Good bye Indonesia, Welcome USA!
A month after our wedding (June 2003), my husband went back to USA and I stayed in Surabaya. My husband hired a lawyer to prepare my visa. We sent documents back and forth. On August I got a mail from US embassy in Jakarta saying that the file was in processing. It was a big surprise cuz we didn't expect it to be that fast! It rather scared me too since I took care of my mom who had been bedrest for almost 7years of stroke. But God had His own plan. He called my mom on September 15th. Only a week after, I got another letter from US embassy for interview. I had to stay in Jakarta for 3 days. I passed the interview and they mailed my pasport with visa stamp to me so i didn't need to stay longer in Jakarta.
I left my hometown Surabaya, Indonesia on Tuesday, January 2
5, 2005. It was so sad that I had to leave all my families and friends. There were bunch of people leaded me to the international gate, including 4 of my bestfriends, with their families. We hugged and kissed, lots of tears too, like it was the end. Inside, I had to re-pack my check-in bagage. You won't believe I have 2 big boxes, 2 big suitcases, and yet still carry my backpack too! I had to pay extra for my excess bagage. Gosh!
It was a very long journey! 36 hours, including 10 hours transit in Hong Kong (I'd better say I was trapped he..he..). And finally, arrived in San Fransisco at nite on January 26, 2005 (US time). Finished with immigration procedure without any trouble (thank God!), I pushed my full-loaded trolley to exit gate. Two officers checked on my documents and offered me a lift if I can't find my hubby. Nice guys!
Happy and anxious, I looked around for the face I know so well. And it didn't take long, cuz my hubby, Loel, was standing right next to the door! We hugged and kissed. Finally, our awaiting was done!
Family Reunion
Sejak 5 tahun lalu, keluarga dari pihak ibu Alm. Sukarsih di Blitar biasa mengadakan reuni keluarga tahunan. Biasanya reuni diadakan sehari sesudah hari raya Idul Fitri. Tempatnya? Tergantung keluarga mana yang mendapat giliran. Keluarga Alm. Mbah Leham (almarhum kakek, red.) mendapat giliran Idul Fitri tahun 2003. Wah, seru deh!
Aku berangkat dari Surabaya naik Carry Suzuki bersama keluarga Tante Yuli dan Om Sumarno. Greddy dan Indah tidak bisa ikut karena baru dapat momongan is kecil Ine. Mony, anjing kesayangan keluarga kami, ikutan kubawa biar dia dapet kesempatan menikmati jalan-jalan he..he..
Hari pertama para wanita sibuk didapur, mempersiapkan makanan dan minuman untuk tamu-tamu. Para pria mulai memasang tenda, kursi-kursi, meja-meja, dan peralatan audio. Jumlah tamu diperkirakan sekitar 100 orang, termasuk anak-anak.
Pagi keesokan harinya, tamu mulai berdatangan. Para sesepuh datang lebih awal, diikuti oleh keluarga anak-anak, cucu-cucu, dan buyut-buyut. Acara dimulai dengan memperkenalkan aku sebagai anggota keluarga yang baru bergabung. Memang ini adalah pengalaman pertamaku ikut reuni keluarga. Sebelumnya keluarga kami selalu absen, karena kesehatan almarhum orangtua kami yang tidak memungkinkan bepergian jarak jauh.
Acara berikutnya?? Makan-makan dooong! Kita bener-bener puas, karena makanan dan minuman disikat ludes, bahkan sebagian minta untuk dibawa pulang. Walhasil, untuk dinner kita terpaksa masak lagi...he..he.. 
Sore hari acara selesai dengan mencapai kata sepakat bahwa reuni berikutnya akan diadakan di Malang dan akan diadakan arisan dan door prize! Cool!
Besoknya kita mengunjungi keluarga Pak De di Blitar selatan. Beliau punya kebun yang luas dengan pohon-pohon kelapa yang kebetulan lagi berbuah. Minum degan ditengah cuaca panas saat itu ...hm...alangkah segarnya...!! Gak perlu nunggu lama-lama, degan-degan Pak De udah berpindah tempat ke perut kita masing-masing..he..he..
Sore kita beriringan kembali ke Surabaya. Kembali ke rutinitas kita...:( tapi dengan membawa sejuta kenangan indah..:)
A month after our wedding (June 2003), my husband went back to USA and I stayed in Surabaya. My husband hired a lawyer to prepare my visa. We sent documents back and forth. On August I got a mail from US embassy in Jakarta saying that the file was in processing. It was a big surprise cuz we didn't expect it to be that fast! It rather scared me too since I took care of my mom who had been bedrest for almost 7years of stroke. But God had His own plan. He called my mom on September 15th. Only a week after, I got another letter from US embassy for interview. I had to stay in Jakarta for 3 days. I passed the interview and they mailed my pasport with visa stamp to me so i didn't need to stay longer in Jakarta. 
5, 2005. It was so sad that I had to leave all my families and friends. There were bunch of people leaded me to the international gate, including 4 of my bestfriends, with their families. We hugged and kissed, lots of tears too, like it was the end. Inside, I had to re-pack my check-in bagage. You won't believe I have 2 big boxes, 2 big suitcases, and yet still carry my backpack too! I had to pay extra for my excess bagage. Gosh!
