Hello AB!

I was still surprised that I could be a part of AKU BELAJAR. Eka, Jannah and I were accepted in Program Division, together with Kak Elisa and Kak Dwi. What a pride. Eka and I were very happy. Tonight was our first meeting, well.. actually it is more like a gathering to greet new members. The gathering spotted in Kak Susi’s house. We were served by donuts and bakwan lawit. I didn’t eat any of them. Maybe because I was too excited so I did not really care about the food. All boards of AB were there, except Olidd and Bang Sony. 

They told us a glimpse of being in Aku Belajar managements, which actually have faced a lot of good and bad times together.

If I can put in words what did they advice, as below;

“Just speak out what’s it in our minds, do not get afraid to give ideas, always keep in touch in online discussion, together we can make AB gets better” (#claps)

Brahma, an Ecsentric Boy

There is always a story behind every training. I realize, being a trainer, has given me many meaningful memories. If only I had much time, I would have written all their stories and experiences, and also our training activities.
This evening was the last day training of batch August 5th, 2015. We had this one boy, named Brahma, who is very unique. His uniqueness has brought much cheers in our class. He likes to be the spot of attention. Once I asked him to sing in front of us, he came right away. He sang one of the most famous dangdut songs, “Sakitnya tuh disini..” and then he acted like a professional model with a song from Taylor Swift, “22”. He also had a crush in the class named Wida. This girl he liked was pretty and nice. Unfortunately it seemed that she was not attracted to him.

Study or Career

On July 30th, on the bed, I checked on my email through the phone and found something quite surprising. It was from FASS (Faculty of Social Sciences) Admissions Team, Lancaster University. They told me that I officially got the Offer Letter to study at Lancaster University. A conditional LOA.

Wow.

I ran to my computer and quickly printed the letter. Finally, after a quite long time waiting for the LOA, I got one of the required documents to apply for the LPDP scholarship. The letter said that I got the offer for the Full Time program started on October 2016 in English Language and Literary Studies major. Since it is still conditional, so I need to take IELTS test as the prove for my language proficiency. English universities nowadays do not require TOEFL for the admission requirements. 

The next day I registered for IELTS test in Sun Edu. The fee for the test is Rp 2.750.000,00. I have made the commitment to pay for the fee by myself. I am saving money now to make sure I can join the test. I hope for the best that I can achieve 6.5 points. It is the standard for Lancaster University as well as LPDP scholarship. 

On the other hand, I also got the offer from my two beloved Managers, Sir Hengky (Alfamart Pontianak Branch Manager) and Sir Irwan (People Development Manager) to be sent to Filipine as the representative trainer. The head office was looking for the trainer that has worked in the company for at least a year, has good proficiency in English both written and spoken, and got the permission from the manager, which all pointed at me. 

When I asked my parents and my best friends about this, none of them said no. Everybody just cherished me to go. 

“This is the chance!” 

“Tia, you always dream to use English for your work. What are you waiting for?”

“The salary is good~”

“When you come back home, a manager will be your suitable position”

“It will look great on your CV”

“Filipine is beautiful for its beach”

Well, what if I say,

“Lancaster University probably has Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter...”

On August 7th I will be called for an interview in Head Office, Tangerang. I decided to go and let Allah guides me. Whatever happens, I have asked Allah’s permission, I had istigharah prayer, I involved Allah in my decision. I will still apply for the scholarship, and until the result is announced, I will try for the Filipine. 

Exhausted

Here I am in 30 minutes left before my preparation to go to work. Now I’m listening to the Yellowcard - Only One.

Trying to forget all things related to work. I am loaded by lots of things right now. Related to my job in Human Capital division, I don’t know whether I can survive in the company I’m working now. There’s just many things I can’t handle all alone. (Sum 41 - With Me)

I don’t like complaining, even in my own writing. 

I promise to handle it as best as I can do. I believe I was put here for a reason. To fix things that ain’t right. 

Enjoyment in Heaven

Just had a night shower soon after I got home. Today was a bussssyyyy day... Since morning, I was in the office preparing all the documents for tomorrow’s training. Tomorrow will be the first Basic Skill Store Crew Training as a Selection. Yeah, started tomorrow, my department (Learning & Development Dept) will be the decision maker, deciding whether or not the applicants can be the Alfamart’s employees, or in this case, store crews or assistant chief of stores. Quite much to do, yet it’s challenging. Can’t wait for tomorrow. 

Today was also Au’s birthday. Ayu Meliasari. Wish her all the best. We gathered in Au’s house after I finished work. I was invited via BBM. Ui, Kak Uci, Cika, Melti and I came to her house and we had so much fun. Meeting college friends after a “long time no see” makes you realize how much your life has changed. However, it does not change the way we tease each other, or in other words, teasing me. I always become the subject of teasing. I don’t know why. But I’m glad to see they laugh. Isn’t it great to make people happy because of us?

Last night, when we were in our liqo’, we talked about the enjoyment we would get in heaven. Kak Yessi said that even in the lowest state of heaven, each of us would get 80 maids who will take care of us and fulfill all of our requests. In heaven, there is no old woman since all women will be forever young and beautiful. Even the prettiest angels will be jealous to women who enter the paradise. There, we will not get bored. Forever happy.

But, how to get there?

Yes, the enjoyment of Paradise is surrounded by many difficult things. It is related with problems, trials, sadness, sorrows and patience.If there is no such things, then the paradise will lose its value. 

Nothing Lasts Forever

This morning is one of the best weekends I ever had. Simple, not going anywhere, had nothing to catch for deadlines, still on my bed, got a glass of warm chocolate milk made by my mother and on top of all, pouring rain. My happiness. This happiness leads me to open up my laptop and write. 

When I looked out the window, I realized something about time. Time, the most precious thing a human in this world has, sometimes distracting. When you are enjoying a moment so bad, you feel like you don’t wanna move. You just want to stand up there, freeze the moment and enjoying every second of the time. Yeah, every second of the time, which means that the moment is not standing still. The moment keeps going, so does the time. 

I was thinking, why can’t we stop the time for the moment we enjoy the most? So there is no ticks in every second. I just want the watch stops everytime I got my most favorite moments. 

Maybe this can be the answer:               Nothing lasts forever.

We still live in this world, which is just for a while, like a bus stop. It is not a destination, it is a test. It is just passing by. Our real destinations are either heaven, or hellfire. I always remember one quote that once said by my trainee, “Living in this world is like water that flows in our throats, just a while, very fast.” Eternity only belongs to Allah, and eternity for us, is in the here after.

KUCHING TRIP: With Ceu and Yuni

Pontianak, February 18th 2015

This is the day I’ve been waiting for. Tonight, Yuni, Ceu and I are planning to go to Kuching. We have booked the bus for Pontianak- Kuching and Kuching- Pontianak costs Rp 350.000,00. The bus is named Sri Merah. Quite funny for a bus since the color of the bus is not red. I just wonder why did the owner named it as Sri Merah. We also booked a 3 persons- room for 3 nights since two weeks ago in City Inn, a hotel near Waterfront. 

Actually this is the trip we have planned when we’re still in university. Right now each of us has the “S.Pd” after each of our names and a trip to Kuching is the top of our “celebrating struggle”.  No doubt this will be our first trip together abroad and we’re so excited about that. Honestly this is not just the trip for me, Yuni and Ceu, it’s supposed to be Cleptoner’s trip. Yeah, cleptoners consists of Chika, Zee, Kak Pu, Melti, Okta, Linda, Nemi, Yuni, Ce and me. 

Yet, the rest of us have their own barriers. If we put it off again, we’re afraid we won’t make it.

So, after I took a day off from office and asked for permission from my parents, we decided to go without them. Sad thing actually.

But we have to do it before we get more “HAWE”. Cleptoners is famous for its “HAWE-Ness”. So for the first time in forever we wanted to prove that Cleptoners is not HAWE at all. (to be continued~)