A Story of Summer and Winter

To: Summer, from Winter

Hi,

I was wondering who could be the most favorite between us. I know you're beautiful and people look happier with you, I can see it, everyone can see it. But, I was just wondering if they were really happy from the heart or just to follow the situation before the time runs out. Well, maybe that is not really important, there should be no questions about why and how people are happy.

Your warmth, your longer sunshine, your colorful life must be the source of happiness and that makes me, sometimes, want to be you. I know how people walk faster in a cold winter night, I know how they don't want to be outside as the snow begins to fall, I know the only thing they are looking for is the warmth, something that I can never give to them.

-Winter-

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To: Winter, from Summer

Dear Winter,

People will never be able to choose between us. It's not fair to look only at one side. Well, I might be a bundle of joy for some, but I know there are some other who will always look for you, for your beautiful snowflakes, for the snowman every child wants to build.

You know what makes you even more meaningful? That's the time when people will more appreciate the warmth and togetherness. That's time when people learn that 'this too shall pass' and it's all about time to make everything fine again. You make people learn, don't you realize?

Well, you know what could be the worst thing ever?

Getting your heart broken in summer.

-Summer-

Indonesia

So I'm back again in Germany after spending 1,5 month in Indonesia. I think I'll never be able to describe how it feels to finally step on the land you've been missing for years after a long tiring journey. No, my study has not finished yet, after doing a six month internship in Essen, I still have to go back again to Munich to do my Master's Thesis. I know those stressful and sleepless nights will come soon.

I landed safely in Jakarta with hugs and kisses from my family and friends who picked me up at the airport. I remember how strange it was for me to hear everyone talking in Bahasa at first, I remember how happy I was to finally sleep in my own room again. Everything was real to me.

Home means comfort without effort. I met people whom I've been missing a lot, and the most important thing is knowing that they're all fine and happy (even more happier for those newly-weds couple!). Well, of course I missed a lot of things that happened while I was away: bestfriends' weddings, breakups, new love, career's ups and downs, anything. Many stories to catch up over the drinks and foods we love.

I remember one of my bestfriends (Bruh, if you read this, you know who you are!) just found out that living abroad doesn't make me fancier or something like that, turns out that I'm still the same person who left her country almost 2 years ago, still the same person who prefers Padangnese foods than Western dishes, who still sings Linkin Park and tries screaming so hard in the karaoke session. 

Germany doesn't make me less Indonesian. But if I were asked which country that means a lot to me after my home country, I would answer, yes, it's Germany. 

I was walking powerlessly to the departure gate as I had to go back again leaving Indonesia, but I know I'll be eventually back again.

And that's just all about time. 

F

Hujan Jangan Marah

"Dengarkah jantungku menyerah terbelah di tanah merah. Gelisah dan suka bertanya pada musim kering. Melemah dan melemah, oh hujan jangan marah."

Postcards

If I were asked why I love sending postcards (just as much as receiving it), I would say it's my way to express to the the people I care about that I still think of them even if I'm just too far from where they are. I love the fact that postcards have to go miles, have to cross the sea if they need to, and that's the point of traveling itself. I've been into traveling since I was a teenager back then (like, 10 years ago? haha) and I'm gonna travel more for the rest of my life, aamin.

One interesting thing about living here in Europe is that I love to open the mailbox in my apartment (which is not the common thing to do in Indonesia). I love to see a tiny card among those bills, payment details, etc. I love the feeling of guessing where my next postcard will be from. 

I'm more into writing and used to write down everything I feel. And since writers, are a dying breed at the moment, I want 'writing' to be the thing that my children will inherit from me. I will keep these postcards for them so they know how much their mum loved to write and to travel back then.

O 26

So I just turned 26, like, yes, 26. When I was younger back then, I thought that I would spend my late 20s birthdays with the bloody typical routine of a career woman, you know, that kind of routine in the craziness of Jakarta.

Well, things changed.

In fact, I spent my 2nd birthday here in Germany. I spent my 25th birthday last year in Munich with an intimate dinner at the end of the day and my 26th which was 3 days ago, turned out to be a blessing. I got a cake, flowers, card, those phone calls and skype session, and of course my favorite part: I got those warm greetings and beautiful wishes across the globe that made me enough to think that I am more than blessed to have those kindhearted people around me. Thank you! 

I was at the office the whole day, doing my training (and yes, I finally got my LRQA Auditor certificate signed right on my birthday! what a gift!) and I kept on smiling everytime I read the birthday messages sent to me.

I closed out this week by getting my first presentation well done in the meeting. Actually I was SO nervous being the youngest in the team, furthermore I am still struggling to be familiar with the whole Wind Turbines, Solar, Nuclear etc etc, the things I am working on now. 

By the way, thanks to our culture for creating the birthday milestone which is scary for some people. Well, I haven't achieved many, I'd rather say that I am still on my way, but looking back to what I've got last year, I'd say that I wish I could thank God more for letting that all happened. I've never succumbed to birthday stress, like I've never been freaked out by getting older and still haven't got many. Life is no rush for me, in fact, life's been treating me the way I've never thought before.

So, Ich danke euch!

that happy face!

-F-