(c) ukirsari

for the first time in my life, my company officially decided to give a boxing day by december 26th 2007. well, it’s quite surprise if i take this personally as something “advanced” or “extra ordinary” or “outstanding”.

because it’s not like a boxing day which is taken from british holiday — then further also can be found in new zealand, australia, canada and other countries within commonwealth of nations.

further reading on wikipedia about boxing day, about donation to be put into a box [from where the name became an entitlement] plus a day-off for everybody, my beloved nicholas said, “that’s great … finally we have boxing day in indonesia.”

errrr … don’t be so happy like that, sweetheart. this is even worse. why? since company will reduce this “boxing day look-alike” from my original days-off which i have [or increase] 1 day per month!

so? i would love to say, this is “must-be-taken-holiday” or in my lingo simply i can address as “cuti terpaksa“, a day where you have to pay in the future with your days-off. further i will haunted by owing days-off! and imagine how horrible about how many days can be reduced within a row. because i owe ’something’ named days-off.

example, let’s say the national holiday is thursday. so, friday will be a boxing day look-alike. then this friday will be said as “cuti bersama” [who said 'bersama' or altogether? i never say about the agreement?].

based on explaination above, this friday is not bloody free holiday. and my days-off, my holiday will be noted as minus one. and not only one, since refer to the government rules, we have so many “boxing day” [look-alike but without any donation to be put in a box and to be given to the poor] within a year, especially in this 2008, based on the list that i can read pretty damn clearly at the whiteboard in the office *what a nightmare*

why i feel so iritating with this indonesian boxing day? since this is not free. and even worse, my holiday will be reduced. last time when i ask to take some days-off  [winter hols in the westerners' world] to be spent with beloved nicholas, the lovely jubbely and adorable supervisor will ’sing’, “you can not take for those days, young lady … since yours empty. even minus!” all gone. in the name reduction from the must-be-taken-holidays.

oh, what!?! [like the expression of john travolta in his great movie 'hairspray' where he took a role as a lady named edna turnblad]

must be admitted that i have big, big problem regarding these holidays. i mean for God’s sake, everybody –okay, not everybody but many person– say yes about must-be-taken-holiday. especially if working for government bodies. but me? i am the exception.

i can not take hols because everybody just did it. i don’t like to spend many days with all people gather around in the name of public-mass holidays. whevener all ticket fares to the destinations [especially local and regional destinations, bali, bangkok and singapore mostly] become sky-rocket!

that’s so sucks! there’s no point to arrange a trip whenever everybody do. for me, that’s less creative. only spend the holidays in the name “i have to use my ‘cuti terpaksa’.” d’oh!

apart of another case about how difficult to be a solo independent traveler in my country, the limited holidays lead me to be a creative backpacker. i deal with my own to create the most convenient but not-take-too-long- holiday so can be matching with the days-off i have in the hand. that’s the way i achieve myself!

and mind you, if the “boxing day” comes into this situation … on big day lebaran, on hari natal and several days around which make ordinary people say “yes” happily and opposite in my side: tears on my cheeks.

don’t get me wrong that i only love to talk about my rights to ask a holiday, or love to be going around the globe rather than working or i just lazy employee who’s freely talking about days-off. never across in my mind to be a person like that. i like to do working hard and play hard.

i love my job! i mean i will give maximum energy and skills of mine during working days. but excuse me, i need a rest and i want to have totally chill-out myself whenever i am not on duty. simple word can be said as “i am not an engine”.

in a grand meeting, the lovely-jubbely ones sarcastically telling me [oh, if i use the word "attack", is that too rude? nah, i am not a kind of person who like to exaggerate a thing, put as the way it should be ], “no one can ask holiday whenever she or he doesn’t have days-off left. most common in here is, several of the employees decided to cancel their holiday. that’s why, do not make prior reservation on your flight etc whenever not yet known about the situation in the office.”

ahem! well, sadly says … if i have to respond. what kind of a person who wants to cancel her or his holiday? isn’t he or she have personal life? for me, that’s not a gold-medal-category-person but rather to a very miserable person since leave their own personal life behind. and how about mandatory to give his or her work to others in the name “everybody have their holiday” so everybody happy and feel be equal treated?

if the person doesn’t have his or her time yet, let’s say caused by “boxing-day” that i explained previously, the time will come … to have a holiday on his or her own. so, if i seems always want to have or take my days, well … that’s because of my time to take. in the different date with others national holidays or their cuti terpaksa! and i never envy towards everybody’s holiday. why should i? because i am the “exceptional one” isn’t it?

do i ever mentioned a name in the office just like, “oh, this person always take hols and i am not!” as example. nah! i don’t do that. why? number one, none of my business and i am not fancy to know what is all about [behind the case why take holiday or day-off] and even i always say [whenever i am not in my holiday at the same time with that person] readily to take-over the job of that person for a help.

oh dear, where’s the log book [i'd rather to say "magic book" since it's still a dream ahead to be treated equal] that noted i am the person whenever everybody just gone. who will see that i am able and eligible to do the mandatory whenever everybody say “can not” or just leave?

don’t get wrong perception that i want to be “the one” or “someone” by saying this. nope, i’d love to stay anonymous and nobody but still have my own way to achieve myself. if only i can ask, i want all of these boxing day look-alike will be erased someday. so, i can spend my real holiday with nicholas and our families. no need to be miserable person and still have a life