Raven and Her Random Stories 2.0

I'm not stealing the title from Ed Sheeran's song by the way.

Even though I was born in Padang, I have no memory at all about living in that city. My parents said we moved to Bukittinggi when I turned a year or two years old. So I spend my childhood growing up in a small town on the hill. I remembered every weekend, my parents would drive to Padang to see my relatives there and to have a taste of "city" even though Padang was not that a huge city comparing to Jakarta (obviously) or Bandung. 

Bukittinggi was so small that you can even reach some places by walking. One time when I was third year in elementary school, I went back home with my brother and his friends walking from our school to the market (but my parents insist we walked very long until we almost reached home). And since this town is located on a hill, the weather is super chilly that you cannot leave home without wearing a jacket. Or at least that's what I experienced. It was my home until my family decided to move in 2002 due to my dad's upcoming position in Palembang. 

Jam Gadang, 2018 (taken by moi)

We went back to Padang almost every year since my late grandmother still live there, and I always looked forward to visit Bukittinggi. This mudik tradition stopped since 2014, but fortunately in 2018 my parents decided to spend our last Eid week holiday to Padang and they rented a car so we could drive to Bukittinggi. I felt so nostalgic and happy even though we were just there for a day. It was not enough time, I admit that. But I hope I can go back there soon, when we are safe enough to travel again. 

So... I forgot to post this yesterday.

But it's okay, I still want to continue writing because I still have that groove. Not to mention today's topic is about my favorite book. 

2020 is the year I went back to reading, just like I've mentioned previously here and there are so many good books I've read (mostly I read what a mutual on Twitter has recommended and please check her book blog here!) but I think this one put a special place on my mind.

We have a saying in Farsi. It translates ‘your place was empty.’ We say it when we miss somebody."

"Each of you comes here today hopeful, wanting in on the game. A month ago, you were in med school being taught by doctors."

I started watching Grey's Anatomy in 2012, getting the copy of season 1 from a pirated DVD shop near my uni (I think most old unpaders know the shop's name. I wonder if that place still exists until now). It was recommended by a senior in my organization because she mentioned this show a lot on her twitter so I gave it a try. In short, this show is just SO ADDICTIVE AND I CANNOT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! SOMEBODY SEDATE ME!

And eight years later, I'm still watching this show.

Grey's Anatomy aired their first season in 2005, it's about five doctors who's doing their surgical residency in one of the foremost hospital in Seattle. The main character, Meredith Grey, was the daughter of famous female surgeon in the country and she admitted she was kind of screwed. Unbeknownst to her, she had a one night stand with the new head of neurosurgery just the night before her first day. 

Yes, I know the storyline has gone downhill due to departures of some main casts but somehow I still enjoy the show. Grey's Anatomy is able to highlight some social issue such as domestic violents, mass shooting, racial prejudice, alcoholism, crisis of faith, etc. but the current season highlight the current worldwide pandemic without romanticizing it. I also love the dynamic of each characters but my favorite is obviously the friendship between Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang. HANDS DOWN, BEST FRIENDSHIP ON TV EVER!

I have two siblings, both of them are older than moi. I am more closer to my brother, who is only three years ahead of me. Even until now, I used to live with him and his wife until their daughter was born and they decided to live closer to my sister in law's who's just like 10 kms away. Sometimes he comes here visiting (or more likely doing inspection whether or not I keep this place cleaned enough for a human being lol), and thankfully since he doesn't live that far, my brother always offered help when I needed. 

My sister, on the other hand, lives in Surabaya with her husband and two children. Back when I started picking University, my dad wanted me to go the same uni with my sister so we could live together. It didn't happen because I didn't get accepted (and deep down I was thankful because I don't think I could handle living with her lol). On the other hand, she has been a very supportive sister though. We weren't really that closed growing up because she's five years older and she entered boarding school when I was in second grade. 

Even though we have grown up but our parents don't want us to grow apart. That's why they created this WhatsApp group so we could share news with each other, sometimes we video call too with addition of the toddlers (but let's be honest, my parents just wanted to see their grandkids lol). Let's just hope we still have each other's back until we're older.