Cruising Through Life

Should you always agree with ur boss?

2008-09-23T12:15:00.003+02:00

That what was written in the slide just now. I am presently in the class of Organizational Behavior. Despite of how boring this class sometimes, some of the questions raised are pretty intriguing, including that particular one:

Should you always agree with your boss?

I would say no since I argued a lot of times with my bosses during my period of working in IBM or even before that. (yes-yes, my colleagues can testify for this :p)
Yet, when I think further, it is may partially true that I tend to listen to my boss more before I stated my opinion whereas with friends I may not do the same thing. Yes, I listen to my friends, though not at the same way as with my bosses, I think.

Why is it so? Mmmm..

This makes me think on the process of answering & the result of personality tests that I have just taken several days ago, for the purpose of this class. While some people took merely a little amount of time to answer lists of questions on those tests, it took me ages only to do one test!

It is quite interesting to realize that my personality at work and family-social life could be so different. I found myself often frowning and thinking which answer I should pick because for me it all depends on the situation, whether it is at work or not.

For example, I am pretty much organized and tend to let others to lead. However, at home I can be very messy; with my friends, I am often to be in the position of leading and decision-maker.

Thus, when the result came out, some friends told me that I am not even near what my personality traits describe. It does not surprise me at all since I am also confused. hehhehe..

How about you?

Does my writing confuse you? :)

Rentrer en France!

2008-09-06T02:34:00.003+02:00

Triste et heureuse.. c'est un peu mixte..

J'étais un peu triste de revenir ici mais après quelques jours, ça va mieux. J'adore NYC mais ce n'est malheureusement pas la ville où je peux rester cette année. Je dois rentrer à Grenoble, en France, pour continuer mes études car le nouveau semestre va bientôt commencer.

J'essaie de me réadapter à ma vie en France... mais avec le Ramadhan, je vous assure que ce n'est pas facile. Mais, je vais essayer plus fort.

Bon, c'est presque 3 heures du matin et je suis encore ici...

Seule, dans mon appartement, à Grenoble..

A slap in my face

2008-09-04T06:00:00.000+02:00

I just got a slap in my face!

My bestfriend's dad passed away last nite. This happened so quickly.. and I felt numb. If I feel numb, imagine how she must have felt.

For numerous reasons, this wakes me up. It forces me to think:
1. What I have done with my life
2. What I will do if this happens to me as well while am not at home in Indonesia
3. How (good/bad) I have been with my friends

Well, the first two questions will take me ages to answer. But one thing for sure, I can answer question number three pretty quickly. I HAVE NOT BEEN A GOOD FRIEND LATELY TO MY DEAR FRIENDS. I have been neglecting them for quite sometime. This will be highly supported by them, I guess if ever they read this, they will cheer for what I have just said (right Des? right Far? :p).

No worries dears, I am widely awake now. As Desy said, everything happens for a reason. And I am sorry Des, for using ur grief & sadness as a reason for me to realise this.

Will I get a welcome-back-hug from you guys?? :)

Love????

2008-08-30T09:03:00.000+02:00

Love, really????

In the middle of the whole drinking experience on the other night (yeah right, like that was the first :p), I realise what is really important in my life. It might sound cheesy, especially since it comes from me, a person that literally (yes, literally!), push people away just for the sake of nothing (mmm.. I made myself sounds so bitchy here).

Back into the track, I realise that I still need love..
Geez, I can't believe I just said that! In any other chance I would totally erase or just (pretend to) forget about this, but since it's the biggest enlightment (ever! :p), I would just have to humbly accept it.

Yes, I do need love. And I can't believe how I actually crave for it.
Damn, this is such a revelation and embarassement for me to admit, so please just bear with it, for my sake at least!

In order to let myself fully grasp what actually happened just now, I won't share the details. Sorry folks, I know how you love those juicy details, but I am not ready to make a confession, not just yet :)

But one thing that I can assure you of, I will try my best from now on not to mock on other people's opinion anymore on how they feel about love, no matter how ridiculous I think they are or were.

I guess love touches people in a weird strange way in any possible time.
In my case, it was so sudden. Come on, in a middle of a drinking time? People would just say that I was drunk!

Love does has its own way.. one thing or another..

One big happy family

2008-08-29T01:19:00.000+02:00

Daddy: Darin - African American
Mommy: Marilyn - White American
1st daughter: Arma (ME!) - Indonesian (no, it's not in Africa! it's one of the South East Asian countries, in case u're wondering where it is. Remember Bali? Bali is one of its provinces, not the other way around!)
2nd daughter: Injy - Egyptian (no, she has no relation with Cleopatra)
3rd daughter: Sam - German/Azerbaijani (her natural family is from Azerbaijan but she has lived in Germany since God knows when)

Those people are my family in NYC.

Unlike the conventional wisdom, people really are able to go along together nicely and become a family, despite the various background (ras, religion, country, education, etc). Luckily, we are all able to converse well in the same language, English. I guess this make things a bit easier, if not messier.

Let's not get carried away with the differences. Back to what I said earlier, these people are my new family. It was partly coincidence in the beginning although I won't say that I didn't see it coming. It was started as a joke when we were on the way back to NY from DC after the tiring yet eventful End of Stay Orientation. Me, Injy and Sam (sat on the back seat) were very annoyed with Darin & Marilyn for they keep changing lanes and radio channels. Yeah, it felt like a family trip somehow! I don't quite remember who initiated it but soon we started to call each other as mom, dad, and sisters. It was so outrageously funny that we kept on doing it even when we were around other people. Of course, that deserves some stares and we accepted them merrily :)

Since then, we got along even better! We shared a lot of fun.. shared a lot of laughters.. shared a lot of fun.. shared a lot of laughters.. Yeeep, you did read them over and over, because we did had A LOT OF FUN AND LAUGHTERS together!

Ups and downs together, just like a real family. What the hell am I talking about, they ARE my family. One big weird happy family and am so glad that I'm a part of it!

My two sisters unfortunately went back to their countries last week, leaving me sad and a bit lonely in this never-sleep-city. Soon, in a few days, I will fly back to France leaving my adopted mommy & daddy with their queerness alone :D

This writing is dedicated for my weird yet happy family. Hope our paths will cross again in the future, someway.. somehow..

Love you mom, love you dad, love you Injy, love you Sam!

Have you ever (romantically) loved more than one person at the same time?

2008-08-26T19:50:00.000+02:00

A friend of mine asked me on the other day:
Have you ever (romantically) loved more than one person at the same time?

Curious on what inflicted her to ask such question, me being me of course probed her with various questions. Turned out that this friend of mine has been in love with 3 people during the same period of time. And it is still going strong at this moment, the love for every single one of them.

Is it really possible? All this time, I always thought that love has its own preference. You can love some people at the same time, but it will surely not be at the same degree of affection. Even parents, who supposedly have this unconditional love for their children, have their own favorites (although by all means they will not admit it!).

Yet, she seems to believe that her love is divided equally among her lovers. The question she threw is still there, up in the air. Every now and then it will come down and tickle my mind forcing me to stop doing whatever I am doing and encourage me to wonder on the possibilities.

I must admit that I am intrigued.. And still wondering..

Maybe someone would be able to help me with this??

Anyone??? Heeeeeeeeeeeeelllpppp..!!

OMG

2008-08-25T20:53:00.001+02:00

OMG! I have abandoned this blog for God knows when!

I remember that I promised myself to write twice a week minimum. But somehow I managed to go back to the old habit, lazy & forgetful. I guess it's true, old habit dies hard..

Alrite then, from now on, I am going to try to hold myself from making empty promises. And I promise to put the alarm as a reminder of blogging time. (heh? Didn't I just said that I am not going to make empty promises? I should've known myself better! :P)

What made me here again? Today, I was browsing my friend's profile in Facebook (yes people, I do procrastinate by facebooking) when suddenly my eyes saw a glimpse of a blog address among those jumbling words in contact info section. Yes, it hit me, I felt guilty as charged that I immediately opened my blog. Of course, after several attempts of password. (yeah, serves me right! hahahha..)

So here I am now, in the office, in New York City, blogging instead of working.

Long Lost Friend Has Returned

2007-08-01T21:05:00.000+02:00

Long lost friend has indeed returned.
Hopefully this time he does not disappear again, for his own good I'd say :)

It's funny how a friend can disappear for quite sometime, yet when he return we accept him back quickly and happily. Unconditional love? Dunno that fancy thing, but that words do make sense and resemble what me & Anggie just did this afternoon.

Today is a special day!
Somehow today we ended up skipping our work and bailed out of office meetings. Instead, we met each other: had lunch together followed by coffee afterwards. This must have sound weird, how come three good friends consider this as a special occasion? It is special because one of our (me & Anggie) good friends came back and joined us there, a good friend that had deserted us both for quite a while. There were not any news or whatsoever that shows his existence in our lives (too much? that's the truth though, you don't expect me to cover it up, rite Get? :p)

But we missed him and we're just glad that he's here now..
So glad that I decided to write it here :)

Welcome back dear friend! ;)

Hepi Bersdey Mas!

2007-07-20T08:17:00.000+02:00

After 2 1/2 years of togetherness, several members of my team have left to other companies. But no worries, that fact doesn't deter us for having casual meetings, as always :)

This time it was in F-Bar (EX) for our mentor's birthday celebration. It was like the same ol' times when we were still working together, side-by-side. unfortunately, farina can not join us due to business reason (what the heck is this..?! hahahha).

I just hope that this circle will last.. Hepi bersdey Mas Henry! :)

News

2007-07-12T05:06:00.001+02:00

Yep, they chose me..

And I wrote a post about to stop and take a rest??? Geeeezz..

Stop and Take a Rest

2007-07-11T09:57:00.000+02:00

Being involved in various communities and activities has its own advantages and disadvantages. One of the effects is feeling tired, could be physically or emotionally. This time it's physically tired for me. Various activities juggle together in my daily schedule, barely left me time to think and breathe. (and I thought breathing is automatic!)

What..? Another one to juggle? alright..

Hmmm.. Just got the news for another activity that somehow got myself volunteered.. yeah that's right, again :)

Why volunteer? well this one is different and seems to need higher level of responsibility. For this activity actually there's a screening process. First, we have to submit motivation letter, CV, and recommendation letter. Then, after passing the screening, interview is awaiting. How did I do?

Will let you know in the later post..

Another One Left

2007-07-05T10:52:00.000+02:00

A month ago two have left..

Then, another one left..

A good friend of mine has just moved to another company, for better earning I suppose, if not life :) Since then several colleagues have asked me lots of different questions. But basically they were 5W + H, like when we start learning English: what, why, when, where, who and how.

Tired of thinking for the answers, might as well I list them here.

What?
1. yeah, she has moved
2. What?
3. What do u mean?

Why?
1. Why not?
2. Why asking?
3. Everybody wants a raise, if u cant get it here then get it somewhere else

When?
1. What do u mean when, when she starts not showing up at the office of course
2. Didn't u get the goodbye email? oh sorry, u're not that close to her then
3. Mmm.. can't remember, why?

Where?
1. Hmmm..
2. She didin't tell you? oh sorry, u're not that close to her then
3. Somewhere better I hope :)

Who?
1. What do u mean who? U're asking about her rite?
2. Heh? Weirdo!

How?
1. First u apply, then if the're interested they'll call u for interviews, then.. then..
2. Well, by looking around? by keeping your options open?

Huweeeeee.. at the end I should just tell them: If you're that interested, just give her a call and ask her personally, she might entertain you with other answers.. hahahaha :D

Whatever answers I give them, the bottom line is still the same.. another one left..

Life goes on..

Life?

2007-06-26T12:11:00.000+02:00

Another opportunity comes up.. Need to do a bit of effort tomorrow..

Hmm.. Strange isn't it how life works. One day u're in the bottom of a pit, questioning how and why it happens. Then someday one window opens and another one opens and another one and another one.. Suddenly you're like the star of the life, surrounded by lots of new opportunities, lots of possibilities, lots of options, lots of different ways to continue life.

Then, different questions emerge, which one should I pick, which one should I consider more thoroughly, which one is making me happier, which one is in line with my goals and passions in life, which one is more beneficial in the long term, etc..etc..

WOW!! Life.. isn't it exciting! :)

This? That? What? Unclear!

2007-06-26T10:47:00.000+02:00

Hmmm.. What should i write today..??
I promise myself to write something here at least twice a week, to improve my writing skill (hahaha.. yeah right!)

It's true, it is not just my writing skill that needs some improvement, my speaking ability is also seriously needed to be checked! My daily conversation with friends is constantly filled by swearing and making fun of others. Yeah, u know like those bunch of craps living in this stupid f#@%ing place! ha-ha-ha.. (Des, Tan, allow me to use some of ur words ^^;;)

But, that's not speaking ability rite? That is just the way of speaking that admittedly sometimes makes people wonder and uneasy when they hang out with us. Is it inappropriate? Are we seriously that rude? Well, maybe (hehehe :p), but hey no one said we have to befriend with everybody rite. Let's just admit that you do tend to flock with people that are quite similar in a way. So, maybe one thing that is similar among us is crappy language and bitchy attitude. hahaha..

Anyweiz, what the hell am I rambling about.. one topic to another, so unclear! What am I trying to write exactly?? Nothing for sure, just passing by.. la-la-la-la :)

Tribute to my friends' manager

2007-06-22T11:51:00.000+02:00

Shocking thing just happened at work, well.. shocking but somehow so commonly happen here actually..

One of the best managers has been transfered to another position! Not to a better one though.

Lots of questions are buzzing around the office..

Is it wrong to stay in a position and achieved constantly, is it wrong being nice to subordinates, is it wrong to actually care of other people, is it wrong to stand up and defend ur subordinates?? He is not my manager, yet he's the one that knew when I was on my lowest spirit, he's the only manager that you can talk easily with, without being cautious of hidden agenda (hidden agenda? yeah, like backstabbing for one thing), and he's the only one that you can hang out with.. strange but true :)

Weird decision to make I'd say!

Anyway..

This writing is not meant for accusing or blaming someone.. just curious of what is happening here, what are the reasons..? If this is a multinational company, why does I feel like working for a traditional family company where you can hardly state your minds and your comments?

Hello new blog!

2007-06-21T13:05:00.002+02:00

Hallelujah!
At last I made my own blog here, after all the time thinking of making one without the effort of actually doing it. Like some people I know, I have this tendency not to do things right away, keep postponing things one after another. And suddenly, whoa, it's time already, it's the deadline, it's the d-day, it's whatever..

Well, it is time to start doing my new year resolution (whaaaaatt.. u just started to do it? yeah I know.. this, that, there's always something preventing me to do it, reasons-reasons-reasons :p). So, here I am, starting to write my own blog as one of my new year resolution and hopefully can fullfil the next ones..

Cheerio!