Dear my long abandoned blog,
It was just a point where I already knew I had reached the goals I set for myself when I first joined SF, which were self-development, leadership, and management skills, and that there was no next step career-wise for me there since I was the Medical Supervisor, the highest position for a doctor in SF.
But SF will always have a special place in my heart, and if I come back to Sumba one day, I will make sure I also involve SF, at least for the health worker staff knowledge and skill development. ahahhahahaha...simply because I enjoy training others so much, I enjoy helping people build up their capacity and, with that, also improve the system.
4. I moved to Jakarta and started working for the International Pediatric Association (IPA).
This one is way beyond what I ever thought for myself.
Firstly, because, even since I was still in high school, I've always told Mom that 1. I will not build my career or family in Medan, 2. And I know Jakarta is not a place I want for that either.
This is so random, but last year, I did my IELTS test, bearing in mind I will use the certificate for scholarship application. At that time, we (my mom and I) thought I'd be doing a master's first, then pursue a specialty afterward. So, I did the IELTS without any dedicated preparation because I was caught up with all my work at the Sumba Foundation. And it turned out that my lowest score was in writing ahahahhaha.
And now, I look at my job, and every time I type the words "with due respect', "hence," "therefore," and "however," I just laugh to myself and think, "God, You have a great sense of humor! Thanks for giving me this very position to improve my skill, though." ππ
On the other hand, my IELTS test is one of the experiences that taught me about 'actively preparing for what I pray for or have faith for.'
At that time, I had this belief that "I'm gonna take the IELTS test because I wanna pursue higher education." And I always tell everyone that, "Whichever comes first, either master scholarship or specialist scholarship, I'm gonna use the IELTS certificate for it."
I took the test in July last year in Jakarta because I was trying to find the available test date closest to Nabila's wedding. And on 28th November last year, the government announced its specialist program scholarship. I even took a few days to think through if I wanted to give it a try no matter what the result would be since I knew the kind of job I chose as a general doctor was not a common one for doctors in Indonesia. I thought they must be looking for an experienced 'hospital-based clinician.'
5. Not so much like Carrie Bradshaw in NYC
I love watching Carrie Bradshaw and Sex and The City, for the fashion and also because the idea of New York always appeals to me, especially the Times Square lights at night.
I figured after almost three months of working and living in Jakarta, living alone in Jakarta is so much different than all my past experiences living alone, and I have lived by myself for nine years ahahahhaaaaaahahh..
If I could mention some points:
- I just spent 2.5 years living in Sumba, where I don't see much social discrepancy. I told this to my closest; one of my culture shock moving from Sumba to Jakarta was seeing a kid from the area begging while I was buying my juice.People may think, "WHY IS THAT A CULTURE SHOCK?!"I spent 2,5 years living in Sumba, where I never experienced that, where everyone just kinda dresses the same, and especially because every care in Sumba Foundation is free, so any patient coming with any attire, whether they had taken a shower or not, whether they're dirty or well-put, my service and how I treat them is all the same.Compared to a very 'what-somebody's-wearing' city like Jakarta.
- I had lived in Padang while I was doing med school. I also lived in Sumba for an internship and Sumba Foundation. But living alone in Jakarta is so much different, in a sense that it is levels higher than past experiences. This is because when I was in Padang, my challenge was the cultural difference, but financially, I was supported by my parents. Then, when I was in Sumba for my internship, even though I was already on my own financially, housing was provided, which cut a lot from the budget. Moreover, when I was in the Sumba Foundation, housing, 3-times-a-day meals, transportation and gas money, and even my quarterly leave accommodation were all provided. So, all my earning is for secondary needs and investment.
Now, in Jakarta, I started everything from the very beginning without all of the above. ahahahhah
I realized how hard it is to build yourself, especially in Jakarta.
But I LOVE THIS EXPERIENCE.I always mentioned that I am grateful for going through this while still single.It made me so much more financially cautious.It made me understand and accept that growing up really can be lonely from time to time, and that is normal.And I am proud of myself for being brave enough to make all these decisions.Mom once said on a phone call."Kalau kau memang pemberani, Dys. Kau bakal ngenal daerahmu. Kalau aku ga bakal kayak gitu, walau aku udah pernah tinggal sendiri di luar."
And I laughed at that because it's true.
I've done a lot of moving in the last five months, moving from Sumba to Medan moving to 3 different rooms at the hospital for my sister's second operation. Moving from Medan to Jakarta for one week, staying at a relative's house, to moving to my first 'kosan' (because 'apartment' is way too good of a word to explain a rent room), then moving to a second one because the first one doesn't have a parking spot, and just recently moving to another room at the second kosan.
I've already planned to paint the wall medium grey with a white accent, having a white frame standing mirror and hanging closets for all my daily attire.
It just sounds so fun to me.
AHAHHAHHAHA
But I love it so much, partly because I know I had my share of crazy early 20s and am now in my late 20s with a more settled mindset, principles, and even groups of friends.
leaving Sumba and my two fave people in Sumba |
Cia's very first eat-out after her laparotomy and it was her birthday :') |
just my thing, annoying Cia :) |
some archieves from my trip to Sabang |
very first bouldering experience |
that one friend π |
and above all these plot twists, I took Bahasa Batak course in Jakarta, out of all the places π |
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