All my life, all I’ve ever wanted was to find a place where I belong. Some people might not understand that, but some others might feel the same way that I do. Luckily, throughout the past 26 years of my life, I’ve found several places like that myself. Back in primary school, back in secondary school, back in Germany—and I thought that would be the end of it. I thought, since then on, I wouldn’t find another such place until I get married. However, as you might know, life has that way of catching you off guard. And, back in December 2018, it got me good. Without meaning to, without hoping for it, somehow I found another place where I felt like I belonged. And, as usual, I had to let parts of it go.
If it wasn’t for the mandatory internship program from my campus, I doubt I would consider diving into office life. If it wasn’t for my best friend Gina, who worked here before I did, I might never have considered this particular office as a destination. Little did I know I was going to learn so many things that I’d never thought I’d be interested in. Little did I know I was going to cultivate such valuable and beautiful friendships with a lot of my co-workers. Little did I know it was going to bring so many colours into my life, like nothing in the past 5 years could compare. There were so many mistakes to make, so many lessons to learn, so many hellos to say and so many goodbyes to bid.
The meatball vendor who always comes by around 5PM
Earlier this month, our office moved to a new location. Not unlike Firu’s home back in 2017, it felt incredibly strange to leave this old place. This was the first office I’ve ever known—destroying any stereotypes I’d had of an office life—and, needless to say, it was filled with so many heartbreaking memories. In fact, I still remember the first time I arrived here for an interview, not quite sure how to feel about this office that felt more like a home. I also remember my first day on the job, when I was whisked away to an out-of-office meeting, not sure what to make of my co-workers. Since then on, there were so many others I got to know—so many I had the pleasure of hiring—and bid farewell to. Leaving this place feels like leaving their ghosts behind, knowing full well an era had ended and may never return.
The move was completely necessary, mind you. We, as an office, were growing in numbers and this little place can no longer support it. The space became a little too cramped, the air grew stale in the afternoon and it no longer felt conducive to work in. I probably will not miss all that about this old place. Be that as it may, I can’t help but to remember all the good things this place brought us—or me, at least. That little shack by the pool where we had all our farewells with my beautiful interns—which also became a quiet place for me at stressful times—will always mean something to me. A similar shack at our backyard—our little smoking area—where I used to have lunch with my smoker friends, holds a special place in my heart. Our cramped office room, yet somehow was almost always filled with laughter, will remind me of better days. Our End-of-Year Party, our long nights, our potluck picnics.
I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t miss them.
The new place is great, by the way. There are so many instagrammable areas—I’m already scouting several spots for a blog post—and our new office room is the absolute best. It has gotten me to become a whole lot more productive. I feel a little less claustrophobic here. My interns don’t have to fight for space, which is absolutely amazing. I can feel everyone feeling a little bit happier—which is always good news. I’m sure we’ll make several memories here too. Memories that I will hold dear for several months—if not years—to come. Memories that I will have a hard time letting go of as well. There are already some new faces joining the crowd now—and I already see myself enjoying their company as much as I did those who left. I’m sure, sooner or later, this new place will feel like a home too.
All my life, the choice has always seemed to be between leaving or being the one left behind—but what if we all leave together? What if we all pack up and move on to a new space? With or without those who had chosen to go without us. And just because they choose a different path from ours doesn’t mean they stop existing in our world anyway. So let those ghosts go, because they’re still alive. We may or may not see them again, but they’ll never stay the same anymore. Let’s cultivate more friendships that may or may not last a lifetime! Let’s create memories that we may or may not regret! Just because we’re moving on doesn’t mean we’ll forget those who have come before us nor all we’ve experienced together. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, “Change is scary, but change is good—move on.”
Goodbye, Intan Ujung, you’ve been great!
All my life, all I’ve ever wanted was to find a place where I belong. Some people might not understand that, but some others might feel the same way that I do. Luckily, throughout the past 26 years of my life, I’ve found several places like that myself. Back in primary school, back in secondary school, back in Germany—and I thought that would be the end of it. I thought, since then on, I wouldn’t find another such place until I get married. However, as you might know, life has that way of catching you off guard. And, back in December 2018, it got me good. Without meaning to, without hoping for it, somehow I found another place where I felt like I belonged. And, as usual, I had to let parts of it go.
If it wasn’t for the mandatory internship program from my campus, I doubt I would consider diving into office life. If it wasn’t for my best friend Gina, who worked here before I did, I might never have considered this particular office as a destination. Little did I know I was going to learn so many things that I’d never thought I’d be interested in. Little did I know I was going to cultivate such valuable and beautiful friendships with a lot of my co-workers. Little did I know it was going to bring so many colours into my life, like nothing in the past 5 years could compare. There were so many mistakes to make, so many lessons to learn, so many hellos to say and so many goodbyes to bid.
The meatball vendor who always comes by around 5PM
Earlier this month, our office moved to a new location. Not unlike Firu’s home back in 2017, it felt incredibly strange to leave this old place. This was the first office I’ve ever known—destroying any stereotypes I’d had of an office life—and, needless to say, it was filled with so many heartbreaking memories. In fact, I still remember the first time I arrived here for an interview, not quite sure how to feel about this office that felt more like a home. I also remember my first day on the job, when I was whisked away to an out-of-office meeting, not sure what to make of my co-workers. Since then on, there were so many others I got to know—so many I had the pleasure of hiring—and bid farewell to. Leaving this place feels like leaving their ghosts behind, knowing full well an era had ended and may never return.
The move was completely necessary, mind you. We, as an office, were growing in numbers and this little place can no longer support it. The space became a little too cramped, the air grew stale in the afternoon and it no longer felt conducive to work in. I probably will not miss all that about this old place. Be that as it may, I can’t help but to remember all the good things this place brought us—or me, at least. That little shack by the pool where we had all our farewells with my beautiful interns—which also became a quiet place for me at stressful times—will always mean something to me. A similar shack at our backyard—our little smoking area—where I used to have lunch with my smoker friends, holds a special place in my heart. Our cramped office room, yet somehow was almost always filled with laughter, will remind me of better days. Our End-of-Year Party, our long nights, our potluck picnics.
I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t miss them.
The new place is great, by the way. There are so many instagrammable areas—I’m already scouting several spots for a blog post—and our new office room is the absolute best. It has gotten me to become a whole lot more productive. I feel a little less claustrophobic here. My interns don’t have to fight for space, which is absolutely amazing. I can feel everyone feeling a little bit happier—which is always good news. I’m sure we’ll make several memories here too. Memories that I will hold dear for several months—if not years—to come. Memories that I will have a hard time letting go of as well. There are already some new faces joining the crowd now—and I already see myself enjoying their company as much as I did those who left. I’m sure, sooner or later, this new place will feel like a home too.
All my life, the choice has always seemed to be between leaving or being the one left behind—but what if we all leave together? What if we all pack up and move on to a new space? With or without those who had chosen to go without us. And just because they choose a different path from ours doesn’t mean they stop existing in our world anyway. So let those ghosts go, because they’re still alive. We may or may not see them again, but they’ll never stay the same anymore. Let’s cultivate more friendships that may or may not last a lifetime! Let’s create memories that we may or may not regret! Just because we’re moving on doesn’t mean we’ll forget those who have come before us nor all we’ve experienced together. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, “Change is scary, but change is good—move on.”
Goodbye, Intan Ujung, you’ve been great!