Owner: Finally Woken URL:http://anitacarmencita.blogspot.com Join Date: Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:25:46 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: A look into Scotland from a stranger's eyes. An Indonesian stranded in Aberdeen and has to deal with Scottish people, accent, weather (most of the time), food, and football. Then she looks at Indonesia from 12,000 km away. It's a culture shock! Site statistics:Click here
Shortbread, Oatcake, and Rowie 2008-03-05 19:08:21 Shortbread is a Scottish-origin biscuit which is made from white sugar, a lot of butter, and plain white flour. These sweet cookies are usually served with tea (hot tea, I may have to add, since for Asians tea sometimes is served cold) in the afternoon, or for a snack.Due to its popular demand, shortbread is also made in other countries like Denmark and Sweden, but of course the Scottish version is the most popular one.Walkers Shortbread Ltd is Scotland's largest shortbread exporter, and thank to them, you could find these cookies in Jakarta, at least I've seen them displayed in Sogo supermarket. Dean's is also another nice brand. But of course the best shortbread I've ever tasted would be Stuart's grandma's homemade ones!Oatcakes are made almost entirely of oats and make the perfect accom Read more:Shortbread
The Fake Trade 2008-03-05 05:16:53 The Fake Trade
, a documentary by Channel 4, written and directed by Nick Hornby (yes, the author of Fever Pitch, About a Boy, and High Fidelity), was aired on Monday night, 3 March 2008. It took us to see the inside of the counterfeit industry.The documentary opened with BASCAP arranging the biggest anti-counterfeit conference, and it showed some seized counterfeit products like tea (found in Sweden, sent from US through Korea, made in China - or something like that, it's like a tangled web when the guy tried to describe the supply chain), fake mobile phone (real case, fake components, fake invoice), counterfeit German cigarettes, and fake Durex condoms (this is very frightening as Africa was the end point of sale. Imagine if the condom has tiny hole, and is used by HIV/AIDS patient).But o
What A Difference A Nationality Made? (3) 2008-02-29 03:26:05 There are two occasions which urged me to think seriously about giving up my Indonesian passport and becoming a UK citizen. One of my friends asked if we're interested in going somewhere on Easter break, and she quite fancied Switzerland and Austria. While another one immediately said yes, I had to tell her that it's not that easy for Indonesian. We can't just hope in the plane and fly to European countries. The other occasion was when Joan and I were talking about an impulse of spending the weekend, say, somewhere in Portugal, or Italy. I told her, that of course, for Indonesian, we have to plan in at least a month in advance. At least.Being Indonesian, we are only allowed to set our foot into 11 countries without visas. For other countries, we have to embark on a long journey of collect Read more:Nationality
Animal Cruelty on Lobster 2008-02-29 01:46:46 We went to The Prime Cuts last night with another couple, and the restaurant specialties are steak and lobster. Nearby the maître d' stand there was a big tank parading huge, healthy lobsters (thank God they did not show live cows too). I asked one of the staffs when we were collecting our coats back, if the lobster are for a show or they actually use (cook) them. She said that they do use the lobster in the tank if someone orders it. But the patrons are not allowed to pick the lobster by themselves.Why?Because it's considered as an animal cruelty.So you can order the lobster, but you can't point one of the inhabitants in the tank and tell the chef that you specifically want that lobster on the left corner because it looks fresher and bigger than the others!This triggered my curiosity so Read more:Animal
, Cruelty
, Lobster
Irn Bru 2008-02-25 09:33:54 Scottish people are very proud of everything they have, so imagine when I tell them that Irn Bru tastes like Fanta Orange to me!Irn Bru (pronounced iron brew) is carbonated soda drink, made by A.G. Barr plc, a soft drink manufacturer from Glasgow.clipped from en.wikipedia.orgIrn-Bru is famous for its eccentric bright orange colour (something it shares only with the glucose drink Lucozade). The formula for Irn-Bru is a closely guarded trade secret, known only by two of Barr's board members, with a written copy held in a Swiss bank-vault.[1] As of 1999 it contained 0.002% of ammonium ferric citrate, sugar, 32 flavouring agents (including caffeinequinine) and colouring (E110, E124). It is advertised as having a slight citrus flavour, but many have differing opinions of the exact taste of Irn-
What A Difference A G'Day Makes 2008-02-25 09:27:13 The Sunday Times Magazine yesterday featured an article about more and more Britons are emigrating to Australia. I have found several interesting facts that I will share with you.Australia now becomes the most popular destination for British emigrant, and British people now make up almost a quarter of foreigners applying for Australian citizenship. ButNot so long ago the British and Irish were forced or bribed to go there. From the day the first white settlers landed in what became Sydney in 1788m through to the early 19th century, Australia was a huge prison, the bloody and terrible terminus for thousands of British and Irish convicts, most transported for petty crimes, such as theft and prostitution.The former prime minister, John Howard, when campaigning for the second time, was hit by
Facebook Can Ruin Your Life 2008-02-23 05:38:08 Isn't it funny that we live behind closed doors but our private lives are wide open to the entire world? We cautiously block the window with thick curtains so people wouldn't see what we are doing. We lock the door so no one could enter without permission. But then we sit comfortably on the settee and pouring ourselves and everything we have got out. Our next door neighbor wouldn't know that I was away for 2 months, back to Indonesia and Vietnam. But the rest of the world can find out easily.But we are not aware that information we share can be used against us. clipped from www.independent.co.ukFacebook
can ruin your life. And so can MySpace, Bebo...People will post just about anything on social networking sites. And the information can be used against them. David Randall and Victoria Rich
You Know You're in The UK When... 2008-02-18 01:59:47 I was ordering a new wardrobe at John Lewis. It's sort of custom made; we could choose size, colour, model, and additional bits according to the given catalog. After settling all the major parts, like size and colour, I began adding the elements like lights, drawers, and tie hangers. The cheery shop assistant happily took notes and presented the price for each item.Up to the point where I told the her that I wanted to add the pants hanger. She looked at be, bewildered."Pants hanger?""Yes, please.""I don't think we have it.""Oh yes you do." I opened up the catalog and showed it to her. "Here. Pants hanger, for 5 pants.""OH!" she chuckled. "You mean trousers hanger!"This time it was my turn to look at her, "Yes, trousers hanger. What's the difference?""I thought when you said pants, you mean
Dying to Take The Call? 2008-02-18 01:09:17 In Indonesia, we drive cars, motorcycles or vehicles as we please. The police are more interested in keeping everybody driving straight and God forbid if you cross the straight white line (although it's ok to park underneath the sign 'no parking'!). There is no awareness about road safety whatsoever.I mentioned very briefly about drink and driving, but there is more important issue that almost car drivers do in Indonesia: taking calls while driving, and worse, sending and receiving text messages when they are behind the steering wheel.Since 1st February the UK Department of Transport launches a new campaign about the danger of receiving or taking calls when driving.Quoted from The Road Safety Website:It is hard to do two things at once and research has shown that if you are using a mobile Read more:Dying
Celebrating Valentine's Day... At The Football Stadium 2008-02-14 13:26:13 When the chairman of the West Sumatra branch of the Indonesian Clerics’ Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia, MUI), Buya Mas’oed Abidin, urged people to stop the Valentine
's Day celebration and accused it as a part of capitalist-Jewish conspiracy (see Indonesia Matter's Jewish Conspiracy), 12,000 km away from my home country I get to see how Aberdonian people celebrate it: by having one of the most important football matches in Aberdeen football history, Aberdeen vs. Bayern Munich. Around the city there were several guys walking fast with flower bouquets in their hands, mainly red roses. Clinton Cards, Thorntons, and Ann Summers were swamped with people who were buying last minute's cards, chocolates, and lingeries. But since 3.00 PM they were outnumbered by guys with red scarves. No, the Read more:Football
, Stadium
Hang out with Fellow Indonesians 2008-02-11 04:13:37 Why do we tend to hang out with other Indonesians
, and in most of the cases, with only Indonesians, while we're abroad?I didn't spend a long time overseas. I was only in Sydney for 2 years doing my master's degree and grabbing some work experience before heading back to Indonesia. But those 2 years, combined with what I have seen here in Scotland makes me wonder.When I was in Sydney, it was not unusual to see our assignment groups consist of only Indonesians. I remember clearly that I was one of the few - if not the only one - who was in a group which had no other Indonesian fellow students in it. My group consisted of me, an Australian-Taiwanese (who spoke Australian-English with a heavy Chinese accent) and a French. On some assignments which requested more than 3 persons, we had one add
Deep Fried Mars Bar 2008-02-09 09:09:39 Yes, people. Scottish food are not particularly, ideally, healthy. I have mentioned about sticky toffee pudding (STP) in my previous post, a delicious desert which consists of moist sponge cake, dates, and toffee sauce, usually served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.Another Scottish desert, deep fried mars bar, is also delicious and super unhealthy. I briefly mentioned it in my previous post, Things That We Thought Are Normal, but I think this particular dish deserves its own review.clipped from en.wikipedia.orgA deep-fried Mars Bar is an ordinary Mars Bar fried in a type of batter used in the British Islesblack and white pudding, sausage, and often haggis. The Mars Bar is typically chilled before use to prevent it from melting into the frying fat, though a cold Mars Bar can fractu Read more:Fried
Sticky Toffee Pudding 2008-02-09 07:59:58 My friend Nirina just tasted her first sticky toffee pudding (STP) today. She has been here for quite sometimes, but has not been properly introduced to the Scottish deserts.No, wait.Just like Malaysia and Indonesia, Scotland and England have never ending debates about everything too. And sticky toffee pudding, a moist sponge cake made with dates and covered with toffee or caramel sauce, is one of the things that both sides claim as theirs.clipped from en.wikipedia.orgOriginsThe dessert's origins are considered a "mystery" according to the gastronomic journal, Saveur; however, the dominant story is that Francis Coulson developed and served this dessert at his Sharrow Bay Country House Hotelin the Lake District in 1960.Coulson's former protégé and chef, Juan Martin, has said that accordin Read more:Toffee
, Pudding
Bizarre World 2008-02-06 13:51:32 We live in a bizarre world. Forget threesome, forget BDSM, forget orgy, sex toys, or even sex with ladyboy. Nothing compares to these two horny guys when it comes to sex. Even pavement and bicycle can be objects of desire.clipped from news.bbc.co.ukMan simulated sex act on pavement A teenager carried out a sex act and then simulated sex on a pavement after drinking a half bottle of vodka while on medication, a court has heard.Steven Marshall, 18, of Woodstock Avenue, Galashiels, admitted the offence in his home street on 17 June.Selkirk Sheriff Court heard he got into a press-up position on the pavement and started simulating sexual intercourse.Sentence was deferred on Marshall, who takes medication for arthritis. He was put on the sex offenders register.The court heard that on the eveni Read more:World
, Bizarre
Burns Supper 2008-02-06 12:56:02 We're back in Aberdeen after 6-weeks holiday in Indonesia and Vietnam. The prospect of going back to cold, gray, wet weather wasn't really appealing; especially when we were transiting in Amsterdam and saw outside the window of Schiphol Airport. But surprise, surprise, last weekend wasn't actually that bad. The sun was shining, the sky was clear and blue, except there were no birds were chirping (they must have migrated to warmer lands), and there are no leaves left on trees. And it's very cold.But surely the cold weather doesn't stop people from doing stuffs. And here comes BurnsSupper
to look forward to.clipped from en.wikipedia.orgA Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems including "Auld Lang Syne," which is generally su
Céilidh 2008-02-06 12:55:41 I went to my first céilidh (pronounced kay-lee) in Aberdeen last December at The Marcliffe Hotel (which, to me personally, was a disaster, since I wore a long ball gown that sweeps the floor, very glamorous for waltz but not suitable for Scottish dance which involves lots of bounces and skips and takes so much energy, so instead of focusing on the dance, I was busy trying to keep my gown off of floors so no one incidentally stepped on it), and there is another one coming at the Hilton Treetops Hotel in February. Ms. Young from Outpost Aberdeen sent out an email informing this upcoming event, as quoted:A céilidh (gaelic word) was traditionally a gathering organized in someone's home during the dark winter nights in the Highlands and Islands. Within every community
High Infidelity 2008-02-05 04:50:00 I am sitting comfortably in the living room on this peaceful day, looking out the snow slowly melting, vanishing from the roofs, trees, and roads. I have had just finished a quick online chatting with a dear friend in Indonesia, which leads me to a simple summary: fidelity is almost nonexistent in Jakarta.I have heard so many stories about people I know who are engaged in affairs. I have heard the stories from both sides: from those who should have committed to monogamous relationships but keep playing around, and from those who are officially single but playing around with committed persons. I hear stories about girls being mistresses and guys having one (or more). I hear stories about a guy seeing someone's fiancee, and a girl who occasionally sleeps with a married man. I hear stories ab
Let It Snow 2008-02-05 04:49:37 It's been a long time since I bitched about Scottish weather. Not because I've had settled here nicely and developed thick skin to bear the cold. Not because I have had run away, back to sunny Indonesia, for almost 2 months so I missed the most miserable weather. But seriously, because since I've got back here in Aberdeen, the weather is nice.Although I still make fashion blunder now and then (the last time was when I thought the weather was warm enough and I still had not gloves, and suddenly it became so windy my fingers were frozen instantly), most of the time the temperature is mild enough I didn't need to wear layers of clothes. There were several occasions that I actually felt warm (!) and had to switch the heater off, and open the windows up.But my luck is running out, as weather fo
Binge Drinking... In Indonesia? 2008-02-05 04:49:09 Binge drinking is a big problem in the UK. BBC reported thatBritain's binge drinking culture is costing the country £20 billion a year, according to a government report. The study by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit shows 17 million working days are lost to hangovers and drink-related illness each year. The annual cost to employers is estimated to be £6.4 billion while the cost to the NHS is in the region of £1.7bn. Billions more are spent clearing up alcohol-related crime and social problems.In addition, alcohol-related problems are responsible for 22,000 premature deaths each year. What about in Indonesia
?I have tried to find relevant articles regarding this issue but couldn't find any. From the surface binge drinking is not a problem in Indonesia. Maybe because, first, most of Ind Read more:Drinking
Suharto seen from Different Angles of Perspective 2008-02-01 12:37:36 Being 12,000 km away from Indonesia, I received the news of Suharto
's at least 8 hours later. Yesterday, as Stuart directly went to sports channel, I went blogwalking and found out that the former Indonesian president died. I immediately sent texts to several friends asking how the situation in Indonesia after the news is spread out. I was thinking it would have created chaos, that people would have started demanding justice, to bring Suharto's children to trial. But no, I've heard my beloved country is officially in a state of mourning for 7 days.Having read John Orford's question whether Indonesians give respect too easily, I continued my blogwalking, and I've found so many (Indonesian) bloggers post about Suharto. I was amazed (and confused?) to read that most of them forgive Suharto an Read more:Angles
, Perspective
The Singing President 2008-02-01 03:26:26 Simon P., a.k.a Metromad, who usually appears in your Sunday's Jakarta Post, is a proof of life that you should never make a big decision when you're still under Bintang Beer influence. Under a mysterious spell, he went to the music shop, saw the poster of our president's album, Rinduku Padamu (My Longing For You), and decided to purchase it. My my. He was surprised to find out that the CD copies of the rising star has all sold out, so he had to buy the old-fashioned casette copy (he should try The President
ial Palace, since they sell souvenirs like black t-shirt with the presidential logo, they might have SBY's CD copies there). Simon P. clearly falls in love with the album cover, but not with the songs.clipped from metromad.blogspot.comWhich brings us neatly onto SBY's magnum opus. Ou Read more:Singing
Indonesian Expatriates Forum: Progress Updates 2008-01-26 13:12:08 I'm starting to get some more detailed ideas about the IndonesianExpatriatesForum
that I initiated a week a go. Please take a look, and if you have any suggestion, don't hesitate to let me know, whether through this blog or to my email (finallywoken.blog@gmail.com).As an amateur in the virtual world, I dream big, so big that some of my friends think that it's impossible to do. A single person, initiates a forum to connect all Indonesians around the world? Am I mental?But actually my idea and dream is very simple, and it only takes a willingness to get there. There is no money involved, there is no deadline or time line that I have to obey, there is no failure possibility, there is no feasible risk at stake, so why can't we do it? Look at Expatwomen website, it is initiated by two women.
Bloody Eejit 2008-03-15 09:38:10 My friend Anja has just arrived from Holland a couple of months a go. She learns that even though she speaks impeccable English, she still can't understand what Scottish people say half of the time. Well I couldn't blame her, I've been here for over 8 months and I still don't get it sometimes. And even though I've known Stuart for several years, there are times I have to ask him to repeat what he's saying, especially when the weather gets too cold and it freezes the tiny cells in my brain. One time some guy was trying to sell something over the phone and I had to stop him by saying I'm not Scottish and his accent was too strong and I had no idea what he's saying. He took it hard and put the phone down without saying anything more.Well I found few Scottish dialects as below. Let's see if I
When Indonesian Goes Shopping 2008-03-16 15:45:25 I have landed on a blog written by an Malaysian expat who now lives in Jakarta. Some of her articles tickled me and I just realized that is how people see us, Indonesian
s. One that makes me smile is to read her amazement to see the ladies who go to shopping malls with big hair and dangerously high heels, and they look like they are ready to go to a gala dinner rather than buying detergent or having coffee with friends.I couldn't agree more. God forbid if Indonesian matrons turn up with unwashed hair, or a pair of flip-flops - unless they are a bejeweled pair - or without make-up, even on weekends or at the shop's closing time. It's better if they are accessorized with designer handbags and shoes, at least one nanny for each kid (one to push the trolley, one to to carry all the shopping ba Read more:Shopping
Caucasian vs. Indonesian Men 2008-03-20 09:51:27 I read Unspun's clipped article, originally from BaliBlog, regarding what (tourist? foreigners? cheap?) men perceive about Javanese girls. At first I didn't jump into the discussion, since what Baliblog described about Javanese women was beyond degrading and not worthy to entitle my opinions.But then the discussion was turned into how women (in general, not only Javanese) are treated by men in Indonesia. Two of the participants, Oigal and Rob, pointed out that their wives sometimes are verbally abused by local men. Mostly because those women are seen with bule (Caucasian) men, and therefore are labeled as whores.clipped from theunspunblog.com12 OigalSo what are the Indonesian
men getting so upset about ? It’s exactly the way a significant portion of men (Majority?) treat women in Indone
American I-Dull 2008-03-19 06:55:01 I am embarrassingly watching American
Idol now. I have never been a fan, and only saw the show on and off, if it happens to be on telly, but since a few weeks a go I decided to tape it so I wouldn't miss it (people in Indonesia would not be familiar with Sky TV; but in short, I could program the telly to record the show or the series, and I could pause the live show if I need a toilet break, it's like Tivo in the US). I don't really follow the whole show history. I only know Kelly Clarkson and Daughtry. I certainly don't remember who won the contest last year, let alone 2 years a go. I rarely watch the show up until the Top 12 anyway.And then yesterday when I was watching the show, I got so annoyed with Ryan Seacrest, the host. Few years a go I thought he was ok, very confident and command
Caucasian vs. Indonesian Men (2) 2008-03-22 12:56:08 My previous post sparked lots of heavy comments. First came Oigal, who said I was nasty and too personal. He asked me to remove my reference regarding his family from my blog.I did reply to his comment, saying that I was in rush to go to funeral (and it was Good Friday for goodness sake), I will come back with a proper response after I have time reading all the comments from him and Rob at Unspun, and after reading Rob and his posts altogether. They are lots of them, and I should take time to read them all, otherwise I would be accused to having quoted them wrongly, again. After lots of engagements since yesterday, I came back home and found out Unspun has clipped my last posting, and yes, Oigal and Rob have posted new articles respectively. Without giving me a chance to rephrase my previo Read more:Indonesian
Tunnock's Teacake and Tablet 2008-03-28 16:48:07 I blame Scotland for my weight gain. This country seems to have endless collection of sweets and savouries, and none of them are healthy! It seems that all sin ingredients are mixed together to create devilish, high calorie deserts. I thought STP and deep fried Mars bar are the only bad sweets, but everyday I find new things. I met my first Tunnock's Teacake on last Good Friday. Without a shame, I scoffed down 3 pieces in front of everyone. The teacake, which is made by the company which has been around since 1890 (!), consists of a small round shortbread biscuit covered with a half-dome of a whipped egg white concoction similar to marshmallow. This is then encased in a thin layer of milk or plain chocolate and wrapped in a distinctive red and silver foil paper for the more popular milk Read more:Tablet
Table Manners - Eating Without Prejudice (?) 2008-03-28 15:45:56 In Indonesia, when we go to restaurants, there are no other ways to grab waiter's attention but calling {this can go from mbak (sister) or ibu (ma'am), to unnecessary flirtatious remarks like sayang (darling) or cantik (gorgeous)}, waving (hand or napkin), or - these are extremely rude manners - whistling, clapping and flicking your fingers.I am told that in UK you should not do anything but engaging eye contacts (and souls, perhaps), until they realize that your plate is empty and you are ready for your second course. Rather than eye movements, any gestures will be considered rude. No calling "xcuse me!", no frantic waving, and don't you dare to whistle, clap or flick your fingers if you want to be ignored for the rest of the night, or worse, have your soup tasted like feet because proba Read more:Manners
, Table
, Prejudice
The Mighty Boosh 2008-03-31 16:36:55 Billy came and stayed with us on Friday night a few weeks a go. He brought two rucksacks, one contained his laptop, and the other contained his stuffs for the night. Inside his laptop, he had a DVD of The Mighty
Boosh. On Saturday morning he made us sit down and watch the show. I mean shows, plural, since one DVD contains at least 10 episodes. After a moment that felt like eternity, I was practically and literally hypnotized. The Mighty Boosh might be the weirdest TV series. Ever. It's not funny ha-ha. It's funny but something stops me from laughing. It makes me uneasy, like rather than laughing at them, it's the other way around happening. It's a surreal dark comedy that plays around with what you might have dreamed in your sleep. The characters are equally bizarre. If you see the picture
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