New Start in my Journey

It was started on July 2006, I was working as a GP in Tourism Clinic, and it was prestige enough because my patients were not only from local people but also tourists. It took sometime to settle down my self and return back my confident to diagnose and treat my patients. But I have a dilemma when poor patients come and have to pay to Clinic. I didn’t mind if they didn’t pay me, but clinic should be paid…. It was very hard for me. I just worked there for only one and half months then I focused as Research Assistance in CHSM-GMU. It was not about money, but as long as I was happy. I also have to learn many things in this work… statistic, research methods, excel, etc. Fortunately, many friends worked in my office supported me…. Very challenging….

I worked as field site’s coordinator for data collection in Jakarta. I think this is a new start of my journey, many experiences I gained. I communicated with at least 11 HIV NGO’s (IDU’s, waria, etc) with many kind of characteristics…. mostly they can be cooperative with me. But the other side I also have to approach a big hospital in Jakarta (director people and specialists) for having collaboration with them. But they gave defence and reject us. Then we found another hospital that agreed to have collaboration. I have success to make coordination with NGO’s and a hospital as a data collection sites. That was my first achievement. Recruiting and training local surveyors were very excited for me. Coordinating data collection and data entry were my responsibilities. Proudly, I have done it by myself. It was completed within less than 2 months…. Amazing…. I will never forgot this experience.

Looking for Job

Welcome to Jogjakarta... After 2 years, this old city looks remain the same. The progress is very slow and definitely not as same as Jakarta. I miss angkringan food, riding a motor cycle, having lunch in lesehan, etc. The difference now is me. I am a jobless doctor, a mother and a wife. Hikksss

I went to Medical Faculty of GMU for refreshing my memories… what a totally change!!! The buildings, the people, the system, etc, all reformed. I heard that this faculty is becoming the most expensive faculty amongst others in GMU. No questionable why doctor’s fee more and more expensive. I can’t imagine how poor people will not be able to access health facilities because of that. I met some of my friends by accident there. Some of them already work as lecturer, and some of them are still finalizing their Co-ass. I miss them. I tried to find out the information about continuing study as specialist and some vacancies announced. My eyes catch two announcements in the corner board that are very interesting: SOS International was looking for GP and CHSM was looking for research assistance. What a lucky person I am.

After discussing with my beloved husband, he supported me to apply both. All documents were sent to the addresses and I was waiting calls from them. In a short time, the calls came for the interview and writing test. It was done well eventhough I am litlle bit nervous. I got both jobs, as a part time GP in Mitra Medika Medical Services and fulltime research assistance in CHSM-GMU. How lucky I am…. Thanks God.

Back to the Real World

Soon after getting my MD degree, I have to accompany my husband to continue his study in Sydney, Australia. We just married and it was just like a honeymoon period for me. I have spent my life in that Kangaroo country for about 2 years (2004-2006), I even never imagine before. We decided for pending have a baby in the first year since we needed sometimes to settle down and enjoy traveling to all around Australia.

Meanwhile, to spend my time and get some amount of money off course, I worked in a blind factory, Dial a blind. I have to put down my MD and having fun with my new job as a labor, pure physically work. I can even put my brain in my flat for doing that work. Anyway I was happy to have many friends from all around the world and save enough money to buy squares of land in Jogja for our future.

Lita was born in 2005 and I didn’t work anymore since starting pregnant. As a fulltime mother, I never felt have enough time in a day to take care of Lita….so busy. Time flies till we realized that we have to back to Indonesia in 2006. I started to think what next to do in Indonesia after absent as a GP in about 2 years. Do I brave enough to diagnose and treat my patients? Jo, one of my colleagues, told me to take it easy because GP is just like riding a bike. Yes it was true but…. I still worried about it…. Can I just keep work as a fulltime mother? What people will say, a doctor just stays at home? Many things were annoying my mind. But we have to back to the real world…. What ever it is… face the reality, do what you can do for the best and lets God take care of the rest.