The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho

Wonder how did I spend the last weekend? The answer is I was trapped in this book:

The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho. The story of Athena, the mysterious woman, told by people who know her well, who barely know her, and even people who never meet her. These people accompany Athena through her steps to become what later people know as The Witch of Portobello. The plot flows through the story that jumps from one person to another person which was something new to me and what made me feel excited to read it.

What's really something from this book is that it tells me a story from a witch/paranormal/whatever-you-call-it point of view. All this time, I judged psychics only from a normal person's point of view like they are abnormal, scary, mysterious, related to some kind of black magic, etc. I hadn't got the idea that psychics are also human, that they are just like us but with additional power (whether it is given or something constructed). All the sacrifices and suffers that Athena experiences really change my view about psychics. It's not easy to be a psychic.

After all, this is quite a good book if you need something a bit serious but meaningful to read. I learnt a lot from this book. :)

Don't be like those people who believe in "positive thinking" and tell themselves that they're loved and strong and capable. You don't need to do that, because you know it already. And when you doubt it do as I suggested. Instead of trying to prove that you're better than you think, just laugh. Laugh at your worries and insecurities. View your anxieties with humor. ~ Edda

Taylor Swift - Zac Efron Being Funny on Ellen

Check out these cutest silly duo on Ellen Degeneres Show to promote their new movie, The Lorax:

First, they recorded their dance dares in the premiere of The Lorax for Ellen. Second they changed the Pumped Up Kick lyric into all about Ellen and I admit it's hilarious haha. Well, they played Pumped Up Kick so great, Zac has a really good voice --of course, High School Musical, remember?--, they both can sing! Yay! Make a duet please :D

God Knows We're Worth It

Here it is.. a new music video coming from Jason Mraz. Have you heard his song I Won't Give Up? That song is a second single from his album Love Is A Four-Letter Word. Well, the song's music video premiered on VH1 on February 16 and was uploaded on Youtube the next day. Watch the video below:

This song is very very touching. I thought its mv would be about a couple who is about to break up but the boy won't give up on his love and stuff, but turns out that the music video is more like the Everybody Hurts music video --Helping Haiti version. I feel touched even more :)

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up, still looking up


I won't give up on us
God knows I'm tough, He knows
We got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it

Safe & Sound Music Video

Remember when I posted the saddy songs? the broken hearted girl? Taylor Swift's Safe & Sound? The Hunger Games single? No? Really? Alright, it's here. Apparently, this Hunger Games soundtrack's lead single hit its music video premiere on MTV last Monday (February 13th) and the report can be read on MTV's website here and the video of the premiere can be seen here. It says that the song was written by Swift herself, the Civil Wars, and T-Bone Burnett (the film's composer). Oh of course it has to involve the film's composer.. what was I thinking?

However, I prefer to see videos from Youtube. Good thing that TaylorSwiftVevo uploaded the music video on Youtube yesterday (on my time). So.... enjoy! :)

Today's Campus

Hola. This time I'm not going to recommend any song, let's just share what I've been through today, how was campus and that and that. Only one of three courses that happened today. Early in the morning, we talked about translating in the Translating Literary Works class. The only reason that I'm always interested in translating class is that I used to dream to be a novel translator, like Ibu Listiana Srisanti :)

We discussed about issues in translating, not only literary works, but all kinds of works. About translating particular terms. That we indeed need to consult an expert in the field of which work we're translating is about to make sure of the specific meaning of the terms that make us doubt. And the issue of translating jokes. I totally agree with this. There are words that when they are translated they cannot be as funny as the original ones. That's why I don't really like to watch a movie that has been dubbed.

Second course was supposed to be Critical Analysis of Poetry, but the lecturer hadn't come to the class yet since the semester started. It was unfortunate because I have always been waiting to attend poetry class. Not that I'm obsessed with poetry, though I did ever like poetry once. When I was a first grader in senior high school, in a Vocational English class, I was asked to read a poem in front of the class room and after I finished, the teacher praised me and all other students applauded. I still remember the poem I read at the moment, it was Tears, Idle Tears by Lord Alfred Tennyson. What a memory :)

Now, I don't hate poetry but I don't love it either. Now, I would never ever ever try to read poems in front of anyone. I always think of a poem as something brilliant and that never makes me feel confident enough to make one or read it loudly like I did in high school. A confidence problem that I haven't solved :(

Then, what I actually like from poetry class is that it is the only class where my name is so popular. Where rhyme and rhythm take important roles. I really love it. I just can't wait to count how many rhyme and rhythm mentioned in the course's source book and highlight them again. Unhappily, I haven't got any new poetry text books yet. But that's okay, we can still hope for next week :)

Last course was supposed to be Exploring Prose, I'm still upset that I still don't know why I got D for this course last year so it forced me to retake the course this semester. And even I'm not certain about taking it this semester, because its schedule gets clashed with another course I'm taking. At first, there was no clash, that's why I took the course and then there was this change of schedule when I was already done with that study plan form thing. Now I just have to find a way. Pfft.

And last thing, I was fasting today. It was nice to see my belly become so flat... haha...

It's Waterfall on The Face

Probably it sounds silly that a person would ever feel like losing someone she never had, but yeah it happens. When it happens you have no idea how much hurt a girl might feel. And when a girl's heart is broken, all songs with slow music will be bringing her into tears, lyric compatibility doesn't count much as long as it's about romance.  

Here are two songs that'll result waterfall on her face :

Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars - Safe and Sound

This song is a soundtrack of The Hunger Games movie which will be released March 2012. The Hunger Games orchestra cover of the song can be listened here. Try to listen to the cover too, it sounds much sadder with no singers and lyrics, do you know that? 

Last Child feat. Giselle - Seluruh Nafas Ini

Last Child is quite expert in creating this kind of song, right? This is just so Last Child. Nothing surprising. It also wouldn't be surprising if the girl with broken heart is bursting into tears after listening to this song. This time, the lyric really matters because I think it's beautiful :)



Di saat kutertatih tanpa kau disini
Kau tetap kunanti demi keyakinan ini


Jika memang dirimulah tulang rusukku
Kau akan kembali pada tubuh ini

Jika memang kau terlahir hanya untukku
Bawalah hatiku dan lekas kembali
Ku nikmati rindu yang datang membunuhku

She said, "If only it's assured that we're meant to be together, I'd be willing to wait patiently until the time comes."

Update: Watch Safe & Sound music video here