Aku slalu bermimpi tentang
Indah hari tua bersamamu
Tetap cantik rambut panjangmu
Meskipun nanti tak hitam lagi
Bila habis sudah waktu ini
Tak lagi berpijak pada dunia
Telah aku habiskan
Sisa hidupku hanya untukmu
I admitted that I have been playing this song more than 100 times during last week only. The song is quite similar wit the first 10 minutes of UP movie.
June will never be more special for us. Seven years ago, while I was in Raleigh NC until 20th June 2011, we have to prepare for our wedding on 24th June 2011. So, it was an express preparation :-D
Two days after the wedding ceremony, we were going directly to Cirebon, because she was working in a Puskesmas in Cirebon for finishing internship. I still remembered that once we reach Cirebon, we were struggling to find a house for living in day-1, so we stayed in hotel for several days.
We finally got a rent house, which is located behind the station so that I can go back and forth to Jakarta everyday, while leaving the car for her to go to Puskemas. The journey of go back and forth to Jakarta everyday was another big story to be told. With the house location was literally behind the station, I have to climb a 3 meters wall to get into the station. Not to mention the moments when I got late to reach Gambir, so had to take unseated economy train.
We stayed for a few months in that lovely house, which literally the first house that we’ve living in together. A year ago while we went to Malang, we even visited Cirebon only to visit that house.
This year, after flew to many cities & countries, we finally reach the magical 7 years of our journey together. Happy.. June :-)
Sunday, 8 July 2018
Thursday, 14 June 2018
What makes Lebaran in Indonesia Different
As most of people who borned after 1980 in Jakarta (yes I'm still young :-P), I have been growing up in Jakarta since I was child, and never ever spent Lebaran outside of Indonesia until I was assigned to US when I was working in IBM a few years ago. A couple years later, I spent a total of 4 of my Lebaran in Bahrain, until this year, I back for good to Indonesia and spend Lebaran here again.
I have to admit that spending Lebaran in Indonesia will make you very social eventhough you’re a geek. In my case, I can’t even touch my laptop during the day - one of the very rare case.
I didn’t know how’s Lebaran in other places, but while in Bahrain (and similar case happened in almost all of the Middle East countries), I literally only spend 1 hour of prayer, 2 hours of visiting KBRI meeting fellow Indonesian, and that’s all.
During Lebaran in Jakarta, you have to spend 1 hour of prayer, 2 hours of meet up with neighbours, 3 hours to spend with mother’s family, 3 hours to spend with father’s family, 3 hours to spend with wife’s mother’s family, 3 hours to spend with wife’s father’s family,
and it’s the minimum spending time! You have to add a few hours in case you need to visit your family in other cities, with additional few hours if the traffic jam is crazy.
Spending Lebaran outside of Indonesia is a lot of way simpler, especially for the people like me, who are not so social. So, I have prepared a few tips for those of you who also feel that meeting a lot of people is overrated:
While those facts irritating me, spending Lebaran in Indonesia are a lot of more joyful than in any other places in the world. It’s the real happy day for all of the people, so it will also bring happiness to you.
I have to admit that spending Lebaran in Indonesia will make you very social eventhough you’re a geek. In my case, I can’t even touch my laptop during the day - one of the very rare case.
I didn’t know how’s Lebaran in other places, but while in Bahrain (and similar case happened in almost all of the Middle East countries), I literally only spend 1 hour of prayer, 2 hours of visiting KBRI meeting fellow Indonesian, and that’s all.
During Lebaran in Jakarta, you have to spend 1 hour of prayer, 2 hours of meet up with neighbours, 3 hours to spend with mother’s family, 3 hours to spend with father’s family, 3 hours to spend with wife’s mother’s family, 3 hours to spend with wife’s father’s family,
and it’s the minimum spending time! You have to add a few hours in case you need to visit your family in other cities, with additional few hours if the traffic jam is crazy.
Spending Lebaran outside of Indonesia is a lot of way simpler, especially for the people like me, who are not so social. So, I have prepared a few tips for those of you who also feel that meeting a lot of people is overrated:
- Prepare a to do list of things that can be done via your phone during meeting with the people.
- Keep your list in your phone/tablet.
- Prepare power bank(s), and make it sure that it’s fully charged.
- Keep your phone also fully charged.
- Skim your to do list a few days before Lebaran, and make sure that there is no blocking moment - for example: “Duh, this task required me to open laptop and VPN connection first”
- Make sure that you have put a mindset that you have to finish your to do list. A lot of people did the previous task but not having commitment with their list.
- Networking is networking. It may helpful to you some day, you won’t know. So, if you are forced to have a long conversation, bring an useful topic, not a so-so type of conversation.
While those facts irritating me, spending Lebaran in Indonesia are a lot of more joyful than in any other places in the world. It’s the real happy day for all of the people, so it will also bring happiness to you.
Monday, 14 May 2018
The first month
After around 1 month living as citizen of Jakarta, I actually have so many interesting stories to be told. It’s a "high and low" of finally being home after quite a few years going abroad.
One of the downside thing is Jakarta traffic jam which I used to face it few years ago and now it’s not going to be better at all. The positive side is that I’m forced to use my cycle during this 1 month to get away from traffic jam. 50 minutes cycling in the morning and 55 minutes in the afternoon not only made me healthier, but also made me richer. I literally didn’t spend any single cent when going to the office - my office also provide a brunch and sometimes a lunch.
The other downside is searching for home in Jakarta become harder nowadays than before I’m going abroad a few years ago. My previous home is located quite far from the heart of Jakarta. We planned to buy a new better location home, but unfortunately we still can’t afford it (we really thought that during these few years we saved quite much money for a good home in the center of the city).
Another thing worth mentioning is that settle things is not really easy eventhough it’s on your own hometown. I was just only put 1 week to prepare everything before starting to work for my current employer. This time frame has been proven not enough for settling everything. My conclusion is moving to your hometown will only give a little advantage than moving to in-the-middle-of-no-where location. So, better to make a proper plan (an hour-to-hour plan!) to minimize headache during your going-home relocation.
Overall, based on my 1 month experience of going back, I feel much happier. This is the decision I never regret. Especially I get a very good working environment which made me thing that I should go back far earlier.
Another story to be continue!
One of the downside thing is Jakarta traffic jam which I used to face it few years ago and now it’s not going to be better at all. The positive side is that I’m forced to use my cycle during this 1 month to get away from traffic jam. 50 minutes cycling in the morning and 55 minutes in the afternoon not only made me healthier, but also made me richer. I literally didn’t spend any single cent when going to the office - my office also provide a brunch and sometimes a lunch.
The other downside is searching for home in Jakarta become harder nowadays than before I’m going abroad a few years ago. My previous home is located quite far from the heart of Jakarta. We planned to buy a new better location home, but unfortunately we still can’t afford it (we really thought that during these few years we saved quite much money for a good home in the center of the city).
Another thing worth mentioning is that settle things is not really easy eventhough it’s on your own hometown. I was just only put 1 week to prepare everything before starting to work for my current employer. This time frame has been proven not enough for settling everything. My conclusion is moving to your hometown will only give a little advantage than moving to in-the-middle-of-no-where location. So, better to make a proper plan (an hour-to-hour plan!) to minimize headache during your going-home relocation.
Overall, based on my 1 month experience of going back, I feel much happier. This is the decision I never regret. Especially I get a very good working environment which made me thing that I should go back far earlier.
Another story to be continue!
Wednesday, 11 April 2018
It started again
Time's really moving fast. Only 2 years ago I thought that everything was finished and settled. But last year she had a plan to pursue for a Specialist Doctor, so I was searching for a job back in my country.
There's a company that I adored some years ago, interestingly just because I was thinking to create the same service in the mid of 2010 while I was still working in IBM. I coded the website until it almost finished, even I already purchased the domain at that time. I told no one, until one day when I shared the project to my friend for the first time, he told me about another service that already up and running for several months. It also gathered a very good traction. I loved the service from the first time, and really hated mine -- its name, its design, and its concept. That service won at all aspects to the one that I built.
I abandoned my project and forget about it for years. Until last year while I was searching for a job I remembered that 7 years ago moment. I was getting internal recommendation, and they surprisingly welcomed everyone with a really fast response. The response time was days, and sometimes in hours. Although I had to run for 8 interviews in total (3 online interviews, 5 onsite interviews).
And from last week, I joined the great team. I had a great time so far, being paid for playing, and working in the environment that made you feel like the dreams come true. If you're curious about knowing more (and joining for sure :-) ), kindly drop me email or message to any of my social media account. We're recruiting the best ninjas from all around the world!
There's a company that I adored some years ago, interestingly just because I was thinking to create the same service in the mid of 2010 while I was still working in IBM. I coded the website until it almost finished, even I already purchased the domain at that time. I told no one, until one day when I shared the project to my friend for the first time, he told me about another service that already up and running for several months. It also gathered a very good traction. I loved the service from the first time, and really hated mine -- its name, its design, and its concept. That service won at all aspects to the one that I built.
I abandoned my project and forget about it for years. Until last year while I was searching for a job I remembered that 7 years ago moment. I was getting internal recommendation, and they surprisingly welcomed everyone with a really fast response. The response time was days, and sometimes in hours. Although I had to run for 8 interviews in total (3 online interviews, 5 onsite interviews).
And from last week, I joined the great team. I had a great time so far, being paid for playing, and working in the environment that made you feel like the dreams come true. If you're curious about knowing more (and joining for sure :-) ), kindly drop me email or message to any of my social media account. We're recruiting the best ninjas from all around the world!
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