iLearn TOEFL IBT @america

I attended class series from @america which is #iLearnTOEFLIBT. Since I'm planning pursue master degree in US, so I'm preparing that kind of test. It's not short preparation, we need to invest our time, money and focus to get the higher score. I'll give you several important points from Samar Aal who conducted this class.

TAKE NOTES!!

Samar reminded us again and again to take notes. Whether in reading section, listening, speaking, and writting, we need to take notes. In reading section, we can note the number which we're not sure about the answer. Then, we can easily back to that number without checking one by one from beginning. We literally need to take notes in other sections.

She said even though American, they need to take notes. The test runs for 4 hours, that's quite long period. We can't remember the many things without taking notes because that is too much.

We must not write the detail, using abbreviation, symbol, etc. It's impossible to write all of things. Just write the main idea and important information.

TOEFL is English Test

Most of us feel so hard when the reading section comes about geographic, physic or other difficult subjects. We don't need to have any specific background to answer those questions. Because all of information are given either stated or implied.

Don't Drink Too Much

The test runs for 4 hours and divide as two. First, reading and listening then we have break 10 minutes. Second, speaking and writting. Samar gave advice don't drink too much before the exam. You should have good rest and well-eat, but not about drinking much water.

English Roots

Googling that one. When we know many roots, we can easily answer the questions. For instance, photosynthesis. When we know photo means light, we can easily know what photosynthesis is. She said, google it, read it, learn it and you'll be improved.

I can extract the material to be full written here. I embed the recorded version from the 1st day until 3rd day. She told us abundant of information and knowledge. Spare your 2 hours/day to watch 1 videos. That's worth it. Last, you can also download the ppt file here. It's very helpful.

1st Day

2nd Day 

3rd Day

NIZARLAND

"Where The Land Inspires The World"

Last Days

That was my first time facing farewell individually. I mean in school and university, some of us separated in the same time. In working life, you can't waiting your friend to quit from your job. I know it's kinda hard decision. However, the life must go on. I need to go to another episode of my life.

As I remember, the first time I got real surprise is when I was 20 years old, birthday surprise party, you can read here. In this office, when people have birthday, we celebrate together. It's kinda surprise. However, it wasn't really surprise me, because you know it's your birthday and the office mates will celebrate your day, it does regularly.

In my 2 years office life, we usually give surprise to the people who will resign by recording wishes video or give gift such as shirt, wallet, bag, watch, etc. I just shocked, in December 30th, when I was going to my cubicle, I saw creative craft birthday surprise hanging at my cubicle. I was speechless. I can say nothing. I guess, that was the most creative farewell surprise I've ever seen, personally. One of my friend said "we can't give you video because no one can create as great as you". Honestly, if you gave me video, the thing already in my mind. Nevertheless, the farewell surprise that you guys created was very mindblowing. That was super awesome. I think, all of you can see how sweet my close office mates are.

The stuff. What a remarkable surprise.

Some of them looked dissatisfied with my expression. They don't know that I still can't understand, how come all of you got that ideas. Brilliant. When I read all wishes, I tried to control myself. I will remember all of those wishes and hopefully the wishes from great friends will be the great one for me.

These wishes 

 

 

These gifts 

Blankon from Mba Ika

Mas Alief gave me his coverall. "Just in case someday you need it", he said

Coin Banker from Rizka, Dinda, Santi. I wish I could go to US

From Chicha, "B for Bajri", she said

From Najma & Indika

We had small farewell party in Jupiter meeting room. I wanna say thanks for people who take their time there even the party was going late. These are the pictures.

My last day was exactly at December 31st. We also had DSME End Year Party at that day. The day when the bosses explained what we've done and what we will do. The day when appreciation gives to deserved people. The day when we had lunch together, whole coworkers. I was happy contributing our short movie entitled by I AM as the 1st Runner Up. Moreover, my startup, Lumos Production also as the vendor to capture their happiness in photobooth stage. Even tough, some of unfair treatment from management side dissapointed me, I tried to look the other side, which is the happy side. There always been something we can gratitude for.

Thank god for these amazing two years. Please keep all good memories in our own mind. I wish the great wishes for my close friends who really nice and stunned my days :)

The bosses

with our SPS specialist hahaha

M08A all stars

NIZARLAND

"Where The Land Inspires The World"

Why Should I Resign as Engineer?

If you click this link, you will some posts about my office life in PT. DSME Indonesia. Cerita 3 Hari di Kantor Baru is one of the  most visited post in this personal website. Some of newcomers who want to join this company, unintentionally visited that link. If you read those posts, you will think that my office life is happy. Yes, I'VE BEEN happy there.

Until now, I still the remember the excitement of me when the first day was running. I was glad to be part of this company. I have adequate salary, the office is nearby my house, most of engineers are fresh graduate, still young and having similar age, the office tower is quite the new one. I WAS happy and proud to be piping engineer in PT. DSME Indonesia.

In the first several months, I though my office life was dynamic. I deeply want to say thank you very much for my first, brilliant and humble korean boss, Mr. G.Y.Lee. He was the piping group leader. Even though, he's quite clumsy, but he can deliver to us much knowledge. Even though, I wasn't the one who can easily have conversation with him, but I know he really wanted to mingle to us. Mr. G.Y Lee used to give us several trainings. From the basic piping layout, piping component, routing for various system such us open drain, closed drain, utility line, etc. The training and probation have been finished in June. Afterwards, we joined our first project, Ichthys Project from INPEX.

I also remember the day when Mr. G.Y. Lee published the detail job description and allocate the group for this project in Saturnus meeting room. I was excited having Fidllan and Anna as the team. It kinda like fitted-combination. Fidllan who has clear vision as key person and Anna who can be crazy all the time. As the time goes by, we realized that we don't have clear and tight schedule for our future module, M08A. All the matters was postponed again again and again. We have reviewed the model, modelling utility line and we don't know what we need to know anymore. Then, we decided to learn about valve and other piping component. Eventually Mr. G.Y.Lee asked us to be PIC of production drawing. I was dedicated for deck and penetration drawing. Anna had spool and isometric drawing while Fidllan was focus in support manufacturing drawing.

Initial team M08A

Again and again, my excitement was increased when I got new things to do after having same routine activities with unclear schedule. I supported Adit, Achsan and Pradit to prepare deck penetration drawing for their modules. I collaborated with Najma as support specialist who knows well which case we need to add carling items such as trimmer, stiffener and wing plate.

I  didn't prepare those drawing just by myself. Dinda and Ika was asked by Mr. G.Y. Lee to be in charge as my team. Then Ira also joined the team. This was the most remarkable team for us hahaha. Because we have our own name. We had been called by RCM (Republik Cinta Management). Since Dinda and Ika was so close each other and some people called them as The Virgin. So, when I recruited them as team, they assumed I was Ahmad Dhani and as we know RCM is management who developed by him.

We have been preparing those drawings, deck penetration with addition support installation and 3D view drawing until October as I remember. However one by one of my team were kick out by having new responsibility. Ika was asked to be in charged in Mariner project. Dinda replaced anna as PIC of isometric while Ira did resign from company. In the last minute, I did it by myself. However help was coming. There were new members who joined Ichthys Project. Kemon and Regy was dedicated specially as my team.

Aaaaah!!! It was kinda stress release having them in my team. Because in last minute, the revision started non sense. Regarding Okpo guy request we had to revise many things and even we were requested things that out of our scope. I have ignored the first since we have more urgent and important things to do. When our duties almost done and workload was decreasing, we need to update material handling for all of modules and mechanical arrangement for several modules. I took it because I respected my direct leader H.S. Park. I knew it wasn't our scope. While we had more important duties, we did them first. When it had been done, we continued doing Mr. Park request. I just tried to think professionally. I was hired here to complete the duties. I took it as special request from him.

M08A project was starting. I supported Fidllan as area leader for level 1. Together with Dinda, we involved in layout design for level 1. Having background as PIC drawing for almost one year realized me that I wasn't pro as my other co-workers who concern in design, routing, etc. I tried to learn from my boss, Fidllan, to close several comments, route some lines, modify and combine the supports.

Reading this post until this sentences causes you ask the question? "So, why did you resign from that company?" Therefore, I start to explain it one by one.

I would do resign mostly from myself. I remember that time, when I was going to Patra Jasa for having GMAT preparation class, suddenly I thought "I need to resign". I really need more time to focus. I want to learn GMAT intensively. In fact, I can't. In the weekdays, I should work from 8 a.m to 6 p.m. Then after that time, the focus has been decreasing. Yes I have weekend, but how many weekend in a year? People who work routinely in conservative working hour must know that weekend is pretty expensive. We will do many things that we can't do in weekdays. Sometimes, I do photoshoot or shooting for short movie. I want more time to learn TOEFL, read new books, watch more movies, meet new people, have new working circumstances. I really want to try new things.

As we develop Lumos Production almost for two years, the demand is increasing. Formerly, I can take it as side job. Nowadays, I need more time to meet clients, do brainstorming in pre-production until deliver final products to clients. I also need time to develop business plan, set the target, and improve the systems like creating Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

Then, I reflected myself, comparing my role in engineering company and in Lumos Production. In PT. DSME Indonesia, the biggest responsibility that I got was being PIC 2D Drawing. Some of us think preparing 2D drawing should be done by drafter. However, I did it almost for one year. So, I was being drafter almost for one year. Nevertheless, I got much knowledge while doing that duties. Knowing technical issue about carling items, understand when we need to use CJP or PJP (welding), and many more. 

Being the only one in piping batch A who not going to Korea, having new responsibility just because other brilliant guys move to more important duties, getting the least 3 score after training program, getting B score in PMS are some parameter which recognized me that I wasn't the outstanding one. Just the mediocre, or even lower than mediocre. I just can't see bright future here. I can't be well developed and well-utilized. I have imagine when my office mates already in higher position or in better company, I still doing the same thing. I just don't want to regret in my late twenty or early thirty. I need to find career where I never stop developing myself. And I feel it in Lumos Production.

I don't know which part should I tell about developing in Lumos Production. I started it from zero. I'm looking for the project, looking for the name, describe the logo, creating the system, I do many things. Small contributions feel so meaningful in startup.

Money is big matter, isn't it? Formerly, I thought I can be rich by being engineer. Yes, engineering company hires you with great salary. However, is your salary going to increase significantly? I just think if I stay in engineering company, my salary will be increase linearly, while developing your own startup can give exponential rate. Maybe you will ask, "so, are your salary already going exponentially?". If being entrepreneur can easily give you exponential salary rate, all of people must be entrepreneur. It needs persistence, hard work and many things.

Aaaah, two years feels not that long. I want to close my office life in a good way. I got much knowledge and experience, many nice close friends and great bosses. However, the ending was not that happy. I got unfair score regarding my performance. Since I did resign in the end of the year when PMS score was published, my score was decreased without fair reason. It just because I got resign, then my score was decreased from B to C. Moreover, it affects the annual bonus. I can't explain the detail. There are still matters which make me feel grateful to quit from that company.

Nevertheless, I still can't imagine if I didn't meet with those office mates. Most of my office mates are the high intelligent guy, very youthful and so dynamic. Two years was so memorable since all of you guys. Please keep contact till the end :')

NIZARLAND

"Where The Land Inspires The World"

What Have Been Done in 2014

2014 feels so fast. I need to review what have been done in last year. These are highlights for that year.

* Completed Ichthys Project, INPEX for M04, L04 and L03. I was the PIC for deck penetration, support installation and 3D view drawing. I also prepared mechanical arrangement and handling way drawing for all modules. I started for M08A for a few months until I resigned from that company.

* First time ever doing solo backpacking. Visited belitong just by myself at the first. Then, I met other backpackers and local people there. One remarkable trip. Click here to read the story.

* Registered for Kinescope workshop. I took directing class by Angga Dwimas Sasongko. I got many lessons from this knowledgeable director and experiences while producing the short movie. Click here to see the short movie.

* I printed postcard twice. The first time, happy new year edition and the second one, travelling edition.

* I back to the single.

* I produced 15 seconds video in instagram after Indovidgram Instameet in Monas. Unfortunately, I just produced those videos five times. I need to produce more in this year.

* Traveled to Tunda Island, Anyer, Phuket, Dieng and also Puncak with my big family.

*  Successfully made our clumsy boss, Mr. G.Y. Lee dropped his tears when he was seeing video from us. Click here to see the video.

* Organized piping outing and it was the big and fun event for us. Click here to read the story.

* Took the preparation class for GMAT and TOEFL IBT. The last GMAT score is 500 and the last TOEFL score is 85. I need to improve them to 700 and more than 90.

* I have my own analogue camera. I tried it but still don't print the photos yet. I'll let you know when they have been printed.

* Lumos Production has new line business which is photobooth.

* Producing the omnibus project with Sinematografi UI. It has been started since beginning of 2014 and still not completed yet until today.

* Won the short movie competition in my office as 1st Runner Up. Click here to see the video and the story.

Briefly, in this year I feel closer to my dreams. I have willingness for taking master degree to support my business in creative industry. I quit from my engineering job hardly. Because the job was too comfy for me, the office mates actually. 2014 is not best year for me, but still the memorable one :')

NIZARLAND

"Where The Land Inspires The World"

Puncak Trip

It was hilarious family holiday to end the last year. As I remember, the last time I visited that Villa is when I was in 1st year in university. Ya, around 5-6 years ago.  I was happy because many members can join this holiday. Just Misel who didn't join. I will share to you stories consecutively.

We drove from our house around 2 p.m and arrive in Puncak around 4 p.m. Ya, it was quite high traffic and raining. I just remember the time when we want to pray ashar, we moved down the window and straightened our  feet outside the car to wash with rainwater. Personally, I almost threw up since we didn't have a lunch and the road is up and down. In the first night, we just had dinner and played together with cousins, nieces and nephews. Oh ya in the late night, some of us visited Kamannana. That was the first time for me trying Teh Adni. It kinda tea with kapolaga and some arabian flavour. I really loved it.

In the saturday afternoon we headed to Taman Matahari. The place is close with our villa. I rode the horse together with usman, entered ghost house, paddled the boat, and ate some snack while karaoke. The food price is quite cheap. And  for the horse, we just paid for IDR 20.000. Ghost house IDR 15.000 and for boat IDR 30.000 for one boat. We can sit there for 5-10 person.

After having some fun in Taman Matahari, we swam together. I really remember three of Fahda's children was crying when I trained them while Navis just stay cool with his unique swimsuit.

Akila

Usman

Inan

Navis

In the sunday, we planned to have some snack in Nicole Kitchen. My sister urged us to go there after getting recommendation from her friend. Because we just have 1 car, then we rent "Angkot" to go there. When we were going to the restaurant, unfortunately the way to there has been closed. The road just for going down, we cannot go to the upside. Therefore, the driver used small way. We also need to wait around 2 hours to Nicole Kitchen. So, we spend our time by eating roasted corn and survey to the most famous hotel, I forget the name. And these are the pictures.

"Angkot" mania

Akila was ready to Nicole Kitchen

And this is Nicole Kitchen

I should back to Jakarta as soon as possible, because in monday I need to work. In fact, we arrived in Villa around 9 p.m and Ka Anita, my aunty who will drive the car suggested to back after shubuh. Honestly, I was worry coming late to the office. Otherwise I got home around 6.30 a.m even departed from Puncak around 5 a.m. Oh ya, in the last night, 1 a.m we went to WarPat. It stands for Warung Patra. It is the famous place to enjoy hot coffee or roasted bread. The place was super cool! I used my jacket, but still was chillin. Then Usman used my jacket, because firstly he just used bed suit. Aaaaah!!! This holiday is very completing the year. Thank god for giving me this big family :)

NIZARLAND

"Where The Land Inspires The World"

[Short Movie] I AM

There was Short Movie Competition in my previous company. As you can read in this post, I won for 1st winner and 3rd winner in last year (2013). Actually, it just because 3 participants who submitted their movies. Two of them is me hehehe. When the competition info was published, many office mates asked me to join this competition. Some of them just over expected that I will be the winner. Moreover at the first, HR forbade me to join this competition without make sense reason. Eventually I got the idea and tried to produce short movie.

I recruited members to small team. I asked Shaka as Cast, Mba Leon as Make Up Artist who will makeover Shaka looked older, and Mas Ageng as Production Designer/ Production Assistant who prepared properties and assisted me regarding technical issues. The script was developed just for one night, then we execute it for two days. We tried to complete it just one day. However, missing some shots caused us to spend more time in another day.

Make Over

The result

The crew

Honestly, I pleased to contribute in this competition. It wasn't about the prize or the pride. I counted it as my last movie/art in that company. Since the day that movie was played is my last day. I really sorry for all of lack in this film. Please kindly watch the movie and let me know your feedback through comment below. I really appreciate it. Many thanks :)

We nailed it \m/

NIZARLAND

"Where The Land Inspires The World"