My Blog

I’m in maastricht again, after three years! I still enjoy the old houses and churches, the peacefull river, the small shops, and of course the dynamic atmosphere of the university. I met old friends from my MPH year, and of course, new faces.

….and I’m sitting here, in a small warm study cell in inner city library,  facing the window.  Trees are turning yellowish, and the ground are covered by the old falling leaves.

I got so much reassurance in the last week, during three appointments and one warm dinner with my wonderful supervisors: Professor Albert Scherpbier and Dr Jan van Dalen. At least I know that I’m in the right track, that I have learned a lot during these years. I’m doing fine, and I’m ready to face the next challenges… the other parts of the whole research project and the other professional tasks in the future.

I cannot say that I’m not blessed with all of the opportunity. Everything is just so obvious:

1. I’m learning in one of the best university in the Netherland….even if you talk about my field, medical education, I’m confident  that this university is the best. 

2. I’m learning from one of the best professor in medical education, Professor Albert Scherpbier, who got award from the kingdom of the Netherland for his devotion in this field. Isn’t it wonderful?  

My second supervisor, Dr Jan van Dalen, is an expert in the communication skills in medical setting. He dedicated his life in this particular job for more than twenty years. He is also a great communicator. It is very difficult for people, not to like this marvelous man.

3. I have wonderful mom, dad, alet, and adit. We have so much love and care……Certainly, i have an extraordinary special husband, who is always proud of me (much more than I’m proud of myself), and always very supportive in his own way. 

4. I work with nice people in RKZ and Ubaya. I have experienced fruitful days with them.

5…..and there is so much more!!!

Today I attended a mass in Dutch in an old onze lieve vrouw church. I understood a little, but I got so much.  Isn’ it one of the blessing? Here is one of the bible reading for today:

“Zalig zijn die hongeren en dorsten naar de gerechtheid, want zij zullen verzadigd worden (Mat 5:6)”

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (Matt 5:6)”

So, although the doubt and the feeling of uncertainty may come again letter, at least today I got a great gift: I have the opportunity counting the blessing

November, 2008, the leaves start falling in maastricht

Seorang kakek baru saja pergi, namanya dr. AAM Djelantik. Aku mengenalnya lewat sebuah buku, sepintas tatap muka, sepucuk surat, dan cerita dari begitu banyak orang. Aku mengaguminya. Dr. Djelantik adalah seorang dokter - guru - seniman - dan pemimpin sejati. Lahir sebagai seorang pangeran, sekolah kedokteran di Belanda, berdinas di Maluku dan Bolaangmongondow, mendirikan FK Udayana, dan jadi konsultan malaria untuk WHO.

Kalau beliau punya friendster, aku akan menulis sebuah testimoni yang panjaaaaaaaang. Tetapi itu mungkin tidak perlu, karena saksi-saksi hidup beliau bertaburan di manapun beliau pernah berada.
Bayangkan, ketika aku PTT di Bolmong, aku terheran-heran karena ada orang Mongondow bernama Djelantik. Wah….wah…wah….itu pasti salah satu fans Eyang Dokterku. Yang lebih ajaib lagi, di Bolmong ada desa Bali. Satu galungan aku rayakan di sana bersama masyarakat Bali "beneran". Itu juga hasil karya dr. Djelantik, yang mengelola pengungsian masyarakat Bali akibat meletusnya Gunung Agung.
Masih ada saksi-saksi hidup yang lain yang bercerita tentang kisah legendaris seorang dr. Djelantik.  Maklum, beliau termasuk dokter pertama yang merambah hutan Bolaangmongondow. Dokter-dokter muda kayak aku mah udah enak banget, ke puskesmas bisa lewat jalan aspal .

Cerita hidup lainnya lebih keren lagi. Cintanya di dunia seni, dedikasinya di pendidikan kedokteran, sepak terjangnya di dunia kesehatan Indonesia, wah….aku nggak bisa cerita di blog ini. Baca aja biografinya deh, atau cari profilnya yang pernah dimuat di Kompas.

Yang seru lagi, aku beruntung bisa bertemu beliau pada saat aku main ke Bali, seusai PTT. Saat itu aku dapat pertanyaan, kenapa namaku Astrid. Asal tahu saja, istri beliau bernama Astri, seorang perempuan Belanda. Keren kan….si pangeran Bali ini menjalani pernikahan intercultural. Anak dan cucunya cakep cakep banget lho……

Selamat jalan dr. Djelantik, terima kasih karena aku boleh mengenalmu. Yang pingin kenal lebih banyak, baca saja deh biografinya. Boleh pinjam punya saya lho….

Minggu lalu kita namai minggu budaya. Sabtu malam kita nonton Jamila dan Sang Presiden, sebuah teater yang tata lampu dan temanya keren habis. Setelah itu lanjut nonton Wayan Balawan. Jujur saja, Boy yang nonton, aku ngegame he he he…. Minggu sore aku nonton mixed up concert bareng Theresia dan Sr. Yo, tanpa Boy. Aku kagum banget lihat anak imut-imut udah canggih main piano. Selasa malam kita nonton konser lagi, kali ini pianisnya Christian Kuyvenhoven, dari Belanda. Sabtu ini kita ngobrol di Cafe Bean tentang keinginan bikin cafe yang digabung dengan library plus tempat berinternet. Kayak Public Library-nya Maastricht gitu…..(buat yang pernah ke sana). Nah, lengkap deh minggu budaya kami. Lumayan buat ngilangin suntuk rutinitas harian dan memberi inspirasi yang menyegarkan!

I believe in Easter blessing.

Last year I found myself in the middle of a mass in an old churh Onze Lieve Vrouw Maastricht, listening to some answers from my Heavenly Father. Some questions were circling, crossing, running, around my daily life. Some of the answers were provided in the Easter time. What a blessing!

Amazingly, I’ve experienced the same thing this year. Coming home from the Netherlands, I have struggled "against" myself for almost six months. Questions….questions…questions….I found some of the answers spreading through the Fasting Month, and things are getting brighter and brighter in the Easter week.

And…today is still the Good Friday. Easter time is still on the way!

Anyway, Easter is a "cross"celebration. Every answer God has provided to me has its own cross. However, if we think that a cross is also a blessing, why should we complain?

Happy Easter 2006!

Finally, I have to say goodbye to my lovely purpie

If you think you have ever been a part of our history, I’m sure you know how I feel

We’ve been nowhere, but for me, nowhere is just everywhere

Take good care, Purpie, as you did to me with your silent love

March 17, 2006