February Shots

I know this is the 22nd day of February, and THERE ARE TOO MANY to be TOLD.
February is the shortest month, but gosh, you don't know what has happened!
This is like my mini roller coaster ride before the BIG coaster ride that might be happening in the middle of this year.
ANYWAY!

Le's start with what has happened in this month.
I was travelling  from Jan30th to Feb8th because the fair season is back! In the company that I work, we have 4 education fairs in a year. This year starts in end of January. Our route was Jakarta - Bali - Bandung - and the last, Suabaya. I was officially off from the office for the whole week. This was exciting because we had a chance to have at least a free day in each city. Greedy me, I tried my best to make a little catch up with my friends and family around those places.

Sara and her baby. and Anton

Road show is always a reunion time. Aas you might have noticed, I have met tons of friends especially from Seattle around those trips ACCIDENTALLY. So, I told myself, why did not I tell them that I was coming, and we might be able to spend a little time and catch up those 6 years. My first meeting was with Sara Lea and Antoni Rusli whom I met accidentally last August. Sara, Anton, and me were friends because of something weird. Alcohol. Don't get me wrong, I am not an alcoholic, we are not. But, we did meet for a little drinking game. We did other fun things as well, and believe me, we are all devoted Catholics. We went to church every single week when we were in Seattle. Anyhow, the original plan was I would be picked by Sara at Hotel Mulia, and we would meet Anton at Grand Indonesia. Guess what happened. We were stuck on traffic and dashed by heavy rain, surprise, surprise Jakarta. Sara only said, "this is all because of you Anton. All for you" Sara stayed in Bogor, me stayed in Surabaya, and we all happened to be in Jakarta on that Saturday. It was a short meetin, but jeez, brought back old time. It was memorable. We happened to share dessert like we always did, but no alcohol! hahaha. Nice short catch up and good laugh.

Green tea match creme brulee 

goldie and putra

The second day was with my Art Institute of Seattle friends. I did not go to AIS, but I happened to know many people from there including Sara. That day, I made an appointment with Goldie, my Korean lunch buddy to meet up. She asked me to join her and her other AIS friends to have a Korean dinner. Another "surprise... surprise..." I happened to only know one girl, but never mind. Goldie said she would invite Putra as well. OMO hahaha. Putra a.k.a Elmo (only me who called him that way), was a friend whom I met in Mudika, and we were playing music for Indo mass once a month. He played drum and I would play piano. He used to drive me almost everywhere for Mudika's gathering. Long story short, we hung out a lot together and our friendship was continued because of msn messanger, facebook messanger, and whats app. It's been 6 years as well, just like Ronny. Our trip from Harris hotel to the Korean place (he picked me up), was around 40 minutes, and we caught up on many things! Putra stayed the same. Oh BTW, I called him Elmo because he always moved his head in a funny way just like ELmo when he was playing drum. Haha. And Thanks to Winny, she treated a delish jja jangmyeon!

Then the rest of my day off, I went out with my crazy colleagues!!! Except one dinner, I went out to my Mama Henny's house in Bali. I have mentioned that I have many "moms":). In Bali, we also had a karaoke session because there were quiet dramas going on which I would not type in here. We had so much fun! Bandung was nice as well.

bandung and sby team

me my mamah wkwk

To be honest with you, I love my job, one of the reasons is because of these trips. I have a miraculous chance to meet my friends whom I have been missing. I have a chance to get closer to my crazy colleagues. With my colleagues from the same branch or with other cities. I also have an opportunity to make a new friend. School partners are from everywhere. From Singapore, US, to Italy. I have made a couple friends out of our professional thingy. I just met a friend from Seattle who was originally from Midwest, and she is Catholic. Those things happened. We just clicked the right button at the right time. So much things I was grateful for, just because this trip.

Next, I needed to go home because of a wedding I couldnt miss. My mom would raise from the grave because of it. haha. Ok, I am too much! On that wedding, I heard "yours next year" many many times. Those people shook my hand and repeated the same thing said that my wedding should be next, and I said AMEN to that. haha.

"AMEN!" 

This might out of the context, but it just hit me, that I was in that end where I might face two heading roads. One, get married in mid 20s just like my high school friends do (mostly), or stick with career. Looking on the road that clearly on my way is career. Somehow, career comes along first. I have no choice other than hit the career road along with the hope for finding 'the right one'.
There's been this stereotype stating about woman who hits her thirty without getting married is because they chose career over marriage. I see it differently. I bring this issue up, because all just leading to this matter. February is the valentines mood, everyone gets engage, or in a relationship around this month. I happened to be in a wedding, and as a woman in her mid twenties and showed no sign of tie a knot any soon, made people asked me a lot of questions like "when is yours?" (wedding), "where is yours?" (boyfriend). Additionally, I happened to watch a movie on my lonely Chinese New Year about this matter as well. Titled "Kapan Kawin?" (review is here), a story about a woman in her thirties and hasn't been married yet. Her parents keep asking her, when is she getting married? All lead to the same thing. While making that review, I watched a Kick Andy's show. That episode titled "Kapan Kawin" as well. Guests are 3 women in their thirties. Two were singles in their thirties, one got married in the age of 38. Many of their answers struck me right in the heart! It's like a "hallelujah" moment.
 I am still in my mid 20s, I am not in a situation where I have to be worried about what people say. However, it just strikes me when I watched that episode. The guests  all said that they wanted to get married but just did not meet the right one at the right time. It does not mean that they choose career over marriage. I happen to feel the same way. I actually am not old enough to say about this, because I am still 25 going to 26. Many things could happen. Bu for now, career seems come first. Again, not because I chose it, but it seems it is just my way to live.

This leading to exciting yet terrifying news. Perhaps, in the middle of the year, there might be some changes in work. I might have to move again. But, story about April first! I think this April will be a milestone for me. I am not sure if I could tell you about this now. I think I should put it off until everything is clear. Anyhow, by being single, I have these opportunities to travel, to decide my own, to enjoy my time. Those three women who were invited in Kick Andy said the same thing. What's good about being single, they had more time, more opportunities, and more things to be achieved, but they all agree in one thing, so do I. If there will be a choice between career over family, they said hey will chose family, I do too. I will chose family over career.

I am not really sure why I am typing these down. But, it just bothered me the whole month. The idea was jumbling around my head, and it is annoying.

To conclude this post,
I can't lie to myself, that I am so so so excited about what's going on in April. I am terrified about what happened next, towards the end of the year. But! First thing first! I should be worried about March. March is the only month I have to work my butt off. Too many things will happen afterwads. I don't know if I can pull it off.

Well, good luck for me!





CVB