Junot Diaz, 2007 | 352 halaman

Pacar saya pernah bertanya, mengapa saya suka novel-novel dengan karakter utama yang ‘misfit‘*. Orang-orang yang kesepian, aneh, tidak dimengerti, terasing, dan seakan-akan nggak punya tempat yang pas di dunia. Saya juga nggak tahu mengapa persisnya, tapi saya merasa terhubung dengan karakter-karakter seperti ini. I know what they’ve been through because I’ve been there myself. Kira-kira begitu. Bahkan sampai sekarang, walau hanya dalam beberapa hal tertentu, saya masih merasa seperti itu.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao berkisah tentang Oscar, pemuda asal Dominika yang tinggal di Amerika. Berkebalikan dengan imaji lelaki-lelaki Dominika yang keren dan jago menaklukkan perempuan, Oscar justru pemuda yang bermasalah dengan obesitas, kecanduan sci-fi dan cerita-cerita soal kiamat, percaya bahwa dirinya terkutuk (fuku) dan selalu patah hati karena menyimpan perasaan pada perempuan-perempuan yang tak meliriknya. Oscar hanya bisa membayangkan dirinya menjelma menjadi pahlawan dan menyelamatkan perempuan yang ditaksirnya menjelang kiamat dengan menulis kisah-kisah semacam ini di dalam kamarnya.

Potret sosial akan kehidupan masyarakat Dominika dan dinamika keluarga yang keras, kehidupan politik di bawah diktator keji yang berkuasa saat itu (Trujillo), pengaruhnya terhadap kehidupan keluarga Oscar, serta perjalanan Oscar untuk menemukan cinta jalin-menjalin dengan narasi satir yang lugas, nakal, sekaligus pahit.

Menutup buku ini dengan kesedihan yang merambat pelan-pelan, terlintas dalam benak saya kutipan ini:

And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.

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*) a person whose behavior or attitude sets them apart from others in an uncomfortably conspicuous way

hanny
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Finally, I’m back to the kitchen, cooking and baking. It started with a year-end HongKong-style fried rice with scrambled egg and meatball, cooked in chicken stock, vanilla cake with chocolate chips and poppy seed, served with fresh milk: as well as espresso cake with chocolate and liqueur sauce: So, there went my New Year’s holiday…

hanny
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It’s going to be a silent beginning.

Woke up early in the morning to bake some cakes, having fun with mixers, flours, measurement spoons and old recipe books. And then stayed lazily in bed throughout the afternoon with Murakami and Junot Diaz, my fingers moved frantically over the keypad, enthusiastically channeling what’s going on to 1,300 km away. The distant sound of the telly wiped over me like a sweet melancholia. It was as if I got transported to certain scenes of My Blueberry Nights and Two Lovers. The alarm clock,  floral bed-cover set, still-empty photo frames I’m about to keep some of my shots in… and it crossed my mind: that wherever I’ll be this year, I just hope you’ll be there with me.

———————–

*) Happy New Year 2011! Semoga tahun ini kita bisa menjadikan diri kita semakin bermanfaat bagi orang-orang di sekitar kita; and may this year be a meaningful & prosperous one for all of you 🙂

hanny
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Mungkin ada lebih dari 60 akhir dalam sehari, atau bahkan lebih. Pada helaan napas (00′:01″), sebaris kicauan yang berbisik di lini masa (00′:03″), satu putaran Owl City dalam Vanilla Twilight (03′:52″), secangkir kopi yang menyisakan ampas di dasar gelas (10′:00″), kue-kue yang mengembang dalam panggangan (45′), jam kerja (9), satu hari ketika langit berada dalam peralihan gelap-terang (24).

Dan begitulah, pada dasarnya kita telah terbiasa pada yang berakhir. Yang habis. Pada perpisahan. Pada hal-hal yang tertinggal. Yang terlupakan. Dan kita menyimpan ingatan: akan hal-hal yang sungguh-sungguh pernah terjadi, dan juga kenangan: residu ingatan yang sudah didaur ulang; yang menyimpan memori akan hal-hal yang pernah terjadi sebagaimana kita ingin mengingatnya.

Pada kesekian akhir itu, aku mengingatnya seperti perpisahan kita yang berkali-kali di bandara-bandara yang jauh. Aku hanya akan bersabar hingga aku melihatmu lagi. Karena bahkan sebuah perpisahan pun memiliki akhir.

hanny
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“I’ve learned that it’s best not to give a damn to those who are trying to bring you down. Came to think about it, people are just… people. They, themselves, might have undergone difficult times. Their lives could be tougher than yours. Most of the times, there’s nothing much you can do about it. Just… be happy. Be kind. Stay humble. Make sure that you’re walking toward the bright side: the one where sunflowers are blooming under a bright blue sky; the place where people are smiling and willing to wipe out each others’ tears. And you’ll be doing just fine, as always. Because life is fair—even in ways we can’t comprehend.”

—- a friend.

I’ve Learned
by Omer B. Washington

I’ve learned that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.
I’ve learned that no matter how much I care,
some people just don’t care back.
I’ve learned that it takes years to build up trust
and only seconds to destroy it.
I’ve learned that it’s not what you have in your life
but who you have in your life that counts.
I’ve learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t compare yourself
to the best others can do,
but to the best you can do.
I’ve learned that it’s not what happens to people,
It’s what they do about it.
I’ve learned that no matter how thin you slide it,
there are always two sides.
I’ve learned that you should always have loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you’ll see them.
I’ve learned that you can keep going
long after you think you can’t.

I’ve learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done
When it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.
I’ve learned that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don’t know how to show it.
I’ve learned that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.
I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.
I’ve learned that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to
doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned that no matter how good a friend is,
they’re going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.
I’ve learned that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I’ve learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken,
the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.
I’ve learned that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.
And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned that sometimes you have to put the individual
ahead of their actions.
I’ve learned that two people can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.
I’ve learned that no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves go farther in life.
I’ve learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours
by people who don’t even know you.
I’ve learned that even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned that writing,
as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.
I’ve learned that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.
I’ve learned that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice
and not hurting people’s feelings and standing up for what you believe.
I’ve learned to love
and be loved.
I’ve learned…

hanny
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Dari pengamatan saya, sebenarnya kuliner HongKong bisa dibagi menjadi 4; dan semuanya wajib dicicipi:

1.) Dimsum

2.) Soupy food (termasuk wonton soup dan noodle soup)

3.) Congee–alias bubur Kanton yang terkenal gurih itu

4.) Nasi–baik nasi bebek panggang, nasi ayam hainan, maupun nasi goreng Kanton


Salah satu hal yang menarik: makanan paling lezat di HongKong bisa ditemukan di restoran/kedai paling kecil, gang paling sempit, atau ‘warung kaki lima’ di pinggiran jalan yang paling ramai dilalui orang. Satu hal lagi yang bisa menjadi indikasi adalah ramainya warga lokal yang tengah bersantap di kedai tersebut, terutama orang-orang tua 🙂

Ada tantangan tersendiri ketika mencoba menikmati santapan di restoran ‘lokal’ macam ini: pelayan yang tak bisa berbahasa Inggris dan ketiadaan menu berbahasa Inggris. Alhasil, pelayan akan berbicara dengan bahasa Kanton, dan Anda harus berbicara dengan bahasa… isyarat. Jadi, Anda pun harus siap mental menghadapi ibu-ibu tua pendorong gerobak dimsum yang akan memberikan tatapan semacam ini: (- -‘) atau -_______- ketika Anda terbengong-bengong lama sebelum memilih dimsum.

Beberapa kebiasaan makan di restoran/kedai kecil seputaran HongKong, di antaranya:

  1. Walau mejanya adalah meja bulat dengan 4-6 kursi per mejanya, semua orang bisa duduk di kursi yang kosong. Jadi, Anda bisa saja makan satu meja dengan orang yang sama sekali asing
  2. Terkadang disediakan juga air panas untuk ‘merebus’ sumpit dan sendok yang akan digunakan untuk makan
  3. Ketika sedang makan, suara menyeruput diperbolehkan, tandanya makanannya enak 🙂
  4. Jangan kaget juga, ketika sedang makan dan misalnya hendak membuang tulang ayam di mulut, orang lokal akan langsung meludahkannya pelan-pelan ke atas meja makan. Jadi di atas meja makan, di sebelah mangkuk, Anda akan melihat tumpukan tulang ayam atau tulang bebek 😀

Untuk informasi lengkap mengenai restoran/kedai kecil yang menyajikan makanan lezat di HongKong, silakan klik di sini 🙂

hanny
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Hanny illustrator
Hi. I'm HANNY
I am an Indonesian writer/artist/illustrator and stationery web shop owner (Cafe Analog) based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I love facilitating writing/creative workshops and retreats, especially when they are tied to self-exploration and self-expression. In Indonesian, 'beradadisini' means being here. So, here I am, documenting life—one word at a time.

hanny

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