A NEW ACHIEVEMENT: A Certified Youth Mental Health First Aid USA

Courtyard Marriott Coatesville

Last Monday I ended my training at Courtyard Marriott Coatesville hotel to become a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid USA. So glad to have a new knowledge about youth mental health. As I have a teenager daughter, this training is very useful.

With Dr. Miles in the first session, Monday, June 23, 2018

If you are parent having teenager/youth children or social worker, etc. that works for public services special for school, mental health for children/youth, you should take this free program. They hold this program every month. Below I enclose a flyer if you are interested to participate next month. You can find all information in it.(*)

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Updating Web-blog, etc. for my new released book. About 1 minute ago from web

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.(*)

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Sleepy. Time for resting. About 1 minute ago from web

Celebrating 11 Years of Servicing Walmart Customers

On Friday, August 4, 2017 was my 11th Anniversary of servicing Walmart customers. Below I will write down some names of a store manager and ass. managers (as my appreciation of their compliments) who had offered me a Department Manager position:

2015: Sophie (offering me a position as an Apparel Dept. Manager) 2016: Felicia (offering me a position as a Cosmetic Dept. Manager)           James (offering me a position as a Dairy Dept. Manager)           Leticia (offering me a position as a Candy Dept. Manager)           Store Manager Heather (offering me a position as a Dept. Manager for several departments) 2017: Brenda (offering me a position as a Customer Service Manager/CSM)           Jeanne (offering me a position as a Customer Service Manager/CSM)
But the journey brought me to the different destination. I've landed to a new company in 2016. My open position for Dept. Manager at Walmart is only for part time CSM for this time which they don't need it. They need full time CSM which I excused not to take it. Anyway, Walmart is still my second home in the USA. I'm still their associate and will be there for their valued customers. If someone asked about my experiences of servicing the customers? I think I'll be better writing them in another post. So, if you're interested to read it, please, stay tuned! Thank you.   If you're interested to subscribe to this blog, please click the green sign below and follow its instruction.  Subscribe!

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I'll face many things to do. It starts several months before the end of this year which is this month.   About 1 minute ago from web

Invitation to Attend the National Junior Honors Society Induction Ceremony for My Daughter

Yesterday evening (Saturday evening) I was very excited when my husband opened a letter and told me it was an invitation for the National Junior Honors Society (NJHS) induction ceremony for our youngest daughter. I jumped several times; congratulated, kissed and hugged my daughter. It was what I was waiting for since last Tuesday.

Last month my daughter was identified as being academically eligible for consideration for membership in the National Junior Honors Society (NJHS) as administrated at her school. Eligibility is determined by her marking period grades which must meet or exceed their chapter's academic standards that all grades must be 87% or higher, and my daughter has GPA between 98-99% since Semester I to Semester III in 7th grade (Because of those accomplishments, our oldest daughter ever had a question to her: "Are you a teacher?" She smiled and I responded: "Future teacher").

After she passed the first selection, she had to take the next step. She was eligible to submit additional information for consideration by the chapter's faculty council which will carefully review her credential. In addition to the academic standards, membership in NJHS is also based on standards of service, leadership, character, and citizenship. To be selected as a member of NJHS, she must demonstrate on her candidate information form and through the evaluations submitted. As my daughter is active in the school orchestra, chamber orchestra, and Girl Scouts, I collected all activities she had participated in those areas and submitted them. She also must get witness signatures and approval signatures from 4 teachers.

To represent my daughter's appreciation, I would like to thank Church Music Director, Gail Busch; Leader of Cadette Troop 468, Keri Spitz; and School Music Teacher: Shawn Lee as the witnesses of my daughter's activities. I also would like to thank her science teacher, math teacher, social teacher, and music teacher who had signed the form for approval. Thank you for your supports.

At the same time, I received a small packet from my good friend in Ohio. She sent me several things from Indonesia as her sister in law from Indonesia is visiting her for several weeks. It made my day.

Another thing that made me happy, yesterday evening before I left work, I checked facebook from my tablet. One of my late cousin's sons has connected with me on facebook. Bimo, that was the name I called him. The last time I met him when he was around 1 year old. He had been a college student at Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB) in Indonesia and recently he gets a scholarship from Imperial College in London and takes Transport Engineering as his major study. Congratulations Bimo! I'm very proud of you.(*)

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The progress of my book project:
Done: Updating design and blog content at Abbottsbooks and Website content at Wix, Cover Letter, Author Biography, Publication History, and a sample of the chapter. 
Need to finish 100% by tomorrow: Synopsis.
about 1 minute ago from the web

CONGRATULATIONS: Being A Member of Chamber Orchestra Group

CONGRATUALATIONS my youngest daughter! Her audition was successful and she has been accepted into the group of Chamber Orchestra (Coatesville Area School Distric Middle School Chamber Orchestra--CASD). Her big effort has been paid already. She was very excited as it was one of her dreams.
This is going to be GREAT.  I enclose the list of the dates where CASD Chamber Orchestra will be performing:   2016 Dec 2: District-Wide Winter Orchestra at 9/10 Center Building Dec 14: Holiday Performance at Plymouth Meeting Mall   2017 March 17: Secondary Orchestra's Music at 9/10 Center Building March 29: State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, PA May 7: Chamber Orchestra Concert at SBMS

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Done 100%. Manuscripts has been sent to the special persons who will write Foreword and Endorsement about 1 minute ago from web

Growing After Being A New Citizen

Even though I have been almost 13 years living in the USA, I am still learning many new things--like a person who is aged almost 13 years old that still needs to learn a lot things. I consider my age of 13 years old of becoming a resident in the USA. I love learning so I can grow. So what I have been learning? OK, let me write a long list below:

- learning to so speak English in my daily activities;

- becoming a wife to an American;

- becoming a mother to my baby and my three grown up kids (teenagers at that time);

- becoming a cook lover;

- becoming active using internet to browse many interesting stuffs;

- learning to write after almost 20 years absent;

- learning to blogging using my second language;

- learning to be a self-published author;

- learning to know the school system by following the school activities of my youngest daughter;

- learning about American Girl Scouts systems and activities which my youngest daughter joins in;

- learning how to garden and grow flowers, fruits and vegetables in the country who has four different seasons;

- learning to apply jobs;

- learning how to interact with many type of Americans;

- learning how to socialize with my husband's big family;

- learning how to socialize with others;

- learning to volunteer at elementary school by teaching students reading;

- learning the new skills by taking some courses in the different fields: crafting in English writing, entrepreneurship, marketing, administrative assistance and federal taxes;

- learning many new systems from paying bills, health insurance, purchasing online, etc.;

- learning to handle many new challenging things happened in family circumstances that mostly drive me crazy;

- and many other things.

Believe or not, I still need to learn many things. Learning is awesome even though sometimes it makes my nerves become tense; drains my energy, time, thought, and money (hahaha).

Becoming a new citizen is the right decision. My family is here. My soul is here. So, here I am with lot of hopes, goals and dreams. 

So what I have done after being a new citizen? For this answer, I don't have a long list but I have been satisfied for taking two big steps: protecting my family by having life insurance and building the stronger financial by having an investment.

And what will I plan to do next? For this answer, I still don't have a long list either, but several things I am sure to do soon is continuing my tax school (Intermediate level) this summer and becoming a volunteer in the community. (What I really enjoy my life--good and bad) ***

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Hoping I always smile everyday. about 1 minute ago from web

Meeting the Mayor (Walikota) and Chief of Police of West Chester, PA

Well, well . . . this is little bit old news but I haven't posted in couple months since I met the Mayor and Chief of Police, West Chester-PA face to face in March 2014. It was the most interesting interview and experience in my whole life in looking for a new job. Why did I mention it? Because I never thought before if I was going to meet the government leaders face to face. I got a phone call regarding my application. I was very nervous since I knew I was going to meet the first person of West Chester, PA. But my nervous was gone when I met her. She is the most friendly and down to earth leader I ever met in person. No doubt if people in West Chester, PA chose her become their Mayor.

Carolyn Comitta
West Chester, Mayor
Photo: Google

In the interview, she told me if they received more than 50 applications and only took 10 of them for interview and I was one of them. From 10, they will choose only 1 person. She congratulated me for this even though in my mind I had already known I would not going to make it. If there were 10 candidates--and I believed it was only me who was an immigrant, I was not going to make it. I was very sure there would be other candidates who were more qualified and had more experiences than me. So, I just enjoyed that long interview with her. We had nice talk and she is the kind of person, full with attention. I could not imagine how lucky the person who would work with her. She would be the best BOSS she ever had.
From my first meeting with her, I had very good impression about her. She looked very respectful and didn't put her as the higher level than others.  My nervous appeared again when the lady told me I was going to meet the Chief of Police, Scott L. Bohn, as my second interview after done with her. As same as the first interview, I had good impression about him, as same as the Mayor, but he talked more than her, so I enjoyed little bit story he told me, hehehe... Meeting the Mayor and Chief of Police of West Chester is my first experience I even never had before when I was in my country, Indonesia. After meeting them, my mind popped up comparing with the Mayor and Chief of Police in Indonesia. Probably they will have adjutant and I will feel the Strata when meeting them. Who knows, but that was I thought as I knew most of Indonesian government leaders acted that way. I hope it will change and better now as they have a new President who can show them that the leader is there to give the service, not to get the service.
If I ever met the Mayor and Chief of Police, probably one day I am going to meet the higher government leader. You may laugh when reading this, but one day you will shout, "Oh My God!" (Hahaha.... I got you!)
OK, guys, this is just a little story of one of my best experiences I share with you. I write this not to impress you, but to remind all of us. Every day we can make little bit progress. A progress to move forward. We are not going to move 1 mile at the time, but only 1 inch. Everyday I always think, what one, two or three little things I am going to do to move me forward although sometimes God gives us different direction than what we expect, but we should remember He knows the best for our life.
KEEP MOVING FORWARD!!! Click to watch the inspirational movie: The Best Way Out is Always Through, presented by Simple Truths.


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Happy Eid ul-Fitr 2014 about 1 minute ago from web

THE SECRET: Law of Attraction

August is an important month for me. On August 27, I have been 11 years as an expatriate in the USA. On August 4 was my 7th Anniversary as a Walmart Associate, and on August 29, I submitted my last test and got final result 96%. That means I have finished my school and achieved an average score higher than 90%. That also means I will earn my Diploma with Highest Honors. On that same date I also got my certificate of completion from Taylor's University after completing my Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) of Entrepreneurship. 

One of my personal tasks to complete Entrepreneurship online class (MOOC).

One of my personal tasks to complete Entrepreneurship online class (MOOC).

One of my group tasks to complete Entrepreneurship online class  (MOOC).

This month is also important history for my book, Enthusiasm, as I attended to Indonesian Community Party for the first time in Philadelphia last Saturday, August 24.  I had been waiting this event since I published my book.  After three years of waiting, finally realized. It was amazing.  It wasn't about how many books had been sold but I had a chance to meet many Indonesians in that event, make new friends and advance my new networks.  By attending this event, I am going to plan attending an Indonesian Community Party event in New York next time.

Welcome to Enthusiasm presentation table.

With my beloved and supportive husband and youngest daughter.

With Hon. Ghafur Akbar Dharmaputra (Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in New York) and wife.
To see a photo slideshow of that event, please click this link.

All achievements I mentioned above would never be done if I didn't have enthusiasm in my life.  Enthusiasm has played a vital role in my super busy life and brings me happier and upcoming successful for myself and family.

To celebrate my joyful day, I would be happy to share a documentary video (THE SECRET: Law of Attraction) that would blow your mind to guide your future success.  I heard this video from Prof. Dr. Mushtak Al-Atabi, a professor of my new class of SUCCESS at MOOC as a task to a "must watch" during the class in the third week.  Enjoy and feel free to share your thoughts about watching this movie. (*)

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Happy 41st birthday to my beloved brother, Agus Prihandoko, who is in heaven now. about 1 minute ago from web