'Sunsilk Dare to Shine' - ON'dNewZ

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Dare to Shine - 'Bling-bling'

Finally, I went.
from June 24th till July, 1st. *just returned*

Negotiating was a must for me to attend this event, because there were some issues that I didn't expect to happen, for instance the one with Stefy. Although the process was tough, we could solver the problem, and I went.

On the other hand, negotiating went very smooth with my boss and my HRD manager. My company gave me a permission to go. My boss, even, wrote a SMS for me, saying "Cool, Nia. I am proud to have you in my team." I was very flattered, because what I did was out of the company's big picture as an Internet Service Provider.

So, this was me, going bling-bling!











and this was me with other radio announcer internee

Dare to shine – will you ever let me shine?

I didn’t see my reward to go to Jakarta as a big achievement for me, because, first of all, it is not directly related to my main concern, main job. But it would be fun! I am so thankful to be chosen, really!

I negotiated this one-week trip to Jakarta to my boss and Human Resource manager. I was pretty nervous (and probably embarrassed) to tell some people at my office about this. First, it is a sassy event that is not directly related to my company. Second, it is a girlish event, so I am a little bit too old to join this kind of thing.

But, once again, I perceived it as a new experience. I am happy. And what made me even happier is my company, D~NET Surabaya, allowed me to go for a week.

Wow, what can be better than this whole package?

Until my dearest boyfriend, Stefy, acted strange, said strange things. Yes, as you may guess, he didn’t like it!

I was shocked to death when I discovered that he hated seeing me go to Jakarta for this event. I should have realized it, because Stefy hates things related to sparkling world (alias dugem = dunia gemerlap), or night life. In contrast, I quite enjoy night life. I love dancing. Going to pub or dancing club allows me to dance and meet friends. Yet, I rarely go to this kind of place.

Stefy assumed that this ‘Dare to Shine’ event is a girlish, hedonic event that will drag me to night life, shopping and other hedonic girl activities.

It is fair enough! I don’t like his hobby, billiard, either, but I try to compromise with his hobby. I let him play, but not too often.

Anyway, this event is not a hedonic event at all! I was chosen to work as a radio announcer. For goodness sake, it is something that allows me to explore my talent. It is not at all a beauty contest! I was chosen because of my ability in public speaking.

When this drama happened, I was silent. I tried to refigure my life and my relationship. I wondered, “honey, will you ever let me shine?”

(to be continued)

Dare to Shine, Am I?

This morning, I woke up and grinned, “Thanks God!”

Let me tell you the short version of my special story.

It happened, approximately 2 months ago, that I signed up for some kind of talent contest sponsored by Sunsilk. The contest aims to find a girl who has a talent in one of these areas: DJ, beauty stylish, MC or radio announcer (so, ladies and gentlemen, it is not a beauty contents. I am not going to be a model!)

I filled in the electronic form and woila,.. I sent it!

It was just for fun! Seriously! And three weeks ago, I was called by someone from Jakarta, who told me that I was selected to join the Radio Announcer workshop. Wow! I was flattered.

FYI, once upon a time, I had ever sent Gadis Sampul form, but it was a long time ago; when I was 15 something. I’d sent Gadis Sampul form twice. And now, my unfulfilled dream to be a model is gone, totally gone! I never expect to join that kind of contest anymore.

So,… long story short, I came to this workshop, met Dado Parus, one of the best Radio Announcer in Indonesia, and did the presentation. I had to pretend that I was a radio announcer at Hard Rock FM Jakarta. I didn’t prepare anything; I just presented.

Last week, I received an e-mail from Jakarta, telling me that I am the Radio Announcer workshop winner from Surabaya.

I was stunned.

There were so many things going on inside my head. “How could it be?” “Should I refuse this or should I join?” “If I join this and go to Jakarta for a week, how should I say that to my boss?” “Would they fire me?” “Would my colleagues think negatively?” “What would my parents and boyfriend think of this?”

Too many things crumbling inside my head.

I told my mom and Stefy about this. They were okay. My mom was more enthusiastic than Stefy. She told me to tell my boss about this, because some leaders would be proud and respect if their staff has an achievement.

Tell her, tell her not, tell her, tell her not, tell her, tell her not,
I did imaginary plucking
Tell Her
Yes, I went to my boss and told her.


This morning, I woke up and grinned, “Thanks God!”

Yes, the first line in this post represents my thanksgiving, to God and to my company. I thank God for giving me this precious opportunity, and of course to enable me to go to Jakarta. And for my company, D~NET, thank you for letting me go, and support me.

Thus, I am off to Jakarta this Sunday, and stay there for a week.



(to be continued)

Holiday

Seriously, I can shout out this word. HOLIDAY!!!

After what I have been through lately, I reckon I deserve a real holiday.

Okay,... I will tell you my plan. Thus you can pray for me, too. Okay, peepz?

1st March
Flying to Medan, to meet my friend, mas Wahyu, and maybe Bang Bi-e, and continue my flight to Jakarta. Hopefully, my cousin, or aunt will pick me up.

2nd - 4th March
WATCHING JAVA JAZZ FESTIVAL!!! I have been waiting for so long to watch this event. Thus, I 100% deserve to watch this festival. I will see Jamie Cullum performing, too.

During these days, I will meet up Ulmie (my dearest friend from NL, miz u ul!!!), Golda, B, Valent (friends from NL, too, but they are settling down (or trying to settle down) in Jakarta), Eddy (my old friend or brother for me), my dearest family (cousins, aunts, uncles, and many more), and, last but not least, STEFY :)

Please pray for the meeting with Stefy, as we are going to talk a lot about our relationship. Thanks, peepz.

5th - 7th March
I and Stefy (and probably Ulmie) are going to Bandung, with the train from Jakarta. We are going to shop and enjoy the nature in Bandung.

I will meet up Lerina (my friend from Meulaboh. She is now back in Bandung for a a while). She is gonna take me to shop, enjoy traditional stuff in Bandung, and we are certainly going to design Bikers' t-shirt and have it printed in Bandung.

7th - 9th March
I will be in Jakarta. I will have my hair cut, for sure!!! I will buy books (OBLIGATORY) and probably go to a movie with, again, Stefy :P 9th March, in the morning, I will fly back to Aceh.

See you then,...
I will give you good stories about my trip (good picz too)

Suak Timah Beach Party

UNDP Training

Field Monitoring

I had never heard of it before.
My boss signed me up for this workshop and I was shocked to death. I was petrified because even knowing what it supposed to mean was impossible for me. Wow!

Yet I came on the first day and it was indeed scary. I was the only 'white' woman over there. Many were local people from local NGO (non governmental orgz). Many were men. Huu,.. it was scary.

When the speaker started speaking, it was not that bad. Field monitoring is about going to the field and examining how your implementing partners have spent your aid, your money. It is about doing field research, questionnaire and survey, and in the end reporting it to your boss or other parties.

The attendants were fun, too! Jhon, man with brown shirt, was very funny. He looked like my english teacher in my junior high school. FYI, he has ever joined Indonesian Who Wants To Be Millionaire. Wow! Another funny friend I met there is Pepen, who looked like RAJA band vocalist. Hahahaha!! (he is the one in white-orange stripped polo shirt).

I am so glad to join this! Workshop

(Top:Peppen, Rini, Arma, Faisal, Nie, Someone from Islamic Relief, Jhon, UNDP staff (1), (2), Erik (the speaker)

(Below:Aas, Audi, Danny, Juanda, Ahyoni (little one), Boyke, Pak Budi).