Saya

mid 30 indonesian female. wife. mother of two wonderful children. daughter. sister. aunt. crooked teeth *under construction with braces right now*. medical receptionist. iowa, usa. goofball. photo enthusiast. corrective lenses. traveler. on/off smoker. can’t live without rice. dengue haemorrhagic fever (dhf) survivor. computer game addict. agnostic. blood fear. dislike narrowmindedness. ex journalist. need 12 oz of coffee on weekdays. a bit of a clean freak. like sleeping too much. gutless flip-flopper. like the smell of new paper/stationery. seasonal depression (winter). always miss jakarta. fast learner. multitasker. can’t stand the sound of pots/pans rubbing together. mom’s side of family: dutch and north sumatra (batak/mandailing/harahap), dad’s side of family: malay and south sumatra (palembang/komring/syarifuddin). fond of horror/thriller movies. a believer of spongebob squarepants. studied industrial engineering for five years in indonesia, ended up working as a journalist. learned early childhood/elementary education for a while in the u.s., is now working in health industry. life’s so contradicting.

69 comments so far

  1. christi on

    D,

    I love your blog – found it through IowaBlogNet. Your journals remind me not to look to far away from my own home for hapiness. The world out there is beating people up pretty bad.

    I think it would be great if your Mom could come here. I am trying to get my stepmom to come live in IA with my brother and me. She only lives in PA, but she is still having a hard time wrapping her mind around it. My bro came out four years ago and it really saved his life. If nothing else, Iowa lets you get on with the business of having a good life. Thanks for a great blog.

    If you get a chance, check out my blog. My goal is to help parents stay in touch with kid-friendly activities in DSM-area. If you have any tips, please send them. If you like it, please share it with your friends.

    Christi

  2. Danny on

    high quality ex-journalist.

  3. dinysays on

    christi: thanks for the info :)

    danny: thanks for the compliments :)

  4. Toshihiko on

    hey, u’re an agnostic ex-journalist?? never know…. which tabloid/newspaper did u work for?

    And um… No offence here, but from what I observed, Indonesians outside Indonesia who used to embrace their religion (whatever it is among the big 5: Catholicism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism) usually leave them for atheism or just be a free-thinker in their new country, am I right?

    I dare bet that u were either a Muslim or a Christian during your old days in Indonesia, hehe… ^^

  5. dinysays on

    Yes, I was born and raised as a Moslem. Always been a lazy one and continued to be a skeptical one as also am to Christianity. I worked for Otomotif tabloid for about a year, then moved on to MOTOR magazine for four years.

  6. melly on

    dintje, IM ada gaaaa?? eh, emailku kan pasti dapet tokh dari data reply yang ini. santika itu, aku waktu itu pake GFF, Garuda Frequent Fyler, tapi kayaknya selama WNI, masih bisa kok dapet diskon

  7. imsuryawan on

    Blogwalking. Nice blog. :)

  8. ichi on

    I think i’ll start to read your blog regularly from now on… love to read it.
    Why don’t you write a book, too?? I’ll buy :D

  9. mer on

    thank you for dropping my blog and showing me the way to get into this wonderful blog. and you’re such a cool creature… ex journalist and agnostic :) and even better, you’re also a coffee and sleep addict!!!

  10. tere616 on

    Hi .. nice to know you. Ex journalist ? LOL, I used to be a stringer journalist when I was in college, but fate bring me to my current profession now, while I was waiting Kompas open his vacancy).

    Will come and visit you often now .. have a nice day ..

    Wish we have the energy of a child (I wish .. I wish .. like I wish a day have more than 24 hours)

  11. tere616 on

    Din … do you know Anto Beding or Boy Beding ? Ouch .. can’t stand to ask :-)

  12. finallywoken on

    Hello, found your blog from blog-indo. Wonder if it’s ok to put your blog in the exat blog list at Indonesian Expatriates Forum. You are more than welcome to share your stories of living in a foreign country too there. Also if you know people who have the similar experience as ours, please let them know too. Cheers!

  13. dinysays on

    @anita: sure thing :)

  14. tere616 on

    Din, Anto Beding, anaknya Marcel Beding. Adiknya Boy, juga pernah di Otomotif.

    UI 81 atau 82, forgotten already ….

  15. dinysays on

    Anto + Boy Beding? Yah tau bangeth!

  16. rima fauzi on

    Hi diny,
    thanks for visiting my blog.
    Yes, being an agnostic is nothing to be ashamed of, but unfortunately, people in our country do not think that way. We might as well be lepers, because they see us that way.
    Your blog is very interesting, do you mind me adding you to my blogroll?

  17. dinysays on

    Hey Rima… sure thing :)
    I wasn’t sure that you’re in Indonesia or elsewhere; now I symphatize more for you ;)

  18. rima fauzi on

    No, I’m not in Indonesia but nevertheless, I interact with Indonesians daily. Even those who are not in Indonesia feels the same way. Not all of them, of course, but enough to sadden me.

  19. rima on

    din, lo dah gue link yah.. you are welcome to link me as well. gue juga baru ngecek indonesians expats forum, it seems interesting enough, would probably contribute to the forum.. hope u’ll do the same.. trade stories lah gimana idup di beda2 negara..
    :)

  20. Ari Kuncoro on

    Thanks for surfing my blog and commenting my famz picture.
    Are u an ex journalist? … It makes your blog pretty good and readable.

    -expat ni?… –
    cool

  21. the writer on

    wow, fellow ex-journalist :)

  22. fitri mohan on

    halloooo!

    gue ngeliat2 fotonya, trus kok ada jeng Bril, dan trus, kok ada Otomotif dan Motor? jangan2 ini diny yang pernah jadi tetangga kos-ku pas di lapangan bola dulu? (tiba2 gue jadi inget si Aong di Motor…)

    ini aku fitri eks Nova, Din! dulu ngekos sebelahan persisss di sebelah kamar dikau. depan kamar gue tuh si jeng bril. pasti dirimu lupa, karena abis itu trus dirimu pergi dari kos2an itu, heheheh.

    tapi pasti dikau takkan melupakan maknyak, mbak cicik, dan mbak ika kan? * wink wink *

    moga2 bener ini elu. jangan2 gue ngomong begini salah lagi. hehehehe. kalo salah, maap yaa.

    :D

  23. Silly on

    Ahhh, very interesting to know you mbak diny… thanks for stopping by and leave a comment. That lead me to this wonderful blog.

    Pasti bakalan sering main kesini. Langsung subsribe for RSS ahhh, hehehehe..

    Makasih ya, salam kenal lagi ahhh…

    Silly

  24. dinysays on

    Silly, sama-samaaaaaa…
    Btw, boleh yah, nge-link blognya :)

  25. Silly on

    aku juga lagi ngelink blog mbak nich… btw… ini dimana toh jeung???

  26. Lorraine on

    Hi Dinny,

    May I place a link to this blog at mine? I love your style of writing & want to read your posts on regular basis.

    cheers,

    Lorraine

  27. dinysays on

    Hi Lorraine, of course it’s OK. Thanks.

  28. the writer on

    Heard about the flood in Iowa. Hope you’re ok!

  29. maya on

    halo halo mba dini ….salam kenal juga …tulisannya bagos-bagos euy….kapan pulang ke indo? wuiihhh makin banyak loh sate2 yg yahutttt…mau??? hehehhe

  30. dinysays on

    hi maya… we’re going home to indonesia december this year. ngemeng2, tempat makan sate kambing yang tof of the pof di jakarta sekarang di mana yah?

  31. yati on

    hai….salam kenal juga. ma kasih udah mampir ke tempatku :)

  32. dinysays on

    kembali kasih yati… sama2 terusin acara mampirnya yah!

  33. yati on

    baru baca baik2 postingan2nya. pernah jadi jurnalis ternyata, pantes ajaaaa….! grup yg itu2 juga ya mbak? :d hehehe…

    jadi tahun ini pulang ke indo?

  34. sarah on

    hi mbak, nice blog :D

    salam kenal,
    sarah

    *nerusin baca2*

  35. itikkecil on

    Hai mbak Diny… blognya keren…
    *buru-buru di add ke gugel rider*

  36. dinysays on

    aduh dik ira bisa aja. makasih buat pujiannya. come sering-sering main yah… :)

  37. thewriter on

    Din, will you be so kind to re-link me to my new address. Thanks!

  38. dinysays on

    Done, ‘va :) Thanks for the update.

  39. Lorraine on

    Dintje,

    Ex-smoker? Bagus bu, tetep semangat!

  40. Fida Abbott on

    Hello D,

    It is nice to meet you. Thank you for your first special comment at my Blog.

    Have great autumn!

  41. yulism on

    Hallo mbak D, nice to found your blog. Most of them are good post. Thanks and I wish you don’t mind if I will visit your blog more often.

  42. maykoedison on

    your blog..a nice content

  43. Chris Taylor on

    An Indonesian in Iowa … talk about a fish out of water! :)

  44. santi d on

    Din .. elo lahir tgl dan bulan apa ya? just curious.

  45. dinysays on

    san, ini ade ape petugas sensus nyasar di mari :p

  46. Antonbotol on

    Hi…ho…ito!!!

    Cuma mau kasih tau kalo emang belom tau…
    Robin dah ga ada 17 Januari’09 lalu

  47. dinysays on

    seriously? how did he die?

  48. Antonbotol on

    Tabrak Lari…5 hari di rumah sakit Husada, meninggal sabtu subuh jam 3.47 AM/subuh. Padahal dia tuh dah sukses jadi anak metal sejati (Terakhir main di Finland, bareng Slayer, kreator etc)…kalo ada wakt search aja di google…Robin hutagaol, Indonesia berduka duta besar metal indonesia sudah pergi (Rolling Stones magz, Gatra, Tempo, Detik dan semua blog di indonesia) sampai ada charity shownya…
    Tapi yakin sekarng dia dah bikin komunitas baru disana dan mulai ngeband lagi…Biarpun skrg agnostic, tp gw tetap minta doanya buat dia..

  49. Ori on

    OMG…
    My Mom was at the Husada ICU room at that time.
    When I was waiting at the ICU waiting lounge, I saw some people with rocker-like attribute, and there were western people too amongst them. I was wondering about them.
    My bro told me that they’re there for a friend who was a victim of hit-and -run accident.
    My bro also said that he’s Batak, but I forgot what his surname.
    But when I was there on Saturday, my bro told us that the person has died. Then when I came to see my Mom, she told me that the person on the bed next to hers has just died.

    The next day after he died, there were still 2 friends of him came around (both were foreigners -a man and a woman), and I think the security guy informed them that he’s passed away on Friday night…? (I heard him mentioned Friday).

    It feels strange that I came across about it here and could finally find out a bit more about the person.
    May he rest in peace and may his loved ones live proudly with the memory of him.

  50. dinysays on

    @Ori: Robin and I went to the same university but he’s a year younger. We hung out a lot. He’s a very popular guy because of his involvement in music. He’s also down to earth, funny, and friendly. What a great loss. Is your Mom OK now?

  51. Ori on

    She’s better, but she’s still at the hospital (Husada)…almost 3 months. She suffers diabetes, and in January she got one of her toe amputated (that’s how she stayed at ICU room for 2 days), got healed for a while and went back home late Feb, but 2 weeks later had to be admitted back into hospital. Well..you know how hospitals in our country (talking about generalisation)…we (Mom, my family and I) can only pray and hope that she’ll get her health back soon. Thank you for asking Din :)

  52. yessigreena on

    i think i fall in love with your blog..
    nice to know you… :)

    what a great life
    i do wish a life like yours
    a wife and a mother of two child :)

    • dinysays on

      @yessigreena: thank you for your kind comment. salam kenal juga :)

  53. NSuwarno on

    Hi D,
    I am N, and accidentally I stumble upon your blog, it is an interesting view. You said you hate narrow mindedness… so do I , that is why I wrote my blog in Indonesian Language just to make it easier for the Indonesian to read my musing; which mainly aim as an eye opener for the Indonesian on what is going on at the other end of the globe.
    I’d like to link your blog to mine, and hopping you link mine as well and who know….

  54. dinysays on

    @NSuwarno: Halo N, terima kasih sudah mampir di blog saya. Sering-sering mampir ya… Silakan di-link dan saya link balik blog situ.

  55. emka on

    Hi sist, gw lg di puncak, biasa, msh dg kesibukan shtng..
    Ada temen ksh tau suruh buka ur blog.. Baca crita kita..
    Didinginnya tengah mlm puncak, can u imagine how I feel ?
    Tears falling down instantly.. Gosshhh.. Miss u so much !
    Miss our friendship, miss everything about us..
    Thanks for trying to find me..

  56. dinysays on

    Milaaaaaaa… OMG! Akhirnya nyampe juga suara hatiku -ceile- menyebrangi lautan. Selanjutnya gue email elo aja yah. Miss you, sis!

  57. Lex dePraxis on

    Hmm, stumbled upon this from a fellow blogger. Nice writings. I’ll be back.. :D

  58. Turike on

    Nice blog! I found it during blog-walking from blog-indonesia.com . Nice to see another ‘indonesian’ blogging about life outside Indonesia. I live in Spore. Can’t complain, life is nice here, only 1 hr away from Jakarta. Here’s a link to my blog
    http://turike-diva.blogspot.com.
    Still a newbie compare to you :p
    Keep on blogging.

  59. dinysays on

    @Turike: Hi there and thanks for stopping by. I envy you, being just an hour away… living in a place where the foood isn’t so different with Indonesia. I’ll check out your blog as soon as possible :)

  60. Chelsea on

    Dinyfitha, – you are truly living your dreams to the fullest! I am so happy for you. Davi and Dante sound absolutely wonderful, and I bet you are the best medical receptionist in Iowa. I wish you all the happiness that can be had in the future. Great job on the blog writing, keep it up!

  61. NSuwarno on

    Hi Din,
    Mampir lagi nih, just to let you know that I moved my blog to a new address, this time my own domain: http://ninstravelog.net. It’s up and running now. Blog situ juga dah saya link dengan blog yang baru, dan saya harap link saya di blog ini juga di divert ke alamat baru ya…
    Saya akan tetep sering mampir sini….
    N.

    • dinysays on

      @nins: mbak’e, sampun diedit link blog-mu. matur nuwun sanget :)

  62. Maureen on

    Dhi…I think we’ve met before many years ago if you still remember in Jakarta (remember Hard Rock Cafe? *hint…hint*) Let me know if you remember. So happy to stumble on your blog, girl!

    • dinysays on

      hi maureen… long time no hear. sure, i remember you. also the hint-hint for you :p how’s life? i will check out your blog. gosh i saw a picture of your son… he had grown so big! ttyl.

      • Maureen on

        Life is good Di, how bout you? Gosh Dante and Devi had grown so much too. Need to add you on my blogroll if you don’t mind since I love how you write! Am a fan now ;) Take care, lady!

  63. colson on

    Sometimes I wondered what the source of the magic of your blog is. But I just should have read ” Saya” earlier. Because now I know: there is a Dutch connection here.

    I also love this by the way: job in a hospital and suffering from blood fear. It’s like being a sailor and suffering from seasickness.

    • dinysays on

      if only i paid more attention to ‘oma suzy’ -my grandmother-
      when she’s spreken deutche; i would be able to speak trilingually. the only one that stuck in my mind was her “godverdomme!” while her blue/grey eyes gotten so big whenever she heard/saw me playing in the flood. ahh… good times… good times…

  64. dinysays on

    @maureen: iya, sok aja atuh… di link. gue link balik yah?


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