Defining Contentment

I am currently being assigned to work in a quite densely wooded area, 'S'. Being away from the city life, I spend my days trying to figure out if I can content myself with something emotionally comforting about working in a remote area. The feeling of being needed, allowing myself to control spending on wasteful stuff, and embracing the peaceful atmosphere are at least three forms of emotional and psychological contentment of working in a remote area.

First of all, the most sensible motive is that nearly everyone like to feel needed. There is this funny feeling when people acknowledge your presence, your work. Given the fact that the number of employees working in big cities compared to that of working in a remote area, your presence seems to make a difference. As a matter of fact, having this kind of feeling is emotionally and psychologically good for you.

Secondly, being in a remote area keeps you away from spending your money on wasteful stuff. In big cities, my spending could have been more than doubled, particularly during certain celebrations. The other way around, here in 'S', once you have made it to a shopping mall, you are likely to be puzzled of what to buy. There are no such decent shopping malls where people normally spend their money on books, clothes, shoes, and the like. Surprisingly, this situation is somewhat beneficial for I can now have my spending cuts.

Finally, you have plenty of time embracing the quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Just imagine that you have had a very tiring day, all you need is probably relax and allow your mind to be free from worry after a period of work or some other activity that has made you worried. It is then; quietness seems to be the best company.

These things might surprise you and teach you new facts about working in a remote area.

2010 to me

In 2010:

• I finally completed my degree. But missed the graduation ceremony.
• I made a lot of friends in Balikpapan.
• I experienced leaving for work and going home by speedboats.
• I spent Idul Fitri without my beloved family.
• I finally bought a smartphone.
• I had some random inappropriate crushes. And managed to move on after all.
• I managed to lose about 2-3 kilos. And later gained 5 kilos.
• I inhaled volcanic ash and dust during Merapi eruption.
• I jumped over the 2-3 meter high office fence! In daylight! This is probably the most ridiculous thing I've done! And I thanked Mr. anonymous parking guard and Mr. Midomi seller for helping me out, lifting me up … *grins*

Now that I'm supposed to be working on the resolutions I made ... at the end of 2009. Oh, I still work on 2010 resolutions, for most of them failed. Well, I'll simply make them as my resolutions in 2011.

Somewhere ... away from Jogja

"How do you get to work? By bus? car? motorbike?"
A friend of mine asked me this question few weeks ago.

Q: "How do you get to work?"
A: "Well, I take public transport to the errr ... port. Then I take a speedboat!"

At first, it was a bit weird to respond 'by speedboat'. Amazingly, I've been doing so for more than 2 months, and I kinda enjoy that.
Here I am, in Balikpapan. That is the city I live in currently. But then my workplace is located in a place called 'Tanjung Batu'. It takes about 10 minutes to get there by speedboat from Semayang, Balikpapan.

There's so much to say about Tanjung Batu. But, I just find it hard to describe this 'soothing' place, until I read a piece of writing, entitled:

TANJUNG BATU, THE MOST CIVILIZED REMOTE AREA

*click to enlarge and then read*

Perfect title! It's an article submitted by an ESL course participant, named Feby Antoni on completion of a writing competition held by POSB - the most civilized remote area- . He could describe Tanjung Batu way better than I did (I tried several times, though). This piece of work would exactly tell what it is like to be in Tanjung Batu.