happy. She is a girl who never gives up even though her age is predicted less than 25 years. She tries to make her weakness be her strength. Till someday, she practices to playing badminton everyday and her coach ask her reason why she want to play badminton. She answers that on the one hand she desires to make her family happy and the other reason is she want to live longer than the prediction as by practicing every day it will burn her fat so her weigh doesn’t rise. One day, her dream comes true that she joins in international badminton tournament. However, she get headache and can’t breathe easily like when did practice before, so she had to hospitalize. Will she be able to continue and become the winner in this tournament? Just believe that everyone is born twice and to be brave is the way to get what we want to reach.

For the second times, Donny gives a story that is about dreams. It is very great to grow the spirit of dreamers up. By simple words that he used in “2”, the readers can understand easier and learn many lessons from this novel. Furthermore, I can say that this novel is inspiring and motivating novel which teaches us to fight in this life as the writer says in this novel “only a coward who wants perfect life” and there are others wise words. The title of this novel is unique since only by reading this novel someone will know what the meaning of “2” is. Supported by the cover which is design very casual but interesting makes everyone curious about the story.

In contrast, several spellings and punctuation in this novel need re-corrected, so that the readers will not get problem to know what the writer means. Moreover, it will be good if the illness in this story explains scientifically not only describes a half which it is unclear for the readers. Though there are a few weaknesses in this novel, 2 is one of the nice novels that I have read.

Dhirgantoro, D. (2011). 2. Jakarta: Grasindo.

The Crush

This is a movie which told about love story of a student to his teacher. He was Ardal who studied at elementary school and fell in love with his teacher, Ms. Purdy. One day, after the class was over, he just stayed sitting on his chair and kept his eyes looking at Ms. Purdy who was sitting in front of class. After all his friends went out, he came to Ms. Purdy and gave a ring. Ms. Purdy was surprised, but received it and wore on her finger. Ardal was very happy to see it.

The following day, Ardal walked around with his mom. On the way, they looked Ms. Purdy came out from jewellery shop with a man. Ardal’s mom greeted her. Ms. Purdy got nearer Ardal’s mom doing a small talk. Ms. Purdy also introduced her boyfriend who had just engaged her and they were going to marry. On other hand, Ardal didn’t believe his ears and eyes. He was jealous and considered that Ms. Purdy’s boyfriend was not a good man.

Arriving at home, Ardal hated what had happened. Ms. Purdy took down a ring from Ardal and changed with a ring from her boyfriend. He threw a letter which is written to Ms. Purdy. He looked for a way to prove that a man was compatible with her. He got an idea. He went to Dad’s room and took a peep that his father put a gun in wardrobe. Since he was very annoyed with Ms. Purdy’s boyfriend, he had a strong desire to kill him. Even though it was impossible to him to do it, at least he wanted that Ms. Purdy would not marry with him.

The day after, he ran his plan. He came after where Ms. Purdy and her boyfriend went. Ms. Purdy’s boyfriend felt upset. He drew closer to Ardal and asked Ardal to stop doing that. Ardal didn’t care what a man said. He kept following them till a man thought that it couldn’t stay at this condition anymore. Ms. Purdy’s boyfriend was angry with Ardal and drove Ardal out rudely. Ardal said that he would leave him in event that a man had broken up his relationship with Ms. Purdy. However, the man just assumed that it was a joke from a child, he kept chasing him away. Suddenly, Ardal took a gun from his bag and ready to fire the gun. A man was very afraid of it, but Ardal didn’t want to bring to an end although Ms. Purdy prevented him many times.

Finally, a man admitted that he would marry with Ms. Purdy just for playing. He didn’t love her sincerely. Listening what a man said, Ms. Purdy took down a ring from him and disposed it. Ms. Purdy thanked to Ardal because making her realize that a man was a bad person. Ardal was very happy to hear that. Additionally, he informed to the man that the gun was a toy. Ms. Purdy urged Ardal to leave the boy as she didn’t want look at his face anymore and want to run her new life without shadow of him.

How to Make “Jumbrek”

Does anyone know what “jumbrek” is? Jumbrek is one of typical foods of Lamongan which is covered by palm leaf. You can get it in every tourism place in Lamongan as most of the sellers sell it. However, now if you are in someplace where is far from Lamongan and don’t have spare time going to there, you can make jumbrek by yourself.



Firstly, get ready all ingredients. These are 500 grams of rice flour, 500 grams of starch, 50 millilitres of palm sugar, and 250 millilitres of coconut milk. In event that you would like, you can also give milk, cheese, and cocoa. Ensure that all materials have been prepared so the result will be perfect.
Secondly, stir together rice flour, starch, palm sugar, and coconut milk. Add milk, cheese, and cocoa to flour mixture, stirring only until smooth. Next, pour it into palm leaf and steam for 15 minutes. While waiting for its being done, you can set a plate up or make the performance interesting. After 15 minutes, serve in a plate that you have prepared. Have a nice meal.

A Big Meeting

One day, I had an appointment with my friend to attend some discussion at 7.00 pm one day. As usual, I guessed the discussion was just for teenagers and it was informal discussion.

At night, I picked my friends up to go to the discussion place together since I didn’t know the place. Like my thought that it was informal, I wore a casual clothes and sandal, so did my friends. After all of my friends had come, we went the discussion place together riding our bicycle.

Arriving the place, we were very shocked as who attend the discussion were not only teenagers but several of my teachers as well. In addition, all of them wore the formal clothes which were very tidy. We looked ourselves and we didn’t know what we had to do. It was unusual discussion but it was a big meeting which author of the famous book from Jakarta attended the meeting.

We kept standing in our place. We didn’t want to move wherever because it was very embarrassing. By accident, there was a crazy idea that we would leave the meeting at that time. In the contrary, when we tried to go, suddenly, a teacher who was much closed to us called us. She asked us to come and join the meeting without thinking what kind of clothes we wore.

Finally, we joined the meeting with uncomfortable feeling and hoped the meeting would have ended soon. Moreover, I said to my self even if I got an appointment, my first question was that it was formal or informal.

‘Dating’ Among Young People

Today, the relationship between a woman and a man is something common, above all relationship between young people. They make a bond called dating. We can not consider that it is wrong which dating always gives bad effect. In fact, sometimes for several people, dating also has positive effect.


Numbers of couple young people argue that dating provides advantages for them. Since deciding to make a relation, they have had a friend to share. If they have a problem, one of them suggests and helps to solve it so that the problem likes a thing which can be passed easily. In addition, they also do their assignment and raise a question in event that they don’t understand a subject with the result that the duty can be finish on time. Young people, who agree that dating has advantages, is who spend their together time carrying good things out. Hence, they don’t waste the time.

It’s not a bit that young people say that dating has bad impact. They think that making a relation will waste their time doing useless things. Their day will be filled by couple’s shadow. Additionally, they want to be beside the beloved partner whenever and wherever. They are addicted to be always with him. Even if only a day they pass without the pair, the world likes stopping running.

Whatever the opinions about dating among young people, good and bad consequences will be there. We have no right to blame that it’s true or false. We have to be wise taking an action as everything that we do will have a result which it will be back to us also.

A City in East Java

Many people know that there are many good cities in East Java. In fact, the cities are great city. One of the excellent cities in East Java is Gresik.
Gresik is located in North lane (“Jalur Pantura”). It is about an hour driving from Surabaya. Getting there is very easy which you can take a bus. It is very cheap than you take other transportations.

Gresik is well known as industrial city. It is because there are many industries in Gresik. In particular, PT. Semen Gresik is one of the big factories in Indonesia which produces cement. For another example, there is PT. Petrokimia Gresik which produces manure.

Gresik is also famous as “santri” city. “Santri” means student in Islamic boarding school. It is because there are many Islamic boarding schools in Gresik. As a result, the society is religious. Additionally, in Gresik there is a grave of Siti Fatimah binti Maemun who was proof of when Islam came in Java Island for the first time. Two of Walisongo’s graves are also in Gresik that is Sunan Giri and Maulana Malik Ibrahim.

Moreover, in Gresik, there is a beautiful beach named Dalegan beach which the sand is white sand. A ticket to get the beach is very cheap. It is only five thousand rupiahs. In Dalegan Beach, you can play flying fox, banana boat, and others. To conclude, the strategic location and tourism places make the tourist interested in going to Gresik.


Written by: Nurul Hunafa

A Process VS A Mark #Part 2#

Dylan berkendara tepat di depanku. Masih teringat senyumnya tadi di parkiran motor. Melakukan yang terbaik apa yang bisa kita lakukan sekarang, ‘di tempat ini’ dan sebaik-baik manusia adalah yang bermanfaat bagi orang lain. Dylan, kau. Ya, semua kan berakhir dengan indah, kalau tidak indah, itu bukanlah sebuah akhir.

Pandanganku teralih kepada gadis yang dibonceng Dylan. Gadis serba hijau yang sedari tadi hampir tak ku dengar celotehannya. Gadis yang selalu nimbrung dan mau berteman dengan kelima orang ‘bego’. Dialah yang sempat ‘menguntit’ceritaku. Dia yang sempat menjadi sasaran ‘pengklarifikasian’ dari apa yang terjadi.

Sore itu ku mampir ke kamarnya, kamar yang entah berapa kali telah dia ubah designnya. ‘......lulus dengan nilai bagus, dapat kerja.......’ Aku tersenyum membaca tulisan di atas kertas warna merah yang tertempel di jendela kamarnya. Yang menjadi perhatian utamaku, NILAI!

 

“Kamu tahu nggak  satu hal yag membuat kamu tak pernah mendapatkan nilai sebagus yang kau inginkan?” Tanyakku pada Triana saat mata kuliah –yang katanya academic- berlangsung (seperti biasa disuruh si dosen diskusi materi tapi yang ada malah ngobrol), setelah beberapa kali dia memintaku untuk belajar bersama dan mengeluh tak bisa membayangkan seperti apakah IP pertamanya nanti. Dia merasa tak akan seperti yang dia inginkan, cum laude!

 

“Enggak, Ey. Emang apaan?” dengan wajah kusut (emangnya baju yang nggak disetrika!) dan balik bertanya.

 

“Jawabannya karena kau mengejar nilai itu”, Jawabku sembari tersenyum.

 

Kali ini dia mengusap-usap wajahnya bah berwudhu membasuh muka, “Maksudnya, Ey? Nggak ngerti.”

 

“Apa aja boleh”, ngasal. Mencoba mencairkan suasana.

 

“Hassshhhhh....” desahnya kesal.

 

“Hahahaha....”, tawaku.

 

“Ya, elo-nya. Gue lagi serius, lo bercanda mulu,” keluhnya jengkel.

 

“Santai ajalah, Tri”, pintaku. “Dilanjutin nggak ni?”

 

“Ya iyalah.”

 

“Gini, lo pingin dapat cum laude kan?”

 

Triana hanya menjawabnya dengan anggukan.

 

“Gue nggak munafik, gue juga pingin bisa cum laude. Semua yang ada di kelas ini pun pasti ingin cum laude.”

 

“Trus?”

 

“Biar cum laude nilai IP kita harus berapa?”

 

“Minimal 3.8 atau 3.7 ya? Lupa gue” jawab Tria mencoba mengingat-ingat.

 

“Ya udah, 3.7, 3.8 atau berapa pun, gue nggak perduli. Di situlah perbedaan kita, Tri.”

 

“Maksudnya gimana, Ey? Gue makin nggak ngerti.”

 

“Oke, sekarang gue tanya ke elo. Gimana biar kita bisa dapat tu nilai?”’

 

“Ya dari tugas kita lah, kita kan nggak ada ujian.”

 

“Jadi lo ngerjain tugas biar dapat nilai, gitu?”

 

“Ya buat apa lagi kalau nggak buat dapat nilai?”

 

“Trus lo pasang target berapa nilai yang harus lo dapat?”

 

“He’em, kalau nggak gitu gue ngerjain tugas ngasal”.

 

Aku tersenyum.

 

“Triana, gue pernah mengalami masa di mana aku berada di atas bahkan di bawah. Gue yakin lo juga gitu. Gue pernah ingin dapat nilai 97 di mata pelajaran ‘Y’. Gue cerita ke gurunya. Tahu nggak apa yang guru itu bilang?’

 

“Apa?”

 

“Beliau bilang gue nggak akan pernah dapetin nilai itu”.

 

“Kok bisa? Wah gurumu membunuh karakter tu, Ey.’

 

“Awalnya gue juga mikir seperti itu, tapi beliau bilang jangan pernah menarget nilai! Lo tau nggak nilai tes pertama gue di mata pelajaran ‘Y’, 40, Tri. Lo bisa bayangin nggak perasaan gue dapat nilai yang seumur-umur belum pernah gue dapat. Shocked. Namun, mulai saat itu gue mulai memikirkan kata-kata guru gue.

 

“Gue ubah mind set gue, jujur gue pingin dapetin nilai itu, tapi dengan sekuat hati gue hapus nilai itu dalam memori gue.”

 

“Caranya, Ey?”

 

“Oke, gue tadi bilang kalau gue juga pingin cum laude kan?”

 

“He’em”, Sahut Tria pendek, serius mendengarkan ceritaku yang panjangnya melebihi daratan Indonesia.

 

“Untuk dapat itu kita harus memenuhi beberapa syarat kan?”

 

“Iya”, masih singkat jawaban temanku yang satu ini.

 

“Kita ambil contoh gampangnya nilai A. Untuk dapat nilai A kita harus memenuhi beberapa syarat. Misalnya lo harus bisa menulis, membaca, harus komunikatif atau yang lainnya. Yang harus lo kejar adalah gimana caranya lo bisa menulis, membaca, komunikatif atau apalah. Proses, Tri. Dari belum bisa menjadi bisa.

 

“Jangan ibaratkan nilai itu sebuah titik tengah lingkaran yang menjadi target utama kita. Untuk mencapai titik itu, bukankah kita harus membentuk simetris-simetris yang harus kita penuhi? Simetris-simetris yang menjadi jembatan kita yang akan mengantarkan kita ke titik itu dengan sendirinya.

 

“Jadi Tri, proses itulah yang harus kita perjuangkan, orang mendapat nilai A dengan memeras keringat lebih bersejarah daripada mereka yang mendapatkannya dengan mudah, mereka tidak punya cerita. Penuhilah syarat-syarat itu, itulah proses. Bukan menggenggam puncak tanpa rasa letihnya kaki.”

 

“Oh... Mungkin karena itu, Ey. Selama ini gue selalu target nilai, ngejar nilai bagus.”

 

“Santai aja, masih ada waktu, ingat semua itu proses! Jangan instant mulu!”

 

“Emang ****mie, instant!”

 

“Ya mungkin aja. Oy, satu hal lagi yang penting.”

 

“Apa?”

 

“IKHLAS. Kerjain semuanya dengan ikhlas, nikmatilah proses itu, jangan anggap sebagai beban.”

 

 

“Attention please! Have you finished your discussion?” Tiba-tiba sang Bapak dosen mengalihkan perhatian kita.

 

“Ok, please make it be individual assignment and send it to e-Learning”, Lanjut si Dosen.

 

“Tu Ey, ‘tugas pertama’ gue, lo juga yang ikhlas!”

 

“Gue dari dulu mah ikhlas!”

 

“Maksud gue, ikhlas sekalian kerjain tugas gue!’

 

“Sial! Enak aja lo”

 

“Hahahha....” tawa kita menyatu.

 

Tersenyum, senang. Seolah ada sesuatu yang terlepas. Lega. Terima kasih, Tuhan. Kawan, kita mendapatkan gelar bukanlah karena nilai kita, tapi karena kita pantas mendapatkan gelar itu. Sejauh mana kita mencoba memantaskan diri kita, proseslah yang menjawab, bukan akhir! (-Alpha Ey Sirius Syam-)

 

Inspired by: Dani Ratrianasari.

Dedicated my ‘bego’ friends: especially, Dani Ratrianasari, Muhammad Haqqi Riansyah, Rudyanto, Fidiyah Retno Wulandari, Qori Septi Melrosi.

 

Yogyakarta, January 18, 2012

02.13 a.m.

Alpha Ey Sirius Syam