Sounds like I will write 365 stories for every single day in 2019. No, I won’t. I’ll make it simpler.

January, I was depressed waiting for my thesis examination. Seriously, I would regret my project in soil lab if I’ve failed to be yudisium (judgment) before end of January. Finally, I’ve got my exam schedule on 9119 or January 9th, 2019. You know what? It was very challenging, having two examiners who were senior among other lecturers. The 1st examiner was soil geography profs, while the 2nd one was the late security coordinator of UGM. Fortunately, the 1st examiner didn’t give me a hard time. I’ve had to face the 2nd examiner, who gave me such a hard time. Alhamdulillah I followed him 3 days respectively to get his signature. Then the 1st examiner. The last, I came to my supervisor to get final signature, both for yudisium and graduation.

February, I was depressed by preparing my graduation day—I, my house, and my family. You know I’ve been living here alone that I’ve big responsibility to take care my parents’ house in DIY. Even February was the highest spending/expenditure among other months in 2019. But at least I still had some saving on my account.

March, I was challenged to live outside DIY, alone. First, I consulted some things to my late supervisor. You know after graduation, it was the 1st time I jumped to quarter life crises. I’d pretend that I’ve no problem with it, but I couldn’t… My decision was continuing studying in university. Before that, I wanted to spend my days exploring my world which had been arranged. During half March, I studied hadith in an Islamic boarding. Many rules there, some of them restricted me and my roommates to go outside. I’d once sick, which let me in to a health room. It might relate to accumulation of unhealthy food (oily), sporadic viruses, and weak condition after stepping under the rain.

The activity in Islamic boarding had been continued until middle of April. Then I studied English in a traditional course named Inspire Pare. I’d been living more freely but my mobility was restricted that I’d only a bicycle. But at least I could have healthy food because the course provided vegetables garden. The thing which had made me sad was about my worship. I could only attend some meeting in mosques.

My English course finished in the one third of May. After that, I came back to Yogyakarta. I prepared some archives to apply scholarship and master. It was Ramadhan. You know, Ramadhan needed me taking a nap in the noon. But I was very delighted to have a chance to live in self-sufficient. I cooked, ate, cleaned myself. Since I realized my self-sufficient, I thought that my kitchen was my laboratory.

In the beginning of June, I decided to go to Bengkulu. My new brother in-law was curious about my parents’ or his parents in-law’s house in Bengkulu. That was why my parents didn’t go to DIY. About 75 % my June was spent in Bengkulu. The weather was hot that I had such a red-convex—disease in my skin. Actually, Yogyakarta weather is hot, but I could adapt myself.

July, I finished my registration to the university, included the local scholarship. I’d no idea what to do in July, but I’d responsibility to finish my thesis journal. Hmm so hard. During that month, I was taking care of my elder sister who was having a pregnancy (about 5 month). I became a cooker, a driver, etc. Well, she left Yogyakarta in the beginning of August.

August was the first time to study in master. I knew, I’ve failed to get local scholarship from faculty. Therefore, I applied other scholarship, which came from Ministry of Education and Culture. My study in master is arranged in blok (stage) or 1 course is fulfilled in some weeks. Yeah, I focused on it till I forgot to finish my thesis journal. For your information, I spent Idul Adha and Indonesia Independence Day myself. I took participation on my parents’ behalf, not only for Idul Adha in my mosque (Pingit) but also for RT 15 events in Independence Day (gymnastics and race walking).

September, I’ve failed in the 2nd scholarship. I didn’t know but it might relate to inconsistency of some archives. The point was that I’d to fill my parents’ biodata, included the family card. Unfortunately, my parents’ family card didn’t count me. I followed my grandma’s family member, which didn’t have electricity record. I learnt something that I should have a good administration not only for applying scholarship but also employment. There in September I attend some meetings for new students, both from the university (OPSMB) and the faculty (general lecture).

October, I’d to prepare my elder sister’s graduation. Yep because I was the host of this house. Luckily, the expenditure didn’t reach the same as in February. The most important thing was I’d have a new family card, and guess what, who is the head? Me! Wkwk. At least I had S.Si. after my last name so it was worthy to be a family head.

November, ah much drama ever. In the beginning, I started to teach Earth Science Olympiad again. The students were so hmm vary. I didn’t know what to say, but I realized that teaching local children was harder than general children (who had better score in National Examination). Then I took participation in field lecture, which might turn me to sick caused by consuming cold drink after warm weather. I was powerless. Then class lecture, followed by field lecture again. The most important thing was my new niece has been born, even I went to Bekasi. In one hand, I’d like to see my niece. On the other hand, I would deliver my sister’s archives to register as civil servant. I also prepared for this, helping me and her.

December, nice to hear that alhamdulillah I passed the administration verification in civil servant. My new niece had aqiqoh. Then… what else? Ah… still, I will continue my study in semester I, doing a project from Ministry of Environment and Forestry as well. Overhead of 4th course/stage will be held on January 10th, 2020. Hmm I also joined Koja (Komunitas Olimpiade Jogja wkwk, created by Ahmad Raditya Cahya Baswara) so I taught some students outside of SMAN 2 Yogyakarta in team teaching. You know, collective action is more efficient than being a single fighter. What else? Remember that I haven’t married yet so I will have to take munaqosyah on December 28th, 2019, followed by PAT on December 31st, 2019. If I join neither munaqosyah nor PAT, I should get married but I’m not sure in this short period, cause I’m still too young. Besides, I am the last daughter who have been left by my elder sisters. A married woman must obey her husband, while a daughter must obey her parents. If I go earlier, who will obey my parents? Wkwk. I still have some dreams to achieve, including preparing my long-term life in the world (one of them is marriage) and in the afterlife.

I think that’s all. Really something.

Noviyanti Listyaningrum, S.Si.