History of Bo

Since lot of people ask about my nick name Bo, I feel like it’s important to share the history of this word.

The story begin about four years ago in Bandung Institute of Technology, my bachelor campus. That time, me and my friends (Ico, Jeki, etc.) used to apply the words ‘bo’ at the end of our sentences. This word have some tension of 'k' consonant, so it sounds like 'joke' with 'j' replaced by 'b'. So you can say it like this: ‘bok’. For example:
Iya tau ‘bok’, bener banget tau ‘bok’... (Yes ‘bok’, it’s very right ‘bok’)
This word actually common in whole town. Announcers of almost young-market radio stations frequently used this kind of Indonesian language style.

In the development of this word, me and my friends utilized the word in order to replace the subject of ourselves. This time the word still use the ‘k’ tension. For instance:
Eh ‘bok’ (mengacu ke Jeki), tau ga lu… (hey ‘bok’ (regarding to Jeki), did you know…)
That time the usage of ‘bo’ regarding subject of person also familiar in several towns in Indonesia.

Then we made ourselves different by deleting the ‘k’ tension and add ‘w’ tension in it. So it became ‘bow’. It sound like we say “saw” with ‘s’ replaced by ‘b’. Don’t forget to adhere your both lips and bring them forward a little to say this self-invented word.

This word ‘bow’ stay quite long until one day my other buddy, Roy, replace my name with this word. Since that day, my name was replaced with that word. Surely, completely, perfectly all sentences which emerge my name-Sahat-in it, replaced by this word. But this time, the tension ‘w’ in ‘bow’ deleted. So it’s perfectly ‘b’ followed by ‘o’: ‘bo’. The way to say it is likely the same with the previous one ‘bow’, but the consonant ‘w’ erased. The sound became quite warm in my ears.

Not spend much time since he called me like that, I also used the same word to replace his name. In order to differentiate my nick with his, I used capitalization in writing. And as you can also realized, we don’t need differentiation in two-ways chat. I used to wrote ‘Bo’ for his nick name in every message I sent to him that time. I also got my name wrote down as ‘bo’ that time. I didn’t know if my friend realize this or not till now, it’s just my personal convention. Why he got the capitalization? The answer is simply because he is older than me.

Afterthat, our both friend Vanny, ruined everything. She used to called both of us 'bo'. Before, she used to call us with our real name. Then we got confused if she said ‘bo’, cause we didn’t knew to whom she talked to.

As a punishment, Vanny also given that title for herself. We both use to call her ‘bo’ till now on. In the beginning it’s hard to applicate, to understand who is the subject of one topic. But then we could overcome it and all of us now easy to understand what we talk about.

Now every single person in the Fellowship are known as Bo. It’s made us easy in sending the broadcast SMS. We just made only one template for all of us. Such as:
Bo, Met Natal & Tahun Baru ya…(Bo, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year )

That’s way I popular with the name SAHATHUTAJULUBO

Driving Engineering (Engineering Everyday)

Yesterday I went home, together with Mr. Kayatmo EL 1964, while my self EL 2001. As a young-fascinating and respectful man, I offered to drive the car home. As usual he would dropped me in one place adjacent to my home.

That was our new track home. The last time I went home with him, we took the highway. This is the second time I drive, and I completely didn’t recognize this new track.

Along the way, Mr. Kayatmo gave me directions and suggestions needed. Gosh, trust me it’s really hard driving in Jakarta after the office hour. Mr. Kayatmo made me nervous along the way. With all the words suggested to me, I became very confused. Sometimes he said: “took the right side”; then “take the left side, there’s U turn in front”. A minute later he said; “we must be very left, definitely left” while, I was second from rightest track that time. It was definitely annoying. This is the map I made to make a picture our track.
The red arrows are the car movements.


Actually I was impressed by his driving skills. One opportunity I was home away with him, but that time he drove the car. Yes, he is a really great driver. Imagine what the age of him now is… I did really want to know his secret in driving like that.

That afternoon, after the long driving from our office, I implied “truly sorry sir, I have a mess driving”. Then he replied, “not mess, but unplanned”. He added “if you want to drive, planned it from the time you start the engine”. First time I was a little hurted with all his words along the journey, but then I realize something, something great:

"If you are an engineer, you must have the engineering souls in all you do, even driving”

I realize something, that old man, wanted to teach me something. Something that force me to think. But not just usual thinking, but a detail thinking. In all aspect of my life. That is to become a real engineer.

Wondering what is the really good plan for my only once life. I will plan it, and God will take care of it.