Hello again, the abandoned blog. I am in Jakarta and it has been a month since I flew back. Feel free to play the song since I was inspired by the title on a bus ride on the way home from work.
2019 has been an emotional roller coaster. It again has taught me that God is in control and his plans overpower every other plans that mankind would make.
Transitioning back home has been a challenging experience. Who would have thought that I am experiencing a reverse culture shock. I have been abroad for 7 years, that's not even half of my lifetime. I would assume it is sad to depart because I spent my first years of being an adult here. Spending the first 3 years in MedSci, continuing my masters in accounting and also working. What more can I ask. 7 years is a quite a long time. Also the fact that I was not living with my parents. I had to solve problems on my own and should be proactive in seeking help myself.
What I am most thankful for from having the privilege to study and live in Sydney would be meeting all the people at uni, at work, at church, at professional year, volunteer work and conferences. I wish I could have met everyone again for the last time before I went back. Maybe it is not the end yet, and that I could meet them again someday. Sydney is not that far from Jakarta. All I need is a tourist visa, time and money.
Having to grow more in my understanding in the bible and my Christian faith is also another blessing. I would have not switched this opportunity again if I had the chance to turn back time to continue my studies to Western Michigan. How amazing does God work from a plan to go across the globe to Kalamazoo to end up in Sydney. I still remembered the time that I wanted to study in America because of all the American exposure - tv shows, movies, Disney and Hollywood. Nonetheless, the notion of studying abroad thrilled me when I started preparing myself to go to Sydney. Most probably because our family does not go to holidays a lot. So I was thinking this was like a pro-longed holiday with studying responsibilities.
I came to Sydney with a thirst of knowledge and new opportunities. I was incredibly excited about anything. My digital camera was an essential part of me everywhere I went. I took photos of a Chinese Restaurant that is closed now - called HoneyWok. I was part of history of the food-ventures on Kingsford. There were 3 more restaurants that recently closed as well: Kingsford Chinese Restaurant, Fajar and Petaling! I thought this habit would last a while that I could maintain my blog but then I slacked away and did not bring my camera as you can see from the decreasing number of my blogposts year by year.
Has my passion for Sydney grew dim? Was I bored? No time? Yeah probably, I became quite busy after my first degree. I was juggling studying and working. It was good, because I had the chance to work my first ever job at a dental clinic.
I have always been fascinated by teeth. It all started from watching Korean dramas and Kpop and how aesthetic and so uniform all the actors and actresses' teeth look. They all have pretty smiles. I have always thought they were all natural but when I started to work at a dental clinic, I began to understand the power of teeth cosmetic. Those pearly whites are crowns or veneers. But anyway, they all look good.
I am beyond grateful to have been able to learn more about the Bible and grow my faith. With the bible studies, FOCUS training for evangelising, prayer groups, conferences: Focus Camp, MYC, LIFT, NTE. So much resources to learn. And that this can be shared and taught to all.
Also just to add during my last month stay in Sydney, everything was hectic. I was still working up until my second last day before my flight. We were also moving from Maroubra to Mascot and we just had to pack everyday. I felt 2019 had me packing a lot of times. Earlier this year, to Japan, and then there is that archiving thing that I had to do at work, packing for moving, packing to go back home, and then unpacking. Also when I reached home I spent a couple of hours to tidy up my old bedroom too.
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| Time surely went by quick knowing that I have known Santa for 7 years! You were the First Science student I encountered during orientation week. Where we had to go into the Science Welcoming Faculty together. Shared the same biology courses together during first year. Sorry i am still such a bad student, the only cantonese I have learned is horc ngoi. |
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| Sharon, we met at Uni, and we shared the same boat, from taking science and then continued with accounting. We worked as a dental assistant too! |
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| Ninkle - youtube duet partner |
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| Ribka the foodscientist/soon-to-be teacher, lover of kids |
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| my oxfam volunteer friend :) I didn't join oxfam but I met Rhoda at oxfam during orientation week. |
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| judy! wo de ya peng you. the most honest and thoughtful person. |
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| more of my ya peng you. what a lovely team to work at in Kingsford Dental |
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| with the most caring dentist, Dr Sarah! |
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| with judy and maria who is soon-to-be a dentist! you can do this! hwaiting |
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| cindy and jiwon, my favorite instafood blogger @bulgogi_n_rendang . Met Cindy at the dental clinic too. |
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| with ko feri and ci debbie , appreciate the time to spend dinner and thai-milk-tea-ing together |
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| with the taniwans. pretty sure the next time I see Ailsey, she would be so much taller |
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| Bible study welcoming night |
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| formed a circle for sharing |
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| with Febe and the Nguyens :) Febe is also going back home. |
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| with Lei and Bryan! On the way to grab some ice cream in messina - you'll se the next photo |
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| so not focused, so blurry! our ice cream trip :3 |
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| my other earring :) the girl with the same name as mine but different spelling and with a Dr. in front. lol. |
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| with the Tjandrawibawa's. my landfamily in maroubra :) |
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| Triplet NCT - nichutal . our last meet up session in Maroubra |
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| My Bible Study Group - Indomicin - where indo meets chinese. I don't have a decent photo right now, it's all on my phone. I really need to transfer all of them into my computer. But these 2 photos are hilarious. I wish I could make a GIF out of it. |
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| when Harry meets Rani and when I met them :) |
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| joscelyn and vania helping us move out from Maroubra |
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| gonna miss this view from the balcony . I spent a couple of nights walking at night when the gym closed too early too |
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| rugrats franklin and untoro assembling the bed |
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| our pizza lunch. I was too hungry I ate 8 slices which is a whole pizza! |
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| our first night in Mascot! |
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| ci stella baked this! kawaiii <3 |
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| we had a potluck farewell that sunday. super dark near the bbq place, none of the lights were working. we had to take this photo near the entrance where it was the brightest. |
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| with diana and hanum :3 with masked ko freddie lurking at the back and pringgo |
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| we continued to talk more after the potluck thing. |
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| with giacomo and amanda |
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| ait student service team! we had lunch together |
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| AIT T__T gonna miss working with them |
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| rudi, vivi and amanda! |
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| bye neighbor |
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| bye workdesk |
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| lovely finance team |
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| we had hotpot with redhill peeps |
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| lunch at broadway where I usually went for lunch |
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| the last night in Sydney - and at this moment I still have not packed yet ! So glad that we had dinner together: with Jamie, Amanda, Ci aheng and Ko Victor |
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| last night while packing |
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| so goldman is adopted for the second time by cim . |
See you soon Sydney (If God is willing). I did not know that I have grown fond of you and the lifestyle and just how comfortable it is to live in Sydney. But I do believe that God has a plan and that I have been too self-absorbed in wanting a comfy life for myself. It is time to serve God in other ways and I have received so much, I should be able to share it with my friends and reconnect with my old friends. Like what someone has said, our God is the same in Sydney and in Jakarta.
I guess to close, I came to Sydney with a thirst to learn, now I came back home to apply what I have learnt.
