My Days in Jakarta started as
early as 6.00 am. Maklum la kat Malaysia dah kira lewat sebab it is 1
hour ahead! Since it's early, I can take my time ironing my work
clothes, take a shower and get ready. By 8.00am am, I was already on
level 3 having breakfast together with the others. After 30 minutes
we went down to catch a cab to the office. It was just a 20 minutes
journey through the jalan 'tikus', as the locals call it; if not it
would take us 45 minutes using the normal road!
Our discussion started at 930 am and
usually finished by 6.00 pm. I had difficulty on the 1st day as many
terms that they used were in Bahasa Indonesia instead of in English.
Alhamdulillah, things improved from the 2nd day as I can understand the
discussion much better. It's a challenge doing unfamiliar things,
especially as I had no proper training or background on Islamic Banking.
But I take it as a challenge and it is a good exposure for myself.
After discussion we will catch a taxi
back to the hotel and arrive around 7pm. My stay in Jakarta was full of
after-work activities as my brother and sister-in-law were so nice to
fetch us from the hotel and brought us out for dinner and shopping. I
manage to grab 2 comforters, a few pairs of pyjamas and shoes for
myself. This is what I am actually thankful for as I have an
understanding brother who is willing to accompany the sister so that I
won't feel so sad thinking of Ehsan & Erica back home....
Everyday that I went to work I would
always pray that the work went smoothly and can finish on time so that
when the kids & Mr. Hubby came over the weekend, I could spend it
fully with them. Mama's waiting for you, miss & love you both so
much.
There is always the first
time for something in everyone's life. As for me my first time leaving
the kids was the experience that I will never forget. I had to
prepare myself mentally and physically the moment my boss instructed me
to go to Jakarta for a walk through for Bank Maybank Indonesia. A few
days before leaving I already told the kids that I will be away and
'sleep in the office' so I wont be around to cuddle and put them to bed.
The moment Erica heard this she cried so hard as if I wont becoming
back home!
Yesterday hubby send me to
the airport, but I already asked that none of my family or my kids will
be sending me as I don't want to see them crying or they see me crying.
My dad had to bring the kids for a ride as he didn't want the kids to
keep on crying. I tried very hard not to cry in front of them , but at
the half way point to the airport, I failed and cried so hard... Hubby
did not say much as he understand am a sensitive person when it comes to
our children, and he was nice to wait for me until I passed through
immigration. I guess he wanted to make sure that I will be okay.
A one and a half hours
journey seems fast when there is a friend along. Thankfully, I went
there with my mentor, Kak Ika. If I was asked to travel alone I would be
miserable all the way! We
arrived in Soekarno Hatta Airport at 5.00 pm local time (6.00 pm
Malaysia time). Done with immigration an hour later, we got a cab to our
hotel in Kuningan area. It was frustrating when the hotel informed us
that the office didn't make any reservations, but luckily they had some
spare rooms for the 3 of us. It was a nice hotel but I was a little
afraid, as it is situated near to the bombing
incident back in
2009. Who knows? it may be the next target! Alhamdulillah nothing bad
happened and I was impressed with the security at the hotels. All
incoming vehicles were scanned before entering the lobby, and all the
occupants with luggage were scanned before approaching the lift. They
were very thorough!
My brother Aman offered to
fetch me from the hotel and bring us for dinner; if not I would be
crying all night long in the room alone thinking of my kids! He arrived
at 7.00 pm and brought us for dinner at Mimink Daeng, a Makasar
Restaurant. It was famous for its tata ribs. After dinner we all headed
back to the hotel and they stayed in my room until midnight - talking
and catching up. I was too tired and distracted to have a chance to cry!
it was a good start but the moment I tried to sleep it was difficult as
my loves one were not there. Even though we were far apart, yet they
were always near in my heart.
That is the feeling that is haunting in my mind right now. Taking it or losing it? Going or not?
Last Friday I was called by my boss and he asked me on something that am really looking forward since I start work back in 2002. And after these years the dream comes true. Working in oversea on project basis. Being able to go oversea on business trip for me is something valuable as I could gain knowledge, exposure and learn different culture. Even my previous work required me to travel a lot since I was in charge in handling airports' project but that was a bit different coz it was just for short period of time and I still haven’t has any children at that moment.
But now when the ONE opportunity that I have been looking for already in front of me, it suddenly hit my head and struck my mind – Will I be able to be away without the kids? How can I handle my night without them besides me? If they fall sick who is going to look after them? If Ehsan has any homework who will accompany him? Who will give me a good night kiss and hug before going to bed? Who will make me shouting like Tarzan? Who will make me angry like a monster and break my nerve? Will I still have dream while sleeping or it will give me a sleepless night? All these suddenly make me realize on how can I manage the life and time without them.
Hubby on the other hand is very supportive from the 1st day I started working. I guess he wants to see that all his investment (paying my MBA) is paid back. Hahahahaha….no lah…. He wants me to explore and gain experience as much as I could while am still young. Me personally I did mentioned to him that while the kids are still young I just want to grab all the opportunity in front of me so that I will not feel regret later on. But once I hit 40 (which I have another 8 years to go), I would consider quitting my job and focus on my family. By the time Ehsan will be in Form 1 InsyaAllah and it is the best time for me to concentrate on him and Erica on their education.
In a mean time, I will start preparing myself mentally and physically for the time to come. I pray hard that I would be able to go through the situation easily.
Today marks another milestone in my life. I turn 32. I can’t ask more as I have everything (as for now…) in my life. I consider myself successful in my academic and career along with a proud husband to share with and enjoy life with our 2 beautiful kids, Ehsan & Erica. Nothing more can I ask except for our children’s health and success in their life. What ever it take to make them happy and become a successful and responsible person I will try to my very best to make it happen.
As I passed my life for more than 3 decades from a baby, little girl, teenager, adult, lady and a daughter, I do now appreciate life and people around me more. I do now understand that money (most of the time…) is not everything. Because even with a bag full of money when it does not come together with care, love and honesty it will not make one’s life happy. I may not come from a very rich family but with the unconditional care and love from both my parents, Alhamdulillah I am thankful and proud of what have I achieved now. Even though I know both of them have their own ways of showing their care and love.
And as I walk through the 7 years of life as a wife and a mother, I could not say much except for thanking Allah the All Mighty for what He had bless me with. A husband, that is full with love, understanding and sometimes pamper me with all my requirements and desires. My son, Ehsan who always break my nerve but at a same time a very responsible, cheerful, loving and a caring person. My daughter, Erica who has her own mind but so cute, cuddle, attractive, joyful and pamper. There’s no words that could describe what I felt for them. Allah knows best.
This is my routine (for the time being…..) to my new office & my new work….
6.45 a.m– My morning starts - Prepare breakfast & cook lunch for the kids
7.30 a.m- Take shower
- Getting ready to work
8.15 a.m- Leave the house & arrived 30 – 45 minutes later depends on the traffic
It took me…..
104 stairs from the roof top parking in 1Utama
Approximately 400 steps from 1Utama thru One World Hotel to my office building in KPMGTower
1 lift up to level 2A
And a few more steps to my desk
During lunch hour I will usually take my car out and enter the parking again as to save the parking fee. The 1st 6 hours will only cost me RM 1 so over lunch time I will go out and re-enter the parking again in level 3. So by end of the day I will only have to pay RM 2 if I go back on time (5.30pm), instead of paying RM16 for 8 hours in KPMG basement parking.
Going back may not take me a lot of time and energy
A few steps from my desk to the lift
1 lift down to ground floor
Approximately 300 steps to another lift in 1 Utama
1 lift up to level 3 or 4 depends on which level I park
In 10 minutes time I’m already at home with the kids……….
It’s been a tiring week for me the past 2 weeks. I had to stay back up until 8pm to finish up works. We had a demo presentation for Maybank Indocorp from Indonesia and also Brunei International Bank Development obviously from Brunei within this month. So I have to help out with testing the system and making sure the system is running smoothly during the presentation. My contribution may not that ‘wow!’ as to compare to those maintaining the system but hey….every little help counts right.
Even Ehsan had to call me one day asking me to come back home. Pity him and Erica had to wait for me to come home and by the time I arrived am so damn tired that I had my dinner with half eyes open. And am so thankful that my parents are around to keep the kids occupy and mummy for preparing the dinner whenever am late. But I guess this will only be one of the odd days and would not be the routine. Hope Ehsan and Erica will understand that their mama still love them despites having to work late at night.
And I am looking forward for our family retreat the end of this month. I had a brilliant idea for Mr. Hubby that we should have a retreat every month as to escape from all the hectic days that we had been through. *Wink* *Wink* Mr. Hubby great idea tak?... And for those who read my blog I do appreciate your ideas of places for holiday…
p/s Am writing this blog while waiting for Mr. Hubby to meet me for dinner at 1 Utama.
It was really horribly long hiatus for me in blogging. I have a lot of stories, pictures, and memories to share but so limited time to really sit down and write. Furthermore with lots of thing that needs to settle since we came back from Sudan in January 2009 it’s even worst. Hubby still needs to work as usual whilst I need to handle from the house renovation to movement, Ehsan’s school and lot more.
For this 2010 I would like continue back my ‘passion’ in blogging as I always remember that my ‘niat’ of having this blog is for me to write all the stories of mine for my memories later with my children as well as to share some if not all with others.
In this post I would like to share some tips that I got from my uncle a.k.a PaksuMan. The other day I wrote an email to him sharing my concern on what is the best way for us as young parents to bring up our children to become a good Muslim as well as a good human being. And not only that I also wish to become a cool parent to my children so that I can become their friend rather than only a mother/father. I find it the tips are interesting and would like to share with anyone who is interested. This is his point of view in bringing up the children the way he does. Of course bringing up kids and moulding them to become the way we want may be different from an individual to another, but for me getting an advice from the experienced people would be an added value.
So here are some of his tips:-
Below 4 yrs old - communicate your thoughts by leading them, & showing them in not so many words, but with many ACTIONS. Don’t spank them but with example action (e.g washing hands before food, eating with mouth close.)
From 4 to 10 - it is ACTION plus sharing the good things of particular activities. (E.g. rubbing the hand with soap and doing it this way, will ensure the germs will go away, n not make us sick, or hanging your towels after shower/bath will make it dry so that they will not give u kudis!!), say it just once...never berletiaq (nag) ...children or teens don’t like that at all!! When they forget, then repeat it again n again n again. But never fret by saying "I have told u many times....!!". This will make them withdraw & rebel. Especially at a young age, and they will find means to get back at you. At this age they will start to ask many whys.
10 to 13 or once they are balikh - They can reason more, and start asking over n over again. And they will say with a bigger WHY?...hehehe.. This is the time their hormonal change affect their physical n mental state more. Again the friend approach is, to be with them more, fill them up with closeness and more of listening.
Try to understand why they like this & that, or hobby. Share their interest. Chill out with them. Go to the mall with them, Treat their friends well. Never perleceh (condemn) the way they dress (as long as tak langgar aurat rule), they way they comb their hair... As long as it does not come to any harm or against the Islamic rule, let them be. They will get over it once they reach 16. At this age they want to be treated like an adult.
Communicating
Use a friendly intonation
Imagine that you are going to talk to a friend, the atmosphere is casual...VERY IMPORTANT, don’t interrogate with so many WHYs, I THINK....
listen and only give your views when ask
If you are still dying to give your views, entice them to ask you
Don’t interrupt
Don’t raise your voice (friends laugh it out and respect each other)
If the child needs to be admonished, then it should be communicated in private
These are some of the tips that Paksu shares with me. Some may find it interesting and some may have other opinion of their own. Either way we choose there’s always no right or wrong as long as we are happy with our spouse in bringing up the family that we wish it to be.
I guess for the 1st posting of year 2010 it had been long enough. Until the next time I can find time for myself to blog again….. Au revoir people…….
