got the result

So it’s been 13 days since I went to Makassar. Today, I was phoned and somebody from Briton school told me that my IELTS score already available. She also asked where to send the official result. It turns out that I got 7 band and she congratulated me for that. she said seven is a very good score. I searched the comparison between IELTS and  TOEFL ibt and 7 band for IELTS is similar to 100 score on TOEFL test. Well,  at least it was very relieving since it surpass the minimum requirements of school to where I plan to attend and even to almost every school in Europe, Australia or US. Simply said, I was really thankful because given short amount of time which is two weeks for the whole preparation, I was managed to get the  score.  My trip to Makassar is not a waste of time and money indeed.

One down, there are still many things to catch up. Not to mention the horrible GMAT thing. Not sure about this test. Given my workload now,  I feel so much tired when I arrived into my room. Even I got sick for several days due to perhaps stress or exhaustion. But, no sacrifice no victory. I need to do the best I can, let God choose the best for me

Another thing is, my feeling is not quite so well. Personal issue. I have to deal with this very quickly, if not, it will just ruin the whole plan. Ganbatte ne.

yet another dynasty

looking into SBY family, yet another dynasty. It turned out that his step brother is also a member of the house representatives, and also his son will follow in the next general election and also his cousin and also his brother in law and the list goes on. Another dynasty.

Wondering when this old fashioned tradition last in this country. Leaders are not inherited, they are shaped through life.

que sera

What will be, will be. A friend of mine is worrying the sudden changes happened to the economy. Obviously, we can’t foretell the future, can we?. What exactly will be happened in the near future? Will the economy recover? Or is it going to get worsen? Certainly, we don’t know. And those questions just make your time wasted.

Listening to his grumble, I remember a nice old song:

“Que Sera Sera”

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother what will I be
Will I be pretty
Will I be rich
Here’s what she said to me

Que sera sera
Whatever will be will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera sera

When I was just a child in school
I asked my teacher what should I try
Should I paint pictures
Should I sing songs
This was her wise reply

Que sera sera
Whatever will be will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera sera

When I grew up and fell in love
I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead
Will there be rainbows day after day
Here’s what my sweetheart said

Que sera sera
Whatever will be will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera sera

What will be, will be
Que sera sera…

Whatever will be, will be my friend. The future’s not ours to see.

I’m done

I am done with IELTS. Last weekend, I visited Makassar. I spent three days including the weekend there. It’s my first time to Makassar except for Hasanuddin airport, I’d been there every now and then for transit purpose. Lucky me, the time was quite right since a friend of mine who also originated from Toraja visit the city as well. It’s quite rainy there and rather cool, but people said that usually the city is quite hot. I don’t know, probably my existence already changed the weather so spontaneously.

On saturday morning, I came to briton so early. I didn’t want to be late, so I chose a hotel quite near from it. I could reach the place on foot.  To my surprise, the officer already waiting for me. She knew me the first time I came to the place. She gave me some brief notes and also introduced me to all IELTS officers there. They are quite nice. We had a nice conversation ranging from my work, how I reach the place, my further plan, and etc.  There were only 7 of us who conduct the test. I was the only one who coming out of nowhere and also the only one who hadn’t attended any prep class for IELTS.  The test was so so and finished at 3 pm.

I spent saturday night just hanging around the city. Makassar is a big city, or the biggest city in sulawesi so to speak. There are malls, hangouts, and night markets. Although I expected something more natural like beaches, but having this kind of sparkling beauty was relieving, huahaha

Well, it was a wonderful experience. I express my gratitude to my friend who willing to guide me hanging around in the city, pay for the food and transportation there. I only spent money for hotels. Maybe, that’s what friends are for? hehe.

my greatest sympathy

I am writing this post to express my greatest sympathy to my colleagues who just been laid off officially yesterday. There are 75 employees who had been laid off, all permanent employees in jakarta office. Some of them are coming from my department. It was so sad and all things happened in a sudden. I don’t know if there is a legal impact for the layoff since it seems that all things happened in a minute.

Some of them, I really knew well. They are really kind and very dedicated. The big question hanging in my head WHY? Why them?  Not people who I really knew contributed less or nothing for the company? I asked the question once, and the answer: the layoff is role by role basis instead of personal. So the roles not really needed (according to executives) are being eliminated. It made me laugh at once since someone who really dedicated to the job can also be eliminated due to his role is no longer needed? And people who contribute less can hang on since the position is still needed?

Well, I know it’s not fair. And I know It’s just a beginning. Mining is in a big jeopardy right now. Sudden economic downturn has caused the commodity prices to go down including metal prices. Some of mining sites even can’t meet break even point between production cost and metal prices. We’re just lucky enough with low cost production sites, but for how long?

Maybe it’s a sign I should be focus on my plan to pursue further study? well, I don;t know, the world is now full with uncertainty.

a series of unpredictable events.

So many unpredictable stories happened during this week. Some are good, some others are bad.  Representing the good news that is, my friend who also my senior during college decided to move  to another  department. It was really shocking me once, but I realized that the reason of his moving is pretty make sense. Moving for good, got better offer at another department that I believe giving better remuneration packages. Well, underground mine is our future, so the department will be prioritized in everything. I am just wishing the best luck for him.

As I see it, I realized that there is no longer senior of mine in my department. All have already left. Either moving to another department or moving to another company. Those who move to another department but still within company take a position in operation area, either surface mine or underground mine. Indeed, working directly in operation gives you more benefit, but on the other hand it is also more risky. Everyday is full of risk; blasting,  gigantic equipments, bad weather, bad landscape to name a few.

Representing bad news that is, I guess we are heading to the bottomless slump of copper price. Today I checked the price of copper and also the stock price of FCX and it is the lowest point ever. Yesterday also there was an official interoffice memorandum to implement external hiring freeze in order to get ready with the face of uncertainty in this quarter and next. Well, hopefully the global crisis will be over very soon. If it’s not, the impact can be really devastating.

spiritless (if that’s a word)

I feel spiritless if there’s a word? But It is actually the essence of life, isn’t it? We are bubbling around (if there’s a word) , putting myself from jeopardy to another jeopardy and another jeopardy. Never mind, I have already several good things to thank about. To name a few, let just say that I’ve already got corporate flight ticket (which is half of the price of commercial flight), meaning I can save more than 1000k . Another good thing hmm, a good friend of mine coincidentally also visiting Makasar in the same time I visit that strange city. Never been there before (except for flight transit), so having someone who knew the place, and willing to guide me through the city is really a blessing . Catching up the test is no longer my ultimate intention, yet my goal is be a tourist guy, haha. Two days in south sulawesi hopefully will kinda give me experience.

farewell to you my friends

Within these two days, I already received two farewell notifications sent either by email or SMS. I’ve known already for the one that she is leaving, but so sudden for the other one.  Both are ladies indeed. The fact that two young beautiful ladies are leaving out of town and never come back really sucking the whole energy.  Beautiful ones are hard to find in such kind of this place

Well, may they be leaving for good, chasing good things out there. Married I guess, or finding better place. Farewell to you my friends, wish you all the best as always

Go and GO

Since I already spent much money for IELTS test, I encourage myself to spend hours for preparing all needed stuffs. You know, the test to my surprise is really expensive so the possibility to retake it later on because the  poor result should never crossed my mind. This should be my only chance, otherwise I should spend even more money for it.

ALAS, I also need to prepare for GMAT. So the bottom line is, I have two huge milestones  in a  short amount of time, that is 6 weeks. haha, no kidding ). Yesterday I googled guidance and also sample test of IELTS, and it seems a little bit different with TOEFL test. I already have books for TOEFL but not for IELTS. I also figured out that the sample tutorial for IELTS is limited as opposed to TOEFL. But, the big picture between IELTS and TOEFL remain the same. They test the ability of english in 4 different ways, those are, reading, speaking, writing, and listening.

I believe I could learn GMAT at the same time I study for IELTS. I should implement strategies on GMAT for reading comprehension and critical reasoning to reading section on IELTS. I also need to practice my writing as this test is performed to both test. Of course GMAT is a way harder that IELTS, as it assumed that the taker already proficient to english.

Finally I should maintain my optimism on this. I know I have limited time. I know I should balance between work, study, play and keep all the things in a make sense proportion. Just to make sure that my sanity in check in a next couple weeks.

I already requesting short leave to makassar in order to run for IELTS test. I explain it to my supervisors and they approved. In the end my bosses know that I am pursuing my chance for further study. Some questioning some supporting, but that’s fine.

Life is a long long run. I run with many others, but in the end I know it’s just with myself.

In the end, I really wish that everything running smoothly as I planned. No one other than God can do this. The last thing I should do, just PRAY.

cost me A LOT

Why dollar is getting expensive when I desperately really need it? This morning I decided to register to IELTS test in Makassar. Why Makassar instead of Jakarta? Because I am running out of time. The deadline of submission of erasmus mundus scholarships mostly on January and February and yet, the latest schedule of TOEFL or IELTS on January is January 10. Provided the fact that the result can be obtained 15 days after test AT THE LATEST, It really means I DO NOT have enough time.

So this morning I already transferred 205 US$ to IELTS officer in Makassar. I just figured out that the fee of the test has risen from what I see on the web. Well, the officer said that the fee information on the web is  out of date and has been changed starting October 2008.  What most shocking me is when I was charged Rp 13400 for each dollar. What? Do rupiah perform so bad this day? Or is it the worse day of rupiah because the last time I checked, It was on the interval 10500 – 11500. Poor me! I have no other options indeed!

I should really planned better on things like this. Had I known that the result would be sent weeks after the test, I would have planned to get short vacation on december to Jakarta and I could perform TOEFL and GMAT all in a row. Submitting leave request for december now is like impossible. The seat is really limited, peak season, everyone seems like to coming home.

I just learnt that It cost me a lot. I have to pay for accomodation in Makassar, flight to makassar also not cheap either. TOEFL ibt cost less (150 US$), and probably I could save much given the correct time for rupiah. There is no use in complaining though. Just move ahead and hope that this will bring good things in the future.