Last Night in Jakarta
Jakarta, thank you for being the most defining chapter of my life. Thank you for a wonderful and unforgettable eight years. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to live and work there. I was incredibly fortunate to cross paths with so many wonderful friends and colleagues, and to hold a fulfilling role as a journalist—even if the salary wasn’t quite as rewarding as the experience itself. Until the day came when I finally had to say goodbye. I left Jakarta at the end of December 2025, after eight years and three months of calling it home. To be honest, I didn't feel a heavy heart the moment I stepped out of my room. The sadness only hit me when my neighbor—my dear friend—teared up as we shared our final embrace. I wasn't grieving the departure from the city itself, but rather the parting from a cherished friend who shared that modest boarding house with me. Before leaving my room for the last time, I quietly thanked it for being my safe haven for eight long years. That...
