Tangerang's ATV

"Ma, we're there already, stop the becak"
"Ugh, I'm trying... Can't stop it"
"What? Hit the brake, Ma! Hit the brake!"
"Huh? This thing's got a brake? Where's the damn brake?"
"Oh, Mama, you're a lousy driver..."

Advising disservice

"Papa, what's that? What are you doing?"
"Err, Papa is reading a ... friend's book"
"But, Papa, why are you writing and drawing on it? You're ruining it, Papa... I thought you didn't like me doing that to your book?"
"Ugh, this is different, Son. Papa is trying to help this guy. He's Papa's student"
"But, Papa, stop putting notes on his book! You're rude!"

Bagged

"Alfie, what are you doing?"
"I'm trying to put myself inside Papa's luggage"
"Why? It's way too small to contain you!"
"So buy him a bigger luggage, Mama. I want to go with him"
"Ssshh, here's a better solution, Son. Tell Papa not to go too frequently..."

Happy birthday, Mama

"Happy birthday, Mama"
"Oh, thanks, Alfie. That's very nice of you. Any gift for Mama?"
"Ah that, Mama. Sorry, Alfie doesn't have a job yet. Can't buy you stuff. How about a kiss, Ma? Here you go"

***

"By the way, Mama... How come Papa isn't here? It's your birthday!"
"Papa is at work abroad, Alfie. It's alright. He has sent Mama his wishes... "
"He'd better have, Mama... And ugh, is he getting me and Alwyn gifts?"
"You? It's Mama's birthday, not yours or Alwyn's, right?"
"I know, but I'm the kid here, no? ... "
"Er, OK, let's text Papa then..."

Fishing @ market

"Let's go, Alfie. It's our turn to do grocery this time. Mama stays home with Alwyn"
"What are we buying, Papa?"
"Hm, mainly fish, I guess? Mama said you need to eat lots of fish"
"Hey look, Papa. That fish is sleeping on ice. Ain't it cold?"

idol.jpg

"Papa, Mama, why do you guys love this American Idol thing so much?"
"Why, Alfie? You have problem with that?"
"No, I'm just curious. I thought those guys just learn to sing, you said? Why don't you just watch your music DVD and all?"
"Hehe, this is not just about singing, Alfie. We love the thrill, we even enjoy the bad singing. On top of all we love seeing how families and friends can be very supportive to their champ -- no matter how bad he or she sings..."
"Ah, that's complicated"
"Yes, but you will understand someday..."

good morning

"Papa, what time is it?"
"Seven thirty"
"Ah, are we going to Merlion?"
"Later in the afternoon. Now Papa has a meeting"
"Ah poor you. Then I'll go around with Mama. You enjoy your meeting, Papa"

Alfie @ Changi

Alrite, Mama. You said Singapore is cool. This is empty! Where are people?

Alfie's GM

No worries Bro, I'll give you some...

Alwyn's GM

Where's my noodle, Mbak?

Gong Xi Fa Chai 2560

Alfie asked for Angpao, he said: "Gong Xi Fa Chai, Angpao na lai"

Doctor Alwyn

"Alwyn, now you be the doctor, I the patient"
"Rararararararara...."
"No, you hold this thing and put it on my chest... You know, like Tante Dokter did to you..."
"Rararararararara..."
"Oh, what is so difficult, Alwyn? Hold it Doctor Alwyn, hold it!"
"Rararara... Rurururu?..."
"Oh you're hopeless... Mbak Tari, can you help him, please?"
"Alfie, be nice to your brother"

Econ of queuing

"Papa?"
"Yes?"
"Why are those motorists queuing?"
"They want to buy gasoline, Son"
"But why the long line?"
"Because there are more motorists and only fewer pumps"
"Why don't they just buy on street vendors? No queueing there"
"Because it's more expensive there"
"Oh, so price at station like this is too low?"
"Urg, yes. Maybe"

Alwyn 4.5 m

Alwyn, 4.5 months old, 8.5 kgs

Alfie's strict preference

"Alfie, what's your plan this weekend"
"You tell me, Papa. You're the one who drives"
"OK, pick one: golf or car?"
"Golf"
"Golf or swim?"
"Golf"
"Car or swim?"
"Ugh... Golf, Papa!"

Note: 'Golf' refers to that Putt-Putt minigolf at Senayan. You pay Rp 20,000 and you get one ball and a little stick. Then you can tell your kid to play as long as he or she likes. The trick is, avoid the last hole (that hole will take the ball back to the store, and you need to pay again to have another round). "Car" means the minicars in Timezone and the likes. "Swim" is, well, swimming.

Alfie and TV, cont'd

"Papa, come here"
"What's up, Son?"
"Look, fireworks and firecrackers everywhere... Wow, look at that!"
"Urgh, that's nothing like new year's party, Alfie. That's war. Those things exploding are bombs. They're dangerous. They kill people"
"What is ... war, Papa?"
"Ehm, something ... bad. It's when two groups of people fight each other..."
"Why do they fight, Papa? Barney and BJ and Baby Bop always say we are a happy family..."
"I don't know, Son... I don't know. But war is not good. Here. Let's stop the tv now OK? How about I read you that new dinosaurus book?"
"Let's just read the shinkansen book, Papa"
"OK"

Alfie and TV

"What are you watching, Fie?"
"Mr. Bean, Papa. This one is my favorite. He's playing golf"
"I thought you liked Barney"
"That too, Papa. But I'm a boy now. Let's save Barney for Alwyn, he's the baby"
"What else do you like?"
"Slam Dunk. It's a cool cartoon about basket ball, Papa"
"I see... So you're into sport, I guess?"
"I am, Papa. But music, too. You promise me piano, Papa"
"Urg, yes. We'll fix Mama's old piano. I hope you're OK with that. We can't buy a new one. Too expensive"
"That's OK, Papa. Now if you excuse me, I'm trying to watch tv here"
"Alritey, Boy. Make sure you stop right after this Mr. Bean; turn the TV off and go to bed. Deal?"
"Deal, Papa"

Embracing 2009

Friends and families, we are delighted to enter the new year of 2009. We wish you all the very best. May the upcoming year bring joy and happiness to you and your beloved.

As usual, a little reflection. The year 2008 has been wonderful. We did have one bad news early in the year, when Alfie was attacked by dengue fever and had to stay in the hospital for three days. Thanks God, he was recovered well, and actually after the hospital days, he has been picking up words and started to speak quite clearly. The best news of 2008 of course is Alwyn, the baby brother of Alfie. Alwyn was born in August 26, about a week after Alfie's second anniversary. As of now Alwyn is 8 kgs and 72 cms. So, after adjusting for time, he is a bit bigger than his brother. And boy, he cries louder too. Her nanny told us, though, that usually, the characters reverse when kids grow up; so expect a calmer Alwyn and a noisier Alfie, she went on.

A noisier Alfie? We're not sure. Because even now, he is already very, very active and talkative. His friends now has extended to Mr. Bean, McQueen from Cars, and Spiderman -- he still likes Barney, of course. He also loves to see people playing piano and golf -- and has tried both. This year, he had his first performance at school, singing and dancing that is.

Anna didn't do much traveling this year, due to pregnancy and Alwyn's birth. She only went to Bangalore for a week. Aco had some: London/Brighton, Paris, Bangkok (twice), Manila, and Amsterdam/Den Haag. In addition to that, he published four academic papers this year.

That's all, folks. Again, happy new year!

Let's go golfing

"Papa, how come you don't play golf?"
"Err, I don't know... Maybe it's not my thing..."
"What do you mean it's not your thing. This is like totally cool, Papa"
"Well... For one, it's expensive"
"But Nathan's papa said you could rent those things"
"I guess so... But it seems too tiring and time consuming"
"But you need exercise, Papa... Besides, you waste your non-working time for useless blogging... Go golfing, Papa"
"Ehm... Maybe it's not my thing, Son..."

Alfie and the snowmen

... But the snow ain't real, Papa...

Alfie's first performance

Happy new year everyone!

... And Alfie makes the headstart

Alwyn can't wait for the holiday season

Smoke gets in presentation

How often do you give a talk where at the same time is allowed to smoke? The last time I saw that happened was in a movie about Indonesian revolution. Today I find this ashtray sitting so nicely next to the microphone. Luckily the topic today has nothing to do with clean environment or climate change and all that...

Bumpy ride

"Hey, look, there's another hole!... Papa, why do we have so many holes on the street?"
"Because we're developing, Son. Holes are good sign"
"But why do they dig it again after they fix it, the street?"
"Ergh, because we're learning how to develop, Son. It's all trial and error..."

Mie ain't no food, Bu

"I think it's time now for Alfie to eat, Bu"

"Er, but he just ate mie. A bowl of noodle, all by himself"

"No, Bu, mie ain't no food, Bu... Alfie has to eat nasi, Bu. Now, that is food, rice..."

He's cool, she's hot

"Papa, what's cool really mean? And what's hot?"
"Ugh 'sejuk' and 'panas'..."
"That's what I thought. That's what my teachers say, too"
"So what's the problem?"
"This dude of mine. Whatever I do great stuff -- rolling, jumping and all -- he goes: you're 'cool', man... And one day I overheard Mr. X said to Ms. Y that Ms. Y is 'hot'..."
"Oh, I see. There's something called slang. Both 'cool' and 'hot' can mean good or great"
"That's confusing"
"I know"

Hi

Alwyn, 3 months, 7.7 kgs, 70 cms

Nursing corner

Further to the post below. Here is their "nursing room". Don't expect too much. It is actually NOT a room. It is a cubicle with wooden wall and two office chairs behind it! Have you been to the nursing room in Plasa Senayan or PIM? This one here is nowhere near it. Isn't it ironic that you have better nursing room in shopping malls than in hospitals?

And this is the best mother and baby hospital in town!

Stinky hospital

We love this hospital, mostly because it is close by and it has good doctors. But this morning it stinks. As we entered the clinic, we immediately sensed a really bad smell. Obviously somebody just threw up. It's a scent of puke all over. Some visitors were covering their nose. Of course we asked the nurses what had happened (surely it's a puke) and why they had not tried getting rid of the smell (which is very easy; if they wanted to). But this is their response: "Smell? What smell?" Can you believe it? As I'm writing this the smell is still bothering.

And this is the best mother and baby hospital in town!

Good boy don't cry

Alfie has been picking up words and words. He is now able to construct them into meaningful sentences, albeit imperfectly. One thing needs more improvement is his associating English sentences used by his teachers with their true meaning. Apparently context is much more important (or probably easier to comprehend) to a toddler, regardless of the lexicographic meaning, i.e. text attached.

So for example, Alfie's understanding of "good boy don't cry" is "throw it into the trash bin". I notice, whenever we ask him to throw stuff into the bin, he goes "Good boy don't cry". As it turns out, at his school, when anybody (mostly boys) happens to cry, the teacher pulls out tissue paper, wipes his tears, and asks him to throw the tissue paper into the bin. In so doing, she keeps saying (presumably in the attempt to calm down the boy): Good boy don't cry.

Isn't language amazing?

Driving in Jakarta

"Papa, why do we always have this heavy traffic jam?"
"Because this is Jakarta. It's supposed to be busy, crowded and noisy"
"I see. Look, you told me red means stop, but why are those motorists crossing it?"
"They're color-blinded"
"And what's with all this honking?"
"We do that. We're friendly"
"Papa, I love Jakarta"

Is Alfie an anomaly?

We'd been worried that Alfie would show his rejection and jealousy in welcoming his younger brother. Every parents that we met always told us and reminded to 'watch out the big brother' or he would hit or do harmful things to his younger brother, out of jealousy. The fact is, Alfie just loves his brother so much. He actually helps me taking care of Alwyn. "Mom, Alwyn is crying, go nurse him" is just an example.

Today, we just found out another anomaly. We had to take a new nanny for him yesterday. His nanny, who had been taking care of him since he was baby, now changed to taking care of Alwyn -- she is an expert of newborn babies; so we needed a replacement for the now-toddler Alfie. So there we were, picking up the new nanny. Again, we were quite anxious. People had been telling us that toddlers would not let go of their nannies easily. As it turned out, we needed not to be that anxious. It took Alfie only two hours to like her new nanny! We were so relieved...

As I'm writing this the two boys are sleeping already. I thank Alfie for being such a nice boy...

Overthonged Spidey

"Papa, why is Spidey's underwear outside?"
"Ugh, because it is what superheroes do..."
"I want to be a superhero. Can I wear my underwear like that"
"No, not until you can fly"
"Hey, in that case, it wouldn't hurt if I let Spidey wear mine as well, would it? After all, he is a superhero"
"..."

Hulk and Alfie

Alfie's new buddy, The Incredible Hulk

Vulgar Bahasa or Bahasa Vulgar, whatever

I know we have taken this for granted since long time ago. We say "banjir kanal" while what we mean is "kanal banjir" or flood channel (or better yet "saluran air" or water channel). We all know that the right Bahasa Indonesia structure follows noun-adjective or noun-adverb order like that of French and unlike that of English. But of course we have violated this here and there. We see people selling "pisang goreng" or fried banana but the sign on the cart says "goreng pisang".

I guess I shouldn't care too much either.

Baby Barack

The New York Times reported that there has been an increasing number of babies named Barack, after the president elect.

It reminds me of an email from Neil McCulloch over at Sussex some time ago. "How are the boys? Since you name your kids after great economists -- Alfie Marshall and Alwyn Young; would the third be Paul?" The email came a week after Krugman got his Nobel.

Actually I've been thinking of Armand -- after Armen Alchian.

But of course Anna says enough is enough.

Don't underestimate kids

We've been irritated by Alfie's new hobby: fridge inspection. Too bad our fridge comes without lock key. Every now and then Alfie opens the refrigerator and takes stuff out or simply reorganizes the things inside, the way he likes it.

So I came up with this brilliant idea. Put a security mechanism on the door. I bought one of those Japanese made household thingies. Then I put it on.

And it took only 5 minutes for Alfie to figure out how to get around the system. Now, instead of a lock he sees it as yet another new toy...

Greetings from Bogor

Papa, will they destroy this statue? You know I heard they just passed a law that prohibits things like this?

The Gas Chamber

This is actually a class room. It so happened the uni got some funding from State Gas Company. As a token of appreciation, the room is named "Ruang Gas Negara" or literally "state gas room". Which always reminds me of gas chamber in those stories about Auschwitchz...

The Troublemakers

Alfie vs Alwyn (inflation adjusted)

Top: Alwyn, October 26, 2008 (~ 2 months old)
Bottom: Alfie, October 28, 2006 (~ 2 months old)

Alwyn 2 months old

Alfie's favorite Beatle

I just noticed. Alfie's favorite Beatle is that of Ringo Starr. That makes him another non-mainstream Beatlemania. Before in the house there is one. Me, who prefers George Harrison to the other three.

Wishing you a happy 1429th Eid Day

... from all of us.
Anna, Aco, Alfie,Alwyn

For Alfie

Alfie, I apologize that I was mad at you.

You are sleeping now. I am busy reading and sending short messages regarding the Eid Day. When you grow up, you'll understand what that is, the SMS, the Eid Day. But that's beside the point now. I just want to explain that what I did to you, slapping your wrist, was not cool. And I'm sorry. Even more so, as I am watching you sleeping so peacefully.

Once ago, I don't remember exactly when, I told myself that I would follow your grandpa's way: never punish his children physically. I guess I failed today. Yet, to make me feel better, I insisted that it was just the slap-on-the-wrist slap on the wrist. You, on the other hand, were surprised nevertheless and cried "Papa, that hurts!". I admit I was being a bad father who lost his temper. Maybe it was the nanny's absence that made me exhausted and in turn loosing my cool. Maybe it was the culmination of a series: you drew pictures on table, you almost broke a glass plate, you poured water into my laptop. All those finally led to the slap as you were yelling so loudly just an inch from your sleeping baby brother's ear.

While admittedly, these are probably your happiest days: free from the nanny and spending all time with your otherwise office-working parents. You had probably looking forward to a time like this when you could see your papa and mama every minute and second. When you could ask him or her to read any story you like. Or simply to show them how advance you were as a two year old. You, in other words, deserve to be spoiled this week. And I blew it.

I am sorry for two counts. First, for slapping your wrist (and thus ignoring those books' advice of never-slap-your-child-just-talk-to-them). Second, for not being able to tell you my regret directly in words, even though I knew you forgave me right away; as 15 minutes afterward you asked me to read you Clifford -- which in fact amplified my guilty feeling.

So here it is. While everybody is asking forgiveness one another in the eve of the Eid Day, I tender mine especially to you. You would not give a damn to this post of course. But someday you'll read it and know that once when you were two, your father was mad at you, slapped you, then regretted it.

I'm gonna sleep next to you know. So when you woke up, I'll be there telling you what I wrote here in plain words. Of course you (and your mother for that matter) will think I'm nuts. But I'll do it anyway.

Alfie's gig

 

 

Alfie: Hi, I'm Alfie. Mind if I join?
The girl: Not at all. What do you play? I'd like to sing
Alfie: I'll do piano
The girl: Alright. What do we sing?
Alfie: Yellow submarine?

Anna's three boys

or rather: two boys and one shameless older dude...

Doc Oc and Alfie

Anna texted me over to Manila. She was teaching English to Alfie.

Anna: What's this [pointing to a picture of octopus]
Alfie: Ehm... gurita! [that's Indonesian for octopus]
Anna: Yes, it is also octopus
Alfie: No, it's gurita!
Anna: OK. In English it is octopus
Alfie: But Doctor Octopus is in Papa's Spiderman comic!
Anna: ?

Picture taken from Wikipedia

Meet Alwyn

Alwyn

Dear friends,

We're delighted to inform you that Alfie now has a baby brother, Alwyn. He was born Tuesday August 26, 2008 at 0821 am in Bunda Hospital Jakarta. Birthweight is 3.7 kgs and birthlength is 50 cms. (Anna opted for waterbirth and it was cool, by the way).

The name is Alwyn Yang Patunru. Some of you would think I was inspired by the Chicago economist Alwyn Young (whose research on learning by doing I used for my undergraduate thesis). Yes, partly, maybe. But it was also because we wanted a middle name that goes in-sync with Alfie's "Shan". "Yang" (pronounced 'young') means sunny place (as in yin-yang). I was told, it can also mean "mighty".

Alfie is now with his grandma. But from what he sounds over the phone, he seems to have a mixed feeling on Alwyn's presence: a fun buddy but also a competition.

Pictures and all will be posted soon.

Ready to go...

Alfie's looking forward to his cocktail party

Salute to the country

Alfie is saluting the country's 63rd Independence Day. His second birthday is one day after.

Alfie's update

It's been awhile. So many things have developed.

Alfie now has become the most talkative person in the entire house (population size: 4). He even proudly calls himself a "burung beo" (mockingbird), because he picks up on whatever you say. Now he can sing three or four songs from Barney's (usually his memory fails him after halfway through in which case he would mumble some alien words). His favorites include London Bridge is Falling Down and Ring Around the Rosies (is that the correct title?). He has his own version of ABCD song: he goes a-b-c-d in English pronunciation then e-f-g in Indonesian pronunciation, then he deliberately spells the remaining very vaguely to avoid criticism from his parents -- he only makes it clear when it comes to m-m-m-o-p (his version of "l-m-n-o-p"). He can count from 1 to 9 even if the objects are only 3 or 4. And he memorizes TV commercials way better than his mom. For example, he recognizes Indomie Seleraku commercial just by listening to the very first two tones.

He also started to like characters other than Barney's and Tom-and-Jerry: Spiderman, Spongebob, and SBY.

(Not so) Old Man and the sea Boy

"Can't believe we're finally doing this, Pap. I mean, you've been promising me playing kite together like years ago"
"Sorry, Son. I said sorry already, right? And what do you mean 'years ago' you're not even 2 yet. Don't exaggerate. But hey, look at the bright side: here we are walking in a park with a kite. Let's hope the wind is good"
"OK, Pap, but promise me you'll take me swimming after this"
"Errgh, how about next week? Pap has to do some works in the aftern..."
"Oh, c'mon, Papa. It's weekend for god's sakes. What's with all those works? It's not like we're going broke once you skip a work or two, right?"
"Hey, who taught you that? You talk like a grown up"
"Mom"
"Ah, don't listen to your Mom"
"But she's cool, Pap. She just bought me a new pair of shoes. Look at this. Yeah, they're kind of too big, but I don't mind. I can use them longer. You call that 'economics', don't you?"
"Oh, let's not get into that. OK, I promise you we'll go swimming later"
"Thanks, Pap! That's my old man!"
"Shut up"

Lunch, shall we?

Alfie and his buddy, Nathan. Can't wait for the meals.