Flashback Life Memories
Tonight we are going to have the year shift to 2022! Before that happens, I want to look back on some memories from all the past years. From the day I was born until today, as I am 26 years old now.
1995–2013
Comparing to live nowadays, born in year 1995 is privilege because I had the possibility to play with freedom outside, play in the rice field, catching fish in the river, climbing some trees, and so on!
When I was a toddler until kinder garden age, I also remember that my older brothers and I used to go to the river to take shower and washed the laundry with hands.
Now, the places I used to play back then, it’s now become industry area. There is not much green field left. It’s so sad.
Elementary until high school age has always been competing years. We were all compete to get a better grade at school. To get into a better school. To be the best of all. Back then, I defined myself either I belong to the famous groups at school or have a good grade. But I was none of them. That’s why I never felt happy myself. I literally had no self-confidence. Well, it’s not like I didn’t have friends at school. I do. And they were also good to me. I just envied people's life too much.
Now, there is one thing I’d say to little me: Your life is wonderful. Stop envying people’s life. Just enjoy your life while it last! Feel grateful of what you have!
2014, Out From the Comfort Zone
After graduating from senior high school, my life plan didn’t work as how I want it. I didn’t get accepted in the university from my favorite list. I tried to work as an accountant, did this for one month. Then I got fired from the company. Next I tried to get a host family, took German course from my high school teacher, I was unemployed. I helped my parents in their small food store everyday while I was focusing to get my goal. I faced hard time, encouraging my parents and keep myself away from people that underestimate my goal.
‘Don’t dream too high, it hurts if you fall down’
I got it. And I’m ready to take a risk. So, I left Indonesia and flew to Germany. It was my first flight in my whole life anyway.
Au-Pair, FSJ, Ausbildung
Life as an Au-pair has pros and cons. I was so relieved as I finished my one-year stay and excited to start the voluntary years. I moved from a Burgau, Bavaria to Markgröningen, Baden-Württemberg.
FSJ — Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr is a voluntary work program for young adults in Germany. Numerous teenagers, who just finish their Abitur/12 years of school, do this while they're figuring out what their passion is.
Around the end of August or September 2015 I started my voluntary years as well for one year. By the beginning of September 2016 I started the Professional Training Program as a geriatric nurse — Ausbildung zur Altenpfelge — in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg.
Travel Journey
2017 was the year when I started to travel around in Europe. Began with the Solo-Trip from Stuttgart-Prague-Budapest-Vienna-Stuttgart for one week. Then at the same year in September to Crete and Athens, Greece. The years after I traveled to some other countries in Europe. Typically, I’m traveling together with one of my best male friend. I have countless memories and experiences, I couldn’t write everything down. Let me give a try with some of it!
My first solo trip with FlixBus to five cities was a blast! With less budget, I managed to make the best of my trip. I also met one lovely hearted girl from Turkey in Budapest, and we are still being friend until now!
Low-Budget Travel to Paris in summer 2017 was quite crazy! Some of Indonesian friends and me we booked a cheap trip with bus to Paris. I didn’t know how, but it felt like we were being part of some weird religion groups. However, we still could enjoy Paris, that’s what matter!
The trip to Greece in Autumn 2017 was remarkable! My best female friend and I brought a tent in the flight to Crete, and we spent some nights sleeping in the tent. One of some others, my first life experience.
In Winter 2017, I visited my family in Indonesia. It was my first time back again in my country after I left in 2014.
In Marc-April 2018 I was traveling to different countries in Europe with Interrail. Again first life experience hehe. This time I visited some cities in Switzerland, France, Belgium, and Netherlands.
On May 2018, my best friend and his friend drove the caravan from Switzerland and picked me up in Füssen, Germany. We traveled for a couple of days with caravan to Upper Austria. There I tried to row a boat and I failed.
Summer 2018 traveled to Hamburg, Germany, and Alp Grün Switzerland.
On September and October 2018 I visited my best friend in Bern, Switzerland, and some weeks later we and his friends again had a trip sponsored by Mazda. We chose to go to Biel, a French-speaking part of Switzerland. Funny thing: people in this part of Switzerland don’t speak German, and I did ask them in German. Stupid Putri -,-
January 2019 began with another trip to Austria. It was snowing a lot that time. So, we canceled our plan to go visit Hallstatt, Austria. We spent the last days on the border of Germany, so we went to Salzbergwerk in Berchtesgaden, Germany.
In April 2019, again I visited my best friend in Bern, Switzerland. This time I had a chance to go for one day trip with his cousin and one of her friend and also her guest mom from New Zealand. What a trip.
A couple of days later, my best friend some of his friends and I were in Lugano, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. We camped nearby the lake and drove a boat.
Well after this trip there were still some more trips that just can’t be written all here down. I can’t get enough of going to some trips. I become addicted to travel as much as possible.
New Life in the New City
After my graduation in September 2019, I was in Asia for holiday trip from the middle of September-the end of October 2019. I also visited my family in Indonesia for a short period of time. Soon after I came back from my trip in Asia, I moved from Stuttgart to Munich. I supposed to start my job in the clinic at the beginning of November 2019. But the reality wasn’t beautiful. I have to wait until my work permit arrive in Munich foreigners Authority. So, I was unemployed for two months. First of December 2019 I started my new job in the psychiatric clinic.
Pandemic and It’s Impacts
We are all know that pandemic has many negative impacts to all of us, since it started in 2020. Now, after almost two years, it feels stuck. There are restrictions everywhere. Things that annoyed me most is that due to many restrictions, I can’t continue to educated myself. After two years working full time, slowly I miss going to classes, to learn something in a proper educational way, get another degree and so on. The reality is so sad because I feel the stagnation. At my workplace, I can’t count on them to take some further education program such as courses. The programs they offered, and I’m interested in, got canceled due to Corona? Oh, come on. It’s very disappointing.
Wishes in 2022
I feel unsatisfied with myself. I really want to come forwards. Since I’m getting older, I can’t wait any longer to do something for the change. Furthermore, I know that I don’t want to stay doing this job for the rest of my life. So please, I hope that in 2022 all my plans become true:
To get another educational level that will be useful for my career.
That the Pandemic could be over soon, so I can go see my family in Indonesia again. Furthermore, that traveling going to be easier, just like before the pandemic.
Have a great New Year’s Eve with your beloved people, everyone.
Greetings from Malta.
