Entries Tagged 'Health' ↓

At last, the time has come for me to say goodbye to some people and places and things with which I spend my time quite a lot. For the first one in this series, I pick PT LAPI Divusi, IT Satisfaction Provider, a place where I (used to) work.

My first direct contact with Divusi (short name of PT LAPI Divusi) was when I have to do an internship as a part of Informatics Engineering program at ITB. The students must do an internship in informatics-related companies to feel what work would be like. I and Ridho, as a group, applied to Divusi back in 2004 (our third year). With the fact that Ridho was already joining the company as a part time programmer, the application process was speedy and easy. Fast forward to more than 2 years later, my years in Divusi has become important part in shaping myself to what I am, now.

As a new company (the company was established formally at 2004, to build a formal structure for professional services which have been offered for more than 10 years earlier), Divusi strive to be the best in the game. I, myself, witnessed and participated in, how Divusi came rescuing some abandoned projects and maneuvering to succeed in some new ones. Thanks to Divusi I got to see what is happening here in Indonesia.

Beside my work as a software programmer/analyst, I connected to Divusians in some other activities. Activities that I did not think I can actually participate in. I did mention that I went out on a several fun karaoke sessions, what’s more is that I relive my high school experience (d’uh! what experience? I was only a backup back then) as a goal keeper in futsal games. I would like to post some pictures of them to make you kind readers know what those two different times like.

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Last weekend, I and several of my workmates went for a karaoke session. We booked a karaoke room at Nav Karaoke at Plaza Dago and went singing like crazy for about two hours. I quite enjoyed it, it was quite a while since I had a chance to sing my heart out.

Just a little bit disclaimer here: I am not a good singer, but I enjoy singing. Singing for me is the easiest musical thing I can do, since I do not play any musical instrument. Yes, I know how to sound a C-chord with a guitar, and I did my Art lesson back in (junior) high school where I was taught how to play guitar and flute (soprano flute?). But again, singing is my “best” musical thing. And believe me, no, I am not good at it.

But nevertheless, at the karaoke session, I sang like a crazy. Every song that I knew (or at least partially knew, such as just the chorus or just the intro), I sang it out loud. We were only given two microphones, but I sang out loud in every chance I can get.

Several songs chosen (mind you, I forgot most of the titles and perhaps I got the title wrong) in the session were:

• NaFF songs
• a Samsons song
• Dan by Sheila on 7
• Soldier of Fortune (featuring a video of a woman, so unrelated with the song, typical karaoke videos)
• Surti Tejo, Pelangi di Matamu, and another Jamrud song
• Metal vs Dugem (new song?) by Project Pop
• Mars Pembantu and Jablai from the movie Mendadak Dangdut
• Kelakuan si Kucing Garong (I know that this song is so “ndeso” (is the english word “hill-billies” a correct translation for “ndeso”?), but we chose it for the fun aspect)
• I’m Sorry Goodbye by Krisdayanti
• and many others…

For me, the happiness factor of a karaoke comes from the “togetherness”. I was among other eight persons and the atmosphere was relaxing. Everybody laughed and excited knowing what’s next on the list. Everybody didn’t really care if anybody was off key, and if somebody forgot how the song was, everybody were cheering for the person. Everybody sang along familiar songs. For the less familiar ones, if the songs were slow, everybody would raise their hands and wave them left and right just like in a live concert; if the songs were fast, everybody would shake their head and body as if they were enjoying a rock concert. Everybody cheered. After all, it was Friday night!

After the session ended, I felt like I was just having a little jog. Sweat here and there, my heart rate escalated, my breath was intense. So when I managed to got in front of the computer and connected to the Internet, I googled the relationship between singing and health. Quite surprisingly, the results were, at least, interesting. Continue reading →

Several days ago, I went to Jakarta for a business presentation. For the presentation, I have to make a demo application and the job was given to me the day before. So I rolled up my sleeve and started to butcher myself for the impossible task. Long story short, I did not finish the demo application, eventhough I worked through the night. So we went to Jakarta with everything we got: a decent presentation slide made by my manager, and a not so decent demo application made by me.

I always get a little edgy about trip to Jakarta by car because I get car sick easily on a long way trip. Yes, I know that Jakarta via Toll Way Cipularang is not that far away, but still I am not keen on long travel by car. First off, I didn’t have much sleep the day before, since I was doing the demo application, and in the morning, I also didn’t have a good meal for breakfast. It got worse when at the start of the journey, I still try to work with my laptop, of course in a moving car headed toward Jakarta. When I read during a travel by car, I feel dizzy instantly, and guess what, I feel dizzy instantly when I try to code in a moving car (d’oh).

I bring myself a small bottle of You-C1000, a Vitamin C supplement which boasts 1000 mg of vitamin C, and drink it while on the road. I like its flavor and I thought it will make myself a little better for not having enough sleep and eat. After the presentation, (this post is not about my job, mind you, so no story about it) we went to several other places, and on the way home, I just wanted to have another bottle of You-C1000. After having half of my second dose of the Vitamin C supplement (making about 1500++ mg in total of my vitamin C intake that day), I felt nauseaous, and my stomach felt bloated. I thought it was another attack of my car sick and I tried to sleep over it. But after a while, I think it was not the car sick, since when I get car sick I think I never feel my stomach bloated. And I became suspiscious about the vitamin supplement. Continue reading →