World Cup 2010

I've been setting my head and eyes in front of the telly.  I don't usually do this, but when the world is talking about FIFA World Cup, I gotta make this one as my priority, it's an exception if I may say.  Why is that?  Well, it is a once-in-four-years tournament.  It is a credit to each team from each country that they show to the world on the green field, hogging the one and only soccer ball for 90 minutes, not to mention the goals they make.  People in the world shouts and sings lively, cheering and supporting for their team in every corners I passed by.  The hype is everywhere.  Such an exciting feeling!

One of the places in Jakarta to watch the tournament from big screen - Grand Indonesia Mall - photo by author

Just so you know, I'm not a big fan of soccer.  The only league I usually follow and watch (sometimes) is England league, not to mention some players are absolutely hot, haha!  Gerrard the captain of Liverpool is truly awesome, then there's Lampard, John Terry, Joe Cole from Chelsea, and David Beckham of United Manchester, I don't actually like Beckham because his appearance is more to commercial side.  Maybe because I see him more on billboard and commercial posters advertising either somewhat man's product or classy clothing of an extra ordinary designer. 

Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Joe Cole, and Beckham - photo from web

Anyway, those handsome soccer players are not the main reason why I'm following the world cup tournament.  The first reason is that KNOWLEDGE.  Whatever country that World Cup had held at, first thing that makes me wanting to know about is anything about that country.  This year it's held in Africa.  Now, who doesn't know Africa?  We all know where that continent is laid.  The first thing that comes in my when I hear Africa is Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan.  But of course those are not the details of World Cup in Africa.  Nope! Not until I find out.  Special for world cup tournament, Africa developed 10 soccer stadiums.  There are 2 stadiums in Johannesburg, to be exact they're located in Soccer City and Ellis Park.  Also one in Cape town, Durban, Nelspruit, Rustenburgh, Pretoria, Polokwane, Port Elizabeth, and Bloemfontein. 

Another fact about Africa is its stadium horns called Vuvuzela.  It's about 65 cm long and it's made of plastic, comes with variety colors, and it produces a loud monotone tone which annoys me even if watched the tournament on tv.  Apparently, vuvuzela is most used at soccer matches in South Africa.  It has becomes their symbol.

Vuvuzela - photo from web

I've been cheering for team Brazil and Spain.  Brazil had great players and even though this year isn't still their year yet but I believed they did a good job and that's what good supporter do.  Support their team whether they win or lose.  Since Brazil had lost the match with Netherlands, my only hope is Spain now.  By now, Spain has made it to the semi-final.  La Furia Roja will beat Panzer.  Even though most people think that Panzer will make it to final because they've made it to semifinals seven times in the tournament.  They believed that Panzer will bring Vicente Del Bosque down easily because they've made Fabio Capello and Diego Maradona Cried.  But, I strongly believed La Furia Roja will win, not because what Paul the Octopus has predicted.  It is because, well, they've been playing so good and they have this strong and solid team.  They've never rush in the game and it makes people think that the way they play is boring.  To me it's just a strategy.  The other thing that makes me so sure of Spain winning the match is that these guys from each team met on a match of Euro Cup 2008 and Spain successfully brought the trophy home.  So, yeah I have no doubt in them :) Come on Torres, Villa, Xavi and Casillas bring them down!

Torres, Villa, Xavi and Casillas - photo from web

Ok, it is almost time for the match...
So, I'll be back and write whether if Spain wins or loses ;)

Adios Amigos! 
Muchos Bessos!


:D
 

SPOTLIGHT

"Hi! Good morning heartlisteners! Welcome to 100.6 Heartline FM, and you’re listening to Spotlight, this program uses a special English method of broadcasting! And you’re with me, Zee Febriani! In this beautiful Saturday morning, I would like to greet you with a great quotation: “The first step to getting the things you want out of life is to decide what you want.”  So, if you know what you’re gonna do with your life, then you’ll find the meaning of success on your own.  Anyway, how are you today?  I hope all of you is doing well.  Today is the 9th of January, the second weekend after New year 2010, so I hope you guys are still in a good mood and full of enthusiasm starting the year with whatever resolution you have.  I do hope that your 2010 resolution are going great and smooth.  And always make sure you stay fit and good health because according to Jakarta weather forecast, today we're gonna have some storm rain and the temperature is 24 degrees Celsius and it's gonna rain for the next two days!  So, you guys please remember to prepare umbrella.  Not only umbrella but also some medicines, in case you got flu or fever.  Because extreme weather can make you sick.  Alright heartlistener, today spotlight’s topic is Musician and Community Activist.  Well, we'll discuss it in details after this song. Stay tune cause I'll be back!"

Yup! I used to greet people every Saturday morning from a radio station. 

While everyone is probably still sleeping, I had to wake up pretty early, catch a bus and travel 45 minutes to outside of the city.  On Friday night, while everyone is out to see a movie or shopping at a mall or dancing at a club, I had to stay home and work on my script and prepare everything for the morning show on the Radio.  “Spotlight”, that’s what the show called.  It is a radio program that uses English as a primary language.  Its target is a student, but everyone is welcome to join.  It’s an hour program and I think it’s pretty good especially for those who want to learn English.  As a radio program host, that works in a studio and speaks on the microphone where people can only listen to my voice on air, doesn’t mean I didn’t do much.  Well, as a host I need to figure out how to make listeners interested enough to listen my program, so every Saturday, I came up with different topic.  Sometimes I invited a guess to share their experience depending on the topic.  When Nikki was here visiting me, I asked her to be my guess and shared her experience in traveling the world for 5 months, at that time the topic was ‘backpacking’. 

Nikki is Canadian whom I met in my hometown – Jambi while she was little kid.  She and her family lived there for two years.  My mom was their cook and shortly, her family became my family since her parents are my benefactors.  I moved to Jakarta with them and they lived here for two years.  In summer, we would visit their family in Canada.  They moved back ‘for good’ to Canada in 2004.  I left behind because I needed to finish my study at university here.  We never lost contact.  I got to visit them to Canada and stayed there for the whole summer holiday.  So, yeah that’s about it.  Briefly :)

 

Anywaaaaayy… as a host, I also let listeners phone to the studio and share anything they like according to the topic we were discussing.  Since it’s an English program, of course I also had to play English songs, of course.  Sometimes I would throw a quiz to listeners and whoever won, they got a present. 

Honestly, this job didn’t pay much.  But, I was happy most of the time because it was just an amazing feeling that I get to share knowledge with everyone.  It didn’t bother my main job.  It also helped me practicing my English.  So it was all good and positive for almost a year.  There was time when I complained couple times for having to wake up early every Saturday morning, had wished to slept in instead.  Nonetheless, I could still manage and looked at the positive things about it.  It didn’t last very long.  I was tired and I wanted to leave and I knew it wasn’t easy for me.  But I wanted my Saturday back.  It neither selfish nor silly reason, was it?  So I said goodbye to all listeners in early February.

Now it’s been 6 months since I left the radio station.  I miss being a host.  I miss getting on the chair in the studio, talking to a microphone and greeting listeners every Saturday morning.  I’m saying this, not because I’ve regretted my decision to leave the radio. I’m just.. you know.. I’m just saying 

;)  I think there’s nothing wrong telling a story about things I loved doing in the past.  I’m happy where I am now and am sure I have made my mom proud of me, “Zwes, I’m proud of you for taking the world by storm” she said. 

To all spotlight listeners… I love you guys!! :D