I have made so many promises to join the fun in this community, but always missed out due to my own bad habit of managing my schedule. This time, I will surely do as I said by joining this amazing community even. If you want to know more, Red This. Thanks to @fionasfavourites and @lizelle who always encourage me to be active and contribute to the community.
First | 1991-2001
source: The student occupied The House of representative Republic Of Indonesia in Jakarta during the Reformation Movement 1998 which ended the 30 years of New Order Era. I wasn't there, I have my own activity in Aceh and couldn't find any photo, lol. This occasion was started with the Monetary crisis in 1997 which affected my study too.
Second | 2001-2011
source: this is the Lampuuk Beach in Aceh Besar in 2004. 12 years later, My wedding party was conducted at that beach.
I was having a good time as a radio journalist and announcer, no matter how bad the situation was at that time, we're on martial law in 2002, but I kept doing my job traveling around several districts to collect information about radio stations for the association. Many of my friends in the student group were fled from the city to other cities in Java and abroad because they become the target of the military and intelligence operations. But I stayed, and start to work in Non-Government Organisation whilst continued being a radio announcer. Then, Tsunami wiped it all in 2004.
I was supposed to stay at my cousin's house on Saturday but decided to sleep at my new office (Aceh Ecotourism Foundation), I have an on-air schedule on Sunday at 11. am. It was a cold morning, on December 26th, 2004. I went back to sleep after the dawn prayer and it's the coldest day in my life that I couldn't sleep well. 7 O'clock that morning, the earth is shaking so hard, the computer that I use to work on almost fell onto me (I slept between the wall and my table). I run out of the building and saw many people on the street watching the earth-shaking for a few minutes. it stopped and shaking again over and over for about 15-20 minutes. I tried to get some more sleep but I couldn't. So I went washing my clothes and get prepared to go to the radio station around 9.30. a few hundred meters away after leaving the office on foot. I heard people crying and some of them were hurts and naked. At an intersection, I spotted my fellow announcer who was on duty that morning, shaking and crying (My Belated good friend Adam, who had passed away in 2018) looked traumatized. I gave him a bottle of water which I brought some in my bag packs as if I know what the use of it was. Talked to him and ask him to go to a safe place near the mountain in the west part of the city. I left after I saw him hop onto the military truck, shaking. Long story short, I saw dead bodies, humans and animals, crying kids, naked people with mud all over their bodies, the bleeding man running like crazy, soldiers evacuate dead bodies and save people, stinky smell of the mud, trees fell across the street, debris mixed with muds, the used to be beautiful park now full of muds, the beautiful great mosque standstill with many panic people laying on the floors, what a disaster. I told myself that I have to save the living soul and not leaving the city no matter what.
That's not a hard decision to make, I believe that my parents understand me the most. Mom was coming with her big family (her sisters, cousins in a big truck full of raw food and stoves, that truck belongs to my cousin) on Wednesday, we lost at least 4 cousins and 4 nieces in the disaster (including the one who lived where I was supposed to stay that night), failed to ask me to go back home with her because she saw what I did with my fellow volunteers who came on Monday. I continued working as a radio reporter, program manager at the NGO, and finally a freelance interpreter for fellow journalists from all over the world. My broken English is quite useful at that time, lol. I can speak Bahasa Indonesia, English, and My mother language, Aceh. (too bad I have no time to learn my father's language, Mandailing/Batak at all)
Tsunami changed me and many of my friends, colleague and the citizens of Banda Aceh, Aceh Barat, Lhokseumawe, Aceh Jaya and Aceh Besar. it changed the way I see life and being grateful for whatever I have right now. I become more aware of natural disasters, learn how to raise awareness of early warning systems, disaster mitigation, and information distribution. 6 years later, in 2010 I face another big occasion in my life. Found my other half and was involved in a traffic accident. Broke my left shoulder bone. It stopped me from being too active for a year, but it didn't stop me for continue to work as an activist. I quit working at the radio station.
Third | 2011 - 2021
I started my new job as a radio station manager in West Aceh by the beginning of 2011, but I failed to accomplished the mission assigned to me by the owner, so I went back to Banda Aceh and it made my Friends from the Local NGO's network happy. They assigned me to join the selection process to be a commissioner of the Public Information Commission of Aceh for the working period 2012-2016. I passed all the tests and for 4 years I became a kinda judge for Information disputes between the public and the public institution.
The same beach after 12 years, on my wedding day in 2016
After being in a long-distance relationship with my other half for 7 years, we got married in January 2016. I refused to join the tests for the second period in The Aceh Information Commission, I said I have enough and it's time for retirement. I left my hometown and moved out to My Hubby's place in South Tangerang and be a full-time housewife. 2018, I joined steemit and met many amazing and kind people in much wonderful community like @pifc (Pay it Forward Community) was running by the belated @wolfhart, the missing @lynncoyle, organized by @thedarkhorse. From that community, I know @abh12345 with his Engagement League which drew me to Newbieresteemdays and Newbiegames. @headchange is the one who is responsible for dragging me here and there till I joined @teampossible and then my days with steemmonsters aka splinterlands were so gorgeous to forget. After playing for 3 years, in 2021 I finally see that the time I have spent in the last 3 years with everyone in Team Possible is so precious.
2021, I joined the Silverbloggers community, being a discord support staff for splinterlands. How has this shaped my life? I'm optimistic that I can fulfill my last obligation as a Muslim by playing splinterlands. I keep myself being a happy and kind one by learning from the community. In my 46 years old, I never imagine that I can have my own crypto wallet and earnings from a game. Mecca/Mekkah is not that far far away anymore.
Wow! What a story you tell. If nothing else, it was worth the wait, and, I think, worth the effort. Thank you for this contribution, @cicisaja.
In some ways, your youth and bits of your life remind me of my own! Leaving home at a young age and activism. It took me a while to stop that lol. Still haven't in some ways. I found your description of the tsunami compelling and frightening. I am so glad you survived and so sorry you lost so many friends and family in that disaster.
The survival of the Mosque - it's a miracle how God looks after his places of worship. As he did of the church near 911. I don't care about religion or dogma, we all have the same God.... Sorry, not sorry.
Thank you for sharing your journey and so happy you're part of the Silver Bloggers Community, Silver Thumb.
Thank you @fionasfavourites , I believe that God has His own plan for me, that's why He kept me away from the place which affected by the tsunami since Friday, I passed my 27th and have not reached my 30th yet that year, not yet on my prime, I still have so many things on my plate, dreams and I did it all until my retirement (actually I made a promise to myself when I got married, I'll quit everything and stay at home to take care of my husband and have long long honey years). But now, I'm back to work again, LOL (even though this is kind of a new type of work for me). When I read yours, I know why we can flock together here too. you are just a few years older than me, full of knowledge and interesting stories of your South Africa. Remind me of my missing book "Lady Detective" which has a setting in South Africa too.
Thanks for the warm comment and your encouraging words as always (why can't I stop considering myself as a teenager, hahahah) I'm not a noob on hive too. it must be you and @lizelle. both of you made me feels like a teenager here, LOL. anyway I think we're all 17 with 30-40-50 years of life experience, right?
You are, indeed, a wise old soul and young enough to be my daughter - I am twice your age. And change, hahaha! Don't ever lose the teenage feeling! It's good to work - for a whole lot of reasons. As I keep on telling people, I don't feel a day over 36!! That's another story. It's my turn to apologise: RL got in the way of my contribution this week, so I'll have to store the stories for another time - or just share them in my usual ramblings on my blog and on the blockchain! As I do... lol.
Oh, and let me share a secret with you:
The Husband went to school with that author of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency...
whooaaaaa.... that's amazing!! I only have book 1 given by a friend from England when she's coming back to Aceh, well she's working with UNDP when Tsunami relief, that's how I know The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency. I like her spirit the most (now that I think about it, did you and lizelle join the agency too, LOL) I need to collect the books later, maybe from e-bay. Thanks for sharing.
Peuhaba di kelurahan blah deh? trep that ka hana kujeungeuk-jeungeuk le haha. Batre kakupeuhabeh, han ek kupike le 🤣
hahahaha... loen tetap jinguek seminggu sekali, tapi cuma steem sea, sedangkan indonesianers ka hantom lee, tidak asyik sistemnya. jadi ya sudah dukung yang perlu didukung saja. payah miseu hana rasa kepemilikan. pehtem mantong terkancai-kancai ka. ka rap jeut wo gampong at treuk :D
What a story @cicisaja, you've certainly faced many storms in your life but still brave and wanting to help to the end, why am I not surprised! The Tsunami must have been absolutely terrifying to have lived through and how sad to have lost family members in such a tragic way!
One can't believe that the tranquil ocean in your wedding photo could have caused so much destruction!
Enjoy a more sedate married life but I would not be surprised if you become an activist again!
I need to look at Splinterlands before I get too old and the silver hairs start falling out as it must be good to keep our activist's attention😅
Lovely #bow entry wise young lady.🤗
Thank you, I can say that my life is a smooth life @hive-106316, I learn that I have a mission in this life from people around me, I can walk through everything easily not because I'm a lucky one but because I have a basic knowledge that my parents told me also from many many books I read. I found "myself" at a young age before I left home. When Tsunami hits, I was only 200 meters from the edge of the affected area. I wander around to find the dead bodies of my cousin and niece at night in the dark (power outage for 3 days, no signals too) somehow I still wish they're alive. after 16 soon 17 years, I think most people already moved on, though the memories remain.
I found that every little thing that I face every day, shaped my life and make me today. That beach, yeah... 3000 people were dead around the area of that beach, but they are moving and throve forward. Thanks to the world who give their hands to help us during the emergency response period. We have Turkey village, German Village, China Village, and that Mosque was once known as Bill Clinton's Mosque.
ilon nyoe lagenyoe tulesan payah lake bantu bak @ayijufridar 🤣
iloeng muenyo ka sibuleun hana teumuleh dan pas that tema syit pet mata ketutip peu nyang tingat mantong. tata bahasa bah urusan grammarly, asai hana gareh-gareh mirah ka bereih lah..nyou tulesan buet peulepas rindu mantong hay abang.
Hello @cicisaja. What a life journey you'd had starting at a young age. It's amazing how out of a family of children, there are certain ones or just maybe one that goes off in a different direction.
Thanks for sharing your life journey.
Thank you so much Silver Clicker for stopping by and leave me your wonderful words. I always know that I'll be a different one, that's why I can walk through everything happily.
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Love the story and how you kept moving forward in life even after many events that you could of used as an "excuse" for failure. Very happy for all of your successes and hope life allows you to reach all of your future goals, those which you have already set and the new ones you come up as you achieve your current goals.
Thank you so much for your encouraging words as always @thedarkhorse. PIFC shaped my life too and you started it. I take to my heart what our belated Wolfie always said "one step at a time", I only have one life to live, can't live in the past too, so there's no other way but to Move on, Move forward. I have all my dreams come true except that one. Wondering how you are doing now?