I can say, my life is quite nomadic

 

*Bandung*

I was born in Bandung, West Java, 6th November 1989

Lived there for 2 years,

But please don’t ask me what happened there,

I can’t remember even a bit!

What I know is that I must be so cute that time, hahaha

Maybe it’s so funny that I didn’t know my own birth place

Cannot explain anything except that I was born in Kiara Condong

But I will keep it always, not in my heart, but in my wallet (written on every of my ID card :p)

 

*Brunei Darussalam*


Then we moved abroad

Brunei Darussalam

Only a small piece of land, but surprisingly so rich and splendid,

With a Sultan as the king of four districts

(Brunei Muara, Tutong, Temburong, and Belait)

Located on the Borneo Island, next to Malaysia and Indonesia

This is the second place where I called home

I grew up there,

Starting to learn ABC

Learning to count

Learning to sing London Bridge and Twinkle2 Little Stars

Learning to read Al-Quran

Learning English since Kindergarten

Learning to have friends and socializing

And many other things that I remember them by heart until this very second,

I spent my kindergarten and primary school (7 years) in Sekolah Tunas Jaya PGGMB Madang, right beside my house

One year of my secondary school (Form 1, the last year in Brunei), I studied at Sekolah Menengah PGGMB Sungai Akar

We also had second school every afternoon to learn more about our religion, Islam. My school was Sekolah Ugama Lambak Kanan (1997-2001)

10 whole years in a Malay-speaking country, growing up there, I tell you, Brunei is in my blood

But of course, we’re Indonesians and we still celebrate our independence day on 17th August, mother’s day, Idul Fitri, and other big days in Kedutaan Besar Repulik Indonesia in Brunei

I’m really dying to go back there, just to visit my childhood places:

-          Sultan Palace, open house every Idul Fitri, queuing so long just to shake hands with Sultan’s wives, watching fireworks every 15th July on Sultan’s birthday


-          Jami ‘Asr Mosque, a very incredibly beautiful mosque


-          Jerudong Park, the only theme park in Brunei


-          Yayasan, the only mall in Brunei that time


-          The airport! Where we love to buy chicken pie

-          Tiong Hin, a supermarket, they have the best Kebab I’ve ever tasted

-          Kampong Ayer, houses over the water

-          Maktab, where my father worked as a lecturer, sometimes we played there

-          Bukit Syahbandar, where we done many adventurous outbonds

-          KBRI, where Indonesian citizens in Brunei gather together often


-          My schools, where I had good times and bad times, learning what is right and what is wrong

-          Last but not least, my home, where I lived in there for nearly 8 years and bicycling around every noon, playing with my sisters, oh God, I miss that! :’(

When we’re still in Brunei, my family and I traveled a lot. We had so much time for holiday and we always went somewhere to spend the time. We drove our own car to pass the boundary and went to the neighborhood countries, Malaysia and Indonesia. We went to Miri and Pontianak. I had been to Singapore once when I was a kid; there is not much that I remember. We also had holidays in Kuala Lumpur. We stayed in hotel (I forgot the name) where they had penguins near the swimming pool. We had a great time in Sunway Lagoon, KLCC, Kuala Lumpur Tower, etc. My family also once went to Saudi Arabia for Umroh. I miss the time when I saw Ka’bah for the first time with my own eyes, riding a camel with my sisters, shopping chocolates, every single thing! I wish I can go back to those places again. For long holidays, we often flew back to Indonesia to meet our relatives.

Then my parents decided to move back to our country, Indonesia. Leaving Brunei with tears but we will keep it in our memories.

 

*Jakarta*

 

We started our lives in South Jakarta, Legoso Raya, Ciputat

I totally remember our scary house there, but it’s okay, hehehehe

I continued my study at Madrasah Pembangunan UIN Jakarta


I got a little bit trouble in my early times studying in Indonesia because there were many subjects that I’ve never learned them before,

The language was also different,

But I successfully catch up on everything

What I remember the most is that friendship in Indonesia is awesome :)

I only lived in Jakarta for one and a half year because I had to continue my study in Yogyakarta, following my sister

I don’t really like living in Jakarta because I’m stressed of the traffic jam!!

 

*Yogyakarta*

 

After I finished my junior high school,

My parents decided to sent me to Yogyakarta with my sister

That was the very first time I live alone without my parents

I cried a lot craving for going back home for weeks

But after months, everything was going so well

I finished my high school in SMA Negeri 4 Yogyakarta

And starting to have other beautiful years in my campus life

In English Education Department, Yogyakarta State University

The place where I began to draw up my future

Knowing what way will I take

Creating the plans in my life

Having great friends and adventurous life by doing so many trips by motorcycle, going to the beach for New Year, visiting Tawangmangu, a very beautiful place, Tugu Jogja, Malioboro, Ketep, Alun2 Kidul, Tamansari, and many more


I love living in Jogja so much

I’m still here (6 years until now) finishing my study

And my family moved back to our hometown in Jepara, Central Java

Except for my sister, living in US now

 

 

Now I don’t know where my fate will bring me

I hope it will be somewhere more fun

I am praying to continue my study abroad, being a lecturer and living happily with my husband and kids :)

 

 

Wowww, just realized that this post is so long,

I hope you have a great time reading it

 

 

Luv,

Choco Rya

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