Another Victoria's Secrets

Since I first came back to Jakarta around 5-6 months ago (when I started working) I've been in so many new environments, friend circles, and experiences. One of them are food experience cuz being in a new place means eating the food they have there, having to adapt with them.

I've been in Jakarta for so many times and I'm not too surprised by its culture, weather, people and-of course-its food. But being friends with my colleagues is another thing. With them I tried a new way to enjoy more classy food; by finding '50% discount' words on the X-banner they put in front of the entrance door, both in malls and one located restaurants.

By paying half we could enjoy more expensive food by paying as regular price and that means a lot for staffs like us. I've been to Soho, Excelso, Takigawa, Ayam Ganthari, Kari Umbi, Rice and many other places with my colleagues. They're one experience of food for me.

As with my internship-colleagues at DCM, I've brought in to more hip restaurants such as Bu Endang's Indonesian food, Ajengan (Balinese food), Black Canyon, and Lokananta. They're another experiences and enriched my vocabulary of food in Jakarta.


Last night I went to Kiyadon Sushi with Carina and it was something else. She brought me to Poke Sushi before and we had salmon salads in both sushi taverns. I love being in those fancy cafes and restaurants not only because of the food quality but also because of its interior design and atmosphere. I love hanging out with cappuccino or booze and have deep conversations. I love discussing heavy topics about life or philosophy or something that helps me know myself better. That's why ambiance is one important point in having meals.

So, if you have one good food recommendation, don't forget to ask me to come along with, will you?


2. dish set
3. unagi roll and salmon salad-yummy!

I went to Pacific Place yesterday by around 7 p.m. and met Joey there who was just arrived, too. He was with his junior high school mates Yanuar and William, plus a lady--Diana, which is Yanuar's friend from a retreat. We had dinner at Pasta Matrix before watching the movie Smart People at Blitz Megaplex by 9 p.m.



We moved to Starbucks Sarinah and had chit-chat til around 2.30 a.m.!!! It's always post-midnight sleeps with Joey, but never been boring to me--he always have something interesting to do with or new people for me to get to know to. Just like the movie we've just watched, we discussed things just as smart people do.

William had studied in Taiwan for philosophy major and now a vegetarian teacher, painting dealer, and in charcoal business of Minakrida. He's very talkative and has lots of stories he loves to share with all of us. Yanuar, a graphic designer, studied in Melbourne of 2003 and he's now back in Jakarta building this graphic design company called Studio Kecil. While Diana, studied graphic design in Pelita Harapan University of 2002 and friends with Vivi my childhood neighbor, is going to study French in Paris for the next 4 months.

I really enjoyed the conversation we had last night that today I had to feel sleepy at the office (luckily I had to go to a client's house in Pantai Mutiara in northern Jakarta so I could have some sleep in the car for a total 1.5-2 hours and not having to go back to the office cuz it passed my office hour by the time we left the Pluit area.) I just got so many new interesting informations and knowledge yesterday and don't mind at all to get the lack of sleep and I really can't wait til our next meeting!

[P.S. Thanks for the sharings and stories and all the fun hours we spent, guys, I really had fun!
And if you're reading my blog now, thanks for dropping by and feel free to leave comments]

This is my first time resigning (yea, of course, since this is my first job-LOL). It felt funny actually cuz I've not any new job yet but I was certain about the plan so I printed the letter and gave it to my sales manager who got really surprised. He asked and persuaded me to stay, but after I told him my reasons, he said OK.

So, in short words, they processed it and delivered the message to the big boss but the GM got to me first and asked me personally. I stuck with my decision cuz somehow I don't walk on the same path the company is walking on. I got totally different ideals on how I want to work and this is just not gonna work with me.

Actually there are soo many problems and affairs that could be sold to the production house and make a good telenovela material which made me kinda tired to hear them all (which means I have to join gossiping which I don't really like), but my problem is with the system. My work hour is 9 to 5 and overtime isn't get paid. The thing is, I have to work overtime almost everyday for nothing. Mostly I have to wait for my turn's meeting with boss til 7-8 p.m. after doing almost nothing all day... that's sucks!

And this, although part of my responsibility, isn't gonna change until the system is changed here. But it won't cuz I know some of the intern problems which are quite rooting here that couldn't be changed in a short time... it's more like family affairs that affected the run of the company. I'm not gonna create any design here (I'm more to layout-ing the furnitures), not gonna be too developed here and I've got my lessons here, so I decided to get out ASAP before this become another comfort zone for me.

5 Whys I Wanna Get Out (just in case I forget and accept the bribe my manager offered):

1. I'm not developing my right brain here, only my left one, while in designing world the right brain is the most important invest we need, so I need to get occupied to something with more use of my right brain.
   
2. I don't like the system going on here, the absolute hierarchy style they're putting on just like the old French (I'm wondering whether my boss were 25 years in USA or French cuz her habits are just like French woman) where the managers are like nobles and staffs are like plebs. The difference on their treatments are too far.
   
3. And I don't like the schedule they're having here where boss comes up when people are preparing to go home and we HAVE to wait 'til she's done which means adding up the work hour for 3-4 more hours without having anything so important to do, just to wait for her and having no driver to drive me back home which means I need to go back by bus alone by 9-10 p.m.-that's insane!
   
4. I just need to design something but I don't like the designs here (they offered me to get transferred to ID department) and I don't agree with the system they're having for the department, my position as Visual Merchandiser here is a lotttt better than becoming an Interior Designer.
   
5. And many other not-so-important-and-shouldn't-be-said-here-but-not-worth-being-here-either reasons.
   

I like the people here, the staffs are solid and that's what I like for a working atmosphere (and this is the only reason why most of the employees stay working here for quite a long time). But these people aren't creative ones (even the designers can't be too creative here for there's only one designer there; the boss--the others are just her assistance) and I'm gonna need more creative people more than administrative people to be around me to maximized the creative side of me. So, I decided to quit now, for better or worse, but I hope this is the best decision for now.

I'm gonna talk about a guy in this post.

I knew him only for a month or so, but already feels like I've known him a lifetime. Nop, that's a bit hyperbole but yeah--we got this kind of connection for the last month we're seeing each other (at least I think so). Let's call this guy NY.

I knew NY from a former crush, he's one of his close friends. When I first saw NY I liked him at once cuz he was so cool with his naked upper body (uh-huh, a bit immoral that could lead to pornography but I guess it was sexy--cuz it's just a matter of perspective, isn't it?) and three tatts he got there (I'm sort of a bit obsessed on tattoos) and the fact that he was a photographer/graphic designer (and I have one strange condition for guys who are eligible enough to be a bf: they must be interesting at the first sight. If the feeling was right then they deserve the next step, or in short sentence: first sight tells all.)
But at that time he was my crush's friend. Nothing happened.

Months passed and I got rid of the crush outta my life when I met NY again. He met my fam and got along pretty well, unlike any other guys in my life who were never got close so quickly with my parents. That's one plus point for him, I guess... or something that made me more interested in him and wanting to know further about him.

We spent some quality time for hours before he went home that post-midnight. And we had other deep conversations during the last month, both by phone or meeting and I found him really interesting cuz he gave me (another) new perspective on seeing the world, on taking sides in one case. I love hearing his positive thoughts, his extreme opinions and his autistic way of thinking (yep, cuz this enriches my vocabulary and shows me more detailed way to describe something and I enjoy so much playing with words like that.) We've also spent nights together and he held me close but I still dunno where he's leading this relationship in to.

I'm not really a type of girl who needs status. I'm more liberal for such thing. But I still need explanation sometime (like, hello, every girl needs this, brother!), just some confirmation about the feelings and any other thing that happens between us, whether it's real or just an illusion that I'm having cuz I'm so bloody scared of flying too high for then having to fall higher than where it should. That hurts more. Hell, I shouldn't really care about it cuz I've loved and I've broken hearted. I (hope I) no longer care about relationship, I feel happy only to give him the attention and the fact that he enjoys being with me.

Yesterday he mentioned a girl. I felt a bit down by the time he talked about her but hey, I was there not to fall in love (but yeah, I felt so uncomfortable like wanted to go home for the first time when I'm being with him.) So, okay, he likes the girl and I felt oh-so-damn-fool to be there (what was I doing there spending my time with him but get nothing in the end??), but I tried to be cool cuz somehow I knew, this isn't gonna happen between us (and dunno why this happened a hell lot of times before.)

And yeah, I was his special person (I knew this by the 'drink test'--just something fun I got from a friend--but I also knew what happens when you're being a special person; you're neither being a lover or just-a-friend; yes, you're more than that but none of them are gonna lead you to the kind of a relationship you want. That sucks, I know, but that's another reality I have to cope with, right? Ouch, I just made a foolish analysis from recent case which couldn't be guaranteed its acuracy and I have to stop it here cuz this kind of stuff is just narrowing my future possibilities.)

But he said that he likes my lifestyle (I admire his, too--the way he lives his life and being so faithful to what he believes), he likes me being so easy-going (for he doesn't like fussy girls--and I guess this added my plus point cuz I ain't no fussy girl at all), he likes me reading books and that I'm open minded (yep, that's one point I like from him too, being open minded and always having opinion--tho most of them were contrary toward mine--about anything that pretty much opens my mind wider upon a subject) and that I'm accepting reality (hell, why not, that's becoming my expertise, isn't it, dealing with sucks reality such as this one, but yup, nothing's gonna bring me down, even it's a really sucks one cuz I'm a bloody stronger than that.)

He wondered if his ex was like me... This made me wondering if ever he likes me, even for a slightest chance, as a possible future girlfriend--if I wasn't related too close (and too complicated) with his friend (read: my ex-crush.)

Cuz hell yeah I like his deep-tanned athletic body, he's being 180 cm tall, and his casual style. And I really want a guy like him to be my lifetime partner, someone as easy-going and open-minded as him. Cuz he's somehow a special person to me, too, since he gave me many new perspective in life; he made me fall in love in graphic designing and photography a lot more than before; made me try to love Indonesia more and got me the dare to experience a lot of new adventures in my life.

After lots of past love stories I had experienced, I'm willing to take this new adventure of loving this guy by taking it reaaalllyyy slow but steady--but I guess the hope should be killed and buried again now...too bad there are no chemistry between us, so all that I was saying from the beiginning of the post are just my imagination (sing: but it was just my imagination, running away with me... by Gwyneth Paltrow)

One thing for sure, I've found my ideal for future husband reference--whether it'd be him or someone else--but I want that person just like this guy (oh please help pray for me on this.) Hope you enjoy the story.

[nazareth, moi, issac, norman, yonas]

I went to fX (read: Fun Xtatement, which was once Sudirman Place) today and arrived by around 2.30. Yonas said they were at Muffin House, so I searched for two guys sitting there but found none when suddenly I saw familiar faces in the group of 7-8. Yep, they're my junior high's schoolmates who gathered with their graduate school friends.

Yonas, who called the meeting, is now working at Freeport, Jayapura, while Issac, who used to accompany me go home by angkot, is working at United Tractor at Pulo Gadung, Jakarta. They were hanging out there with their friends from Management-Unpad after their entry test in Monetary Department in Sudirman.

About half an hour later, Nazareth came. He works at Ernst&Young, at Sudirman, Jakarta, in which I pass by everyday on my way to my office. We shared stories, no longer stupid stuff like 10 years ago, but more to office, work, experiences we've been thru.

After 1-2 hour we've sat there came Norman, one of my exs who went to Binus too, who is working in Danamon as HR officer in Kuningan. Not long after that, Issac's sister, Yohana came with her boyfriend and joined us for some time. It was kinda funny cuz she still remembers me.

Then we moved to Ganthari Grill Chicken at Bulungan for dinner and then Norman drove us all back home, I was the third before Nazareth.

I'm happy to meet the boys again after so long and--can you imagine that we met up in Jakarta? Who would've thought before that these guys are now in Jakarta? Well, not me, but that's what happened, that's the fact that they're now working in great and huge companies in the country (while I don't do a lot at my office) and are climbing to their better futures. I'm so glad to hear my friends' stories of success and I'm gonna find my own way to that goal!


[once again: norman-nazareth-yonas-issac-moi]

I was having an unpleasant day in the office yesterday cuz except that yesterday was my off-Saturday turn, I and colleagues were having issue with our employer. I avoided her by going to one of our site project at Hampton's Park, in Terogong, South Jakarta.

After working for almost 5 months in Jakarta and been in so many kind of public transportations in the big city, I came to some tips which I'd like to share them with you.

If you're a pedestrian, it's necessary for you to watch your every step in the streets in Jakarta.

1. You have to check your belongings; make sure your bags are shut close with no item peeking out cuz this is quite crucial for your safety.
   
2. Don't wear any provocative clothes, make sure that you are dressed politely and quite covered. Then, you can go out from your shelter if you're sure that your appearance is safe enough.
   
3. During the walk, keep your destination in mind and walk straightly toward it, no matter how far or meandered it is; just keep on walking and keep your chin up high and eyes straight forward so you'll seem to focus. People tend to bother those who seem lost.
   
4. Never bother the whistling or teasing they deliver to you. They're just killing time by doing that and it would never cost you anything to just consider them only the passing wind.
   
5. Split your mind in two. Replay music or sing some song in mute and think of something else in the other half. This could avoid you from such hypnotic stuff. It's a good idea to wear your iPod while walking.
   

But sometimes you'll need to take the public transportation so here are some of the tips I collected from my experiences.

When you take bajaj in Jakarta, you have to know the price range so you shouldn't waste time bargaining while you can save some money on this cuz they usually put high prices on newbies. When you take a bajaj, make sure you know your destination and tell them while you're entering the vehicle. You are free to do anything in that small compartment but take a look on the road once in a while to make sure you're in the right way. It's better if you know some shortcuts.


If you're taking bus, either it's Kopaja, Metromini, Patas AC, or other public buses in Jakarta, prepare your money (it's Rp 2,500.-/person now.) You should never wear unrespectful dress cuz it could really provocative to some people. Once again, mind your belongings. And beware of thieves, especially in the longer buses cuz it's more crowded which made them easier to operate on your wallet/cellphone. One simple tips; always get down with your left leg first.

In taxi the rules are simple and easy. Make sure they use the argometer well. It doesn't really matter whether they put 'tarif bawah' (cheaper tariff) or not bcuz the calculating is different depends on the speed or distance they've set (only God and they know it.) It is highly recommended to take the trustable company such as Blue Bird Group, Gamya, and other brands you're familiar with. The new TransCab offers hi-tech taxi service such as television in it and payment roll by the time you reach your destination. This, is one great quality they've innovated but I guess the price follows the services.

One last thing, you must have known this, but try to make some effort to chat with the driver cuz you'll get some advantages here; you could have a chat friend, add up your knowledge on whatever his story is about, and you won't have to worry whether he has bad purpose on you (although it's much safer to take taxis now than it was, and you can guarantee services from several qualified taxi companies.)

I went to watch the movie with a new friend, Carina, who I met in the office. She's here for 2 months for internship and she works here more or less because of my recommendation since she called me around 3 months ago introducing herself as Erwin's friend from the Maranatha University (which is my junior) and asked for some help. So I helped her to join the company and to find her a place and she seems to be thankful for that, she's been extremely kind to me for the late month we're working together.

Last night was the first time I stayed over at her place. We walked from the office and put our stuff in her room, then walked for another 3 minutes to my aunt's place. Hizkia, my dearest cousin, was coming with us so his mom dropped us at PIM by around 6.30. We had dinner at the food court and had little chat the three of us, but we mostly discuss about my cousin's new high school, Binus School at Serpong.

I went to Senci with my latest ex, Mario, last night. We had a wonderful Vietnamese dinner at Pho' 2000 and hung out at Starbucks til 10 p.m. But stuff were getting more complicated and we were back arguing of our differences. Well, it was mostly came from me for I'm the one who make this problem. It's me who made it bigger than it is.

But he said it's been enough for him that he'd sacrificed all for me, now I had to choose between making up for good or not at all. So I chose the last option and there'll be no turning back; this is the final decision between us and I'm quite certain with it.

Well, I still love him, cuz he's somehow the most loving guy I've ever been with and he's the one who loves me the most, the greatest lover I've ever met. But just like Samantha Jones said in Sex and the City; 'I love me more.' As simple as that, and I know that I have to let go of him forever. Let the regret be with me if someday it'll show, but I need to live my life the way I want it to, not by what others said I have to. I need to enjoy every minute I'm breathing in cuz that's the only way I could feel peace. And life only happens once, there are no way turning back and I don't wanna regret anything anymore.


I feel so much better peace in mind and soul for I'm no longer under Mario's influence. I'm now being me; myself. I'm now concentrating on finding my true self for I've changed and been in demand of being someone who wasn't me since my adolescent years. I've been following wrong instructions of my false surroundings and now, it's just time to be me.

I've spent 16 bloody years in Bandung in the way my parents and my surroundings taught me to and I felt regrets, uselessness and uncountable misfit moments along every single minute in it. That, I promise myself, won't be happening again. Being here now in Jakarta is like 'coming home' to me. Dunno how many times I've said this before but that's what I feel after being a refugee in a place I disliked.

Now it's completely a new life. I've let go of everything I owned in Bandung, the memories and friends. I'm losing my girls who made me and helped me survived. I lost someone who loves me the most and it's just me in this whole big metropolitan city. But of course I'm allowing more to come for I've emptied a lot of spaces for new friends and experiences in Jakarta. And that's exactly what I got here, I'm filling the spaces for only things I want and like. I'm welcoming people that I love to be with and experiences I've never had before.

And God have been so kind to me lately. Ever since I arrived here, God had lead me the way. He always have someone helping me to cope and adapt in the new situations I have. He put me in my aunt's place in the first place so I could get used to the tough life in Jakarta and now that He moved me to the apartment, He prepared a friend to accompany me experiencing the bus transportation, to company me trying every possible transportation they have. Transjakarta busway, Metro Mini, Kopaja, bajaj, all of them... He don't let me be alone.


Life in my office, meanwhile, have been quite flared up with so many politics and problems but God had put me here in the safest position, the most strategic position in the whole organization. And I feel that I'm loved for I'm receiving so many treats, especially for the last month. People have been so nice to me, like two people who treated me on different meals and a guy [sorry, no names mentioned] who drove me home when I felt too tired to take a bus--all happened in only a day.

And when I felt sad or not in the mood just like today (due to last night's heavy quarrel and buckets of tears), there are always friends sent to me like Alex (who fetched me at the apartment tonight by Doni's black Jazz and brought me to PIM2 to watch Wanted with Isak and girlfriend, Joey and his friend Frank by 11.35 p.m. They even entertained me with jokes and funny nostalgic stories of their high school moments while we were waiting for the movie to play) or Joey (who accompanied me talking and blabbering over the phone up to 4 hours post-midnight...nice talking-chatting-blabbering-discussing things with you, Jo!)

I went to Bandung last Saturday at 7 a.m. by Day Trans Travel for its pool is right in front of our apartment complex entrance. J'arrive a Bandung a 9 du matin dans Cihampelas (a cote La Nalendra Hotel.) Papa fetched me and we met the whole family a la maison.

Mom had prepared the cake and we sang for Ben's 23rd birthday, prayed for his blessings before he blew the candles. After the blow-the-candles (-and-eat-the-cake) ceremony I went again with Mum and Clemy. They dropped me at Bersih Sehat Jl. Gempol where I got 1 hour full-body massage (after such burdens of work and some illness the night before, it really did help me to gain my strength and fitness back)

Then Mum fetched me by 1.30 and we went to Rich & Famous-Happening factory outlet where we bought some clothes and black Nike Air jacket. After that we had lunch at Soto Betawi in front of my former school. Then it was raining so we had to wait for at least 1/2 hour. We then went to Ciwalk to buy another clothes (I got a black Triset skirt).

We arrived home almost 6 p.m. then after took baths we went to PVJ and queued at Duck King Restaurant to celebrate Ben's birthday. We had a superbly delicious meal; four season duck, chicken tofu and cha siew chicken with hainan rice... mmm, yummy!!!
And after such a tiring day, I fell asleep in the car on the way home... until the morning came. This was the tightest sleep I've had in the last month.

June 29th, 2008 - 8.15 a.m.
Mum woke me up cuz we were going to 10.15 mass at Cathedral. The altar was completely newly renovated and it was cleaner than ever. It was a nice change. After mass the 'Catholic Women' Indonesia celebrated their 84th Anniversary so they blew the candle in front of the church, then after closing bless we were allowed to enjoy the food in stalls they provided. There were nasi campur, tahu peletok, nasi bakmoy, es lilin, etc. There were also small plants they gave away.

Clemy had an appointment by 12 in Pizza Hut Dago so we dropped her, went to Cihampelas to buy some chips for my colleagues. Then we crossed the street and bought a kupluk for a friend. After that we had marvelous German sausages for lunch in Winner Bratwurst at Dago Plaza.

Papa and Mama dropped me in Jl. Trunojoyo to browse the bag I wanted to buy, so I swept down the area, from No Label (Invictus, Surf.Inc, Collate, etc) to Unkl347. I got interested on the Rip Curl backpack but Clemy said no, so we continued sweeping the Jl. Sultan Agung distros from Ouval Research (d'Loops, God.Inc, The Starseeker, Vocuz Ovulate, etc) to Evil Army. Finally my last decision fell for an Ouval Research's brown Victorian messenger bag.

We came home and I started to check emails, prepared stuff, had dinner and went back to Jakarta by the same travel bureau by 8 p.m. and arrived in apartment finally by 11 p.m. The short holiday was mostly spend on shopping which made me like any other Jakartanese when they come to Bandung but it really made me happy with those new stuff!

06.00 Morning call by cell phone alarm. Snoozed out.
06.15 Alarm still ringing on, but I'm still dreaming...
06.30 Finally getting up from bed!
06.35 On my way to bathroom.
06.45 Finished taking bath, I get dressed up.
06.50 Still looking in the closet for more clothes.
07.00 Finally finding the right clothes for the day.
07.10 Preparing breakfast.
07.30 Finished the meal.
07.35 Put the make-up on.
07.40 Change the clothes again, final decision.
07.50 Review the outfit all over again. Wear the shoes.
08.00 Leave the room. Down the elevator. Through the lobby.
08.10 Arrived at Dukuh Atas Terminal. Pay the ticket.
08.30 Arrived at Blok M Terminal. Down the basement.
08.35 Get on the 610 Metro Mini.
08.55 Arrived at Darmawangsa Square.
09.00 Start working...
12.00 ... Lunch break.
13.00 Start working again...
17.00 (Supposed to) ... finish work.
17.30 Still have something to do in the office.
18.00 Could really leave the Citywalk.
18.15 Ride on 019 Kopaja/610 Metro Mini to Blok M Terminal.
18.30 Continue by TransJakarta bus way to Halte Dukuh Atas.
19.00 Arrived home. Start cooking or do other homework.
19.30 Having dinner at home.
20.00 Working out at gym/swimming.
21.00 Finished sporting. Back to my apartment unit.
22.00 Wash/ironing the clothes or rinsing dishes or...
22.30 ...(still) sweeping/mopping the floor.
24.00 Finally finished and totally tired and going to bed.

Rian came over to my place last night and we had some conversation. We talked about stuff we dropped a long time ago, when we stopped contacting each other. We started to converse the old way, I'm like having my old buddy back, like we've never been apart by time and distance, like we're always converse like that all these 7 years of friendship.

Then he mentioned something, that in a relationship it's normal for us to get interested in to someone new.. and compare them to the one we already have. Like toys, we're normal to play more often with the new ones and abandon the old one. We're usually comparing the old and new ones although it's not the right way to do. Becuz every toy (or every person) has their own positives and negatives, plus and minus.

So there shouldn't be a comparing for nothing (or no one) would win. If we chase something, we'll lose another thing. Somehow we're usually returning to the old toy that had always been with us from the beginning. So we have to focus on what we're looking for. And for a long-term-with-commitment-relationship (read: marriage), we need a great quality of communication and -well, of course- sex. We just have to find someone with same discussion interest with us cuz love (feeling) will only be the starting point and to develop a higher kind of relationship, all we need is communication, then trust and understanding.

I'm reflecting this with the situation I am having now. About Yodi. About Mario. And every other guy in between. Rian said that I shouldn't take any other step forward to get to Yodi anymore for I've always know that nothing would happen between us, so why should I take any step in that wrong path? I just have to simply stop and change way. I really have to make a move in the path that I choose, the one that I know would happen, or at least is the right one.

I dunno about Mario, the thing about us still has at least 20% of possibilities. But not for the present time for I still want adventure. I still need to discover my limits and the world beyond my imagination that I still could reach. I'm keeping the 'file' for future reference... for the least.

But for Yodi, it's definitely a dead-end as what it was 'written'. I just have to stop.

Btw I feel like I'm the most naive one in the office. I've been fooled twice (or more maybe) by the same person I've trusted a lot. He deceived me once with Orie's case and now, on his second resignation he fooled me again...

This same guy came back to the office (later I know that it was after my HRD Manager came over to his office and 'ask' him to get outta the company in a more legal way) and told me that he was asked by his uncle to make a business in Manado, his hometown. Now he's working in another company, together with our ex-ID staff, hi-jacked by our soon-to-resign-ID Manager and here I am, twice fooled so naively.

Remember the quote 'Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me'...

D.A.M.N! I feel so terribly a big FOOL ('shame on me' huh!) God how could I be so naive, too positive-thinking while the 'world is spinning so crazily around me'? I've no negative nor suspicious thinking toward anyone around me and I'd be more a fool if I don't have 2 of my best friend in my office. They're the gossipers who always know every scandal/affair/issue happen in the office and I'm always the last to know.

Yeah, I still have to learn a lot in this working world, especially about who I'm gonna trust in. But one thing for sure, boys are full of bullshit!


All images were uploaded from www.decor8blog.com. Thanks Holly Becker for the ideas!

Yesterday (20/6) was the 'hardest' day in the whole week, or perhaps the whole June for me. I came to work by 1 p.m. cuz I worked til 1.30 a.m. shopping in midnight sale at Debenhams Senayan City. I went with my boss, of course, and my Visual Merchandiser partner Hendy, and with Friska also to hunt accessories needed for our apartment show unit project and parcel packages.


Anyway, I was woken up by 9.30 a.m. by mom's call told me to get ready to move out. Well, I forgot to tell her my plan, too, so I got myself ready, packed all of the stuff I could pack to the bags and went to work. I had to list the inventories we bought the night before and supposed to go midnight shopping again.

Hendy and I planned to go to several places first before Debenhams, we ought to go to Index Furnishings and Plaza Senayan starting by 6 p.m. But then the plan changed, we just leave the office by 8.45 and went to Cipete first to deliver a gift to a boss's friend. So we arrived in Plaza Senayan by 9 p.m.

We had dinner at McD STC (but I only consumed a cigarette and black coffee) then went to SenCy right after that. We collected the stuff we must buy and gathered it all in a cashier by appointment cuz we stayed in the super store till 00.30 the night before. Although we started queuing by 11 p.m. (to make it quicker for us to get home), our boss came just a minute before midnight. That's why we were kept till 1 a.m. to get queuing again and re-check all the stuff before the boss pay.


I was so stressed bcuz of the crowd and got tired also. The fun thing was that I met Rian and his mom plus Aunt Magda and Angelika there, so the stress I had was a little released. The opposite with Hendy, his stress came after 11 while mine was gone by 10. Another nice thing was that my family fetched me by 1 there and we went directly to Sudirman Park.

We rent an unit there for a year, in Tower B, a 53m2-2 bedrooms unit. The apartment is nice and has minimalist design. The walls are covered with full-size mirrors so we could be a little more narcist for the following year. The facility includes fitness room and swimming pool and this is what we all need; some exercise. I share room with Clemy while Dad'll sleep alone in the second bedroom.

I have to go to office by bus but it's worthed it, I think, for I'll gather with my family again and the place is in the central part of Jakarta it'll be easier for me to meet up with friends. Plus, I'll hold a spare key in case I'd have night shift or.. well.. go clubbing ^_^

This song is a true match for my heart situation towards Yodi. Dunno why but I still can't erase him from my mind and heart (yet?) but I have to move on. It's just about time. 7 years? God, hellooo??
And like what Fergie said earlier, big dirls don't cry!

Life in Jakarta isn't as smooth and safe as I thought. Everybody knows that Jakarta isn't a save city, but I never thought it could happen to me as well. But, yeah, everything can happen in this metropolitan city.

There was an outsource driver at my office who quit more than a month ago and he had drove me 1x for office need. Then, starting more than a week ago, he sent me SMS-es. I never replied in a special way, I just typed important things 2x after a dozen of his messages.

Then about a week ago his messages coming more and more often but I've never replied a single SMS, until he became more ill bred. He'd been calling me by name (which is supposed to mention 'Bu' before my name for he was a driver) and said stuff about how he 'loves' me.
[Yuck, even to type this made me feel sick.]

I was so angry by his impudence I replied in instance: "Tolong Bapak jangan sms saya lagi, saya sangat terganggu dengan sms Bapak."
He replied by saying that he understood if it was my willing and said he wouldn't sms me anymore in the future but I had to know that his feeling was pure. Dang!

I deleted his sms right away. But the sms flowed like water, I could receive around 20 messages in a day without any reply from me. That's why I changed my CDMA number and turned my GSM cell phone off for the last 2 days becuz I've been so sick of receiving those mad messages.

Solutions you can do when you face a problem like this (being terrorized by phone):

1. Never reply any single message. Even to tell them that their messages have disturbed you, they'd send more and more messages cuz they'd think that they're given hope;

2. When they call, ask someone nearby to pick up the phone and answer it as if it was his/her number, so the terrorist would think that they dialed the wrong number and stop terrorizing you.

3. Turn off your cell phone for 2-4 days and they'd think you've changed number since all of their messages were failed to send.

4. Change your cell number for it'd be the safest way to avoid all the terror activities, but still this isn't the most effective way cuz all of your friends have known your number (specially if you've have this number for quite a long time).

5. Don't call the police for you'll never know what's in their minds for they're not thinking the same way with us; they have some kind of over-possessive mind and at some point this could lead into madness.

6. You could block their numbers so they wouldn't be able to contact you from their number in the future, but they could always change numbers, but this one is a good temporary option.


Meanwhile, I'm a bit disappointed by a colleague, twice from the same person. He shares the same birth date with me, so I expected him to be as cool as me (LOL) but seriously, I expected something special from him since we're Catholic and we could discuss anything.

He left us once cuz he got another job but he came back in two days cuz he said he didn't like the new office. Now he left us again without any confirmation but he hurt his leg by an accident on the way to the advertising media.

I started feeling something wrong when he admitted that he was the one who gave our coordinator the way to leave this company; by being absent for more than 3 days without any news then they'd considered quit. I don't see any positive side by doing this thing cuz we entered the company with some procedures and politely and so should we leave the same way.

I really don't like his way for he had given me some false hope on having a new best friend (that was before I got close with Maya, Shereen, Wenny, Sisca and Ira.) Plus, he ran with my USB flash disk and my mum's camera tripod and he turns his phones off so we couldn't reach him.

It's been so much disappointment I got from him (more to his way of finishing things than the value of the materials he brought with cuz he might need it more than us but I don't like the way he's dealing with stuff) and I have learned my lessons now.

I am not really hoping for my stuff to come back, I'm just praying for his needs that perhaps my stuff is necessary and important to him. But above all, I want some explanation.

Solutions you could do when you get this kind of problem with colleague:

1. Never judge people if you don't know their situation. Judgment is never man's but God's portion.

2. We shall not think negative toward them, no matter how disappointing their behaviour is. Cuz behind every action there was a reason. And it must be good enough for them to disappoint others (that means us.)

3. Always treat others like you want to be treated, so place yourself in their side ('not guilty until proven' theory.)

4. Be their friend, listen to their story/reason, don't take a side, just listen. You could offer solutions if you have one, but only listening is sometimes enough.

5. Ask them to think of the solutions together cuz they might need help but afraid/embarrassed to ask for one.

My last weekend was a blast! At first it was so dull I had to come to work and had nothing planned for the night so I went home by 5.30 and found my aunt and her family had gone to the church and I was left alone at home with Angel only.

I was fell asleep but then Angel woke me up and asked me to get prepared to go to Kemang with Aunt Agnes' family from Gading. Then we had dinner at Kemang Food Fest, the 11 of us (plus Tante Honey, Aunt Agnes' best friend.)


We moved to Dim Sum Festival to have OLLINO ice cream for dessert and hung out there until around 10 p.m. Just before we were about to leave, Yodi called and he said he was coming so I stayed after my family had gone home.

I waited for around 10 minutes until Yoan showed up, then a moment later came Idoy, Endy, Linggar and Jade. We watched the UEFA Euro 2008 opening matches; Cheko vs Switzerland (1-0) and Portugal vs Turkey (2-0) until around 4 a.m.



The next morning I went to 10.30 a.m. mass at Blok B church with Angel. At the end of the mass we met Aunt Dewi and the Daenuwy family. It was a bit surprising because the last time Astarra contacted me he was still in Batam and now he was there with the whole family, including Astiro and Astarri, his sister I've never met before. I like this family so much and it was really nice to meet them all in the church.

We went to have lunch at Mbah Jingkrak; me, Aunt Dewi, Oma and Angel before going home. It was a nice Javanese restaurant with spicy and hot menu readily served located in Bulungan, near Blok M Plaza.






After a nap, woken up by Jeremy's call and after 5 minutes, Astarra's call, I got ready for the reunion of my ex-classmates in Binus. Hizkia came with me to PIM2, where we were supposed to meet up, but then I found that most of the people who promised to meet up didn't come except for Fenny who came from Northern Jakarta (Teluk Gong; I think it's really far away since I've never known/heard anything of this place.)

Then Iyank, Qucay, Cink2, Miko and a friend whom I forget the name, came by 9 p.m. just when I thought of going home. Fenny went home and we continued hanging out in Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf cafe until 10 p.m.




I'm so glad I didn't go to Bandung last weekend for Martin's wedding on Saturday, because I found much more fun and meet more friends here in Jakarta. Not that I didn't wanna come to his wedding, but it didn't so worthed of the travel and the benefit I'd have than to spend the whole weekend in Kemang, Blok B church and PIM2. I'm so lucky to have such nice friends and many who loves me.

It's been almost 3 months of my probation time and a month of me being single again. Lots of things I've learned in the office, since this is my first job of working in a building (my recent jobs were freelancing and personal work) so indeed there are so many new things I study in here.

I learn that people must work for at least 2 years in a company to build trust for future employer. I learn that 'newbies' are the spot-lighted ones in an office. Every movement, decision, speech are being highly watched.

I learn that we mustn't listen to gossips spread around the office becuz it could kill our career somehow (believe me there are many ways to kill one's career but listening to gossips could make you feel uncomfortable or worse, made you fired for spreading the issue.) Affairs among employees are better kept in silence for they're not our business.

I learn that we have to be smart but also cunning inside and out. Be smart, read books and newspaper, not tabloids and fashion magz only. Read people's thoughts for it could save our ass, don't be too naive, but don't be too bitchy either. Those whom you spoke of your secrets to could speak about it when it's necessary for them cuz gossips are always a delicious meal for any employee.

A colleague of mine left the company without a word and left us here with questions and a bit of heartache (though we're not that hurt but she made us think negative toward her and it hurt us.) But I learned that we shall not judge anyone for it's not our part but God only who can judge us.

Gossiping is one of judgment we make everyday with or unintentionally. Cuz about 2 weeks after her secession I got the answers, and it was totally different with what I've thought about her, about my judgment toward her and I know, although I've get this straight with her and others, it's another sin I've committed (there's no big or small sin; all sins lead to death.)

I like several of my colleagues. There are Maya, Wenny and Ira who are having lunch with me everyday. There are some who've resigned but still considered a part of us, like Shereen, Winny, and (soon) Sisca. There are also people I'm okay with but others hate. And there are people who they consider okay but I don't like, too. There are so many people in an office and we have to be smart to choose who could be trusted, who could be only lunch-mate, who could be a good working partner.

I learn that even one could accomplish however hard a task, however good one's skill is, however personally close you are with one, still one couldn't be too trusted. Slowly you can detect people who are truly responsible with the one who aren't. Although still we could miss on seeing a person sometimes.

I learn that a company has its own employee cycle, those who enter and quit in some time, but my company here has a rather quick speed of the cycling. I learn that no matter how good they are, colleagues will leave us, sooner or later. It's just a matter of time, so we have to be good with everyone, work at our best.


I'm noting some important tips here:

1. We have to be in a company for at least 2 years to be trusted.
   
2. Walk the other mile. This is very important, mostly for newbies to get your new colleagues' respect.
   
3. We shouldn't listen to gossips around us,
   
4. We shouldn't spread rumors, too, moreover on our false judgment; always practice the 'not guilty until proven guilty' motto, always find the why before accusing someone for doing something.
   
5. We shouldn't trust a person too much; you'll never know what they do behind you, even if they're your own partner,
   
6. We shouldn't be too kind to people except to your close friends for they might be a thread for you in the future (like the terror by phone I'm receiving recently from an ex-driver),
   
7. We shouldn't hope too much on somebody, even if they are boss' favorite cuz anything can happen and we wouldn't know whether (or when) they would disappoint us,
   
8. We shouldn't get stuck with colleagues too much, don't love your job based on a person, becuz somehow they'll leave you sooner or later, or worse, back stab you at some point,
   
9. Do your best, love your job, and be happy cuz it effects your surrounding.

I am the 5th descendant of the great Thung. And the reunion was the first big one after so many years and hopefully this could be the first one for we're gonna make it annual every 29 September for it was the birthdate of our ancestor, father of the Thung Brothers.