Archive for October, 2007

Appreciating Others

Thea October 23rd, 2007

We never realize the importance of somebody until he or she isn’t around.

I learn an important thing today.

This morning, my office held a halal bihalal. The occasion was on our ballroom which is located in the same floor as my cubicle. The ballroom is usually used for workshops, seminars, meeting, and other occasion attended by many employees. The busiest persons when such occasion comes are our office boys or OB. There are four OBs in my floor. They have to manage the time efficiently between preparing the ballroom and dong clerical job which is their routines. Preparing the ballroom isn’t a piece of cake. Why? Because they have to arrange chairs, move the tables, prepare the sound systems, up to check the lighting. And after the occasion, the OBs have to rearrange the room like it’s used to be, clean up the table, or vacuums the floor.

In addition, they also must do their clerical jobs such as delivering letters or documents from employees of our floor to other floors. Preparing water in the morning is one of their day-to-day to do list besides cleaning up the bin. And not to forget, we often ask their assistance to buy gorengan or lunch when we are bored with the meals in the pantry. To sum up, the OBS in our floor are the busiest among the OBs in other floors.

When I was back to the office last Thursday, there was only one stand-by OB. I knew how hard it was because he had to do many things including doing his friends’ duty. I feel very guilty as I was often lack of patience when one of OBs I called didn’t show up. Regardless the importance of document that must be delivered to other departments, my OBs also had important job they had to do.

Just like this afternoon, my OBs worked together to clean up the mess in the ballroom. They wiped the litter, which was made by the employees with no guilty. If just they aren’t around, I can’t imagine how dirty it will be.

Lesson-learned: No matter one’s position, we have to appreciate it as it also contributes to the existence of our company.

The Time Went so Slowly at Imogiri

Thea October 18th, 2007

Because we were confused where to spend one of my night in Jogja, Ogi offered me to try Sate Klatak in Imogiri. I did agree then we went there after Magrib. I often heard about Sate Klatak and I was so curious to get known its taste which is said so delicious.

The chilling wind accompanied our motorcycle-trip there. The weather in Jogja was getting chiller in the night. It’s just a compensation of the hot exposure sunlight you got in the day.

After a three-forth hour trip, we arrived at Pasar Imogiri. The hectic and crowded market turned to be a tranquil place where many vendors sold the famous Sate Klatak.

What is Sate Klatak? Sate Klatak is one of the various sate in Indonesia, sate or satay is made of meat or chicken, stuck with pin and burnt on ember. It’s served with sauce made of nut or tempe (soya been cake) or other ingredients. Sate Madura, sate Padang, or sate ambal is short of Indonesian culinary heritage. While sate klatak is made of mutton, soaked in special ingredients and stuck with a special pin from steel which makes the mutton well cooked in and out side. It’s specialty from Imogiri, a place which is also popular as the royal cemetery.

Then we greeted one of the vendors. I ordered two portions of sate. Before us, there were many buyers who already sat and ordered. With minimum lighting, we tried to figure out the place to sit. We sat with crossed-leg. While waiting for the sate, I wondered why there was no one who offered us drinks. I saw a woman who was making drinks. Maybe she’s the one who made the beverage for us. Then I went to her and asked if she sold the drink. “Yes”, she answered.

Not long after that a glass of hot tea and hot lemon drink came. But the sate hadn’t been served yet. I added a portion of tongseng in our order. Waiting for the sate and tongseng, Ogi and I looked at the vendor. We noticed that he did everything slowly. We were always asking why he didn’t slice the mutton at home. Why there was only one wood stove while he had to prepare two kinds of course, sate and tongseng. Why he didn’t apply job division? Why didn’t he only burn the mutton or cook the tongseng and others helped his to do other things? Indeed, the time went so slowly at Imogiri. Ogi said to me” It’s Jogja people”.

Two portions of sate and a portion of tongseng were served in front of us, finally. I was always curious with the sate. Then I tried it. Hmm…I agreed with my friend said about sate klatak:

The less, the more.

Sate was served with no sauce. But it really made the original taste of mutton revealed. No addition yet caused the taste very rich. The mutton was soft and sometimes we could taste the fatty flavor.

We were finished with our orders and our tummy was full. More people came and ordered the sate. I assumed most of them are Jogja people who worked in other cities and at that time they went home for celebrating Eid Ul Fitr. They came with their family, probably simply to memorize the flavor of sate klatak which made them missed all the time. And of course, just like them, I will go there next time I visit this lovely city.   

 

 

The God of Happiness

Thea October 18th, 2007

The source of happiness is not figures in my saving account. For me, the god of happiness is seeing my parents, spending time with relatives or hanging out with friends.

Seven days in Jogja of course isn’t enough for me. Though I could have my moments with my family, go out with friends and go around my new neighborhood, it’s still insufficient. I think I must have a longer time even though I don’t know how many days more I need.

I took moment by moment this Eid Ul Fitr thoroughly. I really enjoyed the time I spent with my lovely parents was. We worked on together the mess in our home when Lik Sus, our maid, went home to Wates. I could have a chance to profound my cooking knowledge. My Mum taught me how to cook rendang, Padang food which I always wanted to master at. And Ogi said it was delicious. Merci mon cher.

Then I realized how important the friendship I have. My friends are my power source. Last Tuesday, my friends and I gathered at Jimbaran restaurant. We were there to celebrate the birthday of Wipi, Nora and Ririn. Just like when we met many times before, this gathering was also decorated with laughs and jokes. Unbelievable, it’s been seven years we’ve been together. Now, we have our won story, go through our own journey. As my friend says, eventually we have our own life. Ririn who met her halve in KKN. While other friends ended up with broken relationship with their KKN-friends-turned lover, Ririn and Ipunk stay together till now. Arif, who will go to Brazil and plans to marry my best friend, Wippie. Indi who’s still chasing her dream. And me, what about me? I am still looking what I can do in the future.

I am glad. I am happy. I was recharged and now full of power. The god of happiness of mine, I have already met it.

 

 

 

 

Happy Eid Ul Fitr

Thea October 10th, 2007

I Am Looking for Hiro Nakamura

Thea October 10th, 2007

For you who watch Heroes serial, you must be familiar with the character of Hiro Nakamura. As the other characters, he has special extraordinary ability, which is believed can safe the world from the vicious power. In short, with his teleporting specialty, he can move to other place instantaneously, without traveling through space.

It will be much easier for me if I have such power like his now. I don’t have to buy ticket to go home. I must not call Garuda Call Center to ensure my availability among other passengers who are also in the waiting list. Or my friends no need to queue for hours to get train ticket. Just by holding them, I can bring them to Jogja as quickly as winking our eyes. Fast and simple.

I wish I could have such ability and therefore I would go to Jogja whenever I want or visit other places wherever I wish. Undoubtedly, it would cut my monthly expense to go home. Every month, I must spend at least 500 thousand for going Jogja and so does Ogi.

Well..well…I only can wish. Maybe it’s because I watch it too much. By the way, it’s time to GCC again.

 

 

Two Days Left

Thea October 9th, 2007

Two days left before entering Eid ul Fitr. How is the situation in my office? It’s set on holiday mood. No kidding! We can’t resist the temptation to stretch our bodies longer. And when we look on to the pile of document and check the emails in our inbox, oh no, it’s such a burden that we must bring along day.

For me, two days means speeding up my deadline. I have to make sure that all of our roaming partners have implemented all our GT SMSCs (sorry guys, it must take your time as there were too many to implement). Then, contacting our roaming partners and rescheduling the testing should be on the list due to the more than a week of ineffective days. Some of my friends will spend all of their leaves. But I will keep some of them just in case I need it next time.

I will go home October 11, 2007 with the 6-pm flight to Jogja. However, now I am still checking my availability to reschedule my flight. Therefore, I am always calling the call center to get an update from them. Let’s see if my silver card member will work on this because I am with more than 90 passengers who want to fly earlier.

Hmm..i hope I can get it

Let’s Pay Zakat

Thea October 4th, 2007

Zakat, the fourth pillar of Islam, is an obligatory for Moslem (by financial situation). According to Wikipedia, Zakat is the Islamic concept of tithing and alms. It is an obligation on Muslims to pay 2.5% of their wealth to specified categories in society when their annual wealth exceeds a minimum level (nisab).
As follows, I try to elaborate several types of Zakat:

Zakat Fitrah
This kind of zakat is paid near to Eid-l Fitr. The amount is equal to 2.5% of our wealth and assets or as much as 3.5 liter of our staple food, such as rice. In short, it can be given both by cash or rice.
Zakat for Profession
Zakat of profession is zakat which is paid from one’s income when it already reaches the nisab.
Method of calculating zakat of Profession:
(Salary+ bonus + other income) x 2.5%
Zakat for Gold/Silver
Don’t forget to pay zakat for the gold or silver that you collect. It’s an obligatory both for the gold/silver that you are wearing or keeping. Nisab for gold is 85 gram while for silver is 595 gram. The level which is has to be paid is 2.5%.
The method of calculating zakat of gold/silver
(The gold/silver kept-the gold/silver worn)x 2.5%
Example:
Miss Nita has 150 gram of gold, 40 gram of which is worn. After having all of them for one year, how much that she has to pay?
(150gram-40gram) x 2.5%=2.75 gram or equal in cash as follows:
If 1 gram of gold is Rp.100.000 then 110 gram of gold is Rp.11.00.000. The amount that must be paid is 11.000.000 x 2.5% or 275.000.

Zakat for Saving or Deposit Account
Pay the zakat from the last balance of our saving account if it already reaches its nisab and exists for one year. The nisab is 85gram of gold and the level of zakat is 2,5%. Amount that is subject to the zakat is: saving + interest.
Example:
If you have a deposit account amounting Rp.10.000.000 with profit sharing Rp.350.000 per year, then you have to pay Rp.10.350.00 x 2.5% = Rp. 258.750. If your deposit account is a product of conventional bank and you receive interest, then you have to take out the interest (distribute the interest in infaq).
Zakat for Investment
This zakat is paid from our investment gain, for example income of car, house, or land that we rent. Therefore the amount that must be compensated is the revenue and not the capital (like car or the house).
Example:
Pak Parno owns a boarding house with 20 rooms. The rent fee for each room is Rp 200.000/month. Every month, Pak Parno spares RP.500.000 as the maintenance budget. How much Pak Parno should pay?
The nisab of the investment is as equal as 653kg of rice with 5% tariff of the gross income and 10 % tariff of the net income. Every month, Pak Parno gains Rp.4.000.000 (20 x Rp.200.000).
As follows, find two ways of calculating his zakat:
Gross: Rp.4.000.000 x 5% = Rp.200.000
Net : Rp.4.000.000 – 500.000 = Rp 3.500.000 x 10% = Rp. 350.000

Guruh

Thea October 3rd, 2007

Last week, I called my aunt. Besides asking about her condition, I also wanted to know the business progress that’s currently being developed by Guruh, my brother.

Starting at the beginning of the September, Guruh, made a breakthrough. It’s a breakthrough for me as I never dare to start a thing like him. I know that he always dreams to run his own business someday. But I never expected before that being a restaurateur was one of his choices. 

I couldn’t believe when he said to me that he wanted to start the business immediately.

It has to be now, or never!

My father and I were those who rejected the idea. For me, he’s too young to start such business. Moreover, he managed to build the business in other city, not in Jogja. It means he has to terminate from his colleague for a while. 

I just want to make sure this business runs well. Afterward, I will go to college again.  

 

We (my parents and I) “gave in” our rejection and decided to give his choice a go.  Having gone for about one month, his business shows a positive trend. Everyday, at least he earns 700-900 thousands. He is confident that this business, which he builds with his friends, is going to grow well someday. I am so glad with this news. He isn’t only growing up now but also maturing himself. He dares to take the responsibility of the choice he made. And he proves that his intuition isn’t wrong. InsyaAllah:) I just can laugh remembering my days with him as he was so spoiled to me and my parents. Imagining that he is running a business in such age was never in my mind before.  

 

I remember the last message he sent to me before opening the restaurant.

Mbak, don’t send me money anymore. I want to be independent now. 

 

 

And now, he becomes a restaurateur when he’s 20 years old. Guruh, I am so proud of you:)