Life Only Once. Stop Thinking and Just Make It Work

1.16.2016

JAKARTA 1 April 2015: First chaotic day in South Jakarta

GEOLOGIST in BANK

What do you do?

I get a lot of similar questions from my friends. 

"What are you doing at the bank?"

"What kind of job are you doing at the bank?"

"How are you dressed in the bank?"

"How much is your salary?"

FYI, to take a responsibility for my scholarship, I interned at the Bank CIMB Niaga Center (South Jakarta) on April 2, 2015 through June 18, 2015. There, I was placed in the legal division. Division completely odd to me. I just wish people would accept me well there. I did not really think about the work that will be done later.

Based on my internet search, the function of the legal division is to Assist the Director of Administration and Finance to coordinate the activities Handling Company Law, such as the handling of legal issues and legal opinions related to business and administration, as well as to develop and control quality standards, monitoring and evaluation in the control company's quality products and services, including the practice of good corporate governance.

Well, I don't understand. Really. 
I just caught that my work seems to be a lot to deal with legislation.

My first day in Jakarta was not really happy. I departed from solo to Cikarang using the night bus with a somber heart. I do not ever want to live and work in Jakarta. I don't like the chaotic, traffic, pollution and the high living cost. But I have to go and take this responsibility.

I arrived in Cikarang in the early morning. I was planning to stay and rest a few hours in my sister's house in Cikarang before leaving for Jakarta. Distance between Cikarang and Jakarta is not too far, just 1.5 hours using a public bus. I slept well that morning, and woke up at 12 pm to get ready leaving for Jakarta. My heart still somber, I don't have spirit. I don't know why. I'm going alone.

Trip from Cikarang to Jakarta show me the real side of Jakarta traffic jams. Trip that normally drivable 1.5 hours become 4 hours due to traffic jams. I have never seen so many cars and buses at the same time. At 4 pm, I arrived at Terminal Blok M and immediately make Trans Jakarta card for Rp 40,000 for the busway pass. Route I should passed : Blok M-Dukuh Atas-Mampang Prapatan. From Dukuh Atas, I should change busway corridor 6 to Mampang Prapatan. 

I do not know this is the next mental exam in Jakarta.

Ride busway from Blok M to Dukuh Atas was okey. The bus was clean, big and comfortable. Although I did not get a seat, I stood quite comfortable and enjoy the view of the modern South Jakarta. This trip took about 45 minutes journey until Dukuh Atas. This is where my suffering begins

With so many passengers queuing, I wait so long in a stuffy room boxed glass to get a bus to Mampang Prapatan. Each bus comes, passengers are always scrambling and pushing each other. I should carry a bag full of clothes and rescucer driven to and fro. Sweat already flooded my body. I felt like crying. My legs were tired, my body was tired from lack of sleep and now I have to wait for hours to get a bus. Plus, I don't even know the exact location of my kost.

People began to shout and protest to bus conductor. They are protesting because from some bus passes, everything just ended in Kuningan Timur stop (1 stop before Mampang Prapatan stop), there is no bus that ended in Ragunan stop as they wish. I'm getting stress. People shouted angrily. There is no other choice, I had to take a bus that ended in Kuningan Timur stop. I will walk from Kuningan Timur stop to Mampang Prapatan Stop. I saw in my map, the distance was not so far, approximately 1 kilometer.

My suffering finally ended when I step down in Kuningan Timur stop. There, I started walking south until find Mampang Prapatan stop. The streets are very crowded and jammed. Several times I had to cross a large intersection with full horn from motorcycles or car. No one's care that I'am walking with leg, whereas they using machine. I pray that I can survive.

From Mampang Prapatan stop, I keep walking with my tired leg until find Blue Bird Main Office. My kost candidate mothers have said the location of my kost is located in the alley behind the Blue Bird Main Office. He told me to take the alley on the right Blue bird and go about 200 meters to find the mosque. Her house is next to the mosque. I had to ask some people to find the location of the house and eventually completely until 8 pm.

My kost mother is a nice woman with active speaking style. After we talked for a while and resolve administrative thing, I went to bed. Tomorrow is my first working day at the bank.

###

APRIL 2, 2015

I woke up at 03.30 am and shower. This is Jakarta, and with it's traffic jams, I do not know what time to leave for office. My office will began at 08.30 am. So I decided to take bus as morning as I can. Bus route that I should pass was Mampang Prapatan-Dukuh Atas II, from Dukuh Atas II, I have to cross the bridge to Dukuh Atas I stop and take bus to Gelora Bung Karno stop. Simple, but in Jakarta it could be chaotic when we left too late.

I arrived at the Gelora Bung Karno Stop too early, at 7:15. CIMB Niaga building is in sight, but I do not dare to enter. I do not know what to do. I contacted a friend of mine who has been first internship led me there for the first day in office. He agreed and I waited 1 hour for him to came.


With confidence that began to rise, I walk with my friend into CIMB Niaga building. I took the lift until 16th floor and he introduced me to few people there. People were nice and appreciate my arrival. When waiting for my boss to come, I was talking with my friend. When was talking, one of the staff reprimanded:

"if you want to speak, you can speak out there"

I was very surprised. 

I say sorry and keep silent until my boss coming. Pfftt.

My boss is a good woman, patient and understanding. My first day I filled with correcting some files and afterwards do nothing. I played my handphone all day until going back office at 05.30.

Can you say my first day in South Jakarta is chaotic? Maybe a little bit.

1.13.2016

SURABAYA 13 January 2016: God's plan is always more beautiful


Well, beautiful title right?

Trust me, IT'S TRUE.

I'm not a particularly religious person, but I really believe in that phrase above. This story start from a taste of hurt and despair. I will share.

Once, I've ever so hoping to get a job straight out of college. I dont want to be unemployed, I knew it was a very uncomfortable condition. This expectation is ever upheld by, let me say Mr.X, who offered us a job as a geologist in a consulting firm as we graduated. Mr. X says, his consulting firm always lacked of geologists. I - we- was so happy with this offer. 

US? Yes, Mr.X offered this job when I and some friends are following mapping projects under his consulting firm  in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. Let me say I (as my self), B, C and D. B,C and D are my friends that follow the same project as I'am.  I'am very optimistic about this offer.

A few moments later, I was graduating. With a burning passion to get an actual job and could meet all my dreams , I immediately contacted Mr.X remind his promise to give me (us) work. Just then, I was the fastest person who graduated from 3 of my other friends who joined the project in Flores.

But the answer of Mr.X dissapoint me. Mr X said there was no vacancy as a geologist at his consulting firm. I was so disappointed, why did he give hope to become so great that in reality don't match. Mr X said he would tell me if there is a project. Means, if it does happen, I'm just a freelance employee, not a permanent employee as he says. 

That time is January 2015, and since there is no clear word from Mr.X, I finally followed the internship program at CIMB Niaga in South Jakarta for 3 months. CIMB Niaga is a private company that gave me a scholarship for college.

During this internship program at CIMB Niaga, several times I asked Mr.X via whats app, whether any projects available for me to join. He says none and asked me to patient. Few weeks later, He informed me that there is project available. The project lasted three months, and he promised to tell me as soon as everything is clear.

Week after week, I did not get any news from Mr.X. Eventually, I realized that Mr.X not want me to work for him. All he says is nonsense that I continue to believe. Well, such a stupid job seeker right? I promised to myself that I was not going to beg for any job again to Mr.X. Incidentally, at that time (July 2015) I also get a new job as temporary employees in Deparment of Energy and Mineral Resources in East Java Province.

The next event, taught me the meaning of patience and sincerity. My friend, B, who joined the same project as me in Flores, and graduated 4 months after me, suddenly already worked as a geologist in Mr.X company. B do not even need ask any job to Mr.X, it Mr.X who offered B job and asked him as soon as possible to go to Surabaya.

"When you will arrive in Surabaya?" Mr.X asked B suddenly.

I was very disappointed with Mr.X, I've been the first who graduated and ask for a job to him, he did not even give me a chance. I'm very sad, hurt and despair. If he just wants B to work for him, why Mr. X should give us a hope? I was aware of everything and just be patient. I believe God have beautiful plans for me.

Now, I'm so happy work in Deparment of Energy and Mineral Resources. I am happy to work in a place that really needs my expertise. People are nice. They even spoiled with various facilities, field trips in various places in East Java and other various projects. I get more income other than salary that allows me to save regularly. Even from that savings, I can plan a trip "Embrace the Himalayas" which will carried June 29 until July 11, 2016.

Even more news, Deparment of Energy and Mineral Resources offered to become civil officer. Is not that a good thing? I'm just sit down, working my routine job with the status of contract workers and suddenly they offered me to become a permanent employee with various allowances. While other people have to contend with all sorts of tests and preparation to become a civil officer, I was offered free of charge. I just need to decide whether I want to or not. And they need my decision as soon as possible.

If I take this chance, I'll get salary around 6 million rupiah/month, with addition of some allowances and fieldtrip money, total of my salary will be more than 7 million rupiah/month. Although I haven't give any decision yet wheter I'll accept or not, I think this is a very good opportunity for me. I'm sure this path of my life is the result of patience that God has given me. 

I never hate Mr.X, he is such a nice person that give me a chance to join his project in Flores, and I always thank him for that. The conclusion is, God's plan is always more beautiful. I always believe in karma, so I never hate or disfigure Mr.X. I tried to always positive thingking and saw an opportunity to develop myself and my career to build my own firm company.

Thank you God for eveything.

SURABAYA 13 January 2016: Confused


Well, this is my officially first post using English. Now I'm in a great doubtfull. I don't know what to do, and I can't make a decision. Here is the problem, places where I work now (let's called it Department of Energy and Mineral Resources) offered me to become civil officer. Is not that a good thing? I'm just sit down, working my routine job with the status of contract workers and suddenly they offered me to become a permanent employee with various allowances. While other people have to contend with all sorts of tests and preparation to become a civil officer, I was offered free of charge. I just need to decide whether I want to or not. And they need my decision as soon as possible.

But, why I'm confused?

It is because, when I became a civil officer, it is make sure that I have to serve my country in the same place until I retire someday, maybe till 56 or 58. Can I make that commitment? I realized, salary is a major consideration. If I take this chance, I'll get salary around 6 million rupiah/month,  with addition of some allowances and fieldtrip money, total of my salary will be more than 7 million rupiah/month

BUT, the problem is TIME.

 Is my leave time will give me the freedom of traveling around the world? Something I dreamed. I hope that once in my life I had an unforgettable experience that I will always remember forever.

Beside, I want to try Working Holiday Program in Australia before my age stepping 30 years. I want to experience a different life and adventure. I'm a person who likes to move, I like this and that. Whether to become a civil officer I can meet it all?

God help me, give me a clue. My life just once, and I did not know until what age. I want to have a life with unforgettable adventure. I want to go to Hawaii, New Zealand. United States mainland, Japan, Russia, can I?

Should I refuse? Or should I accept the offer?

I still don't have the answer. While they waited for my decision tomorrow Monday (January 18, 2016). Today is Thursday, January 14, 2016. Means, I have 4 days to make this big decision that will affect my life forever.

I leave everything to God, I have a faith, he has a wonderful plan for my life.