At the end of last month, I participated as a volunteer committee member in one of the big events in Jakarta. The event, which targeted the middle-class niche, was called the Middle-Class Fair (Pekan Raya Kelas Menengah) and was organized by Menemukenali. It’s not the kind of event you’d commonly hear about like an art performance, music festival, or touring. But that’s exactly where its unique value lies.

Just like me, most of the people who attended were Zillennials (Gen Zees and Millennials). In this economy, we are constantly exposed to a capitalist lifestyle, disguised as superficial success, while struggling under the weight of being a sandwich generation. Meeting our parents’ expectations while preparing for our own future, yet still having to preserve our own identity to stay sane.

We’re not “high” enough to access all available facilities, but not “low” enough to be supported by the government either. It’s like being the middle child in a family of three. Often overlooked, yet always needed by everyone else. And I’m speaking in a social context here: the middle class contributes 50,7% of the country’s tax revenue. Did that hit a nerve? Yes.

As a group often forgotten, what we long for is a moment where we can feel valued, and celebrate every achievement we’ve made. That’s where Pekan Raya Kelas Menengah comes in, offering insightful events like seminars, FGDs, interactive sessions, exhibitions, and communities that make you raise your hand and think, “this is so me.” Not only that, it’s also a space to meet new people, share unique experiences, and vent about the same struggles. It’s like the things we do with our friends, but only on a larger scale. Whether it’s a picnic, an FGD (Indonesia: julid), sharing memes, buying snacks together, or decorating our dorm rooms with hopes and goals yet to be achieved.

Because at the end of the day, we Zillennials don’t really crave anything grand. What we want are small, simple things that keep reminding us:

you are matter.

—

If any of you want to know more, you can directly check Instagram @menemukenali and @pekanrayakelasmenengah.

Well, I think that’s enough of an introduction to the event as a bridging. Because the main point I actually want to write is about: why did I join?

Honestly, most of the members of Menemukenali are people I’ve known since college, and I’ve been watching from afar how my friends have grown. From searching for their identity to eventually finding their niche under the label “Middle Class,” which of course didn’t happen overnight. Naturally, I share the pride in every milestone achieved by the people I know. Especially with this initiative, because we all started from the same point. From being students who only cared about chasing grades and daydreaming about what we’d do after graduation, to suddenly being ‘forced’ to dive headfirst into the pool called ‘society’ without full preparation.

At the surface, my motivation for joining was to gain more experience and expand my network. But that’s just the safe, short, and straightforward answer. The template I’d give if anyone asked. Pretty stale, right?

After having some time of reflecting, this motivation comes from the deeper thought of my mind.

Looking back about three years ago,

I officially graduated from college and stepped into the working world.
The relationships I started were no longer just casual laughs, the responsibilities I faced were no longer just practice, my finances were no longer dependent on my parents, and the environment I encountered was nothing like the social-life simulation we once called ‘school.’ In other words, I had to be ready to let everything go and start a new chapter.

And so, I went through that phase.

If all this time life had always been about chasing targets — whether it’s graduating on time, chasing grade, avoiding remedials — suddenly, it became about maintaining a so-called ‘safe’ position in the workplace.

Do your best and it’s still wrong, underperform and it’s also wrong. You work only to get paid, but the money evaporates in just a few days. You’re not supposed to complain, because there are always others less fortunate.

It feels like losing the very reason to chase something meaningful, living inside a routine that repeats endlessly.

Is this what they call… adulting?

The simulation I once practiced turned out to be completely different from reality. It felt like being slapped by the truth, betrayed by the efforts and hopes I had carried for 25 years.

Do I really have to keep repeating these same days for the next 35 years?

What is the actual reason for our existence in this world?

Not only chasing grades,

there was more to the simulated world I once lived in. Yes, I almost forgot that there were extracurricular activities. A space for self-expression, friends walking alongside me, making the pursuit of grades feel less like a monotonous KPI target.

But as I grew older, the circle of friendships became more limited. And spaces for self-expression didn’t just come to me easily, like a sales promoter handing out samples.
That’s why I had to start seeking them out.

Thanks to capitalism’s narrative of “self-reward”, at least I still had some form of entertainment amidst the exhausting routine. There were plenty of interesting events to visit — to gain new experiences, to spark future conversations, or simply to enjoy the same atmosphere with different people. Whether it was reading alone in a library, attending an inspiring exhibition, or going to Jakarta Fair (which, frankly, is not exactly introvert-friendly).

Until the point when I realized there would always be another place worth visiting, another event worth attending, and different people inviting me to the same destination (or another with same experience). Capitalism’s narrative (will) never ends, constantly making me want to try everything.

But time, energy, and money said otherwise. People will come and go. Memories will either fade away or resurface. Like a child throwing a sudden tantrum when their wishes aren’t fulfilled, yet the parents still refuse to give in. And so, I had to manage my hopes and expectations, while at the same time redefining the very concept of “self-reward.”

I mean, what does “self-reward” really mean if it’s only about wanting to try new things?
Is it truly for your own fulfillment, or is it rather a subtle craving for validation within society?

In the midst of a repetitive life, of course self-reward is necessary to appreciate the small achievements we make. But as I said earlier, I also had a mission to find friends, right? Since I having a hard time remembering countless people from events, I still hope those connections can grow from mere acquaintances into true friends. That thought was what led me to join groups of people who share the same hobbies and ideas — in other words, communities.

One of the first communities,

that caught my interest after two years away from campus was Sketsa Pulang Kerja. To tell the truth, I was really nervous about joining at first, since I only came with a gut feeling. I’m not exactly good at socializing, let alone being the “fun clown” in social gatherings. And to add to that, I’m not even particularly good at drawing.

But as the saying goes:
“opportunities come once you’ve already jumped right in.”

It felt uncomfortable at first, but that was the very moment that made me feel more confident in facing the next new encounters. Whether it was Kelas Pengajar Gembira, Bacot Buku, Jakarta Good Guide, PhotograpHERS, and so on. People from Menemukenali and the Pekan Raya Kelas Menengah were also part of that journey. I’m standing at this point because of everyone I’ve met along the way. Whether they stayed as friends or just passed by for a moment.

In one of my reflections,

after attending events for a self-reward as a participant, I started wondering: what if I became part of the people who actually created those events? Plus, I’d get to enjoy them for free.

Until this opportunity came before my very eyes.

I could have chosen to join the documentation team, research, sponsor, or community relation to gain new experiences. Those options, but design, wasn’t one of them. The main reason? It needed a design portfolio. And honestly, I was too lazy to make one from scratch.

Then I started rethinking my past experiences. I’ve actually made quite a lot of work over the years, but never really put in the effort to collect them. I never thought I’d need it, especially since I once threw away all that experience because I wasn’t working in the creative field anymore.

So I thought, why not use this moment for that?

Thanks to it, I finally made my own design portfolio, which could be accessed in here. And all of that eventually led me to join the event as part of the creative crew.

The joy of creating something,

and showing it to others, is what I’ve always been searching for. At least, I’ve been reminded of that lately. Because without realizing it, I’ve always loved making things — whether it’s a drawing, a craft, or something else polished into a gift for someone.
(Maybe giving presents really is one of my love languages? Ah, I dunno,)

But joining people who are truly skilled and passionate in their field made me appreciate my own choices again — the times I spent pouring my energy into polishing this skill. From the days of CorelDraw, Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, all the way to Figma, every bit of it matters. It was the first time I am being challenged again after a while, especially meeting a certain expectation with the deadlines.

Yeah, deadlines :)

I’ve been worried about my time management at first, but it turns out there’s nothing to worry about anymore. Especially after I managed to get through those moments.

And now, I can proudly raise my voice in appreciation for all the friends I’ve worked with, PKM, Menemukenali, especially the creative team. Thank you for giving me the chance to create again after such a long hiatus.

—

Tempo waktu berderai deras, namun hari ini bersiram terik.
Cahaya Jakarta tidak mengenal jutaan orang yang bergumul dalam fatamorgana.
Yang kini tidak jadi ibukota.
Pun tiada mengenal seribu pasang sandal burik.
Apalagi nurani yang hilang dalam jiwa-jiwa tiap persona.
Yang kekal dalam semburat magenta.

Tuan, sesaat lagi kereta akan berangkat.
Apakah kita masih terus rehat, atau pergi bergulat?

“Aku siap,” katanya.

December is about to come, yet there’s still tons of work — office or personal work — lining up. In one month ahead, “I” must’ve been busy scribbling about New Year resolutions while envisioning the image of achieving those small — or big prevail. Nevertheless, only to end up being miserable with oneself inability to fill up this year’s to-do’s.

Losing weight, learning more English or Japanese, taking a TOEFL test, and being more productive in my leisure time, were written in my New Year Resolution 2018. By the next year, as I started to think that none of those lists were ever realized, I wrote it again in the 2019 Resolution. Wrote the last year’s vision, added to the new one, and barely made it. Without realizing it, I have repeated the same behavior which resulting the same outcome for five years.

As I started to think about my current condition, should I include my unfinished work this year too, or should I start to write a new resolution for the new ‘me’? How many resolutions have I completed in the past year? Will this going to work this time? Yet again, just like last year self-doubt. At the most disturbing point, it grew into insecurities, negative thoughts, and low self-esteem.

What’s the point of creating a new to-do list if I can’t fulfill it at all and becomes a longlast procrastination?

Stop, breathe, and identify

People tend to think irrationally whenever they have negative self-perceptions and suffer from insecurity. Their vision becomes narrow, and close-minded. If so, take a deep breath, feel the air flowing through our nostrils, and fill up our chest. Then, keep in mind that such a thought has to be stopped before infecting ourselves any further.

There‘s a term that most describe this mixed feeling, called Zeigarnik Effect. It is a psychological effect when we remember more of an unfinished task rather than the finished one. Have you locked the door before going out today? Should I do my homework before going to bed? The moment you remember this weekend holiday itinerary when eating lunch at work, it’s all Zeigarnik Effect.

The behavior of adding the unfinished resolution to a new one, is a normal phenomenon, called Zeigarnik Effect.

After a stressful week full of preparation, the meeting turns out to be a huge success. A relieved and relaxed feeling comes to your head. A soft and cozy bed to relax, going to some places for healing, or treating yourself to a tasty cuisine is the best option to cure your hard work. After a work list is accomplished, there comes a holiday list, and back to work again with a new project. As you finish your task, the brain starts to think about creating a new unfinished task. It’s a neverending cycle.

Even with a ton of motivational reasoning, a New Year's Resolution is just a list, a sentence, like any other task. It will be kept in our short-term memory which is limited by capacity and duration. But still, we work harder to keep the information to stay put by rehearsing to remember the uncompleted task often. In the end, we learned more about how memory works. As we fail to complete a task, our brain creates a cognitive tension or loosens the strain once it’s done.

Evaluate, and re-assess the list

New Year's Resolutions are just too general, containing the big picture of a goal, and sometimes unrealistic. The underlying of each resolution might be too bland, or strong enough but lack of maintaining. The vision might be big, and the execution will only last for a month, or a day.

Believe it or not, writing a New Year Resolution was just like dreaming of our future self we want to be.

Rather than compromising the unfinished resolution which takes years to complete, it is better to re-evaluate what works and what doesn’t, why it works and why it doesn’t, and how to create better outcomes.

The ‘Why’: a clear reason of something

I remember putting a “Lose Weight” goal into my resolutions ever since 2014. Yes, it was my middle school time. The reason was that I felt pity for my Dad who rode me to school every day. As his move started to get clumsy with that old motorbike, I started to realize that it must be heavy for him to bring such a weight. Then, I started to learn and ride the motorbike myself to school instead of losing weight. In other words, the resolution just stays still and never gets executed.

In the second case, I wrote the same resolution at the end of the year as I realized that my clothes had become tighter. But this also failed because those clothes looked old-fashioned for my new college life so I preferred to buy a new one.

My Mom is against the idea of me trying to lose weight. Besides, she loves cooking, and our family loves eating, even me. Sometimes, she reprimanded me whenever I reduced my food portion, or skipped one of the three meals a day. Like any Asian parent, the mindset is healthy over beauty, and exercise over reducing/skipping meals.

Until one day, I watched a YouTube video about fasting which changed my mind and made the execution gone easier.

I’ve tried using a more, complex method to find the “Why” like tree diagram, fishbone diagram, 5 Whys, etc. only to find why my resolution took years to complete — (Yes, I have a complicated mind and it’s not impossible to do so) — but end up being frustrated myself because it seems like I just looking for the excuse as why I am not doing it. At the same time, hiding the fact that I can’t face the rough journey every day for one, ten, or forever years to be healthy.

But finding your ‘Why’ is simple, like changing your mindset, and accepting what you have to believe.

Choosing to lose weight, is choosing to live a healthy life. And choosing a healthy life, is believing that one small action will make a great impact in the future.

If you haven’t found a very, fundamental reason for executing your New Year's Resolution, worry not, even I take years to find it. Let’s proceed to the next part.

The ‘What’: evaluate the progress

We always seek motivation to get awake in the morning. So to speak, even with a clear underlying of a resolution, we still need a clear reason for consistency to do so.

If we going to see whether the goal has been achieved or not, the one-line vision has to be broken down into sentences of action. Is there any action all this time that takes you toward the desired goal?

After figuring out the to-do list of a goal, we could assess how many actions we have taken this year.

Perhaps, we didn’t really fail. We were working on it, eventhough there are ups and downs along the way. That’s how we call it ‘progressing’.

Below, is an example of how I list all the actions I have been through this year toward the vision. Knowing the result, I thought I progressed less than expected. But after discovered all the actions that would lead me toward the desired goal, I was proud enough of myself and considered it as progressing.

Having consistently exercised with measured portions was kinda hard. Once I missed the step after consecutively followed the day, and missed it again in the day after, I became frustrated, and deliberately skipped it. Some perfectionists like me find it hard to accept the flaws of a track. Until we finally be motivated again, but it’s not as easy as when we still keep it on track.

The ‘How’: planning the same resolution for the next year

Have you ever heard of a SMART goal? SMART is an abbreviation of Specific, Measurable, Achieveable, Relevant, and Timed often used as a method for defining a goal or vision. Reduce body weight to 5 kg, achieve A-score in the next math test, and get a new job as a data analyst, it’s all examples of a SMART goal. But we better not forget the key aspect of a successful resolution of the year is the realization and consistency.

After having a SMART goal, our next step is to break it into a small action. Not to forget, realizing the goals needed us to keep consistent, so we need to-dos that seem easy and measured. It’s like we trying to make a big plan for our goals.

Whether it is to build a habit, finish a project, or maintain any relationship, the Atomic Habit strategy can be a huge help in this process. There are 5 strategy that could be used in planning:

1. Start with an incredibly small habit.
   Make it easy, so you can’t say no.
2. Increase your habit in very small ways.
   Any small improvement is better, even if it’s just a 1% every day.
3. As you build up, break habits into chunks.
   This is to make a behavior as easy as possible.
4. When you slip, get back on track quickly.
   Take some time to consider what challenge will occur towards our goal. It is not we expected to fail, but planning for failure. And when we failed, never miss twice.
5. Be patient. Stick to a pace you can sustain.
   Go slower, and start fewer in the beginning. Patience is everything.

And then, we still feeling lost…

We know how to set a clear goal and steps to achieve it, but some goals are just a visionary word, and still too hazy to be defined. Whether it is to be a better person, be dutiful to parents, to be a successful person, and so on. Whatever they are, it is a condition we wish to be realized in the future. We wish for a different condition than in the present. We wish to change.

However, ‘change’ is hazy. We humans do always change, yet no one can predict how the change is supposed to be in the future. Amidst the storm of change in today’s world, perhaps the ‘you’ who needs to change is also the product of business megatrends?

What is ‘change’ anyway? If the concept of ‘change’ is vague, it would affect the process towards ‘change’ itself. To understand the nature of ‘change’, I’d like to quote Kokkonen’s article:

Change is always imperfect and will never be anything but that, no matter how much you focus on smoothing the way towards change.

No matter how hard we train, or how fast we run, there will always be a stupid gravel or asphalt pit that sits there out of nowhere, and makes us stumble. When we have made a clear system on how to achieve our better life in most aspects, there might be some aspects that are too hazy even to be defined. If so, it’s okay to walk slower, until we find its meaning along the way. We could stop sometimes and capture an interesting view, or pay a visit to the local street food, perhaps?

To love yourself is to love the imperfect things. And don’t forget that accepting the haziness, is also the key to success.

—

P.S.,
Here are some readings I used when writing:

• The Zeigarnik Effect Is Why You Keep Thinking of Unfinished Work
• BJ Fogg's Motivation Graph: Visualizing Habits
• How to Build a New Habit: This is Your Strategy Guide
• Lost in transformation - How to succeed in a hazy journey called change?

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Setiap hari manusia tidak pernah lepas dari kegiatan mengolah, menggunakan, atau mengonsumsi sesuatu. Ribuan bahkan jutaan sumber daya digunakan untuk mengubah bahan baku menjadi bahan siap pakai. Barang pakai yang sudah tidak dapat digunakan lagi akan menjadi sampah. Jika jutaan produk diproduksi setiap harinya, maka akan ada jutaan sampah setiap harinya. Sampah yang selalu dihasilkan oleh rumah tangga tidak dapat dihindari walau sangat tidak diinginkan oleh masyarakat. Oleh karenanya, perlu suatu sistem pengelolaan secara terpadu di setiap daerah.

Sebagai salah satu wilayah metropolitan Jabodetabek — kota metropolitan terbesar di Asia Tenggara — Kabupaten Tangerang menjadi daerah yang penting sebagai penyangga aktivitas ekonomi ibukota. Namun kenyataannya, hal sesederhana seperti sampah tidak dapat teratasi. Sampah yang dihasilkan oleh 3 juta jiwa penduduk di Kabupaten Tangerang mencapai 5 juta liter. Selanjutnya, sampah tersebut diangkut ke Tempat Pembuangan Akhir di (TPA) di Desa Jatiwaringin, Kecamatan Mauk. Namun, sampah yang dapat diangkut setiap harinya ke TPA hanya setengah dari jumlah tersebut.

TPA Jatiwaringin dengan luas 20 ha ini merupakan tempat pembuangan sampah akhir yang menampung sampah dari seluruh Kabupaten Tangerang, Kota Tangerang, Kota Tangerang Selatan, bahkan beberapa dari Jakarta. Berdasarkan uraian Pelaksana Harian (Plh) Bupati Tangerang, Mochammad Maesyal Rasyid, pengelolaan sampah di Tempat Pembuangan Akhir (TPA) Jatiwaringin masih menggunakan sistem menumpuk sampah atau open dumpling. Dengan kata lain, sampah-sampah tersebut hanya disimpan, ditumpuk, ditata, dan dirapikan di tempat tersebut. Hal itu menyebabkan terganggunya kebebasan penduduk di Desa Jatiwaringin.

Penumpukan sampah yang saat ini menggunung mengakibatkan keresahan warga di sekitar TPA tersebut. Angin yang bertiup melewati gunung sampah TPA Jatiwaringin menyebabkan aroma tidak sedap yang masuk ke rumah-rumah warga sekitar. Tidak hanya itu, pengelolaan sampat dengan cara dibakar menyebabkan aroma sengit asap. Terlebih lagi, bila musim hujan tiba, banjir kerap terjadi dan sampah pun ikut menggenang. Menurut pakar kesehatan, warga sekitar TPA Jatiwaringin terancam penyakit ISPA.

Pemerintah Kabupaten Tangerang saat ini masih mencari cara yang efektif dalam mengelola sampah. Menurut Bupati Tangerang Ahmed Zaki Iskandar, permasalahan sampah merupakan masalah sosial yang harus diselesaikan oleh semua pihak secara terpadu. Setidaknya dibutuhkan minimal 2 perusahaan, dan maksimal 3 perusahaan untuk mengelola TPA tersebut. Pada tahun 2017 akan diadakan lelang terbuka bagi perusahaan. Selain itu, diperlukan juga kerja sama dari masyarakat untuk membiasakan diri menjaga kebersihan lingkungan. Pemerintah juga rencananya akan membentuk Tim Saber Sampah.

Untuk urusan pengelolaan sampah, Pemerintah Kabupaten Tangerang dapat berkaca kota Surabaya. Kota di Indonesia ini berhasil menjadi role model bagi negara-negara Asia Pasifik. Melalui program 3R yang, masyarakat Surabaya berhasil mengurangi sampah. Pemerintah Kota Surabaya dan UKM di Surabaya dapat mengambil keuntungan melalui rumah kompos dan bank sampah. Pengelolaan sampah di Surabaya difokuskan untuk mengurangi sampah dari sumbernya, sehingga beban pengelolan sampah publik juga berkurang. Anak sekolah diwajibkan untuk membawa piring dan gelas. Biaya angkut sampah ke TPA ditekan. Pembangunan Ruang Terbuka Hijau (RTH) ditingkatkan. Kampanye penggunaan tas plastik daur ulang digalakkan.

Oleh karena itu, Pemerintah Kabupaten dan Kota Tangerang Raya perlu menggalakkan program yang dapat meminimalisir sampah yang dibuang ke Tempat Pembuangan Sementara (TPS), dimulai dari rumah tangga. Pendidikan mengenai lingkungan hidup seharusnya diberikan sejak sekolah dasar. Program biaya kantong plastic sebesar Rp200,00 harus lebih ditegakkan lagi. Industri plastik perlu memperhatikan kaidah eco-system sebelum menyalurkan produknya ke perusahaan lain. Pembangunan RTH ditingkatkan di setiap sudut jalan atau perumahan. Hal ini perlu dilakukan supaya sampah yang menggunung di TPA Jatiwaringin tidak lagi membahayakan bagi masyarakat sekitar.

Daftar Pustaka:

http://www.mongabay.co.id/2014/02/27/surabaya-kota-percontohan-pengolahan-sampah-terbaik-indonesia/

https://www.republika.co.id/berita/nasional/jabodetabek-nasional/16/03/10/o3tfxn284-volume-sampah-tangerang-800-ton-per-hari

https://tangerangonline.id/2016/12/23/lahan-20-ha-di-jatiwaringin-mauk-disiapkan-jadi-tpa-tangerang-raya/

https://www.kabar-banten.com/sampah-masih-jadi-masalah-utama-di-kabupaten-tangerang/

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Sungai Cheonggyecheon merupakan salah satu obyek wisata yang memiliki daya tarik sendiri bagi para turis yang berkunjung ke Korea Selatan. Sungai ini terletak di Kota Seoul, Korea Selatan. Memiliki panjang 10,9 kilometer yang mengalir di sepanjang kota. Cheonggyecheon merupakan sungai yang pada mulanya ada saat Dinasti Joseon (1392 M — 1910 M) dan setelah Perang Korea (1950 M — 1953 M) tertutupi dengan jalan layang. Kemudian pada tahun 2003, sungai ini mulai direstorasi kembali dengan menghilangkan jalan layang hingga jadi seperti yang kita lihat sekarang. Aliran sungai bermula dari Plaza Cheonggye, tempat seni budaya populer, dan melewati 22 jembatan sebelum mengalir ke Sungai Hangan. Sungai ini merupakan sungai buatan yang dibangun sebagai bagian dari pembaharuan kota.

Cheonggyecheon pada Masa Kekaisaran

Seoul tumbuh di sekitar Cheonggyecheon, yang membagi wilayah utara dan selatan. Sungai ini erkadang kering pada musim semi dan gugur, dimana terdapat sedikit hujan, dan meluap ketika hujan musim panas.

Antara tahun 1406 M dan 1412 M, Raja Taejong, yang diteruskan oleh penerusnya Raja Sejong, menggali dan melebarkan sungai untuk menghindari banjir di kota. Sungai ini kemudian dinamakan Gaecheon yang berarti “menggali”. Sungai ini digunakan sebagai saluran pembuangan selama 500 tahun Dinasti Joseon. Anak sungai menyediakan air bersih untuk kota, dan Cheonggyecheon yang membersihkan llimbahnya.

Pada 1657 M, populasi Seoul mencapai lebih dari 190.000 orang, dan Cheonggyecheon tidak lagi dapat menampung limbah kota. Pada tahun 1760 hingga 1773, Raja Yeongjo memobilisasi 50.000 pekerja untuk mengeruk sungai dan membangun tanggal sebagai upaya menghadapi peningkatan populasi.

Cheonggyecheon pada Masa Kependudukan Jepang

Tahun 1925, anak sungai Cheonggyecheon ditutup sebagai upaya untuk membuat sistem aliran limbah bawah tanah untuk Seoul. Pada 1926, Jepang mengumumkan rencana untuk menutup sungai dengan menciptakan lahan untuk pengembangan. Pada 1935, dibangun jalan raya dan jalan layang di atasnya. Pada 1937, Jepang hanya dapat menutupi sebagian kecil sungai karena keterbatasan sumber daya.

Setelah berakhirnya Perang Dunia II, Korea Selatan mengembangkan rencana untuk mengeruk Chonggyecheopn yang telah menjadi sangat terpuruk karena tidak terpelihara oleh Jepang. Namun rencana ini terhambat karena adaanya Perang Korea. Pengungsi dari Perang Korea berbondong-bondong ke Seoul dan menetap di Cheonggyecheon.

Pembangunan Jalan Layang di Atas Sungai Cheonggyecheon

Pada pertengahan 1950-an, Cheonggyecheon dianggap sebagai symbol kemiskinan. Saluran limbah terbuka di pusat kota merupakan hambatan utama bagi pemulihan Kota Seoul. Pada keadaan ekonomi yang ekstrim, satu-satunya solusi adalah dengan menciptakan saluran limbah bawah tanah.

Proyek saluran limbah bawah tanah terdiri dari 4 tahap dan berlangsung pada tahun 1955 hingga 1977. Sebuah jalan layang dibangun di atas sebagian besar aliran bawah tanah. Jalan bebas hambatan ini memiliki 4 jalur dengan panjang 6 meter dan melintas di atas jalan raya konvensional.

Rumah-rumah kumuh dipindahkan ke pinggir sungai secara paksa. Di sekitar jalan, dibangun toko modern dan pusat industri. Proyek ini menjadi symbol medernisasi dan industrialisasi Korea Selatan pasca perang.

Restorasi Sungai

Setelah kurang lebih 40 tahun, area Cheonggyecheon menjadi kawasan industri yang lusuh, bersama dengan pasar loak dan dagangan barang bekas. Area tersebut benar-benar memerlukan pembenahan, namun semua orang menyadari bahwa tidak aka nada perubahan yang signifikan selama jalan layang masih ada.

Sumber:

http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/FreewaysCheonggye.html

http://english.visitseoul.net/attractions/Cheonggyecheon-Stream_/35

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Nama Ridwan Kamil terus-terusan muncul di berbagai media cetak, media sosial, dan layar kaca dengan prestasi yang berbeda-beda. Pria yang menjabat sebagai Walikota Bandung periode 2013–2018 ini pada mulanya adalah siswa nakal biasa yang berprestasi di kelasnya. Kemudian beliau melanjutkan pendidikannya di Jurusan Arsitektur Institut Teknologi Bandung dan mendapat gelar sarjana teknik. Lulus sarjana, pada umurnya yang ke 25 tahun, Ridwan Kamil menikah dengan Ata Praratya. Ia memulai karirnya dengan bekerja di sebuah firma arsitektur terkenal di Amerika Serikat dan membawa serta istrinya. Namun, awal karirnya tersebut hanya bertahan sekitar empat bulan karena masa visanya sudah habis.

Sepulangnya ke Indonesia, Ia mendirikan sebuah firma arsitek di Bandung dengan nama Urbane. Sudah banyak prestasi yang dicapai oleh Urbane dalam kurun waktu 15 tahun sejak 2003 hingga 2018. Sebagai walikota Bandung, beliau aktif di Bandung Creative City Forum, mengadakan banyak festival, dan menyalurkan kreativitasnya dalam komunitas. Pertemuannya dengan masyarakat sipil yang beranggapan bahwa ‘Kreativitas hanyalah milik kalangan tertentu’ membuatnya terinspirasi untuk membenahi katanya, tempat tinggalnya, lingkungannya, agar nyaman untuk ditinggali. Ia ingin membuktikan bahwa semua orang dapat menikmati hakikat kreativitas, yang dimulai dari lingkungan terdekat.

Ide — ide Ridwan Kamil berfokus pada solusi atas masalah — masalah publik seperti kemacetan, kekurangan lahan hijau, kekumuhan, krisis energi, dan sebagainya. Hal tersebut yang membuatnya menggagas gerakan Indonesia Berkebun dengan cara memanfaatkan lahan terbengkalai untuk dihijaukan. Selain itu, Ia juga menggagas bike.bdg untuk mengatasi masalah kemacetan dan polusi di Kota Bandung, dengan target orang-orang yang melakukan mobilisasi jarak dekat namun tetap menggunakan kendaraan bermotor. Supaya anak — anak dapat bersosialisasi dengan hangat dan bebas, Ia mendirikan sebuah taman hijau yang tersebar di berbagai sudut di Kota Bandung. Desa yang kesulitan listrik dapat terjangkau dengan baik melalui EnerBike sehingga dapat terenuhi dengan baik. Di umurnya yang ke-32 tahun, Ia mengalokasikan waktunya untuk turut serta dalam kegiatan sosial.

Kisah sukses Ridwan Kamil tidak serta — merta hanya berupa garis lurus saja, namun bagaikan grafik yang menurun atau menanjak tajam. Saat masa sekolah, ia sering diolok-olok oleh teman-temannya yang meragukan bahwa ia bisa mendapat ranking 1. Hal tersebut juga terjadi ketika awal karirnya bekerja di Amerika. Beliau sering diremehkan oleh rekan kerjanya karena ia berasal dari Indonesia. Namun, hal itu justru menjadi penyemangatnya untuk lebih berprestasi lagi.

Di selang kegiatannya yang terlihat ‘super sibuk’, sebenarnya pria yang akrab disapa Kang Emil ini memiliki banyak sekali waktu luang. Beliau masih sempat jalan-jalan dengan keluarga, menyaksikan pertandingan sepak bola, menikmati hidup, dan tidak tertekan dengan pekerjaannya. Ia sangat menyukainya. Dalam bukunya Mengubah Dunia Bareng — Bareng, Ridwan Kamil menyatakan bahwa manajemen waktu sangat penting bagi siapa pun yang bercita — cita menjadi entrepreneur. Waktu yang mengalir begitu saja berarti sama saja dengan uang yang terbang sia — sia. Entrepreneur sejatinya adalah time organizer. Agar waktu yang kita miliki menjadi bernilai guna, dibutuhkan sedikit kreativitas dalam mengelolanya.

Kang Emil juga menambahkan dalam bukunya bahwa selain manajemen waktu, agar segala output tidak serta all by me, maka kuncinya adalah delegasi. Ia bekerja sama dengan orang lain, berkarya dan berkolaborasi, serta menghidupkan ide lewat lewat komunitas. Kita dapat berjalan cepat sendirian, namun lebih jauh jika bersama-sama. Dengan kolega, komunitas, teman, dan keluarga maka ide yang terealisasikan akan tetap bertahan walau dilanda jatuh — bangun.

Daftar Pustaka:

Kamil, Ridwan. Mengubah Dunia Bareng-Bareng. 2015. Bandung: Penerbit Kaifa.