*~Because everyday is precious..~*: “Why did you come back to Indonesia?”

“Why did you come back to Indonesia?”

“Why did you come back to Indonesia?”

This is the million-dollar question I got asked whenever I told someone I’ve spent six years living and studying in Japan. It is the question that gave me headache to answer no matter how many times I have rehearsed the answers in my head. Most people probably think that I let go a golden chance to make a better living in Japan...

Depending on the person who asked, I probably give different versions of the answer. So I’ll just write down my honest answer here and refer this site to whoever asked me this question next :P

Trust me, I did try for a job-hunting in Tokyo when I almost finished my graduate school. I went to company seminars wearing white shirt and black blazer with heels, sent entry sheets here and there, took personality tests and whatever tests the companies required, and so on. Then, throughout the process, I realized the companies’ exams were the bane of my existence... Answering Maths and Japanese literature questions in Japanese characters were not that easy in time-limited exams, so there you go.. the biggest reason I couldn’t get a job in Japan, as embarrassing as it is. I probably could have passed them if only I invested more time in learning these kinds of exam questions. And I think there are other companies that doesn’t require exams for the applicants, but.. oh well..

I used to ask God why He let me ‘failed’ in getting a job in Japan, knowing that I love living there. But I think He also heard my little heart’s plea which longed to move out from Japan and go to another country. After six years living there, I felt a change of atmosphere was necessary. Of course it was hard to leave Japan with all the convenience and security it provides, but it had become my comfort zone and I feared I will get too comfy and stuck in there, forgetting my roots (once I did dream to apply for permanent residence in Japan, even change my nationality if possible!).

Back then, of course, I didn’t know that God had prepared amazing plans for me when I came back to Indonesia. I am just glad that I obeyed Him even with insecurities swirling in my head. Now a year+ since I came back to Jakarta, Indonesia, I can finally connect the dots and see the bigger picture God has created.
Because I didn’t get a job in Japan, in return, I could do an internship (and later on a full time job) in one of the international organizations I admired, and in the field that actually matched my education background! I met exceptional and kindest individuals, and worked with awesome teams. Also, even when I wasn’t thinking much about it that time, perhaps God thought it's high time for me to develop more lady-like characters and that God had prepared the man whom He intended to be my partner for life. God truly loves to surprise me with His kindness!

9:28 PM | 1 Cloud(s)

“Why did you come back to Indonesia?”

“Why did you come back to Indonesia?”

Depending on the person who asked, I probably give different versions of the answer. So I’ll just write down my honest answer here and refer this site to whoever asked me this question next :P

Connecting the dots to see God's gift

Coming back to Jakarta, I felt that God has opened my eyes to see the true condition of this country as well. Living in Japan for years, I was lulled by the convenience and stability of a developed country. But now I see that my country is still suffering; while the numbers of middle-upper class people are rising, there is still a huge gap between the haves and the poor, injustice, rape, criminality, accidents, corruption, health issues, education issues, and so on. The list is endless.

One little me probably won’t have much effect in solving these problems. Each time I asked myself, “What can I do?”, I’m tempted to think I can do nothing. But the other part of me rebelled at that thought; I didn’t spend six years studying in Japan for nothing, did I? At the very least, I’d like to think that God had trained me to be more discipline, hardworking and punctual, so my work ethic should be laudable enough (no self-praise intended).

So, while I won’t be able to tackle down the world hunger issues or invent the cure of HIV/AIDS, I know that I have a purpose in this life, linked with the passion for education that God has planted in me. I’m working in that field now, even though I’m still learning the ropes. God willing, I will be able to use these experiences to build my city, my country in the future. After all, who will build this country if not the children of the country themselves?

As Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”