BIRTHDAY REVOLUTION

Every year in April 25th Portuguese People celebrated Flower Revolution Day, and I celebrated my birthday in April 25th every year. So, yesterday is my birthday, officially I’m 25 years old yesterday J. AS birthday person I got punked from office friends, surprise cake & candle, wishes from family+friends+Facebook friends ( Thank you for many birthday wishes message on my FB ) and the cotent message from my best friend Vicky that I don’t understand, “ Happy Birthday ya. 25 wow.. U’r woman in fire”  ( what is woman in fire meaning exacly? ). But I’m not going to tell this thing to u guys, the point of this story is.....

Two weeks before my birthday I was so busy with my work, my department will conduct a National Stake Holder Meeting for HIV-AIDS in Timor-Leste in April 24 until 25. I did big work ( write ToR, confirmation to all Minister, NGO, UN Agency, Development Organization in Timor-Leste ) and also small work ( photo copy, calling, distributed invatation because the admint are sick in same time, weird.. doing my assistant job like make check list ).

Finally, first day of the program.. the conclusion is wow..!! the participants are various start from Timorese doctor that work in UN Agency only see me with her one eyes and arogan smile, the other one speak english with British acsen, a Foreigner doctor only want speak portugues with me even I told him that I can’t speak Portugues, a woman with full of tatto and wear black t-shirt+black jeans+many pearcing on her body ( in my mind “ who is this woman? ), a cool guy hehhehhee J, Timorese Photographer woman , a Secretary State that had arogan smile to me, Timorese and foreigner AIDS patient that live in Timor-Leste. The meeting is full of boring and tired full for me, so I thought tomorrow in my birthday will the same boring and more tired full but.........?

Second day of the program is the day of my birthday. I got punked and surprise cake+candle from office friends in the breakfast break, I’m happy for that J and I had tears, felt shame than ran to meeting aula after blow the candle. In second day I become operator for the presentation file use in projector, so I have to sitting in front laptop in room. The conclusion is Wowwwwww..!! for first presentation section.... All local NGO that work for HIV-AIDS in Timor-Leste make me realize that there are Timorese People really care to Timorese AIDS Patient and risk group ( trans gender, Sex worker ect ) and they all speak with big voice and said Timorese People must change cultural mindset that do stigma + discrimanation againts People with AIDS, trans gender and Sex Worker. Because they need our help to bring better life for them.

Second presentation section... superrrrr wooooooowwwwwwwww...!!! the presentator are two Local NGO that run buy Timorese People with AIDS they both is Timorese woman, Catholic Sister tha run Home Base care for people with AIDS and Lokal NGO that run by Timorese sex worker. Oooohhh finally I know, the woman with full of tatto and wear black t-shirt, black jeans and pearcing which in my mind I ask “ who is this woman?”, she is Timorese sex worker. She’s representative from Local NGO that work for Timorese sex worker. The two Local NGO that run buy Timorese People with AIDS tell us story how they got discrimination from doctor in hospital and sometime there’s no doctor for people with AIDS if they sick and sad story of a woman with AIDS die because she give birth in home because she always got discriminantion in hospital so she scare to give birth in hospital. People with AIDS also got stigma and discrimination from their family and story from Catholic Sister drive motorbike to pick People with AIDS in rural and remote area in Timor-Leste can you guys amazing the road in rural and remote area huuufffttttt... When the sex worker woman doing her presentation everyone suddenlly silent and their face is totally zero expresion, she told the audience how dificult their life, everyday have to fight againts stigma and discrimination from Timorese People because they’re sex worker. Even when they want register their NGO to become legal NGO in Timor-Leste got rejected but she said they will fight for their right untill become legal NGO in Timor-Leste.

In lunch break time, everyone come to me to give happy birthday, wishes and hug+kiss, this moment show I’m change, I feel free to hugs & kiss with People with AIDS. April 25th 2014 in 25 years old of my birthday I did revolution....!!! Why..? beause I’m not scare and belive all the mitos about hug, kiss, shake hands, eat togethere, talk with close ect with AIDS People that I scare before. Ya,, I’m Timorese woman ( woman now hehehe) life with Timor-Leste cultural even I’m a good educated Girl. But on my 25 years old of my birthday I’m change. So, if April 25 1975 or 1974 I forgot which year hehehe is Flower Revolution for Portuguese bring change to Portuguese political system and April 25 2014 is Birthday Revolution for me bring mindset change for me. I’m so happy in my 25 years old birthday even Timorese woman sex worker said “hey, lets find someone to break your virginity if you still virgin” ( what the hell she talk hehehehhe ). My best friend since Junior Hight School Queentina said because I’m special in her happy birthday whish to me and I feel the same, I’m special on that day can celebrated my birthday with super people, look.. they all are Timorese woman that run NGO with spirit to help others vulnurable Timorese even they also vulnurable people. I’m so proud of them, they are heros & heroins of Timor-Leste in their sickness and weakness! Than Timorese doctor that that work in UN Agency only see me with her one eyes and arogan smile, the other one speak english with British acsen.

When first time I sign my contract with Timor-Leste National AIDS Commision I told to my friend Dahlia ( She’s Filipina ) that I only want get new experience sound like I’m not serious and don’t care with Timorese People live with AIDS and I like the payment hehehehee but I’m regret for that L.

This story is not about my self and to tell you all about my birthday but about my Birthday Revolution from cosidence and a moment that I never expect. “God have plan to you”, a word that my friend Roosa Murto paste from a song and give me and that’s right.

                       
Thank you for read! Hopefully this story inspired you all!