Fida Abbott: Celebrating 15 Years Living in the USA

August 27, 2017 was a special date for me. I had been 15 years living in the USA.

I try to track what have happened during that period. I would like to write them below as a treasure of my memory:

- August 2002, I arrived in the USA.

- October 2002, I married and had a new family.

Married couple, October 2002.

- March-April 2003, I noticed that I was pregnant.

My baby in my womb, in 10 weeks pregnancy.

- January 2004, a new family member was born.

First night with our new family member.

Three months old cute baby girl.

- August 2005, we moved to our first new house.

Front Porch

- November 2005, I--with St. David's Adult Choir members (Episcopal Church)-- sang at Washington National Cathedral for the first time and for the last time. We were lucky to be chosen and invited to sing there because it would happen again in the next 50 years. It means every year they will choose a choir from another state in the USA. That means maybe they would choose St. David's Adult Choir again or other choir in PA for the next 50 years. You can imagine how lucky I was. I joined with that choir group in the right time. I ever imagined to present to Washington National Cathedral when I was watching US president came for a special service to celebrate something special in there when I was still in Indonesia. I was so amazed with the cathedral's interior design and imagined I would be there someday--that was impossible for me at that time. But for GOD, nothing impossible happens if HE plans for us.

In this month I also started to join as a citizen reporter on www.kabarindonesia.com.

- February 2006, I started blogging: personal blog with its address: www.fidaabbott.blogspot.com (this blog you're reading). I had been awarded as a finalist of Christian Indonesian Blogger Festival in August 2008 and in February 2009, I had been awarded as an Honorable Mentioned Blog by BlogNet Awards.

In this month I was being offered to volunteer as an editor at www.kabarindonesia.com. My husband was happy and asked me to accept it.

- June-July 2006, I was chosen as Managing Editor at www.kabarindonesia.com after they saw how I worked in around 4-5 months.

- August 2006, I got my first part time job as Walmart associate. God gave me that job in the right time.

- Around April-July 2008, I had been chosen as a Director of Online Writing Course at www.kabarindonesia.com (PMOH: Pelatihan Menulis Online Harian KabarIndonesia.com). In around couple months I worked hard to create programs and systems, and prepared to launch the first class.

- December 2008, I launched my first e-book: What Prayers Does Mommy Teach Me? (First action in the literature world)

- February 2009, the first class of PMOH began (General Class). In this month I also planned to start writing my first cookbook. Several months later, I launched my first cookbook titled: Fabulous Leftover Turkey.
- March 2009, I started to write a novel.

- February 2010, my first novel based on my own true story, titled Enthusiasm was published.
- April 2010, my book won Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in the category of novel for Spring 2010.
- December 2010-January 2011, for the first time I opened Fiction Class. With great mentors, we had done great job for our students (from Senior High School to College students, workers, entrepreneurs, teachers, and professionals).

- March 2011, I got my second job as Adecco Associate for CTDI (Communication Test Design Inc.).

- September 2011, I was in the list of one of the winners of 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading.

- December 2011, we moved to a small--full renovated house--good size for 3 members of family.

- February 2012, my book was published in Indonesia (Enthusiasm in Indonesian version: Antusiasme by YKBK--Yayasan Komunikasi Bina Kasih)
- October 2012, my brother passed away. He already read my book, Antusiasme (Enthusiasm in Indonesian version) before he got sick.
- December 2012, my father passed away. He already read my book too, Antusiasme, before he got sick.
- October 2013, graduated from Stratford Career Institute with the Highest Honor in Administrative Assistant/Secretary in one year instead of two years!
- December 2014, for the first time being a Certified Tax Preparer (CTP) under Liberty flag.
- March 2015, I attended a ceremony of being a new US citizen.

- In the end of 2015, I was promoted as a Director on Online Indonesian News based on the citizen reporter, KabarIndonesia.
- March, 2016, I got an offering as a defense language instructor in Indonesian for virtual classes servicing USAF.
- May 2016, I got certification as a certified defense language instructor in Indonesian servicing USAF and several weeks later I got a new job as a Data Entry Analyst in a brand new company.
- September 2016, I got another job as a Data Entry Specialist/Operator at another company (contract).
- December 2016-January 2017, I launched a new online class (Writing Story for Children) after several years I hold my idea to open this class because of unsupported situation and I wasn't ready yet.
- May 2017, I was hired by the company which I worked as a Data Entry Specialist/Operator.
- August 2017, I was chosen and offered to assess a superior class (Advanced Assessment class) for USAF.
- Sept 2017, Advanced Assessment Class will start.

I'll keep looking forward to see the next interesting and challenging journey in my life God guides me.(*)