A note on 2 years of living in Jakarta

The Skyline
Two years have passed since I decided to live in Jakarta. I still remember an overly dramatic scene when my family and my closest friends bid me good bye on December 29, 2011 at the Solo Balapan train station. Recalling the scene, I should win an award for that.

 I remember that when I was still a sophomore student, I told myself not to go to Jakarta after graduating. But then, after graduation, I realized that my hometown, as much as I love it, had nothing much for me to offer.

“What can you do with that degree?” the question I quoted from “500 Days of Summer” really suited me back then. I was, and am, an idealist; I want to have a job that suits my education.

After graduating, I  applied for several jobs in Jakarta. I got calls for interviews several times (which made me happy to know that my resume could actually sell me *blaaaah*). Then, I was called for an interview at The Jakarta Post, the most famous English newspaper in the country.

I had no journalistic background before. Frankly, I was not interested to be a journalist. Even, I was educated to criticize media. I thought "how can I work for the media if I was trained to be critical to media?"

However, I always know that I love writing (in fact, that was how I answered my interviewers when they asked me "why do you want to work here"). When the Post offered me the opportunity to work with them, I accepted it, believing that I could learn so many things from them.

And it turned out that the job was really great that made me feel so small. I came into loving the job, believe it or not! I learned so many things: politics, law, human rights and life lessons that I never received before. However, despite my growing interest to the job, forces beyond my control forced me to end the work as a reporter on New Years’ eve of 2012.

I was jobless again for two months. I enjoyed my freedom though. Working as a reporter, when I recalled, is really tough. You came home late at night. Sometimes, you work from 5 a.m. (yeah, I left my home at 5 a.m. twice in 2012). However, despite the tough work, I love my colleagues!

New friendship :)

My job hunting then led me to AMINEF, the Fulbright commission in Indonesia. I was accepted to work in March. I had no clue about the working nature of the job I applied. After one-two months of learning, I was able to seize the pace.

My current job is really different from my first job. I had a fixed working schedule and holiday (yey!!). I get chances to meet Fulbright scholars from US (who knows that they might lead me to my future). However, I am still learning to love my job (I still love writing! I miss it. That is why blog post doubles this year compared to last year).

I am grateful that during my 2 years of living in Jakarta, I have jobs that suited my education background. 

This year also marked a point in my love life history. I fell in love with someone again after so many years, but at the same time, I was quickly brokenhearted (lols). Unrequited love always sucks! But alas, I thanked for the feeling. I never knew I still had it in me.

Despite my hatred to Jakarta's traffic jam, I still thank this city for harboring me for two years. Thank you Jakarta for giving me new friendship. Thank you Jakarta for introducing me to some sides of lives - good and bad - that I never encountered in my hometown. Thank you Jakarta for giving life skills (Hey I am now a master to make omelette and toast! Check my instagram here if you don't believe me).

I am still looking forward to living in here for ...... (i don't know how long I will stay here). I am still looking forward to achieving my dreams here.

Well, that is my note of my two-year stay in the capital city. I will never cast my Solonese background from me, but one thing for sure, Jakartan values have also been incorporated in me as well. Anyhow, in this last day of December, I want to wish you all a happy new year. May good fortunes come to you in 2014! 

Comments

  1. hey hey hey!! this is the most interesting post I've ever read on your blog. it's because you finally confess your love story on this media. so, who is she? your new Jakartan friend? where did you meet her? why did your heart break quickly? do you still want her back? or do you find another one? can i see her on your facebook friend? *sorry for firing you with lot of questions, just curious with your love story. haha

    anyway, it's glad to know that you will never cast your Solonese background. somehow, coming from small town is a cool thing as well. just like this proverb: "Tigers Jaw won't be Tigers Jaw if they come from California". (Well, perhaps it's only me that understand the meaning. hahaha)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you make up that Proverb ??? I cant even google it :O

      *ignoring the questions on my love life* hahahaha

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. So how did u come up with that words?? seriously, Google fails to give me the proverb's meaning hahaha

      Delete
    2. ahaha. yes, i made up it myself.
      Tigers Jaw is a pop-punk group hailing from Scranton, Pennsylvania. In spite of coming from the home of worldwide-phenomenon pop-punk artists, California, Tigers Jaw come from not-considerable city of pop-punk scene. However, they still gain success with their own musical style in United States (Pennsylvania has shaped their musical style of course). Though they have disbanded already, but still people out there talking and listening to their music. Even some people still relate some other bands with Tiger Jaw-ish style.

      so, tell me more bout your love story then. or perhaps, you can write it (in disguise) on your next post. hahaha

      Delete

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