ASHINAGA International Summer Camp for Orphans”

              ASHINAGA in Japanese world means long legs, is a Non Profit Organization (NPO) in Japan which founded on 1969. The mission of this NPO is to provide the financial and emotional supports for the orphans or the children with no parents. For financial support, they provided scholarship for many orphans and for emotional supports are organized the camp for the orphans.

Every summer, ASHINAGA holds a summer camp for ASHINAGA college scholars. The overseas children have invited to join since 2000, and it becomes International Summer Camp. The 6^th International Summer Camp (2005) will be very different and special, because for this year, ASHINAGA invites 1000 Japanese orphans and 100 overseas orphans from countries that affected by disaster, war, AIDS or terror. This summer camp is focusing especially on the emotional needs of those orphaned by the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.

              The tsunami orphans (5 countries, 50 participants): Indonesia (26), Sri Lanka (15), Thailand (5), Malaysia (1), and Maldives (3).  Earthquake orphans (7 countries, 27 participants): Colombia (3), Turkey (3), Taiwan (10), El Salvador (2), Algeria (3), Iran (3), and India (3).  War, Terrorism and AIDS orphans (4 countries, 19 participants): New York (4, terrorism), Afghanistan (3, aerial bombing), Iraq (2, aerial bombing, suicide attacks), and Uganda (10, AIDS).

              All of the participants and volunteer will spent their times together in summer camp and express the mutual understanding in emotion and culture. They also will separate to a different groups and home stay in several prefecture of Japan. The other activities of this program are AIDS Conference and International Children Conference. The program will be organized from July 31-Aug 16.

              The participants from Indonesia are 26 children from Aceh province. They are the tsunami orphans. Yayasan Abu Lam U, one Islamic Boarding School Foundation will lead them to Japan. About 8000 children in Aceh lost their parents because of earthquakes and tsunami disaster 26 December 2004. These children now are living with their relatives, Islamic boarding School, Orphanage House, or with new host family. They have to continue their live and have to be strong to face the future. Your love and support are very important for them. So, let’s do something for them. Donate your love and prayers.

Wina

For complete information, please visit the homepage of ASHINAGA*

http://www.ashinaga.org/e/topics1.php?id=9

Kleung

Kleung in Acehnese word means Eagle.

I want to dance alone, but I do not know what I should dance. I want to choreograph a dance, but still now idea.

I took my bicycle and go out, try to find something. But it still not works. 

Finally, I bought a can of hot café latte, park my bike and sit on the grass beside Kamogawa River. People are passing in front of me; an old woman with a small dog, a young guy with a mountain bike, and a man. In other side of the river, a group of school boys are playing yakyu. And not so far from my place, two rabu-rabu teenagers are sitting without words, sharing their loves. I was born to love you just finished and now, I want to break free from Queen from MD touching my ears, but still no idea.

Afternoon gray sky seems with no clouds. Some birds fly and passing. The leaves of Sakura trees are moving with the wind. I can feel the wind touching my skin, too. A lonely afternoon, but I feel full inside. Spending the time alone, but never feeling lonely. There is nothing to worry or to be fear. Just enjoy my time without anybody. I feel like an eagle in the wide sky…

Yatta! I got it! I will be an eagle. I will move like an eagle. It will be a dance about an eagle. So, I stand up quickly, throw away the can to gomi bako and start to move my body.

An eagle always flies alone in the blue sky with two strong wings. Eagle is strong and brave. It is never afraid of anything.

I move my two hands and legs. My wings are ready to fly.

An eagle should face anything alone or loss everything. It should fight to be won. However the condition and situation of environment, eagle must survive. Get it or left it.

I can feel the wind; I can see the sky and everything around me. Just move my body slowly, following the rhythm of my heart. The people are watching at me. I do not care. I just move my wings and fly.

An eagle is free. Free to fly to anyplace, anytime, alone. What an eagle should do is just flying and moves its wings.

I got it! I find the place for coming back. I close my wings and stop moving.

People around me clap their hands. I feel a little shy and send my smiles to them. And then, take my bicycle and go away from that place.

That is the story when I created ‘kleung’ dance.

In the next day, I try to polish my movements with Acehnese dance. Actually, I polished by Gayo dance (an ethnic in central of Aceh) movements. Most are inspired from Tari Guel, a Gayo traditional dance. Because I cannot arrange the music, for kleung dance, I used music of Guel.

My first performance was at Honyarado in Kyoto. Honyarado is a coffee shop with bookshops inside. The environment of this place is unique and interesting. The owner is Fusayoshi Kai, a photographer and seniman. He is my brother’s friend. His coffee shop is full with photographs and artist. Sometimes he invites musician, poets or artist to make a performance at that place. He invited me and my brother to dance at his shop. Only 3 people were watching my dance plus the owner and my brother. The next one was at Kyoto Prefectural International Center, Kyoto station, when I made a cultural presentation about ‘The spirit of the Acehnese dance’.

Then, I received many invitations to dance at many cultural events in Kyoto and Kansai area. I enjoy it. I love to be an eagle in the stage and I want to borrow the philosophy life of eagle to my life. Alone… but fell free, strong, and brave to face the days. Always be strong and never give up for anything. Enjoy anything you do and just follow what you believe.

(Kyoto, July 17, 2005)

Wina SW1

dilemma

Can you hear the song of happiness

Knocking our door

and reaching our breath

Between midnight and morning

And we still ambiguous about the ending

standing closely, but let the wall

bordering everything

release all the dreams

until the day

when the rain flushing all the fires

(kyoto, July 2005)

GION MATSURI(祇園祭り)

: a ritual festival for purification

               More than thousand years ago (year 869), Kyoto was attacked by an epidemic that caused death of many people. To dislodge this epidemic, the emperor ordered his people to plant in imperial palace garden and decorated with 66 hoko . He also ask the priest of Gion Shrine (now knows as Yasaka Shrine) led the people and float procession in the center of Kyoto city; A procession to pray for the repose of souls of the dead from pests or violence. Gion-san or Yasaka Jinja (shrine) at Gion area in the eastern end of Shijo-dori bordering Maruyama Park is one of the most important and popular shrines in Kyoto. It is dedicated to the Shinto deities Susa-no-o (brother of Amaterasu Omikami - and wayward "black sheep" of the mythological progenitors of the Imperial family. Susa-no-o is regarded as the Shinto god of medicine.

The plague was ended, but the procession still continued every year. It is famous as Gion Matsuri (Festival), the festival for purities the environment from the bad things; A Shinto ritual festival for  purification rites to prevent pestilence for the rest of the summer season.

This festival becomes the biggest festival in  Japan and held on July, from 1-29. A long July, many people come to Kyoto for this special event. And you can listen to Gion Matsuri Music and see special decoration everywhere in Kyoto. Hotel and street full with local tourist and foreigners who want to have experience in the old celebration. Every shops and restaurants offered free round paper fans and selling gion matsuri souvenirs, such as: postcard, handkerchief, miniatur of hoko and yama, etc.

The main occasion of this festival (yoiyama) held on July 14-17. Around Shijo-Karasuma, there are big and colorful decorated floats standing everywhere with traditional music background. There are many kiosk and boots of Japanese food, drink, souvenirs and games covering most of the street around the floats. At night, the main streets are closed to cars, bus and bikes. So, people can walk freely. Many people are walking around wearing colorful Yukata (summer Kimono), from the baby until the old ones. Young people come with lover and family bring their children. Street full with people until midnight.  Policemen standby in every corners to help the people to walk smoothly. Also the ambulance and firemen.

                     The climax one is on July 16 night, there are many stage with various traditional performances. If you like photography, you can take many interesting photos. It is the best time to cover the combination of modern and ancient Japanese. Girls with mini yukata with face covering with artificial make-up, gai-jin (foreigner) wearing Japanese clothes and acted like Japanese, children with many kind of toys, colorful food and souvenirs.  Do not forget to bring uchiwa or sensu (a folding fan) with you, because it is really hot. Keep your children and belonging perfectly or you will loss them in the flowing people.

The 32 floats divided in 2 kinds, 23 yama and 9hoko floats. Every floats have meaning and building several day before the parade. The weight of Yama and hoko are 1.5-12 ton, with height from 6-24 meters. On July 17 morning the parade of floats starting. Yamahoko Junko led the parade around downtown.  Each of the large Hoko floats carries musicians and truly looks a couple of centuries out of place as it is pulled through the streets. The Hoko floats are so big that a large team of attendants must pull them. The procession starts at 9.00 in the morning, but you should be there an hour before to get the best place for watching the parade.

So, if you are in Kyoto, do not miss Gion Matsuri!

Related link:

http://users.cihost.com/ata/gionmatsuri.html

http://www.gionmatsuri.jp/manu/manual.html

all the questions charred without answer.

Lumber along the mist

your smile covering the red afternoon

but still cannot touch the rythm of my songs

o, today is yesterday

: a gift that I cannot embrace

Kyoto, 14 July 2005

(in memoriam: Guru dan sahabatku,sang suri “Kakek” R. Soewardi)

published in SERAMBI

INDONESIAnewspaper, 1997

bagaikan matahari senja membenamkan diri di ufuk

kaututup seluruh nyala

perlahan tanpa suara kau masuki keabadian

inilah kerinduan panjangmu

saat kaulafalkan zikir memenuhi nadimu

saat jari-jarimu memainkan tasbih

menyebut keagunganNya

saat doa mengaliri malam-malammu

saat sujud dan raffakur di hadapanNya

telah kautunaikan mimpimu

kembali ke pangkuanNya

sebelum sempat kau ajari aku

tentang ketulusan

tentang pengabdian

tentang ketaatan

akan adakah lagi tangan-tangan lain yang membagikan

setetes air pada mereka yang kehausan

akan adakah cahaya-cahaya lain yang menerangi

mereka yang terkurung dalam gelap

akan adakah lagi mereka yang membukakan mata

bagi mereka yang lelap dalam mimpinya

matahari membakar diri

mengantar kepergianmu

selamat jalan guruku, semoga rateb dan doa-doa

jadi saksi pengabdianmu

jadi cahaya panjang dalam tidur panjangmu

selamat jalan sahabatku, guruku

aku tak punya apa-apa buat melepas kepergianmu

kecuali bait-bait doa yang pernah kauajarkan

semiga Allah menempatkanmu di tempat terbaik

di sisiNya. Amin

(Banda Aceh, 10 Juli 1997)

TANABATA, a milky way’s date

(versi bhs Indonesia di bagian bawah)

Wina SW1

TANABATA matsuri 七夕祭り is a July 7 festival based on a legend story from China. Every year, on July 7 night, Altair star(Kengyuu or Higobashi) and Vega star (Orihime) meet once a year after separated by a milky way. It is also called Star festival. Almost every city in Japan celebrates this day since Heian Period. The most famous Tanabata Matsuri is in Miyagi city in Sendai and in Hiratsuka city in Kanagawa Prefecture.

In Japan, several days before July 7, people preparing a bamboo branches in a vase. The branches decorated with long narrow strips of colored paper and other small ornaments. The colorful paper are containing with poems expressing the wish for fulfillment of romantic aspirations and hopes. They are hanging colorful cards in every branch.  They wrote their wish inside; a wish for their happiness, love, life, and success. They believe, the wish will come true.

           The story of Tanabata in Japanese based on Chinese legend…

           Once upon a time, Tentei, the celestial emperor has 7 daughters. The youngest is Shokujo or Ori Hime. She always spends her time for weaving. One day, she meets a herdsmand, Kengyu or Hikoboshi. They fell in love at the first sight; get married and life in happiness. But after get married; Ori Hime doesn’t weave any more. The emperor doesn’t like it and separated them with a milky way (the river of heaven). He only allows them to meet each other once a year, on July 7. It also with one condition, Ori Hime has to do good weaving. If not, He will send the rain, and both of them cannot meet each other.

           Today, it is rainy day. Maybe, Orihime doesn’t weaving, so Tentei try to discourage this couple date. What’s a pity!

Related link:

http://www014.upp.so-net.ne.jp/daisyjapan/Tanabata.html

http://ura.nokonoko.net/mt/archives/000074.html

http://www.tokyowithkids.com/entertainment/tanabata_myth.html

http://www.rumela.com/events/tanabata_index.htm

TANABATA, KENCAN SETAHUN SEKALI

oleh: Wina SW1

        Hari ini, tanggal 7 Juli, merupakan hari istimewa yang dirayakan di Jepang dan Cina. Mereka percaya, pada hari ini, Orihime, putri dewa langit bertemu dengan kekasihnya Kengyu setelah selama ini dipisahkan selama setahun. 

       Menjelang, 7 Juli, biasanya, dimana-mana di Jepang, di Stasiun, di depan rumah, toko atau kelas, dipasang ranting-ranting bambu yang digantung dengan berbagai hiasan dan kertas kecil beraneka warna. kertas warna warni ini  biasanya dituliskan dengan puisi dan kata-kata yang indah serta permohonan. Kartu permohonan untuk kebahagiaan dan keberhasilan. Mereka percaya, kalau keinginan dan permintaan tersebut ditulis di kertas ini lalu digantung pada dahan-dahan bambu, maka keinginan tersebut akan terkabul.

      Tradisi merayakan Tanabata ini dimulai sejak zaman Heian. Hampir setiap kota di Jepang, punya cara sendiri merayakannya. Perayaan Tanabata yang terkenal ada di kota Hiratsuka (Kanagawa) dan Miyagi (Sendai). Setiap orang menuliskan keinginannya dan duduk memandang ke langit pada malam hari.

      Perayaan ini didasarkan pada cerita legenda yang berasal dari Negeri Cina.

      Pada zaman dahulu, sang dewa langit, mempunyai tujuh orang putri yang cantik. Si Bungsu, bernama Shokujo atau Orihime. Orihime menghabiskan waktunya utk menenun kain-kain yang indah.

      Suatu hari, dia bertemu dengan pengembala tampan yg bernama Kengyu atau Higoboshi, mereka langsung jatuh cinta pada pandangan pertama, menikah dan hidup berbahagia. Setelah menikah, sang putri tidak pernah menenun lagi. Hal ini membuat dewa langit marah dan menghukum mereka berdua. Keduanya dipisahkan oleh sebuah sungai ( a milky way) dan tidak bisa saling bertemu. Mereka hanya boleh bertemu satu malam saja selama satu tahun, yaitu pada 7 Juli. Itupun dengan satu syarat. sang putri harus menghasilkan tenunan yang bagus. Kalau tidak, sang dewa langit akan menurunkan hujan sehingg mereka tidak bisa saling bertemu. kasihan sekali, sudah cuma bisa kencan sekali setahun, belum pasti bisa lagi.

     Hari ini di Jepang, hujan deras. Sang putri tidak menyelesaikan tenunannya dengan baik, mungkin. Jadi malam ini, kencan yang sudah ditunggu selama setahun akan gagal lagi.

Kyoto ‘ July 2005)

Learning from Maria

Yeah, learning from Maria. Maria here, not Maria the holy mother, or Maria the nanny at The sound of music or Maria Mercedes from soap opera. Maria is my little sister. Actually, she is my little cousin. Her father who passed away summer last year, was my father cousin. For Acehnese, everybody is family.

             I do not have many memories about little Maria. She was born when I was a senior high school student. What I still remember is she and her family always comes to my house on Hari Raya (Ied) or other family occasion. They spent lots of time in my grandmother’s room. Our grandma was too old and spent most of her time at bed. I like them, because not like other grandchild who just come for a few minutes and run away. But, at that time, I have not much time to speak with little Maria. I was too busy with my activities. I just talked with her father or her mother. Maybe because she is too young, hehe…Her mother is a nice lady. Always smile, a great mother and a right friend for sharing or talking. I spent more time to talk with her mother than her. Maria’s mom is a teacher. Maria almost look like her mother, except her India face, it is from her father.

              I almost have no stories; no memories with little Maria until she grows up and became a student at university. At that time, I was far away from home. I heard the story about her and family from my mom. I gave my email, then, we communicate each other.

              I remember, she was very angry and always complaining (like most of my best friends did) about my ex-boy friend attitude (She doesn’t know that I had already broke with him). She told me everything she knew about him. “Maria, it is not my problems anymore. He is not my boy friend anymore. So I don’t care what he did and who is he with. He gets married, divorce, has affairs, talking bad about me to anybody. I don’t care. I just feel lucky because I am not his girl friend anymore and not married him yet. God has save me from him. So just let him away.”

             Maria still tells me everything. Haha…. Especially when I back home and meet her. She is younger than me, but she can be a good partner for discussion or cheating. I am proud of her. She is smart, easy going, friendly and religious. She told me some of her secrets, too.

              Little Maria becomes a sweet university student. She is very popular among her friends. Like me, most of her friends are boys.

              I heard from my mom, that Maria gets a scholarship and move to a private university in Jakarta. It is a brave and good decision, I think. She left her 2^nd grade at Syiah Kuala University. She is smart enough, so wherever she studies, she still in the top rank. She proved it. In Jakarta, she become at the top rank has lots of friends, popular, and still religious. Hehe…charming Maria!

              On December 26 2005, tsunami had occurred in Aceh.

        Tsunami destroyed our hometown and took away lots of our relatives.

              Maria’s mom, little brother and little sister were taken away to another world, to the house of God. Their bodies never are found. Maria’s house was destroying. Maria lost everything. She only has one little brother left, Boy. They were saved because they were in Jakarta when disaster occurred. Thanks God.

              I do not know how Maria & Boy feeling when they heard about this tragedy. I do not know too, how are they when they back to Aceh, to their house and found nothing. And I do not want to ask her about it.

              When I back to Aceh, a month after the tragedy, I met both of them. They look strong and no change. She looks like anything never happen. Maria doesn’t change! Maria is still talkative; share her smiles to everyone and asking me lots of question. Unbelievable! How great you are! I never see her crying, except when she is praying at night. (Maybe she is crying, but never in front anybody). She stay at my house, go around with me to tsunami area, talking about everything, manage and take over her family responsibility. Then she is going back to Jakarta and continue her life…

              She is just twenty years old when it was happened in her life. She is a university student when the tragedy took everything away from her. She is tough and courageous. She faces everything with braveness. She is really great!

              Everything is belonging to the God. God can take them away anytime. We belong to the God, too. So, just believe in God. God never let you in suffering. God will take care of you.

              The way she faces the tragedy, the way she continue her life, the way she share her smile to everyone. Maria…I am really proud of her. She is young but mature. She had taught me how to face the life with spirit. I am learning from her. When I feel depress, she send me email and cheer my spirit up: “You have to be strong and never give up! You are my sister and you are an Acehnese girl!”

              Learning from Maria…

              “Family is the best supporter of our life, especially our parents. But if they were not here anymore, it doesn’t mean we have to stop our life and give up in sadness. We have to continue our life, send prayers to them, and make them proud of us. Their life were short, but very meaningful, because they made and bring us here.”

              Learning from Maria…

              Although many bad things were happened, it doesn’t mean we will not have any happiness. Life is so beautiful and full with happiness. What we need to do is just to get it. Create our own happiness and just believe God always loves us.

              Learning from Maria…

              Fill your lives with many good things and never give up!

(Kyoto, July 2005)