Jakarta's Flood

Papa Hamid Story

My name is Abdul Hamid. My wife, usually called Ulil (Ibun Ulil) , and my daughter, Alia (Mbak Aya), live in Jakarta. Ibun Ulil and Mbak Aya Call me Abah Amid. I am a lecturer in University of Indonesia and Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University. My job is very interesting and I enjoy it much. I have taught in the university since four years ago. This is my story.

I was graduated as a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Political Science, in 2004. Before I was graduated, in 2004 election, I became Dewan Perwakilan Daerah (senator) candidate from Banten Province. I was very young at that time, 22 years old.

Please notice that I was the youngest DPD’s candidate in Indonesia. I had targeted to get 300.000 voters. It was not too much for me, I thought. I had many networks in political parties, student organizations, peasants, and youth movements in Banten. I was sure to won the election.

The dream did not come true; money politics culture made my planning was broken. Many people from Pasir Eurih village came to my home and met with me. They asked me to give them materials for mosque like other candidates. I had no money and I didn’t like their ways in selling their votes. They threatened me to vote other candidates. Then I answered, “No problem”. NU leader in Pandeglang asked me to make an istighosah with 40 special kyais (kyai khos). I accepted, but near the time of istighosah, he asked me some money for him and the kyais. Other problem was miscommunication and inconsistency in my supporting group. So, in 2004 election I was got 101.871 voters, from 300.00 targeted.

I was frustrated with this result. I was angry with Banten people.

However, life must go on. I must accept the result. After election, I focused to finish my thesis. In the same year, I got my bachelor degree in Political Science. My Professor asked me to assist teaching in Rural Politics class. Since that year I became a lecturer in UI. I tried to apply a job as a permanent lecturer in Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University (Untirta), Banten. Unfortunately, Untirta rejected me. I guessed it was happened because my thesis is too sensitive to several policymakers in Untirta. Hmm… I wrote about Jawara, a local strongman in Banten.

For three months I worked in PT. Solutions Plus, a government consultant, as a researcher. Then I resigned from this job, because I was felt something wrong with this company that was not suitable with my idealism.

In 2004, I married with Aulia. He worked in Gatra Magazine as a journalist. My daughter, Alia was born in 2005.
After resigned from PT. Solutions Plus, I focused to teach in UI and grew my business in outbound and motivation training. Since studying in 3rd semester, with some friends, I had a small company, Visi Learning Center, VLC.

With my friend Danang and Sapta, we managed VLC seriously. VLC was grown after we renamed it as Visi Learning and Consulting. We had an office and get many clients like SMU Insan Cendekia Serpong, SMU Pribadi, SMU Insan cendekia Gorontalo, Jakarta Utara Local Government, etc. Our business grew and we got much money. In 2005 Sapta left us to work in Palembang as a BRI officer.

In 2006, our business did not run well. We were bored and needed something new. Danang applied to be an expert staff in DPR RI and he was accepted. I tried to apply as a lecturer in Untirta once more and I was accepted too. So, the VLC office was closed.
Since that time, I focused to be a serious lecturer. I taught Rural Politics and Introduction to Political Science in UI. In Untirta, I taught Introduction to Political Science, Local Politics and Indonesian Political System. I shared my time between Jakarta, Serang, and Depok. In Jakarta, my neighbors voted me to become a neighborhood organization head (Ketua RT).

Since 2007, I have been studying in Semarang. I get Superior Scholarship from Ministry of Education to achieve double degree in Political Science Master Program in Diponegoro University and Wyoming University. Now I live separated with my family. My wife and my daughter still live in Jakarta, and I live in Semarang.

My Lovely Family

Welcome to our blog! Hope we can share all about our story! Just in case you are interested or need it! :)

Hey, firstly let us introduce this small family (typical Indonesian family? umm... dunno). The father is Abdul Hamid, call him Hamid. The mother - me - is Aulia Chloridiany, you can call me Ulil. And our first daughter, the beautiful one, is Ayu Alia Bilqis Zahrany ( whut a loong name :p). Call her Alia or Mbak Aya, and she will smile to you! ;)

And hey, we're waiting for the newcomer. Yes, now is 8th month of my pregnancy. Wanna know more 'bout the baby? Read this blog always! :)

First Posting

This blog is our family's story