oh man, i feel like i've developed a linguistic fetish on finding similarity between german and indonesian language. Anyway here are some more words.......

Magen = maag = gastric, Akte = akte = file, Besuch = besuk = visit, Bushaltestelle = halte bus = bus stop, Makler = makelar = middleman, Apotheke = apotik = drugstore, Rezept = resep = prescription, Kammer = kamar = chamber, Kohl = kol = cabbage, Moebel = mebel = furniture, Kubus =kubus= cube, Koffer = koper = suitcase.

You are still following the list up to here? I forgot to forewarn you at the beginning that I cannot guarantee that this linguistic fetish is not contagious =)

As I am learning German, it’s baffling how the German language and my mother tongue Indonesian bear some random and intriguing similarities in their words. Here are some examples. (German word = Indonesian word = English meaning). Note that all german nouns start with capital letters.

Handtuch = handuk = towel, Tante = tante = aunt/auntie, Fabrik = pabrik = factory, Dirigent = dirijen = musical conductor, Benzin = bensin = petrol, Dozent = dosen =  lecturer, Chauffeur = sopir = driver (this particular one originates from French), Aufnahme = opname = acceptance into hospital, Gang = gang = pathway, streng = streng = strict, Tasche = tas = bag, Beton = beton = concrete (building), Rock = rok = skirt, Ananas = nanas = pineapple, locker = longgar = loose, BH / Buestenhalter = BH = bra, Schule (German) = skuola (Italian) = sekolah (Indonesia) = school (English).

I guess the similarity is because of the long Dutch colonialism era in Indonesia and the fact that German language is very much akin to Dutch language. Nonetheless, such similarities are mind-boggling and entertaining in my learning process. I enjoy learning new languages (but not all languages) and many times I discover the beauty of a language upon closer acquaintance with it.

Some people perceive life on earth as a game. I am one of those, who are too caught up in "the game of life" until God recently taught me to have the right perspective on life. It's part of human nature to approach life as one big game made up of a lot of little games. Competing can be fun, exciting and stimulating. I set my own personal goals at every turn of my life. If I can achieve them, I think I win, if not I lose. While material possessions, professional success, and personal victories are enjoyable, unfortunately they last only for this life. Then they are all left behind. I am learning to change my earth-bound mindset to heaven-ward paradigm which considers artificial victories in "the game of life" as mere rubbish. At the end of the day, what really counts is what's done for the Lord.

I guess it's better to be a loser on earth but a winner in heaven, rather than the opposite. Those who live for God are the real winners in life. Get real Andreas! Stop playing your own silly game of life.

 

Mark 8:34

"Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself [forgetting, disowning and lose sight of himself and his own selfish interests], and take up his cross, and follow Me."

 

exam.....exam.....exam

stress....stress.....stress

homesick.....homesick.....homesick.....

halfway there and i can enjoy a 4-month break =)