What I'll Miss

I've grumbled about a thing called Prajab a couple of months ago (in Indonesian). Now I'll grumble again for the same reason, and even more: it's going to happen after all. Since last week my name is already in the list of participants (one among four from ITB), to start the Prajab on December 12th. The fee (still three million) is going to be paid by our Industrial Design Lab (not the Faculty of Arts and Design), who sees it as a human resource investment.

In order to make some things clear, I went directly to the human resource department of ITB rectorate office. According to Pak T, a personel who received me, this Prajab will take two full weeks ("the duration will be extended back to two full months starting next year", he added). That means it will end on December 26th. "Really?", I asked, "What about the leave for Idul Adha and Christmas?". He checked a nearby calendar and looked doubtful. "Tell you what", he said, "I'll ask around and get back to you for confirmation".

Whatever they say, if no participant is allowed to leave the camp for the full two weeks, here are things that I will miss:  

• 14 Dec: A talkshow at Space59 with the theme "The Role of Research in Creative Process" - where I will deliver a presentation about the research process of Rampokan series by Peter van Dongen
• 15 Dec: A Children Christmas evening at our church, where Lindri will have the role of Mother Mary. It will be her first play and first involvement in a church activity here in Bandung
• 17 Dec: Dhanu's 7th birthday
• 19 Dec: Our children's report cards distribution (usually in a form of discussion with parents) and Dhanu's class' final project presentation (this semester's theme is "clothing", so the project is a "fashion show", where every student in the class takes part in both organizing and walking the catwalk)
• 24 and 25 Dec: Christmas Eve at church and Christmas gathering with family

Not to mention:

• Project deadlines at the Industrial Design Lab
• Project progress at the Industrial Design Lab
• Deadlines for design competitions
• Deadlines for comics projects, both obligatory and voluntary

Dire consequences:

• A coincidence that Syb also has deadlines for his journal and publication
• Lots of preparation for our kids' school projects and plays, which Syb perhaps wouldn't be able to handle himself (with the shopping, arranging, etc.)

See? Prajab only makes me contra-productive. Perhaps they think government employee candidates have no life.

Grumblingly yours,

- half-hearted ambtenaar (who will definitely sneak out on those dates)