Project : Alterization
Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The New Sheet

17 July 2021. At that time, pandemics still enveloped this world. A virus known as covid-17 is rife all over the world. Especially, our country Indonesia. This has a very serious impact on people's lives. Everything seems to be changing drastically in this world. The daily activities of the people have to change completely. Who used to move outside the home, now restricted or even not allowed by the government.

The new term now appears right in front of the eyes. Who doesn't know the term "New Normal"? A massive revolutionary program against the daily life of the people in Indonesia. Everything that was originally an activity that was done outside the home had to turn into online. Starting from office workers, college students, even school children. Surprisingly, this also had an impact on me who was a santri. Huh huh? Online lodging? Since when does anyone want to go to a boarding school but learn it even at home?

But actually, it's not really boring. Just sit cross-legged in front of the laptop, turn on the camera, then stare closely at the meeting zoom screen. At first glance I do look diligent listening to the explanation of ustadz who is explaining the subject matter far away there. But, it's not like that. A little bit I saw ustadz was careless and did not pay attention to the monitor screen, my hand immediately moved to and fro. Sometimes you split the laptop screen in two. On the one hand the zoom meeting is still running, on the other hand the comic also accompanies. Or turn off the zoom camera and even play games on other gadgets. That was fun. However, the consequences will remain. After undergoing research for one semester of online study at home, the value of the students plummeted. The reports were full of red, and the santri required to follow the remedial amounted to more than half the number of santri in the pesantren. But I'm the exception. I don't repeat in any subjects. Hehe..my brain is already from there like that.

Joking. Although I often do not pay attention to lessons and even do things that should not be done, one night before the exam I always study hard. It is so my learning system since in the SD bench first.

Reviewing all the things that happened, the pesantren decided to revert online learning to offline learning. We were all asked to return to the pesantren immediately, to undergo face-to-face teaching and learning activities. However, the pesantren does not require all students to choose offline learning. They gave us options, and of course the parents had control over it. If I wanted to go online, hahaha. Also not remed. And exactly as I thought. My parents a hundred percent disapproved of it.

"Where at home? Not the cottage it's called!" that's how they say.

I took a deep breath, then moved with the situation. Return my comfortable self in this house to the Islamic boarding school of Al-Irsyad with a sincere, firm, and steadfast heart, God willing.

After a long time, the soles of my feet in these shoes I crammed back on this ground. A place where students from all over Indonesia study religion. Al-irsyad Land. Far away I was willing to leave my home, family, and online games here to learn. From Surabaya to Semarang and finally arrived in Salatiga. Moving from one province to another is not easy. It requires a strong intention and determination and a motive that always keeps us excited, wherever and whenever.

People say pesantren are miniatures of the world. In it there are various kinds of human personalities that come from various regions. We are required to get used to socializing with them, we are required to be able to adjust every time culture shock comes, we are required to be independent in everything, we are required to solve various problems that come with our own hands. That's what I've always felt. All of that makes me more mature in the face of various kinds of life problems.

Not long ago, a mountain breeze immediately came to greet me. The cold air of this familiar boarding school, back to rubbing all over my body. I immediately stepped my foot, got off the bus. Then immediately put down my luggage. It is exclusive to live in a boarding house with a mountain background like this. Moreover, the friendly greenery of the trees and grasses in the paradise garden, always reluctantly greet the people who pass through it. Here are four gardens, of which all four have names taken from the names of heaven. Firdaus, Adn', Ma'wa, and Na'im. The four certainly have their own characteristics. Different types of plants are planted on it. What a beautiful sight.

I put my feet back. Walk slowly through the shade, while grazing my suitcase. I saw right by my side a sports hall that stood tall and majestic on the ground. This is where the students develop their potential in terms of sports. Then, I passed through an area surrounded by an iron wire fence. It looks sparkling reflecting sunlight and is amazing. That's the boarding pool. The water looks clear and clean, reflecting the blue color from the bottom and all sides of the pool. Looks like the pool just got cleaned and sterilized again. And sometimes when we want to swim in the pool, the water is so fantastic. Colour green. I don't know what the swimming pool has done.

I live in one of four dormitories in this boarding school. The Arafat, Muzdhalifah, Shafa, and Mina buildings. Gedung Mina is the hostel I will be staying in this new school year. Over the next year, I should start getting used to living in this new dorm. Third floor, Qodisiyah block, room number four. It is unique all the names of dormitory blocks in this pesantren. We used to call it "Shuqqoh" in Arabic. Each shuqqoh in each dormitory, its name is taken from the names of cities in the Arabian Peninsula. Such as Khondak, Badr, Qodisiyah, Yemen, Madyan, Yarmuk, and others. Meanwhile, the two main cities that became the city of the prophet, Makkah and Madinah, were used as the name of the madrassa building for us santri.

Makkah is divided into three. Two buildings are joined together to form the letter "u", and one separate building with the letter "c". The strands from the far right, named Makkah one, two, and three. This Makkah Building is devoted to those of us who sit at the level of I'dad Mu'allimin or equivalent to High School. While the Madinah building is for students of Mutawassithah or equivalent to Junior High School.

I got to my doorstep. Qodisiyah Room four. The metallic blue suitcase that I was still dragging with one hand I immediately put in the room. The atmosphere was messy like a broken ship, items scattered everywhere, it was common at the beginning of the arrival to a boarding school like this. Because, other santri-santri are also new to arriving from their home region.

Not just once or twice did I feel that way. The atmosphere of this new room is a sign. Yes, a sign that the new school year has now begun. I'm going through this new school year as a first-class santri of I'dad Mu'allimin.