Sometimes I wonder, what have I done so right to deserve these people.
Temen-temen online yang belum pernah gue temui, kecuali lewat skype atau tukeran holidays card doang.
Tapi tetep berusaha catch up di sela-sela kesibukan, buat nanya kabar dan what they missed while we're not in contact.
Skype seharian, ngedengerin story telling, sampe ketiduran.
Nyari tau cara gue dapet visa Amerika.
Ngerencanain liburan bareng gue.
Bilang kalo mereka nungguin gue buat ngunjungin mereka di apartmentnya.
Ah :')

Gue percaya apa yg gue inginkan bisa jadi nyata.
Dan gue percaya gue bisa ketemu mereka one day.
Entah gimana caranya, itu bukan urusan gue.

Suatu hari nanti, kita bakalan all-nighteran lagi, tapi in person.
Together.

I started reading a lot again.
Thanks to Ashley, who is suddenly encouraging me to do more reading.
And more watching.
And basically turning me into an absolute, full-time fangirl.
I'm not complaining, just saying.

Reading is a fun activity, you know.
You can be anyone else.
You can know what others think.
You can know how people deal with many things.
You can go to adventure.
You can visit places.
You can feel many emotions.
Without leaving your place, wherever you are.

I started reading very early.
My dad was a big reader himself.
I used to hear stories how he sneaked comics to his room when he's supposed to study.
I guess he didn't want me to feel the same, so he let me read whenever I want.
He taught me to read.
I remember very clearly how I sat on his lap as he taught me to read subtitles on tv that night.
I know, what a beautiful moment to remember.
I also remember that he used to take me buying books, comics, magazines.
And how I spent some of my weekends reading books on my beach chair... not in a beach.
My parents also gave me money to rent books.
They were okay with it.
I was the happiest kid.

Then I moved to Bogor, where, my aunt and uncles, even though they're very good parents, they didn't see reading the same way as my dad did.
I couldn't read as much as I didn't.
I couldn't use my money to rent nor buy books.
But I kept reading anyway.
They subscribe to Bobo magazine, so I still got that.
And I bought second hand books and comics, but I couldn't get to keep them.
Because they'll be upset.
So I threw them away after I read them.
I remember how sad it was.

So after I got a job and my own money, I never stop buying books.
I bought every books that I wanted to buy.
Even though it's not cheap, or I need to wait a month because they're shipped from overseas.
It's worth it.

Reading is not only a hobby.
It's my dad's legacy.
I don't know nor understand how hard is it to make your kid loves reading.
But he did.
He made me love reading.
16 years after he's gone, I'm still reading.
And when I'm reading, I feel like back to one of those nights.
When I was on his lap, listening to him reading.
Or when I was on my beach chair.

When I'm reading, I feel him around.
Reading with me.

Hello Papa, it's been sixteen years since I saw you last.
Usually there are tears but today, they weren't here.
Well I did a little cry yesterday when I listen to songs that remind me of you (there's a lot, okay!) but then I realized how happy I feel this year.

Yes, Papa. I am happy.
I feel happy, blessed, and very grateful.
My life has been great.
It's always been, but I can see it clearly today.

I have a good job that I like a lot!
My colleagues are really nice and funny and kind.
I live alone in the city we used to live in.
But I always have a place to come home in Bogor.
The relationship with the family is great too.
Aji is studying hard.
Please keep your eyes on him, k?
And I'm surrounded with the best kind of friends!
There are some I don't like, then I'm not keeping them.
Because I believe the God will replace the bad ones with the good ones, only if we have guts to throw the bad ones.
I also have online friends that are so nice and kind like we're friends in real life.
I really hope we can meet one day!

That's from me, Papa.

And you.
How are you?
Are you okay?
Are you happy?
Are you sad?
I miss you, always.
I really hope you can come see me in my dreams.
We can have a talk. Or laugh.
Or neither. Just sitting.
Or hugging.
I promise I won't cry like the last time we met.

Anyway, I want to thank you.
To teach my to read and love English.
To be my father.
I'm blessed.
I don't want to trade father, even though the other father lives a lot longer than you :P

Okay so,
Happy deathday, Papa!
I miss you <3


Your daughter,
Chita

1. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
Praying. I woke up quite lately so it was a rushing pray.

2. When you walk into a cafe, what do you typically order?
Vanilla or green tea frapucinno. Anything without coffee but with whip cream.

3. What's the one word you are guilty of using too often?
"It's like" haha.

4. What is the last thing you searched for on Google?

Shakespeare & Co bookstore in Paris ❤

5. Who is the last person that called or texted you?

Luksie, my roommate. We talked about what dinner we would have.

6. What's the wallpaper on your phone and/or computer?

On phone, cats.

On computer, a good photograph of Earth.

Everyday, I specifically ask God to make me a better person.
And I think, being a better person is not about the result, but rather about the journey.
God doesn't make me wiser or smarter overnight, but He'll put me in a situation that can make me wiser and smarter. Which if I could pass it, I will be exactly as what I prayed.

And I'm in a journey to be a better person everyday.
So I tried to be more heedful.
As I grow older, I meet more people from many backgrounds and with many personalities.
The ones that I didn't think I could meet but then I do.
Especially since I join a new company.
Before I thought expatriate in my country only sit in highest positions but now here, they're sitting in the same cubicles as locals.
Before I thought my previous boss was humble and kind enough, but my recent boss is even MORE humble and kinder and funnier in many ways and it makes me love him so much!
Before I thought I couldn't find co-workers like my previous ones, but my recent co-workers are as lovely as them (even though I still miss my old co-workers a lot too!)
Before I thought there's no stronger bound like my previous company, but my recent company's employees have even STRONGER bound!

God always replaces things with better things, every time.
I never doubt that.
Yet He still proves that it's true and make my faith even bigger.

I used to moan and complain about Monday but for the last few weeks, I didn't.
I enjoy and is excited of Monday because there's a weekly meeting which is fun because it's so casual and not boring, it's also very much shorter than we did in my previous company.

I also have my good friend as my roommate.
My relationship with my family is stronger than ever.

Dear God,
I would never be able to thank You enough for all these blessings.
I can't even count it.
Thank you so much for the best part of  my life... yet!
I believe you still have a lot to surprise me later :)

Naik gunung!
Ke desa :D
Ke curug gratiiiiis :D
Snorkling
Took underwater photos
Swam in 3 meters deep pond
Naik motor ke curug - nearly off road
Naik motor bertiga (kakang-dimas, noya-dieni, arief-rama, frizi-dieni)
Main badminton (beneran)!
Naik sepeda keliling kebun raya
Ga pulang - ga tidur semaleman
On a car trip with male friends only
Nganter temen ke airport :(
Keliling kota naik mobil - loved it!
Went on 30 hours road car drive :(
Makan sepiring berdua with a male friend haha
GET CREDIT CARDS!
Bought things from e-bay
Sleeping in a tent
Cooking in an open place
Volunteering
Kondangan sampe jam 1 pagi
Speak in front of my whole BIG family
Masak di kompor tungku with the real kayu bakar and all that jazz