A Year Ender Report

Time really flies fast. I've been away from home for more than a year now. Do I feel homesick? Of course I do. From time to time homesickness attacks me. Did I change a lot? Of course I've changed. A lot. I think it is time for me to look back at my one year here and list down my experiences and to learn if I've changed or not.


Local English is still too fast for me

I remember the first time I entered Mc Donald's here. The service crew talks too fast for me. He asked me a question and I, as was my habit if I dont understand what someone is saying, just nodded confusedly and said yes. The service crew looked at me and, this time a little slower, asked me again if I want "chili or catchup".
After more than a year, just last November, I attended a course (company sponsored training). The speaker was a local and he was a lively and funny speaker. Whenever he will deliver a joke, the response from the class is this:
1) He delivers his joke.
2) All the other attendees laugh.
3) I'm still processing the joke.
4) The speaker moves on to his next topic.
5) I finally understood the joke and laugh.


I've finally joined a badminton competition.

I succeeded in talking a girl friend, that's with a space between girl and friend, into joining the company badminton competition. We joined the mixed doubles competition. And it, shall I say ordeal, lasted around ten to twenty minutes only as we were unceremoniously defeated in the first round. And as the good sports we are, we graciously accepted the humiliating loss, without any excuse, although we havent played for about five months, we haven't practiced playing with each other for far more than that, we played the eventual champions, etcetera, etcetera. ;)
Anyway, I've started playing weekly badminton games now. Every Wednesday I join some of my Indonesian colleagues. And all of them play well. Last week I think I'm among the bottom three players, no thanks to my smashing prowess (or lack thereof). However, I still didn't lose, with two different partners.


I'm still single and is still very much available.

Although not for long. Hahaha. Dream on. Anyway, actually I don't really care. I'm enjoying my career and I have laid out a career path and my priority is to stick with that plan as of the moment.
In relation to being single, my three office friends and I, signed up for Social Development Unit(SDU). It's the local government's way of promoting marriage to young professionals. And one of my friends was laughing when we attended the orientation. There were only the four of us. Hahaha. Talking about desperation. Anyway, I didn't continue my "application" as I imagined being bored with it.


I still have a big plan for a future organization/foundation.

It's been inside my head for a long time now. I wanted to coerce my highschool friends to start an organization which aims to help and guide students. What I have in mind is simple. Growing up, since I didn't come from a professional family, I have no idea what is waiting for me in life. I know that with my math skills and problem solving abilities, engineering career suits me. But what kind of engineering? And what about another career? Looking back, will I still take the same career path I am in now? That's the idea. I want kids to be fully aware of what they can do as early as possible. Plus we would try to develop their social skills as well as promote reading books. As I've learned after college, the most important thing for us to learn is to learn how to learn.


I feel like I am a ton lighter now.

My friends think I grew bigger here after seeing my latest pictures. But I really disagree. Although I don't have an available weighing scale to support my claim, I feel lighter. Plus I can tap the board again when playing basketball. Enough said.


I know there is still a lot to say. But I think it is suffice to say that I changed in some ways but still am the same principled guy I always am.