A Year as A Civil Engineer Student : Academic Life

Dinamis dan warna-warni, mungkin itu kata-kata yang tepat untuk mendeskripsikan setahun di tingkat dua perkuliahan teknik sipil ITB. Ya materi kuliahnya, ya tugas-tugasnya, ya organisasinya, ya teman-temannya, ya aktivitas-aktivitasnya, semuanya benar-benar beragam. Berikut ini adalah hal-hal yang bisa saya bagi, dimulai dari dunia akademis dengan berbagai mata kuliahnya.

Semester 3

Rekayasa Bahan. Ini nih pelajaran pertama yang langsung kerasa ‘sipil banget’. Dipelajari 3 bahan utama dalam sipil yaitu beton, baja, kayu. Untuk beton, praktiknya langsung bikin. Mulai dari menghitung komposisi penyusunnya (agregat, air, semen), mengaduk-aduk, sampai mencetak. Seru banget! Serasa bikin kue. Seperti pride pertama jadi anak sipil ‘gw bikin beton sendiri loh’. Untuk baja dan kayu, dipelajari properties mekanis nya, seperti kuat tekan kuat tarik.

Statika. Dasarnya sipil. Gak ada rumus yang dihafal-hafal, ujung-ujungnya cuma satu : hukum Newton. Nah mata kuliah 3 SKS ini isinya tentang itu semua, versi lebih detail dan banyak sekali tipe soal. Yang jelas, ke depannya mata kuliah ini bakal sangat terpakai. Pengantar Rekayasa Transportasi. Pelajaran ini menyenangkan. Membahas komponen pendukung infrastruktur transportasi dari berbagai sisi. Ya bicara moda transportasinya, jaringan jalan pendukungnya , dan segala infrastrukturnya. Yang dibahas masih secara general jadi tidak terlalu banyak ngitung-ngitung. Di akhir semester ada tugas menghitung kapasitas parkiran.

Pengantar Surveying. Ini mata kuliah yang ¾ dari angkatan dipastikan tidur (bukan contoh yang baik emang). Bayangin aja, satu angkatan di ruangan GKU timur atas yang dingin dan nyaman. Karena nggak dapet praktek nya, makin lengkap pula lah ngawang-ngawang nya pelajaran ini.

Matematika Rekayasa I. Lanjutan kalkulus. Tingkat kesulitan materi / kehebohan kuliah sangat tergantung dosen.

Analisis Statistik dan Probabilitas. Seperti judul mata kuliahnya, ya gak jauh-jauh tentang statistik dan probabilitas. Kuliahnya rata-rata open book. Kuncinya satu : ngerti dan tau penerapan rumusnya. Kalau di kelas saya, adanya asisten dosen sangat membantu. Mencoba mengerjakan sendiri tugas yang dikasih dosen sangat membantu pemahaman.

Mekanika Fluida. Praktikum ini yang cukup menjadi momok untuk anak semester 3. Praktikum nya sih sebentar, hanya 2 kali pertemuan. Tapi laporannya, hmmm, lumayan merepotkanlah untuk ukuran anak lulus TPB. Belajar pertama kali bikin draft laporan, mencari-cari master (ups!), bolak-balik asistensi ke asisten, mendayagunakan Microsoft Excel dengan berbagai bentuk grafiknya yang aneh-aneh, bolak balik print dan menghabiskan malam-malam panjang di kampus untuk mengerjakan laporan. Juga deg-degan karena presentasi praktikum yang berjam-jam lamanya.

literally a concrete maker - menghitung kapasitas parkiran - kuliah lapangan di bendungan jatigede

Semester 4

Rekayasa Jalan. Semua tentang serba serbi pembuatan jalan, ada di sini. Dibagi menjadi 2 : geometri jalan dan perkerasan jalan. Ada tugas besar yang cukup sulit karena cuma ber2 dan kondisi medan yang dikasih bisa bener-bener beda. Saya gak pernah nyangka bahwa bikin jalan itu banyak banget komponen yang diitung. Tikungan, kelandaian, kemiringan, jenis medan. Wow, ternyata bikin jalan itu kompleks sekali. Tapi ini nih efeknya sesudah belajar rekjal : suka banyak komentar dan ngebahas dari segi keilmuan kalo lewat jalan rusak.

Mekanika Bahan. Lanjutannya statika. Kesuksesan mata kuliah ini banyak sekali dipengaruhi pemahaman ilmu statika.

Mekanika Tanah. Ini mata kuliah yang cukup berat. Dalam artian, pertemuan praktikumnya cukup padat. Sering banget bolak balik ke lab mektan yang tersohor itu. Berbagai ‘uji-uji’ dilakukan, antara lain : uji konsolidasi, triaksial, kompaksi, direct shear, dll. Ilmunya sendiri juga bener-bener baru, gabungan antara teori yang banyak sama ngitung-ngitung juga. Laporan 12 bab, asistensi, dan presentasinya juga lumayan menghabiskan waktu. Yang jelas ilmu ini penting banget. Banyak yang tertarik jadi masuk subjur geoteknik yang super berprospek itu. Rekayasa Hidrologi. Mirip mekanika fluida tapi versi lebih luas dan banyak contoh bangunan air. Ada tugas besar menghitung drainase di ITB dan merancang drainase.

Gambar Konstruksi. Ini nih mata kuliah yang paling time consuming. Tugas gambar tiap minggu di kertas A1. Mulai dari denah, tampak depan, tampak samping, pondasi, atap, dll. Tapi alokasi waktu yang terbuang, duh. Waktu pengerjaan minimal banget 6-7 jam an, itu juga kalau tugasnya lagi simpel. Untuk tugas pertama bahkan saya total menghabiskan belasan jam untuk menyelesaikan (plus trial error nya tentu aja). Welcome deh muka-muka anak sipil yang kucel, lupa mandi, kesiangan, bawa-bawa tabung, menjajah sudut-sudut ruang baca CC, menggelar kertas gede gak tau diri, dan panik menjelang pengumpulan. Terasa gak fair mengingat sebenarnya matkul ini cuma 3 SKS dan gak semua dosen memasukkan nilai tugas gambarnya sebagai nilai, tapi ya begitu lah rule of the game nya.

Matematika Rekayasa II. Mengandalkan excel dengan soal-soal super mutakhir. Sungguh memacu adrenalin tiap kali mau kuliah. Satu yang paling saya inget ketika ujian praktek. Setengah angkatan berebut dengan laptop-laptop demi menyetor nilai. Segala cara copy paste dan edit agar nampak natural udah dicoba, bahkan ada yang nekat bawa laptop orang. Chaos dan liar banget. Anak paling males dan gak pedulian pun pasti bakal terenyuh kalo kena mata kuliah dengan dosen tertentu ini.

malam2 panjang bersama kertas gambar - lab rekayasa jalan - bereksperimen dengan tanah

Intinya, adaptasi pola kuliah di tingkat 2 benar-benar dimulai dari enol . Secara ilmu, jelas beda karena lebih spesifik. Tingkat kesulitan pun jadi sangat relatif, seringkali tergantung standar dosen serta sebetapa kita tertarik dengan mata kuliah tersebut. Tapi yang paling kontras berbeda dengan TPB adalah banyaknya praktikum dan tugas-tugas kelompok serta presentasi. Hal-hal ini yang kadang banyak sekali menyita waktu, dan mesti pinter-pinter menyesuaikan jadwal dengan teman-teman sekelompok.

Delays

Hmmm I'm supposed to be posting about Bon Odori 2010, but I can't figure out how to work the new Flickr layout ^^;;;; I did try taking the "tour" but it doesn't seem to work on my com o_O???

So my picture & events posts will be a little delayed till I can putter around and "fix" it ^^;

Cocktail stir fried noodles

Cocktail seafood which was a derivative of stir fried squid was such a great hit, that I wanted to use it as a main course. Nothing could have been better than this cocktail stir fried noodles. Here goes the recipe....

Ingredients:

Wheat noodles - 200grams

Cocktail seafood - 200 grams

Boneless chicken - 100 grams

Eggs - 2 nos

Carrots (chopped lengthwise) - 1 nos

Beans (chopped) - 1/4 cup

Olive oil - 2 tbsp

Chicken stock cube - 1 nos

Salt for taste

Dried herbs of choice like parsley, chives, thyme etc.

Method:

Cook noodles in hot boiling water until its done, strain water using a colander and keep the noodles aside. In a wok, heat oil add eggs with constant stirring, add chicken (diced into cubes) and stir till its almost done. Add cocktail seafood, carrots and beans, chicken stock cube, and stir well for a min. Finally add some salt for taste, dried herbs etc. and toss well and serve hot.

Note:

For best results serve this sizzling hot like a sizzler with green salad.

Dear NYC, meet the Holton Farms CSA... a.k.a. your dream come true.

Oh friends. Perhaps you're something like me. You *mean* to get down to the Union Square green market, you really do. But the crowds are INSANE, and it's really far from where you live, and most of it isn't organic, and... and... Well shoot, now it's too late to bother going anyway.

So then you go to Whole Foods. It's mobbed there too. And you're totally frustrated with their produce, most of which is conventionally grown anyway. The organic stuff is grown either on the other side of the country or better yet in another country altogether. You get excited about the huge honking sign proclaiming "LOCAL PRODUCE!!", and deflate quickly when beneath that sign you find three kinds of (conventionally grown) apples.

It would be so great if you could have just joined that CSA you heard about from your friend, but the membership waiting list is just ages long; they're all like that aren't they? But no, then you'd just end up with three pounds of radishes and a bunch of parsnips anyway.

Right?

Ahem. Enter Holton Farms of Westminster, Vermont and their fabulous new CSA Select program. A bit of a neighbor to the north, I'll grant you, but at a four hour drive locovores shouldn't be scoffing. I cannot take credit for this discovery; after being in my neighborhood for approximately 12 minutes, my friend Liz Cherry of the Excellent Name discovered Holton, which is so conveniently dropping off about eight blocks from my house. They're probably dropping by somewhere near your place too, or by your work maybe, since they have nearly 30 stops around the city throughout the week.

It gets better though. This ain't your mama's CSA. Unlike the others you've heard of, you don't just get a bag of whatever produce they feel like schlepping your way. You get to choose. It's like you're actually shopping for the food that you want to eat! Crazytime! Naturally what you can choose from depends on what they're growing and what is ready to harvest at that particular time, but this is one heck of a farm and the variety is great. So what you choose from is in peak season, just picked, and nearly all organic! Seriously, this is what it looks like when you log in:


As you may have gathered, the hubby and I have jumped right onto this here bandwagon. And it's kind of awesome. Last Sunday morning we strolled on over to the truck to pick up our produce - in the ecologically friendly reusable tote provided to us by Holton, of course. This week's picks included raspberries, blueberries, yellow squash, zucchini, parsley, red lettuce, a bunch of carrots, and a bunch of bok choy. The guys in the truck are so awesome - even though I know they've been awake since some obscene hour, they are still enthusiastic and funny and helpful, and really excited about the work they do. Call me idealistic, but to me there's something special about getting your food from people who actually know where it came from and are happy about providing it to you.

You get to guess at how much of our haul was actually for our darling furchild, Harvey the Rabbit. I will say that Harvey is now in LOVE with blueberries, which he had never had before this week. And he hearts carrot greens just about as much as the carrots themselves. Needless to say, the Holton Farms CSA Select program is Harvey-tested, Harvey-approved.

CSA = Community Supported Agriculture. And the more members they get, the more work they'll be able to do within the community. So if you've been meaning to look into a CSA but just haven't quite gotten around to it, THIS IS SO YOUR CHANCE. You know you want to. Is this the summer when you learn to eat local, seasonal, organic foods? It just might be...

Super Delicious Handmade Ice Cream

Found a wonderful dessert shop in Hunghom. My friend took me there. Out of my expectation, this shop is new, beautiful, clean and tidy with friendly waiters. Most important of all, VERY DELICIOUS and VERY CHEAP.

My friend lives in Hunghom and got a promotion leaflet and took us there to try. Of course, we were offered opening special price with that leaflet. But even without it, the prices are surprisely low and the desserts are so delicious.

Coconut, Mango, Pomelo Dessert

How much does it cost?

It comes in a duo, together with

the Green Tea handmade ice cream,

red bean syrup and sticky dumplings.
Only HK$35 (US$4.48)

How about my Grass Jelly Dessert Set?
Only HK$15 (US$1.9)

Some more promotions for the new shop.

I must say, even if you go here by taxi, it will still be a good deal.

They have 10 other shops, but all in Kowloon and New Territories. The one here in Hunghom is the first one with seats, the others serve only take-away.

手作りアイスクリーム

Dessert House

Japanese Tezukuri Ice Cream

13 Ming On Street, Hunghom, Kowloon

Hong Kong Food Blog - Super Dessert

Super Delicious Handmade Ice Cream

Found a wonderful dessert shop in Hunghom. My friend took me there. Out of my expectation, this shop is new, beautiful, clean and tidy with friendly waiters. Most important of all, VERY DELICIOUS and VERY CHEAP.

My friend lives in Hunghom and got a promotion leaflet and took us there to try. Of course, we were offered opening special price with that leaflet. But even without it, the prices are surprisely low and the desserts are so delicious.

Coconut, Mango, Pomelo Dessert

How much does it cost?

It comes in a duo, together with

the Green Tea handmade ice cream,

red bean syrup and sticky dumplings.
Only HK$35 (US$4.48)

How about my Grass Jelly Dessert Set?
Only HK$15 (US$1.9)

Some more promotions for the new shop.

I must say, even if you go here by taxi, it will still be a good deal.

They have 10 other shops, but all in Kowloon and New Territories. The one here in Hunghom is the first one with seats, the others serve only take-away.

手作りアイスクリーム

Dessert House

Japanese Tezukuri Ice Cream

13 Ming On Street, Hunghom, Kowloon

Hong Kong Food Blog - Super Dessert

Yukata Meet @ KLCC

Just a quick post on an old meet up ^^;

Early in May this year, a couple of friends and I had a yukata meet at KLCC! It was the first time I was going out with friends in yukata in Malaysia since 2007, so I was understandably very excited ^^;;;

We managed to schedule our meet so that it coincided with Isetan's Food Fair, so we of course headed there for lunch after having a picture-taking session at the KLCC Park. After lunch, we headed to Kinokuniya and shopped (and talked :P) for 2 hours before retiring at a cafe.

It was short, but still enjoyable! ^__^ It was nice to make new friends~~ :)

Anyway, pictures now!

I'd seen this little area in February and thought it looked nice, so I insisted that we went there to take pictures ^^;;;


We did manage to get someone to take pics of all 3 of us, but it's floating somewhere in my friend's Flickr, and I'm abit too lazy to find it ^^;

I was so amused by the fact that the flowers kind of matched me that day!

We stopped by to rest a little.


I've always been rather fond of "walking pictures"... :P"


I figured that since we were already at KLCC, we might as well take pics with the Twin Towers! Also, I always seem to take pics in Piccadilly Circus in London, so taking pics of another famous monument :P


I'm afraid we only bothered with our cameras a very little bit in the park, and rather forgot about them after that ^^; So no other photos ahahaha~

Just a little bit on my outfit:

It's a ro-weave yukata that I had bought from Oh!Japan's stall in last year's Japan Charity Bazaar & Fiesta. It was a little more expensive than I expected for something that feels like a cotton/poly mix, but I figured that it was for charity, so it's okay.

I very much like the fact that it's ro, so it feels easier to dress it up as a kimono. I tried hard to coordinate it so that it looks like a cool outfit, as we had been having a heatwave at that time. (And as cooling as the outfit looked, I was really boiling in it!!)

I was quite happy to find that my electric blue summerweave hakata obi matched it perfectly! It felt a little to stark and dark for my liking, so I paired it with white and light blue accessories. The light blue han'eri I'm wearing was a Christmas present from my kimono buddy in the UK, Chantal :) Thanks, Chan!

To complete the kimono look, I paired it with navy blue zori and white lace tabi.

My kitsuke was ok that day, but not great. I woke up late and had too little time to dress nicely, and my juban was very slippery! Since I got to KLCC early, I ended up retreating to a toilet and re-tying my obi there... ^^;;;

Next up would be a post on Bon Odori 2010 :)