I Don't Know How I Did It

2015 is reaching its end.

Never thought that this year will be the time of my life where I focused really big on,

Career.

Ugh, career. One thing the 2010 me had always avoided from. Because the word relates closely near to adulthood. A stage of life even the 2012 me had always denied about. But what could I do, as I grew up the 2015 me finally gave in and worked a lot on, career.

But it turned out to be a fantastic year.

As I got my very first permanent job. In fashion retail industry. Shite, what a new experience no? Although still, my part was revolving around writing — but fashion? I must give credit to myself because I survived nine months for this main job.

"Main job". Oh yeah, I had side jobs too. "Jobs". As in two side jobs. As a web and social media administrator in film industry, and copy and Twitter writer in a music event. Fvck, more new experiences? I mean, film? Music? Those were all so not me.

But then I got to do all those three jobs, for learning. Lol kidding. Of course, for the sake of money making. I had this big BIG plan I had never done before, that really needed big BIG money so, I took the risks of taking those three jobs.

So, it seemed like I was forced to put off my real passion, eh?

Yes, "seemed like". But no, I will never abandon this part of me.

Traveling.

I kept on pursuing this one. Having my second baby the Cheating Hong Kong & Macau, publishing another article for MyTrip magazine, and of course, going on real trips to Harapan, Pahawang, and Krakatau - and it was all Indonesian trip, for God's sake I'm so proud!

But ultimately, of course,
When it comes to traveling,
In the year 2015, it's undoubtedly

My internship to Japan.

It happened all of a sudden. The vacancy was open in January, right when I was working on my second book while searching for a new job after doing my trip to Hong Kong and Macau. Then I got that job in fashion. Yet two weeks after, the manager from Japan interviewed me via Skype, and then boom, I got the internship.

Then I started to prepare everything like, everything, to get me safe and sound to Japan, while I was also doing my job. Then I realized I needed more money for this project so I took the film job. Then I discovered that I could still bare a little more responsibility for more money, so I took the music job. Then for three crazy months, I had to do three crazy so-not-me jobs, all for the crazy trip I had been dreaming about since I was like, three years old?

And I kept surprising myself even after arriving in Japan. Six weeks of non-stop exploration, four weeks of which were assigned with one mandatory article per day. Other interns failed in meeting the requirements but I, with my crazy obsessed freak trait, eventually produced 28 posts and saved myself by earning the promised money for completing the task.

I don't know how I did it.

This year generally, and that internship specifically, really taught me more than all the things I ever done in my life, combined. It opened my mind about my true strength in pursuing my dream. About how I can get whatever I want, with my own power. About my actual potential.

And I'm sure it's not even half of it.

There's more of me I need to unveil.

There's more skill, more opportunity,

More and more things I can benefit

That for the time being, I still

Don't know how to do

Story of the Ordinary, Gone Overwhelming

This is a tale of a big family with their clothing business empire.

Meet Victor. A youngest child of three. He and his two older sisters, Lorraine and Renee, works for a clothing company their parents had given legacy to, from their grand parents. Katrina, the mom with all her strict rules, and Criss, the dad that loves creativity and creativity only, are the ones behind the company's main desk. All five of them had been living a normal life as the company runners, and everything would seem to be okay.

Until one day, Lorraine got a job abroad. And Renee decided to start her own design business. It struck Victor in his heart, knowing that he'd be all alone dealing with their company. The girls left, and Victor got overran with the leftovers.

But then God heard his prayers. A scholarship application he sent long ago, accepted him in a year-long writing program. Victor was more than ready to leave, but the whole family wasn't. Everybody trembled in shock that the company's sole successor was about to leave.

It was hard at first for Uncle Boyd, Mom's step brother, who was personally (and of course, professionally) so close to Victor. Also for Randall, Uncle Boyd's eldest son. But the younger siblings Stanley and Jaclyn made it easy for them to give approval.

Things got a little bit easier as Mom's step sister Nina, encouraged Victor to leave. She had always been Victor's favorite aunty and he knew she would support him. Her husband Razaq made it easy too, as his witty-wicked personality distracted Victor from all his doubts. But the best support came from his closest cousin Franchesca. His partner in crime, his other half in the family.

Soon after that, supports kept coming. From his other cousins: Simon the international minded guy, twins Chandler and Chantall, brothers Rickard and Patricia (yes, Patricia is a name of a boy here). Also from his other uncles and aunties: Frida, Gina, Yvette, Wagner, Undine, Yvonne, Horrace, Maria, Amish, Barry, Poppy, Ilda, Igor, Damian, Kiki, and everybody else, yes, they got Victor's back.

Everything had been really smooth, until suddenly, two weeks before Victor's departure, Mom left to check on the girls. And Dad knew he'd be doing everything alone, running the company alone, managing all the necessities alone, if Victor really meant to leave.

So the days of new great offers and promises started. Dad kept coming over and over again to Victor, promising him with this and that, higher positions and money beyond compare -- all made Victor turned unsure with his decisions.

But passion won.

Victor eventually left.

With the sisters, during their alay days.

With the whole family, before Mom left.

Victor's favorite cousin, Franchesca.

With Aunties Nina, Maria, Frida, Yvette, and Gina, Franchesca, Chandler, and Victor's new friend Kirby.
This was taken on Victor's last day before he left the company.

Today,

Is three days before Victor's departure to his dream. He's now sitting in front of his laptop, writing, stop writing, and thinking about many things. About his comfort zone in the family's company. About whether he's making the right decision or not. And about how he's grown from an ordinary little kid, to be a man overwhelmed with values, after all the lessons he learned from the company.

But he knew he's grown well, yet still got to grow.

And so, gone is he to battle