notes from cirendeu

After two years full of pressure,
hectic with many assignment, quizzes, presentation, class discussion…finally we
come to the ending of our togetherness. Now, time to say goodbye to my group
member.

Its hard to describe my
feeling exactly, although I’m glad we graduate together, but still it’s a
heartbreaking, remembering that we will take apart. Since we have trough not
only the hard time, but also so much fun within the group.. just keep and
freeze In my mind, some memories about them, one by one..

Reza “Wolfie”- My
first impression about him, he was a mysterious guy, because he always wears
black jacket or dark shirt. Cool. Calm, and stay quiet most of the time. I can
still remember, he just give me a long deep look without any single smile, when
I said “Yes” to join with his group, because Rizky asked me to.

Day became week. Week became
month and finally, we spend 24 month, 4 semester in the same group. Group was
changes so many time during that 2 years, but I’m stuck with him. So many
conflict, argument, friction within the group or classmate and that’s makes me know
him better and better everytime..

He’s not like a guy that I
was thinking before. He’s nice. Caring. Friendly, quite open to me…and can makes me laugh.
Once he had said, “I’ve read you blog completely Mbak”
“Why?” I asked surprisingly.
Just wondering. Why he‘s so
interesting? I just share my blog to family and some best friends of mine..
“I want know you more…”
Oh? that’s really touching
my heart, and then.. he became one of my best friend, until now..

Wafa “ the Big Bear”-He is a big and
fat guy with innocent look. He is so patient especially with me. Perhaps, as
I’m the one and the only witty lady in the group. Halah!! Together with Reza,
the three of us have spent 4 semester, and its not unbreakable for this 2 years
in IPMI. I know him so diligent. Reading not only the case but also the text book.
Searching, googling, digging  info from
internet to give him more understanding about the subject. His spirit of
learning something – is always amaze me…

He’s a heavy smoker, and
sometimes offer me “Cigarette, Mbak?” and then I said “Yes, please Wafa…Thank you”. Once
in a while, we smoke together during class or discussion break. Sharing laugh
and joke, something that we need to grow friendship within the group.

Steve –the President- “BuBin?
I think Friendster only for the young people”

Damn!! That’s Steve the
first statement when I invited him join my friendster, its just because  he
is 12 years younger than me, so thats why he call me “ BuBin” not “mbak” just
like the others.

He so young but he is the
president of our class, and you know what ?? He is the smartest, the brightest
at class. No one can bit him, I think so..I realize at the beginning
of our group, he so perfectionist and complicated, but for last 2 semester, I
appreciate he make so many compromise, already.

Adhie- The “Whale” - “Accounting
is my life. Music is my soul.” Is his philosophy.
Oh really? Yeah, he makes me
laugh, often. There was so much fun working with him. He makes our group less
stress with lot of song that he sing along. Many jokes and story that he shared
with us. He makes our group more colorful, and more cheerful

When I asked him “What do
you planning after graduate from IPMI?”
He Said, “Take master class
for my Piano, Mbak”
So I give him a big smile,
and wish him a good luck for his hobbies and career. Someday..somehow..maybe we
have a good musician that also have a great career at accounting, and that’s
you, Adhie.

Free Willy- the Dolphin- Nothing
much that I can tell about him rather than he is a young and serious person. “Detail”
is his middle name, and its show during our discussion for group assignments. His experience in retail business, give me
unlimited topic to discus with him about promotion, inventory, distribution,
and so on, that enrich my practice knowledge…and I treasure it.

And for the last one…I should
never forget, Arham, Rizky, Jo, Denny, Calvin, Fanno…that used to be my group member
in the earlier semester. You also contribute to my unforgettable moment at IPMI
for the last two years. Thank you guys. Thanks for everything..thank you so much…

Nowadays, with the globalization issue most company not only utilizes one language. Mostly for a company in Indonesia, they have two languages, English and Bahasa.

For multinational company, English is a main language for daily purpose business communication, all documents and presentations. Since they operates in Indonesia, they also use Bahasa to maintain relationship with customer and some level of employees.

At local company Bahasa is the dominant language. Even though English is still needed especially if they have partnership or client with foreign company. In advertising preparation, communicate in English will be much more effective for certain target market.

A company with three languages is my company now, the 5th company that I ever join with. Local company, local production, local brand with international quality, look and ambiance.

Bahasa is the main language, every meeting always start with…”selamat pagi…semangat Siang!”  Communication, document, presentation, mostly in Bahasa.

English become the second because sometime we have a meeting with buyer from foreign company, supplier from abroad, agency discussion, or just light chit chat between co-worker and friends.

The interesting one… Javanese is the 3rd language. Since our founder still hold on heritage and have lots of international exposure, some time she talks in English with mixed of Javanese. No wonder maturrnuwun… nuwun sewu… Sampun? Replaces thanks, excuse me and shall we finish?

This traditions influence company culture. For the Javanese woman who could communicate in Javanese fluently like me, I get advantage on this.  And you know what? There are bunch of employee just like me. They prefer talk in Javanese. It is closer, friendly and remind of our culture back home.

“Hey? I don’t talk in Javanese… I don’t understand” someone complaint. We just laugh. Capability for talking Javanese not determine the job performance, not mention in the KPI, but in the globalization issue, it is fun to have working environmental that Javanese still using to communicate, from BOD level until lower staff.

It just one reason for me, to stay here.

"What?? 24?! You’re too young
to get married !!”
I remember my co-work scream
on me when she asked about, how old my age when I get married.

Yeah, I could understand. At
that time – fourteen years ago- I was a fresh graduated with junior position.
By nature of the business, my first company was run by numerous ambitious
single women who struggle to reach higher and higher position. Off course I was
ambitious too even tough I was different. I married already.

Did I regret my decision by
married at young age? Its absolutely big NO. Not just because I’ve achieved an excellent
career, just like the others single did. But I just realize the true reason recently.
When my older son, being an imam for one of our “shalat”.

It was just the two of us, when
we have “shalat magrib” together, and he-a twelve years old young boy-be an
imam for me. A lot of feeling touch my
heart during that “shalat”. Proud…blessed… thankful… grateful to Allah the God

He is big already. He is not
child anymore. He’s grown up!! He could be an Imam for his mom already .So, I
believe all of that proud feeling come
fast to me,  earlier in my age now  just because I was married at young age. And I
never have any regret on this, never at all….

About five year
ago..Carrefour open the flagship store and it head office at a strategies place
in South Jakarta . Lebak bulus Intersection. Next to Stadium Lebak bulus. Close to Lebak Bulus bus
station .Opposite to Pondok Indah main gate. The store successfully operate and
gradually hurt two supermarket at our area, Hero Ciputat and Hero Lebak bulus,
that closest  to my neighborhood.

My preference switched.
Carrefour became my new favorite place for monthly shopping. But Ayah didn’t.
My beloved husband still loyal with Hero Lebak Bulus. “I hate long queue at
carrefour” was his main reason. He always shopping at Hero for his daily stuff.

How come Hero could sustain among that tough
competition? As I read on it advertising, their try new positioning by campaign
new slogan Think Fresh. Think Hero. Don’t know whether the strategy work out or
not, but I could sense there were a good improvement in their service. The
Cashier always smile .The operation staff were very helpful. It’s a convenience
supermarket for shopping in. No wonder they have loyal customer –like Ayah. The
Customer who willing to pay more for this additional value.

Year by year their tried to
survive….but last two weeks…When I passed by Lebak Bulus Raya-surprisingly
there was no more Hero. A Giant Replace it. Uhm..I felt sorry.. remember many
cashiers , store manager, operation supervisor, did they also replace?

Today, we stop by at that
new Giant Lebak Bulus. At the parking lot my husband mumble “ Gorgeous…I feel sad
about this Hero, don’t you remember that Abang had grown up together with that
store?” Ayah and I remembered how baby
“Abang” – our first son who 12 years old now-had been supplied a lot from this
Hero. Baby Milk. Bottle and Nipple. Diapers. Snack. Minced beef. Toys.Cloth.  Baby toiletries, and many more. Everything that
our baby need, was bough at this Hero. Seem like this supermarket had historical
emotional bounding with our family.

“The retail industry had
tough competition.. Honey, Hero had been a market leader for such
longtime..nowdays the trend is change. People prefer hyper mart ..with low
margin from producer..and high operation cost..I think Its hard for Hero to
survive” I tried to explain him.

“Wow !! its yellow..” that
the fist Abang impression for that store ambiance ..its new..its different
brand..no more blue-red Hero identity colour..its yellow giant now..everywhere.

We look around curiously. .tried
to find out some familiar face there..Uhm..I’m glad their still some person in
cashier line…the same operation supervisor..and they still recognize Ayah as
their loyal customer. My husband express his
concern to them by saying “I feel sorry this Hero become Giant now”.

“Don’t worry sir…we’re still
under same management” They reply with positive enthusiasm…. and I could see
that the still serve the customer with hero standard of service, although their
wear Giant uniform now.

Well, by working in FMCG
industry, I truly understand that Hero and Giant belongs to the same company.
They differentiation the brand by put low price strategies for Giant and
convenience service concept at Hero…and now our district have an exceptional
supermarket…a low price Giant served by Hero’s ex-employee…I describe it as… A
Giant with Hero’s smile.

I treasure the life that I
have with you,
with full of thanks to you for
being…

an accountant for manage my
financial payment
a consultant for my tough project

a secretary for organize
everything
an engineer for my trouble
car
a driver for my long
distance journey
a teacher for my knowledge
an adviser for my diet
program
a personal trainer for my skill

a supervisor for my on time “shalat”

a good CEO for planning and
sharing so many vision in life

Most of all that things….
Thanks so much for being a great Father for two sons of mine..

Happy 14th anniversary… Honey!!

Today, tomorrow, and every
day after…wishing you happiness and laughter…We Love You!!

That is the new formula made by our Class at IPMI, regular January 2006
What ?! That formula look odd.  What calculation is that ?!

Well, it begins when 4 of our classmate decide to move to executive class. Ugh!! We will miss you guys…especially you, Har…the class will less exciting…or less fun ? without you…we will miss your sharing about the “shipping” world.

Of course..We also will miss the complicated accounting term from Ali and Saroh, and excellent presentation from you, Dewi….Ugh!! We gonna miss you guys…just good luck with the executive class…be good…be nice..

After that,  the rest of the class choose to re group. Blend. Mix. Even tough the first goal for regroup was to grouping some people base on  some interest subject , but in reality…the fact is.. implementation is not that perfect.

When commitment of time is asking. When contribution for group is questioning. People start judge each other. Like dislike became consideration. I feel sorry …I cannot avoid that…. People is people…just people…you know..

Now…the explanation of  that formulas is…3 members of group 2 (Wafa, Reza and Me) plus 1 member from group 3 (Adhi), merge with 2 members from group 6 (Steve and Willy)…and now..start from this semester…the six of us become group 1….make sense isn’t ??

That’s why we still have 3 formula with similar explanation  which is  5(2)+2(1)=2(3)   5(1)+1(3)=3(4) and  3(2)+5(1)+4(3) =4(6)..clear enough huh?? But hey…why the total member of all group only 19 ?? We have 20  at class!! Back to simple math, 20-19 =1 …yes, I realize…there was someone left.

Last saturday become our first discussion with our new group. Its long discussion to go since we have 3 cases to prepare…we’re the lucky first group that should be presents the case analysis at FM and HR Class. Ugh!! Thats the beauty of being group 1..you can see..how serious ..Steve and Reza…Wafa and Willy…Adhi and me

I know it’s not easy to adapt with new people. new friends from others group since each group had different value and culture, but now we should blend. I understand  its not easy , especially for me

New year…. new semester. …new group. Hopefully we can keep our spirit, enthusiasm, and passion  till the end of the MM program.

Hey..somebody call me up …
”Mbak..I’m thinking to postpone my class until next semester…”
Uhm, I fell sorry ….cannot say something nice to cheer her up. Its must be sad, be un-wanted person..just like her. When commitment of time is asking. When contribution to group is questioning. People start judge  each other. She should know that..she should understand..

This saying is popular in marital relationship world-Husband and wife.

If one side stops to tango, the tango is over, the marriage is end.

I know marriage is much more complicated than friendship. But I do believe in friendship this saying is also applicable. It takes two to tango. It takes two people in friendship.

If one people give up. The tango is over, the friendship is end.

I have a longtime friendship. Yes. It is a great friendship. Yes, It is challenging relation ship. We are not only care each other. We also fight each other.

Unfortunately, last few years…I feel our friendship is unfair anymore…its always me to keep the tango goes on… its always me to call him up…its always me to congrat  on something..at the end…its always me to keep the friendship work… Hey!!  Why should always me ??

If you’re not interest anymore…say it…speak up.

So I don’t need waste my time to keep the tango goes on…and I don’t need to drop my tears to keep the friendship work…

Just realize. If you give up. The tango is over, the friendship is end.

All of our Class member was nervous. Today is our Decision Analysis Exam. The Exam Will take at 6.45 but most of my classmate have been arrived at 2 at campus, for last minutes preparation? I don’t think so.

“Hi guys !! What’re you doing? “ I asked them curiously

“Mbak, Where’s your notebook?"

“I don’t bring any”

“Why?”

“I don’t have one“

“Why you don’t just borrow your husband or friend?"

“My Husband was in Singaporesince last week. And because our lecture said we still can do the exam without note book, I don’t bring one.”

“Understand, but if your notebook have blue tooth facility, we can exchange the data during exam. We doing some setting here, make sure our blue tooth active during exam”

Wow. I’m Surprise. It’s an advanced breakthrough.

The clock  is ticking and still don’t have any notebook.Seem like only me that not bring any.   I get nervous and unconfident. Desperately I called up one of my husband friend from next door Class. its 6 o’clock already

“ Mas, Are u have class this evening ?"

"Yes, Why ?”

“Could I borrow your notebook ? tonight is my DA exam, everyone bring their laptop, expect me.

“Sure. No Problem”

“Thanks. but where are u now ?"

“Still in my office”

Oh my God!! I’m hopeless.

“ok Mas, just called me up, if you arrived”

6.30. Setyo Called me Up. “ Mbak, I’m here. At the lobby”.I rush go to the lobby. Pick up the laptop and don’t give a damn care about the Bluetooth things. My time is limited. I don’t have enough time to activate anything on other belonging’s tools. Anyway, It’s an open book Exam.

After the Exam, I’m asking around.How’s the Bluetooth ? its helpful ?

Mostly say no, because the time was limited. The case need analyze individually. There must be different answer for different person. A lot of different point of view and approach to analyze the case . Depend of our understanding of the concept during class tutorial and discussion, our background, experience, and expertise. Everybody have different way to answer. And the critical thing, the time is limited.

But anyway the idea of using Bluethooth is brilliant!! Its beyond my expectation of utilize the technologies advantage. Regardless about cheating or not cheating issue. Its depend on your judgment . Coz It more to ethical concern

So ? Good Luck for the next exam, Guys!!

Next week will be the final exam schedule for this semester, on my oldest son’s elementary school. I am concern since Iqbal doesn’t have enough enthusiasm to prepare the exam.

So, I take an easy chit chat with a mommy of his classmate. Her daughter’s performance was superior. The second best rank in this school.

She asked me “Did you read their history book? It’s about the empires and kingdoms in Indonesia.It is a lot subject to learn”.

I just give a big smile. Actually I only review that book at a glance. Just to know their study stuff, then I said “Not really”

“Just doubt, how our kids could digest all that things?!!” she complains.

”Therefore I help her by make the summary by myself. Not only for history subject, but for all the subject, as well”

Summary? For the entire subject? I’m Surprise!! Unbelievable!!

“You’re working woman. How do you have those luxuries plenty of time to doing such thing for your daughter?” I just curious.

“You know, I have to priority on this examination rather than my paperwork. I postpone some of my task or take an overtime”

Wow!! I just a part time working woman. I have flexibility of time, but I don’t agree with these. I think it’s too much.

Became a star at school. To be the first rank. Who’s responsibility? The students? Or their parents?

Just share the inspiring story about my neighbor’s experience. She always help, monitor, supervise her first son’s studying activity. Tight and deep into details. No wonder her oldest son become the first rank at the school for many years.

Until that dedicated mom deliver her 4^th son, unfortunately an unhealthy baby boy. Then the Mom’s focus was not for her oldest anymore. She has to put her attention mostly to the youngest one. And finally her oldest son’s performance at school has been dropped. He’s not a star anymore.

I understand the competition is tough. Our kids have to struggle at school. But In my opinion, it’s not wise to pamper them with too much parent’s effort on the stuff that should become their assignment. Read and understand the material, complete the homework, make summary and exercise, it’s the kids account. The exam is their responsibility

Our accountability is to encourage them to have motivation. To develop competition spirit for doing their best during the exam. To teach them how to handle the responsibility. And for final support, just simply hug and kiss them to say “good luck!” Show that we always proud, and love them.

Well, it’s not easy. It’s complicated, but it’s our challenge, right?

So, if they could be a star. It’s because of their effort. Not mommy or dad. It’s more realistic and lifelong, isn’t it?

Don’t feel guilty if your son/daughter does not have a good performance at school. Because believe me, maybe their have another gift that we did not realized yet. And at the end, only time will tell.

People always communicate. Not only to exchange information, but the essential thing is to make others understand. Understanding is the important thing to maintain relationship.

We recognize people personality is unique and complex, however several theories divide people into some group of personality. The simplest one was dividing by 2 categories: extrovert and introvert.

There were other theories that people divide into many more type, from 4 to 16, or even more. It doesn’t mean some type is superior or better rather than the others. No, absolutely not!! It just the preference……Whatever!!

The curiosity is…could we communicate better to person with the same type?? Or could be better with the opposite one? Which one the best??

There are two arguments on these:

First: of course we definitely choose friend with the same (or at least similar) type as it makes us easier to understand each other, and we could corporate better in many things. We have a lot of common in the way of think and act.

Second: We prefer to have friend from different (sometimes extremely different) type since we interested to know other type, to complete and synergic others strength & weakness. We can enrich and expand our understanding by knowing others, which have opposite personality with ourselves. Unpredictable, but it is challenging!

What’s your opinion?? What do you think??

Since people tend to avoid conflict and fight, the first choice looks favorable. But did you ever think that fight or conflict is just a natural process to get more and deeper understanding? In order to achieve the next step in relationship: accepting each other.

At the end, those two opinions have the same objective, through different route: understanding

My opinion is whatever type of personality that your fiends have, if you fell comfortable in your communication way and your relationship. Just go for it!!

Coz we make friend not just base on our logical judgment, but with our heart as well. Believe me, your friends will appreciate that