Small Miracle

I never imagine that my life can be so dynamic. Full of surprise. Work has brought me to many unpredictable encounters, including this very one. I am still out of words, speechless, bewildered, or any other subjective that shows how hard for me to believe it. It is still uggh...but in a good term.

In my second year in Seattle, I was the head of Indonesian Catholic Youth Group or Mudika. This group is spread around the globe, including north America. Seattle and Vancouver are 2 hours away; thus, we usually got together. When I was the head, I have been contacted with heads of Mudika from other states, including Vancouver. Let's call him Z. We only contacted via facebook and email.
It was back in 2009 then and I did not even dream that we would meet in person. Our friendship was limited on newsfeed and seasonal greetings. Not more than that. I only knew what was happening in his life roughly from what he posted.
Then, life is funny indeed. 2 weeks ago, I saw a familiar face came into the meeting room at one of Catholic high schools here in Malang. I was convinced that it was Z. I called his name and yes it was him!!! It was something that made me out of words. Just like "whoaaaa" "wooow". hahaha... It was like a pandora box. Suddenly it just appeared in front of your eyes. It was more shocking than meeting Angga from Maliq and the Essentials. 

Oh well, we had a week to do a little catch up. We even forgot how we started to know each other. He even asked whether we've met before or not. lol. It was just hilarious. This can be considered a miraculous meeting, well .. I think I now can add it to my magical meeting, something that unexpectedly making me happy.
I started to count small miracles that happened around me. Unpredictable encounters, meeting people that can accept you well, thinking about having pizza and suddenly someone offered you a slice of pizza, sick of going alone at church then a friend just sat next to you, a song that is in your head sang by a choir, dreaming about going to US again and your manager said that you are offered to go there for a business trip. Those things. Every little things matter.

Indeed, every little things do matter. Fact that you are actually seeing with your brain, I am typing these words in my second language, my cactus Elmo just having little babies, he's about regenerating ;), dogs recognize his owner, Morning ray, anything.

I read back all the posts that I have posted here in my blog and the old ones, most posts are telling about how things work in its own way. Things that making me grateful.

small miracles
we’re making small miracles
from the smile that we give to each other
everyday, anytime, anyway
small miracles
we’re making more miracles
thank God we’re alive - Bonita and the Hus Band, 'Small Miracle'

It is indeed starting with a simple thing. A smile, a fresh air, a plate of warm food, oh really those things. Some people still search what is the meaning of one's life. What is the matter of one's existence. In what purpose. These questions are OK to be asked of course. As Lewis states, "Miracles are a RETELLING in SMALL LETTERS of the VERY SAME STORY which is WRITTEN across the whole world in LETTERS TOO LARGE for some of us to see" We sometimes missed it just because it is too simple. Be aware that we are now making small miracles. Counts everything, the bads and goods. And you feel different. You eventually have answers of those questions.
More positive things are coming to you in the end...

Just do a simple greet, take care of your own room, say hi to  your mom and dad, just that..

Because it is a miracle itself that we are now breathing and alive.

Bonita and the Hus Band from the album Small miracles

CVB

The word - Sincere

It is a busy week indeed. School starts, students are sent, yet I feel uneasy.
Nervous to the max without a realistic reason.

Yesterday I especially was not feeling well. Had a long day, got a phone call in the middle of the night, felt a little bit being ignored by that particular student, just could not feel easy. It was just bad. Bad mood.
You know what? I was back with Misaeng. Please don't be bored to hear I repeat myself about Misaeng.
It is indeed a healing. I watched it again and again, and haven't got tired of it. The more I see it, the more I appreciate the show.
I could notice details, could make a possible causal, why this character be this or do that. Ah, it is just my therapy. How funny that I could still laugh, even though I knew what's going to happen. It became my way to enlighten my mood. Like eating a piece of chocolate. I could be immersed completely like I haven't watched it before.  Oh well, oh well...
Life is fair indeed... Just hours before leaving the office, I got another phone call from a parent. This one was a nice one indeed. She reminded me how great just doing pure consultation, just to be sincere.

Sincere...

Yes this word

Be sincere...
It is just the nicest thing, to give or to get. Anything that is given sincerely, or anything that we give sincerely always feel good. Since it is the purest, truest, most naive feeling that we have. I was not the one who send her son abroad even though she used our agency. I was just there to answer questions and concerns for I have been trough the same experience being an international student. Just that. She still said appreciation of what I have done which I thought, nothing much.
She just made me smile. Concluded my day at work with a sweet note. Thank you tante...

Onwards, I will try my best to just simply being sincere... including the night phone call from student asking trivia things haha... ooh well.. they were just as confused as I was before, so yeah.....



Sincerely...
CVB

Warm September

It's September, the first month with 'ber'...
meaning... not so long till christmas is here, and rainy season is coming soon.
You know what has been passing?
Events. mixed feelings, people come and go. Loneliness. Boredom. and warmest feeling.

August towards the end of this year is our busiest.
School expos, events, and so on are here. Office is busier, and I think I like it better.

Started with the last week of August, I was stumbled upon mood swings. At nights I felt nervous, felt good, then nervous again. Unexplained. However, I am going to tell you anyway. Our first event in the new education year was last august. Malang, where I am based, was the first city to hold the event. First event went just like that, what I liked about it, I got to do my first briefing, and of course met my beloved colleagues from other cities. Felt like my old self again. Meeting those familiar faces. Not saying that I am not enjoying my new environment, but you know... it is always good to meet familiar faces.
The next day was Surabaya event. Crowded as well, and always good to be back to Surabaya. Sheraton Hotel and the same waiter that I have known, he's been serving there for over 2 years now. We did the same thing we have always been doing after event. Eating in a private room, on the big dining table, just like one big family. Familar things always felt warm. Not to forget, I spent more time with a very good friend of mine from Singapore. Whenever we met, we just chatted everything. Everything that can be told. Caught up here and there with his luggage and banner. With his good sense of humor, and everything else. It was always always nice to meet someone that can go well with you wasn't it?

Then, Jakarta events. I needed to go to Jakarta because they were shorts of people; thus, I went there by myself from Malang. This small city at the mountain has a mini airport. I was quite nervous about it. It turned out not bad. Plus! I got a sweet surprise. I met Maliq and the essentials!!!!! One of my favorite bands! I was ashamed if I did not do a little selfie with Mr. Angga. I just asked him politely and snapped!

Well, the flight was not bad. Arrived at Jakarta, straight to the event in Hotel Mulia. Again, familiar faces and places always give me warmth. Jakarta Vistarian crew has new faces as usual. Hope to see some of them at the next event. During events, I was with a partner that I was not really enjoying with. Did not know why I felt uneasy. Oh well, I just did my best and after Mulia event was more uneasy. Why? I was going to meet my Minnesotan friends. Our group chat was not really busy, I was a little bit doubtful with our meeting. To my surprise (or not), our meeting went just perfect. Only 5 of us, but my closest were there, and that's good enough! We had a good chat, good drink, and pictures! I even met my bestie's mother whom I knew via facebook. Felt good. Our conversation was meaningful. Full of our pasts and futures. We have shared the similar experience; thus we were agree on certain things. It was good.

Then, the next day, our last event. Held in Harris. I took care of my own booth. Practically speaking, that I had a nonstop consultation for 6 hours! Thanks to the banner saying 'study at UK and US', nobody was enrolled on my booth that day, but I surprisingly felt so good. Just enjoying what I did. Pure consultation. What happier about that, I met a student with her parents whom I met exactly last year, at the very same venue. She and her parents went straight to my booth and greeted me warmly! It's the happiest feeling ever. She was only consulting with me and continued by a few what's app conversation. However, seeing them still remembering me and greeting me warmly was just making me happy. "It's always nice seeing you", her mom said to me. I genuinely felt happy. Well, I hope what I did was also making them happy. Hope to see you go abroad by Vista ok? ;) hahaha

I am just surrounded by good people indeed. The first week of this month is not bad as well. Busy but good. Good to be busy. I had a day off and gone to Spa. Paid a little more to have a little luxury was acceptable. It was so nice. Felt completely like a woman. haha.


Ah this Chendani is changing a bit.
It is Ok if things are slow down. It is Ok if everything is not turned out as I wished. For it can turn out better than I expect. This Chendani just need to keep her confidence a little longer. She is now someone who was looked up to; thus, she needs to act appropriately.
This Chendani has learned one thing...

Be good...

and all the good things are attracted to you...

That's what nature has been set.

So this Chendani is trying her best to be just a good girl. Politely and humbly saying that you for everything that has happened.

Looking forward to what's going to happen.
First thing first, she needs to take care of her new baby...
she will keep giving you a fresh reviews from the underdog world. hehehehe... or maybe not so underdog.

Thank you for stay tune...


CVB