2017 in A Nutshell

Two weeks from now, we're going to leave 2017 and welcoming 2018. It is so fast I must say. Many things happen in my life. I have not written anything about my movement to Sweden. So now, I will write the story about it and also some memories in 2017.

Alhamdulillah, in around September or October 2016, I got the result that I passed the test from the scholarship I applied - LPDP. I was so happy that I had a chance to chase my dream to live abroad, maybe not for a long time, but at least I will get the international experience. 

The effort to live abroad was not as smooth as I expected, in Feb 2017, I got the result from my application on universityadmission.se that I was still on the waiting list to be accepted in the university. In the beginning, I was so confident to be accepted since last year I passed, but I needed to decline the application since I didn't have any scholarship to support my study. I was so afraid that I couldn't get the university, but there was a second chance to get the final result. With some support from my family and friends, I kept being optimistic to wait for the final result. By the way, the first result came right before I had a holiday in Raja Ampat, Papua ( you can check the other story about my trip to Raja Ampat)

In March, I had an opportunity to go to Mecca and Madina, Saudi Arabia, for Umroh. I was there by myself, but luckily I was surrounded by many good people there, and we are still in contact now. I prayed that I would get the best result for me on the final.

Alhamdulillah, right after I was back from Umroh, just a few hours after I was back home. I received the email that I was accepted in Lund University for Service Management, Tourism program. I was calling my friend just to ensure that I saw the right result. Then afterward I told my family about this good news. 

End of April, I resigned from my work in Unilever, and it was exactly five years I worked in the company. It was not easy to leave my career, but I need to chase my dream. Herby some photos of my journey in Unilever. I started to work in Unilever Food Solutions handling the local jewel brands and trade marketing for modern trade channel

 Then I moved to skin cleansing team and handling Lifebuoy soap.

and lastly in the hair category handling Dove Shampoo

After I resigned, I travel to many places such as Bandung, Jogja, Bali, Thailand, and Labuan Bajo. Also, I spent my time to meet up with my friends as a "farewell."

It was so fast... suddenly it was July already, and early August was my departure to Sweden. Mixed-feeling in between excited and insecure since I never left home before except for a business trip or holiday. The closer it was the more I got scared

Finally, the time of my departure had come... ready or not. I need to leave. The trip felt different, I usually go to the airport by myself, but now my parents were accompanying me. Then in the airport, my friend, Smita, came to say goodbye. Again, It was hard for me to leave them before entering the boarding gate. 

Here I am now. Currently, I live in Helsingborg in Skåne region, Southern Sweden. Please check the below link to see my apartment :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki2n9oa2KGA

Now, It has been five months I live in this city and back as a student. It is not easy to be a student again after almost seven years I left the academic life. I need to adapt to the new environment, new culture, new people, language. Also, I need to manage my own life, finance, cook. Lastly, the most important thing is I need to study, study, and study. 

Sometimes, I can not lie that I am struggling. I miss home, my family, my friends, my fish, Indonesian food and many more. Lucky, I have some friends here as my "support system," and I always reflect myself that this is what I have been dreaming. The first semester is almost done now. Hopefully, I can keep going through everything here smoothly and having a lot of experience here.

(Edited version: Don't worry guys! I am totally fine here. haha)

Almost forget to mention that one thing that also motivates me is to travel :) so... please stay on my blog to see my Eurotrip experience. I will try to be consistent to write on my blog.

See you!