The Other Skincare Routine

Beberapa waktu yang lalu, saya sempat berbagi tentang skincare routine yang saya gunakan. Di post tersebut, saya menganjurkan bahwa kalau punya teman/saudara yang berjenis kulit sama, kita bisa share skincare supaya lebih hemat. Nah, karena sejak bulan Maret kemarin saya pindah ke rumah baru dan tidak lagi tinggal bersama kakak, saya tidak bisa lagi share essence dan serum favorit. Akhirnya sayapun memutuskan untuk membeli 1 set skincare routine baru menggantikan beberapa produk yang memang sudah habis. Kali ini, saya mencoba merek Cosrx.

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Lenyap Ditelan Warna

Ketika masih duduk di bangku SMP, saya terobsesi dengan segala hal tentang Jepang. Mulai dari anime, manga, dan kebudayaan Jepang. Biaya penggunaan internet masih sangat mahal saat itu. Ada suatu ketika di mana saya melambungkan tagihan telepon rumah sehingga orang tua saya melarang saya menggunakan komputer. Tapi di antara puluhan manga scan dan fanfiction, di antara berita-berita absurd seputar Jepang, untuk pertama kalinya saya melihat sebuah ruangan putih yang lenyap ditelan warna.

The Obliteration Room yang merupakan karya Yayoi Kusama dipamerkan pertama kali di Queensland Art Gallery pada tahun 2002. Saya bahkan tidak ingat siapa seniman yang sedang dibicarakan, tapi saya merasakan sesuatu yang baru. Melihat bagaimana manusia bereaksi pada sesuatu merupakan hal yang menarik bagi saya sejak kecil. Sehingga melihat ruangan dimana barang-barang rumah tangga dicat serupa untuk kemudian ‘dilenyapkan’ dalam timbunan bulatan warna-warni adalah suatu hal yang merangsang rasa keingintahuan saya.

Pengetahuan saya tentang Kusama maupun karya-karyanya tumbuh seiring waktu. Labu raksasa, bintik-bintik kuning, bola-bola perak, ruangan gelap yang bersinar warna-warni. Dan suatu ketika, karya Kusama terus menerus muncul di halaman muka media sosial yang saya miliki. Saya melihat antrian panjang dan bagaimana orang-orang berfoto di depan karya Kusama. Mereka menempelkan bulatan warna-warni di wajahnya, di depan ruangan putih dan barang-barang rumah tangga yang dicat putih. Ruangan yang sama dengan ruangan yang pernah saya lihat di depan layar tabung di suatu kamar gelap di suatu sore. Ruangan putih yang lenyap ditelan warna.

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More Things Ahead

A lot of things happened in Ramadhan this year. I unconsciously wrote something on the Notes of my phone and only realized I wrote it recently. I thought it will be a waste not to record it here because I think I’m being honest with my words. I personally always love this kind of writing the most :3

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It’s always felt good to tick off some to-do lists before the holiday greets (though I don’t familiarize myself with the concept of the holiday anymore). Ramadhan flies so fast this year, a lot of things to do and a lot of stuff to accomplish. I don’t even know how I can get through, but when I’m looking back to the stuff I’ve done I’ve always reminded myself: human are made to accomplish something that seemed impossible. I’m grateful though that I kept busy for the month, scrapping anything left for the better tomorrow. Pile of works and busy days are always considered blessings.

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The Celebration

I plan to post this a few days before World Cup final, but unfortunately, time passed by so fast :))

Football and the World Cup have taken the Summer by storm. Unlike my husband (who predicts Croatia will get to the final before the World Cup even started), I’m not an avid football hooligan. The farthest thing I did for football is finishing the whole edition of Fantasista and watching PSS Sleman on their home last year. But, I still love all the celebration and the side stories.

I once gave a small workshop to my colleagues at the campus about writing (can you believe it?). I’m not a great writer, but I know a great piece of writing when I read one. So in the workshop, I gathered a few of my favorite articles and short stories. From a food article about Bakso dishes to a movie review about the cheesiest movie ever made. Turns out, the workshop went well and the audience broadens their horizon about taking angles and a new perspective when writing about a subject (well, I hope they did :P). So, here are some of my favorite things and articles about the World Cup. You can relax though, there’s not even one about the Pussy Riot or Russian’s politics :))

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INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA – MAY 22: Referees are seen in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Box during the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 group F match between Saudi Arabia and Senegal at Incheon Munhak Stadium on May 22, 2017 in Incheon, South Korea. (Photo: Joern Pollex – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Though the technology is already used at Serie A before, the usage of VAR (the abbreviation for Video Assistant Referee) in the world stage has given more controversies and conversations to the football fanatics. And have you ever wondered, how could the statistics on half-time also include the distance run by a player, an accurate ball routes, and ball possession percentage? And did you know that ADIDAS has planted NFC chip in the ball used on every match? Sure the World Cup is about the sport, but the event has brought us more innovations and technology that you can only imagine years ago. It is always a joy to read a thing or two about the latest tech.

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A Series of What Ifs

It is almost 2 months from the last time I wrote here. I’m glad and sometimes wonder if you’re still visiting this blog. Either by random Google search or through the link somewhere on the internet. Nonetheless, I always hope my writings can help you find something interesting, or maybe satisfy your curiosity on something.

A few months ago, I finished watching Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why with my sister. A series based on Jay Asher’s novel with the same title, telling the story of why a high school student named Hannah Baker killed herself. Hannah recorded her own voice through tapes, detailing every single person, including herself, who is responsible for her suicide. The series has been received a lot of criticism toward its depressing tones and mental health concern, but I bear myself to watch it until the end. Though I don’t recommend you to watch the 2nd season because its disappointing storyline, the series has been a topic of discussion for myself.

I realized that as a human, our existence has always links to each other. We might not realize that our tiny bit of action can matter a lot to others or result in almost nothing. Our simple comment can hurt someone, or maybe don’t even worth to remember for others. The complexity of human action and its impact can be a matter of life for someone else. In the series, there is a moment where some of Hannah’s friends contemplated whether they have given enough attention or care to Hannah. If they had been done something different, would Hannah still be alive? Asking ‘what if’ is always an easy way out.

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