quoted who?

"Rahasia sebuah hati disandangkan di dalam penderitaan, dan hanya di dalam penderitaan, sukacita bisa ditemukan. Sementara kebahagiaan hanya berfungsi untuk menyembunyikan misteri terdalam dari kehidupan." (yg ini gak tahu sumbernya dari mana)

Rough translation: secret of the heart matched in suffering and only in suffering joy can be found. While happiness is only to hide the deepest mystery in life.

I would say, when you quoted something, you better get the words and source right. I’ve never heard about it before, but it sure makes whoever said it sound like a sorry person who live from one suffering to another and found happiness from it. If not perhaps he’s just a masochist. Whatever works, huh?

Thanks for the comment anyway.

Time to be reflective..

So I've come to the turning of the year in my life, the time to be reflective. Take one’s life under the microscope and make an honest assessment. The good, the bad, and the ugly. What has passed, what was learned, what was achieved (if anything)?

And of course I won’t go into any details here. In general I can say that I myself is pretty much the same. Still working at the same job, still assisting the same boss, the only difference is now instead of working in the factory I now working at the house. Same job, same work, same salary, the only difference is the environment.

After 3 months I can give a sound advise, that is if you can avoid working at your boss’ house (no matter how fancy it is), avoid it. Everything is just too personal. It’s enough that you have your boss, but having the kids thinking you’re their assistant as well, that’s overdoing it.

In other areas, not much progress. Sadly, even my boss considered my life as if I’m in a rut. He’s giving me a couple of years to make major change, which involves the possibility of losing me as his loyal assistant. And if it doesn’t happen? I dunno, maybe he’ll fire me. Hehe....

Well, it’s reflecting time. It will continue until December and end of year. I think I have to make a resolution for next year. A real serious one. Something that will put my life in the edge, something that will push me out of my comfy zone. I think I need that.

Blood is thicker than water

I’ve never had first hand experience of having the realization of this phrase. Until recently.

It was only a small incident, during one of my duties as a travel agent. Last minute change and as final result 1 pax couldn’t go.

This person gotten really angry, kept it for days and had a very spiteful look whenever passed by me. I’ve done my part, I apologized, and if the other person refused what else can I do? It’s kinda sad though.

More sad when the other members of the family started to look at me with resentment. I can see that the person did a pretty good job on splashing mud around. Like a good friend said, some mud would still stick even though the other people should’ve known better.

At times like this, all I can say is, it’s just another job.. I can walk out anytime I want (lucky me!), especially with the latest changes there sure are potential complications when dealing with more personal stuff. Everything gets really personal and to be honest it’s kinda make feel me feel sketchy and more wary.

In this kinda job, after a few months the job is no longer a challenge, the people will always be.

Wish me luck.. or make that grace..

Can I see the guest list?

I don’t know if it’s normal everywhere or is it just in Bali. I’ve handled parties for my boss and of course a guest list is very important. Mainly it’s to make sure there’s enough food for everyone, but on more elite parties it’s to avoid party crashers.

With crashers, I don’t really know how to deal with them, it’s even more tough when the guest was an obnoxious bule and insisted to be a close friend.. Well, if you’re really a friend you would’ve been invited right? Well at that time only one was invited, and he deliberately (thinking that he was a ‘close’ friend) brought 2 other friends. We had tight security, especially it was only a couple of months after the 2nd Bali bombing. Not wanting to offend him I told him to wait and I would check if the 2 extras were OK to enter. But he was already upset and when I returned they had left, and took back the wine they brought. So childish.

Now on different side of it, a friend of mine always asks for guest list. And I always said no. It’s rather annoying, you know. If she enquires a particular name I could say yes that guy’s invited or not. I don’t know what difference it makes. I mean would she cancel if she knew the guests aren’t as hip as she is? Or would she decide to come if the new cute guy is invited? Can’t she just come based on good will, that this person is throwing a party and invites her to be there?

Well, different company different culture. In my previous jobs if it’s a company party everybody in the company is invited. Not here. Each invitation has its own agenda. The ironic part is, as the assistant I was never invited. If I was there, you can be sure that I was on duty. Checking incoming guests, checking the food are enough and ready to go, and making sure that everybody’s having a good time. No good time for me though. No mingling, not a sip of wine, just a quick bite in the kitchen and go back to work. Can’t be more fun than that.