Oceans are teeming with biodiversity, like these ascidians (Class Ascidiacea) which are filter feeders.
SciArt by Ernst Haeckel for his Kunstformen der Natur (1904). View more in the Biodiversity Heritage Library (@biodivlibrary) with thanks to the University Library of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign for digitizing.
It's time to kill the idea that we can only grow and heal when we're uncomfortable. You heal every time you have a good conversation with someone. You heal every time you laugh. You heal every time something makes you smile genuinely. You heal every time you have fun creating something - anything. You heal every time you get so absorbed in something fun that you forget your struggles for a while. There is, in fact, lots of healing and growth to be found INSIDE your comfort zone.
I've never thought I could be a mom until I have my son, Edward. To be honest, my life was kinda crazy in late 2020 and early 2021 due to the covid 19 and preparing my relocation. Worked too hard and partied even harder.
Then I noticed there was a change in my body, but I shaked it off. After 4 years of marriage and embarking on my late 30s, pregnancy was the least thing I expected. Not because I don't want to be a mom, but yeah, I felt like everything has come into places and the coming of a baby will shift the balance.
But hey, I was sort of entering the denial phase actually.
Two strips came out and voila, the Rollercoaster life of pregnancy started!
I can't be thankful enough for your arrival to the world, sonshine😍
Be kind, be good to people and stay humble, Edward!
Look, in my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person is still going to think the sun shines out your ass. That’s the kind of person that’s worth sticking with.” — Juno
Central power corrupts those who wield it, becoming a conservative, repressive force. Those who believe in freedom and democracy must forever hold it in check. Hence, Rudyard Kipling’s ringing words in saluting the earliest such curb, Magna Carta [Jenkins, 2012]
“That is to say, that while the state appeared to be doling out freedoms, it was simultaneously taking away many more by accumulating surveillance and policing powers we usually associate with authoritarian regimes.”
It appears that boredom lies behind the most creative ideas. That's why quarantine has produced some of the most entertaining activities. One of them is the Getty Museum challenge, that so many of you have already seen in our previous article here.
I cannot describe the shift in the spectrum of emotions I felt the day the consulate took me in. I went from the most anxious state I have e
Working in the consular section at our mission in one of the tourist destination cities and the busiest international ports in the world has been a whole ride of experience.
Since the dawn of my career as a diplomat, I know that I have signed up to work in any field and indeed, it is an honor to serve the Indonesian citizens overseas. Listening to their stories, complaints, and problems, have enriched my soul inside and out. All I can offer to their situations is assistance and help.
The pandemic has escalated the level of distress of many people overseas, especially when the distance becomes really matter as the lockdown started at level 5 and national emergency status has blocked face-to-face interaction which is central of our existence as human being. On the other hand, we can't deny that our emotional stability heavily relies on how we develop good rapport with our surroundings. That said, you will feel secured and trust someone by sensing them. I can throw a lot more of psychology 101 about it, but I simply won't bore you with that.
That's where I started my journey in the consular affairs. I meet the Indonesians to understand their positions from their points of view. I would, instead, consider myself as their friend and companion.
Being close with them whom I serve is my way to build the trust and open communication channel so that we can work together. Inda is no exception.
She reached out for our office in Cape Town upon her arrival here. I was not aware where she from and what was her purpose back then. She only asked me about how SA manages the spread of COVID19 and given that she was from UK - a red zone- and had no symptoms, I suggested her to wait and see for a few more days and consulted to any medical practicioner later on only if the symptoms appear. I just checked her whereabouts and whether she planned on self-quarantine or not. That time, I was about to build up database and open up a communication network of stranded Indonesian tourists to keep anyone on the loop.
On 24th of June, she said she was gonna leave the country with Emirates. It turned out that her flight schedule was the same like my mom's. I gleefully said that I can meet her up at the airport and see her off. We finally met up at CTIA.
Little did we know that most of international flights already canceled their schedules a few days before the lockdown began. Emirates was literally the last flight to fly out SA. It got delayed for 5 hours and consequently, my mom and Inda couldn't catch the connecting flight from Dubai to Jakarta. The guys behind check-in counter simply referred us to contact emirates office in a deadpan manner. It was close to 16.30 when the office was nearly closed. I thought I could give a try. It was ultimately futile. I would never forget how they responded irresponsibly: "you're gonna miss the last flight then." I don't think I would need a customer service officer to say that inane fact.
I remembered vividly how airport scene turned like a drama set. Distress, rage, and panic expressions were displayed altogether. It was downright dramageddon. Many people bursted into tears. Most of those people's plans were jeopardized by emirates' so called delayed 'last flight'. Everyone fell into the same predicament.
That time I felt like 'geez, I feel like they feel.' How you might carefully plan to reunite with your beloved, but then missed the last fuckin chance?! An ineffable sensation started creeping in.
I turned to Inda and asked her next plan. She was a brave, fearless, and cool girl. Just like in her story, she pulled off the Cape Town trip by herself. Despite the pandemonium, she pressed on regardless. She ended up looking for miracle and flight ticket to Jakarta throughout that late afternoon.
I left her there at the airport and offered her the help, in case she needed anything. She texted me at 8 pm later that evening. She asked if she could crash at my place for a night. I responded, yeah sure. It was late and cape town is not a safe place for non-inhabitant or tourist. I must say, we feel like living in the hood here. My mind was twisted. I could just pull out my car and picked her up at the airport, but then she said she could just meet me at the consulate's office. That night I didn't even think twice to offer her my place. I said to myself, if she appears to contract covid 19 and I was about to be infected down the road. I couldn't even care less. If I were about to die because of this disease, at least I helped her and did something meaningful for others. I would be happy on my deathbed.
It took me 15 mins to communicate with the Consul General as well as my other colleagues to evacuate Inda to the guesthouse. I can't be thankful enough to have such a supportive work environment during such a circumstance.
The next morning, the consulate's driver and I took Inda to find another flight ticket. Ethiopian. The sales people at Cape Town Airport were working from home and they were out of reach. I called the manager of EA airport office just to find that EA temporarily halted its operation to Indonesia. We rushed to the airport and got no result either. It was frustrating. Still, Inda could put on her best smile.
Outmanouvred by the random flight cancelation, I then consulted my CG. He later asked Inda to stay at the Residence. The rest is history.
We updated her and other stranded Indonesian citizens every other day on the repatriation plan. We also checked their well being. Are they okay? Do they need anything?
Lucky enough, the South African government offered Indonesian government repatriation exchange. She was included on the list and she made it back all the way to Indonesia.
Inda is now back in UK and we are still in contact every now and then. I wish her a success and splendid career anywhere she wants. Thank you for the trust in us and the positivity that you shared.
