in two months

Took me 1 week (today is day 10) to adapt to the fact that I'll be spending one year in a city in East Java for my internsip program. Two of my friends (one female and one male) and I decided to choose RSUD Balung (we went to an internet facility in Tangerang area at half past 7, then to choose the right computer with a fast internet). It was my 3rd PC before I was finally able to get the right one, honestly it was quite terrifying because they had the right PC right away while I had to shift to 2 more PCs.

Anyways, after we got RSUD Balung, the female friend and myself still can't believe we chose that particular place. We're not sure whether to be happy or to be sad or what. Then tears started to flow (okay, it's unnecessary, but that time was just emotional for both of us).

We didn't go home right away, we chatted for like 10 minutes, then I decided to wait for my bf in one of a fast food restaurant nearby. At half past 8, one of the participant of this internsip said that East Java had no slots left, so they had to back off this time (because her husband did not allow her to take other internsip place besides East Java). This time, my bf had picked me up. And again, honestly I'm not sure whether I should be happy or not. I tried not to cry in the car, but I can't help it when we arrived at my bf's brother's boarding house. In the next two months, I'll be miles away from Jakarta (from him), to a place somewhere I've never been before. I was trying to imagine, if I was single, I think I'd be relieved, probably? Because I was finally able to stay out of my parent's reach (haha!), but on the other hand, away from him. He was also kind of sad as well.

So, all our plans (I think) changed. Before, we still thought that we will spend our internsip program in one area (Banten). We decided to exchange rings before I depart for my internsip, as a reminder that our hearts are in each other's hearts. I promised him that we will meet in Surabaya whenever we miss each other, possibly every 2-3 weeks, depends on the schedule actually. I will also try to compress my duty schedule so that I can have longer holidays to have time to go back to Jakarta. We'll just have to see later on....

A week ago, we decided to buy rings. My best friend's uncle and auntie actually have a jewelry store in Jakarta), so we thought it would be best to buy it there. But we didn't go there until few days ago. There were so many, like countless, of designs showcased. My bf wanted a bling-polished, and I wanted a doff one. I think it took us like half an hour to one hour to choose this design that the two of us finally agreed on. What I like about jewelry stores (not in malls) is they charge us like really for the gold and making-process cost (because it's handmade). Those stores in malls charge one pair of rings for like more than 10 mill, some more than 20 mill, while actually they only cost half of it, not even half, possibly 25% of the price. Well I get it, they need to pay for their employee, maintenance, electricity and all, but still, it's somewhere over the sky. And yes, we bought the pair of rings for below 10mill, without any diamonds because diamonds cost like 25% of the total price of the rings itself. Don't think it's necessary, this isn't for our wedding anyways (will have another ring for our wedding)

I think I skipped the part when he asked me on a date to Ancol (because we purchased Dufan annual pass) the day after I chose my internsip. Oh gosh, it was fun! He really made my day, although we did have some misunderstanding here and there, but I think that's why I love him. Again, we were not able to enjoy Ice Age and rafting, but we rode several "games". We were quite tired so we decided to go home, it was like 4pm-ish. We thought of stopping by my house to take a shower, but it wasn't very time-efficient, so we decided to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening in Ancol. Tried to look for the beach, but he saw "ecopark" and forced me to stop by ecopark (he seemed to know what to enjoy in ecopark, I thought it was something dealing with water, but from the parking lot.... didn't see any presence of water). Turns out to be garden, we can walk or run or bike-riding. They offer bike rentals, single bike or couple bikes. Bike for one person cost 25k, and couple bikes cost 50k, he took the couple bike. I still can recall the fun that we had, we never ride a two-person bike (I don't know what it's really called). For me, bike saddle for the person behind the steer is quite high. I can't even reach for the saddle with the steer, maybe because I'm short? Went around the garden for only 5 rounds because ecopark closes at 18.30.

Then we head to the beach, had some chit chat and selfies until it was starting to get dark... So browsed the internet for a restaurant nearby for dinner. No specific plans for that day, just Ancol. It was quite nice, although there wasn't many choice. Tenderloin beef strips were not showcased until we were half way through dinner, and enoki wrapped with beef were also only 1 plate provided. Besides that, it's amazing! Because there were a few shots of fireworks somewhere in the Putri Duyung cottages (I think), it was our first time to watch fireworks just the two of us (again, I think). He was like "I ordered that fireworks just for you, more fireworks soon", and I was like "right...... like I believe you really had that fireworks for me". And.... the day had to end, so we had to head back to my house.

Just one word to describe that day: PERFECT!

He really knows how to cheer me up, and the only one I can imagine spending the rest of my life with. Although we will be separated miles and miles away, we'll make it. My granny was sure happy that I took East Java, because that means he will visit Surabaya very often and meet me there. Before I chose that, she kept asking and insisting us to go to Surabaya and spend 3-4 nights, but we had difficulty of organizing our schedule.

So... can't wait how our ring will turn out! :)

Cao!

from Germany, with love (part 1)

So here we go. November 10th, 2014.

We had a short transit at Kuala Lumpur around 11.30ish local time just for about 15 minutes. Then we board into the airplane again, sat at the same seat as the trip to KL. It was quite a long journey, about 13 hours, but I managed to stay put. Actually I tried to sleep but I can't, but in the end, I slept for about 3 hours. We were served one meal, one snack (it was so-so), and was offered drinks twice (tea, coffee, water).

We arrived at Frankfurt Airport at 07.30, boy, it was still quite dark, seems like still 05.45 in the morning, and not to mention, freezing cold. Before we landed, we put on long john shirt, then when we landed Mom had us to put on "long john"s pants inside the jeans we were wearing, honestly I don't know what "long john"s actually meant. But it was warmer afterwards.

We were confused at first at finding our way to the baggage claim. Dad almost led us the wrong way (he was following the crowd of people towards somewhere I don't really notice), but we managed to find our way. Baggage claim was one level down, they had us going down the escalator near the exit from the boarding gates. It was quite easy to find actually. And we were one of the few people who were actually down there waiting for the baggage. It wasn't more than about 15 minutes that we had our luggage packed onto the trolley (we had to deposit 2 euros to use the trolley) and then headed to the exit to find the train towards Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (meaning Frankfurt Central Station). We had to go down one more level to the train area to "register" train tickets from the "DB" counter, then again down one level to wait for the train. All these time me and dad were trying to find sim card, but wasn't successful. Arriving at the train area, there was one train waiting to depart, but the doors were soon closed. We thought it was departing like in one second, so we thought the next train was okay. But it didn't depart until like 1 minute afterwards, and few people who came after us pushed the red button on the sides of the train door, and the door just opened. We were like "huh? The door can be opened?". We though it was like the train doors in Singapore, when it was shut, we should just back off from the door and wait for the next train to arrive. So that was epic. People in the train were like staring at us. Okay, I was quite embarrassed.

And so, we took the next train. Mom carried the big luggage, dad had 1 big and another small luggage, and I had 1 small luggage. Okay, it wasn't fair. Anyways. Haha. On the next train, mom made sure that we were on the right one. Then the train had some issues (I don't understand what they said in the announcement) that the train had to stop. After the announcement, people around us were like "what??" And some drop jaw, but we were like showing no expressions, just flat. Epic. We were soon on the way again after like 10-15 minutes and stopped in about 3-4 stations.

Okay, Frankfurt was freezing. It was like 7 or 8 degrees. Mom and I also put on those thick parachute-material jackets so my body was warm, but my fingers were like ice. We arrived at Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, about 2 levels below ground. At ground level, the station was huge. My first impression was, "okay, this is like Harry Potter train station" and I imagined my friend, Cynthia's face. The station had around 20 platforms, McDonald's in one side, then one or two stop-by bakery/coffee shops, a book store, a confectionery store, etc. Like in the movies.

And so we headed to the hotel, we didn't think about finding our hotel in the map and so we were kind of lost in front of the station, but we found a small map of the central station with anything around I-don't-know km radius, and with my map skills (quite proud of myself), we were in the right way. We had to cross 3 streets, it took around 10 minutes to the hotel.

Hotel lobby was small, but it had all it needs for a lobby. Yes we were early (we arrived at 9am) and our room wasn't ready yet so the reception gave us a complimentary drink while we wait. And something happened, my eyes were uncomfortable and hurt so I had to go to the toilet to see what's wrong and took one pair of fresh softlens. Turned out that it was time to change them because after I changed them, my eyes were "relieved". When I got back to the reception area, mom was gone (as usual, she always wants to be the first, doesn't want to wait), only dad was waiting for me, with my bag and jacket.

We headed up to our room and boy we were relieved that we had arrived, safe and sound. But then we prepared our things to make a short (short as in 2 hour train) to Koln (or Cologne), mom said that there was a nice cathedral there and we would have lunch there as well. So we took of the next train (around 12 or 1pm), then arrived at Koln Dom to find that that day was Koln Carnival. We had two plates of roasted duck noodle, which turned out to be enough for the three of us. All people seemed to gather there dressed up in different costumes (sailors, nurses, Romans, football players, etc). We didn't realize it was Koln Carnival until my sister who was currently in Singapore, told us in Whatsapp. We weren't able to explore the inside of Koln Dom due to renovation if I'm not mistaken. So we just spent around 30 minutes then headed back to Frankfurt to rest to prepare for the 4-day Medica 2014 in Messe Nord, Dusseldorf.