3 movies

I would like to recommend:

DOUBT
Cast: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis
Look at all the casts! Irresistable! Acting was superb! Love Meryl Streep's role! :)
Little bit boring at the middle part, but the story went climax towards the end (supported by wonderful acting).
This movie is for you who loves good acting and a great story that required deep thinking. When you finish watching the movie, I guarantee you will have so much to think about and to discuss about with your friends (who have also watched it). Your interpretation & judgement be different with your friends' :) What's right, what's wrong, who's good, who's bad, why this, why that... It will become subjective...

"You of little faith," he said, "Why did you doubt?"

Marley & Me
This movie is for those of you who loves dogs *Like me! Since I was born I have lived with them* You will definitely develop a deep emotional relationship with the movie. For a non-dog lover, the movie could be categorized as "a little bit boring".

Yes, dogs are not pet, they are members of family. They grow up with you. They are the ones who enthusiastically greet you when you arrive home, the ones who sit quietly by your side when you are sad or crying. Your happiness is their happiness. Your sadness is their sadness. They are the ones whom you will cry for when they are gone.

"A faithful friend is a strong defense and he that hath found one hath found a treasure"

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
Hayao Miyazaki never stops to amazed me :)
This is definitely for anime lover. Err... not really... I better say that it's more for Studio Ghibli's or Hayao Miyazaki's or Joe Hisaishi's fans :)
Hahh... Ponyo! Cute characters and smooth artwork. The lesson from kids about love & unconditional acceptance...

"Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven"

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you"

The Shifting of Sg Dream

Last night I was staying at my friend's house. We celebrated Chinese New Year by having mashed potato, mushroom soup, marinated whole chicken, broccoli & carrot for dinner *See any Chinese food on the list? :p*

Today went for lunch at the Malay stall near her house. The Auntie (or I should call MakCik?) was so nice, she chatted with us in Malay & gave us a BIG portion of food. A good tip for Indonesians to get bigger portion or cheaper food from Malay stall in Sg: speak Bahasa! :)

While we're waiting for the food to be served, the auntie showed us a newspaper. She highlighted the headline on an artist in China who painted his daughter in nude. I scanned through some the pictures paintings. Beautiful art-pieces, I think.

After that I scanned through the whole newspaper and I found a really interesting (and quite relieving) article about the shifting priorities of people living & working in Singapore. I read carefully the infographic (shown as below).

Let me quote some parts of the article:

"The family. It's the most important life raft in times of crisis.
When fears about jobs and the future are all-pervasive, families give us comfort, hope and practical help.
...quoted a recent survey by OCBC which found that this year, the top three Sg-an dreams were starting a family, settling down and buying a home.
This is in stark contrast to last year, when the top three dreams were seeing the world, self-improvement and making money.
This implies that amid uncertainty, priorities have shifted from personal wants and ambitions to home, relationships and family."

As a comparison, you may see below:

The top 10 list for 2008: 1) Seeing the world 2) Self-improvement 3) Making money 4) Houses and home 5) Good health 6) Family and Children 7) Charity & volunteering 8) Automobile 9) Starting a business 10) Retirement

The top 10 list for 2009: 1) Family and Children 2) Settling down/Starting a family 3) Houses and home 4) Making money 5) Retirement 6) Seeing the world 7) Automobile 8) Good health 9) Starting a business 10) Self-improvement

For those of you who are interested to read the full report, you may find it here.

Upon reading the article, I began to ponder...
1.) That it's good that there's a shift in how people in Sg perceive what is MOST valuable in life (usually known as 5Cs of Sg - Cash, Car, Credit Card, Condominium, Country Club membership)
2.) That it's good for Sg who in the past few years has been facing challenges on its demographic issues. (Sg needs more couples! More kids! More babies!)
3.) (Once again) that "Every cloud has a silver lining". The current global financial crisis has really brought great change. And in this case, it's for better :)
I think human are somewhat pitiful. Sometimes people could really be a fool that it takes a super giant wave to make them realize what actually are the more important things in life.
4.) When I looked at the list again, Sg is such a secular country :) Hardly mention about 'God' or religion... But the current situation, I believe, will make lots of people start to ponder about the existence of God and/or relationships with God.
Let me quote an article I read yesterday by Joerg Rieger: "In everyday experiences of pressure and change, people tend to raise questions that have deep theological significance." Hmm... I imagine questions like: Where is God in all of this thing? Why does God allow it to happen? Why is it happening to me? Is there any way out? Where can I find hope/happiness/joy/peace of mind?

Ita, how if one day your boss/ colleagues/ relatives/ friends/ acquaintances ask you such questions? Are you prepared?

... (silent)

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..."

"... we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts..."

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"

A Sg-an Who Loves Indo?

Me and my friend had quite a unique experience when we were taking a bus to go to her house 2 days ago...
The bus was so full of people that we are 'forced' to stand in front, just next to the driver, who is an Uncle in his 50s.
Then suddenly the Uncle talk to us in Chinese, asking me something. Me & my friend dunno what to answer coz we couldn't understand what he was asking about. Seeing our confused look, the uncle asked us again (still in Chinese) whether we can speak Chinese. I answered that I can't. He asked us where we came from. Both of us replied "Indonesia."
Then he said, "Oh... Indonesia... You ah... your face look like Chinese but you cannot speak Mandarin..."
"That's why we are unique what..." I replied *with Singlish of course :)*
"So... why don't you learn Mandarin?"
I didn't answer. Honestly, I don't really have any good reason why I didn't try to learn Mandarin. I wanted to answer, "I prefer to learn Japanese than Mandarin.", but I don't think that sentence really answer the Uncle's question, coz you can learn both languange at the same time right? For me, dunno why... I don't have a 'heart' to learn Mandarin despite the fact that:
- Mandarin is a great language (full of philosophy in the characters),
- I look like Chinese :)
- I'm currently living in Singapore (Mandarin is a common language used here).
Well... let's just say that I'm more passionate to learn Japanese. Continue...

"So... what language you are using?" he asked.
"English and Bahasa." I replied. *I actually wanna add "And Sundanese (it's my fave anyway! :)", but not sure whether he knows what Sundanese is :)*
And then... the long (but interesting) conversation began. *the Uncle is definitely a very2 talkative one. We spent about 40 minutes at the bus talking*

What were we talking about? About how good Indonesia is. Some points that the uncle mentioned:
- He once stayed & ran a business in Indonesia (Jakarta & Medan) in 1978's.
- He admired Soeharto. Why? Because in Soeharto era he can easily import things 'without paying taxes', just pay the people who worked at the border. He said things are different now coz the law is stricter. *Honestly... I'm speechless (and definitely cannot agree with him)... I just said that it's good now that the law is strict*
- He talked about Indonesian women. He said they are beautiful (compared to Sg women), could really take care of their husbands coz they don't have to work (and he loves the idea), and that they have good skin (I dun really understand what he meant, but I tried to rationalize by saying "Maybe because they have more time to take care of themselves coz they are not working? :)"
- He talked about how stressful living in Sg. He mentioned that Sg-an only think about money... money... and money...
- He loves Indonesia because there you can still feel feel fresh air in the morning , see green pastures, trees and mountains (where in Singapore all you see is HDB or any other tall buildings :p)
- He loves Indonesian food coz it's tasty and cheap. He mentioned how he likes Indonesian 'buah salak' and 'sarang burung wallet'.
- He's amazed how Indonesian can enjoy eating only nasi and ikan bilis, and eating it just by sitting at the road side (while in Sg people are so fuzzy about food and eating at a proper place)

Too much eh? Well... I would think so. I mean... the bus was full of people (which I believed most of them are Sg-an) and he talked so loudly that anybody standing in the front part of the bus could hear what he said. I saw some of them smiling and some just pretending that they didn't hear the conversation...
It's just awkward to hear that kind of remarks coming from a mouth of a Sg-an. Until it came to one point that I actually asked him, "Uncle, are you Sg-an?" Well... he is :) and in other occasion I have to say "Uncle, could you please stop? You make me feel homesick :)" and he just laughed.

Overall, he is a nice person and it was a nice conversation. After I alight from the bus, somehow I feel very happy that there are actually people who can see a positive side of my country. But somehow I also feel sad for him coz he think negatively of his own country. Near the end of the conversation I said to him, "Uncle, Sg has so many things to be proud about. It's safe and clean (which he agreed). The transportation system is so greatly organized that I feel really convenient travelling although I use public transportation."

I can actually mention many many great things about Sg, but because time constraints I could not...

Anyway... the point is... Every country has its own good and bad things, rite? And countries can learn from each other.
I think Indo can really learn a lot from Sg (especially in public policy, law enforcement, transportation system, city planning, etc.) ... and Sg can also learn from Indo (work/life balance, how to cook good food, how to live happily without the need for lots of money, etc. )

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things"

Support Samuel!

Samuel, a Baby Boy with 'Big' Heart and 'Big' Liver

Hi! My name is Samuel Ryan Raozen. I am a 6 month old baby boy born in 28 June 2008 in Bandung, Indonesia. I was diagnosed with a rare disease, namely Hepatic Hemangioendothelioma. It is a tumor of blood vessels that makes my liver to swell to almost a size of adult's. The Big Liver makes my heart works so hard that my heart also becoming swollen.

Initially when I was 1 month old, my parents noticed of my big tummy. My cry was weak and I was breathless. I was treated for 2 weeks in my home country where the doctors mistaken my symtoms for viral infection and treated me as they deemed appropriate. They did surgery on my hip where they put a plug to take out some of my blood and put in some new blood. Each time is 5 ml blood only and it took 4 hours to exchange my blood with new blood donated by my uncles. Then my body was swollen due to fluid retention. I was looked chubby while I'm in fact lossing weight !

After doctor realized that it was not viral infection, I was evacuated to National University Hospital, Singapore where I was diagnosed with the blood vessels tumor. Since it is a rare desease in the world, my case become the first experience for my doctor here in handling Hepatic Hemangioendothelioma.

My liver is so big that it fill up much of my tummy space. It pressed my lungs and makes me difficult to breath. It also makes me couldn't drink milk properly, so I need to use feeding tube. I drink limited volume of milk with a machine called feeding pump to make sure the milk goes into my body slowly.

Besides the liver, I also got Hypotyroidsm. Tyroid is a growth hormone. A child surely need it to grow up. Lacking of tyroid is harmful especially for the brain who really need it to develop faster in first year of chilhood. Hypotyroidsm means my body lack of tyroid but it is not because of my tyroid glands being naughty. My glands produce a proper amount of tyroid but the "naughty" tumor take the hormone for himself. It makes my body difficult to grow. Doctor's term is 'I was failure to thrive' while the blood vessels in liver keep growing very fast. You must be agree with me that the tumor is VERY naughty !

So, the good doctors here decided to put some coils into naughty blood vessels in my liver. it will block some of the vessels so my heart wouldn't need to work so hard. They did this procedure called 'Embolisation' three times. When my Oncologist saw the picture of my liver blood vessels, he was very surprised. He said there are 3 arteries go to my liver instead of 1 in normal person. (Well, I know I am special in certain way). Normally the doctor only need 2 or 3 coils in one embolisation. But guess, my liver need so many coils you could not count when you see the picture ! By the way it is all sucessfully done, oh Thank God !

If you see my picture maybe you notice that I use tracheostomy tube. The doctor found my airways pressed by my 'BIG' heart makes me depend on ventilator machine. So, when I become 4 months old doctors open a hole on my neck and place a tube for me to breath. Now I am more happy as I can breath easier. Doctors said hopefully my airway muscle will become stronger when I grow up so I won't need the ventilator and even trachea tube. Well, I certainly pray and believe that I will.

By the way, my health has clinically improved as my body response to chemoteraphy and medication I took. The doctors still want me to continue my medication until I reach 12 or 18 months old since this kind of tumor will regress itself after baby like me reach certain age. Oh, how I want to grow up faster !

Sadly is I've been staying so many months in ICU. Mid November 2008 I was very happy as I can go home to my granduncle's house where we can temporarily stay in this foreign country. But then I need to rushed back to the ICU at 3 December 2008 since I was turned blue 3 times that day. The Oxygen and heartbeat monitor keep alarming because of my condition dropped suddenly. My mommy and auntie did CPR on me while I was gasping for help. I can hear them praying while they keep pressing my chest and blow oxygen through an ambubag " 1...2...3... Jesus help ... 1...2...please...Jesus...3..."

Since that day, I stay in ICU again. Hmmm, I tell you friends, to those who never been in hospital and might think is quite a cool place where every body visit you with the doctors and nurses being so nice taking care of you. I tell you staying 1 night here is really like a year. And if you have to, don't stay too long in hospital like me. It is a nightmare.

Well, after all GOD is keep helping me out. There was also one time in hospital where my ventilator accidently loosened. My heartbeat suddenly dropped to 90 beat/minute, then 50, 20 then stop. Really, it was stop. No more heart beat. You can ask my doctor if you don't believe. Doctors gave me adrenalin shot and did resucitation. And I back my heartbeat again ! It was really scary, but whew ... I feel alive again. Friend, you must really, really - I reapeat - really - with big capital - REALLY grateful that you can breath easily. Your respiratory system is such a Miracoulous Gift from GOD !

Now that my mom and dad facing financial difficulties for paying my hospital bill. When I was born they've asked 2 insurance companies to issue insurance policy, but unfortunately they only accept if a baby already being 2 months old. Then I was sicked before getting 2 months, so no insurance want to cover me now.

I attempt to come up with the costs for medical care, mom and dad have exhausted all their resources up to the point of placing our only house in Indonesia as collateral for the loan ( with an interest rate of 12.5% apr). This is the fastest way of getting cash to pay the hospital than selling the house in this time of global crisis. Wow, what an intelligent way of saying for a baby like me ! You know better about the global crisis than me.

My dad also borrowed a lot of money from our relatives. My parents are willing to give up anything to help me but I know they could not afford anymore.

Mommy said we have paid a total of SGD 100,000 to the hospital and we have at least SGD 80,000 of debt to hospital. It still mounting up as doctors could not know when they can discharge me.

The hospital want us to pay the first SGD 40,000 on 8 months which is very difficult for my parents to meet. And the rest of the bill to be paid as soon as possible.

Now, together with many relatives and friends, mom and dad are applying to many foundations for helps.

My dad, Richard is working for the family business getting monthly income of at about SGD 1400 and my mom, Hellen is run a small business while taking care me and my big brother. She turn our home garage as kids photo studio & she do photo design with average monthly profit of SGD 300 only.

Uncle, Auntie, Friends and whoever read my story here, I really want to survive through this all. I want to live. And I want to live a fruitful live that I can grow up becoming a big happy boy. I want to become a man who can live a normal life like you and furthermore I want to help people as I am helped by many.

I have dream of helping sick and unfortunate children.

Please pray for me.

For those you would like to help by donation, you may do by transferring to below accounts. No matter how much is it. You have been a great great help for me and my family.

A BIG THANK YOU from little Samuel

account number :

Bank name :

Bank Central Asia (BCA)

Batununggal Branch

Bandung - Indonesia

Account name : RICHARD

Account no. : 847 00 254 00 (IDR)

Bank name :

Development Bank of Singapore (DBS)

6 Shenton Way, Singapore

Account name : HELLEN MULIAWAN

Account no. : 006-3-052184 (SGD)

Samuel is now staying in PICU, ward 46 room 10, National University Hospital, Singapore.

Richard & Hellen Raozen

Jl. Batununggal Mulia II / 18

Bandung - Indonesia

Richard phone : +62 22 7514465 / +62818614405 (Indonesia)

Hellen phone : +65 98078281 (Singapore)

This post was copied from here.

Personal notes from Ita:
I personally have not seen Samuel yet, but met his parents for a couple of times here in Sg.
Friends, let's support them by offering prayers, donation, & by forwarding this to people who would be willing to also help! Thanks! :)

As Good As It Gets

Another good news for Indonesians? :) Taken from Newsweek.

Solenn Honorine and George Wehrfritz

NEWSWEEK

From the magazine issue dated Jan 19, 2009

Last month a financial tidal wave washed over Indonesia, but not the one kicked up by the global credit crisis. Money flooded into government coffers from individuals and corporations eager to avail themselves of Jakarta's "sunset policy" on tax delinquency, which forgave past evasions in exchange for good behavior going forward. The exact size of the surge isn't yet known, but economists estimate that tax receipts were up more than 50 percent for the year. "We saw quite a big jump" in revenue in December from "taxpayers who never existed [on the tax rolls] or want to correct mistakes made in the past," says the plan's creator, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. Indonesians, she adds, are honoring their tax obligations "in a much more accurate way."

The influx marks a major triumph for Indonesia's current government and, in particular, for the woman who put Jakarta's financial house in order. Over the past four years, Mulyani has helped dismantle the financial architecture of the crony capitalism built by strongman Suharto before his 32-year reign ended in 1998. She has pressed hard to slash debt, both public and private; pushed through a rollback of budget-busting fuel subsidies; and overseen sweeping reforms of the customs and tax authorities—position ing Indonesia to post the world's best (or at least the least bad) emerging-market growth story in 2009. Unnoticed until recently, Jakarta's conservatism is now the envy of the developing world, and Mulyani is being hailed as a model regulator. "She could be the finance minister anywhere in the world," says James Castle, founder of the consultancy CastleAsia. "She's that good."

Largely to Mulyani's credit, the country's balance sheet is now among the most conservative in the world; government debt now sits at just 30 percent of GDP, down from more than 100 percent a decade ago, while Indonesia Inc. is far less leveraged than its peers elsewhere in Asia. Despite that relative austerity, growth is being driven both by commodities—Indonesi a's traditional mainstay—and by strong domestic consumption from a population approaching 240 million. And neither the commodity bust (which has also driven down the price of the imported energy on which Indonesia depends) nor tighter global credit looks set to hobble a country that, from the household to the boardroom and cabinet chambers, is all but debt-free.

Indeed, Indonesia is one of just three major emerging economies forecast to grow faster than 4 percent in 2009. The other two—China and India—have decelerated more rapidly in recent months and face tougher policy challenges. Mulyani says Indonesia could expand by as much as 5.5 percent this year, which is barely slower than the 6 percent it clocked in 2008, and perhaps enough to pip one of its two Asian counterparts in this year's growth race. Not bad, considering that the country's economy collapsed in 1998, shrinking 18 percent in a single year. Wolfgang Fengler, a senior economist at the World Bank, says Jakarta's macroeconomic management is now "as good as it gets."

Indonesia owes its turnaround to an ensemble cast. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has provided the political stability and pro-globalization vision that underpin today's successes. Boediono (who goes by one name) was a deft coordinating minister for economics until he handed the brief to Mulyani last May to head Indonesia's central bank, and Trade Minister Mari Pangestu deserves plaudits for kick-starting Indonesia's export economy. Yet Mulyani stands out for her toughness. She says her staff had to "swallow a lot of very bitter reality" during her first six months on the job. After landing there, for example, she confronted senior staff: "How can you send your daughter or your son to study abroad when you earn only this kind of salary? Where did you get the money?" To which she added: "You have to admit: we are all committing this crime." Her staffers still work evenings and weekends to meet her expectations, and she's been known to tangle with colleagues. Last year she lobbied intensively to ram through a deeply unpopular reduction in fuel subsidies that President Yudhoyono initially opposed. "She got her way because she is capable of playing politics," says Anton Gunawan, chief economist at Bank Danamon in Jakarta.

Yet by raising pay for bureaucrats, and not demonizing those who previously took payoffs to make ends meet, she has raised standards and steeled a reputation as an incorruptible reformer. Her message to her staff is simple and positive: "I only have one goal: I want the Indonesian people to trust us, this department, because this country will go nowhere if the people don't start to trust their own government." Though nobody would yet describe Indonesia as a model of transparency, the changes in its taxation and customs administrations have been profound, and in turn have enhanced Indonesia's growth potential to the point that "the world needs to update the way it thinks about the country," wrote Nicholas Cashmore, CLSA investment bank's Indonesia analyst, in mid-2008, declaring: "Southeast Asia's largest economy is in great shape." And thanks to Mulyani, Indonesia is garnering more respect by the day.

Life... It Is Indeed Beautiful...

Just grateful for the life I'm living now :) It's so beautiful to walk with Him!
Thanking Him for the long time He has given me to really2 stop from the great and drifting wave of my life last year...
To stop... To re-think about my life and my dream.... and to re-aligned it with His will...
God, what a slow thinker I am... You need months to really open my eyes... So long ah... Really sorry... :p

I've been abundantly recharged now.
Am ready. Ready even for any giant waves that will come ahead.

I just can't wait to go to work... so excited... but must wait for Your time, rite?

And for you, my friend, I want to share an inspiring e-mail I received today...

Life is Like Hot Chocolate
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this:
Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate.

Greatness

David Naugle of DBU tells us that there are three marks of a great person:
- One who is a great thinker
- One who is a great lover
- One who is a great doer

My New Job: the Stories Behind and What I Learn

Ok. Sekarang gua bakal cerita2 soal kerjaan baru gua.
Jadi... gua udah tandatangan perjanjian kerja pada hari Jumat tanggal 9 Januari kemaren.
Kerjaannya sebagai Training Executive di perusahaan lokal penyedia jasa pelatihan. Kerjaan gua adalah melatih para domestic workers tentang keselamatan kerja.

Secara kronologis...

Akhir taun Desember sebelum Natal ada seorang temen yang mem-forward email ke gua soal lowongan kerja itu. Gua apply seudah Natal. Tanggal 30 Desember gua ditelpon, dikasih tau kerjaannya apa, dan diminta dateng ke kantornya. Diinterview sedikit kemudian dikasih hardcopy modul yang akan gua ajar. Gua diminta untuk belajar modul itu & latihan presentasi, soalnya gua cuma bakal di-hire sama mereka kalo gua lulus audit dari Dept Tenaga Kerja (Depnaker) nya Sg. Beberapa hari seudah Taun Baru, gua dateng ke kantor itu 2 kali buat dipersiapkan untuk audit. Manajer & Directornya cukup harsh tapi bae, dalam arti mereka bener2 mengkoreksi gua kalo ada yang salah ato kurang.
Presentasi pertama tu bener2 disaster... Manajernya bilang kalo gua keliatan frustasi dan bakal bikin takut semua orang :p Terus mereka coba kumpulin beberapa Indonesian domestic workers buat 'pura2' jadi murid di kelas gua sementara gua presentasi. Ternyata metode itu berhasil. Gua jauh lebih relaks dan jelas presentasi nya jadi jauh lebih bagus :)

Hari Rabu 7 Jan gua presentasi di depan staf Depnaker Sg. Presentasi pertama dalam Bahasa Indo, jam 10 pagi. Presentasi kedua dalam Bahasa Inggris, jam 2 siang. Both went well :)
Besoknya, Kamis 8 Jan, manajernya nelpon ngabarin kalo gua dinyatakan lulus audit dari Depnaker! Cukup kaget juga, soalnya manajer itu bilang hasilnya harusnya keluar dalam seminggu. Tapi... dia propose gaji lebih kecil dari yang dibicarakan sebelumnya. Gua bersikeras bilang klo gua ga bakal terima kerjaan ini kalo ga digaji sesuai pembicaraan sebelumnya. Manajernya bilang dia bakal bilang sama Directornya dan dia minta gua dateng ke kantornya sehari sesudahnya, Jumat 9 Jan. Akhirnya gua pergi ke kantornya, ngobrol2 sama mereka. Kita sepakat dan gua tandatangan perjanjian kerja :)

Apa yang gua pelajari lewat proses pencarian kerja?

1. Prayer: "Be still and know that I am GOD"
Gua belajar banyak buat berdiam di hadapan Tuhan, cari apa yang Dia mau, bukan apa yang gua mau. Gua belajar buat mengalihkan kuasa atas hidup gua. Dari mengandalkan diri sendiri, diganti jadi mengandalkan Dia.

In the end, Tuhan ga kasih apa yang gua pikirkan. Sebagai manusia, jelas gua pengen pekerjaan yang sesuai sama background pengetahuan gua, sesuai dengan pengalaman kerja gua, dan bergaji besar.
Memang ada beberapa interview. Ada pekerjaan yang sesuai banget sama background pengetahuan & pengalaman gua. Gua yakin banget gua bakal diterima. Tapi pada akhirnya ga diterima.
Ada juga yang ga sesuai dengan pengetahuan & pengalaman tapi gajinya gede. Setelah consult sama Tuhan, gua tolak 1. Sempet berpikir apakah gua bodoh sampe nolak interview kedua di tengah kondisi gua butuh kerjaan dan kondisi sulit cari kerja. Tapi waktu itu gua terus dikasih keyakinan bahwa pekerjaan itu memang bukan buat gua...

Akhirnya Tuhan arahkan gua ke pekerjaan ini... Gua bener2 ngerasain banget tuntunan Tuhan dalam ngelewatin setiap proses (interview, latihan presentasi, presentasi di depan staf Depnaker, nego gaji, tandatangan perjanjian kerja). Gua dikasih damai sejahtera. No fear. No doubt. Sedikit worried memang ada, terutama waktu gua mau presentasi dalam Bahasa Inggris. Gua cuma bisa doa. Terbukti, sesudah doa, hati jadi damai dan presentasi Inggris gua lancar! Kekhawatiran kedua adalah soal gaji. Gua sedikit worried kalo misal gua tetep ngotot buat minta gaji sesuai pembicaraan, mereka ga bakal hire gua, apalagi dengan kondisi sekarang dimana perusahaan harus sebisa mungkin menghemat biaya. Hari Kamis malem dan Jumat pagi gua berdoa. Dan Jumat pagi gua berangkat ke kantor dengan langkah pasti. Ternyata, pembicaraan soal gaji ga semengerikan yang gua pikirin. Waktu gua dengan manajer berhadapan dengan Director, dia cuma jelasin kenapa dia turunin gaji lebih rendah dari pembicaraan, karena biar sama seperti trainer2 yang lain. Kalo misal gua digaji lebih tinggi dari trainer lain, dia takut trainer2 lain bakal iri sama gua dan bergosip di belakang gua. Tapi dia juga bilang kalo dia memang sangat bersedia bayar gua lebih tinggi dari trainer2 lain. Dia cuma berharap gua bakal kerja lebih keras dari trainer lain. Gua menyanggupi. And it's a deal! :)

Lewat semua proses itu, gua bener2 ngerasain kalo kerjaan ini memang meant to be for me. Ada damai. Ada keyakinan. Dan kuncinya adalah doa, quiet times, mencari apa kehendak DIA.

2. Word: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you"
Sambil cari2 kerja, kadang2 gua juga suka browsing2 cari informasi soal kursus2. Udah lama memang gua berminat untuk ngambil kursus, dengan tujuan belajar hal2 baru. Salah satu kursus yang kepikiran adalah kursus Teologi. Dari dulu memang sering kepikiran buat blajar lebih lanjut soal Teologi untuk meng-equip dalam kehidupan kerohanian & pelayanan, tapi ga pernah jadi soalnya gua ga pernah act on it. Ga pernah bener2 cari info soal kursus2 yang ada.

Nah, di masa pengangguran ini gua bisa ada waktu cari2 info soal kursus. Masuk ke beberapa werbsite seminari di Sg, terus ngeceng2 beberapa kursus yang ada dan mulai berpikir2. Waktu itu yang kepikiran "Wah, Tuhan, ini menarik banget! Pengen! Duh... tapi sekarang saya kan lagi nganggur... ga ada pemasukan... sedangkan kalo ikut kursus kaya' gini lumayan mahal..."
Akhirnya pada bulan November gua sempet bikin nazar di hadapan Tuhan. Gua bilang, "Tuhan, kalo saya berhasil dapet kerjaan sebelum taun 2008 ini berakhir, saya janji taun 2009 saya bakal mulai ikut kursus Teologi."

Waktu berlalu dan Tuhan membuktikan bahwa gua bikin nazar yang salah :p Gua terus diingetin sama Mat 6:33. Berkali2. Cari kerajaan Allah dan kebenarannya dulu, baru semuanya (termasuk kebutuhan fisik/finansial) ditambahkan kepadamu. Gua disadarin kalo pemikiran gua itu terbalik. Bukan pemasukan dulu, tapi kebenaran dulu.
Semakin hari keinginan untuk ambil kursus ini semakin besar sampe gua ga bisa nahan dan akhirnya memutuskan buat daftar. Di mata beberapa orang, gua mungkin diliat sebagai orang aneh. Belon dapet kerja, eh, malah ikut2 kursus. Bagus kalo kursusnya tuh yang menunjang skill buat kerja. Ini malah ambil kursus yang ga sesuai dengan kerjaan.
Yah... gimana ya... emang udah kehendak Tuhan... ga bisa lari :)

3. The Art of Waiting: "He hath made every thing beautiful in His time"
Kalo ini sih kaya'nya udah jelas :p
Buat dapetin kerjaan ini, gua harus melewati proses pencarian kerja selama 3 bulan. Duh, percaya deh, nunggu itu ga enak banget. Ada saat2 boring, down, males terus-menerus ditanya orang dengan pertanyaan yang sama "Gimana? Udah dapet kerja?", bertanya2 apa ada yang salah sama CV gua, nyesel kenapa dulu ga kursus ini itu, bertanya2 apa gua ngambil keputusan yang salah dengan resign dari perusahaan lama, kekhawatiran tentang kecukupan (ngitung2 sampe berapa lama gua bisa bertahan hidup di Sg dengan tabungan yang tersisa), pikiran mau back for good ke Indo, dan beberapa pemikiran lain yang negatif yang bisa bikin gua undur dalam masa penantian ini.
Tapi sekarang... gua cuma bisa tersenyum waktu inget2 lagi masa2 itu... I thank HIM for HIS faithfulness & strength. Not once He left me nor forsaken me.

Yah... itulah sekelumit perjalanan gua bersama Tuhan dalam proses pencarian kerja ini...
Perjalanan belum berakhir... malah baru aja mau dimulai...
It will be tough. Gua udah di-warn kalo kerjaan ini bakal sedikit membosankan. Gua juga bakal kerja 5.5 hari instead of 5 hari.
But.... let me see the positive side. I will meet a lot of people (domestic workers). I will work with more people (colleagues). It means I have more people & more opportunities to be a blessing :)

Big Daddy, I'm so proud to have a Dad like You. Please, help me to be a child that makes you proud!

First day of school

Hari pertama masuk kelas di SBC...

Shocked pas ngeliat syllabus yang tebel! I mean... super tebel! 800an halaman! O_o
Quite fun karena ketemu & ngobrol sama beberapa orang baru...
Agak boring soalnya tadi kebanyakan cuma ngomongin masalah adminnya doank, belon masuk ke bahannya...
Minggu ini udah harus mulai baca2 dan ada quiz tiap Minggu...

Oh God, help me to manage my time!
Sekarang sih masik ok... tapi gimana ntar klo udah mulai kerja??? Ini belum termasuk 1 modul laennya.... dan kursus Jepang... >.<
Wonder if I'm taking too much... Maybe must let go one of them?
Well... gua bakal pake approach "gimana nanti" aja... jalanin yg sebisanya...
With my own wisdom & strength sih udah ga mungkin...
Seek His will... surrender to Him...
Yosh, Ta! \^0^/

Got a Job!

Hmm... belon bisa cerita banyak2... Panjang banget klo mo diceritain, dan sekarang dah malem, mo bobo. Hehe..
Sekarang sih cuma mau bilang...
"Tuhan, seneng bangggeeetttt! MAKASIH BANYAK buat kerjaan ini! Akhirrrnnnyaaa! Hahahah! You are marvelous!!!! :)"
Lebih bersyukur lagi waktu tadi di bis liat TV terus ada berita judulnya "Unemployment Woes". Ga kedengeran sih ngomongin apa, tapi intinya ya pasti soalnya meningkatnya unemployment rate. And here I am... dapet kerja baru! :D
Hmm... so much to talk about... kapan ya bisa sharing? :p

Jadilah Terang.... Jadilah Jawaban...

Terang - Glenn Fredly


Jadilah terang jangan di tempat yang terang
Jadilah terang di tempat yang gelap
Jadilah jawaban jangan hanya kau diam
Jadilah jawaban di luar rumahmu
Oooo...jadilah jawaban
Oooo..jadilah terang

Jadilah garam jangan di tengah lautan
Jadilah harapan jangan hanya berharap
Jadilah jawaban jangan hanya ucapan
Jadilah jawaban jangan tambahkan beban
Oooo..jadilah jawaban
Oooo..jadilah terang

Kedamaian yang kita inginkan
Hanya ada bila hati kita bersama..

Ooo...jadilah jawaban
Ooo..jadilah terang(3x)
Jadilah terang

Tadi sore dateng ke acara Natal Oikumene Gereja Indonesia di Singapura yg diadain di KBRI. Ga disangka2... ternyata ada Glenn Fredly nyumbang lagu. Ada 3 lagu yang dia nyanyiin, but this particular song touched me.

Taun 2009... huff... ga tau bakal kaya' gimana... semua orang memperkirakan taun ini bakal "kelam"...
Ketidakpastian... Ketidakamanan... Krisis... Ketakutan...
Di tengah2 kondisi yang kaya' gini, orang2 bakal mencari2 damai sejahtera, penghiburan, harapan, jawaban...
Pertanyaannya adalah "Bisa ga lu jadi jawaban? Bisa ga jadi terang? Jadi terang bukan di tempat terang, tapi di tempat gelap. Berani ga ke tempat gelap & jadi terang di sana?"

Jadilah jawaban... jadilah terang...
Glenn terus menerus ngulang frase itu...

Too Early for Easter?

Ok. This is just so random of me. Dunno why but suddenly I feel very excited & really look forward to Easter this year... Maybe because Easter is supposed to be the most important day for me -as a Christian- to commemorate?
Hmm... wonder what will happen...

04. worthy is the lamb - Hillsong

Worthy is the Lamb

Thank you for the cross, Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace

Thank you for this love, Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious

High and lifted up
Jesus Son of God
The Darling of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

Thank You Note '08 & Commitment '09

Lord, thank you for:
1. IEC, the 'home' where I was forged throughout 2008, to be ready for inreach & outreach. It's the best thing that ever happened to me in 2008. Thank you for:
- all sermons, Q&A Sessions, Fellowships, Small Groups
- the people:
*Many preachers with their own style, background, & perspectives. I learnt A LOT from them!
*The older people who are very very humble. They truly have been a great example.
*The caring friends. Talk, laugh, cry, pray, share, serve. Together. Totally best part :)
*The opportunities to serve YOU, esp for the two Cantatas (@Sunday Service, @Breakthrough, @Changi Chapel) and carollings.
2. Four months of being jobless :)
-For the quality & quantity of time spent with You,
-For the time spent with family members & friends in Indo. And for their support throughout this 'supposed-to-be' difficult time
-For the lesson You have taught me. Not to worry about future, about meeting my physical needs, and about what people might think of me.
3. The miraculous change of my big bro's perspective towards You. Another wonderful experience of P.U.S.H (Pray Until Something Happens)
4. Correcting my perspective towards the true purpose of finding truth, towards God's unique grace for each person, towards my personal relationship with you, towards my prayer life, and towards evangelism.
5. The opportunity to start this blog :)
6. And for ALL other things that would be tooooo long to be written here.

Commitment for 2009:
1. Finish all the modules well & APPLY it in life & ministry *that's the most important thing, Ta!*
2. To be a witness from -my own version of- "Jerusalem, all Judea & Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" :) Intensifying the inreach while starting to outreach.
3. Spend more times to know Him (more Scriptures & books reading, more music listened)
4. Less unnecessary movies & hang outs
5. Live healthy. Normalise my cholesterol level.

Yosh! Ganbatte! \^o^/