pull your self together, Jho

Yes the tittle is a phrase used by people to express that one have to concentrate himself to refocus and keep calm on doing the progress. (For the exact meaning just googling it or ask chatGPT).

The first week of october about to end, and I still make a very slow progress. I need to uplift my motivation and push myself to start and consistently doing the writing. 

Alhamdulillah it is chapter 3 now, but the previous two chapters are not final yet. Many parts of it need to be revised, adjusted or even replaced with a more proper writing.

I have to fight my feeling of laziness. And the best way to do it is by start typing the first sentence. And Bismillah. I will do it now.

..........

Finally, we are on our 3rd week in Melbourne

Alhamdulillah. 

After a long and exhausted journey, I can manage to bring my lovely family to Melbourne. 

It is not easy though. 

But Allah always helps us for everything. 

HE always gives what we need on the right time. 

Yes, not only about what we want. 

I realised that the timing is always the best. 

For example, We need a family visa, but there was still an enrolment document from aqsho's prospective school that was not issued yet that made the delay for the visa submission. However, this circumstance allowed us to managed khitan for both aqsho and rasyid and spare us enough time for their recovery. 

Second example, 

When ummy's department conducted a farewel meeting for her leaving to australia, we still dag dig dug waiting for the visa is it granted or not, which mean it was still uncertain that ummy would go to Melbourne or not. Considering this made us a little bit overwhelmed with the farewel. What will people say if the visa not granted. But Allah is very best planner as always be. On the same day with the farewell, the visa was issued. Fiuh alhamdulillah. 

The third example. 

I was very nervous for my supervisory meeting. On the last meeting my supervisor had asked me about when will I back to Melbourne. I gave them an estimation. But prior to the next meeting, we are still waiting for the family visa and I didn't know what to answer when the same question came up again on the meeting. But, finally a day before the meeting, the visa was granted and I could buy a ticket, so I could confidently mention my flight schedule to the supervisor. 

And many other situations. 

So nikmat Tuhanmu yang mana lagi yang kau dustakan. 

______

And know we are on our 3rd week in Melbourne now. 

We enjoy all feelings we have here. 

Its nano nano. 

But alhamdulillah, as long as we are together, my lovely family, everything much more better. 

Enjoying the July 2023

 It's been a very long time indeed. According to my plan, I will return to Indonesia in August 2023 to meet my family and bring them back to Melbourne. However, it's not as easy as it sounds. To make this happen, I need to prepare many things. Money, of course, is a crucial factor, but there are other aspects that are even more challenging for me.

Fortunately, my supervisor has given their permission, but it depends on the progress I make in writing the proposal, which is currently in a less than satisfactory condition. In addition to bringing my family, I also need to arrange accommodation. Despite inspecting more than 10 units and applying for 5 of them, I haven't received any information yet. If there are no positive results by next week, I will have to inform my current landlord that I will be paying rent for August, which means there is a possibility of overlapping rent fees between the current house and the prospective leased unit. Hopefully, that won't be the case.

Furthermore, I also need to arrange school enrollment for my son as it's a requirement for the visa. After our agent lodges the visa application, my wife and children will need to go to Jakarta for a medical check-up. Phew...

And then there's the issue of purchasing tickets. I hope we can find the cheapest tickets with a good itinerary. Amen.

Despite everything, I believe I will manage. As someone who tends to overthink, this situation is extremely challenging for me. However, I humbly request Allah's help to keep me alive and cheerful. I firmly believe that Allah will assist us because He always does.

Story of the "lovely" Before-Supervisory meeting 8

  Alhamdulillah, the 8th meeting went well. As usual, I had a hard time before the D-Day. As I mentioned on my social media, I even spent 3 days and 2 nights on campus. No, it's not because I didn't prepare earlier. I made sure to start preparing early for this meeting. But preparing a PhD research proposal in this academic atmosphere is not easy.

Despite the struggle, Allah always exists and always helps me,

Dear Uda, Adek, and my prospective heirs.
Never let Allah go from your life's journey. Always hold on to Him. Trust me.

In the past few days, I have been facing many challenges. I've been experiencing headaches with the combank app, which I can't access. I tried calling the provided hotline and even went to the branch, but it still doesn't work. I am unable to access what I need on the app.

I planned to transfer money for BUPA OSHC two days before the deadline. In the middle of the night, I tried to make the payment, but something unexpected happened. The bill payment website stated that there is a limitation on transferring the money and I needed to upgrade the limit. I'm not sure yet if I should upgrade it in my bank app or contact the web admin of the bill. If it's the former, then I still have trouble accessing it.

Today is the deadline, and after this day, the payment amount will increase. I can't imagine what I would do if that happens. Where would I find more money to cover the bill? If I have to go to the bank branch and the insurance office, it will reduce my time to prepare for the afternoon meeting. I was extremely frustrated last night, but I kept my spirits up. I took a deep breath and tried again to solve the app issue by following the steps given on the bank website. By the decree of Allah, it worked. Allahu akbar! I don't know why, but I had tried implementing the exact same steps several times this week and it didn't work. But suddenly, in the middle of the night, when I didn't know what to do, I put my full faith in Allah, and a miracle happened. Now I can access the app.

However, the problem is not yet resolved. I sent an email to the insurance campus representative. I know it was impolite to send an email in the middle of the night, but I wanted to make sure the admin would see my email and provide advice regarding the payment issue. Interestingly, the admin replied to my email in the morning and said that I could simply split the amount of money stated on the bill to match the transfer limit. Alhamdulillah, it was solved, and I managed to transfer the money. I am grateful that I will not have to pay the increased update fee.

Then... suddenly, my landlord came to the house. Finally, I could tell him about my plan to leave the house at the end of next month. I was a bit confused about how to properly communicate it to him. But Allah made a way for me, and he seemed to be okay with it and even gave me some advice on finding a new unit for my family. He's a good landlord. Thank you, Allah.

Then... the only problem remaining on my mind this morning was the preparation for the supervisory meeting. I still needed to revise the first chapter, but I didn't have enough time. Alhamdulillah, I managed to revise the important parts.

And tadaaa! The meeting went well. The supervisor helped me a lot. Of course, there are many revisions required, and some of the feedback will surely take up most of my time. But I enjoyed today's meeting, Alhamdulillah. Allah helped me again, and the one-hour meeting is now over.

Oh yes, I also managed to inform my supervisor about my plan to return to Indonesia next August to bring my family to Melbourne. Surprisingly, both supervisors were okay with it and had no concerns. Their only concern is about my proposal, so as long as the meeting and progress continue as usual, "We can still have the meeting online, only the time and location will be different," she said.

Alhamdulillah.

Now it depends on the visa and also the money (and the house, of course).

Bismillah.

No matter what, I must find a unit for August 2023. Insha Allah.

Please help me, O Lord.

health, thesis, preparation for the family coming

 Okay,

I am truly grateful for my accomplishments, although I recognize that there are still many aspects that need improvement. I am currently struggling to maintain my focus on achieving my writing goals, but it is much better than the previous week.

I have discovered a better approach to reading and writing, but I require more intrinsic motivation to increase my writing speed. I believe I can successfully complete it. 

Over the past two days, my mind has been preoccupied with finding ways to establish healthier habits that align with the routine of a PhD student, as well as my daily religious practices. Additionally, I am facing challenges in managing my time for other thesis-related tasks, such as preparing to bring my family from Indonesia to Melbourne.

Ah... contemplating these matters—health, thesis, and the preparations to bring my family to Australia—gives me headaches and mood swings. Nevertheless, at this stage, I have chosen to prioritize my thesis. By making significant progress on it, I believe I can improve in other areas as well. Insha Allah.

New level of Vid Call

 What a joyful video call! Even though I am still struggling to meet my proposal writing target, spending time looking at you and talking with you has lifted my spirits. Hopefully, it will also inspire me to come up with beautiful sentences to write.

I am confident that, with the help of God, I can manage to complete it. I will give it my best effort to make it as good as I can. Oh, I apologize for the mistake in my previous statement. It's not about being good, but for now, it just about finishing it to the best of my abilities..

Each PhD STudents has unique journey

 Yesterday, one of my friends told me not to worry too much about other people's achievements or progress. Each of us has our own journey, which is meant to be unique and different from others. While we can use others' progress as a reference or benchmark, we shouldn't let it bring us down or make us feel left behind.

Recently, my fellow PhD students at Deakin also gave me advice on not getting burdened by comparing my own progress to that of others. This discussion arose when I felt slightly disturbed by some of my PhD colleagues who seemed to have more free time for conversations and other activities, creating a higher level of noise in our usually quiet office. They would chat about various topics and engage in leisurely conversations, making me wonder, "When are they finding the time to work on their colloquium document? Am I the only new student struggling to write my proposal, with limited time before the approaching deadline? Am I lacking intelligence, resulting in my time being consumed entirely by proposal-related tasks?"

However, as my friends reassured me, this may simply be because those colleagues are still newcomers. They encouraged me to reflect on my own first month, and upon doing so, I realized that it was indeed a more relaxed period.

In conclusion, it is important to recognize that each PhD student embarks on a unique journey that differs from one another. While the specifics may vary, we all encounter common experiences such as challenges, struggles, obstacles, mood swings, pain, and hardships.

However, amidst these shared difficulties, there is also a common thread of support, guidance, help, and love that prevails. These elements often manifest unexpectedly, serving as a light that comes from various directions. One thing is certain: this support and encouragement come from our beloved families, friends, and countless kind-hearted individuals out there. They play a vital role in our journey, offering their unwavering assistance and contributing to our growth and success.

Indeed, it is essential to acknowledge that in all of this, Allah the Almighty is the ultimate force behind our journey. His guidance, blessings, and mercy are what shape our paths and provide us with the strength to face the challenges and overcome the obstacles we encounter along the way.