One of the happiest days

20 April 2007
Today is indeed one of the happiest days throughout this year for me.
Finally, I finish this translation of "Selling Today: Creating Customer Value". Well, it is not totally completed yet. I still have to edit it and coordinate with Nike, my co-translator, concerning the terms that we use. However, this is a (seemingly) big success that warrants celebration.
After this translation, more work awaits. Starting tomorrow, I have to delve into the world of pragmatics–something that I have not explored for years. My paper is accepted by the organising committee of Atma Jaya’s KOLITA. This is very good actually, since this will be my first time presenting an academic paper in an international forum. However, frankly speaking, I really made up the abstract that I sent to KOLITA. Now, I face the difficult task of writing the ‘made-up’ paper. Well, nothing to be worried about, so many of my colleagues write ‘instant’ papers and got accepted at international conferences. Hopefully, I can follow their footsteps.
Then, I have to write my dissertation proposal. I am still confused whether my dissertation should investigate effective teachers-effective schools or the building of multicultural education in Indonesia. Choosing the topic is really imporant. If I get accepted, I will spend more than 3 years of my life investigating this one small thing. So that is why people call those with PhD as people who have Permanent Head Damage. They have damaged their brains by studying one small thing for too long. I am also still unsure whether I need to pursue my PhD in America or Australia. Nevertheless, probably it is not a big issue. I will just apply for both the American and Australian scholarships. I can never tell which one will accept me anyway.
Other than that, tomorrow is the last day for our first term at PPB for this year. Finally, this batch comes to an end. For the first time, I think I really enjoyed the classes at PPB. Both my TOEFL and IELTS students are nice and friendly.
Soon, the tiring task of marking the papers begins. I have two heaps of Grammar, one of Binus’ Academic English, and within a very short time, a stack of IELTS writing and Integrated Course papers.
However, this day calls for a celebration; no matter how short the celebration is.
So the moral of the story: Be thankful for every little success. From these little successes, we build the bigger success. One more thing, just like what I always said to Gita, DJ and Wie Vie during high school, "This storm has receded, but there is another one coming this way." (Badai sudah berlalu, tapi ada badai baru.) So don’t let this small success stops you from preparing yourself for the next assignment.
Eventually, have fun and enjoy yourself! I did so by shopping at Senayan earlier this week– not to be followed by anyone who does not want to have empty bank accounts just after one day shopping at Senayan City and Plaza Senayan. :))