Ahmad+Faizuddin

July 1 I like to be a part of people who enjoy holdays so much because by having a holiday it menas I have a chance to relax from every works I have done so far. Holiday sometimes I fill it with just sleeping all along day no matter what the event is. Whatever it is I will just sleep or watch without woorrying to go anywhere and that's include the independence day. I don't care if people ask me to watch the parade shown on the road in the independence day or something related to the attraction. What I like to do most is I hjave to have a more time to relax. The main idea why I do like that is because I always focused on my works in every aspects, so I will give and contribute much energy to finish them. At then end ebven though sometimes I enjoy most the work, it will remain tirng. What I need most when I have a chance to ave a holiday is just keep apart of any people. I don't want people dto bother my wtime. I want to be alone in my holiday, no one could ask me to do something, not talking, not chatting, not even closing by me. Sleeping in my holiday is give me more spirit and power like recharging back my energy. So after sleeping I will have much more tenergy to continue my works. Not to mention also if I get bored with sleeping, another one I wll do is warching and once again it's to bedone alone. None could partocipate in my watching not becuase I watch something that maybe some people do not want to watch it, but only because I want to enjoy my watch peacefully. Watching actually makes me relieve after working hours. The most movie I like most is watching video cartoon especiallu that makes me laugh, so I can laugh freely. I know maybe a friend

July 2 I do not like to travel actually. Since my born till to my age 22, I never travel so long except to my school, my mousque and back home. Then, when Tsunami hit Aceh, my hometown, I have a chance yto travel alot. There are many International Organization came into my home town, Aceh. They provide many assistances to the villagers all around Aceh. One day I apply for one Organizations and I was accepted as a Field Officer of Eceonomic Security Department at International Committer of Red Cross. IMy task is to assess and assist people who nened assiastance in area where tsunami affaected. My first day working I had to go to cross a sea where I've never been before to the Island called, Sabang. My hearth beat fasten than normally before to see the amazng places hits by tsunami. There are a lot of vllagaes just dissapaerd and vanished from the view. Some villages just left only few man only and some others just left few women only. So the villages's name become Widow and Widower Village. I work with the INternational Comiitter of Red Cross for almost two years when I decided to continue my study then. After finishiing my study I work back in Red Cross but I apply to Canadian Red Cross. Here I have a chance to travel agaian and again all around my province to serve and look at the progress of tye development of the construction and etc. I worked for Canadian Red Cross and for 7 months and when the program ended I decided to continue my study again to have my Masters Degree. Luckily I got the scholarship from Ford Foundatioj International, so I have a chance to travel more around the world now. I choosed to go to Ohio University to pursue my Masters, so here is the story of my journey to USA. I went to the airport that morning from my hometown with a lot of families accompanied mye and saya and wish good luck. I arrived at the captal city of my country, Jakarta, at noon and met one of Ford Foundation representative who explained me ecverything about the procedures.

July 8 Exercise 2.13

One of interesting customs in my hometown, Aceh, is Peusijuek, a blessing tradition. It is an old custom adapted from Hindu culture aimed to bless something in order to avoid bad luck. Normally, Peusijuek is held in three kind of conditions: when you have something new, when you wish for your welfare life, and when you have people going or coming. It is not a part of religious taught, but the practice of the customs has been widespread in all over Aceh in all level community since a long time ago up to the present time. The practice of the custom itself is a unique method. Usually a chief or Imam leads the ceremony starting with praying. After that he will bless a new house, for example, with spreading many kinds of plants, leaves, and water to the object. Finally, yet importantly, the ceremony is closed with praying and eating sticky rice together with those who participate in.

July 9 Exercise 2.14

The most effective way to combat anxiety before a test for a student is being positive thinking. It aims to control ourselves from any thought that could make us feel stress. We should be fully understand that we could not pass a test within anxious condition because a test is only one small event in our lives to compare with abundance of other big occurrences. We will not die because of failing to pass a test and it is not the end of the world. However, there are still many chances for us to pass a test if we are in calm condition or we could accomplish another better task perhaps if we fail it. We have to think that no matter how bad the condition is, we will just be fine. Be positive thinking and trash out all negative thought in your head so you will remain calm.