A Note from 1001Buku?s Birthday
23 February 2004, by: Elizabeth Lilis (translated by Fitri)

The joyous of 1001Buku?s birthday, which was held at Yayasan Harkat Bangsa, gives a special feeling to me, and off course to all of us, the volunteers and the visitors.

 

Previously, I had never worried that this kind of event would be lack of visitors. Unfortunately, I was. I could think of two factors that might be the cause of this. First, the day coincided with the students? evaluation day.

Second, the location was not very familiar to some people. It showed by some questions I got several day before the D-Day. ?How to get there from Megaria?? ?? from Tugu Tani??, ?? from Tugu Proklamasi??. Honestly, I was not really sure where the exact location is. So, I just told them that it was around the Tugu Proklamasi.

 

Before the D-Day, I planned to go to the location on the Friday night to help for the preparation. I thought that it could also help me to familiarize with the direction. However, that afternoon Mbak Dian (Safitri) called and asked to get some materials edited. I kind of did it in a hurry, because I did not want to miss the performance of ?Kenduri Cinta? by Emha Ainun Najib and Taufik Ismail at Taman Ismail Marzuki, at 8 PM that night. Thank you to the inventors of Telephone, Computer and Internet, that helped me on doing all the work rapidly that night.

 

Because I came home late at night after the show, I woke up late really late in the morning at the D-Day. It was 8.30 AM, when Mbak Renny Mayasari from Aquarius Music called and asked the address for the event. I was still drowsy and trying remember where the address was. Mbak Renny was snapped me a bit, ?You are one of the committee, how come you just woke up?? Well, I had nothing to say, so I just grinned.

 

After the call, I immediately took a bath and went to the Station of Tebet. Here were all the troubles begun.

 

First, I had waited for the local train to come for about one hour. But it was not showed up. So, although I was quite intimidated by the reputation of its sloppy drivers, I decided to take an ojeg (motorcycle for passenger service). It was 10.13 AM, I did not have much choices.

 

Second trouble, I just got by Bukit Duri, like 10 minutes from the Station, when a pouring rain suddenly fell down. The ojeg did not want to operate in the rain, so the irresponsible driver just put me out in an intersection. Darn, what a day! Fortunately, I could get a taxi right away and headed to Jalan Proklamasi.

 

I was falling asleep when the driver informed that we had already gotten to Jalan Proklamasi and asked which number I was heading for.  I tried to look around to get a clue. At that time, when I was browsing?. There it is a banner of 1001Buku hung on a black fence. Thank you for the idea of hanging the banner. It was surely avoided me from my third trouble at that day, Being Lost!

Here with this note, I would like to thank to the people that have given their energy and thought for this event. The presence of you - my dearest friends, which I invited via chatting, email and SMS, means a lot to me.

 

Thank you for Vincent Liong, that came by and give 1001Buku 40 copies of his First Book, ?Berlindung di Bawah Payung?. Mbak Renny Mayasari from Pops Records, your being there was so surprising to me. But more surprisingly was, that her joining with Mbak Rinie and Virghien?s KKS Melati. Also for Tante Gadsya, who had cancelled her appointment with other friends and came to this event. Hetih Rusli, from GPU, who got a ride with his friend. To the Jakarta Post that was covering this event, ?Wie, don?t forget to send us the coverage.? Mrs. Angela Wutun who?s full of spirit for sorting the books. David Ciam who had been around for a while. Mbak Tiur Sitompul, I have a lot of pleasure taking about the business with you, hehe? Mrs. Wati, the Nasi Uduk was incredibly delicious? Mbak Rita and Mas Agus Syafii from IIT. Devi and her friends from 1001Buku-Bandung, and Yanti from 1001Buku-Medan.

 

Last but not least, I would like to thank all the reporters. Juliana Harsianti from Seventeen. AG and Ferry from Bintang Indonesia. Witri Widjanarko from Cosmogirl. Mira Nurhayati from Parents Guide. Ibnu from Berita Kota. Iwa from Peta News. Ratih from Tabloid Nova. Wendy from Radio Prambors. Dewi Santoso from the Jakarta Post. Taty from Trust magazine.

 

Moreover, although it is just a note, I really hope that it can be a part of 1001Buku?s development. For me, joining 100Buku is a very interesting and valuable experience. It is once in my life time that I got to a room where differences do not exist. It does not matter of our social status (rich and poor), ethnics (Chinese, Javanese, Batak, etc), and occupation (students and employees). What we have is only the common vision and mission ? the spirit to raise a generation that smart and care.

 

 

-oOo-