Showing posts with label Work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Work. Show all posts

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Hola, Loca

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No, I didn't get a job in Spain.
Well I kinda wish to have a job abroad, though.
But no, I didn't go to Spain to get a job there.

So I left Ogilvy. But you didn't think that I left my precious job with no offers waiting for me around the corner, right? I'm a man of plans, yes, but this time, no, I haven't got accepted anywhere by the time I left Ogilvy.

Es muy loca. Crazy.

For other human being's standard, it's bad.
For Vicky Amin's standard, it's crazy.

But it wasn't like I didn't have any plans at all. I was on an interview stage at some other company, big one, and by the time I left Ogilvy, it was down to my last round and then salary offer -lol yea of course I was still employed when I did the first two interviews. Was it really worth trying? To leave a job while the next one is not even confirmed yet? Well, yes and no.

Yes because it killed me inside.

No because, it was one of the best decisions I ever done. To have an indefinite free time, most of which was spent on one of my longest abroad trip -21 days in Spain and Morocco!- without having to worry much about submitting my annual leave and dragging my team down for my absence, and all that was done when I was on top of my burnout stage—that was a priceless experience.

Es muy loca. Crazy!

But the craziest thing happened just before I flew to Spain. That big company I had been interviewing with, offered me the role. With salary almost twice as much as I got in Ogilvy. I was like... I don't know. When the recruiter delivered the news, and the number, I didn't even think about negotiating because it was all beyond my expectation. And it's not just about the number.

It's the company itself, which I could relate a lot like, A LOT, because one, it's in the traveling industry.  TRAVELING! And two, it's a startup, which will definitely suit my flexible self. And the fact that now I'm no longer on the agency side, with all its typical corporate perks but covered in a youthful startup culture. And last but definitely not the least, it's the hugeness of the company. It's famous, it's popular, and I just can't state how much I'm excited to announce to everyone that now I'm a part of

Traveloka.


 

¡Es muy loca!

It's been a week now, and so far so good. Too good, if I can be honest, because everything is just so different in this part of the world. I don't want to spoil how much different -and how I'm so grateful of these differences- because hey, Ogilvy had its own goods and I used to make a living from them so of course I ain't gon talk bad of them.

Plus I don't want to jinx anything yet. It's obvious that new joiners will always feel like this new world they just stepped in is the most beautiful thing they ever experienced. Well because they don't know yet what's in it. So yea, no, no jinxing yet.

Let's just enjoy this new craziness first dulu.
And then see what kind of craziness it has...

Kemudian.

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Fed Up

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It's getting crazy.

I'm talking about work. I know it's not my nature to complain and whine and talk shit about work because I always have the option to leave, but I just want to say it here that I'm fed up.

It's getting toxic.

Working hours are such a mess. Overtime nights seem to be normal. Good works are rewarded with more works. Well I'm expected to deliver stuff with expected quality so I do. But it only came back to me as something like "oh, you're good so we want to trust you with more responsibilities" and BOOM, more works are coming my way.

It's getting nonsense.

With all those burdens on my shoulder, I don't get what I expected. Yes, I'm talking about money. I don't care man, it's nothing else to hide. I once heard some talks that an ex-coworker of mine earned almost twice as much as I earn. And she was a rubbish. Her works were not even close to half my quality, but how did she get paid more? It made me start questioning about the logic of this company I mean, what the hell??? Of course I never bring it up to my bosses, but still I asked for raise and guess what I get til now? None.

It's enough.

I know the young me once said, "I wouldn't leave this company unless I'm continuing my study abroad." well screw your plan young man, let's get real. You're fed up. Most of your friends left already, so there's no other reason for you to stay.

If it's pity and guilt for those you'll leave that hold you back from actually leaving, well, then just stay. And enjoy the craze, smell the toxic, live the nonsense life, and see if you can get enough of all that.

And don't come back here
To complain and whine that
You're fed up

Monday, August 20, 2018

Playmates

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One thing I like from my company is, it's not like a company others may think of.

We don't wear formal outfits like those bank employees. We don't work from 9 to 5 like other private-owned organizations. And, this is what I can say I'm so grateful the most of: we don't work with people from different generations.

Yes, my coworkers, are somewhat my age. My division head is like a big sister for us, I use "gue elo" with my direct supervisor, our executive officers, yea they're much older and some of them have kids already, but all still seem so young--so I'd rather call them playmates.

ESPECIALLY, especially this particular group of people. In which we started really small, really close and intimate, that sometimes I forgot that they'rer a part of my professional world that I have to take them seriously. Now I want to tell you more about this people, that here, I want to address as the

"Social Team"

This gon be a long post, and may not be relatable to you so if you don't think it has something to do with you, better save your time and close the tab haha!

And I think it's going to be emotional too. Not the cry-a-river type of emotional ya, more like a personal-biased type of writing. So I guess I'm ditching English for now, and let's PAKE BAHASA INDO UYEAH ULALA I'M FREE FROM MY OWN EGO! (((trus tetep pake Inggris)))

Oke.

Social Team. Jadi semenjak gue masuk Ogilvy, gue udah jadi bagian dari tim ini. Sebenernya anggotanya banyak, tapi waktu itu, dua tahun lalu tepatnya, kita duduknya masih kepisah-pisah. Jadi awalnya gue satu ruang cuma ber-8. Dan formasinya pun ganti-ganti. Sampe akhirnya semuanya bergabung jadi satu, dan Social Team jadi a bit anti-social karena meski sudah bersatu, kita duduk di ruang terpisah dan gak interaksi sama sekali dengan orang-orang Ogilvy lainnya.

But I must say sih, that was our golden era. We juggled we struggled and we made a really good business for ourselves. And because of that, I think, I start considering these people a group of playmates I really feel (too) comfortable hanging out with. That's because

Our Big Boss
Si division head yang tadi gue sebut, lebih kayak “big sister”. Humble, asik, gampang dideketin, kadang suka intimidating sih tapi dalam konotasi bagus loh ya! Trus di keluarga kecil kita ada

The Little Girl
Yang paling mungil, paling bocah, tapi pemikirannya lumayan dewasa dan suka banyak juicy gossip HAHA I love her for this. Dia sahabatan sama

The Chill Woman
Yang saking chill-nya, gue gak nyangka kalo ternyata doi udah punya anak... mayan bully nih orang, tapi chayank.

The ‘Mother’
Diberi tanda kutip karena dia lebih kayak, ehm, indung semang. WKAKAK canda euy. Ini cewek adalah salah satu orang pertama yang kerja bareng gue di Ogilvy. RECEH BANGET sehingga bisa dibilang kami cukup klop ya pemirsa.

The Mother
Ini baru beneran seorang Ibu. Yang paling tua, paling senior dan paling berpengalaman di antara para krucil, dan emang beneran udah punya anak. Kami semua sangat sayang padanya.

The Fancy Lady
Naq gaol, doyan ngopi dan hengot. One of the international-tasted pal that when I start talking to her, I feel... international.

The Twin Sister
Hmm ku agak bingung gimana cara mulai dengan yang satu ini. Hari pertama kita sama. Pas kenalan dan ke HR masih clueless, trus akhirnya dikasitau ternyata bakal satu divisi. Pas naik, ternyata satu ruangan. Pas duduk, ternyata sebelahan. Pas introduction sama supervisor, TERNYATA MEGANG SATU BRAND YANG SAMA! Hal terkocak sih, dan langsung ikrib gitu. Sama-sama doyan Disney, kucing, jokes bego, Sekala, dan segala ketololan lainnya karena ternyata standar ketololan kita sama.

The Bully Big Sis
Bosnya si twin sister. Dulunya supervisor gue, jadi lumayan intimidating karena perawakannya pun emang galak gitu :( Tapi lama kelamaan, yaelah, ternyata dodol juga. Apalagi kalo udah mulai ngomongin Jepang sama Korea adeuh inang... kalo udah ngisengin orang, rusuhnya bukan main, tapi kadang itu sih yang bikin ngangenin uuu so sweet gak akyu?

The Drama Queen
Nah ini. Salah satu yang paling muda, jadi kayak masih hijau gitu. Apa-apa dibikin drama, trus dianggap paling lemah sekantor wakakak sering banget kita berandai-andai kalo kantor kena zombie apocalypse, ini anak pasti yang die duluan.

The Tall Gal
Joinnya mayan belakangan, tapi langsung bebeb aja gitu sama aku dan anggota tim lainnya. Doyan banget nyekokin orang, jadi kadang gue suka trauma deket deket dia wkwk tapi tetep luv.

The Eonnie
Yang paling cutesy sekantor karena doyan per-Korea-an dan Disney Tsum Tsum. Trus kalo ngomong kayak inyiminyi unyumunyu aaawww -paansi gue elah. Tapi ya emang gitu orangnya gimana dong???

The Brocode
Jadi gini. Pas gue baru masuk, di ruangan yang isinya cuma 8 orang itu, 7 di antaranya wanita. Oke? TUJUH. Jadi tiap hari kalo gak ngomongin makanan, make up, gosip, ya... makanan. Lalu datanglah orang ini. Yang kehadirannya aja udah bikin gue merasa kembali maskulin. Tapi ternyata, kedoyanan kita sama. F1, kartun-kartun 90an, stupid international jokes and puns, F1, F1, F1! He completes me even The Twin Sister said that I win big time because of his arrival to the team!

The Loud Girl
Yang ini juga salah satu temen akrabku. Kenalnya baru belakangan karena dia bukan salah satu anggota akuarium-terkungkung-berisi-hanya-8-manusia-nelangsa itu. Tapi lelucon dan kebodohan kami berada dalam level yang sama, yang seringkali memeriahkan suasana ruangan kami yang sebenarnya sudah meriah—karena gue suka cot, dan dia nyablak ke-Betawi-an gitu.

The Swag-chan
Satu lagi si gubluk dari gua Social. Males ceritain soal dia karena isinya becanda mulu, takut ngalor ngidul. Udah gitu orangnya sekarang di Jepang ahelah aku kan iri dengki :(

The Best Account
Mon maap ya para account yang lain, tapi kalo ditanya siapa yang debez, wanita ini jawabannya. Karena deadline bisa ditawar, kerjaan banyak tapi bisa dicicil, dan SERING NRAKTIR GUE SESUATU. Udah gitu dodol juga orangnya. Bersama si Swag-Chan, gue dan Best Account adalah primadona dari acara paling fenomenal sejagat dunia hiburan Ogilvy.

The International Student
The most rational of all, and speaks English almost all the time that it somewhat becomes a neutralizer for me when I’ve had enough of the team’s imbecile madness. But no, that doesn't mean that she's normal sih bcs sometimes she's also crayzeehh (NO ONE IN SOCIAL IS NORMAL!).

The Unknown Uncle
Lol. Ini orang agak gajelas kehadirannya, tapi mayan berkesan karena muncul di golden era.

The Sass Counterpart
Hm ini dia. Awalnya gue kira dia semacam cewek snob yang males begaul sama kaum proletar gitu. Ternyata dia proletar juga kawan kawan haha canda. Kita berdua kan ceritanya sama-sama jetset di bidangnya masing-masing, jadi kalo lagi ketemu kayak suka gamau kalah dan ke-snob-annya pun membuncah. Tentu saja maksudnya hanya bercanda, tapi kadang beneran juga sih HAHA.

The Writer Partner
Masuk ke Tim Creative. Shoutout pertama buat cewek ini, karena kita adalah THE ONLY WRITERS OF THE TEAM. Berak berak sih, kadang suka ngap ngapan kalo ngebayangin masa lalu. Apalagi kalo udah ada desas desus pitching uhuyy lempar lemparan deh tu ah kayak main voli. Untung kita sama sama kuat, tegar, suka kucing, suka tolol, dan suka suki lainnya sehingga keakraban ini membuat kita saling mendukung untuk bisa bertahan hingga kini. Tapi itu gak berarti kita akan mau di sini berlama-lama loh ya *ea eaaa apaan nihh maxutnya?????*

The Intern(s)
Di masa masa kechayangan, kita pernah punya dua intern -dan DUA DUANYA DESIGNER YA HELLO YANG RESOURCENYA TERBATAS ITU ADALAH KAMI PARA WRITER KENAPA YHAA hehe tapi yaudah buktinya ku enjoy- yang jujur, dua-duanya di-abuse abis abisan HAHA. Yang satu bahkan balik lagi sebagai freelance untuk dipasangkan dengan diriku, dan akhirnya diangkat karyawan HAHA. Dan kisah kami berdua sekarang, mungkin tidak akan kuceritakan di sini karena bisa menodai keindahan dan kesakralan golden era Social :)

The Fool One
Dari tadi padahal udah banyak ya orang-orang tolol. Tapi kenapa hanya dia yang diberi titel “The Fool One”? Ya jelas karena dialah ratu dari segala kebodoran duniawi. Kadang suka gak ngerti sama jalan pikirannya sih, tapi kadang emang cucok aja gitu kalo udah sahut-sahutan. Hal paling berkesan tuh ya pas nginep beduaan di kantor lah! Fix gak akan lagi bisa bikin cerita kayak gini: lembur, jam 4 tersadar kalo kita ga mungkin bisa pulang, lalu memutuskan untuk nginep, bobo, dan jam 8 bangun karena kegep sama si Writer Partner. TERCYDUQ.

The Big Bro
Kehadiran lelaki yang ini juga bikin gue jadi agak waras. Emang, gue udah punya si Brocode. Tapi dia versi internasional. This Big Bro, dia yang lebih lokal. Awalnya gue pikir dia tipe orang yang gak bakal mainan sama gue kan -mukanya galak, penampilan ala ala rocker- tapi semakin kenal semakin akrab, terlebih karena kita sama-sama doyan segala kartun dan perintilan era 90an! Trus dulu awal-awal kita sering banget lembur bareng, hingga akhirnya ia merajut kasih dengan The Little Girl hingga... gak hingga apa apa sih, tetep akrab kok ampe sekarang haha. Level jokes jangan ditanya, karena kalo jayus, mana mungkin bisa betah sama gue? :)

The Big Sis
Haha makin ke bawah makin panjang nih kayaknya. Yang ini, adalah partner sejati gue di creative. Dari awal gue paling banyak kerja tektokan sama dia. Awalnya masih cool, gak bawel, mungkin karena baru kenal kali? HAHA tapi lama-lama keliatan juga aslinya. Dan interest kita banyak yang sama jadi kalo kerja kadang gak kerasa kayak kerja. Gak lama gue masuk, dia menikah. Lalu hamil. Pas dia hamil ini Social lagi sibuk sibuknya, jadi gue makin sering kongko bareng dan mengakrabkan diri dengan si jabang bayi -apeuu. Setelah si kecil terlahir ke dunia, jujur ya, gausah pake jaim lagi, gue takut dia cabut. Idk kayak belum siap aja punya partner baru haha! Ujung ujungnya doi balik sih, tapi rolenya sekarang beda karena dia harus tiga hari seminggu WFH. Tapi idk, gue kayak tenang aja gitu walopun udah gak kerja bareng lagi hehe MAKIN SO SWEET AJA NIH GUE KAYAKNYA :)

The Father
Wadu. Gimana ya. Oke. Jadi pas awal masuk Ogilvy, tim creative Social kagak punya CD LHA GIMANA ATULAH??? Jadi tiap ada campaign atau apa, kita para kodok ngide aja sendiri gitu beduaan sama partnernya, sukur sukur kalo ada intern bisa terbantu. Itu berlangsung setaun lebih, dengan iming iming “sabar ya, bentar lagi kalian punya CD” tapi ya tiba tiba sabarnya udah setaun ajatu :) Hingga akhirnya janji yang dinanti pun tiba. Agustus 2017, Social Creative AT LAST, punya CD. Masih muda, tapi kita panggil dia BAPAK -bodoamat. Jujur setelah dia tiba, beban jadi sedikit terangkat. Jalan jadi lebih terang karena sekarang ada yang ngarahin. Gak selalu mulus emang, tapi justru lebih bagus karena kita jadi terbiasa buat defend argument. Dan karena dia juga, gue sama The Writer Partner jadi terdorong buat ikutan Daun Muda dan, ehm, masuk shortlist 10 besar pemirsa hehe meski gak menang sih tapi ya ITS GOOD OLREDY! Well to sum up, he’s one of the best addition to the team, and believe it or not, he was the last one that came during our golden age.

Guys guys, tenang belum selese. Itu baru preambul. Baru perkenalan tokoh tokoh yang ada dalam novelku yang bertajuk “Bahtera dan Nestapa Ogilvy Indonesia”. Gue baru mau masuk ke inti konflik dan kenapa sampe akhirnya gue menelurkan mahakarya ini dalam blog gue. Sudah siap?

Setelah The Father masuk, of course, banyak orang lain yang hadir ke dunia Ogilvy. Tapi keadaan waktu itu mulai berubah. Social masih sangat prima, the best malah dibandingin dengan departemen lain di Ogilvy. Tapi ya mungkin benar kata pepatah, bahwa gak selamanya kita akan selalu berada di zona nyaman kita -emang ada pepatah kayak gitu?

It all began when our Drama Queen left. Agak shock awalnya, karena kita gak begitu terbiasa ditinggal resign sama temen temen Social -well life was awesome why do you have to leave?? Gak lama berselang, ‘Mother’ ikutan cabut. Gue sama Twin Sister gue udah mayan ehe ehe panik pemirsa, karena dua duanya batch kita tuu. By that time, the Swag-chan juga udah byebye karena dia menikah dan pindah ke Jepang. Well, three gone, dan kantor mulai kerasa aneh.

Trus sebuah perubahan besar terjadi di kantor, dan kayaknya ini deh point di mana Ogilvy mulai kerasa jadi agak kurang sreg. Jadi sekarang gak ada lagi tuh Social Ogilvy, PR Ogilvy, lalalili sekarang semua cuma satu, ONE, Ogilvy. Lalu terjadilah segala adaptasi, restructure dan tetek bengeknya, yang membuat beberapa orang lantas mulai gak betah. Creative pun pindah semua jadi satu lantai, meninggalkan para account di lantai bawah. Lalu The Chill Woman cabut. Disusul si Eonnie... dan The Bully Big Sis. Si Big Sis ini bisa dibilang cukup menggemparkan, karena kita semua tau dia sangat hardworking dan cocok dengan pace di Ogilvy. Tapi buat gue personally, yang lebih menggemparkan lagi sih ya yang setelah ini. Guess who?

The Brocode. Like I told you, kehadiran dia membuat gue lebih LAKI -meski sekarang udah banyak lelaki tambahan di tim Social, tapi tetep aja dia ini yang pertama kali mengembalikan kepercayaan diriku. Then the idea of having no one to talk to after a great race weekend each week, no one to go jogging with -ya, tiap minggu, bahkan pas bulan puasa pun, kita ada sesi lari beduaan doang wk- and bitch about life while running, no one to have stupid international jokes and puns with, ugh, kinda broke my heart -KINDA ya, Arga, if you read this one, remember that my pride is high up there :)

Semenjak dia cabut, sebenernya gue udah pengen banget mulai nulis cerita ini. Tapi yaa you know, works existed. And what happened after that was really, emotionally draining. Karena gak cuma satu atau dua orang lagi yang cabut, tapi banyak, dan berturut-turut... makanya butuh waktu untuk recover dan mulai nulis. My Best Account left next. Sad, tapi dia mau nikah dan pindah jadi ya... kita gak bisa berbuat apa apa -azek. Trus The Little Girl. Ini juga gak disangka-sangka karena gue selalu beranggapan kalo honey booboo-nya, the Big Bro, justru bakal cabut duluan. Tapi ternyata salah. Semua gak ada yang bisa ditebak, termasuk ketika yang satu ini juga memutuskan untuk keluar.

The Twin Sister. Tai sih -loh kok tiba tiba gak pake filter?- pas gue tau dia mau cabut. Terpukul sebenarnya. Karena pertama, ya, kita mayan deket. Tapi kedua, yang bikin gue termenung sepanjang sisa hidup gue di Ogilvy adalah... dia ini first day-nya sama kayak gue. Sesama itu, sebareng-bareng itu. Dan sekarang dia telah move on menemukan tempat bernaung yang baru, sedangkan gue masih di sini hampir mau tiga tahun. I know, it’s my call to do the same. Tapi gatau kenapa gue merasa gue masih harus stay dikiiiiittt lagi, meskipun gatau sampe kapan. Nah “gatau sampe kapan”nya ini yang bikin gue sering meratap nanar ketika temen-temen gue ini satu per satu pergi dari Senayan.

Trus gak lama si Fool One yang cabut. One of my best friend too. Makin keder gue. Dan di hari yang sama gue pun baru tau kalo si Fancy Lady juga akan hengkang. Seseorang yang gue tau sangat betah dan sangat sejalan dengan visi misi Ogilvy, pun akhirnya pergi.

Ini fix minggu yang sangat gila sih buat gue, that week commencing of June 25th. Karena banyak banget tabir tabir tersingkap, yang bikin gue mikir terlalu banyak. Dan di tengah segala kondisi gundah gulana ini, setelah berdiskusi dengan sisa sisa Social yang masih bertahan, The International Student memutuskan untuk pergi juga. Menyisakan hanya satu lagi sahabat tolol gue dari account side: The Loud Girl. Yang pastinya lo tau apa yang selanjutnya terjadi. Ya, dia juga memutuskan untuk cabut.

Beberapa hari belakangan bareng mereka bikin gue sedih sih, jujur. Karena abis mereka cabut, ya udah aja sih Social yang dulu itu udah gak ada sisanya. Apalagi pas si bachyot ini pergi. Udah deh gak ada lagi tuh temen bawel, partner berantem, pasangan norak, dan sumber gosip kehidupan... yhaaa masih ada anak creative sih, dan orang orang baru yang gue udah mulai kenal.

But these people... are the reasons why I survived so long haha tae sok sweet.

Hm. I think this is the longest blog post I ever done here. Well it’s been a hell of a journey! Almost three years now in Ogilvy, no wonder if the story gets long!

I’ve made some list posts like this before, tributed to my high school friends and uni friends -those are the ones I clearly remembered, maybe I made some others, but idk I forgot- but this one I think is the most emotional one. Well basically it’s because at first you didn’t know when it’s going to end. With high school and campus, you knew it’d only last a year, or maybe two tops. But with work, you’re clueless. No one knows who’d leave first, later, the last, no one even knows about their own future.

Well.

I don't care what others say but for me, we're still THAT Social Team.

The team that once was so solid, was having so much fun, partied like animals, went to Hong Kong while the rest of the company rotted in Jakarta.


Will attach a closing picture here.


The team that was formed in a professional scope,
Yet turned out to be playmates.

Friday, December 30, 2016

Terima Kasih, Dua Ribu Enam Belas

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Each of 2013, 2014, and 2015,
Served different themes for me.

The combination of those three was all centered in traveling and my ambition to befriend the world, and my ultimate trip to Japan by the end of last year wrapped it up re~al good.

It was too big, and emotionally slash financially draining. So I promised myself that for the following year, 2016, I’d be staying still and just focusing on the other aspects of my life. The more realistic and essential aspects of my life.

And that’s why for 2016,
I assigned the 366 days as


“The Year of Settling Down”

This is the face of somebody who's ready to settle down. Taken in Bali, 00:02AM

The year of building my career. The year of figuring out what to really do with my life. The year of no big trips, no short-term jobs, no soon-resigning plans. No.

It's my year to start acting as most professionals do, daily.

All began by my first overseas-remote job with the company I did my internship with in Japan, as well as working on two more books I released this year, followed by a series of interviews I walked into –after all, work-from-home type of job won’t be enough right?– which led me to end up in Ogilvy. Yes, an advertising agency. I’m back in this industry HAHA. And this one is a big one not just locally, but worldwide. So no, I’m not planning to go out soon. I’m settling down.

Very "settling down" that even my traveling life revolved only around two of my favorite cities. However it was okay, because

It’s also my year to travel in a calmer sense as locals do, daily.

Opened the year in Bali (again), laying low in Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan, then returned to the island two months later for only relaxing at a good hotel and eating out here and there. Then when it came to my annual trip, I only flew to Singapore. Nothing big like the previous three, only Singapore, and all I did were just visiting an island, cycling with my earphones on, reading a book by the ocean, interacting with locals, eating out here and there. Then I went back to Bali again during Ramadan, which was, so not a trip regular tourists would want to do. But I committed to have a local-sensed type of journey so yea, there I was in Bali, fasting, and no swimming which was, kinda odd for a so-called Bali trip eh? Finally three months ago I was back in Singapore. For nothing but F1, and its awesome concert. A trip many of my friends and relatives responded with “Are you serious? Just F1 and then home?”. Well, “No”, I answered. “Because I also met some friends, even a highschool friend, and of course I went eating out here and there too,” so yea, I’m settling down with this habit.

So settling down that now, here I am, typing the last paragraphs of 2016's last post in Singapore (again), as I want this year to end in this dear city. Country. City—oh, whatever.

Anyways. Yea.

I want my career to be like exactly like what I'm doing. Regular ones where I need to commute like cool businessman, work on a desk like I’m a busy office worker. And writing ones too, where I bring my notepads everywhere I go, seen walking around public places carrying my laptop, or sitting on the corner of a hip coffee place somewhere. I wanted to settle down this way, and I did it this year.

And I want Bali and Singapore to be a part of my settling down plan too. Traveling back and forth to both cities for thrice each, waking up on the first day of 2016 in one, and counting down the last seconds of 2016 in another, well, it just showed how "I want them to be a part of my plan too" eh? I've always wanted to settle down with these cities, and it seems like I did.

But the best part of 2016 is
How these two, career and traveling,
Both went side by side so well all year long.

A type settling down I been dying to have.

And this, is the face of somebody whose "Settling Down" plan worked
the way he wanted it to be. Taken in Singapore, 00:25AM

And pretty soon, when I could add a little more of traveling, and less of work, I'll find every year me saying to myself—just like this year I'll say:

"Thank you, 2016.
Let's restart, shall we?"

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Settling Down, Part Three

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I liked today, again,
And these past three weeks or so.

I've been bragging much about how Jakarta had improved in here and there, making my life easier. Well apparently it's not only the tangible outer atmosphere that has shifted. It's myself, and my surrounding too, that gave a big portion of happiness to... Myself.

Lots of things happened to me recently. And it was like boom boom boom, so fast, I even forgot to breathe. My jobs were crazy. My fast-paced activities came and went away before me. Yet somehow, I managed to get myself in the zone.

Zone of life I've always imagined I'd live.

Sweat

It's always my major weakness. But I knew I've put off enough. So I did some friendly sports I can always tolerate doing. Swim, with my family; walk, like really far - most people find my walking habit crazy, but that's the only way I exercise! - and jog, not that typical mini run at some tracks near my house, but more to real jogging at one of the city central park.

Simple exercises. Yes. But for me, for this lazy ass bastard, pulling off those movements are considered pretty cool. And if only I can keep doing this, well, it's a wonderful life I'm really living.

Nightout

Gone are my clubbing days—that's not the type of nightout I'm talking about. Well, I'm actually still eager for that, but it has become one of those mere "nice to do" activities which I'm okay not doing. So my newer type of nightout consisted of something like going to a themed dinner, a pasta night one, and having a long talk with strangers, enjoying beer—I mean, ROOT beer, conducting some ambitious discussions, dining Thai food, going on a night lone ride, visiting street fairs, picking up some random eateries by the street, having a big grilling dinner, attending musical shows, completed with a late eat at downtown hub afterwards. My city pretty much never sleeps either so, these kinds of nightout never seem to be a bad idea.

People

Well I don't know why, but recently life seems to be generous enough to me in the sense of sending great (new) people throughout my days. Old ones getting closer, new ones making me grateful of being a human: a constant mentor, helpful locals, like-minded stranger, friends for life, new friends, new co-workers—hm. 'New', co-workers?

Work

Some of you might know that I'm a proud freelancer. I work from home, doing the job I proudly claimed after returning from Japan—and some other job in film industry. When I'm pretty much sick of just staying at home, I bring my laptop out and chill at some cafe. Needless to say, it's a really nice routine. People I share my work stories with are always jealous of me not having to go to an office.

But then again, I realized I need to progress. I need to learn more, in which I need to make mistakes and have got to have a next-to-me superior I can always take lessons from. Plus, working from home is not always beautiful. The boredom and the stress you can't share with anybody else (like an office team, for instance) can sometimes be unbearable.

Therefore once again,
After all my on-and-off habit,
I'm employed one more time.

And this time I'm convincing myself not to go anywhere else, unless it's for the master degree. I've explored enough, and this company I'm now working at, is too hard to get and too big to ditch.

See, even the random restaurant I chose off the street told me to work hard.

So.

Jakarta has decided to transform, with all those elements I fond of. And I, without myself knowing it, has been slowly immersed to the life in the capital.

I think, I THINK, this is
My real "Settle Down"

Monday, June 30, 2014

You're Not Lost

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Hey readers, sup?

Well umm... I think I'm going to apologize
That lately, everything's all about football.

Seriously I can't control myself on this. Exactly three hours before the kick off I doubted myself if I still have my desire to watch the Cup or not. But you see what came next? Tons of smart-ass talkings about football crowded my blog. Consecutively. And I even have like three unwritten topics that'll be released when the time's right.

Okay so what I'm going to say now is, that you're still on my blog, buddy. I'm the same guy who writes about dumb stuff, but happen to be on the euphoria of busy-ing myself with football. It's just, I'm crafting something for my future me to read back soon. Like in a year or two, I want to re-feel Brazil, yes, that's when these football-analyst-like posts will be browsed again.

I'm bringing this up because I'm on this level where my blog could possibly be visited by my future employer. You know, I graduated, it's time to work like a real professional, so I sent away tons of applications and this blog is like my portfolio to convince them how lustful -and good- I am in writing. In English.

So yes, my future bosses, my soon-to-be co-workers,
You're now on the blog the address I put in my resume.
I'm here, if you need a help :)

Friday, May 16, 2014

Who's Getting Older Now

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Hey blog, what's up?

Long time not talking to you. Well, actually I been too much posting lately but did you realize? I was talking to the readers, not you. So by this, before we all got too carried away, I'm dedicating my time, and my post, to talk with you, my dearest blog.

So. Best, friend...

You might have been wondering, why I don't seem to be interested in... Getting a job? Wha--you seriously thought that I'll be forever living my childhood, too afraid of jumping in the professional world like what I've always been afraid of all these years??

No, I'm not! Unless yes, I'm scared. But no I won't forever be trapped in my childhood, although yes, I want to be forever young but--okay. Now I'm talking to myself.

But hey, blog, I wanna confess something.
That I, actually sort of joined to a temporary project
I call myself as a, well how do we say it... A part-time job?

Don't get mad, it's not something that big. I took this project simply because I needed the money. You know it wasn't easy to fly my ass to Philippines. And you know that I won't forget sharing every single baby step I take to build my life, don't you? Sweetheart?

So ya that's also why I'm here.
Because today, I got an interview.

Don't you see how big this is to me? A real, professional job interview! Like what I've always seen Rachel Green doing! I'm one step closer to the real world! I'm growing up! An adult! A responsible adult! With a family, and obligations to pay taxes, and three other persons I have to support! That's right where I'm heading :)

So today I went to the office.
Interviewed by an expat and her subordinate.

Got that now? First interview ever.
With two people asking. Using English.

I either should be proud, or crying for how complicated the first interview was, but to be honest, I enjoyed it. The interviewers were easygoing, we laughed and stuff -is that supposed to be a good sign?- and I might want to consider the interview as a regular-laid-back talk! Also the field is in my competence. The topic is totally my interest. The money, well we didn't discuss the money because, I'm not yet sure anyway.

Ya, the current project I'm having now is not yet to be finished until next month. Yet those people is urgently in need of a new employee. So it's not a good situation to me now.

But ya, there are plenty of clams in the sea.
It's not that I'm rejected tho, they loved me instead!
Well, that's what I sensed along and after the interview...

I'm okay. I have been, and I will be.
Getting older's fun, so far

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Where To?

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You may noticed that lately, before the one-week vacuum, the posts I produced were all about childhood and childish stuff. Yea right, agree? I'm having this phobia of growing up...

When I stepped out of the trial room, it felt like
Okay this is it I'm free! I'm finally fvckin free!
Although the fact is, now I'm on the verge of

Getting into reality

Long ago I was so sure that after college I'll go straight to working. Then after a year or two, I'll be off to postgraduate stuff before I continue my professional world.

It was so firm until I talked to a friend, had my mind opened about how easy it would be for me to get a scholarship if I take the advantage of being a University of Indonesia fresh graduate. That made sense, really, because if I work first and search for scholarships later, the institution backing me up will be the place I been working for, not my college.

Yet, like I've recently been whining about, yea I'm not yet ready to face the cruelty of working. Taking 6 months off looking for the best scholarship while doing some freelance jobs, set myself free for a while while also traveling, the idea sounds like the best right?!

Until mom got in touch with her one of her old friend, it was the best idea indeed. So this friend of hers has two sons that started their undergraduate program after two years working, and of course, she convinced mom to have me do the same way. Now you know what happened next. I changed my mind again.

Shoot.

I'm really, seriously just one step away entering adulthood.
Yesterday was like, where should we go for summer break?

And today it's like... Like...

I'm lost