Sunday, March 31, 2019

‡ What's My Job? ...and Others ‡

Written by Erlia Eleciel | 7:04:00 PM

Hi people.
As I'm writing typing this post, it's currently 5:38PM on 31 March 2019, marking that the first quarter of 2019 is going to end.


Time flies and I know I keep saying the same thing over and over but, seriously, it feels like it's only been weeks since people celebrated New Year and here we are today, getting ready for April Mop tomorrow.

I hope life has been good for you who are reading this unuseful random post.

I spent the three months of 2019 not in Jakarta as usual. What's new, right? lol
I'm currently working on a project in Bandung but, most likely, my next project will let me stay around Jakarta on weekdays!

Oh, in case you're wondering why I keep travelling from town to town, I'm going to give a (hopefully) short explanation about it.
If you're not interested in it (or maybe you've known exactly WHY), you can skip this part.
If you're interested though, even though I'm not sure why you're interested, pardon me, I have posted some explanations 3 years ago in this post here so you might want to check it out.

My current job is SAP B1 Functional Consultant at PT. Sterling Tulus Cemerlang.
I worked as SAP R3 Material Management Internal Consultant from 2012 until 2014 before moving to my current company.

Click here to check my current company's website

(by the way, this post is not sponsored by my company. Also not to promote it at all.
I just feel like writing about it on my blog, lol)

Okay, before continuing, perhaps you're wondering what SAP is.
SAP is basically an ERP software used to integrate the business processes in a company.


Let's say that you have these departments in your company: purchasing, sales, warehouse, finance, and accounting, Each of the departments manage their own data: the purchase orders, sales orders, deliveries, receiving goods, invoices, payments, and so on. They might use excel files to record the data or else but, that means, none of them is managed within the same database.
Basically, you might need to manually integrate them within a period to make sure everything is in line. ERP software helps a company to integrate those processes into a single system.

I'm not going to explain the difference between SAP R3 and B1, nor about the other brands of ERP software. Definitely not an expert in that and it might take a whole article to discuss about it.

What do I do as the SAP Consultant?
Consulting, of course, as the position name states.
I know about the software better than the SAP users, so I'm responsible to give them the solutions regarding the process within SAP. For example, they're so used to their old system but, when they're going to use SAP, they need to adjust everything.

Does it mean the users should follow how the system works? Or should the system should just follow how the company runs before?
I'd (personally) say that it's somewhere between those two.

Therefore being an SAP consultant requires analytical skills because I firmly believe that granting the users' wishes to have an easier process is not the best solution. Getting the best understanding of how the business runs and the workaround in SAP will definitely help the consultant to solve the issues because not all of the issues are system related.
If I must add, good interpersonal skills since a consultant will work in a team is also important. Adding to this point, being patient and witty can be really helpful!

Such a difficult question to answer

Okay, back to the main topic.
At my current office, we have clients -- not limited to Jakarta area -- who want to use SAP so that's where things start.
After everything is agreed on, the business blueprint will start, continuing to internal testing and development, then I will have to train the users about how to use SAP and then they'll test how integrated the system will work for their business process, and Go Live -- meaning the company will use SAP for real business process.

One project might take 3-6 months (or even more) to finish, depending on the project scale and complexity. The team can consist of 2-4 (again, even more) persons, but mostly it will have 1 functional (like me, who focuses more into the functionality, hence its name) and 1 technical consultant who is responsible for the development and technical solution. We also have 1 project manager who will manage the activities related to the implementation project.

Where have I been for the past 5 years?

  • April 2014 - January 2015: Jakarta
  • February 2015 - April 2015: Cirebon
  • May 2015 - January 2016: Surabaya
  • February 2016 - October 2016: Cikarang
  • November 2016 - June 2017: Jakarta
  • July 2017 - October 2017: Cirebon
  • November 2017 - January 2018: Jakarta
  • February 2018 - October 2018: Surabaya
  • October 2018 - April 2019: Bandung & Magelang

I also managed to have a short project as a partner with a German company during 2017, also visited Singapore weeks ago for blueprint discussion (marking my 6th visit to Singapore!).

I really enjoy the skyscape whenever I'm on a plane!

"Aren't you tired of going out of the city most of the times?"

That's the most frequent question I get and my answer is always the same: not really.

Perhaps because I don't really like routine and I get bored easily, so I enjoy visiting new places and meeting new people from time to time. Sure it might be exhausting when I travel frequently -- like this current project where I should take a train on 5AM every Monday from Jakarta and train on 7PM every Friday from Bandung; each trip takes 3 hours 30 minutes, so I spend around 7 hours on a train every week.

I also have new stories and stuffs for my family whenever I return home anyway so, yeah, it might sound unlikely, but I do enjoy having business trips outside of Jakarta inside of in Jakarta, lol. Besides, if you don't know, I enjoy being alone trying to do new things alone a lot.

Do I love the job?
To be frank, I am not really a fan of IT stuff, and SAP is included in the list. I also prefer working alone most of the times so you can figure out the answer!

But if you ask me whether I enjoy working as a consultant who travels from one place to another, then the answer is yes, I enjoy it a lot.

Chanting it every day and night to myself

So, that's about my work.

Now to my life.

Greetings from Thean Hou Temple, Malaysia

I visited Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 18-21 January 2019!
Should share about it when I can work it out later soon! It's my second visit there since October 2013 -- posted about it here.

I also dyed my hair to red on the second week of January at Anata Salon Bandung. It should be purple but... let's not talk about it now. A long story to go.

I also read a lot of interesting mangas for the past months.
  • Bungou Stray Dogs by Kafka Asagiri
  • Naka no Hito Genome ~ Jikkyouchuu ~ by Osora
  • An Uncomfortable Truth by EErun (very dark, but also very good!)
  • Mizutama Honey Boy by Junko Ike
  • Horimiya by HERO (very light and fun to read!)

Also watched some movies and TV series, currently watching The Guest (Korean). It's horror and no romance included (at least until episode 7). Watching it mostly on the train Jakarta-Bandung so it will take some more time for me to finish, lol.

I should have said that I read some new books and finish writing some stories but, no, that doesn't happen. Okay, let me sob a little at the corner of the room.

Continue, I'm also listening to songs by Day6, a Korean band. Oh, yes, I actually really like Rock but, no, Day6 is not really a rock band, but I pretty like their songs!

Jae, the first one from left, is a fluent English speaker and I'm so happy to know it ;A;

Let me see, what can I drop here again before ending the post today?

I'll have a short holiday with my Mom at the end of April as I promised her, then I'll take some days off and go somewhere else in mid of May for 10 days.
I guess that's all for now.

Hope you'll have a blessed second quarter of 2019 starting tomorrow!

See you on next post!

Taken at sanctuary walk to OHD Museum, Magelang

 

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Thursday, March 21, 2019

‡ Everglow | Memoir of March 2019 ‡

Written by Erlia Eleciel | 11:20:00 PM

I'll start this post with a short introduction about my family.

My Dad was born in Pematang Siantar, year 1958, while my Mom was born in Medan, year 1965.
My Mom had one older brother and a younger sister. Both her parents were still alive when my Dad and Mom got married, while my grandparents from Dad's side had passed away before.

My Grandma (from Mom's side) moved together with my Mom after she got married to my Dad, helping with house chores, from cooking to taking care of her own grandchildren. She also moved to Jakarta in 1992 with my parents and stayed with us, in the same house, for more than 30 years.

Year 1989, my older brother was born and both my grandparents were so thrilled as he's their first grandchildren. My grandmothers especially spoiled him a lot; she barely ever scolded him, no matter what happened. Sometimes I was enraged -- or jealous? -- due to this treatment.

Year 1991, I was born in Medan. I am the only daughter but I was not everyone's favorite. Do not take it in a wrong way though. What I'm trying to say is, if you think I am spoiled since I'm the only daughter, you're extremely wrong. That's all.

Year 1993, my first younger brother was born a year after my family moved to Jakarta. Oh, my Grandpa didn't live with us but he did visit us from time to time.

Year 1998, my little brother was born, completing our family.

So, this post will be a memoir of my Grandma who had passed away 7 days ago on 14 March 2019.

My Grandparents, around 28 years ago(?)

As I mentioned above, she had been staying with my parents ever since 30 years ago. Unlike my Grandpa whom we didn't meet every day, she was a part of our daily life.
She cooked for us, cleaned the house, watched TV with us, played with our pets, she wished us happy birthdays, she smiled for us every day and night, she opened the door for us to leave for work.

She was there. Always.

She rarely fell sick. Almost never, except fever and cough which went away after taking medicines. She was so healthy that, if I'm not mistaken, 10 years ago, she would still go to the market every morning to buy vegetables. Even 3 weeks ago, she still took the stairs happily to play with our pets since our home consists of three floors. 

Of course, as time passed, things might change.
As for her, you could say that it's her memory but it's pretty normal. She forgot to put some things at places or things she had done before, but not to any extreme cases. She was still able to cook my favorite dish and fold clothes like how she always did but, of course, her activities had decreased.

She often took sleep at noon and then watched TV more often. Mom didn't want her to be exhausted due to her age -- she just celebrated her 80th birthday last month.
For us, it's all normal.

Then, one day, she stopped talking.

That day, Friday, 8 March 2019.
Throwback to 25 (or 30) years ago, Mom said
I was in Singapore for a business trip. I would arrive in Jakarta at 7 PM that day. That noon, my older brother sent me a message on WhatsApp, telling me that they needed to call for a doctor because my Grandma suddenly didn't respond to any call after she took her usual nap after lunch.
I didn't think too much and just told him to update me if there's anything else.

Once I landed at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, I was actually planning to visit my friend who just gave birth but changed my mind when Mom told me that the condition had not changed. I immediately set my destination to home to find my Grandma laying on her bed.

She barely opened her eyes when I walked in, breathing heavily. She had not eaten anything, not moving except lifting her arm or leg once in a while randomly, not speaking a word for more than 8 hours.
I tried my best to calm down but what the others told me made my thought wandered away. The doctor who visited at 3 PM said that she was probably mad because someone hurt her feeling because she pinched my brother who wanted to lift her up when they wanted to bring her to a hospital.

I freaked out a little and decided to call for an ambulance. Seeing my Mom cried when she begged my Grandma to say anything, to forgive her if she had said anything wrong, broke my heart to pieces. Mom told me to go to Rumah Sakit Sumber Waras but, after I made a call, the hospital was full at the moment.
I called 119 for an ambulance and, long short story, after quick checkup which gave results that my Grandma's condition was completely normal, from pulse to sugar level, the ambulance helped us to bring her to a hospital. In the ambulance, my Grandma tried to take off the oxygen tube from her nose, still without saying a word.

I'm not going to mention the hospital name here but I'm extremely disappointed with how the hospital staffs treated my Grandma as the patient. Every time I tried to confirm about the status, each of the staffs would say that it's not their task so I should look for the respective doctor/nurse... while they're chatting with other staffs.
I wonder if that's how hospital work.

The doctor didn't give me any better impressions. After she told me that the CT scan at the hospital could not be used at the moment, she didn't give me any solution. I needed to ask for the solution and it's 2 in the morning. I know they're busy and it's pretty crowded but I'm pretty sure that's not the right work ethic.
Anyway, she said that if we needed to do the CT scan, my Grandma should be transferred to another hospital first and they would take care of it. I returned to home while my Dad stood by there. I had some rest before going back to the hospital at 9 AM to find all the staffs had changed shifts and none had taken care of the transfer to do the CT scan.

I was completely frustrated and couldn't hold back my tears when the staff gave me the excuse that he had no idea since he just started his shift. That's when the staffs finally contacted the other hospital and prepared for the transfer.
However, due to some personal reasons, my Mom decided to bring Grandma back home. She would take care of her. She couldn't bear to see my Grandma had her hands restrained since she kept trying to take off the infusion tube as well.

So, that Saturday noon, my Grandma was back at home, resting on her own bed.

It's me that she's carrying!
 
On Sunday morning, she had a fever and we knew that it's predictable. She couldn't drink or eat. She barely moved that day already. She was breathing through the mouth only instead of the nose. She never opened her eyes anymore.

After some discussions, we decided to bring her to Rumah Sakit Royal Taruma and, thankfully, we got quick responses upon our arrival. After taking care of all administrations, at 7 PM, the CT scan result was out.
We had thought of the possibility of stroke since she suddenly stopped talking but the basic checkups didn't show any hint of stroke. The result was a really big shock for us. Never once we thought of that possibility.

Brain tumor.

If I did a quick research on the internet, according to the CT scan, it's a midline shift.
Immediate surgery was needed but there were some circumstances and considerations to be taken care of and, unfortunately, with all the possibilities, my Grandma's children -- all three of them -- decided not to have the surgery with very low success percentage.

It was so unfortunate but at least we knew what her actual condition was and, with all our honesty, we prepared ourselves for the worse.

But watching her suffering with all the tubes and everything made my heart bleed.

We brought her back to home on Sunday night and, on Monday noon -- I took leave from office to stay at home--, her condition deteriorated again. She kept coughing and we couldn't shove the porridge or water to her throat for sure. We called another doctor and had him to give infusion for nutrition and medicine. The doctor suggested preparing for NGT so my Grandma could have some food instead of just water.

I decided to leave to Bandung for work on Tuesday morning, on my little brother's 21st birthday, since I thought my family could handle it without me.
Things didn't turn out the way we expected it would be. NGT was failed to be inserted due to the liquid blocking the path. I quickly found a way to rent a suction pump but, still, that Tuesday night, I must realize that NGT would never be set for her.
My Grandma cried, struggling as the sign that she didn't want to have that plastic tube inside of her. My Mom stopped the nurse from continuing and decided to continue giving infusion instead.

I decided to return to Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon and I greeted her that night. Her white hair, her pale skin. She was so skinny that night and her body was so warm. I went to bed without any thought.

Mom woke me up at 4:30 AM later, holding back her tears as she said, "Grandma has gone".

I jumped out of my bed and rushed to her side. Her body was still so warm but there was no breathing at all. Her chest didn't move like how I saw her 6 hours ago before I went to bed. I called out for her several times even though I knew she wouldn't respond.

She's gone.

She's with Grandpa now, right?

Mom is the closest to her. She cries so often even days after my Grandma's funeral. Mom keeps telling us about what my Grandma would do now if she's still alive. She repeats the words on and on but I never stop her.

That's how she remembers her.

I have so many things to regret despite the fact that I have prepared my heart since 8 March.

On her 80th birthday, I am the only who was not present due to a business trip. She rarely wanted to be photographed but Mom said that my Grandma was so happy that day. She even blew the candles to make a wish. They took a family picture together as well.

Everyone still had quick conversations with her on Friday 8 March. She even still opened the door for my younger brother before work. Meanwhile, my last time hearing her voice is on Sunday 3 March, the day I left for Singapore for a business trip. I barely saw her for the past year due to me leaving Jakarta for work.

I haven't learned how to cook my favorite food from her because I always thought there would be tomorrow. There would be next time when I could be at home.

But that chance doesn't exist anymore now.
Her 80th birthday; also, ironically, the one we chose for her funeral picture

I wouldn't be able to hear you reminded me to have some foods before leaving the home.
I couldn't hear your laughter anymore when we watched something funny.
I would never see your smile when I bought you chocolate or any food from another city every time I returned from a business trip.
I could not see you playing with Luna or Choco when I return from work at night again.

Do you know that sometimes when someone opens the 2nd-floor bedroom, I thought it's you?
For a split of a second, I feel like my heart clenches upon the realization that it would never be you anymore.

Do you know that on every last day of my business trip, before going back to home, I am thinking about what kind of sweet I should buy just to realize that there is no you to enjoy it anymore?

Do you know that I'm crying now just by imagining you saying to me, "Don't cry. It's alright."

I'd do anything to speak one more time with you.

Truth to be told, like everyone told me already, you're no more in pain.
At least you didn't have to suffer longer with all the tubes and injections and pains.
You're at a better place now and you would want us to live a better life for sure.

I know. I understand.
It's just my heart hurts so much whenever I think that I might not be a good granddaughter for you.

I miss you.
And I love you so endlessly.

I'm letting go,
but will never forget the memories of you.

Rest in Peace, Phopho.

21 March 2019
your first granddaughter
Taken on my 2nd birthday


* * *


That night, on 8 March 2019, this song was played on the radio.

And still my tears roll down listening to it.
Because of how special my Grandma is for me.
Always. 




"Well, they say people come
They say people go
This particular diamond was extra special
And though you might be gone, and the world may not know
Still I see you, celestial"

 

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