Thursday, November 19, 2009

Chocolate Bar

I received this sweet treat from Deloitte last week. How nice of Deloitte to mail this treat :) I'm so happy to join a great firm next year. Also, I've communicated with their National immigration specialist to start processing the necessary documents.

It's only 1 More Month Left

Today is November 19. One more month till we tie the knot and my status will change.. no longer single but married. I have been busy especially after my trip to San Luis Obispo last week. I had a final that was due 2 days ago, another final, a super hard one, that was given 2 days ago, and is due on December 14th, and another final which will be hand out 2 more weeks and due 1 week after. My class schedule is supposed to end by Dec 2. I will fly back home the next day. Unknowingly, I have 2 finals that are due after the schedule..Haiyah! Anyway, that's why I am so focused and persevered to finish at least the international tax final before I leave to Indo. So damn hard!! I wish I didn't take this class. I aim low this time.. for a B for this class.

Today, just a random post, I went to Ranch 99 to buy ground pork, but of course I take other non-planned item such as mochi ice cream on the way to the cashier :) So there were 2 people in front of me when I lined up. The couple before me was so nice to let me pay first since I have only 2 items on my hands. The couples have many items but not a whole lot. And they are Chinese. I am surprised that there are still some nice Chinese people who are so considerate and nice. :) Also, usually if we spend $10 or $15 for grocery, we'll get $1 coupon to buy food at their deli. But this time I only spent around $5, and the cashier gave me $2 coupon. Nice!!!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Gateaways to San Luis Obispo

My bible study members and I went to SLO for celebrating another, and more intimate bridal shower. We stayed over for 1 night. Definitely, it was a memorable and unforgettable moments with my BS members. Upon arrival, we headed to a beach.. (hmm i forgot the name).. ate mie goreng (Vicky cooked them) and we all seated at one of the benches overseeing the beach and its surrounding! Beautiful!! After walking along the pier, we were set to go and check in to the hotel Madonna Inn. It was unique and pretty. The hotel was like a small town, more like a Europe town I think, with each room had different and unique design. So basically, while all of them bringing our things from the car into the room, I was left alone in the car. It was a surprise, I could not go inside until the room was decorated and ready. Ci irene was the one who supposed to decorate the room while all of us played scavenger hunt. There were 6 of us (excluding ci irene). So we were broken up into 2 teams. My team was Yanny and Petz. So the task of the game was to find the listed items on the paper and took some photos according to the instructions on the paper. We needed to find all items at Pismo Beach, and bring them back to the hotel asap. The two teams were in 2 different cars and raced against each other. Anyway, I drove the car, with Yanny navigating the road. It was colddd and winddy... but it was a fun game!!

After we were done, we were told to wait in the bakery shop for quite a while. Maybe it took us about 30 mins there and finally we could go to the room. My first reaction when I came inside was "dark". I thought they purposely turned off the lights, but apparently, the major lights were broken (only 1 light and the bathroom light were ok). Hahaha.. this was something I would never forget. :) Bridal shower in the dark!! Ohh.. and the tea time.... I loved it!! Each of us received a cute tea set from Ci irene as the bridal shower favor. Here's the pic:

And here's the tea time setting:

We all enjoyed the tea time, ate some snacks (little pastry bread, cheese crackers, cupcakes, etc) It was so deliciouss..especially after doing some scavenger hunt outdoor. Hehe.. Ohh btw... After I showed what we accomplished from that games, showed the pics we got, I was told that the other group was a prank.. They didn't really go there.... but they helped decorating the room etc etc...... Yes.. they did a very good job in surprising me.. FYI, I am the type of person who likes to spoil surprises.. :) What's cute about this bridal shower was, everyone was wearing a mini crown and I wore the big crown.. Like a princess...

This is them:
This is me
Then, we played some games, ate dinner (again by Vicky), and the most exciting part was opening gifts.


And of course, we wrapped up the day by me giving them gifts too :)
All of us slept soundly and on Sunday, we ate Mie sedap as our breakfast, Ci Santi lead a devotion and we were off to go to SLO downtown and back again to San Jose. Thank you ladies for the wonderful time and your love!! I can't express how I appreciate your effort and the surprise :) :)

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Indonesian Cheesecake

Last Sunday, Ci santi and I baked together and had our quality time :) Indonesian cheesecake is ci Santi's favorite cake and so I think that it's good to pass on the little baking skill I have to her. I followed Yossi's cheese chiffon cake that she shared on her blog. Thanks Yos! I am happy and satisfied with the result because it turns out to be a success. The chiffon rises and does not deflate. :)

There was a heart-shaped figure when folding the batter

After hours of cooling it down and turning it upside down.. taaa..da....
Frosting the cake with buttercream
The result:

Monday, November 9, 2009

God is Good..All the Time

I received the electronic copy of the offer letter today. :) Thank God. Even though I considered myself very lucky in getting the job offer during this time, I believe it's not a coincidence in God's eyes. For the past 2 months, I have been preparing and doing my best for the Big 4 application and interviews. I did all my best. And I let God do the rest. I felt that God is at work during this process.

I am willing to accept the consequences whatever the result is, and knowing that God's plan is higher that mine. He is the one who holds my future. He is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. Of course, I am much happier by getting a job offer. If not, of course I'll feel disappointed and sad and frustrated.. but I'll definitely continue to rely on God. I will give Him thanks whether good or bad, happy or sad. After a lot of things that happen in my life, I must say that God is good.. He was.. He is.. and He will always be.

Probably this will be the last time I post about Deloitte offer this year unless Deloitte has a change of plan and modify/cancel the offer, which I hope it won't happen :P. But otherwise, my next posting about "Job" is about H1-B process which will take place next year (April). We'll see.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Fireproof

After wanting to watch this movie for a long time, I finally was able to watch it together with Ci Santi. I was so touched by this movie as the characters husband and wife went through a difficult phase in their marriage and was about to get divorce. Both of them think that the husband did not respect the wife, vice versa. The husband, as a firefighter, always save lives of thousands, but he almost could not save his own life -- his marriage. After going through counseling with his dad who is a Christian, the dad suggested to hold on the divorce for 40 days and meanwhile, the dad gave him a book that contains different types of acts/gesture of love to his wife as "the love dare" that he needs to do for 40 days. The husband really tried his best to follow the book, but the wife always rejected him. Halfway through, the husband wanted to give up as this didn't work. He told his dad: "How can I love someone that rejected me many many times." Then it dawned on him that he has rejected Jesus many many times and still Jesus still loves him a lot. The dad explained that only if he accepts Jesus and know what love means, he'll understand what love is and can love his wife unconditionally. It is a decision whether she deserves it or not. So between day 1-20, the husband basically only did what he needed to do -- without real love. After knowing and accepting Jesus, he began to start loving his wife, accepting her, and respecting her well despite her harsh words/actions. The wife slowly realized that her husband is different, not selfish.

So what lessons did I learn?
1. Marriage takes effort.
2. Romance is needed to make a marriage work.
3. Love and Respect are very important!
4. When there's fire in your marriage, be fireproof! We need to be able to withstand our marriage despite any kind of difficulties and hard times in the marriage.
5. To love someone unconditionally and commit to him/her is not based on a feeling, it is a decision to love them whether he/she deserves it or not.
6. Refrain from negative comments (James 1:19)
7. Do at least one gesture of an act of kindness a day
8. Show her/him that you are thinking about them
9. Ask if he/she needs anything
10. Praying for our partner
11. Listening to them
12. Studying them. It is a lifelong journey that draws him closer to her.
13. Watch out for the "parasites" such as addiction/gambling. Destroy those parasites otherwise it will destroy you.
14. Lead your heart, not follow your heart.

Woman is like a rose;
If you treat her well,
she will bloom,
If not,
she will wilt.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

A super sweet week

This week has been one the best weeks this year.
Simply because:1. I had my first bridal shower with friends on Sunday that can be read here. I thank God for giving me friends and sisters who shower me with their love and care, but most importantly their prayers and support for my my upcoming wedding.

2. I received a job offer from Deloitte last Thursday that can be read here. I thank God for graciously giving me the almost impossible opportunity job offer at one of the Big 4 to an international student especially during the current economy crisis.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Blessed Beyond Measure

Finally, I received the call that I have been expecting since last week. It was from Deloitte campus recruiter :) As soon as I know it was from her, I knew it's going to be a good news. And yes yes yes :) you don't know how excited I was as soon as she extends the job offer to me. So this was what it like during the first minutes of the call:

Recruiter: How's your day?
Me: So far so good
Recruiter: I have a good news for you that will make your day even better. I received positive feedbacks from the interviewers so I would like to extend a job offer for you.

A wide smile appeared on my face as I am getting excited for the news. I jumped joyfully. :)

To be honest, today is the least of all days I am expecting the call because as I wrote in the last blog, the recruiter and my interviewer confirmed that they will notify all the candidates on Friday. So I thought it's gonna be tomorrow. Actually I feel hopeless already to get the offer. I lack faith in myself. However, God constantly reminded me in these waiting times to wait for His time and His best.

My life has been like a roller coaster. I don't know what lies ahead of me, but every time, even though it's hard, I choose to put my faith in God and let His will be done. 3 years ago (Fall 2006), I was excited and ecstatic to get an offer from PwC but who knows that in 2007, the H1B quota was gone in just 2 days! I didn't get the chance to apply H1B visa. PwC gave me 2 options and I chose the one to wait 1 more year and let PwC apply for my H1B. In 2008, again, it was lottery and I didn't get it. Life seemed so unfair. I got the offer long time ago but why..why Lord? You gave it to me and you took it away without even experiencing the job life as an auditor there. I waited for 2 years and it was in vain. Despite these, I still do believe God has a better plan for me that I could not comprehend. Because I wanted to stay in the US, my only choice is going back to school for Master. I chose MBA program, took GMAT and flunked out on my GMAT. Yes, I didn't get in into the MBA program at SJSU. So I thought I will just take GMAT again and will start MBA program next semester in 2009 and go back to Indo or China first while waiting for the status. Out of the blue, I looked through Master in Taxation program and it suits me better. First I don't need to take GMAT since I passed CPA exams already. Second, tax is more related to accounting so I can be more specialized. Third, MST has 5 fewer classes to graduate. Fourth, the tuition fees are way cheaper. So this is it, I thought. I decided to pursue MST program that started in January 2009. So in between August 2008 to December 2008, I went to Beijing to learn Mandarin. I really thank God for giving me the opportunity to go to China.

When I applied for job to the Big 4, actually I was confused to which position I should choose -- audit or tax. I know they hire 2 or 3X more audit people than tax. So I thought I have a better chance on it. But my heart whispered that I should choose tax. I am doing my MST so why don't I go ahead and choose tax. So I follow my heart. Waiting is very difficult. If you read my previous blogs on "Job", you'll know that Deloitte always responded the latest. God has been teaching me patience all this time. When I was about to lose hope, He gives me strength. When I wait anxiously for the answer, He reminded me to rest my hope in Him.

Anyway, God has been so good and soooo gracious to me. He makes my life so interesting and so colorful, with both ups and downs. His grace is sufficient. Nothing in this interview process will succeed without His interference. I believe purely that this offer is only by His grace. Thank You Jesus :) :) I am so so very happy.

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Hopeful or Hopeless

I wrote several times in this blog that based on previous experiences from my friends and mine, the Big 4 usually call the interviewees who got the offer hours after the interview. After 3 days not getting the call from Deloitte, I am pretty much discouraged and hopeless. I don't have a single clue about the other candidates. They are not from the same school as I do. So basically these days, I just move on with my life assuming that I don't get the offer. Of course when someone calls me, I am really hoping it's from Deloitte. But it's not. So yeah, the moral of the story is I am 99% I won't get it. My friend who interviewed with EY two days earlier just get rejection email today. So I will probably get the same treatment :(
But then out of the blue, my caring and cheeky sister asked the audit recruiter whom she knew before when she was in SJ. But the recruiter wasn't sure because it's the tax recruiter who handles the tax recruiting. So this nice recruiter emailed my tax recruiter to ask about my status and she said that I should know of my status this Friday as they are still deciding. And again Lily asked my first interviewer how many people will be hired in tax. But she said the hiring number is not disclosed to public but she said the recruiter will contact all the candidates this Friday. So does it mean that none has been notified yet? I don't know. So, I am feeling a little bit hopefull maybe 5% and 95% still hopeless. Hehehe.. I think my job search will continue next year.

Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Monday, November 2, 2009

My Big Bridal Shower

I had my bridal shower on Sunday, Nov 1, 2009. I knew there will be a bridal shower for me on this day, but I don't know the content of the event. However since my darling big sister who organized all of these, and all the things, the gifts are in the house, so I kind of get a hint here and there but can't come up with the big picture. Hehehe. Btw, I did not see the gifts until the day itself.Anyway, the event took place at Ci Joan's townhouse's clubhouse. Thanks Ci for providing a free place. :) I didn't know the dress code for all the guests but my sis insisted that I should wear a peach-pink BCBG dress for the event. At first I am kind of reluctant because I don't want to be different than the rest. Probably I am shy. Hahahaha. You know, I am not used to be the center of attention so yea, I am a little bit shy. But anyway, upon her begging and request, I agree.

Ci linda was kind enough to be 'my driver'. Thanks ci! Oohh and ci Santi too, who treated me to lunch at Santoka because she wanted to make me so special for the day.. Thanks ci :) I arrived at the place and greeted with the cheers by the beautiful ladies. Then I saw a Minnie hair bando with the white veil attached to it. I know it's for me and I am so gladdd.. I like it.. I like disney!! And the bridal shower theme was Disney!! And the dress code for all is dresses too :) :)

Ohh.. I like the cake.. it was so sweet and beautiful. Thanks to Bertha who made this cake.. And most importantly, it was my favorite cake -- Indonesian cheese cake layered with cream and cheese.. yummoo... She has posted the cake in her blog.

Not forgetting Yeye, my best friend, who cooked the food like risoles, lemper, pangsit and bolu kukus. Thanks yeyekkk.... I love you.. Hehehehe


So the first thing we did was take pictures.. and thanks to Ci Fenny who captured the sweet moments.. without you, I won't have the memories of it :) We took pictures with the cake and the food. All of us. Then for 20-30 minutes I mingled around and ate. Afterwards, the bridal shower started by me saying thank you to all bla bla bla with a toast to the bride to be. Then it was time for games :) The event ended with opening gifts..Yay!! I like gifts, I lovee it. hehehe
Thanks all.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. I had a fun time. Everybody makes me feel so special. I was treated like a princess and I felt like I am a princess. :) My gratefulness to the ladies was beyond words can describe, especially to my ceki ;)