SRS BLOG: January 2014

GRANDEUR OF ROCK AND ROUGH SURFACE

Saturday, January 25, 2014

There are a lot of things I want to talk about today, first of which is what happened in Manado five days ago. Luckily for me, I was not staying longer at campus when the flash flood hit some areas in Manado, if I did, I wouldn’t be able to go home because of the heavy rains & the storm and ended up making my parents and family worried because there’s no news from me due to all my smartphone’s battery is dead. I actually wanted to pay my tuition fee that day but the bank was closed because of the whole city was lights off. So I decided to go to Freshmart to buy some snacks to eat. It started heavy rains and stormy when I wanted to go home. I forced myself to go home because I knew something was wrong with the atmosphere.

Like I wrote on my previous post MAKE YOUR OWN LIGHT, flash flood plus storm and landslide hit Manado, so many damages happened, many people died and some were still wanted whether they are safe or not. Many people lost their houses and things, many people felt hungry and thirsty because they were isolated. Around 3:00 AM the electricity finally lit up and I immediately recharged both my smartphones' batteries. When I tweeted about the flash flood in Manado, I got an overwhelming response of kind people who asked how I was and wished me well. The number of calls and messages from mom, friends and big family that I received just showed me how blessed I am to be surrounded by the nicest and loving people around me. There is so much care, so much love surrounding us, that the bad stuff become just a speck in a world of beauty. And a simple message, tweet, BBM asking how you are becomes a message of hope, a sign of the truly character of the human person. Flash floods, landslide, earthquakes are all just incidents that we always overcome. Love in the world is super powerful that these incidents only make us stronger and stay together. Because of twitter, I found out that Malayang (the place where I live) didn’t have it bad at all. Tikala, Wonasa, Karombasan, Paal 2, Perkamil had it worst. What I don’t understand is how other people have the nerve to comment with negative and inappropriate thoughts about “God is punishing Manado”, “this is going to be the doomsday”. Seriously, many people died, thousands are sad, felt lost and scared out of their minds, but some idiots think that Manadonese deserve it? It’s absolutely ridiculous. The world is not ending. God is not punishing us and none of us will know when will the exactly doomsday comes. If anything, God sure showed me just how we have nothing to worry about. GOD always has our backs just as we have each others. We should always remember that sometimes we’re given the bad to appreciate the good, we have to trust God that He knows better and will work everything out. In His time we will soon understand His purpose. Please continue to pray for Indonesia and our world. Oh I almost forget to write this story, last Friday all citizens in an uproar with Tsunami issue. When I and some Public Health students were going to do our little social activity to help those flash flood victims, the issue came from nowhere. Suddenly, the situation was in a mess, a lot of people ran to reach the higher place in Manado. I actually felt so annoyed by those narrow minded people who spread stupid issues when the others were doing the best to help the victims. Annoying moment!

Okay, to make this blog post lighter, here’s another outfit taken last month when I visited some relatives in Baron. It was the first time I took outfit photos on a railroad track. I feel awesome lol.

And here is the announcement from SOMETHING REAL SERIOUS; feel free to like the official Facebook Page of SOMETHING REAL SERIOUS by Ollyvia Laura RIGHT HERE to keep you updated from my Look Of The Day/Outfit Of The Day, Campus Look, writing and reviews, photo diary, inspiring music video, sponsorship & partnership, giveaway and so much fun and inspiring things from SRS :)

NIKE rubber shoes / COKELAT leggings / UWU SCHOOL denim jacket / AVENUE shirt

*PERSONAL TALKS*

SHOPPING WITH ZALORA INDONESIA

Sunday, January 19, 2014

*PERSONAL TALKS*

MAKE YOUR OWN LIGHT / FAITH FOR MANADO & INDONESIA

Friday, January 17, 2014

I remember I still have these photos taken two year ago when I visited Samarinda, it's good sometimes to have our own little time playing fireworks and act like those kiddos.

It’s been super damn cold in Manado since 2 days ago. I saw people (including me) started pulling out their best jacket and layering stuff together, in my own opinion actually it’s the perfect weather (except the heavy rains and the storm) to lay down on your bed watching your favorite movies. But I hate the fact that I couldn’t take outfit photos since everyday is a gloomy day. The worst is, flash floods and landslides hit the city of Manado, North Sulawesi on 15th, January and still the rain is down pouring this city. As the result, the activity of local residents paralyzed. Many residents of isolated (couldn't be reached via internet, phone or radio because we all were alienated because of darkness / off the lights), some rivers even the beaches in Manado are blocked by damages, disconnected streets, some houses were swept away. So ironic :( Please be safe, everyone, go get your safe place to stay indoors, GOD bless Manado. #PrayForIndonesia #PrayForManado because prayers can really make our faith grow stronger. Here’s how I can help in my very little way for all people in Manado who needs contact with the government:

- PEMKOT Manado (0431851103)

- SAR Manado (04318112111)

- KODIM 1309 Manado (0431827105)

- POLRESTA Manado (0431840269)

- Ambulans (118)

I also plan to buy some foods using the pocket money that my parents usually give to me to help out those affected by flash flood, I know it's just a small effort but I believe it could save lives of thousands of people. Amen :) Let's continue to do what we can to help.

Yesterday, a person from @ria_novosti asked me a permission to post my own instagram picture that I took on the day the disaster happened on Russian New site ria.ru & youreporter.ru, if you’re a Russian help me to translate what’s the news said? :)

More news about what happened in Manado, you can find here:

- Dozens of people killed as flash flood sweeps Manado, Indonesia

- Indonesia floods leave 13 dead, tens of thousands displaced

- Floods, landslide kill at least 13 in Indonesia

“The universe doesn’t make mistakes. Everything is happening just as it should. It’s only our perception of difficulties that causes us the distress and the difficulty we experience. Not only that, but when we label events as “bad", we fail to perceive the benefit that is waiting for us.”

Good morning world, let's spread the love :)