I am trying to finish this post without looking on my phone, karena kalo gue inget, berarti signifikan.
Januari
Tahun baru di New York, tengah bulan ke Korea buat nonton musikal, sincia ke Medan. 2 kejadian yang gue inget feelnya. Jumat pertama di New York dimana gue nangis karena gue merasa mendapatkan penolakan untuk apresiasi yang gue sampaikan. Lalu di hari H sincia, gue merasa bingung dan triggered saat Teddy mempermasalahkan tone gue yang terlalu serius pas menjawab pertanyaan (work-related) dia. Gue bingung salahnya dimana, gue triggered karena ga ada orang yang mempermasalahkan ini sebelumnya.
He was the problem. He kept saying I was overwhelming, yet he was the one who kept coming to me.
Moulin Rouge 2 versi dalam 1 bulan. Agak gila. Actually, gila banget. I don't even work in the industry. Gue TIDUR pas nonton Hong Kwangho. Beneran bagusan broadway. Beethoven was good. Gue dengerin numbersnya tanpa henti selama beberapa bulan.
 |
| 1st meeting with Hengyan in 2023 |
I was with Kak Afina di trip Korea kali ini. Terus kenalin Kak Arida ke Kak Afina dan tentu ada waktu sama Hengyan. First time Korea kerasa just like before. Went to familiar places, met familiar people. I had a good time.
Februari
Lahiran Luluk dan Tyas. Memory bahwa gue sempet ke rumah sakit di malam sebelum Luluk melahirkan adalah salah satu memory yang paling precious buat gue. It shows my commitment buat SELALU show up. Gue gak bisa dateng di hari dia melahirkan karena gue mau berangkat ke Porto via Paris. I did what I could. Showing up jadi one of my greatest lessons and strengths in 2023.
Ry-Ann ke Jakarta for only one night. We had fun. My mom welcomed her warmly. We truly had a great time. I organized lunch with my fam, Julmar, Bondan, Bunga, and Teddy. Teddy filled my days, gave Hengyan a maternity break coz he was always talking to me. It's good for both of us, as I don't want Hengyan to be sick of me (?) muahaha. Anyway, I spent so many hours talking to him, and we met too often. I have a memory of asking him for pepero on Valentine's day (which was memorable coz he really brought me pepero).
He accompanied me all the way to see Luluk and apparently, that was a closure. I flew to Paris then Porto then Malta the morning after. Again, the trip to see Luluk was already a 정해진 closure on his side.
 |
| memories of eating & pilih makanan |
Porto with Ridwan and Ko Victor was nice. Food in Porto is GREAAAT. I learned a lot. I had a night with Ko Victor whom I just met for the first time. Ridwan is our mutual friend. So we did talk about Ridwan, and continuously observing and making Ridwan the center of the conversation - even when Ridwan was with us. Gue terbiasa dengan continuous maintenance of contacts, but I don't contact Ridwan that often. Still, I feel like I was sharing knowledge about someone I knew deeply.
Oh, traveling with planners feels really good and random fact, I spoke almost in Brandon's Suroboyoan confidently in front of new person (LOL).
Maret
I fell sick in Paris and decided to just check in to fancy hotel and sleep, instead of roaming around in the city. I came back to work and I was swamped with... works. Ya harusnya hidup memang begitu sih? Tapi mentally gue kaget.
Terlalu banyak adjustment di bulan Maret, so gue memutuskan untuk radically changed my look too. Gue tau ini ga nyambung, but I guess I wanted a new stress release. Gue cobain eyelash extension dan dyed my hair for the very first time.
I went for Bazi reading. Highlightnya adalah I was born full of anger. Yaudah, it's written. I told my mom about the reading and she was curious nikah gak, kapan? Muahaha.
April
10 years reunion with Ry-Ann, Maro and Tran. I missed my flight for the second time in my life (considering how often I flew, it's a RARE thing ok). I missed it because I decided to immerse myself and go all in as a corporate worker. I wanted to please my boss. Looking back, I think I'd still do the same. BUT I can still do it WITHOUT missing my flight.
Bali trip was... I have a mixed feeling about it. I definitely felt happy to welcome my friends in my home country. I felt happy that we could celebrate a-very-deep-friendship. I am not sure why I don't have a lot of memory about it?
Bringing them to eat Yoogane as their first meal, recommending them best pork place as if I know it really well, puasa-ing, finding a resto with the best service (Warung Legong), moving out of our airbnb early, birthday party for Ry-Ann, what else... I can't remember much.
Mei
Hoi An trip. I really liked doing touristy stuff in Hoi An this trip. But it was NOT easy at all. I did not have financial 여유 (too lazy to think of the English word) to go on a trip. I did NOT want to go in the beginning. I went because I wanted to show up for Ry-Ann. I no yoyu (ok pardon the mix of words, I am writing this for myself anyway), but I was the only one available to 'accompany' her. I enjoyed the trip, really. No regret. It's just that I want to remember the struggle that came with it.
I had to tell my boss that I could not come to the office on Monday as I was accompanying my best friend who is going through a hard time. I did not want to lie.
I am proud of myself for not lying. Lying would only complicate things further.
Ry-Ann recognized my effort and thanked me as I was waiting for my flight at KLIA2. I think my eyes were teary la. It was really not easy for me and I really did it for her. No other reason.
Juni
FULL MONTH of traveling. I am extremely grateful for this chance. I am forever thankful. I know I am working for a company that I can be proud of.
I went to Italy for Tiziano Ferro and Slovenia to travel with Ridwan. Slovenia was unexpectedly nice. I love the two major lakes in Slovenia! As usual, I did not do any research and trust everything to Ridwan. I only remembered that a colleague randomly commented "Why would you go to Lake Bled and not Lake Bohinj?"
We ended up visiting both, no worries.
I always enjoy traveling with Ridwan, especially after he moved to Europe, but this time he was not in the best condition. He was full of 부담 and tensed. I did not quite get the severity of the problem until the end of the year. I am thankful that he helped me a loooot in this trip, despite being occupied with his own issues.
I went to Trieste and witnessed how the city is full of... the traces of my company.
Some parts of the trips were logistically challenging. I went from Sicilia to Slovenia, then back to Milan for a concert. I flew from Milan to Jakarta. Kerja dulu terus ke Korea. Dari Korea and instead of going home, I went to Brunei instead. I took a long bus trip to Kota Kinabalu because I refused to pay expensive flight tix going back home. Then from KK, I decided to just pay 900k IDR to Taipei. VERY RANDOM.
Farewell trip ke Tongyeong sebelum Hengyan pindah ke Taiwan. HAPPY banget. If this trip happened in 2020, the members would be different. But people constantly come and go kan. I am very grateful that they all said yes to my Tongyeong invitation. It was a selfish trip, I wanted to go. Yet I wanted to spend time with my friends too. So combining both was very self-centric. I hope everyone had a great time.
Juli
Kota Kinabalu and Taiwan trip. I think we went the extreme way by HIKING and DIVING at the same time. I do not recommend but it was memorable. I am very touched and thankful that Kak Afyna was there with me and Kak Arida. I love these kakak-kakak a lot. Diving in Kota Kinabalu is NOT great by the way.
I HATE TAIWAN SUMMER. But coming back after years felt good. The timing was just right. My boss was not in town so we had her entire house to ourselves. We went to Taroko and it was beautiful but not in the summer. The uncle in Hualien was very kind and I want the jianbing from Hualien night market...
Other than these trips, I can't remember much.
CRAZY tiring trip to Situgunung with Ry-Ann and Julmar. We had a blast.
Agustus
I fell sick and I rushed myself to the ER for quick IV drip. I did the Korean way. It's been 5 years since my first quick fix. I was not feeling well but it was Wednesday so I had to come to the office. I had to organize a team lunch too, so I could not take sick leave. It was an extremely memorable day (yes, it was a busy day).
Morning briefing -> morning checkpoint -> ER coz I was dying -> discharged within an hour, rushed to the restaurant -> payment issue at the restaurant but it was a small hassle la -> met Ry-Ann after work, went to Tebet for a meet up -> running late to meet Ridwan -> dinner and yashik with Ridwan and Ry-Ann
Ridwan was in town for a diving course and Ry-Ann was here for a week so I arranged a meal together with them. I spend a lot of time with these two and I consider them as my close friends, so I just want them to know each other.
Working from Hoju aka Australia at the end of the month. I like Hoju a lot than my first visit. My first visit was... meh. I remembered crying a lot. Crossing a park and crying like crazy. I remembered the sexual harassment I encountered and how I told Luluk about it. This trip was great and I was very touched that my mom liked it a lot.
September
My mom experienced vacation withdrawal. I want her to be happy. I love her but our relationship was not always good kan.
 |
| Hengyan my 2023 MVP |
My social agenda was truly packed in September. I spent a week with Hengyan. I am very touched and beyond grateful that she came to Indonesia. I left her on my birthday for $$$ tho. I still feel deeply sorry and I have told her about it. We reconnected and met some new friends in Bali. It was great. September this year was also meaningful because we were able to celebrate Ci Maggie's wedding.
I was quite sentimental in September. Again, the main lesson that I learned is I show up and I show real support for my loved ones. I noticed how Vanda was very sentimental during our trip to Australia. I highly support her plan to study abroad, especially in Australia, a very meaningful place for her and her family. My way of support might have been very... subtle?
I noticed how she almost gave up applying for a scholarship. She said yes to this Sydney trip also as a self-reward (impulsif karena kesel sih) for all the hardship she had to endure while applying for scholarships. I wanted to show her that studying in Australia is worth fighting for and she can do it. But it's hard for me to express it through words. I got my degree overseas, I am well-traveled. She is not. She only went abroad with me, three times in total. So instead of just saying things, showing her and letting her get the feel of Australia might be easier. I had to be mindful of making this trip affordable and Australia is not cheap. So yes, going with my family helped a lot financially.
I showed up and contribute minimally to Ci Maggie's wedding. Ci Maggie was a master student in KU, and to be honest we did not meet often in Korea. But I think I was consistent with my presence la. We both put effort to stay in touch, even after I left Korea. I felt honored and relieved that the effort did not go unnoticed. I guess I am more convinced now that it's never about how long we have known each other, it's really about how much effort we put in maintaining a relationship.
I went to see Ry-Ann on the last day of September.
Oktober
Started my October with Ry-Ann and JJ Lin spinning class. Very random. Ry-Ann was not in a very good condition, it was very obvious. Anyway I am glad I made the trip to visit her. Coming to Singapore was easy but going back was very hard, as the ticket was super expensive. Long story short, I had to fly to Penang from Johor. Hengyan was in Penang, it was her LAST NIGHT before leaving for Taiwan. I met her again, only after a week, in a different country this time. I am sure she must have been very busy and hectic and I am thankful that she opened her door for me, layan me for yashik and dropped me off early in the morning. I think she saved me multiple times this year and I am very touched.
Initiated Vietnam trip with Bogor friends.
Went to Situgunung with my colleagues and I was full of anger the whole time. So many logistics issues and I am not happy being the only one settling stuff.
November
Korea trip with Ci Metta, a colleague from a different department. I can be friends with my colleagues and I am surprised? Well, I know I'd go well with older people than younger peeps. I am very grateful that Ci Metta is always helpful, a very nice travel partner and a fun sister figure too. Korea trip this time was super fun. I did both touristy thing and catching up with friends. I also managed to watch the best Korean musical ever: Ben-Hur.
Ben Hur was phenomenal.
Yogya trip with bunch of colleagues but it was not fun. It was mentally stressful, but I appreciated the opportunity of meeting colleagues from other sections and getting to know them sliiiiightly better.
Desember
There you go, a very quick recap of my year. 2023 was tough but I learned a lot. I am most grateful for the time I spent with my fam and my closest friends. I am thankful that I had many friends who visited me in Jakarta. I traveled like crazy, taking 60 flights in total. Financially, I am bleeding but still very thankful that I am coping and surviving well.
No comments:
Post a Comment