Now as a strike breaker post, I'm gonna tell you about my most recent activity, what I've been doing for the last four weeks. One word, eight letters: Pelatnas.
Pelatnas is an abbreviation of pelatihan nasional. It's like a science camp, held specifically to train students who are qualified for a special occasion called the International Biology Olympiad. Shiver me timbers, I want it, like so much so bad. This is also basically a competition to fill the glorious two seat to Singapore as an IBO participant. The activity is being held in Wisma Kartini Bandung with TOBI Team under the house of Bandung Institute of Technology. I basically come here to learn, do some tests, go home and wait for the result. But there's much more to it than it seems. It's making new friends and new experiences. I am thrilled to be united with these 25 other student who is as gifted as ever. I had so much fun while I was there. We studied, practiced. We took exams, we trolled, we celebrated birthdays, watched some movies, threw some water ammo to the assistants, swam (or I'd rather say laid down) in a hot spring and much much more! I'll go with the details in the next paragraph.
Week 1:
Ta-Da! Finally, it's 23rd of October. I have had enough purgatory in school for two weeks ever since I'm back from OSN. Especially every Friday. That day I arrived late to Wisma Kartini. I got lodged in room 3 with Meva, Sifa, Tazky, Tia and Kezia. I met and greeted some old friends.Then out of the blue, they said there will be a pre-test done that very night. Also a new assignment come from Kak Fenryco. So, I did what every man could do, do the best and God will do the rest. Luckily, when the result came out, I didn't screw up too bad. Oh and what's different from the previous pelatnas, instead of in Wisma Kartini, we had to get our lecture in a small, hot, crowded room on the 6th floor of PAU ITB. The week went normally. On the weekend, me, Meva, Sifa, Billy, Nobi and Gun went to Ciwalk and watch Johnny English Reborn.
Week 2:
This is week is just like any regular week. Except, we got to celebrate Assifa Nur Hisana's sweet 17th! The theme of her birthday is sticky ;) So what we did, is tied her up in a pole and then charged her with eggs, flour, soft drinks, etc. And then after all those mess, Gerry brought a cake for Sifa and then we all sang Happy Birthday! So memorable! This week we also got a test from a psychological firm to measure our academic potential and our mental stability I guess? And also a mid test which was difficult as hell. After the test, my mom visited me and we went to Paris van Java to get something to eat. And then I stopped by RE Martadinata to buy a klappertaart which I ate together with my roomies who were gloomy because of the freaking mid-test.
Week 3:
This is week we had a practical exam part 1. It was quite okay I guess, though I haven't got the result just yet. This week we also celebrated another birthday, Nobian Andre's Sweet 18th. His theme was Stinky! Yep. This time we really bring it. All those stuff from garlic, terasi, fish, palm oil, bananas, eggs, flour, we got it all. Except during the torture, ther's a little mishap. The rope used to tie him in the pole got loosened up so he managed to escape. The second everyone saw the rope dropped, they all run like an arrow released from its bow. We managed to tied him up again and the torture continues.This time Meva brought the cake and we all sang Happy Birthday. All the other boys got dumped in the pond as an 'imbas' hahaha. The next day is outing to Rancaupas. It's raining when we got there so we ended up playing water fight with the assistant and then played in the hot spring.
Week 4:
Ah the last and final week :") I started this week with fear cause I have 2 exams waiting for me at the end of the week. 2 super important test which will decide my fate onward in this competition. Well, in the practical test, it's sure is worse than the first practical test, but I don't know, once again, the real result just yet. The final test, like always, I prefer the part B of the test than its Part A. I feel quite confident with my answers but then again, sometimes when I feel that way, I end up pretty disappointed. After the final test, we celebrated kak Gun's Birthday! And then almost the whole member went to Ciwalk to watch a movie. Meva, Sifa, Tazky, me and some other guys watched In Time while the rest of them watched Breaking Dawn. We said goodbye the next day, took some photos and then the next thing I knew I was sitting in my car, already on my way to Jakarta.
It was a lovely experience guys and girls. Thanks for everything. I hope we'll see each other again at the 2nd Pelatnas Meva, Sifa, Tazky, Tia, Kezia, Tiwi, Rea, Elza, Lidia, Gomel, Nobi, Billy, Gunawan, Alvin, Eni, Ibrahim, Javier, Rabid, Keju, Gerry, Alfredo, Theo, Reza, Benny, Danu!
When you know what you want and you want it badly enough, you will find a way to get it - Jim Rohn
