PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE…...
On behalf of the advisor and committee members of the multicultural student association, I like to welcome everyone to the November 2008 edition of the MSA E-Newsletter. I hope you all are having a fun and exciting fall semester. We have had new events this fall like the OKC day tour and also have a lot of fun and educational events throughout the year like the international showcase on November 20th, star links, and our various information sessions and international-domestic student dialogues. The MSA has grown a great lot from the spring with the inclusion of 50 new freshmen this fall, a whole committee set to translate English messages to major foreign languages and more domestic students with keen interests in diversity friendship and mentorship.
In conclusion, I like to thank other international organizations for their generous love and support and you, the reader for your interest in the multicultural student association.
In conclusion, I like to thank other international organizations for their generous love and support and you, the reader for your interest in the multicultural student association.
HALLOWEEN …!!
Halloween is a shortened form for ‘All Hallows Even’ The word Halloween has its origins from the Catholic Church as November 1st “All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints Day"), is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints. But, in the 5Th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31. The holiday was called Samhain (sow-en), the Celtic New year, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to the earth. Traditionally sacrificial offerings were made
to the gods on the appointed day each autumn to show their gratitude for a successful harvest and sustenance for another year. The ensuing feast, part ritual and part seasonal blow-out, usually culminated in a communal banquet with music, dancing, and harvest decor. Commonly harvest festivals were held on or about the arrival of the "harvest moon," the full moon occurring closest to the autumnal equinox in what is now the month of September. Samhain, the Celtic harvest festival thought to be the forerunner of Halloween, was an exception to that rule, taking place instead on what the Celts regarded as the last day of summer, October 31.
Jack O'Lantern is a practice which has been going on for centuries
in which people carve a pumpkin during Halloween. The legend behind it is that an Irishman named Jack O’Lantern tricked the Devil into promising him that he wouldn’t go to hell for his sins. When Jack died he learned that he was barred from heaven also, so he went down to the gates of hell after all to beg for a final resting place. But the Devil kept his promise, dooming Jack to wander the earth for all eternity with only an ember of hell fire of to light his way, hence he was known as Jack O'Lantern.
People wear costumes on Halloween because it is believed that wh
en ghosts come back to the earth, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people wear masks when they leave their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outs
ide their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter. The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. The practice, which was referred to as "going a-souling" was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.
Today, Americans spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country's second largest commercial holiday.
to the gods on the appointed day each autumn to show their gratitude for a successful harvest and sustenance for another year. The ensuing feast, part ritual and part seasonal blow-out, usually culminated in a communal banquet with music, dancing, and harvest decor. Commonly harvest festivals were held on or about the arrival of the "harvest moon," the full moon occurring closest to the autumnal equinox in what is now the month of September. Samhain, the Celtic harvest festival thought to be the forerunner of Halloween, was an exception to that rule, taking place instead on what the Celts regarded as the last day of summer, October 31.Jack O'Lantern is a practice which has been going on for centuries
in which people carve a pumpkin during Halloween. The legend behind it is that an Irishman named Jack O’Lantern tricked the Devil into promising him that he wouldn’t go to hell for his sins. When Jack died he learned that he was barred from heaven also, so he went down to the gates of hell after all to beg for a final resting place. But the Devil kept his promise, dooming Jack to wander the earth for all eternity with only an ember of hell fire of to light his way, hence he was known as Jack O'Lantern.People wear costumes on Halloween because it is believed that wh
en ghosts come back to the earth, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people wear masks when they leave their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outs
ide their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter. The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. The practice, which was referred to as "going a-souling" was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.Today, Americans spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country's second largest commercial holiday.
If people can give their time to listen carefully, horrible life events can be avoided. On June 29, 2000, on my birthday, I decided to do something special for that day. I called up my best friend to accompany me so that I could give a donation at the Mental Health Hospital. However, he had a busy day, so I drove my car to the Nusantara Mental Hospital, Surabaya in the morning. When I went to the hospital, I walked from the parking lot to the main door of the hospital. I met a nurse at the reception to give my donation for the patients. I asked the nurse to allow me to look around because that was my first time in a Mental Health Hospital.
The hospital had four white buildings, one main building that I just came in, and three other buildings for the patients. While I walked to the one of three building, I was getting the smell of
disinfectant all around me. I entered the first building with a nurse. She explained to me that the first building was for the patients whose illness was not serious and who could be healed. I saw many patients as there talking, crying, and playing by themselves. Suddenly, I focused on a man who held matches in his hand and looked outside the window. Every time the matches fell down, he always picked them up and he returned them back to the same position. Because I was curious, I asked the nurse what happened with the patient. The nurse narrated the touching story behind the curious man which I will never forget and want to share it with you.
He had a family of three in Jakarta Indonesia. He was a rich businessman who was very busy. Every day after he returned back home, he had just had one hour to spend with his family for dinner and play with his three year old son. After about an hour, he went to his room to continue on with his job. Unlike him, the wife was an understanding woman. She spent her entire day with her son. Although her husband was rarely at home, as he did not have much time, he still loved his family.
One day, when he returned back home, he had his dinner by himself without his
wife. After that, he grasped his laptop and returned back to his work in his room. The wife asked him to take care of their son because she wanted to take a shower.“John, are you busy today? Can you go to the family room to take care of David for a moment? I want to take my shower.”
“Ok….ok!!! Just one second. I will bring my laptop and work near David.”
While his wife was taking a shower, he was continuing with his job near David.
“Hey David, do not take my paper. Daddy is still busy. Play with your toys over there.”
The second time, his son tried to invite his father to play with him, but
“No!! David. Daddy is still busy. You can play with my matches. Here you go!”
As David was playing with the matches, his mother had not yet finished taking her shower.
“John, what is David doing?” “He is playing with my matches.”
“What??? Why do you give him your matches? David can eat it. Take them away out from him!”
“It is OK! I am monitoring him as he is playing near me.”
After the wife asked the husband three times to take the matches from their son, and the husband did not want to listen to his wife, suddenly their son caught fire and burned his face and body. The husband threw out his laptop and he screamed to his wife to help him because their son was crying loudly. After the wife looked at their son, she could not say anything, as she was crying. The husband tried to call an ambulance and bring him to the hospital. However, when they were on their way to go the emergency, their son became quiet, and his body froze like ice. Before they arrived to the hospital, their son had passed away. The mother also passed away a month later after her son because she was heartbroken, the husband was the man who was in the mental hospital standing with the matches in his hand.
The story has changed my behavior. When my father calls me to do something, the first time I would say, “Later La,” And try to procrastinate, but after I heard this story, I always attend to my father.
The hospital had four white buildings, one main building that I just came in, and three other buildings for the patients. While I walked to the one of three building, I was getting the smell of
disinfectant all around me. I entered the first building with a nurse. She explained to me that the first building was for the patients whose illness was not serious and who could be healed. I saw many patients as there talking, crying, and playing by themselves. Suddenly, I focused on a man who held matches in his hand and looked outside the window. Every time the matches fell down, he always picked them up and he returned them back to the same position. Because I was curious, I asked the nurse what happened with the patient. The nurse narrated the touching story behind the curious man which I will never forget and want to share it with you.He had a family of three in Jakarta Indonesia. He was a rich businessman who was very busy. Every day after he returned back home, he had just had one hour to spend with his family for dinner and play with his three year old son. After about an hour, he went to his room to continue on with his job. Unlike him, the wife was an understanding woman. She spent her entire day with her son. Although her husband was rarely at home, as he did not have much time, he still loved his family.
One day, when he returned back home, he had his dinner by himself without his
wife. After that, he grasped his laptop and returned back to his work in his room. The wife asked him to take care of their son because she wanted to take a shower.“John, are you busy today? Can you go to the family room to take care of David for a moment? I want to take my shower.”“Ok….ok!!! Just one second. I will bring my laptop and work near David.”
While his wife was taking a shower, he was continuing with his job near David.
“Hey David, do not take my paper. Daddy is still busy. Play with your toys over there.”
The second time, his son tried to invite his father to play with him, but
“No!! David. Daddy is still busy. You can play with my matches. Here you go!”
As David was playing with the matches, his mother had not yet finished taking her shower.
“John, what is David doing?” “He is playing with my matches.”
“What??? Why do you give him your matches? David can eat it. Take them away out from him!”
“It is OK! I am monitoring him as he is playing near me.”
After the wife asked the husband three times to take the matches from their son, and the husband did not want to listen to his wife, suddenly their son caught fire and burned his face and body. The husband threw out his laptop and he screamed to his wife to help him because their son was crying loudly. After the wife looked at their son, she could not say anything, as she was crying. The husband tried to call an ambulance and bring him to the hospital. However, when they were on their way to go the emergency, their son became quiet, and his body froze like ice. Before they arrived to the hospital, their son had passed away. The mother also passed away a month later after her son because she was heartbroken, the husband was the man who was in the mental hospital standing with the matches in his hand.
The story has changed my behavior. When my father calls me to do something, the first time I would say, “Later La,” And try to procrastinate, but after I heard this story, I always attend to my father.
Listening is important in people’s lives because listening can change their lives for the better.
By : Albert R. Kurnia
Multicultural Student Association Committee
(Valeria Rivera, Laura Montes, Veronica Andrade, Edwards Ayo, Abhijit Bellur)
Special thanks to Yuliana Hermanto our Graphics Designer for her help and support in designing the News Letter and Flyers on various occasions.
From a pot of wine among the flowers
