Seize the day

It's been 5 years since the first time we met. Ika and I now are engaged for two years and probably long after that. We will be partners, friends, sisters, and big cheerleaders for each other. I am sure that God's sent her to me, among many choices and combination in this world. Welcome, sis... !!!   

What would happen if a mathematician (Fitra) meet a statistician (Cicik). You may bet that they'll get along pretty well and communicate mostly in numbers and formulas. They don't even need English. That's cool, isn't it?

I knew I made the right decision to sign in this. The classes are fun (I know it’s only the warming up sessions). The Finance class was led by Prof. Smart from Texas. He explained Time Value of Money principles that now control the world. We calculated the value of a Titanic victim in 1912 in present value. I wasn’t the only person in class who amazed by the fact that the purchase of Manhattan Island in 1626 of $24 is now viewed as a great robbery (as it’s worth $284 billion today). I swear that I HAVE to read the materials before his class for the whole semester if I want to survive there.

The same case happens also in Accounting class of Prof. Pratt. He IS the Coach. I am grateful that the first session covered things I learned this summer (I didn’t wanna be left too far behind). Everybody speaks in his class. He points out, yells, asks, answers, summarizes, and explains pretty fast and clear. There’s no other way to enjoy his class than being well prepared. The Excel 2007 class is the most enjoyable. Not that I am expert in this area but the atmosphere is less nail-biting. Prof. Albright explains things in detail and Sarah helps us a lot.

Excel 2007 is powerful; there’s no doubt. I will post the tutorial file as the attachment for you to get experience with it. I met some of my classmates: Katie, Kisha, Karen, Beverly, Anthony, Shib, Deepesh, Swetha, Donna, etc. Many of us take the same bus early in the morning. The C Route passes College Mall at 7.14 a.m. and the next is 40 minutes later. Be there or be late, that’s the rule.  

I will be in Cohort Red, Team 1 with Jason, Jami, Balanji, and Bill. I haven’t met any of them yet. I just emailed them, hoping that sometime before the Core we can meet and talk a bit. Ika will go with her Green Cohort with Swetha and Beverly. We're in morning classes, though.

I felt like it had been yesterday when the time to leave Boulder came last Saturday. I didn’t know what to expect when I first arrived there. Boulder kept surprising me while I was there: great scenery, great classes, great teachers, great outings, great walks down the streets, great music, great friends, great shows and movies, great shopping, and great cooking. The beautiful small city has offered so much more than I ever thought of. I couldn’t sleep at that last night. I watched Before Sunset for the hundredth times.  My heart was pumping and jumping every time I looked at my watch. It was all too fast, I was not ready. I thought that I never would.
 

All my bags were packed and by 4 am that Saturday, Ika and I walked out our apartment to move on with our choices. I couldn’t hold my tears from falling, mostly because I didn’t know what kind of world I would come to. Nevertheless, at the same time I felt exciting: this is it. There wouldn’t be another perfect time to do it, I said to myself.

I remember what Vincent “the Beast” said when he encouraged people to change: “there’s always time for you to come out from your safe circle and walk among your enemies”. Maybe that’s how people should conquer their lives: by being brave.

Well, I wasn’t. I was so scared that I couldn’t speak much to say goodbye to all my friends (even in the emails).  When finally we sat in the Frontier Flight #616 then flew across states, we just closed our eyes, trying to wrap up all wonderful things we had in our heads and make them the dreams for tomorrow.

I never thought that I would cry when the time came. But I did. And I did it non-stop. I know that being together with nice and good people was too great that I never wanted it to change even a bit. But life offers many things that require changes. 

Some friends leave you to change themselves, to give them chance to move forward. Some leave to let you grow up, be stronger, and be able fly with your own wings. Some leave just because they love and care about you that much. Some leave you without words for their own reasons you might never understand even if they say it. Some leave and say they are only one click away. Some never really go. They stay in your heart and always be there for you with their smiles and spirits.  To which group my friends belong? All.