A beautiful poem for everyone

Hello everyone! Ika has shared a nice poem by D. Bonhoeffer.Let me also share with you the beautiful poem "Desiderata" (meaning "desired things") by Max Ehrmann.

Desiderata

by Max Ehrmann (1927)

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer House

We have spent our course in Dietrich Bonhoeffer House during The IDC of Berlin Section. Who is Dietrich Bonhoeffer actually? He was a philosopher, an idealist, a hero who was against Hitler and died by Gestapo in 1945. I found one of his poems written on his famous book "Letters and Papers From Prison": Who am I?.

WHO AM I?
Who am I? They often tell me
I would step from my cell's confinement
calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
like a squire from his country-house.

Who am I? They often tell me
I would talk to my warders
freely and friendly and clearly,
as though it were mine to command.

Who am I? They also tell me
I would bear the days of misfortune
equably, smilingly, proudly,
like one accustomed to win.

Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I know of myself,
restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat,
yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds, thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,
trembling with anger at despotisms and petty humiliation, tossing in expectation of great events,
powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?

Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today, and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
and before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?

Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, thou knowest, 0 God, I am thine.

Welcome Victor and Ika

Let us welcome Victor and Ika to the blog. Authors are slowly trickling in as most participants are on their way home or other destinations. We hope all participants would join and contribute articles and thoughts on any subject matter i suppose.

I'm sure there were some names left out in the call for authors as i took the liberty of using the name cards i got from the participants. Please inform your friends to mail me so that i can invite everyone. It is not on purpose that your are left out. I just didn't have your biz cards.

The site is just to keep us together.

Dreams

A late night at Brandenburger Tor, Berlin. Wir fahren nach Berlin.

The serenade of Alexander Rupp, at Dietrich Bonhoeffer Memorial,

Berlin, one day in May 2008.

When I was a child my mother always told me, "My dear, It is important to have specific dreams." Then some years ago I found that Japanese people believe: Kokoro kara negaeba, hontouni naru, which means when you wish by your heart, dreams will come into reality. Then these days, The Osnabrueck-Berlin IDC, gave me understanding that we need to have dreams and realize what we dream of into specific actions, by which we can contribute more to our society.

Thank you for everybody in the IDC, who gave me lessons learned. Special thanks for Alexander Rupp who worked very hard for the success of the IDC. I send you your picture, Alex, and a night picture of Berlin taken on May 12, 2008.

Welcome onboard Sanchai

Sanchai made it to be the first to come onboard. Hope he can contribute to the blog extensively with all his jokes and wits.

The Closing Ceremony

No tears flowed, not yet. The occasion was exhilarating when the names of each participant were read out. Unknown faces 10 days ago who came forward to receive their certificate of completion were applauded.

The first to receive the certificate was Ika Dewi Ana, fondly known as Ika, a petite dentist from Universitas Gadjah Mada who works on nano materials. The Humboldtian Thai kept us in stitches with his candid humour. The Pillow Man, looked cool throughout the course. Then there was the Seronok Man, ok in one country, but not the other. Others that received the certificates were Einstein, How Much Lady, Tongkat Ali Man, Cili Padi (small but loud), Perdido, Barbie Doll, Ojek Lady, Dangdut Girl, One Name Man, and The Vietnamese Duke.

What are your impression of the occasion?

Seems to be the "official" IDC2008 foto

Final day but not the last

Today is the final day of the course. Surely everyone was looking forward to this day so as to return home to their loved ones. It has been two long weeks (almost). Ten working days seem to be a good duration, not too long, not too short.

New friends have been found and networking has been established by the end of the course. We see motivated and rejuvenated colleagues in the pursuit of excellence in higher education management.

"Cherish the moment, and the moment will never end..." Anon:2008

The Super Dean?

Deans of universities have the daunting task of applying their management soft-skills to academic decision. In doing so, the dean may step on many toes, if he or she is not careful. It is with this caution that deans must understand and apply management and leadership skills in ways that may not be the outcome of a generic Harvard management school program. Rather, the deans would have to play a three act show all at once.