Chicago O’ Hare International Airport, Sunday 27th January, 2019

Touch down at Chicago (ORD) at 3 p.m., 45 minutes earlier than the scheduled arrival.

Something really interesting popped up in my mind. When I tracked my flight location ( UA 882) from the airplane’s screen, my eyes directed to New York state. Out of nowhere, I remembered everything. My submissions to two things located in New York City. However, I am still waiting for the decision for both of them (Only God knows what will be, though).

It was kind of funny, not because of the waiting but because well, I applied to those located in New York City (NYC) not because its location but because its programs.

New York City has been my favorite place to stay in the states. Before I applied to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), I planned to study at the New York University (NYU) but ending up here at the UNL which was the best thing happened to me. Why is that? First, the tuition fee for studying and living in NYC is so expensive that I need to pay by myself (up to $50,000!) even after I got accepted by the NYU. And I don’t have any money to pay that much. Well, I had a Mazda car but then I sold it (crying emoticon) and it’s still not enough to pay for the tuition.

But after all, you apply for a scholarship because you want to study without loans, not to pay up to 50 thousand dollars by yourself. So, I confirmed the acceptance letter from the UNL and headed to Nebraska to study my master degree.

My friend had teased me when I first arrived at Lincoln, saying that I dreamed for NYC and ended up in a small city like Lincoln. I only laughed at that time, thinking maybe NYC was not meant for me, yet.

But, six months after I studied at UNL, I got an email saying that I was invited for a Fulbright enrichment seminar at the Washington D.C. and when I asked the Indonesian Fulbright scholars group, I found out that Tyas and Naura also got the same invitation to D.C. After having a short talk, all of us decided that we would go to NYC first before attending the enrichment seminar.

Everything ran smoothly, just like meant to be. The permission to skip class for attending the Fulbright seminar and the arrangement to NYC and to DC, too. Not long after I received my invitation email, I was already at NYC! When arriving at NYC, I still could not believe it. It happened without much effort.

In the end, I realized that in life, destiny plays a big role in human’s life. If you are destined to be there, you will have many opportunities opened for you. It will just come to you, open up for you, and what you need to do is only saying yes or no.

So, the more I grow older, I learn not to have high expectation of anything. Just do my best and let the universe works the magic. If it’s meant to be for you, no matter how many years passed by, it will come to you at the end.

January 24th, 2019

Coming back to the big city. For a temporary before going back to the states.

Skyscrapers.

Gigantic and posh malls.

Transjakarta and commuting trains.

People hang out after working in the coffee shop offering beverages with price over the average. Dollar price for Rupiah workers. Talks in Indonesian language.

Socialites.

Blue collar workers.

Stylish men and women. Delicious food and varied menus. The hustle and bustle of a big metropolitan capital city: JAKARTA. People say it is the New York City’s version of Indonesia.

Meeting with three old friends at Plaza Senayan, South Jakarta.

First one is a friend who works as a producer at Kompas TV, the second one is a journalism lecturer at the Atmajaya University and the last one is a former Fulbright scholar who works at international NGO at Jakarta.

We talked over Pepper Lunch, over luxurious juice and ordered Indonesian food at Remboelan restaurant.

Nasi Bakar Tongkol Asap.

Tempe Mendoan Bumi Baturaden (Deep fried thinly sliced “Tempeh” garlic sauce and shallots dressing).

Rujak Penganten (Fresh mixed vegetable served with house special and spicy peanut dressing).

Lumpia Semarang (Traditional Semarang bamboo shoot spring rolls served with special sweet sauce, with choice of fresh or fried).

Nasi Bakar Roa (Grilled lemongrass fragrance rice, wrapped in banana leaf, stuffed with spicy smoked “Roa” fish served with “Roa” sambal).

Nasi Bakar Peda (Grilled lemongrass fragrance rice, wrapped in banana leaf, stuffed with peda fish, melinjo leaf and stinky bean).

Roti bakar es puter (toasted bread topped with special coconut ice cream, chocolate sauce, and peanuts).

It really feels like you are getting back into your element, again.

January 14th, 2019

07.00 o’clock. Selamat datang, Bumi Tadulako. Touch down at Palu, Central Sulawesi.

After flying for three hours, finally the plane (Garuda Indonesia) that took me from Jakarta was landed at Mutiara Airport, Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

I stepped out of the plane with a weird feeling. I could not believe that I did this professional project at Palu. I still remembered the first time dreaming about the incident, talked to Mba Adem about that and not long after that, she was assigned to report to Palu with BBC international team. I observed my fellow journalists covering the tsunami at Palu passionately on Facebook while writing my proposal on water scarcity reporting project at the campus library.

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Thursday, January 10th, 2019.

It was nine thirty at the Lincoln Airport (LNK). My plane would depart at 11.05 AM. It was still one and a half hour to go. But, I felt like wanna come early today to avoid the long lines and hustle bustle that I went through yesterday due to sudden cancellation from the United. Not only I had flight cancellation but one hour before my scheduled flight, the staff also asked me to get a short pass or visa on arrival to Japan (I’m gonna tell more about this below).

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