Surrounded by Positive People

courtesy of @defickry

Nonadita once asked me, “how do you feel now that the event is over. What do you take from it?” My answer was: nothing. I don’t feel a thing. I’m just glad it’s over.

I was wrong.

We had an intimate dinner last night. All the key people behind the success of ON|OFF 2011, although not everyone because some of us are already busy with other projects. And in that very simple  dinner, it hit me that I’m gonna miss them all. So I do feel something.

Only then I realized,  I may not gonna see them again for a while. That we have been support system for one another all this time, and that we really are close friends who mutually respect each other. Well at least that’s how it is for me..

I guess it suffice to say I feel sad at the same time grateful.

I once tweeted, I need to be surrounded by positive people. I think I just had that one completed. I am grateful to have these lovely people around me and I hope I get to spend more time with them.

Nena, you are my sanity, enough said. Hanny, you are.. everything I am not. And you put up with me anyways over the years. Ong.. as Atri delicately said, you’re simply bocah tua nakal but you’re also a wonderful wonderful mentor. And Atri, you’re a newbie, yet you put up with me! Then again I guess you didn’t really have much choice, did you?  Radit, thank you for your company during all the long nights I spent preparing the event. If you weren’t like a brother to me, I might actually fall for you! hahahaha! Ollie, you are remarkable! Ndoro.. thank you for your patience and for always coming up with a way to cheer me up. Enda for still making the effort to be involved in everything regardless how crazy your schedule was. And of course mas Iman, thank you for your silent support. I know you’re there for us, for me.  You always have.

And although Teph is not part of the team, but your moral support means everything. The rest of the team, Nanath, Fany, Dewi, Fikri, Mbak Eny, Daniel, Jonte, mas Bram, Neng Dita, and Gina, you guys are superb.

Thank YOU.

It’s finally over

It’s never easy to be in charge for such a massive event. Especially when it involves travelling to 10 cities across Indonesia, scouting for sponsorship, dealing with so many different groups and characters, finding ways to compromise when crazy demands pop out, working with both amazingly professional and unprofessional people, and at the same time you still gotta maintain your sanity in tact. Not easy..

But as hard as it may be, it’s definitely a challenge I wanna face because it allows me to learn all the things I don’t find in any textbooks. For me, being involved in an event as big as ON|OFF 2011 feels like signing up for a semester in a master’s degree program. You listen, adapt, interact, do your homework, present, execute and see if you could pass with flying colors. Or not..

And all I can say is.. what a rewarding experience it has been.

Such an honor to work with Ollie and Natali for ON|OFF 2011. These are two young and inspiring people whom I respect very much. They pay no concern towards all the negative sentiments. I love their sassy yet intelligent comments and attitude!

It’s been a pleasure working with Maverick. I am beyond grateful for their full trust in me, and most of all for making me feel like I’m part of the big family. So, thank you for that.

And to get to know three of the most notable social media personalities in Indonesia on a personal level is beyond words. I am forever grateful. Mas Iman, Ndoro Kakung, and Enda Nasution, thank you for allowing me to manage you as well

ON|OFF 2011 is Pesta Blogger in a whole new concept. This is my 3rd year in charge as the Project Manager. I am glad it’s finally over. It is ON|OFF and Pesta Blogger that taught me there is an entirely another world out here. The social media world; and I am grateful I’ve decided to come and pay a visit. I’ve met the players, I’ve learned the language, tried to understand the culture, exposed to the politics, and whether I like it or not, I am now a part of it.

With ON|OFF and Pesta Blogger, I got to see more of Indonesia, they gave me the opportunity to manage big names like Acer, US Embassy, Yahoo South East Asia, Nokia, and many more. So yes, it’s been truly amazing.   But above it all, what I value the most from this experience is I get to meet new people whom I eventually become close with. Some are even very close.

So I’d like to thank everyone who has been supporting us throughout the journey, and also to every single person who has been spending their effort to bring us down. If anything, you guys only make us stronger.

courtesy of @kuntoaji

It’s been fun. See you around social media people.