My Life, My Story, My Testimony

A week has passed in a blink of an eye because it was a lively week and I enjoyed it every second. I never thought being in a new environment could be this pleasant. Yes, I moved to Stockholm on 21 August 2017. In 4 years, I will work for KTH Royal Institute of Technology, in Material Science Engineering Department. If you wonder how my transition could be that smooth, then this is it.  When I arrived at Arlanda Airport, Sweden, there was an arrival service from the university. So, I didn't find any difficulties to get to the campus from airport. Besides, my accommodation is on the campus. Lucky me! The only exception on that perfect day was my broken suitcase. I lost its wheel, so I could't properly drag it. It left me the pain arms. Alright, let's not bring down the mood. I went to Tax Office on that day to get registered since I would be employed. Tax Office is Skatteverket in Swedish. Wait a minute, you didn't feel tired, exhausted, or jet lag?  Nope. I rarely

I always believe in you . That's what she said to me when I visited her in her house. I don't know since when I adore her. In fact, as long as I can remember, she treated me without mercy, gave me a bloody discipline, and whenever she spoke, her words pierced to my heart. They were not the harsh words, actually. It was because she said something right about me, but I hated to admit it. Geez, they surely irritated me. Yet now, I acknowledge her in my life. A photo uploaded by Mam Yeti on Instagram. She and her students visited The Embassy of Germany in Indonesia. Her name is Dyah Vollyati. I called her Mam Yeti. She has established an english course in Salatiga, Central Java, which is named after her own name. Pardon, after her own name?  Yes, she is that a very confident person. Oh, don't get me wrong, I am not affiliated with her promotion strategy. After all, I bet she is already famous with what she has been through all these time. Likewise, I am not trying to

Have you ever feel like you don't belong? Yes, I have. I don't talk that much to people for what I have been through since not everyone would understand the story. Yet, there is a family, Pak Kurniadi and Mam Ambar as well as their three childrens, Billy, Varetta, and Amanda, that I don't mind to share my stories. I hope this writing could please them in some way. On Tuesday, 25 July 2017, Pak Kur's family pays a visit to my home town and we meet up in one of the famous tourist attractions. If you are wondering who they are, well, they are a happy family that I met when I studied in Leeds, United Kingdom. At that time, I pursued a master degree, while Pak Kur joined the PhD. I often spent time with them for either special occassion or just regular visit. When the school holiday came and I was alone in the flat since all of my friends went on a trip, I slept over at their house. So, for me, they are like my family. It has been a year since I graduated and now, Pak K

On Tuesday, 6 June 2017, I took my time for a walk starting from Gambir Train Station to Kuningan City Mall. Wait, hold on, did you say you go to Kuningan on foot? Yes, I did. Actually, we did, I and my younger brother. Are you guys insane? We were just having fun, in an uncommon way, I guess. From Central Jakarta to South Jakarta within 2 hours and it’s 45 minutes longer than Google Maps predicted. Such an achievement for us (haha). Anyway, it’s not what I am trying to say. When I walked over a bridge, I saw 3 skyscrapers on my right side which made Jakarta looked as modern, fancy, and fabulous as any other capital city. However, on my left side, a river with garbage, plastic bottles, and dark muddy water. It is dirty, polluted, and not a welcome sight. I am not trying to dramatize thing. Yet, indeed, it grieved me. The Skyscrapers on the Right The River on the Left As a chemist which has a major in environmental chemistry, I know the standard parameter for a good, cl

Have you ever been in an unexpected turn in the road of life and you have no choice but to follow it? Because I have. I never mean to be either a researcher or a lecturer, but I have got an offer for a researcher. Do I accept it? Of course I do since it is a lucrative offer from one of the best countries in waste management. For someone with an interest in energy and material recovery from waste, what can be more honorable than this? You may ask, after you finish with that, what will you do?  Well, words ain't even been invented yet. Yeah, finally I quote a saying of Dominic Toretto in Fast and Furious 7 when he speaks to Sean Boswell. Lol. If you have been in this situation too, proverb said it will end up in the place we are supposed to be. Hopefully so. Before getting the lucrative offer, here is what I am dealing with when my plans perish. A steep hazy road laid in front of me.  Stage 1. Blaming others: dad, mam, little brother, even the government, moreover The Creator of Li

You may ask, where on earth did you get an idea to write about marriage? Even you haven't been married.  I know, it seems like an absurd topic by someone like me, but I feel like my brain's engine is flooded with too many pieces of speculations. So, I decide to complete the puzzle by writing it down. Here it is. Starting from when I got back home after finishing my master degree. One day my mom asked me to buy some essentials in a store nearby. The store owner knows my mom which means she also knows me though I rarely have even a small talk with her. Soon after I set my foot in her store, she asked whether I already have a boyfriend or not and when I will get married. Lol. I was like having a surprise welcoming party. Anyway, I don't feel offended by her rude questions since it is a fact that I am on marriage age, well, at least that's what the regulation in my country states, additionally, almost all of my friends from high school and college have been married

I’ve ever wonder how could someone study overseas? How does s/he pay the tuition? If their parents do, then how much do they earn monthly? Later, I have friends who study abroad and they are self-funding. I was very glad because they didn’t mind when I cross-questioned them. Believe me, the amount of money they have, no, their parents’ to be precised, very abundant. They are very rich. Up until now, I still couldn’t imagine a number with that bunch of zero. Geez! As for me, I’ve got a master degree in the United Kingdom because the government of Indonesia financed me.   I am from mid-low social status family. My parents are civil servants. If they were in the top-level position, I might be able to study abroad with their supports. Unfortunately, they weren’t. They even don’t have a legacy from my grandparents since my grandparents also have nothing, except their house they live in ‘till now. So, nothing to sell for studying overseas. If there is no reason to hope, it is reasonabl

What can you give to the country? For all this time, I have the concept in my head, but I never take my time to put the details of it until that question had been asked. I tried to look again deep inside of me and found this. I am a chemist, graduated from Satya Wacana Christian University, Salatiga, Indonesia. I took a major in Environmental Chemistry and that led me to many research projects related to waste recovery. Sounds boring? I know, but I am kind of enjoy it (haha). Okay, you’re weird. What can I say? This is what people called passion, I guess. When I discover a method that can change a waste into a valuable material, I take delight of it. However, I feel futile because all of those projects only ended up in laboratory or, at best, being published as regional research papers. If that’s the case, how I could give a real solution towards zero-waste and green environment? how I could make a real impact in society to have a better living in healthy environment? Ah, crap!

Ellen Moran, a writer in Bitesize Bio, a knowledge-sharing platform that concerns Bioscientists in the lab, wrote about a variety of reasons people pursue PhDs: some know from the start that they want to run labs at a university, some feel pressured to go for the top degree in their field, some see it as a natural progression after receiving their masters, and some continue on because they just don’t know what to do next. Which side I am on? None of them (haha). I am confident in my own decisions. I esteem people’s outlooks without looking for their approval for everything. At that time, I was thinking a PhD is a reasonable advancement for my research topic until I changed my mind as the time passed. Here is the story. I was working on waste recovery, particular of which for converting waste plastics into fuel oils, as my project for getting a master degree in the University of Leeds. I have the forethought to put the research into action. You get it, don’t you. The things like e

Sweden easily finds itself in the cleanest countries in the world. Why wouldn’t it? It has paid special attention to increasing the greenery so that the environment becomes clean. Sweden is so good at recycling. For several years it has imported rubbish from other countries to keep its recycling plants going. Less than 1 per cent of Swedish household waste was sent to landfill. That’s how Hazel Sheffield described Sweden’s environment in The Independent, a British online newspaper. For a graduate in energy and material recovery from waste, what can be more privilege than carrying a research for converting biomass to bio-fuels there. I am in! Well, I am not trying to hide the mixed feelings I have. You can check it in: Between Nowhere and Nowhere . Yet, I am thinking, getting excited in whatever happens is better than feeling the blues. People said I am cursed because I have to spend lots of time to study. For them, I am going nowhere. How do I know? They said that in front o

Dear Devy, Here I would like to inform you after our internal discussion, basing on all application on the position, you have been chosen for this position! Congratulation! ... We expect you to come to KTH as soon as possible. ... Best regards, Weihong and Par No way! I don’t believe it! Yeah! I get accepted and it is in KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. I’ve made it (*gushing). Wait, what if this is not the right door for me. Oh no, what am I gonna do? Is this real? Please somebody tell me that this is not some kind of joke (*confused). Alright, I can’t wait to be there! Stockholm, here I come! (*excited). Ah, I need to visit grandma before I go. Don’t forget to tell Jojo, Cora, Tania, Monica, Kevin, Pak Kurniadi, Mam Ambar, Ginanjar, Mam Yeti. Is that all? Do I forget someone? Why there’s not much time left. I want to spend time with my dad, mom, and younger brother as well (*gloomy). Hold on, how do I pay for the flight? How about the accommodat