Hello March!!!

Dari awal bulan dua kemarin, saya diberi kesempatan lagi buat kerja di Jepang. Dibandingkan dengan jenis pekerjaan dan perusahaan saya sebelumnya, perusahaan ini berbeda, dan jenis pekerjaan juga hal baru buat saya. Perusahaan kali ini perusahaan asing (saham partner Jepang ada, tapi suasana sehari-hari sama sekali bukan tipe perusahaan Jepang), dan jenisnya berbeda karena kali ini tidak ada kerjaan terjemahan atau berhubungan khusus dengan Indonesia.

Perusahaan ini tergolong perusahaan besar, dimana merupakan impian saya juga pengen menyicipi kerja di perusahaan besar itu seperti apa. Bukan berarti sombong, atau sok pamer, tapi saya benar-benar ingin tahu sistem kerja, birokrasi perusahaan besar seperti apa. 

Selama ini perusahaan-perusahaan saya sebelumnya tergolong menengah (memang untuk industri service, dua kantor sebelumnya tergolong besar, tapi maksimal karyawan cuma 100-150 orang) dan kecil. 

Besar kecilnya perusahaan ada enak tidak enaknya sendiri. Perusahaan kecil bisa lebih dekat orangnya, jam kerja, peraturan juga bisa lebih fleksibel, birokrasi tidak ribet, kita lebih belajar untuk multitasking, seperti dari pesuruh, tukang hantar teh sampai penerjemah sekretaris bos... hahahaha...

Perusahaan besar, biasanya lebih banyak training dan belajar (apalagi kalau kita masuk sebagai fresh graduate), secara sosial lebih "hidup", banyak fasilitas...? Perlindungan hak karyawan juga lebih jelas, karena sebagai perusahaan besar apabila ada pelanggaran, nama baik mereka jadi ancaman. 

Sebelum nulis postingan ini, secara ngga sengaja liat postingan lama, dimana kebetulan yang saya baca tentang masa-masa suram saya, begitu lulus S2 ngga dapat2 kerja....

Sampai dapat kerjaan pasti, part time di fast food restaurant, begitu akhirnya dapat kerja, ternyata pekerjaan pertama ternyata ngga berjalan mulus. Tidak sampai disitu, kemudian masih dilanjutkan dengan  sederet cerita drama tragis (hahaha) yang panjang...sampai akhirnya saya ada di titik ini...

Kalau baca lagi postingan itu, saya merasa salut ke diri saya sendiri yang bisa melewati masa-masa tersuram dalam hidup saya (bagi saya tersuram sih, mungkin bagi orang lain itu belum apa-apa...) Juga sekaligus terkadang saya merasa diri saya dulu bodoh dan naif, Proses cari kerja saya, saya lihat banyak bolongnya, tujuan ngga jelas, ke perusahaan yang ngga jelas...

Saya yang sekarang, harus berterima kasih ke semua pengalaman itu, karena tanpa adanya masa-masa itu, tidak mungkin saya bisa disini sekarang, dan tidak mungkin saya bisa berpikir seperti ini. Pengalaman memang guru yang sempurna asalkan kita mau belajar dari pengalaman itu. 

Posisi saya sekarang ini , juga bukan berarti aman, karena saya juga bukan pegawai tetap di sini. Saya juga tidak menaruh harapan muluk-muluk sama posisi ini. Saya cuma mau belajar dan cari pengalaman, saya ingin tetap mengasah otak saya agar tetap tajam karena bermain blok dan lego dengan anak saya tidak cukup melatih otak saya...dan tentunya saya butuh pendapatan tambahan untuk keluarga saya. 

Bersyukur, bersyukur, saya ingin coba hidup lebih positif ^^

Short Term experience at last November

Last month I got short term job (and it has ended last week).

It was about checking translation for game industry. I could say it was easy, but not simple job. Working in front of game machine and computer at the same time for long hours will take a lot of your energy for sure. 

It was my first time doing checking translation. I always do translation only before.  

Though only on short period, but it was good chance for me to try and learn something new. To be engaged with an industry that I never (or think that I will ) working at before. As usual, I like to observe the people, and made my own judgement (hahaha...)

About how the people work,type and characteristic....

Most of the people who work there, were man, with various style (some with strange hair style in my opinion...). But I send high respect for them, who could bear to work for hours in front of game machine, deal with detail that you will never notice before when you playing a game, but with surprisingly not so high reward.
As a non game-lover, honestly I can't stand to work in front of game machine for hours and days or months, and playing same game, on and on...lol

I didn't know that the process of making a game was very complicated.
So, there are game maker company, and there are also game checking company.
After produce a game, game maker company will ask game checking company to check their game.
And I was dispatched at this game checking company.
We will check the entire game process, system, language, graphic, etc. from the ordinary person opinion. Therefore, in this game checking company for some (or most)position,  you don't need to learn a lot about game or IT skill, some of the worker only has to play the game, on and on  and make reports about the game.

As a dispatch worker, I just handle with the language (translation). So I do not know about the other section.

It was an interesting experience to start my December.
How about yours?

Birthday Month!!!

Next month is the last month of this year. 
So, here are some fresh updates about me, and my lil' family:
November is a birthday month for our little family, me (3rd), Jason(8th), Hubby(30th).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR US!!!!


This year was my last twenties birthday...ha! I feel so blessed could spend this birthday with my boys. And saw my hubby's was treating me special on my birthday, made me want to celebrate my birthday everyday...^_^

My baby has turned one. He is no longer baby, but a toddler. 
A little bit sad but happy at the same time. 
I am happy that he grow up so well.
And a little bit sad that he is no longer a baby that depend on me 100%...
We celebrated his first birthday two weeks ago, and on the next day he got stomach bug (stomach flu?). After him, me and my husband also got this virus. 
So last week has been a very hard for us, especially for me... 

And about me, I just quit from my job last month.
The problem was not from me, but the company and the master.
I feel totally disappointed and feel betrayed. 
I already did my best, but I got da*n as reward

As an impact, honestly now I lost confidence to move on for the next step. 
Hmm, what should i said? Those mellow, sad, grey moment come again to visit me now... 

So here I am now... looking for another job. 

Besides job hunting, on my daily basis I do house chores, little crafty things, pick up my baby, playing and take care of him.... 
Sometimes I want to break from this boredom activity... but do not know when and how...

Lately, I get addicted with Instagram. 
I found many person like me, new moms with their kids. 
I like to read many stories from them, about their baby, or parenthood issues. Sometimes I feel so close and know them well, since they post update about their life everyday...
Though, in fact they are totally strangers for me. 

Beside met with new parents, I also found many users with their unique activities that captured in their pics in Instagram. So, I feel so amazed, that there are zillion thousands thing out there that I never knew before. It's so surprising that by looking at other people's daily pictures could boost up my mood even just little... Sometimes it encourages me, to try something creative, try new hobbies, or activities.  

And for the next, I have many things that I want to try...just need some motivation and energy...
Will update later ( I promised my self to be more active with blogging, to train my dull brain, writing ability, and my English!!!)

I am officially a Mother (since last November!!!)

Actually, I just wondering, whether it is too late to write about my birth story or not...or it is better for me to forget about the existence of this blog. Ha!!!
9 Months, so many happened!!!! Being a mom has changed my life, our life!!!

Okay, I think I should start write about my birth story first (will write down the detail that still I could memorize so far--sorry!!)

Due date was 11-11-2012 (pocky day!!)

3rd November 2012 : celebrated my birthday, also welcomed my mother in law that came from Indonesia to support our family after I gave birth.

4th November :Went to celebrate my Sis's birthday (yes, her birthday is one day after mine)　with hubby and MIL. We went to eat at Shechuan hot pot, yes with some herbs and spicy that now I think it had contributed to the starting process of my contraction the next day.
After ate, we were walked a lot from Nihon Bashi Station to Tokyo Station. Stopped by request from MIL that her leg was hurt, and she asked to go home asap.

5th November (Monday) afternoon, I took a nap on the couch, around 4 pm, woke up. Went to the toilet and found out that I was bleeding a lot like got a period. I felt my body suddenly was limp, scared to death, nervous, etc.... I just worried it was something bad, since I never heard that bleeding was one of the sign of the early labor.

So, I called the hospital, rushed my MIL to prepared, called the taxi, took the "hospital bag" and went to the hospital.

We arrived at hospital at 5 pm. then the midwife check the dilation on my uterus by her hand ( very unpleasant things!!!!) it was only 1 cm. HA? While i need 10 cm to deliver my baby.
But she told me, that it was very good sign of early labor, and the bleeding might continue. The baby might come soon, or the next week, we will never know, she told me like that.
So she told me to go home, life as normal, and do not afraid to had activity, since sleeping or take a rest might slow down the pace.

We went home after that. I was very exciting when I knew I could meet my baby anytime. So that night, I keep walk around, squatting, to speed up the contraction. I felt no contraction at all at that time.

6th November (Tuesday): I have scheduled check up with the mid wife that morning. My husband also came with me this time. The midwife check the dilation again, then said still no progress from the day before.  But she said that it seems I will make it on that week. Then she also scheduled the next check up date if baby still not came out after 11th November.

I felt a contraction, or menstruation cramps since that afternoon. Started to counting and memorizing it. Then that night, I asked my hubby to walked me to the hospital."I think this is the time" moment was started.... Instead of went by a taxi, hubby suggested to walk to the hospital, with reason that it will help to speed up the labor...bah!!!
After arrived at the hospital, the midwife put the set of machine ( i forget the name) to check baby's heart beat and my contraction. In short, we went home AGAIN that night (by taxi of course, otherwise i will curse my hubby!!!)

7th November (Wednesday) the contraction's frequency was getting shorter and many. All day long I just take that pain with sleep, little bit walk.... I tried to memorize the contraction time..
That night, around 23:00, I told my husband that I can't handle it anymore. But he replied " but I think you still far away from labor. My instinct said, it will be around next week?!?!" ("HAH?!?!)
My MIL who heard it, asked my husband to send me to hospital that night. Hahaha..

We arrived at hospital around 00:00, then after checked my dilation, it was 4 cm. The midwife said, that I could wait at the hospital, or I also could go home. But I decided to stay at hospital. So, after she finished the administration process, she showed us to stay at "contraction room" till I am ready move to the delivery room. Contraction room was near with delivery room, and it was private room. So, from here "the real struggle" was begin. My hubby was planning to sleep, since he thought that if I still far from labor, he had to go to work on the next day. But, of course he could not sleep...hahahaha...how can he sleep while on the same room a woman was hysteric and screamed his name for every 7-10 minutes. I tried to do all the relaxing tips that said on the book and internet...no good result. But, I insisted to meet my baby asap, so I did squat jump, walked around while I could. At 3:00 (A.M) Midwife came and checked my dilation. It was 2 cm larger, and good progress for labor. But I was exhausted, I just want to sleep or took a rest even for 10 minutes. But I can't, the contraction's interval was getting shorter. At 4 or 5, the midwife said I was ready for labor, and broke my water. My husband was prepared our stuffs and moved to labor room. 

8th November 2012,  7:00 A.M I was on the labor room, waited my husband who bought a coffee and water for me (yes, I was so sleeeeeepy and no energy, I need caffeine). Maybe I am the only woman who drink coffee during labor. 7:50 A.M started pushing, I was not clear around here....
All I could remember that I shouted to midwife in Indonesian language, I shouted to my husband since he was too soft when wiped my sweat. I pusheeed with the remained power... at 8:39 the nurse said "look down there!!!" I saw him.... YES, My baby was born!!!! 

I am a mother now!!!

Very big baby, 4050 gram, 53 cm. He cried, and the midwife put him on my chest. I was too tired, no tears at all... (bad mom?) but tears from daddy ^_^
I still could not believe that a baby just came out from my body.I was so so so happy, and tired at the same time. I stay at the hospital for 6 days (Japanese rules that for the firs born, you have to stay at hospital for 6 days, and 5 days for the second and next).


And, since that day, I am officially a mother ^ ^

The "Joy" of last trimester

2:16 a.m Japan Time

Hungry, sleepy, can't breath

If I take a meal now, I will not allowed to sleep, the meals caused the heartburn...

Yay!!! I am trying to enjoy my last last trimester...

But,the fact is...this is not easy. My life full of complaints.

Almost all of the pregnancy symptoms that written on the baby center has attacked me...

It is hard to go to sleep at night. I do not want to sleep at noon, and become an owl in the night. 

Ideally, I want to be a good housewife after quit from my job...which means preparing breakfast for us, bento for my hubby, kiss him before go to work (too drama?)... clean the house, make lunch, going out or take nap, then prepare dinner...and go to bed together. 

Arghh....

My New Journey (Part 3)

Okay, it's been about 3 months since my last post bout my pregnancy journal, and honestly I'm not type of woman who like to makes daily record (I was, but not now...depend on my mood).
Actually I forgot about what happened on July-August period...especially related with prego thingy...
But, I'll try to write the things that still stay in my memory

July (22-25 weeks)

- Since my hospital does not have 3D or 4D ultrasound facilities, I went to another clinic that provide 3D/4D ultrasound. In my 21st week, we went to that clinic, to met our baby, and wished could see his face.
But, my baby was not photogenic, or shy...he hide his face, turn his face to my back. Hmphh....(I wish I could ask back my JPY5000...*cried)
The doctor was surprised with our baby's size, it was too big for 21st week. (his size about 25 weeks)
- I had new hobby, baking and cooking. I made cakes, bread, etc. As the result, I gain too much weight =(
- Insomnia weeks has been started, I got what they called "heartburn" or Acid reflux. So, everytime I try to lying down, you felt like you want to throw up all your food...(>  <)
- Fatigue. I felt my legs were getting weaker
- Not comfortable with my current bra, bought some new bra's ^^
- Swollen Feet
- Started Maternity Swimming class every Saturday

This is the best shot during 3D/4D ultrasound session 

August (26-30 weeks)

- Last month in my office. Peak of summer in Japan, very very humid and hot....especially for prego
- Had super duper terrible backache...
- Cut my hair
- Me and my hubby had same schedule for our summer holiday for 1 week. We arranged short trip to lake near Mt. Fuji. On the first day, we went to the biggest Factory Outlet in Kanto area. Windows shopping is not for me...I could not do it, though I was still on second trimester. We only bought baby clothes...^^
For the second day we went to Yamanaka lake, and Sun flower field. It was very refreshing trip for both of us. Very thankful to my lovely hubby for arranged this trip for us...
- On 17th August (27week) , went to hospital for routine check up, but this time with the midwife. She did not do the ultrasound, only measured my belly, checked baby's heart beat. She warned about my weight gain!!! Starting  control my sugar consumption, no more snacks... at this time I gained 12,5 kg (--;)
I only allowed to gain maximum 500 gram every weeks, which in reality is very difficult huh...
- Baby moves a lot, sometimes I could felt his body part, which stuck up on my upper belly (I bet it was his leg?)
- Had some stomach cramp during my 28 weeks, easily got tired...

My best shot during short trip on Summer Holiday (27 week)

September (31-34 weeks)

- Officially a housewife now. So happy, that I don't have to commute every rush hour, but so sad, because no income anymore (> <).
-Officially entered last trimester of my pregnancy. So far, this is the hardest one (harder than the first one).
-Everyday I found new symptom, I found new things to complain, I found new thing to worry. My mood like roller coaster, I cried, I angry, I got bad mood...etc...
- Got baby things, maternity things from my sister (so I don't need to buy new one)
- Bought new sofa, rack, rearranged our living room
- Went to routine check up, baby weight 1772 gr on 30 weeks (big for its average, which only about 1500 gr, doctor smiled and said that my placenta was very big. It should be a good thing though).
Succeed controlled my weight gain from the last visit with the midwife. There is nothing to do to control the baby weight, no need to diet, just control sugar or salt intake.
Oh, officially it is a boy. Before, doctor never said 100% is a boy, but this time she found the baby gender very clearly. ^^
- Had another blood test.
- Can not walk too far, take a rest every time saw a bench or chair.
- Bought another baby clothes.
- My hubby always check my activity during the day, and will warning me if I just stayed at home...He urge me to had activity outside, so I could prevent boredom, and obesity.
- On mid of Sept, went to another routine check up (32 week), met the midwife not doctor. Blood test result was okay, only I had some anemia. So she prescribed Iron supplement for me. I talked a lot with her, that my baby is very moody. He only moves when he want to moves... I turn on the light on my tummy to see his reaction. Based on the sources that I read on internet, baby will respond to light. But not with my baby...
She said, is okay, as long my baby is moving around, maybe he just moody... (like his mother???!?!)
- Bought baby things with hubby
- Started wash baby clothes, towel, diaper, etc...(but still have many to wash)
-Backache was getting worse...lying down made it worse.
- I had what it called Restless Leg Syndrome at night...Insomnia has started...
- Had joint paint in my fingers, especially in the morning and during the night. Also little numb on my feet palm.
- Urge my husband to massage me before to sleep ...back pain is my nightmare..
- Getting waddle...I walk like a duck
- Baby kicks a lot...and sometimes very hurt. He got hiccups about one or two times a day, so funny...^^
- I had pain on my belly skin...but not stomach cramp...only on skin...I bet because my belly is getting bigger. Nothing to do, just put a lot of baby oil and body butter on my belly....
- By the end of the month (33 week) I gained around 13-14 kg.

New Sofa, and baby clothes laundry... 

Me, 33 week

To be continued (^^)
(Lately I never use my brain maximally, so please forgive my bad grammar)

Short note on July 30th 2012

I will enter my last month in this company by the end of August. After that I will be a full-time housewife… (Not my dream though…but with pleasure will do it this time)

Now I am looking for some activities plan for the next two months I will have till the baby is born.

Maybe planning for another job hunting after delivering?  Ugh no no…actually I get a little trauma with job hunting in Japan…but maybe someday I have to do it again, considering that I want to send my kid to the daycare ( I prefer my kid go to the daycare, so he/she could learn a lot of fun things and know the basic step about how to socialize)


Otherwise, I should think other ways, if I don’t want to go back as office lady…

I prefer the last option, but how to find the idea about what should I do is not as simple to say.

Therefore, I have to find out the answer from now. Doing freelance, go back to school etc…

But the most important thing is that I want to keep my life filled with activities, I do not want to let my brain and nerves are getting dull.

Lately, I have started to try new activities…such as baking, cooking, and maybe other new activities on next …

Baking is a new thing for me. I’ve tried some simple recipes from internet, two times it went smoothly, and two times big failed. I still have no idea about how to make a soft cake…. =(  
But I am eager to try another recipes for the next time (depend on my mood though ^_^)

My Second baking trial Choux Cream 

Maybe could you share your favorite simple recipes with me? =)

Have a nice week!!! 

My New Journey (Part 2)

June (17-20 weeks):

-     On June, my hubby has three business trips to Indonesia and Hiroshima. So, every time he was on the trip, I left alone in home.... ( -  -; ) But as rewards, he gave me many souvenirs of Indonesian spicy, foods, snacks...^^

-     On 8^th of June, I went to the hospital for irregular check up schedule, because I got pain on my abdomen. Since I went out of practice hours, I was ended on the emergency room, with a young intern (not yet a doctor?!? Assistant??!?!). I got my internal check up, measurement of my cervix, bleeding confirmation....not so professional....Because it was hurt...(> <) But I saw my baby was healthy and moving around in my stomach ( I was very relief about it). The young doctor suggest me to stay in the hospital for one night to check all my condition entirely...but I refused it...I could not feel any pain anymore since I came to the hospital...seriously...

-     In the end I thought (my own conclusion), it was only constipation problems...maybe...Then the doctor prescribed me pain relief medicine, and kind of traditional herbs for my blood circulation...

-     I got another on-off abdomen pains again sometimes...

-     I went to Tokyo International Toy Show with my hubby, and had romantic photo session with random Spiderman...

-     I met my obstetrician on 20^th, I met my sleepy baby...she said I have big baby...a little bit big for 19 weeks baby... I could not confirm my baby’s sex yet...

-     Went to antenatal class with my husband. We learned how to put diapers, how to bath the baby, and gave my hubby chance to be a pregnant mom by put him a 9kg pregnant jacket...  Met another pregnant women on our neighborhood, share stories, heard explanation about how to register to day care center (with very very limited space though...I think this will be another new task to do soon after delivery...hiks )

-     My tummy is very very big for 5 months pregnant...normally, Japanese prego mom has very small tummy...During antenatal class my tummy as big as 9 months Japanese prego mom...WOW... Even my parents thought I have twins...

-     Had roller coaster mood swings, caused by hormone?

-     Got cough... infected by my husband. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to drink any kind of medicine, it was very torturing... Lemon and honey also hot ginger tea was good remedy at least...

 To be continued...